Driver behaviour and traffic accident involvement among professional heavy semi-trailer truck drivers in China

The purpose of this study was to develop a driving behavior scale for professional drivers of heavy semi-trailer trucks in China, and study the causes of such driving behavior and its impact on traffic safety operation. Data was processed by IBM SPSS 25. In addition to principal component analysis, Promax rotation, Bartlett’s test, Cronbach’s alpha, correlation analysis and binary logistic regression were examined. A DBQ with 4 dimensions and 20 items, and a PDBQ with 1 dimension and 6 items were developed for professional drivers of heavy semi-trailer trucks in China. The KMO coefficients of PDBQ and DBQ were 0.822 and 0.852, respectively, and the significant level of Bartlett’s popularity test was p < 0.0001. The accident prediction model showed that the variables related to traffic accidents were negligence/lapses and driving time of heavy semi-trailer truck drivers. 1–5 a.m. was found to be the most dangerous period for drivers of medium and heavy semi-trailer trucks, during which accidents were most likely to happen. As negligence/lapses increased by one unit, the probability of traffic accidents increased by 2.293 times.

Analysis of Spatial Accessibility and Capacity of Multi-Level Healthcare Facilities in Greater Irbid Municipality, Jordan

Measuring the spatial accessibility and capacity of healthcare facilities is an important task to improve the quality of health services and reduce the pressure on them. This research assesses the current spatial accessibility and capacity of two-level of healthcare facilities (comprehensive healthcare centers and hospitals) in the Greater Irbid Municipality using the enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method. To do this, Network analysis techniques including original-destination matrix (OD), service area, and location-allocation were employed for determining the travel time from residents' points towards every healthcare facility, the service coverage and capacity within travel time zones, and the number of served areas by every healthcare facility. Then, optimum locations for new healthcare facilities that improve the accessibility and capacity rates were determined. The results show that while all areas in the study area are located within a 30-minute drive from the hospital's locations, 18 out of 23 areas are within 15 minutes drive towards the comprehensive health centers. This means that 28.80% of the population needs more than 15 minutes of driving time to access the second level of healthcare services. In addition, the annual average of the actual patient-doctor ratio ranges from 1338 to 2900 patients per doctor in the hospitals, and 2676 to 8524 patients per doctor in the comprehensive healthcare centers, and thus, the health services are inadequate in the study area. Furthermore, the suggested new healthcare facilities in terms of the numbers and optimum location would improve the spatial accessibility and the capacity ratio.

Factors Driving High-Need High-Risk Vulnerable Veterans Use of Outpatient Healthcare

Using predictive analytic modeling, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Geriatrics and Extended Care Data Analysis Center (GECDAC) identified vulnerable “High-Need High-Risk” (HNHR) Veterans, as requiring more support and services. We sought to identify variables linked with utilization of our outpatient HNHR C4 clinic offering Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, Care Planning, Care Coordination, and Co-management". Of 724 HNHR Veterans contacted, 531 were reached and invited to participate; 193 were not reached, 326 were reached but declined the C4 clinic, 205 attended the clinic. We compared these groups. Independent variables were organized using Anderson’s behavioral model into predisposing (age, gender, race, ethnicity), enabling (drive time, service eligibility, Area Deprivation Index, marital status), and need factors (mental health cognitive condition, ambulatory care sensitive conditions, NOSOS, JFI, CAN, etc.). C4 enrollment acceptance was the outcome. Results showed that compared to patients who declined, HNHR veterans who attended C4 clinic had more chronic health conditions(p&lt;0.01), more service eligibility(p=0.01), more driving time to the closest VA clinic(p=0.01), and more were married (p=0.01). Patients who declined C4 clinic might have greater barriers to care access. Accessing needed healthcare among HNHR older adults maybe impacted more by enabling factors that allow the individual to seek care if needed and are the resources that may facilitate access to services, rather than need factors, which include individuals' perceptions of their health and functional state, and healthcare needs assessed by professionals. More social and intermediary determinants of health should be incorporated as enabling factors into models striving to understand drivers of healthcare use.

Car seat impact on driver’s sitting behavior and perceived discomfort during prolonged real driving on varied road types

Prolonged driving under real conditions can entail discomfort linked to driving posture, seat design features, and road properties like whole-body vibrations (WBV). This study evaluated the effect of three different seats (S1 = soft; S2 = firm; S3 = soft with suspension system) on driver’s sitting behavior and perceived discomfort on different road types in real driving conditions. Twenty-one participants drove the same 195 km itinerary alternating highway, city, country, and mountain segments. Throughout the driving sessions, Contact Pressure (CP), Contact Surface (CS), Seat Pressure Distribution Percentage (SPD%) and Repositioning Movements (RM) were recorded via two pressure mats installed on seat cushion and backrest. Moreover every 20 minutes, participants rated their whole-body and local discomfort. While the same increase in whole-body discomfort with driving time was observed for all three seats, S3 limited local perceived discomfort, especially in buttocks, thighs, neck, and upper back. The pressure profiles of the three seats were similar for CP, CS and RM on the backrest but differed on the seat cushion. The soft seats (S1 & S3) showed better pressure distribution, with lower SPD% than the firm seat (S2). All three showed highest CP and CS under the thighs. Road type also affected both CP and CS of all three seats, with significant differences appearing between early city, highway and country segments. In the light of these results, automotive manufacturers could enhance seat design for reduced driver discomfort by combining a soft seat cushion to reduce pressure peaks, a firm backrest to support the trunk, and a suspension system to minimize vibrations.

Application of music in relief of driving fatigue based on EEG signals

In order to solve the problem of traffic accidents caused by fatigue driving, the research of EEG signals is particularly important, which can timely and accurately determine the fatigue state and take corresponding measures. Effective fatigue improvement measures are an important research topic in the current scientific field. The purpose of this article is to use EEG signals to analyze fatigue driving and prevent the dangers and injuries caused by fatigue driving. We designed the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal acquisition model to collect the EEG signal of the experimenter, and then removed the noise through the algorithm of Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) and independent component analysis (ICA). On the basis of in-depth analysis and full understanding, we learned about the EEG signal of the driver at different driving times and different landscape roads, and provided some references for the study of music in relieving driving fatigue. The results of the study show that in the presence of music, the driver can keep the EEG signal active for more than 2 h, while in the absence of music, the driver’s EEG signal is active for about 1.5 h. Under different road conditions, the driver’s EEG signal activity is not consistent. The β wave and (α + θ)/β ratio of the driver in mountainous roads and grassland road landscape environments are highly correlated with driving time, and β wave is negatively correlated with driving time, and (α + θ)/β is positively correlated with driving time. In addition, the accumulation of changes in the two indicators is also strongly correlated with driving time.

Population’s Potential Accessibility to Specialized Palliative Care Services: A Comparative Study in Three European Countries

Background: Palliative care is a priority for health systems worldwide, yet equity in access remains unknown. To shed light on this issue, this study compares populations’ driving time to specialized palliative care services in three countries: Ireland, Spain, and Switzerland. Methods: Network analysis of the population’s driving time to services according to geolocated palliative care services using Geographical Information System (GIS). Percentage of the population living within a 30-min driving time, between 30 and 60 minutes, and over 60 min were calculated. Results: The percentage of the population living less than thirty minutes away from the nearest palliative care provider varies among Ireland (84%), Spain (79%), and Switzerland (95%). Percentages of the population over an hour away from services were 1.87% in Spain, 0.58% in Ireland, and 0.51% in Switzerland. Conclusion: Inequities in access to specialized palliative care are noticeable amongst countries, with implications also at the sub-national level.

Analysis of the Use of a Wind Turbine as an Energy Recovery Device in Transport Systems

A wind turbine can act as an energy recovery device (ERS) in a comparable way to brakes (regenerative braking). When the velocity of a vehicle changes, the amount of energy related to it also changes. When its velocity decreases, the energy tends to dissipate. Over time, this dissipated energy has been ignored. For example, during the braking process, the kinetic energy of the vehicle was converted into heat. In recent years, society’s greater awareness of climate change, pollution, and environmental issues has led to a great deal of interest in developing energy recovery systems. It allows the recovery of kinetic energy from braking (KERS), resulting in consumption reductions (efficiency gains) of up to 45%. The usefulness of installing a wind turbine as an energy recovery device is analysed, evaluating the savings that can be achieved with its two possible working modes: as an energy recovery device and as a system for utilizing aerodynamic force. The wind turbine has a horizontal axis and a diameter of 50 cm and is installed on the front of a vehicle. This vehicle will undergo three particular driving schemes, which will operate under different experimental conditions and operational parameters characterized by speeds, accelerations, stops, and driving time. The results clearly show the advantages of using the proposed technology.

FINDING OUT OF DRIVING TIME AND TECHNICAL AND OPERATING PARAMETERS OF CAR OPERATION ON INTERURBAN ROUTES USING MS EXCEL IN THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

Currently there are a lot of software for the management of transport process integration in the educational process which is slow. An alternative can be the application of narrow-purpose add-ons to ready-made software, which is also available for non-commercial use. This will reduce the cost of developing a training program, as well as increase the information content and assimilation of the task for students.

577Inequalities in access to in vitro fertilisation treatment in France

Background In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is one of the most expensive infertility treatments. Cost has been described as a substantial barrier to access. In France all infertility treatments, including IVF, are fully reimbursed, but are there other barriers to access? Methods Based on the French national health insurance database that exhaustively records reimbursed healthcare, this cohort study included all women aged 18–49 years unsuccessfully treated with ovarian induction (first-line infertility treatment) between January–August 2016. Outcome was IVF access within 24 months of starting first-line treatment. Univariate and multivariate regressions explored age, disadvantaged social status, driving time to nearest IVF centre, and deprivation index of area of residence. Results Over 20,000 women unsuccessfully received first-line treatment. Almost 80% did not access IVF within 24 months. After age 34, probability of access decreased. Disadvantaged social status and living in a disadvantaged area were associated with lower probability of accessing IVF. Driving time to the nearest IVF centre was not significantly associated with access. Conclusions Socio-economic barriers to access IVF exist despite full treatment reimbursement in France. To reduce health inequalities, we need to better understand the nature and patterns of these barriers among less socially advantaged people. Key messages After failure of first-line infertility treatment, only 20% of women access IVF although it is fully reimbursed in France. Age, but most importantly socio-economic status, is a key determinant of access to IVF treatment. Distance from nearest IVF centre does not appear significant in explaining access to treatment in France.