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The Internet of Things (IoT) has been widely employed in the development of smart locker systems over the last decade. However, some of these systems are based on authentication methods which lack flexibility. Such systems did not consider the possibility that an authentication method could be unavailable for different reasons, namely access card loss, camera or mice break, etc. Moreover, such systems do not consider dual-authentication methods that enhance security. This paper aims to develop a smart locker system that considers several authentication methods including dual authentication (phone number and One Time Password (OTP)), fingerprint, face recognition, and emergency code utilizing IoT technology. Dual authentication method is the considered base authentication method. The system has been fabricated and evaluated taking into account different scenarios including monitoring door status, ensuring access for authorized users, and denying access to unauthorized users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of smart locker technology has been beneficial for patients with chronic diseases who require regular medication and face challenges accessing healthcare facilities due to distance, time, or mobility issues. This study aimed to assess preferences for utilizing Smart Lockers in accessing and dispensing chronic disease medication among healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients in Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 8th and December 4th, 2021, across secondary healthcare facilities in five states of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, and Niger. Among 1,133 participants included in the analysis, 405 were HCWs and 728 were patients with chronic illnesses. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to summarize the data, while chi-square tests were employed to assess significant differences between healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients. Results indicated a strong preference among both HCWs and patients for one-on-one counseling as the preferred method for orientating patients on using Smart Lockers, with 53.8% of HCWs and 58.1% of patients expressing this preference (p = 0.25). Additionally, there was a shared preference for hospitals or clinics as secure locations for Smart Lockers, with 68.9% of HCWs and 71.6% of patients preferring this option (p < 0.05). The majority of participants favored receiving notification of drug delivery via phone call, with 49.1% of HCWs and 48.8% of patients expressing this preference (p = 0.63). There was a significant difference in preferences for access hours, the majority (HCWs: 65.4% and patients: 52.6%) favored 24-hour access (p < 0.05). Participants identified patients with HIV within the age range of 18–40 as the most suitable population to benefit from using Smart Lockers for medication dispensing. These findings offer insights into healthcare policies aimed at enhancing medication access and adherence among patients with chronic diseases in Nigeria. The development of models for using smart lockers to dispense chronic disease medications to chronically ill persons in Nigeria and other populations is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID Pandemic since early 2019 has imposed significant effects on our life. In the retail and logistics sector, the large-scale national lockdown has drastically driven e-commerce sales because the e-marketplace has become the only sales channel. Whilst the pandemic has accelerated the shift towards a more digital world and led to an irreversible dependence on e-commerce retailing, the pressure is on retailers and logistics service providers to respond to the growing demand for immediate delivery in the e-commerce era. Given the integration of smart lockers into developing a more favourable environment which potentially makes immediate delivery more feasible, this paper introduces a novel, dynamic delivery strategy, namely Community Logistics Strategy (CLS), for formulating and updating the new delivery plan in real time as new delivery requests to smart lockers arrive. To shed light on the effect of dynamic order arrival towards delivery planning, the CLS attempts to update the delivery plan by taking new requests into account in real time. Simulation results reveal the superiority of the proposed strategy in managing e-commerce delivery requests, especially within megacities where consumers are highly dense in a compact geographical area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The habitat structure, the environmental impact, the market acceptance, the changes in consumers' preferences, and the pandemic urged for innovative solutions in urban last-mile delivery. Parcel lockers are among the most preferred solutions by customers due to their home proximity, time availability, and cost efficiency. Methods: This paper introduces an agent-based model (ABM) and a Monte Carlo simulation program to analyze in detail the activity of parcel locker points. The ABM describes the behavior of the agents (customers, parcels, lockers, delivery agents). The simulation is realized using ARENA 12 software. Two scenarios are created based on the number of daily delivery shifts; for each scenario, 300 simulation experiments with various input data are conducted. Results: Three measures of performance (MOPs) are selected to assess the system activity: the number of daily delivered parcels, the delivery time of an order, and the daily delayed orders. The simulation outputs reveal significant predictors of MOPs and disclose moments when actions need to be taken to increase system capacity or change customer behavior. Conclusions: The versatility of the simulation model in terms of input variables makes it a useful decision support tool for planning by highlighting quantitative assessments, organizing delivery activity, along with influences due to customer behavior changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This publication presents a review, multiple criteria optimization models, and a practical example pertaining to the integration of automated smart locker systems, capillary distribution networks, crowdshipping, last-mile delivery and supply chain management. This publication addresses challenges in logistics and transportation, aiming to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction. This study integrates automated smart locker systems, capillary distribution networks, crowdshipping, last-mile delivery and supply chain management. Methods: A review of the existing literature synthesizes key concepts, such as facility location problems, vehicle routing problems and the mathematical programming approach, to optimize supply chain operations. Conceptual optimization models are formulated to solve the complex decision-making process involved in last-mile delivery, considering multiple objectives, including cost minimization, delivery time optimization, service level minimization, capacity optimization, vehicle minimization and resource utilization. Results: The multiple criteria approaches combine the vehicle routing problem and facility location problem, demonstrating the practical applicability of the proposed methodology in a real-world case study within a logistics company. Conclusions: The execution of multi-criteria models optimizes automated smart locker deployment, capillary distribution design, crowdshipping and last-mile delivery strategies, showcasing its effectiveness in the logistics sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lockers in middle schools and high schools in the United States are currently disappearing. Due to safety concerns and digitalized textbooks and other school supplies, lockers are becoming obsolete. As larger societal and technological changes drive this trend, the loss of lockers as a shared social space demands careful attention and consideration. Many students use lockers as a means in which to project their identities and membership in different social groups. At the same time, visiting lockers during passing periods provides students opportunities to run into (often literally) students from other social groups, creating unique possibilities for relationship-building that are rare in other school spaces. As social and political polarization continues to intensity in the US and other countries around the world, the loss of lockers in American schools can serve as a caution of the consequences that accrue from disappearing shared social spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The e-commerce boom presents new challenges for last-mile delivery (LMD), which may be mitigated by new delivery technologies. This paper evaluates the impact of mobile parcel lockers (MPL) on costs and CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions in existing LMD networks, which include home delivery and shipments to stationary parcel lockers. Design/methodology/approach: To describe customers' preferences, we design a multinomial logit model based on recipients' travel distance to pick-up locations and availability at home. Based on route cost estimation, we define the operating costs for MPLs. We devise a mathematical model with binary decision variables to optimize the location of MPLs. Findings: Our study demonstrates that integrating MPLs leads to additional cost savings of 8.7% and extra CO2e emissions savings of up to 5.4%. Our analysis of several regional clusters suggests that MPLs yield benefits in highly populous cities but may result in additional emissions in more rural areas where recipients drive longer distances to pick-ups. Originality/value: This paper designs a suitable operating model for MPLs and demonstrates environmental and economic savings. Moreover, it adds recipients' availability at home to receive parcels improving the accuracy of stochastic demand. In addition, MPLs are evaluated in the context of several regional clusters ranging from large cities to rural areas. Thus, we provide managerial guidance to logistics service providers how and where to deploy MPLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart lockers are automated delivery machines. They have been used in dispensing ARVs and Tuberculosis medication to chronically ill patients in South Africa, Kenya, and Eswatini. However, there is no evidence of smart lockers in dispensing chronic disease medication in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the acceptability of smart lockers in dispensing chronic disease medication and to describe the barriers to accessing care among patients with chronic diseases medication in 5 states in Nigeria. We conducted a cross-sectional study among healthcare workers and patients living with chronic diseases in five Nigerian states of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, and Niger between November and December 2021. A total of 1,133 participants were recruited (728 patients and 405 healthcare workers). The results revealed that most patients and healthcare workers agreed that using smart lockers for drug dispensing will lead to reduced transportation costs, hospital waiting times, the workload of healthcare workers, and decongestion of health facilities. The majority of the patients living with chronic diseases (43%) and healthcare workers (51%) showed high acceptability for the use of smart lockers. The use of smart lockers in dispensing chronic disease medication in Nigeria is feasible, and patients and healthcare workers are willing to accept the smart lockers, provided that a patient-centred implementation strategy is developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we define a new routing problem that arises in the last‐mile delivery of parcels, in which customers can be served either directly at home by a capacitated truck, or possibly with a drone carried on the truck, or in a self‐service mode using one of the available lockers. We investigate four different formulations, and for one of them, we propose a branch‐and‐cut approach. We also discuss some possible variants of the original problem. In the computational experiments, we analyze and compare the performance of the four formulations for the problem and its variants, and we provide some useful managerial insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, kindergarten toy storage, defined as the construction area, puzzle area, scientific observation area, and role-playing area, and the toy characteristics of the four areas, was studied. Interviews and grounded theory were used to observe and summarize the behavioral needs of 3-to 6-year-old children and preschool teachers. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used to analyze behavioral needs. It was concluded that the kindergarten toy locker optimization was designed to improve storage efficiency. However, the current layout of kindergarten toy lockers is chaotic, and children cannot efficiently and autonomously take toys from toy lockers. The best toy locker layout scheme was selected through an eye tracking experiment. The subjects were all 3- to 6-year-old children, a total of 30 people. By comparing the data such as hot spot map, trajectory map, area of the first viewpoint, and gaze time when children observed different lockers layout during the experiment, the optimal layout scheme of kindergarten toy lockers was comprehensively analyzed. Optimizing the zoning, classification, and storage of kindergarten toys is conducive to improving the efficiency of children's independent storage, creating a kindergarten game and teaching environment conducive to children's development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast growing e-commerce has a significant impact both on CEP providers and public entities. While service providers have the first priority on factors such as costs and reliable service, both are increasingly focused on environmental effects, in the interest of company image and the inhabitants' health and comfort. Significant additional factors are traffic density, pollution, and noise. While in the past direct delivery with distribution trucks from regional depots to the customers might have been justified, this is no longer valid when taking the big and growing numbers into account. Several options are followed in the literature, especially variants that introduce an additional break in the distribution chain, like local mini-hubs, mobile distribution points, or Automated Parcel Lockers (APLs). The first two options imply a "very last mile" stage, e.g., by small electrical vehicles or cargo bikes, and APLs rely on the customers to operate the very last step. The usage of this schema will significantly depend on the density of the APLs and, thus, on the density of the population within quite small regions. The relationships between the different elements of these technologies and the potential customers are studied with respect to their impact on the above-mentioned factors. A variety of scenarios is investigated, covering different options for customer behaviors. As an additional important point, reported studies with APLs only consider the section up to the APLs and the implied CO2 emission. This, however, fully neglects the potentially very relevant pollution created by the customers when fetching their parcels from the APL. Therefore, in this paper this impact is systematically estimated via a simulation-based sensitivity analysis. It can be shown that taking this very last transport step into account in the calculation significantly changes the picture, especially within areas in outer city districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing growth of e‐commerce deliveries has led to a significant increase in last‐mile delivery volumes. New technologies are being investigated to provide these deliveries efficiently and in a customer‐friendly manner. A common practice is to use fixed parcel lockers (FPLs) to make deliveries independent from the presence of the customer as is the case in attended home deliveries (AHDs). FPLs are usually installed at key locations in cities, and customers can collect their package at any time once it has been delivered to this particular location. Mobile parcel lockers (MPLs) represent a new idea: they can be parked for temporary collection of items at different locations, keeping the pickup distance to the customer short and avoiding high infrastructure costs. However, customers need to collect their parcels within a restricted time window. This service is supposed to become especially efficient through autonomously operating vehicles that can move MPLs at low costs. In this article, we introduce the heterogeneous locker location problem to study the effects of fleets combining two of the services—FPLs, MPLs, AHDs—within one framework. In our comparison, we consider that customers may have different expectations regarding their maximum pickup distance as well as their temporal flexibility in accepting deliveries. A fixed fleet is applied to maximize the number of customers served, respecting individual customer preferences in terms of pickup distances and time windows. We evaluate the different delivery services regarding managerial insights on service quality and efficiency. In the experiments, we analyze the impact of structural demand differences and different fleet sizes, as well as the operational fleet utilization and the individual customer experience. Results show the potential to increase the number of customers served by about 14%–19% through the use of MPLs while considering individual customer preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The growth of e-commerce necessitates efficient logistics management to address rising last-mile delivery challenges. To overcome some of the last-mile delivery costs, parcel lockers as a delivery option, can be an alternative solution. This study presents the Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem with Delivery Options (CVRPDO), which includes locker delivery. Methods: this problem is solved with An Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS). The solution suggests some specific destroy and repair operators and integrates them with various selection schemes. The proposed method results are compared with the exact solution of the MIP model of the problem for validation. Results: Objective function values improved by 25%, 30%, 7%, 5%, and 6% for 1000, 800, 600, 400, and 200 customers, respectively, when using a 120-s ALNS runtime compared to the MIP model with a 3-h runtime. Conclusions: the CVRPDO problem involves creating a set of routes for ve-hicles that visit each customer at their delivery location or deliver their parcels to one of the lockers. These routes should respect the capacity of each vehicle and locker while minimizing the total routing costs and the number of utilized vehicles. The problem is resolved by ALNS algorithm, which outperformed the MIP model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusing condensed aromatics into multi‐resonance (MR) frameworks has been an exquisite strategy to modulate the optoelectronic properties, which, however, always sacrifices the small full width at half maxima (FWHM). Herein, we strategically embed B−N/B−O contained heterocycles as fusion locker into classical MR prototypes, which could enlarge the π‐extension and alleviate the steric repulsion for an enhanced planar skeleton to suppress the high‐frequency stretching/ scissoring vibrations for ultra‐narrowband emissions. Sky‐blue emitters with extremely small FWHMs of 17–18 nm are thereafter obtained for the targeted emitters, decreased by (1.4–1.9)‐fold compared with the prototypes. Benefiting from their high photoluminescence quantum yields of >90 % and fast radiative decay rates of >108 s−1, one of those emitters shows a high maximum external quantum efficiency of 31.9 % in sensitized devices, which remains 25.8 % at a practical luminance of 1,000 cd m−2 with a small FWHM of merely 19 nm. Notably a long operation half‐lifetime of 1,278 h is also recorded for the same device, representing one of the longest lifetimes among sky‐blue devices based on MR emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose and demonstrate a passively mode-locked all-fiber laser utilizing a multimode interference effect in graded-index multimode fiber (GIMF). The mode-locking is obtained due to the Kerr effect in GIMF, which induces the intensity modulation inside the ring cavity laser. We obtain stable soliton mode-locked pulses at a center wavelength of 1574.1 nm, with a fixed repetition rate of 22 MHz and a pulse duration of 650 fs, when the pump power is changed in the range from 66.2 to 140.0 mW. The maximum average output power and pulse energy are recorded at 9.82 mW and 448 pJ, respectively, at a pump power of 140 mW. This proves that a nonlinear optical response in GIMF can be used as a new modulation mechanism for obtaining ultra-short pulses based on all-fiber ring cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current courier networks in metropolitan areas are characterised by utilising fleets of vans that perform collection and distribution routes independently. This results in long stem distances, low load factors and high environmental costs. Joint delivery systems have the potential to reduce the distances of pick-up and drop-off routes. In this context, parcel lockers can be utilised to transfer goods between vans, electrical vehicles and bikes to improve the efficiency and sustainability of courier networks. This paper presents a model for designing joint delivery networks in urban areas by utilising parcel lockers. This model has a two-level structure: the lower level dealing with multi-depot capacitated vehicle routing problems (MDCVRP) for a set of depots and lockers whilst the upper level being a (minimum-cost) parcel network flow problem (PNFP) considering goods delivered between depots and lockers and the selection of lockers' positions and sizes. A hybrid algorithm integrating a Genetic Algorithm with the Lin-Kernighan Heuristic has been developed. The GA focuses on finding solutions for the PNFP. Once the paths of parcel flow are determined, the LKH optimises vehicle flow. This paper is the first to consider the use of parcel lockers for business-to-business networks in the form of MDCVRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the use of lockers in parcel delivery, a recent method used in last mile logistics. Lockers are pickup points made of several cells that are located in several points of a city where customers can collect their parcels as an alternative to home delivery. We study routing problems in which one or multiple vehicles are used to deliver parcels directly to customers or lockers. We also study the influence of the introduction of lockers when these problems include time windows. We propose a set of novel formulations for these problems, some valid inequalities, and a branch-and-cut algorithm. Moreover, we investigate the difference between the routing problems with lockers and the classical routing problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main causes of the significant commercial vehicle traffic in the city region is last-mile deliveries. Parcel lockers, which are one of the easiest and most environmentally friendly solutions for last-mile delivery, are one of the most studied subjects recently. The parcel locker ensures consumer privacy while being quick and efficient. Its full-time service can effectively address the issue of student and office worker pickup. In this paper, the location of a parcel locker intended to be established in the most convenient location in Beşiktaş district of İstanbul, Turkey has been determined. This problem can be solved using a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) structure due to the availability of numerous aspects that must be considered while choosing the optimum location. Additionally, the benefit of fuzzy logic is employed to translate expert opinions into mathematical expressions and incorporate them into decision-making processes. To choose the ideal location for the parcel locker, a novel model integrating the Bayesian Best Worst Method (B-BWM) and Pythagorean fuzzy Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (PF-WASPAS) approaches is proposed for the first time in the literature. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to evaluate the model's robustness. As a consequence, the suggested model effectively identifies the best location for a parcel locker in Istanbul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an extension of the Electric Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows and Partial Recharges (EVRPTW-PR), which incorporates the use of parcel lockers as a delivery method (i.e., self-pickup method). This variant, named the electric vehicle routing problem with time windows, partial recharges, and parcel lockers (EVRPTW-PR-PL), focuses on minimizing delivery costs by employing a homogeneous fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) and providing two delivery methods for serving customers: home delivery and self-pickup methods. We derive a mathematical formulation and propose an adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) algorithm to address EVRPTW-PR-PL. Moreover, in ALNS, the solution representation is constructed to handle the assignment of delivery methods. The performance of our proposed ALNS algorithm is evaluated by solving EVRPTW-PR benchmark instances. Finally, the results of EVRPTW-PR-PL obtained by using the GUROBI solver and our ALNS algorithm are provided, accompanied by managerial insights on the implementation of parcel lockers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in the use of self-service facilities (SSFs) in residential areas worldwide. Previous studies on SSFs mainly focused on their application in commercial or other scenarios. However, SSFs in residential areas have not been thoroughly studied. This study develops an analytical framework for assessing both the supply and demand for SSFs in residential areas. The study evaluates 2693 residential communities and 479 smart parcel lockers (SPLs) in Tianjin, China. The results show that the high-demand area for SPLs is within 300 m of home, while the high-supply area is 300–600 m from home. Further analysis using the Gini coefficient and location quotient shows that the top 20% of the population have access to 80% of SPLs, and most residential communities experience an oversupply. Our study suggests that a mismatch between the supply and demand of SPLs may result in massive public space waste, resource waste, and inequity. Given the many uncertainties of the future, this study highlights the need to consider the dynamic supply–demand relationship of SSFs. This may encourage urban planners, policymakers, and experts in other related disciplines to work towards a more service-efficient and equitable utilization of SSFs in residential areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the results of assessing the potential demand for an automated parcel locker (APL) system that is being deployed. A two-stage approach was developed for assessing the potential demand for APL. Within the first stage, we reveal the current demand for attended and unattended deliveries based on Random Utility Modelling. We then estimate grocery shopping activity time expenditures and evaluate possible reductions if the shopping and pickup activities were combined. We determined consumers' prevailing preferences and behaviours towards post office channel usage (i.e. from 71% for perfumes and cosmetics to 88% for clothes). The discrete choice modelling results revealed both economic and spatial attributes as significant when online shoppers choose a delivery channel. The location for the proposed APL system, i.e. 24/7 minimarkets, would reduce walking time for the pick-up process from 20% - 47% depending on locations of post offices in relation to the online shoppers' homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parcel lockers seem to be a very interesting and innovative solution for any type of city, beneficial to both customers and online stores. Accounting for the growing number of B2C e-commerce customers, this measure significantly meets their needs. Moreover, this solution solves the challenges of last-mile deliveries, which are one of the major effects of heavy traffic of commercial vehicles in the whole city area. Recipients and senders of parcels through parcel lockers are the main generators of demand for this service. Hence, assessing their satisfaction and requirements is a key indicator of the development of this area. This work focuses on the efficiency of user parcel lockers and compares the situation in Italy, Poland, and Ukraine. This paper also presents an analysis of the already existing data on the satisfaction of parcel locker users, as well as the results of a study conducted among Ukrainian consumers for this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of e-commerce and the dramatic upsurge in direct-to-consumer deliveries, the last-mile problem has become increasingly apparent. With the distinct advantages of bringing economies of scale and providing 24/7 contactless self-service, smart parcel lockers play a critical role in solving the last-mile problem. However, due to a lack of planning, myopia expansion, and an ambiguous profit model, smart parcel locker suppliers in China have been suffering huge economic losses, restricting their further development. In the study, on the basis of an in-depth analysis of the cost elements and major revenue sources of smart parcel lockers, we propose a bilevel programming model to optimize the location of community smart parcel lockers with the upper-level model maximizing the profit of a third-party smart parcel locker supplier and the lower-level model maximizing user satisfaction. Then, a solution algorithm based on the genetic algorithm is proposed. Finally, some numerical experiments are carried out based on a medium-scale residential community in Jiading District, Shanghai. The sensitivity analyses conducted in this study reveal how the user satisfaction evaluation and the investment budget influence the expected profit. The modelling framework and numerical results can provide third-party smart parcel locker suppliers with significant theoretical support and practical guidance on planning the investment budget and optimizing the smart parcel locker locations to maximize their profit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important skill expected of business majors is their ability to use spreadsheets. Our experience has shown that students are enthusiastic when they can relate to the topic and when the spreadsheet is interactive in nature. We present the Amusement/Water Park related locker problem where guests must enter the water park areas in their swimwear. Hence, they rent lockers to store their clothes and valuables. This article is motivated by a recent visit to a water park where we could rent a locker for an entire day. To make the problem worthy of classroom discussion, we choose to include the "return" concept. In other words, there is an incentive for guests when they let the water park staff know before a certain time that they do not need the locker anymore. This enables the staff to keep track of available lockers at all times. When demand for lockers exceeds supply, the problem is similar to the overbooking models of the airlines industry and the hotel industry. Thus, this problem can be used as an example while discussing such overbooking models in a topic called revenue management. The students are led by the Professor in a brainstorming session related to an interesting scenario of this locker problem. Finally, the students are guided in building an interactive Excel spreadsheet. The locker problem lends itself to an interesting discussion even in a Computer Science course where the students can be asked to code this problem using Python or another programming language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in e-commerce, which has prompted residents to shift their purchasing habits from offline to online. As a result, Smart Parcel Lockers (SPLs) have emerged as an accessible end-to-end delivery service that fits into the pandemic strategy of maintaining social distance and no-contact protocols. Although numerous studies have examined SPLs from various perspectives, few have analyzed their spatial distribution from an urban planning perspective, which could enhance the development of other disciplines in this field. To address this gap, we investigate the distribution of SPLs in Tianjin's central urban area before and after the pandemic (i.e., 2019 and 2022) using kernel density estimation, average nearest neighbor analysis, standard deviation elliptic, and geographical detector. Our results show that, in three years, the number of SPLs has increased from 51 to 479, and a majority were installed in residential communities (i.e., 92.2% in 2019, and 97.7% in 2022). We find that SPLs were distributed randomly before the pandemic, but after the pandemic, SPLs agglomerated and followed Tianjin's development pattern. We identify eight influential factors on the spatial distribution of SPLs and discuss their individual and compound effects. Our discussion highlights potential spatial distribution analysis, such as dynamic layout planning, to improve the allocation of SPLs in city planning and city logistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a widely used security device, the electronic passworded locker is designed to protect personal property and space. However, once the password is leaked to an unauthorized person, its security is lost. Here, with the assistance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), we present an intelligent electronic passworded locker (IEPL) based on unique and personalized security barriers, which can accurately extract users' habits of entering passwords through integrated deep learning. The key of the IEPL adopts the single electrode mode of TENG that accurately recognizes the input behavior of a person based on machine learning, which serves as a reliable, unique, and unreproducible gate, with advantages of thin thickness, diversified structure, and simple preparation method. Finally, the proposed IEPL offers a reliable solution for improving the overall security of passworded lockers and extending the application of TENG-based sensors in the smart home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Logistics Service Providers (LSP) are increasingly adopting Automated Parcel Lockers (APLs) to mitigate the operational pressure of last-mile logistics. The optimal location of APL stations is key for reaching customers’ demand while keeping the investment reasonable. Previous studies developed optimization algorithms and applied them to virtual instances of the problem, lacking applicability to real-life situations encountered by LSPs who aim to serve an urban area with such technology. This study proposes a novel solution to the APLs location problem by combining mixed-integer linear programming and greedy heuristics algorithms. The study tested the propose solution on real customers’ demand data related to Turin, Italy. Results show that covering 90% of the estimated potential demand requires 10 to 11 APLs, on average. The adopted approach enables finding an optimal solution grounded in a real geographical context without requiring time-consuming optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to present a study using an approach to creative professional learning based on forum-based role-player game (RPG) storying, which pushes the boundaries of both professional learning methods and performative narrative analysis toward collaboratively opening up space for improving school climate. This storying began with three teens who, during interviews, presented their experiences of unjust and inequitable treatment in public schools as related to ability, disability, race, and gender. Three educators then participated in collaborative storying, which afforded the suspension of disbelief and the imagining of potentialities through affect and embodiment of characters. Following the storying process, the educators participated in a focus group where they made several connections between the characters and personal experiences as both intersectional students and teachers. The application of this, or similar RPG storying activities, in professional learning was discussed, with an emphasis on the potential opportunity for teachers to learn/unlearn about students who live very different lives than themselves (e.g., gifted, different races, and different religions). Using RPG storying as a creative learning strategy opened the activity to difference, leading to reflection on values and norms and suggestions for practical applications in learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the issues surrounding the "independent" as a category of identity in the contemporary Mexican editorial field, with the aim of proposing a theoretical approach that refers to other possibilities of analysis of the multiplicity of projects that are recognized under this term. In the 21st century, within the framework of a high editorial concentration, collective initiatives have been created, such as the Alianza de Editoriales Mexicanas Independiente, the Liga de Editoriales Independientes and the Feria del Libro Independiente, among others, and more than one hundred editorial projects associated with this term, although they are heterogeneous agents that do not necessarily operate under a common denominator. Based on Stuart Hall's theory of identity in dialogue with Ernesto Laclau and Jaques Derrida, here we analyze the "independent" edition as a category to be read under erasure, since it is based on a paradox: on the one hand, it operates effectively by identifying diverse agents as a collectivity, whose practices champion "independence"; and, on the other hand, it is an empty locker from which multiple projects are enunciated, whose political and aesthetic positionings are yet to be explored, in order to arrive at a broader understanding of the current editorial field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delivery companies are trying to improve their business and thus respond to the increased number of requests due to the expansion of e-commerce. In addition, one of the basic parameters of the quality of the delivery service - availability, is increasingly difficult to maintain at an appropriate level due to the circumstances arising from the modern way of life and business. Users find it more and more difficult to use the services of shipments because their business and private obligations coincide with the working hours of delivery companies. One of the most modern solutions in the field of improving accessibility in this area is the application of mobile parcel lockers. The results of the analysis of their implementation by the AHP approach are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of composite materials has grown exponentially in transport structures due to their weight reduction advantages, added to their capability to adapt the material properties and internal micro-structure to the requirements of the application. This flexibility allows the design of highly efficient composite structures that can reduce the environmental impact of transport, especially if the used composites are bio-based. In order to design highly efficient structures, the numerical models and tools used to predict the structural and material performance are of great importance. In the present paper, the authors propose a multi-objective, multi-scale optimization procedure aimed to obtain the best possible structure and material design for a given application. The procedure developed is applied to an aircraft secondary structure, an overhead locker, made with a sandwich laminate in which both, the skins and the core, are bio-materials. The structural multi-scale numerical model has been coupled with a Genetic Algorithm to perform the optimization of the structure design. Two optimization cases are presented. The first one consists of a single-objective optimization problem of the fibre alignment to improve the structural stiffness of the structure. The second optimization shows the advantages of using a multi-objective and multi-scale optimization approach. In this last case, the first objective function corresponds to the shelf stiffness, and the second objective function consists of minimizing the number of fibres placed in one of the woven directions, looking for a reduction in the material cost and weight. The obtained results with both optimization cases have proved the capability of the software developed to obtain an optimal design of composite structures, and the need to consider both, the macro-structural and the micro-structural configuration of the composite, in order to obtain the best possible solution. The presented approach allows to perform the optimisation of both the macro-structural and the micro-structural configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of electronic commerce is having an impact on the way urban logistics are organized. In metropolitan settings, the last-mile delivery problem, i.e., the problem regarding the final stage of delivering a shipment to a consumer, is a major concern due to its inefficiency. The development of a convenient automated parcel lockers (APLs) network improves last-mile distribution by reducing the number of vehicles, the distances driven, and the number of delivery stops. Using automated parcel lockers, the last-mile issue could be overcome for the environment's benefit. This study aimed to define and validate an APL network containing hundreds of APLs with the use of an example made up of real case study data from the city of Poznań in Poland. The goal of this research was to use mathematical programming for optimization and simulation to tackle the facility location problem for automated parcel lockers through a practical approach. Multi-criteria simulation-optimization analysis was used to assess the data. In fact, the simulation was carried out using Anylogic software and the optimization with the use of the Java programming language and CPLEX solver. Three years were simulated, allowing for comparable results for each year in terms of expenses, e-shoppers, APL users, and demand evolution, as well as achieving the city's optimal locker usage. Finally, encouraging conclusions were obtained, such as the relationship between the demand and the number of lockers, along with the model's limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parcel lockers have continuously growing in popularity as an alternative mode for last-mile delivery services due to their capability of effectively alleviating the risk of a delivery failure, increasing the possibility of delivery consolidation, and reducing the number of drop-off sites. However, poorly located of parcel lockers be less efficient. When determining the parcel locker location, inadequate consideration of uncertain demands can potentially increase the risk of unsatisfied demands. To remedy this issue, a robust optimization model is proposed in this paper with consideration of the demand uncertainties, including the large and small parcels to be received and sent. Not only can the collection locations be optimally determined, but so can the number of large and small parcel lockers for each location at the same time under various robust levels. Meanwhile, the sites whose demands are covered by one of the collection locations are also determined by the constraints of acceptable walking distance. A series of numerical experiments has been performed to evaluate the proposed model, with the main focus being on the solution robustness. Since the set of non-linear constraints are transformed into the linear counterparts, the robust solution can be obtained by the existing solvers within a reasonable time with moderate computing power. The experimental results also provide useful guidance for the practical application of the method, as slightly more conservative decision making can secure the solution robustness with only a marginal increase in costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parcel lockers and collection and delivery points are not new concepts and are recognized by many firms; however, they are not broadly utilized worldwide. The employment of this concept can provide a solution to failed deliveries. In this study, parcel lockers and similar concepts are reviewed quantitatively and analytically. Parcel lockers have been widely studied; however, quantitative approaches are lacking. Therefore, mathematical models, spatial analysis, optimization, and simulation studies on location and routing problems have been extensively examined. This study aims to indicate the current state and future directions. After a rigorous elimination process in the Scopus database, 72 papers were reviewed, and descriptive, bibliometric, and content analyses were performed. This study shows that parcel lockers and collection and delivery points offer various advantages as solutions to last-mile delivery problems, such as regulating traffic congestion, reducing faulty deliveries and the resulting costs, and increasing consolidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem definition: The Singapore government has recently proposed the concept of "Locker Alliance" (LA), an interoperable network of public lockers in residential areas and hot spots in community, to improve the efficiency of last mile parcel delivery operations. This is to complement the existing infrastructure, composed mainly of proprietary lockers and collection points in commercial areas set up by large delivery companies. How do we determine the density and coverage of the LA network to promote adoption of locker pickup in Singapore? What will be the impact on the delivery profile in the central business district, far from the residential areas? Academic/practical relevance: We discuss the operational challenges associated with the problem of public locker installation in a city, following a new smart nation initiative in Singapore. We used data analytics to address the following questions: What are the chances that a customer will choose to pick up the parcel from a locker, over home or office deliveries, based on walking distance (to lockers) and a variety of other features? Without knowing the transit routes of the customers, how do we design the LA network to ensure that the lockers will be well utilized? Methodology: We use a set of locker usage data from a commercial courier company to calibrate a locker choice model to determine the impact of walking distance on locker pickup intentions. We use the current (observed) parcel delivery profile to develop a facility location model for the LA network. We use this model to extrapolate and approximate the true adoption and new delivery profiles when the LA network is built. Results: Contrary to conventional wisdom, our model does not always place lockers near areas with peak parcel volume (in preexisting data) because the LA lockers provide another option for customers to pick up from lockers near residential areas. Furthermore, the model suggests that a coverage of 250 meters is appropriate for the LA network in Singapore. Managerial implications: Commercial parcel locker installation has traditionally focused on hot spots in the transit routes of the citizens in the city. The LA network is the first attempt in Singapore to allow public lockers in residential areas. This paper develops an analytical method to determine network density and coverage based on a locker choice model and argues how useful insights can be gleaned from the model, despite not having the full transit route information of all citizens in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper Miocene (~6 Ma) sediments from a north-south transect of Ocean Drilling Program Holes 848B, 849B, 850B, 851B across the equator in the Eastern Pacific Ocean record an episode of unusual skeletal variability associated with the silicoflagellate Bachmannocena diodon subsp. nodosa (Bukry) Bukry, 1987. Skeletons in this plexus persisted for between 55,000 and 75,000 years and include an arch across a 2-sided basal ring, a highly unusual morphology for the genus. Groups of skeletal morphotypes were common within the plexus episode, and occur in a systematic sequence that is consistent between sites. As a result of this study, silicoflagellates previously placed in the genus Neonaviculopsis Locker and Martini, 1986 are now considered part of the Bachmannocena diodon subsp. nodosa plexus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Last-mile delivery is associated with a negative environmental impact and high costs. The purpose of this paper is to develop an approach to designing stationary parcel locker (SPL) networks while minimizing both CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions and costs during delivery and pick-up. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses a multinomial logit model to evaluate recipients' willingness to use SPLs based on their availability at home and travel distance. To determine optimal SPL locations, this study formulates a mixed-integer linear programming model. Findings: The empirical study of different regional clusters reveals that optimal SPL locations can generate cost savings of up to 11.0%. SPLs have a positive impact on total CO2e emission savings in urban areas (i.e. up to 2.5%), but give rise to additional emissions (i.e. 4.6%) in less populated areas due to longer travel distances during the pick-up process. Originality/value: This paper optimizes SPL locations and the ecological effect of SPLs by minimizing emissions and costs simultaneously. Furthermore, it extends existing discrete choice models by also including recipients' availability at home, increasing the accuracy of recipients' preferences. So far, the effect of SPLs has been studied for metropolitan areas only. A global logistics service provider shared a real dataset which allows us to study seven different regional clusters ranging from rural areas to large cities. Thus, this study contributes to the field of sustainable urban logistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]