bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Effects of LED Rectangular Rapid-Flash Beacons on Yielding to Pedestrians in Multilane Crosswalks
Authors: Shurbutt Jim , Van Houten Ron , Turner Shawn , Huitema Brad
Published: January 2010

This study examined the effects of LED rectangular rapid-flash yellow beacons (RRFBs) in uncontrolled marked crosswalks in three experiments. In Experiment 1, the RRFB system was evaluated with a two- and a four-beacon system at four multilane crossings. Results showed a marked increase in motorist yielding behavior over the baseline for the two-beacon system and a small but statistically significant further increase with the four-beacon system. The second experiment compared a traditional pedestrian overhead yellow flashing beacon and a traditional side-mounted yellow flashing beacon with the RRFB system. The results showed that the traditional overhead and side-mounted yellow flashing beacons produced a minimal increase in yielding, whereas the RRFB system produced a marked increase in yielding behavior. A third experiment examined the effectiveness of the RRFB system at 19 sites in St. Petersburg, Florida, as well as three additional sites, two in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, and one in the Washington, D.C., area. Results indicated that baseline daytime yielding behavior increased from an average of 2% to 86% at the 19 St. Petersburg sites and was 85% at the 2-year follow-up. A time-series intervention regression modeling was employed that estimated the parameters of the model based on a double bootstrap methodology. The results of this analysis confirmed a highly significant level change following the introduction of the RRFB that showed no sign of decay over time. Similar results were obtained at the District of Columbia and Chicago suburb sites. Probe data collected after dark revealed an even larger effect with yielding levels at the middle to high 90% level.
Accommodating Pedestrians with Visual Impairments in and around Work Zones
Authors: Ullman Brooke R. , Trout Nada D.
Published: January 2010

Results are presented of a Texas Transportation Institute study that assessed how work-zone information can be related to visually impaired users through audio messages. Researchers conducted a two-phase study that included both a laboratory survey and a field test of audio messages presented through motion-activated recordings in a mock work zone. A few of the key points found during this effort are as follows: (a) it is critical that an alternate-route message clearly state that the path will lead the pedestrian to the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street; (b) critical message elements for navigation of alternate routes were the initial turning or crossing instruction and the distance that pedestrians would need to continue on that path; (c) the existence of a high number of driveways can affect the ability of the visually impaired to count the number of blocks they have traveled and should be considered when alternate routes are established; (d) overload of information is still a concern, but there are specific message elements or terms that appear to have a greater adverse impact on recall (e.g., the use of distances in feet) than the typical message loading considerations; and (e) when it is important to provide warning messages about features for the visually impaired walking through or near a work area, it is critical to state clearly that the path is available (i.e., “sidewalk is open”).
Working Concept of Accessibility
Authors: Schroeder Bastian J. , Rouphail Nagui M. , Hughes Ronald G.
Published: January 2010

This research presents an analysis framework and associated performance measures for quantifying the accessibility of pedestrian crossings at modern roundabouts for pedestrians who are blind. The measures, developed under two ongoing national research projects, NCHRP Project 3-78A and a bioengineering research grant from the National Institutes of Health–National Eye Institute, attempt to isolate the components of the crossing task for a blind pedestrian into computable and replicable quantities that allow the comparison of accessibility across individuals or sites. The framework differentiates between crossing opportunities in the form of yields and crossable gaps and the utilization of these opportunities by the pedestrian. It further accounts for the amount of delay and risk involved in the crossing. The analysis framework and measures are demonstrated for two single-lane roundabouts in North Carolina evaluated under the aforementioned research projects. The application shows that the accessibility of a pedestrian crossing to a blind pedestrian is characterized by a combination of different measures and further depends on crossing geometry, traffic volume, driver behavior, and the travel skills and risk-taking behavior of the individual. With successful demonstration at roundabout crosswalks, the analysis framework is hypothesized to have broader application to unsignalized pedestrian crossings, including midblock locations.
Steps in Reserve
Authors: Morency Catherine , Roorda Matthew J. , Demers Marie
Published: January 2010

“Steps in reserve” are the steps that people could take but do not take because they choose to travel by using a motorized mode for short trips instead of walking. Many studies have already confirmed that the potential to walk is important and that a shift from motorized mode to walking for short trips could be beneficial to many people from a physical activity perspective. The current research is an extension of this study of latent walk trips and proposes a comparison of steps in reserve in two large Canadian metropolitan areas—Montreal, Quebec, and Toronto, Ontario—for various population segments and neighborhood densities. It also adds measures of how these steps in reserve have evolved over time and discusses whether current travel behaviors have been influenced by ever-increasing promotional campaigns to be more active. The research relies on rich sources of microdata on daily travel behaviors; data from four large-scale origin–destination travel surveys (1998 and 2003 for the Montreal area and 1996 and 2001 for the Toronto area) are processed in order to estimate the impacts of a theoretical mode shift scenario on the number of steps people could add to their volume of physical activity on a daily basis. Results show that steps in reserve are quite consistent across metropolitan areas. Around 15% of the population have steps in reserve, an average of 2,430 steps per day. Moreover, the estimated models confirm that both the propensity to have steps in reserve and the number of steps in reserve vary according to individual, household, and neighborhood features. For instance, living alone and owning a driver's license will increase the probability of having steps in reserve, whereas being a full-time worker decreases the average number of steps in reserve per day.
Evaluation of Pedestrian Safety Educational Program for Elementary and Middle School Children
Authors: Gates Timothy J. , Datta Tapan K. , Savolainen Peter T. , Buck Nicholas
Published: January 2010

A pedestrian safety educational program was presented to a total of 4,305 students ranging from kindergarten through 8th grade at 16 participating schools in Detroit, Michigan, between May 2008 and January 2009. The goal of the educational program was to improve student awareness of proper pedestrian behavior and street-crossing techniques, which the authors hypothesized would result in proper street-crossing behavior. This study improves on methodologies used in previous studies by performing an objective evaluation of the program's effectiveness, considering both message comprehension and natural street-crossing behavior of students at the schools where the program was implemented. Two measures of effectiveness were used for the program evaluation: (a) violation rate for child pedestrians observed before and after presentation of the program and (b) correct response rate obtained from written tests given before and after implementation. A total of 4,835 child pedestrians were observed during field data collection performed at 10 of the 16 schools. The child pedestrian violation rates were found to decrease in the after period at nine of the 10 schools where data were collected, with an overall decrease in violation rate of 4.44%, which was statistically significant at a 95% confidence level. Significant increases in the percentage of correct responses between the pre- and posttests were also observed at each of the schools and for all grade levels with the exception of kindergarten. The overall increase in correct response rate between the pre- and posttests was 23.2%, which was statistically significant.
Contribution of Perceptions in Analysis of Walking Behavior
Authors: Smith Andréa Livi
Published: January 2010

Researchers have recently begun to include psychosocial factors such as mental maps, social supports, and perceptions in analyses of travel behavior. Indeed, these subjective factors are distinct from the environment as measured objectively and might provide more insight regarding travel decisions. This study investigates the relationships between residents’ perceptions of their neighborhood environment and corresponding objective measures of the same attributes and ultimately tests their influence on walking behavior. This cross-sectional, disaggregate research design incorporates three major categories of data: (a) objective measures of the environment, (b) residents’ perceptions and attitudes about the environment, and (c) walking behavior data. Six indices representing major features of the environment are constructed from both the objective and perceptual measures. The analysis, which consists of models of walking behavior, reveals that walking behavior is associated with the environment both when measured through perceptions and objectively but that different aspects of the environment are significant from either perspective. These findings point to the need for more research into the influence that psychosocial factors have on travel behavior.
Simulating Relaxed Pedestrian Behavior
Authors: Markowski Michael J. , Faghri Ardeshir
Published: January 2010

A model of pedestrian movement in a comfortable environment is presented. “Comfortable” and “relaxed” here mean that traffic flow is not overly restricted by environment or congestion and in addition is not related to safety measures, such as evacuation. The algorithmic model uses a layered approach to model human movement in which rules and behaviors are created to simulate group interactions. Learning and memory are modeled so that simulated pedestrians are like humans in ways that have an effect on congestion, and software has been developed that implements the model. The model was calibrated by using widely accepted data and validated against observed data in a shopping mall. Results from the simulator show that the model produces reliable results for situations in which the modeled behavior is typical. Proof-of-concept software implementation shows the utility of the model and how it can be used to ease and improve design of pedestrian areas.
Pedestrian and Bicyclist Exposure to Risk
Authors: Molino John A. , Kennedy Jason F. , Johnson Patches L. , Beuse Pascal A. , Emo Amanda K. , Do Ann
Published: January 2010

There is currently no commonly accepted or adopted measure of pedestrian and bicycle exposure to risk. Consequently, a large portion of the field of pedestrian and bicycle safety is lacking an adequate means to evaluate the effectiveness of its efforts. The current study presents a proposed metric for measuring pedestrian and bicycle exposure to risk: hundred million pedestrian or bicycle miles of roadway (or other motor vehicle shared facility) traveled. A method for implementing the proposed exposure metric is described for eight shared-facility types characteristic of the urban environment of Washington, D.C. These facilities include three types of intersections, midblock road segments, driveways, alleys, parking lots, parking garages, school areas, and areas with playing, dashing, and working in the roadway. The methodology is then used to calculate the annual pedestrian and bicycle exposure for the city for the calendar year 2007. The results of these calculations revealed 0.82 hundred million miles for pedestrian exposure and 0.37 hundred million miles for bicyclist exposure. In this way both the feasibility and scalability of the proposed metric were successfully demonstrated for a relatively large urban environment. Thus the proposed metric has the potential to eliminate one of the major obstacles in the pedestrian and bicycle safety field, the lack of adequate exposure data. Although further refinement and validation are still needed, the proposed metric provides a possible initial foundation to develop a national unit of risk exposure for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Modeling Bicycle Facility Operation
Authors: Gould Gregory , Karner Alex
Published: January 2010

Current concerns surrounding regional air pollution, climate change, rising gasoline prices, and urban congestion could presage a substantial increase in the bicycle mode share. However, state-of-the-art methods for the safe and efficient design of bicycle facilities are based on difficult-to-collect data and potentially dubious assumptions regarding cyclist behavior. Simulation models offer a way forward, but existing bicycling models in the academic literature have not been validated with actual data. These shortcomings are addressed by obtaining real-world bicycle data and implementing a multilane, inhomogeneous cellular automaton simulation model that can reproduce observations. The existing literature is reviewed to inform the data collection and model development. It is found that the model emulates field conditions while possibly underpredicting bike path capacity. Since the simulation model can “observe” individual cyclists, it is ideally suited to determine level of service based on difficult-to-observe cycling events such as passing. Future work on data collection and model development is suggested.
Influence of Individual Perceptions and Bicycle Infrastructure on Decision to Bike
Authors: Akar Gulsah , Clifton Kelly J.
Published: January 2010

The focus of this study is on the opportunities and challenges presented to cyclists on and around the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. A web-based survey was conducted to understand the travel patterns and the specific issues regarding bicyclists. The survey included questions about possible bicycle infrastructure improvements, policy, and program innovations to assess the perceptions of the campus community regarding these changes. The findings of this survey, conducted to understand cyclists’ travel patterns and identify their issues and concerns, are discussed. Both nonbicycle commuters and bicycle commuters agreed that bicycle lanes, trails, and paths would encourage them to ride a bike (or ride more often) to the campus. Discrete choice models are estimated to model the commuters’ mode to campus. The findings of the models suggest that people are more sensitive to time for nonmotorized modes and women are less likely to ride a bicycle. Those who perceive walking and biking as a form of exercise and identify flexibility of departure time as an important factor in their mode choice are more likely to ride a bicycle. Those more likely to choose to drive an automobile to campus assume that they do not have other options to commute to campus. Policies designed to promote the use of bicycle transportation on and to the campus based on these findings are presented. The results of this study will help practitioners and campus transportation planners understand the reasons that prevent people from bicycling and evaluate the transportation improvements that may be considered to achieve bicycle-friendly campuses.
Bicycle Helmet Wearing among Adolescents
Authors: Buckley Lisa , Sheehan Mary , Chapman Rebekah
Published: January 2010

Adolescents experience many benefits from bicycling; however, there are also potentially significant injury consequences. One effective counter-measure for the prevention of adolescent bicycling injuries is to promote bicycle helmet wearing. An overview is provided of injury risks of bicycle riding with particular attention to the role of helmet wearing and associated countermeasures such as legislation and school and community approaches. The findings are presented of a study conducted in Australia that examined the effectiveness of a theory-based injury prevention program, Skills for Preventing Injury in Youth (SPIY) for ninth-grade students (age 13 to 14 years). The findings showed a significant, 20.2% decrease in cycling without a helmet among the intervention students (n = 360) and no change for the students in the comparison group (n = 363) after 6 months. In addition, it was found that failing to wear a helmet was significantly associated with engaging in other transport-related risks, being male, having friends who do not wear a helmet and are specific targets of change in the SPIY program, showing a negative attitude toward risk, failing to intervene in friends’ risk-taking, and having low knowledge of first aid. Overall, the SPIY program appeared to be an effective theory-based intervention to increase helmet wearing among early adolescents, a group not often targeted in school and community helmet-wearing programs.
Comparison of Risk Taking in Moped and Motorcycle Crashes
Authors: Haworth Narelle , Greig Kristi , Nielson Angela
Published: January 2010

Risk taking in motorcycling includes deliberately not following road rules (including excessive speeding and performing stunts), unlicensed riding, riding while impaired by drugs and alcohol, and riding without a helmet. Motor scooters and mopeds, however, are less capable of extreme speeds and stunts and may therefore attract riders with safer attitudes and behaviors. Their use for commuting may also limit opportunities for risk taking. Some European studies have reported higher crash risks for mopeds and scooters than for other motorcycles, but others disagree. This study aims to examine the role of risk taking in moped crashes compared with motorcycle crashes by presenting the results of analyses of police-reported crashes in Queensland, Australia, focusing on markers for risk taking such as vehicle most at fault, alcohol involvement, excessive speed, nonuse of helmets, and unlicensed riding. Risk taking in terms of alcohol involvement and excessive speed was more common in single- than in multivehicle crashes. Alcohol involvement was associated with excessive speed, nonuse of helmets, and unlicensed riding. There were few differences in risk-taking behaviors between moped and motorcycle riders. Excessive speed was less common in moped crashes, but this finding may reflect vehicle performance limitations as much as a decision not to speed.
Impaired Motorcycle Operation
Authors: McKnight A. Scott , Becker Les R. , Tippetts A. Scott , Hohn Robert L.
Published: January 2010

Development and evaluation of an instructional program to encourage motorcyclists to intervene with their motorcyclist peers to prevent them from drinking and riding are described. The program, Riders Helping Riders (RHR), is based on focus group research, which found that riders consider themselves to be united by an interest in riding and by a willingness to help other riders in need. A sense of individualism, however, limits the extent to which riders are willing to intervene in drinking and riding. RHR is intended to convince motorcyclists that an impaired rider needs their help and that they are in the best position to provide that help. The program provides a toolkit of techniques for separating drinking from riding, discouraging riders from becoming impaired, recognizing impairment, and discouraging impaired riders from riding. An optional role-playing module is included. At the end of the class, students are asked to sign a pledge to do their best to help an impaired rider live to ride another day. The program was pilot tested by the Georgia Department of Driver Services Motorcycle Safety Program from November 2005 through October 2006. It was evaluated by means of a survey of student participants and time series analyses of Georgia alcohol-involved crashes. Survey responses suggest that the program was successful in encouraging future intervention. Results of the crash analysis were inconclusive.
New Approach to Modeling Mixed Traffic Containing Motorcycles in Urban Areas
Authors: Lee Tzu-Chang , Polak John W. , Bell Michael G. H.
Published: January 2010

Motorcycles constitute a significant proportion of traffic in many countries but are poorly represented in existing traffic flow theories and simulation software. A new approach to modeling mixed traffic is introduced focusing on depicting the movements of motorcycles. In this study, the characteristic patterns of motorcycle behavior were identified, and the key elements contributing to these patterns were extracted. Then three mathematical models were developed to depict these key elements, which were calibrated by using field data collected at Victoria Embankment in central London. After the calibration procedures, these models were integrated into an agent-based simulation model system. The ability of the simulator to reproduce plausible patterns of car and motorcycle behavior was verified. A number of potential applications of this simulator for the management of mixed traffic streams in urban areas are discussed.
Effectiveness of Motorcycle Training and Licensing
Authors: Daniello Allison , Gabler Hampton C. , Mehta Yusuf A.
Published: January 2010

Motorcycle crash fatalities in the United States have been increasing since 1997, when the total number of fatalities reached a record low. Motorcycle training programs were enacted before this rise, and many studies have aimed to show their effectiveness. The objective of this study is to review and synthesize the results of existing research on the effectiveness of motorcycle education courses and different licensing procedures. The effectiveness of programs is examined through the effect training has on accident rates, violation rates, and personal protective equipment use found through past research. Research to date has not consistently supported the notion that training is either effective or ineffective. Some studies have demonstrated that accident and traffic violation rates are lower for trained riders than for untrained riders, whereas others have demonstrated that they are higher for trained riders. Training increases the use of personal protective equipment among motorcyclists. Motorcycle licensing procedures have been shown to have different effects on accident rates. Lower accident rates have been observed in areas with stricter regulations for obtaining a license. The studies vary greatly in both the methods used for comparison and the rigor of their evaluation methodology. No standards for evaluation exist. The findings of these previous studies may be more a reflection of the methods used to evaluate motorcycle training than the effectiveness of training itself.
Safety Effectiveness of HAWK Pedestrian Treatment
Authors: Fitzpatrick Kay , Park Eun Sug
Published: January 2010

The high-intensity activated crosswalk (HAWK) device is a pedestrian-activated beacon located on the roadside and on mast arms over the major approaches to an intersection. It was created in Tucson, Arizona, and at the time of this study was used at more than 60 locations. The HAWK head consists of two red lenses over a single yellow lens. It shows a red indication to the motorists when activated, which creates gaps for pedestrians to use to cross the major roadway. A before-and-after study of the safety performance of HAWK devices is documented. The evaluations used an empirical Bayes method to compare the crash prediction for the after period had the treatment not been applied with the observed crash frequency for the after period with the treatment installed. Crash types examined included total, severe, and pedestrian crashes. The evaluation used data for 21 HAWK sites and 102 reference sites and found the following changes in crashes after the HAWK beacon was installed: between 13% and 29% reduction in all crashes and approximately 50% reduction in pedestrian crashes.
Memory, Identity and Poland's German Minority
Authors: Cordell Karl
Published: January 2010

This paper seeks to offer an assessment of the nature of identity among Poland's German minority and to investigate why since 1950 large numbers of that minority have migrated to Germany. It does so by examining the nature of identity in the historic Polish-German borderlands, by recounting the experiences of those Germans who remained behind in Poland after the post World War Two expulsion process was completed in 1949, and by examining the continued salience of negative stereotypes of Germans and Germany among elements of Polish society. The paper highlights a number of salient factors of importance for members of the minority in deciding whether or not to stay in Poland or to migrate to Germany.
General Lucius Clay, German Politicians, and the Great Crisis during the Making of West Germany's Constitution
Authors: Lamberti Marjorie
Published: January 2010

This article examines the complex interplay between the American military governor and German political leaders through an analysis of two crises that occurred over the making of the Basic Law. Why did a trial of strength between General Lucius Clay and the Social Democratic Party leadership in March and April 1949 come about? Understanding Clay's intervention in the politics of constitution-making in occupied Germany requires a more probing investigation than references to the temperament of a “proconsul” or a bias against a left-wing party. The analysis of Clay's intervention in this account shows how the Social Democrats evaded and challenged directives from the occupation authorities, and illuminates the limits of his influence over German framers of the Basic Law.
How to Improve the Quality of Democracy? Experiences with Participatory Innovations at the Local Level in Germany
Authors: Geissel Brigitte
Published: January 2010

Despite the world-wide triumph of democracy, the quest for an optimal politike has not yet reached the “end of history.” It turns out that representative democracies do not necessarily satisfy citizenries. These malaises are regarded as causes for concern and political actors increasingly pin their hopes on participatory innovations as re-legitimizing responses. But do they work? Germany is an especially interesting case for empirical research. Analysis of the variety of participatory innovations utilized at the local level in Germany—often varying considerably among the different Bundesländer—provides preliminary insights. The German case shows overall that participatory innovations have the potential to cure some of the current malaises of representative democracy. Participatory innovations, however, are certainly no fast-track cure. The useful implementation of participatory innovations requires comprehensive consideration, caution, and, (up to now limited) knowledge about possibilities and pitfalls.
Inquiring into Diversity: The Case of Berlin Police Inspector Bobkowski
Authors: Thériault Barbara
Published: January 2010

How does one deal with diversity in an organization known to be hostile to it? Drawing on a Weberian perspective I present in this article one case occurring in actual historical practice: that of Inspector Bobkowski, a teacher, chief of the political education unit at the Berlin police academy and training center, and a hobby historian. With an eye to the case at hand as well as other efforts to deal with difference under the Weimar Republic encountered during my fieldwork, I attempt to uncover the motives underlying the action of officers who contributed to the promotion of diversity within the police force in Germany. Inquiring into their motives enables me to construct an ideal type of a “carrier of diversity,” which, I argue, shares affinities with a liberal agenda of civic equality.
Present Past: Culture and Memory in Berlin and Germany
Authors: Schirmer Dietmar
Published: January 2010

Andrew J. Webber, Berlin in the Twentieth Century: A Cultural Topography (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008)

Maja Zehfuss, Wounds of Memory: The Politics of War in Germany (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007)

Dirk Verheyen, United City, Divided Memories? Cold War Legacies in Contemporary Berlin (Lanham: Lexington Books, 2008)
Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in Type 2 trigeminal neuralgia
Authors: Zacest Andrew C. , Magill Stephen T. , Miller Jonathan , Burchiel Kim J.
Published: January 2010

Object

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a neuropathic pain syndrome that is often associated with neurovascular compression of the trigeminal nerve and may be effectively treated with microvascular decompression (MVD). The authors used high-resolution MR imaging with 3D reconstruction in patients with constant facial pain (Type 2 TN) to determine the presence/absence of neurovascular compression and thus a potential MVD benefit. They retrospectively contacted patients to evaluate outcome.

Methods

All patients who reported spontaneous onset of constant facial pain (Type 2 TN), which occurred at least 50% of the time, who had undergone high-resolution 3-T MR imaging with 3D reconstruction were retrospectively selected for this study. Clinical history, facial pain questionnaire data, physical examination findings, and results from 3-T 3D MR imaging reconstruction were recorded for all patients. Intraoperative findings and clinical pain outcome were recorded for all patients who underwent MVD.

Results

Data obtained in 27 patients were assessed. On the basis of history and 3D MR imaging reconstruction findings, 13 patients were selected for MVD (Group A) and 14 underwent conservative treatment (Group B). Typical or suspected artery- or vein-induced neurovascular compression was predicted preoperatively in 100% of Group A patients and in 0% of Group B patients. At the time of MVD, definitive neurovascular compression was confirmed in 11 (84.6%) of 13 Group A patients. Following MVD, facial pain was completely relieved in 3 (23%), improved in 7 (53.8%), and no better in 3 (23%) of 13 Group A patients. A history of episodic (Type 1 TN) pain at any time was reported in 100 and 50% of Group A and Group B patients, respectively. A Type 1 TN pain component was reportedly improved/relieved in all Group A patients, but the Type 2 TN pain component was improved in only 7 (53.8%) of 13 patients. The mean postoperative follow-up duration was 13 months.

Conclusions

High-resolution 3D MR imaging reconstruction in patients with constant facial pain (Type 2 TN) can help determine the presence/absence of neurovascular compression. Surgical selection based on both clinical and radiological criteria has the potential to improve surgical outcome in patients with Type 2 TN who may potentially benefit from MVD. However, even in such selected patients, pain relief is likely to be incomplete.
Diagnostic Dilemma in Abdominal Pregnancy - A Case Report
Authors: Afroz Laila , Chowdhury Shiuly , Mazhar Syed Iqbal
Published: January 2010

Advanced abdominal pregnancy is a very rare and complex condition demanding challenging management. High index of suspicion may reduce the diagnostic error. Maternal mortality and morbidity is high and fetal outcome is poor. The key to favorable maternal outcome is early diagnosis and management. A case of 37 weeks abdominal pregnancy with fetal death has been reported here. The patient was repeatedly admitted in the Gynae and Obstetric department in different units for unusual abdominal discomfort beginning from 20th weeks of pregnancy. But the diagnosis had been missed everytime. Finally, she reported with 37th week's pregnancy with intra-uterine fetal death. With high index of suspicion ultrasonography was done by an Obstetrician in the department which gave the diagnosis and was confirmed by laparotomy.   DOI:10.3329/jbcps.v27i3.4298 J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2009; 27: 177-180
Tuberculosis at An Unusual Site
Authors: Haq Zahidul , Mahbub Md Shahriar , Miah Md Titu , Alam Md Billal , Chowdhury Riaz Ahmed , Ahasan HAM Nazmul
Published: January 2010

Tuberculosis involving the anorectal region is a rare extrapulmonary form of the disease. We report two cases of isolated rectal tuberculosis with different presentations. On both instances, diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination and treated with anti-tuberculous drugs with successful outcome. Keywords: Tuberculosis, abdominal tuberculosis, extrapulmonary, gastrointestinal, rectal. DOI:10.3329/jom.v11i1.4277 J Medicine 2010: 11: 67-69
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex in a Family
Authors: Haque Md Azizul , Sharmi Laila Shamima , Ekram ARM Saifuddin , Islam Md Saiful
Published: January 2010

Tuberous sclerosis, also known as tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), is an autosomal dominant, multisystem, neurocutaneous disorder characterized by development of widespread hamartomatous lesions involving skin, brain, kidney, retina etc. Contrary to the popular belief, the disease has variable degree of expressivity and not all patients have the severe debilitating form. We report two cases of tuberous sclerosis complex in a family and then the literature is reviewed. Keywords: Tuberous sclerosis, neurocutaneous syndrome, hamartoma, phakomatosis DOI:10.3329/jom.v11i1.4284 J Medicine 2010: 11: 94-98
Indoor Air in Beauty Salons and Occupational Health Exposure of Cosmetologists to Chemical Substances
Authors: Tsigonia Alexandra , Lagoudi Argyro , Chandrinou Stavroula , Linos Athena , Evlogias Nikos , Alexopoulos Evangelos C.
Published: January 2010

The indoor environment in four beauty salons located in Athens (Greece) was examined in order to investigate the occupational health exposure of cosmetologists to various chemical products typically used in their work. Chemical substances chosen for investigation were volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, ozone and carbon dioxide. Total VOCs levels measured showed significant variation (100–1,450 μg m-3) depending on the products used and the number of treatments carried out, as well as ventilation. The main VOCs found in the salons were aromatics (toluene, xylene), esters and ketones (ethyl acetate, acetone, etc.) which are used as solvents in various beauty products; terpenes (pinene, limonene, camphor, menthenol) which have a particular odor and others like camphor which have specific properties. Ozone concentrations measured in all salons were quite low (0.1 and 13.3 μg m-3) and formaldehyde concentrations detected were lower than the detection limit of the method in all salons (
Pd0@Polyoxometalate Nanostructures as Green Electrocatalysts: Illustrative Example of Hydrogen Production
Authors: Biboum Rosa N. , Keita Bineta , Franger Sylvain , Nanseu Njiki Charles P. , Zhang Guangjin , Zhang Jie , Liu Tianbo , Mbomekalle Israel-Martyr , Nadjo Louis
Published: January 2010

Green-chemistry type procedures were used to synthesize Pd0 nanostructures encapsulated by a vanadium-substituted Wells-Dawson-type polyoxometalate (Pd0@POM). The cyclic voltammogram run with the Pd0@POM-modified glassy carbon electrode shows well-defined waves, associated with Pd0 nanostructures and the VV/VIV redox couple. The Pd0@POM-modified electrode displayed remarkably reproducible cyclic voltammetry patterns. The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was selected as an illustrative example to test the electrocatalytic behavior of the electrode. The kinetic parameters of the HER show the high efficiency of the Pd0@POM-modified electrode. This is the first example of electrochemical characterization of a modified electrode based on a vanado-tungstic POM and Pd0 nanostructures.
Impaired Hepatocyte Regeneration in Acute Severe Hepatic Injury Enhances Effective Repopulation by Transplanted Hepatocytes
Authors: Yu Chun-Hsien , Chen Hui-Ling , Chen Ya-Hui , Chang Ming-Fu , Chien Chin-Sung , Chang Mei-Hwei
Published: January 2010

Efficient repopulation by transplanted hepatocytes in the severely injured liver is essential for their clinical application in the treatment of acute hepatic failure. We studied here whether and how the transplanted hepatocytes are able to efficiently repopulate the toxin-induced acute injured liver. Male dipeptidyl peptidase IV-deficient F344 rats were randomized to receive retrorsine plus D-galactosamine (R+D-gal) treatment or D-galactosamine-alone (D-gal) to induce acute hepatic injury, and retrorsine-alone. In these models, retrorsine was used to inhibit the proliferation of endogenous hepatocytes while D-galactosamine induced acute hepatocyte damage. Wild-type hepatocytes (1 × 107/ml) were transplanted intraportally 24 h after D-galactosamine or saline injection. The kinetics of proliferation and repopulation of transplanted cells and the kinetics of cytokine response, hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP2) expression were analyzed. We observed that early entry of transplanted hepatocytes into the hepatic plates and massive repopulation of the liver by transplanted hepatocytes occurred in acute hepatic injury induced by R+D-gal treatment but not by D-gal-alone or retrorsine-alone. The expressions of transforming growth factor-α and hepatocyte growth factor genes in the R+D-gal injured liver were significantly upregulated and prolonged up to 4 weeks after hepatocyte transplantation. The expression kinetics were parallel with the efficient proliferation and repopulation of transplanted hepatocytes. HSC was activated rapidly, markedly, and prolongedly up to 4 weeks after hepatocyte transplantation, when the expression of HGF gene and repopulation of transplanted hepatocytes were reduced afterward. Furthermore, the expression kinetics of MMP2 and its specific distribution in the host areas surrounding the expanding clusters of transplanted hepatocytes are consistent with those of activated HSC. Impaired hepatocyte regeneration after acute severe hepatic injury may initiate serial compensatory repair mechanisms that facilitate the extensive repopulation by transplanted hepatocytes that enter early the hepatic plates.
Immune Cell Populations in Nonhuman Primate Islets
Authors: Coffey Lane C. K. , Berman Dora M. , Willman Melissa A. , Kenyon Norma S.
Published: January 2010

Islet transplantation is a promising cellular therapy for the treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The immunogenicity of isolated islets has been of interest to the transplant community for many years, as upon transplantation, islets are damaged or destroyed through specific and nonspecific inflammatory and immune events. Antigen presenting cells (APC) are crucial intermediates in the generation of both innate and specific immune responses, and it has long been understood that some APC are resident in islets in situ, as well as after isolation. Our aim was to identify and characterize intraislet resident populations of APC and other immune cells in islets from nonhuman primates ( Macaca fascicularis) in situ (pancreas biopsies obtained prerecovery) and after isolation using immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. The numbers of cells obtained in situ are similar to those in islets postisolation. Each isolated islet equivalent contains an average of 21.8 immune cells, 14.7 (67%) of which are APC. Many of these APC are dentritic cells and, surprisingly, 50% are B lymphocytes. The number of islet-resident immune cells increases with islet size, with greater numbers in large versus small islets ( p < 0.001). The APC were localized around the exterior or spread evenly throughout the islets, with no definitive orientation identified. This knowledge will be useful to develop tailored modulation strategies to decrease immunogenicity, enhance engraftment, and ultimately prevent islet rejection.
Amniotic Membrane Patching Promotes Ischemic Rat Heart Repair
Authors: Cargnoni Anna , Di Marcello Marco , Campagnol Marino , Nassuato Claudia , Albertini Alberto , Parolini Ornella
Published: January 2010

The amniotic membrane has long been applied for wound healing and treatment of ophthalmological disorders, even though the mechanisms underlying its actions remain to be clarified. Recently, cells derived from fetal membranes of human term placenta have raised strong interest in regenerative medicine for their stem cell potential and immunomodulatory features. Our study aimed to investigate the possible utility of amniotic membrane to limit postischemic cardiac injury. A fragment of human amniotic membrane was applied onto the left ventricle of rats that had undergone ischemia through left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. Echocardiographic assessment of morphological and functional cardiac parameters was then performed over a 3-month period. We demonstrated that application of an amniotic membrane fragment onto ischemic rat hearts could significantly reduce postischemic cardiac dysfunction. The amniotic membrane-treated rats showed higher preservation of cardiac dimensions and improved cardiac contractile function in terms of higher left ventricle ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and wall thickening. These improvements were apparent by day 7 after application of the amniotic membrane, persisted for at least 2 months, and occurred independently of cardiac injury severity. No engraftment of amniotic cells was detected into host cardiac tissues. Our results suggest that use of amniotic membrane may constitute a convenient vehicle for supplying cells that produce cardioprotective soluble factors, and reinforce the notion that this tissue constitutes a cell source with clinical potential that has yet to be completely revealed.
Oscillating Pressure Treatment Upregulates Connexin43 Expression in Skeletal Myoblasts and Enhances Therapeutic Efficacy for Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Lee Sae-Won , Kang Hyun-Jae , Lee Ji-Young , Youn Seock-Won , Won Joo-Yun , Kim Ji-Hyun , Lee Hyun-Chae , Lee Eun Ju , Oh Se-Il , Oh Byung-Hee , Park Young-Bae , Kim Hyo-Soo
Published: January 2010

Transplantation of autologous skeletal myoblasts (SMBs) is a potential therapeutic approach for myocardial infarction. However, their clinical efficacy and safety is still controversial. Electrical coupling through gap junction between SMBs and host myocardium is essential for synchronized contraction and electrical stability. Here, we investigated the effect of heart beat-simulating environment, oscillating pressure, on the expression of connexin43 in two types of SMBs from rat and mouse. We found that connexin43 is markedly decreased under ischemia-mimicking conditions such as serum starvation and hypoxia (1% O2) in rat primary cultured SMBs and mouse C2C12 SMB cell line. Interestingly, the decrease of connexin43 expression under serum starvation was attenuated by oscillating pressure. Oscillating pressure treatment increased the expression of connexin43 twofold through AP-1 stimulation, which was blocked by PD98059, ERK inhibitor. In coculture of cardiomyocytes and C2C12, pressure-treated C2C12 and cardiomyocytes were able to form functional gap junction, which was demonstrated by both calcein-AM dye transfer assay and measurement of simultaneous contraction. In rat myocardial infarction model, transplantation of SMBs pretreated with oscillating pressure resulted in lesser ventricular dilatation and better systolic function than transplantation of untreated SMBs and control group. These results suggested that application of oscillating pressure on SMBs before transplantation may be useful to promote therapeutic efficacy for myocardial infarction by enhancing gap junction formation between transplanted and host cells.
Compacted DNA Nanoparticle Gene Transfer of GDNF to the Rat Striatum Enhances the Survival of Grafted Fetal Dopamine Neurons
Authors: Yurek David M. , Flectcher Anita M. , Kowalczyk Tomasz H. , Padegimas Linas , Cooper Mark J.
Published: January 2010

Previously it was established that infusion of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein into grafts of embryonic dopamine cells has a neurotrophic effect on the grafted cells. In this study we used a nonviral technique to transfer the gene encoding for GDNF to striatal cells. Plasmid DNA encoding for GDNF was compacted into DNA nanoparticles (DNPs) by 10 kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG)-substituted lysine 30-mers (CK30PEG10k) and then injected into the denervated striatum of rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions. Sham controls were injected with saline. One week later, experimental animals received either a ventral mesencephalic (VM) tissue chunk graft or a cell suspension VM graft implanted into the denervated striatum. Grafts were allowed to integrate for 4–6 weeks and during this period we monitored spontaneous and drug-induced motor activity. Using stereological cell counting we observed a 16-fold increase in the number of surviving TH+ cells within tissue chunk grafts placed into the striatum pretreated with pGDNF DNPs (14,923 ± 4,326) when compared to grafts placed into striatum pretreated with saline (955 ± 343). Similarly, we observed a sevenfold increase in the number of TH+ cells within cell suspension grafts placed into the striatum treated with pGDNF DNPs when compared to cell suspension grafts placed into the saline dosed striatum. Behaviorally, we observed significant improvement in rotational scores and in spontaneous forepaw usage of the affected forelimb in grafted animals receiving prior treatment with compacted pGDNF DNPs when compared to grafted animals receiving saline control pretreatment. Data analysis for protein, morphological, and behavioral measures suggests that compacted pGDNF DNPs injected into the striatum can result in transfected cells overexpressing GDNF protein at levels that provide neurotrophic support for grafted embryonic dopamine neurons.
Transcatheter Injection-Induced Changes in Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Heng Boon C. , Hsu Steven H. , Cowan Catherine M. , Liu Annie , Tai Julie , Chan Yen , Sherman Warren , Basu Shubhayu
Published: January 2010

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) are being administered by direct intramyocardial (IM) injection into patients with myocardial dysfunction with an objective to improve clinical status. However, surprisingly little attention has been directed to qualifying hMSC functionality beyond simple viability. In particular, the transit of hMSCs through a small-caliber needle lumen, the final fluidic pathway for all IM injection devices, may be especially prone to inducing unwarranted effects on cell function. This study evaluated the changes in clonogenicity, gene expression, and cytokine secretion that may be induced in hMSC (20 million/ml) by injection through a 26-gauge Nitinol needle at two different flow rates compared to noninjected control samples. Results indicated that hMSC viability and colony forming unit (CFU) formation was not altered by changes in injection rate, although a trend toward lower titers was noted at the higher flow rate, for the specific batch of hMSCs studied. The gene expression and cytokine analysis data suggest that delivering a suspension of MSCs through narrow lumen needles may marginally alter certain gene expression programs, but that such in vitro effects are transient and not translated into measurable differences in protein production. Gene expression levels of four cytokines (bFGF, SDF-1, SCF, VEGF) were significantly different at 400 μl/min, and that of all cytokines were significantly different at 1600 μl/min when compared to controls ( p < 0.05). These changes were less pronounced (statistically insignificant for most cases, p > 0.05) and, in certain instances directionally opposite, at 72 h. However, no differences in the amounts of secreted bFGF, VEGF, or TGF-β were detectable at either of the two time points or flow rates. We infer that intramyocardial administration by transcatheter techniques is unlikely to interfere with the machinery required for cell replication or secretion of regulatory and other growth factors, which are the mainstays of MSC contribution to cardiac tissue repair and regeneration.