Evaluating impact of truck announcements on container stacking efficiency

Container stacking rules are an important factor in container terminal efficiency. We build on prior research and use a discrete-event simulation model to evaluate the impact of a truck announcement system on the performance of online container stacking rules. The information that is contained in the announcement, i.e., the expected departure time for an import container, can be used to schedule pre-emptive remarshall moves. These moves can then be performed when the workload is low in order to decrease the export time and the crane workload at peak times

Charge localization in DNA fibers.

We study by first-principles molecular dynamics the mechanism of electron hole (positive charge) localization in a laboratory realizable radical cation Z DNA crystal. We find that at room temperature structural deformation does not provide an efficient localization mechanism. Instead, we find evidence for the importance of changes in the protonation state for stabilizing the radical defect

Combined quay crane assignment and quay crane scheduling with crane inter-vessel movement and non-interference constraints

Integrated models of the quay crane assignment problem (QCAP) and the quay crane scheduling problem (QCSP) exist. However, they have shortcomings in that some do not allow movement of quay cranes between vessels, others do not take into account precedence relationships between tasks, and yet others do not avoid interference between quay cranes. Here, an integrated and comprehensive optimization model that combines the two distinct QCAP and QCSP problems which deals with the issues raised is put forward. The model is of the mixed-integer programming type with the objective being to minimize the difference between tardiness cost and earliness income based on finishing time and requested departure time for a vessel. Because of the extent of the model and the potential for even small problems to lead to large instances, exact methods can be prohibitive in computational time. For this reason an adapted genetic algorithm (GA) is implemented to cope with this computational burden. Experimental results obtained with branch-and-cut as implemented in CPLEX and GA for small to large-scale problem instances are presented. The paper also includes a review of the relevant literature

An evolutionary approach to a combined mixed integer programming model of seaside operations as arise in container ports

This paper puts forward an integrated optimisation model that combines three distinct problems, namely berth allocation, quay crane assignment, and quay crane scheduling that arise in container ports. Each one of these problems is difficult to solve in its own right. However, solving them individually leads almost surely to sub-optimal solutions. Hence, it is desirable to solve them in a combined form. The model is of the mixed-integer programming type with the objective being to minimize the tardiness of vessels and reduce the cost of berthing. Experimental results show that relatively small instances of the proposed model can be solved exactly using CPLEX. Large scale instances, however, can only be solved in reasonable times using heuristics. Here, an implementation of the genetic algorithm is considered. The effectiveness of this implementation is tested against CPLEX on small to medium size instances of the combined model. Larger size instances were also solved with the genetic algorithm, showing that this approach is capable of finding the optimal or near optimal solutions in realistic times

A Multi-Year Photopolarimetric Study of the Semi-Regular Variable V CVn and Identification of Analogue Sources

The semi-regular variable star V Canum Venaticorum (V CVn) is well-known for its unusual linear polarization position angle (PA). Decades of observing V CVn reveal a nearly constant PA spanning hundreds of pulsation cycles. This phenomenon has persisted through variability that has ranged by 2 magnitudes in optical brightness and through variability in the polarization amplitude over 0.3% and 6.9%. Additionally, the polarization fraction of V CVn varies inversely with brightness. This paper presents polarization measurements obtained over three pulsation cycles. We find that the polarization maximum does not always occur precisely at the same time as the brightness minimum. Instead, we observe a small lead or lag in relation to the brightness minimum, spanning a period of a few days up to three weeks. Furthermore, the PA sometimes exhibits a non-negligible rotation, especially at lower polarization levels. To elucidate the unusual optical behavior of V CVn, we present a list of literature sources that also exhibit polarization variability with a roughly fixed PA. We find this correlation occurs in stars with high tangential space velocities, i.e., "runaway" stars, suggesting that the long-term constant PA is related to how the circumstellar gas is shaped by the star's high-speed motion through the interstellar medium.Comment: 9 pages + appendices, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&

A survey of shipping finance research: setting the future research agenda

Financing shipping related investment projects has always been a focal area of debate and research within the international maritime industry since access to funding can determine the competitiveness of a capital-intensive business as well as its success or failure under adverse market conditions. This paper provides, for the first time, a comprehensive and structured survey of all published research in the area of shipping finance and investment. The review spans approximately four decades (1979-2018) of empirical evidence, including 162 studies published in 48 scholarly journals, complemented with select books and book chapters. The study provides a bibliometric analysis and comprehensive synthesis of existing research offering an invaluable source of information for both the academic community and business practice, shaping the future research agenda in shipping finance and investment

Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide in People With an Accumulation of Health Problems Related to Old Age:A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study Among Physicians in the Netherlands

Objectives: We explored characteristics of people with an accumulation of health problems related to old age requesting euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (EAS) and identified characteristics associated with granting EAS requests. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study among Dutch physicians on characteristics of these people requesting EAS (n = 123). Associations between characteristics and granting a request were assessed using logistic regression analyses. Results: People requesting EAS were predominantly &gt;80 years old (82.4%), female (70.0%), widow/widower (71.7%), (partially) care-dependent (76.7%), and had a life expectancy &gt;12 months (68.6%). The most prevalent health problems were osteoarthritis (70.4%) and impaired vision and hearing (53.0% and 40.9%). The most cited reasons to request EAS were physical deterioration (68.6%) and dependence (61.2%). 44.7% of requests were granted. Granting a request was positively associated with care dependence, disability/immobility, impaired vision, osteoporosis, loss of control, suffering without prospect of improvement and a treatment relationship with the physician &gt;12 months. Conclusion: Enhanced understanding of people with an accumulation of health problems related to old age requesting EAS can contribute to the ongoing debate on the permissibility of EAS in people without life-threatening conditions.</p

Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide in People With an Accumulation of Health Problems Related to Old Age:A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study Among Physicians in the Netherlands

Objectives: We explored characteristics of people with an accumulation of health problems related to old age requesting euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (EAS) and identified characteristics associated with granting EAS requests. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study among Dutch physicians on characteristics of these people requesting EAS (n = 123). Associations between characteristics and granting a request were assessed using logistic regression analyses. Results: People requesting EAS were predominantly &gt;80 years old (82.4%), female (70.0%), widow/widower (71.7%), (partially) care-dependent (76.7%), and had a life expectancy &gt;12 months (68.6%). The most prevalent health problems were osteoarthritis (70.4%) and impaired vision and hearing (53.0% and 40.9%). The most cited reasons to request EAS were physical deterioration (68.6%) and dependence (61.2%). 44.7% of requests were granted. Granting a request was positively associated with care dependence, disability/immobility, impaired vision, osteoporosis, loss of control, suffering without prospect of improvement and a treatment relationship with the physician &gt;12 months. Conclusion: Enhanced understanding of people with an accumulation of health problems related to old age requesting EAS can contribute to the ongoing debate on the permissibility of EAS in people without life-threatening conditions.</p

Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide in People With an Accumulation of Health Problems Related to Old Age: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study Among Physicians in the Netherlands

Objectives: We explored characteristics of people with an accumulation of health problems related to old age requesting euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (EAS) and identified characteristics associated with granting EAS requests.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study among Dutch physicians on characteristics of these people requesting EAS (n = 123). Associations between characteristics and granting a request were assessed using logistic regression analyses.Results: People requesting EAS were predominantly &gt;80 years old (82.4%), female (70.0%), widow/widower (71.7%), (partially) care-dependent (76.7%), and had a life expectancy &gt;12 months (68.6%). The most prevalent health problems were osteoarthritis (70.4%) and impaired vision and hearing (53.0% and 40.9%). The most cited reasons to request EAS were physical deterioration (68.6%) and dependence (61.2%). 44.7% of requests were granted. Granting a request was positively associated with care dependence, disability/immobility, impaired vision, osteoporosis, loss of control, suffering without prospect of improvement and a treatment relationship with the physician &gt;12 months.Conclusion: Enhanced understanding of people with an accumulation of health problems related to old age requesting EAS can contribute to the ongoing debate on the permissibility of EAS in people without life-threatening conditions