A dynamic feedback-control toll pricing methodology : a case study on Interstate 95 manged lanes

Recently, congestion pricing emerged as a cost-effective and efficient strategy to mitigate the congestion problem on freeways. This study develops a feedback-control based dynamic toll approach to formulate and solve for optimal tolls. The study compares the performance of the proposed methodology to that of the current strategy deployed on Interstate 95 express lanes. Two objectives are studied: one is to maximize the toll revenue while maintaining a minimum level of service on the managed lanes and the other is to maximize both revenue and throughput on the managed lanes while keeping a minimum level of service. The impact of drivers’ value of time based on their income level is also examined. Three values ranging from 60% to 120% of the mean hourly income are used. The results show that for high demand, an increase in the probability of choosing managed lanes is obvious, with the highest increase observed for the case of 120%. Besides, the effects of distributions of drivers’ value of time among drivers are addressed. Two numerical examples are provided to explain how the proposed strategy works under three driver groups and forty-four driver groups, and an external module is developed to execute the strategy in real time during VISSIM runtime. When compared to the currently adopted toll pricing strategy on I-95, the proposed strategy with both objectives produce steadier toll rate profiles, while keeping the speeds at 45 mph or more. The objective of revenue maximization produces larger toll revenue and objective of both revenue and throughput maximization produces higher throughput on the managed lanes

Multistability, chaos, and random signal generation in semiconductor superlattices

Peer reviewedPostprin

Comparison of primary and metastatic site‐related PD‐L1 expression in predicting ORR in patients with advanced NSCLC who received ICB‐based therapy

Abstract Background Whether the value of PD‐L1 expression from metastatic sites to predict the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)‐based treatment is equivalent to that from a primary tumor is uncertain. This study aimed to compare the utility of PD‐L1 TPS from a primary lung tumor and metastatic sites to predict the overall response rate (ORR) of first‐line ICB‐based treatment. Methods This study included 249 patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received first‐line ICB‐based treatment. All subjects underwent PD‐L1 testing prior to ICB‐based treatment and were divided into two cohorts corresponding to the different biopsy sites: lung primary site‐sampled cohort (PT cohort, n = 167) and metastatic site‐sampled cohort (MT cohort, n = 82). Results There was no statistical significance in PD‐L1 TPS distribution between the two cohorts (p = 0.742). PD‐L1 TPS ≥50% was also related to high ORR compared with PD‐L1 < 50% in the PT cohort (34.3% vs. 14.1%, p = 0.004). In contrast, ICB‐based therapy could bring comparable ORR (35.1% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.871) in the MT cohort regardless of PD‐L1 TPS status (≥50%, or <50%). As supported, when the cutoff value of TPS was selected as 50%, it was suggested that PT‐related PD‐L1 was the independent predictor of ORR (OR 2.870, 95% CI: 1.231–6.694, p = 0.015) rather than MT‐related PD‐L1 (OR 0.689, 95% CI: 0.236–2.013, p = 0.495). Furthermore, ROC proved that PT‐related PD‐L1 expression manifested a better AUC of 0.621 (p = 0.026) than that of MT‐related PD‐L1 (AUC = 0.565, p = 0.362). Conclusion Compared with PT‐related PD‐L1 expression, MT‐related PD‐L1 expression showed limited value in predicting ORR in patients with advanced NSCLC receiving ICB‐based therapy. It was concluded that even patients with low MT‐related PD‐L1 expression could benefit from ICB‐based therapy

Roles of the Site 2 Protease Eep in Staphylococcus aureus

In Enterococcus faecalis, the site 2 protease Eep generates sex pheromones, including cAM373. Intriguingly, in Staphylococcus aureus, a peptide similar to cAM373, named cAM373_SA, is produced from the camS gene. Here, we report that the staphylococcal Eep homolog is not only responsible for the production of cAM373_SA but also critical for staphylococcal virulence. As with other Eep proteins, the staphylococcal Eep protein has four transmembrane (TM) domains, with the predicted zinc metalloprotease active site (HEXXH) in the first TM domain. eep deletion reduced the cAM373_SA activity in the culture supernatant to the level of the camS deletion mutant. It also markedly decreased the cAM373 peptide peak in a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Proteomics analysis showed that Eep affects the production and/or the release of diverse proteins, including the signal peptidase subunit SpsB and the surface proteins SpA, SasG, and FnbA. eep deletion decreased the adherence of S. aureus to host epithelial cells; however, the adherence of the eep mutant was increased by overexpression of the surface proteins SpA, SasG, and FnbA. eep deletion reduced staphylococcal resistance to killing by human neutrophils as well as survival in a murine model of blood infection. The overexpression of the surface protein SpA in the eep mutant increased bacterial survival in the liver. Our study illustrates that in S. aureus, Eep not only generates cAM373_SA but also contributes to the survival of the bacterial pathogen in the host.IMPORTANCE The emergence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus makes the treatment of staphylococcal infections much more difficult. S. aureus can acquire a drug resistance gene from other bacteria, such as Enterococcus faecalis Intriguingly, S. aureus produces a sex pheromone for the E. faecalis plasmid pAM373, raising the possibility that S. aureus actively promotes plasmid conjugation from E. faecalis In this study, we found that the staphylococcal Eep protein is responsible for sex pheromone processing and contributes to the survival of the bacteria in the host. These results will enhance future research on the drug resistance acquisition of S. aureus and can lead to the development of novel antivirulence drugs

Pollution Characteristics, Chemical Compositions, and Population Health Risks during the 2018 Winter Haze Episode in Jianghan Plain, Central China

To determine the pollution characteristics, chemical compositions, and population health risks of PM2.5 at different pollution levels, PM2.5 samples were intensively collected during the long-lasting winter haze episode from 13&ndash;23 January 2018 in Xiantao in Jianghan Plain (JHP), central China. The higher PM2.5 levels during the severe pollution period were dominated by the WNW-NNE air-masses, whereas the lower PM2.5 concentrations during other pollution periods were mainly affected by the NE, S, and NW air-masses. The NO3&minus;/SO42&minus; and OC/EC ratios indicated a mixed contribution of intensive vehicle exhaust and secondary formation. The enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index for assessing the PM2.5-bound metal(loid)s contamination levels were positively correlated. Ingestion is the dominant exposure pathway of PM2.5-bound metal(loid)s for children and adults, followed by inhalation and dermal contact. As, Cr, and Pb may pose carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, whereas Sb and V may only pose non-carcinogenic risks for children and adults. The population health risks may not depend on the pollution levels but depend on the PM2.5-bound metal(loid)s concentrations. PM2.5-bound metal(loid)s may pose much higher population health risks for adults compared to children. More attentions should be paid to the population health risks of PM2.5-bound metal(loid)s during a long-lasting winter haze episode in JHP

Study on the Application of Propylene Glycol Alginate and Pectin in Drinking Mulberry Yoghurt

This paper studied the effect of propylene glycol alginate and pectin stabilization system on the stability and quality of drinking mulberry yoghurt. Based on the centrifugation sedimentation rate, particle size distribution, viscosity, Zeta potential, Lumisizer stability scan, and Turbiscan results of the mulberry yogurt, and combined with appearance and taste comparison of the mulberry yogurt, the pectin and PGA optimum combination that maintain the stability and taste of the mulberry yogurt are determined. The results showed that: Pectin played a major role in the stability of mulberry yoghurt. PGA had a good effect on water separation, whey separation and water retention of mulberry yoghurt. When the addition of pectin was 0.45% and PGA was 0.1%, the sensory evaluation of mulberry yoghurt was good, and the results were the best, the centrifugal sedimentation rate was only 0.12% and the particle size was only 0.731μm, Zeta potential absolute value was up to 34.95 mV, viscosity was 20.28 cP. Moreover, the storage modulus of mulberry yoghurt in this scheme was moderate, and the results of Lumisizer stability scanning and Turbiscan scanning were also the best. It could be seen that: The stable system constructed by the reasonable combination of PGA and pectin had a significant effect on improving the overall stability of drinking mulberry yogurt under UHT sterilization, improving the texture and taste of drinking mulberry yogurt, and improving the overall quality of drinking mulberry yogurt

Unraveling the Unique Promotion Effects of a Triple Interface in Ni Catalysts for Methane Dry Reforming

Methane dry reforming (MDR) is of great interest for its efficient consumption of greenhouse gases and the production of valuable syngas. The interfaces of metal and boron nitride (BN) are expected to enhance the catalytic activity and inhibit coke formation. Herein, the composite of layered metal oxides (NiMgAlOx) and BN was constructed to form the interface-confined NiMgAlOx/BN (Ni-MAO/BN) catalysts, and the unique promotion effects of a triple interface in Ni catalysts were unraveled. The triple interface among the Ni, BN, and MgAlOx oxides enhances the sintering resistance of the developed catalysts, which endows the developed catalysts with excellent adsorption/activation capacity of CH4 and CO2 as well as superb stability during a long-term MDR activity test. The abundant bicarbonate (HCO3*) species in the Ni-MAO/BN catalysts demonstrates that the triple interface significantly enhances gas activation. Meanwhile, the dynamic variation of HCO3* and CO3* species further proves the inhibition of deep CH4 cracking and the fast reaction rate over the Ni-MAO/BN catalysts. The negligible graphitic carbon observed in the operando Raman spectra and the produced large amount of H2/CO demonstrate not only the excellent coke resistance but also the strengthened activation capability of CO2 and CH4. This work elucidates the role of interfacial effects on gas activation and provides innovative insights into the design of highly efficient Ni catalysts for MDR