Test of PSHA Map of China – A Case Study of Sichuan Region

The PSHA map must be tested, since hypothesis testing is the heart of a scientific method, and it is inappropriate to adopt the map as the basis of seismic fortification in whole country without any test. Two paths of testing are suggested in this paper. The test result by counting up positive intensity difference shows that up to 2015 the percentages of total underestimation areas on 1990 and 2001 maps of China are equivalences of 5.6% and 6.0% in 50 years, both less than the exceeding probability 10% adopted in the map compiling procedure. The result of a case study of the common buildings with brick-concrete structure and frame structure in Sichuan region by evaluating the benefit of seismic fortification according to the two maps shows that the PSHA maps contribute benefits as economic loss reduction 67.9 and 79.7 billion RMB, death reduction 19439 and 17504 persons, and serious injury reduction 42632 and 37700 persons respectively during 2008 great Wenchuan Earthquake.

Development of Functional Rubber-Based Impact-Absorbing Pavements for Cyclist and Pedestrian Injury Reduction

Cyclists, pedestrians and elderly people’s specific needs in urban road infrastructures are often neglected. They rarely benefit from safety measures or innovations. Inspired by playgrounds and aiming to reduce vulnerable road users (VRUs) injuries, the development of the rubber-based Impact-Absorbing Pavements (IAP) offers a possibility to rethink the design of urban pavements and address safety on roads, which constitutes a major challenge in terms of attaining more sustainable, resilient, and safe cities. Therefore, bituminous mixtures with four different crumb rubber contents, 0%, 14%, 28%, and 33% (in total weight), were produced by partial aggregates substitution using the dry process. After the assessment of the geometrical and volumetric properties, the mechanical performances were evaluated. Finally, the samples were tested to measure the abrasion and impact attenuation with the well-known Head Injury Criterion (HIC), at different temperatures from −10 to 40 °C, to obtain a wide range of values referring to possible weather conditions. A significant effect of the rubber percentage and layer thickness on impact attenuation was observed. All observations and results confirm the feasibility of the IAP concept and its positive effect on future injury-prevention applications.

Identification of Fall-related Injuries in Nursing Home Residents using Administrative Claims Data

Background Fall-related injuries (FRIs) are a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and costs among nursing home (NH) residents. Carefully defining FRIs in administrative data is essential for improving injury-reduction efforts. We developed a series of novel claims-based algorithms for identifying FRIs in long-stay NH residents. Methods This is a retrospective cohort of residents of NH residing there for ≥100 days who were continuously enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B in 2016. FRIs were identified using four claims-based case-qualifying (CQ) definitions [Inpatient (CQ1), Outpatient and Provider with Procedure (CQ2), Outpatient and Provider with Fall (CQ3), or Inpatient or Outpatient and Provider with Fall (CQ4)]. Correlation was calculated using phi correlation coefficients. Results Of 153,220 residents (mean [SD] age 81.2 [12.1], 68.0% female), we identified 10,104 with at least one FRI according to one or more CQ definition. Among 2,950 residents with hip fractures, 1,852 (62.8%) were identified by all algorithms. Algorithm CQ4 (n=326 to 2,775) identified more FRIs across all injuries while CQ1 identified less (n=21 to 2,320). CQ2 identified more intracranial bleeds (1,028 v. 448) than CQ1. For non-fracture categories, few FRIs were identified using CQ1 (n= 20 to 488). Of the 2,320 residents with hip fractures identified by CQ1, 2,145 (92.5%) had external cause of injury codes. All algorithms were strongly correlated, with phi coefficients ranging from 0.82-0.99. Conclusions Claims-based algorithms applied to outpatient and provider claims identify more non-fracture FRIs. When identifying risk factors, stakeholders should select the algorithm(s) suitable for the FRI and study purpose.

Continuous Tracking of Foot Strike Pattern during a Maximal 800-Meter Run

(1) Background: Research into foot strike patterns (FSP) has increased due to its potential influence on performance and injury reduction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in FSP throughout a maximal 800-m run using a conformable inertial measurement unit attached to the foot; (2) Methods: Twenty-one subjects (14 female, 7 male; 23.86 ± 4.25 y) completed a maximal 800-m run while foot strike characteristics were continually assessed. Two measures were assessed across 100-m intervals: the percentage of rearfoot strikes (FSP%RF), and foot strike angle (FSA). The level of significance was set to p ≤ 0.05; (3) Results: There were no differences in FSP%RF throughout the run. Significant differences were seen between curve and straight intervals for FSAAVE (F [1, 20] = 18.663, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.483); (4) Conclusions: Participants displayed decreased FSA, likely indicating increased plantarflexion, on the curve compared to straight intervals. The analyses of continuous variables, such as FSA, allow for the detection of subtle changes in foot strike characteristics, which is not possible with discrete classifiers, such as FSP%RF.

Influence of Recovery Treatments on Dicamba-injured Soybean

Non-dicamba resistant soybean yield loss resulting from dicamba off-target injury has become an increasing concern for soybean growers in recent years. After off-target dicamba movement occurs onto sensitive soybean, little information is available on tactics that could be used to mitigate the cosmetic or yield losses that may occur. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted in 2017, 2018, and 2019 to determine if certain recovery treatments of fungicide, plant growth hormone, macro- and micronutrient fertilizer combinations, or weekly irrigation could reduce dicamba injury and/or result in similar yield to soybean that was not injured with dicamba. Simulated drift events of dicamba (5.6 g ae ha−1) were applied to non-dicamba resistant soybean once they reached the V3 or R2 stages of growth. Recovery treatments were applied approximately 14 d after the simulated drift event. Weekly irrigation was the only recovery treatment that provided appreciable levels of injury reduction or increases in soybean height or yield compared to the dicamba-injured plants. Weekly irrigation following the R2 dicamba injury event resulted in an 1% to 14% increase in soybean yield compared to the dicamba-injured control. All other recovery treatments resulted in soybean yields similar to the dicamba-injured control, and similar to or lower than the non-treated control. Results from this study indicate that if soybean have become injured with dicamba, weekly irrigation will help soybean recover some of the yield loss and reduce injury symptoms that resulted from off-target dicamba movement, especially in a year with below average precipitation. However, yield loss will likely not be restored to that of non-injured soybean.

Early Inflammatory Cytokine Expression in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Spontaneous Intraventricular Hemorrhage

We investigated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) expression of inflammatory cytokines and their relationship with spontaneous intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage (ICH, IVH) and perihematomal edema (PHE) volumes in patients with acute IVH. Twenty-eight adults with IVH requiring external ventricular drainage for obstructive hydrocephalus had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected for up to 10 days and had levels of interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), and C-C motif chemokine ligand CCL2 measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Median [IQR] ICH and IVH volumes at baseline (T0) were 19.8 [5.8–48.8] and 14.3 [5.3–38] mL respectively. Mean levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and CCL2 peaked early compared to day 9–10 (p < 0.05) and decreased across subsequent time periods. Levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and CCL2 had positive correlations with IVH volume at days 3–8 whereas positive correlations with ICH volume occurred earlier at day 1–2. Significant correlations were found with PHE volume for IL-6, IL-10 and CCL2 at day 1–2 and with relative PHE at days 7–8 or 9–10 for IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. Time trends of CSF cytokines support experimental data suggesting association of cerebral inflammatory responses with ICH/IVH severity. Pro-inflammatory markers are potential targets for injury reduction.