Sorting Areas Research Articles

Integrated Optimization Model of Lane Function and Signal Control for Tandem Intersections

This paper presents an integrated optimal controller for the tandem intersection with lane function design and signal control, aiming to improve intersection efficiency and service reliability with a multi-objective formulation. The tandem intersection is a type of unconventional intersection that can re-organize the vehicles at entrance lanes with sorting areas, and improve intersection capacity through the coordination of pre-signals and main signals. However, most existing studies related to tandem intersection control assume that the lane functions in the sorting areas for both the through and left-turn movements are the same, and the traffic demand remains static. To fill these gaps, this paper first identifies six different tandem control modes based on the different lane functions and phase sequence schemes in the sorting area, and the corresponding delay models for each mode are derived. Furthermore, an integrated optimization model is developed to minimize the mean and semistandard deviation of the intersection delay, and the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II is used to obtain the optimal solution. A case study is conducted in a real-world intersection in Melbourne, Australia, under various traffic conditions. The results show that the proposed method can decrease average delay and queue length by 19.61% and 20.94%, respectively, compared with conventional intersection design.

Culturable Bioaerosols Assessment in a Waste-Sorting Plant and UV-C Decontamination

Waste-Sorting Plant (WSP) workers are exposed to bioaerosols containing a large variety of bacterial and fungal species, posing a critical health risk that needs to be assessed and mitigated. The present study aimed to evaluate the indoor air quality in a Portuguese WSP and the air decontamination efficiency with UV-C. The concentrations of bacteria and fungi and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), CO2, relative humidity, and temperature were determined at different hours in manual sorting areas (cabin and ramp) in autumn and winter in 2022 and in administrative offices and canteen in the autumn of 2023. The PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in the air increased with the daily waste-sorting activities, especially inside the cabin, averaging 22 and 42 μg/m3, respectively, while the CO2 concentration was in the range of 343–578 ppm in both sampling sites. The bacterial species were mainly environmental (mesophilic bacteria) rather than human sources. In the waste-sorting areas, the concentration of bacteria was often found to exceed outdoor values by more than 1000 CFU/m3 on average. Additionally, the concentration of fungi indoors was consistently higher than outdoor values, in many cases exceeding 500 CFU/m3. These findings suggest that workers in these areas are frequently exposed to high levels of microbes. The indoor-to-outdoor (I/O) contamination ratios revealed that the air quality inside the administrative offices and the canteen had high pollutant concentrations during some time periods. The worst scenarios were observed in the canteen and offices with high occupancy in the afternoon. UV-C lamps at 253.7 nm and with 5.0 W irradiation power were used in the sorting cabin to test the indoor air and surface decontamination, and the results showed a high bacterial removal efficacy of over 87.6% after one hour of exposure to UV-C. The present study raises the question of whether 37 °C is the optimal incubation temperature for WSP samples since the microorganisms’ habitat before the sampling had a much lower temperature. As the waste-sorting industry expands, these findings show that the air quality of WSPs remains concerning and requires a holistic approach, integrating the working conditions of all personnel and the implementation and monitoring of mitigation measures.

Microfluidic biochip for target tumor cell and cell-cluster sorting

This study designed an integrated microfluidic biochip to separate target tumor cells and their clusters from whole blood. The first-stage sorting mechanism in the top channels was based on sorted object size by taking advantage of the in-series Deterministic Lateral Displacement (DLD). In the downstream bottom channel, the target tumor cells/cell clusters were trapped and sorted out by the antibody-coating lateral filter at the second stage. In the top-channel DLD cluster-sorting session, U-shaped pillars and two-section continuous sorting areas with different critical diameters could disperse the displacement of target tumor clusters and effectively rotate the non-symmetry tumor clusters to increase their effective size. In the downstream bottom channel, the selective coating on the lateral filter posts was used to coat antibodies exclusively on the side surface of micro-pillars to prevent clogging. The suspension of solid tumors from the 4T1-bearing BALB/c mouse was spiked in the blood from the same mouse to serve as the experimental blood sample. The DLD cluster-sorting session recovered 88.58% of tumor cell clusters with a purity of 92.20%. The lateral filter in the bottom chip captured 89.54% of tumor cells with a purity of 89.44%. This two-stage microfluidic chip developed in this research aims to study CTC clusters in cancer research and clinical applications.

Optical radiation force on a dielectric sphere by a polarized Airy beam.

The optical radiation force acting on a homogeneous and lossless dielectric spherical particle by a polarized Airy beam is analyzed in terms of the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory. The transverse and longitudinal radiation force components are theoretically evaluated and numerically simulated, emphasizing the transverse scale ω0, attenuation parameter γ, and polarization of the incident Airy beam versus the size parameter ka of the sphere. These results reveal that a polarized Airy beam can trap the dielectric sphere in its main caustic or sidelobes of the beam by the optical transverse force and be guided along the parabolic trajectory of the longitudinal optical force. Moreover, γ and ω0 of the Airy beams and ka of the dielectric sphere can affect the amplitude and distribution of the optical force components. This research may be helpful for the development of Airy optical tweezers in applications involving particle manipulation, optical levitation, particle sorting, and other emergent areas.

Anatomical redescription of Cyrenoida floridana (Bivalvia, Cyrenoididae) from the Western Atlantic and its position in the Cyrenoidea

Members of the small bivalve family Cyrenoididae inhabit brackish waters of the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean. Cyrenoida floridana (Dall, 1896) from the western Atlantic is poorly known aside from shell descriptions. A detailed shell and anatomical study of C. floridana is here presented and compared with available data for Cyrenidae and Glauconomidae, two families of closest relationship according to recent phylogenetic studies. The species is characterized by valves externally covered by thin light brown periostracum; muscle scars and pallial line (without sinus) weakly impressed on the internal shell surface; a unique hinge pattern composed of cardinal and lateral teeth joining each other, right hinge with two laterals and two cardinals forming two inverted-V-shaped teeth and left hinge with two cardinals and one lateral forming a horizontal reversed F-shaped tooth; and microtubules inside the shell walls. Anatomically, the species presents unequal adductor muscles; demibranchs fused to each other along their posterior ends; a pair of totally fused, pigmented siphons; two pairs of siphonal retractor muscles; and a stomach with conjoined style sac and intestine, a single typhlosole, and three sorting areas. Evidence of shell parasitism is described.

Hygiene behavior assessment of a hazelnut processing plant

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the possible microbiological contamination in terms of total counts and representative microbial groups found in the hazelnuts as well as in work areas and on the working surfaces of a hazelnut processing plant.Design/methodology/approachSome microbiological parameters related to the manufacturing process (e.g. aerobic colony count yeast and fungi) were evaluated. Indoor air samples were tested in order to evaluate the possible contamination of fungal strains (i.e. mycotoxin producing fungi).FindingsThe results showed that the highest values (>of 500 CFU/m3) for bacteria and fungi were only observed in the shelling and sorting areas. Some species such as Aspergillus and Penicillium (potential mycotoxin-producers) as well as some noxious colonies ofAspergillus fumigatuswere detected along the processing line. No occurrence of aflatoxins was observed in the finished product. Microbial loads obtained through surface analyses were in accordance to the reference data.Originality/valueThe aim of this study was to monitor and improve the procedures currently used in a hazelnut processing plant.

GIS-based planning system for managing the flow of construction and demolition waste in Brazil.

The objective of this article was to plan a network for municipal management of construction and demolition waste in Brazil with the assistance of a geographic information system, using the city of Recife as a case study. The methodology was carried out in three stages. The first was to map the illegal construction and demolition of waste disposal points across Recife and classify the waste according to its recyclability. In sequence, a method for indicating suitable areas for installation of voluntary delivery points, for small waste generators, are presented. Finally, a method for indicating suitable areas for the installation of trans-shipment and waste sorting areas, developed for large generators, is presented. The results show that a geographic information system is an essential tool in the planning of municipal construction and demolition waste management, in order to facilitate the spatial analysis and control the generation, sorting, collection, transportation, and final destination of construction and demolition waste, increasing the rate of recovery and recycling of materials.

Analysis of saturation flow rate at tandem intersections using field data

A tandem intersection is an unconventional intersection design that possesses the important property of increasing the traffic capacity using pre-signals and sorting areas. However, the operational efficiency of the lanes in the sorting areas may be affected by driver unfamiliarity and confusion. This study evaluates the effect of the tandem control on the saturation flow rate using field data. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify the difference in the saturation flow rate of the approach lanes when the tandem control was open and closed. A saturation flow rate adjustment model for tandem control was established in accordance with three factors: unequal distribution of traffic, red light violations at the pre-signal, and incomplete discharge of vehicles at the sorting area. The results indicate that the tandem control decreases the saturation flow rate of the approach lanes in the sorting area. Most of the observed reductions are caused by the first factor, i.e. the unequal distribution of traffic. The other two factors, red light violations and incomplete discharge, can be controlled by using appropriate traffic signs, markings, and signal timing design.

Silica exposure in a mining exploration operation

ABSTRACTBackground: Though there is extensive research on occupational exposure in production mines, there is limited information on exposure during the exploration phase of mining.Methods: Air samples were collected in a core processing facility in Northern Ontario, Canada. All samples were analyzed for respirable dust (NIOSH 0600) and respirable crystalline silica (NIOSH 7602). Mean exposure levels were estimated and differences in exposure between work areas were investigated.Results: Sixteen personal and nine area air samples were collected. Respirable dust exposure ranged from < LOD to 2.24mg-m−3; respirable silica exposure ranged from < LOD to 0.055mg-m−3. Silica concentrations were higher among workers in the core cutting and core sorting (pulp and reject) areas, as compared to those in the core logging area.Conclusions: Workers employed in core processing facilities as part of mining exploration activities are exposed to respirable silica; exposure controls may be needed.

Effect of vibration on the separation efficiency of oil shale in a compound dry separator

Oil shale is a special energy source between coal and petroleum and is a potential alternative energy source. However, during oil shale mining, a large amount of Inorganic mineral impurities is produced. Thus, the grade of the oil shale is reduced, it can be effectively utilized by performing beneficiation through physical sorting to reduce impurities and upgrade the oil content. In this paper, the physical properties of oil shale were analyzed, beneficiation of 50-0 mm oil shale using a compound dry separator was proposed. The effect of vibration on the beneficiation process was emphatically investigated. The law of force between particles in different sorting areas and the effects of amplitude, frequency and angle of vibration on the energy law of different sorting area are systematically analyzed, The optimum operation parameters were obtained, and the sorting test was carried out. The results showed that when the force uniformity between the concentrate area and the tailings area is the best and the fluctuation range is minimum and the peak force of the particles corresponding to the concentrate area and the tailings area is 8.24 mN, 10.57 mN, 12.34 mN, 8.13 mN under the amplitude is 3.8–4.0 mm, frequency is 38-39hz. When frequency is 38 hz, Amplitude is 3.9 mm, the vibration acceleration of the concentrate area and tailings area are 24.78 m/s2, 17.89 m/s2, and the concentrate area was the main separation area, and the tailings area was mainly used to transport and discharge gangue. The separation tests were carried out under the optimum vibration parameters (A = 3.9 mm, f = 38hz, θ = 45°), The yields and oil content of the concentrate are 34.63% and 11.03%, while those of tailings are 65.37% and 1.01%, and the separating accuracy (probable error E) is 0.14 g/cm3, the actual separation density is 2.33 g/cm3. The vibration plays an important role in the compound dry separating oil shale efficiently.

The biology and functional morphology of the high-energy beach dwelling Paphies elongata (Bivalvia: Mactroidea: Mesodesmatidae). Convergence with the surf clams (Donax: Tellinoidea: Donacidae)

ABSTRACTThe biology and functional morphology of the Australian endemic Paphies elongata (shell length <20 mm) from wave-exposed beaches are described. On Middleton Bay Beach, Albany, Western Australia, the species co-occurs with the smaller (shell length <13 mm) Donax columbella. Both make tidally regulated migrations up and down the shore in the swash and backwash of waves, respectively. Emergence from and re-burrowing into the beach sand in concordance with the waves is fast in both taxa (5–10 s). Adaptations to such a life on these high-energy beaches include an anteriorly elongate and posteriorly reduced shell and a mesh of tentacles within the inhalant siphon that screens out sand grains from the mantle cavity but allows entry for particles of detritus that P. elongata suspension feeds on when they are raised into the water column with each breaking wave. Internally, relatively large ctenidia, small labial palps, a stomach with many sorting areas and a short intestine equip P. elongata for life in such a dynamic habitat. Strong rejectory currents in the mantle cavity keep it clean of sand. Paphies elongata is dioecious, as are species of Donax, which throughout its Australian range P. elongata is sympatric with. These donacid and mesodesmatid taxa have both evolved to exploit the niche and the food resource of detritus held in suspension by breaking waves of high-energy sandy beaches within their respective ranges. Of interest, however, is that the original and sole occupants of such beaches – the Mesozoic Upper Cretaceous Donacidae – have been joined subsequently by representatives of the Mesodesmatidae, such as P. elongata, the adoption of this habitat taking place in the Eocene of the Cenozoic, some 50 million years later.

The organs of prey capture and digestion in the miniature predatory bivalve Spheniopsis brasiliensis (Anomalodesmata: Cuspidarioidea: Spheniopsidae) expose a novel life-history trait

ABSTRACTSpheniopsis brasiliensis, from depths of 17–148 m off the southern Atlantic coast of Brazil, is a predator of epipsammic micro-crustaceans which it sucks into the infra-septal chamber using a raptorial inhalant siphon and internally generated hydrostatic suction forces. Prey items, which include ostracods, are thought to be pushed into the funnel-shaped mouth using the foot. The stomach is capacious with a short style sac conjoined briefly with the mid gut and possessing a stubby crystalline style. Internal stomach architecture is simplified, with no identifiable sorting areas (unlike other cuspidarioids) and lined virtually completely by a gastric shield. The exoskeletal remains of digested prey are held in the posterior end of the stomach and not in a specialised waste storage pouch as in the con-familial Grippina coronata. The mid gut, hind gut and rectum are all extremely narrow and, thus, only the smallest of faeces can be accommodated and transmitted for anal discharge. Spheniopsis brasiliensis, like G. coronata is a self-fertilising simultaneous hermaphrodite with encapsulated lecithotrophic eggs brooded internally. Both taxa are thus ovovivaporous. It is also believed that both taxa are univoltine so that larvae and the exoskeletal prey remains are all released post mortem. Cuspidariids are generally regarded as dioecious but, recently, Cardiomya costellata has been shown to be a non-brooding simultaneous hermaphrodite. The distinguishing characters between cuspidariids and spheniopsids thus appear to be their differing reproductive strategies and life history traits.

New insights on stomach anatomy of carnivorous bivalves

Carnivory is unusual among bivalve molluscs and is limited to a few families in the distantly related orders Pectinida, Mytilida and Anomalodesmata. Despite the significance of dietary shifts in the evolution of the bivalves, the anatomy of the alimentary system, and of the gastric chamber in particular, has been described in detail for only a few carnivorous species. Here we describe the anatomy of the gastric chamber in a pectinid, Propeamussium jeffreysii, and an anomalodesmatan, Bathyneaera demistriata, expanding the known morphological disparity of the alimentary system in both groups. We found the stomachs of both to be modified to varying degrees for a carnivorous habit, with thickened, muscular walls, extensive cuticular linings, and reduced sorting areas and gastric chamber compartments (i.e. the dorsal hood, the left pouch and the food-sorting caecum). Despite some superficial similarity, each retains distinct hallmarks of their ancestry among filter-feeding relatives, allowing precise homology assessment of individual characters to differentiate between them. In addition, we found that the gastric chamber of P. jeffreysii represents an intermediate morphology between previously described P. lucidum and filter-feeding pectinids. Consequently, variation in the anatomy of the gastric chamber in Pectinida parallels a previously identified trend towards greater specialization for carnivory in the Anomalodesmata. Our results indicate that the current classification scheme of stomach types does not reflect phylogenetic affinity across the Bivalvia and highlight the need for accurate homology assessment of individual characters of the gastric chamber for inferring evolutionary relationships.

Development and Utilization of the Micro-Fine Weakly Magnetic Iron Ore

This paper introduces the status of micro-fine weakly magnetic iron ore separation technology, analyzes the various characteristics of each separation process ,enumerates some production technology examples dealing with such iron ore and points out that the combined aggregation separation technology will have a wide development and application prospects in fine weakly magnetic iron ore sorting and processing areas.

THE FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC BIVALVE THRACIA MERIDIONALIS SMITH, 1885 (ANOMALODESMATA: THRACIIDAE)

The functional morphology of the Thraciidae is poorly understood. Although some morphological aspects of several members have been described, only Trigonothracia jinxingae from Chinese waters is known in detail. Thracia meridionalis is the only representative of the family in Antarctic waters, and is common in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, where it inhabits muddy sediments. Thracia meridionalis shares many features with Tr. jinxingae that are typical of most Anomalodesmata, i.e. a secondary ‘ligament’ of thickened periostracum, extensively fused mantle margins, ctenidia of type E, a ctenidiallabial palp junction of category III, a stomach of type IV and simultaneous hermaphroditism. Thracia meridionalis is, however, strikingly different from Tr. jinxingae in a number of ways, such as the presence of a fourth pallial aperture, statocysts of type B3, heterorhabdic ctenidia, direct communication between the mantle chambers, a deep-burrowing habit (individuals lying on the left shell valve), siphons that retract into mucus-lined burrows, a stomach with extensive sorting areas, a rectum which passes over the kidneys and separate male and female gonadial apertures. There is, therefore, a greater range of morphological diversity within the Thraciidae than previously suspected.

Evaluation of Health and Safety Risks in Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Plants

ABSTRACT Designers and managers of recycling processing plants need to be informed about the inherent occupational health and safety risks; however, there are few studies in the literature describing these risks. Therefore, the objectives of this project were to document the biological, chemical, physical, and ergonomic risks in three household-waste recycling plants. Bioaerosols (molds and bacteria) were measured using the methodology recommended by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Chemical contaminants and physical agents suspected of being present in this type of environment were measured using the standard methods of the Quebec Occupational Health and Safety Research Institute (IRSST). The ergonomic part of the study identified the work requirements and risk factors causing the workers' physical symptoms. In summer, the average concentrations of total bacteria were greater than the Scandinavian guideline of 10,000 colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/m3) in the receiving areas in plants 1 and 3, in the sorting areas of the three plants, and in shipping in plants 1 and 3. When the average concentrations of Gram-negative bacteria were compared to the Scandinavian guideline of 1000 CFU/m3 of air, only the sorting department in plant 2 in summer exceeded this value. Average indoor concentrations of molds that were statistically significantly greater than those measured in the upwind outdoor air were measured in all departments in plants 1 and 3, regardless of the season, and only in sorting in plant 2 during the summer. The only chemical contaminant measured at average concentrations greater than 50% of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) proposed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) was CO in the sorting departments in plants 1 and 2 during the winter. Noise exceeded the ACGIH TLV in plant 2. The workers' physical symptoms seem to be caused by the posture and effort required while remaining in a stationary position. Action must be focused on improving aspects such as work organization and personal protection and on informing citizens of the need for cleanliness of the material to be recycled.

Example application of the cognitive design procedure for an order pick system: Case study

We present a numerical case study to illustrate a cognitive design procedure for an order pick system (OPS), which has been established through a series of interviews with and presentations to OPS experts and literature review. The design procedure and related issues are discussed in the order of input, selection, and evaluation stages along with iterative aspects of top-down decomposition and bottom-up modification. Included are managerial considerations; transaction data description; replenishment fulfillment; overall structure and detailed subsystem specification in reserve, picking, and sorting areas; and subsystem reconciliation and evaluation.

The ecology and functional morphology ofTrigonothracia jinxingae(Bivalvia: Anomalodesmata: Thracioidea) from Xiamen, China

All anomalodesmatans are ‘rare’ butTrigonothrucia jinxingaeis relatively common in Xiamen Harbour, Fujian Province, China. This is because the species has a life span of approximately one year and is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, probably with either a short or absent planktonic larval stage. That is, success results from rapid maturation, self‐fertilization, direct development and within‐habitat recruitment over an extended period in early summer.Trigonothracia jinxingaeis interesting in another way, however. The Thraciidae is the Mesozoic stem group of the Thracioidea which also contains the more modern (Caenozoic) Laternulidae and Periplomatidae. Features of the anatomy ofT. jinxingae, such as the method of hydraulically moving the foot by the pumping of blood into a capacious pallial haemocoel, and the structure of the stomach, are reminiscent of the earliest (Palaeozoic) anomalodesmat́ans, i.e. the Pholadomyoidea, represented today byPholadomya candida.The thraciidAsthenothaerussp. (Pelseneer, 1911) even has, likeP. cundida, an opisthopodium on its visceral mass.P. candida, however, fed on sub‐surface deposits using its foot.T. jinxingaeis also a deposit feeder, but on surface deposits using the inhalant siphon.Modern periplomatids resemble thraciids in their separate siphons, but both representatives of this family and the Laternulidae are suspension feeders with extensive sorting areas on the wall of the stomach to process such material. The Thraciidae thus form a link between the oldest, pedal feeding, pholadomyoidean anomalodesmatan and the most advanced, suspension feeding, laternulids and periplomatids.

Editor's Introduction

The subtitle of the present selection of articles—"Selections from Zhongguo jindai shi [Modern Chinese History (1840-1919)]"—is intended to highlight the extraordinary service performed by Zhongguo jindai shi and its associated publications. Compiled and published by the Clipping Service of the People's University of China (Zhongguo Renmin Daxue Shubao Ziliao Zhongxin)1 in Beijing, Zhongguo jindai shi is one of ninety-one reprint journals in the series known as Publication Reprints (Fuyin Baokan Ziliao).2 On an ongoing basis, more than fifty scholars and specialists comb more than three thousand serial and newspaper titles selecting the very best items, which are then reprinted in one of the ninety-one journals. So efficient is the operation that the articles are usually reprinted within just months of their initial publication; the eight articles translated here were all reprinted within one to three months of their original appearance. The Service's various sorting areas, a picture of the Chinese work ethic at its best, reflect this efficiency.

A study of the fire behaviour of polypropylene letter trays

AbstractA study of the fire behaviour of polypropylene plastics trays being considered for letter handling has been carried out. Various ignition sources and configurations of trays (both empty and filled with letters) were examined. In particular, stacks of trays contained in large steel‐mesh unit load devices (ULDs), protected by automatic sprinklers, were ignited and the progress of the fires, release of heat and smoke, and sprinkler activation recorded. It was found that, when examined singly or in stacks in scenarios which might be encountered in sorting areas and post offices, the trays made from fire‐retardant plastics were more difficult to ignite and took longer to become involved in fire than those made from standard grade plastics. The benefits of this slower build‐up fire with the retarded plastics formulation were reduced to some extent by the greater amounts of smoke released by the burning of the retarded plastics. For stacks of ULDs filled with trays, typical of a scenario in a mail exchange, the fire‐retardant plastics gave significant benefits in terms of life safety and fire damage to the trays and mail.