•Investigates the impact of the presence of SAE level 2 autonomous vehicles in the traffic stream in reducing longitudinal traffic conflicts using Surrogate Safety Measures on a real-world ...open-source database.•Analysis is conducted on both exclusive and mixed vehicle platoons.•The impact of vehicular response time on longitudinal traffic conflicts are explored.
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have been introduced into the traffic stream alongside traditional vehicles (TVs) with the expectation of improved transportation safety, efficiency, and reliability. The majority of AV safety research has been done through simulation. The results of such research on the safety performances of AVs are heavily influenced by the methodological framework, algorithms, and assumptions about AV driving characteristics in a simulated environment. There is a need for AV safety research based on real-world settings before any wide-scale deployment of this technology.
This paper investigates the impact of the presence of SAE level 2 AVs in the traffic stream in reducing longitudinal traffic conflicts using Surrogate Safety Measures on a real-world open-source database of mixed traffic trajectories. The analysis is conducted for both AV-exclusive and mixed AV-TV platoons. Furthermore, we explore whether the presence of AVs decreases longitudinal traffic conflicts in two-vehicle platoons comprising AV and TV mixed leaders and followers.
We find that an exclusive AV platoon behaves similarly to an exclusive TV platoon and produces similar longitudinal conflicts. However, mixed platoons with both AVs and TVs result in a higher number of longitudinal conflicts. Maintaining near-identical leader–follower conditions, we find that the number of conflicts in mixed platoons when an AV follows a TV is higher than when a TV follows an AV. The increase in conflict numbers in a TV-AV mixed platoon can be attributed to AV’s longer response time lag. In summary, analyses conducted in this paper indicate that exclusive platoons and pairs of vehicles exhibit fewer longitudinal conflicts than mixed platoons and pairs.
In this study, cellulose hydrogels were simply fabricated by the chemical dissolution method using LiCl/dimethylacetamide as a new method, and the hydrogel produced was investigated for removing ...Direct Blue 86 (DB86) dye from the aquatic environment. The produced cellulose hydrogel (CAH) was characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TGA analyses. The removal efficiency of DB86 dye using CAH was achieved via a batch equilibrium process. The impact of pH, time of contact, CAH dosage, starting concentration of DB86 dye, and absorption temperature were scanned. The optimum pH for absorption of DB86 dye was determined to be 2. The absorption results obtained were scanned by Langmuir (LIM), Temkin (TIM), Freundlich (FIM), and Dubinin-Radushkevich (DRIM) isotherm models (IMs) and chi-square error (X
) function used to identify the best-fit IMs. The CAH had 53.76 mg/g as a maximum absorption capacity (Q
) calculated from the LIM plot. The TIM was the best fitted to the CAH absorption results. Kinetic absorption results were investigated by pseudo-first-order (PFOM), Elovich (EM), pseudo-second-order (PSOM), film diffusion (FDM), and intraparticle diffusion (IPDM) models. A PSOM with a high R
(> 0.99) accounted for the majority of the control over the absorption rate. The findings indicate that CAH can potentially remove the DB86 dye from wastewater.
Clinical copper deficiency is now more frequently recognized. Hematologically, it can present as anemia (microcytic, normocytic, or macrocytic) and neutropenia. Thrombocytopenia is relatively rare. ...Neurologically, it can manifest as myelopathy and peripheral neuropathy simulating subacute combined degeneration. Bone marrow findings can mimic myelodysplasia resulting in occasional inappropriate referral for bone marrow transplantation. Other conditions with similar presentations include infections, drug toxicity, autoimmunity, B
deficiency, folate deficiency, myelodysplastic syndrome, aplastic anemia, and lymphoma with bone marrow involvement. Hematological, but not neurological, manifestations respond promptly to copper replacement, making early diagnosis essential for good outcome. Common risk factors for copper deficiency are foregut surgery, dietary deficiency, enteropathies with malabsorption, and prolonged intravenous nutrition (total parenteral nutrition). We present a unique case of copper deficiency, with no apparent known risk factors.
The present investigation explores the efficacy of green algae Ulva lactuca biochar-sulfur (GABS) modified with H
SO
and NaHCO
in adsorbing methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions. The impact ...of solution pH, contact duration, GABS dosage, and initial MB dye concentration on the adsorption process are all methodically investigated in this work. To obtain a thorough understanding of the adsorption dynamics, the study makes use of several kinetic models, including pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models, in addition to isotherm models like Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich. The findings of the study reveal that the adsorption capacity at equilibrium (q
) reaches 303.78 mg/g for a GABS dose of 0.5 g/L and an initial MB dye concentration of 200 mg/L. Notably, the Langmuir isotherm model consistently fits the experimental data across different GABS doses, suggesting homogeneous adsorption onto a monolayer surface. The potential of GABS as an efficient adsorbent for the extraction of MB dye from aqueous solutions is highlighted by this discovery. The study's use of kinetic and isotherm models provides a robust framework for understanding the intricacies of MB adsorption onto GABS. By elucidating the impact of various variables on the adsorption process, the research contributes valuable insights that can inform the design of efficient wastewater treatment solutions. The comprehensive analysis presented in this study serves as a solid foundation for further research and development in the field of adsorption-based water treatment technologies.
Overproduction of mucins in the airways donates largely to airway blockage in asthma patients. Glycoprotein MUC7 plays a role in the clearance of bacteria and has anti-candidacidal criteria. Our goal ...was to investigate the association between the MUC7 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism and bronchial asthma among Egyptian children. The MUC7 VNTR polymorphism was investigated among 100 children with bronchial asthma and 100 healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The frequencies of 6*5 genotype, 5*5 genotype, (6*5 + 5*5) genotypes, and MUC7*5 allele of the MUC7 VNTR variant were significantly lower among asthmatic patients than controls (p < 0.015, OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.19-0.81; p = 0.03, OR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.04-0.86; p < 0.001, OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.15-0.58; p < 0.001, OR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.17-0.55, respectively). The (6*5 + 5*5) genotypes of the MUC7 VNTR variant were not associated with the clinical manifestations and serum levels of IgE, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 among asthmatic patients (p ˃ 0.05). In conclusion, the (6*5 + 5*5) genotypes of the MUC7 VNTR variant may have a protective role for bronchial asthma in Egyptian children.
Purpose
This paper aims to conceptualise and characterise brand systems and outline propositions and research avenues to advance the systems’ view of branding.
Design/methodology/approach
A ...conceptual synthesis approach is adopted to integrate the extant branding research perspectives. The conceptual framework is grounded in the theoretical foundation of marketing systems theory.
Findings
The conceptual framework delineates brand inputs, throughputs, outcomes and feedback effects within a brand system. It configures the complexity and dynamics of brand value formation among brand actors within the branding environment.
Research limitations/implications
This paper contributes to systems thinking in branding and brand value co-creation research. It extends marketing systems theory into the branding context and provides research directions for exploring the structural and functional configurations, cause–consequence processes and outcome concerns of brand value formation.
Practical implications
This conceptual framework informs brand development, management and regulation at a macro level. Managers can apply the brand system concept to identify and manage conflicting expectations of brand actors and alleviate adverse brand outcomes such as negative brand externalities, enhancing overall brand system health and societal value.
Originality/value
This research expands the scope of brand actor agency and identifies the likelihood of disproportionate brand outcomes. It provides methodological guidelines for analysis and intervention in brand systems.
In this work Dy2O3 doped tri-alkali oxyfluoro-borate (NKLB-Dy) glasses were prepared by melt quenching technique for white light applications. The important optical and physical properties of the ...studied NKLB-Dy glasses were determined. Judd-Ofelt (JO) parameters (Ωλ, λ = 2, 4, 6) were calculated for prepared glasses using the JO-theory. The radiative properties of the glasses were investigated using JO-parameter (Ωλ), refractive index (n) and emission spectra for all concentration of Dy2O3 in NKLB glasses. Moreover higher value of Ω2 and yellow to Blue (Y/B) ratio for title NKLB-Dy glasses confirm higher degree of covalency of Dy–O bonding. The CIE color coordinates for various concentrations fall in white region and CCT value for present NKLB-Dy glasses are more than warm (CCT = 4687K) The experimental lifetime decreases with increasing Dy2O3concentration. The non radiative energy transfer through resonance transfer (RET) and cross relaxation are the predominant causes of non-exponential behavior of the lifetime. The non-radiative decay rate (Wnr) has negative value for all NKLB-Dy glasses due to higher experimental lifetime than radiative lifetime. All these results suggest the potential use of studied NKLB-Dy glasses in various photonic devices application such as white light generation.
•NKLB glasses were synthesized by traditional melt quenching method.•J-O (Ωλ) parameters and lasing properties were analyzed.•All samples emit white light under 575 nm excitation.•The CCT values obtained from CIE for these glass samples shows 4687 K.
Batch processes are relevant to a wide variety of industries in chemical processes. In batch operations, water sources are almost not directly reused/recycled in process sinks without considering ...time constraints and storage tanks. However, storage tanks are usually expensive and thus a cost-effective water system has to be synthesized. Rescheduling the water network can contribute to reducing the cost of storage tanks by reducing their number and capacity. In the current research work, a goal programming is used to reschedule the water network in batch processes considering the time and storage tanks. A Mixed Integer Non-Linear Program model is introduced using the Lingo optimization program. This model is used to optimize multiple objectives, which are freshwater usage, wastewater discharge, the number and capacity of tanks, the degree of shifting streams, and the total cost of the water network. Three case studies are presented in this study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure, considering both single and multi-contaminants problems. The results of the first case study show a reduction in the network cost and the freshwater flowrate by 26.4% and 42%, respectively. Regarding the rescheduled water network results of the second case study, the cost is reduced by 24.6% and the freshwater flowrate is decreased by 21.8% with no requirement of storage tanks. The third case study highlights the model's applicability to multi-contaminants problem, revealing a 15.1% cost reduction and a 25.7% decrease in freshwater flow.
Surrogate safety measures (SSMs) are critical tools for evaluating the safety performance of mixed traffic. Crashes are rare events, and historical crash data are scarce for mixed traffic that ...includes autonomous and/ or connected vehicles. Recent safety review papers focus on traditional human-driven vehicles (TVs) and do not encompass advanced technology vehicles such as autonomous vehicles (AVs), connected vehicles (CVs), and connected-autonomous vehicles (CAVs). This study examines the development, implementation, and shortcomings of SSMs and SSM-based models used for mixed traffic safety evaluation. We review the current relevant literature and apply a case study analysis using a real-world mixed traffic dataset. The study summarizes the fundamental SSM guiding concepts, as well as their most significant metrics including threshold values employed in the past for SSMs and SSM-based models. Primary benefits and limitations of examined SSMs and SSM-based models are also underlined. This review reveals significant gaps in the literature that might guide future research paths in SSM-based mixed traffic safety assessment. Critical gaps include the absence of robust SSM threshold selection criteria, the suitability of current SSMs in mixed traffic research, microsimulation modeling that lacks proper calibration and validation, and the absence of a framework for selecting or combining multiple SSMs.
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