Are you okay to drive? Commuting behavior and blood alcohol concentrations among restaurant diners

Objective: Drink driving is widely recognized as a major road safety problem. In Australia, health promotion messages encourage monitoring the number of standard drinks consumed prior to driving. This pilot research aimed to investigate commuting behavior and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of diners, including intended drivers, at Sunshine Coast restaurants.

Methods: Five hundred and forty-four diners (n = 260 males) consented to participate in a brief interview and to use a breathalyzer device to measure their BAC.

Results: Forty percent of participants advised they don't drink and drive (34% of males, 45% of females; 67.25% of <17–20 years, 30.5% of 50–59 years), and of the remaining participants, 75% advised they count the number of their drinks (69% of males, 84% of females; 32% of <17–20 years, 82% of 50–59 years), while 10% of participants monitored their BAC by how they were feeling (12% of males, 6% of females). Thirty-seven percent of participants said it was easy/very easy to estimate their BAC (41% of males; 33% of females; 21% of <17–20 years, 43% of 50–59 years). The actual BAC was less than expected for 56% of participants, with one-third underestimating BAC and some intended drivers having an actual BAC in excess of the 0.05 limit.

Conclusions: Given the proportion of diners who reported they count the number of drinks, or use feelings as a way to gauge BAC, coupled with the considerable proportion who underestimated their BAC, a safer public health message is to avoid driving if you intend to drink. In addition, targeted intervention for experienced drivers (and, arguably, drinkers) appears warranted, as every participant aged less than 21 years who stated he or she would drive home indeed had a zero BAC. Interestingly every female driver who stated she would be driving home also had a legal BAC, suggesting gender-specific intervention.     

Roadside survey on alcohol and drug use among drivers in the Arctic county of Finnmark (Norway)

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of alcohol and potentially impairing drugs among the general driving population in Finnmark and to compare the prevalence among Norwegian, Russian, and other foreign drivers by analyzing samples of oral fluid.

Methods: In collaboration with local police, drivers were selected for a voluntary and anonymous study using a multistage cluster sampling procedure (selection of roads, time intervals, and drivers within each interval) from September 2014 to October 2015. Age, gender, citizenship, time, and geographical site were recorded. Samples of oral fluid were collected using the Quantisal device. The samples were analyzed for alcohol with an enzymatic method and for 12 illicit drugs and 16 medicinal drugs and some metabolites using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection.

Results: A total of 3,228 drivers were asked to participate in the study. The refusal rate was 6.2%. Of the 3,027 participants in the study, 111 (3.7%) were Russian and 204 (6.7%) had citizenship other than Norwegian or Russian. The total prevalence of psychoactive substances was 4.3%. Alcohol was detected in 0.3%, psychoactive medicinal drugs in 2.5%, and illicit drugs in 1.6% of the samples. The most commonly found substances were the sleeping agent zopiclone (1.1%), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; 1.1%), and the analgesic agent codeine (0.6%). Illicit drugs were detected significantly more often in samples from drivers of citizenship other than Norwegian or Russian. The prevalence of alcohol was somewhat higher among Russian drivers but not statistically significant. There were large differences between age groups and genders concerning illicit drugs and psychoactive medicinal drugs; illicit drugs were more frequently in samples from young male drivers, whereas psychoactive medicinal drugs were more frequently in samples from elderly female drivers.

Conclusion: The total prevalence of alcohol and drugs among the general driving population in Finnmark was low and similar to previous Norwegian roadside surveys. Illicit drugs were detected significantly more often in samples from drivers with citizenship other than Russian and Norwegian and among young male drivers.     

胞外聚合物对MBR中改性无纺布过滤性能的影响

采用统计分析方法研究了胞外聚合物(extra-cellular polymeric sub6tances, EPS)对浸渍式膜生物反应器(submerged membrane bioreactor, SMBR)中聚乙烯醇改性聚丙烯无纺布过滤性能的影响.结果表明,无纺布膜组件表面污泥的溶解性EPS(soluble EPS, EPSs)、EPSs,组成(protein/carbohydrate, P/C)以及相对疏水性(relative hydrophobicity, RH)对膜的过滤性能有显著影响,与膜污染阻力的皮尔逊相关系数(rp)分别为:0.868、0.840、0.890;改性无纺布膜组件能有效抑制EPSs,的吸附、降低EPSs组分中P/C的比率、减少活性污泥的沉积.表明聚丙烯无纺布通过亲水改性后,过滤性能得到明显改善,表现出一定的耐污染性.     

Prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving and riding in northern Ghana

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the roadside prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving among drivers and riders in northern Ghana. The study also verifies motorists' perceptions of their own alcohol use and knowledge of the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Ghana.

Method: With the assistance of police, systematic random sampling was used to collect data at roadblocks using a cross-sectional study design. Breathalyzers were used to screen whether motorists had detectable alcohol in their breath and follow-up breath tests were conducted to measure the actual breath alcohol levels among positive participants.

Results: In all, 9.7% of the 789 participants had detectable alcohol, among whom 6% exceeded the legal BAC limit of 0.08%. The prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving/riding was highest among cyclists (10% of all cyclists breath-tested) followed by truck drivers (9%) and motorcyclists (7% of all motorcyclists breath-tested). The occurrence of a positive BAC among cyclists was about 8 times higher (odds ratio [OR] = 7.73; P < .001) and it was 2 times higher among motorcyclists (OR = 2.30; P = .039) compared to private car drivers. The likelihood for detecting a positive BAC among male motorists/riders was higher than that among females (OR = 1.67; P = .354). The odds for detecting a positive BAC among weekend motorists/riders was significantly higher than on weekdays (OR = 2.62; P = .001).

Conclusion: Alcohol-impaired driving/riding in Ghana is high by international standards. In order to attenuate the harmful effects of alcohol misuse such as alcohol-impaired driving/riding, there is the need to educate road users about how much alcohol they can consume and stay below the legal limit. The police should also initiate random breath testing to instill the deterrence of detection, certainty of apprehension and punishment, and severity and celerity of punishment among drink-driving motorists and riders.     

Age group differences in collision risk

Introduction

The purpose of the current study was to examine differences in factors associated with self-reported collision involvement of three age groups of drivers based on a large representative sample of Ontario adults. Method: This study was based on data from the CAMH Monitor, an ongoing cross-sectional telephone survey of Ontario adults 18 years and older from 2002 to 2005. Three age groups were examined: 18-34 (n = 1,294), 35-54 (n = 2,428), and 55+ (n = 1,576). For each age group sample, a logistic regression analysis was conducted of self-reported collision involvement in the last 12 months by risk factor measures of driving exposure (kilometers driven in a typical week, driving is stressful, and driving on busy roads), consuming five or more drinks of alcohol on one occasion (past 12 months), cannabis use (lifetime, and past 12 months), and driving after drinking among drinkers (past 12 months), controlling for demographics (gender, region, income, and marital status). Results: The study identified differences in factors associated with self-reported collision involvement of the three age groups of adult drivers. The logistic regression model for the youngest group revealed that drivers who reported that driving was stressful at least some of the time, drank five or more drinks on an occasion, and drove after drinking had an increased risk of collision involvement. For the middle age group, those who reported using cannabis in the last 12 months had significantly increased odds of reporting collision involvement. None of the risk factor measures showed significant associations with collision risk for older drivers (aged 55+). Impact: The results suggest potential areas for intervention and new directions for future research.     

HAN基ECSP凝胶模型的构建与分子动力学模拟

目的 从微观分子的角度对硝酸羟胺(HAN)基电控固体推进剂(Electrically Controlled Solid Propellants,ECSP)的性能参数进行模拟与计算。方法 利用分子表面静电势(ESP)对HAN分子2种可能的构型进行优化和稳定性分析。通过真空非周期性分子动力学模拟得到聚乙烯醇(PVA)分子稳定构型,并以HAN基ECSP的主要成分按一定比例构建凝胶模型。基于RESP(Restrained Electrostatic Potential)电荷生成更准确的凝胶模型拓扑文件,并进行凝胶模型的分子动力学模拟、模型稳定分析以及模型参数计算。结果 凝胶模型总能量相对平均值的周期性波动不超过7%。由于三维PVA链的包裹,H2O分子的扩散系数被大幅削弱。氢键分析和径向分布函数表明氢键键长主要分布在0.282 6 nm附近,PVA与H2O间的氢键较少,H2O与HAN、H2O与H2O之间的氢键较多。模型密度为1.405 g/cm³,与实验值吻合度高。在283、293、303 K下,HAN基ECSP凝胶模型的拉伸模量依次降低,剪切模量先增后减。在15 K/600 ps冷却速率下,HAN基ECSP凝胶模型的拉伸模量和剪切模量均增大。结论 ECSP制备结束后,冷却过程中的环境温度不宜过高,否则容易造成ECSP力学性能的快速下降,快速冷却可以提高ECSP的力学性能。     

Interaction of alcohol and kola nut on brain sodium pump activity in Wistar rats

The effect of interaction of alcohol and kola nut on sodium pump activity was studied in Wistar rats. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into six groups of five rats per group. Control received a placebo (4 mL of distilled water). Groups 2–6 were treated for a period of 21 days with 10% (v/v) alcohol, 50 mg caffeine/kg, 50 mg kola nut/kg, or a combination of 10% (v/v) alcohol + 50 mg kola nut/kg, or 10% (v/v) alcohol + 50 mg caffeine/kg, respectively. One day after the final exposure, brains were harvested and several biochemical parameters examined including activities of total ATPase, ouabain-insensitive ATPase, ouabain sensitive ATPase (Na⁺–K⁺-ATPase) and levels of nonenzymatic breakdown of ATP and inorganic phosphate (P_i) released. Results showed that the essential enzyme of the brain responsible for neuronal function, Na⁺–K⁺-ATPase, was inhibited by alcohol–kola nut co-administration relative to control, resulting in a decreased ATP production, ion transport and action potential, leading to loss of neuronal activities.     

Degradation of bisphenol A by microorganisms immobilized on polyvinyl alcohol microspheres

In this study, microorganisms （named B111） were immobilized on polyvinyl alcohol microspheres prepared by the inverse suspension crosslinked method. The biodegradation of bisphenol A （BPA） and 4-hydro- xybenzaldehyde, a degradation product of BPA, by free and immobilized B lll was investigated. The BPA degradation studies were carried out at initial BPA concentrations ranging from 25 to 150 mg·L^-1. The affinity constant Ks and maximum degradation rate Rmax were 98.3 mg·L^-1 and 19.7mg·mg^-1VSS·d^-1 for free B111, as well as 87.2mg·L^-1 and 21.1mg·mg^-1VSS·d^-1 for immobilized B 111, respectively. 16S rDNA gene sequence analyses confirmed that the dominant genera were Pseudomonas and Brevundimonas for BPA biodegradation in microorganisms B 111.     

汽油车技术发展对尾气排放影响研究进展

近年来,汽油车尾气排放已成为城市大气污染的主要来源之一.为减少油耗、温室气体和大气污染物的排放,汽油直喷技术(GDI)、醇类燃料替代以及混合动力系统等新兴技术被应用到汽车产品中,该研究对GDI发动机汽车、醇类燃料车和混合动力车的颗粒物(PM)、氮氧化物(NO_x)、总碳氢化合物(THC)的排放研究进行梳理和总结,综合评估先进动力技术和醇类燃料的环境影响.结果表明:GDI汽油车的PM排放因子为进气道喷射(PFI)汽油车的1.2~5倍,加装汽油颗粒物捕集器(GPF)后GDI汽油车的PM排放大幅下降,同时具备催化能力的GPF可减少NO_x和THC排放.与汽油车相比,乙醇燃料车PM排放量减少了35%~56%,尾气THC排放减少了10%~44%,但挥发性有机物(VOCs)蒸发排放增加了20%~41%,其主要来自于日呼吸损失.各类型车辆的NO_x排放差异较小,比较结果存在一定的不确定性.混合动力车相比传统内燃机汽车污染物减排优势明显,可积极推广其在公共交通和私家车队中的应用.建议今后研究应着重关注以下几个方面:①GDI和混合动力车在实际条件下排放污染物的环境影响;②醇类燃料车VOCs蒸发排放控制技术及相关法规标准的完善;③新兴技术汽油车排放污染物的生成机理及其影响因素.      

Adsorption/Desorption of Polyvinyl Alcohol on Solid Substrates and Relevant Biodegradation

The rates and extents of absorption and desorption of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) samples on different solid substrates comprising montmorillonite, quartz sand, and farm soil, as well as humic acid mixture are reported. The uptake of PVA by the substrates was analyzed as a function of PVA hydrolysis (72–98%), molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution. Higher adsorption was detected on montmorillonite followed by farm soil, whereas the quartz sand did not display any specific adsorption affinity for the PVA. An increase in the hydrolysis degree of PVA increased the adsorption rate and extent whereas this feature was reversed by an increase in PVA molecular weight. The desorption of PVA samples from the different substrates was performed both under various pH conditions and in the presence of concentrated HF that was used to dissolve the silicon derivatives present in the substrates. Biodegradation experiments carried out in liquid cultures of PVA adsorbed on montmorillonite showed that the mineralization of the adsorbed PVA was much lower than that detected for the nonadsorbed PVA. This investigation suggests that irreversible adsorption of PVA on the clay component occurs in soil, thus substantially inhibiting PVA biodegradation.