Transport Time Research Articles

Significance of a Simulation for the Relocation of an Intensive Care Unit.

There have been few reports concerning simulation drills for the relocation of severely ill or injured patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs). We herein report our experience of one such simulation drill. It is a Narrative method. A simulation drill was performed on a weekday 2 weeks prior to the actual relocation. We selected 3 mock patients. The first one was a severely ill and unstable patient, the second had severe stroke, and the third had severe trauma. After the simulation, the average transportation time was 15minutes. The simulation revealed that mock patients with a percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system and intra-aortic balloon pumping in a standard ICU bed could not be accommodated in the elevator. Furthermore, working the elevator controls resulted in wasted time while transferring the patients. As a result, the number of people, who controlled the elevator, was therefore increased during the actual relocation. During the actual relocation, all patients were transported safely and more quickly than predicted based on the results of the simulation drill. Most physicians and paramedical staff have little experience with relocating ICUs, so a simulation drill was necessary to ensure the safe and prompt transport of patients.

Effects of soil heterogeneity and preferential flow on the water flow and isotope transport in an experimental hillslope

Soil water movement plays vital roles in hillslope runoff generation and groundwater and surface water interaction. However, there are still knowledge gaps about the impacts of soil heterogeneity and preferential flow on the internal water flow and transport process. In this study, the vertical soil heterogeneity focused on the variations in soil retention capacity, and the consideration of lateral preferential flow emphasized the higher hydraulic conductivity. We combined isotopic tracing and numerical modeling in an artificial hillslope, focusing on monitored processes of the artificial rainfall and isotopic tracing experiment. The results showed that the soil moisture quickly accumulated at the bottom of the hillslope during rainfall events, while the 2H enrichment occurred in the topsoil derived from enriched isotope injection in the second artificial rainfall. The evaporation process slowed down the mixing of new water in the topsoil and old water in the lower layer. We found that the vertical soil heterogeneity had significant influences on the internal water and isotope transport paths within the hillslope. The lateral preferential flow played an important role in the water flux and transport time to the seepage face. The coupling of isotopic tracing, which reflects the water transport and mixing with the hillslope, effectively improved the model simulation and mechanism analysis of hillslope water flow. Our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms governing soil water flow and transport dynamics in hillslopes, taking into account vertical soil heterogeneity and lateral preferential flow.

Abstract TP44: Door In-Door Out Times: A Comprehensive Stroke Center Review

Expeditious transfer of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and LVO presenting to a primary stroke center (PSC) and within the window for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is vital to optimize their functional outcome. Door-in-door-out (DIDO) represents the time of patient arrival to the PSC to the time of discharge from the PSC for transfer to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC). The goal for this metric is 90 minutes. At a large urban academic and CSC with a high volume of patient transfers, we examined our DIDO metrics to identify trends and opportunities for improvement. Methods: The CSC MT database was queried to analyze DIDO times. Inclusion criteria included AIS cases with LVO transferred to the CSC for MT from fiscal year 2022-2023. Hospitals transferring less than 5 cases during that timeframe, inpatient cases, and unavailable times were excluded. Hospital DIDO times and their components (i.e. each step in the process) were grouped into quartiles and analyzed. A survey to PSC stakeholders was sent to identify themes for possible barriers. Results: Among 8 hospitals, the top quartile with the fastest DIDO times had a mean of 132 minutes and median of 122 (N = 22 patients). The hospitals with the longest DIDO had a mean of 205 and a median of 193 (N=17). The components of DIDO times that separated the fastest from the slowest were PSC arrival to 1 st call to CSC and 1 st call of PSC to acceptance at CSC . The PSCs with the highest DIDOs took double the time in these components (40 vs 81, 22 vs 53 minutes). Distance from the CSC does not appear to be a factor in DIDO times, with the fastest being 13 to 68 miles away vs. 11 to 30 miles for the slowest. In the survey results, 81% of participants had CSC bed availability as the top barrier, whereas 69% reported delays in transport time to PSC. Conclusion: DIDO times from PSCs continues to be an opportunity for process improvement. Only 5% in our sample met the DIDO metric goal of 90 minutes. Two areas of potential improvement include decreasing PSC time to 1 st call and improving time of CSC acceptance. PSCs believe that a “ready” bed at the CSC would decrease DIDO times, but there are additional opportunities among the components.

Regional Sources and CH4 Seasonal Cycle in Central Siberia and the Arctic: Observations and Numerical Calculations

Contributions of anthropogenic and wetland methane emissions in Northern Eurasia (>40° N) and Russia into the near-surface CH4 abundance are quantified using GEOS-chem global chemical transport model at ZOTTO, Teriberka, and Tiksi measurement sites. Numerical results agree well with the proposed semianalytical solution, in which the total contribution (atmospheric response) in the CH4 level at a given site is decomposed into direct (synoptic) and global terms. On an advection timescale corresponding to a synoptic time interval, the annual average direct contribution of Russian anthropogenic emissions into the CH4 mixing ratio measured at ZOTTO (38.6 ppbv) is more than twice as large as that for Western Europe sources (17.7 ppbv). For the Arctic sites, the anthropogenic inputs from Russian and European sources are roughly similar (19.5 and 12.4 ppbv, respectively). The input from continental sources into near-surface methane abundance and its annual variations at the Arctic sites are generally lower compared to those at the ZOTTO site due to larger transport times from upstream CH4 source regions. Model-based atmospheric responses in methane levels at the Teriberka and Tiksi sites to continental CH4 sources are found to be very close owing to the relatively homogeneous (circumpolar) spatial distributions of the anthropogenic and biogenic signals at high latitudes.

Trans-Caspian International Transport Route Infrastructure Assessment Using Simulation Modelling

Abstract The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is one of the main transport corridors between China and Europe. It passes through the territory of Kazakhstan, as well as the countries of the South Caucasus, Turkey, and Iran, and contributes to the full realisation of transit and export opportunities of these countries. Each country participating in the development of TITR is implementing projects to increase the capacity of its transit infrastructure, but the potential of this route has not yet been fully realised. The reason for this is both high tariffs for sea and rail transport and insufficiently short transport times, which are dependent on the parameters and methods of using the infrastructure. This paper is devoted to the study of the TITR railway infrastructure located in Kazakhstan. The developed simulation model allows estimating the impact of infrastructure parameters of the railway track on the movement time of a container train from the PRC border to the ports of Aktau and Kuryk on the Caspian Sea coast.

Efektifitas Penggunaan Gerobak Sorong Bermesin Model Track Untuk Mengangkut Buah Sawit Di Kabupaten Banyuasin

Transportation of oil palm Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) from the plantation to the harvest collection point (TPH) must be done as quickly as possible. This is due to an increase in free fatty acids after the FFB is harvested. Some of the obstacles found were the FFB transportation equipment which was not yet capable of reaching the fruit in the garden easily and the transportation time which was quite long due to the uneven road conditions. With technological advances and the rapid development of innovation, the discovery of track model wheelbarrows that use a driving engine means that further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of these transport machines. In this research, we will compare wheelbarrows without engines and wheelbarrows with track models, there are 3 (three) treatments given, namely on flat roads, bumpy roads and damaged roads. Researchers search for and collect data on transport capacity, transport load, transport speed and transport costs. The results of this research show that carrying capacity and road conditions have a effect on travel time and speed. This is due to the ability/power of the machine which is quite large and stable in transporting fruit. and, other results from this research show that the use of motorized wheelbarrows can reduce transportation costs because the transportation speed increases so that the travel time is shorter.

Analysis of Delay in Implementation of Work on Road Projects in Highways Division of Katingan Regency

ABSTRACT. This paper studied 21 road projects in Katingan Regency. In this research, nine factors were used, which were divided into 61 indicators that cause work delays. The analysis used in the research is descriptive analysis with index and variance analysis, which were previously tested for the validity and reliability of the questionnaire instrument.
 The research results show that 3 factors are very dominant in causing work delays, namely the equipment factor with indicators of delays in providing heavy equipment or delays in delivery or provision of equipment; material factors with indicators of delays in material delivery to the project location; and other factors with natural disaster indicators. Steps to minimize delays in work implementation are: holding periodic meetings; communicating and agreeing upon the critical path in order to obtain the most efficient and effective strategy; planning and scheduling the procurement of tools, materials, and labor in terms of purchasing, transportation, and delivery times; determining appropriate routes for transportation and delivery; determining the appropriate route and means of transportation for access to the project location to suit time and cost planning; as well as the readiness of supervisory consultants in the field to supervise contractor work methods.
 Keywords: Delays in Work Implementation, Delay Factors, Roads

Assessing the implementation of the plan and the rhythm of production of the crusher based on the dynamics of power consumption

The relevance of this study is driven by the growing interest in developing and implementing effective local development strategies that encompass comprehensive measures for the formation and development of the financial-economic potential of territorial communities. In the context of changing economic realities and contemporary challenges, the EU experience is significant for creating adaptive and innovative development models capable of ensuring local communities' long-term viability and prosperity. The article aims to increase the efficiency of diagnosing the intra-shift hourly arrhythmia of crusher product output, making it possible to manage the rhythm of product output during production quickly. The article discusses the methodology for assessing the implementation of the plan and the rhythm of production of the crusher based on the dynamics of power consumption. Existing methods for assessing the rhythm and implementation of the production plan involve assessing the rhythm and fulfilling the plan over a sufficiently long period (days, months, years) after the end of the production process and calculating the volume of products produced. However, for operational production management, it is necessary to evaluate the rhythm and implementation of the plan in the production process, considering hourly and intra-shift operating modes. To substantiate the method for assessing the implementation of the production plan based on indicators of arrhythmicity of power consumption, proven methods for measuring and economic analysis of the rhythmicity of product production were used. The connection between indicators of arrhythmia in output and in power consumption was established based on the theory of crushing minerals and methods of analysing electrical loads in the power supply theory to industrial enterprises. Operational methods have been developed to determine the rhythm and fulfilment of the production plan for fractional factories by analysing intra-shift hourly diagrams of the electrical load of technological equipment. It is shown that existing methods for assessing production rhythm allow us to conclude only after the release of products. The proposed methods for assessing rhythm allow us to evaluate the process of implementing the plan and the production rhythm during the production process by the time of shipment of the finished product. For the first time, methods have been developed to indirectly assess the rhythm and implementation of the production plan based on the dynamics of the factory's power consumption. The developed methodology for quickly assessing the production rhythm and fulfilling the crusher’s production plan allows us to reduce energy costs for ore crushing and increase the economic efficiency of crushing factories. Keywords: rhythm of production, crushers, energy consumption, enterprise economics, mining and transport complex, energy saving.

인공지능 기반 농작물 성숙도 체크와 농산물 시장가격 변동을 고려한 출하시기 결정시스템 연구

This study aims to develop an integrated agricultural distribution network management system to improve the quality, profit, and decision-making efficiency of agricultural products. We adopt two key techniques: crop maturity detection based on the YOLOX target detection algorithm and market price prediction based on the Prophet model. By training the target detection model, it was possible to accurately identify crops of various maturity stages, thereby optimizing the shipment timing. At the same time, by collecting historical market price data and predicting prices using the Prophet model, we provided reliable price trend information to shipping decision makers. According to the results of the study, it was found that the performance of the model considering the holiday factor was significantly superior to that of the model that did not, proving that the effect of the holiday on the price was strong. The system provides strong tools and decision support to farmers and agricultural distribution managers, helping them make smart decisions during various seasons and holidays. In addition, it is possible to optimize the distribution network of agricultural products and improve the quality and profit of agricultural products.

Fusion Q-Learning Algorithm for Open Shop Scheduling Problem with AGVs

In accordance with the actual production circumstances of enterprises, a scheduling problem model is designed for open-shop environments, considering AGV transport time. A Q-learning-based method is proposed for the resolution of such problems. Based on the characteristics of the problem, a hybrid encoding approach combining process encoding and AGV encoding is applied. Three pairs of actions are constituted to form the action space. Decay factors and a greedy strategy are utilized to perturb the decision-making of the intelligent agent, preventing it from falling into local optima while simultaneously facilitating extensive exploration of the solution space. Finally, the proposed method proved to be effective in solving the open-shop scheduling problem considering AGV transport time through multiple comparative experiments.

Reperfusion in Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction With Cardiogenic Shock and Prolonged Interhospital Transport Times.

In patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock, primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is the preferred revascularization option. Little is known about the efficacy and safety of a pharmacoinvasive approach for patients with cardiogenic shock presenting to a non-PCI hospital with prolonged interhospital transport times. In a retrospective analysis of geographically extensive ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction network (2006-2021), 426 patients with cardiogenic shock and ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction presented to a non-PCI-capable hospital and underwent reperfusion therapy (53.8% pharmacoinvasive and 46.2% pPCI). The primary clinical outcome was a composite of in-hospital mortality, renal failure requiring dialysis, cardiac arrest, or mechanical circulatory support, and the primary safety outcome was major bleeding defined as an intracranial hemorrhage or bleeding that required transfusion was compared in an inverse probability weighted model. The electrocardiographic reperfusion outcome of interest was the worst residual ST-segment-elevation. Patients with pharmacoinvasive treatment had longer median interhospital transport (3 hours versus 1 hour) and shorter median symptom-onset-to-reperfusion (125 minute-to-needle versus 419 minute-to-balloon) times. ST-segment resolution ≥50% on the postfibrinolysis ECG was 56.6%. Postcatheterization, worst lead residual ST-segment-elevation <1 mm (57.3% versus 46.3%; P=0.01) was higher in the pharmacoinvasive compared with the pPCI cohort, but no differences were observed in the worst lead ST-segment-elevation resolution ≥50% (77.4% versus 81.8%; P=0.57). The primary clinical end point was lower in the pharmacoinvasive cohort (35.2% versus 57.0%; inverse probability weighted odds ratio, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.26-0.72]; P<0.01) compared with patients who received pPCI. An interaction between interhospital transfer time and reperfusion strategy with all-cause mortality was observed, favoring a pharmacoinvasive approach with transfer times >60 minutes. The incidence of the primary safety outcome was 10.1% in the pharmacoinvasive arm versus 18.7% in pPCI (adjusted odds ratio, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.14-1.09]; P=0.08). In patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction presenting with cardiogenic shock and prolonged interhospital transport times, a pharmacoinvasive approach was associated with improved electrocardiographic reperfusion and a lower rate of death, dialysis, or mechanical circulatory support without an increase in major bleeding.

Aviation industry is a basic element of the national economy and the system of international economic relations

It is proved that air transport is a driving force and a means of formation and development of the domestic market, which ensures the process of integration of the national economy into the world economy. The role and place of the air transport industry in Ukraine's unified transport system are determined, and the advantages and disadvantages of air transport and its role in ensuring international integration processes are analyzed. The essential advantages of air transport that distinguish it from other modes of transport (sea and land) are the highest speed and time savings for transportation; high reliability and safety of transportation; geographical accessibility of departure and arrival points for passengers and cargo, predictability of transportation time, the level of autonomy of passenger service and cargo handling processes; lower costs for cargo insurance. The main disadvantage of air transportation is the high cost of transportation services. At the same time, an increase in transportation distance leads to its reduction, and in some cases, the cost of air transportation may even be lower than other types of transportation due to the grouping of small cargo. This is actively used in modern supply chains. Endogenous and exogenous factors affecting the pricing process in the air transportation industry are investigated. The systemic and non-systemic factors of influence are described, and the need for diversification as the most effective tool for reducing risk in global instability is determined. The author outlines the most critical tasks for developing the Ukrainian air transportation market, which are actualized with its unblocking. The specifics of the elements of the strategic development model, which should be considered in strategic planning in the air transport industry, are scientifically substantiated. Keywords: air transport industry, air transportation, strategic development, international integration, national economy, international economic relations.

A hybrid strategy using an ambulance and a helicopter to convey thrombectomy candidates to definite care: a prospective observational study

BackgroundMechanical thrombectomy is the treatment of choice for large vessel occlusion strokes done only in comprehensive stroke centres (CSC). We investigated whether the transportation time of thrombectomy candidates from another hospital district could be reduced by using an ambulance and a helicopter and how this affected their recovery.MethodsWe prospectively gathered the time points of thrombectomy candidates referred to the Tampere University Hospital from the hospital district of Southern Ostrobothnia. Primary and secondary transports were included. In Hybrid transport, the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) unit flew from an airport near the CSC to meet the patient during transport and continued the transport to definitive care. Ground transport was chosen only when the weather prevented flying, or the HEMS crew was occupied in another emergency. We contacted the patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy 90 days after the intervention and rated their recovery with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Favourable recovery was considered mRS 0–2.ResultsDuring the study, 72 patients were referred to the CSC, 71% of which were first diagnosed at the PSC. Hybrid transport (n = 34) decreased the median time from the start of transport from the PSC to the computed tomography (CT) at the CSC when compared to Ground (n = 17) transport (84 min, IQR 82–86 min vs. 109 min, IQR 104–116 min, p < 0.001). The transport times straight from the scene to CT at the CSC were equal: median 93 min (IQR 80–102 min) in the Hybrid group (n = 11) and 97 min (IQR 91–108 min) in the Ground group (n = 10, p = 0.28). The percentages of favourable recovery were 74% and 50% in the Hybrid and Ground transport groups (p = 0.38) from the PSC. Compared to Ground transportation from the scene, Hybrid transportation had less effect on the positive recovery percentages of 60% and 50% (p = 1.00), respectively.ConclusionAdding a HEMS unit to transporting a thrombectomy candidate from a PSC to CSC decreases the transport time compared to ambulance use only. This study showed minimal difference in the recovery after thrombectomy between Hybrid and Ground transports.

Predicting Urgent Dialysis at Ambulance Transport to the Emergency Department Using Machine Learning Methods.

Hemodialysis patients frequently require ambulance transport to the hospital for dialysis. Some patients require urgent dialysis (UD) within 24 hours of transport to hospital to avoid morbidity and mortality. UD is not available in all hospitals; therefore, predicting patients who need UD prior to hospital transport can help paramedics with destination planning. In this paper, we developed machine learning models for paramedics to predict whether a patient needs UD based on patient characteristics available at the time of ambulance transport. This paper presented a study based on ambulance data collected in Halifax, Canada. Given that relatively few patients need UD, a class imbalance problem is addressed by up-sampling methods and prediction models are developed using multiple machine learning methods. The achieved prediction scores are F1-score=0.76, sensitivity=0.76, and specificity=0.97, confirming that models can predict UD with limited patient characteristics.

Optimal Transport System for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

This study conducted cost utility analysis comparing 4 systems of transporting acute ischemic stroke patients in Hokkaido, Japan. Hypothetical patients were generated on a geographic information system, and their outcomes were estimated according to their transport time to hospitals administering tissue plasminogen activator and/or endovascular thrombectomy. The transport systems where a neurointerventionist traveled for earlier endovascular thrombectomy were most cost-effective in some rural areas, while direct transportation to comprehensive stroke centers was more cost-effective in other areas.

Contributing to health system resilience during pandemics via purchasing and supply strategies: an exploratory system dynamics approach

BackgroundHealth systems worldwide struggled to obtain sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic due to global supply chain disruptions. Our study’s aim was to create a proof-of-concept model that would simulate the effects of supply strategies under various scenarios, to ultimately help decision-makers decide on alternative supply strategies for future similar health system related crises.MethodsWe developed a system dynamics model that linked a disease transmission model structure (susceptible, exposed, infectious, recovered (SEIR)) with a model for the availability of critical supplies in hospitals; thereby connecting care demand (patients’ critical care in hospitals), with care supply (available critical equipment and supplies). To inform the model structure, we used data on critical decisions and events taking place surrounding purchase, supply, and availability of PPE and ventilators during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic within the English national health system. We used exploratory modelling and analysis to assess the effects of uncertainties on different supply strategies in the English health system under different scenarios. Strategies analysed were: (i) purchasing from the world market or (ii) through direct tender, (iii) stockpiling, (iv) domestic production, (v) supporting innovative supply strategies, or (vi) loaning ventilators from the private sector.ResultsWe found through our exploratory analysis that a long-lasting shortage in PPE and ventilators is likely to be apparent in various scenarios. When considering the worst-case scenario, our proof-of-concept model shows that purchasing PPE and ventilators from the world market or through direct tender have the greatest influence on reducing supply shortages, compared to producing domestically or through supporting innovative supply strategies. However, these supply strategies are affected most by delays in their shipment time or set-up.ConclusionWe demonstrated that using a system dynamics and exploratory modelling approach can be helpful in identifying the purchasing and supply chain strategies that contribute to the preparedness and responsiveness of health systems during crises. Our results suggest that to improve health systems’ resilience during pandemics or similar resource-constrained situations, purchasing and supply chain decision-makers can develop crisis frameworks that propose a plan of action and consequently accelerate and improve procurement processes and other governance processes during health-related crises; implement diverse supplier frameworks; and (re)consider stockpiling. This proof-of-concept model demonstrates the importance of including critical supply chain strategies as part of the preparedness and response activities to contribute to health system resilience.

Potential of Assistive Robots in Clinical Nursing: An Observational Study of Nurses' Transportation Tasks in Rural Clinics of Bavaria, Germany.

Transportation tasks in nursing are common, often overlooked, and directly impact patient care time in the context of staff shortages and an aging society. Current studies lack a specific focus on transportation tasks, a gap our research aims to fill. By providing detailed data on transportation needs in nursing, our study establishes a crucial foundation for the development and integration of assistive robots in clinical settings. In July and September 2023, we conducted weekly observations of nurses to assess clinical transportation needs. We aim to understand the economic impact and the methods nurses use for transportation tasks. We conducted a participant observation using a standardized app-based form over a seven-day observation period in two rural clinics. N = 1830 transports were made by nurses and examined by descriptive analysis. Non-medical supplies account for 27.05% (n = 495) of all transports, followed by medical supplies at 17.32% (n = 317), pharmacotherapy at 14.10% (n = 258) and other other categories like meals or drinks contributing 12.68% (n = 232). Most transports had a factual transport time of under a minute, with patient transport and lab samples displaying more variability. In total, 77.15% of all transports were made by hand. Requirements to collect items or connect transports with patient care were included in 5% of all transports. Our economic evaluation highlighted meals as the most costly transport, with 9596.16 € per year in the observed clinics. Budget-friendly robots would amortize these costs over one year by transporting meals. We support understanding nurses' transportation needs via further research on assistive robots to validate our findings and determine the feasibility of transport robots.

Impacts of COVID-19 and the Russian–Ukrainian Conflict on Food Supply Chain: A Case Study from Bread Supply Chain in Egypt

The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian–Ukrainian war have significantly impacted global supply chains, including the food supply chain, in numerous countries. As one of the leading wheat importers, Egypt has been adversely affected by the simultaneous occurrence of these two events. Baladi bread is an integral part of the daily diet in Egypt, so any disruption affecting its availability can have a severe impact on the country’s food security. This study aims to simulate the causes and effects of potential disruptions that could occur, such as increased transportation time, unavailability of sourcing, and surge in demand due to lockdowns and panic buying. The East Cairo region was chosen as a case study to model the Baladi bread supply chain. A discrete-event simulation model was developed using anyLogistix software (version 2.15.1) for this study. Five key performance indicators were selected to evaluate, analyze, and compare the outcomes of each scenario in terms of the performance and operation of the food supply chain: service level by product, lead time, demand backlog, average daily available inventory in the mills, and on-hand inventory of wheat in the silos. The results indicate that the supply chain has been significantly impacted by the disruptions caused by these two events, leading to decreased availability of Baladi bread, unmet demand, extended lead times, and high backlogs. By utilizing the research findings, proactive strategies can be developed to minimize the impact of such disruptions in the future and maximize food security and supply chain resilience.

Promoting Emergency Medical Service Infrastructure Equality to Reduce Road Crash Fatalities

Timely emergency medical service (EMS) is critical to mitigate outcomes of severe traffic crashes, especially in rural areas. The urban–rural inequality of the EMS infrastructure has been one of the factors contributing to a higher death rate for patients in rural road crashes. To address the spatial imbalance of EMS infrastructure, this study aimed to provide a methodological framework for evaluating the existing EMS infrastructure by taking South Korea’s EMS infrastructure expansion plans as the case study. Specifically, this study developed a road crash data-driven methodology to promote spatial balance and economical expansion of EMS infrastructure of all types, including EMS stations, hospitals, the helicopter fleet, and landing spots. Geographically weighted binary logit regression and spatial analysis identified strategic locations for prioritizing the EMS infrastructure expansion using crash victim data and road networks to close the gap between urban and rural areas. The analysis of access to existing EMS infrastructure showed that the 16 to 20 min EMS response time, including on-scene time and transport time ranging from 11 to 15 min, are significantly associated with higher crash fatalities. The results also suggested that EMS stations and heliports are inadequate to meet the EMS time thresholds in the central province of Korea. The findings of this research could inform policymakers as they are working toward expanding the EMS infrastructure and creating a more equitable EMS response when it comes to transporting rural road crash patients.

Fast or slow? Logistics way choices for perishable products under competition

AbstractThis study investigates a logistics game where two competing shippers of perishable products may choose between fast and slow logistics ways. The fast logistics way allows a shipper to retain better delivered product quality, whereas the slow one provides a cost advantage. The two shippers sell high‐ and low‐quality products, respectively. We find that the equilibria of the logistics game are determined by the initial qualities of the two products, the differences in the transportation times, and the unit logistics costs of the two logistics ways. Furthermore, a large difference in transportation times enables the high‐quality shipper to select the fast logistics way but the low‐quality shipper to choose the slow logistics. In this way, the high‐quality shipper can benefit from the large difference in delivered product qualities, whereas the low‐quality shipper alleviates the pressure of competition. By contrast, when the unit logistics cost of the fast logistics way is sufficiently high, a small difference in transportation times stimulates the high‐quality shipper to use the slow logistics way but the low‐quality shipper to adopt the fast logistics. The high‐quality shipper may seek the benefit from an increase in demand, whereas the low‐quality shipper should narrow the difference in delivered product qualities. Finally, we find that faster logistics or higher initial product quality is beneficial to the high‐quality shipper, whereas slower logistics or lower initial product quality may be optimal for the low‐quality shipper. These findings offer useful insights for managers to choose their logistics ways.