Process Methodology Research Articles

DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A LOW-COST PEDIATRIC VIDEOLARYNGOSCOPE

AbstractEndotracheal intubation is performed to provide ventilatory support to a patient of any age. Every medical procedure that requires general anesthesia requires intubation, and for this reason, it is a life-saving procedure. This maneuver is a challenge in pediatric patients between 0 months and 12 years of age, since their anatomy and oxygen consumption differ compared to an adult.In patients with difficult airways, where there is no good visibility of the structures, a videolaryngoscope is used. It has higher success rates compared to a conventional laryngoscope. Its use has become widespread since the COVID-19 pandemic, as it reduces exposure to respiratory secretions.This article presents the design, manufacture and testing of a low-cost pediatric videolaryngoscope, for patients between 6 and 12 months, and which are intended to respond to the low availability of this type of equipment in Colombian health care centers. The BioDesign Innovation Process methodology was adapted for its creation. The prototypes were manufactured using 3D printing. Validation was performed by 28 experts using simulators and the results were promising, obtaining a success rate of 98.8% for the designed device.

STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF BUSINESS RISKS ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENTERPRISE

The article is devoted to the study of existing and development of new approaches to the study of the impact of entrepreneurial risks on the sustainable development of an industrial enterprise. It has been proven that the problems of sustainable development not only create real conditions for the emergence of entrepreneurial risks, but they also open up new opportunities for enterprises. A methodological toolkit was created for self-assessment of the level of maturity of the concept of sustainable development developed and implemented at the enterprise, using the provisions of effective monitoring of the level of entrepreneurial risk in five directions, which include management, environment, labor relations, social relations and business environment. It is substantiated that sustainable development is a prediction of possible future challenges of society, that is why knowledge about it should be brought to a wide audience, because action is possible when societies have the right knowledge. The results of a sociological survey of stakeholders of industrial and energy enterprises regarding their relationship to the concept of sustainable development and their contribution to the development of this direction are outlined. It has been determined that organizations of all types and sizes face both internal and external factors and influences that create uncertainty about when and how they will achieve their goals. The impact of this uncertainty on the organization's goals is called "risk," as stated in the relevant documents. The methodology of the continuous process of managing business risks at an industrial enterprise is proposed, its structure and relationships between its individual components are developed and substantiated. It has been proven that the system of business risk management with indicators acts as an important tool for obtaining the necessary commercial information necessary for the effective functioning of the organizational and economic mechanism of business structures.

Morphology and functional properties of gelatin‐based films modified by UV radiation and bacterial cellulose nanofibers

AbstractIn the present study, the properties of biodegradable gelatin‐based films were modified by UV treatment and the incorporation of 1% (w/w) of bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers. UVC light was applied at different exposure times (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 h) into the film‐forming solutions. In order to evaluate the synergistic effects of these two treatments, the optimal UV condition was also applied to BC‐reinforced solutions. Films were characterized by their physicochemical, mechanical, barrier, optical, thermal, and morphological properties. Results showed that the UV treatment applied for 2 h significantly reduced the water solubility (WS) but did not affect the water vapor permeability (WVP). On the other hand, the incorporation of BC reduced WS and WVP values by 15% and 43%, respectively. Regarding mechanical properties, both treatments significantly reduced film elongation at break. However, the tensile strength (TS) and Young's modulus (YM) were only affected by UV treatment. For the film exposed to the longest treatment time, TS increased from 1.56 MPa (control) to 2.85 MPa, and YM increased from 4.36 MPa (control) to 9.23 MPa. Overall, SEM results showed that all samples had a uniform surface and a cohesive matrix. However, BC‐reinforced films showed some additional clusters, which significantly increased opacity values. Regardless of their composition, all gelatin‐based films lost their integrity after a 12‐day soil burial experiment. Film thickness, moisture content, and color parameters were not affected by any treatment. Furthermore, no synergistic effects were detected.Practical applicationsBiopolymer films and coatings are promising systems to ensure shelf life, quality, and food safety, representing a sustainable alternative to replace traditional petroleum‐based materials. Although these films have advantages, mainly due to their biodegradability, their properties are not competitive at an industrial level and need to be improved. Therefore, several studies have investigated the application of physical treatments and new process methodologies to overcome these limitations. The present study evaluated the potential use of UV radiation and bacterial cellulose nanofibers in the development of gelatin‐based films. Overall, the results showed that these methods are capable of modifying the properties and structure of films, thus offering an alternative to conventional methods of film production. Mastering the use of advanced technologies for film development could be the key to tailoring biopolymer films and coatings for specific industrial applications.

Design of a protocol model for the integration of social value in strategic management through social accounting

PurposeThis study aims to structure a model for integrating social value into strategic management based on identifying the critical success factors (CSF) for such integration in the investigated companies.Design/methodology/approachThis research was based on the actor–network theory. Through a rigorous approach to the case study methodology in a two-stage process lasting 21 months, we carried out this study.FindingsCompanies that use the polyhedral social accounting model in their strategic management processes do so without a reference model. We identified CSF for integrating social value, which was incorporated into a protocol model based on stakeholder theory and the use of social accounting.Practical implicationsPractitioners can use the proposed model to maintain the alignment of strategic performance and purpose. Using social accounting based on indicators and financial proxies allows managers to incorporate social value into strategic management in terms of financial value.Social implicationsThe institutional demand for social information is based on the growing sensitivity of companies. Aligning social values with business strategies contributes to social sustainability.Originality/valueThis study focuses on an unresearched emerging phenomenon. Since the first approach to stakeholder theory, the development of a stakeholder-oriented strategy has faced the lack of a stakeholder accounting system. The polyhedral model of social accounting could help overcome this problem as it provides information that allows a novel and innovative method to make a stakeholder-oriented strategy effective.

Evaluating and prioritizing the carbon credit financing risks and strategies for sustainable carbon markets in China

Carbon markets are crucial to attaining sustainable development objectives given the pressing need to cut greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. China is a key player in the fight against climate change since the country emits the most greenhouse emissions globally. In light of China's carbon markets, this study evaluates the risks and mitigation strategies related to financing carbon credit projects. Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Fuzzy Viekriterijumsko Kompromisno Rangiranj (FVIKOR) methodologies are used to assess carbon finacing risks and strategies for the growth of China's carbon market. The FAHP method evaluated carbon credit financing risks and sub-risks, while the FVIKOR method prioritized mitigation strategies. The findings of the FAHP method show that regulatory and policy risks, financial risks, and operational risks are the major risks in the Chinese carbon markets. To mitigate these risks, prioritizing strategies based on FVIKOR suggests that developing stakeholder relationships, financial stability, and transparency would be a practical approach to achieving efficient, productive, and sustainable carbon markets in China. The study provides practical policy implications for stakeholders involved in carbon credit financing and contributes to global climate change efforts by offering insights into carbon credit market risks and opportunities.

Dynamic post-earthquake updating of regional damage estimates using Gaussian Processes

The widespread earthquake damage to the built environment induces severe short- and long-term societal consequences. Better community resilience may be achieved through well-organized recovery. Decisions to organize the recovery process are taken under intense time pressure using limited, and potentially inaccurate, data on the severity and the spatial distribution of building damage. We propose to use Gaussian Process inference models to fuse the available inspection data with a pre-existing earthquake risk model to dynamically update regional post-earthquake damage estimates and thereby support a well-organized recovery. The proposed method consistently aggregates the gradually incoming building damage inspection data to reduce the uncertainty in ground shaking intensity geographic distribution and to update regional building damage estimates. The performance of the proposed Gaussian Process methodology is demonstrated on one fictitious earthquake scenario and two real earthquake damage datasets. A comparison with purely data-driven methods shows that the proposed method reduces the number of building inspections required to provide reliable and precise damage predictions.

Analysis of road network system development plans and strategies in West Papua

Manokwari Regency's development of a road network system is crucial to accelerating the improvement of the status of national roads, which are currently disrupting the convenience of road use and the surrounding community due to the degree of saturation being in category F, which includes limited traffic flow, low speed, volume below capacity, and a lack of safety features. Strategy III of West Papua Province's constructed road network system adaptations to local contexts and national hospitality strategies is selected using the Equal Important, Expert Judgment, and Analytical Hierarchy Process methodologies. Next, conduct a SWOT analysis, leading you to an IFE of 3.0 and an EFE of 2.86. To take advantage of chances and lessen the impact of threats, it is necessary first to identify the strategies of aggressive SO. Specifically, 64 SO techniques were identified by having managers and city planners mix 8 strength elements with 8 opportunity components. Unfortunately, few of these chimerical strategies performed well. West Papua's managers and city planners identified six feasible SO solutions to improve the city's transportation system.

Multivariate decisions: Modelling waste-based charcoal briquette formulation process

The current study sets out to optimize resource utilization by coupling data envelopment analysis (DEA) with the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methodology to model sustainable binder choice without experimenting available binders. The results of the AHP showed that the cardboard pulp binder was the preferred material to use. Cardboard pulp binder, palm kernel decanter cake, and charred palm kernel shells in a ratio of 10: 20:70 was the used to manufacture composite briquettes. The values obtained for calorific value, specific fuel consumption, and average burning rate were 22.72 MJ/kg, 2.21 kg/L, and 4.87 g/min respectively for the optimal choice. The briquettes produced in this study promotes circular economy and provides a novel framework to address cooking energy poverty issues through the manufacturing of waste-based biofuels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in sub-Saharan Africa to use these waste resources to create composite briquettes.

Augmented futures? Scenarios and implications of augmented reality use in public spaces

Expectations regarding augmented realities (AR) produce a range of anticipatory imaginations, ranging from hyperbolic visions to fears of entangled risks, negative effects and dystopian futures. On the one hand, assessing visions of emerging technologies brings to the fore the political economy of research and development of such technologies. On the other, developing plausible scenarios seeks to stimulate active socio-political negotiations regarding which futures are desirable (or not) and should (not) be pursued. AR technology may become a highly influential shaper of public spaces, and therefore the futures of humanistic and democratic societies. We introduce the methodology and results of an iterative survey-based scenario-building process, collecting highly interdisciplinary perspectives on augmented reality use in public spaces within the next decade. We outline four ‘extreme ends’ of plausible futures: ‘autocratic augmented reality’, ‘big-tech monopoly’, ‘DIY proliferation’ and ‘participatory public space’, concluding with a discussion of what effects these scenarios would have on societies, and a critical reflection on the scenario-building process and its limits.

Analyzing and Prioritizing the Barriers and Solutions of Sustainable Agriculture for Promoting Sustainable Development Goals in China

Sustainable agriculture is crucial to the United Nations’ efforts to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, to develop successful policies and strategies, it is necessary to assess the many obstacles to implementing sustainable agriculture. This study uses Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques to analyze the challenges and opportunities facing sustainable agriculture in China’s economy, particularly in advancing the SDGs. Three enormous obstacles are found in the study, along with fifteen smaller ones that are broken down into economic, social, and environmental categories. The weights of the obstacles and sub-barriers are determined, and the solutions for sustainable agriculture are ranked using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) methodologies. According to the AHP approach, economic issues are China’s most significant obstacles to sustainable agriculture, followed by environmental and social concerns. Climate change and a lack of financial incentives are the two highest-ranked sub-barriers. On the other hand, the SAW approach suggests that the best ways to achieve the SDGs through sustainable agriculture are through international cooperation, financial investments in sustainable agriculture, and alternative agricultural methods. In order to advance sustainable agriculture and the SDGs in China, the report advises policymakers to focus on strengthening institutional support, increasing public awareness, and making technological investments.

Fostering a Sustainable Energy Future to Combat Climate Change: EESG Impacts of Green Economy Transitions

The transition to a green economy for any country is crucial for the sustainability development of the economy, environment, society, and governance (EESG). A green economy is a sustainable approach to combating climate change and promoting sustainable development through the adoption of sustainable energy. This research utilizes the Delphi and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methodologies to assess and rank the EESG criteria and policy options for transitions to a green economy. The factors and policy choices are identified using the Delphi approach for further analysis. These factors and policy alternatives for switching to a green economy for sustainable development are determined using the fuzzy AHP technique. According to the fuzzy AHP approach, environmental, social, and economic factors are best suited for green economy transitions. The findings also show that the most crucial policy options for the switch to a green economy are research and development, carbon pricing, and renewable energy targets. The findings are useful to guide the creation of policies and the selection of options for the implementation of a green economy. Finally, the conclusion can guide actions to combat climate change and develop a sustainable energy future.

An Adaptive Algorithm and Additively Manufactured Punch Used to Form Aluminum Sheet Metal Parts.

Self-adaptive mechanisms are gaining momentum in industrial processes. It is understandable that as the complexity increases, the human work must be augmented. Considering this, the authors have developed one such solution for the punch-forming process, using additive manufacturing, i.e., a 3D-printed punch, to draw into shape 6061-T6 aluminum sheets. This paper aims to highlight the topological study used to optimize the punch form shape, the methodology of the 3D printing process, and the material used. For the adaptive algorithm, a complex Python-to-C++ bridge was created. It was necessary as the script has computer vision (used for calculating stroke and speed), punch force, and hydraulic pressure measurement capabilities. The algorithm uses the input data to control its subsequent actions. Two approaches are used in this experimental paper, a pre-programmed direction and an adaptive one, for comparison purposes. The results, namely the drawing radius and flange angle, were statistically analyzed using the ANOVA methodology for significance. The results indicate significant improvements when using the adaptive algorithm.

Evaluating the COVID-19 impact in Italian regions via multi criteria analysis.

Italy was the first European country to be significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of similar previous experiences and the initial uncertainty regarding the new virus resulted in an unpredictable health crisis with 243,506 total confirmed cases and 34,997 deaths between February and July 2020. Despite the panorama of precariousness and the impelling calamity, the country successfully managed many aspects of the early stages of the health and socio-economic crisis. Nevertheless, many disparities can be identified at the regional level. The study aims to determine which aspects of regional management were considered more important by the citizens regarding economic and health criteria. A survey was designed to gather responses from the population on the Italian regions' response and provide a ranking of the regions. The 29-item online survey was provided to 352 individuals, and the collected data were analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process methodology. The results show a general agreement in considering of greater relevance the healthcare policies rather than the economic countermeasures adopted by regional governments. Our analysis associated a weight of 64% to the healthcare criteria compared to the economic criteria with a weight of 36%. In addition to the results obtained from the Analytic Hierarchy Process, the sample's composition was analyzed to provide an overall assessment of the Italian regions. To do so, we collected objective data for each region and multiplied them by the overall weight obtained for each sub-criteria. Looking at the propensity to vaccination or the belief in a relation between COVID-19 and 5G according to age and educational qualification helps understand how public opinion is structured according to cultural and anthropological differences.

Creative Economy and Sustainable Regional Growth: Lessons from the Implementation of Entrepreneurial Discovery Process at the Regional Level

The creative economy sector is tightly associated with sustainable development and Sustainable Economic Goals (SDGs). The creative industries contribute to sustainability in a variety of ways. They are essential in accelerating sustainable consumption and production patterns and promoting regional sustainable development. This paper attempts to stress the role of the creative economy in promoting sustainable regional growth by focusing on smart specialization priority areas in the region of Attica. The latter has been accomplished by presenting the current regional policy model and the entrepreneurial discovery process (EDP) methodology in the region of Attica. This paper concludes that the EDP paves the way for the formulation of policy lessons enhancing the link between the creative economy and sustainable regional growth. In a nutshell, three major conclusions derived from the present paper include the following aspects: (i) the formulation of an integrated smart specialisation strategy requires an ongoing and well-structured process along the policy cycle (structured life-cycle approach); (ii) the deployment of a robust innovation ecosystem requires a comprehensive approach of engaging and mobilising regional actors and identifying their needs and priorities; (iii) the lessons observed through the exploration of the case study lead to concrete findings regarding the critical importance of long-term interactive institutional learning and policy co-design as a precondition for an effective regional ecosystem.

Electroconvulsive Therapy in the New National Guideline Depression: Effectiveness, Evidence, and Grade of Recommendation

In comparison to the previous version, the new national guideline 'Unipolar Depression' comprises more differentiated statements and recommendations regarding the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In principle, this is most welcome, as it clarifies the particular significance of ECT in different clinical situations. In parallel, this differentiation of recommendations depending on the presence of specific features of depressive disorders (e. g., psychotic symptoms, suicidality) led to different grades of recommendations for ECT. This may be correct and rational under the strict methodology of a guideline process, but nevertheless may appear confusing and contradictory in clinical practice. This article describes the relationships and putative discrepancies between the effectiveness of ECT, scientific evidence, and grading of guideline recommendations with comments on these for clinical practice from experts' point of view.

USE OF GAMES IN RUSSIAN LANGUAGE LESSONS

In this article reveals new directions of Russian language teaching methodology in the educational process. Various pedagogical methods and forms that develop students' Russian language skills are discussed.

Features of educational discourse in the system of institutional discourses

The purpose of the study is to determine the place of educational discourse in the system of institutional discourses and to actualize modern approaches and methods of educational discourse. Unlike some other types of discourse, educational discourse is subject to changes under the influence of extralinguistic factors, including the development of scientific thought and technological progress, achievements of psychology and sociology, transformation of the methodology of the educational process, and others. The article presents the main characteristics of the educational discourse, describes the participants of the discourse and their status roles, postulates the importance of the educational text as a center of communication in educational discourse, and identifies new formats of information transmission in the structure of educational discourse. The variability of the content side of the educational discourse requires the attention of linguistic researchers at each time stage, this determines the scientific novelty of the work. As a result, certain conclusions have been formulated, including that the educational text has such features as factual, conciseness, brevity and others. The texts of educational discourse exist at the levels of teacher—student, teacher—teacher and student—student relations. They are associated with various communication situations within the framework of education. Educational discourse is always purposeful, includes methods of information transmission, is based on an educational text, has a number of precedent texts of certain genres in its structure. The opinion of some linguists on the prospects for the development of this area of scientific thought is given/

Integrated model for the assessment of power generation alternatives through analytic hierarchy process and a fuzzy inference system. Case study of Spain

The main objective of this research was to create a robust hierarchical model to evaluate the power generation technologies in the energy mix of any country, with particular emphasis on its use in the case study of Spain. An exhaustive literature review allowed to identify a balanced number of the most relevant criteria that the model should consider to evaluate the seven alternatives that cover most of the Spanish energy demand. Through expert knowledge, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology allowed to obtain the local and global weights of the criteria used in the model. Using these weights and the assessments of alternatives for each criterion, their ranking was determined through both AHP and a novel fuzzy inference system (FIS), whose inference rules were automatically constructed based on the weights of the criteria and a distance minimization method. The design of this FIS constitutes the main contribution of the work, firstly, because it avoids a second round of experts consultations and, secondly, because it systematically conceptualises the knowledge base that allows to infer the individual evaluation of any alternative, without the risk of rank reversal that may occur if using only AHP. The results of the case study of Spain showed that environmental was the most important criterion. In terms of the comparative AHP merit order, Photovoltaic (PV) was ranked first and Coal last. In addition, the individual assessment of the technologies through FIS yielded results consistent with the previous AHP ranking. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed, which showed good stability in the results obtained.

3D-Printed Gastroretentive Tablets Loaded with Niclosamide Nanocrystals by the Melting Solidification Printing Process (MESO-PP).

Niclosamide (NICLO) is a recognized antiparasitic drug being repositioned for Helicobacter pylori. The present work aimed to formulate NICLO nanocrystals (NICLO-NCRs) to produce a higher dissolution rate of the active ingredient and to incorporate these nanosystems into a floating solid dosage form to release them into the stomach slowly. For this purpose, NICLO-NCRs were produced by wet-milling and included in a floating Gelucire l3D printed tablet by semi-solid extrusion, applying the Melting solidification printing process (MESO-PP) methodology. The results obtained in TGA, DSC, XRD and FT-IR analysis showed no physicochemical interactions or modifications in the crystallinity of NICLO-NCR after inclusion in Gelucire 50/13 ink. This method allowed the incorporation of NICLO-NCRs in a concentration of up to 25% w/w. It achieved a controlled release of NCRs in a simulated gastric medium. Moreover, the presence of NICLO-NCRs after redispersion of the printlets was observed by STEM. Additionally, no effects on the cell viability of the NCRs were demonstrated in the GES-1 cell line. Finally, gastroretention was demonstrated for 180 min in dogs. These findings show the potential of the MESO-PP technique in obtaining slow-release gastro-retentive oral solid dosage forms loaded with nanocrystals of a poorly soluble drug, an ideal system for treating gastric pathologies such as H. pylori.

Exploring the Determinants of Digital Transformation Adoption for SMEs in an Emerging Economy

In the fourth industrial revolution age, digital transformation is crucial to the sustainable development of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). This study suggests a hierarchical model based on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) model with three main dimensions and nine sub-dimensions for SMEs that implemented digital transformation in the emerging economy. The fuzzy analytic hierarchical process methodology (Fuzzy AHP) was used to explore and rank determinants of the digital transformation adoption for SMEs. Data were collected by the questionnaires from 72 respondents, who were the leaders of SMEs in Vietnam. The results revealed that the environmental factor was ranked the most important factor in the pairwise comparisons of the hierarchical structure, and the sub-dimension of the customer experience was at the highest ranking of the relative pairwise comparisons of the digital transformation adoption for SMEs, followed by technological compatibility, government support, organizational support, and human resources. This research makes contributions to the topic of digital transformation from both theoretical and practical implications. The result stresses the critical significance of environmental factors in the successful adoption of digital technologies in SMEs, which adds to the perspective in the context of a growing nation.