Using Geographic Information System (Gis) Doing Cba On New Bus-Route Systems – An Empirical Example Of The City Of Linköping

Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne

Longitudinal association between respiratory muscle strength and cough capacity in persons with spinal cord injury::An explorative analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To assess the longitudinal association between respiratory muscle strength and cough capacity in persons with recent spinal cord injury. Design: Longitudinal analyses. Subjects: Forty persons with recent spinal cord injury and impaired pulmonary function. Methods: Measurements were performed 4 weeks after the start of rehabilitation, 9 and 17 weeks after the first measurement, and one year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Peak cough flow was measured with a spirometer. Maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP and MEP), expressed in cmH(2)O, were measured at the mouth. Results: Both MIP and MEP were significantly positively associated with peak cough flow. After correction for confounders and time 10 cmH(2)O higher MIP was associated with a 0.32 Us higher peak cough flow, and a 10 cmH(2)O higher MEP was associated with a 0.15 l/s higher peak cough flow. The association between MIP and peak cough flow was mainly based on within-subject variance. The association between MIP and peak cough flow was stronger than between MEP and peak cough flow. Conclusion: Improvement in respiratory muscle strength is associated with improvement in cough capacity in persons with recent spinal cord injury who have impaired pulmonary function

Detection of alpha-toxin and other virulence factors in biofilms of staphylococcus aureus on polystyrene and a human epidermalmodel

Background & Aim: The ability of Staphylococcus aureus to successfully colonize (a)biotic surfaces may be explained by biofilm formation and the actions of virulence factors. The aim of the present study was to establish the presence of 52 proteins, including virulence factors such as alpha-toxin, during biofilm formation of five different (methicillin resistant) S. aureus strains on Leiden human epidermal models (LEMs) and polystyrene surfaces (PS) using a competitive Luminex-based assay. Results: All five S. aureus strains formed biofilms on PS, whereas only three out of five strains formed biofilms on LEMs. Out of the 52 tested proteins, six functionally diverse proteins (ClfB, glucosaminidase, IsdA, IsaA, SACOL0688 and nuclease) were detected in biofilms of all strains on both PS and LEMs. At the same time, four toxins (alpha-toxin, gamma-hemolysin B and leukocidins D and E), two immune modulators (formyl peptide receptor-like inhibitory protein and Staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 1), and two other proteins (lipase and LytM) were detectable in biofilms by all five S. aureus strains on LEMs, but not on PS. In contrast, fibronectinbinding protein B (FnbpB) was detectable in biofilms by all S. aureus biofilms on PS, but not on LEMs. These data were largely confirmed by the results from proteomic and transcriptomic analyses and in case of alpha-toxin additionally by GFP-reporter technology. Conclusion: Functionally diverse virulence factors of (methicillin-resistant) S. aureus are present during biofilm formation on LEMs and PS. These results could aid in identifying novel targets for future treatment strategies against biofilm-associated infections

Evaluation of Manual Wheelchair Performance in Everyday Life Lucas van der Woude, Sonja de Groot, Stefan van Drongelen, Thomas Janssen, Janneke Haisma, Linda Valent and Dirkjan Veeger

Evaluation of wheelchair performance (capacity and skills) is crucial in the investigation of wheeled mobility in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Manual wheelchair use is a complex combination of skills, which together determine overall functioning, daily activities, participation, and quality of life. The evaluation of wheelchair performance requires a systematic biophysical approach that appreciates the importance of the individual elements of the wheelchair-user combination: the wheelchair, the wheelchair-user interface, and the user, as well as the environment. Measurement technologies and outcomes of experimental and observational studies will highlight the importance of a well-balanced individual wheelchair performance

Prognostic models for physical capacity at discharge and 1 year postdischarge from rehabilitation in persons with spinal cord injury

Haisma JA, van der Woude LH, Stam HJ, Bergen MP, Sluis TA, de Groot S, Dallmeijer AJ, Bussmann JB. Prognostic models for physical capacity at discharge and 1 year postdischarge from rehabilitation in persons with spinal cord injury. Objective: To develop prognostic models for physical capacity at discharge and 1 year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Inception cohort; data collected at start of rehabilitation (n=104), at discharge (n=81), and 1 year later (n=74). Setting: Eight Dutch rehabilitation centers. Participants: Patients with SCI at initial rehabilitation. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Physical capacity determined by endurance capacity (peak oxygen uptake [V

Resistive Inspiratory Muscle Training in People With Spinal Cord Injury During Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background. People with spinal cord injury (SCI) may benefit from resistive inspiratory muscle training (RIMT). Current evidence is weak, and little is known about the effect on functional outcomes and long-term effects.Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess immediate and long-term effects of RIMT in people with SCI.Design. This was a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.Setting. The study was conducted at 4 specialized SCI units in the Netherlands.Patients. The study participants were 40 people with SCI (15 with motor complete tetraplegia, 16 with incomplete tetraplegia, 8 with motor complete paraplegia, and 1 with incomplete paraplegia) who had impaired pulmonary function and were admitted for initial inpatient rehabilitation.Intervention. Study participants were randomized to an RIMT group or a control group. All participants received usual rehabilitation care. In addition, participants in the intervention group performed RIMT with a threshold trainer.Measurements. Measurements were performed at baseline, after 8 weeks of intervention, 8 weeks later, and 1 year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Primary outcome measures were: respiratory muscle function, lung volumes and flows, and perceived respiratory function. Secondary outcome measures concerned patient functioning, which included health-related quality of life, limitations in daily life due to respiratory problems, and respiratory complications.Results. During the intervention period, maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) improved more in the RIMT group than in the control group (11.7 cm H2O, 95% confidence interval=4.3 to 19.0). At follow-up, this effect was no longer significant. No effect on other primary or secondary outcome measures was found except for an immediate effect on mental health.Limitations. The sample size was insufficient to study effects on respiratory complications.Conclusions. Resistive inspiratory muscle training has a positive short-term effect on inspiratory muscle function in people with SCI who have impaired pulmonary function during inpatient rehabilitation