Examining the relationship between driver distraction and driving errors: A discussion of theory, studies and methods

Over the past two decades the concept of driver distraction has been the focus of intense research attention. One aspect of distraction for which there has been limited systematic research, however, is its role in driver error causation. This article presents a review of the distraction literature with a view to elucidating what is currently known about the types of driving errors that distraction contributes to and the mechanisms by which distraction induces these errors. The review revealed a number of fundamental gaps in our knowledge, including the number and nature of errors made by drivers when distracted; the mechanisms by which distraction causes errors; whether and how distraction disrupts drivers’ ability to recover from errors; and how system-wide factors moderate the relationship between distraction and error. In closing, we attempt to identify the most appropriate theoretical and methodological approach to drive the integrated study of distraction and error forward. We conclude that it is only through the adoption of a systems approach that integrated countermeasures can be proposed and implemented to mitigate driver errors caused by distraction.     

飞机冲偏出跑道人为差错量化分析模型

为了分析飞机冲偏出跑道的人为差错,找到重点防控对象,提出了冲偏出跑道人为差错量化分析模型。首先应用STPA方法对飞机滑行、起飞及着陆程序进行建模,构建安全控制结构图,找出飞机冲偏出跑道的人为差错。然后将它作为BP神经网络的输入层节点,构建24-6-3的3层BP神经网络模型,从ASRS系统中抽取民航领域近5年的冲偏出跑道不安全事件报告作为数据源,根据发生阶段的不同将不安全事件报告分为滑行阶段、起飞阶段、着陆阶段3类,最后将数据源输入BP神经网络模型中进行训练,并利用测试数据检验模型的合理性,准确率为86. 7%。结果表明,特殊情况下机组人员操作不熟练、刹车系统/方向控制错误等是构成所有阶段冲偏出跑道的主要人为差错,飞机冲偏出跑道的发生阶段不同,影响因素的影响程度也不同。     

Impact of psychological capital on construction worker safety behavior: Communication competence as a mediator

IntroductionConstruction workers face a work environment of high risk and mental stress. Psychological capital (PsyCap) could influence employee's mental health and work performance. It would be helpful to determine whether PsyCap affects worker safety behavior. However, few studies empirically examined the impacts of the sub-dimensions of PsyCap on the safety behavior in construction settings, reducing the potential practicability of PsyCap to improve workplace safety performance. Thus, this study tested the relationship between sub-dimensions of PsyCap (self-efficacy, hope, resilience, optimism) and safety behaviors (safety compliance, safety participation), while the mediating role of communication competence was also explored. Method: Data were collected from 655 construction workers in China using a psychological capital questionnaire (PCQ). The theoretical model were tested with confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques. Results: Results show that: (a) the self-efficacy dimension of PsyCap positively affected safety compliance and safety participation, while the resilience dimension positively impacted safety participation; (b) the hope dimension was not directly related to safety behaviors, while the optimism dimension negatively associated with safety participation; and (c) communication competence mediated the relationships between the hope and optimism dimensions of PsyCap and safety participation. Conclusions: A multidimensional perspective on PsyCap should be taken while examining its effects on safety behavior and the individual communication competence helps to enhance construction safety. Findings of this study shed lights on safety behavior promotion practices based on the multidimensional model. Initiating flexible psychological capital training and intervention, and strengthening communication skills of construction employees are suggested to improve safety performance in the construction industry.     

Welch谱估计的随机误差与置信度

目的分析Welch谱估计的随机误差及置信度。方法首先导出Welch谱估计量随机误差的表达式,然后采用正态标准化处理方法,将Welch谱估计分量转化为χ2变量。结果获得了Welch谱估计的置信度分析方法。结论以128自由度的Welch谱估计结果的随机误差(12.5%)作为相对置信区间,则其置信概率为68.4%,若要达到95.5%以上置信概率,则Welch谱估计的自由度不能小于512,相应的随机误差为6.25%。     

Communicating in the Public Sphere: Attitudes Toward Different Public Instructional Communication Methods

An effective response to global environmental challenges requires analysis of communication patterns, processes and approaches. In addition, improving communication through emerging information and communication technologies (ICT) also must be explored. Understanding recipients’ perception of the innovations used in information diffusion is also necessary. This study, using a sample of 120 subjects, examined attitudes of leaders of community-based natural resources organizations toward two approaches used in public instructional communication in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The quasi-experimental study also explored the effect of demographic variables on subjects’ attitudes. The results demonstrated more favorable attitudes toward the visualized method than the traditional verbal method, suggesting subjects’ preference and acceptance for the visualized public instructional communication approaches. Results also indicated a differential effect of age on attitude toward methods of communication. The results of the study highlight the importance for practitioners to use integrated communication approaches in the public sphere. Suggestions for future research are offered.     

Understandings of Environmental Quality: Ambiguities and Values Held by Environmental Professionals

The terms used to describe and negotiate environmental quality are both ambiguous and value-laden. Stakeholders intimately and actively involved in the management of forested lands were interviewed and found to use ambiguous, tautological, and value-laden definitions of terms such as health, biodiversity, sustainability, and naturalness. This confusing language hinders public participation efforts and produces calls to regulate and remove discretion from environmental professionals. Our data come from in-depth interviews with environmental management professionals and other stakeholders heavily vested in negotiating the fate of forested lands. We contend that environmental science and management will be more effective if its practitioners embrace and make explicit these ambiguous and evaluative qualities rather than ignore and disguise them.     

ASSESSMENT OF SAMPLING ERROR ASSOCIATED WITH SOIL MOISTURE ESTIMATION DESIGNS1

A spectral formalism was developed and applied to quantify the sampling errors due to spatial and/or temporal gaps in soil moisture measurements. A design filter was developed to compute the sampling errors for discrete measurements in space and time. This filter has as its advantage a general form applicable to various types of sampling design. The lack of temporal measurements of the two‐dimensional soil moisture field made it difficult to compute the spectra directly from observed records. Therefore, the wave number frequency spectra of soil moisture data derived from stochastic models of rainfall and soil moisture were used. Parameters for both models were estimated using data from the Southern Great Plains Hydrology Experiment (SGP97) and the Oklahoma Mesonet. The estimated sampling error of the spatial average soil moisture measurement by airborne L‐band microwave remote sensing during the SGP97 hydrology experiment is estimated to be 2.4 percent. Under the same climate conditions and soil properties as the SGP97 experiment, equally spaced ground probe networks at intervals of 25 and 50 km are expected to have about 16 percent and 27 percent sampling error, respectively. Satellite designs with temporal gaps of two and three days are expected to have about 6 percent and 9 percent sampling errors, respectively.     

冷原子荧光法测定地面水和土壤中的痕量总汞

本文推导了汞元素冷原子荧光测试的理论公式,着重研究了载气种类;载气流速;工作电压;水蒸气;介质酸度;还原剂用量等１０项因素对测定结果准确度的影响,确定了最佳实验条件,提出了地面水和土壤中痕量总汞的测试方法。同时分析了汞元素冷原子荧光法的系统误差和消除或减少系统误差的方法。     

同型规范变换的不同预测模型具有的兼容性和等效性

传统的不同预测变量的预测模型之间不具有兼容性和等效性,而同型规范变换和误差修正相结合的不同变量的预测模型的预测相对误差与预测对象的维数、样本数及预测模型类型皆无关,仅与预测变量的数据特性、相似样本的模型输出值及其相对误差和相似度有关,因而同型规范变换的不同预测变量的预测模型之间具有兼容性和等效性.其重要意义在于：只要对任意一个预测变量建立了基于规范变换的某种预测模型,就可以将此预测模型直接用于具有同型规范变换的其他预测变量的预测;若再将其与误差修正法相结合,还可以极大地提高模型的预测精度,获得与实际值很接近的预测结果.依据受3个因子影响的灞河口COD_Mn指数数据、受4个因子影响的伊犁河雅马渡站年径流量数据和牡丹江市TSP年均值的时序数据,分别建立具有同型规范变换（n_j=2）的3个不同预测变量的3种智能预测模型和一元线性回归预测模型,并验证了3个不同预测变量的预测模型之间的兼容性和等效性.对同一个预测样本,用同型规范变换和误差修正相结合的不同预测变量的预测模型的实际预测值及其预测相对误差绝对值不仅差异甚微,而且预测值与实际值非常接近,其预测的相对误差绝对值平均值几乎全都小于3%,最大相对误差绝对值均小于5%,小于或远小于20种传统预测模型和方法预测的相应误差.