@article{dannemiller_watson_christiansen_westmoreland_2024, title={Traumatic telson avulsion and attempted external stabilization in Atlantic horseshoe crabs (<i>Limulus polyphemus</i>)}, ISSN={["1098-2361"]}, DOI={10.1002/zoo.21818}, abstractNote={AbstractAtlantic horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are prevalent in public aquarium touch pools. Despite their popularity, the literature concerning medical management under managed care is sparse. Noninfectious conditions include trauma to the exoskeleton and compound eyes; however, injury to the soft tissue connecting the telson and opisthosoma has not been previously reported. This report describes telson avulsion in three Atlantic horseshoe crabs at a public aquarium and attempted external stabilization with a vascular silicone tie in two of three affected animals. The horseshoe crab that received no veterinary intervention suffered a complete telson amputation 1 month after the initial injury. Although the two other horseshoe crabs did well postoperatively, and external stabilization prevented further avulsion or amputation, they still could not right themselves if flipped into dorsal recumbency. All three horseshoe crabs were ultimately euthanized due to animal welfare concerns. To avoid potentially serious telson ligament injury, horseshoe crabs should never be picked up by the telson. The authors recommend that telson ligament injuries be addressed promptly, any inciting cause be mitigated, and external stabilization be considered earlier.}, journal={ZOO BIOLOGY}, author={Dannemiller, Nicholas G. and Watson, Kaitlen M. and Christiansen, Emily F. and Westmoreland, Lori S.}, year={2024}, month={Jan} }
 @article{gao_deaton_fang_barker_denhartog_watson_2022, title={Effects of Outer Shell Fabric Color, Smoke Contamination, and Washing on Heat Loss through Turnout Suit Systems}, volume={92}, ISSN={0040-5175 1746-7748}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00405175211073353}, DOI={10.1177/00405175211073353}, abstractNote={ Firefighters frequently have to work in direct solar radiant heat. To reduce firefighter heat stress, the influence of turnout garment properties on heat gain from solar radiation must be understood. This research studied the effects of color, texture, washing, and contamination of outer shell fabrics on heat loss through firefighter turnout fabric materials in simulated solar exposures. It showed that solar radiation could be a major factor in heat loss through turnout suits. Solar radiation equivalent to a sunny day completely reversed heat exchange through the turnout fabric systems, converting a heat loss of about 240 W/m2 to a heat gain exceeding 100 W/m2. Solar radiation caused turnout fabric systems to dry out and this decreased the performance of turnout systems that incorporated bi-component moisture barriers. Most significantly, the color of the outer shell had a major influence on lowering turnout heat loss in solar exposures. Composites with a black-dyed outer shell absorbed more solar energy than composites with lighter colored shell materials. Soot and fire-ground contaminants present on turnout outer shell fabrics also reduced heat loss under solar exposure. The findings of this study answered long-standing questions about the importance of turnout fabric color on heat exchange with the environment. The results provide additional motivation for efficient turnout cleaning practices, not only to reduce potentially toxic exposure to smoke contaminants, but to reduce turnout-gear-related heat strain on firefighters. }, number={11-12}, journal={Textile Research Journal}, publisher={SAGE Publications}, author={Gao, Huipu and Deaton, A. Shawn and Fang, Xiaomeng and Barker, Roger L. and DenHartog, Emiel and Watson, Kyle}, year={2022}, month={Jan}, pages={1909–1922} }
 @article{gao_deaton_barker_fang_watson_2022, title={Effects of the moisture barrier and thermal liner components on the heat strain and thermal protective performance of firefighter turnout systems}, volume={5}, ISSN={["1746-7748"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1177/00405175221099947}, DOI={10.1177/00405175221099947}, abstractNote={ An ideal firefighter turnout system should be capable of releasing body heat to prevent heat stress, indicated by THL (total heat loss) and Ref (evaporative resistance) indexes, while maintaining high thermal protective performance (TPP). Our study found no correlations between THL and Ref, or between Ref and TPP. The results showed that, when tested in the mild condition as in the standard THL test method, turnout systems with bi-component moisture barriers exhibited an advantage in THL that did not translate to more thermally stressful hot environments. A physiological manikin was used to understand the effect of turnout clothing systems on heat strain in different environmental conditions and the value of utilizing Ref or THL to predict heat strain performance. We found no difference in heat strain performance between composites with one-layer and two-layer spunlace thermal liners in mild or hot conditions. It showed that both THL and Ref had their limitations: THL only predicted thermal burden in mild environments, while Ref was only correlated in hot conditions. Thus, the exclusive reliance on either index could increase the risk of heat stress, and we recommend incorporating the Ref heat strain index, along with THL, as dual metrics for certifying the heat strain performance of turnout suits in the NFPA 1971 standard. }, journal={TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL}, author={Gao, Huipu and Deaton, A. Shawn and Barker, Roger and Fang, Xiaomeng and Watson, Kyle}, year={2022}, month={May} }
 @article{gao_deaton_barker_fang_watson_2022, title={Relationship between heat loss indexes and physiological indicators of turnout-related heat strain in mild and hot environments}, volume={3}, ISSN={["2376-9130"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1080/10803548.2022.2058746}, DOI={10.1080/10803548.2022.2058746}, abstractNote={A validated physiological manikin method was used to qualify environmentally dependent correlations between firefighter turnout total heat loss (THL) and intrinsic evaporative resistance (R ef) heat strain indexes and core temperature rise in stressful work conducted in mild (25 °C, 65% relative humidity [RH]) and hot (35 °C, 40% RH; 40 °C, 28% RH) conditions. Five turnout suit constructions representing a wide range of breathability were selected. The observed correlations between measured material heat loss and core temperature showed that the THL heat strain index accurately forecast thermal burden in mild environments (<25 °C); while the R ef index provided accurate prediction in hot environments (>35 °C). They showed that the THL index did not predict heat strain in hot work environments. The findings of this study support incorporating both the R ef and THL heat strain indexes as dual metrics for characterizing the heat strain performance of turnout clothing fabrics.}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Gao, Huipu and Deaton, A. Shawn and Barker, Roger and Fang, Xiaomeng and Watson, Kyle}, year={2022}, month={Apr} }
 @article{gao_deaton_fang_watson_denhartog_barker_2021, title={Effects of environmental temperature and humidity on evaporative heat loss through firefighter suit materials made with semi-permeable and microporous moisture barriers}, volume={92}, ISSN={0040-5175 1746-7748}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00405175211026537}, DOI={10.1177/00405175211026537}, abstractNote={ The goal of this research was to understand how firefighter protective suits perform in different operational environments. This study used a sweating guarded hotplate to examine the effect of environmental temperature (20–45°C) and relative humidity (25–85% RH) on evaporative heat loss through firefighter turnout materials. Four firefighter turnout composites containing three different bi-component (semi-permeable) and one microporous moisture barriers were selected. The results showed that the evaporative resistance of microporous moisture barrier systems was independent of environmental testing conditions. However, absorbed moisture strongly affected evaporative heat loss through semi-permeable moisture barriers coated with a layer of nonporous hydrophilic polymer. Moisture absorption in mild environment (20–25°C) tests, or when testing at high humidity (>85% RH), significantly increased water vapor transmission in semi-permeable turnout systems. It was also found that environmental conditions used in the total heat loss (THL) test (25°C and 65% RH) produced moisture condensation in bi-component barrier systems, making them appear more breathable than could be expected when worn in hotter environments. Regression models successfully qualified the relationships between moisture uptake levels in semi-permeable barrier systems and evaporative resistance and THL. These findings reveal the limitations in relying on THL, the heat strain index currently called for by the NFPA 1971 Standard for Structural Firefighter personal protective equipment, and supports the need to measure turnout evaporative resistance at 35°C (Ret), in addition to THL at 25°C. }, number={1-2}, journal={Textile Research Journal}, publisher={SAGE Publications}, author={Gao, Huipu and Deaton, Anthoney Shawn and Fang, Xiaomeng and Watson, Kyle and DenHartog, Emiel A and Barker, Roger}, year={2021}, month={Jul}, pages={219–231} }