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The Lumajang Regency is highly vulnerable to various natural disasters, particularly the potential eruption of Mount Semeru. In disaster response efforts, the local government needs to prepare effective and efficient evacuation routes, taking into account the magnitude of the eruption impact in the Semeru disaster-prone area. This research focuses on evacuating vulnerable residents using electric and conventional vehicles. This study is categorized as a vehicle routing problem with energy constraint (VRPEC) because the electric vehicles utilized in this research do not require recharging during their operational process, ensuring rapid evacuation as it is essential. By utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based optimization, the best route to evacuate all victims within 12 h is determined. This study involves developing scenarios considering the number of vehicles and their travel distances. There are also evacuation guidelines, including the implementation of priority points and evacuation zone usage. The research results indicate that scenarios EV 5, 8, and 10 are the most optimal for using electric vehicles. Meanwhile, the optimal scenario for conventional vehicles is scenario 5. This analysis shows that implementing electric vehicle scenarios is superior to conventional vehicle scenarios in terms of the total time required to evacuate all victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the improvement of people's living standards and the widening of circulation channels, the demand for fresh agricultural products continues to increase. The increase in demand will lead to an increase in delivery vehicles, costs, and carbon emissions, among which the increase in carbon emissions will aggravate pollution and is not conducive to sustainable development. Therefore, it is very important to balance economic and environmental benefits in the distribution of fresh agricultural products. Based on the analysis of the distribution characteristics of fresh agricultural products, this paper studies the optimization of the cold chain distribution route of fresh agricultural products considering carbon emission. Firstly, the cold chain distribution route planning of fresh agricultural products was investigated and analyzed by the interview method, and the basis for establishing the model objective and constraint conditions was obtained. Then, taking the minimum total cost including carbon emission cost as the optimization goal, the cold chain distribution route optimization model for mixed vehicle types is established considering electric refrigerated vehicles, gasoline refrigerated vehicles, and so on. Genetic algorithm was used to solve the model, and MATLAB2018b was used to substitute specific case data for simulation analysis. The analysis results show that increasing the consideration of carbon emission and mixed vehicle types in the distribution route of fresh agricultural products can not only reduce the distribution cost but also reduce the carbon emission. To some extent, the research content of this paper can provide a reference for enterprises in planning cold chain distribution routes of fresh agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in species distribution, population structure, and behavior can provide a portfolio effect that buffers populations against rapid environmental change. Although diversity has been identified as a goal for effective resource management and genetic and demographic tools have been developed, life history remains challenging to quantify. In this study, we demonstrate a novel metric of life history diversity using telemetry data from migratory fish. Here, we examined diversity in the outmigration behavior of juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) released in the Sacramento River, California, between 2007 and 2017. In this synthesis, we examined a wide variety of landscape and demographic drivers at high resolution by incorporating many individual telemetry studies, with variability in release location by year, environmental conditions, and all runs of salmon that are present in the watershed. When years were grouped by shared hydrologic conditions, variation in travel time was significantly higher in wet years. Further, our model showed a negative effect of warm temperatures at low flows on the variation in migration movements. This suggests that enhanced hydrologic connectivity increases the variation in migration time, a representation of habitat complexity and biocomplexity, despite the degraded state of this watershed and the weakened state of these populations. Variation in migration behavior could buffer species from current and future environmental changes, such as climate effects on precipitation and temperature. Hence, behavioral metrics generated from telemetry studies can be used to understand life history diversity and the potential effects of environmental fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being able to represent and remember verbally-encoded information about spatial environments from different perspectives is important for numerous daily activities. The present study examined how frequently individuals spontaneously engage in visual mental imagery and verbal rehearsal strategies in memory recall of spatial descriptions, and whether using certain strategies is associated with better recall performance. Memory recall for route (person-centred) and survey (object-centred) spatial descriptions was examined in a sample of 105 neurotypical individuals, who also reported to what extent they used route- and survey-based mental imagery and verbal rehearsal strategies in each description. Results showed that participants favoured a path visualisation strategy to recall the route description and a map visualisation strategy to recall the survey description. Regression models further showed that employing both imagery and verbal strategies was associated with better recall for both route and survey descriptions, although imagery strategies held a higher predictive power. The present findings highlight the fact that the spontaneous use of internal strategies in the form of visual imagery and verbal rehearsal is ubiquitous when recalling spatial descriptions and a core part of efficient spatial memory functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author recently designed, developed and implemented in Maple a package based on the use of digraphs that analyses the connectivity of an overtaking station on a double-track line. It was used to propose an alternative track layout for this kind of station, with advantages over the track layouts usually adopted. However, that package could only deal with "standard" turnouts (but neither with crossings nor with "special" turnouts, such as "single slip turnouts" or "scissors crossings"). This new article presents an improved version of the package. It uses a trick consisting in including virtual vertices in the associated digraph that are dead ends. This way it is possible to include the "special" turnouts in the track layout. It makes it possible to evaluate different alternative track layouts, including "special" turnouts; and to finally find one track layout that has advantages over the standard one and over the one proposed in the previous article. Let us observe that the design of the track layout is key for the exploitation of the infrastructure. In fact, the Spanish infrastructure administrator is nowadays remodelling the track layout of some of its main railway stations, as well as other smaller facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate current practices and identify challenges of piping prefabrication, this paper conducts a comprehensive survey to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) contractors. This paper is performed in three main steps. First, the current state of piping prefabrication, the attitude of MEP contractors to piping prefabrication, and the challenges of piping prefabrication are identified through a comprehensive data collection process that included semi-structured interviews, case studies, site visits, and questionnaires. The second step included suggesting a pattern and roadway of piping prefabrication. The results showed that: (1) The attitudes to feasibility of piping prefabrication differ in piping systems, piping connector modes, and types of project; and (2) building information modelling (BIM) promotes the adoption of piping prefabrication. Integrated project delivery (IPD), and distributor's early involvement into projects have significant effects on the successful implementation of piping prefabrication. (3) The main barriers and challenges were identified including the low level of standardization of design, lack of preferential policy, economies of scale, low-skilled workers, as well as the availability of fittings and valves. In the final step, a four-phase route of piping prefabrication is suggested for MEP contractors to expand the prefabrication capacity incrementally. The main contributions of this paper include: (1) This paper proposes a route for MEP contractors to improve their piping construction through the Modular and offsite construction (MOC) method. (2) This paper finds that the level of feasibility of piping prefabrication differs in piping systems, connection modes, and types of project. Challenges and barriers of piping prefabrication are firstly identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile security is one of the most fundamental problems in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). The data transmission path will be compromised for some disabled nodes. To construct a secure and reliable network, designing an adaptive route strategy which optimizes energy consumption and network lifetime of the aggregation cost is of great importance. In this paper, we address the reliable data aggregation route problem for WSNs. Firstly, to ensure nodes work properly, we propose a data aggregation route algorithm which improves the energy efficiency in the WSN. The construction process achieved through discrete particle swarm optimization (DPSO) saves node energy costs. Then, to balance the network load and establish a reliable network, an adaptive route algorithm with the minimal energy and the maximum lifetime is proposed. Since it is a non-linear constrained multi-objective optimization problem, in this paper we propose a DPSO with the multi-objective fitness function combined with the phenotype sharing function and penalty function to find available routes. Experimental results show that compared with other tree routing algorithms our algorithm can effectively reduce energy consumption and trade off energy consumption and network lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction industry is developing rapidly along with the acceleration of urbanization but accompanied by an increased amount of construction and demolition waste (CDW). From the perspective of sustainability, the existing research has mainly focused on CDW treatment or landfill disposal, but the challenge of reverse logistics of CDW recycling that provides overall CDW route planning for multiple participants and coordinates the transportation process between multiple participants is still unclear. This paper develops an optimization model for multi-depot vehicle routing problems with time windows (MDVRPTW) for CDW transportation that is capable of coordinating involved CDW participants and suggesting a cost-effective, environment-friendly, and resource-saving transportation plan. Firstly, economic cost, environmental pollution, and social impact are discussed to establish this optimization-oriented decision model for MDVRPTW. Then, a method combined with a large neighborhood search algorithm and a local search algorithm is developed to plan the transportation route for CDW reverse logistics process. With the numerical experiments, the computational results illustrate the better performance of this proposed method than those traditional methods such as adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm or adaptive genetic algorithm. Finally, a sensitivity analysis considering time window, vehicle capacity, and carbon tax rate is conducted respectively, which provides management implications to support the decision-making of resource utilization maximization for enterprises and carbon emission management for the government.

Providing mobile robots with autonomous capabilities is advantageous. It allows one to dispense with the intervention of human operators, which may prove beneficial in economic and safety terms. Autonomy requires, in most cases, the use of path planners that enable the robot to deliberate about how to move from its location at one moment to another. Looking for the most appropriate path planning algorithm according to the requirements imposed by users can be challenging, given the overwhelming number of approaches that exist in the literature. Moreover, the past review works analyzed here cover only some of these approaches, missing important ones. For this reason, our paper aims to serve as a starting point for a clear and comprehensive overview of the research to date. It introduces a global classification of path planning algorithms, with a focus on those approaches used along with autonomous ground vehicles, but is also extendable to other robots moving on surfaces, such as autonomous boats. Moreover, the models used to represent the environment, together with the robot mobility and dynamics, are also addressed from the perspective of path planning. Each of the path planning categories presented in the classification is disclosed and analyzed, and a discussion about their applicability is added at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual factors like gender and familiarity can affect the kind of environmental representation that a person acquires during spatial navigation. Men seem to prefer relying on map-like survey representations, while women prefer using sequential route representations. Moreover, a good familiarity with the environment allows more complete environmental representations. This study was aimed at investigating gender differences in two different object-position learning tasks (i.e., Almeria Boxes Tasks) assuming a route or a survey perspective also considering the role of environmental familiarity. Two groups of participants had to learn the position of boxes placed in a virtual room. Participants had several trials, so that familiarity with the environment could increase. In both tasks, the effects of gender and familiarity were found, and only in the route perspective did an interaction effect emerge. This suggests that gender differences can be found regardless of the perspective taken, with men outperforming women in navigational tasks. However, in the route task, gender differences appeared only at the initial phase of learning, when the environment was unexplored, and disappeared when familiarity with the environment increased. This is consistent with studies showing that familiarity can mitigate gender differences in spatial tasks, especially in more complex ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the transport of oversized cargoes from the perspective of parameters of road network in city environments. In recent years, there has been an increase in the transport of products with dimensions and weight considered above standard. It is very difficult to transport these products not only within Europe but also worldwide. This is also pointed out in the European directive, which recommends that all EU member states build a pan-European network of corridors for the transport of oversized cargoes. The article analyses the issue of transport within the transport infrastructure in cities from the perspective of sustainability of road networks for ensuring the passage of oversized cargoes. The article describes the results of research that was performed for the determination of parameters to ensure the passage of oversized cargoes on roads. The article also deals with the analysis of implemented transports, the results of video analysis of monitored transports, measurement of swept paths of vehicles using GPS apparatus and drones, modelling of oversized vehicles in programs for verification of the swept paths of vehicles, simulation of passage of oversized cargo, the determination of values of radii of corners, widths and heights for the transport of cargoes and the distance from solid obstacles. The precondition for the above-mentioned outputs is the practical use of results in planning the transport infrastructure on the entire communication network and the possibility of its application for designing activities associated with the construction or reconstruction of intersections on routes of frequent transport of excessive and oversized cargoes and verification of critical points on the route. The outputs of the work serve as a basis for the processing of technical conditions, which include procedures and technical recommendations within the design practice in the Czech Republic but also abroad. Emphasis is placed on sustainable, safe and economic transport infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccines are the most effective medical intervention due to their continual success in preventing infections and improving mortality worldwide. Early vaccines were developed empirically however, rational design of vaccines can allow us to optimise their efficacy, by tailoring the immune response. Establishing the immune correlates of protection greatly informs the rational design of vaccines. This facilitates the selection of the best vaccine antigens and the most appropriate vaccine adjuvant to generate optimal memory immune T cell and B cell responses. This review outlines the range of vaccine types that are currently authorised and those under development. We outline the optimal immunological correlates of protection that can be targeted. Finally we review approaches to rational antigen selection and rational vaccine adjuvant design. Harnessing current knowledge on protective immune responses in combination with critical vaccine components is imperative to the prevention of future life-threatening diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business progress and human development are linked to the efficient management of energy resources. The research in this paper contributes to the generalized application of good practices that reduce the vulnerability of companies. The research focuses on energy efficiency through comprehensive management systems (CMS), and "thought based on risks and opportunities", considering the discussion about the revision of ISO 50001:2018, the basic approach of the model and the route to implement CMS for quality, safety and health in the workplace, environmental management, energy efficiency, and other risk components. This implementation route, with the acronym CMS QHSE3+, places special emphasis on the functions of strategic planning, operational and risk management, and controls, as well as on deliverables and references to examples, templates, standards, and documents, to facilitate its application general in small and medium enterprises and in the management of energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main challenges of sensing in harsh industrial and biological environments are the limited energy of sensor nodes and the difficulty of charging sensor nodes. Simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) is a non-invasive option to replenish energy. SWIPT harvests energy and decodes information from the same RF signal, which is influencing the design of a wireless sensor network. In multi-hop multi-flow wireless sensor networks, interference generally exists, and the interference has a different influence on SWIPT. Route, interference and SWIPT are dependent. However, existing works consider SWIPT link resource allocation with a given route or only select path for one flow without interference. Therefore, this paper firstly analyzes the influence of interference on SWIPT, and select the SWIPT routing with interference. We design an interference-based information and energy allocation model to maximize the link capacity with SWIPT. Then, we design an interference-aware route metric, formulate SWIPT routing problem, and design an interference-aware SWIPT routing algorithm. The simulation results show that as the number of flows increases, there is more likely to obtain performance gains from interference and SWIPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]