Indocyanine green plasma clearance rate and 99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin single-photon emission computed tomography evaluated preoperative remnant liver

BACKGROUND Preoperative evaluation of future remnant liver reserves is important for safe hepatectomy.If the remnant is small,preoperative portal vein embolization(PVE)is useful.Liver volume analysis has been the primary method of preoperative evaluation,although functional examination may be more accurate.We have used the functional evaluation liver using the indocyanine green plasma clearance rate(KICG)and 99mTc-galactosyl human serum albumin single-photon emission computed tomography(99mTc-GSA SPECT)for safe hepatectomy.AIM To analyze the safety of our institution’s system for evaluating the remnant liver reserve.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of 23 patients who underwent preoperative PVE.Two types of remnant liver KICG were defined as follows:Anatomical volume remnant KICG(a-rem-KICG),determined as the remnant liver anatomical volume rate×KICG;and functional volume remnant KICG(frem-KICG),determined as the remnant liver functional volume rate based on 99mTc-GSA SPECT×KICG.If either of the remnant liver KICGs were>0.05,a hepatectomy was performed.Perioperative factors were analyzed.We defined the marginal group as patients with a-rem-KICG of<0.05 and a f-rem-KICG of>0.05 and compared the postoperative outcomes between the marginal and not marginal(both a-rem-KICG and f-rem-KICG>0.05)groups.RESULTS All 23 patients underwent planned hepatectomies.Right hepatectomy,right trisectionectomy and left trisectionectomy were in 16,6 and 1 cases,respectively.The mean of blood loss and operative time were 576 mL and 474 min,respectively.The increased amount of frem-KICG was significantly larger than that of a-rem-KICG after PVE(0.034 vs 0.012,P=0.0273).The not marginal and marginal groups had 17(73.9%)and 6(26.1%)patients,respectively.The complications of Clavian-Dindo classification grade II or higher and post-hepatectomy liver failure were observed in six(26.1%)and one(grade A,4.3%)patient,respectively.The 90-d mortality was zero.The marginal group had no significant difference in postoperative outcomes(prothrombin time/international normalised ratio,total bilirubin,complication,post-hepatectomy liver failure,hospital stay,90-d,and mortality)compared with the not-marginal group.CONCLUSION Functional evaluation of the remnant liver enabled safe hepatectomy and may extend the indication for hepatectomy after PVE treatment.

Screening and Genetic Analysis of the Hydrogen Peroxide Sensitive Mutant hps12 of Arabidopsis thaliana

In order to investigate the mechanism of ROS signaling transduction in after-germination process, we screened a hydrogen peroxide sensitive mutant from EMS mutant library of Arabidopsis thaliana. Hydrogen peroxide sensitive 12（hps12）was screened from this library. Phenotype analysis indicated that hps12 had dwarf plant and shorter pod than wild type（WT）. The cotyledon greening rate of hps12 was decreased after being treated with 4 mmol/L H_2O_2. Furthermore, the isolated leaves of hps12 mutants showed more obvious symptoms of senescence than WT under the treatment of 10 mmol/L H_2O_2. Genetic analysis suggested that hps12 was a monogenic recessive mutant.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BOMA BESt AND LEED CANADA EB:O&M IN GREENING COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

LEED Canada for Existing Buildings:Operations and Maintenance(LEED Canada EB:O&M)and Building Owners and Managers Association’s Building Environmental Standards(BOMA BESt)are complex green rating systems that offer owners,managers,consultants,and tenants distinct value propositions for existing buildings.Upon close examination,significant variations between the systems are evident in certification process,cost,rigor,engagement,marketing,accessibility,transparency,management,and program philosophy.Despite the many differences between the systems,they are often seen to be complementary programs and are sometimes used in tandem for the same building.This paper reports on a survey of the industry perceptions of the value and strengths of the LEED Canada EB:O&M and BOMA BESt rating systems with respect to the above criteria.As a result of the fundamentally different nature of the programs,preferences for LEED Canada EB:O&M and BOMA BESt are determined by stakeholder values and the programs are used for a variety of reasons.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Utilization of Green Building Rating Tools by Selected Professionals in the Zambian Building Industry

Green building rating tools used for planning and assessing the impact of buildings on the environment are continually revised in line with user needs. The appropriateness of tools for the Zambian building industry depends on whether the tools adequately meet minimum green buildings standards and the country’s environmental aspirations. The utilization of green building rating tools is important if Zambia is to achieve the real benefits of green buildings, however very little is known about the levels of utilization in Zambia. A cross-sectional study of 115 professionals from the building industry in Zambia was undertaken using a sequential mixed method approach, to investigate the level of utilization, preferred criteria and, the barriers and drivers to the utilization of tools. The significance of the study was that it demonstrated the association between utilization of green building rating tools and environmental, technological, economic, and social green buildings practices by selected professionals in the Zambian building industry. There is a need to use materials and practices that are locally based and promote the local economy. The technical needs were met in tools, that were considered easy to use, interesting and comprehensive. Some of the green building rating tools were considered unsuitable due to the absence of appropriate criteria and the main economic challenge was the high cost of certification. The association was significant between utilization and those involved in a variety of projects than those who were involved in only residential buildings. Barriers to utilization were a lack of government regulations on green buildings designs and the high cost of certification. The drivers were environmental benefits, the interest of developers in green buildings, and having technical skills. The study recommends a review of the current building regulations to include green buildings practices and materials and adaptation of appropriate rating tools.

GREEN RATING INTEGRATION PLATFORM–A DECISION MAKING TOOL FOR MULTI-MODAL FACILITIES:CREDIT HARMONIZATION AND A SUSTAINABLE WATER&MATERIAL PRACTICES CASE STUDY

There are multitudes of sustainability rating systems and guidelines,and it is difficult to decide which ones to use and how to use them.In addition,multi-modal projects have different focal areas and associated rating systems related to each mode or other aspect of the project.Five green ratings systems representative of aspects of a multi-modal ferry facility had previously been selected and were used in a four step methodology to synthesize into a strategic decision making platform.This current research focuses on how to make more detailed decision making harmonization amongst the credits in the rating systems.Using an analytical hierarchy process(AHP)of the credits in the rating systems,it was determined that the two main groups of information that could be used for harmonization were key intents or goals(KI)and key strategies or practices(KS).A short cursory case study example of how these KIs and KSs might be further cross-coded in an open database with the credit subcategories and corresponding rating systems is also presented.The database can filter the credit subcategories across the rating system for a specific key intent or key strategy.The harmonized lists and database may facilitate decision makers and construction managers in correlating intents and methodologies for a project across multiple rating systems.

SHEARING LAYERS CONCEPT AND LEED GREEN BUILDINGS IN BOTH RATING SCHEMES AND CERTIFIED PROJECTS

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED)for New Construction and Major Renovations v3(NC)and LEED for Existing Buildings:Operations and Maintenance v3(EB)schemes were studied to examine the application of the shearing layer concept to green buildings.The manners in which(i)rating systems in their current configurations and(ii)certified projects in their practical applications treated the long life-expectances in buildings and short life-expectancies in systems were questioned.To maximally reduce nondemonic intrusion,we studied only those states in the United States in which statistically viable numbers of projects had been completed in 2016.A two-way mixed analysis of variance(ANOVA)model was used to evaluate the interaction between two types of buildings(i.e.,NC vs EB)and two sets of sub-layers(i.e.,Site,Structure,and Skin from the Building layer and Services,Space Plane,and Stuff from the Service layer).The discrepancy in the case of a new building and the similarity in the case of a renovated building between rating schemes and certified projects were revealed:(i)the NC rating scheme prefers to emphasize the Service layer(SL),whereas newly constructed projects prefer to emphasize the Building layer(BL)due to the high performance of the Site and Structure sub-layers;(ii)the EB rating scheme prefers to emphasize the Service layer,as do renovated building projects,due to the high performance of the Stuff sub-layer.

APPLICATION OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT TO VARIOUS BUILDING LIFETIME SHEARING LAYERS:SITE,STRUCTURE,SKIN,SERVICES,SPACE,AND STUFF

Currently,green rating systems are not directly related to environmental conse-quences.Moreover,rating systems score both building-related tasks with long life-time expectancies and system-related tasks with short lifetime expectancies without separating them.Therefore,passive solar and bio-climatic architectures,which have long lifetime expectancies and thus have a strong,negative impact on the environ-ment,are neglected.The main goal of this study is to explore differences in total environmental impact for a single“typical”building module(with the heavy wall building technology accepted in Israel)in terms of six different lifetime shearing layers,Site,Structure,Skin,Services,Space Plan,and Stuff,each of which reflects a different form of environmental damage.The objective of this study was to evalu-ate the six shearing layers using life cycle assessment(LCA)by applying Eco-indi-cator 99(EI99).It was found that the environmental damage associated with the Building layers(Site,Structure,and Skin)was higher than that associated with the Service layers(Services,Space Plan,and Stuff).The paper may contribute to the development of a more scientific(quantitative)background for green rating systems.As a result,a greater decrease in building-related ecological impacts can be achieved,thus encouraging sustainable building activities.

INTEGRATING GREEN RATING SYSTEMS:A CASE STUDY FOR FERRY TERMINALS

When attempting to achieve sustainability goals for integrated facilities,many green rating systems are available to guide the design,construction,operations and maintenance of a project.Due to the large number of sustainability tools that are available or mandated,it can be confusing to determine which set of guidelines to follow.For the Washington State Ferries(WSF),there is no green rating system which correlates perfectly with the unique intermodal challenges presented by ferry terminals.This paper focuses on five rating systems applicable to WSF:GreenLITES,LEED,Sustainable Sites Initiative,The Port Authority of NY/NJ Sustainable Infrastructure Guidelines(draft),and the draft Marine Vessel Environmental Performance Assessment(MVeP).These rating systems are integrated with a developing set of sustainable ferry guidelines in a green rating integration platform(GRIP).The GRIP readily relates credits and guidelines across multiple systems,aiding WSF in making decisions in accordance with sustainability goals.The GRIP format might similarly be applied to other integrated projects to more effectively and economically address sustainability across all aspects of projects and facility operations.

SUSTAINABILITY RATING SYSTEMS

There are five different publications that establish guidelines for sustainable building development that are examined in this report:(1)Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(“LEED”);(2)CalGreen;(3)the International Green Construction Code(“IGCC”);(4)ASHRAE Standard 189.1(“Standard 189.1”);and(5)The San Francisco’s Green Building Ordinance(“SFGBO”).Having multiple publications can cause confusion among building developers,architects,engineers,building consultants,or various jurisdictions on what publication to follow,use,or reference in building development projects.This article will provide various parties involved in building development a thorough understanding of each publication and the similarities or differences between them,which will ultimately assist in identifying areas for all publications to improve.Specifically,this article demonstrates that the Material and Energy sections for all the publications must advance beyond the current requirements.Also,the comparison validates that CalGreen’s Tier 2 is similar to LEED’s local ordinances,like the SFGBO.This may mean two things:(1)LEED will need to advance its gold or platinum certification requirements,or potentially become less relevant;or(2)local ordinances should reference or adopt CalGreen Tier 2 so that there is common language between local and state regulations.This article identifies that LEED has the most stringent guidelines under the Building Site section out of all the publications.Likewise,the IGCC and Standard 189.1 have provisions under the Water Use section,that goes beyond other publications.Additionally,similar language between LEED and Standard 189.1 was found,which was unsurprising as both publications are authored by the USGBC.

GREEN BUILDING RATING SYSTEM SCORES FOR BUILDING REUSE

Green Building rating systems are the main vehicles for commercial application of ecologically sustainable design for buildings.Using less materials,modular design for deconstruction,long life structure,using recoverable materials are emerging concepts to reduce environmental impacts and increase the resource and economic efficiency of buildings.It has been argued that because of recent emergence of these concepts,Green Building rating systems do not fairly recognise the environmental benefits gained.This paper quantifies the impacts of the building reuse concept on the environment and the Green Building rating system scores and compares this with the energy category.It was found that lifecycle embodied greenhouse gas emission of approximately 20 kg CO_(2)-e/m^(2)/annum could be saved,if 80%of the office building components(structure,façade,wall,floor and roof)were reused in Australia.A second finding was that the current BREEAM 2008 and LEED 2009 tools do not provide fair recognition of the potential lifecycle embodied greenhouse gas emission reduction of building reuse compared to operational greenhouse gas emission reduction.