Using a driving simulator to identify older drivers at inflated risk of motor vehicle crashes

PROBLEM: To develop appropriate assessment criteria to measure the performance of older drivers using an interactive PC-based driving simulator, and to determine which measures were associated with the occurrence of motor-vehicle crash. METHOD: One hundred and twenty-nine older drivers residing in a metropolitan city volunteered to participate in this retrospective cohort study. Using the driving simulator, appropriate driving tasks were devised to test the older drivers, whose performances were assessed by 10 reliable assessment criteria. Logistic regression analysis was then undertaken to determine those criteria that influence the self-reported crash outcome. RESULTS: As expected, driving skill of older drivers was found to decline with age. Over 60% of the sample participants reported having at least one motor-vehicle crash during the past year. Adjusting for age in a logistic regression analysis, the cognitive abilities associated with the crash occurrence were working memory, decision making under pressure of time, and confidence in driving at high speed. SUMMARY: The findings of this retrospective study indicated those individuals at inflated risk of vehicle crashes could be identified using the PC-based interactive driving simulator. Prospective studies need to be undertaken to determine whether the driving simulator can predict future crash events. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This study demonstrated an economical driving simulator approach to screen out problematic or unsafe older drivers before a more detailed but expensive road test is considered.     

珠江三角洲典型城市机动车尾气排放的影响因素分析

机动车技术水平和道路路况是影响机动车尾气排放的两大因素。本文以中山、佛山和广州三个城市为代表城市,首先采用问卷调查和实时采集交通流视频的方式收集三个城市的机动车技术水平信息和道路路况,并分析了上述三个城市的燃油类型和累计行驶里程和交通流的分布特征。分析结果衰明,备城市的机动车技术水平特征及差距,其中广州的出租车、公交车已规模推广环保型燃料,各类车型燃料使用比例不同使得尾气成分有一定差异;广州公交车累计行驶里程和年均行驶里程分布较靠后,公交系统的使用率较高;出租车年均行驶里程低于佛山、中山。在交通流分布上,广州总交通量大于中山;广州各级道路交通量呈梯度递减分布,小时交通量差距较大;中山仅国道承担较大范围的运输,其他各级道路分布形状统一,非工作类出行比例低。     

WTO多哈回合贸易与环境谈判进展——WTO贸易与环境委员会(CTE)主席Manuel Teehankee大使向贸易谈判委员会(TNC)的报告

世界贸易组织(WTO)多哈谈判异常艰缓,虽已历时十年但仍距结束遥遥无期。在此形势下,为避免多哈谈判彻底失败,世贸组织拟把原来"一揽子承诺"的谈判模式转向"早期收获"模式。2011年4月21日,世贸组织总干事拉米和各谈判组主席发布了关于多哈回合启动十年来各议题谈判的报告和现有谈判案文。商务部世界贸易组织司选择其中一些比较重要的案文和报告译出。这些案文和报告是多哈回合谈判十年来的一个全面回顾,期待着为国内学者深入开展相关研究提供基础背景和相关信息。本译文是WTO贸易与环境委员会(CTE)主席Manuel Teehankee大使向贸易谈判委员会(TNC)的报告。Report by the Chairman of Committee on Trade and Environment in Special Session,Ambassador Manuel A.J.Teehankee,to the Trade Negotiations Committee(TN/TE/20,2011/04/21;http://docsonline.wto.org)     

酚醛废水处理技术研究进展

酚醛废水(PFW)含有大量挥发酚和游离甲醛,还含有部分甲醇及少量低分子树脂、大量酸类等有毒物,需经过处理后才可排入环境.其中联合工艺是最为可行的处理工艺.     

WTO多哈回合贸易与环境谈判进展——WTP贸易与环境委员会（CTE）主席ManuelTeehankee大使向贸易谈判委员会（TNC）的报告

世界贸易组织（WTO）多哈谈判异常艰缓,虽已历时十年但仍距结束遥遥无期。在此形势下,为避免多哈谈判彻底失败,世贸组织拟把原来“一揽子承诺”的谈判模式转向“早期收获”模式。2011年4月21日,世贸组织总干事拉米和各谈判组主席发布了关于多哈回合启动十年来各议题谈判的报告和现有谈判案文。商务部世界贸易组织司选择其中一些比较重要的案文和报告译出。这些案文和报告是多哈回合谈判十年来的一个全面回顾,期待着为国内学者深入开展相关研究提供基础背景和相关信息。本译文是WTO贸易与环境委员会（CTE）主席ManuelTeehankee大使向贸易谈判委员会（TNC）的报告。Report by the Chairman of Committee on Trade and Environment in Special Session, Ambassador Manuel A. J. Teehankee, to the Trade Negotiations Committee （TN/TE/20, 2011/04/21; http：//docsonfine.wto.org）     

深圳生态环境保护40年历程及实践经验

深圳经济特区建立的40年也是生态环境保护工作不断改革和飞跃的40年。根据特区建立以来环境管理政策与生态环境保护状况变化等,本研究将深圳生态环境保护发展历程大致划分为四个阶段：①奠基起步、建章立制（1980—1992年）;②局部创新、全面推进（1993—2000年）;③综合调控、转型跨越（2001—2011年）;④系统改革、优化发展（2012年至今）。研究发现,深圳总体上探索出了一个质量引领、创新驱动、转型升级、绿色低碳的发展路径,生态文明体制机制改革不断深化,形成了覆盖生态环境保护各个领域、门类齐全、功能完备、措施有力的生态环境政策体系,为中国乃至全球生态环境保护提供了一系列可复制、可推广的有益经验和深圳样本。     

Assessing and improving management practices when planning packaging waste collection systems

Packaging waste collection systems are responsible to collect, within a geographic area, three types of packaging materials (paper, glass and plastic/metal) that are disposed by the final consumer into special bins. Those systems are often characterized by having a network with multiple depots that act as transfer and sorting stations, and where the vehicle fleet is based. However, each depot is often managed independently and not as a part of a unique system. In this work, four current tactical/operational practices that contribute to the independent management of each depot are analysed. The change of such practices is investigated and their impact assessed on the total collection cost. A solution methodology based on mathematical formulations is developed to plan service areas, vehicle routes and vehicle schedules taking into account new alternative solutions in managing the system as a whole. Such methodology is applied to a real case study of a company responsible for the collection of the packaging waste in 7 municipalities in mainland Portugal. New service areas, collection routes and vehicle schedules are defined and significant savings are obtained in terms of the total distance travelled as well as in terms of the number of required vehicles, resulting in a decreasing of the total system cost.