Side Curtain Research Articles

183. Protection Against Head Injuries should not Be Optional: A Case for Mandatory Installation of Side Curtain Airbags

Purpose: Innovations in automotive safety engineering have saved more lives than advancements in clinical care but have received scant attention in the trauma surgical literature. More than 9,000 vehicle occupants die each year in side impact vehicle collisions, primarily due to head injuries. Side curtain airbags protect against such injuries but they are offered in only a fraction of all passenger vehicles since their installation is not federally mandated. We hypothesized that side-curtain airbags significantly improve vehicle occupant safety in side impact crash testing.

Dynamic non-DGPS positional accuracy performance between recreational and professional GPS receivers

The purpose of this study was to measure and evaluate the dynamic non-differential positional accuracy of two global positioning systems (GPS) receivers. The two receivers used were the Trimble GeoXT handheld and the Garmin GPSMAP 76. Both units are single-frequency, twelve-channel GPS receivers. The units were tested for horizontal root mean square (HRMS) positional accuracy without real–time differential correction in the dynamic mode by recording the movements of an articulated truck across the Irish road network. The units were operated with their external magnetic-mounted antenna. The two antennas were fitted side by side to the cab of the truck. The articulated truck was a DAF XF95 model, 4 × 2 tractor unit with a tri-axle road-friendly air suspension Fruehauf curtain side trailer measuring 13.6 metres (m) in length and 4.2 m in height from the ground. Routes were travelled from the east of Ireland to the south and south–west of the country on six separate occasions during August 2005 giving a total of six consecutive routes. Over 50 hours of data, totalling approximately 6000 data points, sampled at 30 second intervals, were recorded for each of the GPS units. Of these 50 hours, over 30 hours were recorded as dynamic points, totalling approximately 4000 sampling points. The HRMS accuracy was measured at a confidence level of 63%. The HRMS results for the Trimble GeoXT ranged from about 6.9 m for the Cork 1 route to 3.2 m for the Cork 2 route (Table 1). Results for the Garmin GPSMAP76 varied from a much higher value of about 43.0 m for the Limerick 3 route to 56.9 m for the Cork 2 route (Table 1). With this highly variable level of positional accuracy between the two GPS units, it is clear which receiver unit can best be used for professional GPS data collection (Trimble GeoXT) and which is suitable for use as a recreational device (Garmin GPSMAP 76). The option to collect field data using inexpensive recreational GPS units may be sufficient for outdoor enthusiasts who simply require an occasional location fix of moderate (even uncertain) accuracy, but it is unlikely to be sufficient for the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) professional who requires consistently accurate locations of objects, lines and polygons so that data layers can be overlayed within a GIS. A position fix that is tens of metres in error can lead to distorted spatial data and hence incorrect decision making. In fact, for some applications, a very inaccurate position could be worse than no position fix at all. Table 1. Summary of HRMS positional accuracy for single receiver (i.e. non–differential) GPS across each of the six routes for the Trimble GeoXT and Garmin GPSMAP 76. Date Trimble GeoXT (m) Garmin GPSMAP 76 (m) Max. sats Min. sats Limerick 1 11/08/05 5.2734 45.9426 9 5 Limerick 2 15/08/05 4.393 45.4082 9 5 Limerick 3 16/08/05 6.8017 43.024 9 5 Cork 1 25/08/05 6.9197 54.8437 9 4 Cork 2 26/08/05 3.1926 56.9076 9 4 Cork 3 29/08/05 4.303 56.4808 9 5

Performance Accuracy of Low-Cost Dynamic Non-Differential GPS on Articulated Trucks

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the positional accuracy of dynamic non-differential global positioning system (Non DGPS) for tracking articulated trucks across the Irish road network. The study was carried out using a Trimble GeoXT handheld GPS unit in the non-differential mode. The data was logged through Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ArcPad software. The GPS unit was operated in conjunction with an external magnetic antenna that was fitted to the cab of the articulated truck. The articulated truck was a DAF 95XF model, 4×2 tractor unit with a Fruehauf manufactured tri-axle curtain side trailer measuring 13.6 m in length and 4.2 m from the ground.

(78) Sheltering Cut Flower Plants to Increase Stem Length

The stems of many flower species used as cut flowers are too short to be commercially useful. Non-chemical techniques are needed to increase the length of the harvested stems without weakening stem strength. Field experiments were conducted that explored the use of black or red shade fabric, used either as a canopy, or as a side curtain, with three species of cut flowers. Trachelium caerulum, Eustoma grandiflorum (Echo Champagne), and Rudbeckia hirta (Prairie Sun) were grown in split-plot experiments in which shade and shelter treatments were applied as main plots, and the flower species formed the subplots. In 2004, shade canopies of 70% light transmission were compared in black and red (“ChromatiNet”) netting, and 50% red netting. Stem length increased from 51 cm for unshaded controls to 54, 56, and 59 cm for 70% black, red, and 50% red, respectively. Productivity of the plants was decreased an average of 21% by shading. In 2005, shade canopies of 50% black or red were compared to side curtains of the same materials, and an unsheltered control, growing the same species of flowers. Stem length was increased by 25% when plants were grown under a shade canopy, and by 14% in the side curtain plots. Shading treatments reduced stem yield by 31%, whereas side curtains had no significant effect on number of stems per plant. Color of the netting did not affect stem length or stem yield in 2005. In both years, the thickness of harvested stems were increased significantly in the shelter treatments. The three species reacted similarly to the treatments imposed in both years. Shelter treatments can be a practical way of increasing cut flower stem length.

Patterns of severe injury in pediatric car crash victims: Crash Injury Research Engineering Network database

Background/Purpose Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) account for 50% of pediatric trauma. Safety improvements are typically tested with child crash dummies using an in vitro model. The Crash Injury Research Engineering Network (CIREN) provides an in vivo validation process. Previous research suggest that children in lateral crashes or front-seat locations have higher Injury Severity Scale scores and lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores than those in frontal-impact crashes. However, specific injury patterns and crash characteristics have not been characterized. Methods Data were collected from the CIREN multidisciplinary crash reconstruction network (10 pediatric trauma centers). Injuries were examined with regard to crash direction (frontal/lateral), restraint use, seat location, and change in velocity at impact (Δ V). Injuries were limited to Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores of 3 or higher and included head, thoracic, abdominal, pelvic, spine, and long bone (orthopedic) injuries. Standard age groupings (0-4, 5-9, 10-14, and 15-18 years) were used. Statistical analyses used Fisher's Exact test and multiple logistic regressions. Results Four hundred seventeen MVCs with 2500 injuries were analyzed (males = 219, females = 198). Controlling for Δ V and age, children in lateral-impact crashes (n = 232) were significantly more likely to suffer severe injuries to the head and thorax as compared with children in frontal crashes (n = 185), who were more likely to suffer severe spine and orthopedic injuries. Children in a front-seat (n = 236) vs those in a back-seat (n = 169) position had more injuries to the thoracic (27% vs 17%), abdominal (21% vs 13%), pelvic (11% vs 1%), and orthopedic (28% vs 10%) regions ( P < .05 for all). Seat belts were protective for pelvic (5% vs 12% unbelted) and orthopedic (15% vs 40%) injuries (odds ratio = 3, P < .01 for both). Conclusion A reproducible pattern of injury is noted for children involved in lateral-impact crashes characterized by head and chest injuries. The Injury Severity Scale scores were higher for children in front-seat positions. Increased lateral-impact safety measures such as mandatory side curtain airbags may decrease morbidity. Furthermore, continued public education for positioning children in the back seat of cars is warranted.

Modeling thermal burns due to airbag deployment

Automotive airbags are now a widely accepted safety measure designed to reduce morbidity associated with motor vehicle accidents. Their usage is increasing with multiple airbags (driver, passenger and side curtain) being fitted to many vehicles. However the deployment of airbags has been identified as causing injuries in some instances including minor burns. There are three mechanisms for thermal burns due to an airbag; contact with the hot expelled gases from the airbag, contact with the hot airbag itself and melting of clothing from either of these contacts. A mathematical model is used here to predict the likelihood and severity of the first two types of burns. It is shown that direct contact with high temperature exhaust gases venting from the airbag can indeed lead to burns and that burns from contacting the hot airbag material are possible but far less likely to occur.

Finite point method: a new approach to model the inflation of side curtain airbags

Since its invention in the early 1990's, the side curtain airbag has become an important part of the occupant restrain system. In order to optimize the design of these devices more efficiently, Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) is often used. While usual simulation tools have proven their usefulness with certain types of airbags, the specificity of a side curtain airbag highlighted some of their limitations. The widely adopted uniform pressure method can simulate the behavior of a side curtain airbag after its full deployment, but is unable to capture the correct inflation kinematics at the early stage due to the great difference of pressure and temperature from one end of the airbag to the other end. As the result of coupling a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code with a Finite Element (FE) code, the Finite Point Method (FPM) is able to simulate the gas dynamics inside the airbag, thus results in more realistic inflation kinematics. In this paper, the simulation of a side curtain airbag by FPM and the results validation are discussed in detail. The good correlation of both flat airbag and folded airbag simulations with test data proved FPM's capability to help the side curtain airbag design by reducing the number of physical tests. Such a time and cost effective tool also provides a better chance for airbag design optimization.

Effect of Selenium Source and Litter Type on Broiler Feathering

Inorganic sodium selenite (NaSe; 0.1 and 0.3 ppm) and organic selenium yeast (Sel Plex 50: OR; 0.1 and 0.3 ppm) were provided in the diets of broilers placed on four different litter types: 1) ACR paper (diced recycled low-density fiber paper treated with boric acid, 4.5%), 2) shavings (pine wood shavings), 3) diced/cross-cut news print, or 4) 50% mixture of ACR and shavings, in a 32-pen broiler house with curtain side walls. Subjective body feathering scores ranging from 0 (no feathers) to 5 (best) were determined at 3, 5, and 6 wk of age. In experiment 1, feather scores at 6 wk of age were improved significantly with OR supplementation at 0.3 ppm compare to all other selenium treatments, and in Experiment 2 both levels of OR supplementation were associated with improved feathering compared to NaSe supplementation. ACR paper caused reduced feathering in both experiments, and neither NaSe nor OR were sufficient to overcome the problem. In both experiments, OR was associated with better feathering for broilers on all litters at all ages. Performance parameters such as feed conversion ratios were not affected by selenium source even though feathering, an energetically expensive function, was improved in the OR-fed birds.

Energy Consumption in Broiler Production

ABSTRACT TWO broiler houses, one insulated and fan ventilated and the other uninsulated with drop curtain side walls, were monitored for total energy consumption during winter and summer trials. In both trials the environmentally modified house resulted in improved production including greater weight gains, lower mortality, and better feed conversions. Feed was the major source of energy in both trials and it accounted for more than 70 percent of the total energy used. In the winter trial the environ-mentally modified house used less total energy to produce the same number of broilers than the con-ventional house. However this was reversed during the summer trial. Collectively, the environmentally modified house used less energy to produce the same net weight of broilers than the conventional facility. The results of this study indicate that when total energy consumed is calculated on a unit body weight basis the greatest efficiency in energy usage occurs during weeks 5 and 6 of the production period.