Transport System Research Articles

Intensification of Trade Interactions between the Regions of China and Russia

The article identifies the Chinese provinces that are the points of growth of the Russian imports. Their main supply channels to the Chinese market are concentrated in the eastern coastal regions of China, being traditionally more developed. Russian imports are growing faster through the Chinese pilot free trade zones. However, geographical and product diversification is still slow. The supply structure of Russian products is still dominated by raw materials, while imports of high value added products are growing rapidly in some regions of China. The rapid growth of Russian imports is observed in some regions of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which creates additional opportunities for the intensification of trade interactions with the Russian regions within the project «Volga-Yangtze». The connection of the export sectors of the economy of the Volga Federal District with the import of China is considered in more detail in the article as a potential for further intensification of trade interactions. The regions with a high level of economic diversification (the Nizhny Novgorod and the Samara regions) have the greatest opportunities for developing trade interactions. Current conditions indicate that prospects for the further intensification of Russian exports to China are determined by the expansion of production (in the regions with a high share of exports to China and other friendly countries), development of transport and logistics system, adaptation of Russian products to the needs of the Chinese consumer. One way to increase exports of Rus-sian high-value-added products is to reduce barriers to the supply of such products in China’s free-trade zones. In a limited international market, Russian regions may have to compete more for Chinese consumers as the domestic market becomes saturated.

Problems of Transport Provision in the Regions of Eastern Siberia and the Far East

The article provides a detailed analysis of the existing transport infrastructure in the East of the country, taking into account the development of export directions. A comprehensive study of two main railways, highways and ports that provide communication in the regions of Eastern Siberia and the Far East was carried out. The advantages, disadvantages and prospects for the development of the largest checkpoints have been identified. It is shown that there is an annual development and strengthening of the international integration of the eastern regions of Russia with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, while taking into account the national interest of the Russian state. The integration of the eastern regions with the unified transport system of Russia is also developing by increasing the carrying capacity of the Eastern range. The number of border road and rail crossings is growing, port capacities are expanding, and the country’s key logistics hub is being formed. But despite this, it is shown that there are transport problems in the Far Eastern regions of the country: lack of supply railways to seaports, low railway capacity, poor development of transport infrastructure for the development of natural resources. It is concluded that there is a need to develop transport infrastructure in the Far East, which will improve socio-economic indicators in the eastern regions. The development of integration of the railway with sea ports will increase the export of raw materials and products with high added value from the mining and metallurgical, fuel and energy, chemical and agro-industrial complexes. Effective implementation of transit potential will not only make it possible to obtain economic benefits from participation in international transport, but will also create new instruments for Russia’s influence on global economic processes.

EU Railways: Contribution to Decarbonisation Solution

The EU transport system is entering the next phase of fundamental transformation. The railways are becoming one of the key tools for implementing the Green Deal and solving ecological problems for the period up to 2050. A range of documents aimed at advancing the realisation of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) was adopted at the Union level in recent years. Transfer a large proportion of transport from road and aviation to rail, multimodal transportation, advanced construction and modernisation of high-speed railway lines (HSR) are the priorities of the policy. This article has a twofold objective. First, it analyses the condition and market environment of the railways. Second, it investigates the possibilities of implementing the TEN-T program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increase multimodal transportation and the construction/upgrading new HSR. The results suggest that a set of obstacles impede GHG emissions reduction in the shifting of transport from road and aviation to rail, multimodal transportation and the construction of HSR. The main trend is that rail transport activity in the EU remained almost constant from 2010 to 2022 with a slight increase in passenger transport and some structural changes. Within the next 25 years, the most tangible impact for the EU economy, ecology and society of all modes of transport can be provided by HSR expansion. The author concludes that in order to form the Union Transport and Economic Space, deep institutional reforms on the railways are needed with special focus on the introduction of uniform standards, norms and regulations for all participating countries.

System Dynamics Models for the Control of the Road Transport System of a Metropolis

System Dynamics Models for the Control of the Road Transport System of a Metropolis

Modeling and Stabilization of Conveyor Transport Systems with Intelligent Control

Modeling and Stabilization of Conveyor Transport Systems with Intelligent Control

Endothelial Cell Senescence Effect on the Blood-Brain Barrier in Stroke and Cognitive Impairment.

Age is an important risk factor of stroke, cognitive decline, and dementia. Senescent endothelial cells (ECs) accumulate with advancing age through exposure to cellular stress, such as that exerted by hypertension and diabetes. These senescent ECs have altered characteristics, such as altered tight junction proteins, use of a more indiscriminate transcellular transport system, increased inflammation, and increased immune cell interactions. ECs are the main component of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), separating the brain from systemic circulation. As senescent ECs accumulate in the BBB, their altered functioning results in the disruption of the barrier. They have inadequate barrier-forming properties, disrupted extracellular matrix, and increased transcytosis, resulting in an overly permeable barrier. This disruption of the BBB can have important effects in stroke and cognitive impairment, as presented in this review. Besides increasing the permeability of the BBB, senescent ECs can also impair angiogenesis and vascular remodeling, which in ischemic stroke may increase risk of hemorrhagic transformation and worsen outcomes. Senescent ECs may also contribute to microvascular dysfunction, with disruption of cerebral perfusion and autoregulation. These may contribute to vascular cognitive impairment along with increased permeability. With an aging population, there is growing interest in targeting senescence. Several ongoing trials have been evaluating whether senolytics can slow aging, improve vascular health, and reduce the risk of stroke and cognitive decline.

Energy-based approach to the assessment of traffic flow

This article focuses on modeling vehicle acceleration noise in different road conditions, emphasizing urban, highway, and rural roads in Ukraine. Acceleration noise, which refers to the fluctuations in a vehicle's acceleration, is a critical factor in vehicle safety, fuel efficiency, and driving comfort. The research aims to improve current vehicle dynamics models by integrating multi-body dynamics and machine learning algorithms, allowing for more precise predictions of acceleration variability in real-time. The study is based on the existing literature, showing that road surface quality significantly affects acceleration noise. With frequent stop-and-go traffic, urban roads produce moderate but irregular noise patterns. Highways show stable acceleration noise at moderate speeds, but noise increases sharply as vehicles approach higher speeds due to aerodynamic forces. Rural roads, especially those in poor condition, exhibit the highest variability in acceleration noise, even at low speeds. The proposed model has been validated using real-world data. It demonstrates a strong correlation between the predictions and actual vehicle behavior on various road types. One of the key innovations in this research is the use of machine learning to adjust model parameters in real-time dynamically. This adaptive approach enhances the model’s accuracy and applicability, especially in intelligent transport systems. The model can inform traffic management strategies, allowing for real-time adjustments to speed limits, traffic signals, and routing decisions based on road conditions. This contributes to safer, more efficient, and sustainable transport systems, particularly in regions with inconsistent road infrastructure. The research concludes that integrating acceleration noise modeling into intelligent transport systems can significantly improve traffic flow and vehicle safety. Future research will expand the dataset to include a broader range of vehicle types and road conditions, further refining the model's predictive capabilities.

Analysis of the efficiency of suburban passenger transportation on the Lviv railway sections

A developed transport system ensures the population's needs in safe movement and guarantees stable functioning and development of the production sphere. Despite being consistently unprofitable, suburban transportation by railway remains attractive for many population categories. The developed railway network, the low cost of transportation, and the capacity reserve of most sections partially compensate for the existing shortcomings and contribute to further development and open new prospects for attracting additional users of transport services. The main problems of suburban passenger transport, which worsen the quality of the services provided and affect the competitiveness of railway suburban transport compared to other modes of transport, are examined in this article. During the analysis of the schedule of suburban trains departing and arriving at the Lviv station, irrational management decisions were found that left room for improvement. In addition, the load factor of rolling stock on the routes Lviv-Sambir-Sianky and Sianky-Sambir-Lviv was determined, and it dropped to 40% during the follow-up, which indicates inefficient use of rolling stock. The ratio of the time the train stays at the stops to the total duration of the route in suburban traffic is also calculated. The time on the road for the Sambir- Stryi route was 69%, and the technical speed was only 21.7 km/h. The results obtained in the article are also typical for many other monitoring areas, indicating this problem's repeatability. The positive experience of European countries in solving similar problems allows us to react correctly to the situation and take short-term measures to change the dynamics to a positive one without additional time losses. It is also worth noting that a set of measures to improve the services provided to passengers must be carried out according to the requirements of the Technical Specifications for Interoperability, which must be ensured upon joining the European Union. Further investigations should analyze the flow of passengers at all stations and stopping points to identify the main points of creating passenger flow on researching routes.

Spatiotemporal changes in the congestion index of streets and roads in the armed conflict conditions

This article examines the impact of war on the formation of urban transport flows. During armed conflicts, the transport infrastructure of cities undergoes significant changes, which greatly affects the mobility and safety of the population. The need to study this issue is particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, which has caused the largest migration in Europe since World War II. The paper explores the dynamics of these changes and ways to adapt urban transportation systems to war conditions. The study aims to determine the parameters of urban transport zones with specific disruptions in network link congestion indices during different phases of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The research methodology is based on analyzing statistical data on population movements, applying traffic flow models, and conducting a systematic analysis of the interaction between various components of urban transport systems. The goal of this study is to establish the relationships between the areas of cities where disruptions in congestion indices were observed during the initial phase of the invasion. The cities studied are Lviv and Kyiv, whose road networks are also described in the article. Polynomial regression models with two independent variables (the congestion index and the number of days from the beginning of each phase) were developed for three predefined time phases, each with distinct features of the armed conflict. The dependent variable is the area of the city experiencing disruptions in the congestion index relative to normal traffic flow conditions. The study concludes that the relationship between changes in the congestion index and the area of the city experiencing deviations is directly proportional. The absolute values of the indicators studied are lower for Lviv’s network than for Kyiv’s.

Structural Insight on the Selectivity of Calyx[4]Arene-Based Inhibitors of Mg2+-Dependent Atp-Hydrolases.

Located in plasma membranes, ATP hydrolases are involved in several dynamic transport processes, helping to control the movement of ions across cell membranes. ATP hydrolase acts as a transport protein, converting energy from ATP hydrolysis into transport molecules against their concentration gradients. In addition to energy metabolism and active transport, ATP hydrolase is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and cell function. This study focused on the domain architecture model of P-type ATPases, which participate in the reaction cycles of ATP hydrolysis carried out by membrane transport systems - Na+, K+-ATPase and Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase. Targeted modulation of Na+, K+-ATPase and Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase by unnatural drugs is of greatest interest due to the lack of known effectors. This new discovery presents a convenient model based on our recent experimental studies of the membrane structures and myocytes of the uterine smooth muscle, the myometrium. This current study strongly supports the fact that nanosized calix[4]arenes functionalised on the upper rings of the macrocycle with biologically active phosphonic acid fragments can serve as selective and potent inhibitors of cation-transporting electroenzymes. This is how we discovered that calix[4]arene of methylenebisphosphonic acid C-97 and calix[4]arene of bis-aminophosphonic acid C-107 selectively and effectively (I0.5 <100 nM) inhibit the activity of Mg2+, ATP-dependent electrogenic Na+ K+ plasma membrane pump. As drug discovery in the field of Mg2+-ATPase inhibitors is uncharted territory, basic research holds the key to explaining and predicting the mechanism of interaction and action of different classes of compounds. In light of the presented results, new calix[4]arene compounds can be used as potent inhibitors of Mg2+, ATP-dependent electrogenic ion pumps.

Detecting Urban Community Based on Urban Mobility Patterns From the Public Transportation Trip-Chain Data: A Case Study of Seoul, South Korea

Urban mobility has been studied in various areas of geography and related disciplines. Commuting patterns are highly linked to the spatial structure of functional districts in a city, which is substantially influenced by public transportation systems. Understanding urban mobility patterns are significant for revealing actual living districts and planning efficient transportation systems and infrastructure. This study aims to detect urban communities with spatially strong interaction based on similar mobility patterns. To extract homogeneous urban communities, we utilize a network community detection method, focusing on the multimodal transfer travels of the public transport system. As a case study, we examined urban communities in the Seoul metropolitan area of South Korea. The results showed newly detected living communities based on the actual mobility patterns of urban populations including multiple-choice behavior of transport mode. Such empirical findings depict more realistic dynamics of populations in large metropolitan areas and the significant influence of public transportation systems on urban mobility patterns.

A Multiscale Mathematical Model for Fetal Gas Transport and Regulatory Systems During Second Half of Pregnancy.

Fetal asphyxia, a condition resulting from the combined effects of hypoxia and hypercapnia, leads to approximately 900,000 annual deaths worldwide. One cause is umbilical cord compression during labor-induced uterine contractions, disrupting the transport of metabolites to and from the placenta, and resulting in asphyxia. Current fetal well-being assessment relies on monitoring fetal heart rate and uterine contractions as indicators of oxygen delivery to the brain. To enhance our understanding of this complex relationship, this study aims to develop a modular mathematical model including fetal blood gas dynamics, the autonomic nervous system, and cerebral blood flow regulation. The novelty of this study lies in the capability of the model to simulate fetal growth. These submodels are part of a larger multiscale mathematical model describing fetal circulation in the second half of pregnancy. The blood gas model realistically replicates partial oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures in umbilical arteries and veins during healthy fetal development reported in the literature. An in silico experiment is conducted to simulate umbilical cord occlusion and is compared with lamb experiments to verify the realism of the regulation models during fetal growth. Our findings suggest that premature infants are more susceptible to umbilical cord occlusion, exhibiting elevated cerebral perfusion pressure and flow. This modular mathematical model may serve as a valuable tool for testing hypotheses related to the fetal regulatory system.

Environmental Changes Driving Shifts in the Structure and Functional Properties of the Symbiotic Microbiota of Daphnia

Symbiotic microbiota significantly influence the development, physiology, and behavior of their hosts, and therefore, they are widely studied. However, very few studies have investigated the changes in symbiotic microbiota across generations. Daphnia magna originating from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau were cultured through seven generations in our laboratory, and the symbiotic microbiota of D. magna were sequenced using a 16S rRNA amplicon to analyze changes in the structure and functional properties of the symbiotic microbiota of D. magna from a harsh environment to an ideal environment. We detected substantial changes in the symbiotic microbiota of D. magna across generations. For example, the genus Nevskia, a member of the gamma-subclass Proteobacteria, had the highest abundance in the first generation (G1), followed by a decrease in abundance in the fourth (G4) and seventh (G7) generations. The gene functions of the microbiota in different generations of D. magna also changed significantly. The fourth generation was mainly rich in fatty acyl-CoA synthase, acetyl-CoA acyltransferase, phosphoglycerol phosphatase, etc. The seventh generation was mainly rich in osmotic enzyme protein and ATP-binding protein of the ABC transport system. This study confirms that the alterations in the structure and functional properties of the symbiotic microbiota of D. magna under changing environments are typical responses of D. magna to environmental changes.

Factors Influencing Analgesic Use During Transport of Intubated Pediatric Patients

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES Critically ill children undergo painful procedures during resuscitation and stabilization before and during interfacility transport. The literature supporting pain management in this unique environment focuses predominantly on isolated traumatic injuries. Timely administration of analgesia can improve patient well-being by attenuating stress responses and reducing severe adverse events. To determine the prevalence of analgesia administration among pediatric patients undergoing mechanical ventilation during transport and to identify associated factors. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic patient records from a large critical care transport system in North America, between 2014 and 2018. We included sequential pediatric patients who were intubated and mechanically ventilated. We examined analgesia administration (with opioids or ketamine) administered by paramedics. Adverse events were examined in relation to analgesia administration. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with in-transport analgesia administration. RESULTS Of 903 patients (median age 9.1 years), 770 (85.3%) received analgesia during transport, with 83.3% receiving opioids or ketamine. Patients without opiate or ketamine analgesia during transport experienced higher rates of hypotension (38.4% vs. 26.9%) and hypoxemia (29.1% vs. 22.1%). Factors significantly associated with opiate or ketamine use included the reason for transport, transport duration, paralytic use, and pre-transport opiate or ketamine administration. Patients with comorbidities were less likely to receive analgesia during transport. CONCLUSIONS This study’s findings highlight the need for improved pain evaluation in caring for mechanically ventilated pediatric patients during transport. Factors such as transport, duration, the reason for transport, pre-transport opiate or ketamine administration, and paralytics increase the likelihood of analgesia administration. At the same time, the presence of comorbidities decreases the likelihood. The study underscores the importance of improved documentation of pain to inform analgesic choices and administration with the ultimate goal of reducing adverse events.

Accessibility Effects of a new Metro Line

This study investigates how a new metro line currently being planned in the Oslo region will influence access to workplaces for the population. Geographically, the new line contributes to substantial accessibility gains in the immediate surroundings of the new stations, as well as having noticeable ripple effects further out in the public transport system. Socially, we find that the new metro line contributes to relatively modest accessibility gains for all income groups, and that the increase is largest among the richest households. These findings confirm that although new transport investments tend to benefit the whole population, it is not completely free of distributional effects.

Assessment of natural radioactivity levels in polymetallic nodules and potential health risks from deep-sea mining

The activity concentration of U-238, Ra-226, Pb-214, Bi-214, and Pb-210 was measured in samples of polymetallic nodules stored in the repository of the Interoceanmetal Joint Organization (IOM) based in Szczecin, Poland. The nodule samples were collected from the seabed of the Pacific Ocean, within the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, approximately 2,000 kilometres west of Mexico. The activity concentration of U-238 in the studied samples ranged from 9 to 51Bqkg-1. The mean activity concentration of the other radionuclides, Ra-226, Pb-214, Bi-214, and Pb-210, was found to be at comparable levels at 350, 321, 323, and 287Bqkg-1, respectively. Also investigated was the potential radiological hazard to individuals involved in the storing and processing of the nodules, resulting from the radioactive decay of Ra-226 contained in the nodules. It was concluded that the effective dose limit (20mSv) for individuals occupationally exposed to radioactive material can be exceeded in the case of prolonged and close contact with large quantities of nodules. Effective protective measures against the detected radiation include: observing the exposure time, ensuring safe distance from the source of radiation, and selecting suitable shielding where feasible within the operational constraints of the nodule transport or storage system.

Accelerating the penetration of clean electricity to promote the low carbonization of high-speed railways: A probabilistic framework

Transitioning from carbon-intensive travel modes to high-speed railways (HSR) is widely recognized as a crucial pathway to achieving the ‘carbon peak and carbon neutrality’ goals in the transport sector. However, it remains unclear whether HSR can meet carbon peak goals on time, under the high uncertainty of future electricity development. This study integrates scenario analysis and Monte Carlo simulation into life cycle assessment, proposing a probabilistic framework for dynamically simulating the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the entire life cycle of HSR. Monte Carlo simulation-Latin hypercube sampling method is introduced to model the uncertainty in the development of electricity. The results show that with the gradual increase in the proportion of clean electricity, the time when the CO2 emission intensity of HSR is lower than that of electric cars and electric coaches is most probable to occur in the 2nd–3rd years and the 5th–14th years of operation, respectively. The emission trend of HSR is primarily influenced by the passenger growth rate and the depth of transition to clean electricity, with minimal impact from the loading factor and initial passenger volume. When the passenger growth rate reaches 5 % by 2030, transitioning solely to clean electricity can peak CO2 emissions from HSR by 2030. However, with passenger growth rates of 6 %, 7 %, 8 %, and 9 %, the peak time is most probable to be delayed by 6–7 years, 13–14 years, 16 years, and 19 years, respectively. These findings suggest that achieving CO2 emission peak goals in the transport system requires collaborative efforts across multiple sectors, including transport, energy, and industry sectors. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of the pathways for achieving carbon peak in the transport sector.

Leveraging AI in Traffic Engineering to Enhance Bicycle Mobility in Urban Areas

More With the rise of AI-driven technologies, urban cycling is becoming more accessible and appealing to many due to benefits such as health improvement and cost efficiency. Governments worldwide are promoting cycling as a sustainable transportation option to address environmental challenges. Ensuring seamless bicycle mobility in cities is essential to incentivize cycling. AI-powered Traffic Engineering can significantly enhance the flow of bicycle traffic in urban areas by optimizing infrastructure and safety. This article explores the benefits of cycling and the rationale for investing in AI-integrated cycling infrastructure. It provides examples of smart solutions such as AI-based vehicle-cycle segregation (including London's Cycle Superhighways), protected intersections enhanced by machine learning algorithms, and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) that incorporate AI for dynamic traffic management. Their implementation and impact on cyclists and overall traffic flow are analyzed, demonstrating that these advanced systems reduce accidents, boost road efficiency, and make cycling more enjoyable. Quantitative data on these improvements is also presented. In conclusion, AI-enabled Traffic Engineering solutions play a vital role in enhancing bicycle mobility and safety in urban environments.

Are you Ready? Understanding the Intention to Use Highly Automated On-Demand Vehicles while Considering Technology Readiness and Environmental Drive

Highly automated vehicles represent a potentially disruptive technology, with uncertainties about their successful integration into existing transport systems. This study explores psychological factors influencing the intention to use highly Automated On-Demand vehicles (AODs). We build on the Theory of Planned Behavior, enhancing the model by incorporating key technological and environmental constructs of AODs. Structural equation modeling with latent variables is used to investigate potential shifts in travel mode choice. The theoretically derived model is tested within a sample of N = 214 individuals (151 women, 61 men, 2 diverse). After excluding the variable Perceived Behavioral Control, the adjusted model demonstrates excellent model fit indices (CFI = 0.99) and accounts for 61.2 % of the variance in the Intention to Use AODs. These results suggest that the Intention to Use AODs can be explained by the Orientation towards AODs (including Technology Readiness Motivators) and the Subjective Norm (including Environmental Concern), but not by Perceived Behavioral Control. Our findings align with current literature and stress the importance of including psychological factors when investigating the possible uptake of a new transportation technology.

Characterization and comparative appraisal of two novel annular channel designs with variable flow areas for supercritical heat transfer

Deterioration of heat transfer is a common concern for any supercritical heat transport system, regardless of the geometric orientation. Present study proposes two novel designs of annular channel with variable cross-sectional area and numerically assesses their respective performances, with the primary objective being the enhancement of overall heat transport characteristics in comparison with an equivalent traditional plain annular channel. Both the configurations exhibit substantial gain in terms of overall heat transfer coefficient and prevailing temperature level, while also eliminating deterioration over the entire parametric ranges explored here, with the diverging one demonstrating relatively superior characteristics. The converging channel generally maintains a flatter temperature profile and comparatively lower maximum temperature, and hence can be employed at larger power-to-mass-flux ratios. Taper angle is earmarked as the most influencing design variable, illustrating enhanced performance with greater tapering, albeit at the cost of nominal increase in pressure drop. Both the designs are found to be insensitive to flow acceleration, which is a primary reason of not encountering deterioration. Strong buoyancy effect can be present within the entrance region of the converging design, affecting its overall performance. Local thermalhydraulics have been noted to be contingent to the effective level of turbulence and distribution of specific heat in the radial direction, which also contribute to the favorable response from the diverging design.