Role of age and injury mechanism on cervical spine injury tolerance from head contact loading

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the influence of age and injury mechanism on cervical spine tolerance to injury from head contact loading using survival analysis.

Methods: This study analyzed data from previously conducted experiments using post mortem human subjects (PMHS). Group A tests used the upright intact head–cervical column experimental model. The inferior end of the specimen was fixed, the head was balanced by a mechanical system, and natural lordosis was removed. Specimens were placed on a testing device via a load cell. The piston applied loading at the vertex region. Spinal injuries were identified using medical images. Group B tests used the inverted head–cervical column experimental model. In one study, head–T1 specimens were fixed distally, and C7–T1 joints were oriented anteriorly, preserving lordosis. Torso mass of 16 kg was added to the specimen. In another inverted head–cervical column study, occiput–T2 columns were obtained, an artificial head was attached, T1–T2 was fixed, C4–C5 disc was maintained horizontal in the lordosis posture, and C7–T1 was unconstrained. The specimens were attached to the drop test carriage carrying a torso mass of 15 kg. A load cell at the inferior end measured neck loads in both studies. Axial neck force and age were used as the primary response variable and covariate to derive injury probability curves using survival analysis.

Results: Group A tests showed that age is a significant (P < .05) and negative covariate; that is, increasing age resulted in decreasing force for the same risk. Injuries were mainly vertebral body fractures and concentrated at one level, mid-to-lower cervical spine, and were attributed to compression-related mechanisms. However, age was not a significant covariate for the combined data from group B tests. Both group B tests produced many soft tissue injuries, at all levels, from C1 to T1. The injury mechanism was attributed to mainly extension. Multiple and noncontiguous injuries occurred. Injury probability curves, ±95% confidence intervals, and normalized confidence interval sizes representing the quality of the mean curve are given for different data sets.

Conclusions: For compression-related injuries, specimen age should be used as a covariate or individual specimen data may be prescaled to derive risk curves. For distraction- or extension-related injuries, however, specimen age need not be used as a covariate in the statistical analysis. The findings from these tests and survival analysis indicate that the age factor modulates human cervical spine tolerance to impact injury.     

Removal of phenol by activated alumina bed in pulsed high-voltage electric field

A new process for removing the pollutants in aqueous solution-activated alumina bed in pulsed high-voltage electric field was investigated for the removal of phenol under different conditions. The experimental results indicated the increase in removal rate with increasing applied voltage, increasing pH value of the solution, aeration, and adding Fe^2＋. The removal rate of phenol could reach 72.1% when air aeration flow rate was 1200 ml/min, and 88.2% when 0.05 mmol/L Fe^2＋ was added into the solution under the conditions of applied voltage 25 kV, initial phenol concentration of 5 mg/L, and initial pH value 5.5. The addition of sodium carbonate reduced the phenol removal rate. In the pulsed high-voltage electric field, local discharge occurred at the surface of activated alumina, which promoted phenol degradation in the thin water film. At the same time, the space-time distribution of gas-liquid phases was more uniform and the contact areas of the activated species generated from the discharge and the pollutant molecules were much wider due to the effect of the activated alumina bed. The synthetical effects of the pulsed high-voltage electric field and the activated alumina particles accelerated phenol degradation.     

粗粒沉积物对污水的净化能力试验研究

采用连续和间歇２种注入方式,对粗粒松散沉积物净化污水的能力进行了试验研究,结果表明,１．５ｍ厚的砂卵石层对污水中细菌,合成洗涤剂,总铬等污染物的净化率可达５０％以上,间歇注入试验对Ｍｎ（Ⅱ）的净化率可达７６．１５％,而连续注入试验２４．７％,污水在粗粒沉积物中的入渗属氧化条件,有利于硝化作用进行。     

洁霉素生产废水处理的研究

采用水解（酸化）－二段投菌生物接触氧化－混凝工艺处理浓度洁霉素废水,中试结果表明：进水ＣＯＤ浓度为３５００－５０００ｍｇ／Ｌ范围时,出水ＣＯＤ平均去除率大于９５％,进水ＢＯＤ浓度为１０００－１５００ｍｇ／Ｌ范围时,出水ＢＯＤ平均去除率大于９６％,各项指标达到国家ＧＢ８９７８－８８排放标准。     

交替活性污泥工艺发展类型及研究方向

交替活性污泥工艺是在一个反应器或一组反应器中通过时间或空间的交替实现对污水的处理。从最初的SBR到各种改良形式,交替活性污泥工艺在控制系统、运行方式等方面迅速发展。传统的交替工艺只能适用于中小型污水处理,CAST、MSBR、UNITANK、多箱一体化工艺等通过运行方式组合,既提高了对处理规模的适应性,又能满足除磷脱氮要求。交替活性污泥工艺今后研究的重点是工艺组合优化,提高灵活性,特别是如何在单泥交替系统中解决除磷脱氮的矛盾,同时也要注意相应配套设备的开发,降低造价,提高可靠性。     

铁路接触网安全性评价方法及工程应用

地下工程穿越既有接触网时会对接触网系统的安全性产生较大影响,基于铁路接触网的设计标准和规范要求,提出一种接触网安全性的评价方法,其中包括计算工况选取、接触网位移分析、支柱负载分析及参数检算4部分。结合北京地铁某区间盾构隧道穿越火车站接触网工程实例,对该方法的有效性进行了研究。结果表明,工况1下,接触网处于安全状态;工况2下接触导线高度变化量超限。建议当盾构开挖通过一个接触网支柱后,要迅速对已通过接触网支柱进行处理,恢复到原来状态,避免2个或3个接触网支柱同时发生大于10 mm的基础沉降以及超过0.2%的支柱倾斜量。     

基于ABAQUS的呼吸防护面具卡扣装配设计

在对呼吸防护面具结构和装配力学分析的基础上,确定了卡扣装配尺寸、受力、变形的关系表达式。在表达式的基础上,建立了环型卡扣装配分析模型,并用ABAQUS软件分析了卡扣不同过盈量和插入角对卡扣连接和装配力的影响,进而根据最大装配力、最大应变与许用应变的关系,得到了环型卡扣的最佳过盈量、最佳插入角,满足了装配可靠、连接紧凑和密封性好的要求。     

强化微污染原水净化效果的生产性应用研究

针对姚江水源受污染的现状和原传统净水工艺去除污染效率低、药耗大等缺点,对宁波市梅林水厂的传统净水工艺进行了改进,并对改进前后的去除污染效率进行了对比试验研究．结果表明,在姚江水质为ｐＨ６．５－７．６、浊度７－２０ＮＴＵ、色度２５－３７度、ＮＨ＋４－Ｎ０．２５－９．０ｍｇ／Ｌ、ＮＯ－２－Ｎ０．０２５—０．２５ｍｇ／Ｌ、ＣＯＤＭｎ６－１８．９ｍｇ／Ｌ的条件下,改进后的生化工艺系统对浊度、色度、ＮＨ＋４－Ｎ、ＮＯ－２－Ｎ及ＣＯＤＭｎ的平均去除率比传统工艺分别提高了２４．５％、３０．０％、５８．５％、７０．０％和２７．５％,除污染效果明显优于传统净水工艺;并且可节约矾耗５０％以上和氯耗７７％左右．     

Early Responses to Acute Ozone Exposure in Two Fagus Sylvatica Clones Differing in Xeromorphic Adaptations: Photosynthetic and Stomatal Processes, Membrane and Epicuticular Characteristics

Two Fagus sylvatica L. clones were used to investigate the early responses to acute O₃ exposure (150 nL L⁻¹, i.e., 1.35× ambient hourly peak in rural Italy) and whether xeromorphic adaptations affect gas exchange, membrane, and epicuticular responses. One clone originated in a wet and temperate climate in Central Italy (Tuscany); the other clone originated in a warmer and drier climate in the southern-most part of the F. sylvatica distribution (Sicily). Because of higher base gas exchange rates, the most negative effects of O₃ exposure (gas exchange impairment, uncoupling between net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, increased membrane lipid peroxidation) were found in the southern clone. Xeromorphic adaptations (higher epicuticular waxes and stomatal density, lower leaf wettability and size) were found in this clone. Our results suggest that xeromorphism may increase O₃ sensitivity in species not adapted to face water stress, like the mesophilic F. sylvatica, when experiments are carried out with full irrigation. We present evidence describing the relationship between gas exchange and number and status of stomata. Stomatal density and the structural damage to stomata resulting from O₃ exposure did not affect gas exchange: In fact, non-stomatal limitations to photosynthesis prevailed over stomatal limitations.     

接触热阻对火灾下组合结构构件截面温度场的影响

结构的高温性能与抗火设计是工程设计中应解决的关键技术问题之一,对确保火灾下人民生命财产安全至关重要。对于以钢管混凝土柱、组合扁梁以及钢-混凝土组合楼板等为代表的钢-混凝土组合结构构件,由于截面构成相对复杂,致使其温度场分析以及后续的高温性能分析具有较强的特殊性。已有的针对组合结构构件的温度场分析模型中,多数研究者忽略或仅间接考虑钢与混凝土界面的接触热阻,使其分析结果无法反映组合构件这类具有复合接触界面的多梯度温度分布特性,其对温度值的预测也随之偏离实际情况。为此,针对钢管混凝土柱、组合扁梁以及钢-混凝土组合楼板3类组合结构构件,总结分析了有关考虑接触热阻的温度场分析模型,并结合作者的相关研究成果,重点讨论了如何在温度场分析模型中有效考虑界面上接触热阻,以及接触热阻对组合结构截面温度场的影响,为科学评价组合结构的抗火性能提供前提与基础。