Linking GPS and travel diary data using sequence alignment in a study of children's independent mobility

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Global positioning systems (<b>GPS</b>) are increasingly being used in health research to determine the location of study participants. Combining GPS data with data collected via travel/activity diaries allows researchers to assess where people travel in conjunction with data about trip purpose and accompaniment. However, linking GPS and diary data is problematic and to date the only method has been to match the two datasets manually, which is time consuming and unlikely to be practical for larger data sets. This paper assesses the feasibility of a new sequence alignment method of linking GPS and travel diary data in comparison with the manual matching method.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>GPS and travel diary data obtained from a study of children's independent mobility were linked using sequence alignment algorithms to test the proof of concept. Travel diaries were assessed for quality by counting the number of errors and inconsistencies in each participant's set of diaries. The success of the sequence alignment method was compared for higher versus lower quality travel diaries, and for accompanied versus unaccompanied trips. Time taken and percentage of trips matched were compared for the sequence alignment method and the manual method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The sequence alignment method matched 61.9% of all trips. Higher quality travel diaries were associated with higher match rates in both the sequence alignment and manual matching methods. The sequence alignment method performed almost as well as the manual method and was an order of magnitude faster. However, the sequence alignment method was less successful at fully matching trips and at matching unaccompanied trips.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Sequence alignment is a promising method of linking GPS and travel diary data in large population datasets, especially if limitations in the trip detection algorithm are addressed.</p

The incidence of injuries traveling to and from school by travel mode

Objective. To assess the absolute and relative risks of youth school-related travel using the New Zealand's no fault accident liability scheme and Census at School datasets. Methods. Injury risk associated with traveling to and from school was assessed by combining census data from the Accident Compensation Commission database, New Zealand's no fault liability accident scheme database and the Census at School survey. Population injury and cost was assessed for incidents during a 2-year period (1 July 2003 to 30 June 2005) and during normal school travel hours (7.30 a.m.–9.00 a.m., 3.00 p.m.–4.30 p.m., weekdays) for youth 5–17 years of age. Results. Overall, 7573 cases were identified as being school travel-related, representing 1.6% of total, and 11.4% school travel period injuries. Walking (30.7%), cycling (30.3%), and motor vehicles (27.7%) provided the majority of injuries. Risk of injury per million trips was highest for cycling (46.1), walking (10.3), and motor vehicle travel (6.1). Conclusion. These data provide the first comprehensive examination of absolute risk of travel to and from school and by transport mode, showing that school-related travel is a relatively safe activity contributing to a minority of all injuries sustained by youth

Protecting‐Group‐Free Amidation of Amino Acids using Lewis Acid Catalysts

Amidation of unprotected amino acids has been investigated using a variety of ‘classical“ coupling reagents, stoichiometric or catalytic group(IV) metal salts, and boron Lewis acids. The scope of the reaction was explored through the attempted synthesis of amides derived from twenty natural, and several unnatural, amino acids, as well as a wide selection of primary and secondary amines. The study also examines the synthesis of medicinally relevant compounds, and the scalability of this direct amidation approach. Finally, we provide insight into the chemoselectivity observed in these reactions

B(OCH2CF3)3-mediated direct amidation of pharmaceutically relevant building blocks in cyclopentyl methyl ether

The use of B(OCH2CF3)3 for mediating direct amidation reactions of a wide range of pharmaceutically relevant carboxylic acids and amines is described, including numerous heterocycle-containing examples. An initial screen of solvents for the direct amidation reaction suggested that cyclopentyl methyl ether, a solvent with a very good safety profile suitable for use over a wide temperature range, was an excellent replacement for the previously used solvent acetonitrile. Under these conditions amides could be prepared from 18 of the 21 carboxylic acids and 18 of the 21 amines examined. Further optimisation of one of the low yielding amidation reactions (36% yield) via a design of experiments approach enabled an 84% yield of the amide to be obtained

Evaluating a Shared Spaces Intervention. A Case Study of Street Users in Auckland, New Zealand

The environmental qualities of urban spaces have the potential to influence peoples’ behaviours, including mode of transport and physical activity patterns, shopper spending habits, and social engagement and behavioural characteristics. Increasingly, urban planners and transport engineers are integrating concepts such as self -­‐ explaining roads and shared spaces into environmental design approaches, for improved driver behaviour, pedestrian safety, and health behaviours. Despite this, research focusing on the effects of such interventions is limited, largely due to the substantial expense of implementing built environment infrastructure, and a general disconnect between researchers and regulatory bodies responsible for intervention implementation. Greater focu s needs to be on understanding the effects these interventions can have on the general population, to inform future infrastructural initiatives and investment. This study compares the profiles and perceptions of street users immediately post and sixteen mo nths after a major streetscape upgrade to a shared spaces mode in the the Fort Street precinct (central business district), in Auckland, New Zealand. A convenience sample strategy was employed for data collection and participants completed in -­‐ person survey s . Descriptive data treatment and inferential statistical analyses were undertaken to compare user profiles and opinions pre and post streetscape upgrades. In total , 373 street users in the Fort Street precinct participated in this research. Overall, findi ngs indicate positive perceptions of the Fort Street upgrades and positive impacts on health -­‐ related behaviours. Recommendations for further improvements to the area predominantly focused on improving pedestrian safety, including reducing traffic speeds, r educing car usage of the area, and providing better clarity on appropriate driver behaviours.Auckland Council and Auckland Transpor

Direct amidation of unprotected amino acids using B(OCH2CF3)3

A commercially available borate ester, B(OCH2CF3)3, can be used to achieve protecting-group free direct amidation of α-amino acids with a range of amines in cyclopentyl methyl ether. The method can be applied to the synthesis of medicinally relevant compounds, and can be scaled up to obtain gram quantities of products

Combining GPS, GIS, and Accelerometry: Methodological Issues in the Assessment of Location and Intensity of Travel Behaviors

Background: Global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), and accelerometers are powerful tools to explain activity within a built environment, yet little integration of these tools has taken place. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of combining GPS, GIS, and accelerometry to understand transport-related physical activity (TPA) in adults. Methods: Forty adults wore an accelerometer and portable GPS unit over 7 consecutive days and completed a demographics questionnaire and 7-day travel log. Accelerometer and GPS data were extracted for commutes to/from workplace and integrated into a GIS database. GIS maps were generated to visually explore physical activity intensity, GPS speeds and routes traveled. Results: GPS, accelerometer, and survey data were collected for 37 participants. Loss of GPS data was substantial due to a range of methodological issues, such as low battery life, signal drop out, and participant noncompliance. Nonetheless, greater travel distances and significantly higher speeds were observed for motorized trips when compared with TPA. Conclusions: Pragmatic issues of using GPS monitoring to understand TPA behaviors and methodological recommendations for future research were identified. Although methodologically challenging, the combination of GPS monitoring, accelerometry and GIS technologies holds promise for understanding TPA within the built environment

Environmental and socio-demographic associates of children's active transport to school: a cross-sectional investigation from the URBAN Study

BACKGROUND: Active transport (e.g., walking, cycling) to school (ATS) can contribute to children's physical activity and health. The built environment is acknowledged as an important factor in understanding children's ATS, alongside parental factors and seasonality. Inconsistencies in methodological approaches exist, and a clear understanding of factors related to ATS remains equivocal. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of associates of children's ATS, by considering the effects of daily weather patterns and neighbourhood walk ability and neighbourhood preferences (i.e., for living in a high or low walkable neighbourhood) on this behaviour. METHODS: Data were drawn from the Understanding Relationships between Activity and Neighbourhoods study, a cross-sectional study of physical activity and the built environment in adults and children in four New Zealand cities. Parents of participating children completed an interview and daily trip diary that assessed their child's mode of travel to school, household and individual demographic information, and parental neighbourhood preference. Daily weather data were downloaded from New Zealand's national climate database. Geographic information systems-derived variables were calculated for distance to school and neighbourhood walkability. Bivariate analyses were conducted with ATS and potential associates; factors related to ATS at p less than 0.20 were considered simultaneously in generalized estimation equation models, and backwards elimination of non-significant factors was conducted; city was treated as a fixed effect in all models. RESULTS: A total of 217 children aged 6.5-15 years participated in this study. Female sex, age, city, household income, limited/no car access, residing in zone of school, shorter distance to school, neighbourhood self selection, rainfall, and sunlight hours were simultaneously considered in multivariate generalised estimation equation modelling (all p less than 0.20 in bivariate analyses). After elimination of non-significant factors, age (p = 0.005), shorter distance to school (p less than 0.001), city (p = 0.03), and neighbourhood self selection (p = 0.04) remained significantly associated with ATS in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Distance to school is the prevailing environmental influencing factor on children's ATS. This study, in conjunction with previous research, suggests that school siting is likely an important associate of children's ATS