Relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and anthropometric indices among bus drivers in Zahedan city

Introduction. Most work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are associated with improper postures and poorly designed workstations. This study is an attempt to examine the prevalence and severity of MSDs as well as anthropometric dimensions among city bus drivers. Methodology. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 60 male bus drivers. A body discomfort chart was used to evaluate MSDs. Spearman correlation was employed to examine the relationship between body size and the severity of discomfort. Results. Data analysis showed that discomfort reported in the lower back (33.3%), upper back (18.3%) and knee (15%) was severe and there was a direct and significant correlation between the body mass index and the severity of discomfort in the shoulder, arm and hip (p?p?Conclusion. The results of the study can be used to address ergonomic risk factors and reduce their associated disorders. The findings of the study can be used in training programs to educate drivers how to decrease the risk associated with work-related MSDs by adopting appropriate behavior strategies.     

Remote effect of nuclear polyhedrosis virus on the gypsy moth (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lymantria dispar</Emphasis> L.) in its natural environment

The remote effect of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus on the gypsy moth was studied for the first time under natural conditions. In the generation that developed from infected eggs, the weight of pupae was reduced, sex ratio was altered, and female fecundity and egg fertility were lower than in control individuals. The F₁ progeny of these moths were characterized by an increased rate of latent virus carriage and high mortality caused by the combined effect of polyhedrosis and insect parasites.     

The effect of greenhouse vegetation coverage and area on the performance of an earth-to-air heat exchanger for heating and cooling modes

The underground temperature at a depth of about 3–4 m is almost constant all the year round. In summer, the underground temperature is lower than the ambient temperature, but in winter it is vice versa. This potentiality is considered for greenhouse cooling and heating by using an earth-to-air heat exchanger (EAHE). This paper considers the effects of two parameters as independent variables including the area of greenhouse and the percentage of vegetation coverage inside the greenhouse on the performance of an EAHE system during both cooling and heating modes. The inside temperature, the thermal energy exchange and the coefficient of performance (COP) of the system were considered as dependent variables. The results showed that both greenhouse area and the percentage of vegetation coverage inside the greenhouse had significant effects on the performance of the EAHE system during both cooling and heating modes. However, the COP of the EAHE system was higher in the cooling mode (4.32) than during the heating mode (1.01). The percentage of vegetation coverage negatively affected the performance of the EAHE system in the cooling mode. However, the performance of the EAHE system improved with the increase in the percentage of vegetation coverage during the heating mode.     

Migration of VOC Plume in the Subsurface Domain at the Y‐12 National Security Site

During the production of thermonuclear fusion weapons at the Y‐12 National Security Complex (Y‐12 NSC) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, between 1950 and 1963, the regional environment was extensively contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Old Salvage Yard (OSY) on the western side of the site has been characterized as the major source of VOCs. In order to analyze the long‐term fate and transport of chlorinated VOC sources, an integrated surface and subsurface flow and transport model was developed for the Y‐12 NSC using the hydrodynamic and transport numerical package MIKE‐SHE. The model was developed considering the recent hydrogeological investigations on preferential flow and transport pathways at the site. The model was calibrated using the recorded groundwater flow and water‐quality data. The modeling simulated migration of the VOC plume for the next 100 years. Considering a range of hydrogeological and transport parameters, uncertainty of the results is discussed. The modeling predicted that tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, and 1,2‐dichloroethene may exceed human health–related risk levels for the next 10 to 20 years. However, the contamination is unlikely to migrate to surface water under the current hydrogeological conditions and will decay below acceptable risk levels within approximately 20 years. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Determination trace amounts of copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese ions in water samples after simultaneous separation and preconcentration

In the present article, a simple, rapid, sensitive and economical method has been developed for the simultaneous separation and preconcentration of the trace amounts of copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese in water samples by using modified XAD-4 resins. The sorption was quantitative in the pH range 6.0–9.0, whereas quantitative desorption occurred instantaneously with 5.0 mL of 2 M HNO₃, and selected elements have been determined by using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Dynamic ranges were 0.04–3.5, 0.1–6.0, 0.04–4.5 and 0.04–4.0 μg/mL for copper, nickel, cobalt and manganese, respectively. The detection limits were 9.2, 28.6, 12.3 and 5.7 ng/mL for Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Mn(II), respectively. The effects of the experimental parameters, including the sample pH, eluent type, interference ions and breakthrough volume, were studied for separation and preconcentration of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) ions. Determination of these ions in standard samples confirmed that the proposed method has good accuracy. The proposed method was used for the determination of these ions in water samples.     

麦秆酸预处理后与猪粪混合发酵提高产气量的效应研究

为了研究不同水平的酸处理对麦秆混合发酵过程中各指标变化的影响,本试验通过测定不同醋酸浓度、时间处理后的麦秆与猪粪混合厌氧发酵进程中还原糖、挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)含量,以及p H值变化和甲烷产量,探究各指标的关系并优化得出最佳醋酸处理组合,以期为酸预处理混合发酵实现高甲烷产量提供可靠的理论依据.结果表明,醋酸处理后的麦秆通过与猪粪混合发酵可明显提高甲烷单位产量,增幅为124.28%~207.40%.发酵过程中还原糖、VFA、p H值间相互影响.通过响应面法建立模型,得到醋酸处理的最优组合为浓度3.35%、时间6.75d,最大甲烷单位产量751.97 m L·g-1(以VS计).     

检测细胞DNA断裂损伤效应的彗星实验法的改良

为了解决彗星实验过程中常出现的脱胶、细胞核分离操作繁琐、重复性低等问题,对彗星实验方法进行了改良,初步建立了彗星实验的快速操作流程。结果显示,通过对载玻片进行预处理,可确保凝胶悬挂均匀;采用改良机械法分离的细胞核浓度适中;以0.5%(w/v)涂层琼脂糖作为基层、以1.5%(w/v)低熔点包埋琼脂糖作为叠加层的"双层凝胶法",辅以"推片法"铺胶,操作便捷且不发生脱胶现象;细胞核膜经裂解处理后再进行电泳和荧光观察,彗星图像清晰,杂质少。应用改良后的彗星实验方法,操作简便,耗时更短,实验效果良好,可快速检测出细胞DNA损伤效应。     

植被收割对滨海湿地沉积物中CO_2和N_2O释放的影响

为了揭示冬季滨海湿地植被收割对其沉积物中温室气体释放的影响,以长江入海口典型滨海湿地——崇明东滩为研究对象,观测季节性(冬季)植被收割(分别于收割后第0天、第10天、第30天、第60天采样)与不收割条件下芦苇(Phragmites australis)、米草(Spartina alterniflora)、芦苇-米草交互带和光滩沉积物中CO2与N2O的释放特征.结果表明:1米草和芦苇-米草交互带植被收割并未增加沉积物中CO2的释放(P0.05),但芦苇收割可能会增加N2O的释放(P0.05),说明植被收割对湿地沉积物中CO2和N2O释放的影响与植被类型密切相关.2与芦苇带相比,米草和芦苇-米草交互带沉积物中CO2累积释放量分别高出12%~57%和17%~43%,但芦苇植被覆盖下沉积物中N2O累积释放量分别比二者高出11%~81%和8%~95%.可见,米草和芦苇-米草交互带沉积物碳的呼吸损失明显高于芦苇带,但芦苇植被覆盖下沉积物中N2O逸失量相对较高.34种植被类型下,沉积物中N2O累积释放量为0.1~0.4 mg/kg,CO2累积释放量则高达1 024~2 645 mg/kg.因此,冬季滨海湿地植被收割不会显著增加N2O的温室效应,但选择性收割米草有望减少沉积物碳的呼吸损失.