Sudden Unexpected Deaths and Vaccinations during the First Two Years of Life in Italy: A Case Series Study

Background The signal of an association between vaccination in the second year of life with a hexavalent vaccine and sudden unexpected deaths (SUD) in the two days following vaccination was reported in Germany in 2003. A study to establish whether the immunisation with hexavalent vaccines increased the short term risk of SUD in infants was conducted in Italy. Methodology/Principal Findings The reference population comprises around 3 million infants vaccinated in Italy in the study period 1999–2004 (1.5 million received hexavalent vaccines). Events of SUD in infants aged 1–23 months were identified through the death certificates. Vaccination history was retrieved from immunisation registries. Association between immunisation and death was assessed adopting a case series design focusing on the risk periods 0–1, 0–7, and 0–14 days after immunisation. Among the 604 infants who died of SUD, 244 (40%) had received at least one vaccination. Four deaths occurred within two days from vaccination with the hexavalent vaccines (RR = 1.5; 95% CI 0.6 to 4.2). The RRs for the risk periods 0–7 and 0–14 were 2.0 (95% CI 1.2 to 3.5) and 1.5 (95% CI 0.9 to 2.4). The increased risk was limited to the first dose (RR = 2.2; 95% CI 1.1 to 4.4), whereas no increase was observed for the second and third doses combined. Conclusions The RRs of SUD for any vaccines and any risk periods, even when greater than 1, were almost an order of magnitude lower than the estimates in Germany. The limited increase in RRs found in Italy appears confined to the first dose and may be partly explained by a residual uncontrolled confounding effect of age

Levels of Whole-Body Vibrations Transmitted to the Driver of a Tractor Equipped with Self-Levelling Cab during Soil Primary Tillage

Agricultural tractor drivers’ health preservation and comfort represent important aspects of the evolution of agricultural machinery and led to the development of devices aimed at improving working conditions, such as soundproof cab and driver seat suspension, nowadays commonly adopted in tractors. The vibrations are one of the factors mostly affecting health and comfort conditions, resulting from the characteristics and interaction of specific tractor’s parts (tyres, axles, chassis, cab). Trying to improve their products, manufacturers developed a cab prototype equipped with an automatic self-levelling system, whose goal is to maintain the driver’s vertebral column in a correct position during heavy agricultural operations such as primary soil tillage. A tractor with a such a prototype was tested to assess its effectiveness in maintaining the cab horizontal and any effects on the transmitted levels of whole-body vibration, during soil primary tillage carried out by means of a mouldboard plough and a subsoiling plough, both in plain and hilly surfaces. The results showed that the device worked well at a slope lower than the operating limits of the system, keeping the cabin horizontal through progressive adjustments. A slight reduction of the level of vibration was observed with a self-levelling system working during the tillage tests in the plain, compared to the traditional condition

Bench Testing of Sensors Utilized for In-Line Monitoring of Lubricants and Hydraulic Fluids Properties

This work reports the results of a study on the behaviour of five sensors recently developed for oil conditions monitoring, installed in-line in an experimental test rig for lubricants. The tests were carried out on seven oils of different origins (one synthetic ester, two bio-based synthetic esters, four vegetable oils) and use (two UTTOs and five hydraulic oils), under controlled working conditions, according to a specially designed test method. At first, the study concerned the identification of the conditions for the correct sensors’ installation. Then, the tests started applying to the fluids severe work cycles intended to accelerate oil ageing. The data of viscosity, permittivity, relative humidity, electric conductivity, particle contamination, and ferro-magnetic particles provided by the sensors were compared to the results of laboratory analyses made on oil samples taken during the tests with the aim of verifying the sensors measurements accuracy and reliability and selecting the more suitable ones to in-line oil conditions monitoring, in the perspective of introducing them also in field applications, e.g., on agricultural tractors, for preventing damages due to oil deterioration, and in managing the machine maintenance

Dynamic-energetic balance of agricultural tractors: active systems for the measurement of the power requirements in static tests and under field conditions

Modern tractors are characterized by the introduction of devices designed to increase the operative performances of the machines, such as systems for monitoring and controlling various functions (through a massive use of electronics and hydraulics), or deputed to improve the comfort of the driver (paying more attention to ergonomics, air-conditioning, noise and vibration). Such devices need energy to be operated, affecting the energetic balance of the tractor. In this context, the availability of suitable methodologies and instrumental systems could be useful to provide objective, accurate and reliable measurements of the performances of the tractors under different conditions, also considering the power requirements from ancillary services and/or simulating the coupling with operating machines. The tests on the performances of tractors are now made using different methods, including the trial codes issued by the OECD Codes. Beyond their undoubted validity, they fix standard test conditions that often do not adequately represent the operative reality, so that, much remains to investigate on the actual performances provided by the tractors. From this point of view and with reference to fixed point tests, a test bench was developed for the measurement of the power required by various devices, such as transmission and air conditioning. It was used in experimental tests on a tracked tractor and on a wheeled tractor, aimed at validating the test device, measuring the power absorption related to the rotational speed of the organs of propulsion and to the characteristics curves, in order to quantify the power drawn by the transmission and by the air conditioning and assess the residual power for other tractor functions. As to field conditions, a study is being conducted at CRA-ING, within the project PTO (Mi.P.A.A.F.), to develop a mobile test bench aimed at evaluating the power required by different operations, such as self displacement, traction, use of power take off, their combination. The system simulates such operations by applying to the tractor, by means of a system of sensors and actuators operated by feedback signals, work cycles combining force of traction, p.t.o. torque, hydraulic power, derived from data recorded during real field test with agricultural machines

Assessment of the Performance of Agricultural Tires Using a Mobile Test Bench

The performance of agricultural tires varies with the characteristics of both the terrain and the tractors on which they are mounted, which differently affect the rolling resistance, the traction capacity, and the slip. To reduce the variability of test conditions, CREA developed an original mobile test (MTB) bench which consists of a dynamometric single axle trailer pulled by a tractor and can be used both in traction performance tests (driving wheels) and in rolling resistance tests (driven wheels). A control system alternatively operates the adjustment of traction force or slip, so that each test is performed maintaining constant the desired values. The MTB underwent tests under different conditions (type of surface, pre-set values of force of traction and slip) aimed at verifying its accuracy and reliability. In a final test, two pairs of identical new tires were simultaneously mounted on the MTB and on the rear axle of the 2WD tractor that pulled it, to discover information on the different interactions occurring, under the same traction conditions, between the soil surface and each pair of tires, with reference to the relationship between the slips and the load transfers observed on the MTB and on the tractor rear axle. The results evidenced the capability of the MTB to guarantee repeatable test conditions, including field conditions, allowing comparison among the performance of different tires

Light Drone-Based Application to Assess Soil Tillage Quality Parameters

The evaluation of soil tillage quality parameters, such as cloddiness and surface roughness produced by tillage tools, is based on traditional methods ranging, respectively, from manual or mechanical sieving of ground samples to handheld rulers, non-contact devices or Precision Agriculture technics, such as laser profile meters. The aim of the study was to compare traditional methods of soil roughness and cloddiness assessment (laser profile meter and manual sieving), with light drone RGB 3D imaging techniques for the evaluation of different tillage methods (ploughed, harrowed and grassed). Light drone application was able to replicate the results obtained by the traditional methods, introducing advantages in terms of time, repeatability and analysed surface while reducing the human error during the data collection on the one hand and allowing a labour-intensive field monitoring solution for digital farming on the other. Indeed, the profilometer positioning introduces errors and may lead to false reading due to limited data collection. Future work could be done in order to streamline the data processing operation and so to produce a practical application ready to use and stimulate the adoption of new evaluation indices of soil cloddiness, such as Entropy and the Angular Second Moment (ASM), which seem more suitable than the classic ones to achieved data referred to more extended surfaces

Olive Pomace Oil as a Chainsaw Lubricant: First Results of Tests on Performance and Safety Aspects

The total loss lubrication system that is typical of chainsaws is responsible for a massive dispersion in the agro-forestry environment of highly impactful pollutants, mostly of fossil origin, often well known as carcinogenic substances, which, in addition to presenting a risk to the environment, represent an important risk factor for human health, especially for chainsaw users. During its use, the chain lubricant is dispersed from the guide bar tip in the form of droplets and aerosol, or it is adsorbed on wood residues and sawdust. Then, it is subjected to drift, settles on the ground and vegetation, and can hit the operators, who, after prolonged exposures, can suffer both irritation of the respiratory tract and dermal absorption. Such a risk factor is often amplified by the widespread use of less-expensive, sometimes illegal alternatives, such as exhausted motor oils. To mitigate said negative effects, a process has been in progress for several years that is aimed at replacing conventional lubricants with synthetic or biobased oils with increasing biodegradability. As a contribution to this process, a study has been started on the possibility of using refined olive pomace oil (ROPO) as a base stock for the formulation of a totally biodegradable chainsaw lubricant. On purpose, to improve its properties of viscosity and adhesivity, such an oil was added with a biodegradable thickening agent, obtaining four formulations with different viscosity. After a lab test and a preliminary cutting test on firewood, the formulation with 2% of thickener resulted in being the best, and 3.0 g kg−1 of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a food-grade antioxidant, was then added to form the final formulation (F2) to be compared, in the subsequent four test sessions, to a biodegradable commercial chain lubricant (SB). The tests were carried out without changing the chainsaw setting, on different wood species, both in forest and, with the aim of increasing the repeatability of tests conditions and comparability of results, at a fixed point. The fluids’ performances were mainly evaluated based both on the operators’ opinions and on the measurements of the chain–bar temperatures and of saw chain wear related to a predefined number of cuts. As to the destiny of the fluid dispersed during cutting, the overall dispersion was assessed by considering the average working time, the consumption of chain lubricant, and the forest area cut down daily. Eventually, the amounts of inhalable and respirable dust particles as vectors of oil residues were quantified by means of personal air samplers worn by the operators and analyzed to determine any differences in the concentration of metallic elements. The test results evidenced chain temperatures that were 0.5, 4.9, and 12.5 °C higher with F2 relating to SB, respectively, in the cutting of trunks of fresh Pinus, Eucalyptus, and dry Pinus. They were accompanied by chain weight losses of 89.5% and 35% higher with F2 relating to SB, respectively, in cutting tests of Turkey oak and Poplar. Such a greater wear, however, apparently did not affect the saw chain’s cutting efficiency with F2, since the operators declared that they did not notice any difference between the performances of the two fluids at the time of comparison. The effects of higher wear on the chain lifetime, any deriving risks for the operator’s safety, and the possibility to reduce the wear levels observed with F2 will be explored in a further study, e.g., through different settings of the lubricating system of the chainsaw. The results of the analyses of the air-sampled dust residues that were evidenced with F2 showed lower concentrations of respirable and inhalable particles and of some metallic elements (Al, Mg, and Ca) than those with SB. This behavior probably depends on the different interaction between sawdust and the two fluids, which differ according to their chemical–physical characteristics (different viscosity, composition, and additives). However, it represents a positive factor in favor of the use of the ROPO-based lubricant, emphasized by the total biodegradability of its residues that are possibly contained in the dust inhaled by the operators

Technical Performance and Chemical–Physical Property Assessment of Safflower Oil Tested in an Experimental Hydraulic Test Rig

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an underestimated and multipurpose crop resistant to environmental stresses. Its oil presents useful chemical–physical properties, potentially exploitable for industrial purposes as a bio-based lubricant. In this work safflower oil was applied as a less toxic alternative to mineral-based hydraulic fluids. The extracted oil was partially refined and the antioxidant tert-buthylhydroquinone (THBQ) was added at two concentrations (0.25 and 3.00 mg kg−1). Efficiency tests of the obtained oil were carried out using an experimental test rig capable of simulating a real hydraulic system and performing severe short-duration work cycles with the aim of strongly accelerating the ageing of the tested oil. Oil performance was verified by monitoring hydraulic and chemical–physical parameters, which were correlated to the main lubricant properties through sensor detection and laboratory analysis in parallel. The results indicated that the safflower oil behaved well at both THBQ concentrations and showed good technical performance (operating pressure and temperature; flowrate and transmitted hydraulic power), though a higher THBQ concentration was necessary to protect the oil’s chemical–physical properties from worsening. In fact, the higher THBQ concentration allowed the test to be extended to 270 h, an improvement compared to the 150 h that was achieved with the lower THBQ concentration. Finally, the use of safflower oil for industrial and agricultural purposes seems feasible and would contribute toward the sustainability of the whole crop rotation in a prospective valuable circular economy

Test Rig and Method for Comparative Evaluation of Conventional and Bio-Based Hydraulic Fluids and Lubricants for Agricultural Transmissions

The use of lubricants and hydraulic fluids of both mineral and synthetic origin in agricultural processes could have a deep impact on the environment as a result of their possible dispersion in the ground and aquifers. Replacing them with bio-based fluids, developed to provide good tribological properties and high biodegradability, could contribute to reducing their negative effects. The evaluation of the capacity of such innovative fluids to replace the conventional ones is based on work cycles lasting as long as their lifetime, during which their characteristics must prove to be at least equal to those of the fluids they replace. To shorten the evaluation process, CREA (Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia Agraria) developed a fluid test rig (FTR) and related test method, able to apply severe work cycles on small oil volumes, thereby accelerating the aging of the fluid beyond what typically occurs. This paper reports the results of the tests on FTR’s functionality carried out comparing two UTTO (Universal Tractor Transmission Oil) fluids: a widespread conventional fluid and an experimental vegetable-based oil. The FTR will permit, in a relatively short time, the assessment of the most promising formulations to be tested later under real working conditions, e.g., in agricultural tractors, reducing the risk of damage, before their ultimate introduction into the operating reality