The development of an intervention to improve the safety of community care nurses while driving and a qualitative investigation of its preliminary effects

This paper details the development of, and perceived role and effectiveness of an innovative intervention designed to ultimately improve the safety of a group of community care (CC) nurses while driving. Recruiting participants from an Australian CC nursing car fleet, qualitative responses from a series of open-ended questions were obtained from drivers (n = 36), supervisors (n = 22), and managers (n = 6). The findings supported the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing self-reported speeding and promoting greater insight into one’s behaviour on the road. This research has important practical implications in that it highlights the value of developing an intervention based on a sound theoretical framework and which is aligned with the needs and beliefs of personnel within a particular organisation.     

Ignitability characteristics of aluminium and magnesium dusts that are generated during the shredding of post-consumer wastes

The authors investigated the ignitability of aluminium and magnesium dusts that are generated during the shredding of post-consumer waste. The relations between particle size and the minimum explosive concentration, the minimum ignition energy, the ignition temperature of the dust clouds, etc. the relation between of oxygen concentration and dust explosion, the effect of inert substances on dust explosion, etc. were studied experimentally.

The minimum explosive concentration increased exponentially with particle size. The minimum explosive concentrations of the sample dusts were about 170 g/m³ (aluminium: 0–8 μm) and 90 g/m³ (magnesium: 0–20 μm). The minimum ignition energy tended to increase with particle size. It was about 6 mJ for the aluminium samples and 4 mJ for the magnesium samples. The ignition temperature of dust clouds was about 750 °C for aluminium and about 520 °C for magnesium. The lowest concentrations of oxygen to produce a dust explosion were about 10% for aluminium and about 8% for magnesium. A large mixing ratio (more than about 50%) of calcium oxide or calcium carbonate was necessary to decrease the explosibility of magnesium dust. The experimental data obtained in the present investigation will be useful for evaluating the explosibility of aluminium and magnesium dusts generated in metal recycling operations and thus for enhancing the safety of recycling plants.     

Integrating race and adult psychosocial development

The biographical interview method was used to study the lives of 10 black male entrepreneurs. The findings of this investigation supported Levinson's theory of developmental periods. The concept of evolving life structure was found to be vibrant and viable. Because of the impact of racial dynamics and racism, on the men's lives, two new developmental tasks of adult psychosocial development are proposed: (1) to form an individual racial identity that both acknowledges and frees the individual of their own racism and prejudices, and (2) to form an individual self-concept dedicated to the eradication of racial discrimination and racial prejudice from society.     

高层建筑火灾中安全疏散的评价分析

由于高层建筑的迅猛发展,高层建筑的火灾防范和安全疏散成为一个重要的研究课题.笔者阐述高层建筑的火灾特点,以及人员安全疏散的安全评价在消防中的重要作用;综述火灾危险分析的方法;介绍几种可以用于安全疏散的评价方法,并结合各种评价方法的优缺点进行了比较.根据实际情况,选择了模糊综合评价法对某一高层建筑作了简单的算例,从其结果中可以看出:疏散楼梯、防排烟和通风空调系统及事故疏散标志、通信设备存在一些问题,需要整改,以确保人员疏散的安全性;制定相应的应急预案,调整人员疏散策略,确保火灾中人员安全、及时、迅速撤离火灾现场,至安全区域.     

Ecological impacts of early 21st century agricultural change in Europe – A review

The impacts of agricultural land use are far-reaching and extend to areas outside production. This paper provides an overview of the ecological status of agricultural systems across the European Union in the light of recent policy changes. It builds on the previous review of 2001 devoted to the impacts of agricultural intensification in Western Europe. The focus countries are the UK, The Netherlands, Boreal and Baltic countries, Portugal, Hungary and Romania, representing a geographical spread across Europe, but additional reference is made to other countries. Despite many adjustments to agricultural policy, intensification of production in some regions and concurrent abandonment in others remain the major threat to the ecology of agro-ecosystems impairing the state of soil, water and air and reducing biological diversity in agricultural landscapes. The impacts also extend to surrounding terrestrial and aquatic systems through water and aerial contamination and development of agricultural infrastructures (e.g. dams and irrigation channels). Improvements are also documented regionally, such as successful support of farmland species, and improved condition of watercourses and landscapes. This was attributed to agricultural policy targeted at the environment, improved environmental legislation, and new market opportunities. Research into ecosystem services associated with agriculture may provide further pressure to develop policy that is targeted at their continuous provisioning, fostering motivation of land managers to continue to protect and enhance them.     

都江堰市红色村干沟泥石流活动特征及危险性评估

\"5·12\"四川汶川大地震导致灾区地质灾害危险性大大增强,严重影响了周边居民的生命财产安全。都江堰市虹口乡红色干沟泥石流灾害隐患点是其中之一。根据泥石流的成因、类型、规模,以及泥石流的活动特征,对泥石流活动进行了危险性评估,指出泥石流防治工程方案应采用以排为主,适当拦挡的原则,建拦挡坝用以消能、调节泥石流流量;建防护堤用以限制泥石流漫流,对居民区进行有效防护。     

新疆油田抽汲排液污染控制研究

抽汲排液存在抽汲设备和工具密封性差,对井场环境污染比较严重的问题,为解决抽汲排液对井场造成的污染,分别对抽汲钢丝绳的选择、试油井口防喷盒的密封以及试油抽汲作业规程及其它方面作了研究和应用,使抽汲排液对井场造成的污染得到了较好控制,符合新疆油田创建\"绿色油气田\"的要求。