Hasil untuk "Regulation of industry, trade, and commerce. Occupational law"

Filip Nawrot

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest przedstawienie regulacji dotyczących reglamentowania podejmowania działalności geologicznej i górniczej w Republice Czeskiej. W pierwszej kolejności omówione zostały prawne podstawy podejmowania działalności w zakresie poszukiwania i wydobywania kopalin w Czechach. Wyjaśniono także co oznacza podejmowanie działalności geologicznej i górniczej. Następnie wskazano jakie decyzje są potrzebne przed podejmowaniem działalności geologicznej i górniczej w Czechach oraz je opisano. Na zakończenie zaprezentowano wnioski z przeprowadzonej analizy oraz postulaty de lege ferenda.

Sergio Rebouças, Daniel A. Pamplona, Rodrigo Arnaldo Scarpel et al.

<i>Background</i>: Despite advances in monitoring and forecasting systems, natural disasters continue to cause significant human losses. During the response phase, fast decisions are required to allocate limited resources, particularly rescue helicopters, which play a key role in reaching inaccessible areas. However, helicopter allocation involves trade-offs between efficiency and operational safety under uncertain conditions. <i>Methods</i>: This study proposes a decision-support methodology based on Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for allocating rescue helicopters during disaster response. The approach integrates Value-Focused Thinking (VFT) and Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT) to structure objectives, assign weights, and evaluate alternatives using criteria related to mission safety, response time, and expected number of rescued victims. The method is illustrated through a simulated flood response scenario in a Brazilian regional context. <i>Results</i>: The results show that the model allows decision-makers to compare allocation scenarios and to make explicit the trade-offs between operational efficiency and safety. The application indicates that small reductions in efficiency may lead to relevant gains in operational safety, particularly under adverse weather conditions. <i>Conclusions</i>: The proposed approach provides a transparent and traceable structure for supporting helicopter allocation decisions during disaster response. It contributes to more consistent decision-making in critical operations, especially in contexts characterized by uncertainty and time pressure.

Osheyor Joachim Gidiagba, Lagouge Tartibu, Modestus Okwu

<i>Background</i>: Supplier evaluation and selection are pivotal processes in supply chain management, profoundly influencing organisational efficiency and sustainability. This study addresses the limitations of traditional multi-criteria decision-making approaches, particularly the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution, which often lacks dimensional reduction capability and assumes uniform weight distribution across criteria. <i>Methods</i>: To overcome these challenges, a hybrid model integrating non-negative matrix factorisation, random forest, and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution is developed for supplier evaluation in the pharmaceutical sector. The method first applies non-negative matrix factorisation to condense twenty-four evaluation criteria into eight core dimensions, enhancing analytical efficiency and reducing complexity. Random forest is then employed to derive data-driven weights for each criterion, ensuring accurate prioritisation. Finally, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution ranks suppliers and provides actionable insights for decision-makers. <i>Results</i>: Results from real-world pharmaceutical data validate the model’s effectiveness and demonstrate superior performance over conventional evaluation methods. <i>Conclusions</i>: The findings confirm that integrating machine learning techniques with established decision-making frameworks enhances precision, interpretability, and sustainability in supplier selection while requiring adequate data quality and computational resources for implementation.

Miguel Reyna-Castillo, Alejandro Santiago, Ana Xóchitl Barrios-del-Ángel et al.

Recent disruptions have led to a growing interest in studying the social dimension of sustainability and its relationship to resilience within supply chains. Social sustainability is characterized as complex, often offering anomalous data and confounding variables that are impossible to categorically define as true or false axioms. This work starts from an epistemological premise, in which non-parametric statistical methodologies and mathematical analytics are complementary perspectives to comprehensively understand the same social phenomenon. Second-generation predictive statistics, such as the PLS-SEM algorithm, have demonstrated robustness in treating multivariate social information, making it feasible to prepare data for knowledge transfer with mathematical techniques specialized for fuzzy data. This research aimed to analyze evolutionary fuzzy knowledge transfer pre-, during-, and post-pandemic COVID-19, and its effect on the relationship between social sustainability and supply chain resilience in representative cases from Mexico. Based on empirical data collected from supply chain managers in 2019 (<i>n</i> = 153), 2021 (<i>n</i> = 159), and 2023 (<i>n</i> = 119), the methodological technique involved three phases: (1) PLS-SEM modeling, (2) fuzzy-evolutionary predictive evaluation based on knowledge transfer between latent data, and (3) comparative analysis of the predictive effects of social attributes (labor rights, health and safety, inclusion, and social responsibility) on supply chain resilience. The results found a moderate significant variance in the pre-in-post-COVID-19 effect of social dimensions on supply chain resilience. Social and management implications are presented.

Maria Victòria Forns i Fernández, Elisa Alegre-Agís

Las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación han sido herramientas útiles para la humanidad toda vez que han servido para acercar a las personas y han abierto la ventana a un importante número de información, bienes y servicios; no obstante, su implementación no ha estado exenta de obstáculos y es que, si los usuarios de dichas tecnologías no cuentan con las herramientas y conocimientos necesarios pueden ser discriminados y excluidos. Tomando en cuenta ello, en este trabajo se analiza el impacto que tienen las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en la garantía constitucional de la prestación de los servicios sociales básicos y el disfrute efectivo de los derechos fundamentales.

Tiago Novaes Mathias, Yoshihisa Sugimura, Tomoya Kawasaki et al.

<i>Background</i>: The resilience of shipping alliances within the global maritime container network (GMCN) has critical implications for global trade. This study examines the topological robustness of strategic alliances (SAs) in liner shipping, focusing on their structural properties and responses to disruptions. <i>Methods</i>: Using pre-2019 container vessel schedule data, we constructed a weighted node-edge network model of the GMCN. Centrality metrics were computed to identify critical nodes, and simulations were conducted to evaluate network robustness under random failures (RFs) and targeted attacks (TAs). <i>Results</i>: The results highlight the GMCN’s scale-free topology, which fosters resilience against RFs but exposes vulnerabilities to TAs on high-centrality nodes like Singapore and Shanghai. Among alliances, 2M and Ocean demonstrated superior resilience, attributed to strategic port selection and extensive coverage, yet their reliance on central hubs presents significant risks. <i>Conclusions</i>: This study underscores the importance of alliance-specific strategies, such as infrastructure investments and redundancy planning, to mitigate vulnerabilities. By bridging gaps in existing literature, the research provides insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders to enhance the robustness and adaptability of maritime logistics networks. These findings contribute to ensuring stable global supply chains within an evolving trade environment.

Sajjad Shahbaz Qahfarrokhi

Mobile payments have emerged as a pivotal force in the realm of retail transactions, offering a convenient, secure, and accessible alternative to traditional payment methods. Recognizing their immense potential to drive economic growth and innovation, the European Union (EU) has taken a proactive stance in regulating this burgeoning industry. A cornerstone of this regulatory endeavor is the EU's unwavering focus on ensuring the robust security of mobile payment systems, safeguarding both consumers and service providers. The EU's proactive approach to regulating mobile payments, with a strong emphasis on user security and fostering innovation, provides a valuable model for other jurisdictions, including Iran. By adopting a similar approach, Iran can effectively integrate mobile payments into its digital economy, ensuring a secure, competitive, and inclusive financial landscape for its citizens. The EU's proactive approach to regulating mobile payments, with a strong emphasis on user security and fostering innovation, provides a valuable model for other jurisdictions, including Iran. By adopting a similar approach, Iran can effectively integrate mobile payments into its digital economy, ensuring a secure, competitive, and inclusive financial landscape for its citizens.1. Introduction The rise of innovative payment methods represents a transformative shift in the retail payments landscape, promising significant economic benefits and enhanced consumer convenience. However, despite their potential, the adoption of these innovative payment tools has been sluggish, primarily due to concerns surrounding security and usability. This article explores the legal implications of these challenges, particularly within the context of the European Union (EU) regulatory framework, and examines how the balance between security and accessibility can be achieved. Consumer acceptance of innovative payment methods hinges on two critical factors: security and usability. Security encompasses not only the protection of financial information but also the consumer's perception of safety when using these new tools. The concept of "sustainable security" is vital; if consumers believe that a payment method is insecure, they are unlikely to adopt it. This perception is often shaped by high-profile data breaches and fraud incidents that have plagued the financial sector. Usability, on the other hand, refers to how easily consumers can access and use these payment methods. If a payment system is overly complex or difficult to navigate, it will deter consumers from utilizing it, regardless of its security features. Therefore, regulators face the challenge of ensuring that innovative payment systems are both secure and user-friendly. The question of how to regulate innovative payment methods effectively is complex. Legislators must strike a balance between fostering innovation and ensuring consumer protection. The EU has made strides in this area through various directives, notably the Payment Services Directive (PSD), which was first adopted in 2007 and revised in 2015. These directives aim to create a single market for payments, enhance consumer protection, and promote competition. However, the rapid evolution of technology and payment systems presents ongoing challenges. For instance, the emergence of mobile payments has introduced new security risks that were not adequately addressed in earlier legislation. The EU's regulatory framework must evolve to keep pace with these developments, ensuring that it remains relevant and effective in safeguarding consumers. Mobile payments, while convenient, present unique security challenges. The reliance on smartphones and mobile applications for transactions increases the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. The concepts of "reliability," "integrity," and "accessibility" become paramount in this context. Reliability ensures that transaction information is secure from unauthorized access, while integrity guarantees that the information remains unchanged throughout the transaction process. Accessibility ensures that payment services are available and usable for all consumers, including those with disabilities. The legal framework must address these security risks comprehensively. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) imposes strict requirements on how personal data is collected and processed, which directly impacts the operations of payment service providers (PSPs). As the landscape of payment methods continues to evolve, the interplay between GDPR and the Payment Services Directive (PSD2) becomes increasingly significant. This article delves into the implications of these regulations, highlighting the need for a cohesive approach that not only protects consumer data but also fosters an environment conducive to innovation. In this context, the article will analyze the current state of the EU regulatory framework concerning innovative payment methods, focusing on the gaps and challenges that persist. It will explore the implications of strong customer authentication (SCA) requirements, which, while essential for enhancing security, may inadvertently hinder user experience and adoption rates. The need for clearer guidelines regarding the liability of PSPs in cases of data breaches will also be examined, as ambiguity in this area can lead to consumer distrust. In conclusion, the successful integration of innovative payment methods into the retail landscape hinges on a well-balanced regulatory approach that prioritizes both security and usability. By addressing the existing gaps and challenges within the EU regulatory framework, stakeholders can work towards fostering a secure, efficient, and consumer-friendly payment ecosystem that encourages the adoption of new technologies while safeguarding consumer interests. 2. Methodology To regularly assess and update regulatory frameworks to address emerging challenges. The interplay between technological advancements and regulatory measures is critical in ensuring that consumer rights are upheld while fostering an environment conducive to innovation. One significant gap identified in the current regulatory framework is the need for clearer guidelines on the responsibilities of payment service providers regarding data protection and privacy. While PSD2 encourages third-party access to payment accounts, it does not sufficiently clarify the liability of PSPs in cases of data breaches or misuse of consumer information. This ambiguity can lead to consumer distrust and reluctance to engage with new payment technologies. Moreover, the implementation of strong customer authentication (SCA) has raised concerns about user experience. While SCA is essential for enhancing security, overly stringent requirements can lead to friction in the payment process, potentially discouraging consumers from using mobile payment solutions. Regulators must strike a balance between security and convenience to ensure that consumer adoption of mobile payments continues to grow. Additionally, the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) and cryptocurrencies presents new regulatory challenges that the existing framework may not adequately address. As these technologies gain traction, regulators must consider how to incorporate them into the existing legal structure while ensuring consumer protection and financial stability. In summary, while the EU's PSD and PSD2 have made significant contributions to the regulation of mobile payments, ongoing evaluation and adaptation of these frameworks are necessary. Addressing gaps related to data protection, user experience, and emerging technologies will be crucial in maintaining consumer trust and fostering a secure and innovative payment ecosystem. As the landscape continues to evolve, collaboration between regulators, industry stakeholders, and consumers will be essential in shaping a regulatory environment that effectively balances innovation with consumer protection. 3. Results and Discussion This analysis examines the European Union's (EU) regulatory response to the growth of mobile payments and the associated security risks. As mobile payment systems become increasingly prevalent, the need for a robust legal framework to protect consumers and ensure the integrity of financial transactions has never been more critical. This section discusses key findings related to the EU's regulatory landscape, security challenges, and comparative insights with other jurisdictions. The EU has implemented the Payment Services Directive (PSD) and its revised version, the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2), to regulate payment services, including mobile payments. The original PSD, adopted in 2007, aimed to create a single market for payment services across the EU, enhancing consumer protection and fostering competition among payment service providers (PSPs). However, as technology evolved, so did the need for a more comprehensive regulatory framework, leading to the introduction of PSD2 in 2018. PSD2 builds upon its predecessor by introducing several key enhancements aimed at addressing the challenges posed by new payment technologies. One of the most significant aspects of PSD2 is its emphasis on strong customer authentication (SCA), which mandates that PSPs implement multi-factor authentication to verify the identity of users during transactions. This requirement is crucial in mitigating risks associated with unauthorized access and fraud, which are prevalent in mobile payment systems. Moreover, PSD2 encourages innovation by allowing third-party providers to access customer account information, provided that consumers give explicit consent. This provision fosters competition and the development of new financial technologies, aligning with the EU's broader goals of enhancing market integration and consumer choice. The legal principle of transparency, as outlined in the Consumer Rights Directive, is also reinforced under PSD2, ensuring that consumers are adequately informed about the terms and conditions of payment services. Despite the regulatory advancements brought about by PSD2, mobile payment security risks primarily stem from device vulnerabilities and weaknesses in payment platforms. The reliance on smartphones and mobile applications for transactions increases the potential for unauthorized access, data breaches, and fraud. For instance, malware targeting mobile devices can compromise sensitive information, leading to significant financial losses for consumers and PSPs alike. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has played a pivotal role in interpreting existing directives and addressing issues related to consumer protection and the responsibilities of PSPs. In the landmark case of C-290/18, the ECJ ruled that payment service providers must ensure the security of payment transactions and are liable for losses incurred due to unauthorized transactions unless they can prove that the consumer acted fraudulently or failed to fulfill their obligations to safeguard their payment instruments. This case underscores the importance of the legal principle of liability in the context of mobile payments. The ambiguity of liability can create challenges for both consumers and payment service providers (PSPs). As mobile payment systems evolve, the delineation of responsibilities between consumers and PSPs becomes increasingly critical, particularly in cases of fraud or unauthorized transactions. When examining the EU's regulatory framework for mobile payments, it is beneficial to compare it with approaches taken in other jurisdictions, such as the United States and Asia. In the U.S., the regulatory landscape is less centralized, with various federal and state laws governing payment systems. The lack of a comprehensive federal framework can lead to inconsistencies in consumer protection and security measures across different states. However, initiatives like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have made strides in addressing consumer rights in digital payments. In contrast, Asian markets, particularly in countries like China and South Korea, have seen rapid adoption of mobile payments, often driven by technological innovation and consumer demand. Regulatory responses in these regions have varied, with some governments implementing strict guidelines to ensure security and consumer protection, while others have taken a more laissez-faire approach, allowing market forces to dictate the pace of innovation. 4. Conclusions and Future Research In the rapidly evolving landscape of mobile payments, fostering widespread adoption of these tools is essential for stimulating economic growth. However, this endeavor must prioritize both security and user-friendliness to ensure consumer confidence and protect sensitive financial information. The unique challenges presented by mobile devices—such as their physical design, input limitations, and vulnerability to malware—demand a nuanced approach to regulation and security measures. Additionally, the risks associated with user inexperience and potential deficiencies in the practices of payment service providers (PSPs) must be addressed to create a safe and efficient payment ecosystem. Legislators face the critical task of balancing the establishment of minimum security standards with the imperative of maintaining ease of use in payment systems. This balance is particularly important given the dynamic nature of mobile payment technology, which is characterized by rapid innovation and the emergence of new threats. Security measures must not only be robust but also adaptable to technological advancements, ensuring that they remain effective against evolving risks. For instance, the European Union's Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) emphasizes the importance of strong customer authentication and the security of payment transactions, setting a precedent for how security can be integrated into user-friendly systems. Iranian legislators can draw valuable insights from the EU's regulatory framework, which outlines consumer protections and the obligations of PSPs and governments. By analyzing existing domestic regulations and capabilities, Iran can craft a legislative framework tailored to its unique context, ensuring that it addresses the specific challenges of mobile payments while enhancing user experience. This framework should incorporate principles of transparency, accountability, and consumer rights, aligning with international best practices. Future research should focus on the effectiveness of various security measures in real-world applications, exploring how different regulatory approaches impact consumer behavior and trust in mobile payment systems. Additionally, studies could investigate the role of education and awareness in mitigating risks associated with user inexperience, as well as the potential for technological innovations, such as biometric authentication, to enhance security without compromising usability.

Dong-Ping Song

<i>Background</i>: Increasing regulatory pressure for maritime decarbonization (e.g., IMO CII, FuelEU) drives adoption of low-carbon fuels and prompts reassessment of regional ports’ competitiveness. This study aims to evaluate the economic and environmental viability of rerouting deep-sea container services to regional ports in a decarbonizing world. <i>Methods</i>: A scenario-based analysis is used to evaluate total costs and CO₂ emissions across the entire container shipping supply chain, incorporating deep-sea shipping, port operations, feeder services, and inland rail/road transport. The Port of Liverpool serves as the primary case study for rerouting Asia–Europe services from major ports. <i>Results</i>: Analysis indicates Liverpool’s competitiveness improves with shipping lines’ slow steaming, growth in hinterland shipment volume, reductions in the emission factors of alternative low-carbon fuels, and an increased modal shift to rail matching that of competitor ports (e.g., Southampton). A dual-port strategy, rerouting services to call at both Liverpool and Southampton, shows potential for both economic and environmental benefits. <i>Conclusions</i>: The study concludes that rerouting deep-sea services to regional ports can offer cost and emission advantages under specific operational and market conditions. Findings on factors and conditions influencing competitiveness and the dual-port strategy provide insights for shippers, ports, shipping lines, logistics agents, and policymakers navigating maritime decarbonization.

Javad Sormayli, Mohammad Reza Mosavi

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is integral to the safety and efficiency of modern railway networks; however, its susceptibility to jamming and spoofing interference poses a significant threat to operational integrity. Conventional detection systems often rely on fully supervised models requiring extensive labeled data or specialized, costly hardware, limiting their scalability. This paper addresses this gap by proposing and evaluating an Enhanced Semi-Supervised K-Means (ESS-KMeans) algorithm designed to operate effectively with minimal labeled data. We compare its performance against a standard unsupervised K-Means algorithm using a challenging, synthetically generated dataset based on GPS signal characteristics such as latitude/longitude variation, altitude deviation, and Automatic Gain Control (AGC) levels. The proposed ESS-KMeans leverages a small labeled subset for robust centroid initialization and mutual information-based feature weighting, while also uniquely identifying and flagging ambiguous, low-confidence samples. Experimental results demonstrate that ESS-KMeans achieves perfect (1.000) accuracy on confidently classified samples, a significant improvement over standard K-Means (0.960), and improves cluster quality by over 45% (Silhouette Score). By delivering superior accuracy and providing a mechanism for uncertainty quantification with minimal supervision, this semi-supervised approach presents a scalable, cost-effective, and reliable solution for enhancing the resilience of railway systems against GPS interference.

Anna Franziska Koehler

Purpose – This paper addresses the under-explored collateral damage of economic sanctions, shedding light on the disproportionate harm endured by the most vulnerable segments of societies, which at the same time lack political influence to effect the ruling government into change. The primary objective is to review the literature on humanitarian repercussions associated with sanctions, concluding if they really are a comparably human way of international interference. Design/methodology/approach – Employing a systematic literature review, adhering to the PRISMA approach, and incorporating key term definitions and clear selection criteria, this review analyses 52 studies sourced from Scopus and EconBiz. Findings – The surveyed literature reveals profound adverse impacts of sanctions on health, economic well-being, inequality, and education. Critical gaps in the literature such as disproportional focus on extreme cases like Iran and Iraq, scarce literature on effects on education and inequality, and predominantly inadequate control groups are identified, limiting the generalizability of existing findings. Originality/value – This paper is the first systematic and replicable review of the literature on the effects of sanctions using a capabilistic approach to define poverty. Highlighting gaps in the current research landscape underscores the limited generalizability of reviewed results. Providing a well-structured summary of existing literature, this work serves as a foundation for future research.

Eleni-Efthymia Psychogiou, Giannis T. Tsoulfas

<i>Background</i>: Although trust is a well-studied topic in supply chain management, the case of the wine supply chain has not been adequately investigated. <i>Methods</i>: A hybrid approach combining qualitative and quantitative data analysis was adopted. The research was divided into two phases: (i) identification of critical factors based on the literature, and (ii) analysis of eight experts’ insights on those factors by employing the grey DEMATEL approach. <i>Results</i>: Fourteen factors that affect trust in the wine supply chain were identified based on the academic literature. From the analysis of the experts’ views, with the use of the grey DEMATEL approach, the factors were classified into two groups. The first group (nine factors) concerns the factors that affect the rest and the second group (five factors) concerns those which are affected by the former factors. <i>Conclusions</i>: The study of trust in the supply chain can be further improved by monitoring the trends in the sector and by engaging a wider audience of stakeholders. This approach can be applied to various regions in order to examine whether the situation is different from country to country. Stakeholders will have the necessary information to support their decisions and prioritize their objectives, aiming at improving the whole supply chain.

Ana Cristina Aguilar Viana

The digital revolution has brought about challenges for the legal domain. Traditional legal frameworks struggle to address issues such as data privacy and security in the online environment. One problematic can be found in the limitation of the analysis of cyberspace, as well as the nature of the elements that compose it, as these are limited to binary classifications. This essay argues that a deeper understanding of the digital world, including the nature of data, information, and knowledge, is crucial for effective legal and policy analysis. By drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives, the essay proposes a richer and more nuanced approach to data governance, moving beyond the binary limitations of traditional legal frameworks. It highlights the importance of recognizing data as a relational and socio-technical value, with implications for both public and private actors.

Isabela Kopperschmidt de Oliveira, Leise Kelli de Oliveira, Maria Rosa Amorim Faria Lisboa et al.

The organic street markets are considered a short food supply chain, and their importance gained new proportions since COVID-19 brought difficulties to the traditional supply chain. The organic street markets represent a place to sell the product for organic family farmers and an opportunity to obtain better quality and variety of organic products at a lower price. This work aimed to analyze the geographical distance from producers and consumers of organic street markets in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, identifying the organic street market characteristics that influence the organic consumers. The research methods used descriptive statistics, a chi-squared test, and the measurement of the geographical distance. Results allowed us to conclude the organic street markets with more producers attract more consumers and consumers willing to travel long distances. Additionally, the factors related to a street market location, product, and consumer behavior are associated. Finally, results indicated the location of organic street markets contributes to displacements by non-motorized modes. The results indicated that the organic street market characteristics can contribute to a sustainable, short, organic food supply chain in Belo Horizonte.

Nima Sokouti, Javad Hoseinzadeh

In the Iranian economy, housing is not a means only for family habitation but is a means for investment and saving. Undoubtedly, a considerable part of transactions of the country is dedicated to buying and selling or pre-selling of the building based on the direct effect of the health of this market on providing economic and Judicial order. The legislator has set several formal conditions for the pre-sale contract of building for organizing this full risk market in the Building Pre-Sale Act. One of these conditions is the necessity of setting a formal document for this contract and the provision of guaranteeing punishment execution for lack of doing that. In this research, the effect of setting a formal transition document on the validity of this kind of contract has been studied and based on relying on law principles, registration systems, judicial procedures and the Building Pre-Sale Act, tries to guarantee the execution of the reversal of the registration formality of the building pre-sale contracts. It has been concluded that in Iranian law, the preparation of an official document is generally a means of proof (not fixing) a building pre-sale contract. Document registration is only a notification tool, awareness of the statistics, and transfer of the real estate in order to guarantee the rights of persons, especially pre-buyer. Therefore, the lack of official registration of the building pre-sale contract cannot be considered as a reason for not forming it.

Nicoleta González-Cancelas, Beatriz Molina Serrano, Francisco Soler-Flores et al.

In the specific case of maritime transport, one of the most notable examples of digitalization is smart ports. Their positive impact on the supply chain is enabling processes to be optimized through smarter production. In the case of Spain, the Spanish public entity Puertos del Estado (Puertos del Estado is a public business entity dependent on the Spanish Ministry of Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda, with overall responsibility for the entire state-owned port system.) has launched Ports 4.0, the largest open innovation fund for the logistics-port ecosystem. It is therefore necessary to know the point of digitalization in which the Spanish ports are and the present scenario in which they develop their activity. For this purpose, a SWOT analysis (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats analysis) is proposed, which is an ideal tool to make a reliable diagnosis of the port system in relation to a certain project before which we wish to make a strategic decision, in this case digitalization, in order to establish a concrete action plan in this regard. This should be the first step towards developing the Ports 4.0 project. The main conclusion of the analysis is that Spanish ports are currently at a medium high level of digitalization, and that they continue to update and innovate in order to be increasingly competitive in this market, despite the fact that there is still a long way to go in digitalization. The main challenge for Spanish ports is that technology alone is not useful enough to reach Ports 4.0 status; the technology also needs to be used in an integrated, open and joint way by all the agents of the port community, which is one of the main handicaps at present.

M. Ali Ülkü, Melek Akgün, Uday Venkatadri et al.

Effective management of cotton production logistics (CPL) against volatile environmental conditions while maintaining product quality and yield at acceptable costs has become challenging due to increasing global population and consumption and climate change. In CPL, the harvesting, processing, and storage of cotton are all linked, prone to various environmental risks (e.g., flooding) and operational risks (e.g., excess spraying of pesticides). Thus, it is crucial for a resilient and sustainable supply chain management to prioritize risks and chart suitable risk response strategies. For a CPL, we employ a system dynamics (SD) approach to investigate the likelihoods of environmental and operational risks and their impacts in four dimensions: variable costs, fixed costs, quality performance, and yield. Using the case of a textile company in Turkey, we demonstrate an end-to-end framework for mitigating CPL risks. SD simulation results show that increases in seed prices and machine and equipment breakdowns are the risks that most affect the unit cost, whereas pests and plant diseases most hurt cotton harvest yield. Via scenario analyses, we demonstrate that a proper risk response strategy, compared to doing nothing, may reduce variance in cotton quality by about 35% at the expense of about an 11% increase in unit cost variability.

Chukwuebuka Bernard Azolibe

Purpose – This study empirically assessed the influence of foreign direct investment on the manufacturing sector growth in the Middle East and North African region using panel data of 18 countries covering the period of 1975–2017. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed Levin et al. (2002) test (LLC) and Im et al. (2003) panel unit root test. Furthermore, Kao’s cointegration test was applied to examine the long-run relationship between the variables. Both the Dynamic OLS and Fully modified OLS were used in estimating the short-run relationship. Findings – The results of the DOLS and FMOLS indicate that both inward and outward FDI influence the manufacturing sector growth positively. This shows that much of the manufacturing sector growth in the MENA region is driven by both inward and outward FDI. Our findings made a strong new proposition that aside from the negative influence proposed by Stevens and Lipsey (1992), outward FDI could also have a positive influence on the manufacturing sector of a country through effective utilization of domestic raw materials that are produced locally for production of goods in a foreign country. Practical implications – MENA countries should concentrate more on making policies that will encourage the effective utilization of domestic resources for outward foreign direct investment in other countries of the world as it has the capacity to boost the manufacturing sector growth. Also, policies that will attract more inflows of FDI in the region should be encouraged. Both inward and outward FDI should be considered as an integral part of MENA economic policy in order to spur the manufacturing sector growth. Originality/value – Previous empirical studies on the relationship between FDI and manufacturing sector growth have focused much on the influence of inward FDI. Thus, very little attention has been paid to the contribution that the outward FDI makes to the growth of the manufacturing sector of the host country. Our empirical study focused on the influence of both inward and outward FDI on the manufacturing sector growth with specific emphasis on the MENA region that remains the center of attraction of inward FDI and a source of inward FDI to most nonoil producing developing and developed countries given the oil-rich nature of the region.

Chernyi Sergei

Synchronous motors and their modifications (ac converter-fed motor, etc.) enable to develop low-noise, reliable and economically efficient electric drive systems. The construction of up-to-date systems based on the synchronous machines is impossible without development of the computing software incorporating mathematical and computing simulation. In its turn, modelling of the synchronous machines as a rule is based on the equations by Park-Gorev, application of which requires adoption of a series of allowances. These allowances in a number of cases do not permit to obtain adequate results of the simulation coinciding with the results of field experiments of the systems under review. Moreover, while applying the system of equations by Park-Gorev to research the systems including interaction of synchronous machines with semiconducting converters of electric energy it is necessary simulate the process of formation their controlling signals in the sphere of frequency. If the states of converter’s keys are defined not only by controlling impulses but also by the state of currents in the synchronous machines flowing through them, such approach is not reasonable.

bashar abd alnoori, Yi SiRong

Recent years, High-Speed railway has become a hot topic of railway development. Many countries in the world have built relatively complete high-speed railway networks.Each of them enjoys its own efficient traffic organization system and method, as well as a theory of station distribution layout. Based on the railway traffic conditions in China, the designer is adopting special procedure for building high speed railway especially in the congestion traffic area. One of procedure steps is separating between passengers and freights lines. The combined of high speed railway station with traffic, passing capacity and travel speeds for various types of train, is the aim of most present studies. How to align the distribution layout of the stations developed during the high-speed railway construction process with unique traffic organization model, sectional passing capacity, and travel speeds of various types of trains has attracted great attentions at present. This study calculates time consumption depending on the different gradients sections between two following stations. The result is found a model for time consumption for six vertical profiles. The model is presented as a quadratic function for each profile. The model result shows that time consumption increases with the increasing of gradient value.

Konstantinos Giannakos

During the study for the dimensioning as well as the selection of the individual materials constituting a  railway track, the ballast and the substructure present residual deformations, directly related to the  deterioration of the geometry of the track. The slighter the residual deformations and the slower their  alteration over time is, the better the quality of the track. The actions acting on the track panel are almost  proportionally dependent on the total track stiffness that is also influenced seriously by the fastening’s and  total track’s stiffness. This implies that the average stress on ballast underneath the sleepers’ seating surface  is also influenced by the stiffness. It is imperative to reduce as much as possible the average stresses at the  sleepers’ seating surface, by increasing track’s stiffness. In the Greek network since the late 1980’s up to  2000 an extended research program was performed due to cracks on twin-block concrete sleepers (over 60%  on the total number laid on track). In the frame of this investigation, a new approach for the actions on  sleepers and the ballast has been developed, by taking into account the real conditions of the line  (maintenance etc.) which led to the increase of the demands in the specifications for the use of very resilient  fastenings. In this paper a Sensitivity Analysis is attempted for different types of fastenings: rigid and  resilient.