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In order to turn Taipei into a sustainable, green metropolis, in 2009, the Department of Transportation of Taipei City Government launched a public bike rental system (YouBike) to meet people’s daily commute and/or leisure needs. Given that users may return bikes to sites differing from their starting locations, rental stations frequently lack bikes or bike racks. This study sought to identify lacking-bike and/or lacking-bike rack hot spots utilizing spatial-temporal analysis. In addition, it applied retail location theory to determine site selection of further rental stations. Historical data indicated that shortage of bikes was much more severe than shortage of bike racks in the YouBike public bike system and lacking-bike and lacking-bike rack hot spots were clustered significantly. The study demonstrated that spatial-temporal analysis can be used to effectively identify rental stations’ spatial patterns, determine the most suitable locations for further installation of rental stations, help to provide public bike users with a more effective rental system, and greatly assist public bikes’ operational management and decision-making in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to quantify the environmental impact of two retail distribution networks and offer consumers a channel that is more beneficial to the environment. The environmental impact of replenishing the packaged beverages sold in convenience stores (CVSs) and hypermarkets is assessed using the streamlined life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach. In this study, the life-cycle impact assessment (LCIA) for packaged beverages up to the point of sale illustrates the distribution-level environmental impacts of truck transportation. The matched-pair t -test shows that the environmental impacts of transporting 1800 cartons of 24-pack/10 oz. beverages to be sold in Carrefour and 7-11 stores is different at a significance level of 0.1. The transport-focused LCA is used to improve the understanding and compare the environmental characteristics of the two distribution and retail systems. This study constitutes a vehicle for communicating to both internal and external stakeholders the environmental profiles of distributing the same product sold through two retail channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study employed a two-phase methodology to assess the environmental impacts from offset lithographic printing on color-box packaging. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to prioritize improvement options and the life-cycle assessment (LCA) approach was used to assess environmental impacts quantitatively. This study quantified the total amount of energy consumption and CO2 emissions caused by the printing processes of color-box packaging and showed that the total reduction of GHG emissions of the system that omitted the laminating and varnishing process was approximately 239 kg. Moreover, incineration contributes 2905–3004 kg of CO2 to potential global warming in the case of color-box packaging. The study demonstrated the viability of the AHP for evaluating environmental impacts of printing processes, ranking them in order of pollution potential, and subsequently identifying those critical for reducing environmental pollution on the printing operation. This study also showed how the LCA approach may be used together with expert opinion to identify opportunity to alter printing processes in order to address environmental impacts and improve the environmental profile of offset lithographic printing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigates stress-influence factors perceived by military aircrews undergoing centrifuge training, which lowers the incidence of G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) for the crews of high-performance combat aircrafts. We used questionnaires to assess the subjective stress-influence factors of crews undergoing centrifuge training. Professionals in aviation physiology identified attributes measuring the perceived stress induced by centrifuge training, which were segmented into three constructs by factor analysis, theory lecture, centrifuge equipment, and physical fitness. Considerable interpenetration was discernible between these factors and military rank, age, length of service, flight hours accrued, and type of aircraft piloted. Identifying and quantifying the perceived stressors experienced in human-use centrifuge training enables aviators, astronauts, and air forces of the world to determine which constructs perceptibly increase or alleviate the perceived stress undergone by trainees when partaking in centrifuge training. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study examined how bus and taxi drivers’ public self-consciousness interacted with social anxiety to influence their aberrant driving behaviors. Questionnaires were distributed to 331 male and female Taiwanese bus and taxi drivers whose working environment involves frequent and direct interaction with passengers. Questionnaire statements measured drivers’ dispositional public self-consciousness and social anxiety, and their intentions and driving behaviors related to speeding, errors and violations. The study utilized a mediating model and path analysis explored causal relationships between the constructs. The study found that both public self-consciousness and social anxiety explained bus drivers’ aberrant driving behaviors. Female drivers reported less aberrant driving behaviors than their male counterparts did. Bus drivers reported less aberrant driving behaviors than taxi drivers. Drivers with crash involvement within three years reported higher public self-consciousness than did those without that involvement. The suitable research frameworks, which describe the influence of public self-consciousness and social anxiety on aberrant driving behaviors, fit to bus and taxi drivers are different, so as different to male and female drivers. The study findings suggest bus and taxi driver should receive special training in general attitude as a condition of their employment in order to avoid aggressive behaviors and provide a better and safer service to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]