Distracted walking: cell phones increase injury risk for college pedestrians

Introduction

Distraction on cell phones jeopardizes motor-vehicle driver safety, but few studies examine distracted walking. At particular risk are college students, who walk frequently in and near traffic, have increased pedestrian injury rates compared to other age groups, and frequently use cell phones. Method: Using an interactive and immersive virtual environment, two experiments studied the effect of cell phone conversation on distraction of college student pedestrians. In the first, we examined whether pedestrians would display riskier behavior when distracted by a naturalistic cell phone conversation than when undistracted. We also considered whether individual difference factors would moderate the effect of the distraction. In a second experiment, we examined the impact of three forms of distraction on pedestrian safety: (a) engaging in a cell phone conversation, (b) engaging in a cognitively challenging spatial task by phone, and (c) engaging in a cognitively challenging mental arithmetic task by phone. Results: Results revealed that cell phone conversations distracted college pedestrians considerably across all pedestrian safety variables measured, with just one exception. Attention to traffic was not affected by the naturalistic phone conversation in Experiment 1, but was altered by the cognitively-demanding content of some types of conversation in Experiment 2. The content of the conversation did not play a major role in distraction across other variables; both mundane and cognitively complex conversations distracted participants. Moreover, no significant associations between individual difference factors and susceptibility to distraction emerged. Impact on Industry: Results may inform researchers, policy makers, and pedestrians themselves. Educational campaigns might discourage telephone conversations in pedestrian environments.     

多源数据融合的市县国土空间规划人口城镇化模式——以扬州市为例

围绕“人、地、财”等新型城镇化三大核心问题,衍生出人口流动的社会、空间、经济属性,构建多源数据融合的人口城镇化概念模型。基于迁移流、位置识别和企业关联网络等方法,展开实证研究。结果表明：（1）区域层面：受落户门槛、家庭权益、社会保障等限制,人口流动比资本流动更为谨慎,也更遵从行政区经济和城镇等级体系。（2）市域层面：城镇化形式主要表现为城市和乡村的直接联系,重点镇辐射和吸纳作用不强。（3）新经济使后发地区弯道超车成为可能。研究发现此概念模型适用性较好,能够合理识别经济社会联系的主体格局,为城镇开发边界划定和国土空间格局优化起到一定的支撑作用,对市县国土空间规划的区域协调研究具有较强的参考价值。     

Spatiotemporal dynamics of cell abundance, colony size and intracellular toxin concentrations of pelagic and benthic Microcystis in Lake Caohai, China

Lake Caohai has experienced extensive Microcystis blooms in recent years,and to improve its water quality,the local government carried out a series of water control measures.To better understand the dynamics of both pelagic and benthic Microcystis and their characteristics in Lake Caohai,we conducted a 1-year investigation from December 2015to December 2016 to gain a seasonal outlook on the distribution and dynamics of cell abundance,colony size and intracellular microcystins(MCs)of Microcystis.The results indicated that the Microcystis bloom occupied primarily the northeastern region and then moved gradually from lakeshore to lake center.The perennial southwesterly winds and the water inflow from northeast to southwest in Lake Caohai determined the spatiotemporal distribution of pelagic Microcystis.Benthic Microcystis was mainly distributed in the northeastern region in summer,occupied the lake center in autumn and then occupied the southeastern region in winter,determined by the sedimentation of pelagic Microcystis and the death of benthic Microcystis.Small colonies(20-60μm)overwintered more easily in both water column and sediment.The concentrations of intracellular toxin of benthic Microcystis were observed to be significantly higher than those of pelagic Microcystis.This might be because Microcystis synthesized large amount of MCs to acclimate to an unfavorable benthic environment.This knowledge on the dynamics of Microcystis expands our understanding of mechanisms underpinning the formation of Microcystis blooms.     

Gap acceptance behavior at unsignalized intersections: Effects of using a phone and a music player while driving

Objectives: The present study is an attempt to analyze and compare the distraction effects caused by the use of a phone and a music player at unsignalized intersections.

Method: Eighty-eight participants performed simulated driving experiments where they faced a sequence of gaps in the major road traffic at 2 unsignalized intersections. In this process, their driving behavior was evaluated in terms of gap acceptance probability, accepted lag, and maneuver completion time. These parameters were modeled with a generalized estimating equation (GEE) method by considering distraction, demographic factors, driving history, maneuver types, and driving attributes in the approach and completion zones as independent variables.

Results: The results showed that gap acceptance probability decreased by 46% during the conversation task, whereas it increased by 66% during the music player task. Lower gap acceptance could be a compensatory behavior adopted by drivers during the conversation task, whereas no such measure was adapted during the music player task. The results indicate that a higher approach speed during the music player task might have led to increased gap acceptance. Further, though the effect of distraction on the accepted lag was not evident, the completion time was reduced during the conversation task.

Conclusions: Overall, the results suggest that drivers are more likely to adopt a compensatory measure in complex driving situations only if they perceive a high risk. Hence, drivers are exposed to a greater risk while operating a music player, because this is not perceived as risky behavior.     

Excessive chromium may cause dietary toxicity in parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

A bibliographical review on the possible effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) from wireless telecommunications on living organisms and its impact on amphibians is presented. The technical characteristics of this new technology and the scientific discoveries that are of interest in the study of their effects on wild fauna and amphibians are described. Electromagnetic pollution (in the microwave and in the radiofrequency range) is a possible cause for deformations and decline of some amphibian populations. Keeping in mind that amphibians are reliable bio-indicators, it is of great importance to carry out studies on the effects of this new type of contamination. Finally, some methodologies that could be useful to determine the adverse health effects are proposed.     

Mobile phone use while driving: Predicting drivers’ answering intentions and compensatory decisions

The current study considered, for the first time, compensatory decisions within the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to explain why people use mobile phones while driving. The effects of age, gender, and mobile phone mode on respondents’ answering intentions and compensatory decisions were mainly examined. A series of questions were administered to 333 drivers (ages 25-59), which included (1) demographic measures, (2) scales that measured prior mobile use activities in both driving and ordinary contexts, (3) a question to measure drivers’ perceptions of the safety of hands-free phones, and (4) TPB measures, which measured answer intention and two compensatory behavioural decisions (i.e., reminding the caller that he/she is driving, limiting the length of a conversations (including perceived its limits)), along with predictive variables. Drivers reported a moderate likelihood of answering intention and a strong tendency to engage in the two compensatory behaviours. Answering intention and compensatory decisions, perceived behavioural control, perceived risk, and usage frequency were more dependent on mobile phone mode and age group than gender. The regression models explained 64% and 67% of the variance in answering intention in the handheld and hands-free scenario separately. Attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural risk and control (PBRC), and prior answering behaviour emerged as common predictors. The predictive models explained 31% and 37% of the variance for perceived limits of a conversation length in handheld and hands-free scenarios, respectively. Answering intention and PBRC consistently predicted most of the variance (handheld: 28%; hands-free: 32%) for this compensatory perception limits. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.     

基于智能手机平台的环境噪声监测研究

通过对传统噪声监测和评价方法的分析,借助智能手机平台开发了1套环境噪声监测系统,并以鼓浪屿为案例进行了研究。结果表明:1)利用智能手机能很好地区分不同环境功能区的噪声情况;2)能方便地获取监测点位坐标、用户感受等信息;3)能及时将监测结果分享给好友和数据中心。基于智能手机平台进行环境噪声监测,一方面降低了噪声监测的技术门槛,方便公众随时随地感知和分享身边的噪声情况;另一方面,借助公众的广泛参与,能够大大增加噪声采样点的数量,拓展数据的采集范围,形成公众环境噪声监测网。     

Assessing combined toxic effects of tetracycline and P25 titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Allium cepa bioassay

• UVA pre-irradiation to TiO₂ NPs enhanced its toxicity toward plant A. cepa. • UVA TiO₂ NPs increased intracellular ROS, resulting in more cell damage. • Cell death enhanced cell permeability and increased uptake of NPs. • Being highly toxic (EC₅₀ = 0.097 µmol/L), TC did not increase ROS generation. • Even at a low dose, TC enhanced the toxic potential of TiO₂ NPs significantly. Usage of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) and tetracycline (TC) has increased significantly in the present era. This leads to their release and accumulation in the environment. Both the compounds, individually, can have adverse toxic effects on the plants. Their binary mixtures can increase this degree of damage. The present study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of both the contaminants in individual and binary mixtures in Allium cepa. Further, the toxicity of TiO₂ NPs upon UVA pre-irradiation was also measured. Results showed that UVA pre-irradiated NPs (UVA-TiO₂ NPs) had a significant decrease in cell viability than their non-irradiated counterparts (NI-TiO₂), denoting an increase in photocatalytic activity upon UVA pre-irradiation. Very low concentrations of TC (EC₁₀ = 0.016 µmol/L) mixed with TiO₂ NPs significantly increased the toxicity for both UVA-TiO₂ and NI-TiO₂ NPs. Intracellular ROS generation was significantly high for UVA-TiO₂ NPs. However, TC did not have any effects on ROS production. Both the compounds exhibited genotoxic potential in A. cepa. Different chromosomal abnormalities like anaphase bridges, telophase bridges, laggard chromosomes, binucleate cells, etc. were observed. The binary mixture of UVA-TiO₂ NPs and TC showed the highest chromosomal aberrations (64.0%±1.26%) than the mixture with NI-TiO₂ or the individual contaminants. This decreased significantly after recovery (46.8%±1.92%), denoting the self-repair processes. This study proved that UVA-TiO₂ NPs were more toxic and could be enhanced further when mixed with a sub-lethal concentration of TC. This work will help to assess the risk of both compounds in the environment.     

An investigation of the effects from the user’s hand and head over received level and adaptive power control of a GSM mobile phone in typical operating environment

Current evolution of wireless personal communications has necessitated a comprehensive understanding of electromagnetic interactions between handset antennas and nearby human body. In this work the handset–human body interactions were evaluated in various configurations (with and without user’s hand; with and without user’s head, and combinations of them) in order to obtain statistical averages of the overall performance for system link evaluations. The measurements were performed using the random-field measurement (RFM) method, and thus the acquisition of large amounts of data about human–mobile phone interactions in typical operating environment with measured the received RF signal strength (RXLEV), and the output power level (TXLEV) on mobile station. The RXLEV and the TXLEV was measured over the air interface in the networks on two Bulgarian GSM mobile operators (Mtel and Vivatel). Both uplink and downlink measurements were performed in urban area in three cities. Each measurements were carried out in a building included both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight propagation of the electromagnetic waves between mobile station and base station. The results showed that the user’s hand and head induces more significant changes on the received RF signal strength in case when broadcast control channel (BCCH) levels are up to −60 dBm. Also the alterations of receiving RF signal strength and output power level of the MS are influence stronger from the larger size of the hand and head of user. The influence from presence of the head and hand of the subscriber in talk position over the alteration of the receiving RF signal strength is in boundaries from 14.21 dBm to 19.1 dBm (man) and from 8.5 dBm to 12.05 dBm (woman). The presence of the user’s hand and head increased the output power level of mobile station with 12 dBm to 14 dBm (man) and with 10 dBm to 12 dBm (woman) compare to output power level without user’s hand and head.     

Ozone–dioxane delignification from the cell walls of Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.)

Delignification from the cell walls with a combination of ozone oxidation and dioxane–water extraction using thin sections of a softwood, Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.), was studied to determine its suitability for the production of recyclable cellulose-based materials from wood waste. The visible-light absorption spectra of treated wood sections revealed that delignification from the cell walls with ozone increased with increasing ozonization time. Ozone delignification proceeded from the lumen side toward the middle lamella within the secondary wall of a cell, and it proceeded faster in early wood than in late wood within an annual ring. Mild ozonization for 10–30 min was sufficient for the removal of lignin from the cell walls when sections were extracted with dioxane after ozonization. The results obtained here demonstrate that microspectrometry coupled with the Wiesner reaction is useful for the quantitative analysis of lignin in cell walls.