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The purpose of this paper is to present a new mechanistic-empirical (M-E) rutting model developed for hot-mix asphalt (HMA) overlay thickness design and analysis. After reviewing existing rutting models in the literature, it was found that the well-known VESYS layer rutting model still is a rational choice and was adopted with minor modification to model HMA overlay rutting development. The main feature of the proposed M-E HMA overlay rutting model is to characterize layer specific permanent deformation properties rather than global rutting parameters used in the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide. For each specific layer, the proposed model requires rutting parameters α and μ; and these rutting parameters, which are two of the fundamental input parameters required in the proposed M-E rutting model, can be directly determined from the repeated load test following the test protocol discussed in the paper. Additionally, the proposed M-E HMA overlay rutting model was calibrated using 8 test sections of the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Test Track 2006, and the calibrated model was further validated using two sets of independent rutting data: three test sections of the NCAT Test Track 2000 and four test sections of Special Pavement Study 5 on US175, Texas. Thus far, satisfactory results have been obtained. However, more field performance data are needed for further model improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: With the advancement of targeted therapies, epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors have become the preferred initial treatment for patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. Osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is effective against exon 19 and 21 mutations as well as the T790M mutation. It has been approved by both the food and drug administration and European Medicines Agency for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated tumors, including those who have acquired T790M mutations., Patient Concerns: To evaluate the effectiveness of osimertinib in treating patients with EGFR-mutated advanced lung adenocarcinoma and bone metastases, we present the treatment outcomes of 3 patients with EGFR 19 deletion-mutated advanced lung adenocarcinoma and bone metastases who received osimertinib treatment in recent years. All 3 cases involved elderly female patients, aged 62, 62, and 54, respectively., Diagnoses: All 3 cases exhibited a diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma accompanied by osseous metastases, with genetic testing revealing the presence of an EGFR 19del mutation., Interventions: In the first case, following 17 months of gefitinib therapy, disease progression prompted a switch to osimertinib treatment. In the second case, bone metastases were detected after 20 months of pemetrexed-carboplatin chemotherapy, leading to a transition to osimertinib therapy. In the third case, after 11 months of erlotinib treatment, bone metastases were identified. Subsequent interventions, including radiation therapy, pemetrexed-carboplatin chemotherapy, pemetrexed-bevacizumab maintenance therapy, and docetaxel chemotherapy, failed to arrest the progression of bone metastases. As a result, a combination of osimertinib and anlotinib targeted therapy was administered., Outcomes: All 3 patients experienced relatively good and favorable survival outcomes, with a progression-free survival of 22.7 months, 12 months, and 17.7 months, respectively., Lessons: These cases suggest that osimertinib is a promising treatment option for patients with EGFR 19 deletion-mutated lung adenocarcinoma and bone metastases, although further clinical studies are needed to confirm its efficacy., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

To mitigate global warming, China, the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, has set the goals of achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, and financial measures could play an important role. To avoid unnecessary costs, China could learn from the experience of other countries to better understand the potential role of financial measures in achieving carbon emission reduction goals. Hence, this article adopts a SWOT analysis to compare the financial measures taken by Britain, Japan and the United States in the process of carbon emission reduction in the last twenty years. This article finds that government funds and financial innovation have contributed markedly to carbon emission reduction in those three countries. With the help of the SWOT analysis, we recommend that China take financial measures to help achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals from four aspects: formulating proper policy, regulating carbon trading market, strengthening international cooperation, and promoting innovation.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major constraint for wheat production in acidic soils. Wheat producers now routinely use Al-resistant cultivars as one cost-effective means to reduce risks associated with acidic soils. To date, diverse Al-resistant materials have been identified, but their genetic relationship has not been well characterized. A total of 57 wheat accessions, including the majority of the parents of Al-resistant accessions we identified in a previous study, were evaluated for Al resistance and analyzed with 49 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and 4 markers for Al-activated malate transporter (ALMT1). Pedigree and principle coordinate analysis (PCA) both separated Al-resistant accessions into four groups labeled according to common ancestry or geographical origin: US-Fultz, Polyssu, Mexican and Chinese. Al resistance in the four groups may have three independent origins given their distinct geographic origins and gene pools. Fultz originated in the USA as a major ancestor to soft red winter wheat, Polyssu originated in Brazil as a major source of Al resistance used in most genetic studies worldwide, and the Chinese group originated in China. Based on ALMT1 marker haplotypes, the Al resistance in the Polyssu and Mexico groups was likely derived from Polyssu, while most Al-resistant cultivars developed in the USA most likely inherited most of Al resistance from Fultz. Fultz was released about 50 years earlier than Polyssu. Norin 10 likely played a pivotal role in passing Al-resistant gene(s) from Fultz to better adapted, semi-dwarf wheat cultivars developed in the USA. Further characterization of Al resistance in the three different sources could reveal multiple Al-resistant mechanisms in wheat.