Development of a three-year-old child FE model

OBJECTIVE: Child crash dummies are conventionally used for safety performance evaluations of the child restraint system (CRS) in vehicle crash tests. To investigate injuries to various body regions of a child in detail, mathematical models are useful, and provide information that cannot be analyzed by crash dummies. Therefore, in the present research, a finite element (FE) model of a 3-year-old child has been developed by model-based scaling from the AM50 human FE model, THUMS (Total HUman body for Safety). METHODS: The dimensions of each body region were based on the anthropometry data of United States children, and material properties of child bone were estimated from data reported in the literature. Neck flexion, thorax impact responses, and torso flexion were validated against the response corridor of the 3-year-old Hybrid III dummy in calibration tests. A test of lap belt loading to the abdomen was also conducted. FE models of two different types of CRS, a 5-point harness and a tray shield CRS, were also made, and ECE R44 sled impact test simulations were conducted using the child FE model. RESULTS: The characteristics of the child FE model proved to be close to the Hybrid III and child volunteer corridor. In the ECE R44 sled test simulations using the child FE model, the head movement down and head rotation were large in the 5-point harness CRS, and chest deflection was large in the tray shield CRS. In both CRS types, the whole spine flexed in the child FE model. This behavior is different from that of the Hybrid III, where the thorax spine is stiff and only the cervical spine and lumbar spine flex. CONCLUSIONS: Although this child FE model has several limitations in areas such as the anatomical shapes and material properties of a child, this model can be a useful tool to examine the behavior of a child in impacts, which may be difficult to predict by using the Hybrid III dummy with its stiff thorax spine box.     

Structural characterization and visible light activated photocatalytic ability of glass–ceramics prepared from municipal solid waste

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The relationship between local structure and visible-light-activated photocatalytic ability of glass–ceramics prepared from Municipal Solid...     

Distribution patterns of larval myctophid fishes in the transition region of the western North Pacific

We examined the species composition and horizontal distribution of myctophid fish larvae in the transition region of the western North Pacific during the early summer. In total, 4,760 myctophid larvae were collected at 44 stations; 18 species of myctophids from 15 genera were collected, and the 8 most abundant species accounted for >95% of larvae. The distribution patterns of these larvae were well defined by the hydrographic structures of the study area including the Oyashio and Kuroshio fronts, the Subarctic Boundary, and a warm core ring. The horizontal distribution patterns of the eight dominant species were categorized into three groups: northern transition water (Stenobrachius nannochir, Tarletonbeania taylori, and Lampanyctus jordani), southern transition water (Symbolophorus californiensis, Diaphus theta, and Nannobrachium regale), and Kuroshio (Myctophum asperum and Diaphus garmani). The Subarctic Boundary defined the distributions of the northern and southern transition-water groups. The importance of areas of western North Pacific transition water as spawning and nursery grounds for subarctic, transitional, and subtropical myctophid fishes was indicated by the relationship between the horizontal distribution patterns of larvae, juveniles, and adults and the physical oceanographic structures.Communicated by T. Ikeda, Hakodate     

Trans-boundary air pollution over remote islands in Japan: observed data and estimates from a numerical model

Observations of air pollutants were conducted in remote Japanese islands (Oki Island and Okinawa Island) in early spring to clarify the extent of trans-boundary air pollution from the Asian continent. A three-dimensional Eulerian model calculation, which included parameters on emission, transport and transformation of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and ammonia, was performed to compile sulfate isosurface concentrations over the observational sites. Concentrations of non-sea-salt sulfate (nss-SO₄²⁻) of greater than 10 μg m⁻³ were observed at Oki after the northeastward passage of low-pressure systems in the Sea of Japan. At these times, the weather showed a typical winter pattern and air pollutants over China were transported southeastward to Japan with the northwesterly wind. The model calculation reproduced the observed variations of nss-SO₄²⁻ concentration well, except for one case in which the model calculation could not reproduce the extremely low nss-SO₄²⁻ concentration observed on 8 March. In Hedo (Okinawa Island), we observed long-lasting (3 days) medium concentrations of nss-SO₄²⁻ (approximately 5 μg m⁻³). Although the model reproduced these observed medium concentrations well, in general the observed results were reproduced better for Oki than for Hedo. Under the synoptic weather conditions of early spring, high concentrations of nss-sulfate were sometimes transported to these remote Japanese islands from areas of continental Asia with a strong outflow of air pollutants.     

Background levels of soil beryllium in several countries

Beryllium and aluminium contents in uncontaminated soils from six countries are reported. The means and ranges of beryllium in the surface soils were as follows: 1.43(0.20–5.50)g g^–1 in Thailand (n=28), 0.7 (0.31–1.03) g g^–1 in Indonesia (n=12), 0.99(0.82–1.32) g g^–1 in New Zealand (n=3), 0.58(0.08-1.68)g g^–1 in Brazil (n=16), 3.52(2.49–4.97)g g^–1 in the former Yugoslavia (n=10), and 1.56(1.01–2.73) g g^–1 in the former USSR (n=8). The mean and range of beryllium contents of the surface soils in Japan (1.17(0.27–1.95)g g^–1 n=27) are situated within the values of the soils from these countries except for the Yugoslav soils derived from limestones. The mean of the mean beryllium contents of the surface soils in all these countries is 1.42 g g^–1 which will be used as a tentative average content of beryllium in uncontaminated surface soils, except for the soils derived from parent materials high in beryllium content. The beryllium contents of the subsoils were higher than those of the surface soils in New Zealand and Yugoslavia as is the case with Japan. The correlation coefficient between the contents of beryllium and aluminium in all the soil samples (n=113) including surface soils and subsoils was 0.505 (p < 0.001).     

A study on the self-assembly behavior of dark materials from molasses

We have previously demonstrated that dark materials (DM) in acidified molasses are effectively adsorbed to Amberlite XAD7HP resin and are eluted from the resin with 0.1 M sodium hydroxide. In this paper, we have characterized the self-assembly behavior of molasses DM by using dynamic and static light scattering in combination with isoelectric focusing and infrared absorption spectroscopy in order to better understand the resin adsorption mechanism. One of DM derivatives, X-G2, contained carboxyl and hydroxyl groups and had a weight-average molar mass of 9.39?×?10³ to 4.42?×?10⁴ at pH 2.1–11.5. The aggregates retained their spherical shape over the full pH range and the large gyration radius (66.4–80.0 nm) indicated that the inner structure was loosely packed. Furthermore, X-G2 had an isoelectric point of 1.8, and its density increased sharply at pH 5.9 and then approached a nearly constant value under alkaline conditions. In summary, the self-assembly processes of DM are controlled by intermolecular hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions. The aggregates adsorb to the resin through hydrophobic interactions and are eluted when excess carboxylate anions are generated.     

Evaluation of current material stock and future demolition waste for urban residential buildings in Jakarta and Bandung,Indonesia: embodied energy and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emission analysis

First, this paper evaluates the current building material stock and future demolition waste for urban residential buildings in the cities of Jakarta and Bandung using a material-flow analysis. The actual on-site building measurements were conducted in Jakarta (2012) and Bandung (2011), focusing particularly on unplanned houses, to obtain building material inventory data. A total of 297 houses were investigated in Jakarta, whereas 247 houses were measured in Bandung. Second, this paper analyses the embodied energy and CO₂ emissions of building materials through an input–output analysis. The results show that, overall, the total material input intensity for the houses is 2.67 ton/m² in Jakarta and 2.54 ton/m² in Bandung. Two scenarios with zero and maximum reuse/recycling rates were designed to predict future demolition waste and the embodied energy/CO₂ emissions of building materials in Jakarta. Closed- and open-loop material flows were applied. If the maximum reuse/recycling rates are applied to the closed- and open-loop material flows in Jakarta, then it would become possible to not only decrease the final disposal waste (from 123.9 to 2.1 million ton) but also reduce the corresponding embodied energy (from 247.8 to 192.1 PJ) and CO₂ emissions (from 24.3 to 19.2 million ton CO₂-eq) compared with the zero reuse/recycling scenario from 2012 to 2020.     

Evaluation of groundwater dynamic regime with groundwater depth evaluation indexes

An accurate quantitative evaluation of anthropogenic effects on regional groundwater dynamics is critical to the rational planning, management, and use of such resources and in maintaining the sustainability of groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Based on groundwater dynamics, a series of groundwater depth evaluation indexes were created to quantitatively evaluate the effects of anthropogenic activities on the groundwater system. These indexes were based on mathematical relationships relating groundwater depth to surface runoff (gammat), precipitation (rhot), and extraction (deltat). The anthropogenic effects on these relationships were evaluated statistically, with respect to both temporal and spatial variation. The anthropogenic effects on groundwater dynamics within the arid Zhangye Basin, located in the middle reaches of northwest China's Heihe River, were investigated. River valley plains in the western portion of the basin excepted, anthropogenic activities have, since 1995, dramatically altered the basin's groundwater dynamics; in particular, in the mid-upper and lower portions of alluvial-diluvial fans and in localized northerly fine-soil plains regions, the relationship of groundwater to surface runoff and atmospheric precipitation has shifted. This and other changes indicate that anthropogenic effects on groundwater systems in this region show clear spatiotemporal variation.     

Prenatal interphase FISH diagnosis of PLP1 duplication associated with Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease

A submicroscopic genomic duplication in Xq22.2 that contains the entire proteolipid protein 1 gene (PLP1) is responsible for the majority of Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease (PMD) patients. We previously developed an interphase FISH assay to screen for PLP1 duplications in PMD patients using peripheral blood and lymphoblastoid cell lines. This assay has been utilized as a clinical diagnostic test in our cytogenetics laboratory. To expand usage of the interphase FISH assay to prenatal diagnosis of PLP1 duplications, we examined three PMD families with PLP1 duplications utilizing aminiotic fluid samples. In two families the FISH assay revealed fetuses with PLP1 duplications, whereas the other fetus showed a normal copy number of PLP1. Haplotype analyses, as well as an additional FISH analysis using postnatal blood samples, confirmed the results of the prenatal analyses. Our study demonstrates utility of the interphase FISH assay in the prenatal diagnosis of PLP1 duplications in PMD. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.