Postharvest practices, challenges and opportunities for grain producers in Arequipa, Peru.

Little is known about the major issues leading to postharvest losses in Peru, which are estimated to be 15-27%. We surveyed 503 farmers from the lowlands and Andean regions of Arequipa to learn more about the major grains produced and issues encountered during drying and storage. Rice, common bean, and quinoa were the most grown crops in the lowlands while starchy maize was the most cultivated crop in the highlands. Most farmers (90%) dried their crops in-field directly on the ground, which exposes them to rodents, birds, and insect pests. The majority of farmers (92%) used subjective methods to assess grain moisture content. About 77% of farmers identified insects as a major challenge during storage but only 44% said they used preventive measures such as the application of insecticides. Among farmers who stored grain, the main reason was for household consumption (61%); while among those who did not store, the main reason was the need for immediate cash at harvest (75%). Farmers who experienced insect problems, who stored seed or grain for sale, who stored longer, or farmers from the lowlands were more likely to apply insecticides on their stored products. These findings provide an opportunity for researchers, development organizations, and government agencies to improve postharvest handling and storage in Arequipa by disseminating drying technologies, moisture assessment tools and hermetic storage solutions among farmers.

Oxygen Consumption and Acoustic Activity of Adult Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) during Hermetic Storage.

Acoustic monitoring was applied to consider hermetic exposure durations and oxygen levels required to stop adult Callosobruchus maculatus activity and economic damage on cowpea. A 15-d study was conducted with six treatments of 25, 50, and 100 C. maculatus adults in 500 and 1000 mL jars using acoustic probes inserted through stoppers sealing the jars. Acoustic activity as a result of locomotion, mating, and egg-laying was measured by identifying sound impulses with frequency spectra representative of known insect sounds, and counting trains (bursts) of impulses separated by intervals of <200 ms, that typically are produced only by insects. By the end of the first week of storage in all treatments, oxygen levels declined to levels below 4%, which has been demonstrated to cause mortality in previous studies. Concomitantly, insect sound burst rates dropped below an acoustic detection threshold of 0.02 bursts s−1, indicating that the insects had ceased feeding. Statistically significant relationships were obtained between two different measures of the acoustic activity and the residual oxygen level. Based on the experimental results, a simple equation can be used to estimate the time needed for oxygen to decline to levels that limit insect feeding damage and thus grain losses in hermetic storage containers of different insect population levels and various volumes.

Variations in Tibial Tuberosity to Trochlear Groove and Posterior Cruciate Ligament Distances due to Tibial External and Valgus Rotations.

Tibial rotations with respect to the femur influence measurements used to assess the lateral position of the tibial tuberosity. This study utilized computational modeling to quantify how the tibial tuberosity to trochlear groove (TT-TG) and tibial tuberosity to posterior cruciate ligament attachment (TT-PCL) distances vary with tibial internal/external and varus/valgus rotations. Computational models were developed from magnetic resonance imaging data to represent eight knees with patellar instability. TT-TG and TT-PCL distances were quantified from the computational models for a neutral orientation and with the tibia rotated internally and externally and into varus and valgus in 1-degree increments to 5 degrees. Regression analyses related tibial rotations to TT-TG and TT-PCL distances. TT-TG distance increased with tibial external rotation, and both TT-TG and TT-PCL distances increased with valgus orientation (r2 > 0.94 for all regressions). The average increase in TT-TG distance for each 1 degree of tibial external rotation was 0.55 mm (range: 0.50-0.62 mm), compared with 0.00 mm (range: -0.05 to 0.04 mm) for TT-PCL distance. The average increase in TT-TG distance for each 1 degree of valgus was 1.01 mm (range: 0.91-1.14 mm), compared with 0.46 mm (range: 0.32-0.60 mm) for TT-PCL distance. TT-TG distance varies more with tibial rotations than TT-PCL distance due to both points being on the tibia and a smaller proximal-distal distance between the points for TT-PCL distance.

Biomechanical Analysis of Tibial Tuberosity Medialization and Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction.

Biomechanical studies are commonly performed to evaluate the influence of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction and tibial tuberosity medialization on patellar tracking and patellofemoral contact pressures. The most common method is in vitro simulation of knee function, but computational simulation of knee function and computational reconstruction of in vivo motion can also be utilized. The current review of the biomechanical literature indicates that MPFL reconstruction and tibial tuberosity medialization reduce lateral patellar tracking. Decreased lateral patellofemoral contact pressures have also been noted. For MPFL reconstruction, the most commonly noted biomechanical concerns are graft overtensioning and nonanatomic attachment on the femur leading to overconstraint of the patella and elevated medial contact pressures. For tuberosity medialization, the influence of altered tibiofemoral kinematics on postoperative function is unknown. Future biomechanical studies should emphasize inclusion of anatomic features and tracking patterns related to patellar instability, with comparison between the surgical approaches for continued development of treatment guidelines.

Incidence and Injury Types in Motorcycle Collisions Involving Deer in Western New York.

Motorcycle popularity, urban sprawl, and large deer populations result in a significant number of deer-motorcycle collisions. This retrospective review of a level I trauma center in Buffalo, New York, revealed that 40 of 487 (8.2%) of patients admitted because of motorcycle crashes from May 2007 through June 2011 involved deer. There were 120 total injuries: the most common were orthopedic (39/120; 32.5%), chest (38/120; 31.7%), head (18/120; 15.0%), spine (10/120; 8.3%), facial (8/120; 6.7%), and abdominal (7/120; 5.8%). Thirty-five of 40 (87.5%) were men and were older (48.9 years, [SD, 8.9 years]) than the average for all motorcycle crashes during the study period (41.9 years, [SD, 13.9 years]). Mean (SD) injury severity score was 17.1 (9.8), reflecting the severity of encountered injuries. This study highlights the relatively common risk that deer pose to the motorcyclist and is comparable to published series in more rural Midwestern settings.