Search

Clean fire extinguishing systems applicable to the pottery jar liquor warehouse are in demand. In this study, taking 53vol% liquor as the research subject, fire models of various clean fire extinguishing systems comprising water mist, liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) were established using a fire dynamic simulator to determine their fire extinguishing effect. A feasibility assessment of systems was performed under different fire source types, fire source sizes, and ventilation conditions. The fire extinguishing efficiency was analyzed in terms of the fire extinguishing time, oxygen concentration, and space temperature. The results showed that the success rate of the LCO2 and LN2 fire extinguishing systems was 100%, whereas the success rate of the water mist fire extinguishing system was 95%. In terms of reducing the oxygen concentration at the bottom of the space and the temperature in the space, the LCO2 system exhibited the best performance, followed by the LN2 system, and lastly the water mist. Under different ventilation conditions and fire source types, the LCO2 fire extinguishing system was least affected, whereas the effectiveness of the water mist fire extinguishing system reduced under natural ventilation conditions, and the extinguishing efficiency of the LN2 fire extinguishing system was affected by the fire source type. Overall, the LCO2 system presented more advantages in extinguishing fires in pottery jar liquor warehouses and can provide a new idea for the development and application of clean and efficient fire extinguishing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve Germany's 2045 goal of climate‐neutral building stock, the integration of renewable energies in retrofitting is necessary. The project 'CO2‐neutrales Welterbe Speicherstadt Hamburg' situated in the historic warehouse district, focuses on the sustainable heat supply in listed buildings. The project consists of two main approaches: a practical approach combining historically sensitive components for heat supply to create a comprehensive energy retrofitting concept with renewable energies in the listed area, and a methodological approach using Building Information Management (BIM) to integrate various simulation models and centralize outcomes efficiently. This enables a holistic and energy‐efficient retrofit, addressing flow‐specific, thermal, and ecological aspects, thereby marking a significant step toward achieving a CO2 neutral listed building stock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Strong elevational and latitudinal gradients allow the study of genetic differentiation in response to similar environmental changes. However, it is uncertain whether the environmental changes along the two types of gradients result in similar genetically based changes in quantitative traits. Peripheral arctic and alpine populations are thought to have less evolutionary potential than more central populations do. Methods: We studied quantitative traits of the widespread Anthyllis vulneraria in a common garden. Plants originated from 20 populations along a 2000‐m elevational gradient from the lowlands to the elevational limit of the species in the Alps, and from 20 populations along a 2400‐km latitudinal gradient from the center of the distribution of the species in Central Europe to its northern distributional margin. Results: Most traits showed similar clinal variations with elevation and latitude of origin, and the magnitude of all measured traits in relation to mean annual temperature was similar. Higher QST values than FST values in several traits indicated diversifying selection, but for others QST was smaller than FST. Genetic diversity of quantitative traits and neutral molecular markers was not correlated. Plasticity in response to favorable conditions declined with elevation and less strongly with latitude of origin, but the evolvability of traits did not. Conclusions: The clinal variation suggests adaptive differentiation of quantitative traits along the two gradients. The evolutionary potential of peripheral populations is not necessarily reduced, but lower plasticity may threaten their survival under rapidly changing climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wynwood, Miami, is a world-renowned global art canvas of street art and cultural production site. The rise of Miami as a global arts city and its hosting of Arts Basel enhanced the place marketing of Wynwood. Wynwood's recent trajectory is driven by the confluence of art, real estate, and urban planning. Its redevelopment over time has been dramatic, transitioning from a low‐income immigrant neighborhood and warehouse district into innovative artistic milieu. In the 2020s the neighborhood is being highly commodified, resulting in the loss of artistic capital replaced by trendy retail, condo, and hotel projects. Our analysis is primarily based on interviews with gallery owners in 2016 and 2022, as well as planning documents and business census data. Wynwood as an art venue has peaked, and artists and galleries are exiting. Nonetheless, Wynwood continues to be marketed as an arts neighborhood by property developers and retail and entertainment businesses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warehouses recently face increasing stress imposed by a volatile customer demand and increasing customer expectations in terms of ever shorter order response times. In that respect, warehouses more and more offer same-day and next-day shipment conditions. However, same-day shipment promises are challenging to fulfil, especially as the order fulfilment process operates against fixed deadlines imposed by the predefined truck departure times. As a natural mitigation strategy, warehouses set a cutoff point and offer same-day shipment only to customers that order until the cutoff point, but next-day shipment to all customers ordering thereafter. Setting an appropriate cutoff point is challenging as it affects multiple facets of the service quality, such as the order response time and the service level. In this paper, we study the design of cutoff-based shipment promises for stochastic deadline-oriented order fulfilment processes in warehouses. We present a discrete-time Markov chain model for exact steady-state performance analysis and propose two novel performance measures – α - and β - cutoff service level – for service level measurement in these systems. We numerically show the benefit of cutoff-based shipment promises. Even with a late cutoff point, there is a significant gain in the system performance. Furthermore, we find that warehouses should set the cutoff point such that it balances customer expectations in terms of service level and order response time. Finally, warehouses can improve their shipment promises when referring to β - instead of α - cutoff service level and by implementing measures reducing the utilisation and the variabilities of the order fulfilment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an multi-compartment open vehicle routing problem with time window (MCOVRPTW) arising in fresh products distribution, which doesn't require the finished service vehicles return to the distribution center. There are three types of fresh products to be delivered by the multi-compartment vehicles, and the objective aims to find the vehicles scheduling scheme with the lowest cost. For this problem, we established a mathematical model in which the capacity constraint of each compartment and time window constraint must be satisfied. Then, we proposed a hybrid genetic algorithm with some local search-based operators, called GA-LS, to solve it. Each individual in initial population was generated by the nearest neighborhood method to obtain highquality initial population. When a child population was built, the local search procedure was executed on each individual in the child population to enhance its quality. Finally, we carried out some experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. According to the results, the proposed algorithm can yield better solutions compared with existing approaches. Meanwhile, the proposed algorithm reveals good stability and convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In smart warehouses, logistics robots need to continuously execute tasks, and therefore traditional onetime multi-robot path planning cannot meet practical needs. To address this challenge, we proposed Prejudgment Conflicts Search (SPC) algorithm. The SPC algorithm is divided into two layers: the higher layer allocates tasks to robots based on priority rules, and the lower layer plans paths for these robots with an improved A* algorithm, which includes vertex and edge collision checks during path searching and effectively prevents collisions among robots. We simulated SPC and Conflict-Based Search (CBS) on random maps and warehouse maps. The results show that compared to CBS, SPC provides nearly optimal paths with a significantly reduced computation time. Additionally, as the number of robots increases, SPC exhibits better scalability, offering a practical solution for continuous multi-robot path planning in smart warehouses, with the potential to enhance logistics efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the supply chain network design (SCND) problem with multiple suppliers, warehouses and retailers in the presence of random disruptions using a two-stage approach. The first stage addresses the SCND problem without disruption, employing a genetic algorithm-based heuristic. This approach is integrated with the induced backorder for inventory coordination. In the second stage, simulation is used to evaluate several reactive strategies whilst introducing disruptions in the network and to adjust the inventory control parameters obtained in the first stage as part of a proactive strategy. The numerical results show that neglecting the risk of disruptions may lead to network designs with low fill rates and the proposed approach is able to make the supply chain network more resilient in the presence of disruptions. Based on the simulation results, a localized-reactive strategy is able to suppress the spread of disruptions to other supply channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shuttle-based storage/retrieval system (SBS/RS) is a new type of automatic warehouse system. More and more enterprises choose it because of its dense storage structure, small footprint, high efficiency, and many other advantages. Each enterprise has different requirements for system efficiency, the number of storage units, and the size of the warehouse. It makes sense to study the design of the minimum cost Shuttle-Based Storage/Retrieval System under the limitation of warehouse space size to meet enterprise requirements on the number of cargos and enterprise needs on system efficiency. An optimization model to minimize the system cost is established, and a heuristic algorithm is designed in this paper. Through the experiment, we identified that different system selection schemes and the configuration of facilities in the system under different throughput capacity requirements. The relationship between the system's total cost, unit cost, and design scheme of the system is found. This study can guide designers and planners to design a more reasonable system. Under the different needs of enterprises, build a Shuttle-Based Storage/Retrieval System with the lowest cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the spatial evolution characteristics of high-level Grade A tourist attractions in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomeration, from 2001 to 2021, are studied by comprehensively applying the nearest neighbor index, kernel density analysis, standard deviation ellipse, and spatial autocorrelation. High-level Grade A tourist attractions are investigated using the random forest model as the driving mechanism of the spatial pattern. Results show that 1) the spatial distribution of high-level Class A tourist attractions in the YRD city cluster has grown to be an agglomeration, and the high-density areas have evolved from "point-like dispersion to regiment-like combination," gradually forming a B-shaped core density structure. 2) The spatial distribution comprises an overall "northwest–southeast" direction, a small counterclockwise rotation, the distribution of the center of gravity to the southwest migration, and the center of gravity from the territory of Suzhou City to the territory of Huzhou City. 3) The high-level Class A tourist attractions in the YRD city cluster as a whole show a strong positive spatial correlation, and the significantly clustered areas include three types: high-high (H-H), low-low (L-L), and low-high (L-H). 4) The spatial distribution of high, A-level tourist attractions in the YRD city cluster results from the combined action of the natural environment, resource endowment, socioeconomy, and policy background. Each element has a nonlinear and complex influence on the distribution of scenic spots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving access to HIV/AIDS healthcare services is of great concern to government and policymakers striving to strengthen overall public health. How to reasonably allocate HIV/AIDS healthcare resources and maximize the equality of access to healthcare services across subdistrict areas has become an urgent problem to be solved. However, there is limited research on this topic in China. It is necessary to evaluate spatial accessibility to improve the accessibility and equity of HIV/AIDS healthcare services. In this study, the improved multi-modal two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) and inverted 2SFCA (i2SFCA) methods are used to measure the spatial accessibility of HIV/AIDS healthcare services and the crowdedness of the healthcare sites in Shandong Province, China. Then, the theoretical supply and the optimal spatial distribution of resources are calculated and visualized by minimizing the accessibility gaps between demand locations. This study showed that the spatial accessibility of HIV/AIDS service resources in Shandong Province was concentrated and unevenly distributed, and the accessibility scores in the marginal areas of prefecture-level cities were significantly lower than those in other areas. Regions with a large number of doctors had significantly higher levels of spatial accessibility. The ART accessibility scores in the southwest of Shandong Province were higher than those in other regions. As the travel friction coefficient increased, the accessibility scores formed an approximately circular cluster distribution centered on the healthcare sites in geographical distribution. More ART drugs needed to be supplied in marginal areas and more doctors were needed to work on HIV/AIDS in urban areas to address the spatial distribution imbalance of HIV/AIDS healthcare services. This study profoundly analyzed the spatial accessibility of HIV/AIDS healthcare services and provided essential references for decision-makers. In addition, it gives a significant exploration for achieving the goal of equal access to HIV/AIDS healthcare services in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oscillations are ubiquitous in sunspots and the associated higher atmospheres. However, it is still unclear whether these oscillations are driven by the external acoustic waves (p-modes) or generated by the internal magnetoconvection. To obtain clues about the driving source of umbral waves in sunspots, we analyzed the spiral wave patterns (SWPs) in two sunspots registered by IRIS MgII 2796 Å slit-jaw images. By tracking the motion of the SWPs, we found for the first time that two one-armed SWPs coexist in the umbra, and they can rotate either in the same or opposite directions. Furthermore, by analyzing the spatial distribution of the oscillation centers of the one-armed SWPs within the umbra (the oscillation center is defined as the location where the SWP first appears), we found that the chromospheric umbral waves repeatedly originate from the regions with high oscillation power and most of the umbral waves occur in the dark nuclei and strong magnetic field regions of the umbra. Our study results indicate that the chromospheric umbral waves are likely excited by the p-mode oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional storage method of fire accident cases is mainly in the form of text, and it is difficult to effectively conduct comprehensive analysis due to the limited ability to display key information and fire knowledge. In this paper, a structured storage form of building fire cases was proposed based on knowledge graph, which can comprehensively describe and visualize the fire causes, the dynamic fire development process and evacuation process. It enables readers to get information and knowledge from building fire cases intuitively, and supports the comprehensive analysis for building fire prevention strategies. The knowledge graphs are constructed for two common building types (residential and public buildings), and have the capacity to reflect the dynamic development law of fires from ignition to spread in different buildings. Meanwhile, as the occupants' evacuation is the first concern when a fire occurs, the knowledge graphs also visualize the relationship among various conditions in the evacuation process. Different application scenarios are displayed in the paper, including case query, root-cause analysis and consequence forecasting, which shows the advantages and applicability of building fire knowledge graph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intelligent automated store warehouse (iZMS) research and development project was created to meet the expectations of a modern automatic store. The project concerns the development of the concept and pilot implementation of an automated store warehouse adapted to the autonomous and automatic sales of goods selected by retail chains. One of the aims of the iZMS project is to develop a scalable solution that allows for the simple adaptation of the iZMS to the needs of a potential customer, considering their requirements in terms of the quantity and variety of assortment offered within the iZMS. An important requirement in the use of the iZMS system is minimizing the customer waiting time for purchased products. This problem is related, among others, to the placement of products on the shelves of racks and will be solved in the optimizing process. Running optimization tasks requires a simulator that will mimic the features of a physical device faster than in real time to generate many proposals of the allocation of goods on storage racks in the shortest possible time and choose the best one, guaranteeing the shortest picking time of a representative basket of goods. A numerical simulator was developed to model the physical structures of food storage equipment and then simulate the sales process. Among the results obtained, the most important are the time parameters of individual operations, which will be used to optimize the placement of goods on storage racks. After analyzing the needs resulting from the usage of the iZMS system, we decided to develop a dynamic, deterministic simulator with discrete objects and perform the simulation with a controlled time increment and, in some cases, utilize elements of event-driven simulation, in which the flow of goods is simulated with first-in, first-out (FIFO) queues. Finally, verification of the numerical simulator with a physical model confirmed that it could be employed in optimization processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite unprecedented quality improvement and defect prevention measures, producing a complete lot of perfect items is still highly unlikely due to the degradation of machines and processes over time. The previous studies on supply chains with defective/imperfect items have explored options such as process quality improvement investments, reworking, selling at a salvage value, or disposing of these items at an additional cost. This paper, contrary to existing literature, categorizes defective items into three types based on the level of imperfection: slightly, moderately, and highly defective items, and determines the optimal lot size for perfect and defective items. The focus is to develop a supply chain model for a single manufacturer and multiple retailers in the presence of defective items and manage defective products based on quality to generate profit from low-defective products rather than traditional defect rate reduction methods. Numerical examples and sensitivity analyses are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model in improving the total profit of the supply chain by optimizing production quantities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small molecule quinone compounds are attractive cathode materials for rechargeable aqueous zinc‐organic batteries (AZOBs) because of their structural diversity and low‐cost merits. Among them, nonpolar quinones are dominant given the relatively low solubilities in aqueous electrolytes. However, their poor electronic conductivity and accumulated Coulombic repulsion lead to underutilized active sites and sluggish redox kinetics. Here, polar 2,6‐dimethoxy‐1,4‐benzoquinone (m‐DMBQ) works as an advanced AZOB cathode with unexpectedly superior performance over the nonpolar isomer of 2,5‐dimethoxy‐1,4‐benzoquinone (p‐DMBQ). The asymmetric charge distribution of active centers in the p−π conjugated backbone of m‐DMBQ induces reduced bandgap with improved electronic conductivity and redox activity, thus achieving a high specific capacity of 312 mAh g−1 approaching the theoretical limit. Additionally, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level is lowered for an increased average discharge voltage of 0.88 V. Characterizations and computational studies revealed boosted competitiveness of H+ relative to Zn2+ for significantly enhanced charge transfer kinetics and reversibility. As a result, the as‐fabricated AZOB achieves a high energy density of 275 Wh kg−1 based on m‐DMBQ along with high‐rate capability and long‐term cycling stability. This work provides a new molecular engineering strategy through regulating charge distribution symmetry for boosting charge storage in organic cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In continuation of the previous part, this paper comprehensively focuses on energy, exergy, exergo-economic, and environmental (4E) analyses of two prioritized clean hydrogen (H 2) supply chains pathways. The first scenario relies on domestic demand , involves blue H 2 production and storage using steam methane reforming coupled with carbon capture and storage through H 2 conversion to hydrogen carriers in liquid form (ammonia and methanol) aligned with the existing infrastructure. The second scenario involves green H 2 production from photovoltaic panels as the power source follows by storing H 2 in liquid form which is more suitable to export. The findings indicate that the blue H 2 system outperforms the green H 2 system in terms of energy and exergy, boasting 41.38% and 22.15% compared to 12.16% and 12.75%, respectively. However, when examining economic parameters, the blue H 2 system shows a total cost rate of 1976 US$/h, a net profit of $747.2 million (mn) at the end of its lifetime, and a payback period of approximately nine years. Conversely, the green H 2 system demonstrates economic indicators of a 125.2 $/h as a total cost rate, $1.26 billion (bn) net profit, and an 8.17 year payback period. Moreover, the production cost rates for blue and green H 2 are 1.32 $/kg and 2.55 $/kg, respectively; while the CO 2 emissions rate in the blue H 2 system is 10.71 kg/s. The green H 2 system prevents 19.84 kg/s of CO 2 emissions resulted a significant environmental cost reduction of 2.28 $/kg H 2. This analysis facilitates a thorough comparison of these two clean H 2 production and storage systems, offering insights for policymakers across performance, economic, and environmental dimensions. • A comprehensive 4E analysis was applied for the selected H 2 value chain scenarios. • Blue H 2 scenario is superior economically while environmentally the green one takes precedence. • Carbon credit makes the green H 2 scenario emerges frontrunner utilizing PV solar technology. • Methanol was recognized as the most cost-effective H 2 carrier for storage in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is highly rich in diversity of Begonia, and in which Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region, following Yunnan province, has the second highest number of Begonia species. As a distribution center of Begonia sect. Coelocentrum, Guangxi already had 58 species recognized in this section. In this paper, Begonia ornithopedata, a new taxon of B. sect. Coelocentrum from southwestern Guangxi is described. With the bird-foot-shape lobed leaves, the new species is easily distinguished from any of other taxa, excepting few similarities only in leaf morphology of B. laminariae Irmsch. and B. circumlobata Hance. Its conservation status is assigned as the Endangered according to The Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's policies about reducing carbon emissions mainly focus on saving energy and reducing pollutant emissions. However, the carbon emissions of the logistics industry remain high. Thus, logistics companies should not only reduce distribution costs, but also consider the impact of carbon emissions when planning distribution routes. This paper studies the supermarket delivery distribution route planning problem considering carbon emissions. Aiming at the lowest economic operating cost composed of fixed cost, driving cost, and carbon emission cost, we propose a grey wolf optimized genetic algorithm to generate delivery route plans, where the social rank and hunting behavior of the grey wolf optimization algorithm are integrated into the selection operation of the genetic algorithm. Finally, a real case of a large third-party logistics enterprise in Beijing is studied. The case study results verify the effectiveness and applicability of the model and algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial dynamics of logistic allocation in large urban centers has gained relevance in urban economics, public policy formulation and transport engineering. A crucial aspect of these spatial, agglomerative, and dispersive phenomena are the causal links that such processes generate or by which they are generated. This study investigates the causal relationships linked to the allocation of logistics warehouses in the context of the sub-regions of the São Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMR) based on the theory of agglomeration economies. Two variables related to the urban distribution of goods were selected: (a) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and (b) Cargo Theft (CT) and contrasted with the number of logistics warehouses (NW). Five regions of the SPMR were considered both for spatial descriptive analysis and for the study of causality based on the Granger methodology, adapted by Hurlin, and on the cointegration methodology and Panel Vector Error Correction Model. For SPMR, the relationships obtained demonstrate, in the short term, unidirectional causalities between GDP/NW. In the short term, the causal relationship between CT/NW for the metropolitan region was unidirectional from the amount of cargo theft to the number of warehouses. The subregions showed strong heterogeneity in causal relationships, both in the short and long term, demonstrating the complexity of the logistical allocation phenomena in the SPMR. • Cargo theft is a crucial decision factor when installing a logistic warehouse. • The demand in high-GDP regions increases the need for nearby logistics services. • The number of warehouses affects long-term economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing growth of industrial facilities calls for sustainable planning and design. In this research, the multiple objective optimization model is developed to plan for Eco-Industrial Parks, in which economic, social, and environmental criteria are evaluated. Our proposed optimization model is integrated with the simulation-based risk profile based on emergency scenarios. Varied chemical substances and explosive locations are further analyzed to assess the impact of risk. Then, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process technique is applied to examine uncertain decisions. Next, this study presents the proposed model with the case study of selective industrial-building types in an industrial park, in which industrial plants, hazardous material plants, warehouse buildings, and office space are included. Our analysis reveals that tradeoffs exist in designing an industrial estate with various industrial plants under conflicting objectives. Finally, tradeoffs are investigated using Pareto analysis resulting in sustainable planning for an industrial estate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multi-purpose and multi-scale tool for the seismic vulnerability and risk classification of critical buildings, such as schools, is proposed for pre- and post-event decision-making to mitigate the risk and reduce losses. The herein proposed "RiskSchools" system, is capable of performing the seismic risk assessment and grading of school buildings at various scales (district, municipality, region etc.), using (a) a pre-seismic rapid visual screening and grading of the school buildings in different vulnerability-risk classes and (b) a seismic risk assessment of the school buildings population, applying probabilistic or scenario-based methods for the seismic hazard and analytical methods for the vulnerability and risk assessment, also leading to a grading of the buildings' risk. The results of the two approaches are compared and combined through a flexible and adaptable expert elicitation scheme to provide a final classification of the seismic risk of the school buildings in the scale of interest and a prioritization scheme with respect to the need for seismic upgrade and retrofitting. The RiskSchools system consists of a powerful, state-of-the-art, user-friendly, and easy-to-use smartphone application for the compilation of the inventory and the rapid visual screening, and a project-dedicated multi-purpose webGIS platform for the seismic vulnerability and risk classification of school buildings at any scale. Although it is initially developed and applied to the school building stock of the Region of Central Macedonia in Greece, it has been specifically designed to be easily applied to other regions of Greece and worldwide and adapted to other critical buildings, like health care and hospital buildings. The ultimate scope of the RiskSchools System is to allow for the optimal design of decision-making procedures in support of disaster management to enhance critical buildings resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clustered and generalized vehicle routing problem (CGVRP) extends the well-known vehicle routing problem by grouping the demand points into multiple distinct zones, and within each zone, further separation is made by forming clusters. The objective of the CGVRP is to determine the optimal routes for a fleet of vehicles dispatched from a depot, visiting all zones within each cluster. This requires making two simultaneous optimization decisions. Firstly, each zone must be visited by exactly one node, and secondly, all zones within a cluster must be visited by the same vehicle. In this paper, we introduce two mixed-integer linear programming formulations for the CGVRP, aimed at solving a joint order batching and picker routing problem with alternative locations in a warehouse environment featuring mixed-shelves configuration. Both formulations are tested on three scenarios of randomly generated small- and medium-sized instances. Additionally, we propose a general rule approach for calculating a cost matrix in a rectangular environment. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed mathematical formulations in efficiently solving problems with up to 180 nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that the determination of fire hazard zones in warehouses is not sufficiently researched and studied, this paper aims to present a new methodological approach concerning the mentioned issue. Based on the COPRAS multi-criteria decision-making method, a new method was developed for the precise determination of potential zones where there is a risk of fire. The advantage of the described method is that it allows the quick and easy determination of all-orientation fire risk zones. The method requires fewer hardware resources compared to the existing ones and enables the display of the warehouse space in the form of a 3D model with calculated fire hazard zones. The mentioned procedure represents the first step when planning the layout and arrangement in the warehouse itself. The effectiveness of the proposed method was confirmed through a suitable numerical example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonising the energy system requires high shares of variable renewable generation and sector coupling like power to heat. In addition to heat supply, heat pumps can be used in future energy systems to provide flexibility to the electricity system by using the thermal storage potential of the building stock and buffer tanks to shift electricity demand to hours of high renewable electricity production. Bridging the gap between two methodological approaches, we coupled a detailed building technology operation model and the open-source energy system model Balmorel to evaluate the flexibility potential that decentral heat pumps can provide to the electricity system. Austria in the year 2030 serves as an example of a 100% renewable-based electricity system (at an annual national balance). Results show that system benefits from heat pump flexibility are relatively limited in extent and concentrated on short-term flexibility. Flexible heat pumps reduce system cost, CO2 emissions, and photovoltaics and wind curtailment in all scenarios. The amount of electricity shifted in the assessed standard flexibility scenario is 194 GWhel and accounts for about 20% of the available flexible heat pump electricity demand. A comparison of different modelling approaches and a deterministic sensitivity analysis of key input parameters complement the modelling. The most important input parameters impacting heat pump flexibility are the flexible capacity (determined by installed capacity and share of control), shifting time limitations, and cost assumptions for the flexibility provided. Heat pump flexibility contributes more to increasing low residual loads (up to 22% in the assessed scenarios) than decreasing residual load peaks. Wind power integration benefits more from heat pump flexibility than photovoltaics because of the temporal correlation between heat demand and wind generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, the effect of phase change materials integrated into the building's external wall has been investigated in terms of material type, thickness, and melting temperature of phase change material on the building energy performance for İzmir Province. A villa residential project has been modelled in 3D using DesignBuilder energy simulation software and two different external wall configurations have been designed by changing the position, thickness and melting temperature of the PCMs into the wall. The amount of CO2 emission reductions that PCMs will provide according to the fuel type of the building's heating system has been calculated. Using PCMs in the external wall not only provides high heating and cooling energy savings but also increases thermal comfort indoors by reducing temperature fluctuations. The PCM melting temperature of 23°c performs quite well compared to other temperatures in both cooling energy and heating energy demand reduction. By increasing the triple thickness of the PCM, 18.81% in heating energy and 22.85% in cooling energy savings can be achieved. Depending on the external wall and phase change material types, different thicknesses and melting temperatures of PCM, annual total energy saving of the phase-change material is calculated between 10,349.50-83,345.98 kJ/m².year and the annual CO2 emission reduction according to fuel types has been found as 0.672-14.284 kgCO2/m².year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction accuracy of precast components in prefabricated buildings has received sufficient attention in the context of the high-quality development of the construction industry. However, various unknown factors in the production, transportation, and installation stages lead to significant deviations in construction, and have not been systematically identified and dynamically analyzed in previous studies. This study aims to improve the construction accuracy of precast components by unlocking the causal relationships among these factors and revealing top-sensitive factors among them. Thus, based on the theory of system dynamics (SD), an SD model is established from the perspective of a supply chain consisting of the production, transportation, and installation stages. The 14 factors and their causal relationships involved in the SD model are identified through literature review and expert consultation methods. The sensitivity analysis method based on dynamic simulation is adopted to analyze the data output from the SD model. Finally, a real prefabricated building project is used for demonstrating and validating this SD model. The significant findings indicate that the installation stage is the most critical stage affecting the construction accuracy of precast components, and the precision of cast-in-situ structure is the most sensitive factor. The formwork system of cast-in-situ structure and construction personnel quality are the root causes of the precision of cast-in-situ structure. The suggestions corresponding to these findings are made. These findings and suggestions can facilitate general contractors in allocating relevant resources to more critical factors for efficiently improving the construction accuracy of precast components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture's role in addressing food security has grown, with a spotlight on Asian carp species. Polyculture, i.e. cultivating multiple fish species in a single system, is being increasingly adopted for its resource efficiency and economic benefits. This practice for Asian fish for food and ornamental purposes is gaining traction in Europe despite their invasive potential. Rising temperatures due to climate change offer an opportunity for thermophilic Asian carps (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Aristichthys nobilis). Using GIS modeling (Maxent), we identified the possible settlement of Asian carp in Northern Europe amidst climate change. We analyzed carp global distribution centers, assessed the potential carp spread in Europe, and evaluated their potential suitability for polyculture systems. By 2050, H. molitrix may extend its range to 58–62° N latitude, with a potential 1.7-fold habitat increase, while A. nobilis, which are more heat-tolerant, may move north to 52–58° N latitude, with a 1.3-fold potential increase. Despite the slight ecological differences in their native habitats, niche modeling indicates that these carp can occupy similar niches in Europe (proven statistically). The eventuality of using Asian species for polyculture in Europe presents both opportunities and challenges in the face of a changing climate as long as invasion risks are prevented. Envisaging such polyculture, yet very carefully for the protection of ecosystems, can help food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart factory leads to a strong digitalization of industrial processes and continuous communication between the systems integrated into the production, storage, and supply chains. One of the research areas in Industry 4.0 is the possibility of using autonomous and/or intelligent industrial vehicles. The optimization of the management of the tasks allocated to these vehicles with adaptive behaviours, as well as the increase in vehicle-to-everything communications (V2X) make it possible to develop collective and adaptive intelligence for these vehicles, often grouped in fleets. Task allocation and scheduling are often managed centrally. The requirements for flexibility, robustness, and scalability lead to the consideration of decentralized mechanisms to react to unexpected situations. However, before being definitively adopted, decentralization must first be modelled and then simulated. Thus, we use a multi-agent simulation to test the proposed dynamic task (re)allocation process. A set of problematic situations for the circulation of autonomous industrial vehicles in areas such as smart warehouses (obstacles, breakdowns, etc.) has been identified. These problematic situations could disrupt or harm the successful completion of the process of dynamic (re)allocation of tasks. We have therefore defined scenarios involving them in order to demonstrate through simulation that the process remains reliable. The simulation of new problematic situations also allows us to extend the potential of this process, which we discuss at the end of the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virus infection is one of the major constraints in garlic production since the viruses are readily accumulated on vegetative propagation material (bulbs). This research aimed to detect garlic common latent virus (GCLV), shallot latent virus (SLV), onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV), and leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV) infecting local garlic as seed bulb and imported garlic as consumption bulb. Seed bulb samples were obtained from seed breeders in several garlic growing centers in Indonesia. In contrast, consumption bulb samples were obtained from plant quarantine warehouses and three local markets in Bogor. Some bulb samples were used for morphological observations, and some were germinated in the laboratory until the leaves emerged. Leaves were collected for virus detection by RT-PCR using specific primers for GCLV, SLV, OYDV, and LYSV. Seed and consumption bulbs have differences in their morphological characteristics, especially in the type of neck hardness and the size of the bulb diameter. OYDV and LYSV infections were successfully detected in seed and consumption bulbs, while SLV was only found in consumption bulbs. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that SLV from consumption bulbs formed one group, GCLV from seed bulbs formed one group, while OYDV and LYSV from seed and consumption bulbs were in different groups, indicating that the viruses came from different strains. Further research through high-throughput detection methods and providing virus-free planting material are needed to anticipate the spread of new strains of garlic viruses in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In anticipation of price hikes and shortages caused by supplier disruptions and manufacturer production stops, customers might stockpile extra products. In the case of a supplier disruption, a manufacturer may decide to continue producing using a contingent source. Capturing the price dynamics in four disruption-related periods (i.e., responding, rising, recovering, and recovered), we derive optimal hoarding policies for customers. The results indicate that customer hoarding decisions fall into multiple patterns depending on the interactions between disruption events, market responses (quick and slow), and market recovery (instant, quick, slow, and never). We next present contingent sourcing tactics for manufacturers to mitigate disruptions with and without customer hoarding. We find that future price increases could induce contingent sourcing even if it is unprofitable to resume production during the price-responding phase. Our results offer recommendations regarding when and how to use hoarding and contingent sourcing accounting for uncertain disruption duration and asymmetric information along with disruption- and recovery-driven price dynamics. These recommendations can be of particular value for supply chain decision-making at times of growing inflation. We also demonstrate the impacts of customer hoarding and disruption information on the value of contingent sourcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goods collection and delivery process often relates to distribution logistics problems. The task is to deliver goods from warehouses to customers under specific circumstances. Efforts to optimize the process are largely aimed at reducing overall costs of goods transportation. Among the prominent algorithms for solving the basic type of the delivery (or collection) problem, which includes a single depot and a homogeneous vehicle fleet, is the algorithm developed by Clarke and Wright in 1964. This algorithm minimizes transportation costs by maximizing the savings achieved through merging multiple routes into one. This paper primarily aims to solve the pickup and delivery problem where the goods must be delivered and empty packaging collected in a single process. The request of a customer can be routed from the depot or from another customer. Similarly, the destination of the request may be the depot or another customer. Unlike the original version of the Clarke and Wright algorithm, the initial routes are created to satisfy delivery orders, and therefore, the same customer can occur in multiple routes. Consequently, a situation may arise in which two routes containing one or more common vertices must be combined during the calculation. Furthermore, these vertices need not be the outermost vertices of the routes. This situation cannot be addressed by using the original version of the Clarke and Wright algorithm, and that is why we propose its modification. Merging routes through inner vertices means that the cost savings depend on the configurations of the routes, and therefore, they cannot be calculated a priori. Instead, the dynamic savings matrix must be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model of a single-server queuing-inventory system (QIS) with a limited waiting buffer for consumer customers (c-customers) and catastrophes has been developed. When a catastrophe occurs, all items in the system's warehouse are destroyed, but c-customers in the system are still waiting for replenishment. In addition to c-customers, negative customers (n-customers) are also taken into account, each of which displaces one c-customer (if any). The policy (s, S) is used to replenish stocks. If, when a customer enters, the system warehouse is empty, then, according to Bernoulli's trials, this customer either leaves the system without goods or joins the buffer. The mathematical model of the investigated QIS is constructed in the form of a continuous-time Markov chain (CTMC). Both exact and approximate methods for calculating the steady-state probabilities of constructed CTMCs are proposed and closed-form expressions are obtained for calculating the performance measures. Numerical evaluations are presented, demonstrating the high accuracy of the developed approximate formulas, as well as the behavior of performance measures depending on the input parameters. In addition, an optimization problem is solved to obtain the optimal value of the reorder point to minimize the expected total cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large, powerful corporations were formerly solely and exclusively responsible for supplies, manufacturing, and distribution; however, the supply chain has undergone significant transformations over the last half-century. Almost all supply chain processes are currently outsourced, owing to the initiatives of cutting-edge, contemporary businesses. According to a compilation of studies, analysts, and news sources, the level of risk associated with modern supply chains is considerably higher than the majority of supply chain managers believe. Supply chain vulnerabilities continue to pose a substantial obstacle for a great number of organizations. Neglecting to adequately address these risks—encompassing natural disasters, cyber assaults, acts of terrorism, the credit crisis, pandemic scenarios, and war—could result in substantial reductions in metrics such as profitability, productivity, revenue, and competitive advantage. Unresolved concerns persist with respect to the risk assessment of the supply chain. The purpose of this article is to propose a framework for risk evaluation that can be efficiently applied to the evaluation of hazards within the supply chain. This research study significantly enhances the existing knowledge base by offering supply chain managers a pragmatic tool to evaluate their processes, regardless of the mathematical foundations or the variety of variables utilized in risk assessment. The outcomes of multiple aggregation methods are compared using a case study from an automotive EMS production; the conclusions are validated by risk and FMEA specialists from the same factory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]