Synergy Effect Research Articles

The Study of Combination of Biodegradable Packaging and Biocoating with Lactic Acid Bacteria as a Green Alternative for Traditional Packaging in Gouda Cheese

Biodegradable packaging, both alone and in combination with acid whey protein coatings, has been used to pack fresh Gouda cheese to improve preservation prior ripening or storage. This study involved three key components: (i) the selection of biodegradable packaging (BP), (ii) the development of a plain liquid acid whey protein concentrate, pectin-based edible coating (BP + Ch + Coating), and (iii) the incorporation of at least 6 log10 CFU (colony forming units) mL−1 Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (BP + Ch + Coating + Lp) and Lactobacillus helveticus (BP + Ch + Coating + Lh) strains. The created compositions were compared with cheese packed in conventional polyethylene (PE) packaging to evaluate their overall synergy effect in reducing microbiological spoilage and influencing chemical parameters in Gouda cheese during 45 days of ripening and cold storage. The evaluation included microbiological analysis (total LAB, Enterobacteriaceae spp., and fungi CFU) and quality assessment of pH, moisture content, water activity, texture, and colour (CEI system) during ripening and shelf life. Although biodegradable packaging (BP) alone did not protect the cheese effectively compared to conventional packaging (EVA/PE/EPC/PVDC), the combination of biodegradable packaging with a coating (BP + Ch + Coating) showed protective properties against Enterobacteriaceae spp. and mould, maintaining moisture, pH, and colour during ripening and storage. Incorporation of L. helveticus (BP + Ch + Coating + Lh) into the coating efficiently decreased the growth of fungi.

The synthesis and tribological behaviour of a phosphorus-free triazine organic molybdenum as friction modifier

A phosphorus-free triazine-based organic molybdenum compound (DCDM) was designed and synthesized by using the click chemistry approach, and its friction-reducing and anti-wear properties were evaluated in PAO10 base oil. The results indicated that DCDM exhibited excellent tribological performance, with a reduction of approximately 35% in friction coefficient and about 46% in wear scar diameter, due to the synergy effect between Mo and S. Surface analysis by EDS and XPS revealed the formation of MoO3, Fe2(SO4)3, FeS, and MoS2 in the friction film. And it was furhter confirmed that the presence of MoS2 in the friction film contributed most significantly to the enhancement of the friction-reducing and anti-wear properties of the developed triazine-based organic molybdenum compound in PAO10 base oil.

Core-Shell Gel Nanofiber Scaffolds Constructed by Microfluidic Spinning toward Wound Repair and Tissue Regeneration.

Growing demand for wound care resulting from the increasing chronic diseases and trauma brings intense pressure to global medical health service system. Artificial skin provides mechanical and microenvironmental support for wound, which is crucial in wound healing and tissue regeneration. However, challenges still remain in the clinical application of artificial skin since the lack of the synergy effect of necessary performance. In this study, a multi-functional artificial skin is fabricated through microfluidic spinning technology by using core-shell gel nanofiber scaffolds (NFSs). This strategy can precisely manipulate the microstructure of artificial skin under microscale. The as-prepared artificial skin demonstrates superior characteristics including surface wettability, breathability, high mechanical strength, strain sensitivity, biocompatibility and biodegradability. Notably, this artificial skin has the capability to deliver medications in a controlled and sustained manner, thereby accelerating the wound healing process. This innovative approach paves the way for the development of a new generation of artificial skin and introduces a novel concept for the structural design of the unique core-shell gel NFSs.

Two-step printing bionic self-lubricating composite surface fabricated by selective laser melting ink-printed metal nanoparticles

The combination of self-lubricating materials and surface texture was a promising strategy to improve tribology performance. The designed parameters and manufacturing methods of the textured composite surface were pivotal in fully harnessing this synergistic effect. Inspired by natural structures such as the scapharca subcrenata shell, trimeresurus stejnegeri snakeskin, crocodile, and tree frog toe pad surface, bionic self-lubricating composite surfaces (BSCSs) with different textures were prepared on AISI 4140 steel substrate to enhance tribological properties. These BSCSs combined self-lubricating composite material (SLCM) with copper (Cu) material in bionic patterns using the selective laser melting ink-printing metal nanoparticles manufacturing method. Tribological properties and worn surfaces of the BSCSs with various design parameters were analyzed under dry sliding conditions. Results indicated that the synergy effects of printed Cu and SLCM texture effectively reduced friction coefficient and improved wear resistance of the BSCSs. The SLCM texture density and the size of array element in the BSCSs were found to influence the types of lubricating film formed during the sliding process, thereby affecting the tribological performance. This investigation provided a potential surface design strategy and a more flexible manufacturing method for surface engineering.

Tailoring oxygen vacancies by synergy of dual metal cations in LaCo0.8M0.2O3 (M = Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn) towards catalytic oxidation of toluene

Enhancing the catalytic performance of transition metal oxide catalysts is prerequisite for the efficient catalytic oxidation of VOCs. Here the B-site partially substituted LaCoO3 (LaCo0.8M0.2O3, M = Cu, Ni, Fe and Mn) catalysts was synthesized for the catalytic oxidation of toluene. Among these catalysts, LaCo0.8Ni0.2O3 catalyst exhibits remarkable catalytic performance for toluene with T50 = 226 °C and T90 = 239 °C at an initial toluene concentration of 1000 ppm, whose T50 (and T90) reduced by 13 °C (and 34 °C) compared with that of LaCoO3. Confirmed by BET, XPS, and EPR characterizations, Ni substitution improves the specific surface area, Co3+/Co2+ ratio, Oads/Olatt ratio, and oxygen vacancies concentration. This improvement indicates the improvement of adsorption and activation of reactant, mobility of oxygen species, thereby contributing to the superior catalytic performance in toluene oxidation. The B-site of LaCoO3 occupied by dual cations caused the lattice distortion and formation of oxygen vacancies due to the ionic radii difference between Co and Ni cations. Moreover, the apparent activation energy of LaCo0.8Ni0.2O3, as the determining factor for the catalytic oxidation rate, was remarkably reduced. Our findings confirmed the synergy effect of Co and Ni cations at B-site on the enhancement of catalytic activity, which provides a promising strategy for oxygen vacancy engineering.

Efficient Hydrogen Generation from Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis on a Tandem Ruthenium–Platinum–Titanium Catalyst

AbstractHydrolysis of ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB) involves multiple undefined steps and complex adsorption and activation, so single or dual sites are not enough to rapidly achieve the multi‐step catalytic processes. Designing multi‐site catalysts is necessary to enhance the catalytic performance of AB hydrolysis reactions but revealing the matching reaction mechanisms of AB hydrolysis is a great challenge. In this work, we propose to construct RuPt−Ti multi‐site catalysts to clarify the multi‐site tandem activation mechanism of AB hydrolysis. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the multi‐site tandem mode can respectively promote the activation of NH3BH3 and H2O molecules on the Ru and Pt sites as well as facilitate the fast transfer of *H and the desorption of H2 on Ti sites at the same time. RuPt−Ti multi‐site catalysts exhibit the highest turnover frequency (TOF) of 1293 min−1 for AB hydrolysis reaction, outperforming the single‐site Ru, dual‐site RuPt and Ru−Ti catalysts. This study proposes a multi‐site tandem concept for accelerating the dehydrogenation of hydrogen storage material, aiming to contribute to the development of cleaner, low‐carbon, and high‐performance hydrogen production systems.

Efficient Hydrogen Generation from Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis on a Tandem Ruthenium-Platinum-Titanium Catalyst.

Hydrolysis of ammonia borane (NH3BH3, AB) involves multiple undefined steps and complex adsorption and activation, so single or dual sites are not enough to rapidly achieve the multi-step catalytic processes. Designing multi-site catalysts is necessary to enhance the catalytic performance of AB hydrolysis reactions but revealing the matching reaction mechanisms of AB hydrolysis is a great challenge. In this work, we propose to construct RuPt-Ti multi-site catalysts to clarify the multi-site tandem activation mechanism of AB hydrolysis. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the multi-site tandem mode can respectively promote the activation of NH3BH3 and H2O molecules on the Ru and Pt sites as well as facilitate the fast transfer of *H and the desorption of H2 on Ti sites at the same time. RuPt-Ti multi-site catalysts exhibit the highest turnover frequency (TOF) of 1293 min-1 for AB hydrolysis reaction, outperforming the single-site Ru, dual-site RuPt and Ru-Ti catalysts. This study proposes a multi-site tandem concept for accelerating the dehydrogenation of hydrogen storage material, aiming to contribute to the development of cleaner, low-carbon, and high-performance hydrogen production systems.

Uncovering the Triple Synergy of New-Type Urbanization, Greening and Digitalization in China

The in-depth discussion and analysis of the synergistic effect of new-type urbanization, greening and digitalization (NUGD) is important for the achievement of sustainable social, ecological and economic development. Therefore, in this study, an evaluation index system composed of these three subsystems was constructed for Chinese cities from 2011 to 2021. The comprehensive and collaborative development levels of each subsystem were measured by means including the entropy weight method and the coupling coordination model, respectively. Then, methods such as ESDA and the Dagum Gini coefficient were applied to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution and spatial differences in the triple synergy effect of the NUGD system in Chinese cities. Finally, the constraining factors of the triple synergy effect were revealed using the obstacle degree model. The findings demonstrated the following: (1) Overall, the NUGD subsystems and their comprehensive levels were increasing, with moderate overall development levels. (2) The synergistic development of the NUGD system exhibited an upward trend. Spatially, the synergistic development level showed distinct differentiation, being higher in the east and lower in the west. The multidimensional dynamic variation characteristics obtained through kernel density estimation revealed that the triple synergy level exhibits high stability. (3) The differences within the east and between the eastern and western areas were the largest, with the intensity of transvariation as the main source. (4) The five criterion layers, including social and spatial urbanization variables, were the key constraints that affected the triple synergy of the NUGD in Chinese cities, and the restrictive role of factors such as the proportion of urban construction land and the per capita postal business volume should not be ignored. This study provides a valuable reference and decision-making guidance to promote China’s acceleration toward a new urbanization path supported by both digitalization and green transformation.

Spatial Synergy between Tourism Resources and Tourism Service Facilities in Mountainous Counties: A Case Study of Qimen, Huangshan, China

Under the influence of mountainous terrain, the spatial synergy between tourism resources and tourism service facilities has emerged as a pivotal factor affecting the overall efficiency enhancement of regional tourism destinations. In order to explore the synergistic effect of the two, taking Qimen County as the study site, this study utilizes Point of Interest (POI) data of tourism resources and tourism service facilities. It constructs a fine-scale multidimensional spatial synergy methodology based on grid vectorization to conduct scenario-based comparative analyses of altitude and population density. The objective is to elucidate the effects of fine-scale tourism development synergy and propose enhancement strategies. The findings are as follows: (1) The vertical zonation of mountains has led to a widespread, decentralized distribution of natural tourism resources in mid-to-high-altitude areas, while humanistic tourism resources in low-altitude urbanized areas exhibit a granular, clustered distribution. These contrasting scenarios manifest a polarization, making it difficult to achieve supply–demand matching of the layout pattern of tourism service facilities along transportation routes. (2) The spatial gradient effect of the synergy between the two in mountainous counties is significant, with a higher synergy level in core towns and obvious misalignment in peripheral areas. (3) Altitude and population density are critical factors influencing the supply of tourism service facilities. Through scale aggregation guidance and cost–benefit mechanisms, the spatial distribution can be classified, stratified, and optimized to better serve resource development. This study provides valuable insights into understanding laws governing development and utilization within mountainous county areas for academic research purposes.

Sustainable Co(III)/Co(II) cycles triggered by Co-Zn bimetallic MOF encapsulating Fe nanoparticles for high-efficiency peracetic acid activation to degrade sulfamethoxazole: Enhanced performance and synergistic mechanism

Herein, a dual-metal-organic framework (MOF) assisted strategy to construct a core-shell structure magnetic Fe3O4@ZIFs composites was proposed for peracetic acid (PAA) activation. Results showed that the Fe3O4@ZIFs displayed superior activity relative to analogous counterparts, achieving 99.3 % degradation of SMX within 30 min. Both the radical pathways of CH3C(O)OO· and non-radical 1O2 were recognized as the primary mechanisms in SMX oxidation, while the radicals such as ·OH, CH3C(O)O·, and ·O2– along with high-valent metal species (CoIVO2+ and FeIVO2+) demonstrated a limited contribution. During the process, the Co sites on the surface of ZIFs, serving as the primary active sites, activated the PAA through the redox cycle of Co(II)/Co(III) to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). The encapsulated Fe3O4 nanoparticles were subjected to precise electron transmission, benefiting Co(II) recovery for enhanced Co(II)/Co(III) cycling. Besides, the strong interaction between Zn and Co in outer bimetallic ZIFs effectively mitigated Co leaching, highlighting the synergy effect of the catalytic system with multiple active sites. The Fe3O4@ZIFs composites retained excellent catalytic proficiency after four successive cycles. This study provides a strategy to accelerate Co(II)/Co(III) circulation in heterogeneous systems and highlights the significant potential of MOFs in the construction of high-efficiency Co-based catalysts for PAA activation in environmental remediation.

Propolis extract and Hermetia illucens larval proteins synergistically inhibit the growth of Aspergillus niger

The individual and combined inhibitory activities of propolis extract (PE) and Hermetia illucens larval proteins (Black soldier fly larvae proteins) (BSFLP) against Aspergillus niger were investigated. The antifungal effects of PE, BSFLP and Synergy of PE and BSFLP (SPB) against Aspergillus niger were determined by mycelial growth, spore germination rate and hyphal elongation. Membrane integrity was measured by assessing changes in extracellular proteins, reducing sugars, and electrical conductivity. Intracellular MDA, H2O2, ergosterol, and mannan contents were also evaluated. SEM was used to observe the morphology of the Aspergillus niger mycelium. Additionally, AutoDock Tools software and multi-ligand docking methods were used to study the synergistic interactions of ligand combinations on the receptor. The results showed that the combination of PE and BSFLP had excellent effects. During the treatment of antifungal agents, the membrane permeability changed and a large amount of content leaked, while control check (CK) remained almost unchanged. Ergosterol content was found to increase, while mannan content decreased significantly, leading to cell death. In addition, SPB can cause abnormal accumulation of MDA and H2O2, leading to oxidative stress in cells. SEM results showed that morphology of Aspergillus niger treated with SPB was severe wrinkling, distortion and even breakage. Multi-ligand docking results showed that the binding affinity of receptor 1KS5 to 14 complex ligands increased, as indicated by the decrease in docking energy values. These results provide scientific basis for further study on the application of SPB and development of effective antifungal products.

The entry‐deterring effects of synergies in complementor acquisitions: Evidence from Apple's digital platform market, the iOS app store

AbstractResearch SummaryAcquisitions can shift the market structure of a digital platform in ways that affect subsequent entries and hence the platform's base of complementors. Synergies that complementor acquirers accrue can be entry‐deterring. We develop a two‐by‐two typology of acquisition synergies in a multisided platform based on the two sides of a platform market (user side or complementary‐technology side) and two sources of synergies (economies of scale or economies of scope). We then leverage over 279,000 app developers' entry decisions into product categories in Apple's iOS App Store, over 71 million customer reviews, and over 12,000 unique software development kits to construct measures of synergies. Our paper contributes to the platform literature by demonstrating the entry‐deterring effects of synergies that complementor acquirers can exploit.Managerial SummaryWe develop the following typology of four types of acquisition synergies by integrating the multisidedness feature of digital platforms with the mainstream strategy research: complementary‐technology‐side economies of scope, complementary‐technology‐side economies of scale, user‐side economies of scope, and user‐side economies of scale. We show that (1) acquisition synergies are entry‐deterring, (2) synergies derived from economies of scope have stronger effects than those derived from economies of scale, and (3) synergies derived from the technology side have stronger effects than those derived from the user side. We highlight the significant competitive and regulatory implications of our findings. For example, one standard‐deviation increase in technology‐side economies of scope is associated with 55 deterred entries in 1 month or a $2.80 million potential loss in annual revenue.[Correction added on 15 July 2024, after first online publication: Research Summary and Managerial Summary have been corrected in this version.]

Can place-based policy reduce carbon emissions? Evidence from industrial transformation and upgrading exemplary zone in China

The effect of the place-based policies on sustainable development has received substantial attention in economic research. In China, the industrial transformation and upgrading exemplary zone policy is a prominent example of such policies, as it targets old industrial and resource-based cities. The paper provides an early assessment of the policy’s capability to reduce carbon emissions. Specifically, we use data from old industrial and resource-based cities for the period of 2012–2019 and apply the difference-in-differences method to examine the policy’s influence on total carbon emissions and intensity. The results show that the policy can effectively reduce carbon emissions through reducing energy consumption, promoting urban green innovation and tertiary industry agglomeration. Compared to resource-based cities, cities with a low level of economic development and central, western cities, this impact is more notable in old industrial cities, cities with a high level of economic development and eastern cities. Additional analysis reveals that the policy has beneficial spatial radiation impacts on the nearby cities as well. In the meanwhile, the strategy may have a synergy effect on reducing carbon emissions and pollution. The results of this study may have an impact on how nations implement place-based policies and reduce carbon emissions.

Acid-base synergistic effect towards catalytic transfer hydrogenation reactions

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of aldehydes/ketones by using alcohols as hydrogen donors is an attractive and environmentally friendly hydrogenation technology, which has evoked widespread attention in synthesis of fine chemicals from biomass resources. In this work, a Co-Al mixed metal oxide catalyst (Co1Al2-MMO-200) was obtained through structural topological transformation process of layered double hydroxides, which was used in the CTH reaction of furfural with isopropanol. Notably, the reaction rate achieves 0.023 mol g−1 h−1, which is preponderate to acid-base catalysts earlier reported. The joint research based on CO2-TPD, NH3-TPD and poisoning experiment substantiates that the synergy effect of acid-base sites plays an essential role in this catalytic system. Isotopic labelling MS, in-situ FT-IR and DFT studies further verify that the CTH reaction of furfural occurs via the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) route, in which the basic site promotes the deprotonation of isopropanol whilst the acid site facilitates the formation of a six-membered ring transition state. This work demonstrates an acid-base synergetic catalysis for the CTH reaction by revealing the structure-property correlation and exploring reaction route, which is instructive for designing high-performance heterogenous catalysts.

The interaction of upstream encroachment and blockchain technology application in a shipping supply chain

In shipping practice, ocean shipping (OS) companies launch their own cargo-canvassing channel to diversify revenue streams and further develop blockchain technology to improve their shipping service level. This study employs a game theory model to investigate the value of the OS company (i.e., upstream) encroaching and the application of blockchain technology by engaging in strategic interactions. Through our investigation, we find that it is disadvantageous for the OS company to encroach on the shipping market (apply blockchain technology) when the cost of encroachment (blockchain) is relatively high. Interestingly, by analyzing strategic interactions, we find that the application of blockchain technology influences the encroachment pattern, and the encroachment incentivizes the OS company to apply blockchain technology when the market demand for the encroaching channel is moderate. More interestingly, we innovatively propose the synergy, dysergy and mutual exclusivity effect to demonstrate our analysis. Furthermore, we discuss the impacts of the value of OS company’s encroachment and application of blockchain technology on the freight forwarder, and propose a “Blockchain Technology Compensation” (BTC) coordination mechanism to cope with the “win-lose” situation caused by the application of blockchain technology by the OS company.

Synergy effects of cavitation and particle erosion based on the Erosion/Corrosion Research Center erosion model

This study presents a new synergy model that incorporates the accelerated motion of particles resulting from bubble collapse. The model uses the Erosion/Corrosion Research Center erosion model to predict the combined effect of cavitation and particle erosion on wall surfaces. The results show that, compared with the conventional erosion model, the synergy model reduces the error in the erosion mass loss by up to 24.60%. The significant improvement in prediction accuracy confirms the effectiveness of the synergy model. The severity of sample erosion is positively correlated with the cavitation-inducer angle. The synergy effect leads to an increase in the extent and severity of erosion. Smaller particles demonstrate a more pronounced synergy effect, resulting in significantly accelerated motion and a highly concentrated particle distribution. High erosion rates are associated with high-speed impacts and small-angle impact zones, primarily caused by high-speed cutting erosion. This study presents a novel prediction method for exploring the synergy effect of cavitation and particles on wall erosion and investigates the motion characteristics of particles under this effect.

Rhodium-doped iron oxides promoted by sodium for highly selective hydrogenation of CO2 to ethanol and C2+ hydrocarbons

Hydrogenation of CO2 to produce high-value C2 + products has gained great interest, but catalyst design for highly selective ethanol still remains a challenge. Herein, bifunctional catalysts of iron oxide promoted with rhodium and sodium, Na-Rh-FeOx and Rh-FeOx-Na, were prepared by using simple methods of incipient wetness impregnation (IWI) and coprecipitation. The former catalyst prepared via IWI, Na-Rh-FeOx, is remarkably efficient for the hydrogenation of CO2 to ethanol with high selectivity of 91 % at 200 °C in the liquid fraction. The latter catalyst synthesized solely through the coprecipitation in a sodium-containing medium, Rh-FeOx-Na, displayed the synergy effect to perform a better CO2 conversion of 23 % at 200 °C. Characterization of catalysts via XRD, XPS, N2 physisorption, CO2-TPD, and gas pulse-chemisorption reveals that different preparation methods influenced the dispersion of sodium particles. This property, in turn, impacts the ratio of hydrogen-activating sites to CO-adsorption sites, directly related to the balance between dissociative- and non-dissociative CO* intermediates, which is crucial for ethanol formation. Adding alkali metal facilitates the formation of iron carbide Fe5C2, known to be active for C–C propagation. Integrating Na-Rh-FeOx with ZSM-5 support further increased ethanol selectivity up to 97 % in liquid phase and 90 % in gas phase. By selecting a proper route for introducing alkali metals and combining with supports, the catalyst properties can be effectively tailored, thereby regulating the catalytic activity and selectivity.

Improving NiFe Electrocatalysts through Fluorination-Driven Rearrangements for Neutral Water Electrolysis.

Neutral electrolysis to produce hydrogen is prime challenging owing to the sluggish kinetics of water dissociation for the electrochemical reduction of water to molecular hydrogen. An ion-enriched electrode/electrolyte interface for electrocatalytic reactions can efficiently obtain a stable electrolysis system. Herein, we found that interfacial accumulated fluoride ions and the anchored Pt single atoms/nanoparticles in catalysts can improve hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of NiFe-based hydroxide catalysts, prolonging the operating stability at high current density in neutral conditions. NiFe hydroxide electrode obtains an outstanding performance of 1000mA cm-2 at low overpotential of 218mV with 1000 h operation at 100mA cm-2. Electrochemical experiments and theoretical calculations have demonstrated that the interfacial fluoride contributes to promote the adsorption of Pt to proton for sustaining a large current density at low potential, while the Pt single atoms/nanoparticles provide H adsorption sites. The synergy effect of F and Pt species promotes the formation of Pt─H and F─H bonds, which accelerate the adsorption and dissociation process of H2O and promote the HER reaction with a long-term durability in neutral conditions.

Comparative analysis of the economic effects of special economic zones in China and Korea: evidence from a PSM difference-in-difference method

ABSTRACT This paper examines the economic effects of the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on the export of industrial complexes in China and Korea, focusing on the synergistic economic effects between different types of SEZs, using the Propensity Score Matching difference-in-difference method. We use panel data of 284 Chinese cities and 162 Korean cities between 2000 and 2019, focusing on 93 industrial complexes in China, and 569 industrial complexes in Korea. We compare the effects of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) with other special economic zones, including Bonded Areas (BA) in China and Free Economic Zones (FEZ) and Foreign Investment Regions (FIZ) in Korea. The establishment of SEZs has a significant positive impact on the export growth of industrial complexes in both China and Korea. In Korea, a significant synergy effect on export is found between the FTZ and the FIZs. There is no synergy effect found between FEZs and other economic zones. After the implementation of the FTZ policy in China, the export of BA’s industrial complexes with ports and airports significantly increased, indicating that the FTZs have a positive synergy effect on the BAs with convenient transportation.

Multimodal risk classifier for cardiorespiratory diseases taking into account concomitant diseases and synergy effect

The purpose of the research is to develop a methodology for classifying complexly structured halftone images based on a multimodal approach using methods of morphological analysis, spectral analysis and neural network modeling.Methods. A method for classifying the contours of the boundaries of segments of a complexly structured image is described. The method is based on the fact that in chronic diseases of the pancreas, there is a violation of the integrity of the contour of its border and its waviness increases due to retractions and bulges caused by an alterative inflammatory process. The method includes the stages of normalization of ultrasound images and image segmentation with the selection of the contour of the object of interest. To classify the contour of a segment boundary, it is proposed to use Fourier analysis and neural network technologies. The method is illustrated using the example of classifying the contour of the border of the pancreas on its transcutaneous acoustic image.Results. Experimental studies of the proposed methods and means for classifying medical risk were carried out on diagnostic tasks according to the following classes: "chronic pancreatitis" – "without pathology". For experimental studies, video sequences of ultrasound images of the pancreas provided by an endoscopist were used. The purpose of the experimental studies was to analyze the classification quality indicators of image classifiers with class segments "Chronic pancreatitis" and "Without pathology". The training sample of video images (frames of video sequences) included 200 examples, one hundred from each class. The quality indicator "Sensitivity" of classification for two classes is 85,7%, the indicator "Specificity" is 87,1%.Conclusion. The use of the contour analysis method in classifiers of ultrasound images of the pancreas opens up new opportunities for accessible and objective diagnosis of pancreatic diseases, expanding the capabilities of intelligent clinical decision support systems.