Skiing Injuries

This report, based on a study of 471 consecutive skiing accidents, is concerned with the contributory causes, mechanisms, treatment and prevention of the more common skiing injuries.Over 80% of injuries occur in skiers under the age of 30 years. Most injuries involve the lower extremities, and are ligamentous. One-third of all injuries are fractures. This distribution is the common experience in most ski centres which have organized facilities for treatment of such injuries.This study shows that rapid handling and early treatment of casualties ensures minimal suffering, accurate diagnosis, prevention of complications and earlier rehabilitation of injured skiers. Many of the causes of skiing accidents can be prevented by control of skiing conditions, and proper instruction of younger skiers.     

伯乐树种子不同条件贮藏下前后生理比较

对3个不同地区（浙江省遂昌县、福建省浦城县和浙江江山市）的伯乐树种子形态指标进行了测定。并分别设置3种贮藏方式（A为室内湿沙环境下贮藏;B为低温（4℃）湿沙下贮藏;C为低温（4℃）封口袋中贮藏）,对贮藏前后种子的发芽率、发芽势、含水量等生理指标进行了比较研究。结果表明,浦城县地区较另外二个地区的种子狭长而扁平,且质量较小。经130d的贮藏后,3个地区的种子内淀粉含量显著下降（P〈0．05）,含水量、蛋白酶活性、淀粉酶活性、蛋白含量和可溶性糖含量则均显著升高（P〈0．05）,从而使休眠得以解除。贮藏后的发芽率和发芽势显著提高（P〈0．05）,以湿沙低温下的发芽率和发芽势为最高。     

Association between Daily Hospital Outpatient Visits for Accidents and Daily Ambient Air Temperatures in an Industrial City

An accident is an unwanted hazard to a person. However, accidents occur. In this work, we search for correlations between daily accident rates and environmental factors. To study daily hospital outpatients who were admitted for accidents during a 5-year period, 2007–2011, we analyzed data regarding 168,366 outpatients using univariate regression models; we also used multivariable regression models to account for confounding factors. Our analysis indicates that the number of male outpatients admitted for accidents was approximately 1.31 to 1.47 times the number of female outpatients (P < 0.0001). Of the 12 parameters (regarding air pollution and meteorology) considered, only daily temperature exhibited consistent and significant correlations with the daily number of hospital outpatient visits for accidents throughout the 5-year analysis period. The univariate regression models indicate that older people (greater than 66 years old) had the fewest accidents per 1-degree increase in temperature, followed by young people (0–15 years old). Middle-aged people (16–65 years old) were the group of outpatients that were more prone to accidents, with an increase in accident rates of 0.8–1.2 accidents per degree increase in temperature. The multivariable regression models also reveal that the temperature variation was the dominant factor in determining the daily number of outpatient visits for accidents. Our further multivariable model analysis of temperature with respect to air pollution variables show that, through the increases in emissions and concentrations of CO, photochemical O3 production and NO2 loss in the ambient air, increases in vehicular emissions are associated with increases in temperatures. As such, increases in hospital visits for accidents are related to vehicular emissions and usage. This finding is consistent with clinical experience which shows about 60% to 80% of accidents are related to traffic, followed by accidents occurred in work place.     

Safety Risk Assessment of Iran's Underground Coal Mines Based on Preventive and Preparative Measures

Mining is one of the most hazardous occupations all around the world, especially in underground coal mines. Analysis and management of safety risk are prerequisites toward control and increment in mines' safety. Common safety risk analyses in mines are based on the statistical data of the occurred incidents and economical aspects are usually neglected. In this study, based on a novel procedure and presentation of preventive and preparative measures, safety risk of Iran's underground coal mines' incidents was assessed and classified by taking advantage of Iran's mining experts' opinions. Among 10 significant identified incidents, methane explosion, coal dust explosion, and traffic accidents accounted for the highest levels of safety risk before adjustment, respectively. The most hazardous incidents in the adjusted risk mode were the same, but in a reverse order. Application of safety measures in three modes of preventive adjustments, preparative adjustment and both of them caused some risk reduction with the mean values of 67, 21, and 75%, respectively, thereby indicating the importance of safety risk management in underground coal mines and the preference for preventive measures in this area.     

森林植物的一些特殊环境功能

本文从植物对大气、水体和土壤化角度分析了森林的特殊环境功能,有些植物能吸收空气中各种有害气体,如SO₂、Cl₂、HF以及放射性物质,可用于治理大气污染,或用于环境污染监测;许多森林植物对各种污染物有一定的吸收、积累和分解作用,因而,可以用于污染环境的修复治理;植物通过蒸腾作用向大气中释放大量的水分,带走了热量,降低了大气的温度;森林还能保持水土、防风固沙、涵养水源.因而,森林具有美化环境,清理环境污染物,稳定气候等重大的环境功能.     

不同覆盖方式对底泥内源营养盐释放的控制效果

通过底泥内源营养盐释放控制室内模拟试验,考察了塑料包被、斜发沸石、方解石、石英砂和硝酸钙5种覆盖材料对底泥氮磷释放效率的影响,系统分析了各自优劣程度,为实际环境中不同污染背景水体选择适宜的控制技术提供科学依据.结果表明: 不同覆盖材料对底泥总磷释放的控制效果依次为:塑料包被>硝酸钙>斜发沸石>方解石>石英砂;不同覆盖材料对底泥总氮释放的控制效果依次为:斜发沸石>塑料包被>方解石>石英砂>硝酸钙;不同覆盖材料对底泥硝态氮释放的控制效果依次为:塑料包被>斜发沸石>方解石>石英砂>硝酸钙;不同覆盖材料对底泥铵态氮释放的控制效果依次为:硝酸钙>石英砂>斜发沸石>方解石>塑料包被;温度和底泥内源营养盐释放有对应关系,水样中总磷、总氮和硝态氮浓度会随着温度上升而增加,而铵态氮浓度呈下降趋势.     

Determination and analysis of phreatic water evaporation in extra-arid dune region

Extra-arid desert is a terminal of biological geochemistry circulation system. It has important value in scientific research and huge new discoveries, which is very useful in many regions, such as energy resources, mineral, water resources, ecology, biodiversity, tourism and characteristic agriculture. Meanwhile, extra-arid area’s desertification is a serious threat to the ecological safety of earth. Aeolian desertification is one of style of desertification caused by water shortage. Once desert has formed, it is very difficult to management or recovery. One of most effective methods for desert control is using integrated ecosystem management based on considering water and the soil. Therefore, it is very important to find a new available water resource, and authors’ research is in this field. In this paper, we select a Gobi on Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes of Kumtag desert fringe, where the buried depth of phreatic water is over 200 m. Using an arched shed-air conditioning system, where covered drift sand thickness of 2.0 m, the phreatic evaporation was measured for the first time. In order to analyze influence factors, the evaporation of phreatic water on Gobi was measured and compared. The temperature of soil and air, the humidity inside and outside of the arched shed were also monitored. It is found that the phreatic water under sand can go through sand layer and get to surface, which forms evaporation. The amount of evaporation changes along with solar radiation and temperature fluctuations in the day. It also changes periodically in the year. During five months from June to October, the sunshine time is longer and temperature is higher, and the evaporation is higher too, and the mean daily evaporation is 3.6 g/(m² d). In other periods, the amount of evaporation of phreatic water is extremely weak. It is difficult to monitor by the arched shed-air conditioning system. Compared with Gobi region, the amount of evaporation of phreatic water on dune is very low, which is only 15.0% evaporation on Gobi. The key reason is the difference of salts in soil. The crystal water could be decomposed from salts or combined again. This reversible process plays a key role in transferring phreatic water of dune and Gobi. The amount of phreatic evaporation is proportional to the salts content in shallow soil. The salts content in dune is only 0.7% of salts content in Gobi, and water content in dune is 3.2% of the Gobi soil. According to results of monitoring, the water content is low in sand. The crystal water in shifting sand could be completely decomposed from salts with temperature rising. It causes relative humidity (RH) decreasing, which is inversely in the sand compared to in Gobi soil. In depth of 10 cm sand, the daily fluctuation is about 10%, which is significantly higher than that of in Gobi soil (3%). As the crystalline salt is a kind of typical water carrier, decreasing the content of crystalline salt results to reduce water transporting because carrying capacity of water is significantly reduced. After condensing and collecting 168 days, 9808 g of water was outputted from sand. However, the water content in sand was still obviously higher than original content. That means the underground vapor migrates upward, and the phreatic water moves to surface. From the evaporation comparison of dune and Gobi, we can conclude that the amount of evaporation could be controlled by changing the soil property in interface, this points out the direction for utilization of phreatic water evaporation.     

A Comparative Analysis of Accident Risks in Fossil,Hydro, and Nuclear Energy Chains

This study presents a comparative assessment of severe accident risks in the energy sector, based on the historical experience of fossil (coal, oil, natural gas, and LPG [Liquefied Petroleum Gas]) and hydro chains contained in the comprehensive Energy-related Severe Accident Database (ENSAD), as well as Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA) for the nuclear chain. Full energy chains were considered because accidents can take place at every stage of the chain. Comparative analyses for the years 1969–2000 included a total of 1870 severe (≥ 5 fatalities) accidents, amounting to 81,258 fatalities. Although 79.1% of all accidents and 88.9% of associated fatalities occurred in less developed, non-OECD countries, industrialized OECD countries dominated insured losses (78.0%), reflecting their substantially higher insurance density and stricter safety regulations. Aggregated indicators and frequency-consequence (F-N) curves showed that energy-related accident risks in non-OECD countries are distinctly higher than in OECD countries. Hydropower in non-OECD countries and upstream stages within fossil energy chains are most accident-prone. Expected fatality rates are lowest for Western hydropower and nuclear power plants; however, the maximum credible consequences can be very large. Total economic damages due to severe accidents are substantial, but small when compared with natural disasters. Similarly, external costs associated with severe accidents are generally much smaller than monetized damages caused by air pollution.     

Dynamic analysis of water stress of sunflower leaves by means of a thermal image processing system

This paper describes a method for measuring the temperatures of all regions of an intact leaf by using an infrared scanning thermometer at wavelengths between 8 and 14 micrometers combined with a digital image processing system. Pictures obtained every 2 minutes from leaves of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv Large Russian) plants subjected to increasing water stress showed that water deficit develops first at the margins of leaves, accompanied by stomatal closure and increase in temperature. Finally, the temperature of the entire leaf rises 3 to 5°C above that of nonstressed leaves. When transpiration resumed, it did so first at the leaf margins and these proceeded nonuniformly inward.

The results of these experiments indicate that there are significant differences in the temperature and water status of different parts of a leaf. This makes it important to determine causes of such behavior and decide in what part of a leaf the temperature and water status should be measured. The thermo-imaging method can be useful in monitoring short term temperature changes occurring in leaves undergoing water, chilling, and other stresses.

     

Artificial light at night affects the timing of roosting by Chimney Swifts

Understanding the impact of anthropogenic threats, such as light pollution, on biodiversity is necessary to establish effective guidelines to protect diminishing wildlife. In this study, we examined the effect of artificial light at night (ALAN) on the roosting behaviour of Chimney Swifts Chaetura pelagica, a highly threatened migratory bird species that lives commensally with humans, where it often breeds and roosts in artificial structures such as chimneys. Although Chimney Swifts are known to use time of sunset in combination with temperature, wind and season to coordinate roost entry, we predicted that high ALAN exposure would override these natural cues and lead to a delayed entry compared with sites with less light pollution. To test this, we examined the effects of ALAN on the start and end times of entry to 21 roosting sites located along a light pollution gradient in New Jersey and the New York Metropolitan area. We found that ALAN was a significant predictor of roosting entry time, with birds entering later in sites with more light pollution. While Chimney Swifts initiated roosting earlier in the summer months compared with the autumn, this effect was absent in areas with high light pollution. These findings highlight the need to determine the causes and consequences of light pollution effects.     

Applying non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis for measuring the assemblage change of Chu-Lan Creek dike in Taiwan

Ensuring that water resources development in harmony with aquatic environment is the major water policy of Taiwan in the 21st century, Taiwan's water authority has adopted several methodologies, such as utilizing ecological engineering techniques, establishing integrated water resources management configuration, involving the public in decision-making processes, etc., and applying them in the field. Significant consequences in ecological engineering were obtained in several cases, such as for Ta-Chia Creek, where wire cages, tires, and boulders were installed to improve the stream habitat, and for Wu-Lao Creek, where natural water purification facilities were constructed to reduce river pollution. Although the sustainable methodologies have been widely accepted by hydraulic engineers in Taiwan, lack of engineer-friendly evaluation indices or methods hindered the further progress of river ecological engineering projects. This research applied a non-metric multidimensional–scaling (MDS) analysis to measure the assemblage change of river aquatic habitat. A dike construction project at Chu-Lan Creek was selected for verification in this study. The analyzed results showed that the dike construction project did affect the aquatic habitat in Chu-Lan Creek. The proposed MDS analysis successfully captured the effect of the construction. The MDS method could be used to evaluate the improvement or damage of aquatic habitat by a traditional hydraulic approach or a new ecological hydraulic developed technique in Taiwan.     

荔枝逆境生理研究进展(综述)

综述了荔枝在温度、水分、矿质营养和环境污染等的逆境条件下生长发育、生理生化等的变化,指出荔枝对逆境适应性脆弱是低产的主要原因,并对今后的研究工作提出建议。     

Influence of temperature,pH, oxygenation,water-type and substrate on biomarker responses in the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea (Müller)

We investigated the influence of abiotic factors on responses of components of detoxification metabolism of phases I and II, indicators related to oxidative stress and propionylcholinesterase, proposed as biomarkers of pollution in Corbicula fluminea. Combined effects of temperature (10 and 20 degrees C), water-type (water purified by reverse-osmosis, lake water from the collection site and tap water) and habitat substrate (presence and absence of sand) were assessed in a five-day experiment. Additionally, clams were exposed to hypoxia or submitted to acidic, neutral or alkaline conditions at 20 degrees C, in lake water, without sand, for five days. Responses of biomarkers were generally higher when clams were placed in tap water, except for level of peroxidised lipids (PL). Catalase (CAT) and NADH-cytochrome c reductase (NADH-red.) activities increased whereas propionylcholinesterase (PChE) activity decreased in absence of sand. Decreasing temperature resulted in depressing PChE and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (NADPH-red.) activities. Hypoxia induced an increase of CAT activity and glutathione S-transferase activity towards ethacrynic acid and a decrease of PL level. CAT and NADH-red. activities as well as PL level were reduced when clams were exposed to acidic and/or alkaline conditions. These results indicate that effects of abiotic factors should be taken into account in environmental studies.     

Quantitative PCR assay of sewage-associated Bacteroides markers to assess sewage pollution in an urban lake in Dhaka, Bangladesh

This paper aimed to assess the magnitude of sewage pollution in an urban lake in Dhaka, Bangladesh, by using quantitative PCR of sewage-associated Bacteroides HF183 markers. PCR was also used for the quantitative detection of ruminant wastewater-associated CF128 markers along with the enumeration of traditional fecal indicator bacteria, namely enterococci. The number of enterococci in lake water samples ranged from 1.1 × 10? to 1.9 × 10? colony-forming units/100 mL water. From the 20 water samples tested, 14 (70%) and 7 (35%) were PCR positive for HF183 and CF128 markers, respectively. The numbers of HF183 and CF128 markers in lake water samples were 3.9 × 10? to 6.3 × 10? and 9.3 × 103 to 6.3 × 10? genomic units/100 mL water, respectively. The high numbers of enterococci and HF183 markers are indicative of sewage pollution and potential health risks to those who use the lake water for nonpotable purposes such as bathing and washing clothes. This is the first study that investigated the presence of microbial source tracking markers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where diarrhoeal disease is one of the major causes of childhood mortality. The molecular assay used in this study can provide valuable information on the extent of sewage pollution, thus facilitating the development of robust strategies to minimize potential health risks.     

Risk of fatal accidents occurring other than at sea among Icelandic seamen.

OBJECTIVE--To study mortality among seamen, particularly from fatal accidents that occurred other than at sea. DESIGN--Cohort study. SETTING--Iceland. SUBJECTS--27,884 seamen, both fishermen and sailors from the merchant fleet, who had been members of a pension fund from 1958 to 1986. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Cause of death (ICD seventh revision), standardised mortality ratio. RESULTS--Most standardised mortality ratios were greater than 1, being 1.26 for all causes and 1.83 for all external causes. There was no healthy worker effect. The excess of deaths from all external causes included all subcategories of death from accidents, poisonings, and violence and not just accidents at sea (water transport accidents, ICD codes E850-E858). A significant trend was found for length of employment and mortality from all accidents at sea, drowning at sea, accidental poisoning, other accidents, and accidental drowning; correlation coefficients for all causes, all accidents, suicide, and injuries undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted were 0.7-0.8. Compared with seamen who started work during 1968-77, those who started work in 1978 or later had higher mortality from all causes, road traffic accidents, poisoning, other accidents, homicide, and injuries unknown whether accidentally or purposely inflicted, but not from all accidents at sea and accidental drowning. CONCLUSION--Seamen seem to be a special group with a high risk of fatal accidents occurring not only at sea. The association between fatal accidents other than at sea and length of employment as seamen indicates that seamen are modified by their occupation towards hazardous behaviour or a risky lifestyle.     

Bacterial community composition over a dry winter in meso- and eutrophic Portuguese water bodies

In order to investigate the bacterial diversity in a number of rivers, reservoirs and lakes in northern and central Portugal during the winter of 2004/5 (atypically dry), we applied molecular methodologies, namely denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis with primers targeting fractions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Environmental parameters such as pH, conductivity, inorganic nutrients, total suspended solids and chlorophyll a were determined in order to characterize the trophic status of the studied water bodies. We found water bodies with oligotrophic to hypereutrophic characteristics. Organisms belonging to the Bacteroidetes and Alphaproteobacteria were found at the highest pH environment. Bacteroidetes were also related to high nutrient concentrations. Verrucomicrobia were associated with the most oligotrophic reservoir and low pH values. Actinobacteria were present in all samples from lakes and reservoirs, indicating its preference for lentic water bodies. Cyanobacteria dominance was related to high pH and conductivity levels. In general the conductivity values recorded in winter 2005 were the highest over recent years and chlorophyll a also reached very high levels. The data emphasize an enhanced risk of eutrophication for the studied water bodies, especially in the subsequent months when the temperature rises.     

Shading and Watering as a Tool to Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Change in Sea Turtle Nests

Increasing sand temperatures resulting from climate change may negatively impact sea turtle nests by altering sex ratios and decreasing reproductive output. We analyzed the effect of nest shading and watering on sand temperatures as climate mitigation strategies in a beach hatchery at Playa Grande, Costa Rica. We set up plots and placed thermocouples at depths of 45cm and 75cm. Half of the plots were shaded and half were exposed to the sun. Within these exposure treatments, we applied three watering treatments over one month, replicating local climatic conditions experienced in this area. We also examined gravimetric water content of sand by collecting sand samples the day before watering began, the day after watering was complete, and one month after completion. Shading had the largest impact on sand temperature, followed by watering and depth. All watering treatments lowered sand temperature, but the effect varied with depth. Temperatures in plots that received water returned to control levels within 10 days after watering stopped. Water content increased at both depths in the two highest water treatments, and 30 days after the end of water application remained higher than plots with low water. While the impacts of watering on sand temperature dissipate rapidly after the end of application, the impacts on water content are much more lasting. Although less effective at lowering sand temperatures than shading, watering may benefit sea turtle clutches by offsetting negative impacts of low levels of rain in particularly dry areas. Prior to implementing such strategies, the natural conditions at the location of interest (e.g. clutch depth, environmental conditions, and beach characteristics) and natural hatchling sex ratios should be taken into consideration. These results provide insight into the effectiveness of nest shading and watering as climate mitigation techniques and illustrate important points of consideration in the crafting of such strategies.     

Bean Leaf Expansion in Relation to Temperature

When dwarf Phaseolus vulgaris plants were grown in a controlledenvironment at 20, 25, 30, and 35° C, expansion of the primaryleaves occurred in two phases with an intermediate lag. Varyingrates and duration of expansion were involved, leading to greatestfinal areas at the two intermediate temperatures. Dry weightsof the leaves and leaf areas were similary influenced by temperature,except that the initial rates of increase continued for a longerperiod for weights than for areas. The rates of cell divisionand final numbers of cells were similar from 25 to 35° C,but both were decreased at 20° C. Final cell sizes were,on the other hand, decreased only at the highest temperature.The time trends of cell expansion varied greatly with temperature. Leaf expansion is discussed as a possible consequence of substratesupply, which may be determined by temperature in a number ofways. Cell division and cell expansion are not considered tobe joint direct determinants of leaf expansion. Temperatureinfluences division, with two consequences; the rate interactswith substrate supply to determine size of cells, and finalcell number affects potential leaf area. Cell size is regardedas being secondary to numbers of cells and total material available,although some factors can vary cell size independently of substrate,e.g. water status. An important control of leaf growth, until the attainment ofabout half the final area, may be exercised by way of the leaf.Subsequently, intra-plant competition is likely to dominate.     

Multiple species,mass spawning events in an Irish sea lough: the effect of temperatures on spawning and recruitment of invertebrates

Summary

Spawnings, larval occurrence and settlement of some marine invertebrates were examined over a six-year period at Lough Hyne, an inlet on the south coast of Ireland. Sea temperature rises were associated with multi-phyla spawnings, temperatures varied between years and greater numbers of larvae and greater settlements were noted in the warmer years. It is suggested that, should sea temperatures rise, conditions for successful recruitment for some species will become more favourable in Irish waters. However, unpredictable effects such as the expansion of exotic populations because conditions become more favourable for them may result in significant modification of diversity and abundance of species.     

Sustainable sanitation technology options for urban slums

Poor sanitation in urban slums results in increased prevalence of diseases and pollution of the environment. Excreta, grey water and solid wastes are the major contributors to the pollution load into the slum environment and pose a risk to public health. The high rates of urbanization and population growth, poor accessibility and lack of legal status in urban slums make it difficult to improve their level of sanitation. New approaches may help to achieve the sanitation target of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 7; ensuring environmental sustainability. This paper reviews the characteristics of waste streams and the potential treatment processes and technologies that can be adopted and applied in urban slums in a sustainable way. Resource recovery oriented technologies minimise health risks and negative environmental impacts. In particular, there has been increasing recognition of the potential of anaerobic co-digestion for treatment of excreta and organic solid waste for energy recovery as an alternative to composting. Soil and sand filters have also been found suitable for removal of organic matter, pathogens, nutrients and micro-pollutants from grey water.