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How to improve the storage density and solve the sneak path current problem has become the key to the design of nonvolatile memristive memory. In this paper, a high storage density and high reading/writing speed 3D crossbar array non-volatile memory based on pure memristors is proposed. The main works are as follows: (1) an extensible memristive cluster is proposed, (2) a memristive switch is designed, and (3) a 3D crossbar array non-volatile memory is constructed. The memory cell of the 3D crossbar array non-volatile memory is constructed by pure memristors and can be extended by adding memristor in a memristive cluster or adding memristive clusters in a memory cell to realize multi-value storage. The memristive switch can effectively reduce the sneak path current effect. The pure memristive memory cell solves the conflict between the storage density and sneak path current effect and greatly improves the storage density of memory cells. Furthermore, the 3D cross-array structure allows different memory cells on the same layer or different layers to be read and written in parallel, which greatly improves the speed of reading and writing. Simulations with PSpice verifies that the proposed memristive cluster can realize stable multi-value storage, has higher storage density, faster reading and writing speed, fewer input ports and output ports, better stability, and lower power consumption. Moreover, the structure proposed in this paper can also be used in the circuit design of the neuromorphic network, logic circuit, and other memristive circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although smart home has received wide attention in recent years, numerous scholars focus more on energy optimization strategy than energy dispatch hardware device (named energy router). Meanwhile, this energy router should have several features, i.e., high renewable energy utilization, energy multi-port and low volume. Thus, this paper designs a nine-port energy router regarding smart home and proposes a multimode hierarchical management strategy for this energy router. First, for the multi-port demand of wind, solar, storage and utilization, this paper presents a nine-port energy router to improve the renewable energy consumption and power supply flexibility. In addition, to reduce the volume of the energy router, a non-isolated AC/DC hybrid topology is constructed through embedding the integrated power electronic converters, which achieves the miniaturization of the energy router. In order to improve the renewable energy utilization rate, the decentralized module control is proposed for the components of energy router to provide the voltage and frequency support for system, and realizes the power sharing of distributed generations (DGs). Furthermore, the power exchange control with three-mode switching is proposed to guarantee the global energy flow balance under complex conditions. Eventually, the feasibility of the energy router is verified by the simulation and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to present a compact, broadband substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) three-way power divider with improved isolation based on six-port SIW coupler. Design/methodology/approach: The power coupling among the three output ports occurs due to short openings in the narrow walls of the central SIW channel. Performance improvement in the isolation and return loss among ports is achieved using matching posts placed at the input and output ends of the coupling region. This enhances the coupling between TE10 and TE30 modes. The input matching ports enhance the return loss, whereas the isolation is alleviated by both the input and output matching posts. The bandwidth enhancement is achieved by optimizing the outer SIW channel widths. Findings: The measured fractional bandwidth of 27.3% with over 15 dB of isolation and return loss is achieved. The coupling length is 1.55 λg at the centre frequency. The power divider achieves better than 15 dB isolation between non-adjacent output ports. The measured reflection and isolation coefficients are in close agreement with simulated results over 8.2 to 10.8 GHz. Practical implications: Isolation between the adjacent and non-adjacent ports is an important parameter as the reflections from these ports will interfere with signals from other ports reducing the fractional bandwidth of the power divider and affecting the overall performance of the transmitters and receivers. Originality/value: The authors present the enhancement of isolation between the output non-adjacent ports by optimizing the SIW channel width and matching post in the coupling region to reduce the reflected signals from non-adjacent ports entering into other ports. To the author's knowledge, this is the only SIW three-way power divider paper showing non-adjacent port isolation among six-port couplers based three-way power dividers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine numerous sustaining factors in the restabilisation of Afghanistan, from legal, logistical and technical perspectives. The significance of logistics and infrastructure for state reconstruction and stability has been recognised by military and engineering practices. However, previous research on Afghanistan has focused on specific areas such as geopolitics, regional studies, bilateral cooperation and international aid. In contrast, this paper examines specialised issues within logistics and infrastructure, i.e., transit rights, access to ports, investors' codes of conduct and the modus operandi of military and engineering engaged in the construction, operation and protection of infrastructure, which have not yet been fully discussed in the previous research. Furthermore, the importance of logistics of multiple shipping routes will be examined through comparative analysis. Considering a prolonged restabilisation process in land-locked Afghanistan, rights of transit and port access are imperative to achieve safe logistics in energy, water, food and medical supplies. In conclusion, an integrated, comprehensive model agreement for multilateral cooperation would enable international aid to be funnelled via a single scheme. Thus, this paper concludes that the long-term stability and development of Afghanistan will be guaranteed through a comprehensive framework agreement for logistics, which materialises rights of transit and port access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tsunamis that have occurred in many places around the world over the past decade have taken a heavy toll on human lives and property. The eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula is not safe from tsunamis, particularly the eastern coastal areas, which have long sustained tsunami damage. The aim of this study was to mitigate the casualties and property damage on the east eastern coast by developing a proper tsunami response system for important ports and harbors with high population densities and high concentrations of key national industries. For study purposes, the governmentmanaged major international trade ports and coastal harbors were selected and an effective tsunami response system was formulated based on field surveys and related literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various industries are undergoing transformation given recently available pervasive sensors, low-cost and low-latency digital communication, and distributed control technologies. The objective of this paper is to support the introduction of Internet of things (IoT) technologies in the maritime industry. The maritime industry is analyzed as a system of systems to define performance criteria and functions to be modeled and analyzed through simulation. In this case, the simulation of a shipping system includes models of operation, cargo loading, fuel loading, and docking for maintenance. In the simulation, various kinds of IoT technologies are defined by several input parameters. By changing the parameters, the simulator evaluates the impact of those technologies quantitatively. As a case study, 11 IoT technologies are evaluated and compared. The result reveals several insights that weight of the ship is the most impactful for the profit, controlling damage of the ship's hull by operation is the most important for safety, and improvement in efficiency at ports is the key to reducing delay time in operation. Moreover, this paper shows that the sensitivity analysis by changing the input parameters can support the decision making of how much investment will be effective in considering the technologies' levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions All of the papers selected for this Special Issue have shown important insights and contributed to making this Special Issue successful in providing a platform for recent advances in the field of power electronics for electric drives and renewable energy sources, concerning both consumption and generation. This Special Issue was intended to consolidate the most recent advances in the field of power electronics for electric drives and renewable energy sources. In ref. [[3]], a design method for the cogging torque minimization of permanent magnet machines with a segmented stator core based on artificial neural network surrogate models is proposed. [Extracted from the article]

With the rapid development of global trade, a large number of goods and resources are imported and exported via seaports. Multiple thermal loads and renewable energy merge into seaports, making the energy supply and demand structure increasingly complex. The traditional seaport becomes an integrated seaport energy system (ISES). Due to the complicated energy interaction of cooling, heating, electricity, and gas subsystems, the ISES urgently require reliable and secure operation. Hence, this paper proposes a new reliability assessment method for the ISES that considers thermal inertia. Firstly, the operational structure of the ISES is established considering multi-energy coupling relationships. Then, a two-stage optimal load curtailment model is constructed with multiple thermal inertias. In addition, the reliability assessment method for the ISES is proposed based on the sequential Monte Carlo simulation method. Simulations are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actual security ensures individuals, information, frameworks, and gear of a country. It additionally gets worldwide boundaries. Political obstruction and infringement of boundary arrangements can make line security issues. Mechanical headways in actual security diminish the weight of line security work force. On the off chance that the boundary of a nation is not all around ensured, then, at that point, it would confront a progression of illicit movement. Boundaries can be emphatically ensured by utilizing actual obstructions, observation, biomeasurements, light, security faculty, caution frameworks, sensors, radars, access control frameworks, distinguishing proof frameworks, and PC design. This paper talks about certain difficulties and their potential arrangements utilizing different actual security components at global boundaries. This paper likewise indicates the possible changes in genuine which nations' security can consider for their lines the bosses in a common manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the area of regional port clusters, this paper establishes a multi-period mixed integer programming model to optimize the empty container repositioning between public hinterlands and ports, comprehensively considering the quantitative and periodic inventory control strategy. At the same time, this paper dynamically and heuristically determines the empty container inventory threshold (D, U) under quantitative strategy and S under periodical strategy at each port within the regional port clusters. On this basis, the empty container repositioning schemes between public hinterlands and ports are optimized by using Markov decision process combined with dynamic programming method. In addition, Liaoning coastal regional port cluster and its northeast hinterland are selected as the objects to solve this model and the results show that the total cost of shipping company can be saved by 14.16% and 11.92%, respectively, by the quantitative and periodical inventory control strategy. Selecting the quantity of public hinterland terminals, the empty container demand of public hinterland terminals and ports, the inventory threshold of empty containers and other factors, this paper carries on the sensitivity analysis. This paper validates inventory control strategy can weaken the shipping company in the influence of the external environment changes. And the quantitative inventory control strategy can reduce the total cost value to a greater extent and more effective in cost control than periodical strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The international economic and social context, due to the COVID-19 crisis, has highlighted the resilience of international maritime trade and global supply chains. For these reasons, port activities have constantly adapted to the new challenges. The specialized literature in this field argues for the importance of modeling and simulation in the process of optimizing port activities. This direction of research facilitates the adaptation of port activity to the requirements of the maritime market, to competition in the field and last but not least to technological progress. Modeling and simulation in the field of port activity has become the tool through which new investment projects can be analyzed, such as a specialized terminal. Modeling and simulation can also contribute to the identification of technical or procedural optimal solutions both from the perspective of implementation costs and depending on the actual situation in the hinterland area. As part of a larger research, the paper is a literature review article. This paper proposes an assessment of the state of research in the field of modeling and simulation of processes in specialized port terminals in order to identify research directions that would increase the efficiency of the activities carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complex hydrology and narrow channels of inland rivers, ship collision accidents occur frequently. The traditional collision-avoidance algorithms are often aimed at sea areas, and not often at inland rivers. To solve the problem of inland-ship collision avoidance, this paper proposes an inland-ship collision-avoidance decision system based on the velocity obstacle algorithm. The system is designed to assist ships in achieving independent collision-avoidance operations under the limitation of maneuverability while meeting inland-ship collision-avoidance regulations. First, the paper improves the Maneuvering Modeling Group (MMG) model suitable for inland rivers. Then, it improves velocity obstacle algorithms based on the dynamic ship domain, which can deal with different obstacles and three encounter situations (head-on, crossing, and overtaking situations). In addition, this paper proposes a method to deal with close-quarters situations. Finally, the simulation environment built by MATLAB software is used to simulate the collision avoidance of inland ships against different obstacles under different situations with a decision-making time of less than 0.1 s. Through the analysis of the simulation results, the effectiveness and practicability of the system are verified, which can provide reasonable collision-avoidance decisions for inland ships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, the structures of Multi-Active Bridge (MAB) converters that can be found in the literature are usually based on voltage converters. However, in some cases, it could be interesting to have a current-fed input due to load characteristics or operation constraints. This leads to a hybrid MAB structure mixing both current-fed and voltage-fed bridges. In this paper, a new hybrid-fed, fully coupled Triple-Active Bridge (TAB) converter topology with two voltage-fed ports and one current-fed port is studied, modelled and controlled. In the first place, a generalized average model (GAM) is developed for this system. After that, a reduced-order model is elaborated in order to simplify the behavioral study and control of this coupled system. A control strategy was also proposed in this paper, based on the developed mathematical model. Simulation results using Matlab/Simulink are presented to validate this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose a DC-port voltage balance strategy realizing it by logic combination modulation (LCM). This voltage balance strategy is brief and high efficient, which can be used in many power electronic devices adopting the cascaded H-bridge rectifier (CHBR) such as power electronic transformer (PET). Design/methodology/approach: The CHBR is typically as a core component in the power electronic devices to implement the voltage or current conversion. The modulation method presented here is aiming to solve the voltage imbalance problem occurred in the CHBR with more stable work station and higher reliability in ordinary operating conditions. In particular, by changing the switch states smoothly and quickly, the DC-port voltage can be controlled as the ideal value even one of the modules in CHBR is facing the load-removed problem. Findings: By using the voltage balance strategy of LCM, the problem of voltage imbalance occurring in three-phase cascaded rectifiers has been solved properly. With the lower modulation depth, the efficiency of the strategy is shown to be better and stronger. The strategy can work reliably and quickly no matter facing the problem as load-removed change or the ordinary operating conditions. Research limitations/implications: The limitation of the proposed DC-port voltage balance strategy is calculated and proved, in a three-module CHBR, the LCM could balance the DC-port voltage while one module facing the load-removed situation under 0.83 modulation depth. Originality/value: This paper provides a useful and particular voltage balance strategy which can be used in the topology of three-phase cascaded rectifier. The value of the strategy is that a brief and reliable voltage balance method in the power electronic devices can be achieved. What is more, facing the problem, such as load-removed, in outport, the strategy can response quickly with no switch jump and switch frequency rising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper proposes a three‐level three port isolated converter (3L3PIC), which can be employed as an intermediate power conversion circuit for connecting different DC bus voltages in a DC microgrid. This topology utilize half bridge multilevel structure to reduce voltage stress across the transformer windings and the semiconductor switches. Conventionally the power transfer between the ports of a 3PIC were attained by traditional phase‐shift modulation (TPM), but this will impose increased current stress and associated losses in the converter at wide change in voltage conversion ratio. To minimize these losses, this paper introduces a 3L3PIC, that is, by employing dual phase‐shift modulation (DPM) in 3PIC. Steady state analysis of 3L3PIC are presented and derived the power transfer equations between the ports. The current equations through each port are determined at different combinations of voltage conversion ratios. Procedure for obtaining optimized phase‐shift values for both TPM and DPM techniques in 3PIC are explained. A comparison between the modulation schemes in 3PIC is performed and found better results for the DPM technique in terms of reduced current stress, reduced circulating power flow, and extended soft switching region. This in turn leads to a reduction in conduction losses and transformer losses in the converter. A hardware prototype of 1.5 kW 3PIC has been implemented and tested. The experimental results obtained validates with the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an assessment of the quality of selected filtration methods for the postprocessing of multibeam echosounder data. In this regard, the methodology used in the quality assessment of these data is an important factor. One of the most important final products derived from bathymetric data is the digital bottom model (DBM). Therefore, quality assessment is often based on factors related to it. In this paper, we propose some quantitative and qualitative factors to perform these assessments, and we analyze a few selected filtration methods as examples. This research makes use of real data gathered in real environments, preprocessed with typical hydrographic flow. The methods presented in this paper may be used in empirical solutions, and the filtration analysis may be useful for hydrographers choosing a filtration method for DBM interpolation. The results showed that both data-oriented and surface-oriented methods can be used in data filtration and that various evaluation methods show different perspectives on data filtration quality assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a feasible numerical approach to investigate motion responses of the intact and damaged DTMB 5415 model in still water and regular waves at zero speed. Overset mesh with Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) technique is applied to deal with the ship's motions. Theoretical wave analysis and one benchmarking study are performed to verify the reliability of the applied numerical method. The results show that no matter whether the damaged ship is in still water or waves, asymmetric flooding always makes the ship maintain a larger heel angle. If the damaged ship further encounters beam waves towards the intact side, the possibility of capsizing will be greatly increased. Moreover, due to the wave excitation, the pitch and heave motions are more intense than motions in still water. However, the intense motions will not threaten the ship's safety. Finally, by comparing with motions of the intact ship in waves, influences of asymmetric flooding and beam waves are quantified. It is concluded that the rolling effect caused by asymmetric flooding should be firstly reduced. Generally, to facilitate the safe return of the damaged ship to port, it is necessary to reduce the asymmetric effect and set the appropriate course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Conventional ships are rarely the focus of research projects on autonomous shipping. Nevertheless, the shipping companies are very interested in reducing fuel consumption. This paper proposes a gradual approach towards ship automation which starts with the intelligent assistance of common manual steering by means of a Maneuver Assistance System (MAS). The MAS displays a manually improved manoeuvre plan and the future motion based on the current actuator commands. These two assistance functions contribute to a more conscious use of actuators which can significantly reduce power consumption. For further automation, the improved manoeuvre plan is converted into a trajectory by forward simulation, which is then used by a control system. The control system includes feed-forward and feedback control as well as an allocation system based on a simplified dynamic motion model. A cascaded structure is used, where an outer track controller provides velocity and heading commands to an inner velocity and heading controller. The paper presents the necessary framework and the application of this approach to the digitised German research vessel DENEB with the aim to gradually introduce and realise automatic manoeuvring. Results from manual and assisted manoeuvres with the DENEB are analysed and compared. Finally, first results of automatic berthing with the vessel in the port of Rostock are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the generation of Orbital AngularMomentum (OAM) vortex waves with mode 1 using Uniform Circular Array (UCA) antenna. Two different designs, namely, UCA-1 (4-element array antenna) and UCA-2 (8-element array antenna), were designed and fabricated using FR-4 substrate to generate OAM mode 1 at 3.5 GHz (5G mid-band). The proposed antenna arrays comprised rectangular microstrip patch elements with inset fed technique. The elements were excited by a carefully designed feeding phase shift network to provide similar output energy at output ports with desired phase shift value. The generated OAM waves were confirmed by measuring the null in the bore sight of their 2D radiation patterns, simulated phase distribution and intensity distribution. The measurement results agree well with the simulation results. Moreover, a detailed mode purity analysis of the generated OAM waves was carried out considering different factors. The investigation found that the greater the number of elements, the higher the purity of the generated OAM wave. Compared with other previous works, the proposed antenna design of this paper is very simple to design and fabricate. In addition, the proposed antennas are compact in design even at lower frequency band with very wide bandwidth to meet the requirements of 5G mid-band applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from port operations are a major environmental factor contributing to the problem of climate change. To cope with this challenge, International Maritime Organization (IMO) and port governments in nations have developed stringent regulations to curb the release of GHGs and other pollutants. To contribute a methodology towards the reduction in air pollution at port areas, the paper aims to assess container terminals' (CTs) efficiency by considering the unexpected output (i.e., CO2 emissions) in their operations by a revised SBM-DEA model. The main originality of this paper includes (1) using cluster analysis to determine the homogeneity of decision-making units (DMUs), (2) proposing the power utilization approach to estimate the amount of CO2 emissions released by container terminal operators (CTOs), (3) incorporating CO2 emissions into the assessment model to provide a complete efficiency ranking for CTs, and (4) developing the revised SBM to estimate efficiency scores for CT operations. Finally, 12 CTOs affiliated with the SNP corporation of Vietnam were empirically employed to validate the research model. Based on the result from the proposed research model, CTOs might reduce the amount of CO2 emissions by adopting the slack variables while guaranteeing their operating efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With extensive access to distributed power sources and the rising electricity load, the structure and tide of distribution networks are becoming increasingly large and complex, leading to great challenges for fault location methods. In this paper, the power coupling phenomenon of the T-section in the distribution network is studied, and a hierarchical optimization model for fault location is proposed based on the port equivalence principle, which divides the fault location into two levels—area location and section location—to reduce the fault search dimension. Then, an improved binary particle swarm optimization algorithm (IBPSO) applied to the area location is proposed to improve the convergence accuracy and speed by optimizing the convergence criterion and integrating the chaotic mapping and mutation strategies. Finally, based on the topological characteristics of the sections in the fault area, a fault candidate scenario screening method based on the fault confidence factor is proposed to realize a second dimensionality reduction in the section location link. Simulation tests show that the proposed method demonstrates a good dimensionality reduction effect for large-scale, active distribution networks; additionally, the accuracy rate is improved by 25.7% and the location speed is improved by 300 ms when compared with traditional fault location methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna for low millimeter (mm)-wave applications based on dielectric resonators. This is the first time that a filtering response is used in conjunction with an MIMO antenna operating at a low mm-wave frequency. The antenna is simulated using an asymmetrical U-shaped aperture and a microstrip line feed. The suggested filtenna has two distinguishing characteristics: (i) the diversity parameters of the proposed MIMO are increased by including pattern and spatial diversity, and (ii) the proposed feed mechanism of a dielectric resonator provides the filtering response. Between the two ports, a metallic plate tilts the radiation pattern by 45°. The anti-parallel locations of the ports increase the isolation value by >30 dB. To validate the performance of the suggested antenna, the proposed filtenna was built and confirmed. The proposed antenna operates between the frequencies 27.9 and 28.5 GHz. Within the operating frequency range, the observed gain is ~4.5 dBi. On the contrary, the gain suppression level beyond the operational frequency range is ~15 dB. The stable radiation properties and high diversity parameter values of the suggested filtenna make it an effective solution for 5G Internet of Things sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new control algorithm was designed to solve the problems of actuator physical failure, remote network attack, and sudden change in trajectory curvature when a port's artificial intelligence-based transportation robots track transportation in a freight yard. First of all, the nonlinear, redundant, saturated sliding surface was designed based on the redundant information of sliding mode control caused by the finite nature of control performance; the dynamic acceleration characteristic of super-twisted sliding mode reaching law was considered to optimize the control high frequency change caused by trajectory mutation; and an improved super-twist reaching law was designed. Then, a nonlinear factor was designed to construct a nonlinear, fault-tolerant filtering mechanism to compensate for the abnormal part of the unknown input that cannot be executed by adaptive neural network reconstruction. On this basis, the finite-time technology and parameter-event-triggered mechanism were combined to reduce the dependence on communication resources. As a result, the design underwent simulation verification to verify its effectiveness and superiority. In the comparative simulation, under a consistent probability of a network attack, the tracking accuracy of the algorithm proposed in this paper was 22.65 % , 12.69 % and 11.48 % higher those that of the traditional algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated surveillance systems based on machine learning and computer vision constantly evolve to improve shipping and assist port authorities. The data obtained can be used for port and port property surveillance, traffic density analysis, maritime safety, pollution assessment, etc. However, due to the lack of datasets for video surveillance and ship classification in real maritime zones, there is a need for a reference dataset to compare the obtained results. This paper presents a new dataset for estimating detection and classification performance which provides versatile ship annotations and classifications for passenger ports with a large number of small- to medium-sized ships that were not monitored by the automatic identification system (AIS) and/or the vessel traffic system (VTS). The dataset is considered general for the Mediterranean region since many ports have a similar maritime traffic configuration as the Port of Split, Croatia. The dataset consists of 19,337 high-resolution images with 27,849 manually labeled ship instances classified into 12 categories. The vast majority of the images contain the port and starboard sides of the ships. In addition, the images were acquired in a real maritime zone at different times of the year, day, weather conditions, and sea state conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has shown tremendous advances over the traditional technique. A crucial challenge for developing a MIS robot is the kinematic design of the remote center-of-motion (RCM) mechanism. In this paper, a class of spatial RCM mechanism is analyzed. They are obtained by generating virtual parallelograms. The main process is to construct a line that passes through a fixed point under the mechanical constraint. The axis of the surgical tool is then constrained to parallel with that line. Hence, due to the geometrical feature of the parallel lines, the axis of the surgical tool will always pass through a fixed point, i.e., the RCM point. Due to the specially designed structure, the fixed point does not need to be physically belonging to the mechanism. The geometrical analysis method is employed to obtain the closed-form solution of the forward kinematics of the proposed mechanisms. Due to the high load capacity of parallel mechanism, the robots based on the proposed RCM mechanisms have promising applications as an external positioner to be used in robotic single-port surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering last year’s climate changes, we can expect low temperatures during winter, which can lead to the freezing of Danube river and more. This would prevent the freight traffic in Danube’s ports meaning that the riparian economy would suffer. This paper presents a new concept of breaking the ice. Using an existent tug, we propose the attachment of an icebreaking additional structure. The paper further describes the concept and includes the necessary calculation methods used for the technological design of this ensemble. This concept presents numerous advantages, including the financial aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the growing international trade in Sub Saharan Africa, and very few studies done on the determinants of port choice from the Sub Saharan African port users perspective, this paper proves that efficiency is one of the critical determinants of port selection. Efficiency is a critical transportation parameter. The kernel of the paper is to examine port choice indicators and critical transportation parameters as a basis for port selection. Fifty-one business representative from Sub Saharan African countries responded to the questionnaire to indicate what they consider as critical in their importation and exportation of shipment via ports in Sub Saharan Africa. The paper established that critical transportation parameters and key port indicators are determinants in the choice of ports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The platform is applied in the Maritime Silk Road Transport environmental security service system. This system provides global navigation assurance and environmental protection services. Since the e-Navigation strategy was put forward, various countries and regions in the world have researched e-Navigation test platforms. However, the sources of navigation data are multi-source, and there are still difficulties in the unified acquisition, processing, analysis and application of multi-source data. Users often find it difficult to obtain the required comprehensive navigation information. The purpose of this paper is to use e-Navigation architecture to design and develop maritime data security management platform, strengthen navigation safety guarantee, strengthen Marine environment monitoring, share navigation and safety information, improve the ability of shipping transportation organizations in ports, and protect the marine environment. Therefore, this paper proposes a four-layer system architecture based on Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition (J2EE) technology, and designs a unified maritime data storage, analysis and management platform, which realizes the intelligent, visualized and modular management of maritime data at shipside and the shore. This platform can provide comprehensive data resource services for ship navigation and support the analysis and mining of maritime big data. This paper expounds on the design, development scheme and demonstration operation scheme of the maritime data security management platform from the system structure and data exchange mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-In-First-Out cores (FIFOs) are memory storage elements that are used in digital systems for buffering data through a system for later processing. This paper presents the design and implementation of a General Purpose FIFO Core which allows adjustment of the capacity along with the size of each data word. Status indicators were provided to indicate whether or not the FIFO was empty, half-full, or full. The number of data words stored in the FIFO was also indicated by designated output ports of the system. A status flag was also available to indicate when the size reached a predetermined threshold value. A separate interface was provided that allowed the data at any address to be accessed for reading. It was also possible to write a data word to the back of the FIFO while another data word was read from the front simultaneously. The FSM-D architectural model was applied to the design of the FIFO Core and the implementation was done in VHDL using the Xilinx ISE 14.7. The implemented core was simulated using ISim Logic Simulator of the Xilinx ISE platform, and it was found that the system core behaved as specified by the test cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of AIN Journal is the property of Arab Institute of Navigation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fuel consumption is an important factor to be considered in the process of weather routing. How to choose an appropriate route according to the requirements is particularly important. This paper proposes a method to optimize the ship weather routing. Based on the original genetic algorithm, the trigonometric function selection operator is introduced, the mutation operator is improved to increase the search range in the initial stage of the algorithm, and gradually narrow the search range in the middle and late stages of the algorithm, thus the convergence is sped up and the running time of the algorithm is reduced. Aiming at the incomplete ship speed fuel consumption comparison table, this paper uses SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) software to perform curve fitting and a curve with the best fitting degree is found. Then the curve equation is used to calculate the total fuel consumption of the case ship (S175 container ship) sailing through between the two ports Yokohama (35° N, 141° E) and San Francisco (37° N, 123° W), to verify the performance of the improved algorithm. Aiming at the minimum fuel consumption, the fuel consumption of the optimized route is reduced by 7.84% compared with that of the Rhumb Line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seaports (hereafter "ports") within the European Union are facing increasingly restrictive regulation in the near future from various sources driven by climate change prevention and public opinion supporting "green" values. Ports are complex hubs for maritime transportation systems and global supply chains, as well as an integral part of critical national infrastructures. However, they are also significant individual sources of harmful emissions, and their involvement is crucial to reducing transportation-related environmental impacts. To meet future regulatory requirements, stakeholders will need to find ways to align their policies accordingly and create long-term pathways toward these ambitious targets. The empirical case study presented in this paper among European Port Cluster (EPC) stakeholders distinctly reflects the mounting importance of environmental policies and the need for further preparative measures for meeting future demands. This paper emphasizes the intensified impact of forthcoming regulation on existing business models in the EPC and contributes a foresight-based framework to approaching this issue systematically. The adoption of future-oriented regulation is a non-linear, potentially disruptive, and complex foresight process that requires each stakeholder to formulate their own strategic pathway toward a target-seeking scenario. Changing direction from the status quo toward sustainability also requires a strong commitment beyond mere regulatory compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The involvement of stakeholders in large scale urban sustainable development projects (LSUSDP.s) has proven difficult. The stakeholders are distributed across the geographical area, and they have stakes not only in the LSUSDP, but in the geographical location where the project takes place. To understand stakeholder management in "distributed projects", we propose abandoning the "inside-out" perspective where the project is the point of departure, and focus on the emergence of stakeholders across time. Adopting such a performative, "outside-in," perspective on the longitudinal and digital study of a LSUSDP, we are able to map how actors became stakeholders in the project through their actions. The paper makes four contributions. First, we reconceptualize stakeholder involvement by adopting a performative perspective, whereby "stakeholders" are envisaged as emergent and non-fixed. Second, we demonstrate how such a reconceptualization may be applied to the analysis of an empirical case. Third, we show that stakeholder involvement is not merely the result of stakeholder management but something that happens over time, through the material and discursive actions of those that become stakeholders. Finally, the paper contributes with an illustration of how the online, digital footprint, of a project may be useful to understand the emergence of a project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to withstand and recover from disruptions is essential for seaport energy systems, and in light of the growing push for decarbonization, incorporating clean energy sources has become increasingly imperative to ensure resilience. This paper proposes a resilience enhancement planning strategy for a seaport multi‐energy system that integrates various energy modalities and sources, including heating, cooling, hydrogen, solar, and wind power. The planning strategy aims to ensure the reliable operation of the system during contingency events, such as power outages, equipment failures, or extreme weather incidents. The proposed optimization model is designed as a mixed‐integer nonlinear programming formulation, in which McCormick inequalities and other linearization techniques are utilized to tackle the model nonlinearities. The model allocates fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs), renewable energy sources, hydrogen refueling stations, and remote control switches such that the system resilience is enhanced while incorporating natural‐gas‐powered combined cooling, heating, and power system to minimize the operation and unserved demand costs. The model considers various factors such as the availability of renewable energy sources, the demand for heating, cooling, electricity, and hydrogen, the operation of remote control switches to help system reconfiguration, the travel behaviour of FCETs, and the power output of FCETs via vehicle‐to‐grid interface. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed strategy can significantly improve the resilience of the seaport multi‐energy system and reduce the risk of service disruptions during contingency scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers new insights into the under-researched rural maritime sites of Cyprus's north-eastern coast of the Early Byzantine period. It focuses on the likewise under-researched coastal site at Aphendrika and its natural harbour bay in the eastern part of the Karpas peninsula, which can probably be identified with the ancient Hellenistic Urania. Its few built and rock-cut harbour facilities and the remains of the rural economy, such as weightstones and press-beds linked to olive oil production, were investigated and documented by non-invasive methods, by a ground- and aerial survey. A considerable amount of surface sherds from the harbour bay, its shallow water and the bay's close surroundings were rescued from further destruction and disappearance, transferred to the archaeological depot, documented and typologically classified. Based on a few limited earlier studies about the historic site at Aphendrika, on the analysis of other ancient Cypriot sites with harbours or anchorages and on our own site analyses the paper argues that the harbour and its largely unknown settlement served as a gateway emporion which connected the coast with its local hinterland and attracted especially coastal maritime traffic. The amphora spectrum is predominantly Eastern Mediterranean, among which the Late Roman Amphora 1 dominates. Abundant traces of lever-and-screw presses attest to a surplus production which certainly was exported through the harbour. The rural economy was probably controlled by a local elite. This elite who has similarly been attested for Early Byzantine sites at the south coast of Cyprus materializes through two 6th-century churches and a single marble pilaster capital which might derive from a wealthy rural estate. Finally, the results from Aphendrika were embedded into data gained from a map-, literature- and physical survey concerning previously known and potentially new ancient harbour or anchorage sites on the nort h-eastern coast of Cyprus, between Kyrenia and Cape Andreas. The identification of potentially new sites is based on specifically developed indicative criteria, leading to the conclusion that the maritime activity on the island's north coast was more intensive than described in previous scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is part of the results achieved in Tech4You project T4Y S2G2PP2 funded by PNRR (Piano Nazionale di Ricerca e Resilienza). The Tech4You project focused on the silting process affecting the Cetraro harbour mouth (Calabria, southern Italy). The study area is located along the northern Calabrian Tyrrhenian coast and is part of a physiographic unit with a west-southwest fetch greater than 1650 km. The wave climate is characterised by a significant wave height of 0.65m (average period of 5.15s) and 1.01 m (average period of 5.7s) offshore and inshore, respectively. The longshore flow of sediments (about 80,000 m³ /yr), moving from north to south, is interrupted by the harbour pier producing silting (~10,000 m³ /yr sediment deposited at the harbour mouth), and heavy coastal erosion in the down-drift sector. The sediment production in the Aron River catchment (representing the main sediment feed in the physiographic unit) by Gravrilovic model was also studied, with detailed analysis of soil use through multispectral analysis, and estimate an average volume of ~30,000 m³ /yr. A bypass system was designed, consisting of a submerged pump installed at the end of the pier on the up-drift side of the harbour, to replace the original longshore current, contrasting simultaneously both mouth silting and erosion processes in the down-drift coastline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Researchers, governments, and international organizations have all been working to understand the various functions, types, and levels of these centers. Despite these efforts, there has been little progress in developing assessment criteria that consider multi-aspects of logistics centers such as function, level, and spatial relationships perspective together. This study seeks to bridge the research gap by using a multi-criteria evaluation framework and applying Damietta Port as a case study. To achieve the main objective which is to test the ability of Damietta Port to play its role as a logistic hub by comprehensive multiple criteria. Some efforts have crystallized around evaluating using the criteria matrix. However, it does not comprehensive. However, the matrix table consisting of multiple criteria is developed, comprehensive and more organized, and through it we can evaluate the Port. By secondary sources the data were collected through statistical reports issued by official authorities, then relied on statistical analysis of this data and visualized to assist in understanding the results. The result shows that Damietta Port can play a role as a logistical hub. This assessment helps governments take appropriate decisions to make these centers play a development role that suits their logistical functions and norms within their spatial urban sphere. Damietta's port can be a manner of supporting the preparation of strategic plans for the cities that surround the port. The findings of this paper lead to an exploratory framework that advances our understanding of the functions and impacts of logistic hubs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate extremes are threatening transportation infrastructures and hence require new methods to address their vulnerability and improve their resilience. However, existing studies have yet to examine the climate impacts on transportation networks systematically rather than independently assessing the infrastructures at a component level. Therefore, it is crucial to configure alternative shipping routes from a systematic perspective to reduce climate vulnerabilities and optimise the resilience of the whole shipping network. This paper aims to assess the global shipping network focusing on climate resilience by a methodology that combines climate risk indicators, centrality analysis and ship routing optimisation. The methodology is designed for overviewing the climate vulnerability of the current and future scenarios for comparison. First, a multi-centrality assessment defines the global shipping hubs and network vulnerabilities. Secondly, a shipping model is built for finding the optimal shipping route between ports, considering the port disruption days caused by climate change (e.g. extreme weather) based on the climate vulnerability analysis result from the first step. It contributes to a new framework combining the global and local seaport climate vulnerabilities. Furthermore, it recommends changing shipping routes by a foreseeable increase in port disruptions caused by extreme weather for climate adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper numerically investigates mixed convective heat transfer in a vented square cavity incorporated with a baffle that is subjected to external non‐Newtonian fluids (NNFs). Adiabatic conditions are imposed on the top and bottom walls, while cold temperature conditions are applied to the right and left solid boundaries. Heated NNF enters the cavity through the inlet and goes out through the outlet at three different locations, and it passes on a vertical baffle fixed at the base placed at different lengths. To examine the impact of the inlet and outlet positions, three different shapes of the outlet port located on the right wall and the inlet port on the left bottom wall were investigated. The impacts of Reynolds number (Re) of 100 ≤ Re ≤ 1000, Richardson number (Ri) of 0.1 ≤ Ri ≤ 3, power law index (n) of 0.6 ≤ n ≤ 1.4, length of baffle (Lb) of 0.2 ≤ Lb ≤ 0.6 and the outlet hole positions (S) of 0≤S≤0.9 $0\le S\le 0.9$ on the thermal and flow distributions in the cavity are taken into consideration in this paper. The results demonstrated that the flow's intensity and heat transfer increase with improvement in the Re and n at any baffle length. When the Ri increased from 0.1 to 3, Nuavg $N{u}_{\mathrm{avg}}$ increased by 23.3% at n=0.6 $n=0.6$, and 13.8% at n=1.2 $n=1.2$. Also, the Ri increment results in the augmentation of the average heat transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable mobility is one of the key elements determining the correct operationalization of the idea of sustainable development. This concept also appears more and more often in modern cities, whose authorities strive to improve the quality of life of their inhabitants, among others by creating SUMP -Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan. This is followed by all kinds of facilities that generate big traffic in cities. One of the institutions willing to meet the challenges of the ever-growing number of trips in its vicinity is Gdynia Maritime University (GMU), which is one of the largest employers in this seaport city, and thus - is one of the biggest traffic generators. The objective of this paper is to investigate the prerequisites and perspectives of creating and implementing mobility plan for GMU in order to make transport more sustainable in its vicinity. For this purpose, pilot research survey has been carried out among employees and students regarding their behaviour and transport preferences in reaching this destination. The research hypothesis stating that the transport habits of the GMU commuters are not compatible with the concept of sustainable mobility was confirmed. The implementation of a sustainable mobility plan in this institution will help to change the standards of traveling in the area of the University and will contribute to better quality of life in the city. It is recommended to enhance the c ooperation with the Gdynia C ity Hall in order to create a synergy effect and bring an added value to sustainable development of this congested seaport urban space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]