Children's and Adults’ Comfort Experience of Extra Seat Belts When Riding in the Rear Seat of a Passenger Car

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore passengers’ comfort experience of extra seat belts during on-road driving in the rear seat of a passenger car and to investigate how the use of extra belts affects children's and adults’ attitudes to the product.

Methods: Two different seat belt systems were tested, criss-cross (CC) and backpack (BP), consisting of the standard 3-point belt together with an additional 2-point belt. In total, 32 participants (15 children aged 6–10, 6 youths aged 11–15, and 11 adults aged 20–79, who differed considerably in size, shape, and proportions) traveled for one hour with each system, including city traffic and highway driving. Four video cameras monitored the test subject during the drive. Subjective data regarding emotions and perceived discomfort were collected in questionnaires every 20 min. A semistructured interview was held afterwards.

Results: All participant groups accepted the new products and especially the increased feeling of safety (P <.01); 56% preferred CC and 44% preferred BP but the difference was not significant. In total, 81% wanted to have extra seat belts in their family car. CC was appreciated for its symmetry, comfort, and the perceived feeling of safety. Some participants found CC unpleasant because the belts tended to slip close to the neck, described as a strangling feeling. BP was simpler to use and did not cause annoyance to the neck in the way CC did. Instead, it felt asymmetric and to some extent less safe than CC. Body size and shape affected seat belt fit to a great extent, which in turn affected the experience of comfort, both initially and over time. Perceived safety benefit and experienced comfort were the most determinant factors for the attitude toward the extra seat belts. The extra seat belts were perceived as being better than the participants had expected before the test, and they became more used to them over time.

Conclusion: This exploratory study provided valuable knowledge from a user perspective for further development of new seat belt systems in cars. In addition to an increased feeling of safety, seat belt fit and comfort are supplementary influencing factors when it comes to gaining acceptance of new seat belt systems.     

基坑围护结构的内力和变形的预测方法研究

为了利用土体水平抗力系数的比例系数m来有效预测基坑围护结构的内力和变形,依据弹性地基梁原理,利用大型数学软件MATLAB编制了计算程序,对基坑围护结构的内力和变形进行预测,并依托某深基坑工程围护结构的实测内力和变形数据对预测的内力和位移进行了验证。结果表明,根据弹性地基梁原理预测的基坑围护结构内力和变形随基坑开挖的变化与实测结果吻合较好。     

中国2000~2010年生态足迹变化特征及影响因素

以2000年全球平均生产力为衡量标准,核算了2000~2010年我国生态足迹,并分析了其动态变化特征和社会经济影响因素. 结果表明,2000~2010年我国生态足迹由17.69亿gha增加到32.59亿gha,年均增长6.30%; 碳足迹是10年间增长最快的生态足迹类型,由7.42亿gha增加到18.05gha,年均增长9.29%; 耕地足迹的净增幅也较大,由6.78亿gha增加到8.91亿gha; 林地、 草地、 渔业和建设用地足迹的净增幅相对较小. 2000~2010年我国人均生态足迹由1.40 gha增加到2.43gha,尽管仍低于世界平均水平,但已远超我国人均生态承载力,并造成严重的生态赤字,危及我国生态安全. 全国生态足迹的急剧增加主要受人均生态足迹的快速增长驱动,而经济增长和城镇化所带来的人均消费的产品和服务的快速增长是我国人均生态足迹快速增长的主要驱动力; 同时,国际贸易中资源密集型产品的大量出口也是驱动我国生态足迹快速增长的重要驱动因素. 如果不采取有效的控制措施,按照发达国家人均生态足迹的演变规律,随着我国由中等收入向高收入国家迈进,人均生态足迹将进一步快速增长,我国生态赤字将进一步加剧.     

济南城市热岛动态变化遥感定量监测及其驱动因素分析研究

城市热岛是城市发展过程中遇到的难题,对人居环境造成较大影响.定量分析研究城市时空演变特征,探究热岛驱动因素,有助于为城市热岛动态变化分析提供技术支撑.论文以济南市为研究对象,采用2000年-2009年间7-8月份MODIS LST数据,分析10年间热岛变化特征.结果表明,10年间,济南城区温度明显高于郊区,热岛效应显著,并且,热核区、特高温区等区域呈现周期性扩张与收缩规律;通过提取2000年及2009年济南市人工表面与植被面积,发现2009年比2000年人工表面面积扩张33.33％,植被减少6.76％,且人工表面扩张与植被减少的区域大部分重合,这对城市热岛形成产生了一定促进作用.另一方面,通过统计分析2000年与2009年人口数量、机动车保有量、烟尘排放量数据,分析济南城市热岛驱动因素,结合城市规划建设,为缓解济南城市热岛提出参考性建议.     

Alcohol-impaired driving and its consequences in the United States: the past 25 years

INTRODUCTION: Progress in dealing with the alcohol-impaired driving problem in the United States during the past 25 years is addressed. METHODS: Trends in various measures of the problem were tracked and a thorough review of the relevant literature conducted. RESULTS: In the 1980s and continuing into the early 1990s, major decreases occurred in alcohol-impaired driving and its consequences. The contribution of alcohol to fatal crashes dropped by 35-40% during this period. Two primary reasons for the decline appear to be the emergence of citizen activist groups that mobilized public support and attention to the problem, and the proliferation of effective laws. Since about 1995 the alcohol-impaired driving problem has stabilized at a reduced but still quite high level. CONCLUSIONS: Highway safety organizations and citizen activist groups have continued to highlight the problem, but its status as a social issue has diminished. We basically know what the primary target groups are, and we know measures that would work to reduce the problem if implemented more fully. We know that political leadership, state task forces, and media advocacy are important ingredients in addressing the problem. It is likely that a resurgence in citizen activism will be necessary to foster these elements and refocus the nation on the unfinished battle against alcohol-impaired driving. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Alcohol-impaired driving is still a major problem that needs continuing attention.     

沙漠公路驾驶员心理、生理特性初探

针对沙漠公路交通安全现状,采用动体视力、速度估计、复杂(选择)反应、处置判断、血压脉搏检测仪等驾驶适宜性检测仪器,就长期从事沙漠公路运输活动的驾驶员群体进行了包括视觉、速度估计、反应、判断等在内的心理、生理特性的实地测试。检测结果初步表明,沙漠公路特殊的线形布设和修筑技术特征以及沿线的自然环境条件,使得驾驶员表现出有别于一般绿洲公路的驾驶心理和行为特性,其主要表现在在沙漠环境中,驾驶员的动体视力要较静体视力受到更大的影响;急躁心理影响,沙漠公路驾驶员的速度估计和复杂反应时间相应指标值均小于全国平均水平;沙漠公路驾驶员复杂反应错误次数和处置判断错误次数均高于绿洲公路。     

在用机动车尾气排放检测简易瞬态工况法监管策略

针对简易瞬态工况法机动车尾气排放检测过程中层出不穷的违规检测现象,为对其检测过程实施有效监管,通过分析简易瞬态工况法的检测原理,筛选出可用于监管的车辆基准质量、(CO+CO2)浓度、O2浓度、实时检测尾气流量4个参数,分析其用于监管的原理和理由,并通过五气分析仪漏气实验和实测尾气流量异常案例验证其监管可行性,以期为监管...     

北京市丰台区土地利用变化及社会经济驱动力分析

近十年来．北京城市化水平大幅度提升．建设用地不断向外扩展。城市边缘区土地利用变化异常明显。丰台区作为北京城市边缘区的重要组成部分。土地利用变化特征具有典型性，在分析丰台区12年间土地利用的类型变化、数量变化、程度变化和区域变化特征基础上。对形成这种土地利用变化的驱动力从社会经济方面进行了剖析，并在统计软件SPSS的支持下对土地利用变化驱动力指数进行了计算。结果表明．研究时段内土地利用变化幅度大。土地利用程度增加；耕地、园地和未利用地净减．而建设用地和林地净增．土地利用变化的社会驱动力主要是人口增长、经济发展和城市化水平提高．并且这些因素的驱动力指数是逐年增加的。政策的干预作用也不容忽视。     

SPECULATIVE POLICY MAKING IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL ARENA1

ABSTRACT: The development of policy in the American political system has been characterized by incremental change, creation of support, bargaining, compromise, pluralistic group interplay, development of social support and political support, technical input, review and consideration. Incrementalism, as it is called, allows policy to develop in tandem with technical knowledge, legislative and executive support, political advantage, and presumably greater certainty concerning the impact of a particular choice. Environmental policy development, one scholar has hypothesized, followed this basic pattern until the late 1960's when policy aspirations began to escalate much faster than the knowledge, organizational arrangements and political support upon which policy implementation depends. This “escalation” hypothesis is examined in this paper, with particular attention given to policy development in West Virginia.