Integration Methodology Research Articles

Advancing Asset Tokenization in the European Union and Latvia: A Regulatory and Policy Perspective

Our study examines the regulatory challenges and opportunities of asset tokenization within the context of the European Union (EU), emphasizing the balance between technological innovation and investor protection in the digital economy. Focusing on 2023 EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation and its application in Latvia, we utilize comparative legal and integrative literature review methodologies to explore how regulatory frameworks can enhance investor accessibility, liquidity, and transparency in digital transactions. Our findings emphasize the importance of strong legal frameworks in promoting economic growth and protecting investors, thereby contributing to a more inclusive financial ecosystem. By examining the regulatory landscape for distributed ledger technology, we provide insights into how regulations can balance innovation in asset management with the imperative of investor protection. We offer a broad analysis of the intersection between legal frameworks and technological advancements in Latvia, illustrating how diverse regulatory approaches can support both economic development and investor interests. Our research originality lies in its focus on the EU’s regulatory diversity, particularly in Latvia, and its implications for broader European and international regulatory environments. Our study contributes to ongoing discussions on optimizing regulatory strategies to facilitate secure and advantageous financial technologies, reflecting the diversity of legal and economic approaches across Europe.

CTI Integration in Contact Centers: A Comparative Analysis of Security, Scalability, and Challenges in Legacy vs. Cloud-Based Systems

AIM: Scope of this work aims to explore the integration of Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) in both legacy and cloud-based contact center systems, examining security challenges and integration methods for achieving robust Computer Telephony Integration implementations. Study Design: This study provides a comparative analysis of techniques, methodologies, and integration challenges associated with CTI in legacy on-premises systems and modern cloud-based solutions, with a particular focus on security considerations in both contexts. Place and Duration of Study: This study is based on a review of contact centers in retail versus mid-sized tech companies, focusing on solutions implemented between 2018 and 2024. Methodology: This study compares Computer Telephony Integration in both legacy and cloud-based contact center systems, focusing on integration processes, security concerns, scalability, challenges, and feature differences. It uses a combination of key evaluation criteria (covering core components, flexibility, security practices, and scalability), case studies, financial implications, and a feature comparison matrix to explore CTI integration in traditional on-premises environments versus modern cloud-based solutions. Security has been the primary concern, and this included encryption, authentication and compliance with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Results: The study found that cloud-based contact centers offer more flexible and scalable integration options, leveraging modern APIs, cloud-native services, and omnichannel support. Legacy systems, while reliable, face challenges in scalability and integration, requiring complex middleware and custom solutions. Security is a significant concern for both environments; however, cloud solutions are enhanced by regular updates, improved compliance standards, and centralized management. Data encryption, secure voice protocols, and authentication were identified as the foundation for security for all types of Computer Telephony Integrations in either category of systems. In addition, the study found that cloud-based systems are being accelerated as more flexible and economically viable solutions are being demanded. A unique contribution of this study is the development of a security-focused comparative framework for this integration in legacy and cloud-based contact centers. By analyzing security practices, scalability challenges, and integration methodologies, this study bridges a critical knowledge gap, offering practitioners a comprehensive guide to CTI decision-making. Conclusion: Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) plays a critical role in modern contact centers. While legacy systems continue to serve their purpose, cloud-based solutions offer superior flexibility, scalability, and security. Organizations must prioritize robust security practices when implementing them, regardless of the platform. Future research should focus on advancing AI-enhanced security frameworks to address evolving threats, evaluating hybrid CTI models that integrate legacy and cloud components, and testing the impact of real-time analytics on customer satisfaction. Such advancements will ensure data privacy, regulatory compliance, and the continuous improvement of customer engagement and operational efficiency.

Business models and strategies for the internalization of externalities in agri-food value chains

Current food systems have significant negative environmental, social, and economic impacts. Externalized costs and benefits create false market incentives favoring less healthy and unsustainable options. Transitioning to sustainable agri-food systems requires that businesses internalize these externalities. Internalization of externalities (IOE) is often addressed through policy measures and regulatory initiatives. However, IOE can also be carried out through business models (BMs) and strategies which involve creating positive externalities, mitigating/preventing negative ones, as well as ensuring fair distribution of risks, costs, and benefits. Accordingly, sustainable and innovative BMs and strategies offer pathways to achieving IOE. This paper identifies existing sustainable and innovative BMs and strategies and explains how they can achieve IOE. Using an integrative literature review methodology, we reconcile both economics and business literature approaches. We subsequently carry out two levels of analysis including abductive coding and interrelationship evaluation. The paper explores the characteristics of BMs and strategies that address IOE, using the well-known concept of value and introduces a conceptual framework for categorizing business models and strategies for the internalization of externalities (BM4IOE). The article initiates a discourse on the role of BMs in the IOE within agri-food value chains and provides insights into how businesses can develop and implement models that effectively internalize externalities, thereby enhancing sustainability and driving innovation in the transition of agri-food systems.

Interventions for family involvement enhance end-of-life care for hospitalized patients: an integrative review

BackgroundIntegrating family members into the care of hospitalized end-of-life patients enhances patient–family-centered care and significantly influences the experiences of patients and their families. This study used the integrative review methodology to assess the scope and effectiveness of interventions designed to facilitate family involvement in end-of-life care. It identified gaps and consolidated existing knowledge to improve nursing practices.MethodsThis integrative review encompasses both experimental and non-experimental studies. The process included problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, analysis, and integration. The literature search targeted studies describing interventions for family involvement in EOLC using databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science. Data evaluation was conducted by assessing the quality of the studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data analysis and integration were conducted by synthesizing the results of the selected studies and identifying the elements of family involvement using the 'Components of Family Involvement' framework.ResultsOf the 8,378 identified studies, 26 were eligible for inclusion. Interventions involving the families of patients with terminal illness varied, including programs to enhance communication among patients, families, and healthcare providers; family meetings; decision-making support; and digital visits and rounds. The findings show that these interventions improve patients’ psychological and physical comfort, family satisfaction, and communication. However, some families reported increased distress. The most frequently addressed elements of family involvement were communication and receiving information, followed by decision-making and meeting care needs. Family presence and contribution to care were the least addressed elements in the interventions.ConclusionsThis integrative review highlights the effectiveness of interventions to increase family involvement in end-of-life care, demonstrating positive impacts on patient comfort, family satisfaction, and communication. Despite progress in incorporating families into communication and decision-making, further efforts are needed to ensure their presence and direct care involvement. Future research should focus on improving these interventions to enhance scalability and support comprehensive family involvement, including digital tools for participation.

A Novel Approach in Cancer Diagnosis: Integrating Holography Microscopic Medical Imaging and Deep Learning Techniques - Challenges and Future Trends.

Medical imaging is pivotal in early disease diagnosis, providing essential insights that enable timely and accurate detection of health anomalies. Traditional imaging techniques, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computer Tomography (CT), ultrasound, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), offer vital insights into three-dimensional structures but frequently fall short of delivering a comprehensive and detailed anatomical analysis, capturing only amplitude details. Three-dimensional holography microscopic medical imaging provides a promising solution by capturing the amplitude (brightness) and phase (structural information) details of biological structures. In this study, we investigate the novel collaborative potential of Deep Learning (DL) and holography microscopic phase imaging for cancer diagnosis. The study comprehensively examines existing literature, analyzes advancements, identifies research gaps, and proposes future research directions in cancer diagnosis through the integrated Quantitative Phase Imaging (QPI) and DL methodology. This novel approach addresses a critical limitation of traditional imaging by capturing detailed structural information, paving the way for more accurate diagnostics. The proposed approach comprises tissue sample collection, holographic image scanning, pre-processing in case of imbalanced datasets, and training on annotated datasets using DL architectures like U-Net and Vision Transformer(ViT's). Furthermore, sophisticated concepts in DL, like the incorporation of Explainable AI techniques (XAI), are suggested for comprehensive disease diagnosis and identification. The study thoroughly investigates the advantages of integrating holography imaging and DL for precise cancer diagnosis. Additionally, meticulous insights are presented by identifying the challenges associated with this integration methodology.

Research And Future Application Analysis of Multimodal Fusion

This manuscript delves into the origin, progression, and future of multimodal fusion by conducting a comprehensive review of seminal research at various phases of its ontogeny. It encompasses three foundational methodologies of multimodal integration: Early Fusion, late Fusion, and Hybrid Fusion. Moreover, the article presents three novel methodologies for integration. It culminates in a discourse on potential subsequent applications, obstacles, and progress within the domain. solve the fusion problem of heterogeneous neural networks, and improve the correlation and consistency between modes in the aspects of cross-modal representation learning, multi-modal sentiment analysis, multi-modal intelligent interaction, so as to achieve better human-computer interaction experience.

State-of-the-Art and Advancement of Charging Infrastructure in Electric Mobility: An Integrated Review

Electric mobility is attracting significant attention in the current era due to its environmental benefits, sustainable transportation options, and the absence of carbon emissions. However, challenges such as the high price of batteries, inefficient charging techniques, and compatibility linking the charging station with electric vehicles (EVs) must be addressed. This article reviews advancements and identifies challenges in charging infrastructure for electric mobility. This study incorporates and analyzes an integrated review of approximately 223 research articles. Current research trends and states of charging infrastructure are prepared as per the Web of Science (WoS) database from 2013 to 2023. In light of recent extensions in wireless power transfer technology, including capacitive, inductive, and magnetic gear topology, are presented to advance the charging infrastructure. Different charging tactics based on power source, such as level-1 AC, level-2 AC, level-3 DC fast, and level-3 DC ultra-rapid charging, related to charging infrastructure are addressed. The vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration methodology is addressed to construct a smart city by presenting the transfer of power and related data through linkage and moving systems. The exploration of artificial intelligence, global connectivity of electric vehicles (EVs), sun-to-vehicle (S2V), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) techniques with EVs is conducted to enhance and progress the charging infrastructure. Key barriers associated with charging infrastructure are identified.

Integrating biomarkers for hemostatic disorders into computational models of blood clot formation: A systematic review.

In the pursuit of personalized medicine, there is a growing demand for computational models with parameters that are easily obtainable to accelerate the development of potential solutions. Blood tests, owing to their affordability, accessibility, and routine use in healthcare, offer valuable biomarkers for assessing hemostatic balance in thrombotic and bleeding disorders. Incorporating these biomarkers into computational models of blood coagulation is crucial for creating patient-specific models, which allow for the analysis of the influence of these biomarkers on clot formation. This systematic review aims to examine how clinically relevant biomarkers are integrated into computational models of blood clot formation, thereby advancing discussions on integration methodologies, identifying current gaps, and recommending future research directions. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA protocol, focusing on ten clinically significant biomarkers associated with hemostatic disorders: D-dimer, fibrinogen, Von Willebrand factor, factor Ⅷ, P-selectin, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), antithrombin Ⅲ, protein C, and protein S. By utilizing this set of biomarkers, this review underscores their integration into computational models and emphasizes their integration in the context of venous thromboembolism and hemophilia. Eligibility criteria included mathematical models of thrombin generation, blood clotting, or fibrin formation under flow, incorporating at least one of these biomarkers. A total of 53 articles were included in this review. Results indicate that commonly used biomarkers such as D-dimer, PT, and APTT are rarely and superficially integrated into computational blood coagulation models. Additionally, the kinetic parameters governing the dynamics of blood clot formation demonstrated significant variability across studies, with discrepancies of up to 1, 000-fold. This review highlights a critical gap in the availability of computational models based on phenomenological or first-principles approaches that effectively incorporate affordable and routinely used clinical test results for predicting blood coagulation. This hinders the development of practical tools for clinical application, as current mathematical models often fail to consider precise, patient-specific values. This limitation is especially pronounced in patients with conditions such as hemophilia, protein C and S deficiencies, or antithrombin deficiency. Addressing these challenges by developing patient-specific models that account for kinetic variability is crucial for advancing personalized medicine in the field of hemostasis.

Decoding The Mysteries Of MIC: The Need For A Multidisciplinary Approach For Integrating Multiple Lines Of Evidence

Abstract Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) is a complex phenomenon that is not fully understood due to the lack of comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of MIC, role of microbial communities in corrosion, impact of environmental factors, and corrosion rate prediction models. Despite increasing knowledge and disruptive breakthroughs in the understanding of fundamental concepts and application of these concepts for industrial MIC management, several gaps related to the management of MIC remain. For example, there are no simple thresholds for different microbiological and environmental parameters that can be used for conclusive assessment of MIC. While the use of multiple lines of evidence for MIC investigations is becoming widely accepted, the interpretation of the data collected using multiple lines of evidence approach is not straightforward and requires careful integration of various types of data to make key decisions. In this paper, the use of a multidisciplinary data integration methodology for MIC threat assessment, MIC failure analysis, and biocide selection will be discussed. Case studies were used to illustrate the multidisciplinary data integration methodology.

Integration of Hospital Dentistry in the Interdisciplinary Care of the Armed Forces: Perspectives and Practices

Context: This study aims to investigate the implementation and effectiveness of hospital dentistry (HD) in the Armed Forces, incorporating an integrative literature review and a detailed case report. It seeks to highlight the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to oral and systemic health in military patients, as well as identify significant gaps in current research that need to be addressed to achieve improved healthcare outcomes. Evidence Acquisition: An integrative review methodology was adopted, with articles selected through the PubMed/MEDLINE and Scielo databases using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria focused on the practice of HD in military settings. This approach ensured a comprehensive understanding of the existing literature. Simultaneously, a case report of an elderly patient treated within the military context was presented, detailing the diagnosis, intervention, and outcomes of HD, thus providing a practical example of the concepts discussed in the review. Results: The literature review revealed a scarcity of specific studies on HD in military settings, despite evidence highlighting the crucial role of an interdisciplinary team, including dentists, for the effective treatment of oral conditions affecting the overall health of patients. This lack of research underscores the need for further studies to address these gaps. The case report demonstrated the positive impact of HD on the patient's recovery, emphasizing the critical need for its integration into military healthcare to achieve improved patient outcomes. Conclusions: The integration of HD in military settings is essential but currently underutilized. The research emphasizes the need to develop and document HD practices that enhance both the oral and systemic health of military personnel, promoting a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary care approach. This integration can lead to better health outcomes, reduced hospital stays, and overall improved quality of life for military patients.

An Integrated Resilience and Assessment Methodology Framework for Addressing Uncertainty in Highway Operation and Maintenance Systems

An Integrated Resilience and Assessment Methodology Framework for Addressing Uncertainty in Highway Operation and Maintenance Systems

Metodología de autoaprendizaje en entornos simulados MAES en la formación de enfermería: revisión sistemática

The Self-Learning Methodology in Simulated Environments is a crucial approach to enhance autonomous learning. In this research, a systematic review was carried out using integrative methodology to gather and analyze previous studies on the effectiveness of this methodology in practical nursing education. To answer the PICO research question, 15 research papers published between 2014 and 2024 in English, Portuguese, and Spanish were analyzed. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed designs were included, with no restrictions on the educational level at which they were studied. The search string included MeSH and DeCS terms, as well as Boolean operators AND and OR. The search was conducted in PubMed, Elseiver, and Google Scholar. The PRISMA 2020 format was used in the study selection process, and the quality of the evidence was analyzed using the Johns Hopkins Institute format. The results showed improvements in critical thinking, the development of clinical competencies, and self-confidence. It was concluded that the self-learning methodology in simulated environments favors the development of clinical competencies, self-confidence, clinical judgment, and critical thinking in nursing students, surpassing traditional methods in these variables.

Evaluation of integrated modular & traditional curriculum learning environment in medical education

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Most medical schools in Pakistan follow a traditional teaching methodology but a newer and refined method named Integrated teaching methodology has been introduced and proven to be more effective than the former method. The study aims to evaluate the pros and cons of integrated modular & traditional curriculum learning environments. METHODOLOGY: A total of 214 students from 1st year and 2nd Year MBBS were enrolled in the study using the convenience sampling technique. 1st Year students were grouped as Group A undergoing an Integrated learning environment and 2nd Year students as Group B undergoing a traditional learning environment at Abwa Medical College, Faisalabad. A pre-validated John Hopkin’s Proforma was distributed to collect data and was analyzed in SPSS 26 using the student’s t-test. The P-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of 214, a total of 180 participants recorded their responses. 58% of the total were male and 42% were female. The responses favored the integrated learning environment as it is conducive, supportive, and provides better opportunities in terms of leadership and career options. The curriculum design was also student-centered and designed according to the student's needs as compared to the traditional learning environment. The participants recorded a healthy and positive relationship with the faculty with a statistically significant P-value <0.05. CONCLUSION: The integrated modular system fosters the ability of critical thinking and innovation among students. The curriculum design offers an integrated modular system that is flexible and student-centered which also yields positive outcomes and change among the students.

Unlocking flourishing at workplace: An integrative review and framework

AbstractThe concept of flourishing has garnered interdisciplinary attention, particularly within the realm of workplace research, given its relevance to individuals' daily lives. However, despite its growing importance, defining and measuring workplace flourishing remains challenging, often due to the adoption of generic life‐domain perspectives. This review addresses these challenges by synthesizing literature from work and life domains. We meticulously analyze 118 pertinent articles through an integrative review methodology, uncovering gaps in conceptualization, measurement, determinants, and outcomes of workplace flourishing. Our review introduces a new conceptual lens, focusing on the role of personal project pursuits in shaping flourishing. We also clarify the distinction between flourishing and thriving, providing much‐needed conceptual clarity. Additionally, the review presents an integrative framework that synthesizes determinants and outcomes of flourishing, offering a multitude of avenues for future exploration.

Advanced Differential Equations with Canonical Operators: New Criteria for the Oscillation

In this study, we use the integral averaging methodology, comparison with second-order differential equations, and the Riccati technique to determine the Philos-type and Hille–Nehari-type oscillation conditions of fourth-order advanced differential equations with canonical operators. In essence, these techniques supplement and generalize a wide range of established oscillation conditions. Two instance cases demonstrate the importance of our outcomes and their significant improvement.

An Integrated Review of Transitional Care for Families of Pre-Term Infants.

This study was conducted to identify the key elements of transitional care for families with pre-term infants in South Korea. We used an integrative review methodology proposed by Whittemore and Knafle. During the problem identification step, the review question was constructed via the population, intervention, outcome, and timeframe (PIOT) format. During the literature search step, integrative reviews of the published literature from nine electronic databases were undertaken and a total of 14 studies were reviewed that met our inclusion criteria. During the data evaluation step, the quality of the literature was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) developed by Hong et al. We identified three domains and 10 key attributes of transitional care for families of pre-term infants. The parenting empowerment domain included growth and development, developmental promotion, nutrition, safe environment, general parenting, and parent-infant interaction. The emotional support domain included counseling, advocacy, and community network. The social support domain included professional collaboration. Efforts should continue to further develop programs and policies to enhance transitional care for families of pre-term infants that reflect South Korean nursing practices.

Integrative Review-Based Conceptual Modeling: An Agent-Based Modeling Synthesis of Dynamic Energy Tariff Research and Models

Adoption of dynamic energy tariffs by households is crucial for the transition to carbon-neutral energy systems. Influencing the adoption patterns of these tariffs necessitates an examination of the drivers, decision components, and contextual factors influencing household decisions. Few computational models address this comprehensively, often omitting non-financial decision variables. Moreover, methodologically robust integrative reviews on this topic are scarce. To address this gap, this paper develops a concept-centered integrative review methodology aimed at deriving computer models for socio-techno-economic simulations of household adoption of sustainable technologies. The methodology encompasses five sequential phases: Setup, Literature Search, Analysis, Synthesis and Conceptual Model, and Discussion. To illustrate the methodology, it is applied to the case of household adoption of dynamic energy tariffs, resulting in an abstract conceptual model adaptable to local contexts. The review reveals a lack of consensus on modeled tariffs but highlights the significance of tariff complexity, relative advantage, household heterogeneity, and various agent properties. It also identifies potential improvements in model fundamentals, particularly spatial modeling. The developed process model focuses on the stages ‘knowledge’, ‘decision’, and ‘reevaluation’. The article contributes by presenting a comprehensive review scheme and delivering a concept-centered integrative review along with an explicit conceptual model derived from it.

Integrative methodologies for evaluating bidirectional impacts in University-Community engagements

Integrative methodologies for evaluating bidirectional impacts in University-Community engagements

Cricket and climate change: an integrative review

The climate crisis is having an increasingly significant impact on sport and cricket, a climate-dependent sport played in some of the most climate-vulnerable regions of the world, is particularly threatened. Conversely, the relationship between cricket and climate change is understudied and the existent knowledge base is widely spread. In response, this paper utilises an integrative review methodology to bring together this disparate knowledge base in order to more effectively understand cricket’s relationship to climate change, with a particular focus on the threat climate change poses to cricket, cricket’s impact on the natural environment, and sustainability initiatives undertaken by cricketing stakeholders. This review revealed that the knowledge base is dominated by environmental advocacy organisations and there is a need for more academic research. Conversely, existing research, especially from outside of cricket, highlights the unequal climate vulnerabilities faced by cricketing stakeholders, as well as a lack of action from these stakeholders.

A REGULAMENTAÇÃO DA INTELIGÊNCIA ARTIFICIAL E SEUS IMPACTOS NO DIREITO

The introduction of this research deals with the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impacts on the Brazilian legal system, with an emphasis on the areas of civil, criminal and labor law. The study analyzes how the growing presence of AI in social and economic relations requires the creation of legal guidelines that protect fundamental rights, such as human dignity, privacy and equality. In civil law, issues of liability for damages caused by AI, protection of data and automated contracts. In criminal law, the focus is on the use of AI both to prevent crimes and to commit illegal acts, which requires the creation of specific regulations to prevent abuses and guarantee criminal liability. In relation to labor law, the research explores how automation driven by AI can transform the job market, threatening jobs and increasing the need for legal protections for workers. The research adopts an integrative literature review methodology, seeking to identify the main challenges and risks associated with the use of AI. This includes ethical issues, such as algorithmic discrimination and the lack of transparency in automated decisions, as well as debating the need for a regulatory framework that balances technological advances with the protection of fundamental rights. AI, while promising, presents challenges that need to be addressed through effective regulation to ensure innovation occurs safely and fairly.