CHARACTERISTICS OF RIGHT-TURNING LIGHT-DUTY TRUCK COLLISION ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PEDESTRIANS IN DIFFERENT TIME ZONES

Oikawa Shoko,Matsui Yasuhiro,Kubota Naoyuki,Aomura Shigeru,Sorimachi Kazuhiro,Imanishi Akira,Fujimura Takeshi 한국자동차공학회 2023 International journal of automotive technology Vol.24 No.2

This study attempts to clarify the characteristics of light-duty truck collision accidents involving pedestrians during right-turn maneuvers by analyzing actual pedestrian accident data in Japan. Evidence differences were observed between the daytime and nighttime. The number of injured and fatal pedestrians during the day was larger than that during the night. The rate of vehicle travel velocity ≤ 10 km/h in the daytime (47.0 %) was significantly higher than that in the nighttime (39.2 %), whereas the rate of vehicle travel velocity ≤ 20 km/h in the nighttime (52.7 %) was significantly higher than that in the daytime (46.9 %). The highest rate in the daytime was presented for the age group of 13 ~ 64 years in minor injuries (54.1 %) and for those 75 years or older in serious injuries (47.5 %) and fatalities (64.3 %). For pedestrian crossing directions on the crosswalk, the pedestrian crossing from the forward left-side corner to the right-side corner exhibited the highest percentage in the daytime (39.2 %), and the opposite direction of crossing from the right-side corner to the forward left-side corner exhibited the highest percentage in the nighttime (39.6 %). The characteristics obtained in this study will contribute to the development and evaluation of advanced safety systems that are specialized for right-turning maneuvers of light-duty trucks.

Features of Fatal Truck Accidents Compared with Sedans

Oikawa Shoko,Matsui Yasuhiro,Kubota Naoyuki,Aomura Shigeru,Sorimachi Kazuhiro,Imanishi Akira,Fujimura Takeshi 한국자동차공학회 2021 International journal of automotive technology Vol.22 No.4

This study clarified the features of fatal truck–pedestrian and truck–cyclist accidents by a comparison with sedans. Fatal accident data from the Japanese Institute Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis (ITARDA) database were analyzed for the years 2012 ~ 2016. The trucks were classified into three categories: heavy-, medium-, and light-duty. All three categories had higher percentages of pedestrians as fatal collision partners as opposed to cyclists. Every truck category had significantly higher percentages of pedestrian fatalities due to daytime right turns than sedans. Heavy-duty trucks had significantly higher percentages of cyclist fatalities due to daytime and nighttime left turns than sedans. These results show that the design specifications for new sensing technology to avoid collisions with pedestrians and cyclists should differ among vehicle types. The knowledge obtained in this study will be useful to develop new technology or systems that are effective in dangerous situations between trucks and pedestrians or cyclists.

SIMILARITY OF THE MEASURED NIC OF A BIORID II DUMMY IN CAR-TO-CAR REAR END IMPACT AND SLED EXPERIMENTS

Yasuhiro Matsui,Masami Kubota,Shoko Oikawa 한국자동차공학회 2018 International journal of automotive technology Vol.19 No.1

The Japan New Car Assessment Program (J-NCAP) evaluates the performance of cars in terms of protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. In the test protocol, a simplified triangular acceleration is applied to the sled. This study clarifies whether biofidelic rear-impact dummy II (BioRID II) measurements obtained for simplified triangular acceleration reflect car-to-car rear-end impacts in real-world accidents in Japan. We conducted a car-to-car rear-end impact experiment and a simplified-triangular-acceleration sled test. Our results indicate that the time series of dummy responses were approximately consistent in the two test conditions. The neck injury criterion (NIC) and maximum acceleration of the head and T1 measured using the BioRID II dummy were similar in the car-to-car and sled experiments. This revealed that the J-NCAP test protocol using simplified triangular acceleration reflects the car-to-car rear-end impact experiment using Japanese cars, in terms of the NIC and maximum acceleration of the head and T1.

REDUCTION IN THE HEAD INJURY LEVEL DUE TO JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CYCLISTS WEARING HELMETS

Yasuhiro Matsui,Shoko Oikawa 한국자동차공학회 2018 International journal of automotive technology Vol.19 No.6

We assessed the effect of wearing a junior-high-school helmet when the frontal or lateral part of a helmet impacted the upper part and lower part of the A-pillar of a vehicle at 35 km/h (212 J). The head injury criterions (HICs) of the headform impactor without a helmet were respectively 4530 and 4937. In the case of the headform impactor wearing a junior-high-school helmet, the helmet reduced the HIC by 17.5 % and 9.9 % for impacts of the frontal part of the helmet and by 15.0 % and 4.0 % for impacts of the lateral part of the helmet. We also assessed the effect of wearing a junior-high-school helmet when the frontal part of the helmet impacted a road surface from a height of 1.5 m (66 J). The HIC of the headform impactor without a helmet was 6525. The HIC was reduced by 82.7 % when wearing a junior-high-school helmet. Both experiments show that, under a relatively low impact energy condition such as a road surface impact, wearing a junior-highschool helmet greatly reduces the head injury level. Meanwhile, under a relatively high-impact-energy condition such as impact against an A-pillar, wearing a junior-high-school helmet is ineffective in reducing the head injury level.

FACTORS IN FATAL INJURIES TO CYCLISTS IMPACTED BY FIVE TYPES OF VEHICLES

Shoko Oikawa,Yasuhiro Matsui,Hiromichi Nakadate,Shigeru Aomura 한국자동차공학회 2019 International journal of automotive technology Vol.20 No.1

The factors in fatal injuries to cyclists in collisions with five different types of vehicles were examined using data from the Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis in Japan for the period 2004 ~ 2013. The vehicle types were sedans, minivans, box vans, light passenger cars (LPCs), and light cargo vans (LCVs). The analyses focused on cyclist age, gender, main body regions that suffered fatal injuries, and vehicle travel speeds. Cyclists aged 75+ years made up the largest group of fatalities in collisions with sedans, box vans, LPCs, and LCVs, whereas those aged 13 ~ 64 years made up the largest group of fatalities in collisions with minivans. Head injuries were the most frequent injuries in cyclist fatalities. The percentage of head injuries in fatalities of cyclists aged 75+ years was significantly higher than that for cyclists aged 13 ~ 64 years for box vans, but significantly lower for sedans, LPCs, and LCVs. For sedans, the percentage of hip injuries in fatalities of cyclists aged 75+ years was significantly higher than that of cyclists aged 13 ~ 64 years. Cyclist fatalities due to hip injuries were significantly more common for females than for males in collisions with sedans, LPCs, and LCVs.

Iron deficiency regulated OsOPT7 is essential for iron homeostasis in rice

Bashir, Khurram,Ishimaru, Yasuhiro,Itai, Reiko Nakanishi,Senoura, Takeshi,Takahashi, Michiko,An, Gynheung,Oikawa, Takaya,Ueda, Minoru,Sato, Aiko,Uozumi, Nobuyuki,Nakanishi, Hiromi,Nishizawa, Naoko K. Springer-Verlag 2015 Plant Molecular Biology Vol. No.

Diagnosis of Lumbar Foraminal Stenosis using Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Yawara Eguchi,Seiji Ohtori,Munetaka Suzuki,Yasuhiro Oikawa,Hajime Yamanaka,Hiroshi Tamai,Tatsuya Kobayashi,Sumihisa Orita,Kazuyo Yamauchi,Miyako Suzuki,Yasuchika Aoki,Atsuya Watanabe,Hirohito Kanamoto 대한척추외과학회 2016 Asian Spine Journal Vol.10 No.1

Diagnosis of lumbar foraminal stenosis remains difficult. Here, we report on a case in which bilateral lumbar foraminal stenosis was difficult to diagnose, and in which diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was useful. The patient was a 52-year-old woman with low back pain and pain in both legs that was dominant on the right. Right lumbosacral nerve compression due to a massive uterine myoma was apparent, but the leg pain continued after a myomectomy was performed. No abnormalities were observed during nerve conduction studies. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging indicated bilateral L5 lumbar foraminal stenosis. DTI imaging was done. The extraforaminal values were decreased and tractography was interrupted in the foraminal region. Bilateral L5 vertebral foraminal stenosis was treated by transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and the pain in both legs disappeared. The case indicates the value of DTI for diagnosing vertebral foraminal stenosis.

Evaluating Spinal Canal Lesions Using Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Maps with Diffusion-Weighted Imaging

Kanamoto Hirohito,Norimoto Masaki,Eguchi Yawara,Oikawa Yasuhiro,Orita Sumihisa,Inage Kazuhide,Abe Koki,Inoue Masahiro,Kinoshita Hideyuki,Umimura Tomotaka,Matsumoto Koji,Masuda Yoshitada,Furuya Takeo,K 대한척추외과학회 2020 Asian Spine Journal Vol.14 No.3

Study Design: Observational study.Purpose: To evaluate healthy volunteers and patients with spinal canal lesions using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps with diffusion-weighted imaging.Overview of Literature: Decompression surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is selected on the basis of subjective assessment and cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, there is no objective standard for this procedure.Methods: We performed 3T MRI in 10 healthy volunteers and 13 patients with LSS. The ADC values in the spinal canal were evaluated at 46 vertebrae (L4/5 and L5/S1 for each participant), and the reduced and conventional fields of view were compared.Results: The ADC values were 2.72±0.12 at L4/5 in healthy volunteers, 2.76±0.19 at L5/S1 in healthy volunteers, 1.77±0.58 at L4/5 in patients with LSS, and 2.35±0.29 at L5/S1 in patients with LSS. The ADC value at L4/5 in patients with LSS was significantly lower than that at L5/S1 in patients with LSS and that at L4/5 and L5/S1 in healthy volunteers (<i>p</i> <0.05). With an ADC cutoff value of 2.46 to identify LSS, this approach provided an area under the curve of 0.81, sensitivity of 0.92, and specificity of 0.76 (<i>p</i> <0.05).Conclusions: Preoperative examination using ADC maps permits visualization and quantification of spinal canal lesions, thus proving the utility of ADC maps in the selection of decompression surgery for LSS.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Spinal Canal in Quantitative Assessment of Patients with Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis

Norimoto Masaki,Eguchi Yawara,Kanamoto Hirohito,Oikawa Yasuhiro,Matsumoto Koji,Masuda Yoshitada,Furuya Takeo,Orita Sumihisa,Inage Kazuhide,Maki Satoshi,Shiga Yasuhiro,Kinoshita Hideyuki,Abe Koki,Inoue 대한척추외과학회 2021 Asian Spine Journal Vol.15 No.2

Study Design: Retrospective observational study. Purpose: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) has traditionally been evaluated morphologically, there is a paucity of literature on quantitative assessment of LSS. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether intraspinal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters such as apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) are useful for assessing LSS. Overview of Literature: Quantitative assessment of LSS is challenging. Methods: Study participants comprised five healthy volunteers (mean age, 27.2 years) and 27 patients with LSS (mean age, 58.4 years) who were individually assessed using 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. Intraspinal ADC and FA values of 10 intervertebral discs from healthy volunteers and 52 intervertebral discs from LSS patients were measured. Also, intraspinal canal area, Schizas classification (A: normal, B: mild stenosis, C: severe stenosis) and correlations with symptoms were investigated. Clinical symptoms were checked for the presence of low back pain (LBP), intermittent claudication (IMC), and bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD). Results: Compared to healthy individuals, LSS patients had significantly lower ADC (p <0.05) and significantly higher FA values (p <0.01). In Schizas classification, stenosis worsened from A to C. ADC values decreased significantly while FA values increased significantly in that order (p <0.05). A positive correlation was found between intraspinal canal area and ADC values (r =0.63, p <0.01) and a negative correlation between intraspinal canal area and FA values (p =−0.61, p <0.01). No correlations were noted between LBP and ADC or FA values. On the other hand, ADC values were significantly lower (p <0.05) and FA values were significantly higher (p <0.05) in patients with IMC or BBD. Conclusions: Intraspinal DTI parameters such as ADC and FA values were associated with the Schizas classification, intraspinal canal area, and clinical symptoms, suggesting that ADC and FA may be useful for quantitative assessment of LSS.

Discrimination between Lumbar Intraspinal Stenosis and Foraminal Stenosis using Diffusion Tensor Imaging Parameters: Preliminary Results

Yawara Eguchi,Seiji Ohtori,Munetaka Suzuki,Yasuhiro Oikawa,Hajime Yamanaka,Hiroshi Tamai,Tatsuya Kobayashi,Sumihisa Orita,Kazuyo Yamauchi,Miyako Suzuki,Yasuchika Aoki,Atsuya Watanabe,Hirohito Kanamoto 대한척추외과학회 2016 Asian Spine Journal Vol.10 No.2

Study Design: Retrospective observational study. Purpose: To examine fractional anisotropy (FA) values and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of damaged nerves to discriminate between lumbar intraspinal stenosis (IS) and foraminal stenosis (FS) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) Overview of Literature: It is important in the selection of surgical procedure to discriminate between lumbar IS and FS, but such discrimination is difficult. Methods: There were 9 cases of IS, 7 cases of FS, and 5 healthy controls. The regions of interest were established in the lumbar intraspinal zone (Iz), nerve root (N), and extraforaminal zone (Ez). The FA and ADC values were measured on the affected and unaffected sides of the nerves. The FA ratio and the ADC ratio were calculated as the affected side/unaffected side ×100 (%). Results: In the Ez, the FA value was significantly lower in FS than in IS (p <0.01). FA ratio was significantly lower in FS than in IS for the Ez (p <0.01). In the Iz, the ADC value was significantly higher in IS than FS (p <0.01). ADC ratio was significantly higher in FS than in IS for the N and Ez (p <0.05). For the Ez, receiver operating characteristic analysis of parameters revealed that the FA values showed a higher accuracy for the diagnosis of FS than the ADC values, and the FA value cut-off value was 0.42 (sensitivity: 85.7%, false positive: 11.1%) and the FA ratio cut-off value was 83.9% (sensitivity: 85.7%, false positive: 22.2%). Conclusions: The low FA value in the extraforaminal zone suggests the presence of foraminal stenosis. When the FA value and FA ratio cut-off value were established as 0.42 and 83.9%, respectively, the accuracy was high for the diagnosis of foraminal stenosis. It may be possible to use DTI parameters to help in the discrimination between IS and FS.