Belt Use Research Articles

Seat belt use among pregnant women in the United Arab Emirates: the Mutaba’ah Study

IntroductionMotor vehicle collisions are a major cause of death and injury among pregnant women and their fetuses. Seat belt use compliance during pregnancy varies in different populations. We aimed to...

Breast Reconstruction after Blunt Breast Trauma: Systematic Review and Case Report Using the Ribeiro Technique.

Blunt breast trauma occurs in 2% of blunt chest injuries. This study aimed to evaluate the evidence on breast reconstruction after blunt trauma associated with the use of a seat belt. Also, we describe the first case of breast reconstruction using the Ribeiro technique. In November 2022, a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases was conducted. The literature was screened independently by two reviewers, and the data was extracted. Our search terms included breast, mammoplasty, blunt injury, and seat belts. In addition, we present the case of a woman with a left breast deformity and her reconstruction using the inferior Ribeiro flap technique. Six articles were included. All included studies were published between 2010 and 2021. The studies recruited seven patients. According to the Teo and Song classification, seven class 2b cases were reported. In five cases a breast reduction was performed in the deformed breast with different types of pedicles (three superomedial flaps, one lower flap, one superior flap). Only one case presented complications. The case here presented was a type 2b breast deformity in which the lower Ribeiro pedicle was used successfully without complications during follow-up. Until now there has been no consensus on reconstructive treatment due to the rarity of this entity. However, we must consider surgical treatment individually for each patient. We believe that the Ribeiro technique is a feasible and safe alternative in the treatment of posttraumatic breast deformities, offering very good long-term results.

Design and Simulation of Robot Gripper and Conveyor System for Workstations

Abstract: Intelligent manufacturing is going to boom in the upcoming years. The characteristic features of Industry 4.0 are fully automated production facilities where all processes are controlled in real-time and take into account the changing external conditions. The core of the Industry 4.0 is made up of digitalization and robotics, in particular, the use of collaborative robots and MES. MES (Manufacturing Execution System) is a specialized system designed to solve the problems of synchronization, coordination, analysis, and optimization of production. It involves the use of conveyor belts for rapid transportation of products. Industries where conveyor belt systems are excelling include automotive, computer, good, packaging, print finishing, bottling and canning, chemical, pharmaceutical, aerospace and food processing The safety conditions in fundamental industrial jobs are dangerous and harmful combined with ineffective manual work as a result of rising need for mass manufacturing. In industries, automation is the use of technology to jobs that were previously handled by humans. It is a potent instrument that can aid companies in enhancing quality, production, and efficiency. A typical type of mechanical handling equipment that transports things from one place to another is a conveyor system. These systems consist of conveyor belts that are designed to work seamlessly with robotic arms and other automated equipment. Increased automation and mass production rate reduces the lead time and increases the profit of a firm. The deployed robotic arms are immensely capable of handling various tasks with increased flexibility. Using a robotic arm with an end effector as a gripper to hold/pick and place the material from the conveyor belt improves the product flow process. The project comes with the NodeMCU firmware and an integrated Wi-Fi chip, the ESP8266 12E. To connect with the controller via a mobile phone, a web page would be constructed using HTML and coded using the Arduino IDE's C language. At either end of the conveyor belt, 2 robotic arms with 2 degrees of freedom (D.O.F.) would be placed. Using one arm to place the product on the belt and a second to pick it up at the other end. Also calculating the analytical data of the system that is involved in reallife industrial processes along with the simulation of entire system for the UR10 industrial robot, using the RoboDK simulation software. Through the usage of this system, productivity is boosted with improved safety of the working environment, become more effective, be more flexible, and have higher levels of job satisfaction

P003 Home-based sleep study paediatric model of care

Abstract Introduction An innovative service that was developed within a tertiary paediatric centre, involved the use of a home-based sleep study model of care (MOC) between March 2022 to September 2022. This MOC allowed low risk children to be able to undergo a sleep study earlier than, when compared to the traditional in-house sleep studies conducted within the hospital setting. Methods The MOC involved a sleep technician travelling to the patients’ home and then attaching sensors onto the child’s body. The at home sleep system used is a full, portable polysomnography system that gently simplifies the task of performing a sleep study while delivery secure and precise measurements from the comfort of the patient’s home. The system provides data collection via the use of electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), oximeter, plethsmography belts and facial electroculargraphs which are attached comfortably onto the patient’s body. An outpatient’s service run by Clinical Nurse Consultants then provided 24 hour support to families for troubleshooting overnight. Results A total of 49 home based sleep studies were performed during this period. Almost 90% of children tested had an abnormal sleep study result and 1 in 3 had moderate to severe findings. Eight studies (19%) were below the expected quality. This is comparable to in-hospital poor quality sleep study rates. Discussion The MOC reduced hospital admission for a diagnostic sleep study, provided quicker assessment and in the comfort of the child’s home.

Seat Belt Use in the US by Pregnant Motor Vehicle Occupants

This cross-sectional study assesses patterns of seat belt use among pregnant, nonpregnant, and male occupants.

Mortality Rate and Years of Life Lost Due to Road Traffic Accidents in Fars Province, 2004-2019.

Traffic accidents are one of the most critical health problems and the ninth leading cause of death globally. We aimed to determine the Mortality rate and the number of Years of Life Lost (YLL) due to road traffic accidents. In this retrospective cohort study, mortality rate and YLL due to road traffic accidents were examined in Fars province, central Iran during the years 2004-2019. Mortality statistics were collected through death registration of ministry of health and medical education for Fars Province. Age Standardized mortality Rate (ASR) was calculated and join point regression analysis carried out to examine the trend of YLL rate. Data were analyzed using Excel spreadsheet version 2016 and Join point Regression Program 4.9.0.0. During the 16-year study period, 25,858 deaths due to road traffic accidents occurred in the province. 79.2% (20483 cases) were in men, and 33.7% (8703 cases) were aged 15-29 years. Total YLL during the 16-year study period were 458,975 (14.6 per 1000 people) in men, 117,999 (3.8 per 1000 people) in women. According to the join point regression, the 16- year trend of YLL rate due to premature mortality was decreasing: AAPC was -4.9% (95% CI: -8.8 to -0.9; P=0.018) for male, and -3.5% (95% CI: -6.3 to-0.5; P=0.011) for female. Considering that the number of deaths, mortality rate and YLL has decreased in Fars province during the 16 years under study. Therefore, because the mortality rate due to road traffic accidents in Iran is higher than the global average, the need for training programs for drivers, compliance with standards and retrofitting of vehicles, road safety, driving supervision and the use of seat belts are essential.

Analysis of Injuries and Cause of Death in Fatal Accidents with Farm Tractors

Abstract Farm tractor accidents are a frequent cause of death for people in agricultural field of work. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of the fatal farm tractor accidents, as well as the most significant types of injuries and causes of death. Research is based on epidemiological criteria of subjects, traffic participation, cause of death, distribution of injury, outliving period and toxicological details. The study included 22 (4.2%) farm tractor related fatalities out of all 525 subjects who died from sustained injuries or complications of the injuries sustained in road traffic accidents. The highest number of deaths was reported in men in 95.5%. The highest percentage died of bleeding out (41%), while in 18% of cases, complications that occurred during the outliving period were the cause of death. Analyzing injuries through organ systems, it is observed that the highest number of farm tractor drivers had a chest injury (90%), and the most common chest injury was a rib fracture (82%). When determining the outliving period, the highest number of fatal farm tractor drivers died at the scene of accidents (68.2%). Of all of the subjects, 32% were under the influence of alcohol, while 23% had blood alcohol concentration level greater than 0.5 ‰. The high mortality of farm tractor drivers can be reduced by introducing a mandatory rollover protective structures system and the use of a seat belt in farm tractors with cabs, which would reduce the possibility of the driver falling out of the farm tractor seat and additional injuries due to rollover.

Driving for Work Crashes: A Systems Analysis

Work-related road safety is a government priority. A Safe System analysis of 300 driving for work (DFW) crashes was carried out, along with an exploratory socio-technical analysis of one significant case to better understand the context around DFW crashes. The Safe System analysis showed three distinct crash types: 1) multiple vehicle crashes often involving work vans, utes, and SUVs in side impact crashes; 2) vulnerable road users often involving professional drivers; and 3) single vehicle crashes involving people driving vans or light trucks for work losing control on rural roads with fatigue, non-seat belt use, and speed often implicated. There was a range of unique characteristics of DFW crashes, in particular, injuries to others who were implicated in DFW crashes but not those DFW themselves. Socio-technical systems analyses show promise for understanding the context around DFW crashes, but arrangements for better data access, coordination, and use are needed.

Prevalence and determinants of safety equipment use: Analysis from a national dataset of law enforcement officers in the US

This study investigates the rates of law enforcement officers’ (LEOs) consistent use of body armor, seat belts and reflective vests, and the relationship between officer and agency characteristics and the likelihood of consistent use of safety equipment with data from a nationally representative sample of close to 3000 LEOs in the US. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess the national prevalence of officers’ consistent use of safety equipment. Three separate multivariable logistic regression models were fit to test relationships between the agency and officer characteristics and LEO use for the three types of safety equipment: body armor, seat belts, and reflective vests. Although most agencies had written policies mandating the on-duty use of safety equipment, only two-thirds of the officers reported consistent use of body armor and seat belts, and only one-third reported consistent use of reflective vests. Significant associations were observed between agency and officer characteristics and safety equipment use, illustrating the importance of targeted efforts to improve consistency in LEOs’ safety equipment use.

Star rating of driver’s behavior as a tool to prevent risky behavior

Driver behavior is a key determinant of road safety. Risky behaviors can be measured and quantified using traditional and modern methods, which enables the assessment of the driver’s behavior. Following lessons from safety science, it is important to analyse and manage risks factors to optimize interventions in the transport context at the territory. The main objective of the paper is to explore the star rating of the driver’s behavior to provide credible road safety monitoring and identification of the factors that most contribute to risky driving behaviors. The Data Envelopment Analysis method for selection of most significant factors is used for star rating of driver’s behavior. The subject of the analysis encompasses 18 factors for 27 police administration units (PAUs) in the Republic of Serbia. The results are analysed regarding the following aspects: 1) star rating of driver’s behavior and 2) defining the stages of the periodic factors monitoring for each PAU analysed. Using a mobile phone while driving, not using child restraints system, alcohol drunk driving during the night and seat belt use at rear seats of passenger vehicles were identified as the most significant factors associated with risky driving behaviors. Monitoring a broader set of factors helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a territory’s road safety system. Star rating of driver’s behavior as a tool intended for decision-makers ensures monitoring, management, the exchange of evidence-based and customized best practices and defining earlier goal-oriented actions to manage driver’s behavior and to prevent risky driving.

The Effects of Recline Angle and Restraint Geometry on Lap Belt-Pelvis Interaction for Above-Normal BMI Motor Vehicle Occupants.

The interaction of the three-point seat belt with the occupant, particularly the lap belt with the pelvis, is affected by a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including the torso recline angle, lap belt angle, and occupant body mass index (BMI). While field data analyses have shown the strong safety benefit for seat belt use regardless of occupant size or crash direction, the term "submarining" historically has been used to describe a scenario in which the lap belt loads the abdominal soft tissue and organs, superior and posterior to the pelvic bone. While contemporary restraint systems work to effectively address the risk of submarining in occupants properly seated and properly belted, scenarios in which the lap belt may not properly engage the load-bearing pelvis remain. These scenarios, including a reclined torso angle or shallow lap belt angle, require further study. In this research study, eight non-injurious seated belt pull tests were conducted on two constrained whole-body cadavers of above-normal BMI (≥ 25kg/m2) with controlled variation of torso and lap belt-pelvis angles. Test factors affecting belt engagement with the pelvis were identified for each subject. Belt engagement was largely affected by the initial placement of the lap belt. The initial belt placement was affected by the torso angle which influenced the distribution of the abdominal soft tissue. The belt disengagement thresholds differed between subjects due to the inter-subject differences in soft tissue distribution, which affected the lap belt kinematics relative to the pelvis. In addition to improving the understanding of this particular submarining mechanism, this study provides a dataset for future validation of human body model soft tissue deformation response from lap belt loading.

Numerical analysis of the effects of padded pelvic belts as a treatment for sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

Pain related to the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) accounts for low back pain in 15%-30% of patients. One of the most common treatment options is the use of pelvic belts. Various types of pelvic belts exist; however, the mechanisms underlying treatment and their effectiveness remain unclear to date. To analyze stress distribution in the pelvis when a pelvic rubber belt or a padded pelvic belt is applied, to assess the effectiveness of treatment from a numerical biomechanical perspective. The pressure distribution at the pelvic belts was measured using a device and subsequently modeled with the finite element method of a pelvis with soft tissues. The stress environment when wearing a pelvic belt in a double-leg stance was simulated. With the application of pelvic belts, the innominate bone rotated outward, which was termed an out-flare. This caused the SIJ to compress and cause reduction in sacrotuberous, sacrospinous, interosseous, and posterior sacroiliac ligament loading. Padded pelvic belts decreased the SIJ displacement to a greater extent than in pelvic rubber belts. Pelvic belts aid in compressing the SIJ and reduce its mobility.

Study on the Cause of Hypoxia in the Corner of Return Air of Shallow Buried Flammable Coal Seam Group Mining Face and the Coordinated Prevention and Control of Coal Spontaneous Combustion

Coal is the main energy source in China, and spontaneous combustion of coal is one of the main disasters in coal mines. Fully mechanized caving top coal mining technology is widely used in coal mines. Under the comprehensive action of multiple factors, gas generated by coal oxidation and low oxygen gas in goaf is easy to rush to working face, resulting in lower oxygen concentration in upper corner and exceeding harmful gas concentration. It seriously threatens the health of underground workers and the normal operation of production. If the oxygen concentration in the upper corner is changed, it is bound to cause the change of the oxygen concentration in the goaf and aggravate the threat of spontaneous combustion of coal in the goaf. In order to solve the double threat of low oxygen in upper corner and coal spontaneous combustion in goaf, based on Coulomb model, this paper uses command flow to conduct numerical simulation tests on the failure law of overlying strata, and obtains the influence of mining of the lower 1 coal seam and the lower 5 coal seam on the overlying strata subsidence and surface penetration. Based on the comprehensive consideration of atmospheric pressure, ore pressure activity, external air leakage and other factors, the mixed model of the source and emission of low oxygen gas in goaf was established, and the formation mechanism of low oxygen problem in the corner of return air of working face was defined. The use of pressure air belt to deal with low oxygen in return air corner is proposed creatively. The comprehensive fire prevention measures such as corner plugging, nitrogen injection and grouting are used to inhibit the oxidation of the left coal and the influx of low oxygen gas to the corner in the goaf, so as to achieve the goal of collaborative prevention and control of low oxygen in the corner of return air and coal spontaneous combustion. The research results have important reference significance for the mine with the risk of spontaneous combustion or the problem of low oxygen in the return air corner.

Assessment of Safety Practices Among Commercial Long Distance Bus Drivers in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Introduction: Safety practices by road users are important for road safety. The actions or inactions of drivers can result in Road Traffic crashes6.To assess safety practices and related factors among commercial long distance bus drivers in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study design was used, and data was collected from 315 commercial long distance bus drivers and their vehicles from January to October, 2015 using a structured interviewer administered questionnaires and focus group discussion guide. Respondents were recruited using systematic random sampling technique. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Data showed that 114 (36.2%) were within the age group of 31-40 years. Most of the respondents 272 (86.3%) were married, almost all the respondents 311 (98.7%) were males, while, 4 (1.3%) were females. More than half of the respondents 172 (54.6%) had a secondary level of education, 112 (35.6%) had a primary level of education while 12 (3.8%) had no formal education. About a quarter 83 (26.3%) drive at a safe speed of 80-100 km/hour as approved by the Nigerian high way code. More than two thirds of the respondents 216 (68.6%) drive at a speed between >100-120 km/hour, while 12 (3.8%) drive above 120 km/hour. Majority of the respondents 235 (74.6%) were observed using seat belt as a safety practice while 80 (25.4%) were not using their seat belt. There was a statistically significant association between the respondents’ level of education and their use of seat belts (p = 0.002). Other safety practices done by respondents were daily vehicle checks 272 (86.3%), obeying traffic rules 284 (90.2%), Unsafe practices done by drivers include violation of road traffic signs (48.4%), violation of parking regulations (45.2%) , Use of mobile phones (48.9%), having a soft drink while driving (23.5%), putting a child on the front seat while driving (3.5%), drinking alcohol while driving (2.5%), smoking while driving (1.6%), reading newspapers while driving (0.6%). Conclusion: The common safety practice seen in commercial drivers included, use of seat belt, driving within speed limits, daily vehicle checks, obeying traffic rules, avoidance of substance use and avoidance of use of mobile phones while driving. Recommendations include encouraging drivers organizing quarterly meetings, workshops and seminars for commercial long distance drivers on safety practices during driving, prevention and control of road traffic accidents and promoting and ensuring drivers’ compliance with traffic rules.

Seat belt usage in buses – An observation study of usage and travellers’ perspectives

This study aims to evaluate seat belt usage in buses and to understand travellers’ incentives of seat belt usage. Methods used are observational studies (10 cities, with 328 bus observations), focus group discussion (7 groups with a total of 32 participants) and a web survey (n = 1737 respondents). The results show that the seat belt use among bus passengers can be improved especially in regional and commercial bus traffic. It is more common to buckle up on long trips than on short trips. However, even though observations show high usage during long trips, travellers report that they remove the seat belt after a while if they want to sleep or for comfort reasons. For the bus drivers it is not possible to control passengers’ usage. Dirty seat belts and technical malfunction might deter some passengers from using them and therefore systematic cleaning and control of seats and belts are recommended. On short trips one reason for not using the belt is related to worries about getting stuck and not being ready to get off in time. In general, it is most important to increase the usage on high-speed roads (>60 km/h), in lower speed it might be more important to provide a seat for each passenger. Based on the results a list of recommendations is presented.

The role of EPID in vivo dosimetry in the risk management of stereotactic lung treatments.

In this work we report our experience with the use of in vivo dosimetry (IVD) in the risk management of stereotactic lung treatments. Acommercial software based on the electronic portal imaging device (EPID) signal was used to reconstruct the actual planning target volume (PTV) dose of stereotactic lung treatments. The study was designed in two phases: i)in the observational phase, the IVD results of 41consecutive patients were reviewed and out-of-tolerance cases were studied for root cause analysis; ii)in the active phase, the IVD results of 52patients were analyzed and corrective actions were taken when needed. Moreover, proactive preventions were further introduced to reduce the risk of future failures. The error occurrence rate was analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of proactive actions. Atotal of 330fractions were analyzed. In the first phase, 13errors were identified. In the active phase, 12errors were detected, 5of which needed corrective actions; in 4patients the actions taken corrected the error. Several preventions and barriers were introduced to reduce the risk of future failures: the planning checklist was updated, the procedure for vacuum pillows was improved, and use of the respiratory compression belt was optimized. Adecrease in the failure rate was observed, showing the effectiveness of procedural adjustment. The use of IVD allowed the quality of lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) treatments to be improved. Patient-specific and procedural corrective actions were successfully taken as part of risk management, leading to an overall improvement in the dosimetric accuracy.

Empirical examination of interdependent relationship between usage of seatbelt restraint system and driver-injury severity of single-vehicle crashes in Thailand using a joint econometric analysis

Objectives The paper aims to examine the interdependent relationship between the usage of the seatbelt restraint system and severities of the driver-injury in single-vehicle crashes. Methods This paper developed a comprehensive joint econometric structure − a joint random parameters binary probit-binary probit model − that allows for the simultaneous examination of injury severity of the driver in a crash, and taking into account the fact that seat belt use can be endogenous to the outcomes of driver injury. The developed model is tested using data on drivers-injury severities involved in single-vehicle crashes in Thailand from 2012-2017. Results In terms of the interdependent relationship between seatbelt use status and driver-injury severities, the findings suggest that drivers who do not use seat belts may demonstrate more dangerous or aggressive driving behaviors (such as speeding), subsequently increasing their likelihood of involvement in severe or fatal crashes. Additionally, the result also shows that drivers who are involved in speeding-related crashes are less likely to wear a seatbelt and have a higher risk of sustaining severe and fatal injuries. The findings also reveal that in crashes, drivers who are young, or operating trucks are less likely to be wearing their seat belts. The study also indicates that severe and fatal crashes are associated with factors such as elderly drivers, alcohol involvement, unbelted drivers, fatigue, depressed medians, and barrier medians. Conversely, a crash in a U-turn area, driving a passenger car, pickup truck, or large truck, or colliding with a guardrail reduces the likelihood of severe and fatal injuries. Conclusions Neglecting the hidden endogenous effect in statistical analyses could result in an overestimation of the impact of seat belt usage on crash-injury outcomes. The findings of this study can provide valuable insights for relevant authorities aiming to improve driver safety.

Automated Dry-Wet-Metal Separator Using Microcontroller

The rapid increase in population and modernization lead to large waste of garbage. The waste segregation makes it simply reuse and recycle. The proper management system is not available for segregation of dry, wet and metal waste and Proper disposal of waste is not followed in crowded areas.Waste garbage affects in environment management, segregation and transportation.Technology always helps in making humans life easier. These papers purpose an automated waste segregation for households andIt is designed to sort out the different waste For separating metal and dry waste into their respective bins by different sensors along with the use of conveyor belt. This system can be used in industries for the employees to use daily segregation of waste at dump yards is time consuming and can be recycle. These garbage waste can be reuse and recycle. This technology is particularly significant in recycling and waste management industries, where it enhances the recovery of valuable metals and minimizes environmental impact. The integration of dry and wet processes in metal separation offers several advantages. It increases the overall efficiency and purity of metal recovery, reduces energy consumption, and allows for the processing of a wide range of materials, including complex electronic waste and mixed recyclables. Additionally, the wet process aids in the removal of contaminants and non-metallic impurities, resulting in higher-quality end products. Overall, the dry-wet metal separator represents a significant advancement in recycling technology, providing a comprehensive solution for the effective and sustainable recovery of valuable metals from waste streams. Its application is crucial for improving resource efficiency and supporting environmental conservation efforts

Frequency of child restraint system use and parental knowledge of such systems in western China.

This study investigated the frequency of child restraint system (CRS) use in cars and assessed parental knowledge and attitudes toward such restraint systems in western China. Cross-sectional survey. This cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2021 and January 2022. Hospitals and kindergartens were convenience sampling selected, and parents with cars were asked whether they owned and used CRS. Parents' knowledge and attitudes toward such systems were also determined. Factors associated with CRS were explored using binary logistic regression. A total of 4764 questionnaires were distributed to parents with children 0-6 years old. Among the 4455 responses received, 50.8% of the respondents owned CRS, and most of which were front-facing child seats (42.0%). Less than half (44.4%) reported using a CRS sometimes, but only 19.6% used it all the time. The possession and use of a CRS varied significantly with the parental education level, age of the child, place of residence, number of children, family income, travel frequency, and travel distance. Logistic regression analysis showed that the frequency of car travel with a child and monthly family income significantly affected CRS use. Most parents (85.2%) perceived that adult seat belt in cars are effective at protecting their children in the event of a crash. The most frequent reason for not using a CRS was the tendency for children to travel in the car less often. Although approximately half of the respondents owned a CRS, most of them used it rarely, if at all. Educating parents about safe ways for children to ride in a car and use of safety belts may promote CRS use.

A novel approach of ultra-low diffusible hydrogen welding wire for underwater wet flux-cored arc welding: a spontaneous barrier of molten slag

In underwater wet welding, a hydrogen-rich arc atmosphere generated by the thermal decomposition of water leads to extremely high diffusible hydrogen content and defects such as pores and cracks in the weld. In the present study, a neutral slag system was designed and verified for its protection in underwater wet flux-cored arc welding. This neutral slag system forms a stable protective layer of molten salt on the surface of the molten pool, mechanically isolating the molten metal from the water environment and effectively delaying heat loss. More crucially, it also retained the chemical metallurgical dehydrogenation component. When pure Ni belt was used as the outer metal, weld joints free of porosity were obtained, and the diffusible hydrogen content of the deposited metal was 3.61 mL/100 g, close to the level of onshore welding. This neutral slag system was further extended to the use of a pure Fe belt, where the diffused hydrogen content of the molten metal was 10.40 mL/100 g.