The Effectiveness of Iowa's Automated Red Light Running Enforcement Programs, 2007

The Federal Highway Administration estimates that red light running causes more than 100,000 crashes and 1,000 fatalities annually and results in an estimated economic loss of over $14 billion per year in the United States. In Iowa alone, a statewide analysis of red light running crashes, using crash data from 2001 to 2006, indicates that an average of 1,682 red light running crashes occur at signalized intersections every year. As a result, red light running poses a significant safety issue for communities. Communities rarely have the resources to place additional law enforcement in the field to combat the problem and they are increasingly using automated red light running camera-enforcement systems at signalized intersections. In Iowa, three communities currently use camera enforcement since 2004. These communities include Davenport, Council Bluffs, and Clive. As communities across the United States attempt to address red light running, a number of communities have implemented red light running camera enforcement programs. This report examines the red light running programs in Iowa and summarizes results of analyses to evaluate the effectiveness of such cameras.

Water-filtered infrared-A radiation (wIRA) is not implicated in cellular degeneration of human skin.

BACKGROUND: Excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation is involved in the complex biologic process of cutaneous aging. Wavelengths in the ultraviolet-A and -B range (UV-A and UV-B) have been shown to be responsible for the induction of proteases, e. g. the collagenase matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), which are related to cell aging. As devices emitting longer wavelengths are widely used in therapeutic and cosmetic interventions and as the induction of MMP-1 by water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) had been discussed, it was of interest to assess effects of wIRA on the cellular and molecular level known to be possibly involved in cutaneous degeneration. OBJECTIVES: Investigation of the biological implications of widely used water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) radiators for clinical use on human skin fibroblasts assessed by MMP-1 gene expression (MMP-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression).Methods: Human skin fibroblasts were irradiated with approximately 88% wIRA (780-1400 nm) and 12% red light (RL, 665-780 nm) with 380 mW/cm(2) wIRA(+RL) (333 mW/cm(2) wIRA) on the one hand and for comparison with UV-A (330-400 nm, mainly UV-A1) and a small amount of blue light (BL, 400-450 nm) with 28 mW/cm(2) UV-A(+BL) on the other hand. Survival curves were established by colony forming ability after single exposures between 15 minutes and 8 hours to wIRA(+RL) (340-10880 J/cm(2) wIRA(+RL), 300-9600 J/cm(2) wIRA) or 15-45 minutes to UV-A(+BL) (25-75 J/cm(2) UV-A(+BL)). Both conventional Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time RT-PCR techniques were used to determine the induction of MMP-1 mRNA at two physiologic temperatures for skin fibroblasts (30 degrees C and 37 degrees C) in single exposure regimens (15-60 minutes wIRA(+RL), 340-1360 J/cm(2) wIRA(+RL), 300-1200 J/cm(2) wIRA; 30 minutes UV-A(+BL), 50 J/cm(2) UV-A(+BL)) and in addition at 30 degrees C in a repeated exposure protocol (up to 10 times 15 minutes wIRA(+RL) with 340 J/cm(2) wIRA(+RL), 300 J/cm(2) wIRA at each time). RESULTS: Single exposure of cultured human dermal fibroblasts to UV-A(+BL) radiation yielded a very high increase in MMP-1 mRNA expression (11 +/-1 fold expression for RT-PCR and 76 +/-2 fold expression for real-time RT-PCR both at 30 degrees C, 75 +/-1 fold expression for real-time RT-PCR at 37 degrees C) and a dose-dependent decrease in cell survival. In contrast, wIRA(+RL) did not produce cell death and did not induce a systematic increase in MMP-1 mRNA expression (less than twofold expression, within the laboratory range of fluctuation) detectable with the sensitive methods applied. Additionally, repeated exposure of human skin fibroblasts to wIRA(+RL) did not induce MMP-1 mRNA expression systematically (less than twofold expression by up to 10 consecutive wIRA(+RL) exposures and analysis with real-time RT-PCR). CONCLUSIONS: wIRA(+RL) even at the investigated disproportionally high irradiances does not induce cell death or a systematic increase of MMP-1 mRNA expression, both of which can be easily induced by UV-A radiation. Furthermore, these results support previous findings of in vivo investigations on collagenase induction by UV-A but not wIRA and show that infrared-A with appropriate irradiances does not seem to be involved in MMP-1 mediated photoaging of the skin. As suggested by previously published studies wIRA could even be implicated in a protective manner.

Effects of 2 different prior endurance exercises on whole-body fat oxidation kinetics: light vs. heavy exercise.

This study aimed to compare the effects of 2 different prior endurance exercises on subsequent whole-body fat oxidation kinetics. Fifteen men performed 2 identical submaximal incremental tests (Incr2) on a cycle ergometer after (i) a ∼40-min submaximal incremental test (Incr1) followed by a 90-min continuous exercise performed at 50% of maximal aerobic power-output and a 1-h rest period (Heavy); and (ii) Incr1 followed by a 2.5-h rest period (Light). Fat oxidation was measured using indirect calorimetry and plotted as a function of exercise intensity during Incr1 and Incr2. A sinusoidal equation, including 3 independent variables (dilatation, symmetry and translation), was used to characterize the fat oxidation kinetics and to determine the intensity (Fat(max)) that elicited the maximal fat oxidation (MFO) during Incr. After the Heavy and Light trials, Fat(max), MFO, and fat oxidation rates were significantly greater during Incr2 than Incr1 (p < 0.001). However, Δ (i.e., Incr2-Incr1) Fat(max), MFO, and fat oxidation rates were greater in the Heavy compared with the Light trial (p < 0.05). The fat oxidation kinetics during Incr2(Heavy) showed a greater dilatation and rightward asymmetry than Incr1(Heavy), whereas only a greater dilatation was observed in Incr2(Light) (p < 0.05). This study showed that although to a lesser extent in the Light trial, both prior exercise sessions led to an increase in Fat(max), MFO, and absolute fat oxidation rates during Incr2, inducing significant changes in the shape of the fat oxidation kinetics.

Red Light Running in Iowa: The Scope, Impact, and Possible Implications, 2000

This research study, a cooperative effort between the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Center for Transportation Research and Education at Iowa State University, reviewed red light running reduction studies and programs nationwide, examined the scope of this phenomenon in Iowa, and proposed countermeasures to address significant violation problems.

Água aquecida e radiação UV-C no controle pós-colheita de Cryptosporiopsis perennans em maçãs

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a colonização de Cryptosporiopsis perennans na epiderme de maçãs e a eficiência da aplicação de água aquecida e radiação UV-C no controle desse patógeno. Em maçãs submetidas à inoculação de C. perennans, a colonização de lenticelas e das áreas adjacentes pelo patógeno foi avaliada por microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A sensibilidade dos conídios de C. perennans aos tratamentos foi avaliada em suspensão aquosa, às temperaturas de 28, 45, 50 e 55ºC, por 15 e 30 s, e às doses de radiação UV-C de 0,018, 0,037, 0,075, 0,150, 0,375, 0,750, 1,500 e 3,000 kJ m-2. Em maçãs submetidas à inoculação de C. perennans, foram avaliados os efeitos de 0,375, 0,750 e 1,500 kJ m-2 de radiação UV-C e da aspersão de água aquecida à 50ºC, por 15 e 30 s no controle do patógeno. O fungo produziu abundante micélio e conídios nas lenticelas e nas áreas adjacentes, na epiderme das maçãs. A água aquecida a 50ºC por 15 s e à dose de radiação de UV-C de 0,750 kJ m-2 reduzem em mais de 99% a sobrevivência de conídios. A aspersão de água aquecida a 50ºC por 15 s e à dose de radiação de UV-C de 0,375 kJ m-2, controlam C. perennans em maçãs.

VP22 light controlled delivery of oligonucleotides to ocular cells in vitro and in vivo.

PURPOSE: To study VP22 light controlled delivery of antisense oligonucleotide (ODN) to ocular cells in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The C-terminal half of VP22 was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and mixed with 20 mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (ODNs) to form light sensitive complex particles (vectosomes). Uptake of vectosomes and light induced redistribution of ODNs in human choroid melanoma cells (OCM-1) and in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) were studied by confocal and electron microscopy. The effect of vectosomes formed with an antisense ODN corresponding to the 3'-untranslated region of the human c-raf kinase gene on the viability and the proliferation of OCM-1 cells was assessed before and after illumination. Cells incubated with vectosomes formed with a mismatched ODN, a free antisense ODN or a free mismatched ODN served as controls. White light transscleral illumination was carried out 24 h after the intravitreal injection of vectosomes in rat eyes. The distribution of fluorescent vectosomes and free fluorescent ODN was evaluated on cryosections by fluorescence microscopy before, and 1 h after illumination. RESULTS: Overnight incubation of human OCM-1 and ARPE-19 cells with vectosomes lead to intracellular internalization of the vectosomes. When not illuminated, internalized vectosomes remained stable within the cell cytoplasm. Disruption of vectosomes and release of the complexed ODN was induced by illumination of the cultures with a cold white light or a laser beam. In vitro, up to 60% inhibition of OCM-1 cell proliferation was observed in illuminated cultures incubated with vectosomes formed with antisense c-raf ODN. No inhibitory effect on the OCM-1 cell proliferation was observed in the absence of illumination or when the cells are incubated with a free antisense c-raf ODN and illuminated. In vivo, 24 h after intravitreal injection, vectosomes were observed within the various retinal layers accumulating in the cytoplasm of RPE cells. Transscleral illumination of the injected eyes with a cold white light induced disruption of the vectosomes and a preferential localization of the "released" ODNs within the cell nuclei of the ganglion cell layer, the inner nuclear layer and the RPE cells. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro, VP22 light controlled delivery of ODNs to ocular cells nuclei was feasible using white light or laser illumination. In vivo, a single intravitreal injection of vectosomes, followed by transscleral illumination allowed for the delivery of free ODNs to retinal and RPE cells.

A light in the cognitive fog?

HIV escape in the central nervous system (CNS) despite undetectable viral load in the plasma has been observed and may contribute to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Favouring the use of HIV drugs with a good penetration into the CNS has been advocated, leading to the establishment of the CNS penetration-effectiveness (CPE) score. However, the relevance of this score is not fully established. Ciccarelli et al. compared two versions of the CPE scores in their capacity to predict cognitive dysfunction in HIV-infected individuals. The revised CPE score, but not the original one, showed an improved association with cognitive impairment. Prospective studies are warranted to assess the validity of the CPE score.

Des "psychoses affectives" aux "caractéristiques psychotiques" : les symptômes psychotiques selon le DSM, discutés à la lumière d'une série de 16 cas de dépression psychotique = From "affective psychoses" to "psychotic features": DSM's psychoticsymptoms discussed in the light of a series of 16 cases of psychoticdepression.

Objectifs. - Le DSM-5 donne une définition du symptôme psychotique indépendante de tout concept depsychose. Chez les patients dépressifs, la présence d'hallucination ou d'idée délirante, quelle que soit leurforme clinique, conduit en principe à diagnostiquer une dépression psychotique et à prescrire des neurolep-tiques. Les symptômes psychotiques sont subdivisés par le DSM en « congruents » ou « non congruents » àl'humeur. Nous discutons de la pertinence d'une catégorie de symptômes psychotiques « atypiques », peuévocateurs d'une psychose au sens classique du terme. Méthode. - Discussion de la définition opérationnelle des symptômes psychotiques du DSM, étude d'unesérie de 16 patients chez qui un diagnostic de dépression psychotique a été posé. Résultats. - Sur les 16 patients, deux seulement présentaient des symptômes psychotiques classiques, évo-cateurs d'une psychose. Chez les autres, le diagnostic reposait sur la présence de symptômes très atypiques,comme des hallucinations visuelles par exemple.

Light-mediated polarization of the PIN3 auxin transporter for the phototropic response in Arabidopsis.

Phototropism is an adaptation response, through which plants grow towards the light. It involves light perception and asymmetric distribution of the plant hormone auxin. Here we identify a crucial part of the mechanism for phototropism, revealing how light perception initiates auxin redistribution that leads to directional growth. We show that light polarizes the cellular localization of the auxin efflux carrier PIN3 in hypocotyl endodermis cells, resulting in changes in auxin distribution and differential growth. In the dark, high expression and activity of the PINOID (PID) kinase correlates with apolar targeting of PIN3 to all cell sides. Following illumination, light represses PINOID transcription and PIN3 is polarized specifically to the inner cell sides by GNOM ARF GTPase GEF (guanine nucleotide exchange factor)-dependent trafficking. Thus, differential trafficking at the shaded and illuminated hypocotyl side aligns PIN3 polarity with the light direction, and presumably redirects auxin flow towards the shaded side, where auxin promotes growth, causing hypocotyls to bend towards the light. Our results imply that PID phosphorylation-dependent recruitment of PIN proteins into distinct trafficking pathways is a mechanism to polarize auxin fluxes in response to different environmental and endogenous cues.

Test-retest repeatability of the pupil light response to blue and red light stimuli in normal human eyes using a novel pupillometer.

In this study, we evaluated the repeatability of pupil responses to colored light stimuli in healthy subjects using a prototype chromatic pupillometer. One eye of 10 healthy subjects was tested twice in the same day using monochromatic light exposure at two selected wavelengths (660 and 470 nm, intensity 300 cd/m(2)) presented continuously for 20 s. Pupil responses were recorded in real-time before, during, and after light exposure. Maximal contraction amplitude and sustained contraction amplitude were calculated. In addition, we quantified the summed pupil response during continuous light stimulation as the total area between a reference line representing baseline pupil size and the line representing actual pupil size over 20 s (area under the curve). There was no significant difference in the repeated measure compared to the first test for any of the pupil response parameters. In conclusion, we have developed a novel prototype of color pupillometer which demonstrates good repeatability in evoking and recording the pupillary response to a bright blue and red light stimulus.

Phytochemical investigation of plants used in African traditional medicine: "Dioscorea sylvatica" (Dioscoreaceae), "Urginea altissima" (Liliaceae), "Jamesbrittenia fodina" and "Jamesbrittenia elegantissima" (Scrophulariaceae)

Les plantes médicinales représentent la seule source de médicaments pour près de 90 % de la population de certains pays d?Afrique. Le savoir-faire des guérisseurs traditionnels, d?une valeur inestimable, représente un point de départ pour l?investigation pharmacologique et phytochimique de ces médicaments naturels. Dans le cadre de ce travail, nous nous sommes dans un premier temps intéressés à valider l?utilisation en médecine traditionnelle de deux plantes, Diuscorea sylvatica (Dioscoreaceae) et Urginea altissima (Liliaceae), qui produisent, lorsqu?elles sont frottées sur la peau, une inflammation et des démangeaisons. Ces réactions cutanées ont pu être expliquées, au moins en partie, par la présence d?aiguilles acérées d?oxalate de calcium dans les organes souterrains. Ces microtraumatismes répétés de l?épiderme risquent de provoquer, lors d?une utilisation prolongée, des lésions granulomateuses. L?histamine n?a pas été détectée, mais d?autres substances pourraient être impliquées dans le processus inflammatoire. La seconde partie de ce travail a consisté en la détection, l?isolement et la caractérisation de nouveaux composés naturels présentant un intérêt thérapeutique potentiel. 70 extraits provenant de 28 plantes supérieures du Zimbabwe ont été soumis à un criblage chimique et biologique. Les extraits méthanoliques des parties aériennes de Jamesbrittenia fodina et J. elegantissima (Scrophulariaceae) ont été sélectionnés sur la base de leurs nombreuses activités. Le fractionnement guidé par l?activité de J. fudina a permis l?isolement des saponines A et B, responsables des activités antifongique, antibactérienne et molluscicide de l?extrait. De plus, les deux saponines ont montré une activité équivalente en tant qu?inhibiteurs de l?acétylcholinestérase, propriété encore non décrite pour cette classe de composés. Une analyse LC/uv/MS de l?extrait a permis d?attribuer l?activité antiradicalaire au verbascoside, un dérivé du phenylpropane; cette analyse a de plus montré la présence d?une série de dérivés de l?acide cinnamique, dont l?isolement a été entrepris. Deux problèmes d?instabilité sont apparus, empêchant l?isolement des composés par des méthodes chromatographiques de pointe, en dépit de très bonnes conditions de séparations. Des analyses LC/?H-NMR combinées à des analyses RMN classiques des mélanges ont permis d?attribuer ces instabilités d?une part à une isomérisation cis/trans induite par la lumière, et d?autre part à une transacylation du groupe cinnamoyl sur une unité de sucre. Ceci a permis l?identification de 12 esters cinnamiques d?iridoïdes, dont 8 nouveaux produits naturels. Ces dérivés présentent un intérêt thérapeutique, car des composés similaires ont montré des propriétés anti-inflammatoires significatives dans différents modèles in vivo. Deux flavanones ont aussi été isolées de l?extrait. Cette classe de composés n?a jamais été rapportée chez un membre des Scrophulariaceae. Une analyse LC/UV/MS comparative des extraits polaires des deux espèces, J. fodina et J. elegantissima, a été effectuée pour détecter la présence éventuelle de compos.és communs. Les saponines A et B et le verbascoside ont été identifiés dans l?extrait de J. elegantissima. Trois flavonoïdes ont de plus été isolés de ce dernier par CPC et HPLC semi-préparative.<br/><br/>In certain African countries, medicinal plants represent the unique source of to 90% of the population. The knowledge of traditional healers represents a basis for the pharmacological and phytochemical investigation of these natural medicines. This work first focused on the validation of use of two plants frequently employed in traditional medicine, Dioscorea sylvatica (Dioscoreaceae) and Urginea altissimu (Liliaceae), which produce mild inflammation and itching when rubbed on the skin. These cutaneous reactions were shown to be due, at least in part, to the presence of sharp needles of calcium oxalate, implying the risk of granulomatous lesions following a long term use. Histamine was not detected, but other compounds could be involved in the inflammatory process. The second part of this work consisted of the detection, isolation and characterisation of new natural compounds of potential therapeutic interest from African plants. Seventy extracts obtained from 28 higher plants of Zimbabwe were submitted to a chemical and biological screening. The methanol extracts of the whole plants of Jamesbrittenia fodina and J. elegantissima (Scrophulariaceae) were selected for their various activities. An activity-guided fractionation of J. fodina led to the isolation of the saponins A and B, responsible for the antifungal, antibacterial and molluscicidal properties. Both saponins were equally active as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase, a property that has, to our knowledge, never been described for this class of compounds. A LC/UV/MS analysis of the extract allowed the identification of verbascoside as the product with radical scavenging activity, and indicated the presence of a series of potentially interesting cinnamic acid derivatives. Two types of instability problems occurred in the course of their isolation, as some compounds could not be separated despite very good chromatographic conditions. LC/'H-NMR analyses combined with in-mixture NMR analyses enabled the attribution of the cause of the instability in one case to a cidtrans light-induced isomerisation, and in the other case to a transacylation of the cinnamoyl moiety on a sugar residue. These problems of instability have not been the object of previous studies. 12 cinnamic iridoid esters could be characterised, 8 of these being new natural compounds. Several similar substances have displayed significant anti-inflammatory properties in different in vivo models, suggesting a therapeutic interest for these new derivatives. Two flavanones were isolated from the same extract. This class of compound has not been previously reported from species of the Scrophulariaceae family. A comparative LCAJVNS study of the polar extracts of the two species J. elegantissima and J. fodina was performed in order to detect possible common compounds. Saponins A and B and verbascoside were thus identified in .J. elegantissima. Moreover, three supplementary flavonoids were isolated from J. elegantissima..

Light framing, estructura lleugera; un camí per la estandarització en el procés constructiu. Cas general del sistema light framing i en cas particular del sistema eurodom

Projecte d'una vivenda unifamiliar amb un sistema constructiu mitjançant estructura lleugera on el material principal és la fusta i altres materials sostenibles i mètodes d'execució de prefabricació o in situ.