Microservices Software Architecture: A Review

Architecting is an indispensable activity in all spheres and paradigms of Software Engineering. DevOps, a portmanteau of Development and Operations, has a major adoption challenge in context to Microservices Architecture. Architecture refers to the most important aspect of internal design of a software. Architecture must be good otherwise; it will become slow and much more expensive to add new proficiencies in future. This paper has presented a review of microservices architecture and implementation patterns. Microservice approach is a new concept in software architecture patterns and has leapt up over past few years for describing a certain method to design software applications as collections of individualistically deployable services. In this paper we are looking to discover the role of microservices software architecture in DevOps. It is found that adopting DevOps may carry many challenges/issues like organizational values, immaturity of the tools and infrastructural support with it for architecting with it. Keywords: Microservices Architecture, Microservice, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), Software Architecture, DevOps

Organizational and infrastructural processes security for formation and economic development of cross-border clusters

Introduction. Improving the society's well-being and the income of businesses in border regions should be based, inter alia, on the benefits of their geographical location. One of the most effective ways to realize these benefits is the formation of cross-border cluster structures. However, the formation of cross-border clusters and their further development are difficult processes, the course of which is possible only under certain conditions. Specifying these conditions is an important step in developing a general strategy for cross-border cooperation and finding ways to intensify it on the basis of building cross-border cluster structures. Particularly, the necessary conditions for the formation and development of cross-border clusters are proper organizational and infrastructural support of these processes. The purpose of the paper is to determine the composition and to specify the features of organizational and infrastructural support of the formation and economic development of cross-border cluster structures. Results. The concept of economic development of a cross-border cluster was interpreted. The main stages of this development were identified. The creating model of the potential for cross-border cluster formation was presented. The main system components for ensuring the realization of this potential were identified. The grouping of creating ways of cross-border cluster structures was carried out. The processes sequence of formation and development of cross- border clusters has been offered. The main subjects of infrastructural processes that ensure formation and development of cross-border cluster structures were identified. Conclusions. The study showed that a necessary condition for the formation and development of cross-border clusters is the potential for these processes. There should also be a system to ensure the implementation of this potential, which consists of subsystems of organizational, infrastructural, methodological and regulatory support for the formation and development of cross-border cluster structures. There are some relationships between these four subsystems. Particularly, the infrastructural support of these processes largely determines the level of their organizational support. The obtained results can be used in the strategies development for socio-economic development of the border regions of Ukraine.

Blockchain Affordances for Digital Health- A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The current digital health context is incapable of supporting the future need for data security and storage in digital health services. It requires implementing a robust, interoperable, and scalable data storage and security solution to address this future need. Blockchain is an emerging information technology that can support this industry's timely needs. Therefore, a clear foundational understanding of Blockchain affordances for digital health is significant to harness its full potential. OBJECTIVE Objective: This paper presents a comprehensive review of Blockchain affordances for digital health. The review aims to: 1) identify the perceived Blockchain affordances and 2) explore the recent Blockchain research in digital health (actualized). METHODS We applied the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology to review the literature extant. Furthermore, we applied the affordance theory lens to define and defend our findings on Blockchain affordances. RESULTS A total of 3627 relevant papers have been identified and analysed in this review study. Of these, 90 were probed deeply. Our analysis identified 14 Blockchain affordances (Access control, Interoperability, Security, Tamper-resistance, Traceability, Anonymity, Data Provenance, Identity, Immutability, Integrity, Privacy, Transparency, and Trust) which are perceived and actualized in digital health. Our study also discovered several constraints in Blockchain implementation such as security and privacy, interoperability, scalability, and infrastructural support that requires further research attention. CONCLUSIONS We believe this study will guide further Blockchain research in the digital health domain and informatively contribute to eliminating (decreasing) the dark side of digital health and improving (increasing) the bright side for the future.

analysis of infrastructural support for high-tech development of the domestic economy in the context of neo-industrialization

Nowadays the high-tech sector plays a key role in economic development. The sector of high-tech and knowledge-intensive production is legally considered as a driver for the development of the domestic economy. However, the boundaries of any development are determined by the resource potential, in which the infrastructure component plays an important role. The search for opportunities to maximize the positive effects of investing in high-tech production in conditions of a total shortage of conditionally free financial resources is actualized by the need to implement the neo-industrial concept of economic development as a response to the challenges of the modern world economic system, which confirms the relevance and determines the purpose of this study. The effectiveness of the innovative component of the economic development of the state is predetermined by the quality of the processes of high-tech and science-intensive production in the context of the need to integrate the new industrial basis of the national economy into the system. This problem primarily affects the level of microeconomic systems that form regional economic systems, which, in turn, determine the pace and quality of development of the national economy.

DEVELOPMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT OF THE WORLD ELECTRONIC LOGISTICS MARKET

The article states that the priority features of the current stage of globalization are informatization, electronicization and logistics of international business, which acts as the latest stage of integration of the world economy, the content of which is to expand virtual flows of resources, resulting in intensified competition in global electronic markets, deepening of interconnections between national economies at the level of social reproduction processes, formation of integrated logistics and electronic networks and their infrastructure. On the basis of the conducted generalizations the state establishments (ministries, departments, etc.), subjects of economic activity forming public infrastructure of the international market of electronic logistics, at cotton enterprises, TNCs, FIGs, etc.), consumers of products / services (individuals), partners (intermediaries), and in its structure the most priority segments are “business business” (B2B) “business consumer” (B2C). On the basis of certain patterns of development of the global e-logistics market, scientific and methodological approaches to the study of the development of infrastructure of national e-logistics markets are substantiated by the criteria: perfection of regulatory support, development of e-business; the state of development of the IT sector; optimality of the segment structure of outsourcing of the electronic logistics market; efficiency of the existing state of infrastructural support of development of the national market of electronic logistics. This allows you to create an information and analytical base to adjust the priorities of the national e-logistics business at the state level.)

Regional Features of Development of Tourism Infrastructure and Their Impact on Tourism

Introduction. Tourism activities are important development drivers of regional economies. Regional tourism has gained special significance in the last year, when restrictions on international travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic diverted tourist flows to domestic travel. The research topic is of relevance because of the peculiarities and uneven development of tourism and tourism infrastructure in different regions of Russia and because of the need to identify the causes and consequences of the emerging imbalances. Based on the results of the conducted research, the article identifies the regional features of development of tourism infrastructure and the factors affecting them. Materials and Methods. The study was based on the analysis of official statistical data from Russian Federal State Statistics Service and the Federal Agency for Tourism regarding the development of tourism and tourism infrastructure in the federal districts of the Russian Federation. To identify the level of development of the tourism infrastructure, economic and statistical methods were used, as well as specific indicators characterizing the tourist infrastructure, including the Baretje-Defert and Schneider indices, etc. A horizontal and structural analysis of statistical data on the development of tourism and its infrastructure was carried out, which made it possible to identify the features of regional development of tourism infrastructure. Results. The authors have analyzed statistical data characterizing tourism activities, studied regional imbalances in the development of tourism infrastructure, identified the causes and consequences of uneven development of regional infrastructural support for tourism activities, and formulated proposals for taking them into account when developing strategic master plans for development of tourist areas. Discussion and Conclusion. The results obtained can be used when devising strategies for development of regional infrastructural support for tourism activities, as well as when preparing master plans for tourist destinations, which will contribute to increasing the scientific validity of managerial decisions regarding tourism development at the regional level.

Entrepreneurship in the Times of Pandemic: Barriers and Strategies

Using a mixed method approach, this study investigates the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed for entrepreneurs and the strategies that organizations can adopt to make a turnaround towards survival and growth. Empirical analysis is done on the factors which have affected smaller firms during economic slowdowns in the past, and policies and plans adopted by firms to overcome the barriers. Factors such as lockdown, remote working, digital marketing and digitization were accounted through qualitative research. In the empirical analysis section, descriptive statistics and confirmatory factor analysis have been used. In the qualitative section, thematic analysis and hierarchy charts were made with the help of NVivo software. The prime barriers which affected the firms were organizational readiness, infrastructural support by government, technological inadequacy and financial crises. The main strategies emphasized by founders to overcome the barriers of organizational readiness and financial crunch were marketing, strategic networking and product and services, and for technological ineptness was digitization.

State regulation of rural development in the context of the implementation of regional development programs

The goal. The research is aimed at studying the role of rural areas from the perspective of the implementation of regional development programs in the process of state regulation. Methods. In the course of the study, methods of observation, abstraction, analysis and synthesis were used. The conceptual foundations of state regulation of rural development through the implementation of state programs in the period of a sustainable process of urbanization, in the conditions of a post-industrial (information) society are described. Results and practical significance. In the study presented by the author, from the position of state regulation carried out by implementing the relevant tasks of state development programs, a scientific assessment of the modern role of rural territories in the socio-economic and spatial development of Russia is given. The author's position on the issue of the conceptual foundations of the processes of rural development in relation to the current development programs is given. The importance of infrastructural support of connections between rural territories and agglomerations to reduce the «economic distance» between them is reflected. The scientific novelty of the study. The results of the study of the role of rural territories from the perspective of state regulation processes are presented. An updated idea of the position of rural territories at the present stage of socio-economic and spatial development of the regions of Russia is given.

Selecting a Laboratory Information System for Biobanks in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Biobanks in low-and middle-income countries need significant infrastructural support to meet ISBER Best Practices to support population-based genomics research. ISBER recommends a Biobank information management system that can manage workflows from biospecimen receipt to distribution. The H3Africa Initiative was set out to develop regional African Biobanks where Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa were successfully awarded grants to develop state-of-the-art Biobanks. In this chapter, we review the African experiences, processes, and recommendations for information management systems for use in the low-and middle-income country context. We provide a balanced basis on which institutions can deliberate their decision between an out-of-the-box service and a commercial enterprise.

“If I’ve got latent TB, I would like to get rid of it”: Derivation of the CARD (Constraints, Actions, Risks, and Desires) Framework informed by South African healthcare worker perspectives on latent tuberculosis treatment

Background Healthcare workers (HWs) have at least twice the risk of tuberculosis (TB) compared to the general population. There is growing emphasis on latent TB infection (LTBI) in high-risk populations. Yet we know little about HWs’ perspectives of LTBI testing and treatment to inform implementation in high-incidence settings. We developed a qualitative networked approach to analyze HWs’ perspectives on LTBI testing and treatment. Methods We conducted 22 in-depth interviews with nurse and physician stakeholders, who had been recruited as part of a larger study evaluating TB transmission risk in HWs at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. We performed open coding to identify emergent themes and selective coding to identify relevant text citations. We used thematic analysis to inductively derive the CARD (Constraints, Actions, Risks, Desires) framework. Results All HWs desired to avoid developing TB but few felt this was actionable. Despite LTBI knowledge gaps, safety and cost concerns, most HWs reported hypothetical willingness to take LTBI treatment. The CARD framework showed that desire and action related to LTBI testing and treatment was clearly framed by the interactions between constraints, administrative action, and risk. The surprise HWs described on receiving a negative LTBI (Quantiferon-Plus) result suggests LTBI testing may recalibrate HWs’ perceptions regarding the futility of actions to reduce their TB risk. Conclusions LTBI testing and treatment are acceptable to HWs and could counteract the perceived inevitability of occupational TB infection that currently may limit risk reduction action. This should be coupled with administrative leadership and infrastructural support. The CARD analytic framework is a helpful tool for implementation scientists to understand current practices within complex health systems. Application of CARD could facilitate the development of contextually-relevant interventions to address important public health problems such as occupational TB.