196,134 research outputs found
A novel technology in freight transportation for improvement of the environmental impact
No full textNew technological innovations of eco-friendly vehicles combined with the usage of renewable energy sources showed significant results in mitigating emissions. In this thesis, we consider the eHighway system, a recent technology based on electrified roads. It is designed to supply new hybrid trucks, i.e. electric overhead catenary (OC) trucks, which are connected to overhead power lines through a pantograph positioned at the top of the vehicle. The eHighway implementation can result in lower emission vehicles’ rate since the vehicles are operating with electric mode. Therefore, in this thesis, we present a single-level multi-objective network design model and a bi-level multi-objective network design model considering a novel technology, the eHighway system. The proposed models investigate the opportunities of adopting eHighways and evaluating its environmental benefits considering limited budget resources for infrastructure electrification. Additionally, the models could be considered as useful tools for decision-makers in eHighway network planning and design.
For developing both models, a simulation model presented in the literature was used to calculate the number of traction substations needed for arc electrification according to hybrid trucks flows. As a first approach, in the case of the single-level multi-objective network design model, we propose a formulation including three objectives: minimisation of infrastructure and environmental costs, maximisation of average traffic density of OC hybrid trucks on electrified arcs. The Pareto optimisation approach is considered for a comprehensive analysis of all possible solutions according to different criteria weights. This model served as a basis to construct a bi-level multi-objective network design model that also considers the possibility of increasing the capacity of electrified arcs to improve overall network performances. Thus, in the case of the bi-level network design model we considered four objectives in the upper level related to the minimisation of the total Overhead Catenary (OC) hybrid trucks’ travel time, infrastructure and environmental costs and maximisation of average traffic density of OC hybrid trucks on electrified arcs. The decision of the upper level depends on the output of the lower level which is formulated as a Stochastic Users Equilibrium traffic assignment based on a fixed-point problem. Moreover, the proposed bi-level network design model deals not only with finding the set of the arcs to be electrified but also with the capacity expansion of the electrified arcs for improving the performance of the overall system. Additionally, genetic algorithms were used as a solution approach, which demonstrated the effectiveness in finding the near-optimal results in a reasonable computation time. The proposed models have been tested on a medium-sized network and the Sioux-Falls network. In particular, we analysed the Pareto front obtained from the single-level model, where non-dominant solutions are identified according to the three considered criteria. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is carried out for the bi-level problem in terms of criteria weights and the percentage of hybrid vehicles using the eHighway system. Numerical results quantified the environmental improvement we can obtain by using the eHighway system in both models, which can be a basis for making decisions regarding the adoption of this new technology
The 1-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-piperazine-to-aripiprazole ratio at steady state in rats and schizophrenic patients
No full textHyperspectral Vegetation Indices to Assess Water and Nitrogen Status of Sweet Maize Crop
No full textThe deployment of novel technologies in the field of precision farming has risen to the top of global agendas in response to the impact of climate change and the possible shortage of resources such as water and fertilizers. The present research addresses the performance of water and nitrogen-sensitive narrow-band vegetation indices to evaluate the response of sweet maize (Zea mays var. saccharata L.) to different irrigation and nitrogen regimes. The experiment was carried out in Valenzano, Bari (Southern Italy), during the 2020 growing season. Three irrigation regimes (full irrigation, deficit irrigation, and rainfed) and two nitrogen levels (300 and 50 kg ha−1) were tested. During the growing season, a Field Spec Handheld 2 spectroradiometer operating in the range of 325–1075 nm was utilized to capture spectral data regularly. In addition, soil water content, biometric parameters, and physiological parameters were measured. The DATT index, based on near infrared and red-edge wavelengths, performed better than other indices in explaining the variation in chlorophyll content, whereas the double difference index (DD) showed the greatest correlation with the leaf–gas exchange. The modified normalized difference vegetation index (NNDVI) and the ratio of water band index to normalized difference vegetation index (WBI/NDVI) showed the highest capacity to distinguish the interaction of irrigation x nitrogen, while the best discriminating capability of these indices was under a low nitrogen level. Moreover, red-edge-based indices had higher sensitivity to nitrogen levels compared to the structural and water band indices. Our study highlighted that it is critical to choose proper narrow-band vegetation indices to monitor the plant
eco-physiological response to water and nitrogen stresses
A multi-objective model to design shared e-kick scooters parking spaces in large urban areas
No full textIn recent years, the micromobility and the usage of shared electric kick scooters (e-kscooters) have been constantly growing, especially for systematic and recreational trips in large urban areas. Micromobility might be seen as a well-suited last-mile solution by providing a flexible travel service connection with public transport and MaaS (Mobility as a Service), in general. However, there is a need for implementing adequate regulations regarding safety aspects and shared e-kscooter parking locations, but also for meeting the user requirements. The choice of optimal shared e-kscooter parking locations could help decision-makers to regulate unmanaged dock-less shared e-kscooter parking spots that could generate issues for other road users. To this end, in this paper, a novel multi-objective Micromobility Maximal Coverage Parking Location model (M-MCPL) is developed. The model has been solved by applying an elitist Genetic Algorithm that returns the optimal shared e-kscooter parking locations based on the following objective functions: i) the maximization of the population coverage; ii) the maximization of multimodal accessibility coverage (i.e., bus, railway, and metro modes); iii) the maximization of the attraction coverage considering the most relevant points of interest for each corresponding zone in large urban areas. The proposed M-MCPL model has been applied to the case of Rome (Italy) and results suggest priorities for the shared e-kscooter parking locations design. Furthermore, the proposed model is flexible and can be considered as a decision support tool for decision-makers when planning dedicated services in different large urban areas. For that purpose, we conducted the sensitivity analysis by focusing on the single-objective model in which decision-makers might be interested in providing only high accessibility to transport services or maximizing potential demand
Public innovation intermediaries and digital co-creation,
No full textThe emerging digital technologies pose new challenges to innovation intermediaries. In this chapter we build on a case base of evidence on selected public intermediaries in France (pôles de compétitivité) and in the UK (digital catapults), to argue that public innovation intermediaries, which carry public policy mandates, have a specific role to play, particularly in the context on the emerging, complex, and yet not fully commoditised set of technologies underpinning the ‘fourth industrial revolution’. In particular, we reveal that by connecting a plurality of actors on the demand and supply side, public innovation intermediaries facilitate co-creation of complex technological solutions, and that in doing so, they create both social and economic value. The goals of examined co-creation activities revolve around finding highly innovative solutions to complex problems triggered by the digital transformation. The co-creation initiatives that we study take place at the national level, but their outputs have broader impact on the activities of the parties involved.
Our evidence suggests that, when co-creating a complex technological solution, the intermediary is involved in two complementary, often intertwined, but distinct processes that bring together organisations that demand technology and those that supply technological solutions. On the demand side, the intermediary helps the organisation looking for a technological solution (a large company, an SME, or a municipality) to articulate their demand, and eventually find it as well. We call this ‘demand-led’ co-creation. On the supply side, the intermediary brings together a system of technology providers (large companies, SMEs, universities and public research organisations) able to devise, develop and implement a technological solution to match the needs of the organisation on the demand side. We call this ‘supply-led’ co-creation. The intermediary is present from the beginning to the end of the co-creation processes, with its activities extending beyond co-creation processes to ensure post-project continuity between the involved actors.
Among demand-led co-creation processes, we identified at least two different approaches devised by Catapults and Pôles de compétitivité - the development of an open challenge, and the development of a proof-of concept. On the supply side, we noted the creation of the so-called ‘groupement’ of SMEs by pôles de compétitivité, whereby the pôle facilitates the creation of a value-chain that is able to respond to complex demands of organisations looking for technological solutions.
Our study shows that public intermediaries are able to play their unique role in co-creation processes thanks to several factors: the legitimacy they have to act as intermediaries, as they are endowed with public mandates; the presence of long-term public funding that enables intermediaries to be perceived as neutral agents, to gain reputation and trust over time; the networks of trusted experts on whom they can rely to successfully complete their mission; a well functioning evaluation process that spurs intermediaries to act effectively and efficiently and to be responsive to demands from their stakeholders
Dr. Duane M. Jackson, Morehouse College, July 2011
No full textThis video is a conversation with Dr. Duane M. Jackson. Dr. Jackson talks about his paper, "Recall and the Serial Position Effect: The Role of Primacy and Recency on Accounting Students' Performance." Jackie Daniel, AUC Woodruff Library, is the interviewer
"Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States" By M. Carey.
No full text"Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States: containing bried sketches of the moral and political character of those states.
By M. Carey, member of the American philosophical, and of the American Antiquarian Society, and author of The Olive Branch, Cindiciae Hibernicae, essays on banking, on political economy, and on internal improvement.
To which are now added the English editor's comments on the subject; together with Important Advice to Emigrants, and Cautions Against Impositions Practiced in the Outports
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
No full textWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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