Does the improved stability offered by motorcycle antilock brakes (ABS) make sliding crashes less common? In-depth analysis of fatal crashes involving motorcycles fitted with ABS

Objective: This research investigated the following issue. Though several tests indicate that motorcycle ABS may increase motorcycle stability, thus reducing the risk of a sliding crash involving braking (i.e., the rider is separated from the motorcycle and slides along the road surface prior to collision), there is limited research showing to what extent sliding crashes are reduced by ABS in real-life conditions.

Methods: The Swedish Transport Administration (STA) and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) carry out in-depth studies for all road fatalities. A total of 38 in-depth studies with ABS motorcycles were included: 22 in Sweden and 16 in Norway (2005–2014). These were compared with 98 cases in Sweden and 32 in Norway involving motorcycles of the same types but without ABS. The data sets were analyzed separately and also merged together. The difference between the proportions of sliding crashes regardless braking was analyzed; selective recruitment was handled with a sensitivity analysis. Induced exposure was used to calculate the reduction of all crashes and those involving braking.

Results: Four ABS cases (11%) involved falling off the motorcycle prior to collision, and 35% of the non-ABS crashes were sliding (P =.004). The sensitivity analysis showed that the results were stable, with a relative difference of sliding crashes ranging between 65 and 78%.

None of the 4 sliding crashes with ABS occurred during braking; that is, all ABS riders who braked prior to collision crashed in an upright position. In the 4 sliding cases with ABS, the riders lost control of their motorcycles: 2 while accelerating on asphalt with very poor friction, 1 while negotiating a curve with an excessive lean angle, and 1 by abruptly releasing the throttle in the middle of a curve.

Although based on a limited number of cases, the distributions of sliding and upright collisions among crashes without braking were similar, thus suggesting that the crash posture would not be affected by ABS if no braking occurred. The calculations with induced exposure showed that upright crashes with braking were also reduced by ABS; all fatal crashes, regardless of braking, were reduced by 52%.

Conclusions: Though this research was based on a limited material, it confirmed that sliding fatal crashes are significantly decreased by ABS. Considering that ABS will soon be mandatory in the European Union on all new motorcycles with engine displacement over 125cc, these findings should be taken into account in the future design and testing of motorcycle-friendly road barriers and integrated protection systems.     

不同处理工艺对再生水化学稳定性的影响研究

围绕工业循环冷却水关注的化学稳定性问题,分析了市政再生水厂进水水质及其稳定性,对比了不同再生水处理工艺对主要化学稳定性指标的去除效果,并通过实例比较了混凝沉淀过滤、MBR、UF、RO工艺出水的化学稳定性。结果表明:当前常用工艺中,RO对硫酸盐、氯化物、硬度、碱度、电导率的去除效果最好,去除率达90%以上;实际案例也证实,RO出水的硫酸盐、氯化物、硬度、碱度、电导率含量最低,但RO出水离子配比失衡,导致p H值偏低,使得其生产的再生水腐蚀性倾向最为显著。     

SBR工艺活性污泥驯化过程中微型动物群落物种多样性及其稳定性研究

以SBR反应器培养驯化阶段的活性污泥微型动物群落为研究对象,系统考察了活性污泥驯化过程中微型动物群落结构与优势种群变化规律,同时探讨了微型动物群落物种多样性及其稳定性.结果表明,1活性污泥培养驯化是微型动物群落类群和种属增多后趋于稳定的过程:污泥培养驯化过程中微型动物群落,由驯化初期以鞭毛虫为单一优势类群向鞭毛虫、匍匐型纤毛虫、固着型纤毛虫、肉食性纤毛虫等4个共优势类群演变,优势种属也由单一的波豆虫属(Bodo sp.)逐步向波豆虫属(Bodo sp.)、钟虫属(Vorticella sp.)、累枝虫属(Epistylis sp.)、楯纤虫属(Aspidisca sp.)、斜管虫属(Chilodonella sp.)、半眉虫属(Hemiophrys sp.)等6个共优势种属演变;2活性污泥培养驯化是微型动物群落物种多样性水平增高后趋于稳定的过程:Shannon-Wiener多样性指数H'在培养驯化过程中先急剧增大后小幅降低直至相对稳定,较培养驯化前增大约75%;3活性污泥培养驯化是微型动物群落趋于稳定的过程:驯化初期到中期微型动物群落稳定性略有减小,驯化中期到后期有较大的增加并趋于稳定,这是微型动物群落总多度、物种数均先增大后逐渐趋于稳定的结果;4微型动物群落稳定滞后于其污泥成熟与污水处理效能稳定.     

边坡工程集成式智能辅助决策系统研究

以智能决策支持系统（ＩＳＳ）的理论与方法为基础，以事务处理专家系统系统开发具ＧＵＲＵ为开发环境，将多种评价与决策模型和方法相结合，形成了一个应用于边坡工程的集成式智能辅助决策系统（ＩＩＡＤＳＳＥ），本文讨论了ＩＩＡＤＳＳＥ的设计思想，介绍了ＩＩＡＤＳＳＥ的基本结构模式，各部分的功能及其实现方法，ＩＩＡＤＳＳＥ具有定性与定量分析相结合的特征，可较好地处理边坡工程稳定性评价与加固方案决策分析问题。     

LDPE/EPDM Multilayer Films Containing Recycled LDPE for Greenhouse Applications

In this paper the reuse of recycled LDPE in combination with the incorporation of EPDM modifier in the production of greenhouse films has been investigated. A three-layer film (60-100-40 micron thickness) containing recycled LDPE in the middle layer and a high UV-stabilized 40-micron outer layer was developed and proven to be commercially successful. Films with 25% and 50% recycled material content were produced. The effect of natural weathering on the film properties over a period of 15 months has been observed. Changes in physical and mechanical property were determined. The addition of EPDM to the raw resin was found to improve the extrudability of the compound and improve the weather resistivity of the film. The EPDM-modified films containing 25% to 50% recycled material retained approximately 95% and 75%, respectively, of their original extensibility after 9 months' exposure to natural weathering. Optimization of EPDM and UV stabilizer concentration was carried out to develop a balanced film with excellent mechanical and physical properties and resistance to weathering conditions. The use of UV stabilizer concentrations slightly higher than commercial practice in the outer layer of the multilayer film can be justified by the cost reduction by the incorporation of recycled LDPE materials.     

离子注入法选育高效降解蒽的鞘氨醇单胞菌突变株

鞘氨醇单胞菌(Sphingomonas sp.)AN1及其原生质体经N⁺ 离子注入诱变处理 ,蒽的降解率分别提高了29.3%和36.2%,总变异率分别为80%～100%、60%～80% ,耐蒽浓度分别达到300mg/L、400mg/L ;突变株经15代遗传稳定性检测,有2株(AN815-3,AN315-5)的性状可稳定遗传 ,其降解率分别为73%,75%,诱变效果显著.     

Ontogeny and Population: Developmental Stability and Population Variation

By definition, the ontogenetic and population organization levels are fundamentally different. Studies at these levels are traditionally independent. However, it becomes increasingly evident that special analysis of individuals in terms of ontogeny is necessary for correct estimation of populations and their spatiotemporal dynamics, as well as for understanding the mechanisms of population processes.     

Effect of superfine KHCO3 and ABC powder on ignition sensitivity of PMMA dust layer

In order to evaluate the flame-retardant capacity of KHCO₃ and ABC on the ignition of PMMA dust layer accumulation on hot surfaces, the ignition time and critical heating temperature of PMMA/KHCO₃ and PMMA/ABC dust layer were experimentally investigated. The thermal stability of the mixed dust, the condensed phase products and gas phase products of the mixed dust combustion were analyzed to reveal the flame-retardant mechanism. The ignition time of 30 μm PMMA was obviously longer than that of 5 μm PMMA, and the critical heating temperature was close to that of 5 μm PMMA. KHCO₃ and ABC could greatly extend the ignition time of the PMMA dust layer and increase the critical heating temperature of the dust layer. ABC was more effective than KHCO₃. The decomposition of KHCO₃ and ABC absorbed the heat and inhibits the pyrolysis of PMMA. The HPO₃ and P₂O₅ generated by the decomposition of ABC would cover the surface of PMMA aggregates or particles and act as a physical barrier. The main light combustible gas produced by PMMA pyrolysis were CO and C₂H₄. The CO₂ generated during the decomposition of KHCO₃ could dilute the combustible gas in the ambient to inhibit the combustion of PMMA.     

Phenogenetic monitoring of the weeping birch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> Roth.) in the Middle Urals: testing a new method for assessing developmental instability in higher plants

Variation of bilateral leaf structures in Middle Ural cenopopulations of the weeping birch (Betula pendula Roth.) growing in gradients of industrial pollution was studied to test the efficiency of a new method of population and individual phenogenetic monitoring allowing an indirect assessment of developmental destabilization by segregating the variance of total asymmetry (TA _R ²) into its additive components, the variances of fluctuating asymmetry (FA _R ²) and directional asymmetry (DA _R ²). The method was tested in the impact zones of two copper-smelting plants in the Middle Urals. The degree of impact was characterized by the index of technogenic pollution (ITP) reflecting the average total contents of 15 water-soluble pollutants in snow samples. The level of asymmetry was estimated from the numbers of denticles with incoming veins (dentovenal elements) on the left and right leaf margins. Spearman’s coefficient of rank correlation between the group values of variance in fluctuating asymmetry (FA _R ²) and corresponding ITP values reached r _S = 0.914 (p < 0.001), providing evidence that the method is highly appropriate for ecological indication of the phenogenetic response of trees to environmental pollution.     

Magnitude,Frequency, and Duration Relations for Suspended Sediment in Stable (“Reference”) Southeastern Streams1

Abstract: Sediment is listed as one of the leading causes of water‐quality impairments in surface waters of the United States (U.S.). A water body becomes listed by a State, Territory or Tribe if its designated use is not being attained (i.e., impaired). In many cases, the prescribed designated use is aquatic health or habitat, indicating that total maximum daily loads (TMDL) targets for sediment should be functionally related to this use. TMDL targets for sediment transport have been developed for many ecoregions over the past several years using suspended‐sediment yield as a metric. Target values were based on data from “reference” streams or reaches, defined as those exhibiting geomorphic characteristics of equilibrium. This approach has proved useful to some states developing TMDLs for suspended sediment, although one cannot conclude that if a stream exceeds the target range, the aquatic ecosystem will be adversely impacted. To address this problem, historical flow‐transport and sediment‐transport data from hundreds of sites in the Southeastern U.S. were re‐examined to develop parameters (metrics) such as frequency and duration of sediment concentrations. Sites determined as geomorphically stable from field evaluations and from analysis of gauging‐station records were sorted by ecoregion. Mean‐daily flow data obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey were applied to sediment‐transport rating relations to determine suspended‐sediment load for each day of record. The frequency and duration that a given concentration was equaled or exceeded were then calculated to produce a frequency distribution for each site. “Reference” distributions were created using the stable sites in each ecoregion by averaging all of the distributions at specified exceedance intervals. As with the “reference” suspended‐sediment yields, there is a broad range of frequency and duration distributions that reflects the hydrologic and sediment‐transport regimes of the ecoregions. Ecoregions such as the Mississippi Valley Loess Plains (#74) maintain high suspended sediment concentrations for extended periods, whereas coastal plain ecoregions (#63 and 75) show much lower concentrations.