Using negative emotional feedback to modify risky behavior of young moped riders

Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate whether the use of messages with negative emotional content is effective in promoting safe behavior of moped riders and how exactly these messages modulate rider behavior.

Methods: Participants received negative feedback when performing risky behaviors using a computer task. The effectiveness of this treatment was subsequently tested in a riding simulator.

Results: The results demonstrated how riders receiving negative feedback had a lower number of traffic accidents than a control group. The reduction in accidents was accompanied by a set of changes in the riding behavior. We observed a lower average speed and greater respect for speed limits. Furthermore, analysis of the steering wheel variance, throttle variance, and average braking force provided evidence for a more even and homogenous riding style. This greater abidance of traffic regulations and friendlier riding style could explain some of the causes behind the reduction in accidents.

Conclusions: The use of negative emotional feedback in driving schools or advanced rider assistance systems could enhance riding performance, making riders aware of unsafe practices and helping them to establish more accurate riding habits. Moreover, the combination of riding simulators and feedback—for example, in the training of novice riders and traffic offenders—could be an efficient tool to improve their hazard perception skills and promote safer behaviors.     

Growth,nutrient uptake capacities and tissue constituents of the macroalgae Cladophora vagabunda and Gracilaria tikvahiae related to site-specific nitrogen loading rates

Cladophora vagabunda (L.) van den Hoek and Gracilaria tikvahiae (McLachlan) have become dominant components of the macroalgal assemblage in Waquoit Bay, a Massachusetts embayment, possibly due to nitrogen (N) enrichment from anthropogenic inputs transported via groundwater. During 1989–1993, we measured site-related growth, ammonium uptake rates and tissue constituents of these macroalgae from areas subject to high N loading rates (Childs River) and lower N loadings rates (Sage Lot Pond). We also conducted in situ and microcosm enrichment experiments to determine what limited algal growth throughout the year. Our results indicated that these species are strongly affected by and have a strong impact on the N environment of this embayment. For example, C. vagabunda and G. tikvahiae from Childs River had higher light-harvesting pigments and tissue-N concentrations than Sage Lot Pond populations. Additionally, both Childs River populations showed greater site-specific growth and N uptake rates, particularly during the summer period of peak growth. In fact, maximum uptake rates of 90 and over 140 mol dry wt g^-1 h^-1 for Childs River C. vagabunda and G. tikvahiae, respectively, suggest that these species can remove substanital quantities of N from overlying waters, and may be responsible for low (often (<1 M) water-column nutrient concentrations during summer. In situ and tank enrichment experiments indicated that growth rates were limited by available N during summer, while P may be limiting during a brief period toward the end of the annual growth cycle (autumn). Under experimental enrichment, growth rates of Sage Lot Pond algae were similar to values measured at the site receiving higher N inputs, and generally, G. tikvahiae showed growth enhancement (up to 0.2 doublings d^-1) under light-saturating conditions (0.5 m) while C. vagabunda showed nutrient-enhanced growth at 2.5 m. The effects of available nutrients on algal growth were strongly influenced by irradiance and temperature, resulting in a complex seasonal interaction that emphasized the dynamic nature of species response to N loading. Dominance by these two macroalgae in Waquoit Bay, as in other areas undergoing eutrophication, is likely related to physiological strategies that enable these species to tolerate large environmental variations, to take advantage of greater N availability and to survive indirect effects of N loading (e.g. reduced irradiance, anoxia).     

Relationships between sponges and crabs: patterns of epibiosis on Inachus aguiarii (Decapoda: Majidae)

The association between sponges and the crab Inachus aguiarii Brito Capello, 1876 was studied by analysing the relationships between sponge distributional patterns on the crab carapaces and several morphological and biological crab parameters. Juveniles, mature females and mature males were differentiated on the basis of sex dimorphism and terminal pubertary moult. All three groups were fouled to different degrees by sponges. Percent sponge cover was related to carapace size only in mature males whereas mature females, all but one of which were ovigerous, were extensively covered regard-less of their size. It is proposed that some behavioural patterns unique to females, such as long resting periods in sponge-rich microhabitats, are responsible for these high sponge covers in females. Sponges showed two trends in the colonization of the carapace, leading to either a monopolizing or a sharing of the available carapace surface. The sponge species found on the carapaces studied are not obligatory epibionts of crabs, but are believed to reflect the sponge population characterizing the crab home range.     

抑食金球藻(Aureococcus anophagefferens)褐潮研究概述

1985年由抑食金球藻(Aureococcus anophagefferens)引发的褐潮首次出现于美国东北部的一些沿海海湾,后来又于1997年在南非的萨尔达尼亚湾暴发;2009年秦皇岛海域褐潮的暴发使中国成为世界上第三个受其影响的国家。尽管抑食金球藻对人体健康没有直接的不利影响,但是它会导致贝类生长缓慢甚至死亡,从而造成巨大的经济损失和严重的生态问题。本文对国内外学者近年来在抑食金球藻的生理生化特征、暴发与消亡的原因、生态危害及预防措施等方面的研究进行了系统总结,为抑食金球藻褐潮防治及维持海洋生态系统的稳定提供科学依据。     

基于玛氏骨条藻(Skeletonema marinoi)转录组的氮代谢途径解析

本研究分别选取了不同生长时期、不同温度培养以及低硅条件培养的玛氏骨条藻（Skeletonema marinoi）,以Illumina Hiseq 2000平台进行转录组高通量测序分析,共获得39,098个转录本。通过NR注释、GO注释和KEGG通路注释等一系列生物信息学手段对该转录组进行了基因注释和代谢途径分析。在此基础上重点分析了玛氏骨条藻的氮代谢途径,发现共存在20种酶和蛋白及6条相关代谢途径。对38个编码这些酶的基因序列比对结果表明,其与假微型海链藻同源基因具有较高的一致性。同时对这些样品进行数字基因表达谱分析,获得不同生长时期氮代谢途径中酶和蛋白的编码基因的差异表达情况:与对数期相比,在稳定期参与硝酸盐同化过程的两种酶（硝酸盐还原酶、亚硝酸还原酶）的基因和参与氨氮代谢的两种酶（氨甲酰磷酸合成酶和氨基甲酸激酶）的基因均有明显的上调表达,这是玛氏骨条藻对所处的不同生长状态下氮元素存在形态的变化所做出的分子响应。由转录组测序构建的代谢途径及相关基因的差异表达信息有助于对玛氏骨条藻氮代谢关键酶基因调控过程的解析,为进一步研究赤潮藻氮素营养限制过程中相关基因的表达调控模式奠定了基础,可为深入了解赤潮藻对营养元素的利用提供依据。     

钢管混凝土柱温度场简化计算方法

钢管混凝土柱是建筑承重结构的重要组成部分,其耐火极限研究尤为重要。温度场计算作为抗火研究的基础,在保证精确度的前提下要做到简单实用,为高效的抗火设计提供有利条件。通过有限元软件ABAQUS模拟构件温度场,分析80种不同工况下圆、方形构件温度场分布特点,并考虑钢管厚度、截面尺寸等因素,提出了钢管及混凝土温度简化计算公式。通过试验数据、模拟数据对公式进行调校验证,结果表明计算精度满足工程设计要求。     

Potential Impacts of Global Warming on the Diversity and Distribution of Stream Insects in South Korea

Globally, the East Asian monsoon region is one of the richest environments in terms of biodiversity. The region is undergoing rapid human development, yet its river ecosystems have not been well studied. Global warming represents a major challenge to the survival of species in this region and makes it necessary to assess and reduce the potential consequences of warming on species of conservation concern. We projected the effects of global warming on stream insect (Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera [EOPT]) diversity and predicted the changes of geographical ranges for 121 species throughout South Korea. Plecoptera was the most sensitive (decrease of 71.4% in number of species from the 2000s through the 2080s) order, whereas Odonata benefited (increase of 66.7% in number of species from the 2000s through the 2080s) from the effects of global warming. The impact of global warming on stream insects was predicted to be minimal prior to the 2060s; however, by the 2080s, species extirpation of up to 20% in the highland areas and 2% in the lowland areas were predicted. The projected responses of stream insects under global warming indicated that species occupying specific habitats could undergo major reductions in habitat. Nevertheless, habitat of 33% of EOPT (including two‐thirds of Odonata and one‐third of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) was predicted to increase due to global warming. The community compositions predicted by generalized additive models varied over this century, and a large difference in community structure in the highland areas was predicted between the 2000s and the 2080s. However, stream insect communities, especially Odonata, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera, were predicted to become more homogenous under global warming. Impacto Potencial del Calentamiento Global sobre la Diversidad y la Distribución de Insectos de Arroyo en Corea del Sur     

无锡市工业SO2污染变化的空间特征及影响因素的分解分析

运用分解分析方法对工业污染变化进行地区分解、影响因素分解和综合分解,建立包含地区和影响因素的工业污染分解模型,并且应用该模型对2001-2005年无锡市工业SO2排放量的变化进行实证分析.分析结果表明,无锡市工业So2排放量的变化主要是江阴的经济规模、能耗技术和排污技术,市区的经济规模和能耗技术,以及宜兴的经济规模共同作用的结果.从地区来看,无锡市工业SO2排放量的变化主要源于江阴,而宜兴的影响逐渐增强.市区的影响趋于减弱.从影响因素来看,三个地区的经济规模效应都为正,而且显著大于其他三种效应;经济结构是影响力最弱的因素:技术变迁有显著影响,但在三个地区闻存在差异性.为了同时实现经济发展和工业SO2减排,无锡需要采取节能减排措施以降低{特别是江阴的)工业SO2排放强度.