No abstract

This study examined the effects of a heating system using a ground source geothermal heat pump (GHP). A GHP was installed in a pig house, and a comparative analysis was performed between the GHP and the control (conventional heating system) in terms of the production performance, housing environment, noxious gas emissions, electricity consumption, and economics. The geothermal system performance index, such as the coefficient of performance (COP), inlet, and outlet temperature, were also evaluated. The outflow temperature during each period (weaning, growing, and finishing) was significantly higher than the inflow temperature in all three components of the GHP system. Similarly, the average internal temperature of the GHP-connected pig house was increased (p < 0.05) during each period. The carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, electricity usage, and cost of electricity during the 16-week experimental period were reduced significantly in the GHP system relative to the control. The concentrations of ammonia (NH3) during the growing and finishing period and the concentrations of formaldehyde during the weaning phase were also lower in the GHP-installed pig house (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the GHP system can be used as an environmentally friendly renewable energy source in pig houses for sustainable pig production without harming the growth performance.

BMD of the level of the PTFJ was higher, compared with that of above-or below-the level of the PTFJ and that of the posterolateral area of the proximal tibia was significantly higher, compared with that of the anterior or lateral area.

Background: As nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids have similar effects, steroids can be avoided to reduce adverse effects. This study aimed to compare the differences in symptom improvement after subacromial injection of steroids or NSAIDs.Methods: Sixty patients with rotator cuff syndrome for at least 3 months were enrolled and divided into steroid and NSAID groups. The steroid group received a mixture of 1 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL) and 1 mL of lidocaine hydrochloride 2%, while the NSAID group received a mixture of 1 mL of Ketorolac Tromethamine (30 mg/mL) and 1 mL of lidocaine hydrochloride 2%. The patients were assessed before and at 3, 6, and 12 weeks after the procedure. Shoulder scores from visual analog scale (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) were used for evaluation.Results: Both groups showed improvements in the clinical outcomes. Overall VAS, ASES, and UCLA scores improved from 6.9, 32.7, and 16.0 before the procedure to 2.0, 1.2, and 1.1; 81.5, 87.6, and 88.5; and 29.7, 31.8, and 32.0 at weeks 3, 6, and 12 weeks after the procedure, respectively. Twenty-six patients (86.7%) in the steroid group and 28 (93.3%) in the NSAID group reported satisfactory treatment outcomes. There were no significant differences in the outcomes between the two groups (p=0.671).Conclusions: Subacromial injection of NSAIDs for rotator cuff tendinitis with shoulder pain had equivalent outcomes with those of steroid injection at the 12-week follow-up.