The theory of planned behavior as mediator of the effect of parental supervision: a study of intentions to violate driving rules in a representative sample of adolescents

INTRODUCTION: The study reported here was designed to test the ability of the theory of planned behavior to mediate the effect of parental supervision on adolescents' intentions to violate driving rules. METHOD: A representative sample of 1,654 adolescents completed questionnaires during individual and anonymous interviews carried out at their schools. RESULTS: Results showed that age, gender, prior risky driving-behavior, and parental supervision significantly predict intentions to violate driving rules. Attitude and the subjective norm partially mediate the effect of age, prior behavior, and parental supervision. Perceived behavioral control does not predict intention and is not predicted by other variables. IMPACT: The results suggest that social cognitive variables partially mediate the effect of parenting practices such as supervision.     

Traffic behaviour among adolescents using mopeds and light motorcycles

INTRODUCTION: Motorcycling is recognized to be a relatively risky activity. Powered two wheelers (PTW) are classified as mopeds, light, and heavy motorcycles, the first two categories being denoted light PTWs. This paper reviews the scientific literature on accident risks and traffic behavior among users of light PTWs with the aim of clarifying the current state of knowledge. METHOD: Based on a risk analytical and an anthropological perspective on motorcycling, the paper discusses the significance of cultural and social factors as important aspects of safety. More targeted and effective safety measures, for example better training programs, are needed to prevent motorcycle accidents. This means developing a deeper understanding of the rider as an individual, and the individuals within different groups and settings. Why and how motorcyclists approach the road, its function as a social arena, the varieties of goals and values, and the motorcyclists' own perceptions of the behavior that ensures their "achievements" or "successes", are some of the issues. Today, this kind of knowledge is scarce and almost entirely absent from the scientific literature. RESULTS: We conclude that the massive quantities of data on numbers of accidents, the categorization of situations, the causal explanations related to speed, gender, age, lack of concentration so forth, can only be employed as support for safety measures as long as they are linked to social and cultural factors. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Risk informed decision making has become an integral part of authorities' and manufacturers' implementation of safety measures. This tendency is strengthened by the fact that the responsibility of product safety rests upon the manufacturers, cf. for example EU safety regulations. Therefore it is paramount that a thorough understanding of social and cultural factors related to the PTW driving is necessary for the industry to develop targeted and efficient safety measures.     

Parasitoid-induced mortality of Araneus omnicolor (Araneae, Araneidae) by Hymenoepimecis sp. (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) in southeastern Brazil

All species included in the Polysphincta genus-group develop as ectophagous parasitoids of active spiders, killing their hosts prior to pupation. However, little information regarding natural history and ovipositing behavior of most species are available. In this study we inspected 85 webs of Araneus omnicolor to evaluate the frequency of parasitism and host size preferences of the wasp Hymenoepimecis sp. We also described the web characteristics of normal and parasitized spiders and the wasp ovipositing behavior. About 41% of the adult females of A. omnicolor inspected were parasitized. The highest incidence of parasitism was observed among relatively small females while no egg or larva was found in large individuals. Araneus omnicolor builds a strong web composed of an orb and barrier threads, where the spider rests within a curled leaf. The parasitoid larva builds its cocoon within this refuge, and modified cocoon webs were not observed. The ovipositing behavior of Hymenoepimecis sp. was very similar to that of Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga parasitizing Leucauge argyra, including the position of the sting, the killing of a previously attached larva, and the expelling of the egg from the base of the ovipositor.     

Secondary analysis of time of day on simulated driving performance

PROBLEM: Age and gender are frequently controlled for in studies of driving performance, but the effects of time of day or circadian cycles on performance are often not considered. Previous research on time of day effects of simulated driving is contradictory and provides little guidance for understanding the impact of these variables on results. METHODS: Using driving simulator data from 79 subjects ages 18 to 65, this paper focuses on the impact of age, gender, and time of day on the simulated driving performance of subjects who self-selected the time of participation. RESULTS: Time of day effects were consistently evident for drivers' speed overall and across different simulated environments. Drivers in the late afternoon period consistently drove significantly slower than drivers in other time periods. Age and gender affected speed such that women and those participants 50 and older tended to drive more slowly. Time of day also had an effect on reaction time and on speed variability measures. Gender did not have significant effects on reaction time or variability measures, but age effects were present. SUMMARY: Taken together, the results suggest that time of day effects should be considered as part of simulated driving performance, and that interactions between time of day and other variables, notably age, should be controlled for as part of future research. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Implications of these findings on current efforts for older driver testing are discussed.     

An abbreviated alternatives assessment process for product designers: a children’s furniture manufacturing case study

Alternatives assessment is becoming increasingly popular to evaluate the potential environmental and human health hazards of materials. A three step process was used to identify and evaluate alternative products for a children's furniture manufacturer. An alternatives assessment framework was developed to analyze alternative mattresses. The framework specifically addresses those environmental and safety attributes applicable to the product and the product components in accordance with the product’s intended use. The result of the assessment allowed the manufacturer to select the most environmentally friendly alternative and eliminate polyvinyl chloride from their product.     

石灰干化污泥稳定后土壤中Pb、Cd和Zn浸出行为的研究

以人工制备Zn、Pb、Cd污染土壤为研究对象,采用城市污水处理石灰干化污泥作为稳定剂,对污染土壤进行稳定化处理,并采用TCLP、SPLP、去离子水浸提和优化的BCR连续提取法对稳定化效果进行分析和评价.结果表明,单独使用石灰干化污泥,TCLP浸出浓度随着干化污泥质量分数的增加而显著减少,干化污泥的质量分数为40%时,稳定化率最大为Zn-99.54%、Pb-99.60%、Cd-99.85%.SPLP和去离子水浸出评价稳定效果时,Pb和Zn在加入质量分数10%和20%的干化污泥时浸出明显降低,但在加入30%和40%时由于在强碱条件Pb和Zn会再溶出,导致稳定效果变差.为了恢复植物生长功能,经过FeSO4和H3PO4调节pH后,石灰干化污泥稳定过的土壤pH有效降低,同时FeSO4和H3PO4有利于促进Pb和Zn的稳定效果.经稳定化后,土壤中的重金属可交换态降低,限制了土壤重金属的迁移.该研究结果表明石灰干化污泥可以再利用,应用于重金属污染土壤的稳定化修复中,并能改善稳定后土壤适宜植物生长的理化性质.     

重金属在河口区潮汐界面与盐度界面响应规律研究

河口潮汐、盐度、悬浮颗粒物特征因影响化学物质在水体与其他介质之间分配行为,使得咸淡水生物利用度上产生差别,造成咸淡水水质基准标准的差异.重金属如铜,锌,铅,镉和铬等指标由于广泛分布在淡水及海水中,在较高的浓度下可具毒性效应,是现行《地表水环境质量标准》(GB 3838-2002)和《海水水质标准》(GB 3097-1997)常规监测项目.本研究以大辽河口为例,探索这些重金属指标在咸淡水河口区衔接情况和响应规律.首先,基于生物、化学和地质地理相似性确定潮汐界面(TCI)和河海边界(FSI)的位置,划分为潮汐淡水区及混合区.其次,分析了一个潮汐周期内重金属指标的变化特征,以及潮汐淡水区及混合区内盐度和悬浮颗粒物对分配系数Kd的影响,结果表明砷、镉和铬等指标更易受盐度的影响,而锌、铜、铅和镍等指标更易受悬浮颗粒物和潮汐状态的影响.最后,结合潮汐状态和分配系数研究结果,根据这些指标在TCI和FSI的变化趋势,归纳为两类响应规律:第一类如砷、镉和铬等指标,这类指标在FSI具有明显的突变点;第二类如锌、铜、铅和镍等指标,从TCI开始发生变化.两类指标在水相-沉积相-颗粒相介质的分配行为表明颗粒相和沉积相具有相似的变化趋势,尤其颗粒相中的重金属浓度,取决于悬浮颗粒物的浓度,指标响应差异主要存在于水相中.通过本研究识别出易受不同环境因子(如盐度和SS)控制的敏感指标,提出需关注河口本身特征造成的指标背景差异的必要性,将有助于我国现行水质标准制定、修订工作的实施和开展.     

锈蚀钢筋混凝土圆柱抗震性能的试验研究

对不同锈蚀程度的钢筋混凝土圆柱进行低周反复试验,研究了不同轴压比下的钢筋锈蚀率对钢筋混凝土圆柱滞回曲线、骨架曲线、刚度、延性及耗能能力的影响;给出了试件累积耗能、屈服荷栽、极限荷栽、荷栽最大值和位移延性系数与钢筋锈蚀率和轴压比的关系.研究表明,随着钢筋锈蚀率和轴压比的增大,试件的滞回曲线趋于干瘪,骨架曲线下降段变陡,试...     

基于静态特征和动态行为的火灾检测模型

为实时准确地检测视频监控的火灾信号,减少火灾误报,提出1种基于静态特征和动态行为的火灾检测方法.利用改进的Faster RCNN检测模型,根据可疑火灾区域的颜色特征和空间特征对其进行目标检测和特征降维,与传统的Faster RCNN相比平均检测精度提升5％;利用ILSTM对连续帧中的特征进行累加,对短期内是否发生过火灾...     

事故车辆影响下的城市三车道道路交通流仿真

为探究事故车辆对城市三车道道路交通影响机制,首先,分析考虑事故车辆的城市三车道道路交通流特征;然后,构建左车道优先且考虑主动抢道和被动抢道行为的元胞自动机交通流模型;最后;研究事故持续时间td变化时事故车辆分别位于M道和R道的城市道路交通流演化.结果 表明:事故车辆会形成交通瓶颈,呈现上游车辆聚集下游车辆稀疏的时空特征...