Sensitivity evaluation of the visual,tactile, and auditory detection response task method while driving

Objectives: In this article, we evaluate the sensitivity to cognitive load of 3 versions of the Detection Response Task method (DRT), proposed in ISO Draft Standard DIS-17488.

Methods: We present a user study with 30 participants in which we compared the sensitivity to cognitive load of visual, audio, and tactile DRT in a simulated driving environment. The amount of cognitive load was manipulated with secondary n-back tasks at 2 levels of difficulty (0-back and 1-back). We also explored whether the DRT method is least sensitive to cognitive load when the stimuli and secondary task are of the same modality. For this purpose, we used 3 forms to present the n-back task stimuli: visual, audio, and tactile. Responses to the task were always vocal. The experiment was based on a between-subject design (the DRT modalities) with 2 levels of within-subject design study (modalities and difficulty of the secondary n-back tasks). The participants' primary task in the study was to drive safely, and a second priority was to answer to DRT stimuli and perform secondary tasks.

Results: The results indicate that all 3 versions of the DRT tested were sensitive to detecting the difference in cognitive load between the reference driving period and driving and engaging in the secondary tasks. Only the visual DRT discriminated between the 0-back and 1-back conditions on mean response time. Contrary to expectations, no interaction was observed between DRT modality and the stimuli modality used for presentation of the secondary tasks.

Conclusions: None of the 3 methods of presenting DRT stimuli showed a consistent advantage in sensitivity in differentiating multiple levels of cognitive load if all response times, hit rates, and secondary task performance are considered. If only response time is considered, the visual presentation of the DRT stimulus used in this study showed some advantages. In interpreting these data, it should be noted that the methods of DRT stimulus presentation varied somewhat from the currently proposed draft ISO standard and it is possible that the relative salience level of the visual DRT stimulus influenced the findings. It is further suggested that more than 2 levels of difficulty of the n-back task should be considered for further investigation of the relative sensitivity of different DRT stimuli modalities. Parameters that indicate change in cognitive load (response time, hit rate, task performance) should be analyzed together in assessing the overall impact on the driver and not individually, in order to obtain a fuller insight of the assessed cognitive load.     

Representativity and univocity of traffic signs and their effect on trajectory movement in a driving simulation task: Warning signs

Objective: The effect of traffic signs on the behavior of drivers is not completely understood. Knowing about how humans process the meaning of signs (not just by learning but instinctively) will improve reaction time and decision making when traveling. The economic, social, and psychological consequences of car accidents are well known.

Methods: This study sounds out which traffic signs are more ergonomic for participants, from a cognitive point of view, and determines, at the same time, their effect in participants' movement trajectories in a driving simulation task.

Results: Results point out that the signs least representative of their meaning produce a greater deviation from the center of the road than the most representative ones.

Conclusions: This study encourages both an in-depth analysis of the effect on movement of roadside signs and the study of how this effect can be modified by the context in which these signs are presented (with the aim to move the research closer to and analyze the data in real contexts). The goal is to achieve clarity of meaning and lack of counterproductive effects on the trajectory of representative signs (those that provoke fewer mistakes in the decision task).     

浅析化学事故应急响应专线的发展

纵观国外同类化学事故应急咨询机构30多年的发展经验,结合化学事故应急响应专线的现状,提出了扩大化学事故应急响应专线的服务范围、加强化学事故技术支持体系的建设及加强与国内外同类机构的交流与合作等发展建议。     

响应面方法优化光催化降解抗生素类污染物过程研究

近年来抗生素类污染物对环境的影响及其生态毒性日益引起广大研究者的关注。对TiO2光催化降解典型抗生素类污染物磺胺二甲嘧啶（SMT）进行了研究。采用中心组合设计方法（CCD）进行试验设计,使用响应面方法（RSM）对光催化过程中的影响因素（TiO2浓度、初始磺胺二甲嘧啶浓度、双氧水浓度）进行了探讨和分析,并对反应过程进行了优化。优化结果表明,最佳反应条件为：TiO2浓度1.74 g/L、初始磺胺二甲嘧啶浓度20.0 mg/L、双氧水浓度106.28 mg/L,在优化条件下的磺胺二甲嘧啶光催化实际去除率为83.6%。响应面方法能够优化光催化条件,预测光催化结果,有利于优化光反应器的设计,对于工程化光催化水处理技术的发展具有一定的参考价值。     

Using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model animal for assessing the toxicity induced by microcystin-LR

Among more than 75 variants of microcystin(MC),microcystin-LR(MC-LR) is one of the most common toxins.In this study,the feasibility of using Caenorhabditis elegans to evaluate MC-LR toxicity was studied.C.elegans was treated with MC-LR at different concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 80 μg/L.The results showed that MC-LR could reduce lifespan,delay development,lengthen generation time,decrease brood size,suppress locomotion behavior,and decreases hsp-16-2-gfp expression.The endpoints of generation time,brood...     

羊草草原碳循环过程的模拟与验证

根据内蒙古典型羊草草原碳通量和生物量观测数据,验证VIP(Vegetation Interface Proces-ses)模型,并模拟分析1958—2007年该生态系统碳循环特征及其与环境因子的相关关系。结果显示:VIP模型能够较准确地模拟地上生物量(R2=0.70)和净生态系统生产力NEP(R2=0.57)的变化趋势。羊草草原生态系统总初级生产力(GPP)、净初级生产力(NPP)和生态系统呼吸(Re)在1958—1973年间下降,1973—1993年间增长,1993年后又出现下降的趋势。与环境因子的相关性分析表明,GPP、NPP和Re随CO2和降水的增多而增大,随温度升高和降水的减少而降低,其中降水量与碳通量相关性最高,呼吸与温度、降水、CO2均存在一定程度的正相关关系。NEP年际变化较大,主要受控于年降水量,以228 mm为界,年降水量大于此值时,NEP为正的概率较大。     

Sugar receptor response of the food-canal taste sensilla in a nectar-feeding swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus

The feeding behavior in nectar-feeding insects is triggered by a sugar-receptor response in contact chemosensilla. The contact chemosensilla are distributed not only on tarsi and the outside of the proboscis but also on the inside of the food canal in Lepidoptera. Although the chemosensilla inside the food canal are assumed to detect sweet taste during the passage of nectar through the food canal, their electrophysiological function has received little attention. In the nectar-feeding Asian swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), we found 15- to 30-μm-long sensilla neatly lined up along the inside galea wall, which forms the food canal in the proboscis. The receptor neurons of these sensilla responded to sucrose. We hypothesized that starch and sucrose compete with each other for a taste receptor site on the sensilla. When we added starch and sucrose to the food-canal sensilla, the electrophysiological responses of food-canal sensilla were inhibited in parallel with the food-sucking behavior of the butterflies. These results suggest that the food-canal sensilla are involved in the behavioral control of nectar-sucking in this butterfly species.     

基于响应面优化条件下柚皮对Pb2+的吸附

采用Plackett-Burman(P-B)法和中心复合设计(Central Composite Design,简称CCD)对影响柚皮吸附Pb2+的6个条件进行筛选优化.P-B实验设计与统计学分析表明:pH值、Pb2+初始浓度、吸附剂用量是影响吸附率的3个关键因素.以吸附率为响应目标,对3因素进行中心复合设计,并经响应面法优化分析得到影响吸附率的二阶模型,确定了Pb2+吸附实验的最优操作条件:pH值5.4.Pb2+初始浓度为265.86mg·L-1,吸附剂用量为2.56 g·L-1,实测吸附率达到92.47%,吸附量为96.01 mg·g-1;整个吸附过程吸附剂柚皮没有经过任何化学预处理.效果优于一般的天然吸附剂.研究结果表明,柚皮是一种很具潜力的环保型廉价吸附剂.     

加氢站用45 MPa高压储氢瓶式容器火烧试验模拟*

为研究加氢站用高压储氢容器在火灾下的安全性能,采用计算流体力学（CFD）方法对45 MPa高压储氢瓶式容器火烧试验过程进行模拟研究,结合气瓶火烧试验,分析高压储氢容器火灾下的热响应过程,研究不同因素对储氢容器压力泄放装置动作时间的影响。结果表明:613 s以内试验压力与模拟数据的最大相对误差为3.9%,模型误差在可接受范围;不同充装介质对安全泄放装置动作时间影响不大;不同充装压力对容器内介质压升速率影响较大,充装水平较高时压力泄放装置更快动作,较低的充装压力下容器内介质温升较快;不同环境温度对介质温升影响较小。     

Application of response surface methodology for the optimization of biodiesel production from yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seed oil

In the present study, response surface methodology (RSM) involving central composite design (CCD) was applied to optimize the reaction parameters of biodiesel production from yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.) seed oil during the single-step transesterification process. A total of 30 experiments were designed and performed to determine under the effects of variables on the biodiesel yield such as methanol to oil molar ratio (2:1–10:1), catalyst concentration (0.2–1.0 wt.% NaOH), reaction temperature (50–70°C), and reaction time (30–90 min). The second order polynomial model was used to predict the biodiesel yield and coefficient of determination (R²) was found to be at 0.9818. The optimum biodiesel yield was calculated as 96.695% from the model with the following reaction conditions: 7.41:1 of methanol to oil molar ratio, 0.63 wt. % NaOH of catalyst concentration, 61.84°C of reaction temperature, and 62.12 min of reaction time. It is seen that the regression model results were in agreement with the experimental data. The results showed that RSM is a suitable statistical technique for optimizing the reaction parameters in the transesterification process in order to maximize the biodiesel yield.