The influence of a back support harness on spinal forces during sheep shearing

Previous research has classified the occupation of sheep shearing as heavy work where shearers flex their spine and hips for long periods of time, handle awkward loads and expend high amounts of energy. The aim of this research was to investigate the magnitude of spinal forces produced during the shearing phase of the work and to determine whether the use of a commercially available back support harness would reduce these forces. Following discussion on task complexity and risk of back injury with senior shearing instructors, three component tasks of the shearing phase were identified as posing high risk of injury and were prioritized for primary analysis. Although the dragging out of a sheep in preparation for shearing and an unexpected loss of animal control were also identified as being of high risk, technological and instrumentation difficulties precluded their analysis. Twelve experienced shearers were videotaped while shearing with and without the use of a back harness. Surface mounted retro-reflective markers placed on the trunk defined three linked segments: Pelvis, Lumbar and Head, Arms, and Upper Trunk (HAUT). A 3D, link segment, top down, inverse dynamics approach was used to describe the motion and to estimate forces involved during the identified tasks of shearing. The spinal force/time profiles of this sample of shearers demonstrated large compressive and shear forces for all three tasks that are close to the NIOSH and University of Waterloo action limits for compressive and shear forces respectively (McGill 1997, Yingling and McGill 1999, Marras 2000). The use of the back support harness reduced these forces by substantial and statistically significant amounts. This effect was consistent across all three tasks. The results of this study demonstrate the production of high levels of compressive and shear forces within the spine of shearers during the three shearing tasks studied and that the use of a back support harness can substantially reduce these forces. Therefore the use of a back harness may reduce the cumulative load on the spine during shearing thereby moderating damage to the articular structures. However it is not known whether the harness would protect the spine from a sudden or unexpected force.     

Characterization of the binding site for inhibitors of the HPV11 E1-E2 protein interaction on the E2 transactivation domain by photoaffinity labeling and mass spectrometry

An indandione-containing class of inhibitors abrogates DNA replication of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 by binding reversibly to the transactivation domain (TAD) of the viral E2 protein and inhibiting its interaction with the viral E1 helicase. To locate the binding site of this class of protein-protein interaction inhibitors, a benzophenone derivative was used to generate an irreversibly labeled E2-TAD polypeptide. The single site of covalent modification of the E2-TAD was identified by proteolytic digestions using trypsin, LysC, and V8 proteases and characterization of the resulting peptides by LC-MS procedures. Through this methodology, the benzophenone attachment point was located at the terminal methyl of residue Met101. Evidence further pinpointed the site of photoaffinity attachment to the terminal carbon atom, which is significant in providing a definitive example of the ability to locate photoinduced cross-linking to a polypeptide with atomic resolution using solely mass spectrometric detection. The location of the inhibitor binding site vis-à-vis the Glu39 and Glu100 residues sensitive to mutation for HPV 11 E2-TAD is discussed in relation to the crystal structure of the E2-TAD from the related HPV type 16.     

Site 5 air sparging pilot test, Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida

A 72-h air sparging pilot test was conducted at Site 5 (Operable Unit 2), Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Jacksonville, FL, to determine performance parameters necessary for full-scale design. The sparge well was completed to a depth of 29 ft, several feet below the groundwater plume contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), primarily benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). Air flow rates supplied to the sparge well were 3 cubic feet/min (cfm) during the first day, 2 cfm during the second day, and 1 cfm during the third day. Water levels in monitoring wells initially rose approximately 2 ft during the first 4-5 h of the test, then receded back to pre-test equilibrium levels over the next 15 h, for a total duration of water mounding of about 20 h. A small (approximately 0.5 ft) water table drop, with subsequent recovery to equilibrium level, occurred each time the air sparging rate was decreased. Although there is considerable variation depending on direction from the sparge well, the average radius of influence varied from approximately 30 ft at 1 cfm to 50 ft at 3 cfm. The air sparge system was capable of increasing the dissolved oxygen from 0 to 6 or 7 mg/l within 12-15 h of air channels reaching a given location. A lag time of approximately 13 h was observed before air channels reached a radius of 30 ft and dissolved oxygen levels began to increase at that radius. CO(2) (stripped out of the groundwater by the sparging) decreased from a pre-test concentration of 150 to 20 mg/l at r=5 ft, and from 150 to 50 mg/l at r=30 ft, within a period of about 24 h. The rate of VOC mass removal during the pilot test was 0.06 lb/day at a sparge rate of 3 cfm, and it appears that air sparging will effect a rapid cleanup of the VOCs in the Site 5 groundwater plume.     

A textbook with two target audiences [review of VLSI Test Principles and Architecture by Laung-Terng Wang et al.; 2006]

This is a review of VLSI Test Principles and Architectures (edited by Laung-Terng Wang, Cheng-Wen Wu, and Xiaoqing Wen), which is partly a textbook and partly a collection of survey articles on testing by top experts. The book's strengths include the practical aspects discussed, the good examples presented, and the depth of many of its chapters. The weaknesses include a lack of consistency of target audience across chapters and a lack of cohesiveness. Nearly everyone will get something out of this book, but prospective purchasers should review the topics of interest to see if the level is right for them.