Oregon daily emerald., October 09, 2002, Page 6, Image 6

New technology offers
help for busy drivers
Internet-based routing service
gives alternatives to areas
with high traffic in rush hour
Danielle Gillespie
Safety/Crime/Transportation Reporter
Researchers at the University are
on the road to meeting their goal of
creating technology to improve life,
from conserving energy to helping
people get out of a jam — traffic
jams, that is.
University Research Professor
Matt Ginsberg and colleague David
Etherington created a Web site, Traf
fic Dodger, that allows drivers to
avoid traffic jams in five Southern
California counties — Los Angeles,
Orange, Ventura, Riverside and San
Bernardino.Traffic Dodger is an In
ternet-based personalized routing
service that tells drivers the best way
to get to their destination and how
long the drive is likely to take.
Ginsberg and Etherington, who is
director of the University’s Compu
tational Intelligence Research Labo
ratory, pioneered the product as part
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of their research on technology opti
mization at the University.
“For years, the University has
wanted to market technology and
get research that is done here out in
the world,” Etherington said. “Traf
fic Dodger is just one example of
technology that can improve life'.”
Ginsberg said he came up with the
idea for Traffic Dodger in 2000, while
sitting on an airplane.
“It was during the time of the
dot-com foolishness, and I was talk
ing with the person next to me
about it. Me was also interested in
the computer madness, and that is
when I thought of it.”
Ginsberg’s idea sparked out of
another project on which he had
been working.
He said researchers from the
University had just finished a proj
ect for routing non-combat Air
Force flights to reduce about 20 to
30 million gallons of jet fuel in the
upper atmosphere. For the project,
researchers looked at weather
maps of the world and determined
the best routes for planes.
Ginsberg figured the Air Force ap
plication could also be used to help
reduce time spent in a car. When
Ginsberg brought his ideas to his
peers, they were excited about it.
On-Time Systems, a company
started and managed by Ginsberg,
Etherington, Research Professor Bri
an Drabble, and GIRL worked to
gether for the next couple of years
on the Web site.
The group decided to make the
product for California because the
state’s police and highway depart
Turn to Technology, page 7
Crime watch
Theft andRecoveries
Monday, Sept. 30,10:02
a.m.: Bike stolen from Bean
Complex.
Wednesday, Oct. 2,8:49
a.m.: Checkbook found at DPS.
Wednesday, Oct. 2,4:56
p.m.: Bike stolen from EMU.
Thursday, Oct. 5,12:00 p.m.:
Bike stolen from H.P. Barnhart.
Thursday, Oct. 5,4:59 p.m.;
Bike stolen from Walton
Complex.
Thursday, Oct. 3, 5:05 p.m.:
Bike stolen from Garfield
Street.
Friday, Oct. 4, 8:53 a.m.:
Bike stolen from i 8th Avenue.
Saturday, Oct. 5, 7:40 p.m.:
DPS received a report of a
stolen wallet.
Sunday Oct. 6, 7:16 p.m.:
Bike stolen from Oregon Hall.
Disorderly Conduct
Thursday, Oct. 3,11:16
p.m.: DPS received a report of
male creating disturbance at
H.P. Barnhart.
Thursday, Oct. 3,11:47
p.m.: DPS received a report of
two uncooperative subjects at
Walton Complex.
Saturday, Oct. 5,8:58 p.m.:
DPS received a report of a
disorderly subject at the EMU.
Saturday, Oct. 5,11:23
p.m.; DPS received a report of
telephone harassment at
Hamilton Complex.
Drugs and Alcohol
Monday, Sept. 30,12:08
a.m.: DPS received a report of
four subjects smoking
marijuana in Hamilton
Complex.
Monday, Sept 30,10:14 p.m.;
DPS received a report of three
subjects with alcohol at the
EMU.
Sunday, Oct. 6,12:14 a.m.:
DPS received a report of
several subjects with
marijuana at Walton Complex.
Wednesday, Oct 2,12:43am.:
DPS received a report of
subjects with marijuana at
Hamilton Complex.
Thursday, Oct. 3,12:33 a.m.:
OPS received a report of
several subjects with
marijuana at Bean Complex,
Other
Monday, Sept. 30, 11:23
p.m.: DPS received a report
of graffiti in the bathroom at
the EMU.
Wednesday, Oct. 2,11:58
a.m»: DPS received a report
of vendors taking pictures of
students’ ID cards.
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 3:15
p„m.: DPS received a report of
subject yelling at traffic near
Pacific Hall.
Friday, Oct. 4, 8:40 p.m.:
DPS received a report of sub*
ject urinating in public,
Sunday, Oct. 6, 5:20 p.m.:
DPS received a report of
male subject following
females around the EMU.
For more criminal activity, go to
www.dailyemerald.com.
Contraceptive Injection! &,rtK corYtro1 *ou'tt'ir>k aBOLrt just +*a*ear
medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension
DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection
(medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. USP)
This product is intended to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against HIV
infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.
What is DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?
DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection is a form of birth control that is given as an
intramuscular injection (a shot) in the buttock or upper arm once every 3 months (13 weeks). To
continue your contraceptive protection, you must return for your next injection promptly at the
end of 3 months (13 weeks). DEPO-PROVERA contains medroxyprogesterone acetate, a
chemical similar to (but not the same as) the natural hormone progesterone, which is produced
by your ovaries during the second half of your menstrual cycle. DEPO-PROVERA acts by
preventing your egg cells from ripening. If an egg is not released from the ovaries during your
menstrual cycle, it cannot become fertilized by sperm and result in pregnancy. DEPO-PROVERA
also causes changes in the lining of your uterus that make it less likely for pregnancy to occur
How effective is DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?
The efficacy of DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection depends on following the
recommended dosage schedule exactly (see “How often do I get my shot of DEPO-PROVERA
Contraceptive Injection?"). To make sure you are not pregnant when you first get
DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection, your first injection must be given ONLY during
the first 5 days of a normal menstrual period; ONLY within the first 5 days after childbirth if not
breast-feeding; and, if exclusively breast-feeding. ONLY at the sixth week after childbirth. It is a
long-term injectable contraceptive when administered at 3-month (13-week) intervals.
DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection is over 99% effective, making it one of the most reliable
methods of birth control available. This means that the average annual pregnancy rate is less than
one for every 100 women who use DEPO-PROVERA. The effectiveness of most contraceptive
methods depends in part on how reliably each woman uses the method. The effectiveness of
DEPO-PROVERA depends only on the patient returning every 3 months (13 weeks) for her next
injection. Tour health-care provider will help you compare DEPO-PROVERA with other
contraceptive methods and give you the information you need in order to decide which
contraceptive method is the right choice for you.
The following table shows the percent of women who got pregnant while using different kinds of
contraceptive methods. It gives both the lowest expected rate of pregnancy (the rate expected
in women who use each method exactly as it should be used) and the typical rate of pregnancy
(which includes women who became pregnant because they forgot to use their birth control or
because they did not follow the directions exactly).
Percent of Women Experiencing an Accidental Pregnancy
in the First Year of Continuous Use
Method
Lowest
Expected
Typical
DEPO-PROVERA
Implants (Norplant)
Female sterilization
Male sterilization
Oral contraceptive (pill)
ComDinea
Progestogen only
IUD
Progestasert
Copper T 380A
2.0
0.8
Condom (without spermicide)
Diaphragm (with spermicide)
Cervical cap
Withdrawal
Periodic abstinence
Spermicide alone
Vaginal Sponge
used before childbirth
used after childbirth
No method
_SL
_8i_
Source Trussell et al Obstet Gynecol 1990:76:558-567
•From Norplant' package insert
Who should not use DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?
Not all women should use DEPO-PROVERA. You should not use DEPO-PROVERA if you have
any of the following conditions:
• if you think you might be pregnant
- * if you nave any vaginal bleeding without a known reason
• if you have had cancer of the breast
• if you have had a stroke
• if you have or have had blood clots (phlebitis) in your legs
• if you have problems with your liver or liver disease
• if you are allergic to DEPO-PROVERA (medroxyprogesterone acetate or any of its other
ingredients).
What other things should I consider before using DEPO-PROVERA
Contraceptive Injection?
You will have a physical examination before your doctor prescribes DEPO-PROVERA. It is
important to tell your health-care provider if you have any of the following:
• a family history of breast cancer
• an abnormal mammogram (breast x-ray), fibrocystic breast disease, breast nodules or lumps, or
bleeding from your nipples
• kidney disease
• irregular or scanty menstrual periods
• high blood pressure
• migraine headaches
• asthma
• epilepsy (convulsions or seizures)
• diabetes or a family history of diabetes
• a history of depression
• if you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications
This product is intended to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against
transmission of HIV (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases such as
chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis.
What if I want to become pregnant after using DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive
Injection?
Because DEPO-PROVERA is a long-acting birth control method, it takes some time after your last
injection for its effect to wear off. Based on the results from a large study done in the United States,
for women who stop using DEPO-PROVERA in order to become pregnant, it is expected that
about half of those who become pregnant will do so in about 10 months after their last injection:
about two thirds of those who become pregnant will do so in about 12 months; about 83% of
those who become pregnant will do so in about 15 months; and about 93% of those who become
pregnant will do so in about 18 months after their last injection. The length of time you use
DEPO-PROVERA has no effect on how lonsit takes you to become pregnant after you stop using it
What are the risks of using DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?
I.Irregular Menstrual Bleeding
The side effect reported most frequently by women who use DEPO-PROVERA for
contraception is a change in their normal menstrual cycle. During the first year of using
DEPO-PROVERA, you cnight have one or more of the following changes: irregular or
unpredictable bleeding or spotting, an increase or decrease in menstrual bleeding, or no bleeding
at all. Unusually heavy or continuous bleeding, however, is not a usual effect of DEPO-PROVERA;
and if this happens, you should see your health-care provider right away. With continued use of
DEPO-PROVERA. bleeding usually decreases, and many women stop having periods completely.
In clinical studies of DEPO-PROVERA, 55% of the women studied reported no menstrual
bleeding (amenorrhea) after I year of use. and 68% of the women studied reported no menstrual
bleeding after 2 years of use. The reason that your periods stop is because DEPO-PROVERA
causes a resting state in your ovaries. When your ovaries do not release an egg monthly, the
regular monthly growth of the lining of your uterus does not occur and. therefore, the bleeding
that comes with your normal menstruation does not take place. When you stop using
DEPO-PROVERA your menstrual period will usually, in time, return to its normal cycle.
2. Bone Mineral Changes
Use of DEPO-PROVERA may be associated with a decrease in the amount of mineral stored in
your bones. This could increase your risk of developing bone fractures. The rate of bone mineral
loss is greatest in the early years of DEPO-PROVERA use. but after that, it begins to resemble the
normal rate of age-related bone mineral loss.
3. Cancer
Studies of women who have used different forms of contraception found that women who used
DEPO-PROVERA for contraception had no increased overall risk of developing cancer of the
breast, ovary, uterus, cervix, or liver. However, women under 35 years of age whose first exposure
to DEPO-PROVERA was within the previous 4 to 5 years may have a slightly increased risk of
developing breast cancer similar to that seen with oral contraceptives. You should discuss this with
your health-care provider.
4. Unexpected Pregnancy
Because DEPO-PROVERA is such an effective contraceptive method, the risk of accidental
pregnancy for women who get their shots regularly (every 3 months [ 13 weeks]) is very low.
While there have been reports of an increased risk of low birth weight and neonatal infant death
or other health problems in infants conceived close to the time of injection, such pregnancies are
uncommon. If you think you may have become pregnant while using DEPO-PROVERA for
contraception, see your health-care provider as soon as possible.
5Allergic Reactions
Some women using DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection have reported severe and
potentially life-threatening allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis and anaphylactoid reactions.
Symptoms include the sudden onset of hives or swelling and itching of the skin, breathing
difficulties, and a drop in blood pressure._
6 Other Risks
Women who use hormone-based contraceptives may have an increased risk of blood clots or
stroke. Also, if a contraceptive method fails, there is a possibility that the fertilized egg will begin
to develop outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy). While these events are rare, you should
tell your health-care provider if you have any of the problems listed in the next section.
What symptoms may signal problems while using DEPO-PROVERA
Contraceptive Injection?
Call your health-care provider immediately if any of these problems occur following an injection
of DEPO-PROVERA:
• sharp chest pain, coughing up of blood, or sudden shortness of breath (indicating a possible clot
in the lung)
• sudden severe headache or vomiting dizziness or fainting, problems with your eyesight or
speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (indicating a possible stroke)
• severe pain or swelling in the calf (indicating a possible clot in the leg)
• unusually heavy vaginal bleeding
• severe pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area
• persistent pain, pus. or bleeding at the injection site
What are the possible side effects of DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?
/.Weight Gain
You may experience a weight gain while you are using DEPO-PROVERA. About two thirds of
the women who used DEPO-PROVERA in clinical trials reported a weight gain of about 5 pounds
during the first year of use. You may continue to gain weight after the first year. Women in one
large study who used DEPO-PROvERA for 2 years gained an average total of 8.1 pounds over
those 2 years, or approximately 4 pounds per year. Women who continued for 4 years gained an
average total of 13.8 pounds over those 4 years, or approximately 3.5 pounds per year. Women
who continued for 6 years gained an average total of 16.5 pounds over those 6 years, or
approximately 2.75 pounds per year.
2.0'iher Side Effects
In a clinical study of over 3,900 women who used DEPO-PROVERA for up to 7 years, some
women reported the following effects that may or may not have been related to their use of
DEPO-PROVERA: Irregular menstrual bleeding, amenorrhea, headache, nervousness. aDdommai
cramps, dizziness, weakness or fatigue, decreased sexual desire, leg cramps, nausea, vaginal
discharge or irritation, breast swelling and tenderness, bloating, swelling of the hands or feet,
backache, depression, insomnia, acne, pelvic pain, no hair growth or excessive hair loss. rash, hot
flashes, and joint pain. Other problems were reported by very few of the women in the clinical
trials, but some of these could be serious. These include convulsions, jaundice, urinary tract
infections, allergic reactions, fainting, paralysis, osteoporosis, lack of return to fertility, deep vein
thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, breast cancer, or cervical cancer. If these or any other problems
occur during your use of DEPO-PROVERA. discuss them with your health-care provider.
Should any precautions be followed during use of DEPO-PROVERA
Contraceptive Injection?
I .Missed Periods
During the time you are using DEPO-PROVERA for contraception, you may skip a period, or your
periods may stop completely. If you have been receiving your DEPO-PROVERA injections
regularly every 3 months (13 weeks), then you are probably not pregnant. However, if you think
that you may be pregnant, see your health-care provider.
2. Laboratory Test Interactions
If you are scheduled for any laboratory tests, tell your health-care provider that you are using
DEPO-PROVERA for contraception. Certain blood tests are affected by hormones such as
DEPO-PROVERA.
3. Drug Interactions
Cytadren (aminoglutethimide) is an anticancer drug that may significantly aecrease the
effectiveness of DEPO-PROVERA if the two drugs are given during the same time.
4. Nursing Mothers
Although DEPO-PROVERA can be passed to the nursing infant in the breast milk, no harmful
effects have been found in these children. DEPO-PROVERA does not prevent the breasts from
producing milk, so it can be used by nursing mothers. However, to minimize the amount of
DEPO-PROVERA that is passed to the infant in the first weeks after birth, you should wait until
6 weeks after childbirth before you start using DEPO-PROVERA for contraception.
How often do I get my shot of DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection?
The recommended dose of DEPO-PROVERA is 150 mg every 3 months (13 weeks) given in a
single intramuscular injection in the buttock or upper arm. To make sure that you are not pregnant
at the time of the first injection, it is essential that the injection be given ONLY during the first
5 days of a normal menstrual period. If used following the delivery of a child, the first injection of
DEPO-PROVERA MUST be given within 5 days after childbirth if you are not breast-feeding or
6 weeks after childbirth if you are exclusively breast-feeding. If you wait longer than 3 months
(13 weeks) between injections, or longer than 6 weeks after delivery, your health-care provider
should determine that you are not pregnant before giving you your injection of DEPO-PROVERA.
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