Sensor Fusion and Advanced Controller for Connected and Automated Vehicles

Intelligent Vehicle

Effect of different aqueous solutions on physicochemical properties of asphalt binder

Aqueous solution is one of the main factors of asphalt pavement disease. However, the physicochemical changes of asphalt are ambiguous during immersion in different aqueous solutions. This study evaluated the physicochemical properties of asphalt under the action of different aqueous solutions to further understand the mechanism of moisture erosion. The morphology, chemical structure and four components of asphalt were observed after immersion, while the pH value, total organic carbon (TOC) and characteristic functional groups of residual solutions were monitored. The test results showed that aqueous solution could change the bee structure on the asphalt surface and increased the mean roughness. The carbonyl index (IC=O) and sulfoxide index (IS=O) of asphalt increased with immersion time. And the asphaltenes of asphalt fluctuated and eventually increased during immersion. Solute could accelerate the erosion on asphalt through interaction, the degree of which increased in the order, Na2SO4 saline < NaCl saline < pH 3 acid < pH 11 alkali.Materials and Environmen

Effects of subsequent rainfall events with different intensities on runoff and erosion in a coarse soil

A deeper understanding of the hydrological response to subsequent rains would be useful in the prediction of runoff production for planning vegetation restoration and assessing flood risks. We used subsequent rains to study the role of rain intensity and antecedent soil moisture content (ASMC) on runoff and erosion for coarse soil of the semiarid Loess Plateau in China. The study used a rain simulator in a field planted with alfalfa (Medicago sativa), which is widely grown for animal feed to develop livestock operations, reduce soil erosion, and improve soil fertility/quality. A slope of 18% was selected because most of the land with slopes < 18% in the region is used for cropland. We tested three rain intensities (20, 40, and 60 mm h(-1), corresponding to low, moderate, and high intensities, respectively) with five successive rains (an initial and four subsequent rains) in triplicate. We quantified the changes of runoff depth (RD), sediment yield (SY), and sediment concentration (SC) over time and then analyzed the relationships between ASMC and runoff in 0-50 cm soil layers for all 45 simulated rains. Runoff commencement time (RCT) was shorter, the runoff coefficient (RC) was larger, and runoff was higher for the moderate and high intensities than the low intensity. Intermittency and the characteristics of the sequential rains also influenced these processes. A general linear model identified significant effects of rain sequence and intensity on RCT, RD, RC, SY, and SC (P < 0.01), but their interaction did not have a significant effect on RCT and SY. An exponential fit between ASMC and RC was best for the 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm layer (R-2 = 0.38, P < 0.000), and R-2 decreased from the 0-20 cm to the 30-40 cm layers. Soil moisture content (SMC) was an important factor controlling runoff, and the sequential rains led to high runoff and sediment transport, because runoff from storms on highly permeable soils is controlled by the saturation of the topsoil horizon and is more dependent on initial conditions

Successful implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol reduces nausea and vomiting in patients after infratentorial craniotomy for tumour resection: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Objectives : Infratentorial craniotomy patients have a high incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols have been shown in multiple surgical disciplines to improve outcomes, including reduced PONV. However, very few studies have described the application of ERAS to infratentorial craniotomy. The aim of this study was to examine whether our ERAS protocol for infratentorial craniotomy could improve PONV. Methods : We implemented an evidence-based, multimodal ERAS protocol for patients undergoing infratentorial craniotomy. A total of 105 patients who underwent infratentorial craniotomy were randomized into either the ERAS group (n = 50) or the control group (n = 55). Primary outcomes were the incidence of vomiting, nausea score, and use of rescue antiemetic during the first 72 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included postoperative anxiety level, sleep quality, and complications. Results: Over the entire 72 h post-craniotomy observation period, the cumulative incidence of vomiting was significantly lower in the ERAS group than in the control group. Meanwhile, the incidence of vomiting was significantly lower in the ERAS group on postoperative days (PODs) 2 and 3. Notably, the proportion of patients with mild nausea (VAS 0-4) was higher in the ERAS group as compared to the control group on PODs 2 or 3. Additionally, the postoperative anxiety level and quality of sleep were significantly better in the ERAS group. Conclusion: Successful implementation of our ERAS protocol in infratentorial craniotomy patients could attenuate postoperative anxiety, improve sleep quality, and reduce the incidence of PONV, without increasing the rate of postoperative complications.</jats:p