Gender differences in relation to wayfinding strategies, navigational support design, and wayfinding task difficulty

This study investigated user wayfinding navigational performance in terms of two navigational support designs (guide sign and you-are-here map, i.e., YAH), wayfinding strategies (egocentric/route and allocentric/survey), task difficulty (terrestrial/2D or weightless/3D), and gender differences. Eighty participants (40 males and 40 females) were recruited for the wayfinding experiment. The experimental results and statistical analysis indicated that, in the weightless VR scene, navigation time for the terrestrial/2D task type was significantly shorter than for the weightless/3D task type. The guide sign support was significantly more effective than YAH map support. Moreover, the interactions between support style and gender difference indicated that males exhibit better wayfinding performance than females, but that appropriate support can improve navigational performance and eliminate gender differences. In addition, the Way-Finding Strategy Scale result showed that the females were more likely to adopt the egocentric strategy while males were more likely to adopt the allocentric strategy, and that their scores were negatively correlated with navigational performance. Our results can be used to evaluate the interface designs of navigational support systems taking into consideration gender differences with respect to 3D VR games, including VR diving or flying navigational systems.     

首钢孟家冲尾矿坝渗流稳定分析

针对孟家冲尾矿库坝面出现的渗水现象,对坝体的渗流以及稳定进行计算分析。计算结果表明,由于堆积坝的不断升高,导致坝体浸润线抬高,安全稳定系数降低,从而将造成坝体失稳,出现溃坝事故。为消除隐患,提出采用辐射井排渗的设计方案,并对该方案的可行性进行计算分析。     

不同热力背景对城市降雨（暴雨）的影响（Ⅰ）—降雨分布的空间差异

如何准确描述和预测降雨（暴雨）的空间分布，已成为城市减灾防灾的重要内容，本文探讨了利用热信息研究城市降雨空间分布差异的方法。在遥感、GIS技术支持下，利用对没的期夏、冬季热图像的主成分析和图像分割，将上海市1958－1998年热环境划分为自然、低温、高温3种不同的热力背景。在此基础上，就不同热力背景对城市降雨（暴雨）分布空间差异的影响规律进行了研究，为建立城市降雨空间差异预报模型奠定了基础。     

单块集尘板振打加速度的有限元分析

采用有限元分析软件ABAQUS，对单块集尘板振打加速度进行了分析计算。并将计算结果与解析法和实测法结果进行对比。对比结果表明，有限元计算值更接近于实测值。用有限元法对某厂实际运行的电除尘器加速度进行求解，计算结果与实际基本吻合。由于有限元法能非常方便地处理各种复杂板型、不同的悬挂方式、振打锤的大小以及振打方式，因此，有限元法对于现有极板的分析与新型极板的研究均具有重要的实际意义。     

Urban Energy Efficiency from Cities in China and Policy Implications

Using 1995-2006 panel data for 210 cities, this article firstly measures total factor energy efficiency for Chinese cities with constant return to scale data envelopment analysis model,and then describes the features of regional differences. The results show that the changing trend displays four "reversed U" shapes. A turning point of widening gap occurred among cities in 2000 and there was a certain convergence among four regions. Urban energy efficiency level is unstable. Cities with low efficiency and high energy input will be the focus of energy-saving and reducing emissions. According to Tobit model, resource endowment, temperature, industrial structure, technology level and variety of policy factors should be treated differently in different situations.     

MODEL FOR PREDICTING TRANSPORT OF PESTICIDES AND THEIR METABOLITES IN THE UNSATURATED ZONE1

ABSTRACT: A finite element model based on Galerkin's upstream weighted residual technique was developed to predict the simultaneous convective-dispersion transport and transformations of pesticides and their metabolites in the unsaturated zone. Transformations of the parent compound and its metabolites were assumed to be first-order reactions for oxidation and hydrolysis, while adsorption of the pesticide species (parent compound and metabolites) to the soil components was assumed to be represented by a linear equilibrium (Freundlich type) isotherm. Volatilization and plant root uptake of pesticides in the solution phase were neglected in the analysis. The proposed model was used to simulate the transport and transformation of aldicarb and its metabolites, aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfone, in the soil profile. Several examples are used to demonstrate the accuracy, validity, and applicability of the proposed model. Simulated results indicate that the proposed model can potentially be used to estimate the mass flux of water, and pesticide and pesticide metabolite concentrations in the subsurface environment. However, further verification of the model against actual field data is needed to fully demonstrate the model's potential.     

NUMERICAL MODELING OF SALTWATER INTRUSION IN THE NORTHERN GUAM LENS1

ABSTRACT This paper deals with the application of a two-dimensional, saltwater intrusion model to the aquifer in Northern Guam. The model used finite element theory and the Galerkin, weighted-residual technique as its basis. The Northern Guam lens was discretized into 299 linear, triangular elements and 189 nodes. The model was calibrated using 1978 hydrologic data. The output of the model was compared with measured water levels in six observation wells. The calibrated values of permeability and porosity were then used to verify the model using 1979 data. A calibrated and verified model can be used to make an infinite variety of management and planning studies. In this study, three applications are provided that would be considered typical management runs. Steady state runs were made to compare the four conditions of no pumping, 1978 pumping levels, twice 1978 pumping levels, and five times 1978 pumping levels. The water levels due to these conditions are shown in plan and in cross sections of the aquifer. The effect of zero recharge to the aquifer is next demonstrated for the pumping levels existing during 1978. The final run shows how long the aquifer takes to reach steady state when the pumping rate is increased from the 1978 pumping level to twice that value. The program can be used for numerous other studies for management and planning purposes.     

EFFECTS OF TIME STEP SIZE IN IMPLICIT DYNAMIC ROUTING1

ABSTRACT The effects of the size of the Δt time step used in the integration of the implicit difference equations of unsteady open-channel flow are determined for numerous typical hydrographs with durations in the order of days or even weeks. Truncation errors related to the size of the Δt time step cause a numerical distortion (dispersion and attenuation) of the computed transient. The magnitude of the distortion is related directly to the size of the time step, the length of channel reach, and the channel resistance and inversely to the time of rise of the hydrograph. The type of finite difference expression which replaces spatial derivatives and non-derivative terms in the partial differential equations of unsteady flow has an important influence on the magnitude of the numerical distortion, as well as the numerical stability of the implicit difference equations. Time step sizes in the range of 3 to 6 hrs generally tend to minimize the combination of required computation time and numerical distortion of transients having a time of rise of the order of several days.