In the traffic environment, pedestrians account for approximately one thirdof injured road users. The vast majority (95%) are single accidents, i.e.,pedestrian falls without any another part involved. As a result, the SwedishTransport Administration has been tasked with reducing fall accidents. Toeffectively implement appropriate measures, a better understanding of theunderlying causes of these accidents is necessary, which is the objective ofthis study.The literature review identified snow and ice along with unevenness asimportant factors for pedestrian accidents. Other identified causes are busstops due to crowds, weather and winter maintenance due to slippery groundconditions, along with the duration of daylight and choice of pavementmaterial. These factors in addition to less studied causes such as the influenceof construction work, demographic areas and pedestrian flow were investigated.Several methods were used to best analyse each specific cause of accident.Six municipalities in Sweden were investigated, utilizing data from STRADA,weather stations, and the municipalities. The data was primarily processedusing Excel and software for geographical information systems.The results showed that there is no increased risk of falling in places withhigh pedestrian flows if exposure is taken into account. Certain characteristicsof demographic areas could not be proven to influence the accident rate, asareas with higher risk exhibit various locations and environments. STRADAdata proved unsuitable to investigate pavement materials as no conclusionregarding the impact of material could be drawn due to lack of usable data.The influence of construction work was considered minor, as few accidentsoccurred near construction zones in Stockholm. Slippery conditions causedby snow and ice were strongly linked to an increased number of accidents,highlighting the importance of winter maintenance. While the level of wintermaintenance, decided by the maximum time to completed snow removal,may affect the number of accidents; the study did not prove it statisticallysignificant. The accident risk at bus stops was not found to be higher than atother locations, but the accident rate at bus stops showed significant variationsbased on the extent of winter maintenance. Finally, most accidents occurduring daytime, which is consistent with reviewed literature.

Insecticides in the diamide class have a novel mode of action and have become a key component for management of agriculturally important lepidopteran pests since their introduction in 2008. Corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie); and the armyworm complex including fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith); and Spodoptera exigua (Hübner); are significant pests of agroecosystems in the Mid-southern and Southeastern regions of the United States. They have developed resistance to, and/or inconsistent control has occurred with most chemical classes. The objectives of this study were to establish susceptibility levels of field populations of H. zea, S. frugiperda, and S. exigua collected in the Mid-southern and Southeastern regions of the United States to flubendiamide and chlorantraniliprole. To achieve equivalent levels of mortality for each species, a higher concentration of flubendiamide was required compared to chlorantraniliprole. Furthermore, two experiments were conducted to determine the systemic and residual efficacy of chlorantraniliprole and flubendiamide against H. zea on vegetative and reproductive structures of soybean. Chlorantraniliprole moved systemically and had significantly greater control than flubendiamide in the systemic and residual study out to 31 DAT. Flubendiamide did not move systemically but provided significant residual control out to 31 DAT compared with the untreated control. Neither insecticide was detected in reproductive structures. Finally, to determine the risk of resistance development, a S. exigua colony, originating from a field collection in 2013, was separated into three cohorts that were independently selected with three concentrations (0.016, 0.020, and 0.025 ppm) of flubendiamide incorporated into a meridic diet. These concentrations were chosen from the LC30, LC60 and LC90 of the original colony. Resistance ratios never increased past 2.11old. The highest resistance ratios occurred after 18 generations for the LC30 colony, 19 generations for the LC60 colony, and 13 and 15 generations for the LC90 colony. After reaching their highest point of resistance, the colonies began to decline in egg production and larval survivability and did not recover. After 22 generations the selected colonies were terminated. The results from this portion of the study suggest that the potential for resistance development of beet armyworm to flubendiamide is unclear.

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Sustainable design has recently become a hot topic in the field of architecture. With advancements in technology, sustainability has become more accessible to designers. However, instead of relying solely on various high-precision sustainable technologies, nature can be the best teacher. Learning from the cyclical patterns of life can help us better understand nature, become a part of nature, and even design projects that are renewable. This thesis aims to explore the process of decay and regeneration, utilizing the Neo-Zoomorphic concept and drawing inspiration from the phenomenon of a whale fall. It borrows from the external form of whales and their internal life cycle patterns to design a pavilion at the boundary of Pandapas Pond wetland and forest. The whale's skeleton becomes the main wooden structure, and the decaying flesh is represented by a woven bamboo fabric. The skin is simulated by a transparent wood shelter. All the connection points use traditional wood Joinery. Only natural biodegradable materials are used throughout while concrete or metal are avoided. As time passes, this project will gradually decay and eventually will return to nature without requiring any intervention. / Master of Architecture / Sustainable design has recently become a hot topic in the field of architecture. With advancements in technology, sustainability has become more accessible to designers. However, instead of relying solely on various high-precision sustainable technologies, nature can be the best teacher. Learning from the cyclical patterns of life can help us better understand nature, become a part of nature, and even design projects that are renewable. This thesis aims to explore the process of decay and regeneration, utilizing the Neo-Zoomorphic concept and drawing inspiration from the phenomenon of a whale fall. It borrows from the external form of whales and their internal life cycle patterns to design a pavilion at the boundary of Pandapas Pond wetland and forest. The whale's skeleton becomes the main wooden structure, and the decaying flesh is represented by a woven bamboo fabric. The skin is simulated by a transparent wood shelter. All the connection points use traditional wood Joinery. Only natural biodegradable materials are used throughout while concrete or metal are avoided. As time passes, this project will gradually decay and eventually will return to nature without requiring any intervention.

<p>Dhurrin is a cyanogenic glucoside (CG), an important compound that can interplay with primary and secondary metabolism in sorghum. Dhurrin metabolism contributes to insect resistance, growth, nitrogen (N) metabolism, drought tolerance, and safety for animal consumption when used as a forage. Through chemical mutagenesis with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), a mutation in the gene encoding CYP79A1 (<i>cyp79a1</i>), the first enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of dhurrin, was discovered that inhibits the production of dhurrin. The acyanogenic phenotype of this mutant could be a major benefit in reducing the risk of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) toxicity within animals; however, understanding the effects of inhibiting dhurrin biosynthesis is important in understanding metabolic tradeoffs that could occur. This dissertation describes research to assess impacts and tradeoffs of the dhurrin-free trait on susceptibility to Fall Armyworm [<i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (J.E. Smith)] (FAW) feeding, seedling growth, effects on post-flowering drought tolerance, cold stress and utilization as a forage. Insect susceptibility and seedling growth were examined using near-isogenic lines (NILs) within the greenhouse utilizing non-destructive phenotyping technologies for green plant area and in the field comparing total leaf area and dry weight. Post-flowering drought stress was induced within a greenhouse, growth chamber, and field environments. The <i>cyp79a1 </i>mutation was tested in NILs, a near-isogenic backcross (NIBC) population, and near-isogenic hybrids (NIH), to understand the impacts of the <i>cyp79a1 </i>mutation<i> </i>on the stay-green trait. Palatability as forage was examined by comparing the feeding preference of ruminant animals with multiple conventional hybrids and an experimental hybrid carrying the <i>cyp79a1</i> mutation. This preference was also examined using a set of NILs varying in the <i>cyp79a1 </i>mutation<i>. </i> Safety was assessed in preference trials by testing for HCN release before grazing. To further our understanding of the benefits of sorghum as a forage, the dhurrin-free experimental hybrid was compared to seven conventional hybrids as a dry product. The dry sorghum product was tested for the release of HCN and dhurrin content. Lastly, the effects of low temperatures and frost were assessed for their effects on the production of dhurrin in cyanogenic and dhurrin-free sorghum genotypes. </p> <p>Overall, the biosynthesis of dhurrin had a significant effect on the deterrence of FAW and on the growth of sorghum seedlings. Dhurrin-free lines were more susceptible to FAW feeding but also exhibited a significantly higher growth rate. Dhurrin-free lines and hybrids only exhibited a slight increase in susceptibility to post-flowering drought stresses with only one dhurrin-free hybrid discovered to senesce faster than its wild-type NIH. Comparisons of the effects of dhurrin biosynthesis on stay-green in a NIBC population in Tx642 (B35), one of the most important sources of the stay-green trait, did not show any variation in chlorophyll concentration (CC) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Analyses of the impact of dhurrin on palatability as a forage showed that ewes preferred grazing on the dhurrin-free hybrids and NILs, showing that the ewes were able to detect the presence or absence of dhurrin while feeding. Experiments to assess the safety and stability of dhurrin in dried plant material demonstrated that dhurrin content did not change during drying and HCN was released after rehydration. Furthermore, high levels of HCN were immediately released when rumen fluid was added to dried plant materials containing dhurrin; however, no detectable HCN was released from dhurrin-free genotypes. Finally, sorghum plants exposed to freezing temperatures exhibited an increase in dhurrin content in conventional sorghum hybrids while no detectable dhurrin was noted within <i>cyp79a1 </i>mutants. </p> <p>Taken together, these studies demonstrate pleiotropic effects for the <i>cyp79a1 </i>mutation. Dhurrin-free genotypes were more susceptible to insect herbivory and may be slightly more susceptible to post-flowering drought within the hybrids; however, these genotypes exhibited higher seedling growth rates, feeding preference by ewes, no release of HCN in fresh or dry plant material, and frost did not cause an increase in dhurrin content.</p>

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Controlled substance use, particularly among the rising elderly population, places these patients at a much higher risk of falls, injuries, and hospitalization. This study examines the association between preinjury controlled substance prescription and clinical outcomes of older adults after a ground-level fall. A total of 5,930 patients were included. Their home medication list was analyzed to record active opioids, benzodiazepines, narcotics, or other substances defined as controlled according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. Almost half (45%) of the patients were taking controlled substances. Sixty-seven percent of those were females. Total hospital days, Injury Severity Score (ISS), and mortality outcomes were not significantly different between groups. However, intensive care unit (ICU) days, days on mechanical ventilation (MV), and discharge destination were significantly different for patients taking controlled substances versus those not taking controlled substances. Patients taking controlled substances were more likely to be discharged to short- and long-term care facilities versus patients not taking controlled substances (P≤0.001).

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