bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Children With Special Health Care Needs: Patterns of Safety Restraint Use, Seating Position, and Risk of Injury in Motor Vehicle Crashes
Authors: Huang Patty , Kallan Michael J. , O'Neil Joseph , Bull Marilyn J. , Blum Nathan J. , Durbin Dennis R.
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVES. Special health care needs associated with behavioral conditions may influence a child's safety in motor vehicle crashes. The aim of this study was to describe and compare variation in restraint use, seating position, and injury risk in motor vehicle crashes among children with and without special health care needs likely to affect behavior.

PATIENTS AND METHODS. This study uses data collected between December 1, 1998, and November 30, 2002, in a cross-sectional study of children <16 years of age who were involved in crashes of State Farm–insured vehicles in 15 states. Parent reports via a validated telephone survey were used to define precrash special health care needs, restraint status, seating position, and the occurrence of clinically significant injuries by using a previously validated survey instrument.

RESULTS. Complete data were collected for 14654 children aged 4 to 15 years, representing 171633 children in crashes. Of these, 152 children were reported to have a special need likely to affect behavior, representing 1883 children. A greater proportion of children with special needs likely to affect behavior were appropriately restrained, particularly among children aged 4 to 8 years. Drivers of children with special needs likely to affect behavior were more often restrained and more often were the child passenger's parent. There were no differences in the rates of front-row seating. There was no significant association between the presence of a special need likely to affect behavior and risk of injury, after adjustment for child/driver characteristics and crash severity.

CONCLUSIONS. Despite a greater proportion of children with special needs likely to affect behavior using proper vehicle restraint, their injury risk was similar to that of children without these special needs. Primary care pediatricians providing best practices for vehicle safety should consider the unique riding experience and risk of injury among children with special health care needs likely to affect behavior.
Blood Pressure Responses to Psychosocial Stress in Young Adults With Very Low Birth Weight: Helsinki Study of Very Low Birth Weight Adults
Authors: Pyhälä Riikka , Räikkönen Katri , Feldt Kimmo , Andersson Sture , Hovi Petteri , Eriksson Johan G. , Järvenpää Anna-Liisa , Kajantie Eero
Published: January 2009

Young adults born prematurely with very low birth weight (≤1500 g) have higher blood pressure than do their counterparts born at term. We tested whether they also have higher blood pressure reactivity to psychosocial stress, which may be a more-specific predictor of long-term cardiovascular morbidity. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels for 44 very low birth weight adults (mean age: 23.1 years; SD: 2.3 years) and 37 control subjects (mean age: 23.6 years; SD: 2.0 years) were measured through noninvasive finger photoplethysmography during a standardized psychosocial stress challenge (Trier Social Stress Test). Baseline and task values and their difference (ie, reactivity) served as outcome variables. In comparison with the control group, the very low birth weight group had 7.9 mm Hg higher diastolic blood pressure during the task and 4.8 mm Hg higher diastolic reactivity, with adjustment for gender and age, height, and BMI at testing. A similar trend was seen for systolic blood pressure during the baseline period and the task, but the group differences were not statistically significant. Our results indicate that very low birth weight is associated with elevated blood pressure reactivity to psychosocial stress and, therefore, may increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity.
Predicting Motor Development in Very Preterm Infants at 12 Months’ Corrected Age: The Role of Qualitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging and General Movements Assessments
Authors: Spittle Alicia J. , Boyd Roslyn N. , Inder Terrie E. , Doyle Lex W.
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to compare the predictive value of qualitative MRI of brain structure at term and general movements assessments at 1 and 3 months' corrected age for motor outcome at 1 year's corrected age in very preterm infants.

PATIENTS AND METHODS. Eighty-six very preterm infants (<30 weeks' gestation) underwent MRI at term-equivalent age, were evaluated for white matter abnormality, and had general movements assessed at 1 and 3 months' corrected age. Motor outcome at 1 year's corrected age was evaluated with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale, the Neuro-Sensory Motor Development Assessment, and the diagnosis of cerebral palsy by the child's pediatrician.

RESULTS. At 1 year of age, the Alberta Infant Motor Scale categorized 30 (35%) infants as suspicious/abnormal; the Neuro-Sensory Motor Development Assessment categorized 16 (18%) infants with mild-to-severe motor dysfunction, and 5 (6%) infants were classified with cerebral palsy. White matter abnormality at term and general movements at 1 and 3 months significantly correlated with Alberta Infant Motor Scale and Neuro-Sensory Motor Development Assessment scores at 1 year. White matter abnormality and general movements at 3 months were the only assessments that correlated with cerebral palsy. All assessments had 100% sensitivity in predicting cerebral palsy. White matter abnormality demonstrated the greatest accuracy in predicting combined motor outcomes, with excellent levels of specificity (>90%); however, the sensitivity was low. On the other hand, general movements assessments at 1 month had the highest sensitivity (>80%); however, the overall accuracy was relatively low.

CONCLUSION. Neuroimaging (MRI) and functional (general movements) examinations have important complementary roles in predicting motor development of very preterm infants.
Sports Injuries to High School Athletes With Disabilities
Authors: Ramirez Marizen , Yang Jingzhen , Bourque Linda , Javien John , Kashani Saman , Limbos Mary Ann , Peek-Asa Corinne
Published: January 2009

INTRODUCTION. Physical activity in sports comes with an inherent risk for injury. For children with disabilities, their injury risk may be complicated by preexisting disability. However, very little research exists on sports injuries to young athletes with disabilities. To best manage potential injuries to children with disabilities, data on sports injury patterns are needed. The purpose of this study was to measure the frequency of and risk factors for injury to high school athletes with disabilities.

METHODS. A total of 210 athletes from 8 special education high schools that are part of an interscholastic sports league participated in the study. Seven of the 8 schools were followed for 1 season each of basketball, softball, soccer, and field hockey, and 1 school enrolled only during field hockey. Data were collected from coaches on daily exposure sessions (game, practice, and conditioning, as well as length of session), athlete characteristics (disability, gender, age, seizure history, and behavioral problems), and nature of injuries resulting in any type of medical treatment.

RESULTS. Thirty-eight injuries were reported among 512 special athletes for a rate of 2.0 per 1000 athlete exposures. Soccer (3.7 per 1000) had the highest rate of injury. More than half of the injuries were abrasions and contusions. Those at highest risk for injury were athletes with autism, athletes with histories of seizures, and starters. Athletes with autism had ∼5 times the injury rate of athletes with mental disabilities. Athletes with seizures had >2.5 times the rate of injury reported among those with no seizure history.

CONCLUSIONS. This adapted sports program is a reasonably safe activity for children with disabilities. Nonetheless, findings have important implications for prevention. The preparticipation medical examination may be an excellent opportunity to create special guidelines, particularly for athletes with autism and seizure history.
Transition From Pediatric to Adult Care: Internists' Perspectives
Authors: Peter Nadja G. , Forke Christine M. , Ginsburg Kenneth R. , Schwarz Donald F.
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to understand the concerns of adult health care providers regarding transition for young adult patients with childhood-onset conditions.

METHODS. Internists from the 2000 American Board of Medical Specialties directory were selected randomly. A 2-stage mail survey was conducted from August 2001 to November 2004. In stage 1, providers stated their concerns regarding accepting care of transitioning young adult patients. In stage 2, providers ranked their concerns.

RESULTS. A total of 241 internal medicine providers were selected for participation. In stage 1, 134 of 241 physicians were eligible to participate, and 67 (50%) of 134 completed stage 1 surveys. In stage 2, 112 physicians were eligible, and 65 (58%) of 112 responded. Concerns elicited in stage 1 were clustered into 6 categories: patient maturity, patient psychosocial needs, family involvement, providers' medical competency, transition coordination, and health system issues. In stage 2, concerns rated highest were lack of training in congenital and childhood-onset conditions, lack of family involvement, difficulty meeting patients' psychosocial needs, needing a superspecialist, lack of adolescent training, facing disability/end-of-life issues during youth and early in the relationship, financial pressures limiting visit time, and families' high expectations.

CONCLUSIONS. Internists clearly stated the need for better training in congenital and childhood-onset conditions, training of more adult subspecialists, and continued family involvement. They also identified concerns about patients' psychosocial issues and maturity, as well as financial support to care for patients with complex conditions.
Minitablets: New Modality to Deliver Medicines to Preschool-Aged Children
Authors: Thomson Sarah A. , Tuleu Catherine , Wong Ian C. K. , Keady Simon , Pitt Kendal G. , Sutcliffe Alastair G.
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to assess the acceptability and suitability of placebo minitablets for preschool-aged children.

METHODS. One hundred children 2 to 6 years of age were recruited from a major London hospital. How to swallow the minitablet was discussed with the child, and chewing was discouraged. The parents were asked to administer 1 minitablet (placebo, 3-mm diameter) to the child. The outcomes were recorded as (1) swallowed, (2) chewed, (3) spat out, or (4) refused to take.

RESULTS. Of the youngest children (2 years of age), almost one half (46%) swallowed the minitablet. The proportion increased to 53% for children 3 years of age. Children ≥4 years of age were more likely to swallow the minitablet than not to swallow the minitablet, with 85% of 5-year-old children swallowing the minitablet. The ability to swallow the minitablet was not affected by gender.

CONCLUSIONS. This study demonstrated the potential to use minitablets for the treatment of preschool-aged children and suggests that minitablets can be used as a potential new formulation for children in this age range.
Decreased Aortic Elasticity in Healthy 11-Year-Old Children Exposed to Tobacco Smoke
Authors: Kallio Katariina , Jokinen Eero , Hämäläinen Mauri , Saarinen Maiju , Volanen Iina , Kaitosaari Tuuli , Viikari Jorma , Rönnemaa Tapani , Simell Olli , Raitakari Olli T.
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVE. The goal was to assess the relationship between passive smoking and arterial elasticity in children.

METHODS. Healthy 11-year-old children (N = 386) from an atherosclerosis prevention trial (Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project for Children) were studied. Aortic and carotid elasticities were determined by using M-mode ultrasound imaging based on measurements of blood pressure and arterial diameter changes during the cardiac cycle. The aortic stiffness index, Young's elastic modulus, and distensibility and the respective indices for the carotid artery were calculated. Exposure to tobacco smoke was measured by using serum cotinine concentrations, and children were classified into 3 groups, that is, the noncotinine group (n = 220; undetectable cotinine levels), the low-cotinine group (n = 127; cotinine levels of 0.2–1.6 ng/mL), and the top-decile cotinine group (n = 39; cotinine levels of ≥1.7 ng/mL).

RESULTS. Higher cotinine concentrations were associated with increased aortic stiffness index values. An increase in aortic Young's elastic modulus and a decrease in aortic distensibility were observed across the cotinine groups. In multivariate regression models, the cotinine level remained a significant explanatory variable regarding all aortic elasticity indices. Carotid elasticity indices showed no differences across the cotinine groups.

CONCLUSIONS. Childhood exposure to tobacco smoke (verified with serum cotinine levels) decreases aortic elastic properties in healthy children.
Rivaroxaban: A Novel, Oral, Direct Factor Xa Inhibitor
Authors: Abrams Paris J. , Emerson Christopher R.
Published: January 2009

Thromboembolic disorders such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and stroke often result in long‐term disability and/or mortality. The anticoagulants currently available have been effective in the treatment and prevention of these disorders; however, parenteral administration, variable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, drug and dietary interactions, and a requirement for frequent monitoring of efficacy and safety limit use of these drugs. Rivaroxaban is a novel, oral factor Xa inhibitor in clinical development for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic diseases. Rivaroxaban is a small molecule directed at active sites, and the agent mechanistically differs from traditional anticoagulants, such as heparins and fondaparinux, in that its activity is independent of antithrombin and its ability to inhibit prothrombinase bound factor Xa. In addition, preclinical and clinical trial data indicate that rivaroxaban has predictable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, which are features that differentiate it from oral vitamin K antagonists. Phase II studies showed that rivaroxaban is safe a nd well tolerated across a wide range of doses. Furthermore, completed phase III studies demonstrated its efficacy in the prevention of venous thromboembolism after orthopedic surgery. Additional studies are now under way to evaluate the use of rivaroxaban in the treatment and prevention of other venous and arterial thromboembolic conditions.
The 42nd Crochet: Getting Students Hooked Into a Literacy Community
Authors: Boyd Maureen , Kneller Sarah
Published: January 2009

In this article, one second‐grade classroom experienced community building though crochet‐related activities. We show how this teacher knit student enthusiasm for crocheting with authentic reading and writing activities across the language arts and social studies curriculum to weave a classroom identity that intertwined social responsibility with student creativity, cooperation, and empowerment.

في هذه المقالة شهدت صف من الصفوف الثانية الابتدائية بناء مجتمع من خلال أنشطة متعلقة بشغل الصنارة. ونبين كيف هذه المعلمة حاكت حماس الطلاّب في شغل الصنارة عن طريق أنشطة القراءة والكتابة الأصلية عبر منهاج الفنون اللغوية والدراسات الاجتماعية لتنسج هوية في الصف شابكت مسؤولية اجتماعية مع إبداع الطالب والتعاون والتفويض.

本文描述一班二年级学生在课堂中，通过与钩针编织相关的活动，建立一个学习社区时所经历到的体验。我们展示这位教师如何把学生对钩针编织的兴趣，与跨语文教学课程学和社会科教学课程的真实读写活动编织在一起，从而编造出一种以社会责任、学生的创意、学生合作，和学生赋权作为紧密联系的课堂身份认同。

Dans cet article, une classe de seconde année a fait l'expérience de la construction d'une communauté au moyen d'activités liées au crochet. Nous montrons comment ce professeur tricote l'enthousiasme des élèves pour le crochet avec d'authentiques activités de lecture et d'écriture dans les activités de langue et le programme de sciences humaines pour tisser une identité de classe où sont imbriquées responsabilité sociale, créativité des élèves, coopération, et prise de pouvoir.

В статье описано, как объединило второклассников такое занятие, как вязание крючком. Учитель использовал любовь учеников к вязанию для развития у них интереса к чтению аутентичных текстов и к письму на уроках по предметам языкового и общественно‐научного циклов. В итоге этого “ажурного вязания” появился детский коллектив, члены которого – настоящие личности. Они проявляют социальную ответственность, склонны к творчеству и умеют работать сообща.

En este artículo, una clase de segundo grado experimentó la construcción del sentido de comunidad por medio de actividades asociadas con el hacer tejido de gancho. Mostramos cómo esta maestra juntó el entusiasmo de los estudiantes por el ganchillo con actividades auténticas de lectura y escritura a través de las disciplinas lingüísticas y el programa de estudio de los estudios sociales para tejer una identidad del salón de clase que entrelazaba la responsabilidad social con la creatividad, la cooperación y la capacitación de los estudiantes.
We, Too, Sing America
Authors: Harris Violet J.
Published: January 2009

Who is an American, what is the American experience, and what historical events are important enough to include in books for youth? These complex ideas are examined in a bolder, intellectually fresh manner in information books, biographies, and histories that have been published over the past several decades. Some examples of recent works are discussed because of the increasing curricular focus on civic or social studies education and history.

من هو أمريكي وماذا تعتبر التجربة الأمريكية وما هي الأحداث التاريخية التي لا بد من التضمن في الكتب للأطفال؟ قد تم استقصاء هذه الأفكار المعقدة بشكل جريء وعقلانية مبدعة في المعلومات الموجودة في الكتب والسيرات الذاتية والتواريخ التي قد نشرت عبر العقود العديدة الماضية. وقد تم النقاش بشأن بعض الأمثلة من الأعمال الحديثة بسبب ازدياد التركيز المنهاجي على تعليم الدراسات المدنية أو الاجتماعية وتاريخها.

谁是美国人？甚么是美国经验？甚么是美国重要的历史事件而应编入给年青人看的书籍中？本文以一个较为果敢而新颖的求知态度，查考在近数十年出版的信息书籍、传记和历史中对这些复杂问题的意见。本文亦讨论最近著作中的几个例子，因为课程焦点日益重视公民或社会教育和历史教育。

Qu'est‐ce qu'un Américain, qu'est‐ce que la vie américaine, et quels sont les événements historiques qui méritent de figurer dans les livres pour la jeunesse? On a examiné ces notions complexes de façon audacieuse, nouvelle intellectuellement, dans des livres documentaires, des biographies, et des histoires publiés au cours des dernières décennies. On discute quelques exemples de travaux récents à cause de la place de plus en plus grande apportée récemment dans les programmes à l'instruction civique, aux aspects sociaux et à l'histoire.

Кто такие американцы? В чем состоит уникальный американский опыт? Какие исторические события достойны быть включенными в книги для юных читателей? В последние десятилетия эти непростые понятия исследуются все смелее и интеллектуально неожиданнее в различных документальных, исторических и биографических изданиях. Поскольку в учебных планах все больший упор делается на обучение гражданским и социальным наукам, в статье рассматриваются некоторые из последних публикаций по этой тематике.

¿Quién es un americano? ¿Cuál es la experiencia americana? ¿Y cuáles eventos históricos son lo suficientemente importantes para ser incluidos en libros para jóvenes? Estas ideas complejas se examinan de formas más audaces e intelectualmente novedosas en libros informativos, biografías e historias publicadas en las últimas décadas. Se discuten algunos ejemplos de obras recientes debido al aumento en el enfoque curricular en la historia y la educación cívica o de estudios sociales.
Influence of reinforcement stiffness and compaction on the performance of four geosynthetic-reinforced soil walls
Authors: Bathurst R. J. , Nernheim A. , Walters D. L. , Allen T. M. , Burgess P. , Saunders D. D.
Published: January 2009

The paper describes measurements taken from a series of four full-scale modular block walls that were constructed with reinforcement layers having different stiffness. The walls were 3.6 m high and were reinforced with two different polypropylene geogrid reinforcement materials, a polyester geogrid and a welded wire mesh. Each wall was constructed with the same modular block facing and reinforcement spacing of 0.6 m. The influence of compaction effort on wall displacements and horizontal toe load measurements at the end of construction was detectable in this investigation. These values were adjusted to account for the influence of different compaction methods on end-of-construction wall response. However, during subsequent surcharging the effects of initial compaction effort were erased. Reinforcement loads are computed from strain readings and results of in-isolation constant-load (creep) tests. Computed maximum reinforcement loads are compared with values predicted using the current AASHTO Simplified Method and the K-stiffness Method. The predicted magnitude and distribution of reinforcement loads are shown to be more accurate using the K-stiffness Method for polymeric reinforcement materials. For the relatively stiff welded wire mesh product, the measured reinforcement loads fell between values predicted using both methods.
Ship impact protection for Hungerford Bridge, London, UK
Authors: Parker J.
Published: January 2009

Ship impact is a major consideration in the design of bridges. Forces calculated using the various methods in use can be very large and vary considerably. This paper describes the method used in the design of the Hungerford footbridges over the River Thames in central London, UK, and compares the results with other methods. Eurocode 1 is shown to produce large variations, depending on which method is used. The design and construction of the ship impact protection for Hungerford Bridge is also described.
Strategies for the management of bridges for vehicular impacts
Authors: Ghose A.
Published: January 2009

Impacts on bridges by road vehicles are a relatively frequent occurrence and can lead to delays for road users, injuries or fatalities for vehicle occupants and in some cases risks of major incidents from derailments on railway lines carried by highway bridges. This paper gives an overview of the scale of the problem in the UK taken from data gathered by Network Rail and the Highways Agency (HA). The primary reasons for bridge-deck strikes are given and a review is undertaken of various industry good practice guides and strategies to prevent or deal with these incidents. The background to the development of the current design and assessment requirements is given, including some research and development projects undertaken by the HA. The design requirements from the Eurocode for accidental actions and an outline of risk methodology being developed in the proposed UK national annex to the Eurocode are also presented.
Reinforced concrete members under drop-weight impacts
Authors: Chen Y. , May I. M.
Published: January 2009

This paper describes a series of experimental studies to investigate the high-mass, low-velocity impact behaviour of reinforced concrete members including beams and slabs, and to provide high-quality input data and results to validate numerical modelling. Fourteen 2·7 m and four 1·5 m span beams, four 0·8 m square 76 mm thick and two 2·3 m square 150 mm thick slabs were tested under impact loads using a drop-weight facility. Measurements included transient impact loads, accelerations and strains in the steel reinforcement. Additionally the impact events were recorded using a high-speed video camera operated at up to 4500 frames per second. For the beam tests, the local failure pattern of a beam under the impact zone was examined by correlating the images of development of cracks, spalling and scabbing with the impact load history. For the slab tests, the imposed energy on a slab was compared with the minimum energy causing the slab to scab, which was predicted using empirical formulae. The investigations enabled a better understanding of the behaviour of reinforced concrete members subject to impact loads.
Waste segregation presents thermal treatment opportunities
Authors: Ryu C. , Yang Y. B. , Gilbert P. , Chung W. , Phan A. N. , Le A. K. , Khor A. , Chen Q. , Sharifi V. N. , Swithenbank J.
Published: January 2009

Developments in national and international waste recycling and reuse programmes have led to the adoption of processes that segregate waste material into several streams. It is not viable to recycle some of these streams but some contain materials such as wood (biomass), contaminated paper (biomass), plastics and textiles that have a greater fuel energy content than the original waste. Furthermore, adding value through pelletisation can provide a convenient form for handling and transportation of this type of fuel. An objective of this investigation is to achieve electrical power generation efficiency greater than that of incinerator boiler/turbines through the generation of an intermediate gaseous fuel for use in a combined cycle. Studies of the pyrolysis process that produces char, oil and gas have demonstrated how the rate of heating influences the proportion of each. Complementary studies of the combustion and gasification characteristics of segregated waste materials, and char derived from them, in special pot ‘burners’ have shown the effects of composition, form, size, packing and airflow rate on burning and gasification rates. The results demonstrate the validity of a mathematical modelling code for the processes (Flic); when coupled with Fluent, this can then be used in the design and operation of domestic or industrial-scale plants. These investigations have led to the design of a small-scale gasifier that avoids the output of tar using pyrolysis in a bed of hot char. Such units are considered suitable for use with a Stirling engine for efficient combined heat and power (CHP) for individual buildings. An interesting feature of this system is that the overall CHP efficiency is independent of the gasifier efficiency.
Accounting for food waste: comparative analysis within the UK
Authors: Bradley P. , Thomas C. , Druckman A. , Jackson T.
Published: January 2009

Meeting UK targets for waste reduction will require careful planning and informed investment in infrastructure. An essential prerequisite for both is the availability of robust waste data. This paper compares four methods for estimating food waste in Hampshire, two for business waste and two for household waste. First, household food waste is estimated from food expenditure data using an expenditure data approach. This is compared against household waste collection data. Next, business waste is estimated by applying data published by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to the business profile of the hospitality sector in Hampshire. These results are compared with those from the application of a different survey approach to the same business profile. The research illustrates significant problems in achieving consistent and reliable data, especially for business. It was found that some published data are very likely to underestimate food waste in the hospitality sector due to the amount of waste classified in miscellaneous categories such as mixed or general waste. The findings could apply to other sectors. The paper discusses the implications of these findings, highlighting in particular an urgent need for the release and publication of current commercial and industrial waste data, as well as more robust sector-specific surveys and consistent accounting frameworks.
Intimate Partner Violence and Community Service Needs Among Pregnant and Postpartum Latina Women
Authors: Eisenman David P. , Richardson Erin , Sumner Lekeisha A. , Ahmed Sawssan R. , Liu Honghu , Valentine Jeannette , Rodríguez Michael
Published: January 2009

Health care providers are advised to refer abused women to needed community services. However, little is known about abused women’s perceived need for services, particularly among Latina women. We examined the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and perceived needs for legal, social, and job services among a prospective cohort of 210 pregnant Latinas. IPV was associated with needing social and legal services at most time points. Women with recent IPV experiences reported greater service needs than women with more remote IPV experiences, who in turn reported greater need than women without IPV experiences. We conclude that IPV may be associated with ongoing perceived needs for social and legal services among Latina perinatal patients.
Overexpression of Glutathione Reductase in Cotton Does Not Alter Emergence Rates under Temperature Stress
Authors: Mahan James R. , Gitz Dennis C. , Payton Paxton R. , Allen Randy
Published: January 2009

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings are considered to be sensitive to temperature stress. The exposure of plants to high and low temperatures can result in the production of reactive oxygen species that contribute to diminished plant performance. Plants have mechanisms that metabolize oxidants into less harmful chemicals, and enhancement of antioxidant metabolism has been shown to be beneficial to plants exposed to acute oxidative stresses. Transgenic overexpression of glutathione reductase (GR) in cotton could result in faster seedling emergence at nonoptimal temperatures. Transgenic GR and 5 nontransgenic cotton lines were planted at four dates in the field in Lubbock, TX, and in constant temperature growth boxes. The temperatures in the field were typical for the cotton planting period in the region, and in growth boxes ranged from 15 to 45°C. Emergence rates were determined for all lines, and the activity of GR and the levels of malondialdehyde in the cotyledons were monitored to verify altered enzyme activity and to detect differences in oxidative damage, respectively. Enhancement of GR activity did not improve emergence or reduce oxidative damage. It is concluded that GR activity did not limit emergence.
Kinetics of Phenylpropanoid Gene Expression in Maize Growing Internodes: Relationships with Cell Wall Deposition
Authors: Riboulet C. , Guillaumie S. , Méchin V. , Bosio M. , Pichon M. , Goffner D. , Lapierre C. , Pollet B. , Lefevre B. , Martinant J. P. , Barrière Y.
Published: January 2009

Both for cattle nutrition and biofuel production, the improvement in maize (Zea mays L.) cell wall degradability depends on understanding the genetic mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids. Most of the genes involved in monolignol and p‐hydroxycinnamate biosynthesis are known, but many belong to multigene families. A macro‐array with cell wall gene specific tags was used to characterize the different gene expression profiles in maize ear internode at four stages from 7 d before silking to 15 d after silking. Gene expression profiles were related to biochemical variation observed for lignin content, lignin structure, and esterified and etherified ferulic acid content. Most of the significantly expressed genes had a maximum at the first stages of sampling with their expression decreasing rapidly thereafter. A few genes had a second later expression peak. In each multigene family, only a restricted number of genes were expressed during maize cell wall formation in the below‐ear internode. Genes for three phenylalanine ammonia‐lyases, two cinnamate 4‐hydroxylases, two 4‐coumarate:coenzyme A ligases, three caffeoyl‐CoA O‐methyltransferases, but only one cinnamoyl‐CoA reductase, two cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenases, one ferulate 5‐hydroxylase, the only caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase, and a ZRP4‐like O‐methyltransferase were significantly expressed. These genes are likely the most important ones in maize stem lignification, and hence are priority targets in maize breeding.
Impact of High Nighttime Temperature on Respiration, Membrane Stability, Antioxidant Capacity, and Yield of Rice Plants
Authors: Mohammed Abdul‐Razack , Tarpley Lee
Published: January 2009

Nighttime temperature is one of the major environmental factors influencing plant metabolic processes. The respiration rates, membrane thermal stability (MTS), and total antioxidant capacities of leaves were investigated in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants when exposed to high nighttime temperature (HNT) (32°C) or ambient nighttime temperature (ANT) (27°C), and with or without potential preventive exogenous effector (chemical) treatments. The exogenous effector treatments included α‐tocopherol (vitamin E), glycine betaine, and salicylic acid, which play important but different roles in inducing thermal tolerance in many plant species. Plants were subjected to an HNT through use of continuously controlled infrared heaters, starting from 2000 h until 0600 h. High nighttime temperature increased respiration rates, decreased MTS, and negatively affected the yield (by 95%). Application of salicylic acid somewhat lowered the reduction in yield due to HNT (76 vs. 95%) by decreasing the respiration rates and increasing MTS and total antioxidant capacity of rice plants.
Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of Seed Phosphorus and Seed Phytate Content in a Recombinant Inbred Line Population of Common Bean
Authors: Blair Matthew W. , Sandoval Tito Alejandro , Caldas Gina V. , Beebe Stephen E. , Páez Martha I.
Published: January 2009

Phytate is an important antinutritional component of legume seeds, which chelates minerals that are essential to the human diet such as iron and zinc. Phytate levels are often correlated with total seed phosphorus (P). The objective of this research was to evaluate quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed P and phytate content in an inter‐gene pool (G2333 × G19839) recombinant inbred line population of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) planted at medium and high levels of soil P in randomized complete block experiments. Seed P and phytate content were quantified with spectrophotometric methods based on acid digestion with molybdenum blue and Wade reagents, respectively, and net seed P and net phytate content were calculated on a per‐seed basis using seed weights for each experiment. Total seed P varied from 2.8 to 6.1 g kg−1 and phytates varied from 0.29 to 1.78% across fertilization levels. A total of six QTL were found for total or net seed P, while three were found for percentage or net seed phytates. The QTL for seed P and percent phytates were located independently on linkage groups B2 and B11 vs. B6, respectively. Meanwhile, the QTL for net seed P or phytate content were related to seed weight QTL on linkage groups B6, B7, and B10, with one additional net phytate QTL on B5. The results suggest that bean plants can adapt to different initial supplies of P and that seed P and phytate levels in common bean can be modified through plant breeding.
Analysis of Genetic Structure in Widely Distributed Common Bean Landraces with Different Plant Growth Habits Using SSR and AFLP Markers
Authors: Masi P. , Logozzo G. , Donini P. , Zeuli P. Spagnoletti
Published: January 2009

The genetic variation in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces with different growth habits, which are grown over a wide and environmentally heterogeneous area in southern Italy, was studied to help define strategies for conservation of genetic resources. Accessions of three landraces, a'Marrozzo and Poverella with indeterminate growth habits, and Verdolino with a determinate growth habit, were scored for 30 simple sequence repeat (SSR) and 393 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) loci using eight primer combinations. Very low heterozygosity was observed, and all 73 plants analyzed showed different genotypes when comparing their alleles at the SSR or AFLP loci. The analyzed genotypes were clustered first according to plant growth habit and then in distinct groups according to landrace classification. Genetic differentiation among landraces was higher for AFLP (FST = 0.64) than for SSR loci (FST = 0.31), and variation within landraces was higher in a'Marrozzo, which is widely distributed over four river catchment basins. The proportion of alleles common to all three landraces was much larger for AFLP (62.34%) than for SSR (27.13%), while the alleles found in only one landrace were more frequent for SSR (47%) than for AFLP (8.14%). The large number of SSR and AFLP alleles shared between a'Marrozzo and Poverella (both with indeterminate growth habits) indicates their common evolutionary history.
Accumulation of Soluble Carbohydrates during Seed Development and Maturation of Low‐Raffinose, Low‐Stachyose Soybean
Authors: Obendorf Ralph L. , Zimmerman Angela D. , Zhang Qianyi , Castillo Alexander , Kosina Suzanne M. , Bryant Elizabeth G. , Sensenig Elizabeth M. , Wu Jennifer , Schnebly Steven R.
Published: January 2009

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeds accumulate sucrose, raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFO), phytin, and small amounts of galactopinitols and fagopyritols during normal seed maturation. RFO and phytin are indigestible by non‐ruminant animals and contribute to decreased feed efficiency, reduced mineral adsorption, and phosphorous pollution in manure. Low raffinose, stachyose, and phytin seed may have imbibitional chilling sensitivity and reduced field emergence. The objective was to characterize the profiles of soluble carbohydrates in cotyledons, axis, and seed coats of low raffinose and stachyose (LRS) seeds expressing the mutant stc1 phenotype; in low raffinose, stachyose, and phytin (LRSP1, LRSP2) seeds expressing the mutant mips phenotype; and in normal raffinose, stachyose, and phytin (CHECK) seeds expressing the Stc1 and Mips phenotype during 17 stages of soybean seed development, maturation, and desiccation. Seventy percent of RFO accumulated after maximum seed dry weight during seed desiccation. LRS, LRSP1, and LRSP2 seeds had low RFO, but LRS seeds accumulated higher galactinol and di‐ and tri‐galactosides of myo‐inositol, d‐chiro‐inositol, and d‐pinitol earlier during seed maturation than CHECK, LRSP1, and LRSP2. LRSP1 and LRSP2 seed had low RFO and low galactosyl cyclitols during maturation and were reported to have imbibitional chilling sensitivity and reduced field emergence.
Data-Driven Perspective on Management of Safety Risk at State Agencies
Authors: Milton John C. , Shankar Venky , Shyu Ming-Bang , Sittikariya Sittipan , Pendyala Ram
Published: January 2009

Nationally, transportation agencies have embarked on efforts to collect information digitally on highway attributes to help understand factors that contribute to traffic crash occurrences. Instrumented vehicles, database modeling efforts, and enhancements in crash-data collection are salient examples of such efforts. This paper provides insights into the prospective value of roadway information as it pertains to statistical analysis of severity of crashes. It presents a case study analysis from Washington State that involves divided highway crash data. A statistical model is presented that demonstrates an empirical relationship between key roadway variables and distributions of crash severity. The other notable output of this paper involves the contribution of weather information to the distributions of crash severity. While the case study is restricted to divided highways in the northwest part of the United States, the statistical insights from the analysis of severity distributions indicate the prospective value of key data elements in relation to their regular measurement and updates to statewide crash risk management.
Procedure for Developing Accident Modification Factors from Cross-Sectional Data
Authors: Bonneson James A. , Pratt Michael P.
Published: January 2009

This paper describes a procedure for developing accident modification factors (AMFs) by using a cross-sectional study. It is recognized that AMFs are most accurately derived from controlled experiments and observational before-after studies. However, the execution of experiments and before-after studies is not always practical or feasible. The procedure described in this paper is intended to be used in this situation. The procedure is demonstrated through the development of a curve radius AMF for rural two-lane highways.
Potential Accident Modification Factors for Driveway Density on Rural Highways
Authors: Fitzpatrick Kay , Park Eun Sug , Schneider William H.
Published: January 2009

Accident modification factors (AMFs) for driveway density can be described as the incremental effects of driveway density on safety. The objective of this study was to develop AMFs for driveways on rural highways in Texas. Available for evaluation were 2,354 mi of rural two-lane highways and 402 centerline miles of rural four-lane highways. From a review of the data, it is recommended that the assumed base condition for driveway density be three driveways per mile. Negative binomial regression was used to determine the effects of independent variables on crashes. Driveway and segment crashes for 3 years (1999 to 2001) were used in the evaluations. AMF equations that consider driveway density for the segment were developed for both rural two-lane and rural four-lane highways.
Comparative Analysis of Techniques for Identifying Locations of Hazardous Roads
Authors: Elvik Rune
Published: January 2009

This paper compares five techniques for identifying hazardous road locations. These techniques embody different degrees of control for randomness in accident counts. They are tested by means of data for Norwegian roads. As a basis for the comparison, a hazardous road location is defined as one that has a higher expected number of accidents than similar locations due to local risk factors. The five techniques were compared: recording the number of accidents during a specific period, observing the accident rate (accidents per million vehicle kilometers) during a specific period, combining a critical count of accidents and an accident rate above normal during a specific period, using the empirical Bayes estimate of the expected number of accidents at each location, and determining the size of the contribution of presumably local risk factors to the empirical Bayes estimate of the expected number of accidents at each location. Each of the techniques was applied to the upper 1%, upper 2.5%, and upper 5% of the distribution of sites and evaluated against various criteria (including accident count, accident rate, etc). The diagnostic performance of the five techniques was assessed in relation to epidemiological criteria (sensitivity and specificity). The empirical Bayes technique was found to perform best according to the epidemiological criteria. It is concluded that hazardous road locations are most reliably identified by applying the empirical Bayes technique.
Two-Level Nested Logit Model to Identify Traffic Flow Parameters Affecting Crash Occurrence on Freeway Ramps
Authors: Lee Chris , Abdel-Aty Mohamed
Published: January 2009

This study analyzes the traffic flow conditions that affect crash occurrence on freeway ramps by type (on- or off-ramps) and configurations (diamond, loop, etc.). The study used the 5-min traffic flow data before the crash obtained from loop detectors to identify the traffic conditions contributing to crashes on ramps. With 5 years of ramp crash data on the Interstate 4 freeway in Orlando, Florida, a two-level nested logit model was developed to estimate the probabilities of crash occurrence for different ramp types and configurations. In the comparison of two nest structures, the traffic flow parameters contributing to crash occurrence greatly differed between on-ramps and off-ramps. The results of the model estimation suggested that the main-line speeds immediately upstream and downstream of ramps and the volume on ramps were correlated to crash occurrence on ramps. It is recommended that these traffic flow parameters be monitored in real time to detect elevated risk in traffic conditions on ramps within on-line systems for freeway traffic management.
Assessing Safety on Dutch Freeways with Data from Infrastructure-Based Intelligent Transportation Systems
Authors: Abdel-Aty Mohamed , Pande Anurag , Das Abhishek , Knibbe Willem Jan
Published: January 2009

Most freeway traffic surveillance technologies deployed around the world remain infrastructure based, with underground loop detectors being the most common among them. A proactive application for traffic surveillance data recently explored for some freeways in the United States is the estimation of real-time crash risk. The application involves establishing relationships between historical crashes and archived traffic data collected before those crashes. In these studies, crash occurrence on freeway sections has been related to temporal-spatial variation in speed and high lane occupancy. Critical modeling questions that remain unanswered relate to transferability of such an approach. This study attempts to address the issues of such transfer through analysis of crash data and corresponding loop detector data from five freeways in the Utrecht region of the Netherlands. Traffic surveillance systems for these freeways include more detectors per kilometer than most U.S. freeways. Their real-time data are also already being used for applications of advanced intelligent transportation systems. The analysis procedure proposed here accounts for these distinctions. In addition to these transferability issues, application is introduced of a new data-mining methodology, Random Forests, for identifying variables significantly associated with the binary target variable (crash versus noncrash). It was found that the average and standard deviations of speed and volume are related to real-time crash likelihood. Subjecting these significantly related variables to multilayer perceptron and normal radial basis function neural networks resulted in classifiers that achieved classification accuracy of approximately 61% for crashes and 79% for noncrashes. The promising classification accuracy indicates that these models can be used for reliable assessment of real-time crash risk on Dutch freeways as well.
Discovering Indirect Associations in Crash Data through Probe Attributes
Authors: Pande Anurag , Abdel-Aty Mohamed
Published: January 2009

Association analysis is a popular data-mining technique for detecting dependencies in transaction databases. The algorithms for discovery of association rules attempt to find the products that tend to sell together. For this purpose, one can treat crashes as individual transactions and crash characteristics as the “products” part of that transaction to discover patterns of the crash characteristics that tend to coexist. The a priori algorithm to search for association rules employs the lower bound on intersection (i.e., joint) frequency of two crash characteristics to ensure that only significant patterns are discovered. Hence, remarkable associations relating crash characteristics that have joint frequency lower than the specified threshold cannot be identified. The present study proposes to apply probe attributes and indirect associations to overcome this problem for crash data. Two sets of items, X and Y, are indirectly related if there exists another set P (i.e., probe attribute) such that, while sets X and Y rarely or never occur simultaneously, they are highly dependent on the common probe attribute P. Indirect associations may be particularly useful in the context of arterial crash patterns because several products are part of the same original nominal variable and have no intersection (i.e., zero joint frequency) in the market basket database. For example, the products rain and cloudy created from the same original variable weather have zero joint frequency. The probe attributes-based analysis revealed some remarkable arterial crash patterns for the SR-50 corridor (in central Florida), including an association between morning and afternoon peak-period crashes through the site location driveway access. It was also found that young drivers are prone to commit errors on arterial sections that are not level, straight, or both.