Influence of front light configuration on the visual conspicuity of motorcycles

A recent study (Cavallo and Pinto, 2012) showed that daytime running lights (DRLs) on cars create “visual noise” that interferes with the lighting of motorcycles and affects their visual conspicuity. In the present experiment, we tested three conspicuity enhancements designed to improve motorcycle detectability in a car-DRL environment: a triangle configuration (a central headlight plus two lights located on the rearview mirrors), a helmet configuration (a light located on the motorcyclist's helmet in addition to the central headlight), and a single central yellow headlight. These three front-light configurations were evaluated in comparison to the standard configuration (a single central white headlight). Photographs representing complex urban traffic scenes were presented briefly (for 250 ms). The results revealed better motorcycle-detection performance for both the yellow headlight and the helmet configuration than for the standard configuration. The findings suggest some avenues for defining a new visual signature for motorcycles in car-DRL environments.     

Role of sensory and cognitive conspicuity in the prevention of collisions between motorcycles and trucks at T-intersections

Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to injury in crashes with heavy vehicles due to substantial differences in vehicle mass, the degree of protection and speed. There is a considerable difference in height between motorcycles and trucks; motorcycles are viewed by truck drivers from downward angles, and shorter distances between them mean steeper downward angles. Hence, we anticipated that the effects of motorcycle conspicuity treatments would be different for truck drivers. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of motorcycle conspicuity treatments on the identification and detection of motorcycles by truck drivers. Two complementary experiments were performed; the first experiment assessed the impact of motorcycle sensory conspicuity on the ability of un-alerted truck drivers to detect motorcycles, and the second experiment assessed the motorcycle cognitive conspicuity to alerted truck drivers. The sensory conspicuity was measured in terms of motorcycle detection rates by un-alerted truck drivers when they were not anticipating a motorcycle within a realistic driving scene, while the cognitive conspicuity was determined by the time taken by alerted truck drivers to actively search for a motorcycle. In the first experiment, the participants were presented with 10 pictures and were instructed to report the kinds of vehicles that were presented in the pictures. Each picture was shown to the participants for 600 ms. In the second experiment, the participants were presented with the same set of pictures and were instructed to respond by clicking the right button on a mouse as soon as they detected a motorcycle in the picture. The results indicate that the motorcycle detection rate increases, and the response time to search for a motorcycle decreases, as the distance between the targeted motorcycle and the viewer decreases. This is true regardless of the type of conspicuity treatment used. The use of daytime running headlights (DRH) was found to increase the detection rate and the identification of a motorcycle by a truck driver at a farther distance, but effect deteriorates as the distance decreases. The results show that the detection rate and the identification of a motorcyclist wearing a black helmet with a reflective sticker increases as the distance between the motorcycle and the truck decreases. We also found that a motorcyclist wearing a white helmet and a white outfit is more identifiable and detectable at both shorter and longer distances. In conclusion, although this study provides evidence that the use of appropriate conspicuity treatments enhances motorcycle conspicuity to truck drivers, we suggest that more attention should be paid to the effect of background environment on motorcycle conspicuity.     

Traffic safety analysis of powered two-wheelers (PTWs) in Slovenia

Due to the 2006 European research report on powered two-wheelers (PTWs) riders’ traffic safety, Slovenia represents the highest risk for PTW riders in the European Union. Namely, in Slovenia we have the largest number of PTW riders’ deaths per billion travelled kilometers in 2006. Since then the traffic safety situation in the field of PTW riders in Slovenia has been improving and we will discuss that phenomenon in the present paper.     

The impact of distractions on young adult drivers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Young adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at higher risk for being involved in automobile crashes. Although driving simulators have been used to identify and understand underlying behaviors, prior research has focused largely on single-task, non-distracted driving. However, in-vehicle infotainment and communications systems often vie for a driver's attention, potentially increasing the risk of collision. This paper explores the impact of secondary tasks on individuals with and without ADHD, a medical condition known to affect the regulation of attention. Data are drawn from a validated driving simulation representing periods before, during, and after participation in a secondary cognitive task. A hands-free phone task was employed in a high stimulus, urban setting and a working memory task during low stimulus, highway driving. Drivers with ADHD had more difficulty on the telephone task, yet did not show an increased decrement in driving performance greater than control participants. In contrast, participants with ADHD showed a larger decline in driving performance than controls during a secondary task in a low demand setting. The results suggest that the interaction of the nature of the driving context and the secondary task has a significant influence on how drivers with ADHD allocate attention and, in-turn, on the relative impact on driving performance. Drivers with ADHD appear particularly susceptible to distraction during periods of low stimulus driving.     

Fast template matching using correlation‐based adaptive predictive search

We have developed the Correlation‐based Adaptive Predictive Search (CAPS) as a fast search strategy for multidimensional template matching. A 2D template is analyzed, and certain characteristics are computed from its autocorrelation. The extracted information is then used to speed up the search procedure. This method provides a significant improvement in computation time while retaining the accuracy of traditional full‐search matching. We have extended CAPS to three and higher dimensions. An example of the third dimension is rotation where rotated targets can be located while again substantially reducing the computational requirements. CAPS can also be applied in multiple steps to further speed up the template matching process. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of 2D, 3D, and multiple‐step CAPS algorithms. Compared to the conventional full‐search method, we achieved speedup ratios of up to 66.5 and 145 with 2D and 3D CAPS, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol 13, 169–178, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.10055     

The Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) and measures of cognitive functioning

ObjectiveThe Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST) are utilised widely to assess fitness to drive when law enforcement suspects a driver's ability to drive is impaired, whether by drugs or alcohol. The SFST ostensibly achieve this through assessment of the level of drivers’ cognitive and psychomotor impairment, although no studies have explicitly assessed the relatedness of cognitive ability and performance on the SFST. The current study aimed to assess the relationship between the three components of the SFST with a well validated computerised cognitive battery.MethodA sub-set of 61 placebo condition participants comprised the sample, with 33 females and 28 males (mean age 25.45 years). Correlations between the individual SFST subscales ‘Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus’ (HGN), the ‘One Leg Stand’ (OLS) and the ‘Walk and Turn’ test (WAT) and Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) sub-scales of ‘Quality of Working Memory’, ‘Power of Attention’ and ‘Continuity of Attention’ were analysed using point-biserial correlation.ResultsSixty participants were included for analyses. A weak–moderate positive (five subscales) and a moderate–strong negative (two subscales) association was noted between seven of the nine individual CDR subscales and the SFST subscale of the WAT test (all p < 0.05). Individually, a moderate positive association was noted between the sub-scale ‘Nystagmus lack of smooth pursuit’ and ‘digit vigilance reaction time’ and ‘choice reaction time; reaction time’ (both p < 0.05) and ‘Nystagmus head move and/or jerk’ and ‘simple reaction time’ (p < 0.001). When assessed as a partially composite factor, a comparable association was also noted between the composite score of the SFST subscale ‘Nystagmus head move and/or jerk’ and both (a) simple and (b) digit vigilance reaction time (both p < 0.05). No association was noted between any of the individual cognitive variables and the SFST subscale ‘OLS’, or between composite cognitive scores ‘Quality of Working Memory’, ‘Power of Attention’ and ‘Continuity of Attention’ and total SFST scores.DiscussionVariation in some aspects of cognitive performance was found to be moderately and positively correlated with some individual aspects of the SFST; particularly among tasks which assess reaction time. Impairment of these cognitive processes can also contribute to the completion of complex tasks such as driving or the SFST. Complex behavioural tasks such as driving are often severely impaired due to intoxication, and thus in a practical sense, the SFST can still be considered a useful screening tool to identify drug or alcohol impaired drivers.     

Investigation of Cs(I) and Sr(II) removal using nanoporous bentonite

ABSTRACT

Bentonites are types of clays made up the dominant constituent of montmorillonite. Four types of nano-porous and nano-structured commercial bentonite clays were studied in detail for their physicochemical and mineralogical properties vs. Cs and Sr adsorption. The instrumental analyses to study samples were X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurements, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetry (TG). The XRF and peaks of XRD patterns at 2θ?=?8, 19.9, 35, 55, and 62 clearly indicated that the main component of the bentonite samples was montmorillonite. The BET analysis showed that B1 has the highest specific surface area among the other samples which its single and multiple point BET surface area were equal to 84.85 and 85.94?m²?g^?1, respectively. These values represents the amount of montmorillonite and adsorption capacity of samples. The physicochemical, structural and morphological characteristics of different samples were investigated through instrumental analysis. The results of separation processes of Cs(I) and Sr(II) showed 59.75 and 45.5% adsorption capacities for B3 and B2 which were the highest values among the others. The results lead to the conclusion that samples B3 had a good adsorption capacity to remove Cs(I) and Sr(II).     

Fiber optical based parametric amplifier in a highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) by using a ring configuration

A four-wave mixing (FWM) effect in a fiber-based optical parametric amplifier (FOPA) is reported. The novelty in the setup used is a ring cavity as opposed to the commonly used method of linear cavity. This reduces the required pump power, P _p, for the amplification of the signals and also the generation of the idlers. The achieved gain for signal amplification is about 30?dB with a P _p of 25?dBm. It has a flat gain response within range of 22?nm from 1570?nm to 1592?nm, with an average value of 28?dB within the 3?dB region. The average conversion efficiency is approximately ?5?dB, with a peak value of ?4?dB within the 2?dB region, with a range of 24?nm from 1576?nm to 1600?nm.     

Adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions using titanate nanotubes prepared via hydrothermal method

Titanate nanotubes (TNs) with specific surface areas of 272.31 m(2)g(-1) and pore volumes of 1.264 cm(3)g(-1) were synthesized by alkaline hydrothermal method. The TNs were investigated as adsorbents for the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions. The FT-IR analysis indicated that Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption were mainly ascribed to the hydroxyl groups in the TNs. Batch experiments were conducted by varying contact time, pH and adsorbent dosage. It was shown that the initial uptake of each metal ion was very fast in the first 5 min, and adsorption equilibrium was reached after 180 min. The adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) were found to be maximum at pH in the range of 5.0-6.0. The adsorption kinetics of both metal ions followed the pseudo-second-order model. Equilibrium data were best fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption capacities of Pb(II) and Cd(II) were determined to be 520.83 and 238.61 mg g(-1), respectively. Moreover, more than 80% of Pb(II) and 85% of Cd(II) adsorbed onto TNs can be desorbed with 0.1M HCl after 3h. Thus, TNs were considered to be effective and promising materials for the removal of both Pb(II) and Cd(II) from wastewater.     

Thermal analysis of friction stir processing (FSP) using arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) meshing techniques

Friction stir processing (FSP), a derivation of friction stir welding (FSW) is a material processing method which is used to locally modify the microstructure and texture of a given material. In friction stir processing (FSP), the heat produced by the frictional force and material deformation plays a significant role in producing a good surface quality. Therefore, the thermal modeling of friction stir processing (FSP) requires accurate boundary conditions and an appropriate mesh modelling technique. In this study, the thermal behavior of friction stir processing (FSP) using the aluminum alloy 6061-T6 for different process parameters is investigated. To solve complicated governing equations, two finite element formulations have been utilized; i. e. an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) and a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH). For the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE), a three-dimensional (3D) fully coupled thermomechanical finite element model using a modified Coulomb friction and Johnson-Cook material law has been used. The results show that, the temperature behavior is asymmetrical in the cross section and the peak temperature is approximately around 60 %–80 % of the melting temperature of the AA6061-T6. Moreover, it is seen that as the rotating velocity increases, the peak temperature is also increased; and the peak temperature decreases as the transverse speed increases. Finally, a good correlation between the calculated values and the literature is found.     

Copper(II) and lead(II) removal from aqueous solution in fixed-bed columns by manganese oxide coated zeolite

The ability of manganese oxide coated zeolite (MOCZ) to adsorb copper and lead ions in single- (non-competitive) and binary- (competitive) component sorption systems was studied in fixed-bed column. The experiments were applied to quantify particle size, bed length, influent flow rate and influent metal concentration on breakthrough time during the removal of copper and lead ions from aqueous solutions using MOCZ column. Results of fixed-bed adsorption showed that the breakthrough time appeared to increase with increase of the bed length and decrease of influent metal concentration, but decreased with increase of the flow rate. The Thomas model was applied to adsorption of copper and lead ions at bed length, MOCZ particle size, different flow rate and different initial concentration to predict the breakthrough curves and to determine the characteristic parameters of the column useful for process design. The model was found suitable for describing the adsorption process of the dynamic behavior of the MOCZ column. The total adsorbed quantities, equilibrium uptakes and total removal percents of Cu(II) and Pb(II) related to the effluent volumes were determined by evaluating the breakthrough curves obtained at different conditions. The results suggested that MOCZ could be used as an adsorbent for an efficient removal of copper and lead ions from aqueous solution. The removal of metal ion was decreased when other additional heavy metal ion was added, but the total saturation capacity of MOCZ for copper and lead ions was not significantly decreased. This competitive adsorption also showed that adsorption of lead ions was decreased insignificantly when copper ions was added to the influent, whereas a dramatic decrease was observed on the adsorption of copper ions by the presence of lead ions. The removal of copper and lead ion by MOCZ columns followed the descending order: Pb(II) > Cu(II). The adsorbed copper and lead ions were easily desorbed from MOCZ with 0.5 mol l(-1) HNO3 solution.     

Adsorption of platinum(IV) and palladium(II) from aqueous solution by thiourea-modified chitosan microspheres

The chitosan microparticles were prepared using the inverse phase emulsion dispersion method and modified with thiourea (TCS). TCS was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, sulfur elemental analysis, specific surface area and pore diameter. The effects of various parameters, such as pH, contact time, initial concentration and temperature, on the adsorption of Pt(IV) and Pd(II) by TCS were investigated. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity was found at pH 2.0 for both Pt(IV) and Pd(II). TCS can selectively adsorb Pt(IV) and Pd(II) from binary mixtures with Cu(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Ca(II), and Mg(II). The adsorption reaction followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics, indicating the main adsorption mechanism of chemical adsorption. The isotherm adsorption equilibrium was well described by Langmuir isotherms with the maximum adsorption capacity of 129.9 mg/g for Pt(IV) and 112.4 mg/g for Pd(II). The adsorption capacity of both Pt(IV) and Pd(II) decreased with temperature increasing. The negative values of enthalpy (ΔH°) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) indicate that the adsorption process is exothermic and spontaneous in nature. The adsorbent was stable without loss of the adsorption capacity up to at least 5 cycles and the desorption efficiencies were above 95% when 0.5 M EDTA–0.5 M H₂SO₄ eluent was used. The results also showed that the preconcentration factor for Pt(IV) and Pd(II) was 196 and 172, respectively, and the recovery was found to be more than 97% for both precious metal ions.     

Crystallographic and electrical properties of platinum film grown by chemical vapor deposition using (methylcyclopentadienyl)trimethylplatinum

Platinum thin films grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using a liquid precursor of (methylcyclopentadienyl)trimethylplatinum were characterized in terms of crystallographic nature, morphology, contaminants, and their influence on electrical properties. The lattice constant of these CVD films (3.91–3.92 Å) is smaller than that of bulk platinum. A high oxygen contaminant is observed, irrespective of the oxygen ratio during growth. A film grown at low oxygen content consists of randomly oriented micro-grains and contains a large amount of carbon contaminants. When the film is grown under oxidative conditions, it shows a 111-textured cylindrical morphology with increasing thickness. The electric resistivity is higher than the bulk standard, and it increases with decreasing oxygen ratio during the film growth. These results indicate that the carbon contaminant causes the randomly oriented micro-grains and contributes to the high residual resistivity.     

Biosorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solution using green alga (Ulva lactuca) biomass

The biosorption characteristics of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution using the green alga (Ulva lactuca) biomass were investigated as a function of pH, biomass dosage, contact time, and temperature. Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models were applied to describe the biosorption isotherm of the metal ions by U. lactuca biomass. Langmuir model fitted the equilibrium data better than the Freundlich isotherm. The monolayer biosorption capacity of U. lactuca biomass for Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions was found to be 34.7mg/g and 29.2mg/g, respectively. From the D-R isotherm model, the mean free energy was calculated as 10.4kJ/mol for Pb(II) biosorption and 9.6kJ/mol for Cd(II) biosorption, indicating that the biosorption of both metal ions was taken place by chemisorption. The calculated thermodynamic parameters (DeltaG degrees , DeltaH degrees and DeltaS degrees ) showed that the biosorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions onto U. lactuca biomass was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic under examined conditions. Experimental data were also tested in terms of biosorption kinetics using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The results showed that the biosorption processes of both metal ions followed well pseudo-second-order kinetics.     

Removal of copper(II) and lead(II) from aqueous solution by manganese oxide coated sand I. Characterization and kinetic study

The preparation, characterization, and sorption properties for Cu(II) and Pb(II) of manganese oxide coated sand (MOCS) were investigated. A scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction spectrum (XRD) and BET analyses were used to observe the surface properties of the coated layer. An energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used for characterizing metal adsorption sites on the surface of MOCS. The quantity of manganese on MOCS was determined by means of acid digestion analysis. The adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of solution pH, adsorbent dose, ionic strength, contact time and temperature. Binding of Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions with MOCS was highly pH dependent with an increase in the extent of adsorption with the pH of the media investigated. After the Cu(II) and Pb(II) adsorption by MOCS, the pH in solution was decreased. Cu(II) and Pb(II) uptake were found to increase with the temperature. Further, the removal efficiency of Cu(II) and Pb(II) increased with increasing adsorbent dose and decreased with ionic strength. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model, pseudo-second-order kinetic model, intraparticle diffusion model and Elovich equation model were used to describe the kinetic data and the data constants were evaluated. The pseudo-second-order model was the best choice among all the kinetic models to describe the adsorption behavior of Cu(II) and Pb(II) onto MOCS, suggesting that the adsorption mechanism might be a chemisorption process. The activation energy of adsorption (E(a)) was determined as Cu(II) 4.98 kJ mol(-1) and Pb(II) 2.10 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The low value of E(a) shows that Cu(II) and Pb(II) adsorption process by MOCS may involve a non-activated chemical adsorption and a physical sorption.     

不同相对分子质量聚乙二醇增塑聚乳酸共混物的制备与性能

文中探究不同相对分子质量聚乙二醇(PEG)对聚乳酸(PLA)增塑改性的影响。采用转矩流变仪、万能试验机、差示扫描量热分析、动态力学、热重分析、旋转流变仪等测试表征方法对共混材料的增塑效果、力学性能、热行为、流变行为进行分析。实验结果表明,PEG可有效增塑PLA,PEG相对分子质量越低增塑效果越好,可以使PLA的塑化时间从250 s降低到128 s;加入PEG后,共混物的拉伸强度下降,断裂伸长率提高,PEG相对分子质量越低,拉伸强度下降越明显;PEG的加入使PLA的T_g和T_(cc)降低20℃左右,而T_m有所提高,其中低相对分子质量PEG可以更好地促进PLA结晶,但是随着PEG的加入共混体系的热分解温度降低,相对分子质量越低,热分解温度降低越明显;流变实验表明共混体系的复数黏度(η*)、储能模量(G')及损耗模量(G')的变化随PEG相对分子质量的减小下降越明显。     

Biosorption of cadmium (II) and lead (II) from aqueous solutions using mushrooms: A comparative study

Sorption capacity of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus platypus), button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) and milky mushroom (Calocybe indica) were evaluated on biosorption of heavy metals, viz. cadmium (II) and lead (II) from aqueous solutions. The optimum sorption conditions were studied for each metal separately. The desired pH of the aqueous solution was found to be 6.0 for the removal of cadmium (II) and 5.0 for removal of lead (II) for all the mushrooms. The percent removal of both the metals was found to increase with the increase in biosorbent dosage and contact time. The fitness of the biosorption data for Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models was investigated. It was found that biosorption of cadmium (II) and lead (II) ions onto the biomass of the three mushrooms were better suitable to Langmuir than Freundlich adsorption model. P. platypus showed the highest metal uptake potential for cadmium (q_max 34.96 mg/g) whereas A. bisporus exhibited maximum potential for lead (q_max 33.78 mg/g). Milky mushroom showed the lowest metal uptake capacity for both the metals. The present data confirms that mushrooms may be used as efficient biosorbent for the removal of cadmium (II) and lead (II) ions from aqueous solution.     

Solid phase extraction of ultra traces mercury (II) using octadecyl silica membrane disks modified by 1,3-bis(2-ethoxyphenyl)triazene (EPT) ligand and determination by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry

A facile and highly efficient method was developed for the preconcentration of the ultra trace amounts of mercury (II) ions. Octadecyl silica membrane disk was modified by the recently synthesized triazene ligand, 1,3-bis(2-ethoxyphenyl)triazene (EPT), and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the resultant preconcentrated Hg(II) ions. Solution studies with EPT and a series of metal ions were done in advance, and the results showed a strong affinity of EPT to the mercury ions. To perform solid phase extraction, various parameters such as pH of the sample, flow rates and the amount of the ligand were optimized. A linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 0.02-1.90 μg L⁻¹ with r² = 0.9990 (n = 8), and the limit of detection (LOD) based on three times the standard deviation of the blank was 10.6 ng L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the determination of 0.1 μg L⁻¹ Hg(II) found to be 2.9% while a RSD value of 1.1% was obtained for the determination of 1.0 μg L⁻¹ Hg(II) (n = 8). The preconcentration and improvement factors were 380 and 74, respectively. The newly developed method was successfully applied to the determination of mercury ions in real water samples.