Acute injuries resulting from accidents involving powered mobility devices (PMDs)—Development and outcomes of PMD-related accidents in Sweden

Objective: Powered mobility devices (PMDs) are commonly used as aids for older people and people with disabilities, subgroups of vulnarable road users (VRUs) who are rarely noted in traffic safety contexts. However, the problem of accidents involving PMD drivers has been reported in many countries where these vehicles have become increasingly popular.

The aim of this study is to extract and analyze national PMD-related accident and injury data reported to the Swedish Traffic Accident Data Acquisition (STRADA) database. The results will provide valuable insight into the risks and obstacles that PMD drivers are exposed to in the traffic environment and may contribute to improving the mobility of this group in the long term.

Methods: The current study is based on data from 743 accidents and 998 persons. An analysis was performed on a subset of data (N?=?301) in order to investigate the development of accidents over a period of 10 years. Thereafter, each accident in the whole data set was registered as either single (N?=?427) or collision (N?=?315).

Results: The results show that there was a 3-fold increase in the number of PMD-related accidents reported to STRADA during the period 2007–2016.

With regard to single accidents, collisions, as well as fatalities, the injury statistics were dominated by males. Single accidents were more common than collisions (N?=?427 and N?=?316, respectively) and the level of injury sustained in each type of accident is on par.

The vast majority of single accidents resulted in the PMD driver impacting the ground (87%), due to either PMD turnover (71%) or the driver falling out of the PMD (16%). The reason for many of the single accidents was a difference in ground level (34%, typically a curb).

Cars, trucks, or buses were involved in 67% of collision events; these occured predominantly at junctions or intersections (70%).

Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 3+ injuries were dominated by hip and head injuries in both single accidents and collision events.

Conclusions: The present study shows that further research on PMD accidents is required, with regard to both single accidents and collision events. To ensure that appropriate decisions are made, future work should follow up on injury trends and further improve the quality of PDM-related accident data. Improved vehicle stability and design, increased usage of safety equipment, proper training programs, effective maintenance services, and development of a supporting infrastructure would contribute to increased safety for PMD drivers.     

Assessing the effects of surface-bound humic acid on the phototoxicity of anatase and rutile TiO2 nanoparticles in vitro

In this study,the cytotoxicity of two different crystal phases of TiO₂ nanoparticles,with surface modification by humic acid（HA）,to Escherichia coli,was assessed.The physicochemical properties of TiO₂ nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized.Three different initial concentrations,namely 50,100,and 200 ppm,of HA were used for synthesis of HA coated TiO₂ nanoparticles（denoted as A/RHA50,A/RHA100,and A/RHA200,respectively）.Results indicate that rutile（LC50（concentration that causes 50%mortality compared the control group）=6.5）was more toxic than anatase（LC₅0=278.8）under simulated sunlight（SSL）irradiation,possibly due to an extremely narrow band gap.It is noted that HA coating increased the toxicity of anatase,but decreased that of rutile.Additionally,AHA50 and RHA50had the biggest differences compared to uncoated anatase and rutile with LC₅0of 201.9 and21.6,respectively.We then investigated the formation of reactive oxygen species（ROS）by TiO₂ nanoparticles in terms of hydroxyl radicals（OH）and superoxide anions（O₂^-）.Data suggested that O₂^- was the main ROS that accounted for the higher toxicity of rutile upon SSL irradiation.We also observed that HA coating decreased the generation of OH and O₂^- on rutile,but increased O₂^- formation on anatase.Results from TEM analysis also indicated that HA coated rutile tended to be attached to the surface of E.coli more than anatase.     

Duty hours and incidents in flight among commercial airline pilots

Introduction. Working long duty hours has often been associated with increased risk of incidents and accidents in transport industries. Despite this, information regarding the intermediate relationship between duty hours and incident risk is limited. This study aimed to test a work hours/incident model to identify the interplay of factors contributing to incidents within the aviation industry. Methods. Nine hundred and fifty-four European-registered commercial airline pilots completed a 30-item survey investigating self-report attitudes and experiences of fatigue. Path analysis was used to test the proposed model. Results. The fit indices indicated this to be a good fit model (χ²?=?11.066, df?=?5, p?=?0.05; Comparative Fit Index?=?0.991; Normed Fit Index?=?0.984; Tucker–Lewis Index?=?0.962; Root Mean Square of Approximation?=?0.036). Highly significant relationships were identified between duty hours and sleep disturbance (r?=?0.18, p?r?=?0.40, p?r?=?0.43, p?Discussion. A critical pathway from duty hours through to self-reported incidents in flight was identified. Further investigation employing both objective and subjective measures of sleep and fatigue is needed.     

Place,human agency and community resilience – considerations for public health management of smoke from prescribed burning

Prescribed burning is now a widely accepted bushfire hazard management strategy. While evidence points to reduced levels of public health harm compared to severe bushfire, smoke created by planned burns remains a community concern with need for evidence-based public health management. Findings are presented from an Australian study of community experiences of prescribed burns, associated smoke, and public health communications. We find that “place” influences how information is received and used for the management of the effects of planned burns; and that this is significant for human agency and community resilience. We provide recommendations for public health management.     

A Review of Water Quality Responses to Air Temperature and Precipitation Changes 2: Nutrients,Algal Blooms,Sediment, Pathogens

In this paper we review the published, scientific literature addressing the response of nutrients, sediment, pathogens, and cyanobacterial blooms to historical and potential future changes in air temperature and precipitation. The goal is to document how different attributes of water quality are sensitive to these drivers, to characterize future risk, to inform management responses, and to identify research needs to fill gaps in our understanding. Results suggest that anticipated future changes present a risk of water quality and ecosystem degradation in many United States locations. Understanding responses is, however, complicated by inherent high spatial and temporal variability, interactions with land use and water management, and dependence on uncertain changes in hydrology in response to future climate. Effects on pollutant loading in different watershed settings generally correlate with projected changes in precipitation and runoff. In all regions, increased heavy precipitation events are likely to drive more episodic pollutant loading to water bodies. The risk of algal blooms could increase due to an expanded seasonal window of warm water temperatures and the potential for episodic increases in nutrient loading. Increased air and water temperatures are also likely to affect the survival of waterborne pathogens. Responding to these challenges requires understanding of vulnerabilities, and management strategies to reduce risk.     

Nikinake: the mobilization of labour and skill development in rural Ethiopia

A public mobilization approach known as nikinake drives implementation and technology upscaling in Ethiopia's agricultural extension. This study investigates and describes the processes and effectiveness of nikinake as an extension method used for natural resource management (NRM). The paper draws on empirical field research conducted in Oromia and the southern region of Ethiopia by looking at nikinake in the context of a watershed management campaign in 2015 and 2016. Nikinake is used as an approach to mobilize the public and to promote the skills of farmers and development actors. In principle, the implementation of NRM is voluntary; however, it is largely planned top‐down and enforced through state actors and informal institutions. This study suggests effective integration of social mobilization with reliable extension and a paradigm shift in emphasis from spatial coverage to an effective outcome. Additionally, sustainability and scalability of NRM interventions could be ameliorated by improving experts’ technical skills, raising farmers’ awareness, improving an incentive system, building trust, and better integrating past watershed management and future planning activities. We reflect on the significance of the nikinake experience in Ethiopia for a broader theory of extension‐as‐mobilization for rural development. From the Ethiopian case, a more general recommendation emerges for extension‐as‐mobilization schemes. For long‐term development, it is worthwhile to consider the fit between yearly campaigns as ad hoc project organizations and the existing pattern of actors and institutions responsible for rural development.     

Do bearing magnets affect the extent of deflection in clock-shifted homing pigeons?

When released after clock-shift, homing pigeons fail to orient towards the home direction but display a consistent deflection of their initial orientation due to the difference between the real sun azimuth and the computed azimuth according to the subjective time of each single bird. It has been reported that the size of the observed deflection is frequently smaller than expected and a discussion on the possible factors affecting the size of deflection has emerged. Some authors have proposed that the major factor in reducing the deflection after clock-shift is the simultaneous use of both the magnetic and the sun compasses, giving true and erroneous information, respectively, about the home direction. Therefore, a magnetic disturbance, by impeding the use of the geomagnetic information in determining the home direction, is presumed to increase the size of the deflection up to the levels of the expectation. To test this hypothesis, we released three groups of clock-shifted birds from unfamiliar locations (unmanipulated pigeons, pigeons bearing magnets on their head, and pigeons bearing magnets on their back) together with a group of unshifted control birds. As no difference in the orientation of the three groups emerged, we were not able to confirm the hypothesis of the role of the magnetic compass in reducing the expected deflection after clock-shift.Communicated by W. Wiltschko     

Influence of habitat on the reproductive biology of the deep-sea hydrothermal vent limpet <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepetodrilus fucensis</Emphasis> (Vetigastropoda: Mollusca) from the Northeast Pacific

Habitat selection by the hydrothermal vent limpet, Lepetodrilus fucensis, in Northeast Pacific hydrothermal vent ecosystems, may influence its reproductive output, as it occupies habitats with varying physico-chemical conditions that reflect the availability of nutritional resources. Histological techniques were used to determine size at first reproduction, gametogenesis, reproductive output, and fecundity in relation to shell length (SL), through examination of the gonads of male and female L. fucensis, collected from five different hydrothermal vent habitat types with different temperature anomalies and hydrothermal fluid flow vigour: vigorous (VIG), diffuse (DIF), tubeworm bushes (TWB), peripheral (PER), and senescent areas (SEN). Both male and female L. fucensis exhibited early maturity, with the first reproductive event occurring at 3.8 and 3.9 mm shell length, respectively. All stages of gamete development were present in the gonads of males and females, suggesting continuous gametogenesis and asynchronous reproduction in this species. Gametogenic maturity of limpets did not vary among actively venting habitats (VIG, DIF, TWB, and PER), but was significantly lower in males and females from SEN habitats. Mean oocyte diameter was largest in females from VIG habitats, and smallest in females from SEN habitats, than in those from the other habitats (DIF, TWB, and PER). Females from actively venting habitats also had greater actual fecundity than those from senescent habitats. While the gametogenic pattern of L. fucensis appears phylogenetically constrained, selection of actively venting habitats by L. fucensis maximizes its reproductive output. The multiple feeding strategies of L. fucensis may allow for a constant supply of energy to be allocated to reproduction in any habitat except senescent vents. Early maturity, high fecundity, and continuous production of gametes suggest a reproductive strategy characteristic of an opportunistic species, and may be contributing to the extremely abundant populations of L. fucensis observed in the Northeast Pacific vent ecosystem.     

Food alert in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris): possible mechanisms and evolutionary implications

The return of a successful bumblebee forager stimulates nestmates to leave the nest and search for food. Here we investigate the mechanisms by which this happens. Successful Bombus terrestris foragers perform irregular runs in their nest, often lasting for several minutes. Run duration is at its maximum when food has just been discovered. Running likely serves to distribute a pheromone, since the information flow between "runners" and "recruits" can be disrupted by eliminating air exchange, while leaving other potential means of communication intact. In addition, nectar stores in the nest may be monitored continuously. A sudden influx of nectar into the nest also causes measurable increases in forager activity. The implications of bumblebee recruitment behavior for the evolution of communication in bees are discussed.     

Genetic structuring of immature loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean Sea reflects water circulation patterns

The analysis of mitochondrial DNA in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from eight foraging grounds in the Mediterranean and the adjoining Atlantic revealed deep genetic structuring within the western Mediterranean. As a consequence, the foraging grounds off the North-African coast and the Gimnesies Islands are shown to be inhabited mainly by turtles of the Atlantic stocks, whereas the foraging grounds off the European shore of the western Mediterranean are shown to be inhabited mainly by turtles from the eastern Mediterranean rookeries. This structuring is explained by the pattern of sea surface currents and water masses and suggests that immature loggerhead sea turtles entering the western Mediterranean from the Atlantic and the eastern Mediterranean remain linked to particular water masses, with a limited exchange of turtles between water masses. As the north of the western Mediterranean comprises mostly individuals from the highly endangered eastern Mediterranean rookeries, conservation plans should make it a priority to reduce the mortality caused by incidental by-catch in these areas.