ABSTRACT
In response to the shortage, uneven distribution, and high cost of rehabilitation resources in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed a low-cost, easy-to-use remote rehabilitation system that allows patients to perform rehabilitation training and receive real-time guidance from doctors at home. The proposed system uses Azure Kinect to capture motions with an error of just 3% compared to professional motion capture systems. In addition, the system pro-vides an automatic evaluation function of rehabilitation training, including evaluation of motion angles and trajectories. After acquiring the user's 3D mo-tions, the system synchronizes the 3D motions to the virtual human body model in Unity with an average error of less than 1%, which gives the user a more intuitive and interactive experience. After a series of evaluation experiments, we verified the usability, con-venience, and high accuracy of the system, finally con-cluding that the system can be used in practical rehabilitation applications. © Fuji Technology Press Ltd.
ABSTRACT
The rapid pace of climate change has exacerbated Singapore’s ever-present vulnerability to food shortages. While most of Singapore’s current food supply is imported, the country is working towards becoming self-sufficient in at least 30% of its food demand by 2030. Though a high proportion of Singaporeans have pro-environmental views and believe that buying locally grown food is more eco-friendly, the demand for local produce remains low. To better understand the cause of this attitude–behaviour gap, this study investigated the factors influencing the purchasing decisions of local consumers, as well as their willingness to pay a premium for locally produced vegetables, eggs, and seafood in Singapore. The estimation results suggested that what primarily hinders the local produce demand of consumers with positive perceptions towards sustainability is not their income or product price. Instead, product-specific factors, such as freshness and quality of the produce, and easiness to identify the product at store were found to be positively associated with local produce purchase. Ensuring these factors can potentially lead to higher demand for local produce in Singapore. Attitudes and behaviours related to sustainability played a larger role in the willingness to pay (WTP) than purchase decision making. Thus, to enhance the WTP for local produce, educating the public regarding the sustainability aspect of local produce may prove to be effective.
ABSTRACT
Shorter product life due to technology development and changing customer needs requires optimal supply chain management and structuring. Achieving this optimization brings productivity to the organization. A sustainable and reliable supply chain (S&RSC) as an emerging paradigm, with a comprehensive view, leads the supply chain network design (SCND) issue to the desired situation. This study, as part of an emerging theme, presents a systematic review and classification of 42 articles at the intersection of sustainability, reliability, and supply chain network design. In this regard, in a historical course, the four concepts of green supply chain, socially responsible supply chain, sustainable supply chain, and reliable supply chain in the form of four structures of history and definition, deriver and importance, substrate and practice, evaluation, and implementation are discussed. The result of the review shows that the articles that study the integration of sustainability and reliability in SCND are vibrant and rapidly growing in various industries. Developing countries and manufacturing companies with the largest number of articles have been the research fields of the studies. Most of the studies have considered the structure of the supply chain as a forward flow. The key contribution of this review is the development of a comprehensive framework of S&RSC from the conceptual point of view, elements, assessment tools, and its implementation context. The present review can serve as a guide for various stakeholders. In particular, practitioners and policymakers can effectively develop their own strategies and policies to advance the sustainable-reliable program.
ABSTRACT
The paper will investigate the impact of the vehicle carrying capacity to which the local tax is applied on forming the cost of delivery. The cost of 1 ton of freight under different tax scenarios is estimated in the paper: without tax 0, with fixed tax - 10% and with progressive tax from 0 to 75%. The greatest effect on reducing the vehicle's load capacity during urban deliveries showed a progressive tax. The developed regression model allows determining the cost of transportation of 1 ton of goods depending on the technological parameters of transport operations, the costs of the transport (logistics) operators to perform these operations, and local tax regulations for transport. The application of the model makes it possible to regulate the use of vehicles of a given capacity by the local administration. In contrast to the strict prohibition on the establishment of traffic signs, the use of a progressive tax by the local administration makes it possible to regulate traffic structure by economic methods. Exploring of influence local tax regulations on transportation will lead to the sustainability of the cities in order to provide GREEN technologies.
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Although the global response to COVID-19 has demonstrated that some progress has been made in ensuring timely access to new medical interventions in Africa, much more needs to be done to strengthen the global systems that enable equitable access to health technologies during public health emergencies.
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This article explores several aspects of digital transformation, including definition, enabling technologies, and strategies. It argues that firms seeking to maximize the impact of their digital transformation strategy should aim to build a Sustainable Business Model (SBM). In addition, it introduces the seven articles of the Special Issue. Overall, the article takes a systems approach that appreciates the dynamic complexity of digital transformation and suggests some directions for future research.
ABSTRACT
This paper introduces a new model of the customer-centric, two-product split delivery vehicle routing problem (CTSDVRP) in the context of a mixed-flow manufacturing system that occurs in the power industry. Different from the general VRP model, the unique characteristics of our model are: (1) two types of products are delivered, and the demand for them is interdependent and based on a bill of materials (BOM);(2) the paper considers a new aspect in customer satisfaction, i.e., the consideration of the production efficiency on the customer side. In our model, customer satisfaction is not measured by the actual customer waiting time, but by the weighted customer waiting time, which is based on the targeted service rate of the end products. We define the targeted service rate as the ratio of the quantity of the end product produced by the corresponding delivery quantities of the two products to the demand of the end product. We propose a hybrid ant colony-genetic optimization algorithm to solve this model with actual data from a case study of the State Grid Corporation of China. Finally, a case study is explored to assess the effectiveness of the CTSDVRP model and highlight some insights. The results show that the CTSDVRP model can improve customer satisfaction and increase the average targeted service rate of the end products effectively.
ABSTRACT
In recent years, the development of e-commerce new retail formats is in full swing, and the terminal distribution has become a hot research topic under the background of new retail. The accuracy of the community navigation map is related to the low cost and high efficiency of terminal distribution and then affects the development of new e-commerce retail. However, in large communities, the existing navigation map software can only locate the main entrance of the community, and there is a lack of effective positioning for the location of buildings. Therefore, based on the existing navigation map, this paper expects to correct its application defects and carry out optimization design from the design principle, design idea, product function, product customization, and product application effect, so as to make the community navigation more accurate, faster, and more efficient, to help the low cost and efficient development of door-to-door distribution under the new retail of e-commerce.
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The aim - of this paper is to determine the fundamental changes in the structure and trends of revenues of the global media industry and to determine the basic directions of development. Methodology / design - Research and analysis of results are based on financial analysis of revenues of the global music industry in the last fifteen years, analysis of changes in revenue structure, and regression analysis of trend testing in the ANOVA model. The research uses reports from agencies specializing in the global music industry, scientific literature related to the music industry, and other relevant sources. The results - research results have proven significant changes in the revenue structure of the global music industry. Due to the change in consumer behaviour, revenue from streaming has become the dominant part of revenue. Conclusion - The music industry has completely changed its revenue generation model. The core revenues of the global music industry follow modern trends. While the old music industry generated revenue from the sale of physical sound carriers, the modern music industry generates most of its revenue from streaming and performance right.
ABSTRACT
The article is focused on logistic costs in transport. Logistics costs are an important type of business costs. The author calculates a model example of optimization of logsitic costs in transportation. Currently available on all major markets competitive, the companies are high requirements. Enterprise to survive in this environment, they must gain a competitive advantage over others. One of the competitive advantages may become a well designed logistics system. Logistics, as a scientific discipline and management tool, has recently attaches increasing importance. It deals with the optimal coordination, harmonization, linking and optimizing the flow of raw materials, semi-finished products and services, but the flow of information and finance. In all these areas is bound by a large number of funds, their planning and management is therefore very important for businesses.
ABSTRACT
High distribution costs constitute one of the major obstacles to the sustainable development of rural logistics. In order to effectively reduce the distribution costs of last mile delivery in rural areas, based on three typical transport modes (local logistics providers, public transport, and crowdsourcing logistics), this study first proposes a multimodal transport design for last mile delivery in rural areas. Then, a cost–benefit model for multimodal transport is proposed which uses genetic algorithms (GA) to solve the logistical problems faced. Finally, Shapley value is used to fairly allocate profits and represent the marginal contribution of each mode in multimodal transport. The numerical results show that multimodal transport can effectively reduce the distribution costs of last mile delivery in rural areas. When the order demand of each node tends to be stable, the marginal contribution of crowdsourcing logistics is often greater than that of the other two distribution modes. The marginal contribution of public transport is highest only when the number of orders per node is very small.
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As a result of developments in technology, globalization and digitalization, virtual teams have become indispensable for many industries. Transformations in information and communication technology have provided new opportunities for businesses to create and manage virtual teams. Today, all organizations have had to introduce new methods of communication and have started to continue their conversations through digital platforms. It has become inevitable for teams to form in such virtual environments. Virtual team members are made up of individuals from different genders, experiences, cultures and geographic locations. While there are leaders in virtual teams as in face-to-face environments, this type of leadership performs its function through information and communication technologies, unlike traditional types. Although there are many studies on face-to-face leadership in academic studies and despite the increasing use of digital platforms, it is observed that there is a need for studies on leadership styles in virtual organizations. The main purpose of this study is to create a scale about leadership characteristics in virtual teams. With the present study, it is aimed to develop a valid and reliable scale in order to discover and analyze the virtual team leadership characteristics of individuals within the multinational companies. During the scale development process, literature review, focus group interviews and statistical analysis were used to create the items to be included in the scale. First of all, focus group discussions were conducted by examining the scale developments on the leadership phenomenon. A total of three focus group interviews were held;expert opinions were used to ensure the content validity of the results, and a draft scale with 29 items was created as a result.
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Cold chain logistics has been playing a more and more crucial role in modern society. As a special professional cold chain logistics, emergency cold chain logistics can provide quality assurance for temperature-sensitive products in emergency situations. Due to the fact that demand is uncertain in emergency situations, the cold chain logistics companies have to deal with the issue of uncertainty. However, there is no literature on the emergency cold chain logistics distribution optimization problem with uncertain demand. This research contributes to solving this problem. To deal with uncertain demand in emergency situations, an emergency cold chain logistics distribution optimization model with time windows is proposed based on scenario analysis. The objectives of the model are to minimize the total cost and shorten the delivery time simultaneously. The model can also optimize product procurement and refrigerated vehicle renting. The multi-scenario optimization model is applied to a Chinese cold chain logistics center to verify its effectiveness.
ABSTRACT
Background: To cope with the expected further growth in e-commerce and to be able to continue delivering at low costs, new concepts for the last-mile are needed. This paper reviews the literature and qualitatively investigates which factors influence the acceptance of four alternative place-of-delivery innovations in a business-to-consumer (B2C) context: (1) parcel lockers, (2) reception boxes, (3) trunk delivery, and (4) home access systems;Methods: The available literature was reviewed. Furthermore, 37 interviews were conducted and analyzed using the deductive category development method. In the following, abductive reasoning can derive detailed research models that may form the basis for future confirmative studies;Results: The research gains more detailed insights into how consumers perceive innovative last-mile place-of-delivery concepts. The study provides a clearer picture of what factors influence the intention to use such alternative services;Conclusions: The results can be used by logistics service providers and e-tailers through targeted communication efforts and lay the groundwork for further confirmatory research.