Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) describes a range of technologies that seek to lower emissions and reduce energy consumption by lowering the temperature at which asphalt mixtures are produced and placed. Despite these benefits, reduced mixture viscosity may be the most likely reason for widespread adoption of WMA technologies. Hot-mix asphalt (HMA) producers are unlikely to adopt WMA technologies solely to lower emissions, because current environmental regulations and the relatively clean nature of HMA plants make lower emissions unnecessary and unprofitable except in select air pollution areas. Producers are also unlikely to adopt WMA technologies solely to reduce energy consumption, because energy savings are less than the associated costs except in the most expensive energy markets. Reduced viscosity makes the best business case for widespread WMA technology adoption, because this benefit offers cost and risk reduction: it can (a) alleviate compaction problems associated with cool weather, (b) reduce compaction equipment needs at the job site, and (c) lower the risk of poor compaction when working with stiff mixtures. This conclusion is supported by basic economic calculations, a survey of the Icelandic pavement industry showing strong support for WMA technology use to improve cool weather paving, and two projects in Maryland showing the potential for WMA technology use to lower the risk of poor compaction of high reclaimed asphalt-pavement mixtures.

In an analysis of safety and effectiveness data from the HCV-TARGET study, we found treatment with ledipasvir and sofosbuvir, with or without ribavirin, to be effective and well tolerated by treatment-experienced patients with genotype 1 HCV infection and compensated cirrhosis. There were no significant differences in rate of SVR12 among patients treated with ledipasvir and sofosbuvir for 12 or 24 weeks, with or without ribavirin. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis appear to benefit from the addition of ribavirin or extension of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir treatment to 24 weeks. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT10474811.

Kroger Specialty Pharmacy provided support in kind pharmacy services for Merck and AbbVie product. The views and statements in this work are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), its Board of Governors or Methodology Committee. Drs. Khalili (K24AA022523) and Sulkowski (K24DA034621) were also partially supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Henry’s law constants (k H) were measured (at 30 °C) and modeled for a suite of fragrance and solvent compounds in aqueous solutions of three structurally diverse industrial surfactants: sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (NaDBS), tetradecylbenzyldimethyl ammonium chloride (TDBAC), and a linear alkyl ethoxylate, Neodol 1,9. k H values for limonene, β-pinene, toluene, and trichloroethene were examined as a function of surfactant concentration. When compared to TCE and toluene, the fragrances limonene and β-pinene with their larger values of molecular polarizability (ὰmol = (17.94 ± 0.5) Å3and (17.34 ± 0.5) Å3, respectively) and greater hydrophobic character exhibited greater affinity for micelles of the linear alkyl ethoxylate relative to those of NaDBS and TDBAC and greater selectivity overall in their interaction(s) with micelles of varying carbon content (C n ). Using a linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) of the form ln k H = C + sπ2* + aΣα2 + bΣβ2 (π2* = solute dipolarity/polarizability; Σα2 = overall solute hydrogen-bond-donor acidity; Σβ2 = overall solute hydrogen-bond-acceptor basicity; C = a regression constant) as an additional correlation and characterization tool, we find the large negative coefficients on π2*, Σα2, and Σβ2 consistent with the inverse correlation between ln k H and the magnitude of solute–solvent interactions in the condensed phase; C decreases with increasing size of the micellar phase. The dominance of HBD and HBA interactions (Σα2 and Σβ2, respectively) in the LSER for the alkyl ethoxylate points to the role of the ethylene oxide outer portion of the Neodol 1,9 micelles along with the effect of intercalated water.