Integration Challenges Research Articles

Digital approaches within the humanities education system: integration challenges

Introduction. The relevance of this research is based on the well-known fact that the challenges created by the digital revolution sharpened many problems within the humanities education. The object of our research is the process of integration of digital approaches into the traditional teaching of humanities as one of the most important challenges faced by contemporary higher education. Digital technologies have already changed and continue to change not only teaching methods and approaches but also the very concept of humanities as a specialized field of knowledge. Within this process, we face innovations that quickly transform into an everyday practice and become embedded into the pre-existing academic and educational processes (access to digital information sources, ease of information production, demonstration and presentation etc.). The aim of this paper is to analyze the process of integration of digital approaches in teaching humanities as one of the most important educational challenges faced by contemporary university. Materials and methods. Since this paper is interdisciplinary in character, its methodological research base relies on integrative conceptual approach allowing us to bring together general theoretical methods (analysis, synthesis, generalization) with cultural, historical, contextual and competence-based research methods. Such an approach provides ample opportunities to introduce existing theoretical and methodological toolkit developed by the humanities in order to understand problems and specific features of digital society and digital culture. Both in this methodology and in content, the concept of digital culture as a research object does not contradict practices established within humanities, but rather can be interpreted as a new area of study. Results. The results of our research demonstrate that digitalization of society led to the emergence of new themes in the humanities and within the education system: criticism of the “black box” character of contemporary digital infrastructure; issues of inequality and discrimination created or supported by digital tools; social effects of digitalization (including its impact on children and young adults); data-related problems: who, how and under what conditions creates, distributes and uses data in contemporary culture and society; anthropological approach that studies interactions between humans and digital technologies; cultural representations of digital technologies: images and narratives that circulate in society and are used to visualize and describe digital phenomena in film, literature, internet, social media etc. Conclusions. The authors conclude that the situation surrounding digitalization of humanities presents a field both of new problems and new opportunities. However, despite the existing issues, humanities research and education constantly produce new models and methods of interaction with the digital reality, which can and should be confidently introduced in education constantly experimenting with the new approaches.

Challenges of IoT integration in education: A case study of students at Al- Zaytoonah University of Jordan

This study investigated the challenges university students face when using the Internet of Things (IoT) in education at Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan. It also examined whether these challenges varied by gender and college affiliation. The research was conducted during the second semester of the 2023-2024 academic year with a randomly selected sample of 200 students from different colleges and academic levels. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire distributed electronically via the university's e-learning platform (Moodle). The findings highlighted significant challenges, such as technical problems, inadequate infrastructure, lack of training, security risks, and issues with the reliability of IoT-based assessments. The challenges differed based on gender and college type: male students and those in scientific colleges reported more issues related to infrastructure, security, and assessment reliability, while female students and those in humanities colleges identified more technical difficulties. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing these challenges to successfully integrate IoT technologies into education.

The enduring appeal of Mahjong: Navigating the challenges of AI integration

The enduring appeal of Mahjong: Navigating the challenges of AI integration

A Current Perspective of Medical Informatics Developments for a Clinical Translation of (Non-coding)RNAs and Single-Cell Technologies.

The journey from laboratory research to clinical practice is marked by significant advancements in the fields of single-cell technologies and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) research. This convergence may reshape our approach to personalized medicine, offering groundbreaking insights and treatments in various clinical settings. This chapter discusses advancements in (nc)RNAs in the clinics, innovations in single-cell technologies and algorithms, and the impact on actual precision medicine, showing the integration of single-cell and ncRNA research can have a tangible impact on precision medicine. Case studies in Oncology, Immunology, and other fields demonstrate how these technologies can guide treatment decisions, tailor therapies to individual patients, and improve outcomes. This approach is particularly potent in addressing diseases with high inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity. The final sections address standardization, data integration, and analysis challenges because the complexity and volume of data generated by single-cell and ncRNA research poses significant challenges. Medical Informatics is not just a support tool but could be seen as a pivotal component in advancing clinical applications of single-cell and ncRNA research by bridging the gap between bench and bedside. The future of personalized medicine depends on our ability to harness the power of these technologies, and Medical Informatics in combination with ncRNA and single-cell technologies may stand at the forefront of this endeavor.

Transnational Familial Business and Inter-generational Conflicts within Vietnamese Diaspora in the Urban Spaces of the Czechia

Background and objective: In the contemporary globalized world, with migration and mobility occurring at an unprecedented scale, it is crucial to understand the lives of various diasporas and their integration challenges within host societies, particularly those diasporas that are culturally very different from the host society. This article analyzes the socio-economic and cultural sources of intergenerational conflicts within Vietnamese diasporic families living in the Czech Republic.Methods: The research adopted an ethnographic approach, the analytical data based on three years of participant observations and in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 43 first-generation and 35 individuals from 1.5 and second-generation Vietnamese Czechs in Brno, Prague, and Olomouc.Results: Through the lens of acculturation, the article demonstrates that first-generation Vietnamese migrants come to the Czech Republic as part of a broader family network to improve their family/kin's financial situation and secure a better future for their children. In the host country, they establish transnational family business networks, which provide socio-economic security and upward mobility for the entire family/kin. However, the uncertainties embedded in the migrant’s temporary status, and their social networks are founded on traditional Vietnamese family values, morality, and ethics, which shared not common by the second generation.Conclusion: The social positions, the transnational family networks, and the differing cultural values between the two generations generate intergenerational conflicts, particularly concerning the second generation's life strategies, such as forming romantic or marital partnerships with members of the host society.

Exploration of Opportunities and Challenges of Technology-based Mathematics Teaching: Students and Teachers Perspectives

The pervasive integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education necessitates systematic investigation of its practical effectiveness in mathematics instruction, as empirical evidence of its impact on teaching and learning processes remains crucial for enhancing pedagogical practices. This study investigated the opportunities and challenges of ICT integration in mathematics instruction among Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) students majoring in mathematics and their teachers at Tribhuvan University. The information/data was gathered through interviews with eight students and four teachers who had studied and taught for various years (first, second, third, and fourth) using interpretative phenomenological techniques. From the study, it was found that high motivation, self-paced learning, conceptual understanding of contents, anytime-anywhere learning, opportunities for repeated learning, and feedback were the fundamental opportunities in the use of ICT. Furthermore, insufficient prior knowledge and skills on ICT use by both students and teachers, insufficient class time, less knowledge to prepare the course materials, less supportive infrastructure, insufficient access to ICT devices with internet, and availability of freely available software were found the challenges on the use of ICT.

IoT Solutions for Energy Efficiency: A Bibliometric Analysis of Environmental Impact and Resource Management

This bibliometric analysis explores the scope and dynamics of Internet of Things (IoT) research with a focus on energy efficiency, environmental impact, and resource management. Using data sourced from Scopus and visualized through VOSviewer, the study maps out the evolution of research themes, highlights interdisciplinary collaboration, and discusses the integration challenges and policy implications of IoT technologies. The analysis identifies a significant shift from foundational technological issues to applications that enhance sustainable development and address global energy demands. Despite challenges such as implementation costs, security concerns, and environmental impacts associated with IoT devices, the potential of IoT in promoting energy efficiency and sustainability is profound. The study also emphasizes the need for robust policies and international cooperation to fully leverage IoT benefits in addressing environmental and energy management challenges. Future research directions are suggested to further explore the integration of IoT with renewable energy sources and to enhance the sustainability of IoT systems.

Cancer diagnosis and prognosis using multi-Omics data: A data science and machine learning approach

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, demanding innovative approaches for early diagnosis and accurate prognosis. Recent advances in multi-omics technologies, which integrate genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics, provide comprehensive insights into the complex biological mechanisms underlying cancer. By capturing molecular signatures at multiple levels, multi-omics data offers unparalleled potential for identifying cancer biomarkers, stratifying patients, and predicting therapeutic responses. However, the volume, complexity, and heterogeneity of multi-omics data present significant analytical challenges, necessitating robust data science and machine learning techniques. Machine learning algorithms, including supervised, unsupervised, and deep learning approaches, are increasingly being utilized to unravel the patterns embedded in multi-omics datasets. These methods enable feature selection, dimensionality reduction, and the integration of multi-modal data, facilitating the identification of precise biomarkers and the development of predictive models for cancer progression. Furthermore, advanced frameworks such as explainable AI (XAI) provide interpretability to these models, ensuring their clinical applicability and enhancing trust among healthcare professionals. This review highlights recent breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis and prognosis using multi-omics data, emphasizing the synergy between data science and machine learning in transforming oncology research. It also explores the challenges in data integration, algorithmic bias, and model validation, proposing solutions to enhance predictive accuracy and generalizability. By bridging molecular biology and computational sciences, this interdisciplinary approach has the potential to revolutionize precision oncology, paving the way for personalized treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes.

Resolving the “three-fit” problems in enterprise information systems: a design science approach with ontological solutions

PurposeAddressing integrity, flexibility and interoperability challenges in enterprise information systems (EISs) is often hindered by the “three-fit” barrier, which encompasses vertical, horizontal and transversal fit problems. To overcome these obstacles, we propose solutions aimed at defining the business view of EIS. This study addresses these issues by proposing solutions tailored to the business view of EIS. Specifically, it introduces the core ontology of sensitive business processes (COSBP), a conceptual framework designed to formalize and define the multidimensional dimensions of sensitive business processes (SBPs). By providing a unified structure of central concepts and semantic relationships, COSBP enhances both knowledge management (KM) and business process management (BPM) in organizational contexts.Design/methodology/approachThis paper adopts the design science research methodology covering the phases of a design-oriented research project that develops new artifacts, such as the COSBP ontology, based on SBP modeling requirements. Following a formal multi-level, multi-component approach, COSBP is structured into sub-ontologies across different abstraction levels. Built upon the Descriptive Ontology for Linguistic and Cognitive Engineering (DOLCE) foundational ontology, COSBP integrates and extends core concepts from core domain ontologies in business processes. The framework specifies six key modeling dimensions of SBPs – functional, organizational, behavioral, informational, intentional and knowledge – each represented as a distinct class of ontological modules (OMs).FindingsCOSBP offers a semantically rich and precise framework for modeling SBPs, addressing complexity and ambiguity in conceptual modeling. It supports the creation of expressive and effective SBP models while enabling consensus-driven representation at a generic level. Additionally, COSBP serves as a foundation for extending modeling notations and developing tools that align with these notations. Its application in enterprise environments improves the integration, adaptability and interoperability of EISs, ultimately enhancing organizational processes and decision-making.Originality/valueThe development of the COSBP ontology holds considerable potential for application in various industries beyond its original focus on business process management and KM. The ontology’s capability to semantically model sensitive, knowledge-intensive and dynamic processes can be extended to other real-life scenarios in other complex domains and sectors – for example, finance and banking, government and public services, insurance, manufacturing and supply chain management, retail, E-commerce, logistics and transportation crisis management, government and public services, higher education and so on. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) with the COSBP ontology, we aim to enable more intelligent decision-making, process monitoring and improved management of SBPs in knowledge-driven domains.

Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture: A Technical Analysis of Precision Farming Systems

This technical article comprehensively explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence in agricultural systems, with a primary focus on precision farming methodologies and their practical implementation. It conducts an in-depth examination of the technological framework underpinning agricultural AI systems, encompassing sophisticated data acquisition infrastructure and advanced machine learning implementations. Through detailed analysis, the article investigates the critical technical components of precision farming systems, emphasizing the integration of sensor technologies spanning both aerial and ground-based platforms, alongside robust data analytics architectures. It systematically addresses the prevalent challenges in agricultural data integration and system scalability, presenting innovative solutions for these complex issues. Furthermore, the article explores emerging technological developments in the field, including cutting-edge sensing technologies and AI algorithm enhancements, offering valuable insights into future trajectories of agricultural AI applications. The comprehensive article illuminates how AI technologies are fundamentally transforming traditional farming practices through the implementation of sophisticated automated decision-making processes and enhanced resource management capabilities, ultimately contributing to more efficient and sustainable agricultural operations

Stem Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Comparison of the Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Neural Stem Cells, and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Background/Objectives: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a debilitating, incurable neurodegenerative disorder characterised by motor neuron death in the spinal cord, brainstem, and motor cortex. With an incidence rate of about 4.42 cases per 100,000 people annually, ALS severely impacts motor function and quality of life, causing progressive muscle atrophy, spasticity, paralysis, and eventually death. The cause of ALS is largely unknown, with 90% of cases being sporadic and 10% familial. Current research targets molecular mechanisms of inflammation, excitotoxicity, aggregation-prone proteins, and proteinopathy. Methods: This review evaluates the efficacy of three stem cell types in ALS treatment: mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), neural stem cells (NSCs), and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Results: MSCs, derived from various tissues, show neuroprotective and regenerative qualities, with clinical trials suggesting potential benefits but limited by small sample sizes and non-randomised designs. NSCs, isolated from the fetal spinal cord or brain, demonstrate promise in animal models but face functional integration and ethical challenges. iPSCs, created by reprogramming patient-specific somatic cells, offer a novel approach by potentially replacing or supporting neurons. iPSC therapy addresses ethical issues related to embryonic stem cells but encounters challenges regarding genotoxicity and epigenetic irregularities, somatic cell sources, privacy concerns, the need for extensive clinical trials, and high reprogramming costs. Conclusions: This research is significant for advancing ALS treatment beyond symptomatic relief and modest survival extensions to actively modifying disease progression and improving patient outcomes. Successful stem cell therapies could lead to new ALS treatments, slowing motor function loss and reducing symptom severity.

Emerging technologies in polyphenol analysis: from traditional methods to -omics approaches

Recent advancements in analytical technologies have revolutionized our ability to characterize, identify, and quantify polyphenolic compounds in complex biological matrices. This comprehensive review examines the transformative journey from traditional analytical methods to cutting-edge -omics approaches in polyphenol analysis. We critically evaluate the evolution from conventional spectrophotometric and chromatographic techniques to sophisticated high-throughput platforms integrating mass spectrometry, metabolomics, and artificial intelligence. Particular attention is given to emerging technologies such as miniaturized systems, real-time monitoring platforms, and advanced bioinformatics tools that are reshaping the landscape of polyphenol research. The review also addresses current challenges in method standardization, data integration, and validation while highlighting opportunities for future technological developments. By synthesizing recent progress in analytical methodologies, this review provides valuable insights for researchers in food science, nutrition, natural products chemistry, and related fields, emphasizing how these technological advances contribute to our understanding of polyphenol composition, bioactivity, and potential health benefits.

Integrated Administrative Law to Sustainable Development Goals (Sdg 13 & 16) for a Greener Future in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: This study investigates the integration of Saudi's administrative law with the Sustainable Development Goals. It evaluates the effectiveness of legal frameworks and policies in fostering sustainable development, with a particular focus on environmental governance. The research aims to identify the alignment of these laws with Saudi's Vision-2030. Theoretical Framework: The study is grounded in theories of administrative law reform and sustainable development. It explores the intersection of legal frameworks and environmental governance in developing economies, focusing on how integrated law systems can support ecological and socio-economic priorities. Method: A comparative analysis of Saudi administrative law was undertaken, supported by a meta-empirical review of international best practices. The research incorporates both quantitative assessments of SDG implementation metrics and qualitative analyses of legal integration challenges. Results and Discussion: The findings highlight progress in water management, with effectiveness rising from 25% to 80%. Nonetheless, regulatory fragmentation and implementation hurdles persist, limiting the alignment of administrative processes with environmental objectives. Comparative insights suggest that improved legal integration could enhance SDG efficiency by up to 30%. Recommendations include refining administrative policies to bolster Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 priorities. Research Implications: This study provides actionable recommendations for administrative legal reforms, emphasizing the need for regulatory coherence and stakeholder engagement to advance sustainable development goals. Originality/Value: This research offers the first comprehensive framework for aligning Saudi administrative law with SDGs, contributing practical insights for achieving a balance between environmental preservation and economic development. It sets a benchmark for integrating legal and environmental strategies in developing economies.

The Representational Challenge of Integration and Interoperability in Transformed Health Ecosystems

Background/Objectives: Health and social care systems around the globe are currently undergoing a transformation towards personalized, preventive, predictive, participative precision medicine (5PM), considering the individual health status, conditions, genetic and genomic dispositions, etc., in personal, social, occupational, environmental, and behavioral contexts. This transformation is strongly supported by technologies such as micro- and nanotechnologies, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, edge computing, etc. Methods: To enable communication and cooperation between actors from different domains using different methodologies, languages, and ontologies based on different education, experiences, etc., we have to understand the transformed health ecosystem and all its components in terms of structure, function and relationships in the necessary detail, ranging from elementary particles up to the universe. In this way, we advance design and management of the complex and highly dynamic ecosystem from data to knowledge level. The challenge is the consistent, correct, and formalized representation of the transformed health ecosystem from the perspectives of all domains involved, representing and managing them based on related ontologies. The resulting business viewpoint of the real-world ecosystem must be interrelated using the ISO/IEC 21838 Top Level Ontologies standard. Thereafter, the outcome can be transformed into implementable solutions using the ISO/IEC 10746 Open Distributed Processing Reference Model. Results: The model and framework for this system-oriented, architecture-centric, ontology-based, policy-driven approach have been developed by the first author and meanwhile standardized as ISO 23903 Interoperability and Integration Reference Architecture. The formal representation of any ecosystem and its development process including examples of practical deployment of the approach, are presented in detail. This includes correct systems and standards integration and interoperability solutions. A special issue newly addressed in the paper is the correct and consistent formal representation Conclusions: of all components in the development process, enabling interoperability between and integration of any existing representational artifacts such as models, work products, as well as used terminologies and ontologies. The provided solution is meanwhile mandatory at ISOTC215, CEN/TC251 and many other standards developing organization in health informatics for all projects covering more than just one domain.

Integrating Knowledge Graphs and Digital Twins for Heritage Building Conservation

This study presents a framework for integrating digital twins and knowledge graphs to enhance heritage building conservation, addressing challenges in environmental stress management, material degradation, and structural integrity while preserving historical authenticity. Using validated synthetic data, the framework enables real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and emergency response through a digital twin connected to a knowledge graph. Four scenarios were simulated to evaluate system performance: high humidity exceeding a 75% threshold triggered alerts for limestone maintenance; temperature fluctuations caused strain levels up to 0.009 units in load-bearing components at 35 °C, necessitating structural inspection; cumulative degradation monitoring projected re-plastering needs by month eight as the plaster degradation index approached 85%; and sudden impact events simulated emergency responses, with strain spikes over 0.004 units prompting real-time alerts within 2.5 s. Response times averaged 50 ms under normal conditions, peaking at 150 ms during high-frequency updates, showing robust Application Programming Interface (API) performance and data synchronization. SPARQL (SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language) queries within the knowledge graph facilitated proactive maintenance scheduling, reducing reactive interventions and supporting sustainable heritage conservation, especially suited to humid–temperate climates. This framework offers a novel, structured approach that bridges modern technology with heritage preservation needs, addressing both urgent conservation challenges and long-term sustainability to ensure the resilience of heritage buildings.

Integrity and life in emerging architecture - positioning the architect in continual digital design

Guided by questions of contemporaries, leading to the question of integrity and durability of architecture, and by conclusions from recent conferences which advance architecture through digital approaches to designing and guiding architecture towards Artificial Intelligence (AI), we need to get back to the question on how to design in the future under multi-layered complex conditions and sustainability requirements of emerging architecture. Based on this, we conclude that the topic - Integrity of Architectural Objects is yet highly relevant, and this paper represents a continuation of research/ consideration of architectural spatiality as an activity of creativity and structural durability. The sense of careful and complex structural design as an example of a continual digital approach, e.g. a multi-layered network - joint effect of design and realisation of architecture is highlighted. As digital design in architecture has proven to be elusive and occasionally uncontrollable without the meaningful participation of the architect, this paper highlights positioning of the architect as an important factor in solving integrity and durability challenges of emerging architecture. Digital approaches in architecture are constantly developed and improved, and structural integrity and durability issues are becoming increasingly complex and serious, especially in relation to geometry/space design and sustainability, so architect’s knowledge involvement is inevitable and necessary in future data-driven design processes. Positioning of the architect is based on expertise - activities and features, crucial in the process with identical characteristics, as the continuous development and improvement of knowledge, linking and anticipating all needs of the architectural process, the integrity and durability of architecture. Additionally, knowledge will be meaningfully placed and integrated by positioning of the architect in society, in a critical attitude towards new technological achievements and re-examination of integrity and life of the structure in terms of sustainability and resilience of functional and spatial features of architecture. The aim of the work is to show that knowledge as the main characteristic of the architect’s positioning in future design and realisation, is also the foundation for integrity and life in emerging architecture.

Design and SAR Analysis of an AMC-Integrated Wearable Cavity-Backed SIW Antenna.

Wearable communication technologies necessitate antenna designs that harmonize ergonomic compatibility, reliable performance, and minimal interaction with human tissues. However, high specific absorption rate (SAR) levels, limited radiation efficiency, and challenges in integration with flexible materials have significantly constrained widespread deployment. To address these limitations, this manuscript introduces a novel wearable cavity-backed substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) antenna augmented with artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) structures. The proposed architecture is meticulously engineered using diverse textile substrates, including cotton, jeans, and jute, to synergistically integrate SIW and AMC technologies, mitigating body-induced performance degradation while ensuring safety and high radiation efficiency. The proposed design demonstrates significant performance enhancements, achieving SAR reductions to 0.672 W/kg on the spine and 0.341 W/kg on the forelimb for the cotton substrate. Furthermore, the AMC-backed implementation attains ultra-low reflection coefficients, as low as -26.56 dB, alongside a gain improvement of up to 1.37 dB, culminating in a total gain of 7.09 dBi. The impedance bandwidth exceeds the ISM band specifications, spanning 150 MHz (2.3-2.45 GHz). The design maintains remarkable resilience and operational stability under varying conditions, including dynamic bending and proximity to human body models. By substantially suppressing back radiation, enhancing directional gain, and preserving impedance matching, the AMC integration optimally adapts the antenna to body-centric communication scenarios. This study uniquely investigates the dielectric and mechanical properties of textile substrates within the AMC-SIW configuration, emphasizing their practicality for wearable applications. This research sets a precedent for wearable antenna innovation, achieving an unprecedented balance of flexibility, safety, and electromagnetic performance while establishing a foundation for next-generation wearable systems.

Preserving conceptual design integrity: strategies for enhancing interoperability in architectural digital design workflows

AbstractThis research addresses the persistent challenges of data loss and inefficient workflow integration between 3D digital design tools (Rhinoceros) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) platforms (Revit) in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries. The study investigates how design integrity can be preserved during the transition between these platforms, focusing on ensuring compatibility while maintaining the original design intent. The research aims to answer the question: How can design integrity be preserved when transitioning from 3D design tools to BIM platforms while ensuring seamless interoperability? Using an inductive bottom-up approach, empirical data were collected from 35 student projects over three years at The American University in Cairo. Observations were used to classify challenges encountered in transitioning from Rhinoceros to Revit, synthesising the results into evidence-based best practices. Surveys and statistical analyses were conducted on the participants’ (students’) responses to validate the findings from the analysis and observations of their digital workflow experiences. This study fills a gap in existing literature, which often overlooks the technical integration between 3D design tools and BIM platforms during the creative design phase. The research offers practical solutions for improving workflow integration, reducing data loss, and enhancing collaborative efficiency. The findings are expected to impact both professional practice and education, offering pathways to more efficient design transitions and equipping students with skills to navigate digital design challenges in future AEC projects.

Blockchain Technology for Transparent and Efficient Trucking and Logistics Operations

The U.S. trucking and logistics industry faces persistent challenges in transparency, inefficiency, and data security, which hinder its operational potential. Blockchain technology offers a transformative solution, enabling transparent, secure, and efficient operations through features such as decentralized ledgers, smart contracts, and real-time data sharing. This paper explores the application of blockchain technology in addressing critical issues such as fraud, shipment traceability, and regulatory compliance. Real-world case studies and examples illustrate its current and potential impact. Despite barriers such as regulatory ambiguity and technical integration challenges, blockchain presents a promising pathway toward optimizing trucking operations, reducing costs, and fostering trust among stakeholders. Keywords: Blockchain, trucking industry, logistics, transparency, efficiency, smart contracts, data security, supply chain, decentralized ledger, U.S. logistics, freight management, digital transformation.

Solid Oxide Electrolysis, Co-Electrolysis, and Methanation Fundamentals of Performance and History

This manuscript discusses the advancements and historical development of solid oxide electrolysis (SOE), co-electrolysis, and methanation technologies, addressing the performance fundamentals and system integration challenges in the context of the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goals. SOE technologies, characterized by their high efficiencies and ability to operate at elevated temperatures, offer significant advantages in hydrogen production and power generation. Co-electrolysis of steam and carbon dioxide in SOEs provides a promising pathway for syngas production, leveraging carbon capture and utilization strategies to mitigate carbon emissions. Additionally, catalytic methanation processes described within facilitate the synthesis of methane from carbon oxides and hydrogen, which could be integral to renewable energy storage and grid-balancing solutions. Historical analysis provides insights into the evolution of these technologies from early experiments to modern applications, including their role in space programmes and potential for industrial scale-up. The current state of research and commercialization, highlighted through various system designs and operational enhancements, suggests that SOEs are crucial for sustainable energy transformations, underscoring the necessity for continued innovation and deployment in relevant sectors.