Development Of Strategies Research Articles

EVALUASI METODOLOGI WATERFALL DAN AGILE: STUDI LITERATUR PADA SISTEM PERPUSTAKAAN

School libraries play a crucial role in supporting educational activities by providing adequate learning resources. However, manual management practices often hinder operational efficiency, as observed in SDK Buntal, Manggarai Timur, and SD Muhammadiyah 10 Palembang. To address these challenges, this study evaluates the implementation of website-based library systems using Waterfall and Agile methodologies. The research employs a library research approach, gathering data from relevant literature, and utilizes descriptive methods to analyze the characteristics and effectiveness of each methodology. Results indicate that the Waterfall approach offers a clear and structured development process, suitable for stable requirements, while Agile provides flexibility and adaptability, allowing iterative improvements based on user feedback. This comparative analysis highlights the strengths and limitations of both methodologies in enhancing library management. The findings serve as a practical guide for educational institutions in selecting the appropriate methodology to optimize library operations. This research contributes to the broader understanding of software development strategies in education-focused systems.

Unleashing the Export Potential of Light Engineering Products: Evidence from a Firm-Level Survey

Based on a firm-level survey, this article analyzes the export potential, capacity, and challenges of the light engineering industries (LEI) in Bangladesh. The light engineering sector accounts for 2.5% of the country’s GDP and employs over 10 million people. Many of the firms operating in this industry are small-scale and decentralized, which makes them more accessible to local communities and helps in the promotion of inclusive growth. The industry's products are affordable and customized to meet the needs of local consumers, making them an essential component of the country's development strategy. However, there is a lack of credible information regarding the location of the light engineering enterprises and their export potential. The contribution of this paper is to fill this critical gap. The paper finds that the LE firms' location and specialization depend on the availability of raw materials and local demand; the firms operate with a small number of workers (less than 10) and mostly use domestic raw materials and conventional machines. However, they rarely replace their machinery, which affects productivity. Major findings also include that light engineering firms mostly produce agricultural machinery, spare parts, and machinery and parts for the construction sector, transport, textile, food processing, and molding industries. Meanwhile, the paper finds that less than 2% of the firms are currently exporting due to limited production capacity, lack of quality raw materials, insufficient capital, unskilled workers, and lack of policy support. Around 16% of the surveyed firms believe they have high export potential, whereas 82.4% of firms have no plans regarding exporting their products to the global market. To promote the industry's export competitiveness and overcome ongoing challenges, a set of policy recommendations are given, including effective policy implementation, utilization of firm-level dataset, product quality improvement, skills development, use of modern technologies, and adequate policy support from the government. Social Science Review, Vol. 41(1), June 2024, Page 121-144.

Optimalisasi Peran Humas Sekolah dalam Meningkatkan Citra dan Kepercayaan Publik di Era Digital

The development of information and communication technology in the digital era has transformed how schools build their image and public trust. School Public Relations (PR) plays a strategic role as a liaison between schools and the community, responsible for delivering information, maintaining reputation, and fostering mutual trust. This study aims to explore how school PR can optimize its role in the digital era. The research methods include interviews with PR practitioners, analysis of school social media activities, and document reviews related to communication policies. The findings reveal that social media plays a crucial role as the primary platform for building a school's image, enabling broader and more interactive communication with the community. Additionally, transparency in information dissemination is critical for enhancing public trust, particularly through effective and responsive crisis information management. The study concludes that mastering digital communication strategies, including social media literacy and information management, is essential for school PR professionals. This article also provides recommendations to enhance PR competencies, such as digital literacy training and the development of adaptive communication strategies, to address the challenges of the digital era.

Urban Planning and Development: A Case Study of Sustainable Zonal Development and Infrastructure Design for Hindaun City (North Zone)

This dissertation examines the urban planning and development strategies for Hindaun City's North Zone through the creation of a Zonal Development Plan (ZDP) for 2036. Hindaun City, a significant urban center in Rajasthan, is experiencing rapid population growth and urbanization, necessitating a comprehensive and sustainable development plan. The Master Plan for Hindaun City 2036 provides a broad framework, and this dissertation delves into the specific proposals for the North Zone, known as Zone A. The research employs a multi-method approach, including Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, analysis of existing conditions, stakeholder consultations, and policy reviews. The study identifies critical areas for intervention in residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational sectors, proposing detailed land use plans and infrastructure improvements. Special attention is given to enhancing social and physical infrastructure, addressing environmental sustainability, and ensuring equitable development. Key findings reveal that while Hindaun City has made significant strides in urban development, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, unplanned growth, and environmental degradation persist. The proposed ZDP aims to address these issues through targeted policies and strategic interventions. The dissertation concludes with recommendations for implementing the ZDP effectively, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive management to ensure the plan's success. By providing a detailed case study of Hindaun City's North Zone, this dissertation contributes to the broader discourse on urban planning and development in rapidly growing cities. The findings and recommendations offer valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers focused on sustainable urban development Key Words: urbanization , GIS , ZDP , policymakers

Acciones de transición agroecológica: perspectiva del Sistema de innovación alimentario local, en la finca Casa Blanca

A proposal for actions in the agroecological transition as a perspective of the Local Food Innovation System (SIAL) on the Casa Blanca farm, has the objective of socializing the actions developed, and based on agroecological principles, with practical - methodological - scientific value, generating an offer in favor of food production. The conception of key areas articulated with the Territorial Social Economic Development Strategy is the novelty of the result. Descriptive explanatory, non-experimental study. Conclusions: The proposal for actions in the agroecological transition was constituted as a perspective of the Local Food Innovation System (SIAL) on the Casa Blanca farm, on the results of the diagnosis, which revealed weaknesses in the relationships/application of agroecological principles, located in the Typology of incipient or initial transition, a situation subject to transformation, through the management of scientific knowledge. The socialization of the proposed actions provides a solution based on science and innovation that will strengthen the agro-productive scenario in favor of the production of agroecological foods, and the transformation of family farming, obtaining improvements from the use of resources own of the Casa Blanca estate.

PRMT5 Inhibition Reduces Hyperinflammation in a Murine Model of Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but aggressive and potentially lethal hyperinflammatory syndrome characterized by pathologic immune activation and excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines leading to tissue damage and multisystem organ failure. There is an urgent need for the discovery of novel targets and development of therapeutic strategies to treat this rare but deadly syndrome. Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) mediates T cell-based inflammatory responses, making it a potential actionable target for the treatment of HLH. Using CPG-1826 and anti-IL10R antibody, we induced murine secondary HLH in vivo with a marked expansion of splenic myeloid cell subsets and concurrent reduction of T and NK cell populations. PRMT5 expression was significantly upregulated in splenic T and NK lymphocytes as well as monocytes and dendritic cells in mice with HLH (p<0.05). Treatment with PRT382, a potent and selective PRMT5 inhibitor, significantly reduced physical signs of secondary HLH, including splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and anemia (p<0.0001 in each case), when compared to untreated mice. Inflammatory cytokines known to drive hyperinflammation in HLH, including IFNγ and IL-6 were reduced to healthy levels with PRT382 treatment (p>0.999 for both). PRT382 treatment also reduced the expansion of myeloid cell populations (p<0.0001) in mice with HLH, compared to untreated mice, while restoring T and NK cell numbers (p<0.001 for both). These results identify PRMT5 as a promising target for the management of secondary HLH and justify further exploration in this and other models of hyperinflammation.

Detection of Prunus Necrotic Ringspot Virus (PNRSV) and Apple Mosaic Virus (ApMV) in Rose (Rosa spp.) Plants in Konya Province

This research was conducted to determine the presence of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) and Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) that can cause infection in rose (Rosa spp.) plants grown in Konya province. For this purpose, field and laboratory studies were carried out in areas where roses are mostly grown for landscaping purposes, and infection rates were calculated with the data obtained. The hypothesis of the study is that roses in Konya province may be infected with PNRSV and ApMV and the presence of these viruses can be determined. In line with this hypothesis, various rose growing areas in Konya province were selected as the research area. During the field studies in 2023, guided sampling was carried out and 94 leaf, branch and flower samples were collected from different rose varieties. The collected samples were tested for determining of PNRSV and ApMV infections by Double Antibody Sandwich (DAS) ELISA method, which is one of the serological testing methods in the laboratory. As a result of the tests, it was revealed that the single infections of PNRSV and ApMV were present in 12 and 11 samples of rose plants in Konya province. The total infection rate of both viruses in the province was calculated as 24.47%. Also, PNRSV+ApMV mixed infections were detected in 2 samples. In this study, the infections of PNRSV and ApMV on roses in Konya province were determined for the first time by serological methods. These results will serve as an important source of information for rose producers and agricultural engineers in the region and will allow the development of strategies to control the spread of viruses and minimize infections.

Reinforcement Learning in Real Life Applications

Reinforcement Learning is a crucial subset of machine learning that enables agents to learn decision-making through interaction with their environments, guided by feedback like rewards or penalties. This paper delves into Reinforcement Learning's applications across diverse sectors such as robotics, finance, healthcare, and gaming. In robotics, Reinforcement Learning facilitates tasks like object manipulation and environmental adaptation. In finance, it aids in portfolio management and trading strategy development, adapting to market dynamics. In healthcare, Reinforcement Learning assists in generating personalized treatment plans and analyzing medical images. Meanwhile, the gaming industry benefits from Reinforcement Learning -driven intelligent agents capable of challenging human players. Throughout, we explore Reinforcement Learning's fundamental principles, core components, and its transformative potential across these real-world applications. Keywords—Reinforcement Learning, Decision-Making, Adaptive Agents.

Computational Methods for Predicting Chemical Reactivity of Covalent Compounds.

In recent decades, covalent inhibitors have emerged as a promising strategy for therapeutic development, leveraging their unique mechanism of forming covalent bonds with target proteins. This approach offers advantages such as prolonged drug efficacy, precise targeting, and the potential to overcome resistance. However, the inherent reactivity of covalent compounds presents significant challenges, leading to off-target effects and toxicities. Accurately predicting and modulating this reactivity have become a critical focus in the field. In this work, we compiled a data set of 419 cysteine-targeted covalent compounds and their reactivity through an extensive literature review. Employing machine learning, deep learning, and quantum mechanical calculations, we evaluated the intrinsic reactivity of the covalent compounds. Our FP-Stack models demonstrated robust Pearson and Spearman correlations of approximately 0.80 and 0.75 on the test set, respectively. This empowers rapid and accurate reactivity predictions, significantly reducing computational costs and streamlining structural handling and experimental procedures. Experimental validation on acrylamide compounds underscored the predictive efficacy of our model. This study presents an efficient computational tool for the reactivity prediction of covalent compounds and is expected to offer valuable insights for guiding covalent drug discovery and development.

Integrating Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 with DES-Treated Loofah Sponge for Enhanced Toluene Adsorption.

The pervasive presence of toluene in aquatic environments, primarily due to oil spills and industrial effluents, necessitates the development of effective and sustainable remediation strategies. This study introduces ZIF-8@DES-treated loofah sponge (ZIF-8@DLS), a novel adsorbent composite material, synthesized via an in situ process that integrates the high surface area of ZIF-8 with the natural loofah sponge. The composite was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirming the successful loading of ZIF-8 onto the loofah substrate. The adsorption capacity of ZIF-8@DLS for toluene was evaluated, achieving a maximum of 145.3 mg/g with an efficiency of 72% under standard conditions. Kinetic studies revealed that the adsorption process predominantly followed a pseudo-second-order model, indicative of chemisorption. The adsorption isotherm data were found to align more closely with the Freundlich model, suggesting a multilayer adsorption mechanism on the composite's heterogeneous surface. The ZIF-8@DLS composite demonstrates a promising synergy of high adsorption performance, cost-effectiveness, facile synthesis, and environmental benignity, positioning it as a candidate for practical applications in wastewater treatment and adsorptive separation processes.

Amur Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus maackii) Population Size, Structure, and Spatial Distribution

Freshwater turtle species preservation relies on understanding their population dynamics and geographical distribution. Amur softshell turtles (ASTs [Pelodiscus maackii]) are poorly protected due to insufficient awareness and the population in Northeastern China has experienced a steep decline compared to previous years. This study aims to investigate the population density and structure of ASTs in the Jewellery Island area of the Ussuri River in Northeast China using continuous-time capture–recapture methods in closed populations. A three-month mark–recapture study was conducted in 2022, resulting in 35 juvenile captures, including 12 recaptures from 23 marked individuals. The estimated population size in the study area was 40.79 ± 9.75 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 27–65), translating to 0.663 ± 0.158 turtles/ha (95% CI = 0.44–1.06 individuals/ha). Approximately 35.4–85.2% of the estimated population was marked. Additionally, we explored the influence of environmental variables on turtle distribution by dividing the surveyed sites into seven sections based on their natural characteristics. The ASTs distribution inferred from trapping successes was considerably different among sections, with most turtles (91%) captured at the vegetated shoreline and in water channel 2. This research offers essential baseline data to support future assessments of ASTs population on a larger scale and to inform the development of conservation strategies.

Understanding the impact of host plant factors on the oviposition behaviour of the cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala)

AbstractFor many phytophagous insects, oviposition plays a key role in the selection of an appropriate host. A more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing this behaviour in pest insects provides a basis for the development of new management strategies. Herein, the determinants of oviposition were assessed in the cabbage stem flea beetle, Psylliodes chrysocephala (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an insect specialized on the Brassicaceae family and a major pest of oilseed rape crops in Europe. To this end, a controlled condition experiment was conducted, in which a range of host plants exhibiting varying degrees of acceptability for feeding were presented to mature females. A superior host, Brassica rapa pekinensis, an intermediate one, Brassica napus, and a non‐host plant, Iberis amara, were used. An additional treatment involved wrapping the plants in micro‐perforated plastic bags to prevent feeding on aerial parts. The results demonstrated that contact with the host plant, and more particularly feeding, stimulated oviposition, with this effect being more pronounced in B. napus. Indeed, for the same amount of feeding, females laid significantly more eggs when feeding on B. napus than when feeding on B. rapa pekinensis. Additionally, a sequential experiment demonstrated that the intensity of oviposition is subject to rapid adaptive changes, as it is exclusively dependent on the current dietary conditions, with no influence of past dietary regimens. The quantification of macronutrients indicated the potential influence of plant‐digestible carbohydrates on these outcomes. Further investigation is required to determine the impact of the plant nutritional quality and defences on oviposition.

NF-κB-Specific Suppression in Cardiomyocytes Unveils Aging-Associated Responses in Cardiac Tissue

Background/Objectives: Aging is associated with structural and functional changes in the heart, including hypertrophy, fibrosis, and impaired contractility. Cellular mechanisms such as senescence, telomere shortening, and DNA damage contribute to these processes. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) has been implicated in mediating cellular responses in aging tissues, and increased NF-κB expression has been observed in the hearts of aging rodents. Therefore, NF-κB is suspected to play an important regulatory role in the cellular and molecular processes occurring in the heart during aging. This study investigates the in vivo role of NF-κB in aging-related cardiac alterations, focusing on senescence and associated cellular events. Methods: Young and old wild-type (WT) and transgenic male mice with cardiomyocyte-specific NF-κB suppression (3M) were used to assess cardiac function, morphology, senescence markers, lipofuscin deposition, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Results: Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed reduced survival in 3M mice compared to WT. Echocardiography showed evidence of eccentric hypertrophy, and both diastolic and systolic dysfunction in 3M mice. Both aged WT and 3M mice exhibited cardiac hypertrophy, with more pronounced hypertrophic changes in cardiomyocytes from 3M mice. Additionally, cardiac fibrosis, senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, p21 protein expression, and DNA damage (marked by phosphorylated H2A.X) were elevated in aged WT and both young and aged 3M mice. Conclusions: The suppression of NF-κB in cardiomyocytes leads to pronounced cardiac remodeling, dysfunction, and cellular damage associated with the aging process. These findings suggest that NF-κB plays a critical regulatory role in cardiac aging, influencing both cellular senescence and molecular damage pathways. This has important implications for the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating age-related cardiovascular diseases.

Agronomic characteristics, mineral nutrient content, antioxidant capacity, biochemical composition, and fatty acid profile of Iranian pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivars

BackgroundPistachio (Pistacia vera L.) nuts are among the most popular nuts. The pistachio cultivars are tolerant to both drought and salinity, which is why they are extensively grown in the arid, saline, and hot regions of the Middle East, Mediterranean countries, and the United States.ResultsThis study evaluated the agronomic and chemical characteristics of 10 pistachio cultivars (‘Abbasiali’, ‘AhmadAghaei’, ‘Akbari’, ‘Chrook’, ‘Fandoghi’, ‘KalehGhoochi’, ‘Momtaz’, ‘Rezaei’, ‘Sefied’, and ‘Shahpasand’). Total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, fruit mineral elements, soluble protein content, kernel-oil content, and fatty-acid composition were determined in 60 fruits (20 fruits per replication). Leaf mineral elements were determined in 450 leaves (150 leaves per replication). Significant differences were observed (p < 0.05) among the cultivars, with the coefficient of variation (CV) ranging from 1.03 (unsaturated fatty acids) to 115.16% (early nut splitting). Flower buds varied from 4 (‘AhmadAghaei’) to 7 (‘Momtaz’), and fruit per bunch ranged from 11 (‘Abbasiali’) to 21 (‘Momtaz’). Hull percentage ranged from 36.8 (‘KalehGhoochi’) to 43.1% (‘Chrook’), and nut percentage ranged from 56.3 (‘Chrook’) to 62.4% (‘KalehGhoochi’). Iron content in leaves ranged from 267 (‘Chrook’) to 367 mg/kg (‘Rezaei’), while iron in fruits ranged from 65.72 (‘Fandoghi’) to 81.90 mg/kg (‘Sefied’). Total phenolic content varied from 99.9 (‘Rezaei’) to 184.30 mg/g (‘Fandoghi’), and antioxidant activity ranged from 39.14 (‘Shahpasand’) to 82.89% (‘Sefied’). Oil content ranged from 49.26 (‘Rezaei’) to 67.72% (‘AhmadAghaei’), with oleic acid between 48.4 (‘Rezaei’) and 55.55% (‘KalehGhoochi’). Leaf phosphorus positively correlated with split nut percentage (r = 0.669) and negatively with blank nut percentage (r = -0.734). Fruit potassium strongly correlated with total phenolics (r = 0.917) and oleic acid (r = 0.654). Multiple regression analysis showed that blank nut percentage was negatively correlated with leaf zinc (β = -0.77) and positively with antioxidants (β = 0.77). Early nut splitting showed a negative correlation with antioxidants (β = -0.72). The first three principal components (PC1 = 22.48%, PC2 = 18.15%, PC3 = 15.82%) explained 56.45% of the total variation. Heat map analysis using Ward clustering revealed cultivar groupings based on traits like nutrient content and fatty acid composition.ConclusionsThe findings obtained in this study allow producers to select the most suitable cultivars for obtaining more efficient and high-quality products. Additionally, choosing cultivars based on environmental factors and market demands contributes to the development of more effective production strategies. The ultimate goal is to provide insights that guide the selection of pistachio cultivars optimized for both agricultural sustainability and market-specific requirements.

Type 2 Diabetes Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Zebrafish Skeletal Muscle Leading to Diabetic Myopathy via the miR-139-5p/NAMPT Pathway

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common metabolic disease that is frequently accompanied by multiple complications, including diabetic myopathy, a muscle disorder that is mainly manifested as decreased muscle function and reduced muscle mass. Diabetic myopathy is a relatively common complication among patients with diabetes that is mainly attributed to mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms underlying diabetic myopathy development, focusing on the role of microRNAs (miRs). Zebrafish were fed a high-sugar diet for 8 weeks and immersed in a glucose solution to establish a model of T2DM. Notably, the fish exhibited impaired blood glucose homeostasis, increased lipid accumulation in the skeletal muscles, and decreased insulin levels in the skeletal muscle. Additionally, we observed various symptoms of diabetic myopathy, including a decreased cross-sectional area of skeletal muscle fibers, increased skeletal muscle fibrosis, a significant decline in exercise capacity, and a significant decrease in mitochondrial respiratory function. Mechanistically, bioinformatic analysis combined with various molecular analyses showed that the miR-139-5p/NAMPT pathway was involved in long-term high-glucose-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the skeletal muscle, leading to diabetic myopathy. Conclusively, this study provides a basis for the development of novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of diabetic myopathy.

Transcriptomic Profiling and Tumor Microenvironment Classification Reveal Unique and Dynamic Immune Biology in HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma

Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) is a vascular tumor originating from endothelial cells and is associated with human herpesvirus 8 (KSHV) infection. It disproportionately affects populations facing health disparities. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved KS control in people with HIV (PWH), treatment options for advanced KS remain limited. This study investigates the tumor microenvironment (TME) of KS through whole-transcriptomic profiling, analyzing changes over time and differences based on HIV status. The TME was categorized into four subtypes: immune-enriched (IE), non-fibrotic, immune-enriched/fibrotic (IE/F), fibrotic (F) and immune-depleted (D). Nine KS patients (four HIV-negative and five HIV-positive) were enrolled in the study. Longitudinally collected KS samples from three patients (one HIV-negative and two HIV-positive) allowed for the investigation of dynamic TME changes within individual patients. The immune cellular composition was determined using deconvolution and compared to a cohort of non-KS patients. Our findings revealed that all KS samples, regardless of HIV status, were enriched in endothelial cells. Compared to non-KS tissues, the KS samples contained a higher percentage of NK and CD8+ T cells. HIV-negative KS samples displayed the IE and IE/F TME subtypes, while HIV-positive samples exhibited IE, IE/F, and F subtypes. Over the course of the disease, a decrease in angiogenic signatures was observed in two HIV-positive KS patients. Notably, HIV-negative KS samples showed alterations in NK cell-mediated immunity and cytotoxic response pathways, whereas HIV-positive samples exhibited changes in growth regulation and protein kinase activity pathways at the time of initial diagnosis. The gene expression of immune checkpoints, including CD274 (PD-L1) and PDCD1LC2 (PD-L2), was comparable between HIV-positive and HIV-negative KS samples at diagnosis. Furthermore, sequencing identified a shared TCRβ chain in all patients analyzed, indicating a T-cell immune response to a common antigen. This study demonstrates unique transcriptomic features and TME subtypes in KS that differ based on HIV status. Additionally, it illustrates longitudinal dynamic changes in the gene signatures and TME subtypes in individual patients. The identification of a shared TCRβ chain suggests that immune T cells in KS patients may target a common antigen. Future studies should further explore the immune microenvironment and unique T cell clonotypes, which could pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for KS patients.

Spatiotemporal analysis of urban expansion and its impact on farmlands in the central Ethiopia metropolitan area

Urban growth in sub-Saharan Africa presents significant challenges to sustainable development, food security, and environmental conservation. The rapid urban expansion and impact on agricultural land reduction in central Ethiopian metropolitan areas (Addis Ababa and Sheger city) exemplify these issues while simultaneously offering opportunities for sustainable development. This study aims to quantify and characterize the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban expansion in Addis Ababa and the surrounding Sheger city, explicitly focusing on understanding the impact of urban expansion on farmlands. The supervised random forest (RF) classification in the Google Earth Engine platform was used to prepare land use and land cover (LULC) for 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2023. The study employed an analytical framework incorporating multiple methodologies: intensity analysis at interval, categorical, and transitional levels to quantify urban growth trajectories; gradient direction and distance analyses to examine spatial expansion patterns; and Land Expansion Index (LEI) and Landscape Dynamic Typology (LDT) metrics to characterize the urban morphology and spatial dynamics of the study area. The results revealed that edge expansion is the predominant mode of urban development, primarily affecting farmlands in the eastern section. Built-up areas quadrupled between 1990 and 2023, whereas arable land declined. Intensity analysis revealed significant changes, particularly affecting farmlands. Our LDT analysis showed reduction in stable areas and increased in LULC changes from 1990 to 2023. The findings highlight the need for revised urban development strategies in Ethiopia to focus on compact and efficient growth while safeguarding agricultural lands, aligning with SDGs 2, 11, and 15 to promote balanced development that ensures urban and agricultural sustainability.

Models of technological development: The influence of investment structure

The problem of refining Russia’s model of economic development through achieving the technological sovereignty dictates the need for making strategic decisions within the investment policy of economic growth. The paper aims to determine the models of technological modernisation according to the structure of investments in “old – new” technologies and develop an algorithm for identifying these models by assessing the relationship between investment and risk. Methodologically, the study rests on the theory of technological change. The paper employs elements of structural, statistical, regression and econometric analysis, as well as applies taxonomy methods to pinpoint various options for investment and technological modernisation models. T he evidence is the data on the investment in fixed assets and expenditures on tech nological innovations for 2010–2022 coming from the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation. The result is the identification of a model of technological modernisation in the Russian economy according to the structure of investments in “old – new” technologies and the sensitivity of the general technological intensity to investments. The paper distinguishes four general strategies of technological devel opment by the impact of expenditures on the dynamics of technological intensity, namely “leadership”, “breakthrough”, “giving up”, and “degradation”. Then, accord ing to the impact of investment in new technologies on technological modernisation it justifies the models “blockage”, “rigidity”, “modernisation”, “saturation”, and, in a similar manner, validates the models “degradation”, “backwardness”, “reliance on old technologies”, “reliance on new technologies” according to the impact of investment in old technologies on technological modernisation. The paper constructs a theoreti cal model of the connection between investment and risk, institutional parameters of investment process. The findings reveal that the Russian economy follows the model of backwardness with local technological innovations, which requires a massive in crease in investment in new technologies, mitigation of risks, and modification of institutional conditions.

On the research of multiplier effects in complex production systems

Digital transformation of institutional environment, orientation towards efficiency in the state planning, processes of new industrialisation and import substitution, variability of consumer behaviour, tightening competition in the new geopolitical realities shape the context of modern production systems’ functioning. This necessitates the modification of approaches to measuring their efficiency. The paper’s aim is to model multiplier effects in complex production systems. The concept of production systems’ efficiency constitutes the methodological basis of the research. The methods include systems, comparative, and regression analysis. The evidence is eco nomic and environmental indicators of Russia’s largest metals enterprises taken from the AK&amp;M Rating Agency and the SPARK Database for 2019–2022. The multiplier effects in complex production systems represent an extensive array of effects from technological, social, environmental, digital, and economic activities which impact on businesses’ science and technology development. The obtained regression models of the relationship between environmental and economic efficiencies confirm the presence of the complementary effects. This underlies the original imitation model reflecting the interaction between direct and cross effects from technological, social, environmental, digital, and economic activities of an enterprise. The findings can be practical when formulating strategies for the complex production systems development.

Predictors of Nonutilization of Ex Vivo Perfused Donor Heart Allografts

Despite the development of novel procurement technologies, an imbalance remains between the demand for and the availability of donor hearts. We aimed to identify donor characteristics predictive of nonutilization of hearts supported by ex vivo perfusion. A national database was used to identify ex vivo perfused hearts before September 30, 2023. Donors were stratified into cohorts of “Used” and “Discarded” based on final allocation. Logistic regressions were developed to identify predictors of nonutilization in both the ex vivo and non-ex vivo perfused hearts. Of 1,393 hearts supported with ex vivo perfusion, 154 (11%) were unused. Unused donors were older and had more diabetes and hypertension (p &lt; 0.05). By multivariable logistic regression, reduced ejection fraction (7.10 [3.19–15.77], p &lt; 0.001), coronary artery disease (6.27 [1.15–34.30], p = 0.034), and advanced age (3.25 [2.02–5.21], p &lt; 0.001) were predictors of discard. Elevated body mass and prolonged ischemic times were only predictive of discard in the non-ex vivo perfused cohort. Among procured donor hearts supported by ex vivo perfusion, poor heart function, and donor comorbidities were identified as predictors of nonutilization. Increased appreciation for the role of these variables on post-transplantation outcomes will allow for the development of cost-effective strategies to expand the donor pool.