Scheduling of tasks in the information subsystem at an inland terminal

Intermodal transport becomes increasingly popular in cargo transport. This article describes the role of the inland terminal in intermodal transport. Both logistical systems, and inland terminals, together with the movement of loads represent also the flow of information. Though, users and subsystem information, as well as individual elements of the flow of information have been distinguished. The purpose of this article is to characterize an information subsystem in the container terminal, as well as to develop a schedule of tasks in this subsystem

Model of Implementation of Selected Operation at an Inland Terminal

Transport intermodalny polegający na wymianie kontenerów wymaga sprawnego, wydajnego i niezawodnego funkcjonowania terminali lądowych. W literaturze wiele uwagi poświęca się efektywnej pracy portów, podczas gdy terminale lądowe nie znajdują znaczących rozwiązań naukowych. Wynika to m.in. z ograniczonego potencjału i zasięgu działania lądowych węzłów intermodalnych. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie praktycznego rozwiązania systemu obsługi kontenerów w relacji wagon – plac w lądowym terminalu kontenerowym według metody porównującej wartości parametrów charakteryzujących kontener przewidziany do przeładunku, plac oraz drogi transportowe. Zaprezentowano przegląd dostępnych rozwiązań naukowych z tego zakresu oraz rozwiązanie ogólne problemu. Przeprowadzono weryfikację skuteczności proponowanego rozwiązania oraz rozwiązania wybranych przypadków rzeczywistych. Przedstawiono metodę heurystyczną, łączącą zagadnienia harmonogramowania pracy maszyny przeładunkowej oraz pokonywanej przez nią trasy, w realizacji zleceń transportowych w relacji wagon – plac. Metoda była realizowana w trzech etapach: porównanie dat wydania kontenerów do odbiorcy końcowego, wartościowanie realizacji zadań oraz wartościowanie skumulowanej wartości realizacji powierzonych zadań. Weryfikację metody oparto na rzeczywistych danych zebranych w intermodalnym węźle przeładunkowym. Wartości uzyskane według tej metody umożliwiły zaoszczędzić czas podczas rozładunku kontenerów w stosunku do rzeczywistych wartości. Dalsze prace polegały na zwiększeniu możliwości obliczeniowych przy wyznaczaniu kolejności realizacji zadań oraz wprowadzeniu losowych zakłóceń pracy systemu.Intermodal transport based on the exchange of containers needs efficient, performance and reliable operation at inland terminals. In the literature a lot of attention focused on the efficient operation of ports, whereas in a land-based terminals is not developing as much scientific solutions. This is due to with limited capability and range inland intermodal hubs. This article presents a practical solution container handling in relation wagon – yard at the inland container terminal according to the method of comparing the values of the parameters characterizing the container intended for handling, yard and road transport. The rest of this article presents a review of available scientific solutions from the discussed range. This paper presents a general solution for the problem. Then a verification effectiveness of the proposed solutions and solutions for some real cases. The paper presents heuristic method for linking the issue of work scheduling machine and traveled by her route in transportation orders in relation wagon – yard. The method is implemented in three stages: compared dates of the containers to the end user, evaluating the implementation of tasks and evaluating the cumulative value of the given tasks. Verification method was based on actual data collected at an intermodal transshipment node. The obtained value method allowed us to save time during the unloading of containers in relation to the actual value. Further work involves an increase in computing capabilities when determining the order of execution of tasks and the introduction of random failures of the system

Purchasing decisions and choices of Polish mothers of children aged 0-6 : the role of providing opinions on products by scientific units

PURPOSE: The research aimed to identify shopping motivations and to determine the sources of knowledge and the degree of confidence in the sources of knowledge that mothers have when selecting products.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The main research method was a statistical survey on a group of Polish mothers of children aged 0-6 years. It was a nationwide study group, a territorially representative sample for the Polish population, a weighted sample on the basis of the following parameters, size of the place of residence, and voivodeship.FINDINGS: The main conclusion that more than half (54%) of mothers of children aged 0-6 years look for products recommended by a scientific institution. In the age of information overload and problems with assessing its reliability, such a recommendation is tantamount to a guarantee of safety, especially in the area of such sensitive products as food and cosmetics for the youngest children. Nearly 70% of Polish mothers of children have confidence in scientific and medical institutions issuing recommendations for products.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This research has practical implications in three main fields: first, it is relevant for companies to find adequate information about family purchasing agents, second to indicate to official bodies, such as medical and scientific bodies, the need to guarantee reliable information and third the issue of safety of the youngest children and the implementation of an appropriate quality policy for products and information about them.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The value of the research is to find relationships between the motives for purchase decisions made by a group of mother-consumers aged 0-6 years and the sources of knowledge from which the shoppers draw their information. This is the first study of its type in terms of research volume. It is an indication for the advancement of some concrete actions, both marketing and institutional in terms of taking care of trustworthy information.peer-reviewe

Substrate influences the height of one- and two-year-old seedlings of silver fir and European beech growing in polystyrene containers

The effectiveness of different peat-based substrates was compared for the propagation of two mountain tree species (silver fir and European beech). The experiment was set up in spring of 2006, and seedlings were grown in polystyrene multipots for 2 years. Four types of substrate were applied: (1) newly prepared 1:1 peat-sawdust mixture ; (2) a peat-sawdust mixture which had already been used for five production periods; (3) a peat substrate produced in the ‘Nêdza’ container nursery (Rudy Raciborskie Forest District), consisting of peat and perlite; (4) a peat substrate, as described for (3), with added mycorrhizal fungus Hebeloma crustuliniforme. After sowing, polystyrene multi-pots were placed in a transparent tent. During the autumns of 2006 and 2007, for both species and each substrate type, 25 seedlings were randomly selected for measurement of their above-ground height, root length, root collar diameter, above- and below-ground fresh weight. Growth of one-year old and two-year-old seedlings of both species differed depending on their substrate. The application of a mycorrhizal inoculum positively affected seedling establishment, since the best height growth and largest seedlings of both species were grown on substrate (4). The growth of one-year-old fir seedlings in the ‘old’ peat and sawdust mixture (2) was similar to those seedlings on the turf substrate (3). Root:shoot allocation differed among the substrates. In fir root:shoot allocation was approximately equivalent at 1:0.9, whereas for beech it was 1:2 in oneyear-old seedlings and 1:1.5 in two-year-old seedlings

Brain health: time to act

Brain health is about making the most of your brain and helping to reduce some of the risks to its health as you age. Reducing the risk of brain disease before symptoms appear is crucial to healthy brain ageing. Established on the evidence-based report Time Matters: a call to prioritize brain health, this session addresses the necessity of communicating the risk of brain disease to people during the ‘window of opportunity’ in mid-life and supporting them in leading a brain-healthy lifestyle to improve outcomes in later life. From the management of those at risk of developing neurodegenerative disease to patient experience, it shines a light on the importance of healthy brain lifestyles