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Biomedical subjects

A F Williams

Publications and source records attributed to A F Williams.

300 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Earning a driver's license.

Teenage drivers in the United States have greatly elevated crash rates, primarily a result of qualities associated with immaturity and lack of driving experience. State licensing systems vary substantially, but most have allowed quick and easy access to driving with full privileges at a young age, contributing to the crash problem. Formal driver education has not been an effective crash prevention measure. Following the introduction of graduated licensing in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, this system has been considered in many states and has been implemented in some. Graduated systems phase in full privilege driving, requiring initial experience to be gained under conditions of lower risk. The author describes the first five multistage graduated systems enacted in the United States in 1996 and 1997. Factors that will influence the acceptability and effectiveness of these new licensing systems are discussed.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of seatbelts in cars with automatic belts.

Use of seatbelts in late model cars with automatic or manual belt systems was observed in suburban Washington, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. In cars with automatic two-point belt systems, the use of shoulder belts by drivers was substantially higher than in the same model cars with manual three-point belts. This finding was true in varying degrees whatever the type of automatic belt, including cars with detachable nonmotorized belts, cars with detachable motorized belts, and especially cars with nondetachable motorized belts. Most of these automatic shoulder belts systems include manual lap belts. Use of lap belts was lower in cars with automatic two-point belt systems than in the same model cars with manual three-point belts; precisely how much lower could not be reliably estimated in this survey. Use of shoulder and lap belts was slightly higher in General Motors cars with detachable automatic three-point belts compared with the same model cars with manual three-point belts; in Hondas there was no difference in the rates of use of manual three-point belts and the rates of use of automatic three-point belts.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Motorcycle helmet use in Texas.

Helmets worn by motorcyclists decrease head injuries and the likelihood of being killed in a crash by about 30 percent. From 1968 to 1977, Texas had a comprehensive motorcycle helmet use law, which was estimated to have saved 650 lives. But the law was amended in 1977 to apply only to motorcycle operators and passengers under age 18. In September 1989, a new law was passed that required helmets for all motorcycle operators and passengers. Observations of helmet use were conducted before and after the law took effect in 18 Texas cities using a survey design providing a cross-section of urban and suburban traffic across the State. The surveys indicated that helmet use increased from less than 50 percent just before the law to 90 percent immediately after, and it increased further to more than 95 percent 2 months later. These results confirm the unique effectiveness of comprehensive helmet use laws in applying the proven public health benefits of helmets to the reduction of motorcycle injuries and deaths.

Head Protective Devices↗
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Drugs in fatally injured young male drivers.

One or more drugs were detected in 81 percent of 440 male drivers, aged 15-34, killed in motor vehicle crashes in California; two or more drugs were detected in 43 percent. Alcohol, the most frequently found drug, was detected in 70 percent of the drivers, marijuana in 37 percent, and cocaine in 11 percent. Each of 24 other drugs was detected in fewer than 5 percent. Except for alcohol, drugs were infrequently found alone; typically, they were found in combination with high blood alcohol concentrations. The causal role of drugs in crashes was assessed by comparing drivers with and without drugs in terms of their responsibility for the crash. Alcohol was associated with increased crash responsibility; the role of other drugs could not be adequately determined.

Accidents, Traffic↗
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Fatal motor vehicle crashes involving teenagers.

The major health problem for teenagers is deaths and injuries associated with motor vehicle use. Teenagers are disproportionately involved in fatal crashes both as drivers and passengers; as drivers they are responsible for the crash deaths of many other people including non-teenagers. There are public policies available that would substantially reduce the deaths and injuries that result from teenagers driving, although they have not been widely applied.

Accidents, Traffic↗
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The prospects of daytime running lights for reducing vehicle crashes in the United States.

Daytime running lights increase visual contrast between vehicles and their background, improving their noticeability and detectability. Seven countries require motor vehicles to have lights on during all daytime periods--Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Studies from these and other countries have generally indicated that daytime running lights use is associated with small to moderate reductions in multiple-vehicle daytime crashes, especially those involving vehicles approaching from the front or side. There is evidence also that initial positive effects of daytime running lights do not dissipate over time, that is, there is little support for novelty or habituation effects. The bulk of the evidence suggests that running lights do not lead to increases in collisions involving pedestrians and pedalcyclists, allaying concerns that there would be negative consequences of making these road users relatively less conspicuous. Most of the studies have been conducted in countries located at latitudes that are to the north of most of the continental United States and that have longer twilight periods and generally lower ambient illumination. The concern has been expressed that running lights may lose their effectiveness in countries located at lower latitudes, such as the United States, because the lights will provide less of a contrast. General Motors Corporation and some other manufacturers are now providing running lights on new models with higher intensities than are used in Scandinavian countries. Findings in running lights studies suggest that their effect in the United States will be positive, and their introduction provides an opportunity to determine the effect. The costs of running lights are low, so even modest crash reductions would be cost effective.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Purification and properties of thy1 antigens (author's transl)].

Thy1 antigens have been isolated from rat thymus and brain. The Thy1 molecules purified are membrane glycoproteins of molecular weight 25,000 containing 30% carbohydrate by weight. Brain and thymus glycoproteins have very similar amino-acid composition but different carbohydrate composition. All antigenic determinants associated with Thy1 are present on the purified molecules and are likely to be on the polypeptide backbone of the glycoprotein.

Animals↗
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The body of the nurse as patient.

This small qualitative study was an exploration of how female nurses had viewed their bodies when they were patients in acute care hospitals. Analysis of data obtained in individual interviews with six nurses revealed that they had perceived themselves to be inferior, disciplined and disembodied and that they had protected their privacy intensely. The implications of the findings and recommendations for further inquiries are discussed.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗