Abstract: A method includes storing representations of a passengers and fleet vehicles. The method includes generating a graph representation of a geographic map that includes requested pick-up locations and drop-off locations for the passengers and generating a state graph representation of the passengers and the fleet vehicles. The state graph representation includes a plurality of nodes connected by edges. Each of the plurality of nodes represents a candidate state of the passengers and the fleet vehicles. A respective edge of the state graph representation represents an action of a respective vehicle picking up or dropping off a passenger. The respective edge has a cost that is based at least in part on traversal of the graph representation of the geographic map. The method further includes using the state graph representation to generate a set of routes and route the fleet vehicles in accordance with the generated set of routes.

Abstract: A method of treating silica in an aqueous environment includes dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion, reversing a net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using an inorganic treating agent to form surface-activated silica particulates, and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with monoaminoorganosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.