Overview of motorcycling in the United States: a national telephone survey

Objectives

Motorcycle registrations have risen in recent years. Although motorcyclist crash fatalities in 2009 were 16% lower than in 2008, they were double the number of deaths in 1997. The present study examined current motorcyclists’ travel patterns and views of motorcycle helmets and other safety topics.

Methods

Motorcycle drivers were interviewed in a national telephone survey conducted in 2009. A weighted sample of 1,606 motorcyclists resulted from adjusting for the oversampling of those younger than 40 and those in the three states without a motorcycle helmet use law (Illinois, Iowa, New Hampshire). All analyses were based on the weighted sample, which was intended to result in a nationally representative sample of motorcyclists.

Results

About one-quarter of respondents said they did not always wear helmets. Of these respondents, 57% said a law requiring helmet use would persuade them to do so, and 27% said nothing would. Ninety-four percent of respondents in states with universal helmet laws said they always ride helmeted, compared with about half of respondents in other states. About half of all respondents favored these laws. About three-quarters said they believe helmets keep riders safer, including two-thirds of respondents who oppose universal laws and almost half of drivers who rarely/never wear helmets. Drivers ages 18–29 and drivers of sport/unclad sport, sport touring, and super sport motorcycles were more likely to always wear helmets, support universal helmet laws, and believe helmets keep riders safer. About half of respondents said antilock braking systems (ABS) enhance safety and that they would get ABS on their next motorcycle. Less than one-quarter thought an airbag would protect a motorcyclist in a crash, and even fewer would consider getting one on their next motorcycle. Forty-three percent of motorcyclists said they had crashed at least once; 62% of the most recent crashes involved no vehicles besides the motorcycle. Respondents reported riding their motorcycles about 5,400 miles, on average, during the past year. Drivers ages 18–29 reported riding fewer miles, on average, than older drivers and more often rode at night and to/from work or school. Drivers of touring and sport touring motorcycles traveled more miles and took more long trips.

Conclusions

Motorcyclists’ travel patterns and views vary widely, but there are distinct patterns by driver age and motorcycle type. Drivers who believe helmets keep riders safer are more likely to always wear them, but this belief appears insufficient to motivate some drivers to wear them. However, universal helmet laws appear effective in increasing helmet use. Many drivers are receptive to purchasing ABS on their next motorcycle.

Impact on industry

States should be encouraged to enact universal helmet laws, and motorcycle manufacturers should be encouraged to offer ABS.     

过水性湖泊水质长期演变趋势及驱动因素：以骆马湖为例

过水性湖泊——骆马湖是南水北调东线工程的重要调蓄湖泊,具有防洪抗旱、饮用水供给和生态维护等多种功能.为了解骆马湖水质演变及驱动因素,基于2009～2020年长序列逐月实测数据,结合1996～2008年历史资料,分析了骆马湖总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、高锰酸盐指数和氨氮(NH⁺₄-N)等指标的长期演变、季节动态和空间格局,探究了气象和水文因子对湖泊水质的影响机制.结果表明,近25年来,骆马湖水质总体处于Ⅳ～劣Ⅴ类.ρ(TN)变化明显(1.06～3.49 mg·L^-1),历经波动下降(1996～2002年)、显著的年际波动(2002～2015年)和显著上升(2015～2020年)这3个阶段,是骆马湖的主要污染因子.高锰酸盐指数显著下降(2.97～6.38 mg·L^-1),ρ(TP)和ρ(NH⁺₄-N)波动相对较小,分别介于0.024～0.076 mg·L^-1和0.11～0.69 mg·L^-1. 2017～2020年夏...     

亚热带城市河流浮游细菌群落的季节演替及构建机制

细菌是河流生态系统的重要组成部分,在污染物降解、物质循环和能量流动等方面扮演着重要角色.然而亚热带城市河流细菌群落的季节演替和构建机制(确定性和随机性过程)仍不明晰.以流溪河及广州珠江段为研究对象,采用16S rRNA高通量测序分析探讨了不同季节(丰水期和枯水期)水体细菌群落的变化及其构建机制.结果表明：不同季节水体细菌群落的组成存在显著差异,丰水期,变形菌门和异常球菌-栖热菌门的丰度更高;而枯水期,拟杆菌门和厚壁菌门的丰度更高.细菌群落的α和β多样性同样具有显著的季节差异,T、NH₄⁺-N、TOC、pH、EC、DO、NO₃^--N和DSi是影响细菌群落季节变化的主要环境因子.水体细菌群落的生态网络具有典型的模块化结构,物种间以正相关作用(合作关系)为主,且丰水期物种间的合作关系强于枯水期.随机性过程主导了细菌群落的构建,尤其以扩散限制贡献最大,且细菌群落在枯水期面临的扩散限制要高于丰水期.     

重庆市O3污染日的大气环流分型与传输特征

通过分析重庆市主城区2015~2019年O₃浓度和气象要素观测数据,发现主城区O₃超标日数、超标日O₃中位值和90百分位浓度值均呈现逐年升高趋势,O₃与温度成正相关、与相对湿度成负相关,高O₃浓度对应每日最高温度区间为35℃以上以及相对湿度区间70%以下.采用T-mode主成分分析法(PCT)对2015~2019年的4~9月850hPa低层位势高度场和风场进行分型,总结出重庆市O₃污染期间主要有8种天气类型,其中有利于出现高浓度O₃现象的天气类型分别是低压西北侧型(T1)、低压后部型(T4)和高压西侧(T3),对应O₃平均超标率分别为34.6%、17.0%和14.2%.利用HYSPLIT4模型后向轨迹聚类方法和潜在源贡献算法(PSCF),计算得到O₃污染日的气团主要以中短距离输送为主,主要传输轨迹来自北、东北、南以及西南四个方向,从2015~2019年,主要污染来源有一个明显的从北转南的趋势,O₃污染的潜在源贡献分析结果与全市工业源NO_x、VOCs排放量空间分布的一致性较高.     

秦皇岛市生态环境景观生态学研究

运用景观分类与评价、景观结构与功能分析、景观生态安全格局判断等景观生态学原理和方法对秦皇岛市生态环境进行了研究,结果表明:秦皇岛景观类型丰富独特,景观空间格局对主要生态过程有重要影响,对1986～1996年间景观变化定量分析的结查显示由于人工干扰指数的提高,使自然景现类型数量减少,并出现破碎化,从而降低了景观多样性和景观优势度,易导致系统的生产力、稳定性、自维持性趋向于降低。     

大渡河上游地区景观格局与动态

利用卫星遥感资料,对大渡河上游地区金川、壤塘、马尔康三县18665km²土地的景观格局与动态进行分析。结果显示,1995～2000年,研究地区的景观破碎化程度有所下降,多样性增加,斑块形状不规则性增强。整个景观表现出以草地为基质,以林地变动为主要特征。5年间,有林地面积减少53687hm²,大部分转变为灌木林地和疏林地。有林地的空间动态,如斑块密度下降,形状趋于规则等,显示该地区森林减少主要是有计划采伐的结果。耕地面积的下降则表明当地退耕还林、还草的政策措施已初见成效。     

Assessment of population exposure to particulate matter pollution in Chongqing, China

To determine the population exposure to PM(10) in Chongqing, China, we developed an indirect model by combining information on the time activity patterns of various demographic subgroups with estimates of the PM(10) concentrations in different microenvironments (MEs). The spatial and temporal variations of the exposure to PM(10) were illustrated in a geographical information system (GIS). The population weighted exposure (PWE) for the entire population was 229, 155 and 211 microg/m(3), respectively, in winter, summer and as the annual average. Indoor PM(10) level at home was the largest contributor to the PWE, especially for the rural areas where high pollution levels were found due to solid fuels burning. Elder people had higher PM(10) exposure than adults and youth, due to more time spent in indoor MEs. The highest health risk due to particulate was found in the city zone and northeast regions, suggesting that pollution abatement should be prioritized in these areas.     

Nutrient transfer functions: the site of integration between feeding behaviour and nutritional physiology

Summary. We describe and extend a graphical approach to quantitative nutrition that focuses on the interplay between behavioural and physiological components of nutritional regulation. The site of integration is the nutrient transfer function, which is the function describing the time course of nutrient transfer between serially connected nutritional compartments (e.g., from the gut to the blood). The relationship between the shape of the nutrient transfer function and the temporal patterns of feeding determines the values of two key quantitative parameters of nutrition: the rate ('power') and the efficiency of nutrient acquisition. The approach can be extended to consider, in addition to the short-term behavioural and physiological decisions made by animals, some ecological determinants and longer-term, life history consequences of such decisions. Most importantly, this category of models can provide insights into the interplay among the various nutrients in an animal's diet. We illustrate this using hypothetical examples, and also present preliminary data for the power-efficiency relationships of protein and digestible carbohydrates in locusts. Finally, we consider existing evidence for the various means available to these and other insects for regulating such relationships. Received 24 September 1997; accepted 9 December 1997.     

New Metal Emission Patterns in Road Traffic Environments

The increased awareness of traffic as a major diffuse metal emission source emphasizes the need for more detailed information on the various traffic-related sources and how and where the metals are dispersed. In this study, metal emission patterns in the road traffic environment were examined from the perspective of different surrounding factors, e.g. the importance of intersections, deceleration, vehicle speed and traffic density. A total of 148 topsoil samples from 18 south Swedish roads were analysed (using GFAAS) for traffic-emitted metals, i.e. Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn. The roadside topsoil metal concentrations were used to examine correlations between metals and surrounding factors. The studied metals were divided into three groups corresponding to different emission sources: metals from decelerating activities (Cu, Sb and Zn), metals as historical residues from the combustion of petrol (Pb and Cd), and non-source-specific metals (Cr and Ni). It was found that Cu and Sb, despite their rather short history as traffic-emitted metals, have increased more than eightfold in roadside soils compared to background levels. The major source of road traffic related Cu and Sb is brake linings. The significant increase of Cu and Sb in roadside topsoil stresses the need for metal transport studies as well as effect studies of these metals. Metals emitted due to decelerating activities were not correlated to elevated concentrations near road junctions. Emission patterns of traffic-related metals alongside roads are crucial in order to be able to evaluate the optimal localization of storm water treatment ponds.     

生物多样性的海拔分布格局研究及进展

生物多样性的海拔分布格局受制于气候、空间、环境等多种因子的影响,综合大量研究发现,无论是动植物还是微生物,环境因子对其影响与驱动的作用最明显.海拔梯度是决定分布格局的重要因素之一,因此探讨生物多样性在环境因子驱动下的海拔分布格局具有重要意义.文章分别探讨了植物、土壤动物和土壤微生物多样性沿海拔梯度的变化规律,揭示了温度...