Logistical Constraints Research Articles

I.N.S.E.C.T. Wall Twin: Designing for and with Insects, Fungi, and Humans

This pictorial confronts the urgent need to shift design practices in response to the past and ongoing destruction of habitat structures and the resulting losses of biodiversity. To do this, it illustrates the first iteration of I.N.S.E.C.T. Wall Twin: an architectural installation that endeavours to support coexistence between local insects, fungi, and humans. The installation is an outcome of the workshop “Interspecies Exploration by Bio-Digital Manufacturing Technologies'' during the first part of the I.N.S.E.C.T. Summer Camp (Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, August 2022). The 9-day workshop brought together a group of four organisers and nine selected participants to engage with the challenges of designing for and with other living beings. Aiming to develop novel approaches to creating urban habitat structures, the workshop involved parametric design, clay 3D printing, mycelium-based composites, and freeform crocheting. We explored questions of interspecies design by prototyping objects iteratively while conversing and reflecting. Our discussion lists the insights we gained from this process of collaborative and critical making. We offer suggestions for involving a range of human and nonhuman stakeholders in design; reflect on practical and ethical questions when working with living materials; identify challenges of foregrounding nonhuman needs while dealing with technical or logistical constraints; and outline ways to approach the complexity of intervening in ecosystems. These considerations may help inform the future work of designers who want to integrate the perspectives of multiple species into their designs. As a living laboratory undergoing continual monitoring, I.N.S.E.C.T. Wall Twin provides a useful foundation for developing further iterations and a community that exceeds the duration of the camp. 
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 The first and second authors contributed equally to this work

Review article: Snow and ice avalanches in high mountain Asia – scientific, local and indigenous knowledge

Abstract. The cryosphere in high mountain Asia (HMA) not only sustains the livelihoods of people residing downstream through its capacity to store water but also holds the potential for hazards. One of these hazards, avalanches, so far remains inadequately studied, as the complex relationship between climate and potential triggers is poorly understood due to lack of long-term observations, inaccessibility, severe weather conditions, and financial and logistical constraints. In this study, the available literature was reviewed covering the period from the late 20th century to June 2022 to identify research and societal gaps and propose future directions of research and mitigation strategies. Beyond scientific literature, technical reports, newspapers, social media and other local sources were consulted to compile a comprehensive, open-access and version-controlled database of avalanche events and their associated impacts. Over 681 avalanches with more than 3131 human fatalities were identified in eight countries of the region. Afghanistan has the highest recorded avalanche fatalities (1057), followed by India (952) and Nepal (508). Additionally, 564 people lost their lives while climbing peaks above 4500 m a.s.l., one-third of which were staff employed as guides or porters. This makes it a less deadly hazard than in the less populated European Alps, for example, but with a considerably larger number of people affected who did not voluntarily expose themselves to avalanche risk. Although fatalities are significant, and local long-term impacts of avalanches may be considerable, so far, limited holistic adaptation or mitigation measures exist in the region. These measures generally rely on local and indigenous knowledge adapted to modern technologies. Considering the high impact avalanches have in the region, we suggest to further develop adaptation measures including hazard zonation maps based on datasets of historic events and modelling efforts. This should, however, happen acknowledging the already existing knowledge in the region and in close coordination with communities, local government and civil society stakeholders. More research studies should also be attempted to understand the trends and drivers of avalanches in the region.

The role of combat exposure on drinking behavior and subjective well-being: A Rubin Causal Model approach.

Investigating the role of combat exposure on behavioral outcomes has been limited due to ethical and logistical constraints. Using a large data set from UK BioBank of U.K. citizens (n = 157,161), we created hypothetical randomized experiments, with treatment conditions for combat exposure or no combat exposure matched for relevant covariates and compared differences in combat exposure groups on a broad range of alcohol-related and subjective well-being outcomes. Additionally, using a randomization-based approach, we calculated 95% Fisherian intervals for constant treatment effects consistent with the matched data and the hypothetical combat exposure intervention. Results suggest that combat exposure plays a role in several negative outcomes related to alcohol behavior and subjective well-being, such as increased typical daily alcohol consumption (estimated average causal effect [ACE] = 0.0545, Fisher p-value = .0119) and less general health happiness (estimated ACE = -0.1077, Fisher p-value < 1/100,000). This study expands our current understanding of the role of combat exposure on many alcohol and subjective well-being-related measures. We also show that the Rubin Causal Model provides a rigorous and valid approach to better understand myriad other issues in psychological science. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Water-based medium-expansion foam depopulation of adult cattle

Current options for depopulation of adult cattle outlined in the “AVMA Guidelines for the Depopulation of Animals” are limited, have logistic constraints, and may not be practical on a large scale. Water-based foam is advantageous because the necessary equipment is readily available, easy to use and presents minimal personnel risk. Foam has been successfully used to depopulate poultry but no research has been conduct­ed on cattle.

The Settlement of Space: Economical and Logistical Drivers and Constraints

This work is part of the BIS SPACE technical project studying long term possibilities for an expansion of industrial civilisation on Earth and in space. This paper traces the potential development of space settlements through four ‘generations’, driven and constrained by various economic, physical, and cultural factors. To provide a context for later work, time scales and orders of magnitudes are estimated together with constraints and drivers for space settlement. Following papers will explore the technology of fast transits within the Solar System required to support the economic model and define a fleet of interplanetary craft, based on flow stabilized Z-pinch fusion engines. Keywords: SPACE Project, In-Situ Resource Utilization, Space Settlement, Fission and Fusion Powered Spaceships, Interplanetary Logistics, Dyson Swarm, Kardashev Type I and II

The Settlement of Space: Economical and Logistical Drivers and Constraints

This work is part of the BIS SPACE technical project studying long term possibilities for an expansion of industrial civilisation on Earth and in space. This paper traces the potential development of space settlements through four ‘generations’, driven and constrained by various economic, physical, and cultural factors. To provide a context for later work, time scales and orders of magnitudes are estimated together with constraints and drivers for space settlement. Following papers will explore the technology of fast transits within the Solar System required to support the economic model and define a fleet of interplanetary craft, based on flow stabilized Z-pinch fusion engines. Keywords: SPACE Project, In-Situ Resource Utilization, Space Settlement, Fission and Fusion Powered Spaceships, Interplanetary Logistics, Dyson Swarm, Kardashev Type I and II

The first 4-way liver paired exchange from an interdisciplinary collaboration between health care professionals and design economists

We report initial results of a liver paired exchange (LPE) program established at the Liver Transplant Institute at Inonu University through collaboration with design economists. Since June 2022, the program has been using a matching procedure that maximizes the number of living donor liver transplants (LDLTs) to the patients in the pool subject to the ethical framework and the logistical constraints of the program. In 1 4-way and 4 2-way exchanges, 12 LDLTs have been performed via LPE in 2022. The 4-way exchange, generated in the same match run with a 2-way exchange, is a first worldwide. This match run generated LDLTs for 6 patients, revealing the value of the capacity to carry out larger than 2-way exchanges. With only 2-way exchanges, only 4 of these patients would receive a LDLT. The number of LDLTs from LPE can be increased by developing the capacity to perform larger than 2-way exchanges in either high-volume centers or multicenter programs.

Gesturing towards decolonial teaching praxis and unlearning colonial methods: teaching reflections in the struggle to decolonise research methodologies

ABSTRACT In this article, we reflect on our experiences teaching and learning in a digital course for PhD students, Oxford-UNISA Decolonising Research Methodologies. The aim of the course was to ‘gesture’ beyond the coloniality of knowledge by thinking ‘otherwise’ about research methodologies. As a decolonial teaching praxis, gesturing embraces experimentation, humility and becoming as we pursue decolonial being/thinking and seek/create coexistence, well-being and dignity beyond its constraints. We conceive of co-teaching as co-learning and co-becoming. Teaching as becoming, we argue, means engaging with students without a rigid structuring telos. We revisit video footage from the class, course materials and review insights from our students to reflect upon the substance and configurations of our co-teaching. We analyse the significance of ‘keeping the fire’ of our shared intellectual projects, even as we remain situated within colonial institutions. Three interrelated challenges emerged while teaching decolonial geographies and decolonising methodologies in this online course. These dynamics include: (a) the challenges of cultivating student-teacher trust in digital exchanges; (b) the aspiration to embolden transdisciplinary engagements in the face of logistical, temporal and practical constraints, including ‘settler time’ and our ties to stated disciplines; and (c) the significance of co-presence and shared commitment to challenge academic hierarchies.

Conducting Social Science Research During Epidemics and Pandemics: Lessons Learnt.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on how field-based research is being conducted globally. Given the challenges of undertaking fieldwork during epidemics and the need for mixed methods research to address the social, political, and economic issues related to epidemics, there is a small but growing body of evidence in this area. To contribute to the logistical and ethical considerations for conducting research during a pandemic, we draw on the challenges and lessons learnt from adapting methods for two research studies conducted in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings: (1) in-person research in Uganda and (2) combined remote and in-person research in South and Southeast Asia. Our case studies focus on data collection and demonstrate the feasibility of conducting mixed methods research, even with many logistical and operational constraints. Social science research is often used to identify the context of specific issues, to provide a needs assessment, or inform longer-term planning; however, these case studies have shown the need to integrate social science research from the start of a health emergency and in a systematic way. Social science research during future health emergencies can also inform public health responses during the emergency. It is also crucial to collect social science data after health emergencies to inform future pandemic preparedness. Finally, researchers need to continue research on other public health issues that are ongoing even during a public health emergency.

Organizational structure 4.0: challenges and prospects

Aim. This article deals with the evolution of the development of organizational structures depending on the technological paradigms (industrial revolutions), the characteristics of manufacturing and consumer preferences.Tasks. To analyze the relevant research papers in the context of the chosen topic; to systematize the used organizational structures, taking into account production features and consumer preferences; to systematize and offer a classification of organizational structures as applied to a technological paradigm (industrial revolution); to describe the requirements to the new organizational structure in the sixth technological paradigm (Industry 4.0).Methods. Theoretically, the study was based on a review of the scientific literature on the evolution of organizational structures, revealing the relationship between technological patterns (industrial revolutions) and the applied organizational structures.Results. The analysis of the literature showed that, depending on the historical stage, technological and economic conditions, companies used different types of organizational structures. New organizational structures emerged as a response to the needs of enterprises in certain historical conditions: the rigid bureaucratic structures used in the third and fourth technological stage (1880–1970), supplemented by flexible types of structures in the fifth technological stage (1970–2010). The new technological stage, which emerged after 2010, implies further changes in manufacturing technologies and consumer preferences, develops under resource and logistical constraints, and therefore requires new approaches to organizational design from companies.Conclusions. The development of organizational design implies an evolutionary enrichment of previously used types of structures with new properties. We believe that in the framework of the sixth technological paradigm, management will need to supplement its toolkit not only with flexible virtual structures (e.g., agile structures), but also with new types of organizational structures that have the necessary properties and characteristics. In addition to having an internal “framework”, agility and adaptability, organizational structures must provide dynamism (speed of change), elasticity (self-recovery) and maneuverability to companies.

Deep learning-based software for detecting population density of Antarctic birds

Monitoring populations of bird species living in Antarctica with current technologies is critical to the future of habitats on the continent. Studies of bird species living in Antarctica are limited due to climate, challenging geographic conditions, and transportation and logistical constraints. The goal of this study is to develop Deep Learning-based software to determine the population densities of Antarctic penguins and endangered albatrosses. Images of penguins and albatrosses obtained from internet sources were labeled using the segmentation technique. For this purpose, 4144 labeled data were trained with five different convolutional neural network architectures TOOD, YOLOv3, YOLOF, Mask R-CNN, and Sparse R-CNN. The performance of the obtained models was measured using the average precision (AP) metric. The experimental results show that the TOOD-ResNet50 model with 0.73 {$AP^{50}$} detects the Antarctic birds adequately compared to the other models. At the end of the study, a software was developed to detect penguins and albatrosses in real time

Vessels of Opportunity in Marine Science Outreach and Education: Case Study and Caveats

Studying unexpected, ephemeral, or transient events in ocean ecosystems, such as gelatinous zooplankton blooms, is important because it provides us with valuable data on how our oceans may be changing in response to climate change and other anthropogenic activities. However, planning for such events is nearly impossible and making use of opportunistically acquired data allows the marine science community to be adaptive and efficient given the logistical and financial constraints of time at sea and in the field. Because such sampling events are often responsive rather than planned, they are typically not accompanied by outreach and education efforts. This commentary considers if opportunistically acquired data sets can be applied to generate opportunistic outreach and education activities. A case study is provided with successes and caveats outlined.

Financing constraints and impact on corporate performance growth: Study in China listed logistics enterprises.

Based on 2010-2019 Chinese logistics listed companies as research samples, the paper used the binary Logit model measuring degree of financing constraints. The Kernel density function and Markov chain model are used to forecast China listed companies financing logistics dynamic constraints and business performance growth. Furthermore the stock of knowledge was chosen as a threshold variable to explore the impact of financing constraints on corporate performance growth of listed logistics enterprises. We find that the degree of financing constraints of logistics enterprises in our country has not been significantly eased. Corporate performance has not changed significantly and there are no obvious spatial gap and polarization with the passage of time. The impact of financing constraints on the corporate performance growth of logistics enterprises in China has a double threshold effect of knowledge stock, and has an inhibitory effect that first increases and then decreases. This is because in the short term, the investment of knowledge stock by enterprises can crowd out more corporate liquidity, and in the long run, it is related to the conversion rate of the knowledge stock itself. Because of the uneven regional distribution of resources and differences in the degree of economic development, there is a growing disincentive effect in central China as the stock of knowledge accumulates.

Designing Demand Driven Price Sensitive Supply Chain Model for Indian Farmers

Small and marginal farmers (SMFs) in developing countries, perennially struggle with low marketable surplus, inadequate storage facilities, poor market access and logistical constraints that in turn leave them with distressed sales of their produce to exploitative middlemen in the agricultural supply chain. Addressing such pressing concerns, the present study aims at proposing a market-facilitating demand-centric agricultural supply chain model where the income of the farmers is directly linked with risk-adjusted actual market movement. The price-sensitive model, being a facilitator for direct marketing, makes farm produce marketable by designing a cost-effective and scientifically managed shared warehouse, and minimizing market volatility risk through diversification among a group of contributing farmers. Empirical validation of this simulation-based modelling was tested on three essential year-round food staples – Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) – against the prevailing market settings. Interestingly, instead of immediately selling agricultural produce to market intermediaries due to a lack of storage options, if farmers shared the associated storage cost among themselves and distributed the market returns by proportionate crop sales to fulfil the demand, they could not only realize better returns during the season but also could turn off-season market unpredictability into their favour. The model is focused on enhancing SMFs’ income in the emerging economy context, and its empirical approach for risk minimization strategy is indeed proposed for the first time in the available literature. The finding, demonstrably, substantiates that the policy implication of the proposed model for SMFs in the fruits and vegetables (F&amp;V) segment could improve market access and derive fair returns.

Urban livestock rearing and the paradox of sustainable cities and urban governance in West Africa: Empirical evidence from Wa, Ghana

Although inner-city livestock rearing provides households with food security and cash income opportunities, urban farmers and planners face challenges balancing urban livestock rearing with sustainable cities’ ideals. Literature on the interface of inner-city rearing, sustainable cities and urban governance dilemma is limited in African cities. Using the city of Wa in Ghana as a case, this study seeks to understand cattle-rearing practices, driving forces, the public health risk and governance challenges in African cities. The study employed a questionnaire to elicit data from 96 cattle keepers, while interviews were conducted with neighborhood residents and city authorities. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the quantitative data, and thematic analysis employed to analyze the qualitative data. The study found that cattle keepers are spread across the inner-city and keep indigenous, exotic, and crossbreeds. Open grazing and stall feeding were adopted in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The animals are kept in makeshift structures and open kraals. The holders earn substantial income, making demand for cattle the main determinant of farmers' decision to rear. Although the cattle pose a health risk and cause inconvenience to residents, political interferences and logistical constraints limit local authority's efforts to govern rearing in the inner-city. Based on the challenges and the benefits, city authorities might be faced with trying to strike a balance with sustainable cities' agenda. Therefore, actions towards harmony between livestock rearing, environmental sustainability and human safety are imperative for effective urban governance.

The Effect of Untreated Dura-Palm Kernel Shells as Coarse Aggregate in Lightweight Pervious Concrete for Flood Mitigation

This research aimed at ascertaining the performance of raw dura species of Palm Kernel Shells (PKS) in comparison to a different species of PKS (tenera) as a replacement for known aggregates for pervious lightweight concrete. Using limestones as the known aggregates, control pervious concrete was batched, and relevant tests were conducted. Major tests conducted on the composites concerned compressive, tensile, and flexural strength, as well as permeability, densities, and absorption. Logistic constraints on transporting the dura-PKS limited the quantity needed to ascertain the variety of replacements of the dura-PKS. With a 25% replacement known to be the most suitable ratio for related investigations, we adopted that ratio and compared to the extreme ratio of 100% dura-PKS. The tests revealed that a 100% replacement of known aggregates by the dura-PKS resulted in high porosity and permeability, although the resistances to compression, tension, and flexural loads read low for the same mixture. Instead, pervious concrete 25% of dura-PKS replacement yielded optimum water permeability rate and flexural and compressive stresses. However, the flakiness index recorded for the dura-PKS was almost half that of the tenera species and was not reflected in the mechanical properties as the results gave relatively lower strengths. The results in the case of the dura species do not differ significantly compared to the tenera-PKS in terms of strength and permeability.

1085-P: Defragmenting Patient Care via a Multidisciplinary Diabetes Clinic

Aim : Diabetes mellitus (DM) care delivery is often fragmented because of logistical constraints. We examined if cohesive short-term multidisciplinary care improves diabetes-related outcomes. Methods: This was a prospective, non-randomized pilot study. Adults with type 2 DM, A1C ≥8% and ≥1 comorbidity attended either 1) a multidisciplinary clinic (endocrinologist, pharmacist, diabetes educator/nutritionist and at least one specialty e.g. cardiology, nephrology, ophthalmology on the same/next day), or 2) conventional visits spread apart. A1C (primary outcome) and other variables were collected at baseline, 6 months (exit from active part of study), and 12 months (6 months from exit). Results: There were 20 patients per arm (55.3% female, mean ± SD age 53.8 ± 11.3 y, BMI 40.1 ± 10.0 kg/m2, A1C 10.1 ± 2.1%). Of the patients that have reached the 6-mo mark so far, intervention group showed a significant decrease in A1C (n=14, from 10 ± 1.4 to 8.7 ± 1.8, delta -1.4 ± 1.4; p=0.003), while there was no significant change in the control group (n=6, from 9.6 ± 2.5 to 7.6 ± 1.3, delta -2.0 ± 2.9; p=0.15) (Figure 1). Conclusion: The ADA endorses an evidence-based model of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team to provide care for people with diabetes. However, achieving this can be difficult in a large, progressively subspecialized healthcare system. Initial data from our study shows defragmenting patient care can improve A1C over a conventional model. Disclosure A.Iqbal: None. M.Parker: None. A.Smith-coleman: None. R.J.Marquardt: None. M.A.Maier: Speaker's Bureau; Smith+Nephew. M.Lansang: Research Support; Dexcom, Inc., Abbott, Alertgy Inc. R.S.Zimmerman: Speaker's Bureau; Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. D.Isaacs: Speaker's Bureau; Dexcom, Inc., Abbott, Eli Lilly and Company, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk. J.F.Bena: None. J.Morren: None. R.Singh: Consultant; Genentech, Inc., Iveric Bio, Alcon Research, LLC, Regeneron, Novartis, REGENXBIO Inc. G.Thomas: None. M.L.Griebeler: None. Funding Cleveland Clinic Healthcare Delivery &amp; Implementation Science Center

Indexing body condition of bighorn sheep: potential for concordance among independent investigators?

AbstractEstimates of body condition or body composition are useful metrics, and consistency among results determined by independent investigators enhances their utility. If concordant, albeit subjective, assessments of body condition can be achieved by personnel possessing differing levels of expertise, there are important implications for generating useful information that otherwise may not be obtained by investigators facing logistic or economic constraints, or difficult field conditions. We used a serendipitous opportunity to explore level of agreement among personnel with disparate levels of anatomical knowledge and familiarity with palpation to index body condition of 55 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). Our preliminary results—albeit affected by sample size—suggested the investigators interpreted and applied scoring criteria similarly, despite their differing backgrounds. Given the potential to gain meaningful information on body condition that otherwise may not be attainable, we encourage further evaluation of concordance among independent investigators whenever body condition of bighorn sheep can be rated independently by &gt;1 individual and, further, that the information be shared widely.

The global value chain: Challenges faced by ASEAN least developed countries

We identify seven global value chain (GVC)-related challenges faced by the least developed countries (LDCs) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The LDCs face some of the most rudimentary challenges related to trade participation and competitiveness. The challenges identified in the paper have been empirically validated using Fuzzy AHP modelling to decipher the priority weights. The findings reveal that ‘infrastructural and logistical constraints’ is the most imperative challenge followed by ‘limited FDI inflows’ and ‘inadequate development of SME clusters. The remaining challenges include: inadequate aid-for-trade, dismal LDC participation through the RTA/FTA route, lack of robust industrial policy, constraints in value chain upgradation, limited FDI. The study is beneficial for industry and provides useful inputs for policy-making. It helps in ascertaining optimal resource allocation for the purpose of enhancing trade competitiveness and economic development.

Novel Use of Cell Profiling Technology to Visualize Mitochondrial Responses of Humpback Whale Fibroblasts to Chemical Exposure.

Cetaceans are at elevated risk of accumulating persistent and lipophilic environmental contaminants due to their longevity and high proportion of body fat. Despite this, there is a paucity of taxa-specific chemical effect data, in part due to the ethical and logistical constraints in working with highly mobile aquatic species. Advances in cetacean cell culture have opened the door to the application of mainstream in vitro toxicological effect assessment approaches. Image-based cell profiling is a high-throughput, microscopy-based system commonly applied in drug development. It permits the analysis of the xenobiotic effect on multiple cell organelles simultaneously, hereby flagging its potential utility in the evaluation of chemical toxicodynamics. Here we exposed immortalized humpback whale skin fibroblasts (HuWaTERT) to six priority environmental contaminants known to accumulate in the Southern Ocean food web, in order to explore their subcellular organelle responses. Results revealed chemical-dependent modulation of mitochondrial texture, with the lowest observed effect concentrations for chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, trifluralin, and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane of 0.3, 4.1, 9.3, and 19.8 nM, respectively. By contrast, no significant changes were observed upon exposure to endosulfan and lindane. This study contributes the first fixed mitochondrial images of HuWaTERT and constitutes novel, taxa-specific chemical effect data in support of evidence-based conservation policy and management.