Cargo Delivery System Research Articles

A Biohybrid Self-Dispersing Miniature Machine Using Wild Oat Fruit Awns for Reforestation and Precision Agriculture.

Advances in bioinspired and biohybrid robotics are enabling the creation of multifunctional systems able to explore complex unstructured environments. Inspired by Avena fruits, a biohybrid miniaturized autonomous machine (HybriBot) composed of a biomimetic biodegradable capsule as cargo delivery system and natural humidity-driven sister awns as biological motors is reported. Microcomputed tomography, molding via two-photon polymerization and casting of natural awns into biodegradable materials is employed to fabricate multiple HybriBots capable of exploring various soil and navigating soil irregularities, such as holes and cracks. These machines replicate the dispersal movements and biomechanical performances of natural fruits, achieving comparable capsule drag forces up to ≈0.38 N and awns torque up to ≈100 mN mm-1. They are functionalized with fertilizer and are successfully utilized to germinate selected diaspores. HybriBots function as self-dispersed systems with applications in reforestation and precision agriculture.

Розвиток інтелектуальних транспортних систем

The purpose of the article is to develop a refined methodology for the general design of a container terminal. The difference between the given design methodology and the existing ones is that a decision is proposed to change its throughput (annual container flow passing through it), without changing the dimensions of the container yard and the way containers are stored, that is, for the same capacity of the container yard. Such cases occur, for example, when it is necessary to reconstruct a container terminal. Cargo terminals for containers are a specific field of logistics and cargo delivery system, where cargo is processed in consolidated transport modules - containers.
 Considered the main stages of designing a container terminal as a complex stochastic technical system: setting the task (it should be a single one); selection and determination of elements of technological zones and the structure of the container terminal, as various connections between system elements; analysis of system functioning (including its modeling); account of interaction of the system with the environment; consideration of the results of the container transport and technological system and operation. It is determined that this general methodology can be used during the creation or analysis of any other transformation of a technical or social system that receives a stream of some objects with one set of parameters, processes it through its structure and outputs them from other parameters. This method of formalizing the functioning of the container terminal can be used for its calculations, modeling, research and optimization. In the processes of interaction with environmental systems, the container terminal passes from one state to another, which is characterized by the types and volume of technological operations that must be performed at a certain moment, cargo that must be stored, delivered to and from the terminal, assembled, sorted, business employee processes, forklifts, cranes and other equipment in use. The functioning of the container terminal (part of the warehouse system) as a procedure of transitions from one state to another can be represented in the form of a graph or transition probability matrix.

Optimal Trajectory Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Cargo Pickup and Delivery System based on Radio Map

Optimal Trajectory Design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Cargo Pickup and Delivery System based on Radio Map

ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫЕ ТЕХНОЛОГИИ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ТРАНСПОРТНЫМИ СИСТЕМАМИ В АРКТИЧЕСКОЙ ЗОНЕ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ ДЛЯ ОБЕСПЕЧЕНИЯ ПРОДОВОЛЬСТВЕННОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ

The article examines the process of managing transport systems in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation using the example of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Due to the fact that most of the cargo volumes are delivered during the period of winter roads, motor transport is identified as the main participant in the region’s transport system. The key problems in the current cargo delivery system are reflected. The purpose of the study is to effectively manage the process of delivering goods to Arctic settlements with a complex transport and logistics scheme. Innovative solutions are presented regarding the implementation of an information and analytical system, which will improve the efficiency of northern delivery by reducing the likelihood of missed deadlines, reducing costs by optimizing the process, as well as improving the quality of management decisions made by improving the quality of information received in real time. The development of a transport and logistics system for the delivery of goods for the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation will become increasingly socially oriented as part of improving the quality of life of the local population and reducing their outflow from their places of residence.

FORMATION OF A SYSTEM APPROACH TO ORGANIZING CARGO DELIVERY BY RAILWAY COMPANIES-CARRIER REGIONAL TYPE

Purpose. The introduction of private freight railway carrier companies in Ukraine corresponds to the European trend of demonopolization of railway transport and has a number of consequences, including the creation of a market pricing mechanism and the formation of prerequisites for improving the quality of services in railway transport. In order to ensure the economic development of the railway industry, an integrated approach is required, which includes reviewing and improving the tariff policy regarding the access of private regional railway carrier companies to the railway infrastructure of joint-stock company (JSC) «Ukrzaliznytsia» and providing non-discriminatory access to the railway infrastructure for other transportation participants. This will ensure equal conditions for competition and will contribute to the development of railway transport in Ukraine. Based on this, the purpose of this study is to achieve the effective functioning of a cargo delivery system for regional railway carrier companies when it is implemented on the Ukrainian railway network. To achieve this goal, a functional description of the specified system is used and its parameters are optimized. Methods. To formalize the system of cargo delivery by a regional railway carrier company, used methods of systems theory. The results. The research carried out made it possible to formalize the system of cargo delivery through a regional railway carrier company. In the process of formulating the functional description of the system, various factors affecting the carrier company's costs were taken into account. When analyzing these factors, it was found that the key parameters of the system that have a significant impact on the costs and cost of transporting goods are the serial number of the cargo delivery route, the number of stops on the route, the duration of train downtime at the railway stations of the carrier company's branches while waiting for shunting operations to be performed (attaching groups of wagons). The goal of optimizing these parameters is to increase the efficiency of the system and reduce the cost of transporting goods for individual clients. Practical significance. Subject to the adoption in Ukraine of an appropriate legislative framework that will regulate access to the railway infrastructure of JSC «Ukrzaliznytsia» for private carriers, the implementation of the proposed system will have such positive consequences as increasing the level of competition in the transport market in Ukraine, improving the quality and reliability of transportation and growth Country's GDP. Setting the optimal balance between route numbers, the number of stops and the duration of train downtime will ensure optimal use of the carrier company's resources and reduce the cost of transporting goods. This will help improve the quality of service and meet customer needs.

A Study on the Effects of Applying Cargo Delivery Systems to Support Energy Transition in Agglomeration Areas—An Example of the Szczecin Agglomeration, Poland

This article addresses certain issues related to the application of various cargo delivery systems that facilitate energy transition in cities and agglomerations. The main purpose of this article was to estimate the effects resulting from the application of a cargo delivery system that is an alternative to road transport within the area of the Szczecin agglomeration. The study applied the following research methods: literature review, mathematical computations, case study, and observation. The article estimated the volume of transport external costs’ reduction resulting from shifting cargo deliveries from road to rail transport in said agglomeration, applying the EU methodology to specify the amounts of external costs generated by individual modes and means of transport. The completed studies have demonstrated that the application of a rail-based cargo delivery system in the Szczecin agglomeration would enable a considerable reduction in the external costs generated by transport, thus supporting energy transition in said area. The findings also make it possible to conclude that the proposed solution may bring some other effects, such as a reduction in the number of diesel-powered heavy goods vehicles, reduced road congestion, and the increased safety of residents, as well as supporting electromobility and low-emission mobility policies in cities and agglomerations.

METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING AN EFFECTIVE VARIANT OF WAREHOUSE OPERATION TECHNOLOGY WHEN USING HIGHLY MANOEUVRABLE AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT MULTI-AXLE VEHICLES

The article establishes that warehousing operations required in the cargo delivery system can take up a significant amount of time and affect the quality of performed work. An analysis of the situation in the warehouse real estate market has shown that there are prospects for the construction and development of existing warehouses through the introduction of new technologies and solutions to improve technical means of production. Therefore, for the rational operation of the entire complex of warehouse operations and the corresponding increase in productivity with a reduction in the cost of delivery of goods in existing warehouses with intensive flows of goods, it is necessary to introduce an efficient warehouse technology using highly manoeuvrable and energy-efficient multi-axle vehicles. The article analyses the scientific developments of the theoretical foundations for determining an effective variant of warehouse technology by Ukrainian and foreign scientists. The work on improving the technology of warehouses and terminals focuses on the development of effective interaction in all areas of warehouse operations under the influence of random factors. The analysis of the technology of warehouses operating in the Ukrainian market has revealed shortcomings in its organisation: possible options for performing basic warehouse operations when changing the values of technological process parameters are not taken into account, warehouse resources are not used effectively to perform the relevant operations, and opportunities for introducing new technologies into the warehouse technology are not taken advantage of. It is proposed to determine an effective variant of the warehouse operation technology when using highly manoeuvrable and energy-efficient multi-axle vehicles to consider this process in the form of two variants of their organisation with the participation of an electric forklift (first variant) and the proposed mechanism (second variant). To form these variants, the sequence of warehouse operation technology, technical characteristics of mechanisation equipment, and a schematic representation of a warehouse with racks have been determined. The total area of the warehouse was chosen as the objective function of solving the problem of determining an effective variant of warehouse technology when using highly manoeuvrable and energy-efficient multi-axle vehicles, taking into account the system of constraints. The system of constraints includes the relevant factors of influence: the volume of a unit of cargo that passes through the warehouse; time to perform operations when loading (unloading) cargo in the warehouse; time to perform operations when moving cargo by a forklift in the warehouse; loading of a unit of cargo on the warehouse area. Keywords: model, technology, warehouse system, technical means.

Engineered exosomes mediated targeted delivery of neuroprotective peptide NR2B9c for the treatment of traumatic brain injury

Neuroprotection is one of the core treatment strategies for brain injuries including traumatic brain injury (TBI). NR2B9c is a promising neuroprotective peptide but its clinical translation is limited because of poor brain penetrability. Exosomes are naturally occurring nanovesicles having therapeutic potential for TBI as well as an efficient drug delivery carrier to the brain. Here, we engineered exosomes with neuron targeting peptide rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG29) via bio-orthogonal click chemistry technique and loaded it with NR2B9c, developing RVG-ExoNR2B9c. RVG29 conjugated exosome had higher neuron targeting efficiency compared to naïve exosomes both in vivo and in vitro. RVG-ExoNR2B9c had great cytoprotective effect against oxygen glucose deprived Neuro2a cells. Intravenous administration of RVG-ExoNR2B9c significantly improved behavioral outcomes and reduced the lesion volume after TBI injury in a mice controlled cortical impact model. Due to their multifunctionality and significant efficacy, we anticipate that RVG-ExoNR2B9c have the potential to be translated both as therapeutic agent as well as cargo delivery system to the brain for the treatment of TBI.

Bio-clickable, small extracellular vesicles-COCKTAIL therapy for ischemic stroke

Delivering large therapeutic molecules via the blood-brain barrier to treat ischemic stroke remains challenging. NR2B9c is a potent neuroprotective peptide but it's safe and targeted delivery to the brain requires an efficient, natural, and non-immunogenic delivery technique. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have shown great potential as a non-immunogenic, natural cargo delivery system; however, tailoring of its inefficient brain targeting is desired. Here, we coupled rabies virus glycoprotein 29 with sEVs surface via bio-orthogonal click chemistry reactions, followed by loading of NR2B9c, ultimately generating stroke-specific therapeutic COCKTAIL (sEVs-COCKTAIL). Primary neurons and Neuro-2a cells were cultured for in vitro and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model was used for in vivo studies to evaluate neuron targeting and anti-ischemic stroke potential of the sEVs-COCKTAIL. Bio-clickable sEVs were selectively taken up by neurons but not glial cells. In the in vitro ischemic stroke model of oxygen-glucose deprivation, the sEVs-COCKTAIL exhibited remarkable potential against reactive oxygen species and cellular apoptosis. In vivo studies further demonstrated the brain targeting and increased half-life of bio-clickable sEVs, delivering NR2B9c to the ischemic brain and reducing stroke injury. Treatment with the sEVs-COCKTAIL significantly increased behavioral recovery and reduced neuronal apoptosis after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. NR2B9c was delivered to neurons binding to post-synaptic density protein-95, inhibiting N-methyl-d-Aspartate receptor-mediated over production of oxidative stress and mitigating protein B-cell lymphoma 2 and P38 proteins expression. Our results provide an efficient and biocompatible approach to a targeted delivery system, which is a promising modality for stroke therapy.

Structure and assembly of type VI secretion system cargo delivery vehicle

Type VI secretion system is widely used in Gram-negative bacteria for injecting toxic effectors into neighboring prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. Various effectors can be loaded onto the T6SS delivery tube via its core components: Hcp, VgrG, or PAAR. Here, we report 2.8-Å resolution cryo-EM structure of intact T6SS Hcp5-VgrG-PAAR cargo delivery system and crystal structure of unbound Hcp5 from B.fragilis NCTC 9343. Loading of Hcp5 hexameric ring onto VgrG causes expansion of its inner cavity and external surface, explaining how structural changes could be propagated to regulate co-polymerization and surrounding contractile sheath. High-affinity binding between Hcp and VgrG causes entropically unfavorable structuring of long loops. Furthermore, interactions between VgrG trimer and Hcp hexamer are asymmetric, with three of the six Hcp monomers exhibiting a major loop flip. Our study provides insights into the assembly, loading, and firing of T6SS nanomachine that contributes to bacterial inter-species competition and host interactions.

Crosslinked and Multi-Responsive Polymeric Vesicles as a Platform to Study Enzyme-Mediated Undocking Behavior: Toward Future Artificial Organelle Communication.

Various cellular functions are successfully mimicked, opening the door to the next generation of therapeutic approaches and systems biology. Herein, the first steps are taken toward the construction of artificial organelles for mimicking cell communication by docking and undocking of cargo in the membrane of swollen artificial organelles. Stimuli-responsive and crosslinked polymeric vesicles are used to allow docking processes at acidic pH at which ferrocene units in the swollen membrane state can undergo desired specific host-guest interaction using β-cyclodextrin as model cargo. The release of the cargo mediated by two different enzymes, glucose oxidase and α-amylase, is investigated, triggered by distinct enzymatic undocking mechanisms. Different release times for a useful transport are shown that can be adapted to different communication pathways. In addition, Försterresonanceenergytransfer(FRET) experiments further support the hypotheses of host-guest inclusion complexation formation and their time-dependent breakdown. This work paves a way to a platform based on polymeric vesicles for synthetic biology, cell functions mimicking, and the construction of multifunctional cargo delivery system.

Advanced hitchhiking nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Hitchhiking, a recently developed bio-inspired cargo delivery system, has been harnessed for diverse applications. By leveraging the interactions between nanoparticles and circulatory cells or proteins, hitchhiking enables efficient navigation through the vasculature while evading immune system clearance. Moreover, it allows for targeted delivery of nutrients to tissues, surveillance of the immune system, and pathogen elimination. Various synthetic nanomaterials have been developed to facilitate hitchhiking with circulatory cells or proteins. By combining the advantages of synthetic nanomaterials and circulatory cells or proteins, hitchhiking nanomaterials demonstrate several advantages over conventional vectors, including enhanced circulatory stability and optimized therapeutic efficacy. This review provides an overview of general strategies for hitchhiking, choices of cells and proteins, and recent advances of hitchhiking nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Methodology for determining the optimal territorial location of transport and logistics terminals on river transport

The article discusses the problem of determining the optimal location of cargo terminals in the cargo delivery system. The methods and approaches by which this task is traditionally solved are considered. Based on the analysis of scientific publications, it was concluded that it is advisable to use the center of gravity method of cargo flows to solve the indicated problem. Proposals have been made to finalize this approach, taking into account a number of additional criteria that are important for interested participants in the transport and logistics delivery system. The methodology for determining the optimal location of the terminal in the system of cargo transportation along the international transport corridor with the participation of river transport has been developed and presented. The results of testing of the methodology on the reference example on grain transportation within the framework of the international transport corridor "North-South" are given. Conclusions were drawn on the possibility of using the proposed methodology in the formation of a reference network of terminals in transport and logistics systems for the delivery of goods in international and regional traffic, as well as possible directions for its development.

Effect of extracellular vesicles of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on the expression of CEA gene and protein released by colorectal cancer cells.

Background and Objectives:Almost all living cells secret nano-sized structures enclosed by the lipid bilayer called extracellular vesicles (EVs) into their extracellular milieu. These EVs play important roles in several physiological processes as a cargo delivery system. In probiotics, EVs are the main communication tool with the host. The present study aimed to assess the effect of EVs originated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on the Carcinoembryonic antigen (cea) gene expression and protein (CEA) synthesis in the SW480 and HT-29 cell lines.Materials and Methods:Different concentrations of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG EVs were applied on the SW480 and HT-29 cell lines. The MTT assay, Real-Time PCR, and ELISA analysis methods were exploited to explore the cell viability and the expression level of the cea gene in comparison with the β-actin gene as the control.Results:The two concentrations of 80 and 100 μg/ml of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG EVs considerably affected the anti-proliferation and increased the amount of both CEA mRNA and protein (p < 0.05).Conclusion:Our findings showed that EVs of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG could induce the gene expression and protein synthesis of CEA. Also, they reduced the cell proliferation of HT29 and SW480. Thus, probiotics such as EVs of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG could be useful for preventing colorectal cancer.

MOF-based multi-stimuli-responsive supramolecular nanoplatform equipped with macrocycle nanovalves for plant growth regulation

Controllable and on-demand delivery of agrochemicals such as plant hormones is conducive to improving agrochemicals utilization, tackling water and environmental pollution, reducing soil acidification, and realizing the goals of precision agriculture. Herein, a smart plant hormone delivery system based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and supramolecular nanovalves, namely gibberellin (GA)-loaded CLT6@PCN-Q, is constructed through supramolecular host-guest interaction to regulate the growth of dicotyledonous Chinese cabbage and monocotyledonous wheat. The porous nanoscale MOF (NMOF) with a uniform diameter of 97 nm modified by quaternary ammonium (Q) stalks is served as a cargo reservoir, followed by the decoration of carboxylated leaning tower[6]arene (CLT6) based nanovalves on NMOF surfaces through host-guest interactions to fabricate CLT6@PCN-Q with a diameter of ∼101 nm and a zeta potential value of -13.2 mV. Interestingly, the as-fabricated supramolecular nanoplatform exhibits efficient cargo loading and multi-stimuli-responsive release under various external stimuli including pH, temperature, and competitive agent spermine (SPM), which can realize the on-demand release of cargo. In addition, GA-loaded CLT6@PCN-Q is capable of effectively promoting the seeds germination of wheat and stem growth of dicotyledonous Chinese cabbage and monocotyledonous wheat (1.86 and 1.30 times of control groups, respectively). The smart supramolecular nanoplatform based on MOFs and supramolecular nanovalves paves a way for the controlled delivery of plant hormones and other agrochemicals for promoting plant growth, offering new insights and methods to realize precision agriculture. Statement of significanceTo achieve controllable and sustainable release of cargos such as agrochemicals, a smart MOF-based multi-stimuli-responsive supramolecular nanoplatform equipped with supramolecular nanovalves was fabricated via the host-guest interaction between quaternary ammonium stalks-functionalized nanoMOFs and water-soluble leaning tower[6]arene. The as-prepared supramolecular nanoplatform with uniform diameter distribution demonstrated good cargo release in response to various external stimuli. The installation of synthetic macrocycles could effectively reduce cargo loss in the pre-treatment process. This type of supramolecular nanoplatform exhibited good promoting effect on seed germination and plant growth dicotyledonous Chinese cabbage and monocotyledonous wheat. As an eco-friendly, controlled, and efficient cargo delivery system, this supramolecular nanoplatform will be a promising candidate in precision agriculture and controlled drug release to attract the broad readership.

Acylhydrazone Subunits as a Proton Cargo Delivery System in 7-Hydroxyquinoline.

The reimagined concept of long-range tautomeric proton transfer using crane subunits is shown by designing and synthesising two new acylhydrazones containing a 7-hydroxyquinoline (7-OHQ) platform. The acylhydrazone subunits attached to the 7-OHQ at the 8th position act as crane arms for delivering proton cargo to the quinoline nitrogen. Light-induced tautomerization to their keto forms leads to Z/E isomerization of the C=C axle bond, followed by proton delivery to the quinoline nitrogen by the formation of covalent or hydrogen bonds. The axle's being either an imine or ketimine bond is the structural difference between the studied compounds. The -CH3 group in the latter provides steric strain, resulting in different proton transport pathways. Both compounds show long thermal stability in the switched state, which creates a tuneable action of bidirectional proton cargo transport by using different wavelengths of irradiation. Upon the addition of acid, the quinoline nitrogen is protonated; this results in E/Z configuration switching of the acylhydrazone subunits. This was proven by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis and NMR spectroscopy.

Smart Cargo Delivery System based on Mesoporous Nanoparticles for Bone Disease Diagnosis and Treatment.

Bone diseases constitute a major issue for modern societies as a consequence of progressive aging. Advantages such as open mesoporous channel, high specific surface area, ease of surface modification, and multifunctional integration are the driving forces for the application of mesoporous nanoparticles (MNs) in bone disease diagnosis and treatment. To achieve better therapeutic effects, it is necessary to understand the properties of MNs and cargo delivery mechanisms, which are the foundation and key in the design of MNs. The main types and characteristics of MNs for bone regeneration, such as mesoporous silica (mSiO2), mesoporous hydroxyapatite (mHAP), mesoporous calcium phosphates (mCaPs) are introduced. Additionally, the relationship between the cargo release mechanisms and bone regeneration of MNs‐based nanocarriers is elucidated in detail. Particularly, MNs‐based smart cargo transport strategies such as sustained cargo release, stimuli‐responsive (e.g., pH, photo, ultrasound, and multi‐stimuli) controllable delivery, and specific bone‐targeted therapy for bone disease diagnosis and treatment are analyzed and discussed in depth. Lastly, the conclusions and outlook about the design and development of MNs‐based cargo delivery systems in diagnosis and treatment for bone tissue engineering are provided to inspire new ideas and attract researchers’ attention from multidisciplinary areas spanning chemistry, materials science, and biomedicine.

Cyclodextrin/Adamantane-Mediated Targeting of Inoculated Bacteria in Mice.

Cyclodextrin (CD)-based host–guest interactions with adamantane (Ad) have demonstrated use for functionalizing living cells in vitro. The next step in this supramolecular functionalization approach is to explore the concept to deliver chemical cargo to living cells in vivo, e.g., inoculated bacteria, in order to study their dissemination. We validated this concept in two rodent Staphylococcus aureus models. Bacteria (1 × 108 viable S. aureus) were inoculated by (1) intramuscular injection or (2) intrasplenic injection followed by dissemination throughout the liver. The bacteria were prefunctionalized with 99mTc-UBI29–41-Ad2 (primary vector), which allowed us to both determine the bacterial load and create an in vivo target for the secondary host-vector (24 h post-inoculation). The secondary vector, i.e., chemical cargo delivery system, made use of a 111In-Cy50.5CD9PIBMA39 polymer that was administered intravenously. Bacteria-specific cargo delivery as a result of vector complexation was evaluated by dual-isotope SPECT imaging and biodistribution studies (111In), and by fluorescence (Cy5); these evaluations were performed 4 h post-injection of the secondary vector. Mice inoculated with nonfunctionalized S. aureus and mice without an infection served as controls. Dual-isotope SPECT imaging demonstrated that 111In-Cy50.5CD9PIBMA39 colocalized with 99mTc-UBI29–41-Ad2-labeled bacteria in both muscle and liver. In inoculated muscle, a 2-fold higher uptake level (3.2 ± 1.0%ID/g) was noted compared to inoculation with nonfunctionalized bacteria (1.9 ± 0.4%ID/g), and a 16-fold higher uptake level compared to noninfected muscle (0.2 ± 0.1%ID/g). The hepatic accumulation of the host-vector was nearly 10-fold higher (27.1 ± 11.1%ID/g) compared to the noninfected control (2.7 ± 0.3%ID/g; p < 0.05). Fluorescence imaging of the secondary vector corroborated SPECT-imaging and biodistribution findings. We have demonstrated that supramolecular host–guest complexation can be harnessed to achieve an in vivo cargo delivery strategy, using two different bacterial models in soft tissue and liver. This proof-of-principle study paves a path toward developing innovative drug delivery concepts via cell functionalization techniques.

Analysis of LTL Delivery Technologies in Terms of Economic, Environmental and Social Costs

One of the main directions for improving the quality of the provision of transport services is to bring the level of service and infrastructure development to European standards, increase the level of safety and reduce the negative impact on the environment. Accordingly, the role of an integrated consideration of logistics solutions increases; rationality is no longer considered only in economic terms (expenses, income, payback period, etc.), but also in terms of the impact on the surrounding social and natural environment (harmful emissions, road accidents, traffic congestion, noise, etc.). The purpose of the article is to examine the LTL cargo delivery system in terms of various components of economic and socio-environmental impacts and associated costs. The authors analyze and gives their own vision of the basic terminology and concepts related to the transportation of LTL cargo. The existing demand for LTL cargo transportation between regions of Ukraine has been analyzed and a significant (more than 50%) share of demand for such transportation among the total number of requests for delivery between regions of the country has been determined. The process of LTL cargo delivery is considered on the basis of the interaction of the relevant stakeholders, the list and characteristics of which are determined for a consolidated and non-consolidated delivery technology. The main attention is paid to the assessment of the system of economic and socio-ecological interactions accompanying the delivery process, as well as the corresponding costs and losses. The main components of costs are stated, which, according to the authors, should be taken into account when assessing the feasibility of applying a particular scheme of LTL cargo delivery. A set of factors that affect the boundaries of the expediency of using the consolidated technology of LTL cargo .

Russian railroad transport within the historical military cargo delivery system

The paper analyzes the principal factors of influence that shaped up the railroad industry as a key component of the Russian transport system in the early 20th century. The relevance of this research consists in its demonstration of the correlation between the development of a railroad network and particular events that accompanied the accumulation of resources by the Russian industrial society. The state involvement in transport business operations and railroad construction was deeper in Russia than in other European countries. Its influence made a positive impact on the Russian military transportation system in 1914 – 1917. This was the time period when the Russian school of locomotive building was established. This research has practical significance, as it helps to identify the factors that impact the development of railroad transport in the 19th and 20th centuries. The author has employed a method of retrospective analysis of sources (mainly those covering the history of locomotive building in the years of World War I), a comparative historical method, methods of analogy, deduction and induction.