Unified Systems Research Articles

Unified Cart Systems: A Paradigm Shift in E-commerce User Experience

This article examines the impact of unified cart systems on e-commerce platforms, focusing on their role in enhancing user experience and driving business performance. Unified cart systems, which enable customers to purchase products across multiple categories in a single transaction, represent a significant innovation in e-commerce. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature and industry case studies, this article explores the benefits of unified cart systems, including seamless customer experiences, increased conversion rates, and improved cross-selling opportunities. The article also addresses the challenges in implementing these systems, such as integration complexity and security concerns, and proposes best practices for successful deployment. Our findings suggest that unified cart systems can significantly improve e-commerce performance metrics and provide a competitive advantage in the digital marketplace. This article contributes to the growing body of literature on e-commerce innovations and provides practical insights for businesses looking to optimize their online retail strategies.

Self-reported public fast charging infrastructure demand: What do existing and potential electric vehicle adopters want and where?

Electric vehicles (EVs) promise emissions reduction, but adoption rates must increase to meet 2030 targets. Since public fast charging infrastructure (PFCI) is considered important to increase EV uptake, this research aims to assess its demand across existing and potential EV adopters in Ireland. Online mapping tools were used to capture 1635 self-reported locations where users prefer PFCI, along with other related preferences from 545 respondents. The results were analysed using a mixed-method approach including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), Geographic Information System (GIS), two-step cluster analysis, and qualitative analysis. The results indicate that expanding PFCI is critical for increasing EV uptake, with 81.4% of potential EV adopters showing a significant impact on uptake. Major deterrents identified include insufficient availability of public fast chargers followed by high charging costs. The qualitative analysis highlights existing EV users’ demand for improved end-user experiences, such as unified payment systems. Most preferred locations for PFCI installation include travel routes, followed by shopping centres/ supermarkets. Results also indicate that a reliable second-hand market would be key to increasing EV uptake. The findings from this study can serve policymakers in effectively rolling out PFCI, while the methodology employed can be replicated in other comparable study areas.

Integration of AI-based software as a medical device into Russian healthcare system: results of 2023

Introduction. Healthcare is one of the priority sectors for the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies worldwide, including Russia. A key area of AI deployment is the integration of AI-base software as a medical device (AI SaMD) into the Unified digital systems of the healthcare sector of the Russian Federation.Aim. Research of the results of the deployment of AI SaMD in healthcare of the Russian Federation in 2023.Materials and methods. The State Register of Medical Devices and Organizations (individual entrepreneurs) engaged in the production and manufacture of medical devices was used as information about AI SaMD registered in Russia. As information on the deployment of AI SaMD, data from monitoring to the federal project “Creating a single digital system in healthcare” was used, including reports from constituent entities of the Russian Federation upon these activities. The results of the implementation of AI SaMD in Moscow were obtained according to data from the Moscow Department of Health as part of an experiment on the use of innovative technologies in the field of computer vision for the analysis of medical images.Results. As of January 1, 2024, Roszdravnadzor registered 26 AI SaMD, 77 % of them were developed by 13 Russian companies. At the end of 2023, 84 (94 %) constituent entities of the Russian Federation met the minimum established target for the purchase of AI SaMD. Within the framework of public procurement procedures provided by law, 106 government contracts were signed for the purchase and deployment of AI SaMD for a total amount of 448 million 430 thousand rubles.Conclusion. In 2023, the Russian healthcare system made a significant breakthrough in terms of the practical deployment of AI SaMD. Completed procurement and deployment projects are the basis for subsequent industry development.

Optimizing pharmaceutical inventory management: A global framework for efficiency and cost reduction

Pharmaceutical inventory management is critical in ensuring continuous drug availability and cost efficiency in healthcare institutions globally. However, maintaining optimal inventory levels is challenging due to factors such as overstocking, stockouts, and global supply chain disruptions. This paper reviews best practices for efficient pharmaceutical inventory management, emphasizing the integration of data analytics and predictive models to forecast demand, reduce waste, and streamline procurement. It explores strategies for implementing unified inventory systems across diverse healthcare settings, balancing cost efficiency with uninterrupted drug availability. Additionally, the paper examines the impact of global supply chain disruptions on pharmaceutical supply and recommends solutions for building resilience. Through real-world examples and recommendations for future improvements, this review highlights the potential for enhanced global inventory management practices to reduce costs while ensuring the continuous availability of essential medications. Keywords: Pharmaceutical Inventory Management, Data Analytics, Cost Efficiency, Predictive Models, Supply Chain Resilience, Drug Availability

Novel comprehensive unified classification system toward smart standardized built environment knowledge and low-risk international collaborations: UniCCC

The Construction Industry (CI) data is acknowledged to still be unstructured and high-dimensional. Efforts were undertaken to tackle this problem using regional Unified Classification Systems (UCSs). The study emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive international UCS to manage the growing trend of international collaborations within the CI and associated data risks. Existing UCSs exhibit significant inconsistencies, such as regional omissions, terminological disparities, and diverse data structuring, underscoring the need for a unified approach. Accordingly, using a 3-stage mixed method, the novel UCS ‘Unified Classification of Construction Components_ UniCCC’ was developed, comprising 4 phyla, 9 divisions, and 54 classes, and was shown to have good adaptability/scalability, structure/breakdown, clarity, codifiability, and inclusivity of the 11 key CI aspects. By addressing inconsistencies and smartly structuring CI knowledge from North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, using a faceted classification scheme aligned with ISO 12,006, and being developed using a conventional modeling language, UniCCC represents a significant advancement in UCSs, with promising implications for global CI practices and research, paving the way for new avenues in CI performance, innovation, and sustainability. It demonstrated efficiency in various CI aspects, including risk reduction, automation, and sustainability enhancement. As evidence of its performance, using UniCCC for scheduling might decrease up to 58.17%, 66.85%, and 31.74% of the related time, request for information, and omissions, respectively. The study suggests future research perspectives to explore UniCCC's applicability in different regions, its integration with emerging technologies, its proficiency metrics for different purposes, and strategies for organizational implementation.

Сравнительный анализ развития Eдиных Информационных Систем Здравоохранения (ЕИСЗ) в странах Африки, Северной Америки и Европы: проблемы и перспективы.

This study presents a comparative analysis of the development of unified healthcare information systems (UHIS) in North America, Europe, and Africa. The research examines key aspects of UHIS implementation, including population coverage by electronic health records, telemedicine development, system interoperability, and regulatory frameworks. The analysis revealed significant regional differences in approaches to healthcare digitalization and UHIS implementation levels. North America is characterized by high digital technology adoption but faces challenges in integrating disparate systems. The European region shows heterogeneity, with Northern European countries leading, while Southern and Eastern Europe lag in UHIS development. The African continent presents the most contrasting picture, with a small group of leading countries and most states in the early stages of digitalization. The study identified common challenges across all regions, including ensuring interoperability, protecting personal data, and overcoming healthcare professionals' resistance to change. Special attention is given to innovative approaches, such as the use of mobile technologies in Africa to overcome infrastructure limitations. The research results emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to UHIS implementation, considering not only technological but also socio-economic factors. The study concludes that successful UHIS development requires a clear national strategy, adequate funding, and active involvement of all stakeholders.

Seismic assessment of SSSI effects between adjacent Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) buildings

Urban building designs have been performed considering the behaviour of individual structures in isolation, neglecting potential seismic interactions with neighbouring buildings. In densely populated metropolitan areas, the Structure–Soil–Structure Interaction (SSSI) becomes a significant factor, capable of either amplifying or reducing the seismic response of buildings. This suggests that there is an unquantified seismic risk in densely packed urban areas, which will need to be estimated to obtain designs for more resilient infrastructure. Despite the increasing popularity of CLT as a structurally competitive material, limited attention has been given to investigating dynamic interactions between timber structures. The reduced weight of CLT structures compared to traditional materials necessitates a focused examination of the effects imposed by nearby buildings under varying soil conditions, challenging the fixed-base assumptions commonly applied in seismic analyses. This study investigates the impact of SSSI between pairs of cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings. Three distinct building heights are considered, exploring differences in storey ratios, under five different ground motions to evaluate seismic performance comprehensively. Sixty detailed high-order three-dimensional models, treating soil and buildings as unified systems, are developed as numerical dynamic simulations. Results reveal that SSSI can significantly influence the displacement and acceleration demands of buildings, with a more pronounced effect observed in loose soil conditions. Particularly, the presence of adjacent higher buildings leads to an increase in the seismic response of the smaller structure, showing amplification effects in peak values but maintaining similar dynamic behaviour. There has been observed a clear trend of increase in the roof displacements of the smaller structure when the storey ratio of neighbouring structures increases; however, the trend of behaviour is not clear in the maximum accelerations. The study underscores the importance of understanding how nearby buildings, particularly those with more storeys, can impact the seismic response on CLT structures.

Linkage facilitation for opioid use disorder in criminal legal system contexts: a primer for researchers, clinicians, and legal practitioners

At the intersection of drug policy, the opioid crisis, and fragmented care systems, persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) in the United States are significantly vulnerable to contact with the criminal legal system (CLS). In CLS settings, provision of evidence-based treatment for OUD is variable and often secondary to punitive approaches. Linkage facilitation at every touch point along the CLS Sequential Intercept Model has potential to redirect persons with OUD into recovery-oriented systems of care, increase evidence-based OUD treatment connections, and therefore reduce CLS re-exposure risk. Research in this area is still nascent. Thus, this narrative review explores the state of the science on linkage facilitation across the varied CLS contexts, including general barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for using linkage facilitation for OUD treatment and related services. Following the CLS Sequential Intercept Model, the specific CLS contexts examined include community services, police encounters, the courts (pre- and post-disposition), incarceration (pre-trial detention, jail, and prison), reentry (from jails, prisons, and unified systems), and community supervision (probation and parole). Examples of innovative linkage facilitation interventions are drawn from the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN). Areas for future research and policy change are highlighted to advance the science of linkage facilitation for OUD services in the CLS.

КОСВЕННОЕ РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЕ ЦИФРОВОЙ ТРАНСФОРМАЦИИ СТРОИТЕЛЬНОЙ СФЕРЫ

The article examines the mechanisms of indirect regulation of the digital transformation of the construction industry in Russia. It analyzes the regulatory framework, including state strategies, orders, and regulations governing the implementation of digital technologies and the labeling of construction products. The article describes unified information systems and digital platforms that stimulate the transition of the construction sector to digital rails. It considers recommendations for drafting bills aimed at accelerating the digitalization of construction. The importance of an integrated approach combining digital innovations with environmental, organizational, and personnel transformations is emphasized.

Colorectal anastomotic leakage: a narrative review of definitions, grading systems, and consequences of leaks.

Anastomotic leaks (ALs) are a significant and feared postoperative complication, with incidence of up to 30% despite advances in surgical techniques. With implications such as additional interventions, prolonged hospital stays, and hospital readmission, ALs have important impacts at the level of individual patients and healthcare providers, as well as healthcare systems as a whole. Challenges in developing unified definitions and grading systems for leaks have proved problematic, despite acknowledgement that colorectal AL is a critical issue in intestinal surgery with serious consequences. The aim of this study was to construct a narrative review of literature surrounding definitions and grading systems for ALs, and consequences of this postoperative complication. A literature review was conducted by examining databases including PubMed, Web of Science, OVID Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library databases. Searches were performed with the following keywords: anastomosis, anastomotic leak, colorectal, surgery, grading system, complications, risk factors, and consequences. Publications that were retrieved underwent further assessment to ensure other relevant publications were identified and included. A universally accepted definition and grading system for ALs continues to be lacking, leading to variability in reported incidence in the literature. Additional factors add to variability in estimates, including differences in the anastomotic site and institutional/individual differences in operative technique. Various groups have worked to publish guidelines for defining and grading AL, with the International Study Group of Rectal Cancer (ISGRC/ISREC) definition the current most recommended universal definition for colorectal AL. The burden of AL on patients, healthcare providers, and hospitals is well documented in evidence from leak consequences, such as increased morbidity and mortality, higher reoperation rates, and increased readmission rates, among others. Colorectal AL remains a significant challenge in intestinal surgery, despite medical advancements. Understanding the progress made in defining and grading leaks, as well as the range of negative outcomes that arise from AL, is crucial in improving patient care, reduce surgical mortality, and drive further advancements in earlier detection and treatment of AL.

Guidelines for equipment and support for endoscopic examinations (part one)

The guidelines describe modern approaches to equipping and ensuring endoscopic examinations of the digestive and respiratory systems in accordance with the objectives of improving their quality, safety and efficiency. The focus is on improving endoscopic diagnostics of precancerous diseases and early cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and bronchi. Based on the analysis of evidence-based medicine data, modern conditions for equipping and ensuring endoscopic examinations from the minimum necessary to the expert level are provided, including conditions for integrating digital solutions into protocols and reports, including conditions for creating databases for artificial intelligence systems, as well as conditions for ensuring epidemiological safety in endoscopy. The guidelines are based on risk-oriented approaches and serve as a basis for an objective assessment and analysis of the risks of compliance of equipment and provision in endoscopy with modern requirements for the quality and safety of medical activities. The components of equipment and provision are presented in summary tables, which in practice can serve as checklists. Each component is also an evaluation parameter and can be assessed by qualitative (present or absent) and/or quantitative (% provision) indicators. The methodological recommendations are designed in accordance with the requirements of the current GOST R 6.30-2003: “Unified documentation systems. Unified system of organizational and administrative documentation. Requirements for the execution of documents” (updated on 05/25/2017), which states that this type of methodological product, based on positive experience, reveals the order and logic of setting up any methodology. The objectives of such documents include the promotion of the most effective and rational examples of practical actions applicable to a certain type of activity, according to which the terminology, style and volume of methodological recommendations are regulated.

Research of the latest technologies and approaches to ensuring safety at work

The implementation of appropriate measures and systems to ensure occupational safety depends not only on the economic efficiency of companies, but also on the life and health of employees, which makes this topic relevant. The purpose of the study was to assess the capabilities and effectiveness of leading technologies and new management approaches to ensuring safety at work in accordance with existing problems in the field of occupational safety. The main approaches used in the study are the statistical method, comparison, analysis, and the descriptive method. The study identified problems in the field of occupational safety in Ukraine, the main ones being a large share of undeclared labour and an inadequate system for recording accidents. Ways to ensure occupational safety are identified, which are primarily related to conducting conversations, motivating personnel, digitalisation of such safety elements as training, briefings, risk assessment, and incident management. Based on the analysis of the experience of global leading companies in ensuring occupational safety, effective practices for improving the effectiveness of the safety system have been identified, which include conversations with employees, special development and training programmes, the introduction of advanced technologies and unified safety systems. The conducted research allowed developing an occupational safety system that incorporates modern technologies and management approaches. The findings can be useful for company managers in selecting and implementing effective management measures and new technologies to ensure occupational safety

Unified approach to artificial compressibility and local low Mach number preconditioning

This paper presents a unified approach to artificial compressibility and local low Mach number preconditioning methods. The numerical formulation is presented, which provides a seamless transition between incompressible and compressible systems. A single preconditioner that can act as the artificial compressibility or the local preconditioning under a given Mach number condition is derived. An artificial compressibility method is proposed for the unified system. The unified preconditioner is applied to the upwind approach, Roe's approximate Riemann solver, and the JST artificial dissipation approach. A Roe average, which can be applied to the unified systems in a single form is derived. The preconditioning matrix is applied to a single solver to analyze problems ranging from incompressible fluid flows to compressible flows with shocks.

ПРОГНОЗУВАННЯ ВЛАСТИВОСТЕЙ ЛЕГУЮЧИХ ДОБАВОК – ВАЖЛИВА СКЛАДОВА ОДЕРЖАННЯ ЯКІСНОГО МЕТАЛУ

The main goal of the work is to predict the complex of physicochemical and thermophysical properties of additives from the standpoint of their contribution to the directed formation of the quality of steels. As a scientific basis for the development of analytical dependencies, the work uses the original concept of directional chemical bonding, the core of which is the consideration of metal melts as chemically unified systems, and not a mechanical mixture of constituent elements, and taking into account the contribution of all components, even in small concentrations, as well as the accumulated experience of creating information and analytical systems for forecasting and management of iron and steel smelting processes at the Iron and Steel Institute of Z.I. Nekrasov National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The information component is a database on the properties of metallurgical melts, namely the "Ferroalloys" database chosen as the starting point for modeling, which is continuously updated with modern data. A successful combination of information and scientific resources ensured the development of stable models with high forecast accuracy (R2 ≥ 0.95) for domestic brands of ferroalloys (ferromanganese, ferrosilicomanganese, metallic manganese). The findings presented in this work are recommended for integration into the automated technological process management systems of steelmaking with the aim of further forming a competitive final product.

Thermodynamic Analysis and Comparison of Power Cycles for Small Modular Reactors

Small nuclear power plants can provide a stable, carbon-free energy supply to civil infrastructure and industrial enterprises in remote regions isolated from unified energy systems. More than 70 projects of small modular reactors are currently being developed by IAEA member countries; several low-power power units are already supplying thermal and electrical energy to consumers. One of the main limitations standing in the way of widespread dissemination of this technology is the high specific capital cost of a low-power nuclear power plant; therefore, new scientific and technical solutions are needed in this industry. Increasing the thermodynamic efficiency of power cycles of small modular reactors can become a driver for reducing the cost of supplied electrical energy. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive thermodynamic analysis of existing and promising power cycles for small modular reactors. In addition to traditional steam power cycles, cycles using non-traditional working fluids, including carbon dioxide, freons, and helium cycles, are considered. Optimal sets of thermodynamic parameters were determined to ensure maximum net efficiency of electricity production. For water-cooled reactor plants, a maximum efficiency of 33.5% at an initial temperature of 300 °C could be achieved using a steam turbine cycle. It was revealed that for reactor plants with liquid metal and liquid salt coolant in the range of initial temperatures above 550–700 °C, the maximum thermal efficiency was provided by the Brayton recompression cycle with a carbon dioxide coolant: the net electrical efficiency exceeded the level of steam turbine plants, with intermediate superheating of the steam, and could reach a value of 49.4% at 600 °C. This makes the use of these cycles promising for low-power nuclear power plants with a high initial temperature. In small gas-cooled reactor plants with a helium coolant, the use of a binary cycle consisting of a helium Brayton cycle and a steam-powered Rankine cycle provided an efficiency of 44.3% at an initial helium temperature of 700 °C and 52.9% at 1000 °C. This was higher than in the Brayton cycle with a recuperator, with a minimum temperature difference in the heat exchanger of 20 °C: the efficiency was 40.2% and 52%, respectively. Also, the transition to power cycles with non-traditional working fluids will lead to a change in the operating conditions of turbomachines and heat exchangers.

Health Care Guaranteeing as Important Factor of Social Security

The article aims to comprehensively study the health care system as an important factor of social security and elaborate a modern paradigm of its development. The factors that negatively affect the population's health and social security in general have been identified. Tendencies to reducing the number of medical employees have been analyzed, and measures to improve the sector's staffing have been suggested. The necessity of digitizing data, medical statistics, and patient routing has been proved. It has been emphasized that the basis of national interests should be social security as a collective ability to counteract possible risks enhanced by the appropriate level of health care provision with the help of specific organizational and legal measures. It has been offered to apply an integrated nationwide approach for guaranteeing the proper level of the health care system, which is to provide the population with high-quality and affordable medical care, forming a unified medical space, implementing information and communication systems and other legal and financial mechanisms for the functioning of the sector by the needs of the time.

Coupling thin layer chromatography with mass spectrometry for detection and identification of sertraline and its metabolite in the urine

The aim of the study was to detect sertraline and its metabolites in urine under standardized thin layer chromatography (TLC) screening conditions and identify the metabolites using the mass spectrometry method. Materials and methods. Urine samples, collected within 30 hours in portions of 20–50 mL, commenced from the seventh hour after the administration of a single therapeutic dose of the drug. The sample preparation process involved dilute acid hydrolysis, followed by the extraction of the native compound and metabolites with chloroform at a pH of 8–9. Thin layer chromatography studies of the extracts were conducted using four unified TLC systems recommended by The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists for general drug screening. Chromatograms were subjected to color reactions with a variety of chromogenic reagents. For the analysis of eluates from chromatograms, a Varian 1200 L mass spectrometer (Netherlands) equipped with a dual quadrupole mass analyzer was employed. Identification was performed through direct sample introduction into the ion chamber, electron-impact ionization (70 eV), and full ion scanning mode. Results. The spot of the native drug on the chromatogram was identified by the Rf, value. Metabolite of sertraline was identified as N-desmethyltrihydroxysertraline by the molecular ion peak in the mass spectrum. Conclusions. The study demonstrated the ability of TLC to detect sertraline and its metabolite, N-desmethyltrihydroxysertraline, in urine after the administration of a single therapeutic dose of the drug. The chromatographic mobility of the native compound and N-desmethyltrihydroxysertraline in the unified TLC screening systems, along with the results of their visualization using chromogenic reagents for toxicological drug screening, was determined. Furthermore, the potential of coupling TLC with mass spectrometry for the separation, detection, and confirmatory identification of sertraline and its metabolic products in urine was established.

Parallel programming in mobile devices with FancyJCL

Mobile devices and handheld systems, such as the smartphones and tablets universally extended, are becoming increasingly powerful. Their basic hardware configuration is usually state-of-the-art heterogeneous architectures consisting of multi-core processors and some kind of accelerator such as GPUs or DSPs. Specific code adapted to the architecture is mandatory if high-performance computation is required and low-level libraries and parallelism are needed, which constitutes an important barrier for the usual developer in such devices. In this context, we propose the FancyJCL framework. It provides a high-level abstraction layer that hides implementation details and allows to develop parallel programs for mobile devices. The target platform for FancyJCL is mainly Android and Java developers due to their high market penetration. A very simple, seemingly sequential encoding results in parallel efficient OpenCL code. FancyJCL is itself based on the Fancier framework, which enables optimal memory management across memory spaces on unified memory systems. Benchmarks of FancyJCL code developed for a wide range of image processing algorithms show good performance with low development effort.

Electricity–gas multi-agent planning method considering users’ comprehensive energy consumption behavior

With the advent of the energy Internet and the swift growth of unified energy systems, the comprehensive energy demand of users has gradually become a problem that cannot be ignored for the planning of integrated energy systems. Aiming at this problem, this paper suggests a multi-agent planning approach for electricity and gas, considering users’ holistic energy consumption behavior. First, utilizing a combined subjective and objective weighting method, this study establishes a utility model for users’ energy consumption characteristics. The analysis of comprehensive energy consumption behavior is conducted through an evolutionary game. On this basis, the planning revenue model for electricity grid and gas network investors is formulated, and the game mechanism of different investors is analyzed. A dynamic game model of electricity–gas multi-agent planning considering comprehensive energy consumption behavior is proposed. Ultimately, the model is resolved using an iterative exploration approach. The validity and efficacy of the proposed method are confirmed through a simulation example.

A deep learning approach to recognizing fine-grained expressway location reference from unstructured texts in Chinese

Complex nested and discontinuous location references are common in unstructured text. Extracting them is essential for accurate location information retrieval and spatial inference. However, traditional methods struggle with these references due to annotation system and model architecture limitations. In this study, we introduce a deep learning approach to uniformly recognize flat, nested, and discontinuous location references, motivated by recognizing fine-grained expressway location references. The approach uses a pre-trained language model to generate semantic sentence representations and a distance and direction-aware Transformer for contextual encoding. Then, it recognizes location references by modeling the adjacency and boundary relations between word pairs. We evaluated the approach on seven benchmark datasets and compared it with state-of-the-art methods. The results show that the approach achieves higher accuracy with faster inference, validating our modeling paradigm and architecture. The ablation study further confirms the effectiveness of submodules in architecture. These findings can provide valuable insights for developing advanced unified location reference recognition methods. Moreover, the detailed labeled dataset for location references can facilitate the evaluation and comparison of unified recognition methods and systems.