Investigation of Select Ergonomic Interventions for Farm Youth. Part 1: Shovels

ABSTRACT

There is some evidence that performing farm chores may place youth at risk of musculoskeletal injuries. However, actual investigations of interventions for farm youth have been sparse. The objective of the current study was to investigate two different types of interventions (add-on handles) for shovels, potentially reducing the risk of injury in farm youth. A lumbar motion monitor was used to capture trunk posture and motion while the youth performed a simulated shoveling task—removal of material from an animal stall. Ratings of perceived exertion and comfort of use were also assessed. The results indicate add-on handles decreased sagittal flexion but increased twisting as compared to regular shovels. Perceived ratings were worse for shovels with add-on handles. Overall, there appears to be a trade-off between sagittal and nonsagittal motion and appears to have minimal impact on risk of low back injury. However, further research is necessary to determine the complete ramifications of this trade-off with respect to the biomechanical load within the low back and on other joints.     

Revolutionizing Child Welfare with Outcomes Management

Outcomes management technology holds great promise for improving the quality of services provided to youth in the child welfare system. Advantages include better detection of behavioral health and trauma-related issues, early indicators of case progress or risk of failure, and program- and system-level learning. Yet organizational barriers to implementation persist. Attention is spent in this paper on addressing these barriers so the use of outcomes management technology becomes a common practice. A model for predicting resiliency is presented, along with case examples demonstrating its potential use for treatment planning and monitoring progress.     

The Role of Community Health Centers in Providing Behavioral Health Care

The prevalence of behavioral health problems is higher for low-income individuals, yet this population is less likely to receive behavioral health treatment. Community health centers have their advantages as behavioral health-care providers because they serve a majority low-income population and are located in medically underserved areas. Their role in providing behavioral health care is expected to expand under health reform as they are expected to double their patient capacity, and due to increased insurance coverage for individuals with behavioral health problems. However, the ability of community health centers to provide behavioral health care is compromised by provider shortages and funding shortfalls.     

Response of Cats to Inhaled Mixtures of SO2 and SO2-NaCl Aerosol in Air

Twenty healthy, adult male cats were lightly anesthetized with pentobarbital (Nembutal) sodium and tracheotomized; respiration was maintained by pump, Medical-grade breathing air, with or without sulfur dioxide alone or in combination with sodium chloride aerosol was delivered in predetermined exposure sequencer Pulmonary flow resistance and lung compliance were evaluated. Pollutants were also delivered via endotracheal catheter or face mask, or both. Approximately 20 ppm of SO₂ in air was required to evoke a significant change in pulmonary flow resistance in “reactors.” The majority of animals showed no response to this concentration of SO₂ either alone or with NaCl aerosol (10 mg/cu m). An increased frequency of significant changes in pulmonary flow resistance was suggested when pollutants were delivered via endotracheal catheter or face mask. All alterations in parameters of response were reversible shortly after exposure ceased.     

p-Amminobenzoic Acid as a Protective Agent in Ozone Toxicity

The ability of p-aminobenzoìc acid (PABA) to profeet against ozone toxicity was demonstrated in two experimental systems p-Aminobenzoic acid, and the related compounds p-aminohippuric acid and anthranïlïc acid, inhibited the ozone-induced loss of activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase in human erythrocytes exposed in vitro to 40 ppm of ozone. Protection in vivo was demonstrated In a study in which 15 rats injected intraperitoneally with 2 ml of 20 mM PABA prior to ozone exposure died in a mean of 426 minutes as compared to a mean of 261 minutes for 15 control animals similarly exposed to 15 ppm of ozone. These findings provide additional presumptive evidence of the importance of free radicals in the mechanism of ozone toxicity. They further suggest that PABA and related compounds warrant exploration as possible protective agents in susceptible populations exposed to significant photochemical air pollution.