Pediatric pedestrian trauma study: a pilot project

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implementation of the WalkSafe Program, a school based educational injury prevention program for children grades Kindergarten through 5. METHODS: A randomized comparative design was used for this study. The study was conducted in two high-risk urban school districts, which were chosen based on the geographic areas with the highest pedestrian injury and fatality rates. Four elementary schools (two in each district) were identified as potential study sites. Two intervention schools, one in each school district, were randomly chosen to receive the WalkSafe program; the other two schools served as controls, and received no intervention. The data was collected within the classroom setting for both the intervention and control schools. All elementary school children were administered the same pedestrian safety questionnaire as a pre-test, post-test and at three months following the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 2300 children participated in the WalkSafe program. The intervention (I) schools showed significant improvement in post-test scores then the control (C) schools (p = 0.012), and the (I) schools were able to maintain their test scores as reflected in a three-month follow-up evaluation (p = 0.47). Grades 3-5 of the (I) schools showed significant improvement in their test scores over grades K-2 (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The WalkSafe program was shown to improve the pedestrian safety knowledge of elementary school children. Future research will include implementing the WalkSafe program at each elementary school within a single high-risk district.     

The alternative Pharaoh approach: stingless bees mummify beetle parasites alive

Workers from social insect colonies use different defence strategies to combat invaders. Nevertheless, some parasitic species are able to bypass colony defences. In particular, some beetle nest invaders cannot be killed or removed by workers of social bees, thus creating the need for alternative social defence strategies to ensure colony survival. Here we show, using diagnostic radioentomology, that stingless bee workers (Trigona carbonaria) immediately mummify invading adult small hive beetles (Aethina tumida) alive by coating them with a mixture of resin, wax and mud, thereby preventing severe damage to the colony. In sharp contrast to the responses of honeybee and bumblebee colonies, the rapid live mummification strategy of T. carbonaria effectively prevents beetle advancements and removes their ability to reproduce. The convergent evolution of mummification in stingless bees and encapsulation in honeybees is another striking example of co-evolution between insect societies and their parasites.