Ergonomic risk factors for low back pain in North Carolina crab pot and gill net commercial fishermen

Background The objective of this research was to determine the association between LBP that limited or interrupted fishing work and ergonomic low back stress measured by (1) self-reported task and (2) two ergonomic assessment methods of low back stress. Methods Eligible participants were from a cohort of North Carolina commercial fishermen followed for LBP in regular clinic visits from 1999 to 2001 (n = 177). Work history, including crab pot and gill net fishing task frequency, was evaluated in a telephone questionnaire (n = 105). Ergonomic exposures were measured in previous study of 25 fishermen using two methods. The occurrence rate of LBP that limited or interrupted fishing work since last visit (severe LBP) was evaluated in a generalized Poisson regression model. Results Predictors of severe LBP included fishing with crew members and a previous history of severe LBP. Among crab pot and gill net fishermen (n = 89), running pullers or net reels, sorting catch, and unloading catch were associated with an increased rate of LBP. Percent of time in forces \u3e20 lb while in non-neutral trunk posture, spine compression \u3e3,400 N, and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health lifting indices \u3e3.0 were associated with LBP. Conclusions Tasks characterized by higher (unloading boat and sorting catch) and lower (running puller or net reel) ergonomic low back stress were associated with the occurrence of severe LBP. History of LBP, addition of crew members, and self-selection out of tasks were likely important contributors to the patterns of low back stress and outcomes we observed. Based on the results of this study, a participatory ergonomic intervention study is currently being conducted to develop tools and equipment to decrease low back stress in commercial crab pot fishing

The effect of using a pre-dive checklist on the incidence of diving mishaps in recreational scuba diving: a cluster-randomized trial

BACKGROUND: Scuba diving mishaps, caused by equipment problems or human errors, increase the occurrence of injuries and fatalities while diving. Pre-dive checklists may mitigate mishaps. This study evaluated the effect of using a pre-dive checklist on the incidence of diving mishaps in recreational divers. METHODS: A multi-location cluster-randomized trial with parallel groups and allocation concealment was conducted between 1 June and 17 August 2012. The participants had to be at least 18 years of age, permitted to dive by the dive operator and planning to dive on the day of participation. They were recruited at the pier and dive boats at four locations. The intervention group received a pre-dive checklist and post-dive log. The control group received a post-dive log only. The outcomes, self-reported major and minor mishaps, were prompted by a post-dive questionnaire. Mishap rates per 100 dives were compared using Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations. Intent-to-treat, per-protocol and marginal structural model analyses were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 1043 divers (intervention = 617; control = 426) made 2041 dives, on 70 location-days (intervention = 40; control = 30) at four locations. Compared with the control group, the incidence of major mishaps decreased in the intervention group by 36%, minor mishaps by 26% and all mishaps by 32%. On average, there was one fewer mishap in every 25 intervention dives. CONCLUSIONS: In this trial, pre-dive checklist use prevented mishaps which could lead to injuries and fatalities. Pre-dive checklists can increase diving safety and their use should be promoted. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT01960738

Association of Injury History and Incident Injury in Cadet Basic Military Training

To determine the association between injury history at enrollment and incident lower extremity (LE) injury during cadet basic training among first-year military cadets

Mammal Fleas (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) New for Alaska and the Southeastern Mainland Collected During Seven Years of a Field Survey of Small Mammals

Ten taxa of mammal fleas were among 124 collection records from 12 host species (one shrew, nine rodents and two carnivores), at 72 localities on the southeastern Alaska mainland in 1989 and during an extensive survey of mammals in 1992-1995 and 1997-1999. Megabothris asio megacolpus (Jordan) ex Microtus pennsylvanicus (Ord), Malaraeus telchinus (Rothschild) ex Peromyscus keeni (Rhoads) and Clethrionomys gapperi (Vigors) are new fleas for Alaska. Orchopeas caedens (Jordan) ex Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Erxleben) is a new flea for southeastern Alaska. Synaptomys borealis (Richardson) is a new host record for Opisodasys k. keeni (Baker). The other six taxa of fleas collected were Hystrichopsylla dippiei spinata Holland, H. o. occidentalis Holland, Catallagia charlottensis (Baker), Ceratophyllus ciliatus protinus Jordan, Megabothris abantis (Rothschild) and Opisodasys vesperalis (Jordan). Of these, H. o. occidentalis, C. charlottensis and M. abantis have seven new host records for the southeastern Alaska mainland. Distribution patterns of the fleas and their host relationships in North America are discussed

\u3ci\u3ePhotosystem II Subunit S\u3c/i\u3e overexpression increases the efficiency of water use in a field-grown crop

Insufficient water availability for crop production is a mounting barrier to achieving the 70% increase in food production that will be needed by 2050. One solution is to develop crops that require less water per unit mass of production. Water vapor transpires from leaves through stomata, which also facilitate the influx of CO2 during photosynthetic assimilation. Here, we hypothesize that Photosystem II Subunit S (PsbS) expression affects a chloroplastderived signal for stomatal opening in response to light, which can be used to improve wateruse efficiency. Transgenic tobacco plants with a range of PsbS expression, from undetectable to 3.7 times wild-type are generated. Plants with increased PsbS expression show less stomatal opening in response to light, resulting in a 25% reduction in water loss per CO2 assimilated under field conditions. Since the role of PsbS is universal across higher plants, this manipulation should be effective across all crops

Mishaps and unsafe conditions in recreational scuba diving and pre-dive checklist use: a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background Recreational scuba diving involves the use of complex instruments and specialized skills in an unforgiving environment. Errors in dive preparation in such an environment may lead to unsafe conditions, mishaps, injuries and fatalities. Diving mishaps can be major and minor based on their potential to cause injury and the severity of the resulting injury. The objective of this study is to assess the incidence of diving mishaps and unsafe conditions, and their associations with the participants’ routine use of their own checklists. Methods Between June and August 2012, 426 divers participated in the control group of a randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention pre-dive checklist. The current nested analysis prospectively follows the control participants, who did not receive the intervention checklist. Poisson regression models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate rate ratios comparing written checklist use with memorized and no checklist use. Results The overall incidence of major mishaps and minor mishaps was 11.2 and 18.2 per 100 dives, respectively. Only 8% participants reported written checklist use, 71% reported using memorized checklists, and 21% did not use any checklist. The rate ratio for written checklist use as compared to using a memorized or no checklist was 0.47 (95%CI: 0.27, 0.83) for all mishaps (major and minor combined), and 0.31 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.93) for major mishaps. The rate of mishaps among memorized checklist users was similar to no checklist users. Conclusion This study reinforces the utility of written checklists to prevent mishaps and, potentially, injuries and fatalities

Validity of Soccer Injury Data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Injury Surveillance System

Few validation studies of sport injury-surveillance systems are available

A Systematic Comparison of Antimicrobial Wound Dressings using a Planktonic Cell and an Immobilised Cell Model. Kamran

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of in-vitro planktonic and immobilised cell models for determining the antimicrobial efficacy of common antimicrobial wound dressings. Methods and Results: Five strains of A.baumannii , P.aeruginosa and S. aureus (MRSA) were tested against four antimicrobial wound dressings containing silver, honey or PHMB, using both a planktonic and immobilised cell model. Across all species and models used, the NSCD demonstrated the best antimicrobial activity being as good if not better than all the other dressings. The planktonic cell model was less effective at differentiating the dressings on antimicrobial performance as the immobilised cell model indicating that a diffusion barrier had a significant impact on the performance of some dressings. In the presence of the diffusion barrier antimicrobial impact of the Honey and PHMB dressings was significantly reduced particularly in the case of A. baumannii. Activity was at least an order of magnitude lower in the immobilised cell model vs. the planktonic cell model. Conclusions: The use of a planktonic cell model within standard tests may overestimate the efficacy of honey and PHMB. The use of an immobilised cell model provides a more demanding test for antimicrobial dressings allowing dressing to dressing and pathogen to pathogen differences to be more clearly quantified. Significance and Impact of study: The introduction of planktonic and immobilised cell models as part of testing regimens for wound dressings will provide a more thorough understanding of their antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties