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Single leaf sweetpotato cuttings were used for rapid screening of a sample population for adaptation to hydroponics. Leaves cut at the union with the stem were planted in channels covered with white plastic. Holes were punctured through the plastic for the leaf petiole to stand in the channels. They grew in an environmental chamber at 28/22° C, 70% relative humidity and 14 hours light regime at 600 μmol m −2 s−1/10 hours dark. Five leaves per line were evaluated after 14 days. This technique differentiated the performance of genotypes and showed that there is much variability for the characters measured.

“Smart” restraint systems are being researched and developed. However, whilst technology can ultimately be produced that will give rise to adaptive restraint systems, injury research is necessary in order to identify and quantify the most important occupant characteristics. This is necessary to ensure that future adaptive restraint systems are optimised. 12,605 car occupant records from phases 4 and 5 of the UK Co-operative Crash Injury Study (CCIS) were analysed to establish the injury potential for front seat occupants in both frontal and side impacts. Casualties were grouped by gender, seating position and injury severity, with the latter measured in relation to the Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS). Data from a further 4,758 accidents contained within a Fatals database was also incorporated into the analysis.

This is a field study of cars that sustained very little passenger compartment intrusion in frontal crashes. It has been possible to define the key limits on seat belt effectiveness in these, the most common type of crash. Data are taken from the in-depth investigations by the Co-operative Crash Injury Study and Rover Group in the U.K. Vehicle crashworthiness is assessed in detail and then matched with medical information from coroners reports, hospital records or questionnaires sent to survivors. The study describes and compares important injury mechanisms such as driver head to steering wheel contacts, front passenger torso injuries caused by seat belt loads and front occupant leg injuries. 14% of occupants were rated two or above on the Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale. It is realistic to design seat belt systems for use in passenger compartments that can be expected not to deform in the more common frontal crashes.