Electronic balance

TSP and PM₁₀ samples were collected by two high volume samplers manufactured by Graseby–Andersen at flow rates of 1.13–1.41 m³/min for 24 h. Both TSP and PM₁₀ were collected on a 20.3cm _X 25.4cm Whatman glass micro fiber filter. Before and after sampling, filters were set under 40% relative humidity (RH) at 25°C for over 48h, afterward at room condition for 2 h; then were weighed three times using an A&D electronic balance with the reading precision of 0.1mg. PM_2.5 and PM_1.0 were measured using two portable HAZ-DUST EPAM-5000 particulate air monitors.

Individual rats were placed in separate metabolic cages. These cages were attached to a urine collection funnel, which was placed over an electronic balance (A&D, Tokyo, Japan) to measure micturition behaviors. The amount of urine at each void was monitored using a multiport controller (PowerLab 4/26; AD Instruments, Dunedin, New Zealand). The first 48 h were considered an acclimatization period, then micturition behaviors in the last 24 h were used for analysis. Between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. was defined as daytime and between 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. the next day as nighttime based on a previous study [34 (link)]. In this study, micturition parameters including 24 h urine volume, micturition frequency, daytime frequency, nighttime frequency, single voided volume, and total urine output were measured.

The new pedicle screw system was fixed to the testing machine (Mini Bionix: MTS Japan) (Figure 2). Testing was conducted under a dynamic compressive load of 50N at a speed of 1Hz for 1 million cycles. We examined the loss of polyethylene due to abrasion and the presence or absence of system breakage of 3 units. The test room temperature was 20.3 to 23.1°C and the humidity was 25 to 35%. A calf serum solution with a total protein mass of 20 g/l was used as the lubricating liquid [14 ]. The weight of the ball was measured with an electronic balance (A&D). The loss of polyethylene was calculated as the weight difference between the polyethylene at the end of the test and another polyethylene sample immersed in lubrication during the same period as the test. The appearance of the ball, the sliding surface of the set screw, the sliding surface of the main body screw, and the appearance of the rod were observed with a digital microscope (Keyence), and the shape change of the ball was observed with a three-dimensional digitizer (SOLUTIONIX).