Triboelectric charging behavior of wood particles during pellet handling processes

Electrostatic charges accumulated on wood particles through triboelectrification during their transportation and handling processes can cause hazardous electrical discharge which may further trigger dust explosion. In this work, tribo-charging behavior of different kinds of wood particles was investigated by a vibrating plate charging method. It was found that reduction in the work function difference between contact bodies might contribute to the reduction of tribo-charge generation, while the reduction of electrical resistivity of wood pellets could effectively accelerate the charge dissipation. As the particle size decreases, accumulated charges increase significantly. In contrast, higher moisture content of wood particles leads to lower charge accumulation due to an accelerated charge dissipation rate. Tribo-charging behaviors of white pellets, torrefied pellet, steam treated pellets and dark pellets have also been investigated. Compared to the white pellets, they all have shown a reduction on charge accumulation to some extent. However, results suggested that all of them have nearly equivalent tribo-charge density as coal and wheat grains used as references in this study.     

Amalgam in Dentistry A Health Hazard for Dental Personnel?

In a cross sectional study done in 1993 among dental personnel in Norrbotten, self-reported prevalence of muscular pain, headache, tremor, insomnia, irritation, impaired memory and depression, as well as information regarding different mercury exposures were collected Mercury exposures were determined as “number of amalgam fillings in teeth,” “years in practice,” “insufficient ventilation at work,” “total number of amalgam removed, produced and polished per day,” and “working in dental clinics.” As controls, physicians and nurses from the same geographical area were selected. The correlation between symptoms and different mercury exposures was calculated using logistic regression. The results suggested a higher prevalence of muscular fatigue and tremor for female dental personnel compared to controls Controls reported a lower prevalence of symptoms with increasing number of amalgam fillings in teeth. There was no correlation between the number of amalgam fillings handled per day and symptoms for dental personnel. Male dental personnel associated muscular fatigue headache, impaired memory, and depression with increased handling of amalgam in the clinic’ whereas the female dental personnel associated the same symptoms with the number of amalgam fillings in teeth. The strongest correlation was found between symptoms and insufficient ventilation at dental clinics for dental personnel.     

Effects of Manual Handling,Posture, and Whole Body Vibrations on Low-Back Pain

To determine the effect of occupational stress on low-back pain (LBP), a cross-sectional study has been carried out, by interviews, on workers exposed to 3 stresses: manual handling (MH, 82 women and 264 men), whole body vibrations (WBV, 274 men), and static postures (278 women). Anthropometric data, occupational stress, LBP severity and frequency, and a psychological evaluation of these groups were compared to those of a control population of 208 workers (104 men and 104 women).

The results show that 30% of the population had never suffered from LBP. Age and the body mass index of the workers were the parameters most closely associated with LBP. Women involved in MH had higher frequency and severity of LBP than their reference population. Men involved in MH or exposed to WBV had higher frequency of painful episodes than their reference population. Workers exposed to one of the stresses were on sick leave for LBP more often, and for longer periods, than workers in the reference group. The results show that individual factors are often decisive in the onset of LBP. Nevertheless, in the more serious LBP cases, occupational stress is an aggravating factor for LBP and its consequences.     

Team-Based Risk Assessment and Action Plans as Participatory Methods for Safe Patient Handling in Two Swedish Municipal Care Homes for the Elderly

Objective. We investigated the usefulness of a team-based risk assessment method in patient transfer situations in municipal care homes for the elderly. Methods. Evaluation of risk assessment and action plans carried out in 2009. Focus group interviews with care givers and one-to-one interviews with managers and occupational therapists. Results. The evaluation showed that action plans and interventions were developed for each resident with identified risk connected with movement/transfer in daily life. Twenty-six patients (28%) of a total number of 94 were assigned to the “no risk” category regarding movement/transfer situations in daily life. The other 68 patients (72%) required further interventions, which were documented in action plans. The interviews indicated that the approach of team-based risk assessment and action plans was perceived as a functional participatory method aiming to improve daily life and work. Conclusion. Systematic team-based risk assessment and action plans benefit staff as well as residents at care homes for the elderly.     

The effects of arm posture and holding time on holding capability and muscle activity

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of arm posture and holding time on human holding capability and resulting muscle activity. Fifteen healthy young males were recruited as participants. Maximum holding capacity was examined at 0 (degrees of shoulder forward flexion angle)/90 (degrees of elbow angle), 30/120 and 90/180 arm postures. Maximum acceptable weight of holding was evaluated in three arm postures (0/90, 30/120, 90/180) by three holding times (10?s, 20?s, 30?s). The greatest and lowest maximum holding capacity or maximum acceptable weight of holding occurred at 0/90 and 90/180 arm postures, respectively. Maximum acceptable weight of holding decreased with increasing holding time. While holding maximum acceptable weights, the % of maximum voluntary contraction of brachioradialis, biceps brachii and erector spinae ranged from 14 to 44%, from 14 to 53% and from 25 to 36%, respectively.     

Investigation of methods for estimating hand bone dimensions using X-ray hand anthropometric data

This study examined two conversion methods, M1 and M2, to predict finger/phalange bone lengths based on finger/phalange surface lengths. Forty-one Korean college students (25 males and 16 females) were recruited and their finger/phalange surface lengths, bone lengths and grip strengths were measured using a vernier caliper, an X-ray generator and a double-handle force measurement system, respectively. M1 and M2 were defined as formulas able to estimate finger/phalange bone lengths based on one dimension (i.e., surface hand length) and four finger dimensions (surface finger lengths), respectively. As a result of conversion, the estimation errors by M1 presented mean 1.22?mm, which was smaller than those (1.29?mm) by M2. The bone lengths estimated by M1 (mean r?=?0.81) presented higher correlations with the measured bone lengths than those estimated by M2 (0.79). Thus, the M1 method was recommended in the present study, based on conversion simplicity and accuracy.     

An incident investigation on an unexpected loss of containment and damage to PHI-TEC II during acrylonitrile runaway tests

This article investigates a laboratory incident that occurred during the analysis of a thermal runaway reaction of acrylonitrile monomer. This failure, which was attributed to an human error, resulted in financial losses and corresponding unexpected results. The incident not only damaged the interior of the vessel and other instrument parts, but also exposed the researchers to considerable danger, necessitating their escape from the laboratory. The failure characteristics are discussed, and countermeasures are developed to prevent such a type of incident from reoccurring.     

第二代人的可靠性分析方法的进展

在探讨第一代人的可靠性分析 (HRA)方法的局限性之后 ,笔者进而探讨第二代HRA方法的模型 ,建立在多种学科 (认知心理学、行为科学、可靠性工程等 )相互结合的基础上 ,又着重研究产生人的行为 /绩效的情景环境以及它们是如何影响人的行为 /动作的 ,并与工业系统的运行经验和现场或模拟机获得的信息紧密结合。重点介绍了以“失误分析技术”(ATHEANA)和“认知可靠性和失误分析方法”(CREAM)为代表的第二代HRA方法。它们是当前HRA领域中的具有应用和发展前景的新框架思想。     

HpGe γ谱仪本底变化对环境样品放射性测量结果的影响

在环境样品测量过程中,本底涨落对天然核素测量结果的影响应根据其在谱仪中计数率的高低具体分析.用γ谱仪测量介质中天然放射性核素的活度浓度时,必然要进行本底谱的扣除,由此会带来一定的误差.对一台N型HpGe γ谱仪在8年间的23个本底谱进行了研究,并分析了本底涨落对测量结果的影响.研究发现,被测介质中天然放射性核素的活度浓度越低,本底涨落越大,由扣除本底引入的误差就越大.     

Misuse of booster cushions among children and adults in Shanghai—an observational and attitude study during buckling up

Objective: Traffic crashes are one of the leading causes of fatalities among Chinese children. Booster cushion usage in China is low, and there are no studies showing how a population with limited experience handles booster cushions during buckling up. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the handling of and explore the attitudes toward booster cushions among children, parents, and grandparents in Shanghai.

Methods: An observational study including a convenience sample of 254 children aged 4–12 years was conducted in 2 passenger cars at a shopping center in Shanghai. Parents, grandparents, or the children themselves buckled up the child on 2 types of booster cushions, a 2-stage integrated booster cushion (IBC) and an aftermarket booster cushion (BC). The test participants were observed during buckling up, first without and then with instructions. The test leaders conducted structured interviews.

Results: Ninety-eight percent of the uninstructed participants failed to buckle up without identified misuse on the aftermarket booster cushion and 31% of those uninstructed on the integrated booster cushion. The majority of misuse was severe, including placing the belt behind the arm and the lap belt routing above the guiding loops. Instruction reduced misuse to 58% (BC) and 12% (IBC), respectively, and, in particular, severe misuse. Some misuse was related to limited knowledge of how to buckle up on the booster cushion, and some misuse was intentional in order to reduce discomfort.

The participants, both children and adults, reported that they preferred the IBC due to good comfort and convenience. Safety was reported as the main reason for adults using booster cushions in general, whereas children reported comfort as the most important motivation.

Conclusions: Education is needed to ensure frequent and correct use of booster cushions in China and to raise safety awareness among children and adults. Furthermore, it is important that the booster cushions offer intuitively correct usage to a population with limited experience of booster cushions.

This is the first study published on the handling of and attitude toward booster cushions after child restraints laws were introduced in Shanghai 2014.