<b><span>Background</span></b><span><span>: Often, long-distance truck drivers’ (LDTDs’) work predisposes them to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) whose outcomes are influen...<b><span>Background</span></b><span><span>: Often, long-distance truck drivers’ (LDTDs’) work predisposes them to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) whose outcomes are influenced by access and behavior of seeking sexual health care. </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Methodology</span></b><span>:</span></b><span> In this study, we assessed the utilization of HIV/STI preventive services and associated factors among 296 LDTDs operating along the northern corridor highway using an interviewer-administered questionnaire for data collection at Mlolongo stopover in Machakos, Kenya. Responses for the investigated variables, including condom use, history of HIV testing, frequency of HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and follow-up for the HIV positive and STI treatment, were assigned a score of either 1 or 0 depending on the question’s dimension. Following summing up for each participant, we computed a weighted score ranging between 0 and 1 by dividing the summed responses by the number of eligible variables. We arbitrarily multiplied these scores by 8 to generate endpoint scores ranging from one to eight for each participant to help create a dichotomized outcome variable for utilization levels: limited utilization (1 to 4) and good utilization (5 to 8). Association between certain independent variables and the outcome variable (level of utilization of H.I.V./STIs preventive services) w</span><span>as</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span><span> analyzed using binomial logistic regression analysis in R statistical software. </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Results</span></b><span>:</span></b><span> The mean age of the LDTDs was 38.4 years, ranging from 24 - 57 years. The majority (n = 287, 97%) of the LDTDs had been tested on HIV at least once since the beginning of their career. Only 4.9% of the LDTDs had been tested on HIV within the previous three months. Of the 175 LDTDs who reported a history of STI, most (n = 173, 98.9%) of them had sought treatment. Condom use rates were higher (97.1%) among the LDTDs who had sexual interactions with casual sexual partners compared to 47.2% among regular sexual partners. Analyses classed most of the respondents (n = 231, 78.0%) as having good utilization, while the rest (22%) had limited utilization. History of STI was independently associated with utilizing HIV/STI preventive services (OR 8.4;95% CI;4.5,</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span><span>16.7;P < 0.001). </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Conclusion</span></b><span>:</span></b> </span><span>Although most of the LDTDs were </span><span>classed to have good utilization of HIV/STI preventive services, the uptake of subsequent HIV testing services among </span><span>them</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span> was low at only 4.9%. </span><span>The association of STI history with utilization levels that we determined supports policies of integrating HIV and STI services in the delivery of sexual healthcare provision among LDTDs.</span></span>展开更多
Due to the limited amount of funds available for bridge inspection, maintenance and rehabilitation, the evaluation of load capacity for existing bridges is crucial to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Dev...Due to the limited amount of funds available for bridge inspection, maintenance and rehabilitation, the evaluation of load capacity for existing bridges is crucial to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. This paper includes the development of a methodology to assess the economic impact of overweight vehicles with permits, hauling Louisiana harvest products on state bridges. The proposed higher truck loads are applied on the existing bridges and their effects are determined using deterministic load capacity evaluations as well as reliability assessments. The target rehability level is derived from bridge structures designed to satisfy AASHTO Standard Design Specifications and also satisfy safe and adequate performance levels. The amount of harvest produced is used to select a representative sample of bridges to provide specific examples of expected changes in load ratings and safety levels. The bridges include simple and continuous span behavior. Strength and serviceability criteria are investigated under current legal loads and the expected changes, due to the proposed new weights, are determined. The results are used to assess the cost of crossing a bridge and the permit fees for the proposed truck weight regulation.展开更多
According to Brazilian reports of large trucks accidents on Federal Highway, fatigue and speeding are the major contributors to those accidents in which drivers are trying to meet short delivery deadlines for long hau...According to Brazilian reports of large trucks accidents on Federal Highway, fatigue and speeding are the major contributors to those accidents in which drivers are trying to meet short delivery deadlines for long hauls. A new federal law has been approved to limit truck drivers＇ working times, including maximum continuous driving time and maximum daily and weekly on-duty time. We present a study that aims at analyzing whether the existing resting areas on federal highways have sufficient capacity to meet current and future demand for truck stops. We have established the following method： In the first step, we review and study different models found in the literature and evaluate their potential application to Brazilian conditions; In the next step, we develop our own model and, finally, validate it using data from BR-101 Federal Highway, in Santa Catarina State. Tests made using part of collected data （which were subjected to statistical treatment） showed satisfactory results, indicating that the demand behavior was consistent with that observed in the field and the answers provided by truck drivers in the interviews. The research has yet to complete processing all data and it also must be repeated in other regions with different characteristics.展开更多
文摘<b><span>Background</span></b><span><span>: Often, long-distance truck drivers’ (LDTDs’) work predisposes them to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) whose outcomes are influenced by access and behavior of seeking sexual health care. </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Methodology</span></b><span>:</span></b><span> In this study, we assessed the utilization of HIV/STI preventive services and associated factors among 296 LDTDs operating along the northern corridor highway using an interviewer-administered questionnaire for data collection at Mlolongo stopover in Machakos, Kenya. Responses for the investigated variables, including condom use, history of HIV testing, frequency of HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and follow-up for the HIV positive and STI treatment, were assigned a score of either 1 or 0 depending on the question’s dimension. Following summing up for each participant, we computed a weighted score ranging between 0 and 1 by dividing the summed responses by the number of eligible variables. We arbitrarily multiplied these scores by 8 to generate endpoint scores ranging from one to eight for each participant to help create a dichotomized outcome variable for utilization levels: limited utilization (1 to 4) and good utilization (5 to 8). Association between certain independent variables and the outcome variable (level of utilization of H.I.V./STIs preventive services) w</span><span>as</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span><span> analyzed using binomial logistic regression analysis in R statistical software. </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Results</span></b><span>:</span></b><span> The mean age of the LDTDs was 38.4 years, ranging from 24 - 57 years. The majority (n = 287, 97%) of the LDTDs had been tested on HIV at least once since the beginning of their career. Only 4.9% of the LDTDs had been tested on HIV within the previous three months. Of the 175 LDTDs who reported a history of STI, most (n = 173, 98.9%) of them had sought treatment. Condom use rates were higher (97.1%) among the LDTDs who had sexual interactions with casual sexual partners compared to 47.2% among regular sexual partners. Analyses classed most of the respondents (n = 231, 78.0%) as having good utilization, while the rest (22%) had limited utilization. History of STI was independently associated with utilizing HIV/STI preventive services (OR 8.4;95% CI;4.5,</span></span><span style="font-family:;" "=""> </span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span><span>16.7;P < 0.001). </span><b></b></span><b><b><span>Conclusion</span></b><span>:</span></b> </span><span>Although most of the LDTDs were </span><span>classed to have good utilization of HIV/STI preventive services, the uptake of subsequent HIV testing services among </span><span>them</span><span style="font-family:;" "=""><span> was low at only 4.9%. </span><span>The association of STI history with utilization levels that we determined supports policies of integrating HIV and STI services in the delivery of sexual healthcare provision among LDTDs.</span></span>
文摘Due to the limited amount of funds available for bridge inspection, maintenance and rehabilitation, the evaluation of load capacity for existing bridges is crucial to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. This paper includes the development of a methodology to assess the economic impact of overweight vehicles with permits, hauling Louisiana harvest products on state bridges. The proposed higher truck loads are applied on the existing bridges and their effects are determined using deterministic load capacity evaluations as well as reliability assessments. The target rehability level is derived from bridge structures designed to satisfy AASHTO Standard Design Specifications and also satisfy safe and adequate performance levels. The amount of harvest produced is used to select a representative sample of bridges to provide specific examples of expected changes in load ratings and safety levels. The bridges include simple and continuous span behavior. Strength and serviceability criteria are investigated under current legal loads and the expected changes, due to the proposed new weights, are determined. The results are used to assess the cost of crossing a bridge and the permit fees for the proposed truck weight regulation.
文摘According to Brazilian reports of large trucks accidents on Federal Highway, fatigue and speeding are the major contributors to those accidents in which drivers are trying to meet short delivery deadlines for long hauls. A new federal law has been approved to limit truck drivers＇ working times, including maximum continuous driving time and maximum daily and weekly on-duty time. We present a study that aims at analyzing whether the existing resting areas on federal highways have sufficient capacity to meet current and future demand for truck stops. We have established the following method： In the first step, we review and study different models found in the literature and evaluate their potential application to Brazilian conditions; In the next step, we develop our own model and, finally, validate it using data from BR-101 Federal Highway, in Santa Catarina State. Tests made using part of collected data （which were subjected to statistical treatment） showed satisfactory results, indicating that the demand behavior was consistent with that observed in the field and the answers provided by truck drivers in the interviews. The research has yet to complete processing all data and it also must be repeated in other regions with different characteristics.
