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A left-turn bay that does not have a sufficient length would be blocked by the adjacent through traffic. Left-turn vehicles can also spill back to block the through traffic when the left-turn demand is high. These two types of left-turn-related blockages have adverse effects on the operation of a signalized intersection. Left-turn bay blockage by through traffic will reduce the left-turn capacity, and left-turn bay spillback will affect the adjacent through capacity. Both problems are uncharted in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). This research studies these two blockage scenarios associated with left-turn bays under different left-turn signal operations. The capacity of the left-turn and through movements is modeled as a function of the length of the left-turn bay by using a probabilistic approach, taking into account potential blockage due to a short left-turn bay length. The developed capacity model will be validated on the basis of CORSIM simulations of a real-world signalized intersection. The research is aimed at estimating the left-turn and adjacent through capacity when left-turn bay blockage or spillback occurs, to complement the HCM method and highlighting the effect of the length of the left-turn bay and the left-turn signal strategy.

Purpose of Review This review highlights the expression and regulation of mucin in CRS and discusses its clinical implications. Recent Findings Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is common chronic nasal disease; one of its main manifestations and important features is mucus overproduction. Mucin is the major component of mucus and plays a critical role in the pathophysiological changes in CRS. The phenotype of CRS affects the expression of various mucins, especially in nasal polyps (NP). Corticosteroids(CS), human neutrophil elastase (HNE), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) are closely related to the tissue remodeling of CRS and regulate mucin expression, mainly MUC1, MUC4, MUC5AC, and MUC5B. “It is expected that CS, HNE and TGF - β could be used to regulate the expression of mucin in CRS.” However, at present, the research on mucin is mainly focused on mucin 5AC and mucin 5B, which is bad for finding new therapeutic targets. Summary Investigating the expression and location of mucin in nasal mucosa and understanding the role of various inflammatory factors in mucin expression are helpful to figure out regulatory mechanisms of airway mucin hypersecretion. It is of great significance for the treatment of CRS.

Despite having explored various modes of water management over the past three decades, the water crisis persists and the Chinese government has been required to revolutionize river management from the top down. The River Chief System (RCS), which evolved from small scale, local efforts to manage rivers starting in 2007, is an innovative system that coordinates between existing ‘fragmented’ river/lake management and pollution control systems, to clearly define the responsibilities of all concerned departments. The system was promoted from an emergent policy to nationwide action in 2016, and ever since, has undergone steady development. We have analyzed recent developments in the system from the perspectives of functional expansion, implementation strategies, legislative processes, and public outreach after the full implementation of the RCS. By collecting data over the past several years, the changes in the water quality of representative watersheds in China were evaluated to assess the outcomes of RCS implementation. Finally, a summary of the weaknesses and outstanding problems of the system is presented, putting forward a multi-channel strategy for the long-term stability and effectiveness of river/lake chiefs, and promoting the RCS as a suitable solution to the collaborative and jurisdictional issues in water management in China.

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