Cluster Zone Research Articles

Dynamic pricing, vehicle relocation and staff rebalancing for station-based one-way electric carsharing systems considering nonlinear charging profile

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the imbalance of vehicles in one-way station-based electric carsharing systems (OSECSs). A simulation-based optimization framework is proposed to determine optimal OSECS operation strategies, including dynamic pricing, vehicle relocation, and staff rebalancing. In this framework, the simulation module considers the nonlinear charging profiles for electric vehicles (EVs), EV-dependent road congestion, and price-dependent elastic demands to evaluate the performance of operation strategies. The optimization module triggered by the simulation model provides the optimized configuration of operation strategies based on the genetic algorithm and simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximationTo eliminate the decision variable combinatorial explosion for the optimization problem, we apply the K-means clustering algorithm to cluster stations into small groups of cluster zones, reducing the dimensions of decision variables. A case study in Chengdu demonstrates the proposed simulation-optimization framework’s efficiency and further analyzes the impact of different operation strategies, nonlinear charging mode, and EV-dependent road congestion for the OSECSs.

Photoselective Shade Films Mitigate Heat Wave Damage by Reducing Anthocyanin and Flavonol Degradation in Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) Berries

Wine grape production is challenged by forecasted increases in air temperature and droughts due to climate change and photoselective overhead shade films are promising tools in hot viticulture areas to overcome climate change related factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vulnerability of ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ grape berries to solar radiation overexposure, optimize shade film use for preserving berry composition. An experiment was conducted for two years with four shade films (D1, D3, D4, D5) with differing solar radiation spectra transmittance and compared to an uncovered control (C0). Integrals for leaf gas exchange and mid-day stem water potential were unaffected by the shade films in both years. At harvest, berry primary metabolites were not affected by treatments applied in either year. Despite precipitation exclusion during the dormant seasons in shaded treatments, and cluster zone temperatures reaching 58°C in C0, yield was not affected. Berry skin anthocyanin and flavonol composition and content were measured by C18 reversed-phase HPLC. In 2020, total skin anthocyanins (mg·berry-1) in the shaded treatments were 27% greater than C0 during berry ripening and at harvest. Conversely, flavonol content in 2020 decreased in partially shaded grapevines compared to C0. Berry flavonoid content in 2021 increased until harvest while flavonol degradation was apparent from veraison to harvest in 2020 across partially shaded and control grapevines. Untreated control showed lower di- to tri-hydroxylated flavonol ratios closer to harvest. Our results provided evidence that overhead partial shading of vineyards mitigate anthocyanin degradation by reducing cluster zone temperatures and is a useful tool in combatting climate change in hot climate regions.

Socioeconomic conditions and fossil fuel CO2 in the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro

Worldwide monitoring of fossil fuel carbon dioxide (FFCO2) has been fragmented, and mostly devoted to developed countries. Here we compare a previously published FFCO2 dataset with socio-economic characteristics in order to better tailor FFCO2 urban point-sources for a megacity of the Global South, the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro (MARJ), Brazil. Evaluations were performed by superimposing maps of the FFCO2 measurements on urban data acquired from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the latest Origin-Destination Survey of the MARJ, and correlation and regression analyses between FFCO2 and socioeconomic variables. While we confirmed that population density and the transportation sector are important drivers of FFCO2 concentrations, the centrality of urban activities within MARJ also creates undesirable clustered zones (e.g., the city centers and the main intercity bridge). At the intra-urban scale, both high- and low-income residents play important roles in FFCO2 levels. For instance, higher-income populations tend to produce more carbon pollution at their own residential areas, where most urban activities are located. Low FFCO2 levels were found in low-income areas with poor infrastructure. However, distance from the city center, age distribution, job availability, lack of basic services, and car ownership force low-income populations to commute through high-traffic areas, adding high FFCO2 levels to the same already clustered places. By integrating FFCO2 monitoring with many socioeconomic variables, we believe that we capture its spatial distribution as well as better understand the causes of its emission patterns. Therefore, future CO2 monitoring and assessment studies conducted in megacities can benefit from the insights and discussions presented in this study.

Knowledge Map of Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development: A Visual Analysis Using CiteSpace

Spatial planning has become an important measure for countries and regions to promote sustainable development. However, there remains a lack of systematic and quantitative research on spatial planning worldwide. In this study, CiteSpace was used to perform bibliometric analysis and visualization research on the Web of Science core collection and China National Knowledge Infrastructure database. It was found that: (1) The number of papers published in global spatial planning research shows an increasing trend, especially after 2018, with China showing an obvious increasing trend. (2) Globally, the United States has the largest number of relevant research results, and Italy has the most cooperation with other countries. The highest research output is from developed countries, while that of developing countries is relatively weak. (3) There is some intersection among countries, disciplines, and authors but it is not strong, indicating that cooperation should be strengthened. (4) Through keyword cluster, timeline, and time zone analysis, global development can be roughly divided into three stages: the first stage is characterized by the study of spatial planning system theory, the second stage is characterized by building green infrastructure and providing ecological services, and the third stage is characterized by an emphasis on public participation and the establishment of justice mechanisms. China’s development corresponds to three stages: the theory and experience learning stage, the spatial planning system focused on economic development stage, and the integration of multiple plans and the sustainable development exploration stage. (5) There are differences in burst words between the world and China, indicating that there are great differences in research hotspots in different countries’ periods and conditions.

Protein phase separation hotspots at the presynapse.

Fundamental discoveries have shaped our molecular understanding of presynaptic processes, such as neurotransmitter release, active zone organization and mechanisms of synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling. However, certain regulatory steps still remain incompletely understood. Protein liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and its role in SV clustering and active zone regulation now introduce a new perception of how the presynapse and its different compartments are organized. This article highlights the newly emerging concept of LLPS at the synapse, providing a systematic overview on LLPS tendencies of over 500 presynaptic proteins, spotlighting individual proteins and discussing recent progress in the field. Newly discovered LLPS systems like ELKS/liprin-alpha and Eps15/FCho are put into context, and further LLPS candidate proteins, including epsin1, dynamin, synaptojanin, complexin and rabphilin-3A, are highlighted.

Effect of neutron irradiation on the spectrum of deep-level defects in GaAs grown by liquid-phase epitaxy in hydrogen or argon ambient

We present results of experimental studies of capacitance--voltage characteristics, spectra of deep-level transient spectroscopy of graded high-voltage GaAs p+-p0-i-n0 diodes fabricated by liquid-phase epitaxy at a crystallization temperature of 900oC from one solution--melt due to autodoping with background impurities, in a hydrogen or argon ambient, before and after irradiation with neutrons are presented. After neutron irradiation, deep-level transient spectroscopy spectra revealed wide zones of defect clusters with acceptor-like negatively charged traps in the n0-layer, which arise as a result of electron emission from states located above the middle of the band gap. It was found that the differences in capacitance--voltage characteristics of the structures grown in hydrogen or argon ambient after irradiation are due to different doses of irradiation of GaAs p+-p0-i-n0 structures and different degrees of compensation of shallow donor impurities by deep traps in the layers. Keywords: GaAs, neutron irradiation, capacitance spectroscopy, p0-i-n0-junction, liquid-phase epitaxy, hydrogen, argon.

ПРОСТРАНСТВЕННЫЙ АСПЕКТ МЕТОДОЛОГИИ КЛАСТЕРНОГО ПОДХОДА В УСЛОВИЯХ НОВОЙ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ ПОЛИТИКИ

Main directions of the new economic policy of Russia are the economy autonomization and formation of complex production systems. Emphasizing the role of the macroregional management, in accordance with the Strategy of the Spatial Development, increases the relevance of developing interregional, intersectorial clusters. Based on the methodology of forming and investigating of production clusters, the paper author proposes additional criteria of “successful integration” in the context of the spatial approach. The methodical toolkit for the economic integration assessment is tested using coefficients of the specialization and synchronization of the economic dynamics. The research reveals promising zones of the interregional clusters’ formation, discussed on the examples of Urals and Siberia. The most significant integration potential is identified for the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District and the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. The study confirms the choice of strategies of the interregional integration in the context of the clusters’ formation, with consideration to the degree of the regional economy specialization and the list of promising specializations of the subjects of the Russian Federation.

Interface organization in the integration zone of separated engineering clusters of scienceintensive technical objects

The most common implementation sequence of science-intensive projects in the field of engineering and instrumentation in the framework of small enterprises is considered. The reasons for the existing constraints affecting the quality of complex projects implementation are considered. A model for formalizing the information transformation field of the initial data of scienceintensive projects having a significant impact on the expected results is proposed.

Severity, Spatial Pattern and Statistical Analysis of Road Traffic Crash Hot Spots in Ethiopia

The reduction of traffic crashes, as well as their socio-economic consequences, has captivated the attention of safety professionals and transportation agencies. The most important activity for an effective road safety practice is to identify hazardous roadway areas based on a spatial pattern analysis of crashes and an evaluation of crash spatial relations with neighboring areas and other relevant factors. For decades, safety researchers have adopted several techniques to analyze historical road traffic crash (RTC) information using the advanced GIS-based hot spot analysis. The objective of this study is to present a GIS technique for identifying crash hot spots based on spatial autocorrelation analysis using a four-year (2014–2017) crash data across Ethiopian regions, as well as zones and towns in the Oromia region. The study considered the corresponding severity values of RTCs for the analysis and ranking of crash hot spot areas. The spatial autocorrelation tool in ArcGIS 10.5 was used to analyze the spatial patterns of RTCs and then the Getis Ord Gi* statistics tool was used to identify high and low crash severity cluster zones. The results showed that the methods used in this analysis, which incorporated Moran’s I spatial autocorrelation of crash incidents, Getis Ord Gi* and crash severity index, proved to be a fruitful strategy for identifying and ranking crash hot spots. The identified crash hot spot areas are along the entrance to and exit from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city, so the responsible bodies and traffic management agencies should give top priority attention and conduct a thorough study to reduce the socio-economic effect of RTCs.

Effects of leaf removal on hexose accumulation and the expression of sugar unloading-related genes in syrah grapes

Leaf removal (LR) around the cluster zone is a common practice for regulating grape quality. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of cluster-zone leaf removal, applied at the pea-size stage of berry development, on berry soluble sugar, organic acid and phenolic compound, sugar unloading-related gene expression of Vitis. vinifera L. Syrah. Four different severities of leaf removal were applied: no leaf removal (Control), removing 2 leaves above the cluster (LR1), removing 4 leaves above the cluster (LR2), and removing 6 leaves above the cluster (LR3). The three leaf removal treatments (LR), especially removing 4 leaves (LR2), resulted in significantly higher reducing sugar, soluble sugar (glucose, fructose and sucrose), total anthocyanin and citric acid contents as compared to the control group during ripening for both vintages. At harvest, the LR treatments increased the transcript abundance of most sugar unloading-related genes. In addition, VvHT3, VvHT5, VvSUC11, VvSUC12, VvSS and VvcwINV were positively correlated with both reducing sugar contents and soluble sugar contents. Our results suggest that removing 4 leaves above the cluster is useful for improving the quality of Syrah (Vitis vinifera L.) grapes in cool climate regions with excessive leaves. These findings provide insights into the molecular basis of the relationship between leaf removing and hexose (glucose and fructose) accumulation in the grape berries.

Holocene sedimentology in an isolation basin in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica

Holocene paleoenvironmental changes along the East Antarctic margin have been reconstructed using marine and lake sediment cores. Isolation basins in the coastal ice-free regions offer continuous sedimentary sequences to reconstruct marine-freshwater transitions and its environmental changes. In this study, we present the grain size (sand-silt-clay) and organic matter variations in a 51 cm radiocarbon-dated sediment core from Pup Lagoon, an isolation basin in Larsemann Hills (East Antarctica). The sediment core spans the last 6109 years and provides information on environmental changes in two different settings, i.e., (a) under the marine influence, and (b) as an isolated lake. Three cluster zones were identified viz., LZ1 (6109–2427 y BP: marine environment), LZ2 (2427–2101 y BP: transition zone) and LZ3 (2101–116 y BP: freshwater environment). Fine grain sediments (silt) are dominant in LZ1, indicating a strong hydrodynamic energy conditions affected by tidal currents with low organic matter. Higher sand content during the transition period (LZ2) indicates the strongest hydrodynamic condition and sediment deposition from sea ice. The increasing trend of OM (cyanobacterial benthic mat) beginning at ~ 2101 y BP suggests the isolation of the lake. The highest fine grained sediments (silt-clay) in LZ3 suggests lowered meltwater derived detritus in response to mild austral summer conditions during the Late Holocene.

Cluster organization of extractive industries in northern regions: a comprehensive assessment method

The spatial organization of productive forces, the efficient use of available facilities, and the production potential assessment of economic sectors in a given region are topical issues. The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is a large resource-dependent region of Russia, remarkable for the geographical dispersion of deposits over a vast territory and the complex transport and power supply infrastructures. This paper presents a comprehensive assessment of the feasibility of cluster organization in the subsoil use sector in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Russian Federation, factoring in the existing and prospective economic zoning and the existing potential. The republic was divided into zones based on a cluster framework of the subsoil users. The study used statistical data on the municipal districts and financial indicators of the extractive industry companies. The integrated method was applied in the assessment, and the performance index of the identified cluster territories was calculated on a ten-point scale. The identified zones were rated by resource and production potential. The general cluster zone performance index was calculated. It appeared feasible to cluster the extractive industry in the studied region as it can increase competitiveness of local companies and contribute to the socio-economic development of its municipal districts. The proposed method can be applied for comprehensive assessment of the subsoil use sector in northern territories.

Dual-polarimetric descriptors from Sentinel-1 GRD SAR data for crop growth assessment

Accurate and high-resolution spatio-temporal information about crop phenology obtained from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data is an essential component for crop management and yield estimation at a local scale. Crop growth monitoring studies seldom exploit complete polarimetric information contained in dual-pol GRD SAR data. In this study, we propose three polarimetric descriptors: the pseudo scattering-type parameter (θc), the pseudo scattering entropy parameter (Hc), and the co-pol purity parameter (mc) from dual-pol S1 GRD SAR data. We also introduce a novel unsupervised clustering framework using Hc and θc with six clustering zones to represent various scattering mechanisms. We implemented the proposed algorithm on the cloud-based Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform for Sentinel-1 SAR data. We have shown the sensitivity of these descriptors over a time series of data for wheat and canola crops at a test site in Canada. From the leaf development stage to the flowering stage for both crops, the pseudo scattering-type parameter θc changes by approximately 17°. Moreover, within the entire phenology window, both mc and Hc varies by about 0.6. The effectiveness of θc and Hc to cluster the phenological stages for the two crops is also evident from the clustering plot. During the leaf development stage, about 90% of the sampling points were clustered into the low to medium entropy scattering zone for both the crops. Throughout the flowering stage, the entire cluster shifted into the high entropy vegetation scattering zone. Finally, during the ripening stage, the clusters of sample points were split between the high entropy vegetation scattering zone and the high entropy distributed scattering zone, with >55% of the sampling points in the high entropy distributed scattering zone. This innovative clustering framework will facilitate the operational use of S1 GRD SAR data for agricultural applications.

Location error based seismic cluster analysis and its application to burst damage assessment in underground coal mines

Coal bursts have emerged as the most critical mining hazard for underground coal mines around the world. Seismic monitoring and seismic clustering analysis are the cornerstones to develop an understanding of and to quantify coal burst hazards. The prerequisite to successfully detect seismic clustering behaviours is the accuracy of locating seismic events, which however can be a challenging task in underground coal mines. Therefore, the characteristics of location errors of seismic events and their impact on clustering results should be explicitly investigated and considered in seismic cluster analysis. Based on nine months of seismic data and 24 coal bursts from a longwall panel, this paper considers location errors and proposes a modified seismic clustering method to improve the results available for coal burst hazard assessment. The location errors in the area of interest were firstly assessed using the emulation testing method. Within the determined location errors, the clustering possibility between seismic events was calculated. The characteristics of the possible seismic clustering along with mining, named as “the Number of Possible Clustered Events” (NPCE), were investigated. The results showed that location errors presented large variations and strong anisotropic patterns in the longwall panel, with values ranging from 20 to more than 80 m. The NPCE result presented an improved detection on seismic clustering behaviour, and the high NPCE values also indicated a strong correlation with coal burst damages observed at the mine. Several intensive seismic clustering zones were observed in more than two months prior to the longwall passing these locations, which suggest that the method can be used for the medium to long term seismic hazard assessment.

Pore pressure and gas saturation distribution in the forearc basin of the Nankai subduction zone inferred from high-resolution Vp and Vs

Pore pressure and gas saturation distribution in sedimentary basins are difficult to predict and quantify because these two factors produce the same impact on reducing P-wave velocity (Vp). To tackle this issue, the modified Eaton's equation for Vp and S-wave velocity (Vs) ratio derived from automatic velocity analysis and a pre-stack inversion was applied to estimate pore pressure distribution, and Rock Physics Templates (RPTs) was performed to estimate hydrate and gas attributes (i.e., saturation). We applied this methodology in the Kumano forearc basin, southwest Japan. As a result, pore pressure distribution can be quantified from gas saturation effects. The pore pressure distribution in this basin is nearly hydrostatic. According to RPTs, hydrates and gas saturation are up to 50% and 20%, respectively. Besides, the clustering zones of overpressure, gas, hydrate, and brine can be differentiated from each other using estimated Vp and Vp/Vs. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the dynamic deformation associated with the Nankai plate subduction process mainly controls pore fluid connected pathways (i.e., dipping strata, fractures, and faults) in the shallow forearc basin sequence. This shallow sequence therefore cannot trap the excess pore pressure.

Modelling road traffic collisions using clustered zones based on Foursquare data in Medellín

IntroductionRoad traffic collisions are one of the leading causes of deaths and long-term disability in the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Medellín (Colombia), road traffic collisions have increased in recent years, which has led to the need of developing optimal strategies to reduce these events. MethodologyThis study presents a systemic diagnosis of the trends in road traffic collisions in 219 territorial administrative zones of Medellín. To achieve this, we used a K-Means clustering model to group all the zones in Medellín into different clusters using the composition of their venues using Foursquare data, then we associated the different types of road traffic collisions of each cluster to analyse trends in road traffic collisions in each cluster. ResultsResults show that crashes are the most common road traffic collision for all clusters, while zones surrounded by landscapes and parks have more run overs than fallen occupants. In addition, places with food trucks, gyms, bars and stores have more fallen occupants and other types of road traffic collisions than run overs and they are also the most dangerous zones of Medellín in terms of road traffic collisions per area. Finally, run overs and fallen occupants generally have a major severity than crashes, and these road traffic collisions are common in places with leisure venues and zones with food trucks, gyms, bars and stores. ConclusionsThis diagnosis provides important insights to public agencies in the prioritisation and evaluation of strategies to reduce road traffic collisions in Medellín, based on the differences of clusters.

The effect of leaf removal on canopy microclimate, vine performance and grape phenolic composition of Merlot (Vitis vinifera L.) grapes in the continental part of Croatia

Leaf removal in the cluster zone is one of the commonly applied viticultural practices used to increase light penetration and to decrease humidity in dense foliage. A two- year study (2018/2019) was carried out on the Merlot variety grown in the vineyard on the Croatian hillside with continental climatic conditions, to study the effects of basal leaf removal on canopy microclimate, grape chemical composition and vine production. Leaf and lateral shoot removal was performed at berry set. Meteorological data were recorded together with microclimatic measurements: air temperature, UV radiation and relative humidity in the fruiting zone. Leaf removal altered microclimate by increasing the UV radiation within the cluster zone. Sugar concentration, bud fruitfulness and yield performance was not affect by the treatment, while leaf removal significantly reduced the concentration of titratable acidity in berry samples and increased the concentration of phenols, anthocyanins, flavonols and flavan-3-ols in berry skin. Leaf removal had a higher influence on the grape anthocyanin and flavonol composition in a season with the cooler berry ripening conditions. These results revealed important difference in leaf removal efficiency on phenolic composition of the grapes in different seasonal climatic conditions during ripening.

Intact synapse structure and function after combined knockout of PTPδ, PTPσ, and LAR.

It has long been proposed that leukocyte common antigen-related receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (LAR-RPTPs) are cell-adhesion proteins that control synapse assembly. Their synaptic nanoscale localization, however, is not established, and synapse fine structure after knockout of the three vertebrate LAR-RPTPs (PTPδ, PTPσ, and LAR) has not been tested. Here, superresolution microscopy reveals that PTPδ localizes to the synaptic cleft precisely apposed to postsynaptic scaffolds of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. We next assessed synapse structure in newly generated triple-conditional-knockout mice for PTPδ, PTPσ, and LAR, complementing a recent independent study of synapse function after LAR-RPTP ablation (Sclip and Südhof, 2020). While mild effects on synaptic vesicle clustering and active zone architecture were detected, synapse numbers and their overall structure were unaffected, membrane anchoring of the active zone persisted, and vesicle docking and release were normal. Hence, despite their localization at synaptic appositions, LAR-RPTPs are dispensable for presynapse structure and function.

The assessment of the spatial ontogenetic structure of the coenopopulation <i>Oxytropis floribunda</i> (Pall.) DC. in undisturbed coenoses (on the territory of the Samara Region)

Data on the peculiarities of rare plants coenotic populations organization in petrophytic steppes make a certain contribution to the development of theoretical issues of phytocoenology, bioecology and nature protection. Coenopopulations of Oxytropis floribunda (Pall.) DC. are monitored on the territory of the Samara Region (the natural monument Sernovodnyy Shikhan) in the course of the work. Population ontogenetic methods have been used, including methods of spatial statistics. The coenopopulation of the species has been studied in the Stipa pennata Oxytropis floribunda community without any apparent anthropogenic load. It has been found that the total number of individuals of O. floribunda in the studied coenopopulation was 81 individuals, with a density of 6 individuals per 1 m. The phytogenic field strength coefficient is 0,06. The studied community is dominated by the pregenerative age states of O. floribunda. The coenopopulation of O. floribunda is generally characterized by a contagious type of spatial structure with the formation of aggregations of 0,41,2 m in size. The Ripley function graph for pregenerative plants has also showed the presence of clustering zones that occurs due to seed germination near the mother plants of the studied representative. Generative individuals of O. floribunda in the plant community are located randomly, which indicates favorable conditions for the growth of the species in this area.

Early Leaf Removal Increases Berry and Wine Phenolics in Cabernet Sauvignon Grown in Eastern Serbia

Cluster zone leaf removal is a well-established viticulture practice for improving cluster microclimate and wine quality in cooler climates, while its efficacy in warmer conditions is less is known. Here we compared the effect of early (ELR, after fruit set; diameter of berries 3–5 mm) and late (LLR, beginning of veraison) leaf removal on berry composition and wine phenolic profile of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) variety Cabernet Sauvignon grown in a temperate, warmer region of Eastern Serbia. Compared to the control (no leaf removal), both leaf removal treatments increased the sugar content in fresh juice and alcohol concentration in wine. Over three consecutive years (2011–2013) markedly different in temperature and rainfall, ELR was clearly most effective in decreasing weights of cluster and of one berry, and in increasing of skin share in a berry. The content of total phenols, tartaric acid esters, anthocyanins, and flavanols in berry skin and wine was the highest in ELR treatment. ELR prominently modified the phenolic profile: Increasing flavanols, myricetin and quercetine in skin and wine, and anthocyanins, peonidin-3-glucoside in skin and delphinidin-3-glucoside in wine. This work demonstrated that early leaf removal positively influenced the chemical composition of berries and wine of Cabernet Sauvignon and might be recommended for practice in the temperate warm conditions.