In 1973, the feds estimated that semis got about 5.6 miles per gallon of diesel; today's estimate is 6.5 mpg, although different trucks get fuel economy in a range from 4 to 8. Going up a steep hill, a truck's mileage might drop to about 2.9 mpg, while going down the same hill will raise it to more than 23 mpg. New fuel-economy standards that take effect beginning in 2014 will require semi trucks with a sleeper cab to get 7.2 mpg on level roads.
Absorbable biological suture material. Chromic is an absorbable suture made by twisting together strands of purified collagen taken from bovine intestines. Due to undergoing a ribbon stage chromicisation (treatment with chromic acid salts), the chromic offers roughly twice the stitch-holding time of plain catgut.
Monocryl is a synthetic, absorbable monofilament suture material. It is available in dyed and undyed forms. Undyed Monocryl 4-0 suture is advantageous when subcuticular stitches are taken in a patient with light coloured skin, in order that the suture does not show through. good tip to keep in mind when using Monocryl 4-0 sutures is that this suture has considerable memory. It is more pliable than synthetic non absorbable (permanent) sutures, but needs to have the memory removed prior to initiation of closure of skin.