Effects of cognitive distraction on speed control in curve negotiation

Objective: Maintaining a lower speed is recommended for curve negotiation and it has been shown that cognitive distraction may impair driving performance. This study examines the effects of different levels of cognitive distraction on the speed control of drivers negotiating a curve.

Methods: Experiments were conducted on a 6 degrees of freedom driving simulator with 28 participants. A comparison of the speed and acceleration from 300 m before to 100 m after the curve was performed for baseline driving (without distraction) and 3 levels of cognitive distractions using n-back tasks.

Results: The speed was significantly higher at the highest level of cognitive distraction (8%) than in baseline driving from the beginning of the curve to 50 m after it and the ratio of the highest level to the baseline was even greater throughout the range. The average acceleration was significantly higher than the baseline at the highest and the medium levels (80 and 70%, respectively) from 250 m before the curve to the one-quarter curve and from 250 to 150 m before the curve, respectively. It was also found that the point of deceleration was significantly delayed at the highest level of cognitive distraction and occurred only after the middle of the curve, whereas deceleration in baseline driving occurred just before entering the curve.

Conclusions: The impairment due to cognitive distraction was confirmed in this study but was only significant at a high level of cognitive distraction. The highly distracted drivers failed to perceive the curve in advance, resulting in a slower response to changes in the roadway. The findings indicate that acceleration may be an indicator of cognitive distraction while negotiating curves. A driver is prone to cognitive distraction and the driving performance is affected when driving requires excessive attention such as curve negotiation.     

A foundation for developing a methodology for social network sampling

Researchers are increasingly turning to network theory to understand the social nature of animal populations. We present a computational framework that is the first step in a series of works that will allow us to develop a quantitative methodology of social network sampling to aid ecologists in their social network data collection. To develop our methodology, we need to be able to generate networks from which to sample. Ideally, we need to perform a systematic study of sampling protocols on different known network structures, as network structure might affect the robustness of any particular sampling methodology. Thus, we present a computational tool for generating network structures that have user-defined distributions for network properties and for key measures of interest to ecologists. The user defines the values of these measures and the tool will generate appropriate network randomizations with those properties. This tool will be used as a framework for developing a sampling methodology, although we do not present a full methodology here. We describe the method used by the tool, demonstrate its effectiveness, and discuss how the tool can now be utilized. We provide a proof-of-concept example (using the assortativity measure) of how such networks can be used, along with a simulated egocentric sampling regime, to test the level of equivalence of the sampled network to the actual network. This contribution is part of the special issue “Social Networks: new perspectives” (Guest Editors: J. Krause, D. Lusseau and R. James).     

USING MARYLAND'S STREAM CORRIDOR ASSESSMENT SURVEY TO PRIORITIZE WATERSHED RESTORATION EFFORTS1

ABSTRACT: The Stream Corridor Assessment survey has been developed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as a watershed management tool to identify environmental problems and to help prioritize restoration opportunities on a watershed basis. Potential environmental problems commonly identified during the survey include: stream channel alterations, excessive bank erosion, exposed pipes, inadequate stream buffers, fish migration blockages, trash dumping sites, near stream construction, pipe outfalls, and unusual conditions. In addition, the survey records information on the location of potential wetlands creation sites and collects data on the general condition of instream and riparian habitats. Over the past several years, in collaboration with the Maryland Conservation Corps, watershed associations, and local governments, more than 3,293 km (2,046 miles) of Maryland streams have been surveyed. Overall, the survey has proven to be a cost effective starting point for many watershed restoration efforts.     

基于结构方程模型的认知性VDT作业过程解析

为实现通过过程控制和管理提高认知性视觉显示终端(VDT)作业人员可靠性和绩效的目标,应用结构方程模型(SEM)研究作业过程表征方法.构建认知性VDT作业的信息加工过程模型,抽取13个基本认知动素(CT1),提出CT1概念结构模型假设,设计外显指标测试题项,运用问卷调查样本数据构建结构方程和测量方程;对测量数据与结构方程...     

从哲学认识论的视角看环境伦理学的自然价值观

罗尔斯顿的环境价值理论强调了自然的创造性,把自然本身看成是价值的产生者和创造者。这样,他的价值就偏离了主体设定的维度,而把价值的所予性基础抽离掉了。     

分子遗传技术与生物遗传多样性研究

各种分子遗传技术为不同生物种类间进行直接比较和分子水平的遗传多样性的度量、研究提供了新的途径。本文讨论了此类分子水平研究所取得的一些新的进展，并指出了有关分子工具应用于生物多样性研究中存在的一些问题。     

从色觉、科学仪器、测不准原理看非决定论

通过对色觉、科学仪器、测不准原理的分析,认为认识在感性阶段是客主体相互作用的结果.感官的生物学意义在于对客体的区别.这种区别是相对准确的,而不是与客体严格一一对应的.科学仪器是人感官的延伸.色觉与其它感官和科学仪器同是人类认识工具.测不准问题是与认识工具直接相关,与客主体相互影响密不可分的,它在宏观上和微观上同时存在,它不是非决定论的理论依据.     

Car drivers with dementia: Different complications due to different etiologies?

Objective: Older drivers with dementia are an at-risk group for unsafe driving. However, dementia refers to various etiologies and the question is whether dementias of different etiology have similar effects on driving ability.

Methods: The literature on the effects of dementia of various etiologies on driving ability is reviewed. Studies addressing dementia etiologies and driving were identified through PubMed, PsychINFO, and Google Scholar.

Results and Conclusions: Early symptoms and prognoses differ between dementias of different etiology. Therefore, different etiologies may represent different likelihoods with regard to fitness to drive. Moreover, dementia etiologies could indicate the type of driving problems that can be expected to occur. However, there is a great lack of data and knowledge about the effects of almost all etiologies of dementia on driving. One could hypothesize that patients with Alzheimer's disease may well suffer from strategic difficulties such as finding a route, whereas patients with frontotemporal dementia are more inclined to make tactical-level errors because of impaired hazard perception. Patients with other dementia etiologies involving motor symptoms may suffer from problems on the operational level. Still, the effects of various etiologies of dementias on driving have thus far not been studied thoroughly. For the detection of driving difficulties in patients with dementia, structured interviews with patients but also their family members appear crucial. Neuropsychological assessment could support the identification of cognitive impairments. The impact of such impairments on driving could also be investigated in a driving simulator. In a driving simulator, strengths and weaknesses in driving behavior can be observed. With this knowledge, patients can be advised appropriately about their fitness to drive and options for support in driving (e.g., compensation techniques, car adaptations). However, as long as no valid, reliable, and widely accepted test battery is available for the assessment of fitness to drive, costly on-road test rides are inevitable. The development of a fitness-to-drive test battery for patients with dementia could provide an alternative for these on-road test rides, on condition that differences between dementia etiologies are taken into consideration.