Transport Strategies Research Articles

A two-stage chance constrained stochastic programming model for emergency supply distribution considering dynamic uncertainty

This paper presents a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges of designing a reliable emergency logistics network under the dynamic uncertainty of natural disasters. The proposed multimodal transportation strategy based on level assignments can effectively mitigate the risk of facility disruptions and network uncertainty and enhance the adaptability of the system to diverse emergency supplies. The established two-stage chance constrained stochastic programming model and improved evolutionary algorithm are powerful tools for optimizing the network design and improving its resilience. Based on the real-world case of the Ya’an earthquake in China, the impacts of various practical constraints are analyzed. Several insights into the decision-making process of emergency logistics management are provided: managers should prioritize time utility over cost utility and use multiple aircraft and helicopters, supplies should be sorted into fewer and more important categories and placed in smaller packages for efficient transportation, multimodal transportation should be considered based on geographical and traffic conditions.

Visual-Impedance-Based Human–Robot Cotransportation With a Tethered Aerial Vehicle

Physical human-robot interaction (pHRI) in the field of aerial vehicles has received more research attention in recent years. In this work, a visual impedance control strategy for human-aerial robot cooperative transportation with a tethered vehicle is presented. Without a positioning system, the aerial vehicle is controlled to follow the human partner by using cable force and visual features of the object as feedback. Furthermore, being aware of human motion is important to improve efficiency and smoothness of the cooperation. Without measuring velocities of the aerial vehicle and the human, we propose to directly estimate relative velocity of them by a vision-based velocity observer. This estimated velocity is then integrated into a visual impedance scheme. The stability of the system is rigorously proved by Lyapunov analysis and passivity analysis. Indoor experiments where a human participant transports a long bar with a tethered aerial vehicle are conducted. Results of experiments under different human velocities and intentions demonstrate the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method.

Public Transportation Strategy in Response to Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on public transportation worldwide. At the beginning of the pandemic, public transportation systems reduced their performance by 80-90% in major cities in China, Iran, and the United States, and by 70% in the UK, including a significant decline in Indonesia. Several studies have shown that public transportation contributes significantly to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This study aims to review the use of public transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines was conducted on literature published between 2020-2023 with inclusion criteria of national and international research articles in English related to the title "Public Transportation Strategy in Response to COVID-19". The database sources used were Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed. Results: Based on the literature review, it is concluded that efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in public transportation include providing personal protective equipment (PPE) for all public transportation crew, implementing strict physical distancing policies among passengers inside the vehicle, ensuring good ventilation, and enforcing the use of masks and hand hygiene. Another solution is to provide non-cash payment options to reduce physical contact between passengers and transportation personnel. The government and public transportation operators should consistently prepare supporting facilities and educate users about physical distancing, using masks, and hand hygiene through posters, social media, and regular announcements in public transportation areas. Implementing strategies in public transportation in response to COVID-19 requires collaboration between the government, transportation operators, and the public.

Study on Community Detection Method for Morning and Evening Peak Shared Bicycle Trips in Urban Areas: A Case Study of Six Districts in Beijing

Examining the clustering characteristics and fluctuations within urban areas during peak hours through the lens of bike-sharing is of utmost importance in the optimization of bike-sharing systems and urban transportation planning. This investigation adopts the principles of urban spatial interaction network construction and employs streets as the fundamental units of analysis to model bike-sharing activities during morning and evening peak hours within Beijing’s six central districts. Subsequent to this, a comprehensive analysis of the network’s structural attributes was carried out. A Walktrap method, rooted in modularity analysis, was introduced to discern and scrutinize the clustering patterns and characteristics of communities within the network across different temporal intervals. Empirical findings reveal a predominant usage pattern of shared bicycles for short-distance travel during both morning and evening peak hours. Notably, distinctive community structures manifest during these periods, characterized by two large communities and multiple smaller ones during the morning peak, while the evening peak showcases a single large community alongside several medium-sized and smaller ones. Moreover, the extended interaction radius points to an expanded geographic range of interactions among streets. These findings bear significant implications for the management of urban transportation, bike-sharing enterprises, and urban residents, proffering valuable insights for the optimization of bike-sharing schemes and transportation strategies. These research findings not only contribute to enhancing urban transportation planning and bike-sharing systems but also provide robust guidance for advancing more efficient and sustainable urban transportation solutions, thereby fostering the sustainable development of cities.

Enhanced dual-mode electrochemical zinc ion sensing by electric field-driven bi-directional mass transport

Electric field-driven bi-directional mass transport strategy was introduced for high accuracy and sensitive electrochemical (EC) zinc ion chip. The detection sensitivity and sensing accuracy of the EC sensor were significantly improved. The related process parameters including inter-electrode spacing and electrode absorbability were explored and surveyed. A limit of detection of 33.1 pM of chip was achieved for detecting zinc ion with excellent selectivity, stability, and flexibility, which was two orders of magnitude better than that without electric field. The mechanism of the EC chip was elucidated and discussed based on the experimental results. The real samples were detected by the chip integrating with smartphone-based portable system to prove the practical application. This work would provide new insights of the sensor for mobile environmental detection and biomedical monitoring.

Measuring Objective Walkability from Pedestrian-Level Visual Perception Using Machine Learning and GSV in Khulna, Bangladesh

Walkability entails measuring the degree of walking activity, a non-motorized mode of active transportation crucial in fast-developing urban settings and combating sedentary lifestyles. While there has been extensive objective research focusing on factors related to the physical environment that influence walkability, there has been a comparatively limited exploration into objectively evaluating a pedestrian’s visual perception. This study in Khulna, Bangladesh, aimed to develop a novel method for objectively measuring walkability based on pedestrian-level visual perception using machine learning. In this research, ResNet, a computer vision model, analyzed 127 panoramic Google Street View images taken at 200-meter intervals from seven major roads. The model, trained with the “deeplabv3plusResnet18CamVid” algorithm, quantified five selected visual features. The results, including walkability rankings, correlation analysis, and spatial mapping, highlighted that greenery and visual enclosures significantly influenced the walkability index. However, the impact of other visual features was less distinctive due to an overall poor streetscape condition. This study bridged the gap between human perception and scientific intelligence, allowing for the evaluation of previously “unmeasurable” streetscape designs. It provides valuable insights for more human-centered planning and transportation strategies, addressing the challenges of modern urbanization and sedentary behavior.

Determining the Appropriate Transportation Option with the Decision Tree

Due to the fact that the population density in Turkey is concentrated in the Marmara region, many businesses are positioning their facilities in this region. For this reason, logistics companies, also called 3PL, serving these businesses are located in the same region. Logistics companies determine various transportation strategies according to the shipment volumes of the customers they serve. The main objectives of these strategies are based on cost minimization, productivity increase and improvement of customer service levels. In this publication, a decision tree was used to determine the transportation strategy of a customer of the logistics company whose case study was conducted. The costs of alternative options, including the current transportation option, were calculated and the transportation option with the lowest cost was preferred. In the study, real data was used and a case study was carried out in a logistics company serving in our country. The reason why the decision tree method is preferred is that it is easy to implement and can answer many basic logistics problems.

Понятие, признаки и особенности использования инновационных видов транспортно-логистических услуг

Purpose: The scientific article presents the results of the analysis of the characteristics and main trends in the use of innovative technologies in the formation of transport and logistics services. The relevance of the study is determined by the stage of digital transformation and development of innovative technologies, the results of which contribute to the formation and dissemination of innovative types of transport and logistics services. Methods: Subject-object, structural-functional approaches, methods of system analysis, comparative methods, statistical methods of research are applied in the work. The information base for the study of scientific work consists of reports and publications of the Federal State Statistics Service, materials from periodicals and the scientific platform elibrary.ru. Results: The paper considers the main factors stimulating the development of innovative types of transport and logistics services. Their characteristics and features of use are determined. The positive aspects and benefits of the development of innovations in the field of transport logistics are analyzed. The main problems and difficulties in the use of innovative types of transport and logistics services are considered. Examples of innovative technologies that are used to improve transport logistics services are given. An algorithm for creating a technological cluster of the transport and logistics system in Russia is proposed. Practical significance: The scientific article shows that modern companies face the importance of making decisions aimed at improving the strategic management of transport logistics. For them, changes are important to optimize the transport and logistics strategy and focus on creating new supply chains. Only in this way is it possible to ensure conditions within the business development organization during the period of external turbulence and logistical crisis. Digital transformation in transport logistics provides an increase in the economic efficiency of the logistics activities of organizations, reducing costs and improving the quality of supply chain management services. Given the rapid development of high technologies, the digitalization of the transport and logistics system will only accelerate.

Impact of Hull Condition and Propeller Surface Maintenance on Fuel Efficiency of Ocean-Going Vessels

The fuel consumption of marine diesel engines holds paramount importance in contemporary maritime transportation and shapes energy efficiency strategies of ocean-going vessels. Nonetheless, a noticeable gap in knowledge prevails concerning the influence of ship hull conditions and propeller roughness on fuel consumption. This study bridges this gap by utilizing artificial intelligence techniques in Matlab, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to comprehensively investigate these factors. We propose a time-series prediction model that was built on numerical simulations and aimed at forecasting ship hull and propeller conditions. The model's accuracy was validated through a meticulous comparison of predictions with actual ship-hull and propeller conditions. Furthermore, we executed a comparative analysis juxtaposing predictive outcomes with navigational environmental factors encompassing wind speed, wave height, and ship loading conditions by the fuzzy clustering method. This research's significance lies in its pivotal role as a foundation for fostering a more intricate understanding of energy consumption within the realm of maritime transport.

Current state, problems and main directions of logistics development in water transport

The review study devoted to the generalization of information on problematic areas of logistics development in water transport has been carried out and the main directions in which research is currently being conducted by Russian and foreign scientists have been identified. When processing the data, systematic and integrated approaches were used to analyze the Transport Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2030 with a forecast for the period up to 2035 and publications on the designated topics posted in the public domain. The problem areas were analyzed in the following blocks: economic, organizational, technological, technical, informational, environmental and transport security, regulatory and training. More than 160 sources were analyzed, 60 of them were selected, on the basis of which the main problem areas of scientific research were identified. It is shown by examples that research often affects more than one area. It is revealed that the following promising areas in the field of logistics in water transport are of the greatest interest and importance in modern conditions: unmanned navigation and related organizational and technical aspects; the use of modern digital technologies for analyzing information and making optimal decisions in the shortest possible time with minimal costs; the use and development of international transport corridors, related technical, technological, economic, organizational, managerial, legal solutions; development of infrastructure projects for their optimal and rapid launch or renewal; improving the safety and environmental friendliness of transportation. The results obtained may be of interest to graduate students and young scientists who are in search of subject areas of research.

Processing Adipose Tissue Samples in a GMP Environment Standardizes the Use of SVF in Cell Therapy Treatments: Data on 302 Patients.

Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells, together with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, are becoming the tool of choice for many clinical applications. Currently, nearly 200 clinical trials are running worldwide to prove the efficacy of this cell type in treating many diseases and pathological conditions. To reach the goals of cell therapies and produce ATMPs as drugs for regenerative medicine, it is necessary to properly standardize GMP processes and, thus, collection methods, transportation strategies, extraction protocols, and characterization procedures, without forgetting that all the tissues of the human body are characterized by a wide inter-individual variability which is genetically determined and acquired during life. Here, we compare 302 samples processed under GMP rules to exclude the influence of the operator and of the anatomical site of collection. The influence of variability in the ages and genders of patients, along with laboratory parameters such as total cell number, cell viability, stem cell number, and other stromal vascular fraction cell subpopulations, has been compared. The results show that when the laboratory protocol is standardized, the variability of quantifiable cell parameters is widely statistically non-significant, meaning that we can take a further step toward standardized advanced cell therapy products.

Influences of two transport strategies on AMPK-mediated metabolism and flesh quality of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).

Water-free transportation (WFT), as a novel strategy for express delivery of live shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), was developed recently. However, air exposure during this transportation arouses a series of abiotic stress to the shrimp. In the present study, the influences of WFT stress on glycolysis and lipolysis metabolism and meat quality (umami flavor and drip loss) were investigated in comparison with conventional water transportation (WT). The results showed that type II muscle fibers with the feature of anaerobic metabolism were dominated in shrimp flesh. In addition, the increments of intracellular Ca2+ was detected in WFT and WT, which then activated the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway and promoted the consumption of glycogen, as well as the accumulation of lactate and lipolysis, under the enzymolysis of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and adipose triglyceride lipase. Glycogen glycolyzed to latate. Meanwhile, ATP degraded along with glycolysis resulting in the generation of ATP-related adenosine phosphates such as inosine monophosphate with umami flavor and phosphoric acid. More remarkable (P < 0.05) physiological changes (except lactate dehydrogenase and lactate) were observed in WFT compared to WT. Additionally, the fatty acid profile also slightly changed. The transport stress induced significant energy metabolism changes of shrimp flesh and therefore effected the flesh quality. The intensifications of freshness (K-value) of shrimp flesh were detected as a result of ATP degradation, which were more pronounced after WFT. However, the drip loss of shrimp flesh was more significantly increased (P < 0.05) after WFT compared to WT. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Understanding how various forms of phosphorus stress affect microbiome functions and boost plant disease resistance: Insights from metagenomic analysis

The plant's response to phosphorus (P) starvation suppresses its immunity and regulates rhizosphere microbial colonization. However, the impact of various P forms on plant disease resistance and microbial composition remains underreported. This paper examines the soybean rhizosphere microbiome facing co-stress from Fusarium oxysporum and diverse P forms. Macrogenomic analysis evaluates whether P addition enhances plant disease resistance and rhizosphere microbial function, and if such effects relate to P forms. Results show that different P forms mitigate F. oxysporum-induced plant inhibition by promoting P turnover. P forms predominantly affect microbial composition, followed by soil and plant properties. In soybean, the phosphate transport strategy (ugpA/Q) was selected to maintain high P to enhance immunity in the KH2PO4 treatment, while organo-P mineralization (phnH/F/W/G) was selected for superphosphate treatment. The Frankiales, a P-turnover microorganism, copiotrophic microorganisms, and indicator bacteria of plant properties, initially increase after F. oxysporum inoculation and then decrease post P addition, regardless of P forms. Additionally, the rhizosphere microbial community's metabolic activities and compounds significantly aid soybean defense against F. oxysporum, with functional types depending on P forms. Therefore, these findings establish a novel approach to enhance host defense against soil-borne diseases through P nutrition regulation to mediate host-driven metabolic activities of microbial communities.

Do root secondary xylem functional traits differ between growth forms in Fabaceae species in a seasonally dry Neotropical environment?

Whole-plant performance in water-stressed and disturbance-prone environments depends on a suitable supply of water from the roots to the leaves, storage of reserves during periods of shortage, and a morphological arrangement that guarantees the maintenance of the plants anchored to the soil. All these functions are performed by the secondary xylem of roots. Here, we investigate whether different growth forms of Fabaceae species from the seasonally dry Neotropical environment have distinct strategies for water transport, mechanical support and non-structural carbon and water storage in the root secondary xylem. We evaluated cross-sections of root secondary xylem from species of trees, shrubs and subshrubs. We applied linear models to verify the variability in secondary xylem anatomical traits among growth forms. Secondary xylem with larger vessels and lower vessel density was observed in tree species. Vessel wall thickness, vessel grouping index, potential hydraulic conductivity and cell fractions (vessels, fibres, rays and axial parenchyma) were not statistically different between growth forms, owing to the high interspecific variation within the groups studied. Our results showed that the variability in anatomical traits of the secondary xylem of the root is species specific. In summary, the cellular complexity of the secondary xylem ensures multiple functional strategies in species with distinct growth forms, a key trait for resource use in an environment with strong water seasonality.

Perkembangan Pelabuhanan Merak Sebagai Pusat Perdagangan dan Pelayaran di Indonesia 1912-2009

The Merak crossing port route, which connects the islands of Java and Sumatra and is in the city of Cilegon in the province of Banten and is also the busiest crossing in Indonesia, serves as a traffic gateway. In 1912, Merak Harbor saw its first use. Merak Harbor was a spearheading ship port underlying 1912 by the Dutch East Indies government. Before becoming a national asset of Indonesia, the port served colonial political purposes when it was built. The presence of this port is a financial resource for Banten region which has an ocean transportation strategy heading with the point and objective of turning into "the pre-prominent port territory in Indonesia". The reason for this study is to figure out the idea of the improvement of the Merak port as an exchange and delivery focus. Heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography are the four stages of the method used to write this research. This study relied on books, documents, and journals related to the port of Merak as sources from literature studies that included technical historical analysis based on interpretations of historical facts. The consequences of the review show that the Port of Merak is as yet dynamic in trading merchandise abroad, the presence of the Merak Crossing Port likewise extensively affects the encompassing local area.

Dynamic supply chain risk management plans for mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic prompted supply chain (SC) disruptions and heightened demand for crucial items like facemasks and ventilators. Lockdowns and border closures hindered raw material supply and manufacturing capacity expansion. Consequently, manufacturers faced challenges in inventory, transport, and delivery, resulting in higher shortage costs, elevated SC expenses, and reduced SC efficacy. Using an integrated agent-based model (ABM) and optimisation, this paper examines COVID-19's multifaceted impacts on facemask SCs. It assesses four primary resilience strategies: enhancing manufacturing capacity, improving raw material supply, increasing transportation and distribution facilities, and maintaining dynamic inventory policy. Moreover, the model tested the proposed strategies under different scenarios by optimising the inventory policy and transportation strategies, leading to improved facemask production and delivery during extreme events. Our study found that increased production capacity through an optimal inventory and transportation strategy for a long period reduced the multiple impacts of the pandemic on facemask SCs, resulting in diminished total SC costs and increased consumer access to finished products. Based on demand forecasts, maintaining dynamically optimal reordering points and order up to levels can help maximise raw material supply and inventory levels, thereby minimising risks. Using these findings, future risks related to outbreaks and pandemics can be more effectively planned.

Charging Metal-Organic Framework Membranes by Incorporating Crown Ethers to Capture Cations for Ion Sieving.

Protein channels on the biofilm conditionally manipulate ion transport via regulating the distribution of charge residues, making analogous processes on artificial membranes a hot spot and challenge. Here, we employ metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) membrane with charge-adjustable subnano-channel to selectively govern ion transport. Various valent ions are binded with crown ethers embedded in the MOF cavity, which act as charged guest to regulate the channels' charge state from the negativity to positivity. Compared with the negatively charged channel, the positive counterpart obviously enhances Li+ /Mg2+ selectivity, which benefit from the reinforcement of the electrostatic repulsion between ions and the channel. Meanwhile, theoretical calculations reveal that Mg2+ transport through the more positively charged channel needed to overcome higher entrance energy barrier than that of Li+ . This work provides a subtle strategy for ion-selective transport upon regulating the charge state of insulating membrane, which paves the way for the application like seawater desalination and lithium extraction from salt lakes.

Comparing strategies for prehospital transport to specialty care after cardiac arrest

Outcomes are better when patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) are treated at specialty centers. The best strategy to transport patients from the scene of resuscitation to specialty care is unknown. MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study. We identified patients treated at a single specialty center after OHCA from 2010 to 2021 and used OHCA geolocations to develop a catchment area using a convex hull. Within this area, we identified short term acute care hospitals, OHCA receiving centers, adult population by census block group, and helicopter landing zones. We determined population-level times to specialty care via: (1) direct ground transport; (2) transport to the nearest hospital followed by air interfacility transfer; and (3) ground transport to air ambulance. We used an instrumental variable (IV) adjusted probit regression to estimate the causal effect of transport strategy on functionally favorable survival to hospital discharge. ResultsDirect transport to specialty care by ground to air ambulance had the shortest population-level times from OHCA to specialty care (median 56 [IQR 47–66] minutes). There were 1,861 patients included in IV regression of whom 395 (21%) had functionally favorable survival. Most (n = 1,221, 66%) were transported to the nearest hospital by ground EMS then to specialty care by air. Patient outcomes did not differ across transport strategies in our IV analysis. DiscussionWe did not find strong evidence in favor of a particular strategy for transport to specialty care after OHCA. Population level time to specialty care was shortest with ground ambulance transport to the nearest helicopter landing zone.

Revealing the hidden potentials of Internet of Things (IoT) - An integrated approach using agent-based modelling and system dynamics to assess sustainable supply chain performance

The Internet of Things (IoT) brings new opportunities for creating intelligent and streamlined supply chains that have better environmental and cost performance as compared to conventional ones. In this paper, we quantify such improvements for a specific logistics chain case. To support the inventory of cost and emission data, we utilize system dynamics (SD) and agent-based modeling (AB) to define the structure of the two logistical systems, simulating and estimating differences in e.g., required storage levels, efficiency of transport, etc. In particular, we assess the difference in carbon emissions, cost, and market performance of a battery delivery chain in the delivery process between a two-tier IoT-supported supply chain (users are served by an IoT retailer directly connected to the producer) and a conventional three-tier supply chain (include an additional wholesaler to connect retailer and producer). The results demonstrate that IoT supply chains have significant advantages in minimizing average product storage and shipment fluctuations. IoT suppliers can estimate market demand to adjust production and transportation strategies for new orders. Consequently, the overall profitability of the IoT supply chain increases by more than 30%. Heating and lighting emissions in the storage process and direct emissions in transportation per functional unit (one unit of a Li-ion cell module) are reduced by 60%–70% under middle- and low-demand scenarios, and by at least 50% under high-demand scenario. However, the increasing use and higher loading rates of heavy trucks will weaken the advantages of IoT. Moreover, IoT products occupies a 10% lower market share compared to conventional ones under the same pricing strategy but achieves similar market share under the same value-added strategy.

Optimal design of sustainable recycled rubber-filled concrete using life cycle assessment and multi-objective optimization

This research studies the use of recycled crumb rubber (CR) as partial replacement for fine aggregates in concrete. Fracture analysis and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach are used to assess 10 different Recycled Rubber-Filled Concrete (RRFC) mixtures by evaluating damage across 22 impact categories using the ReCiPe 2016 methodology. Multi-objective optimization (MOO) is deployed to identify optimal mixture proportions of RRFC using a BPNN-AGE-MOEA model. The MOO process considers concrete characteristic objectives, environmental assessment, and cost, while imposing boundary values for target compressive strength, water-to-cement (W/C) ratio, and CR content. The results show that increasing the CR content increases toughness and energy absorption capacity yet decreases the compressive and tensile strengths. Reducing the W/C ratio and increasing the CR content improved fracture characteristics and crack resistance. It is also found that the mechanical properties and the transportation stage of RRFC manufacturing have a significant effect on the environmental footprint. Careful material selection and transportation strategies can significantly reduce this environmental footprint. The proposed MOO approach using the predictive BPNN model successfully resolved the complex relationship between economic and environmental considerations of mixture design variables. To achieve a balance of environmental impact, affordability, and performance, the study underlines the need for carefully balancing the W/C ratio and CR content. The findings suggest that enhancing fracture properties while limiting the environmental impact is possible, allowing to promote wider application of recycled rubber in concrete.