No. 259 August 2004
ANIMALS AS HAZARDS: INTERESTING STATISTICS In 2000, Dino Drudi, Economist in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and his associates researched and wrote “Are Animals Occupational Hazards” (Compensation and Working Conditions, V. 5, No. 3 Fall, 2000 pages 15-22 is found under L 2.44/4:5/3 and as a pdf file at the BLS website (http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/archive/fall2000art3.pdf). “While animals serve human needs, they can turn on humans with deadly consequences.” Drudi lists about twenty different sources, but the information sources for this occupational perspective are the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and the annual BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII). These BLS databases provide a 1992-1997 database of occupational hazards data and information on a wide variety of animals. Although, the databases do not cover Federal employees and do not cover the statistics of postal carriers’ dog bites/injuries, Drudi cites a relevant journal article for dog bite information. Also, topics such as allergic reactions to animal products, such as feathers or dander, are not covered in his article. Drudi’s analysis covers the fatal occupational injuries, nonfatal occupational injuries, and occupational illnesses specific to birds (and poultry), fish, insects and arachnids, dogs and cats, cattle, and horses. The major causes of animal-related work fatalities are analyzed and he tells us why pet dogs are more of an occupational injury hazard than pet cats for veterinarians and women. It seems that “on average, there are 63 fatal injuries and 12,500 nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving animals each year.” Even though there are many related information sources in his bibliography, Drudi limits this data analysis to the data found in the CFOI and the SOII. These databases are the only available multi-year databases of accurate statistical information about animals as hazards to humans. The CFOI Current and Revised Data is online at http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm and SOII is found at BLS Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities web site http://www.bls.gov/iif/home.htm .
LAND SUBSIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES Land Subsidence or surface land movement, shifting, splitting open, or literally moving away is a major problem in the United States. When the colonists arrived in the America in 1620, America’s landscape was intact and below the land’s surface were our water-supply aquifer-systems, coal, gold, gas, and other minerals yet to be uncovered. Tapping into and the use of the underground water supplying aquifer-systems, underground mining of minerals, removal of oil and gas, the drainage of wetlands organic soils (such as in the Everglades), and the thawing of permafrost has literally disturbed and undermined the Earth’s surface. One long term result is land subsidence which appears as collapsing cavities, sinkholes, cracks, fissures, aquifer compaction, and surface warping. Land subsidence now affects more than 17,000 square miles in 45 states. This problem threatens major aquifer-systems supplying the drinking water for people in California, Nevada, and Texas, in the Florida Everglades when its organic soils were lost after the swamp was partially drained. The sinkholes in Florida are caused by an underground aquifer-system problem. In 1994 a salt mine collapsed in New York because of an earthquake. Similar problems in other countries include the main Cathedral in Mexico City which leans to the left. The ground under the Cathedral sunk a total of 30 feet during the 20th century. The near-sea level marshlands in Holland which were drained have lost all their organic soils and now need windmills to pump water out of the lowlands. The Yucatan Peninsula had sinkholes known as cenotes as reservoirs for their water supply. Land Subsidence in the United States issued in 1999 by the U.S. Geological Survey as Circular 1182 has a website location (http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/circ1182/), found in many Depository Libraries (I 19.4/2:1182), and is free (see webpage) from the U.S. Geological Survey. The U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater Land Subsidence page and fact sheet Land Subsidence Fact Sheet (165-00) (http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/pubs/fs00165/ ).
CHOLINE, FLAVONOID, ISOFLAVONE, AND OXALIC ACID Many plants are the sources of micronutrients which are also called phytochemicals. (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/19303.htm ) These micronutrients include Flavonoids which are found in 225 foods. A Flavonoid, an antioxidant dissolves fats and prevents clogged arteries and cardiovascular disease. Dark chocolate and other foods with flavonoids reduce the risks of heart disease and cancer http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/antioxidants.html. (Flavonoids are found at http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Flav/flav.html ). Choline, which is a form of vitamin B found in 434 foods is good for nervous system, cell membranes, and cures the Fish Odor Syndrome (or Trimethylaminuria http://www.genome.gov/11508983 ). Choline foods are found at http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Choline/Choline.html. The Isoflavones found in 128 primarily soybeans and soyfoods reduce the risk of getting cancer and arterialsclerosis. Isoflavones have a website (http://www.isoflavones.info/ and there is a USDA database http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/isoflav/isoflav.html. Oxalic acid, found in 38 vegetables, is a nutrient to be taken in moderation. In our body an excess amount of oxalic acid will combine with calcium and to form kidney stones. Hyperoxaluria (http://www.ohf.org/about_ph.html) is the disease and the oxalic foods are the cure (http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Other/oxalic.html . After checking the websites and learning about these micronutrients and their benefits, investigate the USDA food nutrients composition databases. The American Heart Association recommends diet rather than supplements as the best way of getting these nutrients, “Get Antioxidants from foods, not supplements, says the American Heart Association” (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3023709). Each nutrient database identifies the foods and the quantity of the nutrient in it. There you can learn about the nutrients contents of food you are eating. Then, you will know which foods will increase your intake of flavonoids, isoflavones, and choline. You will also learn which oxalic acid containing vegetables to reduce the risk of kidney stones. The USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory maintains the data sets for each of the above nutrients and other many kinds of food composition and nutrient information http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/
COAL TREES NEW SPECIES The May 2000 Newsletter (http://www.nku.edu/~yannarella/news0005.html ) discussed two main species of Kentucky coal trees. The Coalus Productus Directus species produces coal fruits directly from its branches. The Coalus Productus Indirectus, also known as the Coalus By-Productus bears the coal by-products fruits which exist because coal was used in their manufacture. Actually these two species were originally grafted from original Coal Tree (Coalus-Productus) species by the Kentucky Department of Mines in 1983 and is on the cover of the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals Bulletin, March 1983 (STATE DOC 18 MM 1, 3:983/3). These trees are currently part of the Kentucky KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990) based coal-education lesson plans for elementary schools. The Coalus By-Productus Indirectus species is found at http://www.coaleducation.org/lessons/twe/bytree.htm and the Coalus Productus Directus is at http://www.coaleducation.org/lessons/primary/uses/atree.htm. Since May 2000, botanical research has revealed two more species. There is a single species West Virginia Coal Tree (Coalus Productus Virginias) whose branches show the coal products provided by the West Virginia Coal Association. There is a link to an (jpg) image of this West Virginia species is n the Appalachian Blacksmiths Association Coal Information webpage http://www.appaltree.net/aba/coalspecs.htm . This West Virginia based Education website, TheSolutionSite.com provides a “Black Nuggets-Coal” Unit (http://www.thesolutionsite.com/lpnew_bin/UI_Metadata/public/5556 ) that includes a jpg image of what may be the same West Virginia species., the Coal Products Tree ( Coalus Productus Virginias) http://www.thesolutionsite.com/lesson/1605/coaltree.jpg . To avoid confusion, the Kentucky species will have their names changed to Coalus Productus Directus Kentuckias and Coalus Productus Indirectus Kentuckias and Coalus By-Productus Kentuckias.
FEDERAL INFORMATION CENTERS UPDATED/COMPUTERIZED Once upon a time, there were about seventeen Federal Information Centers, located in Federal Buildings in cities listed in Federal Information Centers 1991 (GS 1.2:F31/991). Information specialists in each FIC were accessible via an 800 phone number. These information specialists provided answers, or would connect you with the Federal Office or Agency which could answer your question(s). In the 1990’s, the network of 800 phone numbers all reached one centralized Information Center located in Cumberland Maryland. As part of the Federal Consumer Information Center (http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/ ) the National Contact Center (http://www.info.gov/) is the new FIC whose phone number is 1 (800) FED INFO (1-800-333-4636) is open 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday except Federal Holidays. Or, with your computer you can contact the National Contact Center via E-MAIL and get a reply within two business days. The National Contact Center provides a “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)” option which is a structured online search you perform after selecting the FAQ option. Your question may fall into one of 39 topics (which have) 3,100 subtopics, which are linked to 50,000 points of contact. In many instances, your search leads you to the publications which have answers. This is a “programmed” version of your searching the web for Federal Government sources of information. The Center’s next option is to an online search using the “FirstGov.gov” to search the web for the Federal information sources. The Center’s last option is the electronic version of the Consumer Information Catalog (CIC). The CIC is known for its free and inexpensive popular consumer publications on some very current or traditional personal and household topics, problems and issues. Now the full text of these publications is online the CIC is online (http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS1527) and on line, you can order paper copies of the both the publications and catalog. The last feature of this online information service identifies and assists your communicating with the President, your Senator, your Representative, and the Federal agencies and offices by letter, phone, and e-mail. Finally there are links to ConsumerAction.Gov, Kids.Gov, and Espanol.Gov.
VIOLENCE ON TELEVISION IMPACT ON CHILDREN RESEARCH HISTORY/UPDATE Ever since television became an essential part of Americans’ lives in the early 1950s, violence on television and its impact on children has been the a private and governmental concern. The Telecommunications Act of 1996, the voluntary television rating system, and the “V-Chip” technology of 1998 were major events in the recent history of the television, violence, and children triangle. From 1994 to 1997 there was a major study of 300 people watching television for more than 10,000 hours. The analysis of the three-year study was issued as the National TV Violence Study. Recently, the Parents Television Council conducted a study which showed that the Family Hour (8 –9 PM) and the 9-10 PM television hours were, respectively, 41% and 134.4% more violent in 2002 than in 1998. Congress thinks it is time for an inquiry into the 2004 status of excessive violent programming on television and its impact on children. Currently, congress wants more about the available information on the nature and frequency of violence on television. For the purpose of information gathering, on July 13, 2004, the Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) and released it on July 28, 2004. A PDF copy of the full text of the NOI can be found at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-175A1.pdf and http://www.fcc.gov/mb . On August 12, “Violent Television Programming and Its Impact on Children, Notice of Inquiry” appeared in the Federal Register, V. 65, No. 155, pages 49899-49904, August 13, 2004 (AE 2.106:155/65) the FCC issued a 6 page synopsis as a public notice. The American public has until September 13, 2004 to submit relevant comments and information to the FCC Offices and reply comments are due at the FCC Offices October 15, 2004. This August 12, 2004 FCC Notice, the aforementioned reports, and other information sources within this FCC Notice should provide ample research materials for anyone researching the problem of violence, television, and children. The Parent Teachers Council reports Reality TV: Race to the Bottom and Bloodbath: Violence on Prime Time Broadcast TV are found in the Studies/Reports section of the PTC Publications page at http://www.parentstv.org/ .
BLACK CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES & SENATORS 1870-2004 Did you know Hiram Rhodes Revels (R-MS) was the first black to serve in the Senate in the 41st Congress (1870)? The first black Congressional Representative was Joseph H Rainey (R-SC). Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) was the first black woman to serve in Congress from 1969-1983. Since Chisholm was elected, there have been 22 black women elected including Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL, 1993-1999) who was the first black woman as well as the first black Democrat to be elected to the Senate. Congress has also issued Black Americans in Congress 1870-1989 in 1990 (Y 1.1/7:107-117) which presents similar information, but Black Members of the United States Congress: 1870 – 2004 was updated on March 4, 2004 and will be updated at the beginning of the 2005, 109th Congress. Black Members is was compiled by the Congressional Research Service for the U.S. Senate and is a link on Minorities in the Senate web page (http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Minorities_vrd.htm) which leads to this Black Members publications (http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/RL30378.pdf ).
September 27, 2004
http://www.nku.edu/~yannarella/news0408.html
