Cargo Transport Research Articles

Carangiform‐Like Magnetic Milliswimmer With Negative Buoyancy for Agile 3D Navigation in Confined Fluid Environments

AbstractMiniature soft robots designed with magnetoelastic materials have the potential for noninvasive navigation in narrow spaces and innovative clinical therapies. However, the complex environment inside the body imposes stringent requirements on the motility and environmental adaptability of robots. Inspired by carangiform fish morphology and kinematics, a 3D free‐swimming magnetic milliswimmer with enhanced controllability, maneuverability, and environmental adaptability is developed. This milliswimmer is negatively buoyant like most fishes and employs magnetic torque to actuate its body. It mimics fish muscle contractions and generates a carangiform‐like body curvature distribution that results in comparable swimming behavior and performance. Compared with previous designs, it achieves over six times the equivalent motion performance and enables gravity‐resisting free‐swimming, with fish‐like maneuverability (a minimum turning radius of just 0.05 body length and a maximum turning rate of up to 4737 deg s−1). Its ability to transport and release cargo precisely while navigating three‐dimensionally in an ex vivo porcine urinary system is demonstrated. The designed bionic magnetic soft robot is expected to advance biomedical applications of magnetoelastic materials, particularly in urinary and other clinical treatments.

Tube-Based Explicit Model Predictive Control for a Tiltrotor UAV in Cargo Transportation Tasks

Tube-Based Explicit Model Predictive Control for a Tiltrotor UAV in Cargo Transportation Tasks

Thick Ascending Limb Specific Inactivation of Myh9 and Myh10 Myosin Motors Results in Progressive Kidney Disease and Drives Sex-specific Cellular Adaptation in the Distal Nephron and Collecting Duct.

Our previous work established a role for actin associated myosin motor proteins MYH9 and MYH10 in the trafficking of thick ascending limb (TAL) specific cargoes, uromodulin (UMOD) and Na+K+2Cl- cotransporter (NKCC2). Here, we have generated a TAL-specific Myh9&10 conditional knockout (Myh9&10 TAL-cKO) mouse model to determine the cell autonomous roles for MYH9&10 proteins in TAL cargo transport and to understand the consequence of TAL dysfunction in the adult kidney. Myh9&10 TAL-cKO mice develop progressive kidney disease with pathological tubular injury confirmed by histological changes, tubular injury markers, upregulation of ER stress/unfolded protein response pathway, and higher blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. However, male mice survive twice as long as female mice. We determined that the sexual dimorphism in morbidity is due to adaptation of the distal nephron and the collecting ducts in response to TAL dysfunction and significantly lower NKCC2 expression. We demonstrate that this triggers a compensatory mechanism involving sex-specific cellular adaptation within the distal tubules and collecting ducts to boost sodium reabsorption. While both sexes overcompensate by activating ENaC expression in the medullary collecting ducts resulting in hypernatremia, this is subdued in male Myh9&10 TAL-cKO mice as they initially promote higher sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) expression within the distal nephron. Our results indicate that compromised TAL function results in maladaptation of medullary collecting duct cells, which acquire cortical-like properties, including ENaC expression. This work further confirms a cell autonomous role for myosin motor proteins MYH9&10 in the maintenance of NKCC2 expression in the TAL and uncover adaptive mechanisms of the distal nephron and the collecting duct segments in response to TAL dysfunction.

On load dependence of detachment rate of kinesin motor

Abstract Kinesin is an archetypal microtubule-based molecular motor that can generate force to transport cargo in cells. The load dependence of the detachment rate is an important factor of the kinesin motor, the determination of which is critically related to the chemomechanical coupling mechanism of the motor. Here, we use three models for the load dependence of the detachment rate of the kinesin motor to study theoretically and numerically the maximal force generated and microtubule-attachment duration of the motor. By comparing the theoretical and numerical results with the available experimental data, we show that only one model can explain well the available experimental data, indicating that only this model can be applicable to the kinesin motor.

Magnetic Hercules Swarm for Precise and Effective Deep Biofilm Eradication

AbstractOver the past decade, significant advancements in micro‐nano robots have enabled non‐invasive operations in hazardous, confined environments, particularly targeting persistent bacterial biofilms in hard‐to‐reach areas. However, many of these robots are limited by poor magnetic properties, hindering their effectiveness against biofilms. This study proposes a novel strategy using a swarm with strong magnetic effects (Hercules swarm) combined with near‐infrared (NIR) light for effective biofilm eradication. Carbonyl iron particles coated with polydopamine (CI@PDA), averaging ≈3 µm in diameter, demonstrate clustering and significant magneto‐force under a rotating magnetic field due to their large magnetic saturation. This enables the Hercules swarm to achieve rapid delivery (100 mm s−1), efficient cargo transport (carrying twice its own weight), and effective catheter clearance (1 mm min−1). The controllable motion and high photothermal activity enable precise biofilm eradication without toxic agents. The aggregation of magnetic particles into chains and their rotation are explored by improved particle dynamic model. Simulations also reveal enhanced fluid convection and mechanical pressure around the particle chain. Due to its easy operation, straightforward controllability, and environmental compatibility, the magnetic Hercules swarm emerges as a promising treatment modality for eliminating biofilms entrenched within intricate, narrow, and convoluted medical implants or industrial conduits.

Winds of change – Nomadic grassroots innovations in the maritime shipping sector

Grassroots innovations are seen as important contributors to sustainability transitions, however, given their dependence on place-specific conditions they face diffusion challenges. Responding to previously outlined gaps regarding conceptualisation and exploration of the spatiality of grassroots innovations, this paper introduces a conceptualisation of nomadic grassroots innovations. These are grassroots innovations that are mobile and perform activities in multiple places they continuously return to, conceptualised as host localities, while also being based in home localities containing for example offices and key infrastructure. Contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the geography of grassroots activities, the analysis explores the spatiality of socio-technical elements influencing three stages of development (initiation, operations, and upscaling and diffusion) of nine grassroots initiatives promoting a return to traditional sail cargo ships. Findings suggests that nomadic grassroots innovations are dependent on elements in home and host localities as well as from national and international contexts, indicating that the spatiality of nomadic grassroots innovations differs from place-based initiatives throughout all stages of development. Furthermore, analysis of challenges and opportunities for development of nomadic grassroots innovations reveals three key learnings for grassroots innovation diffusion: strategies for developing social cohesion through multi-scalar actor networks, utilising (costumer) demand for alternative solutions, and taking favourable sector conditions as a starting point when designing grassroots innovations. Combined, this could enable development of grassroots innovations that are less dependent on place-specific conditions and thereby easier to replicate, which could increase the capacity of grassroots innovations to tackle global challenges such as climate change.

Air cargo transport and economic development in emerging economies: A case study of Brazil with panel data analysis

Air cargo transportation accounts for less than 1% of the global trade volume, yet it represents approximately 35% of the total value of goods transported, highlighting its strategic importance in trade and economic development. This study investigates the relationship between domestic air cargo transport in Brazil and key macroeconomic variables, focusing on how regional economic dynamism, logistical infrastructure, and population density impact the country’s development. Using a panel data regression model covering the period from 2000 to 2020, the study analyzes the evolution of air cargo transportation and its role in redistributing economic growth across Brazil’s regions. The findings emphasize the key factors influencing the air cargo sector and demonstrate how these factors can be leveraged to optimize public policies and business strategies. This research provides valuable insights into the relevance of air cargo transportation for regional and national development, particularly in emerging economies like Brazil, offering guidance for the formulation of strategies that promote balanced economic growth across regions.

Optimizing Wing-In-Ground Effect UAVS for Enhanced Search and Rescue Operations: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract: Wing-In-Ground Effect (WIG) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) represent a unique convergence of aerodynamic principles and unmanned systems technology, offering promising solutions for maritime operations. This paper explores the historical development, theoretical foundations, and potential applications of WIG UAVs. The phenomenon of ground effect, which enhances lift and reduces drag when flying close to water surfaces, has been observed since the early 20th century. Soviet engineer Rostislav Alexeyev's pioneering work on the Lun-class ekranoplan in the 1960s demonstrated the viability of WIG technology for military logistics. Advancements in materials science, propulsion systems, and computer-aided design have further refined WIG vehicle performance. The integration of autonomous capabilities has expanded the operational scope of WIG UAVs, enabling missions in challenging maritime environments. The aerodynamic investigation of WIG vehicles reveals the complex interplay between the vehicle's wings and the water surface, leading to enhanced lift-to-drag ratios and improved efficiency. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel experiments have provided valuable insights into the optimization of WIG UAV designs. The potential applications of WIG UAVs span maritime surveillance, coastal patrolling, search and rescue operations, and cargo transportation. Their ability to collaborate with other unmanned systems, such as aerial drones and surface vessels, enhances overall mission effectiveness. As the demand for sophisticated maritime capabilities grows, the development of WIG UAVs presents a promising frontier for innovation, offering unique solutions to address evolving challenges in maritime security and operational effectiveness

DECARBONIZING FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION IN BRAZIL: METHODOLOGIES, RESULTS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Objective: The objective of this technological article is to present a practical tool for calculating CO2 emissions based on fuel consumption applied in a small road freight transport company. Theoretical Framework: There are 4 methods available in the literature for calculating CO2 emissions produced during cargo transport, which stand out for their applicability: (1) GHG Procol; (2) MNT; (3) DEFRA; and (4) GLEC. The authors (Leonardi & Baumgartner, 2004; Lewis et al., 2016) have methodologies for calculating emissions from freight transport, which currently present significant variability in the approaches and databases recommended. The main methodologies in this area are based on two main foundations: (1) fuel-based methodologies; (2) activity-based methodologies. Method: The calculation methodology used is based on fuel consumption (bottom-up), which considered the characteristics of the target fleet, the number of vehicles and their technological phase, the actual intensity of fleet use in operation, and real fuel consumption. Results and Discussion: From this initial information, it was possible to obtain the volume of CO2 emissions specific to the fleet, considering vehicles using regular diesel and biodiesel (S10). The results indicated a fleet CO2 emission of 1,643 tons per year with the use of biodiesel (S10), representing a 10.5% reduction compared to the total CO2 emission from regular diesel. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of [insert field of study]. These implications could encompass [list impacted areas or sectors]. Originality/Value: This technological article contributes to the presentation of a review of CO2 emission calculation models available in the literature and the selection of a methodology for easy application for small and medium-sized road freight transport companies.

The MON1-CCZ1 complex plays dual roles in autophagic degradation and vacuolar protein transport in rice.

Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular program in eukaryotic cells which mediates the degradation of cytoplasmic components through the lysosome, also named the vacuole in plants. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the fusion of autophagosomes with the vacuole remain unclear. Here, we report the functional characterization of a rice (Oryza sativa) mutant with defects in storage protein transport in endosperm cells and accumulation of numerous autophagosomes in root cells. Cytological and immunocytochemical experiments showed that this mutant exhibits a defect in the fusion between autophagosomes and vacuoles. The mutant harbors a loss-of-function mutation in the rice homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana MONENSIN SENSITIVITY1 (MON1). Biochemical and genetic evidence revealed a synergistic interaction between rice MON1 and AUTOPHAGY-RELATED 8a in maintaining normal growth and development. In addition, the rice mon1 mutant disrupted storage protein sorting to protein storage vacuoles. Furthermore, quantitative proteomics verified that the loss of MON1 function influenced diverse biological pathways including autophagy and vacuolar transport, thus decreasing the transport of autophagic and vacuolar cargoes to vacuoles. Together, our findings establish a molecular link between autophagy and vacuolar protein transport, and offer insights into the dual functions of the MON1-CCZ1 (CAFFEINE ZINC SENSITIVITY1) complex in plants.

Capture and catalytic conversion of CO2 from marine and offshore applications – A review

Abstract This contribution examines recent advances in modeling fluid dynamics and capture/conversion of CO2 from marine and offshore applications in packed-bed columns/trickle-bed reactors subjected to static inclination, externally-induced rolling and heaving motions. Breaking the axial symmetry of the two-phase flow once the packed bed system is tilted results in a significant decrease in process performance, the extent of which is determined by the magnitude of the tilt and the column/reactor diameter. Only the conversion of CO2 from marine engine emissions on-board large cargo ships via catalytic cycloaddition of CO2 to styrene oxide in multiphase large-diameter trickle-bed reactors increases slightly with increasing reactor inclination. Under the externally induced column/reactor oscillations, CO2 capture/conversion performance shifts toward the steady-state solution of the vertical column/reactor as the asymmetry between the two inclined positions decreases. Oscillating (between two inclined symmetrical positions) and heaving packed-bed columns/trickle-bed reactors generate an oscillating performance around the steady-state solution of the vertical static position, which is driven by the amplitude and period of the angular and heaving motions via the continuous evolution of the intensity of the reverse secondary flow and by the magnitude of the reactor/column diameter. The catalytic conversion of CO2 captured from marine emissions via an integrated process coupling reverse water-gas shift reaction and methanol synthesis in a fixed-bed reactors network system shows a remarkable enhancement with the addition of H2O adsorbent to the reaction systems in the sorption-enhanced process periods.

Open Space and Ocean Grabbing: The Sea in the Geographic Opening of the Galápagos

The sea has long been a barrier guaranteeing the ecological isolation of the Galápagos. When Ecuador annexed the archipelago, the sea became an obstacle, because neither the state nor the island residents had ships to maintain regular relations with the mainland. On the contrary, the Galápagos Islands are an open space for foreign actors who, having adequate transport, freely use its natural resources and strategic location. At the end of the twentieth century, air travel overcame the oceanic distance and led to the unlimited development of maritime and land tourism in the archipelago’s protected areas. The needs of the Galápagos’ growing population are supplied by cargo ships and, through a process of ocean grabbing, its sea is exploited by various forms of tourism and export fishing. The sea is thus the main vector of the geographical opening of the Galápagos, a process characteristic of globalization that causes profound spatial, ecological, and social changes in a once isolated region.

From Asia to Iberia: the mobility of early modern reliquaries☆

AbstractIn his famous 1543 Treatise on Relics, Jean Calvin complained that if one were to gather all the purported pieces of the True Cross from the churches and cathedrals of Europe, it would ‘form a whole ship's cargo’. This comment not only highlights the questionable authenticity of relics, but also alludes to their inherent mobility. Indeed, as portable religious objects, relics played an essential role in the drive to export Christianity across the globe. Bound as it was to contemporary mercantile and colonial politics, Christian proselytization was imbricated with the circulation of material goods. Objects crafted in far off regions, such as Gujarat and Nagasaki, gained new life in European liturgical contexts. This essay examines imported caskets crafted from mother‐of‐pearl, tortoiseshell, and lacquer that were transformed into reliquaries on the Iberian Peninsula arguing that such reliquaries harnessed the established potency of the itinerant relic, while simultaneously inventing a new visual idiom that spoke to the precarity of the Catholic faith as it traversed great transoceanic distances. In so doing, it demonstrates the active role played by technologies of transit in the shaping of material and devotional culture in the early modern era.

GLSD: a global large-scale ship database with baseline evaluations

ABSTRACT In this paper, we introduce a challenging Global Large-scale Ship Database (GLSD), designed specifically for ship detection tasks. The designed GLSD database includes a total of 212,357 annotated instances from 152,576 images. Based on the collected images, we propose 13 ship categories that widely exist in international routes. These categories include Sailing boat, Fishing boat, Passenger ship, Warship, General cargo ship, Container ship, Bulk cargo carrier, Barge, Ore carrier, Speed boat, Canoe, Oil carrier, and Tug. The motivations for developing GLSD include the following: 1) providing a refined and extensive ship detection database that benefits the object detection community, 2) establishing a database with exhaustive labels (bounding boxes and ship class categories) in a uniform classification scheme, and 3) providing a large-scale ship database with geographic information (covering more than 3000 ports and 33 routes) that benefits multi-modal analysis. Additionally, we discuss the evaluation protocols corresponding to image characteristics in GLSD and analyze the performance of selected state-of-the-art object detection algorithms on GLSD, aiming to establish baselines for future studies.

Utilizing Artificial Neural Network Ensembles for Ship Design Optimization to Reduce Added Wave Resistance and CO2 Emissions

Increased maritime cargo transportation has necessitated stricter management of emissions from ships. The primary source of this pollution is fuel combustion, which is influenced by factors such as a ship’s added wave resistance. Accurate estimation of this resistance during ship design is crucial for minimizing exhaust emissions. The challenge is that, at the preliminary parametric design stage, only limited geometric data about the ship is available, and the existing methods for estimating added wave resistance cannot be applied. This article presents the application of artificial neural network (ANN) ensembles for estimating added wave resistance based on dimensionless design parameters available at the preliminary design stage, such as the length-to-breadth ratio (L/B), breadth-to-draught ratio (B/T), length-to-draught ratio (L/T), block coefficient (CB), and the Froude number (Fn). Four different ANN ensembles are developed to predict this resistance using both complete sets of design characteristics (i.e., L/B, B/T, CB, and Fn) and incomplete sets, such as L/B, CB, and Fn; B/T, CB, and Fn; and L/T, CB, and Fn. This approach allows for the consideration of CO2 emissions at the parametric design stage when only limited ship dimensions are known. An example in this article demonstrates that minor modifications to typical container ship designs can significantly reduce added wave resistance, resulting in a daily reduction of up to 2.55 tons of CO2 emissions. This reduction is equivalent to the emissions produced by 778 cars per day, highlighting the environmental benefits of optimizing ship design.

Data evaluation for identifying meaningful engineering characteristics of the flexible panels used for aerial module for pedological drought

The existing worldwide information related to the aerial modules used for transporting mulching substances is particularly pernicious. Thus, at this moment, on an international level, cargo transport solutions for mulching lands affected by soil drought are limited to identifying the maximum value of the load (1250–4500 kgf), the type of raw material from which it is made (polyamide), the shape (quadratic, octagonal, rectangular) and its dimensions (2.13 m × 3 m for a maximum transport capacity of 1250 kgf – 5.5 m × 5.5 m for a maximum transport capacity of 4500 kgf). Also, among the solutions for protecting lands affected by wildfires, the sowing technique with the help of drones was identified. Thus, the seeded compost balls are allowed to fall by gravity from the drones, being released randomly in the demineralised areas, difficult to reach by land transport. The paper presents the latest research of INCDTP specialists – carried out in the national premiere – regarding the iterative-incremental development of a multi-role collapsible aerial module that has as its theatre of operations the desertified areas (due to the pedological drought) of Romania. The central point of the research is focused on: i) the experimentation in the accredited laboratories of INCDTP, of flexible panels joined by mechanical-textile technology; ii) statistical analysis of values; iii) predicting the minimum values of the physical-mechanical characteristics of the composite material.

Gaidai multimodal risk evaluation methodology based on cargo vessel onboard measurements, given structural damage accumulation

Intercontinental transportation relies heavily on medium-to-large cargo vessels, constituting an essential component of the global trade. Thus, it is of paramount importance for trading companies, engineers, designers to advance innovative, economically viable logistical and structural schemes, that are safe and reliable. Full-scale onboard recorded data, when available, serves as valuable diagnostic tool that is hard to overestimate. An operating medium-size cargo ship TEU2800 had been selected for the current investigation. TEU2800 hull dynamics is by excessive deck panel strains, occurring during ship's intercontinental sailings through potentially adverse weather conditions. Inherent risks of damaging vessel hull and losing containers, caused by excessive motions/loads, being one of the primary concerns for the cargo transportation industry. Primary novelty of this investigation is twofold: for the first, a unique onboard measured representative dataset had been analyzed; for the second, novel multimodal reliability methodology had been employed to analyzed raw measured onboard data.Presented study advocates the state-of-the-art Gaidai multimodal spatiotemporal risks assessment methodology, enabling conservative structural hazard/damage/failure risk forecasting for nonstationary, nonlinear, multimodal cargo vessel hull dynamics, under accumulated fatigue damage. Note that the advocated novel multimodal risks evaluation methodology being of generic nature and may be straightforwardly applied to a wide range of contemporary complex naval, offshore, marine systems, hence not being limited to cargo vessels only.

Dynamic simulation of cargo transport along cislunar suspension tether by single node coupling model

A cislunar suspension tether (CST) is a kind of ultra-long tether anchored to the lunar surface and extends to the vicinity of the Earth, looks like hanging to the Moon, could be used as cislunar pathway for interstellar freightage easier. Its feasibility on material mechanics and dynamics has been verified by the authors. This paper focuses on the process of the cargo transport along the CST. A single coupling model is established, which couples the cargo with one single node of the discrete CST model. Merely the interactive force between the coupled node and cargo is considered, with a proper definition description of the cargo's velocity along the CST. The description defines the direction of the cargo's velocity to the next one node on the CST all the time. The dynamic equations of the whole system are established based on afore stipulations. Several examples will be simulated and presented, their results will prove the effectiveness of the single coupling model, while, reflect some interesting phenomena of the CST's work. This paper also explains the advantage of the model by contrasting to some other models with multi nodes actions to the cargo.

Analysis of the Suboptimal Performance of the Steering Gear on MT. Narpatisuta

The steering gear is one of the auxiliary machineries on board a ship that is used to move the ship's rudder, allowing the ship to turn to the right or left. This machinery utilizes an electro-hydraulic system, which combines electric and hydraulic technologies to control the ship's steering direction. The research focuses on analyzing the suboptimal performance of the steering gear on the MT. Narpatisuta. The objectives of the research are to identify the factors causing the suboptimal performance of the steering gear, the impacts resulting from this suboptimal performance, and the efforts made to address the suboptimal performance of the steering gear on the MT. Narpatisuta. The research method used is a qualitative descriptive method, with data collection techniques in the form of observation, interviews, documentation and literature study. The data analysis technique uses the SHEL method. Test the validity of the data using triangulation. The research results show that suboptimal performance of the steering gear is caused by hydraulic pipe leaks, deteriorating quality of hydraulic oil, and damage to seal and o-ring components, which lead to reduced steering gear performance, slower rudder movement, and can disrupt ship operations, endangering crew safety and the ship's cargo. Efforts that can be made to remedy this include routine inspection and maintenance of the steering gear and its components. Thus, this research emphasizes the need for routine inspection and maintenance to prevent these problems which must ensure maximum steering gear function, maintain safety and ship operational efficiency.

Optimization of Legal Protection for the Leato Wreck Site: Discourse on Cultural Heritage Law and Maritime Conservation Law

Cultural heritage regulations and maritime conservation area regulations intersect and overlap in terms of legal protection, and nowhere is this more obvious than at the Leato underwater site/Japanese cargo ship wreck, referred to as the Leato wreck site in this paper. This legal issue later became a stumbling block in optimizing the legal protection of the Leato/Japanese cargo wreck underwater site. The study used two approaches: the statute approach and the conceptual approach. Analysis: a shipwreck can be defined as a catastrophic event that occurred in the past, with potential socio-economic benefits in the future, contingent upon optimal efforts to conserve history and culture, with great socio-economic potential if its exploitation is successfully optimized, with an eye to conservation efforts. The combination of these legally binding regulations is the key to optimizing the legal protection of the Leato underwater site. The maritime conservation area regulations safeguard the shipwreck's location as an integrated and interconnected ecosystem. By contrast, cultural heritage regulations protect the core zone of the Leato underwater site as a maritime cultural heritage from potential natural or human-caused damage. Other important issues that need to be considered are the empowerment of local communities in realizing a sustainable environment and cooperation between institutions in maintaining and preserving underwater cultural heritage.