On-road driving test performance in veterans: Effects of age,clinical diagnosis and cognitive measures

Introduction: Veterans are at heightened risk of being in a motor-vehicle crash and many fail on-road driving evaluations, particularly as they age. This may be due in part to the high prevalence of age-associated conditions impacting cognition in this population, including neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease) and acquired neurological conditions (e.g., cerebrovascular accident). However, understanding of the impact of referral diagnosis, age and cognition on Veterans’ on-road driving performance is limited. Methods: 109 Veterans were referred for a driving evaluation (mean age = 72.0, SD = 11.5) at a driving assessment clinic at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Of the 109 Veterans enrolled, 44 were referred due to a neurodegenerative disease, 37 due to an acquired neurological condition, and 28 due to a non-neurological condition (e.g., vision loss). Veterans completed collection of health history information and administration of cognitive tests assessing visual attention, processing speed, and executive functioning, as well as a standardized, on-road driving evaluation. Results: A total of 17.9% of Veterans failed the on-road evaluation. Clinical diagnostic group was not associated with failure rate. Age was not associated with failure rates in the full sample or within diagnostic groups. After controlling for age, poorer processing speed and selective/divided attention were associated with higher failure rates in the full sample. No cognitive tests were associated with failure rates within diagnostic groups. Conclusion: Referral diagnosis and age alone are not reliable predictors of Veterans’ driving performance. Cognitive performance, specifically speed of processing and attention, may be helpful in screening Veterans’ driving safety. Practical Applications: Clinicians tasked with assessing Veterans’ driving safety should take into account cognitive performance, particularly processing speed and attention, when making decisions regarding driving safety. Age and referral diagnosis, while helpful information, are insufficient to predict outcomes on driving evaluations.     

成都市温江边界层风场特征的研究

着眼于成都地区污染气象特征,利用温江2004年~2012年的地面观测资料及同期的探空资料,对该地区风场的统计特征进行了分析。结果表明:(1)从风频而言,温江地面风春、夏、秋3季均以偏北风为主,冬季则以东北风为主,因此,全年的主导风为偏北风。(2)从风速而言,区域静风和小风频率较高,占全年的68.7%;近10年来,温江年和4季的平均风速均呈现出减小趋势。(3)基于修正的帕斯奎尔稳定度分级法,利用幂指数律公式拟合了风随高度的变化,发现风廓线指数比国标值偏高,并随稳定度的增加而增大。(4)风速、稳定度联合频率的大值区主要出现在风速小于3m/s、稳定度为D~E类。上述研究成果对区域大气环境规划和工程治理具有重要的参考价值。     

旋转尾翼火箭测试平台平衡滚速分析与弹道设计

目的分析旋转尾翼对火箭测试平台平衡滚速的影响,基于旋转尾翼式火箭测试平台开展飞行弹道设计。方法以旋转尾翼火箭测试平台为例,分析旋转尾翼、箭体和滚动轴承间的受力,建立旋转尾翼火箭测试平台箭体和尾翼滚转通道动力学模型,分析旋转尾翼不对称性、不同摩擦力系数时旋转尾翼对平台箭体平衡滚速的影响关系,并以倾斜有轨发射旋转尾翼火箭测试平台为例,开展弹道设计与仿真。结果采用旋转尾翼设计,当滚转等效舵偏较大时,能够降低固定尾翼平台平衡滚转。随着滚转等效舵偏的增加,箭体的平衡滚速不会持续增加,箭体的平衡滚转速度将稳定在4.4 rad/s左右。旋转尾翼轴承摩擦力系数显著影响旋转尾翼对箭体平衡滚速的抑制作用。经过弹道设计仿真,箭体的平衡滚速为4.01rad/s,满足试验载荷对转速的需求。结论旋转尾翼能够有效抑制箭体的平衡滚速,基准弹道设计满足飞行试验要求。     

Trace elements in atmospheric particulate matter over a coal burning power production area of western Macedonia, Greece

Total suspended particle (TSP) concentrations were determined in the Eordea basin (western Macedonia, Greece), an area with intensive lignite burning for power generation. The study was conducted over a one-year period (November 2000–November 2001) at 10 sites located at variable distances from the power plants. Ambient TSP samples were analyzed for 27 major, minor and trace elements. Annual means of TSP concentrations ranged between 47 ± 33 μg m⁻³ and 110 ± 50 μg m⁻³ at 9 out of the 10 sites. Only the site closest to the power stations and the lignite conveyor belts exhibited annual TSP levels (210 ± 97 μg m⁻³) exceeding the European standard (150 μg m⁻³, 80/779/EEC). Concentrations of TSP and almost all elemental components exhibited significant spatial variations; however, the elemental profiles of TSP were quite similar among all sites suggesting that they are affected by similar source types. At all sites, statistical analysis indicated insignificant (P < 0.05) seasonal variation for TSP concentrations. Some elements (Cl, As, Pb, Br, Se, S, Cd) exhibited significantly higher concentrations at certain sites during the cold period suggesting more intense emissions from traffic, domestic heating and other combustion sources. On the contrary, concentrations significantly higher in the warm period were found at other sites mainly for crustal elements (Ti, Mn, K, P, Cr, etc.) suggesting stronger influence from soil resuspension and/or fly ash in the warm months. The most enriched elements against local soil or road dust were S, Cl, Cu, As, Se, Br, Cd and Pb, whereas negligible enrichment was found for Ti, Mn, Mg, Al, Si, P, Cr. At most sites, highest concentrations of TSP and elemental components were associated with low- to moderate-speed winds favoring accumulation of emissions from local sources. Influences from the power generation were likely at those sites located closest to the power plants and mining activities.     

道路行车安全性虚拟评价方法研究

针对在道路建成之前很难对设计道路进行有效的安全性评价的问题,在介绍运行车速评价法、速度分布评价法、线形指数评价法和驾驶人工作负荷评价法等国外道路安全评价方法的基础上,提出包括运行车速与设计车速差、相邻路段运行车速差、速度降低因子、横向力系数变化因子以及路段间的加速度值等5个评价因子在内的道路安全评价模型,并确定了相应指标的评价标准.该方法的评价过程包括自行模式和互动模式.自行模式是在驾驶员模糊车速控制模型的基础上预测路段的运行车速,从而进行线形的安全评价;交互模式主要是在虚拟仿真的基础上对道路、隧道、桥梁的交通工程设施、照明等系统进行安全性评价.通过该评价方法可以在道路的设计阶段发现存在的行车安全性问题,通过修改设计或进行安全改善,提高道路的运营安全性.     

咸淡水界面水敏性影响因素研究

通过砂柱的水击试验,对盐浓度、水流速度、pH值对咸淡水界面水敏性的影响进行了研究。试验结果表明,咸淡水界面上存在临界盐浓度值和临界流速值,当入流溶液浓度达到临界盐浓度和流速达到临界流速时,都会产生颗粒释放现象,导致砂柱的渗透率下降,水敏性发生。在相同的盐浓度和进水流速条件下,进水的pH值越低,颗粒释放的速度越慢,释放总量越少;进水的pH值越高,颗粒释放的速度越快,释放总量越多。     

滑移装置抑制甲烷爆炸影响分析

为减少瓦斯二次爆炸带来的危害,研发新型抑爆弹性滑移装置,并将滑移装置与固定装置对比,分析其对9.5％甲烷/空气预混气体爆炸抑制效果.结果表明:滑移装置抑爆效果优于固定装置;滑移装置能缩短火焰燃烧时间,固定装置超压峰值高于滑移装置;由于轻碳板反向速度提高,弹性系数为0.85 N/mm的滑移装置对火焰和超压抑制效果优于弹性...