Classification of Bus Driving Behaviour In Universiti Malaysia Sabah Campus

Driving behaviour has been studied by numerous researchers for the past few years. It includes the instantaneous driving behaviour observations and the drivers speed which are said to be influenced by many factors, such as the demographic measure of the drivers, environmental, passenger effect, and road characteristics. This paper describes the recent analysis and classification of driver behaviour in actual driving scenarios among the bus drivers in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Main Campus, Kota Kinabalu. This research focussed on determining the riderships of bus in UMS campus, to investigate the differences of instantaneous driving behaviours of bus drivers during the acceleration phase when leaving bus stops, and to poduce the classification of the bus driving behaviour in UMS based on the driver’s accelerations. In order to achieve the objective of this study, observations were made for determining the riderships and the differences in instantaneous bus driving behaviour several times for each bus stops. For drivers speed and accelerations, a mobile applications called Speedometer GPS was used to obtain the data. Interview was conducted to a total number of 10 respondents to obtain their demographic measure. The results obtained shows the ridership of UMS bus is the highest in the afternoon peak. The instantaneous driving behaviour produce the head movement as the highest percentage during peak hour, and inattentive behaviour as the highest during the off peak hour. The bus drivers in UMS were classified as Aggressive and Calm Behaviour Category.

An Overview of Urban Park Development in Zhengzhou, China

As essential elements of green spaces and social spaces in cities, urban parks significantly improve the quality of life and promote urban sustainability. Research on the development process of urban parks can be meaningful for coping with the current issues and future opportunities facing cities. This study takes Zhengzhou as the case aiming to outline the development process and characteristics of urban parks within the city. We adopted the empirical analysis to review the evolution processes and trends of Zhengzhou’s urban parks from the perspective of implementation approaches, spatial layout, and functions and uses. Results reveal four subsequent phases: the emergence phase (1949–1977), the growth phase (1978–1996), the acceleration phase (1997–2012), and the promotion phase (after 2012), according to the periods of urban development and the opportunities for green space development. The discussion includes development issues and strategies regarding land use approaches, user group needs, and public participation. The findings may help formulate adaptive and effective policies and planning tools for urban parks and provide a basis for further research on urban parks and Zhengzhou’s road to the ideal “Park City”.

Are reaching and grasping effector-independent? Similarities and differences in reaching and grasping kinematics between the hand and foot

While reaching and grasping are highly prevalent manual actions, neuroimaging studies provide evidence that their neural representations may be shared between different body parts, i.e. effectors. If these actions are guided by effector-independent mechanisms, similar kinematics should be observed when the action is performed by the hand or by a cortically remote and less experienced effector, such as the foot. We tested this hypothesis with two characteristic components of action: the initial ballistic stage of reaching, and the preshaping of the digits during grasping based on object size. We examined if these kinematic features reflect effector-independent mechanisms by asking participants to reach toward and to grasp objects of different widths with their hand and foot. First, during both reaching and grasping, the velocity profile up to peak velocity matched between the hand and the foot, indicating a shared ballistic acceleration phase. Secondly, maximum grip aperture and time of maximum grip aperture of grasping increased with object size for both effectors, indicating encoding of object size during transport. Differences between the hand and foot were found in the deceleration phase and time of maximum grip aperture, likely due to biomechanical differences and the participants' inexperience with foot actions. These findings provide evidence for effector-independent visuomotor mechanisms of reaching and grasping that generalize across body parts.

Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit on pitching biomechanics and muscle activity

To characterize the scapular pitching biomechanics in symptomatic GIRD pitchers (SG) compared to asymptomatic GIRD (ASG) and healthy pitchers. The scapular kinematics and associated muscle activities during pitching were recorded in 33 high school pitchers. Compared to healthy, GIRD pitchers had less scapular posterior tilt in each pitching event (average difference, AD = 14.4°, p < 0.01) and ASG demonstrated less scapular upward rotation at ball release (AD = 12.8°, p < 0.01) and greater muscle activity in the triceps brachii in the early-cocking phase (AD = 9.9%, p = 0.015) and in the serratus anterior in the late-cocking phase (AD = 30.8%, p < 0.01). Additionally, SG had less muscular activity on triceps brachii in the acceleration phase and serratus anterior in the cocking phase (AD = 37.8%, p = 0.016; AD = 15.5%, p < 0.01, respectively) compared to ASG. GIRD pitchers exhibited less scapular posterior tilt during pitching, which may cause impingement. Since tightness of the anterior shoulder is a common cause of inadequacy of posterior tilt during arm elevation, stretching exercise of the anterior shoulder is recommended. Given the inadequate recruitment during pitching in the GIRD pitchers, symptoms may develop following potential impingement.

Análisis de la contribución segmentaria en el rendimiento de las salidas de velocidad. (Analysis of the segmental contribution in sprint start performance)

En este estudio se ha aplicado un sistema de cálculo para examinar la contribución de cinco grupos de segmentos corporales al desplazamiento horizontal del CM en las salidas de tacos y explorar su relación con la velocidad horizontal del CM al final de 0.1s y 0.312s de la fase de aceleración. Han participado 20 velocistas con récord personal en 100 m de 11,05±0,31s. Se registraron las fuerzas horizontales de reacción mediante dos plataformas de fuerzas sincronizadas a una cámara de vídeo que registraba el plano sagital del movimiento. La contribución de las piernas al final de la fase de aceleración fue del 91.2±2.4 % y la pierna libre del 8.1±1.0 %. El tronco+cabeza es el primer grupo de segmentos que comienza a contribuir al desplazamiento horizontal del CM, alcanzando el 39.3 ± 24.3 % en los primeros 0.1s. Su rápida contribución hacia delante provoca una fuerza reactiva hacia atrás que podría estar relacionada con una dorsiflexión de los tobillos de 8º±3º y 9º±3º, pierna retrasada y adelantada, respectivamente. La contribución temprana de la cabeza+tronco se ha correlacionado positivamente con la velocidad horizontal al final de la fase de aceleración (r=0.622, p=0.003), lo que confirma su importancia como indicador de rendimiento en las salidas de tacos. Abstract. In this study, a calculation system has been applied to examine the contribution of five groups of body segments to the horizontal displacement of the Center of Mass (CM) in block starts and to explore their relationship with the horizontal velocity of the CM at the end of 0.1s and 0.312s of the acceleration phase. Twenty sprinters with a personal record in 100 m of 11.05 ± 0.31s have participated. The horizontal reaction forces were recorded using two force platforms synchronized to a video camera that recorded the sagittal plane of motion. The contribution of the legs at the end of the acceleration phase was 91.2 ± 2.4% and the free leg was 8.1 ± 1.0%. The trunk + head is the first group of segments that begins to contribute to the horizontal displacement of the CM, reaching 39.3 ± 24.3% in the first 0.1s. His quick forward contribution causes a reactive backward force that could be related to an ankle dorsiflexion of 8º ± 3º and 9º ± 3º, back and front leg, respectively. The early contribution of the head + trunk has been positively correlated with the horizontal velocity at the end of the acceleration phase (r = 0.622, p = 0.003), which confirms its importance as a performance indicator in block starts.

Temporal Dynamics of Deinstitutionalization – The Case of Asbestos in France

Through the controversial history of asbestos use in France, we study a long deinstitutionalization process marked by alternating phases of acceleration and deceleration. To understand these changes of pace, we reveal interactions over the long term between action profiles that differ in terms of the type of agency (strategic or pragmatic) and the resource mobilization process (leveraging, accumulation, or convening) involved. Analyzing a rich corpus of documentary data triangulated with interviews, we draw up a schema of the complex deinstitutionalization process concerning asbestos in France. We then set out four theoretical propositions about the temporal dynamics of deinstitutionalization: (1) defensive action essentially involves leveraging efforts that promote long phases and help to slow down the pace of deinstitutionalization; (2) disruptive action produces slow, incremental effects through marginal integration of changes into existing institutional schemas. The acceleration phase of deinstitutionalization is temporally bounded by the disruptive actors’ resources; (3) the acceleration and deceleration phases of deinstitutionalization hinge on the perception of urgency, which is a factor of instrumentalization for strategic actors; and (4) convening is a form of mobilization that significantly slows down the pace of deinstitutionalization.

Psychosocial distress amongst Canadian intensive care unit healthcare workers during the acceleration phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

Intensive care unit healthcare workers (ICU HCW) are at risk of mental health issues during emerging disease outbreaks. A study of ICU HCW from France revealed symptoms of anxiety and depression in 50.4% and 30.4% of workers at the peak of the first wave of the pandemic. The level of COVID-19 exposure of these ICU HCW was very high. In Canada, ICU HCW experienced variable exposure to COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic, with some hospitals seeing large numbers of patients while others saw few or none. In this study we examined the relationship between COVID-19 exposure and mental health in Canadian ICU HCW. We conducted a cross-sectional cohort study of Canadian ICU HCW in April 2020, during the acceleration phase of the first wave of the pandemic. Psychosocial distress was assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Participants were asked about sources of stress as well as about exposure to COVID-19 patients and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE). Factors associated with clinically-relevant psychosocial distress were identified. Responses were received from 310 Canadian ICU HCW affiliated with more than 30 institutions. Of these, 64.5% scored ≥ 3 points on the GHQ-12 questionnaire, indicating clinically-relevant psychosocial distress. The frequency of psychosocial distress was highest amongst registered nurses (75.7%) and lowest amongst physicians (49.4%). It was also higher amongst females (64.9%) than males (47.6%). Although PPE availability was good (> 80% of participants reported adequate availability), there was significant anxiety with respect to PPE availability, with respect to the risk of being infected with COVID-19, and with respect to the risk of transmitting COVID-19 to others. In multivariable regression analysis, Anxiety with respect to being infected with COVID-19 (OR 1.53, CI 1.31–1.81) was the strongest positive predictor of clinically-relevant psychosocial distress while the Number of shifts with COVID-19 exposure (OR 0.86, CI 0.75–0.95) was the strongest negative predictor. In summary, clinically-relevant psychosocial distress was identified amongst a majority of ICU HCW during the acceleration phase of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, including those with minimal or no exposure to COVID-19. Strategies to support mental health amongst ICU HCW are required across the entire healthcare system.