Do commuters adapt to in-vehicle crowding on trains?

In-vehicle crowding on public transportation is a serious problem that transportation planners must address. Recent studies have emphasized that in-vehicle crowding impacts travelers' stress and health, while other studies have investigated how daily travel affects subjective well-being (SWB). Based on the findings of these studies, we provide useful insights into the value of a reduction in crowding in terms of SWB. The other factor we should consider is adaptation, as the effects of travel discomfort disappear after travelers become accustomed to them. In this paper, we analyzed the direct and stress-related indirect effects of dissatisfaction with in-vehicle crowding on life satisfaction, focusing on whether these effects differ by the length of time commuters have been using trains. Using a sample of 8296 train commuters in Tokyo, we found that (1) dissatisfaction with in-vehicle crowding directly lowers life satisfaction among some groups of short-term train commuters and (2) dissatisfaction with in-vehicle crowding indirectly lowers life satisfaction through stress and health, regardless of whether commuters have used trains for more or less than one year. These results revealed the importance of focusing on the stress-related indirect effects of dissatisfaction with crowding, while direct effects on SWB exist only among some commuters. Our results demonstrated the possibility of adaptation to direct effects.

Clinical observation of patients with inferior alveolar nerve sensory disturbance.

Fifty-four patients diagnosed with paresthesia on one side of the lower lip or skin in the chin area, were examined by multiple sensory tests and assessed self-reported subjective symptoms and the psychological state through questionnaires. Additionally, they were followed over time. Each sensory test threshold was evaluated and classified according to the individual way of scoring system, and the average sensory score (ASS) was used to analyze the correlation between self-reported symptoms and psychological state. On the second visit, all sensory test results had improved. The ASS was positively correlated with the pain questionnaire on the first visit; however, it did not correlate with psychological state or personality. There was a positive correlation between neuroticism and anxiety scores. The index of change (IC) of the ASS over time did not correlate with the IC of patients' self-reported symptoms or mental state. The IC of ASS data improved in all patients, but self-reported subjective symptoms did not show signs of improvement in all patients. When patients were divided into two groups according to age or sex, older females showed significantly more improvement than younger males on the psychological test.

An Analysis of Dentigerous Cysts Developed around a Mandibular Third Molar by Panoramic Radiographs.

Dentigerous cysts are one of the most prevalent types of odontogenic cysts and are associated with the crown of an unerupted tooth, especially of the mandibular third molar. In this study, the characteristics of a dentigerous cyst developed around a mandibular third molar on panoramic radiographs were investigated. The panoramic images of 257 consecutive dentigerous cyst cases associated with a mandibular third molar were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 45.9 ± 13.3 years. The size of the cyst did not significantly correlate to the age of the patient. The unilocular type (89.1%) and the crown side type (68.5%) were significant. The associated mandibular third molars had a high frequency of class III (64.6%) and position B (48.3%) in Pell and Gregory classification and of horizontal position (36.3%) in angulation. Dentigerous cysts were thought to originate and grow commonly around deeply impacted third molars. The associated third molar with dentigerous cyst tends to have a mesial inclination. Dentigerous cysts do not appear to develop gradually after the crown formation has finished, but arise at various periods randomly.