Robust Transport Research Articles

Thermally tunable add-drop filter based on valley photonic crystals for optical communications

Abstract Valley photonic crystals (VPCs) provide an intriguing approach to suppress backscattering losses and enable robust transport of light against sharp bends, which could be utilized to realize low-loss and small-footprint devices for on-chip optical communications. However, there are few studies on how to achieve power-efficient tunable devices based on VPCs, which are essential for implementing basic functions such as optical switching and routing. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a thermally tunable add-drop filter (ADF) based on VPCs operating at telecommunication wavelengths. By leveraging the topological protection of the edge state and the distinct property of negligible scattering at sharp bends, a small footprint of 17.4 × 28.2 μm2 and a low insertion loss of 2.7 dB can be achieved for the proposed device. A diamond-shaped microloop resonator is designed to confine the light and enhance its interaction with the thermal field generated by the microheater, leading to a relatively low power of 23.97 mW needed for switching the output signal from one port to the other. Based on the thermally tunable ADF under the protection of band topology, robust data transmission is implemented with an ultrahigh data rate of 132 Gb/s. Our work shows great potential for developing high-performance topological photonic devices with the thermally tunable silicon-based VPCs, which offers unprecedented opportunities for realizing topologically protected and reconfigurable high-speed datalinks on a chip.

Synergistic Anion and Solvent-Derived Interphases Enable Lithium-Ion Batteries under Extreme Conditions.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) face increasingly stringent demands as their application expands into new areas, including extreme temperatures and fast charging. To meet these demands, the electrolyte should enable fast lithium-ion transport and form stable interphases on electrodes simultaneously. In practice, however, improving one aspect often compromises another. For instance, the trend toward electrolytes forming anion-derived interphases typically reduces transport efficiency due to weak-solvating solvents. We propose that instead of relying on anions to form the interphase, leveraging both solvents and anions to form interphases can potentially lead to a balancing point between robust interphase formation and effective ion transport. Guided by this design principle, 2,2-difluoroethyl ethyl carbonate (DFDEC) was identified as the promising solvent. With the new electrolyte using DFDEC as the major solvent and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl) imide (LiFSI) as the salt, graphite||LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) full cells are capable of fast charging and demonstrate long-term cycling stability with a cutoff voltage of 4.5 V. Notably, the battery shows a capacity retention of 84.3% after 500 cycles with an average Coulombic efficiency (CE) as high as 99.93%. This new electrolyte also enables stable battery cycling across a wide temperature range (-20 to 60 °C), with excellent capacity retention.

Structural basis for hepatitis B virus restriction by a viral receptor homologue

Macaque restricts hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection because its receptor homologue, NTCP (mNTCP), cannot bind preS1 on viral surface. To reveal how mNTCP loses the viral receptor function, we here solve the cryo-electron microscopy structure of mNTCP. Superposing on the human NTCP (hNTCP)-preS1 complex structure shows that Arg158 of mNTCP causes steric clash to prevent preS1 from embedding onto the bile acid tunnel of NTCP. Cell-based mutation analysis confirms that only Gly158 permitted preS1 binding, in contrast to robust bile acid transport among mutations. As the second determinant, Asn86 on the extracellular surface of mNTCP shows less capacity to restrain preS1 from dynamic fluctuation than Lys86 of hNTCP, resulting in unstable preS1 binding. Additionally, presence of long-chain conjugated-bile acids in the tunnel induces steric hindrance with preS1 through their tailed-chain. This study presents structural basis in which multiple sites in mNTCP constitute a molecular barrier to strictly restrict HBV.

Enantiospecific profiling of D-amino acid for gastric cancer diagnosis by using a biocatalytic MHOF nanoreactor

The dynamic variation of D-amino acids (D-AAs) in human saliva has great potential as the indicator for individual physiological states and disease progression; however, enantiospecific profiling of D-AAs is a great challenge. In this work, a nanoreactor based on mesoporous hydrogen-bonded organic framework (MHOF) has been fabricated for the enantiospecific profiling of D-AAs. The nanoreactor is prepared by using MHOFs as the scaffold to organize the biocatalytic cascade of D-AA oxidase (DAAO) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). In the meanwhile, the large, stable, and robust transport channels of MHOFs allow the unimpeded transport of the involved biocatalytic substrates. Once D-AA substrates efficiently transport into MHOFs, the chromogenic reactions of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H2O2 can be activated. So, using this MHOF nanoreactor, enantiospecific and visual detection of D-AAs can be achieved. Moreover, the stable nanoreactor can be operated in complex solution and utilized for the profiling of D-AA levels in saliva samples collected from gastric cancer patients, suggesting that D-AAs may be a powerful fingerprint for the diagnosis of gastric cancer. Therefore, the fabricated MHOF-based nanoreactor may provide an emerging tool for the enantiospecific profiling of D-AAs and supports the D-AA fingerprint as the indicator of gastric cancer diagnosis.

Robust Edge Flows in Swarming Bacterial Colonies

Understanding if and how the chirality of biomolecules is transferred across scales into larger components and active processes remains elusive. For instance, flagellated bacteria swim in helical trajectories but chirality seems absent from the active turbulence dynamics they display in dense suspensions. We address this question by examining multiscale dynamics in colonies. We find active turbulence without manifest chirality in the bulk, but wide, clockwise (viewed from the air side) circulation all along the tortuous centimeter-scale external boundary, while similar but counterclockwise flows follow internal boundaries. We trace the origin of these robust edge flows to an unexpected asymmetry at the individual level that is amplified by local interactions. We rationalize our findings with a model of noisy self-propelled particles immersed in a Stokes fluid that accounts faithfully for our observations. Our modeling and experimental efforts reveal that local nematic alignment and hydrodynamic interactions amplify the weak chiral bias in individual motion, promoting the formation of strong edge flows. The likely topological protection of these flows provides robust transport mechanism over large scales. Such robust boundary phenomena in weakly chiral active fluids may inspire new control strategies for active and biological matter. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Topological valley waveguide state transport based on the nesting difference

Acoustic topological waveguide states are characterized by topologically protected transport. Existing acoustic topological valley-locked waveguide state transport structures can only realize single-scene acoustic field modulation due to the limitation of structural tunability, and it is difficult to realize width degree of freedom and reconfigurable transport paths of acoustic waves by adjusting the transport structure for complex acoustic field. Therefore, the transport structures become a conceptualized idea in terms of tunability. Our study introduces a nesting method in the design of the sonic crystal scatterer, which splits the scatterer structure into a removable outer shell and a core, and three topological phase transitions can be realized by only changing the nesting method of the sonic crystal shell, this approach constructs a fully reconfigurable topological waveguide. The results demonstrate that changing the nesting of the sonic crystals induces effective spatial inversion symmetry breaking, which leads to the valley topological phase transitionSimulations and experiments demonstrate that this transport structure has excellent robust transport properties with large inflection corners, and it is capable of realizing acoustic focusing, acoustic channeling, and acoustic logic gates. This fully reconfigurable sonic crystal design method can provide implications for the modulation of other classical waves.

Chiral edge states and direct edge-to-edge transport in a bosonic magnetic ladder

Abstract Three-legged magnetic ladder reproduces the main features of two-dimensional Hofstadter butterfly spectrum and the related Chern insulating phases with typical topological edge states, providing new opportunity to study novel quantum states and chiral physics. Here, we propose an efficient scheme to detect various edge states and realize edge-to-edge transport in a three-legged bosonic magnetic ladder. Under the mean field approximation, the eigenstates, chiral edge-state dynamics, and edge-to-edge transport in the system are studied. The energy spectrum and the eigenstates of the system are presented, and both bulk and edge states are obtained, depending on the energy spectrum of the system. The existence of rich edge states (including symmetric and unsymmetric edge states) provides the evidence for realizing the topological transport in the system. Furthermore, chiral edge-state dynamics is excited by applying a weak linear external force, reproducing the underlying eigenstates dynamically, offering a robust way to detect the edge states of the system. Particularly, direct edge-to-edge transport is observed which can be identified by the observables (spin polarization, spin tensor, and chiral currents). The reversal of chiral currents induces the edge-to-edge transport. The edge-to-edge transport time can be manipulated by adjusting the external force and magnetic field. We provide a robust and efficient atomic transport scheme with potential applications in manipulating topological quantum transport and storing quantum states in the ultracold atomic system.

Facile Synthesis of Monoclinic (NH4)2V4O9 Nanosheets for Zinc-Ion Batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are increasingly popular due to their low cost and high safety. However, the quest for cathode materials with robust internal structures and efficient ion transport pathways remains critical. In this study, we introduce a simple hydrothermal method to synthesize monoclinic (NH4)2V4O9 nanosheets, serving as a advanced cathode for ZIBs. This material demonstrates outstanding electrochemical properties, with a high specific capacity of 389 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, and retains 78.9% capacity after 3000 cycles at 1 A g−1 and 77.3% after 15000 cycles at 5 A g−1. Additionally, it achieves an energy density of 325 Wh kg−1 at 101 W kg−1. In-depth electrochemical analysis reveals the structural stability during reversible Zn2+ ion intercalation/de-intercalation, underscoring the potential of (NH4)2V4O9 as a high-performance material for ZIBs.

Realization of Time-Reversal Invariant Photonic Topological Anderson Insulators.

Disorder, which is ubiquitous in nature, has been extensively explored in photonics for understanding the fundamental principles of light diffusion and localization, as well as for applications in functional resonators and random lasers. Recently, the investigation of disorder in topological photonics has led to the realization of topological Anderson insulators characterized by an unexpected disorder-induced phase transition. However, the observed photonic topological Anderson insulators so far are limited to the time-reversal symmetry breaking systems. Here, we propose and realize a photonic quantum spin Hall topological Anderson insulator without breaking time-reversal symmetry. The disorder-induced topological phase transition is comprehensively confirmed through the theoretical effective Dirac Hamiltonian, numerical analysis of bulk transmission, and experimental examination of bulk and edge transmissions. We present convincing evidence for the unidirectional propagation and robust transport of helical edge modes, which are the key features of nontrivial time-reversal invariant topological Anderson insulators. Furthermore, we demonstrate disorder-induced beam steering, highlighting the potential of disorder as a new degree of freedom to manipulate light propagation in magnetic-free systems. Our work not only paves the way for observing unique topological photonic phases but also suggests potential device applications through the utilization of disorder.

Hierarchical bound states in heat transport

Higher-order topological phases in non-Hermitian photonics revolutionize the understanding of wave propagation and modulation, which lead to hierarchical states in open systems. However, intrinsic insulating properties endorsed by the lattice symmetry of photonic crystals fundamentally confine the robust transport only at explicit system boundaries, letting alone the flexible reconfiguration in hierarchical states at arbitrary positions. Here, we report a dynamic topological platform for creating the reconfigurable hierarchical bound states in heat transport systems and observe the robust and nonlocalized higher-order states in both the real- and imaginary-valued bands. Our experiments showcase that the hierarchical features of zero-dimension corner and nontrivial edge modes occur at tailored positions within the system bulk states instead of the explicit system boundaries. Our findings uncover the mechanism of non-localized hierarchical non-trivial topological states and offer distinct paradigms for diffusive transport field management.

Effects of Transport Infrastructure Development on the Socioeconomic Wellbeing of Baro Residents: A Study of Baro Inland Port in Niger State

The development of Baro inland port is heavily reliant on the availability of robust transport infrastructure and accessibility, which is crucial for enhancing the socioeconomic wellbeing of Baro residents. This study investigates the effects of transport infrastructure development on the socioeconomic wellbeing of Baro residents. Primary data were collected through a questionnaire survey, with 394 questionnaires administered randomly to Baro residents. A total of 350 completed questionnaires were returned and analyzed using descriptive statistics (simple percentage) and chi-squared analysis. The findings reveal that transport infrastructure development has a significant positive impact on socioeconomic wellbeing, leading to improved access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. To build on this, prioritization of access road and rail network construction and rehabilitation is recommended to facilitate efficient passenger and goods movement. Furthermore, the involvement of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) is suggested by this study to address the challenges facing Baro inland port and enhance the flow of passengers and goods.

Biomass Derived Self-Doped Carbon Nanosheets Enable Robust Hole Transport Layers with Ion Buffer for Perovskite Solar Cells.

The diffusion of iodine species and lead leakage during device degradation represent the main obstacles restricting the commercial application of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Cobalt loaded ultrathin carbon nanosheets (Co(III)-CNS) derived from biomass are prepared as ion buffer material to construct robust hole transport layers (HTLs). The carbon nanosheets containing trivalent cobalt ions can facilitate the oxidation of the hole transport material while preserving the structural integrity and electrical properties of HTLs under thermal stress, thereby ensuring efficient carrier transport. The two-dimensional ultrathin graphitized lamellar structure of Co(III)-CNS is conducive to alleviate the corrosive effects of the outward diffusion of iodine species on HTLs and silver electrodes, while avoiding irreversible degradation of PSCs. With the improvement of HTL composition and the related interfaces, Co(III)-CNS doped devices can maintain intact device structure under thermal stress and remain above 80% of the original power conversion efficiency (PCE) after thermal aging at 85 oC for 720 h. Notably, the chemical interactions between heteroatoms of self-doped carbon nanosheets and the mobile lead ions can effectively alleviate lead leakage and avoid the potential impacts of device degradation on ecosystem. Ultimately, the Co(III)-CNS doped PSCs with enhanced thermal stability exhibit a champion PCE of 22.32%.

Topological pumping in an inhomogeneous Aubry-André model

The Aubry-André model is a fundamental theoretical model that exhibits interesting topological features. In this paper, we examine topologically protected boundary states in the inhomogeneous off-diagonal Aubry-André model. In contrast to the homogeneous case, the inhomogeneity triggers boundary states at phase boundaries that separate two distinct non-trivial topological domains. Remarkably, the topological character of the boundary states is predicted through topological pumping, where a boundary state is transferred from one boundary across the bulk region to the other by adiabatically tuning the pump parameter. Moreover, the role of the off-diagonal modulation strength (λ) on the transfer efficiency of the topological pumping is addressed. To support our results, we investigate the time evolution of a continuous-time quantum walk and show that its spread rate and λ are inversely related. Our work provides a new avenue to harness topological features of the Aubry-André model, where topological pumping can be used for robust quantum transport.

Assembled Wood-Polyester Fabric-Hydrogel Janus Evaporator for Sustainable Seawater Desalination.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology is a novel and efficient desalination process that helps alleviate the global shortage of freshwater resources. We developed a Janus evaporator assembled from cotton hydrogel, hydrophilic polyester fabric (PF), and Hydrophobic Wood (PW). By doping graphene oxide and TiO2 as light-absorbing materials within the hydrogel, we achieved a high absorptivity of over 90% across the entire solar spectrum. The hydrophilically modified PF, combined with the PW substrate, provided robust water transport and reduced thermal losses. Subsequent optical path simulations using TracePro74 software verified that the sawtooth light-trapping design of the wood substrate increased multiple light reflections and absorption (compared to a flat structure), enhancing light absorption capabilities. The sawtooth interface also enlarged the evaporation area, further boosting evaporation performance. The cleverly designed evaporator exhibited an evaporation rate of 1.722 kg m-2 h-1 and an efficiency of 83.1% under 1 sun irradiation. Additionally, after applying polydimethylsiloxane to the single surface of the photothermal hydrogel for low surface energy treatment, the resulting Janus structure demonstrated asymmetric wettability that prevented salt ions from accumulating on the irradiated interface. After 8 h of continuous evaporation in saline water (10 wt %), only slight salt crystallization occurred at the edges. The evaporator maintained long-term stability during a 15 day cyclic test, and the produced freshwater fully met the relevant drinking water standards. The components of the evaporator are characterized by simple fabrication, low cost, and eco-friendliness, offering significant application potential in the global context of energy conservation and emission reduction initiatives.

Reconfigurable acoustic topological valley-locked waveguide states transport based on nestable sonic crystals

Topological waveguide states in condensed matter physics systems show significant potential for applications, such as high-capacity information communication and energy regulation of complex physical fields owing to the phenomenon of large-area wave transport. The lack of tunability design for sonic crystals makes it difficult to change the structure and function of existing topological waveguide states transport structures after sample fabrication, especially in terms of the freedom of width and tunability on the transport path, and thus hinders further engineering applications of topological waveguide states. To address these challenges, the design method based on nested difference theory to achieve topological phase transitions in sonic crystals is proposed, which in turn leads to the construction of fully reconfigurable acoustic topological waveguide states and explores their potential applications. Firstly, a reconfigurable nested scatterer structure is designed, which is split into a snowflake-like core and an outer shell. This scatterer is demonstrated to be able to break the spatial inversion symmetry and realize the transition of sonic crystals between three valley topological phases by only changing the nesting mode of the nested outer shell. Based on reconfigurable sonic crystals, the fully reconfigurable acoustic topological valley-locked waveguide states are constructed. Simulations and experiments further confirm that such waveguides are characterized by high-capacity transport, acoustic focusing, and robust transport over large inflection corners. In addition, we explore the potential applications of reconfigurable waveguides for acoustic channels and acoustic logic gates. The precise distribution of the waveguide states energy is achieved in the acoustic channel by adjusting the rotation angle of the channel. Moreover, the logical computational relationships of the transport structure of the topological waveguide states are determined using different acoustic excitation modes. The excellent transport properties generated by fully reconfigurable acoustic topological waveguide states will have potential applications in both field enhancement and energy harvesting. This provides the possibility for the development of novel acoustic devices capable of modulating waves in complex physical scenarios.

Topology-optimized photonic topological crystalline insulators with multiband helical edge states

Abstract Photonic topological crystalline insulators (PTCIs) with helical edge states provide an alternative way to achieve robust electromagnetic wave transport and processing. However, most existing PTCIs only involve a single topological bandgap, and generally support a pair of gapped helical edge states, restricting the scope of applications in various fields such as multiband waveguides, filters, and communication systems. Here, we design dual-band PTCIs, in which multiple helical edge modes appear within two distinct bulk gaps, for transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes, respectively, by introducing the topology optimization method into the photonic crystals with glide symmetry. For PTCIs with TE modes, the mismatched frequency ranges of edge modes hosted by two orthometric boundaries offer an opportunity to realize a photonic demultiplexer. For PTCIs with TM modes, we show the enhanced second harmonic (SH) generation through the coupling of multiband edge modes by matching the frequency ranges of edge modes within the first and second bandgaps to fundamental and SH waves, respectively. This work provides a new way for designing multiband PTCIs with helical edge states, having promising potentials in developing multiband topological photonic devices for both linear and nonlinear applications.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Full-Stack Codesign for Robust and Secure AI-Enabled Autonomous Transportation Systems

Introduction to the Special Issue on Full-Stack Codesign for Robust and Secure AI-Enabled Autonomous Transportation Systems

Robust and Efficient Out-of-Plane Exciton Transport in Two-Dimensional Perovskites via Ultrafast Förster Energy Transfer.

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites, comprising inorganic semiconductor layers separated by organic spacers, hold promise for light harvesting and optoelectronic applications. Exciton transport in these materials is pivotal for device performance, often necessitating deliberate alignment of the inorganic layers with respect to the contacting layers to facilitate exciton transport. While much attention has focused on in-plane exciton transport, little has been paid to out-of-plane interlayer transport, which presumably is sluggish and unfavorable. Herein, by time-resolved photoluminescence, we unveil surprisingly efficient out-of-plane exciton transport in 2D perovskites, with diffusion coefficients (up to ∼0.1 cm2 s-1) and lengths (∼100 nm) merely a few times smaller or comparable to their in-plane counterparts. We unambiguously confirm that the out-of-plane exciton diffusion coefficient corresponds to a subpicosecond interlayer exciton transfer, governed by the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) mechanism. Intriguingly, in contrast to temperature-sensitive intralayer band-like transport, the interlayer exciton transport exhibits negligible temperature dependence, implying a lowest-lying bright exciton state in 2D perovskites, irrespective of spacer molecules. The robust and ultrafast interlayer exciton transport alleviates the constraints on crystal orientation that are crucial for the design of 2D perovskite-based light harvesting and optoelectronic devices.

Proxy Tracing: Unbiased Reciprocal Estimation for Optimized Sampling in BDPT

Robust light transport algorithms, particularly bidirectional path tracing (BDPT), face significant challenges when dealing with specular or highly glossy involved paths. BDPT constructs the full path by connecting sub-paths traced individually from the light source and camera. However, it remains difficult to sample by connecting vertices on specular and glossy surfaces with narrow-lobed BSDF, as it poses severe constraints on sampling in the feasible direction. To address this issue, we propose a novel approach, called proxy sampling , that enables efficient sub-path connection of these challenging paths. When a low-contribution specular/glossy connection occurs, we drop out the problematic neighboring vertex next to this specular/glossy vertex from the original path, then retrace an alternative sub-path as a proxy to complement this incomplete path. This newly constructed complete path ensures that the connection adheres to the constraint of the narrow lobe within the BSDF of the specular/glossy surface. Unbiased reciprocal estimation is the key to our method to obtain a probability density function (PDF) reciprocal to ensure unbiased rendering. We derive the reciprocal estimation method and provide an efficiency-optimized setting for efficient sampling and connection. Our method provides a robust tool for substituting problematic paths with favorable alternatives while ensuring unbiasedness. We validate this approach in the probabilistic connections BDPT for addressing specular-involved difficult paths. Experimental results have proved the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach, showcasing high-performance rendering capabilities across diverse settings.

Awareness, perceptions and challenges among public transport operators during the implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures in eastern Uganda: a qualitative study

BackgroundPublic transportation plays a major role in the transmission of SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, due to the confined spaces in vehicles. It is therefore very crucial to apply COVID-19 prevention measures in public transportation to reduce risk of COVID-19 transmission. The implementation of these measures depends largely on the public transportation users. We explored the awareness, perceptions and challenges among public transport operators during the implementation of COVID-19 preventive measures in Eastern Uganda.MethodsThis qualitative study was done in Eastern Uganda in January and February 2021. We conducted four focus group discussions, six in-depth interviews and three key informant interviews to document the awareness, perceptions and challenges faced by public transport operators including 10 boda boda riders, 19 taxi operators and 11 truck (cargo) transporters. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with the help of NVIVO software version 12 plus using a thematic framework approach.ResultsWe relied on the health belief model to report on four broad themes including: Perceived threat, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and cues to action.Perceived threatParticipants were aware of the gravity / seriousness of COVID-19. They were aware that it is an unusual flu whose symptoms are severe and clearly distinguishable from the common flu. They also knew that COVID-19 is easily and quickly transmitted. However they were not aware of the cause of COVID-19. Perceived benefits: the participants perceived a number covid 19 preventive measures as beneficial in preventing COVID-19. These included: COVID 19 vaccination, observing hand hygiene, avoiding touching the ‘soft parts’ (eyes, nose and mouth), quarantining in a hospital setting, wearing a face mask, social distancing,. Perceived barriers: participants reported barriers to implementing COVID 19 preventive measures included Misconceptions about COVID 19, scepticism about COVID-19 vaccination, not breathing well or respiratory problems hinders use of face masks, fear of covid 19 transmission during home isolation, design of the vehicles do not favour social distancing, passengers unwilling to pay the fare, natural reflexes come in the way of not touching soft parts, financial constraints, hostility from passengers due to increased transport fares, law enforcement officials prioritizing the driving permit over implementation of the measures, hostility from law enforcement officials, religious beliefs against the use of alcohol, competing for passengers among public transporters.Cues to action includedMass sensitization by the Ugandan government through the ministry of health with the help of media platforms like television.Conclusions and recommendationOur study brings to light the likely barriers that impede the use of preventive measures in public transportation use during an epidemic / pandemic like COVID-19 which could potentially escalate transmission. During cues to action like sensitization through media, focus should be put to the demystification of myths on COVID-19, highlighting on benefits of using preventive measures and risk of disease. Public transport passengers should be sensitized on risk of COVID-19 transmission during public transportation use and on the importance of complying with COVID-19 preventive measures. We recommend further exploration on the challenges faced by the public transportation passengers in implementing preventive measures in the event of an epidemic like COVID-19. Future research is required to establish a more robust transport model in crisis situations such as a pandemic. In addition, there is need for integration between the public health and public transportation sectors to foster epidemic preparedness for future crises in the context of public transportation.