Search

Dental morbidities associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) include an increased prevalence of periodontal diseases (PDs). However, the occurrence of periapical infections in DM has not been sufficiently documented in the literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of periapical abscesses (PAs) in type 1 DM (T1DM) patients, type 2 DM (T2DM) patients, and nondiabetics in a hospital-based population. We conducted a cross-sectional study by accessing the University of Florida Health Integrated Data Repository, and diagnoses of T1DM, T2DM, and PA were obtained from queries using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision. The following parameters were recorded: age, sex, and race. A logistic regression model for aggregated data was used to assess the association between the occurrence of PA and the diabetic groups (T1DM, T2DM, and nondiabetic groups) after adjusting for PDs and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Among 867,526 patients, we found 5260 (0.6%) with T1DM and 52,493 (6.1%) with T2DM. The prevalence of PAs in the total hospital population was 4923 (0.6%), 102 patients (1%) with T1DM and 766 (6%) with T2DM with statistically significant differences. In subjects without PDs, diabetic patients are almost 3 times likely to have PAs compared with nondiabetic subjects. Among subjects with PDs, the association is weaker (odds ratio = 1.35) but still significant at a level of 0.05. In subjects without CVD, DM subjects are greater than 3 times more likely to have PA, whereas among subjects with CVD, subjects with DM are 1.5 times more likely to have PA. A higher prevalence of PAs was reported in diabetic patients compared with the other hospital population. Comprehensive dental treatment should be administered to diabetic patients to maximize glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the launch of the smartphone game “Pokemon Go”, the worldwide craze has led to numerous traffic crashes and injuries resulting from falling or tripping. This paper investigates the effects of several smartphone distracting activities (gaming, talking, texting, Web surfing, and listening to music) on the street-crossing behaviours of pedestrians in Taipei City, Taiwan. A field study using video cameras was conducted to observe pedestrian crossing behaviours (e.g., crossing time, sudden movements, running a red light, and walking outside the crosswalk) at a selected signalised intersection. Data such as phone features, distracting activities, and personal attributes of the pedestrians were obtained in interviews conducted after pedestrians had completed crossing the street. In total, 1995 pedestrians engaging in various smartphone activities were observed. Results indicate that unsafe crossing behaviours were more prevalent among those playing “Pokemon Go”. Texting via instant-message apps appeared to be the second-most risk distracting activity. Results of the logistic models reveal that contributing factors to unsafe behaviours include being a student, phone screen of 5 in. or larger, and having an unrestricted 4G Internet data allowance. Two interaction terms (gaming × students, and gaming × unlimited 4G data allowance) in the models appear to be important determinants of unsafe crossing behaviours. The current research suggests that to prevent potential crashes and injuries, smartphone gaming while crossing the street should be prohibited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Knowledge of the driving cycle is an important requirement in the evaluation of exhaust emissions. Data were collected from trips performed on five routes between the home addresses in the surrounding areas and place of work at Napier University in Edinburgh. A real world Edinburgh motorcycle driving cycle (EMDC) is developed for each of the urban and rural roads, using this data. Forty-four trips were made on the routes in both urban and rural areas. We assess motorcycle speed, percentage time spent in cruise, accelerations, decelerations and idling and their statistical validity over trip lengths. The results show that EMDC has a cycle length of 770 and 656s for urban and rural trips, which are higher than those of the European Commission’s driving cycle for cars used for emission estimations of motorcycles. Time spent in acceleration and deceleration modes of EMDC are found to be significantly higher than in other driving cycle studies, reflecting diverse driving conditions in Edinburgh. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Xeroderma pigmentosum is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder with impaired ability to repair DNA damage. Detection of the intraoral benign and malignant lesion in Xeroderma pigmentosum is uncommon, and the reported few cases were in the lip and tip of the tongue which are related to ultraviolet light exposure. We present a case of 20 years old male with erythematous to violet, painless and shiny papule at the right side of the tongue. The lesion was surgically excised while the histopathological examination of the lesion showed focally eroded and hyperplastic stratified squamous epithelial covering with underlying capillary sized blood vessel filled with RBCs and lined by endothelium with no atypia or malignancy. Oral angiokeratoma is a rare disease in patient with Xeroderma pigmentosum that should be early detected and diagnosed to decrease the liability for malignant transformation. Health case workers should be aware of the nature of the disease, protection of the patient from ultraviolet light as well as Frequent follow up of the patients for a better quality of life. • The management of XP complications, especially orofacial manifestations, represents a considerable challenge to healthcare providers. • Angiokeratomas are vascular malformations of capillaries in the form of single or multiple keratotic papules and/or plaques. • Health case workers should be aware of disease's nature and the follow up of the patient for a better of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Motorcyclists tend to be more vulnerable to injuries than those using other motorised vehicles and this may act synergistically with the complexity of conflicting movements between vehicles and motorcycles to increase injury severity in a junction-type accident. A junction-type crash can be more severe to motorcyclists than a non-junction case due to the fact that some of the injurious crashes such as angle crash commonly occur. Previous studies have applied crash prediction models to investigate influential factors on the occurrences of different crashes among motorised vehicles but statistical models of motorcyclist injury severity resulting from different collision types have rarely been developed. This paper develops injury severity models for different collision-types conditioned on crash occurrence at T-junctions in the UK. The ordered logit models are estimated using human, weather, road and vehicle factors as predictors and the data for the model estimation were extracted from the STATS19 accident injury database (1991–2004). The modelling results show that motorcyclist injury severity in specific crash types is associated with predictor variables in different ways. This study offers a guideline for future research, as well as insight into potential prevention strategies that might help prevent the most hazardous situation(s) from occurring in different collision types. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Research has suggested that motorcyclists involved in approach-turn crashes were much more injurious than any other crash-type. This paper investigates the determinants of motorcyclist injury severity resulting from such crash types that occurred at T-junctions, with emphasis on the effects of driver''s failure to give way and various junction control measures. The ordered probit models of motorcyclist injury severity were estimated using the data extracted from the STATS19 accident injury database (1991–2004). Approach-turn collisions are categorised into two sub-crashes based on the manoeuvres motorcycles and vehicles were making prior to the collisions. The modelling results uncover several important determinants of injury severity: for example, injuries appeared to be greatest when an approaching motorcycle collided with a turning-right vehicle, and such effect was found to exacerbate injury severity when stop, give-way signs and markings controlled the junction. A turning-right driver that was identified to fail to yield to an approaching motorcyclist was also found to severely injure the motorcyclist. The findings of this study may offer guidelines for further research and provide some important preliminary evidence for the development of countermeasures that may help prevent the specific hazards from occurring. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects various junction control measures have on accident frequencies among vehicles have been investigated by previous studies through the use of statistical modelling techniques but such effects on motorcyclist injury severity, given that a junction-type accident has occurred, have received little attention in literature. This paper attempts to estimate econometric models of motorcyclist injury severity under different control measures at three-legged junctions in the UK, as a function of demographic, vehicle and environmental factors. Separate ordered probit models were estimated for unsignalised and signalised junctions, using the data extracted from the STATS19 accident injury database (1999–2004). Also examined in the models are collision partners’ aggressiveness toward motorcyclists and the impacts various crash configurations have on injury severity. The modelling results uncover several combined factors that were deadly to motorcyclists: for example, injuries tended to be much more severe while motorcyclists involving in approach-turn collisions at signalised junctions than at unsignalised junctions. This study ultimately offers insights into potential countermeasures that could be undertaken to help lessen motorcyclist injury severity at three-legged junctions in the UK. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There is a large amount of research work that has been devoted to the understanding of travel behaviour and for the prediction of travel demand and its management. Different types of data including stated preference and revealed preference, as well as different modelling approaches have been used to predict this. Essential to most travel demand forecasting models are the concepts of utility maximisation and equilibrium, although there have been alternative approaches for modelling travel behaviour. In this paper, the concept of asymmetric churn is discussed. That is travel behaviour should be considered as a two way process which changes over time. For example over time some travellers change their mode of travel from car to bus, but more travellers change their mode from bus to car. These changes are not equal and result in a net change in aggregate travel behaviour. Transport planners often aim at producing this effect in the opposite direction. It is important therefore to recognise the existence of churns in travel behaviour and to attempt to develop appropriate policies to target different groups of travellers with the relevant transport policies in order to improve the transport system. A data set collected from a recent large survey, which was carried out in Edinburgh is investigated to analyse the variations in departure time choice behaviour. The paper reports on the results of the investigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, the preferences for the allocation of revenues from a road-user charging scheme are investigated and modelled, from the point of view of three users'' groups; car users, public transport users and cyclists and walkers. The data was collected as part of a larger survey to investigate the consequences of road-user charging in the city of Edinburgh. Respondents were asked to indicate their level of agreement for a number of revenue allocation spending options. On the whole there has been overall agreement on spending the revenues on improving public transport services. Spending preferences were also modelled to allow for a number of policy scenarios to be developed for the allocation of revenues. The result of the analysis suggests that the preferences of spending within public transport are real-time information, reliability, integrated ticketing, fare reductions and network coverage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents an investigation into the impacts of the introduction of congestion charges on shopping trips in Edinburgh. Other transport policies such as parking costs, public transport costs and petrol fees have also been investigated, using logistic regression analysis. The results indicate a potential reduction in car shopping trips to the City Centre as a result of introducing congestion charging and a possible increase in shopping trips by other modes. Traffic congestion does not seem to be the main barrier for people to shop at the City Centre; rather access to and availability of parking spaces most affect the accessibility of the City Centre. Moreover, the introduction of congestion charges may result in the improvement of accessibility of public transport as well as reductions in traffic congestion allowing better access into the City Centre. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to investigate the potential impacts of implementing variable congestion charging on the peak spreading of departure time choices, taking into account levels of scheduling flexibility of individuals. In particular, this study addresses non-work activities as well as socio-economic characteristics and their influence on scheduling flexibility for work trips. Departure time choice models were calibrated using data collected as part of a larger survey on the consequences of congestion charging on travel choices in the city of Edinburgh. The inclusion of variables related to work and non-work scheduling, as well as socio-economic variables have improved the performance of the models. This suggests that non-work activities, as well as work schedule flexibility have an impact on departure time choice for the journey to work. This means that even for those with flexible work schedules, but with other non-work commitments, the timing of their work trip may not be so flexible. Therefore, for the success of variable congestion charging schemes, other complimentary measures should be introduced in parallel. These include, for example, child care provision at work, opening hours of shops and leisure facilities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies have indicated that cases of HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the oropharynx and the oral cavity are on the rise. However, the distribution of human papilloma virus (HPV) in different sites of the oral cavity affected by oral SCC (OSSC) has not been well characterized. The present study was designed to investigate the anatomic sites of HPV-16 infection associated with OSCC in the oral cavity and correlate HPV-16 positivity with tumor suppressor gene expression and clinical/pathologic features of OSCC. The archives of oral pathology at the University of Florida College of Dentistry were accessed for demographic, clinical, and histologic data of 97 OSCC cases, and their histologic slides were obtained under the approved institutional review board protocol. Histologic specimens were stained for HPV-16 by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the positive samples were further analyzed for HPV DNA by in situ hybridization (ISH). Ninety-seven patients with OSCC comprising 53 (54.63%) males and 44 (45.36%) females with ages ranging from 40 to 95 years were included. Twenty (20.6%) had a history of smoking, and 16 (16.49%) drank alcohol; the information for the rest of the sample was unavailable. The oral sites of OSCC include the following: gingiva 34 (35%), palate 25 (25.77%), tongue 16 (16.49%), buccal mucosa 14 (14.43%), and floor of the mouth 8 (8.24%). The degree of OSCC differentiation showed 34 (35%) for well differentiated, 32 (32.98%) for moderately differentiated, and 31 (31.95%) for poorly differentiated. Of 14 p16-positive cases detected by IHC (14.43%), 12 (85%) were positive for ISH specific for HPV DNA. The tongue and the palate showed the highest prevalence of HPV-related OSCC (4 of 16 [25%] and 6 of 25 [24%], respectively), followed by the gingiva (4 of 34 [12%]). Strong positivity for p16 detected by IHC and HPV DNA by ISH was found in well and moderately differentiated OSSC (7 of 34 [20%] and 5 of 32 [15%], respectively). Our study identified 14% of cases of OSCC to be associated with HPV, with the tongue and the palate being the most prevalent sites. This finding may indicate that the route of the viral transmission for OSCC may be similar to the one associated with oropharyngeal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in travel behavioural studies have shown that social forces play a significant role in travel decision making like socio-economic factors. Several studies have tested models with different subjective variables to investigate their effects on travel behaviour. Understanding the influence of social norm and personal norm on travel mode choice preference is essential in promoting sustainable travel, considering the reported importance of these social forces in decision-making. This study draws upon the theories underpinning these sociological constructs and the integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) framework to develop an ICLV model by incorporating social norm and personal norm as latent variables to investigate their impact on transport mode choice decisions. The results of the ICLV model is consistent with the findings in similar studies and extend the literature in transport mode choice modelling. The results indicate that internalised norms or personal norms have a significant influence on individual behaviour, and positively influence travel behaviour. This strengthens the claim that activated norms and pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) influence overt behaviour by inducing a sense of obligations to act. The results also suggest that individuals with pro-environmental attitude are likely to travel with sustainable travel modes. Thus, reinforcing the importance of sociological and psychological factors in decision-making. Unlike studies involving social norms and personal norms, this research is novel because it applies the ICLV framework to empirically investigate the impact of these sociological constructs on travel mode choice behaviour by incorporating them as latent variables in an ICLV model. The contribution of this study to the literature is that it shows that personal norm has a substantial positive impact on sustainable travel. The impact of this study could be situated in the framework of sustainable transport. The findings are relevant for policymaking, the development of policies meant to create awareness of the consequences of travel behaviour could promote the development of strong personal norms, and consequently influence travel decision making. This can be useful for promoting sustainable travel as the findings shed light on the characteristics of individuals most likely to travel by active modes or PT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease. There is no standard treatment modality for OLP. Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been advocated as a new treatment modality for OLP. The aim of the present study is to compare the effect of PDT using methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer to the effect of topical corticosteroids in the treatment of erosive OLP lesions. Our study included 20 patients with erosive OLP. Patients were divided into two groups. The study group included 10 patents which received MB-PDT. Patients were instructed to use MB as mouth path for 5 min. After 10 min, we applied focal red light on OLP lesions (wavelength 660 nm, Intensity 100−130 m W/cm2) for 2 min. The PDT was applied twice a week for four weeks. In the control group, 10 patients were instructed to apply topical betamethasone valerate ointment 100 mg on OLP lesion three times per day for four weeks. Subjective, objective scores and lesion size were recorded at time zero, after 2 weeks and after 4 weeks from the start of treatments. Both groups showed statistically significant differences between time zero and the 4th week of treatment in subjective, objective scores and the area of the lesions. MB-PDT showed a higher degree of improvement than topical corticosteroids between time zero and the 4th week of treatment. Photodynamic therapy can be used as a treatment for erosive OLP. PDT offers improvement of OLP subjective and objective scores without major side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: On board, chassis dynamometer, and traffic micro-simulation emission measurement approaches are common ways of determining vehicle emission factors. Results from these various approaches are, however, significantly affected by factors such as the driving cycle, and engine size used. These variations are examined. Significant deviations in emission factors from regulatory standard are found for different driving cycle conditions and engine sizes for motorcycles in Edinburgh. Emissions of CO and HC measured using a chassis dynamometer over the Edinburgh motorcycle driving cycle, are found to differ from the results when using other measurement approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Research suggested that motorists’ right-of-way (ROW) violation in automobile–motorcycle gap-acceptance accidents at priority (i.e., stop-/yield-controlled) T-intersections has been a safety concern to motorcyclists. This study examines the characteristics of automobile–motorcycle gap-acceptance accidents that occurred at such locations. British Stats19 accident injury database during 1991–2005 are examined in detail. Automobile–motorcycle gap-acceptance accidents are classified into three crash scenarios: approach-turn, angle crossing, and angle merging crashes. Mixed (random parameters) logit models are estimated to investigate the contributory factors to motorists’ ROW violation in these three crash types. Crash features are also compared among gap-acceptance accidents and other crash scenarios. The methodological approach adopted allows for the individuals within the observations to have different parameter estimates as opposed to a single parameter representing all observations (i.e., accounts for unobserved heterogeneity potentially relating to roadway/environmental characteristics, and motorist behaviours). It was found that motorcycles’ ROW was more likely to be violated on non-built-up roads, and in diminished light conditions, with non-uniform effects across the observations. Elderly/female motorists appeared to be over-represented in gap-acceptance crashes. Implications of the findings are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Literature has suggested that angle/rear-end collisions would arise from the reality that motorists and motorcyclists tended to accelerate aggressively in response to the remaining seconds of green signal countdown device (GSCD). One safety concern, while GSCD has gradually been removed for safety in Taiwan, is pedestrian green signal countdown device (PGSCD) that is used by approaching motorists and motorcyclists that may adopt the information to travel aggressively – an unintended consequence that is detrimental to safety. Research has reported that there appeared no negative effect of PGSCD on motorist behaviours but the effect on motorcyclists’ behaviours has been rarely investigated. Using video/speed cameras, the current research investigates motorcyclists’ RLV (red-light violation) behaviours. The descriptive analyses indicate that the percentage of RLV at PGSCD intersection is higher than that at typical intersection, and the violating motorcycles appear to have higher travelling speeds at PGSCD intersection. Several interaction terms were examined with the binary logit framework, and the results reveal that several factors are associated with RLV, notably male/young riders, moped/large motorcycle users, higher approaching speeds of motorcycles, those with tropical helmets, and lower traffic volume. Similar determinants of early-start behaviours (for those waiting at reds and could view the PGSCDs for the crossing pedestrians at the same time) were identified. Implications of the research findings, the concluding remarks, and recommendations for future research are finally provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• National Taiwan Traffic Crash Dataset for the period from 2011 to 2015 were used in this study. • Alcohol-involved and un-helmeted riders were approximately 18 times more likely to sustain fatal injuries than sober and helmeted riders. • The other risk factors of motorcyclist fatalities include head-on crashes and approach-turn motorcycle crashes. Alcohol-involved riders tend to engage in other risk-taking behaviours such as un-helmeted riding which could further increases injury severity. The combined effect of alcohol-involved and un-helmeted riding on fatal injuries is rarely investigated. This study investigated the interaction effect between blood alcohol concentration and helmet use on fatal injuries. This study used the National Taiwan Traffic Crash Dataset for the period from 2011 to 2015. Data on road crashes involving a motorcycle and an automobile were extracted and analysed. Multiple logistic regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR). We calculated an interaction effect for blood alcohol concentration and helmet use based on STROBE guidelines. There were a total of 669,292 motorcyclist casualties; among these casualties, 3459 (0.5 %) motorcyclists sustained fatal injuries. Alcohol-involved riders were 9.47 times (AOR = 9.47; 95 % CI = 8.75–10.25) more likely than sober ones to sustain fatal injuries. Alcohol-involved and un-helmeted riders were approximately 18 times (AOR = 18.1; CI: 15.9–20.4) more likely to sustain fatal injuries than sober and helmeted riders. Riders involved in head-on crashes and approach-turn motorcycle crashes had an increased probability of sustaining fatal injuries by 240 % (AOR = 3.4; 95 % CI = 2.91–4.09) and 132 % (AOR = 2.3; 95 % CI = 2.016–2.67), respectively. This study found that alcohol-involved riding acts synergistically with un-helmeted riding to increase motorcyclist injury severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]