The combined effects of on-road and simulator training with feedback on older drivers' on-road performance: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial

<p><b>Objective</b>: A number of training programs that seek to improve driving performance among older drivers are available accompanied by a growing interest in their effectiveness. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the combined effect of (1) basic in-class training (BT); (2) on-road training with individualized feedback (OR); and (3) training on a driving simulator (S).</p> <p><b>Methods</b>: Using a randomized controlled trial study design, 78 older drivers were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups (BT, BT + OR, or BT + OR + S). All participants completed a pre- and postintervention on-road driving evaluation on a standardized route. The driving evaluations were recorded using video and Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment and were scored by a blind assessor.</p> <p><b>Results</b>: The results indicated a significant reduction of approximately 30% in overall number of driving errors/omissions among participants in the BT + OR and the BT + OR + S groups in comparison to participants in the BT group.</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b>: This study adds to the mounting evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of individualized driver training in improving safe driving among older adults.</p

Purification step, yield, and flagellin bioactivity^a of candidate vaccines.

a<p>flagellin bioactivity was assessed by measuring secreted IL-8 with a sandwich ELISA (BD Biosciences) as previously described <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0020928#pone.0020928-Song1" target="_blank">[9]</a>. HEK293 cells in 96-well plates (n = 9) were stimulated with 278 ng/ml of each vaccine candidate for 16–18 hours at 37°C. IL-8 concentrations in medium were calculated from an IL-8 standard curve, and expressed as means ± SDs. IL-8 levels of cell control samples were < = 30 pg/ml.</p

SDS-PAGE and antigenicity analyses of three purified recombinant. vaccine candidates.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Purified recombinant proteins were separated on an 4–12% SDS PAGE (0.5 µg protein/lane) and stained with Coomassie Blue. Lane1: STF2.HA1; lane 2: STF2R3.HA1; lane 3, STF2R3.2x HA1; and lane 4, Protein Marker. (<b>B</b>) Reactivity of ferret post infection serum to various vaccine candidates or reference antigen. ELISA plates were coated with serially diluted various CA07 proteins or HA CA04 (Protein Sciences) starting at 320 nmol/l in in PBS, reacted to ferret anti-CA7 serum, and detected with HRP-conjugated goat anti-ferret IgG. Mean OD₄₅₀ of triplicates was read and graphed.</p

HAI titers and survival rates of immunized mice.

<p>Mice were immunized <i>s.c.</i> on days 0 and 21, bled on day 35, and challenged I.N. with 500 TCID50 of mouse adapted A/California/04/2009 on day 42. Infected mice were monitored daily (n = 10) for mortality for 21 days. SP: seroprotective titer, mice% with ≥40 HAI titers.</p><p>Two-way ANOVA/Boferroni tests for HAI data (n = 15):</p>a<p>, <i>p</i><0.01 (**) vs STF2.HA1;</p>b<p>, <i>p</i><0.001 (***) vs STF2R3.2xHA1;</p>c<p>, <i>p</i><0.001 (***) vs STF2R3.2xHA1;</p>d<p>, <i>p</i><0.05 vs STF2R3.2xHA1.</p><p>Fisher's exact test for survival data (n = 10):</p>*<p>, <i>p</i><0.05;</p>**<p>, <i>p</i><0.01;</p>***<p>, <i>p</i><0.001;</p>e<p>, <i>p</i><0.05 (*) vs STF2.HA1 at the same dose (0.03 µg/mouse).</p

Longevity of neutralizing antibody response.

<p>Mice (n = 5) were immunized <i>s.c.</i> with the indicated candidates (1 µg/mouse), and bled monthly for 10 months. Serum neutralizing antibody titers were measured by HAI assay and expressed as GMTs +95%CI. Immunization time points (days 0, 21 and 266) are given in arrows.</p