Injury severity related to overturn characteristics of tractors

Introduction

Early studies of injuries associated with overturns indicate that more fatalities occurred when a tractor overturned beyond 90° (continuous roll) relative to the impact plane. Recently, the principle of preventing continuous rolls has re-emerged for the protection of riding lawnmower operators.

Method

Related to tractors, a population-based study was conducted that compared the severity of fatal and nonfatal injuries between a 90° and continuous roll for tractors equipped with rollover protective structures (ROPS) and not equipped with a ROPS (non- ROPS). In 2002, the Kentucky Farm Tractor Overturn Survey was administered to an 8% random sample (6,063) of Kentucky farm operators. The farmers responded to questions that differentiated between the types of overturns and operator injury outcomes for ROPS-equipped and non-ROPS tractors during overturn events. Overturn characteristics were collected that included 90° to the side, beyond 90° to the side, and to the rear for both ROPS-equipped and non-ROPS tractors.

Results

Of the 541 overturns reported in this study, 535 (99%) of the respondents reported the most recent overturn characteristics of the tractor: 92 (17%) were ROPS-equipped and 443 (83%) were non-ROPS. For side overturns, 67% of the rolls occurred with ROPS-equipped tractors, and 54% occurred with non-ROPS tractors. The percentages of deaths related to rolls to the side for ROPS-equipped and non-ROPS tractors were, respectively, 1.6% and 3.7%. There was one (2%) deaths related to 90° rolls for ROPS-equipped tractors, whereas for continuous rolls there were 6.4% fatalities related to side overturns, 13% resulted in non-fatal injuries with an average of 1 day of hospitalization for ROPS-equipped tractors, and 39% resulted in non-fatal injuries with an average of 18 days of hospitalization for non-ROPS tractors. The results from this study indicated that a ROPS was more effective at stopping an overturn at 90° than no ROPS, with an associated reduction in the severity of injury in the event of a tractor overturn.     

An analysis of injury claims from low-seam coal mines

Introduction

The restricted workspace present in low-seam coal mines forces workers to adopt awkward working postures (kneeling and stooping), which place high physical demands on the knee and lower back.

Method

This article provides an analysis of injury claims for eight mining companies operating low-seam coal mines during calendar years 1996-2008. All cost data were normalized using data on the cost of medical care (MPI) as provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Results

Results of the analysis indicate that the knee was the body part that led in terms of claim cost ($4.2 million), followed by injuries to the lower back ($2.7 million). While the average cost per injury for these body parts was $13,100 and $14,400, respectively (close to the average cost of an injury overall), the high frequency of these injuries resulted in their pre-eminence in terms of cost. Analysis of data from individual mining companies suggest that knee and lower back injuries were a consistent problem across companies, as these injuries were each among the top five most costly part of body for seven out of eight companies studied.

Application/Impact

Results of this investigation suggest that efforts to reduce the frequency of knee and low back injuries in low-seam mines have the potential to create substantial cost savings.     

Pup production and breeding distribution of the Caspian seal (Phoca caspica) in relation to human impacts

Aerial surveys of Caspian seals on the winter ice field in Kazakhstan territorial waters were carried out in February 2005 and 2006 to assess the annual pup production for the species and natural predation on newborn pups. Estimated pup production was 21063 in 2005 and 16905 in 2006 (including an estimated figure for pups born in Russian territory in each year). The breeding population size of approximately 20 000 females is much less than published estimates from the late 1980s. Eagles were the principal natural predators of pups. Commercial icebreaker routes passed through areas of dense pup concentrations in 2006, although not in 2005. Our findings have important implications for the development of conservation strategies for the species. Natural mortality, loss to predators, and, more important, the current hunting quota substantially exceed the recruitment of the Caspian seal population. Anthropogenic sources of mortality should be managed to avoid further declines in the species.     

Short term exposure to elevated trinitrotoluene concentrations induced structural and functional changes in the soil bacterial community

We investigated the acute impact of trinitrotoluene (TNT) contamination of soil on the aerobic bacterial community composition and function. The contamination of the environment with explosive residues presents a serious problem at sites across the world, with the highly toxic compound TNT being the most widespread explosive contaminant. We investigated the acute impact of trinitrotoluene (TNT) contamination of soil on the aerobic bacterial community composition and function. Soil microcosms were amended with a range of concentrations of TNT for 30 days. A polyphasic approach encompassing culture-independent molecular analysis by DGGE, community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) and cell enumeration revealed that the amendment of soils with TNT resulted in a shift from slower growing k-strategists towards faster growing r-strategists. Pseudomonads became prevalent at high concentrations of TNT. Pollution induced community tolerance (PICT) was observed as TNT concentrations increased. Chemical analyses revealed that TNT was reduced to its amino derivatives, products of reductive microbial transformation. The transformation to amino derivatives decreased at high concentrations of TNT, indicative of inhibition of microbial TNT transformation.     

Microbial and plant ecology of a long-term TNT-contaminated site

The contamination of the environment with explosive residues presents a serious ecological problem at sites across the world, with the highly toxic compound trinitrotoluene (TNT) the most widespread contaminant. This study examines the soil microbial community composition across a long-term TNT-contaminated site. It also investigates the extent of nitroaromatic contamination and its effect on vegetation. Concentrations of TNT and its metabolites varied across the site and this was observed to dramatically impact on the extent and diversity of the vegetation, with the most heavily contaminated area completely devoid of vegetation. Bryophytes were seen to be particularly sensitive to TNT contamination. The microbial population experienced both a reduction in culturable bacterial numbers and a shift in composition at the high concentrations of TNT. DGGE and community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) revealed a clear change in both the genetic and functional diversity of the soil when soil was contaminated with TNT.     

Environmental application of three-dimensional graphene materials as adsorbents for dyes and heavy metals: Review on ice-templating method and adsorption mechanisms

The remediation of wastewater requires treatment technologies which are robust, efficient, simple to operate and affordable such as adsorption. Lately, three-dimensional (3D) graphene based materials have attracted significant attention as effective adsorbents for wastewater treatment. The intrinsic properties of 3D graphene structure such as large surface area and interconnected porous structure can facilitate the transport of pollutants into the 3D network and provide abundant active sites for trapping the pollutants. For the synthesis of 3D graphene structure, ice-templating is commonly practiced due to its facile steps, cost effectiveness and high scalability potential. This review covers the ice-templating fabrication technique for 3D graphene based materials and their application as adsorbents in eliminating dyes and heavy metals from aqueous media. The assembly mechanisms of the ice-templating fsynthesis are comprehensively discussed. Further discussion on the fundamental principles, critical process parameters and characteristics of ice-templated 3D graphene structures is also included. A thorough review on the mechanisms for batch adsorption of dyes and heavy metals is presented based on the structures and properties of the 3D graphene materials. The review further evaluates the dynamic adsorption in packed columns and the regeneration of 3D graphene based materials.     

Timekeeping in the honey bee colony: integration of circadian rhythms and division of labor

The daily patterns of task performance in honey bee colonies during behavioral development were studied to determine the role of circadian rhythmicity in age-related division of labor. Although it is well known that foragers exhibit robust circadian patterns of activity in both field and laboratory settings, we report that many in-hive tasks are not allocated according to a daily rhythm but rather are performed 24 h per day. Around-the-clock activity at the colony level is accomplished through the performance of some tasks by individual workers randomly with respect to time of day. Bees are initially arrhythmic with respect to task performance but develop diel rhythmicity, by increasing the occurrence of inactivity at night, prior to becoming foragers. There are genotypic differences for age at onset of rhythmicity and our results suggest that these differences are correlated with genotypic variation in rate of behavioral development: genotypes of bees that progressed through the age polyethism schedule faster also acquired behavioral rhythmicity at an earlier age. The ontogeny of circadian rhythmicity in honey bee workers ensures that essential in-hive behaviors are performed around the clock but also allows the circadian clock to be engaged before the onset of foraging. Received: 6 October 1997 / Accepted after revision: 28 March 1998     

Recent Changes in Soil Total Phosphorus in the Everglades: Water Conservation Area 3

We assessed recent changes in the distribution of soil total phosphorus (TP) in Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA-3) of the Everglades. Soil cores were collected in 1992 and 2003 at 176 sites. To reflect hydrologic boundaries within the system, WCA-3 was divided into three zones (3AN, 3AS, and 3B). Total P was mapped on both a mass (TPm) and a volumetric basis (TPv) to determine if spatial distributions varied depending on the choice of units. Interpolated maps for both years showed that the highest levels of TPm were located in 3AN and in boundary areas of all zones that received surface water inputs of P from canals. Increases in TPm were greatest in central 3AN in an area adjacent to the Miami Canal that received inputs from a water control structure. Interpolated maps for TPv illustrated that a hotspot present in 1992 had disappeared by 2003. The highest levels of TPv in 2003 were located in northwestern 3AN, a region of WCA-3 that has been chronically overdrained and burned in 1999. From 1992 to 2003, increases in TPm were observed for 53% of the area of WCA-3, while only 16% of WCA-3 exhibited increases in TPv. In 1992, approximately 21% of WCA-3 had TPm concentrations in the 0–10 cm layer >500 mg kg⁻¹, indicating P enrichment beyond historic levels. Eleven years later, 30% of the area of WCA-3 had TPm >500 mg kg⁻¹. This indicated that during this period, the area of WCA-3 with enriched TPm concentrations increased about one % year⁻¹.     

Effects of Habitat Size and Patch Isolation on Reproductive Success of the Serpentine Morning Glory

Abstract: We examined the effects of habitat area and patch isolation on reproductive success in serpentine morning glory ( Calystegia collina [Convolvulaceae]), a primarily self-incompatible clonal plant endemic to serpentine outcrops in northern California's coast ranges. Within a 4000-km ² region, we compared the reproductive success of C. collina on 16 small (<5 ha) and 7 large ( >300 ha) outcrops. Flower and fruit production were significantly higher on large serpentine outcrops than on small outcrops. Fruit production also was positively correlated with the soil's ratio of calcium to magnesium. Successful pollination was positively affected by flower density and the number of other flowering patches within 100 m of a C. collina patch. The number of nearby flowering patches was considerably higher on large than on small outcrops. Flowers on large outcrops did not receive significantly more bee visitors than flowers on small outcrops, suggesting that pollination success is related to the quality rather than the quantity of pollen deposited. Fruit production by plants on both small and large outcrops was enhanced by the experimental addition of pollen from other patches, but not by the addition of pollen from the same patch. These findings demonstrate that the size of habitat may have strong effects on the reproductive success of locally endemic plants by enhancing opportunities for successful sexual reproduction. They also warn against the presumption that naturally patchy plant species are invulnerable to the effects of habitat fragmentation.