The Real-World Safety Potential of Connected Vehicle Technology

Objective: This article estimates the safety potential of a current commercially available connected vehicle technology in real-world crashes.

Method: Data from the Centre for Automotive Safety Research's at-scene in-depth crash investigations in South Australia were used to simulate the circumstances of real-world crashes. A total of 89 crashes were selected for inclusion in the study. The crashes were selected as representative of the most prevalent crash types for injury or fatal crashes and had potential to be mitigated by connected vehicle technology. The trajectory, speeds, braking, and impact configuration of the selected in-depth cases were replicated in a software package and converted to a file format allowing “replay” of the scenario in real time as input to 2 Cohda Wireless MK2 onboard units. The Cohda Wireless onboard units are a mature connected vehicle technology that has been used in both the German simTD field trial and the U.S. Department of Transport's Safety Pilot project and have been tuned for low false alarm rates when used in the real world. The crash replay was achieved by replacing each of the onboard unit Global Positioning System (GPS) inputs with the simulated data of each of the involved vehicles. The time at which the Cohda Wireless threat detection software issued an elevated warning was used to calculate a new impact speed using 3 different reaction scenarios and 2 levels of braking.

Results: It was found that between 37 and 86% of the simulated crashes could be avoided, with highest percentage due a fully autonomous system braking at 0.7 g. The same system also reduced the impact speed relative to the actual crash in all cases. Even when a human reaction time of 1.2 s and moderate braking of 0.4 g was assumed, the impact speed was reduced in 78% of the crashes. Crash types that proved difficult for the threat detection engine were head-on crashes where the approach angle was low and right turn–opposite crashes.

Conclusions: These results indicate that connected vehicle technology can be greatly beneficial in real-world crash scenarios and that this benefit would be maximized by having the vehicle intervene autonomously with heavy braking. The crash types that proved difficult for the connected vehicle technology could be better addressed if controller area network (CAN) information is available, such as steering wheel angle, so that driver intent can be inferred sooner. More accurate positioning in the real world (e.g., combining satellite positioning and accelerometer data) would allow the technology to be more effective for near-collinear head-on and rear-end crashes, because the low approach angles that are common in such crashes are currently ignored in order to minimize false alarms due to positioning uncertainty.     

绿灯倒计时信号对驾驶行为的影响

为揭示绿灯倒计时信号对交叉口交通安全的影响,针对不同交通负荷与信号控制方式下的驾驶行为开展研究。选择大连市内的倒计时信号交叉口与非倒计时信号交叉口各2处,开展车辆行驶速度及不良驾驶行为调查。用数理统计方法,对比分析2类交叉口在平峰与高峰时段的车辆行驶速度特性,同时对比分析上述不同条件下闯黄灯及违规变道行为的发生数量。研究表明,绿灯倒计时信号在绿灯时间末期,会诱发一部分驾驶员加速行驶通过交叉口;绿灯倒计时信号在平峰时段对闯黄灯行为数量的影响较小,而对违规变道行为的数量有显著影响。     

氧化石墨烯对亚甲基蓝和铜离子的共吸附行为研究

氧化石墨烯(GO)具有高比表面积和丰富的含氧官能团,表面存在着大量的吸附点位,被认为是去除水体污染物的高效吸附剂,而其在有机物-重金属复合污染环境中的吸附行为却鲜有报道.因此,本文采用改良Hummers法制备出GO,通过扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、红外光谱(FTIR)、拉曼光谱(Raman)和X射线衍射(XRD)等物理表征方法对GO的形貌结构和表面官能团进行了表征.随后,侧重研究了GO对有机物及重金属污染物的单独和共吸附行为,选取亚甲基蓝(MB)与Cu(Ⅱ)作为复合污染水体的特征污染物,探讨了不同浓度Cu(Ⅱ)对MB及不同浓度MB对Cu(Ⅱ)的吸附性能的影响.结果表明,不同类型的污染物单独存在时,GO对MB和Cu(Ⅱ)的吸附量分别为29.13和424.16mg·g-1;而当上述两种污染物共存时,GO对MB和Cu(Ⅱ)的吸附性能均明显下降,这说明MB与Cu(Ⅱ)在GO表面的吸附点位存在着竞争吸附关系,并且MB对Cu(Ⅱ)吸附的抑制作用明显高于Cu(Ⅱ)对MB吸附的影响.     

基于环境科学优化城市公园的设计研究

基于环境科学优化城市公园的设计研究,中国城市公园存在着环境品质不高的状况.为实现公园景观的整体优化,引入环境科学理论,关注环境与人在行为之间的作用.从对城市公园的设计,制定研究框架,并根据研究结果确立景观设计的策略.关于公园的设计表明,基于环境科学的城市公园设计研究是可行的,它从城市公园空间建设的本质入手,抓住提高城市公园环境品质的实质,才能满足城市公园的设计,同时也可以考虑优化城市公园的设计的推广性.     

Structural equation model of the influence of noise annoyance on miners’ unsafe behavior in coal mines

Miners' unsafe behavior (UB) is the main cause of coal mine accidents. Previous research has suggested that excessive noise in tunnels impacts miners' temperaments and safe production behavior. To explore the influence of noise on UB, four different dimensions of noise annoyance were identified: cognitive, emotional, communication, and physical mechanism annoyance. The coal mine noise annoyance scale, miners' unsafe behavior intention (UBI) scale, and miners’ UB scale were developed according to different dimensions. In the first survey, a total of 200 questionnaires were distributed in the two coal mines, and 193 valid questionnaires were recovered. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted, and invalid items were removed according to the analysis results to form the final scale. Then, 500 final scales were distributed in two Chinese coal mines, and 482 valid questionnaires were collected. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted by collating the data of the second questionnaire. Based upon the structural equation model (SEM), the SEM of the influence of noise annoyance degree on UB and the path analysis with latent variable path analysis with the latent variables (PA-LVs) mediating model of the effect of UBI on UB were established, and the path coefficients with fitting data of the model were analyzed. The results indicated that the four dimensions of coal mine noise annoyance had a strong positive impact on UB, which was reduced by less noise annoyance. In addition, the Bootstrap method was used to verify the mediating method among the four dimensions of noise annoyance, cognitive annoyance, emotional annoyance, with communication annoyance indirectly affecting UB through UBI. The research results provide theoretical support for reducing the UB of miners and improving coal mine safety levels.     

间歇-阶段性酸雨入侵对填埋稳定化飞灰中重金属浸出行为影响

以间歇-分阶段进水方式进行了模拟酸雨柱式动态淋溶实验.结果表明,间歇-阶段性酸雨入侵会影响填埋飞灰中Pb、Zn、Cu、Cr和Ni的浸出行为;尤其间歇停滞期后的初期酸雨入侵会增加多数重金属的再浸出水平,且该部分重金属的释放主要源于前阶段酸雨侵蚀过程中所形成的非稳定性（弱酸态）重金属.各酸雨侵蚀阶段,部分重金属（如Pb-Zn）的浸出行为具有相关性,这与各重金属在飞灰基质内的赋存形态、矿物相稳定性及酸性侵蚀程度等有关.各阶段酸雨入侵会相继溶出飞灰中的可溶性（NaCl、KCl等）、难溶性氯盐（CaClOH）以及微溶性钙盐（CaSO₄）,并增加CaCO₃和Ca-Al-Si-O等矿物的峰强.各阶段酸雨入侵会使初始飞灰表面的团簇状结构逐渐被酸性（H⁺）侵蚀作用破坏,并暴露出大量棒状或条形状CaCO₃晶体,且随着酸雨入侵次数的增加,CaCO₃也将逐渐被侵蚀破坏.本研究为非连续酸性降雨条件下填埋稳定化飞灰的重金属浸出行为评价及风险管控提供了科学依据.     

重金属在灰尘及其水溶解相中的分布特征及其影响因素——以南昌市为例

以南昌市为例,分析了不同功能区和公交车站降尘及其水溶解相中重金属浓度的空间分布特征.同时结合多种分析技术,探究降尘及其水溶解相理化性质对降尘重金属在固-液相中分配行为的影响.结果表明:南昌市降尘及其水溶解相中总重金属浓度范围分别为310~4393μg/g和2.17~55.62μg/g.两相中重金属的空间分布可能受到车流量较大的交通干线和汽车轮胎零件磨损的影响,其高值区主要分布于南昌县政府、部分高校以及客运站、驾校附近.风险评价的结果表明,南昌市降尘重金属综合生态风险总体处于中等水平,且Cr和As具有一定的致癌风险.溶解态中重金属所占百分比(K值)的排序为:Ni>Mn>Cu>As>Cr>Zn>Pb,K值的空间分布高值区多分布于人口密集地区、交通道路以及汽车客运站附近.大部分降尘及其水溶解相的理化性质与Pb、As、Mn具有显著正相关关系,降尘溶解相中较高的溶解性有机碳和腐殖化程度对重金属向溶解相中的释放具有重要作用.     

壬基酚的环境生物地球化学研究进展及对新污染物管理的建议

近年来,我国大气环境、水环境和土壤环境质量得到一定的改善,“碧水蓝天”已经成为常态.但随着持久性有机污染物、内分泌干扰物、抗生素和微塑料等新污染物在环境中不断被检出,新污染物正逐步受到广泛的关注,壬基酚作为一种典型的内分泌干扰物也备受研究人员的关注.系统地概括了我国水体中壬基酚的环境行为和暴露水平,并基于风险商法和联合概率曲线法对壬基酚可能造成的生态风险进行了评估.结果表明,壬基酚对水生生物的毒性效应主要包括急性毒性、生长发育毒性、雌激素效应和繁殖毒性;壬基酚在我国主要流域水体中普遍存在,其浓度平均值在60～1 000 ng·L^-1,浓度最高值可达4 628 ng·L^-1;基于风险商法和联合概率曲线法的风险评估结果表明,壬基酚对我国主要流域里的水生生物均存在一定的风险.最后,总结了目前比较常用的壬基酚处理处置和风险管控技术,比较了国际上内分泌干扰物的监管方法,针对我国在新污染物环境管理中存在的问题,提出了针对性政策建议,研究结果可以为我国新污染物管理和管控提供参考.     

KOH活化小麦秸秆生物炭对废水中四环素的高效去除

活化是提高生物炭吸附性能的重要手段.以小麦秸秆为研究对象,KOH为活化剂,制备KOH活化生物炭（K-BC）,同时制备原状生物炭（BC）作为对照.对生物炭进行比表面积和孔径、元素分析、XPS、FTIR、Raman、XRD和pH_pzc等表征,考察KOH活化对生物炭理化性质的影响,并探究生物炭对水体中四环素的吸附性能和机制.结果表明,KOH活化之后生物炭的比表面积和孔体积可达996.4 m²·g^-1和0.45 cm³·g^-1.KOH活化会制造更多的碳结构缺陷,影响生物炭的官能团和表面电性.拟二级动力学和Langmuir模型可以较好地拟合生物炭吸附四环素的过程.环境温度升高能提高生物炭对四环素的吸附量.K-BC吸附四环素是自发、吸热和无序度增加的过程.K-BC对四环素的最大吸附量理论可达到491.19 mg·g^-1（实验温度为45℃）.结合吸附后生物炭的Raman、FTIR和XPS表征,发现孔隙填充和π-π作用是K-BC吸附四环素的主要机制,氢键和络合作用也发挥重要作用.此外,K-BC还具有良好的循环使用性能.综上所述,KOH活化小麦秸秆生物炭是有效和可行的,可用于废水中四环素的去除.     

Effect of phenobarbital and polychlorinated biphenyls on the toxicity and disposition of 1,2,4,5‐tetrachlorobenzene in the rat

Soil avoidance by earthworms has been generally considered a relevant and sensitive endpoint for assessing soil contamination by xenobiotics. However, when pesticide ecotoxicological assessment is concerned, the sensitivity of the recently standardized avoidance assay has been questioned. We hypothesized that this controversy may be due to the specific pesticide mode of action of the chemicals used rather than reveal inconsistencies in the test feasibility, i.e. provided that no pesticides interfering with neuronal pathways are tested, this bioassay should keep expected high levels of sensitivity. In this study, the avoidance behaviour of the earthworm Eisenia andrei under exposure to the carbamate insecticide methomyl [S-methyl N-(methylcarbamoyloxy)thioacetimidate] was linked to the corresponding acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. Significant AChE inhibition occurred at lower concentrations (from 0.86 mg Kg^?1 onwards) than significant avoidance of spiked soil (from 5.62 mg Kg^?1 onwards). This indicates that assessments regarding pesticides that have neurotoxic activity may be biased if behavioral endpoints are selected. Despite theoretical hypothesis that have been raised, this should be the first study providing preliminary experimental evidence on such a link between avoidance behavior and neuronal impairment levels in earthworms. Further studies are ongoing that should refine conclusions of this study.