Road safe seniors: Screening for age-related driving disorders in inpatient and outpatient settings

Introduction

Older drivers are increasing in number and they often have health conditions that place them at high risk for motor-vehicle crashes (MVC). Screening is underutilized, and is rarely done in hospital settings.

Methods

A convenience sample of 755 older adults completed age related driving disorders screening at University of California, San Diego inpatient and outpatient health centers. Screening included three strength/frailty tests, two vision tests (acuity and fields), and two cognitive tests, based on AMA recommendations. The average age of participants was 72.5; 55.5% were male and 94% English-speaking; 17.8% of older adults failed at least one aspect of screening.

Results

In multivariate analysis, significant associations of failed status were age, male sex, selfrestrictions of driving, and inpatient screening locations. The screening identified one in six adults to be 'high-risk' for age related driving disorders. Screening was effective and feasible in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Impact on industry

As the driving population ages, industry, government and health car providers need to plan for the management of driving impairments in older adults.     

Use of water spray curtain to disperse LNG vapor clouds

Effective safety measures to prevent and mitigate the consequences of an accidental release of flammable LNG are critical. Water spray curtain is currently recognized as an effective technique to control and mitigate various hazards in the industries. It has been used to absorb, dilute and disperse both toxic and flammable vapor cloud. It is also used as protection against heat radiation, in case of fighting vapor cloud fire. Water curtain has also been considered as one of the most economic and promising LNG vapor cloud control techniques. Water curtains are expected to enhance LNG vapor cloud dispersion mainly through mechanical effects, dilution, and thermal effects. The actual phenomena involved in LNG vapor and water curtain interaction were not clearly established from previous research. LNG spill experiments have been performed at the Brayton Fire Training Field at Texas A&M University (TAMU) to understand the effect of water curtain in controlling and dispersing LNG vapor cloud. This paper summarizes experimental methodology and presents data from two water curtain tests. The analysis of the test results are also presented to identify the effectiveness of these two types of water spray curtains in enhancing the LNG vapor cloud dispersion.     

Assessing the self-heating behaviour of Callide coal using a 2-metre column

A 2-m, adiabatic column has been successfully refurbished and recommissioned for coal self-heating research at The University of Queensland. Subbituminous coal from the Callide Coalfields reached thermal runaway in just under 19 days from a starting temperature of 20–22 °C. The coal was loaded as two layers, with an R₇₀ index of 2.73 °C h⁻¹ and 5.90 °C h⁻¹ for the upper layer and lower layer respectively. Initially, a hotspot developed in the upper layer between 120 and 140 cm from the air inlet due to moisture adsorption. After 7 days, self-heating in the lower half of the column began to take over, consistent with the higher R₇₀ index of this coal. The location of the final hotspot was approximately 60 cm from the air inlet. Further tests on Australian coals, with the column, will enable a better understanding of coal self-heating under conditions closely resembling mining, transport and storage of coal. The results from the column will also provide industry with the information needed to manage the coal self-heating hazard.     

Reaction hazard and mechanism study of H2O2 oxidation of 2-butanol to methyl ethyl ketone using DSC,Phi-TEC II and GC-MS

Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) oxidation via H₂O₂ with tungsten-based polyoxometalate catalysts has gained much attention with an ever-growing body of knowledge focusing on the development of environmentally benign processes in chemical industry. In this study, two calorimetry techniques, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Phi-TEC II adiabatic calorimetry, were employed to analyze the thermal hazards associated with the 2-butanol oxidation reaction system. Hydrogen peroxide was the oxidant and a tungsten-based polyoxometalate as the catalyst. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for identification of the organic products. Important thermal kinetic data were obtained including “onset” temperature, heat of reaction, adiabatic temperature rise and self-heat rate. From DSC results, three exothermic peaks were detected with a total heat generation of approximately 1.26 kJ/g sufficiently to induce a thermal runaway. Possible reaction pathway for three stages were proposed based on both DSC and GC-MS results. One exotherm was detected by Phi-TEC II calorimeter and the pressure versus temperature profile together with the DSC and GC-MS data demonstrate the complexity of 2-butanol reaction system under both thermal screening and adiabatic conditions.     

Effects of typical additives on the thermal stability of ammonium peroxydisulfate

Ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS), one of the most widely used inorganic peroxides in the process industries, is a thermally unstable peroxide and potent oxidizer due to the presence of peroxy bond in the molecule and is incompatible with most substances. To investigate the effect of typical additives on the thermal decomposition of APS, in this paper, diamine phosphate (DAP), monoamine phosphate (MAP), and aluminum hydroxide (AH) were selected as additives; pure APS and samples with 10 wt% and 20 wt% of additives were first tested by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The experiments and analysis showed that the samples with 10 wt% of additive had better thermal stability than those with 20 wt% of additive. After screening, the three groups of 10 wt% AH, 10 wt% MAP, and 20 wt% MAP additive conditions could be considered to have a better thermal stability effect on the thermal decomposition of APS. Four groups of samples were, in turn, tested by Phi-Tec II. The adiabatic results showed two discontinuous exothermic processes; 10 wt% AH promoted the weak exothermic effect in the first stage. In contrast, the three groups of additives in the main exothermic stage showed different degrees of inhibition, and the inhibiting effect was ranked as 10 wt% AH, 10 wt% MAP, and 20 wt% MAP in order. Finally, the self-accelerated decomposition temperature (SADT) was calculated under the 25 kg standard package. The adiabatic results, including SADT, were combined to render feasible recommendations for the use of additives, which provides references for the packaging and transportation of additives and their applications.     

温和地区高校宿舍冬季室内热舒适性评价

以昆明理工大学某学生宿舍作为研究对象,对室内热环境进行现场测试和问卷综合分析,根据测试和调查结果选取了有效温度作为衡量指标,基于MTS和PMV-PPD模型分析的方式对研究对象存在的冬季室内热环境较差、温度低、湿度高的问题进行了热舒适评价,旨在为昆明高校宿舍热环境的研究和改善提供参考。     

CGA G-13 large-scale silane release tests – Part I. Silane jet flame impingement tests and thermal radiation measurement

In early 2011, the G-13 Silane Modeling Task Force of the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) proposed a series of tests to better define pyrophoric behavior during unintentional, large-scale releases of silane. The tests were conducted in two phases under the direction of CGA and its guidelines. Phase I took place from June 27 to June 30, 2011, focusing primarily on thermal radiation and the heat transfer from flame impingement due to silane release from a fully open pressure relief device (PRD) on a tonner. Phase II took place on June 19 and 20, 2012, focusing on thermal radiation and explosion overpressure. The results were subsequently utilized to revise CGA G-13 guidelines on the safe handling of silane. In the present two-part papers, the results from the tests are summarized in order to highlight the key findings. The first part of summary described the results of the flame impingement and thermal radiation tests. Three different test series were conducted, including shakedown tests using nitrogen instead of silane, silane flame-impingement tests onto an adjacent target tonner, and heat-flux tests. For comparison with known values in the published literature, thermal radiation of ethylene flame jets was also measured. In addition, metallurgical analyses of the target tonner indicated that the metallurgical properties of the cylinder material were not altered by the flame impingement. The steel surface temperature at the point of impingement was estimated to be below 853.15 K and definitely did not exceed 950.15 K. Thus, the combination of internal pressure and vessel metal temperature was unlikely to exceed the rupture pressure of the ton cylinder.     

Methods and impact of health screening for hospital staff

This study examines: (1) the impact of two methods of giving screening results on health behaviour and beliefs, evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. (2) The association between uptake of screening and health risk behaviours and beliefs. Two methods of feedback of screening results were given: simple informational feedback, and more extensive feedback, including target-setting and a written contract. At six month follow-up, those who received simple informational feedback had lost less weight and had increased their exercise less than those who received more extensive feedback. Attenders believed more strongly in the relationship between lifestyle and health, perceived themselves as less healthy than others and scored higher on the GHQ than staff who did not attend for screening. These results suggest that belief in the effectiveness of lifestyle change in promoting health, and anxiety about health, can influence uptake of screening. Second, the method of presenting screening results can influence the impact of screening on subsequent behaviour change.     

PPH (potassium polyacrylate & hectorite) composite materials – A new fire accident emergency method for thermal protection of adjacent tanks

When a chemical tank fire happens in a storage area, it is very important to protect adjacent tanks so as to decrease fire accident losses. In this paper, a new thermal protection method was put forward based on a PPH (potassium polyacrylate & hectorite) thermal insulation composite material spraying on an adjacent tank under fire. Firstly, the PPH material was prepared successfully by a polymerization reaction of potassium acrylate, hectorite, NaHSO₃ and (NH₄)₂S₂O₈. Secondly, thermal insulation performance of the PPH material was characterized by heat transfer process at high incident heat flux using cone calorimeter. The results show that thermal insulation performance of the PPH material is affected by a content change of (NH₄)₂S₂O₈, NaHSO₃ and hectorite in formulations. The content of (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ 0.14 wt%, NaHSO₃ 1.38 wt% and hectorite 1.4 wt% was an optimum formulation ratio to obtain best thermal insulation performance. Finally, possible thermal insulation mechanisms of the PPH material were presented using SEM, TG and TG-IR techniques. One of the thermal insulation mechanisms is the incident heat flux absorbed by water evaporation from the PPH material. Another is the thermal protection of the char formed from the PPH material at high incident thermal radiation, which can prevent heat and mass transfer.     

模拟火灾中柔性有机堵料的热解性质及烟气研究*

为探究在高温下柔性有机堵料的热解特性及热解烟气成分，采用元素分析和热重(TG)分析测试方法，对2种柔性有机堵料的组成及热解性质进行对比研究，并通过烟箱和烟气分析仪模拟火灾中常见的热辐射环境，研究模拟火灾环境中2种柔性有机堵料有毒有害气体的释放情况及释放规律。研究结果表明:2种柔性有机堵料均有较好的耐火性能；在模拟火灾的热辐射环境中，2种柔性有机堵料均释放多种有毒有害气体，且大部分气体在受热辐射后10~75 min时间范围内释放，并主要集中在30~50 min时间范围内；2种柔性有机堵料样品所释放的气体组分种类大致相同但各组分含量有着较大的差异，可能与2种柔性有机堵料成分组成种类相似，但各组分含量比例不同有关。     

Development of an advanced nanocalorimetry system for material characterization

Calorimetric techniques, such as Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), are widely used to characterize energetic materials. The conventional DSC is a well-established tool but is limited to a macroscopic sample. A key drawback of conventional macroscale DSC technology is the large thermal inertia of the calorimetric cell and its associated hardware for smaller sample size. The conventional technology can impose severe limitations in cases where only minute sample quantities are available for testing (e.g. forensics, detection of trace explosives, process or product development).A microreactor based calorimeter is being developed to obtain accurate measurements with smaller sample sizes. Because these systems incorporate a very small thermal mass and use reagent quantities in the nanogram/nanoliter range, rapid and uniform heating and cooing can be achieved while maintaining a high level of temperature homogeneity. These miniaturized nanocalorimeters can offer enhanced sensing capabilities in an inexpensive portable format so that measurements can be made directly in the settings where they are needed.This paper discusses the design and fabrication of the nanocalorimeter device, as well as interface with a modular thermal control system. With the proposed advanced device, a calorimetric analysis can be performed in a few minutes utilizing a minute sample. Therefore, such a nanocalorimeter can be effectively employed for rapid screening of energetic materials at relatively low cost.     

A retro-synthesis approach for hazard evaluation and risk screening

Risk screening instruments can be very useful for evaluating hazards and establishing priorities for risk reduction. Further, these instruments can provide educational value to field staff when they are distributed to individuals outside of traditional process safety roles. This paper describes a retro-synthesis technique whereby risk screening instruments can be readily generated for these types of hazard evaluation and priority setting activities. Further, by utilizing a retro-synthesis approach, data gathered at the field level can often be drawn upon at a later point if a more detailed risk assessment is required. The retro-synthesis approach involves working backwards from traditional risk functions (relationships) so as to define the predominant elements for incorporation within the risk screening instrument. Compared to conventional techniques, the retro-synthesis approach utilizes deductive reasoning techniques in a manner similar to Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). However, the directional relationships that are established between causes and consequences become inverted.For example, risk can be defined as a function of “likelihood” and “severity”, where “severity” may be a function of the “energy released” and the “exposure group”. Similarly, the “energy released” is often a function of the “properties of the material involved” and the “amount of material released”. Through identifying these relationships, “risk” in this example can be characterized as a function of “likelihood”, “exposure group”, “properties of the material involved”, and “amount of material released”. Further, by highlighting the various influential parameters, the relationships between each of these parameters, as related to risk, can also be understood. Once the various terms and functions are defined, screening categories can then be developed to quantify each of the terms so as to allow for an approximation of the relative risk involved for the given scenarios.This approach benefits from being simple to develop, maintaining alignment with the mathematics required for more detailed quantitative risk assessments, and generating screening categories which can be given to field staff. Through careful construction of the screening categories field staff can then rapidly, and in a reproducible manner, screen a large number of scenarios so as to identify those situations which represent priority hazards.     

Biosorption of zinc(II) on rapeseed waste: Equilibrium studies and thermogravimetric investigations

The removal of heavy metals from aqueous effluents so as to avoid their toxic, bioaccumulation and biomagnification effects to humans and environment is usually realized by means of physical, chemical treatment, and biological processes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of rapeseed waste from biodiesel production as a biosorbent for Zn(II) ions.The ability of the rapeseed waste for Zn(II) biosorption exhibited a maximum at pH 4.5–5. The removal efficiency of Zn(II) from solution with an initial concentration of 72 mg L⁻¹ varied from 39% to 89% for an increase of the rapeseed waste dose from 2 to 30 g L⁻¹. The amount of Zn(II) retained on the tested rapeseed increased with increasing metal ion concentration, but the Zn(II) sorption percentage decreased. The equilibrium data are fitted to the Langmuir isotherm better than to the Freundlich isotherm. The kinetics of Zn(II) biosorption process follows a pseudo-second order model. The thermal stability of the rapeseed before and after Zn(II) biosorption was studied by thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that the zinc loaded rapeseed exhibits a better initial thermal stability than the original rapeseed, presumably due to the cross linking generated by the intermolecular complexation of Zn(II) ions. In both cases, the thermal decomposition takes place according to some reassembling kinetic models, in two phases with order n reactions. The results of this study strongly suggest the possibility to use rapeseed as an effective biosorbent for Zn(II) ions removal from aqueous effluents (municipal/industrial wastewaters).     

地面空调车调控下的飞机座舱热环境试验

为使冬季机舱内的空气温度达到登机要求,一般采用飞机地面空调车对机舱空气进行加温。采用试验的方法研究MD-82飞机机舱加温过程中机舱热环境的变化,采用两种方式控制地面空调车的送风温度,研究了不同控制方式对机舱热环境的影响。结果表明:冬季加热工况下机舱壁面边界温度和机舱空气温度存在明显的温度分层现象;加热一段时间后,与控制送风温度的方式相比,采用舱温控制的方式时机舱内空气的垂直温差更小。因此,若需要实现机舱环境的快速加热,宜采用控制送风温度的方式(M1)对机舱温度进行调控;若对机舱内热舒适要求较高,则建议采用控制机舱内空气温度的方式(M2)对机舱温度进行调控。     

一种化学物质的热危险性研究

以某一化学物质(ANPyO)为例,探讨了化学物质热危险性分析方法和步骤:建议首先从化学结构上对物质进行初步分析,然后根据化学结构进行理论计算预测,最后在前面研究的基础上,选择和确定采用合适的,比如:DSC/TG、ARC等小药量实验方法,研究化学物质的热危险性.对于ANPyO,通过分子结构可知其为多硝基多氨基芳烃,是具有潜在的燃烧、爆炸危险的活性化学物质.理论计算预测其属于高危险性物质.对其进行DSC/TG、ARC实验,得到绝热分解反应的热力学和动力学参数,自加速分解温度( TSADT)为199℃,热分解开始温度为310.0℃,最大反应速度出现在系统温度771.5℃时,自热分解开始到最大反应速度的时间为23.5min.文中研究可为该化学物质生产、使用和储运安全提供参考.     

The overall program effects of California's 3-Tier Assessment System pilot on crashes and mobility among senior drivers

IntroductionIn 2007, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) undertook a pilot study of the 3-Tier Assessment System, the purpose of which was to examine, in a large-scale real-time public agency setting, the effectiveness of this method for both reducing the crash risk of individual drivers and for extending the safe driving years of Californian drivers of all ages.MethodThe 3-Tier Assessment System consisted of tiered series of screening tools incorporated into the in-office driver's license renewal process. These screening tools identified drivers with various kinds of functional limitations (physical, visual, and cognitive/perceptual), that might impact safe driving. Paired with the screening tools were educational materials designed to improve drivers' knowledge of their own limitations, including compensating techniques. The present study is a population-based evaluation of the effects of the pilot on subsequent crash risk and mobility outcomes (including delicensure) of participating drivers age 70 and older. Pilot participants were compared with two control groups processed according to standard California DMV license renewal procedures. Because the 3-Tier Assessment System was designed to identify limitations normally associated with aging, the present analyses focus on drivers age 70 and older. However, it should be emphasized that during the 3-Tier pilot the screening tools were applied to drivers of all ages.ResultsThere were two main findings. First, there were no consistent, statistically significant differences between the pilot and control groups in crash risk in the two years following screening. Second, pilot participants experienced statistically significant effects on mobility. These effects included delays in time to complete their license renewal, an increase in the number of assigned license restrictions, and an increase in the number of customers failing to renew their driving privilege.ConclusionsBased on these findings, suggestions for further research are made.Impact on industryNone.     

Lithium-ion energy storage battery explosion incidents

Utility-scale lithium-ion energy storage batteries are being installed at an accelerating rate in many parts of the world. Some of these batteries have experienced troubling fires and explosions. There have been two types of explosions; flammable gas explosions due to gases generated in battery thermal runaways, and electrical arc explosions leading to structural failure of battery electrical enclosures. The thermal runaway gas explosion scenarios, which can be initiated by various electrical faults, can be either prompt ignitions soon after a large flammable gas mixture is formed, or delayed ignitions associated with late entry of air and/or loss of gaseous fire suppression agent. The electrical explosions have entailed inadequate electrical protection to prevent high energy arcs within electrical boxes vulnerable to arc induced high pressures and thermal loads. Estimates of both deflagration pressures and arc explosion pressures are described along with their incident implications.     

过氧乙酸溶液的热爆炸分析

为有效预防生产、储运和使用中过氧乙酸引发的火灾爆炸事故,采用绝热加速量热仪模拟了15%和10%浓度的过氧乙酸溶液的热爆炸过程,得到了两种浓度的PAA溶液的热分解温度、压力、温升速率随时间变化的关系曲线,并用速率常数法分别计算了反应级数n、表观活化能Ea和指前因子A。经过绝热修正,得到最危险状态下的温度和压力等相关热危险参数,并基于Semenov热爆炸理论推算了三种包装条件下两种样品的不可逆温度和自加速分解温度。结果表明,15%PAA和10%PAA溶液热分解反应级数均为一级,表观活化能分别为1044kJ·mol-1和1032kJ·mol-1;绝热条件下初始放热温度分别为429℃和293℃;自加速分解温度受反应系统到达最大反应速率的时间、物料存储规模及散热条件的影响,建议PAA应储存在通风背阴处且单个包装容积应控制在25L以下。     

Validation of liquid nitrogen vaporisation rate by small scale experiments and analysis of the conductive heat flux from the concrete

The vaporisation of a liquid nitrogen pool spilled on concrete ground was investigated in small scale field experiments. The pool vaporisation rate and the heat transfer from the concrete ground were measured using a balance and a set of embedded heat flux sensors and thermocouples. The ability to predict the concrete's thermal properties based on these measurements was investigated. This work showed that a simple, one-dimensional theoretical model, assuming heat conduction through a semi-infinite ground with ideal contact between the cryogenic liquid and the ground, commonly used to describe the heat transfer from a ground to the LNG, can be used to match the observed vaporisation rate. Though estimated parameters, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity, do not necessary represent real values. Although the observed vaporization rate follows a linear trend, and thus can be well represented by the model, the overall model prediction seems to be overestimated. The temperature profile inside the concrete is slightly over-predicted at the beginning and under-predicted at later stage of the spill. This might be an effect of the dependence of the concrete's thermal properties on the temperature or may indicate an incorrect modelling and a varying temperature of the ground surface.