Surface monitoring of road pavements using mobile crowdsensing technology

Pavement-surface characteristics should be considered during road maintenance for safe and comfortable driving. A detailed and up-to-date report of road-pavement network conditions is required to optimize a maintenance plan. However, manual road inspection methods, such as periodic visual surveys, are time-consuming and expensive. A common technology used to address this issue is SmartRoadSense, a collaborative system for the automatic detection of road-surface characteristics using Global Positioning System receivers and triaxial accelerometers contained in mobile devices. In this study, the results of the SmartRoadSense surveys conducted on Provincial Road 2 (SP2) in Salerno, Italy, were compared with the Distress Cadastre data for the same province and the pavement condition indices of different sections of the SP2. Although the effectiveness of the crowdsensing-based SmartRoadSense was found to vary with the distress type, the system was confirmed to be very efficient for monitoring the most critical road failures

Multiobjective railway alignment optimization using ballastless track and reduced cross-section in tunnel

The increasing need for railway planning and design to connect growing cities in inland mountainous areas has pushed engineering efforts toward the research of railway tracks that must comply with more restrictive constraints. In this study, a multiobjective alignment optimization (HAO), commonly used for highway projects, was carried out to identify a better solution for constructing a high-speed railway track considering technical and economic feasibilities. Then, two different and innovative scenarios were investigated: an unconventional ballastless superstructure, which is more environment-friendly than a gravel superstructure, and a reduced cross-section in a tunnel, which enables a slower design speed and then, less restrictive geometric constraints and earthmoving. The results showed that the first solution obtained a better performance with a slight increase in cost. Moreover, both scenarios improved the preliminary alignment optimization, reducing the overall cost by 11% for the first scenario and 20% for the second one

Фармакокинетика калиевой соли диклофенака после перорального приема саше и таблеток

There is a host of pharmaceutical formulations of diclofenac, which ensures that it can be used orally, rectally, intrarectally, or topically. Objective - to comparatively analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters and time course of changes in the serum concentration of diclofenac potassium after oral administration in a dose of 50 mg as sachets or sugar-coated tablets. Results. There is evidence that patients tolerate both its sachets and tablets equally well, as confirmed by subjective and objective observations. There are neither marked side effects nor considerable changes in laboratory tests and in the values of vital functions. Diclofenac potassium as early-action tablets (50 and 100 mg) exerts a very good analgesic effect in treating migraine since the plasma concentration of the drug peaks on an average of an hour of administration (range 0,33-2 hours) and the analgesic effect developed following 60-90 min. Conclusion. By comparing the rate of absorption, it may be concluded that diclofenac potassium as sachets will produce a much rapider analgesic effect. Thus, the high solubility of diclofenac potassium and its very good absorbability (as sachets in particular) make the drug a superior analgesic that has a rapid analgesic activity.Существует множество фармацевтических форм диклофенака, благодаря чему его можно применять перорально, ректально, внутримышечно или местно. Цель исследования - сравнительный анализ фармакокинетических показателей и изменений во времени сывороточной концентрации калиевой соли диклофенака после перорального приема в дозе 50 мг в форме саше или таблеток, покрытых сахарной оболочкой. Результаты исследования. Доказано, что и саше, и таблетки обследованные переносили одинаково хорошо, о чем свидетельствовали субъективные и объективные наблюдения. Выраженные побочные эффекты отсутствовали, а в лабораторных анализах и показателях жизненно важньх функций не отмечалось существенных изменений. Калиевая соль диклофенака в форме таблеток с немедленным высвобождением (50 и 100мг) оказывает очень хорошее обезболивающее действие при лечении мигрени, поскольку концентрация препарата в плазме крови достигала максимальной в среднем через 1 ч после приема (через 0,33-2 ч), а анальгезирующий эффект развивался через 60-90мин. Заключение. Сравнивая скорость всасывания, можно заключить, что диклофенак калия в форме саше будет давать гораздо более быстрый обезболивающий эффект. Таким образом, высокая растворимость калиевой соли диклофенака и очень хорошая всасываемость (особенно саше) делают препарат превосходным анальгетиком, оказывающим быстрое обезболивающее действие

Pharmacokinetics of diclofenac potassium after oral administration of sachets and tablets

There is a host of pharmaceutical formulations of diclofenac, which ensures that it can be used orally, rectally, intrarectally, or topically. Objective - to comparatively analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters and time course of changes in the serum concentration of diclofenac potassium after oral administration in a dose of 50 mg as sachets or sugar-coated tablets. Results. There is evidence that patients tolerate both its sachets and tablets equally well, as confirmed by subjective and objective observations. There are neither marked side effects nor considerable changes in laboratory tests and in the values of vital functions. Diclofenac potassium as early-action tablets (50 and 100 mg) exerts a very good analgesic effect in treating migraine since the plasma concentration of the drug peaks on an average of an hour of administration (range 0,33-2 hours) and the analgesic effect developed following 60-90 min. Conclusion. By comparing the rate of absorption, it may be concluded that diclofenac potassium as sachets will produce a much rapider analgesic effect. Thus, the high solubility of diclofenac potassium and its very good absorbability (as sachets in particular) make the drug a superior analgesic that has a rapid analgesic activity

Ribonuclease H2 mutations induce a cGAS/STING-dependent innate immune response

Aicardi–Goutières syndrome (AGS) provides a monogenic model of nucleic acid‐mediated inflammation relevant to the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmunity. Mutations that impair ribonuclease (RNase) H2 enzyme function are the most frequent cause of this autoinflammatory disorder of childhood and are also associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Reduced processing of either RNA:DNA hybrid or genome‐embedded ribonucleotide substrates is thought to lead to activation of a yet undefined nucleic acid‐sensing pathway. Here, we establish Rnaseh2b (A174T/A174T) knock‐in mice as a subclinical model of disease, identifying significant interferon‐stimulated gene (ISG) transcript upregulation that recapitulates the ISG signature seen in AGS patients. The inflammatory response is dependent on the nucleic acid sensor cyclic GMP‐AMP synthase (cGAS) and its adaptor STING and is associated with reduced cellular ribonucleotide excision repair activity and increased DNA damage. This suggests that cGAS/STING is a key nucleic acid‐sensing pathway relevant to AGS, providing additional insight into disease pathogenesis relevant to the development of therapeutics for this childhood‐onset interferonopathy and adult systemic autoimmune disorders

A Meta-Analysis Of Experiments On Hydraulic Properties Of Porous Pavements

A meta-analysis of studies evaluating the effect of porous pavements on surface hydrology. The analysis investigated experiments on infiltration rate and consequent runoff coefficient of porous pavements. Reviewed literature provided extensive indications on the benefits of porous pavements in mitigating hydrology in the built environment. It was demonstrated that previous pavements improved the hydrological properties of engineered surfaces including mitigating runoff and checking to flood. Accordingly, it was hypothesised that the mean effect among the selected studies is zero. A meta-analysis of selected experiments on porous pavements experiments established that the mean effect among the selected studies was zero. While the study adopted a methodology that included similar studies in terms of method, further study is recommended to control for the various factors that influence hydraulic properties of porous pavers mentioned in the conclusion of this study

A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE HYDROLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF POROUS PAVEMENTS ON STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AND POLLUTION CONTROL

The expanding urban landscape has significant hydrological implications. Considerable studies have explored the use of porous pavements to mitigate urban hydrology including how porous pavements impact the permeability of urban surfaces and pollution. The current systematic review synthesizes available literature in the past ten years. The paper reviews findings on the Hydrological Performance of Porous Pavements on Storm Water Management and Pollution Control. The selected studies comprised field experiments, laboratory experiments, and simulations published in the past 10 years. Overall, porous pavements were presented as able to significantly mitigate runoff and offer better storm water management. Further, the review found extensive evidence on the pollution control capability of porous pavements. While the different studies evaluated-based on different settings and unique variables-offered different quantitative results, there was a positive trend in the results. That is, regarding storm water management, Porous pavements were found to increase infiltration, reduce runoff and peak discharges, and have similar hydrological effects. On pollution control, there was considerable evidence especially on non-dissolving pollutants such as suspended solids. The review found that while there was a general positivity in the adoption of permeable pavements, there was considerable fragmentation of knowledge of pervious pavements. Accordingly, more effort is needed to better define adoption and application guidelines across the board. That is; performance mechanism for different soils, loading, pollutant characteristic, and similar hydrological and structural parameters

POROUS PAVEMENTS IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN DESIGN CONCERNS

Hydrology explores a cycle that entails the transport and storage of water. However, this system of transport and, or storage can be significantly impacted by urbanization. Typically, urban drainage design is intended to create habitable spaces that are typically extensively paved surfaces that have the potential to generate significant run-off. One solution that has been extensively explored is the use of porous pavements to mitigate sustainability concerns posed by urban hydrology. The current paper provides a literature review of sustainable development initiatives, including Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), Low Impact Development (LID), Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). Specifically, the review explores how these approaches have interrogated the use of porous pavements in their strategies. The review found that the three concepts, SUDS, LIDS, and WSUD, have a significant convergence, especially regarding porous pavements. The review noted that SUDS employs strategies to promote groundwater recharge and reduce flooding, LID advocates for mimicking the natural environment by attempting to preserve the pre-development hydrograph. WSUDS encompasses a range of strategies, including LID, and sometimes SUDS, that are intended to restore water balance in urbanized spaces. All these strategies were partly based on the need to reconsider improving the infiltration of urban surfaces. The case meant considering various forms of porous pavements

PREDICTING DRIVER SPEED BEHAVIOR ON TANGENT SECTIONS OF LOW-VOLUME ROADS

The models that correlate the road characteristics and the operating speed on tangent are studied all around the world. Although the issue of speeds on tangent sections has not been studied extensively, several U.S. and international researchers have studied operating speeds and average running speeds, design speeds, speed limits, and the impact of geometric and traffic measures on speeds. The objective of this experimental study is to get relationships of general validity for the prediction, in phase of project, of the speeds that will be indeed practiced on the infrastructure. The experimental investigation has been conducted employing traffic counters, able to record, for every vehicular passage in both senses: length, instant speed and direction of the vehicle. The plan of survey has been elaborated to satisfy different objectives of search and it has been applied to some roads belonging to the network of the Province of Salerno. The measures have been performed holding every section under observation for 2 or 3 hours. Then the data have been used for starting the formalization of some analytical relationships to predict the operating speeds. Speeding is a general problem in traffic and exploring factors underlying the choice of speed is an important task. The relationship between various measures of traffic speed, under free flow conditions, and speed limits is investigated in Southern Italy. The effect of speed limits on traffic speed is estimated. Increased speeding will likely result in augmenting the number of traffic accidents, as well as the severity of the injuries, resulting from high-speed accidents. Many drivers are aware of the negative effects of speed, exceeding the speed limit is nevertheless one of the most frequent traffic violations. This paper introduces a prediction model of operating speed and the other parameters of free flow conditions. In meaningful way, the surveyed operating speeds, always superior to posted speed limits, are correlated to the entrance one that depends on geometric parameters of the preceding curve