scholarly journals Road lighting density and brightness linked with increased cycling rates after-dark

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Uttley ◽  
Steve Fotios ◽  
Robin Lovelace

Cycling has a range of benefits as is recognised by national and international policies aiming to increase cycling rates. Darkness acts as a barrier to people cycling, with fewer people cycling after-dark when seasonal and time-of-day factors are accounted for. This paper explores whether road lighting can reduce the negative impact of darkness on cycling rates. Changes in cycling rates between daylight and after-dark were quantified for 48 locations in Birmingham, United Kingdom, by calculating an odds ratio. These odds ratios were compared against two measures of road lighting at each location: 1) Density of road lighting lanterns; 2) Relative brightness as estimated from night-time aerial images. Locations with no road lighting showed a significantly greater reduction in cycling after-dark compared with locations that had some lighting. A nonlinear relationship was found between relative brightness at a location at night and the reduction in cyclists after-dark. Small initial increases in brightness resulted in large reductions in the difference between cyclist numbers in daylight and after-dark, but this effect reached a plateau as brightness increased. These results suggest only a minimal amount of lighting may be sufficient to promote cycling after-dark.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Uttley ◽  
S. Fotios ◽  
C.J. Robbins ◽  
C. Moscoso

Cycling has a range of benefits and should be encouraged, but darkness may put people off from cycling due to reductions in visibility, road safety and personal security. We summarise analyses of observational data to confirm the negative impact darkness has on cycling rates. Using a Case / Control method that accounts for confounding factors such as time of day and seasonal variations in weather, we demonstrate a consistent effect of darkness across different locations and countries. The size of this effect varies though, suggesting certain unknown factors may be important in mediating the impact of darkness on cycling rates. One factor that is known to mediate the effect is road lighting. We show that increased illuminance can offset the reductions in cyclists caused by darkness and also that there may be an optimal illuminance after which no further benefits may be achieved.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-406
Author(s):  
T. E. Chekanova

The presented study examines the problems of integration of the national banking systems of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).Aim. The study aims to examine the major differences in various aspects of functioning of banking systems in the EAEU member states in terms of their impact on integration processes.Tasks. The author identifies the most prominent features of the banking systems of the EAEU states; reveals the depth of the existing differences through a comparative analysis of various indicators of national banking systems; outlines ways of overcoming integration problems associated with differences in the banking sectors of the Union states.Methods. This study is based on universal general scientific methods and elements of comparative, functional, and economic analysis within the framework of a systems approach. The author uses regulatory documents and banking reports of the EAEU states, statistical and analytical materials of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), and data of Moody’s international rating agency.Results. The study identifies a number of aspects that contain the major differences in the functioning of banking systems in the EAEU member states; highlights the disproportions in the scale, level of development, financial stability, and risks of the banking spheres of the Union states; comparatively analyzes the proportion of banking and non-banking structures in the system and the share of the government and non-resident companies in the capital of banks; marks the difference in the pricing of banking services; determines differences in the existing approaches to banking regulation and the established standards; analyzes the major differences in the legislative acts of the central banks and governments of the EAEU member states and in the terms and definitions used. According to the results of the study, the major factors hindering the development of integration processes between the banking systems of the EAEU states are identified.Conclusions. The existing differences between the banking systems of the EAEU countries are diverse and multifaceted. The author states that the aspects addressed in this study have a significant negative impact on the further development of integration processes, describing the major directions and actions of the member states aimed at minimizing the exiting differences, which are required to facilitate the convergence of the states and the transition towards a common financial market.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6294
Author(s):  
Peiqing Zhu ◽  
Jianbo Song

Internal control plays a role in risk prevention for firms when dealing with serious emergencies, which ensures the sustainable development of firms during a crisis. Based on the rapid outbreak of COVID-19 in China, this paper empirically tests whether internal control alleviates the negative impact of the pandemic on firm performance. Using a sample of Chinese listed firms from the first quarter of 2019 to the third quarter of 2020 and employing the difference-in-difference (DID) method, we find that the firms with a higher quality of internal control achieve better financial performance during the pandemic period; the more serious the pandemic is, the more obvious effect internal control plays. Furthermore, we consider the industry heterogeneity and firm heterogeneity of the risk resistance effect of internal control. In the manufacturing industry, which is a “disaster zone” of the pandemic, and the non-high-tech industry with a low degree of digitization, internal control can play a more important role in firms’ performance. Moreover, for state-owned enterprises, and firms with strong financing constraints, the role of internal control is more prominent. The above results provide empirical evidence for the risk prevention function of internal control and shed new light on the measures for firms to resist emergencies in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin Attermeyer ◽  
Joan Pere Casas-Ruiz ◽  
Thomas Fuss ◽  
Ada Pastor ◽  
Sophie Cauvy-Fraunié ◽  
...  

AbstractGlobally, inland waters emit over 2 Pg of carbon per year as carbon dioxide, of which the majority originates from streams and rivers. Despite the global significance of fluvial carbon dioxide emissions, little is known about their diel dynamics. Here we present a large-scale assessment of day- and night-time carbon dioxide fluxes at the water-air interface across 34 European streams. We directly measured fluxes four times between October 2016 and July 2017 using drifting chambers. Median fluxes are 1.4 and 2.1 mmol m−2 h−1 at midday and midnight, respectively, with night fluxes exceeding those during the day by 39%. We attribute diel carbon dioxide flux variability mainly to changes in the water partial pressure of carbon dioxide. However, no consistent drivers could be identified across sites. Our findings highlight widespread day-night changes in fluvial carbon dioxide fluxes and suggest that the time of day greatly influences measured carbon dioxide fluxes across European streams.


Author(s):  
Leonas Paulauskas ◽  
Robertas Klimas

Rapidly growing urbanization causes the increase of noise level of various sources, that have a negative impact upon people's health. The contribution of noise caused by motor transport in city environment composes up to 80% of general impact of all the sources. The article presents the results of modeling of the spread of motor transport noise of Šiauliai city, maps of motor transport noise, recommendations for management of environment noise. MapNoise programme module, adapted to work in the ArcGIS Desktop 9.1 environment, was used for modeling motor transport noise. Noise measurement researches have been carried out using digital noise isolator Nor121, completed with digital level detector. NorXfar software was used to send the data to personal computer. Having evaluated the validity of modeling results it has been determined that the difference between the night noise modeling and measurement results does not exceed 2.2%, and varies from 0.5dB(A) to 1.1 dB(A). The obtained results indicate that 7.2% of the apartments of all city residents are influenced by the LDEN noise that exceeds the permitted noise level (LDEN >65 dB(A)) and 31.2% of the apartments of the residents are influenced by night noise that exceeds the permitted noise level (LN > 55 dB(A)). Santrauka Sparčiai vykstant urbanizacijos procesui, kinta įvairių šaltinių keliamo triukšmo lygis, didėja neigiama įtaka žmonių sveikatai. Miestų aplinkoje iki 80 % visuminio visų triukšmo šaltinių poveikio tenka autotransporto keliamam triukšmui.Straipsnyje pateikta autotransporto triukšmo sklaidos Šiauliuose modeliavimo rezultatai, autotransporto triukšmo žemėlapiai, aplinkos triukšmo valdymo rekomendacijos. Autotransporto triukšmui modeliuoti naudotas MapNoise programinismodulis, pritaikytas darbui ArcGIS Desktop 9.1 aplinkoje. Iš rezultatų matyti, kad 7,2% visų miesto gyventojų būstų yra veikiami paros triukšmo, viršijančio leidžiamąjį triukšmo lygį (LDVN > 65 dB(A)), ir 31,2% gyventojų būstų veikiami nakties triukšmo, viršijančio leidžiamąjį triukšmo lygį (LN > 55 dB(A)). Įvertinus modeliavimo rezultatų patikimumą nustatyta, kad paros ir nakties triukšmo modeliavimo ir matavimo rezultatų neatitiktis neviršija 2,2 % ir svyruoja nuo 0,5dB(A) iki 1,1dB(A). Резюме При быстром росте урбанизации увеличивается уровень шума, создаваемого разными источниками и отрицательно влияющего на здоровье населения. Шум от автотранспорта в городах составляет около 80% от всех источников шума. В статье представлены результаты моделирования рассеяния шума от автотранспорта в городеШяуляй, карты автотранспортного шума, рекомендации по управлению шумом в окружающей среде. Приизмерении шума был использован числовой анализатор шума № 121, укомплектованный с числовым детекторомуровня RMS. Для передачи данных в персональный компьютер использована программа NorXfer. Для моделирования автотранспортного шума использован программный модуль MapNoise, приспособленный дляработы в среде ArcGIS desktop 9.1. При анализе достоверности результатов моделирования было установлено, чтоих отличие от результатов измерения шума в течение суток и ночное время не превышает 2,2% и колеблется от0,5дБ(A) до 1,1дБ(A). Результаты исследования свидетельствуют о том, что 7,2% жилых помещений городаподвергаются суточному шуму, уровень которого превышает допустимый (LDVN > 65 дБ(A)) и 31,2% жилыхпомещенийгородаподвергаютсяшумувночноевремя,уровень которогопревышаетдопустимый (LN > 55дБ(A)).


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 3445-3451
Author(s):  
Chen Yake

Objectives: In this paper, the effects of tobacco on aerobic exercise ability and physical fitness recovery of college students were studied. Methods: University group sports intervention form: traditional characteristic project (basketball) + Taiji soft ball (R&D intervention project). Exercise time: 3 times/week; Activity duration: 30min; Activity intensity: the heart rate is controlled at 120-140 beats/min. All the college students in the experimental group are students who have never smoked, and the college students in the control group are students who have smoked for more than two years. The other conditions are the same. Results: The exercise time and endurance of experimental groups I and II were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the cardiopulmonary function was significantly lower than that of the control group. The indexes of experimental group II changed significantly compared with experimental group I, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Cigarette smoke can significantly reduce the aerobic exercise ability and anti fatigue ability. The longer the smoking time, the more serious the adverse effects. Therefore, tobacco smoke and nicotine will damage college students’ aerobic exercise ability and have a negative impact on the recovery of physical fitness after exercise.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (1) ◽  
pp. R197-R205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshihiko Miyazaki ◽  
Satoko Hashimoto ◽  
Satoru Masubuchi ◽  
Sato Honma ◽  
Ken-Ichi Honma

Effects of forced sleep-wake schedules with and without physical exercise were examined on the human circadian pacemaker under dim light conditions. Subjects spent 15 days in an isolation facility separately without knowing the time of day and followed a forced sleep-wake schedule of a 23 h 40-min period for 12 cycles, and physical exercise was imposed twice per waking period for 2 h each with bicycle- or rowing-type ergometers. As a result, plasma melatonin rhythm was significantly phase advanced with physical exercise, whereas it was not changed without exercise. The difference in phase was already significant 6 days after the start of exercise. The amplitude of melatonin rhythm was not affected. A single pulse of physical exercise in the afternoon or at midnight significantly phase delayed the melatonin rhythms when compared with the prepulse phase, but the amount of phase shift was not different from that observed in the sedentary controls. These findings indicate that physical exercise accelerates phase-advance shifts of the human circadian pacemaker associated with the forced sleep-wake schedule.


2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. UNAL ◽  
D. ACARLI ◽  
A. GORDOA

The economic and harvest impacts of Marine Recreational Fishing (MRF) in Çanakkale Strait were analysed along with fishing policy, sociology and habits of fishers. Data sources included field survey data carried out along the entire length of the Çanakkale strait and policy information gathered from published sources. MRF policy is commendable, even in the fishing tourism sector, and is better developed than that in many other European countries. In Çanakkale, 9.9% of the population is recreational fishers. Recreational fishers are typically men (90%), primarily those between the ages of 25 and 49 yrs. The occupation of the recreational fishers ranged from self-employed (28%), students (28%), retired persons (22%) and public employees (15%), to currently-unemployed persons (7%). An analysis of diel behaviour showed that most recreational fishers preferred fishing during the day (56.1%), while the evening was the next most preferred time for fishing (18%), followed by the night-time (9.8%), while a substantial number of recreational fishers (16.1%) reported that they fished at any time of day. The most popular type of fishing was shore-based (68%), followed by boat-based (21%), and underwater fishing (11%). The mean daily fishing times were 6.07 h d-1, 6.18 h d-1 4.75 d-1 for boat-based, underwater and shore-based fishing, respectively. Summer and autumn were the preferred seasons for shore-based and underwater fishing, while autumn and winter were preferred for boat-based fishing. The highest Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) was observed for boat-based fishing (2.77 kg h-1), followed by underwater (0.97 kg h-1) and shore-based fishing (0.81 kg h-1). The catch composition included 51 species, though the catch composition of each fishing type was mostly comprised of only 3 or 4 species. The impact of the MRF harvest was high (30% of commercial fishing), particularly for bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) and picarel (Spicara smaris) species. The economic impact of MRF was highly negative. Several indicators including the following revealed a high percentage of trading catch (47%) being conducted under the guise of a recreational label: annual fishing intensity, total costs, target species, and sales. At present, it is evident that the highly developed recreational fishing policy in Turkey is not sufficient to ensure that recreational fishing is sustainable or to prevent fishing conflicts in Turkey. This study revealed the need for establishing monitoring, control and surveillance programs to ensure the sustainability of fish resources and fisheries including MRF.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Homer Pagkalinawan

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Selected cities in the Philippines follow, to a certain extent, an organized street layout and orientation based on a designed plan including major cities like Manila and Quezon City. However, others cities developed organically on a less organized manner, expanding haphazardly. Being the spatial backbone of these cities, street patterns controls and limits the flow of people, goods, and activities. Measuring entropy, or the state of orderliness or disorderliness, of a street network can assess the difference between a planned and an unplanned city development. Possibly, it can be correlated to the various socioeconomic variables e.g. population, density, income level, poverty level, etc. or environmental variables e.g. night time light data, urban heat, vegetation cover, etc., that characterizes a city.</p>


Author(s):  
Armstrong O. Njok ◽  
Julie C. Ogbulezie ◽  
Manoj Kumar Panjwani ◽  
Raja Masood Larik

<p>The effect of time of day and month on the efficient conversion of solar energy to electrical energy using a polycrystalline (PV) module in calabar was studied. A KT-908 precision digital hygrometer and thermometer, and a M890C+ digital multimeter were used in the process. Results obtained shows that photovoltaic produce different levels of peak efficiencies at different times of the day for different months due to the difference in sunrise and sunset times for the months. The results also indicated that photovoltaics will be more efficient in months with low average relative humidity couple with low panel temperature. A peak efficiency of 77% at 12:30 in the month of April was observed before dropping to 73% at 12:00 in the month of May, indicating that there might be further drop in efficiency as we proceed further into the year. Results also show that photovoltaics are more efficient before noon in the month of May than in April while the reverse will be observed in the afternoon. </p>


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