The relationship between blood alcohol concentration (BAC), age, and crash risk

PROBLEM: The role of age (youth and driving inexperience) and alcohol as major risk factors in traffic crash causation has been firmly established by numerous studies over the past 50 years. Less well established is how the two variables interrelate to influence crash risk. Some investigations have hypothesized an interactive or synergistic effect in which young drivers with less experience and a greater tendency to take risks are more adversely affected at lower blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) than are older drivers. The evidence for this hypothesis is mixed. Resolution of this issue has important implication for developing countermeasures directed at the young driver crash problem. METHOD: Case control data previously collected in Long Beach and Fort Lauderdale were reanalyzed using a more sensitive method for detecting interaction effects than used in the original analysis. A conditional logistic regression analyses found a highly significant agexBAC interaction (P<.0001) involving differences between drivers under 21 and those 21 and older. DISCUSSION: The results clearly indicate that positive BACs in drivers under 21 are associated with higher relative crash risks than would be predicted from the additive effect of BAC and age. It is likely that two mechanisms are operating to cause the interaction. First, it seems likely that the crash avoidance skill of young novice drivers would be more adversely affected by alcohol due to their driving inexperience, immaturity, and less experience with alcohol. Second, drivers under 21 who choose to drink and to drive after drinking probably have pre-existing characteristics that predisposed them to risk taking and crash involvement apart from any increased vulnerability to alcohol impairment. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The results support increased enforcement of zero-tolerance BAC laws for minors.     

基于改进火焰原子吸收光谱的土壤六价铬分析

针对分离和萃取环节,对火焰原子吸收光谱测定土壤中六价铬的方法加以改进。采用聚合氯化铝为絮凝剂、异戊醇为萃取剂,使三价铬和六价铬有效分离,并减少了测试干扰。考察了聚铝试剂用量和萃取液振荡时间对测定的影响,并将该方法与EPA 3060A方法和未改进的火焰原子吸收光谱法比较,表明改进后的方法能用于土壤中六价铬的测定。     

Substance use among populations displaced by conflict: a literature review

This paper reviews the literature on substance use among populations displaced by conflict. Of the 17 publications presenting primary data retained for review, all consider populations in or recovering from protracted conflict, the majority (10) in non-camp settings. Most studies (10) offer prevalence estimates, suggesting that substance use (such as of alcohol, opiates, or minor tranquilizers) is common in some displaced settings. Five describe harmful consequences of substance use among displaced populations (such as HIV transmission, tuberculosis treatment failure, gender-based violence, and economic problems). Three studies suggest risk factors for substance use problems (such as gender, trauma-related conditions, pre-displacement substance use, and socio-economic factors); two examine qualitatively the gendered nature of alcohol-related harm and its links with gender-based violence. One study examines an intervention. The evidence base is weak. Findings are used to develop a conceptual framework emphasizing the risk environment to inform further research, to encourage debate among researchers and practitioners, and to enable the development of interventions.     

聚乙烯醇在超临界水氧化中降解

以H2O2为氧化剂用间歇式超临界水氧化装置对聚乙烯醇(PVA)废水进行降解研究。通过正交实验,考察了反应温度、压力、时间及氧化剂过氧倍数对降解效果的影响,并且采用GC/MS对液相降解产物进行表征推测其可能降解途径。结果表明:PVA在SCWO体系中能完全降解,反应温度440℃、压力28 MPa、氧化剂过氧倍数4、反应40 min时,COD去除率为99.03%,出水COD=89.09 mg/L。PVA在SCWO体系中降解为烯烃、烯酮、醇和羧酸类中间产物、最终降解为小分子的饱和直链烷烃类液相产物。     

混凝沉淀法深度处理酒精废水

采用混凝沉淀法对酒精废水进行深度处理实验及放大应用研究。结果表明,混凝剂种类、投加量、pH值及沉降时间对处理效果都起着重要作用。通过正交实验确定最优化组合,即聚合硫酸铝投加量为60mg／L,pH为8．0左右,沉降时间为90min条件下,废水COD去除率达41．91％;浊度去除率达46．15％;NH3-N去除率达49．61％。混凝沉淀法处理酒精废水可有效减轻后续膜处理工艺负荷,有助于提高回用水质。     

The impact of retail beverage service training and social host laws on adolescents' DUI rates in San Diego County,California

Introduction: Driving under the influence (DUI) citations are still a serious concern among drivers aged 16–20 years and have been shown to be related to increased risk of fatal and nonfatal crashes. A battery of laws and policies has been enacted to address this concern. Though numerous studies have evaluated these policies, there is still a need for comprehensive policy evaluations that take into account a variety of contextual factors. Previous effort by this research team examined the impact of 20 minimum legal drinking age–21 laws in the state of California, as they impacted alcohol-related crash rates among drivers under 21 years of age while at the same time accounting for alcohol and gas taxes, unemployment rates, sex distribution among drivers, and sobriety checkpoints. The current research seeks to expand this evaluation to the county level (San Diego County). More specifically, we evaluate the impact of measures subject to county control such as retail beverage service (RBS) laws and social host (SH) laws, as well as media coverage, city employment, alcohol outlet density, number of sworn officers, alcohol consumption, and taxation policies, to determine the most effective point of intervention for communities seeking to reduce underage DUI citations.

Methods: Annual DUI citation data (2000 to 2013), RBS and SH policies, and city-wide demographic, economic, and environmental information were collected and applied to each of the 20 cities in San Diego County, California. A structural equation model was fit to estimate the relative contribution of the variables of interest to DUI citation rates.

Results: Alcohol consumption and alcohol outlet density both demonstrated a significant increase in DUI rates, whereas RBS laws, SH laws, alcohol tax rates, media clusters, gas tax rates, and unemployment rates demonstrated significant decreases in DUI rates.

Conclusions: At the county level, although RBS laws, SH laws, and media efforts were found to contribute to a significant reduction in DUI rates, the largest significant contributors to reducing DUI rates were alcohol and gas taxation rates. Policy makers interested in reducing DUI rates among teenagers should examine these variables within their specific communities and consider conducting community-specific research to determine the best way to do so. Future efforts should be made to develop models that represent specific communities who are interested in reducing DUI rates among drivers aged 16–20 years.     

Transdermal alcohol monitoring combined with contingency management for driving while impaired offenders: A pilot randomized controlled study

Objectives: In a pilot randomized controlled trial of contingency management (CM) and transdermal alcohol monitoring (TAM) with offenders driving while impaired by alcohol (DWI), perceptions regarding the acceptability of a TAM device, recruitment issues, and the impact of CM and TAM on alcohol use over a 6-week period were evaluated. The results aimed to inform the design of future trials and programs involving CM and TAM for DWI remediation.

Methods: TAM devices were affixed to 37 voluntary, community-recruited male DWI offenders with problem alcohol use. They were randomized to one of 3 groups: (1) CM; (2) alcohol use feedback (FB); and (3) TAM device only (CTL). Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered on the acceptability of TAM devices and recruitment, and alcohol use was monitored via TAM and self-report.

Results: The TAM device was perceived positively, with benefits for reducing drinking noted. Nevertheless, some of its inconveniences appeared to influence participant recruitment and attrition, including its large size and limited water resistance. TAM data revealed a significant main effect of time for reduction in weekly peak transdermal alcohol concentration (P = .02), with a decrease between means of weeks 1 and 6 (M = 0.15, SE = 0.02 vs. M = 0.09, SE = 0.02; P = .005). No significant group effect was detected.

Conclusions: TAM is a viable adjunct to CM with DWI offenders, though the TAM device used here may influence both study recruitment and adherence. These findings can guide the design of future studies into CM and TAM for DWI remediation.     

臭氧氧化—A/O工艺处理PVA废水

采用臭氧氧化—A/O工艺处理聚乙烯醇（PVA）废水,研究了臭氧氧化时间、臭氧流量以及废水pH等因素对臭氧氧化效果的影响。实验结果表明：当气体臭氧质量浓度为30 mg/L、臭氧氧化时间为45 min、臭氧流量为4 L/min、废水pH为8时,PVA质量浓度从进水的93.2 mg/L降至4.5 mg/L;PVA溶液的BOD₅/COD从0.014增加至0.310,可生化性明显改善;臭氧氧化—A/O工艺处理后出水COD降至50 mg/L左右,达到GB 8978—1996《污水综合排放标准》中的一级排放标准;出水PVA质量浓度为1.6 mg/L,明显优于A/O工艺（33.1 mg/L）。     

国家储备物资的属性功能及其作用价值

从全球化、国情和宏观经济运行的现代视角对国家储备物资的实质属性及其功能特征进行深入和系统分析的基础上,揭示了国家储备物资在国家发展、社会稳定和经济建设等方面的必要性及其投入使用的作用原理,对国家储备物资参与国家经济、安全和社会生活的现代价值及其意义进行了研究。研究证明,在应对突发性事件或不确定因素所造成的巨灾和风险时,国家储备物资因其属性功能而不仅具有比较优势,更具有绝对优势;它们的投入和使用对国家政治和经济的稳定,保证民生和国家安全等方面,可以发挥刚性作用与弹性作用。这种功能性的优势及其作用是市场机制不具备的效能,是社会其他资源或力量无法替代的,在经济全球化和现代化发展中,它们是国家实力与核心竞争力的重要成分。     

海藻酸钠-聚乙烯醇-聚乙二醇复合膜的制备及其对Cu2+的吸附

采用聚乙烯醇（PVA）、聚乙二醇（PEG）对海藻酸钠（SA）进行改性,制备了一种新型高效SA-PVA-PEG复合膜。研究了该复合膜对Cu²⁺的吸附效果。用IR和SEM等手段对复合膜进行了表征。表征结果显示,复合膜内部存在孔状结构,有利于吸附Cu²⁺。实验结果表明：在初始Cu²⁺质量浓度50 mg/L、复合膜加入量1 g/L、废水pH=5、吸附温度30 ℃、吸附时间60 min的最佳条件下,吸附率最高可达90.1%,吸附量达25.3 mg/g;复合膜吸附Cu²⁺的动力学过程可用二级动力学方程和Elovice方程进行拟合,吸附过程符合Langmuir单层吸附理论。采用浓度为1 mol/L的HCl溶液对吸附后的复合膜进行解吸,当解吸时间为2 min时,解吸率可达80.0%。