Development Of System Research Articles

Methodological Aspects of Elaborating Marketing Strategy of Innovation Bank Products and Services

Today the key factor of influencing banking sector is the development of information systems and overall strategy of economy digitalization as its consequence. On today’s competitive banking market we can observe the necessity to elaborate and promote approaches to banking product and service marketing that are meant to provide finance stability of banking business and orientation of marketing innovation bank functioning not only to their opportunities but also to market needs. In spite of a big number of publications dealing with this issue, academic research should be developed further. In research by Russian scientists there are actually no developments dealing with the problem of finding structural components for elaborating marketing strategy of banking products and services. Insufficient attention was paid to approaches of defining the essence of banking product and service marketing. The problem of assessing the level of the impact of banking innovation marketing on competitive positions and finance stability of banks has not been settled yet. The article showed components necessary to elaborate strategy of banking product and service marketing, among which the author underlined their characteristics depending on the model of commercialization, sub-system of their implementation process and interconnection between the chosen marketing strategy and classification features of banking innovation. The author designed a structural and logical scheme of elaborating strategy of baking product and servicer marketing and formulated its definition.

Biotin-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles as a delivery system for quercetin and gallic acid for bacterial biofilm eradication

AbstractThe effective management of biofilm-associated infections remains a pressing concern in clinical practice, necessitating the development of efficient eradication strategies. This study introduces biotin-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN-Biotin) designed to facilitate the delivery of phytochemical agents, including gallic acid and quercetin, for biofilm disruption. We elucidate the synthesis, characterization, and biofilm penetration ability of MSN-Biotin towards gram-negative E. coli biofilm and gram-positive S. mutans biofilms, emphasizing their potential in anti-biofilm drug delivery. Importantly, in vitro experiments demonstrate that MSN-Biotin loaded with phytochemicals achieved significantly better penetration into E. coli and S. mutans biofilms than traditional mesoporous silica nanoparticles and better biofilm eradication ability than free phytochemical molecules. These findings underscore the promise of MSN-Biotin as a potential efficient platform for delivering antimicrobial agents. This study introduces a novel surface modification approach for the development of antibiofilm nanoparticle systems and establishes their significant potential in biofilm infection management.

Road to Efficiency: V2V Enabled Intelligent Transportation System

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs) have grown rapidly to accommodate the increasing need for safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly transportation options. These systems cover a wide range of applications, from transportation control and management to self-driving vehicles to improve mobility while tackling urbanization concerns. This research looks closely at the important infrastructure parts of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication systems. It focuses on the different types of communication architectures that are out there, including decentralized mesh networks, cloud-integrated hubs, edge computing-based architectures, blockchain-enabled networks, hybrid cellular networks, ad-hoc networks, and AI-driven dynamic networks. This review aims to critically analyze and compare the key components of these architectures with their contributions and limitations. Finally, it outlines open research challenges and future technological advancements, encouraging the development of robust and interconnected V2V communication systems in ITSs.

Asymmetric Intramolecular Amination Catalyzed with Cp*Ir-SPDO via Nitrene Transfer for Synthesis of Spiro-Quaternary Indolinone.

An asymmetric intramolecular spiro-amination to high steric hindering α-C-H bond of 1,3-dicarbonyl via nitrene transfer using inactive aryl azides has been carried out by developing a novel Cp*Ir(III)-SPDO (spiro-pyrrolidine oxazoline) catalyst, thereby enabling the first successful construction of structurally rigid spiro-quaternary indolinone cores with moderate to high yields and excellent enantioselectivities. DFT computations support the presence of double bridging H-F bonds between [SbF6]- and both the ligand and substrate, which favors the plane-differentiation of the enol π-bond for nitrenoid attacking. These findings open up numerous opportunities for the development of new asymmetric nitrene transfer 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.

Paediatric Magnetoencephalography and its Role in Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that assesses neurophysiology, through detection of the magnetic fields generated by neural currents. In this way, it is sensitive to brain activity, both in individual regions and brain-wide networks. Conventional MEG systems employ an array of sensors that must be cryogenically cooled to low temperature, in a rigid one-size-fits-all helmet. Systems are typically designed to fit adults and are therefore challenging to use for paediatric measurements. Despite this, MEG has been employed successfully in research to investigate neurodevelopmental disorders, and clinically for presurgical planning for paediatric epilepsy. Here, we review the applications of MEG in children, specifically focussing on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Our review demonstrates the significance of MEG in furthering our understanding of these neurodevelopmental disorders, whilst also highlighting the limitations of current instrumentation. We also consider the future of paediatric MEG, with a focus on newly developed instrumentation based on optically pumped magnetometers (OPM-MEG). We provide a brief overview of the development of OPM-MEG systems, and how this new technology might enable investigation of brain function in very young children and infants.

A protocol for scoping reviews on the role of whole-body and dedicated body-part magnetic resonance imaging for assessment of adult and juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Currently, standardized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring systems and protocols for assessment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) in children and adults are lacking. Therefore, we will perform a scoping review of the literature to collate and evaluate the existing semi-quantitative and quantitative MRI scoring systems and protocols for the assessment and monitoring of skeletal muscle involvement in patients with IIMs. The aim is to compile evidence-based information that will facilitate the future development of a universal standardized MRI scoring system for both research and clinical applications in IIM. A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane) will be undertaken to identify relevant articles published between January 2000 and October 2023. Data will be synthesized narratively. This scoping review seeks to comprehensively summarize and evaluate the evidence on the scanning protocols and scoring systems used in the assessment of diagnosis, disease activity, and damage using skeletal muscle MRI in IIMs. The results will allow the development of consensus recommendations for clinical practice and enable the standardization of research methods for the MRI assessment of skeletal muscle changes in patients with IIMs.

Precision Irrigation Technologies for Water‐Wise and Climate Resilient Alfalfa Production

AbstractThe future of water‐wise and resilient alfalfa production lies in the integration of precision irrigation technologies and innovative water management strategies. With the continued threat of drought and depleting levels within the Ogallala aquifer in regions like the Southern Great Plains of the United States, it is important to adopt precision techniques that optimize water use while maximizing crop yields and quality. From soil moisture‐based management to canopy‐based monitoring and the development of irrigation decision support systems, farmers and CCAs have many options from commercially available tools at their disposal to navigate water scarcity challenges. The power of artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, and real‐time data analytics can all be integrated together to bring the agricultural community to work towards a future where alfalfa production remains resilient and environmentally sustainable. Earn 1.5 CEUs in Soil & Water Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.

Multi-objective optimization of cement-based systems containing marine dredged sediment

This study presents the integrated use of particle packing methodology and response surface methodology as an innovative mixture design for developing eco-friendly cement-based systems containing marine dredged sediment. The objective was to reduce the sand and cement contents of mortar mixtures for island applications, while maintaining the same properties as a reference mixture. The study examined three input variables for mixture design and optimization: sediment-to-total sand ratio ranging from 0.1 to 0.4, water-to-binder ratio ranging from 0.4 to 0.5, and cement paste content ranging from 0.35 to 0.45. As a result, three mixtures were developed based on three optimization objectives: (1) maintaining the same fresh and hardened properties as the reference (110 mm spread flow and 49.5 MPa strength); (2) maximizing the reduction of cement and sand contents with the use of a superplasticizer; and (3) maximizing the durability (as measured with the bulk electrical resistivity). The optimal mixture proportions showed reduced sand and cement contents up to 38 % and 15 %, respectively, with mechanical properties comparable to that of the reference. Moreover, capillary absorption and drying shrinkage of the optimized mixtures were reduced compared to the reference by up to 36 % and 16.5 %, respectively. It was evidenced that the combined use of mixture design methods can significantly contribute to the development of cementitious systems with balanced eco-efficiency and properties.

Intestinal barrier permeability: the influence of gut microbiota, nutrition, and exercise

The intestinal wall is a selectively permeable barrier between the content of the intestinal lumen and the internal environment of the body. Disturbances of intestinal wall permeability can potentially lead to unwanted activation of the enteric immune system due to excessive contact with gut microbiota and its components, and the development of endotoxemia, when the level of bacterial lipopolysaccharides increases in the blood, causing chronic low-intensity inflammation. In this review, the following aspects are covered: the structure of the intestinal wall barrier; the influence of the gut microbiota on the permeability of the intestinal wall via the regulation of functioning of tight junction proteins, synthesis/degradation of mucus and antioxidant effects; the molecular mechanisms of activation of the pro-inflammatory response caused by bacterial invasion through the TLR4-induced TIRAP/MyD88 and TRAM/TRIF signaling cascades; the influence of nutrition on intestinal permeability, and the influence of exercise with an emphasis on exercise-induced heat stress and hypoxia. Overall, this review provides some insight into how to prevent excessive intestinal barrier permeability and the associated inflammatory processes involved in many if not most pathologies. Some diets and physical exercise are supposed to be non-pharmacological approaches to maintain the integrity of intestinal barrier function and provide its efficient operation. However, at an early age, the increased intestinal permeability has a hormetic effect and contributes to the development of the immune system.

A proactive schoolshooting incident prevention system: what matters?

Scientific research on schoolshooting has been actualized in the early 21st century, but incidents have been recorded much earlier, since the late 16th century. The article focuses on the causes and explanation of the mechanism of imitation, a significant driving force in schoolshooting. Examples of cases are given to illustrate the effect of the copycat mechanism and measures to prevent the spread of the 'copycat effect' are argued. The paper identifies the key features that unite terrorism and schoolshooting, which provide a strong case for considering schoolshooting incidents as a new type of terrorism. The similarity of schoolshooting incidents to terrorist acts is argued through the description of common characteristics, such as ritual and demonstrative nature of violence, planned and symbolic nature of violence, cultural determination, and group identification. This paper focuses not on the scientific problem of studying schoolshooting as a special phenomenon, but on the problems of creating, organizing, and managing a proactive system of schoolshooting prevention. The results of the analysis of American practice of development and application of threat assessment system to prevent schoolshooting are presented. The description of necessary elements of the complex system for prevention of schoolshooting incidents is presented, the definition of the proactive system is given.

The Distribution of the Economic Impacts of Sustainable Regional Transport Policies

In response to current environmental, social and accessibility challenges in the mobility sector, this research focuses on promoting the development of integrated sustainable regional transport policies, supported by a thorough analysis of their distributed economic impacts. This is fulfilled with the development of a new GIS-supported extension of a comprehensive methodology that is currently used for appraising local transport interventions. To illustrate the inputs and outputs of the expanded approach, a regional case study was simulated, highlighting the potential for this methodology to assist in (1) optimising the financial balance between electrification and modal-shift strategies, (2) anticipating and analysing the multiple economic impacts of multimodal transport services (e.g., Mobility as a Service) and (3) understanding how equal the benefits of these policies are across the region. This research will provide novel contributions to the field of transport research and policy development by introducing a comprehensive methodology that quantifies and maps the distributed economic impacts of regional transport policies. This will, consequently, enable the economic outputs of these policies to be easily visualised, analysed and shared with mobility stakeholders, fostering a better understanding of their urban–rural distribution, and promoting the strategic development of sustainable and equitable regional transport systems.

Novel real-time PCR methods for bovine haplotypes HH3, HH6, HH7 diagnosis

Dairy cattle breeding is aimed at improving the productivity, mainly through the use of a limited number of breeding bulls. As a result, an increase in inbreeding is observed causing accumulation of heterozygotes-carriers of recessive lethal mutations. A rise in the number of carriers reduces the profitability of dairy farms, since the frequency of embryonic and post-embryonic mortality increases, and the fertility of cows decreases. This paper presents the results of the development of test systems for rapid and inexpensive diagnostics of genetically determined cattle diseases that are significant for animal husbandry, namely for Holstein haplotypes 3, 6 and 7. The diagnostic technology is real-time PCR using TaqMan probes. Carriers of the Holstein haplotype 3 were not found in any of the studied populations. The carrier frequencies for HH6 and HH7 were 0.95 and 1.92%, respectively. Carrier frequencies are consistent with the results of studies worldwide, however, it is worth noting that only few large-scale screening studies have been carried out, since causative loci have been mapped relatively recently.

Integrating topographic factors for effective urban sponge construction in mountainous regions: A case study

The construction of sponge cities in mountainous areas is crucial to achieving high-quality development in these regions. Owing to rugged terrain, significant changes in elevation, and uneven distribution of cities, the construction of sponge cities in mountainous areas faces challenges such as difficulties in clearing mountains and roads, high cost, and varying regional development requirements. However, there is currently limited research focusing on the impact of terrain on sponge city construction plans. In this study, we developed an optimal low impact development (LID) system layout method based on the annual runoff control rate. This study suggests implementing LID plans in stages to balance cost-effectiveness and enhance resilience. The optimized case1_100 scheme, which takes regional differences into account, can effectively achieve a runoff control coefficient of less than 0.25 in 98.86% of the area. Remarkably, this achievement comes at a significantly lower total cost of only 1.22 billion RMB compared to the unoptimized case2_100 scheme (which does not consider regional differences) with a cost of 3.03 billion RMB. Interestingly, the optimized case1_100 plan, selected using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, has an LID layout that is closely related to the surface terrain. Structural equation modeling analysis indicates that terrain affects land types, which in turn impacts the surface impermeability and runoff coefficients, ultimately influencing the corresponding LID deployment plan. The coefficients of relative elevation and slope on the final plan are determined as −0.13 and −0.77, respectively, with a high overall explanatory power of 0.84. This indicates that terrain characteristics have a significant impact on the spatial patterns and surface features of typical mountainous cities in China and the optimal LID strategy largely depends on the initial terrain conditions. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing LID construction in sponge cities, particularly in the context of new mountainous urban planning.

Development and Performance Evaluation Experiment of a Device for Simultaneous Reduction of SOx and PM

Mitigating air pollutants such as SOx and PM emitted from ships is an important task for marine environmental protection and improving air quality. To address this, exhaust gas after-treatment devices have been introduced, but treating pollutants like SOx and PM individually poses challenges due to spatial constraints on ships. Consequently, a Total Gas Cleaning System (TGCS) capable of simultaneously reducing sulfur oxides and particulate matter has been developed. The TGCS combines a cyclone dust collector and a wet scrubber system. The cyclone dust collector is designed to maintain a certain distance from the bottom of the wet scrubber, allowing exhaust gases entering from the bottom to rise as sulfur oxides are adsorbed. Additionally, the exhaust gases descending through the space between the cyclone dust collector and the wet scrubber collide with the scrubbing solution before entering the bottom of the wet scrubber, facilitating the absorption of SOx. In this study, the efficiency of the developed TGCS was evaluated, and the reduction effects based on design parameters were investigated. Furthermore, the impact of this device on ship engines was analyzed to assess its practical applicability. Experimental results showed that increasing the volume flow rate of the cleaning solution enhanced the PM reduction effect. Particularly, when the height of the Pall ring was 1000 mm and the volume flow rate was 35 L/min, the sulfur oxide reduction effect met the standards for Sulfur Emission Control Areas (SECA). Based on these findings, suggestions for effectively controlling atmospheric pollutants from ships were made, with the expectation of contributing to the development of systems combining various after-treatment devices.

СТРАТЕГИЧЕСКОЕ УПРАВЛЕНИЕ УСТОЙЧИВЫМ РАЗВИТИЕМ ОТРАСЛИ ЖИВОТНОВОДСТВА НА РЕГИОНАЛЬНОМ УРОВНЕ

The livestock industry is a fundamental part of agriculture. The relevance of developing a sustainable livestock development system is due to a number of global and local factors that have a significant impact on modern agricultural systems. The article examines the current state of the livestock industry in the Russian Federation, as well as in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Ensuring the sustainable development of animal husbandry is an important aspect in the formation and assessment of the country's food security. Criteria for the sustainable development of the industry can serve not only economic indicators, including profitability, gross profit, etc., as well as indicators of social sustainability, which include the quality of life of the population, the development of human resources, etc., but also directly indicators characterizing the production of livestock products, the preservation of animal health, etc. In this regard, measures to ensure sustainable development are of particular relevance. In order to determine the main directions of development, we have compiled a strategic map. The strategic map serves as a tool for visualizing, planning and implementing a development strategy, taking into account many factors and stakeholders. The development of a strategic map for the sustainable development of livestock is a key element for achieving a balance between economic efficiency, social justice and environmental sustainability. A methodological tool for drawing up a strategic map has been developed, providing a systematic approach to the issue under consideration with the allocation of the following "pools": human resources, innovation, financing, as well as active marketing.

Smart decision support system for keratoconus severity staging using corneal curvature and thinnest pachymetry indices

BackgroundThis study proposes a decision support system created in collaboration with machine learning experts and ophthalmologists for detecting keratoconus (KC) severity. The system employs an ensemble machine model and minimal corneal measurements.MethodsA clinical dataset is initially obtained from Pentacam corneal tomography imaging devices, which undergoes pre-processing and addresses imbalanced sampling through the application of an oversampling technique for minority classes. Subsequently, a combination of statistical methods, visual analysis, and expert input is employed to identify Pentacam indices most correlated with severity class labels. These selected features are then utilized to develop and validate three distinct machine learning models. The model exhibiting the most effective classification performance is integrated into a real-world web-based application and deployed on a web application server. This deployment facilitates evaluation of the proposed system, incorporating new data and considering relevant human factors related to the user experience.ResultsThe performance of the developed system is experimentally evaluated, and the results revealed an overall accuracy of 98.62%, precision of 98.70%, recall of 98.62%, F1-score of 98.66%, and F2-score of 98.64%. The application's deployment also demonstrated precise and smooth end-to-end functionality.ConclusionThe developed decision support system establishes a robust basis for subsequent assessment by ophthalmologists before potential deployment as a screening tool for keratoconus severity detection in a clinical setting.

Voltage-Gated Ion Channels Are Transcriptional Targets of Sox10 during Oligodendrocyte Development

The transcription factor Sox10 is an important determinant of oligodendroglial identity and influences oligodendroglial development and characteristics at various stages. Starting from RNA-seq data, we here show that the expression of several voltage-gated ion channels with known expression and important function in oligodendroglial cells depends upon Sox10. These include the Nav1.1, Cav2.2, Kv1.1, and Kir4.1 channels. For each of the four encoding genes, we found at least one regulatory region that is activated by Sox10 in vitro and at the same time bound by Sox10 in vivo. Cell-specific deletion of Sox10 in oligodendroglial cells furthermore led to a strong downregulation of all four ion channels in a mouse model and thus in vivo. Our study provides a clear functional link between voltage-gated ion channels and the transcriptional regulatory network in oligodendroglial cells. Furthermore, our study argues that Sox10 exerts at least some of its functions in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, in myelinating oligodendrocytes, or throughout lineage development via these ion channels. By doing so, we present one way in which oligodendroglial development and properties can be linked to neuronal activity to ensure crosstalk between cell types during the development and function of the central nervous system.

Analysis and Development of an IoT System for an Agrivoltaics Plant

This article illustrates the development of SolarFertigation (SF), an IoT (Internet of Things) solution for precision agriculture. Contrary to similar systems on the market, SolarFertigation can monitor and optimize fertigation autonomously, based on the analysis of data collected through the cloud. The system is made up of two main components: the central unit, which enables the precise deployment and distribution of water and fertilizers in different areas of the agricultural field, and the sensor node, which oversees collecting environmental and soil data. This article delves into the evolution of the system, focusing on structural and architectural changes to develop an infrastructure suitable for implementing a predictive model based on artificial intelligence and big data. Aspects concerning both the sensor node, such as energy management, accuracy of solar radiation readings, and qualitative soil moisture measurements, as well as implementations to the hydraulic system and the control and monitoring system of the central unit, are explored. This article provides an overview of the results obtained from solar radiation and soil moisture measurements. In addition, the results of an experimental campaign, in which 300 salad plants were grown using the SolarFertigation system in a photovoltaic field, are presented. This study demonstrated the effectiveness and applicability of the system under real-world conditions and highlighted its potential in optimizing resources and increasing agricultural productivity, especially in agrivoltaic settings.

The Mālikī School of Law in Andalusia and Its Impact on the Development of European Legal Systems

Objectives: This article explores the history of the Mālikī school of law in Andalusia and its influence on European laws. The study opens with the period of the Muslim conquest of Andalusia, aiming to highlight the various schools that existed before the emergence and spread of the Mālikī school and its impact on European laws. Methodology: This article uses a descriptive analysis, drawing on early and contemporary Islamic sources. Its goal is to trace the spread of the Mālikī school of law in Andalusia and analyse its influence on European laws. Findings: This article demonstrates how the Mālikī school of law influenced modern European laws that modified this jurisprudence and integrated it into their legal systems, such as the French Civil Code. Such was the result of a substantial interaction between Muslims and non-Muslims following the Islamic conquest of Andalusia. Consequently, the article concludes that introducing the Mālikī school of law into Andalusia substantially impacted European laws and systems. Originality: This article discusses the entry of Muslims into Andalusia during the European Dark Ages. It elucidates how the conquest of Andalusia affected the Andalusians and that Islamic civilisation and the Mālikī school of law influenced most of Europe's nations as well.