Supporting driver performance in closely spaced tunnel-interchange structure: Traffic control devices and effects on driving behavior.

OBJECTIVES: With the rapid development of expressways in the mountainous regions of southwestern China, closely spaced tunnel-interchange structures have inevitably emerged due to topographical constraints and environmental limitations. Given the unfavorable road geometry and rapid cross-section transitions, drivers face significant safety concerns. This study aims to investigate drivers' safety performance at closely spaced tunnel-interchange sections and determine how safety risks can be mitigated through improved traffic control devices design. METHODS: Thirty-nine participants conducted an experimental study in a fixed-base simulator. The test scenario was modeled on the Xingyan Freeway-S3801 and accurately reproduced in the simulator. For each safety performance metric, the driving simulator experiments yielded a dataset with 780 observations. To address the idiosyncratic variation due to individual driver differences, a series of linear mixed effects models (LMM) were developed to analyze drivers' behavior responses. RESULTS: In closely spaced tunnel-interchange sections, a general impairment of both longitudinal and lateral performance was observed. This study identified potential critical impact variables in traffic control device systems. According to the LMM results: (a) Removing the 0.5 km interchange ramp exit advance guide sign located in the tunnel exit area reduces dangerous behavior in the corresponding impact area. (b) Replacing the 0.5 km interchange ramp exit advance guide sign with arrow pavement markers as an information source supports improved driver performance, promoting driver safety. (c) Adding tunnel exit distance signs within tunnels is recommended to enhance situation awareness for drivers. CONCLUSIONS: This study addresses the scientific issues related to traffic control devices setup for closely spaced tunnel-interchange sections, focusing on identifying potential critical impact variables. The findings provide guidance on the design of traffic control devices for such sections and support revisions to national engineering standards.

The Mechanism of Osthole in the Treatment of Gastric Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Technology.

Objective: To study the mechanism of osthole in GC based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods: The potential targets of osthole were predicted through the TCM System Pharmacology Analysis Platform, SwissTargetPrediction, and PharmMapper database. Targets related to gastric cancer were obtained through OMIM and GeneCard database. The online tool Venny 2.1.0 was used to screen GC and common target of osthole. The targets after the intersection of drugs and diseases were entered into the STRING database, and the protein interaction network was constructed, and the core targets with high correlation were screened out. The WebGestalt website was used to GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis and visualization with KOBAS website. The Cytoscape 3.8.2 was employed to draw the C-T-P-D (compound-target-pathway-disease) network visualization diagram. Finally, molecular docking validation was performed using PyMOL 2.5 and Discovery Studio Standalone. Results: Through prediction and screening, 108 corresponding targets were screened from osthole, and 173 targets were obtained after intersecting with gastric cancer targets. Among them, the top ten targets were the core targets of this study, including MAPK3, MAPK1, SRC, AKT1, HSP90AA1, RXRA, ESR1, RELA, MAPK14, and EGFR. The analysis of GO, KEGG, and PPI showed that the mechanism of action of osthole against GC may be closely related to the regulation of the PI3K signaling pathway. The results of molecular docking showed that osthole had a good affinity with MAPK3, which is a crucial part of the PI3K signaling pathway. Conclusion: This study preliminarily revealed the targets and related pathways of osthole in the treatment of gastric cancer and provided a new idea for further exploration of osthole targeted prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

Evaluation of tunnel retro-reflective arch in an extra-long tunnel based on the matter-element extension method.

Traffic safety devices are one of the most important tools used to improve safety in tunnels. The tunnel retro-reflective arch (TA) plays a crucial role in stimulating drivers, relieving visual stress, and improving safety. However, determining the TA spacing mostly relies on experience and relevant standards are lacking. The aim of this research was to evaluate the degree of influence of the TA on driver behavior, visual aspects, and psychology in different zones (overall tunnel, curved segment, and middle segment) of extra-long tunnels. To test the influence of TAs, four scenarios were constructed, including three alternatives with different TA spacings (200, 300, and 400 m), and one no-arch design as a control alternative. Based on a driving simulator, the evaluation indicators related to driving safety, smoothness, and handling stability were selected and analyzed. We acquired data every 50 m as an analytical unit. The results show that the TA significantly affects driver behavior, visual aspects, and psychology. According to the matter-element model result, setting the TA spacing to 300 m in curved segment and in the tunnel overall is the best option. In the middle segment, the setting spacing of 400 m is ideal.

Safety of Raised Pavement Markers in Freeway Tunnels Based on Driving Behavior.

Raised pavement markers (RPMs) are among the common safety features of roads, playing an important role in preventing and reducing traffic crashes. RPMs are regarded as an effective measure for reducing the high crash rate and mortality in freeway tunnels in China. In this study, a driving simulator experiment was conducted to investigate the safety of RPMs in a freeway tunnel. Two different RPM layouts were designed and compared to a control with no RPMs, and 32 drivers participated in the driving simulator experiments. The speed, relative speed difference, lateral position, accelerator power, acceleration, and pupil area were used as indicators of the response characteristics of drivers to RPMs, and the interaction of tunnel length, tunnel zone, and RPM alternatives was discussed. The results indicate that a significant interaction effect exists between tunnel length, tunnel zone, and RPM alternatives. RPMs could help reduce driver anxiety, boredom, and fatigue caused by the dark and monotonous tunnel driving environment, and improve driver alertness and consciousness of speed. Also, the driving risk increases with increasing tunnel length (1800 m to 3500 m).