Determining safety climate factors in the repair, maintenance, minor alteration, and addition sector of Hong Kong

The accident record of the repair, maintenance, minor alteration, and addition (RMAA) sector has been alarmingly high; however, research in the RMAA sector remains limited. Unsafe behavior is considered one of the key causes of accidents. Thus, the organizational factors that influence individual safety behavior at work continue to be the focus of many studies. The safety climate, which reflects the true priority of safety in an organization, has drawn much attention. Safety climate measurement helps to identify areas for safety improvement. The current study aims to identify safety climate factors in the RMAA sector. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the RMAA sector in Hong Kong. Data were randomly split into the calibration and the validation samples. The RMAA safety climate factors were determined by exploratory factor analysis on the calibration sample. Three safety climate factors of the RMAA works were identified: (1) management commitment to occupational health and safety (OHS) and employee involvement, (2) application of safety rules and work practices, and; (3) responsibility for health and safety. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was then conducted on the validation sample. The CFA model showed satisfactory goodness of fit, reliability, and validity. The suggested RMAA safety climate factors can be utilized by construction industry practitioners in developed economies to measure the safety climate of their RMAA projects, thereby enhancing the safety of RMAA works.

Strategies for improving safety performance of repair, maintenance, minor alteration and addition (RMAA) works

Purpose Managing and maintaining infrastructure assets are one of the indispensible tasks for many government agencies to preserve the nations' economic viability and social welfare. To reduce the expenditures over the life-cycle of an infrastructure asset and extend the period for which the asset performs effectively, proper repair and maintenance are essential. While repair, maintenance, minor alteration and addition (RMAA) sector is expanding in many developed cities, occurrences of fatalities and injuries in this sector are also soaring. The purposes of this paper are to identify and then evaluate the various strategies for improving the safety performance of RMAA works. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews and two rounds of Delphi survey were conducted for data collection. Findings Raising safety awareness of RMAA workers and selecting contractors with a good record of safety performance are the two most important strategies to improve the safety performance in this sector. Technology innovations and a pay-for-safety scheme are regarded as the two least important strategies. Originality/value The paper highlights possible ways to enhance safety of the rather under-explored RMAA sector in the construction industry.

Safety of Repair, Maintenance, Minor Alteration, and Addition (RMAA) Works: A New Focus of Construction Safety

"Safety of RMAA works is an almost uncharted topic of rising importance internationally. Small construction contractors are particularly dependant on RMAA work, especially during times of recession, and they undertake more risks on these jobs than large companies do. This book is based on unique international research and consultancy projects which detail, investigate, and suggest solutions to the specific challenges of safety in RMAA works, based on case studies. Starting with an overview of safety in the wider construction industries of developed countries, the first half of this book also provides a comprehensive summary of relevant rules, regulations, and the resulting safety performances. The systems in the UK, US and Hong Kong are described and contrasted, giving the reader an understanding of how different regulatory approaches have yielded a variety of results. From this solid introduction, specific problems observed in RMAA work are examined through case studies, with reference to the underlying cultural and demographic factors, and a variety of practical engineering and management solutions are explored. This important and practical international work is essential reading for postgraduate students of health and safety in construction, construction project management, or construction in developing countries, as well as policy-makers and construction project managers."--Publisher website

Study on the biomass yield of Duckweed (Lemna minor) (L.) in hydroponic cultures containing different concentrations of aquaeous extract of chicken manure

The biomass yields of duck week (Lemna minor(L) was monitored in hydroponic media prepared by variously extracting 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00g of dried chicken manure per liter of city water (tap water) supply. The culture media consisting of aqueous extract of the various manure treatments were made up to 12 liters in all cases with tap water as control. Plastic baths of 25 liters capacity with 0.71 super(m2) surface area were used as culture facility. Each bath was stocked at a density of 30g super(m-2) with fresh weed samples (i.e 21.30g/bath). Maximum yields were obtained at all treatment levels and control on day 3 and based on the highest yield of 0.37gm super(-2)d super(-1) (dry matter) obtained at 1.00gL manure treatment which was however not significantly higher (P>0.05) than the 0.36gm super(-2)d super(-1) (dry matter) at 0.05gl super(-1) media manure content, an average manure level of 0.75l super(-1) was selected and used to determine the operational plant density. Thus fresh weights of 30 to 300gm super(-2) was grown in triplicate at 30g intervals for a period of 3 days. A regression equation of Y=2.6720+0.0021x with a corresponding maximum density or operational plant density of 266gm super(-2) and yield of 0.98gm super(-2), d super(-1) (dry matter) were obtained. Further growth trials were carried out at the operational density and manure levels of 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75 and 2.00gl super(-1) media manure concentration giving a significantly higher yield (P<0.05) of 17gm super(-2), d super(-1) (dry matter). This yield was however doubled to between 2.21 and 2.24gm super(-2) d super(-1) (equivalent to 7.96 to 8.06mt.ha-1, Yr-1 dry matter on extrapolation) if 25% and 75% respectively of the total weed cover were harvested daily within the experimental period. The role of some dissolved plant nutrients (DPN) were also discussed

放牧对内蒙古草原植物C:N:P���学计量特征和资源分配的影响

C、N、P���生物地球化学循环中的重要元素，其可利用性和各元素之间的平衡关系将生态系统的物质循环有机统一为一个整体。化学计量生态学为研究这几种基本元素间的平衡提供了一个有力的理论框架。许多研究表明，过度放牧会改变生态系统的结构和功能，而放牧如何影响植物的C:N:P���学计量关系的却少见报道。本研究以内蒙古锡林河流域沿水分梯度分布的草甸、草甸草原、典型草原和沙地四种植被类型中的灰脉苔草（Carex appendiculata）、贝加尔针茅(Stipa baicalensis)、羊草(Leymus chinensis)、大针茅(Stipa grandis)、小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)、冷蒿(Artemisia frigid)、克氏针茅(S. krylovii)和榆树(Ulmus Pumila)疏林沙地8个草地群落为研究对象，对长期禁牧样地和自由放牧样地中273种植物，其中禁牧与放牧样地中的共有植物种为144个，测定了植物叶片C: N: P���学计量特征以及植株高度、丛幅面积、茎、叶和株（丛）生物量、茎叶比等功能性状，系统地研究了放牧对植物C:N:P���学计量特征和资源分配的影响。取得了如下主要研究结果和结论： 1. 放牧降低了植物叶片的C:N比，但增加了N:P���和C:P���。C:N:P 化学计量比的变化主要受叶片N和P���量变化的影响； 2. 植物C:N:P���学计量特征对放牧的响应同时受水分条件的制约。沿水分梯度分布的不同植被类型中，植物叶片C:N:P���学计量特征对放牧的响应不同。草甸群落中，植物叶片C含量显著降低，N和P���量显著增加；在草甸草原群落中，植物叶片C、P���量减少，N含量显著增加；而在典型草原群落中，植物叶片C、N和P���量均显著降低； 3. 在物种水平上，C、N、P���量对放牧的响应分为：显著增加、显著降低和没有显著变化三种类型。放牧影响下，植物叶片N含量和N:P���在显著升高的物种多于显著降低的，而叶片C含量、C:N和C:P���著降低的物种占的比例很小，表明植物对放牧适应策略与物种本身的生物学特性有着密切的关系。 4. 过度放牧使植物的植株高度、丛幅大小、株丛数、茎叶比和单株生物量均显著降低，即植物整体呈现小型化现象，进而导致群落初级生产力、茎和叶生物量下降。轻度放牧对物种的资源分配没有显著影响，单株（丛）生物量和群落茎、叶及总生物量均呈增加趋势，这与过度放牧的影响正好相反。 5. 过度放牧显著改变了物种的资源分配策略，使生物量向叶的分配比例增加，向茎的分配比例减少。资源优先向同化器官分配可能是草地植物对长期放牧干扰的一种重要适应对策。

Heterojunction solar cells with n-type nanocrystalline silicon emitters on p-type c-Si wafers

Hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) n-layers have been used to prepare heterojunction solar cells on flat p-type crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafers. The nc-Si:H n-layers were deposited by radio-frequency (RF) plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and characterized using Raman spectroscopy, optical transmittance and activation energy of dark-conductivity. The nc-Si:H n-layers obtained comprise fine grained nanocrystallites embedded in amorphous matrix, which have a wider bandgap and a smaller activation energy. Heterojunction solar cells incorporated with the nc-Si n-layer were fabricated using configuration of Ag (100 nm)/1T0 (80 nm)/n-nc-Si:H (15 nm)/buffer a-Si:H/p-c-Si (300 mu m)/Al (200 nm), where a very thin intrinsic a-Si:H buffer layer was used to passivate the p-c-Si surface, followed by a hydrogen plasma treatment prior to the deposition of the thin nanocrystalline layer. The results show that heterojunction solar cells subjected to these surface treatments exhibit a remarkable increase in the efficiency, up to 14.1% on an area of 2.43 cm(2). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Heterojunction solar cells with n-type nanocrystalline silicon emitters on p-type c-Si wafers

Hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) n-layers have been used to prepare heterojunction solar cells on flat p-type crystalline silicon (c-Si) wafers. The nc-Si:H n-layers were deposited by radio-frequency (RF) plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and characterized using Raman spectroscopy, optical transmittance and activation energy of dark-conductivity. The nc-Si:H n-layers obtained comprise fine grained nanocrystallites embedded in amorphous matrix, which have a wider bandgap and a smaller activation energy. Heterojunction solar cells incorporated with the nc-Si n-layer were fabricated using configuration of Ag (100 nm)/1T0 (80 nm)/n-nc-Si:H (15 nm)/buffer a-Si:H/p-c-Si (300 mu m)/Al (200 nm), where a very thin intrinsic a-Si:H buffer layer was used to passivate the p-c-Si surface, followed by a hydrogen plasma treatment prior to the deposition of the thin nanocrystalline layer. The results show that heterojunction solar cells subjected to these surface treatments exhibit a remarkable increase in the efficiency, up to 14.1% on an area of 2.43 cm(2). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

保护性耕作对土壤线虫c-p���群及功能团的影响

以辽宁彰武县保护性耕作示范推广基地土壤为研究对象,通过实地调查和取样分析,对比研究了传统犁耕和6a保护性耕作(免耕秸秆覆盖)条件下的土壤线虫c-p(colonizer-persister)类群及功能团,为评价保护性耕作的土壤生态效应提供理论依据。研究发现,与犁耕相比,保护性耕作显著增加了土壤线虫各c-p���群及绝大多数功能团的多度,但显著减少了Ba4和Om5功能团多度。此外,保护性耕作还改变了土壤线虫生活史和功能团的结构特征:在大部分研究土层,c-p1和c-p2线虫的相对多度显著提高,而c-p3、c-p4以及c-p3-5类群显著降低;Ba1、Ba2、Ba3、Fu4和H5功能团的相对多度显著提高,而Ba4、H3和Om5的相对多度显著降低,Fu2、H2和Om4相对多度的变化较复杂,在表土层表现为显著抑制,在15~30cm土层则为促进作用。土壤线虫c-p���群和功能团的多度及结构特征可能适合作为评价保护性耕作对土壤质量影响的生物学指标。

Measurement of the ratio of the p(p)over-bar -> W + c-jet cross section to the inclusive p(p)over-bar -> W + jets cross section

We present a measurement of the fraction of inclusive W +jets events produced with net charm quantum number 11, denoted W + c-jet, in p collisions at root s = 1.96 TeV using approximately 1 fb(-1) of data collected by the do detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We identify the W +jets events via the leptonic W boson decays. Candidate W + c-jet events are selected by requiring a jet containing a muon in association with a reconstructed W boson and exploiting the charge correlation between this muon and W boson decay lepton to perform a nearly model-independent background subtraction. We measure the fraction of W + c-jet events in the inclusive W +jets sample for jet PT > 20 GeV and pseudorapidity |eta| < 2.5 to be 0.074 +/- 0.019(stat.) +/-(0.012)(0.014) (syst.), in agreement with theoretical predictions. The probability that background fluctuations could produce the observed fraction of W + c-jet events is estimated to be 2.5 x 10(-4), which corresponds to a 3.5 sigma statistical significance. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Reconstrução do L.C.P. do joelho: técnica de fixação no leito tibial (INLAY). Avaliação objetiva e subjetiva de 30 casos

A reconstrução cirúrgica do ligamento cruzado posterior (L.C.P.) do joelho ainda permanece como um grande desafio terap��utico. Neste trabalho avaliamos 30 pacientes submetidos à reconstrução cirúrgica do L.C.P. com a técnica de fixação do enxerto tendíneo no leito tibial por abordagem direta (INLAY). 28 pacientes eram do sexo masculino e 2 do feminino, com idade média de 31,10 anos. O tempo médio de lesão foi de 34,24 meses em 67% dos casos a lesão foi secundária a acidente motociclístico. As lesões condrais e do ligamento cruzado anterior (L.C.A.) do joelho estavam presentes em 67% e 33% dos casos, respectivamente. Os pacientes foram avaliados objetivamente (teste de gaveta posterior) e subjetivamente (Escala de Lysholm). O seguimento p��s-operatório médio foi de 21,7 meses. Cerca de 66% dos casos foram classificados como bom e excelente na avaliação subjetiva e objetiva. A análise estatística apresentou comportamento semelhante para as duas avaliações.Os resultados clínicos p��s-operatórios obtidos neste trabalho têm nos encorajado a seguir com esta técnica cirúrgica.

Electrodeposition of amorphous Fe-Cr-P-Ni-C alloys. Morphological and structural characteristics

The effect of bath composition and electroplating conditions on structure, morphology and composition of amorphous Fe-Cr-P-Ni-C deposits on Cu substrate was investigated. The deposition efficiency of Fe-Ni-P-C alloy increased significantly with the addition of formic acid, but decreased with the addition of Cr to the plating bath. The increase of charge density activates the inclusion of Cr in the deposit. However, above a specific value of charge density, which depends on deposition current density, the Cr content in the deposit decreases. SEM analysis showed that the increase of Ni, Cr or charge deposition promotes susceptibility to microcracking.

Empirical study to investigate the difficulties of implementing safety practices in the repair and maintenance sector in Hong Kong

Repair, maintenance, minor alteration, and addition work (RMAA) has become more and more important in developed societies, but its safety performance is alarming. For example, RMAA projects accounted for 53.2% of the total construction market and the percentage of RMAA accidents to all construction accidents in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) increased considerably in 2007. The RMAA sector has a huge potential for safety improvement. This study aims to explore and evaluate the difficulties of implementing safety practices in RMAA work. The mixed methods approach was adopted, and semistructured interviews and a two-round Delphi survey were conducted for the data collection. Major difficulties were identified, including limited safety resources for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), difficulty in changing the mindset of RMAA workers, and difficulty in performing safety supervision. These obstacles for implementing safety practices in the RMAA sector, if successfully removed, could significantly improve the safety performance of the RMAA sector and the construction industry as a whole.

RMAA safety performance : how does it compare with Greenfield projects?

Gross value of cons truction work in the repair , maintenance, minor alte ration and addition (RMAA) sector in Hong Kong has expanded dramatically by 58% from 1998 to 2007, accounting for over 53% of the whole construction market in 2007. Unfortunately, the portion of industrial accidents arising from this sector also increased substantially during the same period. It is important to improve the safety performance of the RMAA sector. This paper has set out the objectives to examine safety statistics of RMAA works; to compare them with those of green field projects; and more importantly, to highlight potential hurdles en countered in the process of comparison and finally to provide effective recommendations for overcoming these impediments. To strive for continuous safety improvement of RMAA works, comparable safety statistics should be compiled for this sector.

Electron Mean Energy, Secondary Ionization Coefficients And (E/P)Crit In Binary-Mixtures Of Sf6-N2 And Ccl2f2-N2

Measurements of the ratio of diffusion coefficient to mobility (D/ mu ) of electrons in SF6-N2 and CCl2F2-N2 mixtures over the range 80p<200 (where E is the electric field in V cm-1 and p is the pressure in Torr reduced to 20 degrees C) are reported. Values of (E/p)c.mix (the critical E/p of the mixture, where alpha = eta ), and the electron mean energies epsilon c.mix corresponding to (E/p)c.mix, are found to vary with the percentage of the electronegative gas in the mixture (F) according to the following relationship: (E/p)c.mix=(E/p)c.N(2)+((E/p)c.A-(E/p)c.N(2)) (1-exp(- beta F/100-F)) and epsilon c.mix= epsilon c.N(2)+( epsilon c.A- epsilon c.N(2)) (1-exp(- beta F/100-F)) where A refers to the attaching gas, either SF6 or CCl2F2 and beta is a constant, equal to 2.43 for SF6 mixtures and 5.12 for CCl2F2 mixtures. In the present study, it has been possible to show that beta is indeed to a factor of synergism. Estimated gamma values (secondary ionisation coefficients) did not show any significant variation with F for F<50.

Influencia de diferentes métodos de control de malezas en soya (Glycine max (L) (Merr) c.v. Cristalina inoculada y sin inoculación

Se realizó un ensayo en el Centro Experimental del Algodón (CAL) Posoltega en la época de postrera de 1988 en el cultivo de soya (Glyceni Max) L Merr) C. V: Cristalina, con el objetivo de determinar la influencia de diferentes métodos de control de malezas sobre el comportamiento de ls cenosis, el crecimiento y el rendimiento de la soya y determinar el efecto de la inoculación sobre cenosis, el crecimiento y rendimiento del cultivo. Se utilizó un diseño de parcelas divididas en bloques al Azar con cuatro réplicas utilizando soya inoculada y sin inocular y tres métodos de control de malezas; La abundancia y la dominancia de malezas fue mayor en soya inoculada y en el control químico con remesaren (Flex 0.70 lts/ha P.C.) ; la diversidad fue similar en los dos tipos de soya; pero el control por periodo crítico (b2) aumento la diversidad a la cosecha superando hasta en 31.2% al control químico (B1). C. rotundus fue la maleza más abundante en todo el ciclo del cultivo. La altura de planta y el número de planta /m2, fueron en soya sin inoculante (a2) con diferencias significativas, para el • número de ramas /plantas • de vainas/planta, peso de 1000 semillas (g), rendimientos (kg/ha), peso seco de la paja (kg/ha). Diámetro del tallo (mm) y altura de inserción de la primera vaina para los dos tipos de soya no se presentaron diferencia estadísticas: El control químico (b1) fue superado en la altura de la planta (cm), pero seca de la paja (Kg/ha), diámetro del tallo (mm), • de vainas/planta y peso de 1000 semillas (g) por los otros dos métodos (b3 y b2), con diferencias significativas. No se encuentra ron diferencias significativas para el • de nódulos/planta y peso seco de nódulos/planta en los niveles de soya y en los diferentes métodos químicos(b1) fue superado significativamente en • de nódulos/plantas por el control en periodo critico (b2). Influencia de diferentes Métodos de control de malezas en soya (Glycine max L Merr) C.V. Cristalina, inoculada y sin inoculante.