Driving performance while using cell phones: an observational study

INTRODUCTION: Through spontaneous driving observations, this study sought to examine the impact of using a hands-free cell phone while driving on speed and safe gap keeping behaviors. The study also examined the association between the measure of disturbance created by using a cell phone and the driver's awareness of the disturbance. METHOD: Twenty-three male adults were observed while driving for an hour and a half each; drivers were unaware of being observed. During the session, each of the participants received a phone call, initiated by an associate of the observer. The experiment was divided into two periods during which the experimental parameters were monitored: 10 minutes during conversation on a cell phone and 10 minutes of non-conversation on a hands-free cell phone. After the experiment, the driver was questioned concerning the extent to which his/her driving was disturbed by the cell phone conversation. RESULTS: T-test for matched samples revealed that the gaps between the drivers' cars and those in front of them diminished when drivers were engaged in the cell phone conversations. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that drivers that had short conversations did not change their speed, while drivers who were engaged in long (over 16 minutes) conversations drove faster. No effect of drivers' awareness toward cell phone-related disturbance on actual driving behavior monitored in the present study was found.     

How do leadership motives affect informal and formal leadership emergence?

To what extent and in what ways do leadership motives of potential leaders predict their informal and formal leadership assignments? To address these questions, we conducted two studies in a military setting. In the first study (n = 215), we examined a mediated‐moderation model in which we hypothesized that the motivation to lead (MTL) of candidates to an elite unit would predict their teamwork behaviors and their tendency to emerge as leaders of their peers. We further hypothesized that cognitive ability would interact with MTL to predict teamwork behaviors and that teamwork behaviors would mediate the relationship between this interaction and leadership emergence. In Study 2, we followed up 60 candidates who were selected to the unit and examined whether MTL would predict the extent to which they achieved formal leadership roles. The findings of Study 1 supported the hypotheses included in the moderated mediation model. In Study 2, as expected, MTL predicted formal leadership emergence. We discuss several theoretical implications of these findings. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flicker Test as a Load Measurement During the Combined Effect of Heat and Noise

This study was a joint physiological and psychological experiment undertaken to determine changes in physiological and psychological human functions under the combined influence of heat, noise, and physical activity. Seven experimental situations were simulated in a climatic chamber with different configurations of three independent variables: heat (40 °C), noise (98 dB), and physical effort (30% of maximum volume of oxygen uptake—V0₂ max). Five psychological variables (critical flicker fusion—CFF, hand tremor, reaction time, subjective climate evaluation, and subjective evaluation of the given condition load) and two physiological variables (heart rate and rectal temperature) were monitored. Results indicate that CFF changed (increased) significantly when more than one experimental variable was applied. These changes coincided with significant changes in both subjective climate evaluation and subjective evaluation of a given condition load. There were no significant changes in psychomotor functions (hand tremor and reaction time). None of the observed physiological parameters were above the critical value. The results suggest that CFF can be treated as a psychophysical load indicator.     

A new approach for layout optimization in maintenance workshops with safety factors: The case of a gas transmission unit

In this study, an Integrated Simulation-Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach is presented for optimum facility layout of maintenance workshop in a gas transmission unit. The process of repair of incoming parts includes various operations on different facilities. The layout problem in this system involves determining the optimum location of all maintenance shop facilities. Layout optimization plays a crucial role in this type of problems in terms of increasing the efficiency of main production line. Standard types of layouts including U, S, W, Z and straight lines are considered. First, the maintenance workshop is modeled with discrete-event-simulation. Time in system, average waiting time, average machine utilization, average availability of facilities, average queue length of facilities (AL) and average operator utilization are obtained from simulation as key performance indicators (KPIs) of DEA. Also, safety index and number of operators are considered as other KPIs. Finally, a unified non-radial Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is presented with respect to the stated KPIs to rank all layouts alternatives and to identify the best configuration. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) is used to validate and verify the results. Previous studies do not consider safety factor in layout design problems. This is the first study that presents an integrated approach for identification of optimum layout in a maintenance workshop of gas transmission unit by incorporating safety and conventional factors.     

海洋石油轮班作业风险定量分析方法研究

长期以来,海洋石油领域风险研究主要集中在对设施的潜在失效概率和后果研究方面,而对于人员可靠性及风险管理方面的研究较弱。然而,据统计资料显示,海上设施在其生命周期内的设计、建造和生产作业等各个阶段中发生的事故大多与人为错误和组织错误（HOE）有关联。在海洋工程领域,开展人员可靠性分析（HRA）的研究工作具有重要意义。根据海上作业的特殊性及轮班制度的特点,推导出轮班风险的定量分析公式,据此计算出每个工作日轮班风险的相对大小,然后结合我国海上作业的实际情况,对影响轮班风险的可变因素进行了敏感性分析,为风险控制与管理提供参考。     

高速铁路信号系统的安全管理评价研究

高速铁路信号系统要通过安全管理来保障其开发与运行中的安全相关活动符合系统安全计划的要求。为了评估安全管理活动的可信性,提出基于系统安全分析技术的安全管理评价方法。通过建立安全管理流程与系统安全功能相关联的概念模型,使用安全文化危险与可操作性研究(SCHAZOP)辨识出安全管理流程中的行为偏差,基于失效传导转换符号(FPTN)建立管理角色的安全文化失效模型,最终将管理行为失效模式转换成组件故障树作为安全管理评价证据。研究结果表明,安全管理行为偏差体现了信号系统开发与运营过程中的安全文化特征;辨识与分析安全文化失效,为信号系统安全管理活动的可信性提供了评价依据。     

青藏铁路救援指挥系统的研究

通过对青藏铁路特点及运营模式的分析,提出构建青藏铁路事故救援指挥系统的重要性。结合青藏铁路信息化总体规划,在充分利用青藏铁路各信息系统及通讯网络基础上,利用地理信息系统(GIS)技术和无线通讯技术,建设具有指挥、控制、通信及情报(C3I)功能的青藏铁路事故救援指挥系统。提出了系统应达到的目标功能,结合青藏铁路生产作业实际情况,给出了系统实现的信息流程、体系结构,并开发了原型系统。系统将青藏铁路多源信息整合并结合GIS技术以直观的电子地图、图像等方式展示出来,实现了救援预案管理和智能化查询、匹配;并通过应急无线通讯设备实现事故现场视频、图像实时播放及指挥调度与事故现场间的语音双向通讯;同时可建立事故数据库,为统计报告和事故分析服务。     

矿井提升机盘闸制动系统工作状态监控与安全

运用故障树分析(FTA)方法分析矿井提升机盘式制动系统故障原因,包括机械故障、摩擦系数故障、液压故障等,提出矿井提升机盘闸制动系统的故障树,并给出了系统状态计算机测控系统方案。采用现代检测与计算机技术,对盘闸制动系统的主要故障进行综合检测;对摩擦系数进行间接检测;研究成果,为故障报警与控制提供了保障,报警与控制结合,提高了提升机盘闸制动系统的安全性。     

单板层积梁弯曲破坏的试验研究与分析

在万能力学试验机上测试由高频热压方法制造的桦木和椴木单板层积梁的密度、静曲强度(MOR)、弹性模量(MOE)和水平剪切强度等力学性质;讨论LVL(单板层积材)梁受弯曲、水平剪切载荷时的主要破坏形式并得出相关结论。测试结果表明,在该试验条件下,桦木和椴木LVL梁具有较大的密度、MOR和较高的MOE。其主要物理力学性能受树种的影响较大,桦木LVL梁的主要性能均优于椴木LVL梁。当LVL梁受弯曲破坏时,其主要破坏形式为整体断裂破坏、开裂破坏以及混合破坏等3种;受水平剪切应力破坏时,以基材剪切破坏和胶层剪切破坏两种形式为主。     

二甲亚砜热稳定性的实验研究

采用先进的绝热加速量热仪为手段,对二甲亚砜的热稳定性进行了系统研究,其内容涉及纯二甲亚砜的热稳定性、加酸碱和硫化物等杂质后二甲亚砜的热稳定性,包括初始放热温度、温升速率、温度-压力等;通过修正试验数据,消除了热惰性因子的影响;得到了二甲亚砜的热稳定性特性。研究表明,在酸、碱存在时,二甲亚砜在室温下即可发生强烈的放热反应,导致二甲亚砜的分解温度提前。该实验研究结果,对二甲亚砜的安全生产工艺过程控制具有重要参考价值。