Warning Effect Evaluation and Control for Vehicle Turn Signal Sound

The sound quality of a turn signal sound is directly related to the driving safety and influences comfort during driving. A turn signal sound and interior noise always exist simultaneously while driving. However, none of the studies are performed to observe and control the change of a turn signal sound when the vehicle interior noise was changed. Therefore, this paper develops a method to evaluate and control the warning effect of a turn signal sound masked by vehicle interior noise. First, the turn signal sound and the vehicle interior noise at different speeds are measured and the time-frequency characteristics of the turn signal sound is analyzed. Second, the pairwise comparison method is applied to subjectively evaluate the warning effect of the sounds and the warning effect of the turn signal sound at 6~speeds relative to that at 40~km/h was obtained. Third, a new hearing threshold evaluating the warning effect is developed and used as a sound metric. This metric is employed to evaluate objectively the warning effect of warning sounds at different speeds. The subjective evaluation results are consistent with the objective evaluation results, which confirms the validity of objective evaluation. To keep the warning effect of the warning sound during the driving, two methods of controlling the turn signal sound are proposed and will be researched further in the future.

Preimpact Fall Detection for Elderly Based on Fractional Domain

The aging population has become a growing worldwide problem. Every year, deaths and injuries caused by elderly people's falls bring huge social costs. To reduce the rate of injury and death caused by falls among the elderly and the following social cost, the elderly must be monitored. In this context, falls detecting has become a hotspot for many research institutions and enterprises at home and abroad. This paper proposes an algorithm framework to prealarm the fall based on fractional domain, using inertial data sensor as motion data collection devices, preprocessing the data by axis synthesis and mean filtering, and using fractional-order Fourier transform to convert the collected data from time domain to fractional domain. Based on the above, a multilayer dichotomy classifier is designed, and each node parameter selection method is given, which constructed a preimpact fall detection system with excellent performance. The experiment result demonstrates that the algorithm proposed in this paper can guarantee better warning effect and classification accuracy with fewer features.

Mitigating cue competition effects in human category learning

When people learn perceptual categories, if one feature makes it easy to determine the category membership, learning about other features can be reduced. In three experiments, we asked whether this cue competition effect could be fully eradicated with simple instructions. For this purpose, in a pilot experiment, we adapted a classical overshadowing paradigm into a human category learning task. Unlike previous reports, we demonstrate a robust cue competition effect with human learners. In Experiments 1 and 2, we created a new warning condition that aimed at eradicating the cue competition effect through top-down instructions. With a medium-size overshadowing effect, Experiment 1 shows a weak mitigation of the overshadowing effect. We replaced the stimuli in Experiment 2 to obtain a larger overshadowing effect and showed a larger warning effect. Nevertheless, the overshadowing effect could not be fully eradicated. These experiments suggest that cue competition effects can be a stubborn roadblock in human category learning. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Socio-demographic profile of juvenile delinquent in Serbia

In this paper, there are analyzed data on socio-demographic characteristics of juvenile delinquents in Serbia. The evidence of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia have been used for this purpose. The reference period for the analysis is between 2005, after the adoption of the new Law on Juvenile Offenders (2005) and 2016. The analysis is based on two research questions: a) what the socio-demographic characteristics of juvenile delinquents are and b) whether the observed characteristics change within the analyzed period. Based on identified characteristics, the aim of the analysis is to point out the possible factors that shape the juvenile delinquency, its features and change in contemporary Serbian society. The analysis has shown: a) previously observed oscillating trend in total number of cases of juvenile delinquency, b) low ratio of juvenile delinquents in total number of offenders with the modest tendency of increase during the analyzed period and c) moderate changes towards diversity of offenses. According to the data, typical juvenile offender is male, with no formal elementary education and often a dropout. Among convicted, one third lives in single-parent families. Observed typical characteristics do not necessarily cause juvenile delinquency among youngsters but may have a warning effect, especially if they act simultaneously, superposing mutual impacts and generating new risks.

The Effect of the Alert Signal in Changing the Operability and Productivity of the Activity

The article is devoted to the investigation of the consequences of “warning signals” on performance results. The role of the time for signaling the beginning of activity in the formation of the initial readiness and the transition from the phase of the state of rest to the working state is analyzed, namely, the issue of changing the productivity of the activity when manipulating the “warning effect” is studied. Based on the results of the survey, 108 people in 5 experimental groups with manipulation of the signaling timing of the beginning of the solution of motor and sensory tasks can conclude that the localization of signals at different intervals of preparation for activity determines changes the efficiency of the transition from phase of operational rest to the phase of the working state. Intermediate warning signal at different stages of activity, heterochronically affects the performance and its stability. This trend is reflected in the accelerating and retarding effect of the alert signal.

Vibration Effect Produced by Raised Pavement Markers on the Exit Ramp of an Expressway

Driving over raised pavement markers (RPMs) spaced at different spacing, the human body will experience different vibrations. To explore whether RPMs situated at the exit ramp of an expressway induce a good vibration warning effect, this paper determines the spacing of RPMs situated along a deceleration lane and curved ramp. Models of roads, vehicles, and RPMs are first established in the ADAMS software, after which an integrated human-chair model constructed in SolidWorks is imported into ADAMS, and then the complete model is formed so that vibration simulations of different types of vehicle at different spacing and speeds can be carried out. The results show that the vibration warning effects of the spacing proposed by the existing Chinese specifications and this paper are basically between level III and level IV, the driver’s subjective feeling is between less comfortable and uncomfortable, and both induce a good vibration warning effect. For a linear deceleration lane, when considering traffic safety, a spacing of 3 m is recommended; when considering the economy, a spacing of 6 m is recommended. For a curved deceleration lane and curved ramp, according to the actual curve radius, the spacing of RPMs can refer to the spacing recommended in the paper. In addition, the vibration warning effect for cars and semi-trailer trucks initially increases with an increase in the speed; then, after reaching a certain peak speed, the effect decreases with an increase in the speed, and finally, it tends to become gentle at speeds exceeding 100 km/h. The vibration warning effect for a semi-trailer truck is better than that for a car under the same spacing and speed.

Flash Flood Simulation for Ungauged Catchments Based on the Distributed Hydrological Model

Flash flood is a significant threat to those who live in China and beyond. Reproducing them with distributed hydrological models is an effective measure for preventing flash floods. This paper introduces the China flash flood hydrological model (CNFF-HM); explores its principles, key steps, and applicability; and validates its simulation effects in two typical, small ungauged catchments (UCs), namely, Tiezhuling and Qianyangxi. First, the applicability of the model and the portability of the parameters were verified in Qianyangxi. Then, in Tiezhuling, the model parameters were comprehensively determined based on the measured values and simulation results, and the influence of the reservoir on the simulation effect was analyzed. Using the model’s different parameters in different catchments, the characteristics of the basin were compared and analyzed from the aspects of evapotranspiration, runoff, water distribution, and confluence. Finally, the early warning effect was evaluated. The results indicated the following: (1) The reservoir has a significant impact on model simulation. (2) The two UCs have similarities in evapotranspiration, runoff, and water source, and the difference in convergence is obvious. (3) With better early warning effect, the warning can achieve full coverage. These positive results suggest that this method should be further developed and tested.