Changes in driving performance after first and second eye cataract surgery: A driving simulator study

Introduction: This study investigated the separate impact of first eye and second eye cataract surgery on driving performance, as measured on a driving simulator. Method: Forty-four older drivers with bilateral cataract aged 55+ years, awaiting first eye cataract surgery participated in a prospective cohort study. They completed a questionnaire, visual tests and a driving simulator assessment at three time points: before first eye, after first eye, and after second eye cataract surgery. Generalized Estimating Equation Poisson or linear regression models were undertaken to examine the change in four driving outcomes of interest after adjusting for cataract surgery and other potential confounders. Results: The rate of crashes/near crashes decreased significantly by 36% (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.64, 95% CI 0.47–0.88, p = 0.01) after first eye surgery and 47% (IRR 0.53, 95% CI 0.35–0.78, p < 0.001) after second eye surgery, compared to before first eye cataract surgery, after accounting for confounders. The rate of crashes/near crashes also decreased with better contrast sensitivity (IRR 0.69, 95% CI 0.48–0.90, p = 0.041). A separate model found that time spent speeding 10 kilometers per hour or more over the limit after second eye surgery was significantly less (0.14 min, p = 0.002), compared to before first eye surgery, after accounting for confounders. As contrast sensitivity improved, the duration of speeding also decreased significantly by 0.46 min (p = 0.038). There were no statistically significant changes in lane excursions or speed variation. Practical applications: The findings highlight the importance of timely first and second eye cataract surgery to ensure driver safety, especially as older drivers wait for second eye cataract surgery. It also provides further evidence that contrast sensitivity is probably a better predictor of driving ability in older drivers with cataract than visual acuity, the measure on which driver licensing requirements are currently based, and should also be used when assessing fitness to drive.     

The use of virtual environments for percentage view analysis

It is recognised that Visual Impact Assessment (VIA), unlike many other aspects of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), relies less upon measurement than upon experience and judgement. Hence, it is necessary for a more structured and consistent approach towards VIA, reducing the amount of bias and subjectivity. For proposed developments, there are very few quantitative techniques for the evaluation of visibility, and these existing methods can be highly inaccurate and time consuming. Percentage view changes are one of the few quantitative techniques, and the use of computer technology can reduce the inaccuracy and the time spent evaluating the visibility of either existing or proposed developments. For over 10 years, research work undertaken by the authors at the University of Nottingham has employed Computer Graphics (CG) and Virtual Reality (VR) in civilian and industrial contexts for environmental planning, design visualisation, accident reconstruction, risk analysis, data visualisation and training simulators. This paper describes a method to quantitatively assess the visual impact of proposed developments on the landscape using CG techniques. This method allows the determination of accurate percentage view changes with the use of a computer-generated model of the environment and the application of specialist software that has been developed at the University of Nottingham. The principles are easy to understand and therefore planners, authorisation agencies and members of the public can use and understand the results. A case study is shown to demonstrate the application and the capabilities of the technology.     

地下水流数值模拟中平面三角网格自动剖分的实现

针对地下水数值模拟中涉及平面三角网格自动生成问题，提出了一种适合地下水流三角剖分的特定要求的算法，并利用当前流行的面向对象设计语言VisualC 实现了算法．最后结合实例，做了剖分工作．结果能很好满足地下水流数值模拟的要求，为地下水流数值模拟提供了方便快捷的服务。     

Landscape visualisation and climate change: the potential for influencing perceptions and behaviour

The urgent need to mitigate and adapt to climate change is becoming more widely understood in scientific and policy circles, but public awareness lags behind. The potential of visual communication to accelerate social learning and motivate implementation of the substantial policy, technological, and life-style changes needed, has begun to be recognised. In particular, realistic landscape visualisations may offer special advantages in rapidly advancing peoples’ awareness of climate change and possibly affecting behaviour and policy, by bringing certain possible consequences of climate change home to people in a compelling manner. However, few such applications are yet in use, the theoretical basis for the effectiveness of visualisations in this role has not been clearly established, and there are ethical concerns elicited by adopting a persuasive approach which deliberately engages the emotions with visual imagery. These questions and policy implications are discussed in the context of a theoretical framework on the effects of landscape visualisation on a spectrum of responses to climate change information, drawing in part on evidence from other applications of landscape visualisation. The author concludes that the persuasive use of visualisations, together with other approaches, may be effective, is justified, and could be vital in helping communicate climate change effectively, given ethical standards based on disclosure, drama, and defensibility.     

环保查询分析决策系统的研发

环保查询分析决策系统基于电子地图和数据库,能同时操纵数据库和AutoCAD,使得查询系统既实用又有效率.随着IT产业的迅猛发展,信息化办公手段也日益成熟完善.计算机的利用率逐步提高,逐渐成为人们日常工作和生活中不可缺少的一部分.近些年来,环境保护工作的不断深入,为提高机关工作效率,按照党的"十六"大提出的机关办公的电子化的要求,开始研究环保查询分析决策系统.《环保查询分析决策系统》的研制开发,就是为了适应新形势和新工作,将电子地图、数据库和环境管理的内容结合在一起,为环境管理提供技术支持和科学依据,为区域环境管理的查询分析决策提供技术支持.     

寒武系中上统地层工业场址地下水污染研究

通常情况下在碳酸盐岩分布的地区,由于地下岩溶管道的发育,地下水主要赋存在大尺度的管道和裂隙中。地下水的流速和流向在空间上具有很大的差异性。以上问题造成在碳酸盐岩地区难以对地下水的流动和溶质运移问题进行数值模拟评价。但在实际工作中发现,某些白云岩裂隙水中地下水的运动符合孔隙水中的运动规律,溶质的运移符合弥散理论的基础条件。以松桃县某工业场地为例,研究该白云岩地层中地下水水质弥散参数的获取和参数特征,并以此为基础建立数值模型对污染情况进行模拟,采用现场试验对数值模型进行验证。数值模型采用Visual MODFLOW计算机辅助软件建立。通过验证表明,以泥质白云岩为主的碳酸盐岩地区的地下水流动及溶质运移适用于数值法进行模拟。     

鸟粪石法沉淀去除氨氮的平衡体系模拟预测

使用化学平衡软件Visual MINTEQ计算拟合鸟粪石(磷酸镁铵,MgNH4PO4·6H2O,MAP)沉淀去除氨氮的平衡体系在不同pH值条件下Mg2+、NH4+和PO34-各组分的变化及饱和指数(SI)的变化.实验和预测结果表明,模型对MAP沉淀平衡体系拟合良好.在本研究的pH值范围内(8.0—11.0),化学平衡模型VisualMINTEQ能预测敞开体系氨氮废水中通过磷酸铵镁沉淀去除的NH4+-N,但不能用来预测敞开体系中所有氨氮的去除,即预测结果中不包括由于氨气挥发而去除的氨氮.     

零价铁PRB修复2,4-DNT污染地下水模拟研究

研究了零价铁(Fe0)作为PRB墙体介质材料去除地下水环境中2,4-二硝基甲苯(2,4-DNT)可行性.通过室内试验研究地下水环境中Fe0去除水相2,4-DNT效果以及降解动力学参数,并结合一假设地下水受2,4-DNT污染的场地,采用Visual Modflow模拟Fe0墙体材料PRB(Fe0-PRB)修复地下水中2,4-DNT降解效果并评价其可行性.结果表明:在模拟过程中,PRB能有效控制并减少污染羽面积,降低污染浓度;污染4a后,污染地下水的2,4-DNT总质量约1.46×104kg,可推知PRB修复达标耗用Fe0材料为8.76×104kg;渗透系数增大导致地下水速率增大,2,4-DNT与墙体Fe0材料接触时间不充分,污染物污染下游地下水,同时也加速PRB上游污染羽面积减少.因此,结合数值模拟是有效的评价PRB介质材料修复地下水污染效果及确定PRB参数的重要手段之一.     

基于过程模拟的地下水污染风险评价方法研究

通过对简易垃圾填埋场污染地下水过程的系统分析,提出了以抽水井作为保护目标进行地下水污染风险评价的方法,确定了地下水污染风险评价因子,建立了基于过程模拟的污染物迁移转化数学模型.以特征污染物Cl-的污染范围和程度划分了风险等级.利用构建的地下水污染风险评价方法,以我国北方某简易垃圾填埋场作为案例进行了地下水污染风险评价.结果表明,污染源与污染物迁移转化的共同作用决定了地下水污染范围和风险等级.地下水污染风险评价方法的建立为开展简易垃圾填埋场地下水污染有效监管提供了一种方法.