Regional Dimension Research Articles

Student Youth in the Space of Historical Practices and Narratives (Regional Dimension)

Introduction. The importance of exploring the specificity of shaping the historical memory among young people is due to the fact that it is this age that is crucial in the formation of worldview attitudes and civic identity. In modern geopolitical conditions, when the falsification of historical events of Russia's past takes place, the analysis of the factors of studentsʼ involvement in the space of historical practices and narratives that influence the formation of their historical memory is especially important. The aim of the article is to measure the level of students' involvement in the space of historical practices and narratives on the basis of quantitative and qualitative sociological research data; to identify the factors influencing the historical memory of student youth in the Republic of Mordovia. Materials and Methods. The empirical basis of the study constituted the findings derived from 20 semi-structured interviews with young people between 18 and 25 years old, as well as the results of an online survey held among university and secondary educational institutions learners in the Republic of Mordovia (n = 700). Multistage composite sampling. Results. Based on cluster analysis, three groups of student youth were identified according to the level of involvement in the space of historical practices and narratives. The relationship between belonging to a specific cluster and socio-demographic factors is presented: gender, level of education and place of residence turned out to be significant. Among the factors influencing the level of involvement in historical practices and narratives are cognitive interest in history, family memories, and active use of media. It has been established that the significance of these factors in shaping the historical memory of young people may vary. The most significant factors are historical education (at secondary school, vocational education institution, university), the role of teacher as a mediator of historical knowledge, as well as the continuity and depth of family memory. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the study determine the factors of student youth involvement in the space of historical practices and narratives and supplement the sociological understanding of the processes of constructing the historical memory. The materials of the article may be of interest to specialists engaged in patriotic education, historical education of youth, practitioners involved in the development of youth policy.

Macroeconomic Impacts of Immigration in the Canadian Atlantic Region: An Empirical Analysis Using the FOCUS Model

We simulate the impact of an increase in immigration into the Atlantic Provinces based on the FOCUS macro-econometric model at the University of Toronto. That national model was adapted to reflect the regional dimensions of the Atlantic Provinces. We find robust evidence of positive outcomes for the Atlantic region so long as it is part of a broader increase in immigration for the country as a whole. The positive outcome encompasses higher GDP and GDP per capita, higher consumption, and improved government fiscal balances at both the federal and provincial levels that could in turn be used for tax reductions or the enhancement of government services. These benefits could be enhanced further by carefully targeting new immigrants for needed skills and for their likelihood of remaining in the Atlantic region.

“Why Here?”—Pull Factors for the Attraction of Non-EU Immigrants to Rural Areas and Smaller Cities

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the crucial role of the regional dimension for economic, social, and environmental development. Sustainable development may be linked to migration management to strategically disperse international migrants to regions in need of ameliorating rural challenges. This paper explores the features affecting international migrants’ intentions to move to rural areas, such as Alentejo, Portugal, based on a set of micro-, mezzo-, and macro-sociological migration theories to support policymakers. This paper addresses the following research question: what motivates immigrants’ decisions to move to rural regions, such as Alentejo, Portugal? Practitioners (n = 8) and migrants (n = 15) were interviewed, and then a thematic analysis supported by MaxQDA 2022 was conducted. The results suggest that there is a set of motives for international migrants to move to rural areas and smaller cities based on multilevel factors, both economic and non-economic, such as the following: employment availability and promises of work; lower living costs compared to bigger cities; quality of life; local services support; and echoes of the country of origin. Migrants’ networks and seeking greater opportunities were consistent motives. The pull to rural areas, however, is a side effect of the attraction of Portugal and Europe as destinations. The conclusions highlight implications for policy and practice on migration and local development.

A Deep Learning Based on Automatic Cerebral Aneurysm Detection in Brain Computed Tomography Angiography Scan Images

Cerebral aneurysms are an important disease that threatens human life. Rupture of these aneurysms causes hemorrhages in the cerebral arteries. Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is widely used in the clinical diagnosis of cerebral aneurysms. Interpretation errors by radiologists in examining these Computed Tomography (CT) images are vital for patients. Based on this importance, deep learning-based studies aim to help keep these errors to a minimum. For this purpose, CTA images were used to detect cerebral aneurysms in this study. For CTA image analysis, deep learning methodology was preferred through Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The validation accuracy of the training obtained as a result of deep learningg has a high rate of validation with 99.54% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, 98.89% specificity and 100% precision. As a training dataset, it yielded 127 true positives and 1 false positive for patient images with aneurysm, 89 true negatives and 0 false negative for images of patients with non-aneurysms. In this trained network, results were obtained with a high accuracy of 86.6% on 75 CTA images for external test. Regional dimension analysis was also performed for an image with an aneurysm detected in the test process.

Digital disruption and market structure: the case of internet banking

Abstract We provide an econometric study of the adoption of internet banking, a case of a potentially disruptive digital technology which could devalue/replace an incumbent legacy. Our aim is to better understand the extent to which it disrupted the market structure where incumbents start with a strong customer base. We study both regional integration and national concentration dimensions of market structure in EU member states during the period of 1997–2018. We find that internet banking was initially introduced earlier in more concentrated markets. Although consumer uptake was slower over time than in less concentrated markets, the initial higher consumer penetration in more concentrated markets was sustained until market maturity. We further find a substantial de-concentrating effect of internet banking, and evidence of integration in previously regionalized markets following uptake.

BLENDING DOMINANCE, REGIONALISM AND COALITIONS: A NEW READING OF INDIA’S FOURTH PARTY SYSTEM

Since 2014, India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won more elections at the national and state levels than it has lost, returning with an even larger majority in the 2019 General Election. However, the question of whether there has been any break from the past in the nature of the Indian party system remains open. What is the nature of the BJP’s dominance in this period? What is the status of the opposition and the vitality of regional players in this new era? Have coalitions really been relegated to the past? This article investigates the current trends of the party system and compares them with tendencies exhibited historically. It applies mixed methods, largely quantitative analysis of secondary data based on ECI and Lokniti – CSDS election surveys. It argues that what has been called India’s “Fourth Party System” is not completely separate from the trends of the three preceding epochs but rather blends them in unique ways. A re-examination of the election results would reveal how dominance, regionalism and coalitions coexist in an enigmatic symbiosis offering a new reading of the structure of India’s current party system. The 2024 General Elections which witnessed a humbling but historic third consecutive BJP victory albeit reliant on coalition partners only reinforce how the three dimensions of dominance, regionalism and coalitions constantly play out in shaping the character of India’s Party System where changes seem more of a degree rather than of kind.

Nonlinear effects of dual-frequency focused ultrasound on the on-demand regulation of acoustic droplet vaporization

Dual-frequency ultrasound has been widely employed to enhance and regulate acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) but the role of ultrasonic nonlinear effects on it remains unclear. The main objective of this study is to investigate the influence of nonlinear effects on the control of ADV nucleation under different dual-frequency focused ultrasound conditions. ADV nucleation of PFC nanodroplets activated by nonlinear dual-frequency ultrasound was modeled and parametric studies were conducted to investigate the influence of dual-frequency ultrasound frequency and acoustic power on the degree of nonlinearity (DoN), nucleation rates and dimensions of the nucleation region in a wide parameter range. The results showed that the ultrasonic nonlinearity caused a significant decrease in peak negative pressure due to waveform distortion, which leads to a lower nucleation rate in the nonlinear model compared to that in the linear model. Furthermore, the distributions of nucleation regions were also affected by the interaction between waves of different frequencies and cloud-like spatial distributions were produced, which could be modulated by the dual-frequency ultrasound parameters and have great potentials in the spatial regulation of the ADV and customized treatment protocols in clinical applications. In addition, represented by 1.5 MHz + 3 MHz, such a dual-frequency combination of fundamental and second harmonic could effectively enhance ultrasonic nonlinear effects with relatively lower peak negative pressure and higher DoN. Therefore, nonlinear effect of the dual-frequency ultrasound plays an important role in the ADV regulation, which should be considered in the numerical model and practical applications.

A Three-Dimensionally Extended Metal-Organic Ladder Compound Exhibiting Proton Conduction.

Ladder systems situated in the dimensional crossover region have attracted much attention because their electronic states and physical properties depend strongly on the electronic correlations among the constituent legs. Generally, two-/three-legged transition metal-oxide ladder compounds are studied as representative ladder systems, but two-/three-dimensional (2D/3D) extensions based on such ladder systems with a few numbers of legs are difficult because of the extreme synthesis conditions. Here, for the first time, we report the successful creation of a 3D extended two-legged ladder compound, [Pt(en)(dpye)I]2(NO3)4 ⋅ 2H2O (en=ethylenediamine; dpye=1,2-Di(4-pyridyl)ethane), which is obtained by simple oxidative polymerization of a small Pt macrocyclic complex using elemental I2. The unique 3D extended lattice consists of 1D mixed-valence halogen-bridged metal chains (⋅⋅⋅Pt-I-Pt-I⋅⋅⋅) and helically arranged macrocyclic units as the constituent legs and rungs, as confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Diffuse X-ray scattering analyses and optical measurements revealed that the out-of-phase mixed-valence Pt2+/Pt4+ arrangement arises from the weak interchain correlation among adjacent legs. In addition, this compound shows an increase in proton conductivity by a factor of up to 1000, depending on humidity.

A Three‐Dimensionally Extended Metal–Organic Ladder Compound Exhibiting Proton Conduction

AbstractLadder systems situated in the dimensional crossover region have attracted much attention because their electronic states and physical properties depend strongly on the electronic correlations among the constituent legs. Generally, two‐/three‐legged transition metal‐oxide ladder compounds are studied as representative ladder systems, but two‐/three‐dimensional (2D/3D) extensions based on such ladder systems with a few numbers of legs are difficult because of the extreme synthesis conditions. Here, for the first time, we report the successful creation of a 3D extended two‐legged ladder compound, [Pt(en)(dpye)I]2(NO3)4 ⋅ 2H2O (en=ethylenediamine; dpye=1,2‐Di(4‐pyridyl)ethane), which is obtained by simple oxidative polymerization of a small Pt macrocyclic complex using elemental I2. The unique 3D extended lattice consists of 1D mixed‐valence halogen‐bridged metal chains (⋅⋅⋅Pt−I−Pt−I⋅⋅⋅) and helically arranged macrocyclic units as the constituent legs and rungs, as confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Diffuse X‐ray scattering analyses and optical measurements revealed that the out‐of‐phase mixed‐valence Pt2+/Pt4+ arrangement arises from the weak interchain correlation among adjacent legs. In addition, this compound shows an increase in proton conductivity by a factor of up to 1000, depending on humidity.

Регионы России в конце 2023 г.: удалось ли преодолеть кризисный спад?

Sectors of the Russian economy had different trajectories during the crisis and at the stage of recovery from it, especially in the regional dimension, the dynamics were influenced by different factors. The specialization of industry led to the accelerated growth of the military-industrial complex regions, a strong decline in the automotive industry regions or negative dynamics in regions with a high share of export products; a quarter of the regions did not overcome the decline. Fiscal impulse played an important role in construction and investment, growth accelerated compared to 2022, Far East regions with big infrastructure projects are leading. Institutional factors influenced housing construction dynamics the most, housing construction in the two largest agglomerations began to decline. The decline in retail trade has not been overcome throughout the country, especially in the agglomerations of federal cities. In public catering, growth was faster in the largest agglomerations, in regions with cities with a population of over a million and near SVO zone. The dynamics of recovery are not synchronous either by economic sector or by geographic projection. The unemployment rate in manufacturing regions is ultra-low. The dynamics of wages is influenced by the factor of economic specialization; in 2023, it grew faster in regions with a significant share of military-industrial complex sectors. Over the two-year period, household incomes did not recover in most regions of the North-West, where the main industries were hit harder by the sanctions. The state of the consolidated budgets of the regions is quite stable, but in social sectors expenditures grew more slowly.

Regional history and political history: possible interfaces between two approaches

This work addresses the transformation in the approach to History that occurred in 1929 with the creation of the Revista dos Annales, led by Marc Bloch and Lucien Febvre. This paradigmatic shift broke with the tradition of focusing only on major historical events and figures, adopting a broader, interdisciplinary approach that incorporated anthropology, sociology, and geography into historical analysis. Political history, which had been disregarded by the Annales, underwent a revival in the 1970s, reintroducing it as an important field of study. It also highlights the importance of considering the regional dimension in the analysis of political history, recognizing that the politician creates his own spatiality and that regional politics plays a significant role in the formation of identities and specific political practices. The regional approach enriches our understanding of politics by connecting the particular to the universal, allowing for a more complete and interdisciplinary analysis of historical phenomena. In summary, the text emphasizes the importance of considering the interconnection between regional history and political history for a deeper understanding of society over time.

The effectiveness of legal framework of Arctic vessel-source black carbon governance.

The Arctic is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, of which vessel-source black carbon aerosols serving as a prominent catalyst for these changes. This situation is poised to worsen as sea ice melts and shipping lanes change. Rapid action aimed at mitigating short-term climate forcing factors can yield almost immediate climate benefits in the Arctic. This article provides an overview of the legal framework governing black carbon in the Arctic, considering three distinct perspectives: the global, regional, and national dimensions. These perspectives encompass global forums represented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC), with a focus on recent developments concerning black carbon governance, notably the amendments to MARPOL Annex VI and Annex I. Regionally, forums represented by the Arctic Council and the European Union are examined. Black carbon emissions exhibit migratory characteristics, yet the primary legal responsibilities for emission reduction are concentrated within Arctic states. Therefore, this article also delves into the laws and practices of Arctic coastal states in their efforts to combat black carbon emissions, using Canada and Norway as examples. The analysis of institutional effectiveness in this article indicates that, at present, specialized legislation on black carbon is either vague or non-existent. The current Arctic ship-source black carbon governance system faces issues related to leadership ambiguity in its institutional structure, a limited scope of responsible entities, and a lack of diverse implementation measures. Simultaneously, the governance system is questioned for having weak or non-legally binding regulations at the level of legal enforcement. The article anticipates the introduction of more mandatory regulations while also encouraging the selection of non-coercive policy tools. Accordingly, this article argues that a coordinated governance system centered on IMO and the Arctic Council needs to be established. Such a framework should adopt a more inclusive approach to stimulate positive interactions between regulations, aiming to create a broader winning alliance based on the existing foundations.

Development of an Artificial Soft Solid Gel Using Gelatin Material for High-Quality Ultrasound Diagnosis

For ultrasound diagnosis, a gel is applied to the skin. Ultrasound gel serves to block air exposure and match impedance between the skin and the probe, enhancing imaging efficiency. However, if use of the ultrasound gel exceeds a certain period of time, it may dry out and be exposed to air, causing impedance mismatch and reducing imaging resolution. In such cases, the use of a soft, solid gel proves advantageous, as it can be employed for an extended period without succumbing to the drying phenomenon and can be reused after disinfection. Its soft consistency ensures excellent skin adhesion. Our soft solid gel demonstrated approximately 1.2 times better performance than water, silicone, and traditional ultrasound gels. When comparing the dimensions of grayscale, dead zone, vertical, and horizontal regions, the measurements for the traditional ultrasound gel were 93.79 mm, 45.32 mm, 103.13 mm, 83.86 mm, and 83.86 mm, respectively. In contrast, the proposed soft solid gel exhibited dimensions of 105.64 mm, 34.48 mm, 141.1 mm, and 102.8 mm.

Real-time energy monitoring systems: Technological applications in Canada, USA, and Africa

Real-time energy monitoring systems are pivotal for reshaping the global energy landscape, optimizing consumption, and fostering sustainability. This research explores the technological, regional, and socio-economic dimensions of energy monitoring, focusing on Canada, the USA, and Africa. The technological landscape includes sensor technologies, communication protocols, and emerging innovations like AI and blockchain. Regional perspectives highlight diverse challenges and opportunities, while a cross-regional analysis emphasizes collaboration and mutual learning. Challenges such as data security and integration are viewed as catalysts for improvement. Real-time monitoring's impact on sustainability is profound, reducing carbon footprints, optimizing resource utilization, and yielding economic benefits. Improved access to energy and community engagement underscores its positive social impact. The global journey towards sustainability is enhanced through collaboration, technology transfer, and the collective pursuit of a resilient and environmentally conscious energy future.

Ecological Efficiency Measurement and Technical Heterogeneity Analysis in China: A Two-Stage Three-Level Meta-Frontier Network Model Based on Segmented Projection

Due to persistent technological impacts on ecological efficiency (eco-efficiency) and variations in economic power and resource endowments among regions, considering regional and temporal heterogeneity becomes imperative. Ecosystems, often divided into economic production and environmental governance stages, necessitate a holistic assessment incorporating regional, temporal heterogeneity and stage distinctions. To address potential issues of a technology gap ratio (TGR) exceeding 1 within a two-stage network structure with dual heterogeneity, we introduce a segmented projection three-layer meta-frontier analysis method. In empirical study, we systematically examined eco-efficiency, emissions inefficiency and technology gaps across management, regional and temporal dimensions in 30 Chinese provinces from 2016 to 2020. Findings reveal disparities in management eco-efficiency, with the central provinces outperforming the east. Regional differences indicate advanced technology in the east, contributing to superior eco-efficiency. Temporal analysis highlights the positive role of scientific and technological development. Emissions inefficiency improvements are noted, necessitating attention toward management and regional technology levels. Eastern provinces exhibit superior emissions efficiency, emphasizing the role of regional and technological development. Recommendations include prioritizing environmental governance, strengthening regional collaborations and implementing policies to bridge technology gaps.

МЕТОДИКА ОЦЕНКИ И УПРАВЛЕНИЕ РАЗВИТИЕМ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИХ МЕЗОСИСТЕМ

The article is focused on the consideration of the concept of mesosism in the context of management by socio-economic development. It also provides a methodology for assessing and managing the development of socioeconomic mesosystems. The article proposes a number of methods that will allow assessing the level of development of socio-economic systems for further development of measures to improve their management efficiency. Systemic economics considers the concept of “mesoeconomics” mainly in the context of the economic sphere, focusing on the regional dimension [Kleiner 2006]. At the same time, it is advisable to expand the conceptual framework to include the following aspects in the field of mesoeconomics research: – Industry clusters and ecosystems – groups of interconnected enterprises and organizations united by a single industry specialization, common technologies and markets; – Local economic systems – autonomous territorial entities with their own resources, production base and infrastructure, but interacting with the external environment; – Global value chains – networks of interconnected enterprises and organizations engaged in joint activities for the production and distribution of goods and services on a global scale. The development of the theoretical foundations of mesoeconomics will allow not only to study, but also to manage those objects, contributing to an increase in the efficiency of the economic system as a whole. It will require the involvement of an interdisciplinary approach combining methods of systems analysis, economics, sociology and other sciences. Thus, mesoobjects take the modern economy beyond the neoclassical paradigm, opening up new horizons for research and practical application. The system economy, expanded on the basis of the proposed concepts, serves as a promising theoretical basis for building mesoeconomical models and developing effective management mechanisms.

Sustainable regional development and peripherality and innovation in the conditions of globalization

Purpose: The main aim of the article is to characterize and analyze the issue of sustainable development in the regional dimension, with particular emphasis on peripherality and innovation as a context of modernization changes in the conditions of globalization. Design/methodology/approach: The article uses a method of analysis of literature in the field of regional studies, referring to the problems of regional development in the perspective of conditions and changes in the macroscale. The thematic scope of the article includes an analysis of the theoretical foundations of regional development, the issue of regional disparities and developmental distances, the characteristics of peripherality and innovation as phenomena determining opportunities and barriers to development in the conditions of the globalization process. Social implications: The impact of the characteristics and analysis contained in the article can mark itself in terms of the goals and directions of regional policies formulated and implemented by public authorities at different levels. It can contribute to increasing the awareness and scope of knowledge of the regional community, especially its decision-making circles, with regard to the main goals and directions of development at the regional level, taking into account the role of innovation in overcoming the state of peripherality and marginalization under the prevailing global development trends. Originality/value: The value of the article is based on a focused analysis of the issue of sustainable regional development and showing its determinants in a new perspective, determined by the phenomena of peripherality and innovation as a context of changes on a global scale. The characteristics and analyses of the issue in question contained in the article are part of the trend of regional studies oriented towards the search for ways to overcome inter-regional disparities and disparities in order to achieve regional balance and convergence. Keywords: sustainable regional development, peripherality, innovation, globalization. Category of the paper: General review

The circular economy skills: regional dimension

Relevance. In the pursuit of sustainable development, the circular economy takes precedence as a fundamental imperative for industrial transformation. The current trend in the development of the circular economy concept is to place the main focus on the technological support of circularization and the corresponding innovations in business models, while the decisive role people play in this model of economy is often overlooked. Individuals with specialized knowledge, skills, and values are essential for developing and implementing circular models, making effective management decisions, and promoting rational consumption patterns. The demand for circular skills and the availability of relevant competencies can significantly differ across regions, necessitating further in-depth study. Research objective. The paper is aimed at developing a new methodological approach to the study of circular economy skills at the regional level. This approach considers these skills in terms of both employer demand and their incorporation into master's degree programs, accounting for regional specifics. Data and methods. The study employed a comprehensive approach, integrating theoretical methods with empirical analysis. Scientometric and content analysis identified taxonomies of circular economy skills, and employers' personnel needs were examined through the analysis of the HeadHunter job site using Python software. Additionally, the study encompassed an analysis of educational programs from official websites of universities in southern Russian regions. Results. A new approach to the study of supply and demand of circular economy skills at the regional level has been proposed and tested. As a result, it was determined that there is a demand for sustainable development specialists in various industries in the Russian labor market, which varies across different regions of the country. The relevant skills are included in the master’s degree programs offered by universities. There is a need for greater involvement of regional authorities in shaping educational demands presented to universities, as this is essential for generating demand in the job market for the corresponding competencies. Conclusions. To better achieve targets in sustainable development and facilitate the transition to a circular economy, it is essential to promote a balanced development of all the relevant skills and behavioral patterns. To ensure this, it is important to involve regional authorities in shaping the demand for these skills.

PathEX: Make good choice for whole slide image extraction.

The tile-based approach has been widely used for slide-level predictions in whole slide image (WSI) analysis. However, the irregular shapes and variable dimensions of tumor regions pose challenges for the process. To address this issue, we proposed PathEX, a framework that integrates intersection over tile (IoT) and background over tile (BoT) algorithms to extract tile images around boundaries of annotated regions while excluding the blank tile images within these regions. We developed PathEX, which incorporated IoT and BoT into tile extraction, for training a classification model in CAM (239 WSIs) and PAIP (40 WSIs) datasets. By adjusting the IoT and BoT parameters, we generated eight training sets and corresponding models for each dataset. The performance of PathEX was assessed on the testing set comprising 13,076 tile images from 48 WSIs of CAM dataset and 6,391 tile images from 10 WSIs of PAIP dataset. PathEX could extract tile images around boundaries of annotated region differently by adjusting the IoT parameter, while exclusion of blank tile images within annotated regions achieved by setting the BoT parameter. As adjusting IoT from 0.1 to 1.0, and 1-BoT from 0.0 to 0.5, we got 8 train sets. Experimentation revealed that set C demonstrates potential as the most optimal candidate. Nevertheless, a combination of IoT values ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 and 1-BoT values ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 also yielded favorable outcomes. In this study, we proposed PathEX, a framework that integrates IoT and BoT algorithms for tile image extraction at the boundaries of annotated regions while excluding blank tiles within these regions. Researchers can conveniently set the thresholds for IoT and BoT to facilitate tile image extraction in their own studies. The insights gained from this research provide valuable guidance for tile image extraction in digital pathology applications.

Potential market failures in the Portuguese wine industry

The wine industry is characterized by a monopolistic competition market structure, with high product differentiation. In this study, based on the predictions of microeconomic theory as applied to market equilibrium and market failure, the statistical data on production, trade and domestic consumption, as well as the governance model adopted, were analyzed. The main goal was to examine potential market failures in the Portuguese wine industry, concentrating mainly on those related to information asymmetry and transaction costs. The analysis shows that while Portugal constitutes a significant source of low-priced wines, both for its home consumers as well as for those abroad, most wines lack reputation and therefore have little potential to transfer value to upstream economic agents, and almost no possibility of increasing consumers’ willingness to pay. Though there is detailed information on production, exports and trade, limited information exists on domestic consumption. Given the small dimension of some wine regions, the governance model adopted does not benefit from scale economies and requires higher transaction costs.