Safe or unsafe? - Analysis of policy makers' perceptions on road safety cycling measures

Urban cycling is gaining popularity worldwide. Inadequate local and international guidelines on street cycling have contributed to a significant increase in road traffic, including increased accidents involving cyclists. In parallel, worldwide, safety data indicates that low-income countries have a high average rate of traflic fatalities (27,5 deaths per 100,000 population), more than three times higher compared to high-income countries (8,3 deaths per 1000.000 population) [1]. Another study found that safety and security factors have not been sufficiently addressed in previous studies regarding bicycle mobility. These factors seem to be more relevant in developing countries than developed ones, and more research is needed [2]. ... [From: Introduction

Multifragmentation of non-spherical nuclei

The shape influence of decaying thermalized source on various characteristics of multifragmentation as well as its interplay with effects of angular momentum and collective expansion are first studied and the most pertinent variables are proposed. The analysis is based on the extension of the statistical microcanonical multifragmentation model.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Abnormal clock gene expression and locomotor activity rhythms in two month-old female APPSwe/PS1dE9 mice

In addition to cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is also characterized by agitation and disruptions in activity and sleep. These symptoms typically occur in the evening or at night and have been referred to as ‘sundowning’. These symptoms are especially difficult for carers and there are no specific drug treatments. There is increasing evidence that these symptoms reflect an underlying pathology of circadian rhythm generation and transmission. We investigated whether a transgenic mouse model relevant to AD (APPswe/PS1dE9) exhibits circadian alterations in locomotor activity and expression of clock genes involved in the regulation of the circadian cycle. Female mice at 2 months of age were investigated in their home cage. Results show that the APPswe/PS1dE9 transgene alters levels and patterns in circadian rhythm of locomotor activity. Expression of the clock genes Per1, Per2, Cry1 and Cry2 was found to increase at night compared to day in wild-type control mice in the medulla/pons. This effect was blunted for Cry1 and Cry2 gene expression in APPswe/PS1dE9. In summary, this study suggests altered circadian regulation of locomotor activity is abnormal in female APPswe/PS1dE9 mice and that this alteration has biomolecular analogies in a widely available model of AD. Furthermore, the early age at which these effects are manifest suggests that these circadian effects may precede plaque development. The APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse genetic model may have potential to serve as a tool in understanding the neuropathology of circadian abnormalities in AD and as a model system to test novel therapeutic agents for these symptoms