Prompting safety-belt use in the context of a belt-use law: the flash-for life revisited

PROBLEM: Safety-belt use reduces motor vehicle crash-related morbidity and mortality, yet an estimated 18% of drivers do not consistently buckle up (NHTSA, 2005). In 1985, Geller and colleagues developed an interpersonal Flash-for-Life prompt that increased belt use among 22% of 1,087 unbuckled drivers (Geller, Bruff, & Nimmer, 1985). METHOD: The Flash-for-Life intervention was re-introduced at a large university with high safety-belt use (i.e., 80%). College students stood at parking-lot entrance/exits and "flashed" signs with the message, "Please Buckle Up, I Care" to unbuckled drivers. RESULTS: Of 427 unbuckled drivers observed, 30% of these complied with the prompt. Male drivers were significantly more likely to comply with prompts delivered by females. DISCUSSION: Compliance was higher than in the 1985 study, indicating a high baseline rate of safety-belt use does not negate potential beneficial influence of a prompting intervention. This intervention is particularly effective with college-aged males, a sub-group of the driving population least likely to buckle-up. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: A simple behavioral prompt could be used at most industrial complexes to increase safety-belt use among vehicle occupants who are not buckled-up.     

城镇污水处理排放标准改革的费效分析

从费用效果角度对提高城镇污水处理排放标准的科学性和可实施性进行探讨,利用污染源普查数据,通过城镇污水治理投资和运行函数的构建,计算不同处理规模和排放标准下的污水处理投资和运行费用,在全国层面上计算提高污水处理排放标准所需费用和污染物的减排效果.研究表明：污水处理厂的投资和运行费用的增加随着污水处理规模的增加而递减.以污...     

Barriers to the adoption of proactive environmental strategies

This study contributes to the knowledge of the difficulties or barriers found by firms when adopting proactive environmental strategies, providing empirical evidence from 240 Spanish industrial firms. A set of 25 barriers are initially evaluated by the managers of the sample firms and are grouped into four types of difficulties facing firms: external barriers, endemic limitations of the firm, limited environmental motivation and limited preparation of employees and operational inertia. The estimation of a structural equation model leads us to conclude that only the barriers identified as endemic limitations of the firm can be characterized as “effective barriers”, defined as problems preventing firms from progressing toward proactive environmental behavior.     

粗粒子气溶胶远距离输送造成华南严重空气污染的分析

2009年4月末,发生了一次罕见的粗粒子气溶胶远距离输送造成华南地区出现严重的空气污染事件,其特征主要是气溶胶质量浓度超标,而能见度没有明显恶化,对这次空气污染事件进行分析的结果表明.在过程中,粗细粒子质量比(PM2.5/PM10)有明显的3次下降,最低达到0.3,即PM2.5仅占PM10的30%,这与珠江三角洲地区通常以细粒子为主的污染特征有很大不同,反映了外来粗粒子的侵入特征.长江流域浮尘天气的沙尘粒子变性后,长距离输送污染物叠加本地污染物,造成这次严重空气污染事件.     

菌株Desulfovibrio sp. CMX的DNRA性能和影响因素

微生物的硝酸盐异化还原为铵(DNRA)过程对自然界中铵根离子的存在和转化具有重要影响,然而关于SRB菌株DNRA过程影响和机制尚未探明.本文考察了实验室筛选的SRB菌株Desulfovibrio sp.CMX的DNRA能力、影响因素及其影响机制.结果表明,无外加氮源的情况下,分别以10 mmol·L-1NO_3~-和NO_2~-作为唯一电子受体,菌株Desulfovibrio sp.CMX最终NH_4~+生成率分别达到85.8%和97.3%,且无N2和N2O等副产物产生.实验探究了不同外加氮源、不同初始浓度的SO_4~(2-)、S~(2-)对菌株DNRA过程的影响.酵母浸粉作为外加氮源可促进菌株的生长和代谢从而促进菌株DNRA过程;SO_4~(2-)对于NO_3~-还原为NO_2~-阶段起促进作用,而对NO_2~-还原为NH_4~+阶段起抑制作用,综合两方面影响,最终表现出对菌株DNRA过程的抑制作用;S~(2-)对菌株生长及DNRA过程都表现出抑制作用,且S~(2-)浓度越高抑制作用越强,当S~(2-)浓度达到6 mmol·L-1后,S~(2-)对于NO_3~-还原为NO_2~-阶段的抑制作用强于NO_2~-还原为NH_4~+阶段的抑制作用,NO_3~-还原为NO_2~-速率低于NO_2~-还原为NH_4~+速率,此时体系中不再有NO_2~-的积累.     

聚硅酸对不同形态铝沉积行为的影响

针对给水管网中残余铝沉积和再溶解现象可能引起的水质问题,研究了聚硅酸对不同水解聚合形态铝沉积、再溶解的影响,并以石英微晶天平为表征手段,初步探讨了聚硅酸对不同形态铝沉积、再溶解过程影响的机理.结果表明,聚硅酸能显著改变不同水解聚合形态铝的沉积、再溶解行为.聚硅酸可与3种水解聚合形态的铝迅速结合而生成可沉积产物,但产物性质不同.以单体形态为主的Al_0与聚硅酸的反应产物性质较稳定,部分以溶解态存在,部分以非溶解态(可沉积态)存在;尽管铝的两种聚合形态Al_(13)和Al_(30)与聚硅酸反应也生成了部分可沉积产物,但随着时间的推移,这些产物又逐渐向溶解态转化.铝硅比对Al_0体系中铝的沉积溶解行为影响较小,而对Al_(13)和Al_(30)影响较大,且在0.2∶20(以Al和SiO_2计的质量比)时,沉积态铝的溶解速率最快.     

扰动对悬浮颗粒物粒径及上覆水中磷形态分布的影响

为了探讨底泥扰动下上覆水中悬浮物粒径分布规律及该分布规律对水体中溶解性形态磷的影响,以太湖梅梁湾上覆水和沉积物作为实验对象,开展室内模拟实验.结合乌氏粒级标准分析了扰动下的水体中粒径变化情况以及上覆水中不同磷形态的变化规律.结果表明,扰动后的水体中,悬浮物粒径分布发生明显变化,其中小粒径颗粒(0~10μm)、中粒径颗粒(10~20μm)、大粒径颗粒(≥20μm)的平均占比分别升高、降低、不变.说明中小粒径颗粒物质有向大粒径转化的趋势.另外,在磷形态方面,随着粒径分布的周期性变化,DTP/TP、DIP/TP存在同样的周期性上升规律,数据显示DTP、DIP的变化并不明显,这说明扰动导致悬浮颗粒物对于磷的持留能力提高.另一方面,扰动下DTP/TP和DIP/TP平均值分别为19%和13%,其远低于对照实验(80%和69%),说明扰动引起的小粒径聚集与絮凝成大粒径颗粒的现象有利于上覆水中溶解性形态磷的吸附与沉降,并转化成颗粒态磷,进而延缓水体富营养化的发展进程.     

呼吸效应对矿井封闭火区氧浓度的影响分析

为避免因火区封闭导致重大安全事故发生,通过采集某矿井1 d内3个不同监测点的大气压力变化情况,建立大气压力波动模型并分析计算,同时建立火区内外压差100,750 Pa情形下的氧浓度模型进而获得火区内侧氧气浓度因呼吸效应,在不同压差、体积大小火区、风阻、瓦斯涌出量、封闭时刻等多因素耦合影响下随时间的变化规律,以评估火区危险性。研究结果表明:井下大气随地面大气周期波动,封闭火区内、外侧之间的气压差因外界大气波动呈现16 h的余弦波动和8 h的线性波动周期变化;密闭质量好的火区具有更好地抗干扰性,内侧氧浓度的降低主要依靠瓦斯稀释;密闭质量差的火区,内侧氧浓度易受到火区涌出瓦斯、外界涌入大气双重影响;火区氧浓度在2%~12%之间波动,以至火区存在发生瓦斯爆炸的可能性;火区内外压差较大时,氧浓度波动变化幅度更大,危险作用持续时间更长。结合火区氧浓度波动模型,可有效地对矿井火区采取安全的防范措施,避免瓦斯爆炸事故发生。     

时间因素对钻屑瓦斯解吸指标K1值测定的影响分析

针对时间因素对钻屑瓦斯解吸指标K1测定结果的影响,采用恒温瓦斯放散试验深入分析钻屑瓦斯解吸指标K1测定理论的准确性,总结因时间因素导致K1值测定误差所带来的现场问题。研究结果表明:K1值的测定误差与时间关系密切,测定启动时间越晚,误差越大;测定启动时间由第1 min延后至第2 min,绝对误差和相对误差最大值分别增加0.081 cm3/(g·min1/2)和2.20%;高瓦斯压力条件矿井或煤层的局部高瓦斯压力区域、构造煤发育区的钻屑瓦斯解吸指标K1值测定结果偏低,测定误差偏大。研究结果可为煤与瓦斯突出预测水平的提升提供技术支撑。     

Moving FOCUS – The Fire Service Organizational Culture of Safety survey – From research to practice

Introduction: FOCUS, the Fire Service Organizational Culture of Safety survey, has evolved from a research to practice enterprise within the United States fire and rescue service. The FOCUS tool was developed through a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Research & Development grant. Then it moved to practice in the field. To date over 35,000 firefighters have participated. A current FEMA Fire Prevention & Safety grant can support FOCUS assessment in up to 1,000 fire departments, with the potential of nearly 120,000 respondents. With each funding cycle, the goal of the FOCUS program is to grow and measure its research to practice impact. Methods: We describe how FOCUS safety culture results are disseminated to fire service stakeholders. By utilizing customized reports and a training curriculum we demonstrate how FOCUS is moving research to practice by: (1) illustrating how survey results can be delivered effectively to practitioners, (2) providing examples of how fire departments are using results, and (3) sharing the reactions of the fire service to the FOCUS instrument, reports, and our flagship data training curriculum – Culture Camp. Results' Conclusions: Qualitative and quantitative data are analyzed to demonstrate the impact and acceptance of the FOCUS report and Culture Camps. Stakeholders reflect on the report and the experience of having quantitative safety culture data. Culture Camps are evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively using a matching game exercise, pre/post-test, a fire department teach back, and a Qualtrics evaluation. Practical Applications: Traditionally, the fire service has focused on reducing negative safety outcomes. FOCUS is helping shift their attention further upstream in the prevention pathway through the measurement of important organizational outcomes. The research to practice evolution of the FOCUS program may hold utility for other occupational groups when considering how to steadily move occupational health and safety research to practice in the field for measurable impact.