Validation of auditory detection response task method for assessing the attentional effects of cognitive load

Objectives: There are 3 standardized versions of the Detection Response Task (DRT), 2 using visual stimuli (remote DRT and head-mounted DRT) and one using tactile stimuli. In this article, we present a study that proposes and validates a type of auditory signal to be used as DRT stimulus and evaluate the proposed auditory version of this method by comparing it with the standardized visual and tactile version.

Methods: This was a within-subject design study performed in a driving simulator with 24 participants. Each participant performed 8 2-min-long driving sessions in which they had to perform 3 different tasks: driving, answering to DRT stimuli, and performing a cognitive task (n-back task). Presence of additional cognitive load and type of DRT stimuli were defined as independent variables. DRT response times and hit rates, n-back task performance, and pupil size were observed as dependent variables.

Results: Significant changes in pupil size for trials with a cognitive task compared to trials without showed that cognitive load was induced properly. Each DRT version showed a significant increase in response times and a decrease in hit rates for trials with a secondary cognitive task compared to trials without. Similar and significantly better results in differences in response times and hit rates were obtained for the auditory and tactile version compared to the visual version. There were no significant differences in performance rate between the trials without DRT stimuli compared to trials with and among the trials with different DRT stimuli modalities.

Conclusions: The results from this study show that the auditory DRT version, using the signal implementation suggested in this article, is sensitive to the effects of cognitive load on driver's attention and is significantly better than the remote visual and tactile version for auditory–vocal cognitive (n-back) secondary tasks.     

小学生水域安全知信行问卷编制及信效度检验

在文献检索和访谈的基础上,提出有关编制适用于我国小学生水域安全调研的知信行(KAP)问卷的理论构想。以此为基础,编制小学生水域安全知信行初始问卷。经初测(N=495)和正式测量(N=2 554),运用探索性因素分析方法筛选条目,用克朗巴赫法评价同质性信度,据内容效度比评价内容效度,用探索性和验证性因素分析方法评价结构效度。问卷包含4个维度(水域安全知识、技能、态度和高危行为)共39个条目。问卷的信效度检验结果表明,问卷的因素结构、同质性信度、内容效度和结构效度均达到心理测量学的要求。小学生水域安全知信行问卷具有较为满意的信、效度,较好地反映了问卷设计的理论构想。     

火灾情况下小学生应急疏散量化分析研究

我国是一个火灾发生频率高的国家,为切实保障在校学生的人身安全,提高学生应急疏散能力,最大限度地减轻火灾造成的人员伤亡,有必要针对不同学生群体举行应急疏散演练训练。针对火灾中影响人员安全疏散的因素和不同年龄层次小学生特点设计实验方案,以时间为量化衡量值,对小学生疏散训练的效果进行量化分析,通过采用现场实验的方法采集数据,并采用SPSS进行统计分析归纳测试结果,归纳出小学生应急疏散训练特点,为将来国内小学校应急疏散训练效果评价指标体系研究提供参考依据,并且为针对小学生群体疏散演练的训练模式奠定一定的实验基础。     

Influence of light zones on drivers' visual fixation characteristics and traffic safety in extra-long tunnels

Objective: Special light zone is a new illumination technique that promises to improve the visual environment and improve traffic safety in extra-long tunnels. The purpose of this study is to identify how light zones affect the dynamic visual characteristics and information perception of drivers as they pass through extra-long tunnels on highways.

Methods: Thirty-two subjects were recruited for this study, and fixation data were recorded using eye movement tracking devices. A back-propagation artificial neural network was employed to predict and analyze the influence of special light zones on the variations in the fixation duration and pupil area of drivers. The analytic coordinates of focus points at different light zones were clustered to obtain different visual fixation regions using dynamic cluster theory.

Results: The findings of this study indicated that the special light zones had different influences on fixation duration and pupil area compared to other sections. Drivers gradually changed their fixation points from a scattered pattern to a narrow and zonal distribution that mainly focused on the main visual area at the center, the road just ahead, and the right side of the main visual area while approaching the special light zones. The results also showed that the variation in illumination and landscape in light zones was more important than driving experience to yield changes in visual cognition and driving behavior.

Conclusions: It can be concluded that the special light zones can help relieve drivers' vision fatigue to some extent and further develop certain visual stimulus that can enhance drivers' attention. The study would provide a scientific basis for safety measurement implementation in extra-long tunnels.     

对水工构筑物设计的几点看法

探讨了水工构筑物设计中的地下水位确定、伸缩缝设置、总体布置及设计与施工配合等问题。设计在满足国家有关政策、规范要求的同时,要做到技术先进、安全适用、经济合理。     

考虑损伤与剪胀及中间主应力的巷道围岩弹塑性分析

为研究圆形巷道围岩的稳定性,考虑了巷道围岩的损伤、剪胀特性以及中间主应力效应,建立了圆形巷道围岩弹塑性损伤力学模型,推导出圆形巷道围岩的弹塑性应力场和位移场解析解。研究结果表明:考虑损伤时围岩塑性区范围更大,所需支护阻力增长明显,塑性区位移明显增加;剪胀对位移场影响较大,对应力场影响较小,剪胀系数越大,需要提供的支护阻力就越大;随着中间主应力系数的增大,所需支护阻力降低,塑性区位移减小,最大位移减小幅度高达79.74%,不考虑中间主应力的强度准则偏于保守;考虑损伤、剪胀和中间主应力的新的位移解更加合理,研究成果为圆形巷道的设计支护提供了一定的理论基础和参考价值。