Rapid Way Research Articles

Rutas piloto de transporte colectivo urbano, en la Zona Metropolitana de Veracruz, México

Population growth and urban expansion in the Veracruz Metropolitan Area, which now has nearly one million inhabitants and continues to grow steadily, have led to deficiencies in the design of collective transportation routes. These routes have developed reactively and without adequate planning to meet current mobility needs, a challenge commonly faced by rapidly growing cities in Mexico and Latin America. In response, this research aims to redesign and enhance urban mobility by proposing an efficient public transportation system known as Bus Rapid Transit [BRT]. Through fieldwork and quantitative analysis, the study proposes two main BRT corridors and nine feeder or mixed routes to optimize road network performance and reduce traffic congestion. The implementation of this system is expected not only to improve regional mobility, but also to decrease economic losses, increase transportation safety, promote universal accessibility, and lower the city’s carbon footprint, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient pattern of urban development.

Twitter in improving the quality of a BRT

PurposeThis study aims to analyze active participation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system users in Mexico City through Twitter and determine whether it relates to its service quality.Design/methodology/approachA statistical and content analysis was conducted on tweets posted by BRT users to identify service-related topics of interest. Tweets mentioning the official BRT account from 2019 to 2022 were collected, followed by sentiment analysis to determine their positive or negative tone. These tasks were performed using R and ATLAS.ti software as well as the academictwitteR and Syuzhet packages.FindingsActive participation of BRT users via Twitter enhances the quality of this public transportation service by leveraging one of its key attributes: information dissemination. Specifically, it enables greater dissemination of service status, causes and effects of disruptions, and the performance of drivers and security personnel.Originality/valueThis article provides evidence to the literature suggesting that user participation helps improve public services quality. While previous research conducted interviews to identify critical service attributes based on a pre-existing typology, this study adopts an inductive approach to reveal users’ interests through their posted messages. These results highlight issues service providers need to address to enhance quality.

A Markov Chain-Based Stochastic Queuing Model for Evaluating the Impact of Shared Bus Lane on Intersection

The introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems has the potential to alleviate urban traffic congestion. However, in certain cities in China, the increasing prevalence of privately owned vehicles, combined with the underutilization of bus lanes due to infrequent bus departures, has contributed to heightened congestion in general lanes. The advent of Internet of Things (IoT) technology offers a promising opportunity to develop intelligent public transportation systems, facilitating efficient management through seamless information transmission to end devices. This paper presents an IoT-based shared bus lane (IoT-SBL) that integrates intersection information, real-time traffic queuing conditions, and bus location data to encourage passenger vehicles to utilize the bus lane. This encouragement can be communicated through traditional signaling methods or future Infrastructure-to-Vehicle (I2V) and Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication technologies. To evaluate the effectiveness of the IoT-SBL strategy, we proposed a stochastic model that incorporates queuing effects and derived a series of performance metrics through model analysis. The experimental findings indicated that the IoT-SBL strategy significantly reduces vehicle queuing, decreases vehicle delays, enhances intersection throughput efficiency, and lowers fuel consumption compared to the traditional bus lane strategy.

Stakeholder Interviews to Inform Best Practice for Public Facing COVID-19 Wastewater Dashboards

Background Wastewater (WW) -based epidemiology is the detection of pathogens and chemicals from wastewater, typically sewage systems. Its use gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as a rapid and non-invasive way to assess infection prevalence in a population. Public facing dashboards for SARS-CoV-2 were developed in response to the discovery that RNA biomarkers were being shed in faeces before symptoms. However, there is not a standard template or guidance for countries to follow. The aim of this research is to reflect on how currently available dashboards evolved during the pandemic and identify suitable content and rationale from these experiences. Methods Interviews were carried out with implementers and users of dashboards for SARS-CoV-2 WW data across Europe and North America. The interviews addressed commonalities and inconsistencies in displaying epidemiological data of SARS-CoV-2, clinical parameters of COVID-19, data on variants, and data transparency. Results The thematic analysis identified WW dashboard elements that can facilitate standardization, or at least interoperability. These elements emphasise communication among developers under the same organization, open access for identified stakeholders, and data summarized with a time-intensive graphic analysis through normalizing at least by population. Simultaneous communication of clinical surveillance is recommended. More research is needed on flow and faecal indicators for normalization of WW data, and on the analysis and representation of variants. Discussion WW dashboard development between 2020-2023 provided a ‘real-time’ iterative process of data representation, and several recommendations have been identified. Communication of data through dashboards has the potential to support early warning systems for infectious diseases.

Closing the implementation gap in urban climate policy: Mexico’s public transit buildup

ABSTRACT This paper examines the political conditions conductive to closing the structural implementation gap in urban climate policy, conceptualized as a policy adoption gap and a policy outcome gap. I argue that closing an adoption gap starts with an interaction between subnational policy experimentation and national policy learning, while closing an outcome gap hinges upon effective guardrail institutions guiding political decision-making. To substantiate this argument, I draw on evidence from Mexico’s public transit buildup (2009–2016). I show how the development of bus rapid transit systems in eight cities was driven by a fiscal support policy and enabled by three guardrail institutions: a capable implementing organization, a process for disciplining public authority, and a mechanism for redistributing public outlays. These findings underscore the importance and limits of bottom-up policy change in enabling urban transformations. They suggest that effective urban climate governance relies on institutions that discipline rather than empower urban political actors.

Sustainable Urban Renewal: Planning Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in Riyadh

Rapid urbanization and car dependency have transformed Riyadh into a sprawling metropolis, straining mobility, sustainability, and land use efficiency. Investments in metro and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems present an opportunity to shift toward transit-oriented development (TOD), making strategic urban planning essential. This study assesses Riyadh’s TOD potential by analyzing its urban structure, transport accessibility, and regulatory framework while drawing lessons from successful global models. This study applies GIS-based spatial analysis, policy review, and AI-driven clustering techniques (e.g., DBSCAN, K-Means) to evaluate TOD readiness and inform actionable strategies for Riyadh. The findings indicate that transit investments alone are insufficient due to gaps in zoning policies, pedestrian connectivity, and urban density. Enhancing compact, mixed-use developments, improving first- and last-mile accessibility, and leveraging AI-driven planning can reshape the city’s mobility ecosystem and foster sustainable urban growth. Vision 2030 provides a pivotal opportunity to align infrastructure investments with urban planning policies, ensuring Riyadh evolves into a modern, efficient, and transit-friendly city.

High-precision large-aperture single-frame interferometric surface profile measurement method based on deep learning

Abstract Large-aperture optical components are of paramount importance in domains such as integrated circuits, photolithography, aerospace, and inertial confinement fusion. However, measuring their surface profiles relies predominantly on the phase-shifting approach, which involves collecting multiple interferograms and imposes stringent demands on environmental stability. These issues significantly hinder its ability to achieve real-time and dynamic high-precision measurements. Therefore, this study proposes a high-precision large-aperture single-frame interferometric surface profile measurement (LA-SFISPM) method based on deep learning and explores its capability to realize dynamic measurements with high accuracy. The interferogram is matched to the phase by training the data measured using the small aperture. The consistency of the surface features of the small and large apertures is enhanced via contrast learning and feature-distribution alignment. Hence, high-precision phase reconstruction of large-aperture optical components can be achieved without using a phase shifter. The experimental results show that for the tested mirror with Φ = 820 mm, the surface profile obtained from LA-SFISPM is subtracted point-by-point from the ground truth, resulting in a maximum single-point error of 4.56 nm. Meanwhile, the peak-to-valley (PV) value is 0.075 8 λ, and the simple repeatability of root mean square (SR-RMS) value is 0.000 25 λ, which aligns well with the measured results obtained by ZYGO. In particular, a significant reduction in the measurement time (reduced by a factor of 48) is achieved compared with that of the traditional phase-shifting method. Our proposed method provides an efficient, rapid, and accurate method for obtaining the surface profiles of optical components with different diameters without employing a phase-shifting approach, which is highly desired in large-aperture interferometric measurement systems.

Aggregation–diffusion in heterogeneous environments

Aggregation–diffusion equations are foundational tools for modelling biological aggregations. Their principal use is to link the collective movement mechanisms of organisms to their emergent space use patterns in a concrete mathematical way. However, most existing studies do not account for the effect of the underlying environment on organism movement. In reality, the environment is often a key determinant of emergent space use patterns, albeit in combination with collective aspects of motion. This work studies aggregation–diffusion equations in a heterogeneous environment in one spatial dimension. Under certain assumptions, it is possible to find exact analytic expressions for the steady-state solutions when diffusion is quadratic. Minimising the associated energy functional across these solutions provides a rapid way of determining the likely emergent space use pattern, which can be verified via numerical simulations. This energy-minimisation procedure is applied to a simple test case, where the environment consists of a single clump of attractive resources. Here, self-attraction and resource-attraction combine to shape the emergent aggregation. Two counter-intuitive findings emerge from these analytic results: (a) a non-monotonic dependence of clump width on the aggregation width, (b) a positive correlation between self-attraction strength and aggregation width when the resource attraction is strong. These are verified through numerical simulations. Overall, the study shows rigorously how environment and collective behaviour combine to shape organism space use, sometimes in counter-intuitive ways.

New Simple and Fast Digital Screening Method for Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy in Cirrhotic Patients

ABSTRACTCovert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) is a subtle yet significant neurological complication of liver diseases, especially in patients with cirrhosis. Although it lacks overt clinical signs, CHE severely impacts quality of life, increases accident risks, and has serious prognostic implications. It is characterized by neurocognitive symptoms detectable only through specialized neuropsychometric tests. CHE affects 30%–80% of cirrhotic patients and represents the early stage of hepatic encephalopathy, which is a predictor of mortality. Early diagnosis is essential to improve patient outcomes. The Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score (PHES) is the gold standard for diagnosing CHE, but it is time‐consuming and requires specialized training. Other tests, like the Animal Naming Test (ANT), are simpler and more practical for screening minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), though they lack specificity. The Stroop test shows promise as a quicker and reliable diagnostic tool, but still has limitations. Recent innovations include a smartphone‐based self‐screening method developed by Dobbermann et al., combining three digital tests: the Tip Test, Number Connection Test, and Modified Stroop Test. This approach correlates well with PHES, is independent of language skills, and is accessible for a diverse patient population, including those with color vision deficiencies. This tool offers a rapid and reliable way to screen for CHE even in home settings, potentially improving early detection and intervention. In conclusion, CHE is an underrecognized but critical condition that requires greater clinical attention. Current diagnostic tools have limitations, highlighting the need for more effective, practical methods. A multidisciplinary approach involving hepatologists, neurologists, and neuropsychologists is crucial to improve the diagnosis and management of CHE, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes.

Institutional challenges and opportunities for encouraging transit-oriented development with bus rapid transit in Lahore, Pakistan

Institutional challenges and opportunities for encouraging transit-oriented development with bus rapid transit in Lahore, Pakistan

Friction coefficient behaviour between rubber wheel and hydraulic concrete under different contact conditions

Currently, some countries are implementing the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system which combines the efficiency and quality of the Metro system and offers flexibility and low cost of infrastructure. To ensure the safety of users, the study of friction in pneumatic wheels in different environmental contaminants must be prove for these vehicles, since they carry out some fundamental functions like driving transmission, traction and braking. In this study, the behaviour of the coefficient of friction between SBR rubber and hydraulic concrete MR 48 was analysed in different contact conditions. Properties of SBR rubber were obtained with a universal testing machine and a durometer shore A, while the properties of concrete MR 48 were obtained with a compression testing machine. The friction experiments were performed by using the British pendulum method. Micrographs of the rubber surface were obtained by scanning electron microscope. The results showed that high values of coefficient of friction are obtained in dry condition and even higher at high temperature. Contrary, the lowest coefficients of friction were seen in wet condition and with contaminants. However, for the wet condition the coefficient of friction can recover after applying silica sand.

Discovery of Boronic Acids-Based β-Lactamase Inhibitors Through In Situ Click Chemistry.

In this study, we evaluated in situ click chemistry as a platform for discovering boronic acid-based β-lactamase inhibitors (BLIs). Unlike conventional drug discovery approaches requiring multi-step synthesis, protection strategies, and extensive screening, the in situ method can allow for the generation and identification of potent β-lactamase inhibitors in a rapid, economic, and efficient way. Using KPC-2 (class A carbapenemase) and AmpC (class C cephalosporinase) as templates, we demonstrated their ability to catalyse azide-alkyne cycloaddition, facilitating the formation of triazole-based β-lactamase inhibitors. Initial screening of various β-lactamases and boronic warheads identified compound 3 (3-azidomethylphenyl boronic acid) as the most effective scaffold for kinetic target-guided synthesis (KTGS). KTGS experiments with AmpC and KPC-2 yielded triazole inhibitors with Ki values as low as 140 nM (compound 10a, AmpC) and 730 nM (compound 5, KPC-2). Competitive inhibition studies confirmed triazole formation within the active site, while an LC-MS analysis verified that the reversible covalent interaction of boronic acids did not affect detection of the in situ-synthesised product. While KTGS successfully identified potent inhibitors, limitations in amplification coefficients and spatial constraints highlight the need for optimised warhead designs. This study validates KTGS as a promising strategy for BLI discovery and provides insights for further refinement in fighting β-lactamase-mediated antibiotic resistance.

Assessment of commercial vehicle models in the urban public transport of Ghana

Public transportation is vital to the growth and development of a nation. In Ghana, the predominant public transportation modes are taxis and minivans (trotros). These commercial passenger vehicles are registered by Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and categorized based on their cubic capacities (cc)—commercial cars up to 2000 cc as taxis and above 2000 cc as trotros. Categorization based on their model types and quantities is unavailable per authors’ knowledge due to the inability to access such data from the transport sectors. Consequently, a quantitative survey was employed to ascertain the different vehicle models and fuel types as well as the vehicle mileages in the three largest cities in Ghana—Accra, Kumasi and Tamale. In all, a total number of 33 and 19 different taxis and trotro models were respectively attained. Diesel was the dominant fuel type amongst the trotro models whilst gasoline was prevalent in the taxis models. In terms of mileage, taxis recorded the highest number of trips,but the shortest distances per each trip relative to trotro vehicles. Survey results can be used by researchers and transport units to deduce accurate estimates of passenger vehicles’ fuel consumption and emissions in Ghana. Additionally, the results can inform decisions on traffic management and vehicle regulations in the country. The study recommends transport policies to revamp the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and suppress the use of taxis and minibuses to attain sustainability in the sector.

1,2-Dichloroethane as a Gaseous Acetylene Source for the Rapid Assembly of Isoquinolino[1,2-b]quinazolinone Scaffolds.

Reported herein is a novel ruthenium(II)-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of quinazolinones with 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE), resulting in a myriad of isoquinolino[1,2-b]quinazolinone scaffolds. In this protocol, DCE serves not only as a solvent but also as an acetylene source. The fused quinazolinones undergo versatile transformations and provide a rapid and convenient way to access several important bioactive molecule analogues such as Rutecarpine, Euxylophoricine B and Euxylophoricine E. The potential reaction pathway was elucidated through detailed mechanistic studies and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations.

Identifying Factors Influencing Urban Bus Drivers’ Distraction: A Qualitative Study in Tehran, Iran

Introduction: Despite advancements in road safety and vehicle design, road accidents remain prevalent, a quarter of which are caused by driver distraction. This issue is particularly critical in the public transport sector, especially among urban bus drivers, as distraction can lead to serious injuries and fatalities. Accordingly, this study explored the factors influencing distraction among urban bus drivers through a qualitative approach and a macroergonomics perspective. Material and Methods: In this study conducted in 2024 in Tehran, 18 urban bus drivers were selected through cluster sampling. The participants included 10 drivers from bus rapid transit (BRT) system and 8 drivers from non-BRT services. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the drivers as well as on-site observations. Subsequently, a directed qualitative content analysis approach, based on the balance theory model, was used to analyze the collected data. Results: The findings revealed that the primary sources of distraction belonged to six levels of the work system, the most cited of which were environment, tasks, and organization. Specifically, inappropriate behavior of other street users as an environmental factor and the driver’s interactions with passengers as task-related factors were identified as key sources. Additionally, organizational factors such as interactions with supervisors and colleagues, as well as salary issues, were significantly important. The participants very limitedly expressed using mobile phone while driving as a main distractor to their driving. Conclusion: The current study identified various influential factors, spanning different levels of the work system, affecting bus drivers’ distraction, including generic factors that impact all urban drivers and specific factors that uniquely affect bus drivers. Addressing these factors through providing appropriate education for both passengers and street users along with implementing management strategies in the organization to enhance intra-organizational relationships and organizational support can lead to the safety of the bus drivers.

Effects of Different PCR Product Purification Methods on DNA Sequencing

Direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products without cloning is a rapid and efficient way of sequence analysis. Prior to direct sequencing, it is necessary to purify the PCR products from excess primers, nucleotides and enzymes that could interfere with the sequencing reaction. There are several PCR product purification methods such as spin column-based purification, enzymatic purification, ethanol precipitation and gel extraction. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the efficiency of ethanol-ammonium acetate (EtOH-NH4Ac) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation methods for purification of PCR products prior to the dye terminator cycle sequencing. A 741 bp region of the Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 4 gene was amplified from bovine genomic DNA using PCR. After analyzing the PCR product using agarose gel electrophoresis, it was purified with one of the following methods: a) PEG precipitation, b) EtOH-NH4Ac precipitation and c) ExoSAP-IT PCR product cleanup reagent. ExoSAP-IT reagent was used as a standard PCR product cleanup protocol. Sanger sequencing of PCR samples purified with different purification methods was performed on a Beckman Coulter CEQ8800 Genetic Analysis System. The sequence data were analyzed using Sequencing Analysis software implemented within the system. The quality check and alignment of sequences were performed using BioEdit software. The sequencing results of PCR products purified with different purification methods were compared with each other. It was found that PCR products purified with both purification methods provided good-quality sequencing templates like that of purified with ExoSAP-IT reagent.

Extracting specimen label data rapidly with a smartphone-a great help for simple digitization in taxonomy and collection management.

We provide short tutorials in how to read out specimen label data from type- as well as handwritten labels in a rapid and easy way with a mobile phone. We apply them in general, but test them in particular for insect specimen labels, which are generally quite small. We provide alterative procedure instructions for Android and Apple based environments, as well as protocols for single and bulk scans. We expect that this way of data capture will be of great help for a simple digitization in taxonomy and collection management, independent from large industrial digitization pipelines. By omitting the step of taking/maintaining images of the labels, this approach is more rapid, cheaper, and environmentally more sustainable because no storage with carbon footprint is required for label images. We see the biggest advantage of this protocol in the use of readily available commercial devices, which are easy to handle, as they are used on a daily basis and can be replaced at relatively low cost when they come into (informatic) age, which is also a matter of cyber security.

The speed breeding technology of five generations per year in cotton.

Developed a speed breeding technique for cotton that enables up to five generations per year using optimized spectral conditions and immature embryo culture, and created new materials with iaaM gene. Shortening the breeding cycle is an effective way to accelerate crop genetic improvement. Previously we developed an integrated breeding technology for cotton that enabled three to four breeding cycles per year. Here, to further shorten the breeding time, we optimized the light spectrum conditions for cotton development and culture conditions for immature embryo developing into seedling. Under optimized spectrum conditions, JSh929 and ND601 plants exhibited the visible flower buds at 19 and 21days after emergence (DAE), and the first flower bloomed at around 45 and 46 DAE. Using the optimized immature embryo culture technique, immature embryos of 25-30days after pollination could develop into fertile plants with cotyledon unfolding at 6 days after culture in vitro. The improved speed breeding technique shortened cotton breeding cycle from about 130days to a range from 71 to 85days, an average of 79.5days, achieving up to around five generations per year. Using this optimized system, we transferred iaaM gene into the high-yield and disease-resistant cultivar JND24, and BC4F3 progenies were obtained within 1.5years. In addition, the JND24-i3 line was selected with increased lint percentage and improved Micronaire value. These results demonstrate that the optimized speed breeding system offers a rapid and effective way to improve traits of cotton.

Electrode Modification in Viral Biosensors: A Review.

Infectious diseases are extremely common worldwide. Among them, viral infections are important because of their high transmissibility and rapid replication. Recently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of emerging viral diseases, timely diagnosis of viral infections has become very important. In addition to reducing clinical complications and preventing the spread of the disease, timely diagnosis of viral diseases also reduces the socio-economic consequences of the disease. Therefore, there is a remarkable demand to identify viruses in a rapid, accurate, and selective way. The development of highly sensitive, selective, and accessible biosensors based on nanoparticles and nanotubes for pathogenic virus detection has been a significant progress. Biosensors can be modified with various materials to enhance their electrochemical performance. Precious metals, such as gold, silver, and platinum, are commonly employed due to their ability to significantly increase the electrochemical current intensity. Additionally, other materials, including copper, carbon nanotubes, iron, and thiols, have been successfully utilized as modifying agents to improve biosensor sensitivity and selectivity. The aim of this review article is to analyse the prominent compounds that are widely used in the biosensor method to detect viruses and also to highlight their significance in improving electrode performance.

Development of a Southeast Asian version of the "Sniffin Sticks" odor identification test.

The odor identification test is an efficient and rapid way to assess and screen a patient's sense of smell. The original Sniffin' Sticks odor identification test (SST) consisted of 16 smells developed for a European population. However, this identification test can be influenced by cultural differences, such as variations in food culture, ethnicity and language. We propose developing a test that uses odors more familiar and specific to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) population. The study involved four stages: (1) A familiarity questionnaire to select odors, (2) Testing of selected odors on healthy participants from different regions, (3) Application of the developed test on healthy subjects and those with smell disorders, and (4) Test-retest reliability assessment. A total of 466 participants aged 16 to 87 years were involved across all stages. The final ASEAN Sniffin' Sticks odor identification test (ASST) was conducted on 106 healthy subjects (HS) and 68 subjects with smell disorders, including 29 with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 39 with sinonasal diseases (Ear, Nose, and Throat [ENT]). Mean scores of 15.75 ± 0.62 were found in the HS group, 9.07 ± 3.67 in the PD group, and 10.90 ± 4.87 in the ENT group, out of a total possible score of 16. The 10th percentile value (score of 15) in HS aged 17-35 was used as cutoff between normal olfaction from those with a smell disorder. There were significant differences between the HS group and both the PD and ENT groups (p < 0.001), but no significant difference was found between the PD and ENT groups (p = 0.068). The ASST demonstrated high test-retest reliability, with a correlation (r) = 0.92 (p < 0.001). The ASST provides a reliable tool for evaluating olfactory function and detecting olfactory loss associated with various conditions in the ASEAN region.