Efficacy of text messaging apprentices to reinforce ergonomics and safety voice training

Introduction: Injuries and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among masons. SAfety Voice for Ergonomics (SAVE) integrates training in ergonomic and safety problem-solving skills into masonry apprenticeship training. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of text messaging to reinforce SAVE program content. Method: SAVE effectiveness was evaluated at masonry apprenticeship training centers across the United States by comparing three experimental groups: (1) Ergonomics training, (2) Ergonomics and Safety Voice training, and a (3) Control. Apprentices received SAVE training with their standard instruction. To reinforce classroom training, refresher training was implemented by sending weekly text messages for six months. Half of the text messages required a response, which tested knowledge or assessed behavior, while the remaining reiterated knowledge. Apprentices (n = 119) received SAVE text messages. Response rates and percentage of correct responses were compared with chi-square tests and independent group t-tests. Multivariable logistic regression analysis predicted apprentice response with selected demographic and work experience variables. Finally, feedback on of the use of text messaging was obtained. Result: Of 119 participants, 61% (n = 72) responded to at least one text message. Logistic regression revealed that being a high school graduate and a brick and block mason significantly affected the odds of responding. Sixty-nine percent of apprentices agreed that text messages reinforced SAVE content. Conclusion: Even though there was no training center requirement to respond, the high response rate suggests that text messaging can effectively be used to reinforce ergonomics and safety voice training for both knowledge and behavior. Practical Application: The prevalent use of text messaging creates opportunities to reinforce health and safety training and engage workers, especially for populations that may be at various locations over time such as construction sites. Instructors and practitioners should consider the utility of text messaging for supporting their training and safety programs.     

基于EEG的有限空间检修工脑疲劳特性研究

为了探究有限空间内检修工在高温高湿状态下的脑疲劳特征,采用对照与模拟有限空间作业环境相结合的方法,对作业人员脑电波变化进行监测,利用傅里叶变换对原波信号进行时频转换,提取相对频率、重心频率等特征参数。研究结果表明:在高温高湿的有限空间环境中,人体脑波功率变化幅度明显变大;在进入疲劳状态时有限空间环境的脑波功率低于对照组;高频的β波在高温高湿环境中减少的比例较大,平均下降7.1%;脑波重心频率由8 Hz降为6 Hz,平均下降11.3%,由α波变为θ波,大脑活动进入疲劳状态。说明有限空间的高温高湿环境对人体脑疲劳具有明显影响,可用于脑电智能穿戴监测设备监测工人脑疲劳状况。     

Distribution of bisphenol-A, triclosan and n-nonylphenol in human adipose tissue, liver and brain

In this study, an analytical method was optimized for the determination of bisphenol-A (BPA), triclosan (TCS) and 4-n-nonylphenol (4n-NP), environmental contaminants with potential endocrine disruptive activities, in human tissues. The method consisted of a liquid extraction step, derivatization with pentafluorobenzoylchloride followed by a clean-up on acidified silica and detection with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-ECNI/MS). Recoveries ranged between 92% and 102% with a precision below 5%. Limits of quantification ranged between 0.3-0.4 ng g⁻¹, 0.045-0.06 ng g⁻¹ and 0.003-0.004 ng g⁻¹ for BPA, TCS and 4n-NP in different tissues, respectively. The method was applied for the determination of BPA, TCS and 4n-NP in paired adipose tissue, liver and brain samples from 11 individuals. BPA could be detected in almost all tissues, with the highest concentrations found in adipose tissue (mean 3.78 ng g⁻¹), followed by liver (1.48 ng g⁻¹) and brain (0.91 ng g⁻¹). TCS showed the highest concentrations in liver (3.14 ng g⁻¹), followed by adipose tissue (0.61 ng g⁻¹), while it could be detected in only one brain sample. Levels of 4n-NP were much lower, mostly undetected, and therefore 4n-NP is considered of minor importance for human exposure. Despite the measurable concentrations in adipose tissue, these compounds seem to have a low bioaccumulation potential. The reported concentrations of free BPA in the various tissues are slight disagreement with pharmacokinetic models in humans and rats and therefore the possibility of external contamination with BPA during sample collection/storage cannot be ruled out.     

Chemometric approach to evaluate element distribution in muscle,liver and fish bone of roach (Rutilus rutilus), silver bream (Blicca bjoerkna) and crucian carp (Carassius carassius) from Swarzędzkie Lake (Poland) using ICP-MS and FIAS-CVAAS techniques

The content of elements in fish tissues and organs from Swarz?dzkie Lake was investigated in order to evaluate the possible risk associated with their consumption by animals as well as humans. Samples of muscle, liver and fish bone of three fish species; roach (Rutilus rutilus), silver bream (Blicca bjoerkna) and crucian carp (Carassius carassius) were collected from seine catches undertaken as part of the biomanipulation of Swarz?dzkie Lake. Element concentration (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), with the exception of Hg where the flow injection analysis system cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (FIAS-CVAAS) was applied. The study indicated a large variation in the occurrence of the investigated elements in different parts of the fish body. The highest content of Al and Zn was stated in all fish organs for each fish species. The majority of the applied statistical and chemometric methods (e.g., PCA, CA) refer to roach since we had a large number of data for this species. The obtained results were assessed in terms of their accuracy and precision using certified reference material of Fish Muscle ERM BB422.     

Triclosan in Fresh Water Fish Gibelion Catla from the Kaveri River,India, and Its Consumption Risk Assessment

Triclosan is a common antimicrobial agent that is found in significant levels in the aquatic environment and may elicit effects on aquatic organisms through unexpected modes of action. In this study, triclosan was quantified in fish from the Kaveri River, India, by using the gas chromatography and mass spectrometry technique and it was found in the range of 0.73–50 ng/g wet weight (ww). The mean bioaccumulation factor based on water (BAF_w 820) and sediment (BAF_s 2.12) in the Kaveri River showed that triclosan is accumulative in fish, and reflects its feeding behavior. The bioaccumulation indicates triclosan's persistence or prevalence throughout the river stretch. Human risk assessment through dietary intake demonstrated that the triclosan exposure is five orders of magnitude lower than the acceptable daily intake (50 μg/kg bw) and US EPA reference dose (300 μg/kg bw/day). This investigation is the first to report the bioaccumulation of triclosan in freshwater fish from India. Further, the results indicate that this fish acts as a biomarker of exposure for triclosan and thus shall be used to report triclosan pollution in the future.     

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in different tissues of the cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) from Dongting Lake, China

Tissue distribution provides important information regarding the pharmacokinetic behavior of pollutants and is invaluable when analyzing the risk posed to avian species by the exposure to such kind of pollutants. In this study, concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were determined in muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach, gall bladder, skin, heart, pancreas, intestine and lung tissue extracts of cormorants collected from Dongting Lake, China. Tissue distribution results showed preferential accumulation of PCDD/Fs in both liver and skin. The total concentration of PCDD/Fs ranged from 421 to 5696 pg/g lipid weight. Octachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) was the predominant congener in all tissues and contributed between 31% and 82% to all 17 PCDD/Fs in different tissues. The liver/muscle ratios progressively increased with the degree of chlorination of PCDDs, except for OCDD. The relative toxic potential of PCDDs and PCDFs in tissues were calculated using the World Health Organization (WHO) Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEFs) for birds. The concentrations of WHO-toxic equivalent in different tissues ranged between 14.8 and 2021 pg/g lipid weight. These results indicated PCDD/Fs may have been bio-accumulated in cormorant via food-web. Furthermore, when compared with studies reported in the literatures, the PCDD/Fs levels in the cormorant collected from Dongting Lake were still relatively high.     

苯并[a]芘对马氏珠母贝鳃组织抗氧化酶活性的影响

将马氏珠母贝（Pinctada martensi）暴露于不同质量浓度（1、4和8μg.L-1）苯并[a]芘B[a]P中,检测暴露后第3、7和10天后,马氏珠母贝鳃组织抗氧化酶（超氧化物歧化酶SOD、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶GST和过氧化氢酶CAT）对苯并[a]芘胁迫的生态毒理效应。结果表明：暴露时间为3、7 d时,SOD活性无明显变化,随着暴露时间的延长,SOD活性在第10天时被激活;在胁迫初期,GST活性被激活,随后表现出逐渐降低的趋势,在暴露后10 d,不同质量浓度组GST活性变化趋于稳定。当暴露质量浓度相同时,表现出明显的时—效关系;而CAT活性在第7天被激活,随着时间的延长,高质量浓度（4和8μg.L-1）组表现出先升高后下降的趋势,并表现出一定的时-效关系。SOD、GST和CAT均可作为B[a]P污染的生物标志物,活性变化相对于SOD,GST和CAT对B[a]P的胁迫更加敏感。     

十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)对离体条件下小鼠肾脏和脑组织SOD活力和MDA含量的影响

十溴联苯醚(decabromodiphenyl ether,BDE-209)是目前应用最广泛的的溴系阻燃剂,其环境风险引起很大关注。本实验以小鼠肾脏和脑组织为实验材料,研究了离体条件下BDE-209的急性氧化损伤效应。BDE-209染毒终浓度设置为0,1,2,4和8μg·mL-1,采用NBT和TBA法分别测定SOD(superoxide dismutase)活性和MDA(malondialdehyde)含量。结果显示,随着BDE-209染毒浓度的升高,小鼠肾脏和脑组织的SOD活性先升高后降低,较高染毒浓度组的SOD活性与对照组相比显著性降低;MDA含量逐渐上升,并且与对照组相比较高染毒浓度组的MDA含量显著上升。以上结果说明,离体条件下BDE-209对小鼠肾脏和脑组织能够产生急性氧化应激,并导致脂质过氧化损伤。     

抗赖氨酸加苏氨酸的玉米种子蛋白突变体

通过离体选择抗赖氨酸加苏氨酸玉米突变体，不仅获得了积累游离苏氨酸和赖氨酸等氨基酸的突变类型，也选择到了种子蛋白组份发生改变的高蛋氨酸突变体和高赖氨酸体细胞无性系变异体。高蛋氨酸种子中总蛋氨酸的含量比对照增高２２．６％，这是由于醇溶蛋白Ｚｅｉｎ－２部分及其蛋氨酸含量增高所致。高赖氨酸变异体种子游离必需氨基酸增高显著（２－１０倍），总赖氨酸比对照亲本增高２８．１％，含量约占种子干重的０．４０％，种子蛋白清蛋白、球蛋白和谷蛋白组份含量增高而醇溶蛋白减少。高赖氨酸和高蛋氨酸特性遗传稳定，植株育性正常。     

环境污染灾害的植物修复

环境污染是一个全球共同关注的重要问题。植物修复是利用植物对环境污染进行治理，具有高效、环境友好、廉价等优点。概述了植物修复的原理，综述了鏊合诱导和组织培养技术在植物修复中的最新研究进展，并对植物修复技术的发展方向进行了讨论。