Vol 27, No 1 (2026)

This study investigates the effectiveness of economic system management from a network perspective. Through ongoing communication, agents form networks that can be described in terms of two contours: an open contour, reflecting interactions with external agents, and an organisationally closed contour, confined to interactions within a single system. The latter contributes to system stability, yet it is rarely examined as an independent object of analysis. Economic systems are inherently dynamic: the number of agents and the connections among them change over time. As these changes occur, network effects may emerge, influencing overall system performance. Recognising and accounting for such effects is therefore essential when assessing managerial effectiveness. The study aims to develop a practical framework for identifying and managing organisationally closed economic systems based on network effects. This framework is structured as a management cycle comprising four stages: data collection, data analysis, generation of alternatives, and decision-making. System effectiveness is evaluated through two dimensions of the network effect: structural and functional. The structural dimension captures the non-additive growth in the number of connections as the number of agents increases. The functional dimension reflects the expansion of internally balanced turnover within the system. The proposed framework was applied to an actual economic entity, resulting in the identification of 18 organisationally closed economic systems. To assess the presence of a network effect, the study modelled an increase in the number of agents within the largest identified system (47 agents). The results demonstrate a clearly non-additive change in key indicators, confirming the existence of a network effect within the system.

This study examines the automation of engineering calculations within an information and analytical training system for specialists in technosphere safety. It applies an optimization approach based on differential calculus to address tasks related to the rapid elimination of emergency consequences, including the search for missing vessel crew members under conditions of reduced visibility. The study demonstrates how Mathcad and Excel can be used to automate engineering calculations. It describes the sequential stages of solving technosphere safety problems, integrating the classical methods of differential calculus with their practical implementation in the Mathcad mathematical package and the Excel spreadsheet environment. The findings confirm that automated computation enhances the efficiency of rapid response and supports informed decision-making in emergency situations. Furthermore, incorporating digital technologies into engineering calculations contributes to improving the professional training of technosphere safety specialists.A distinctive aspect of the study is the analysis of a simulated man-made emergency conducted within the framework of the interdepartmental experimental and research exercise “Safe Arctic” in Murmansk, Russia. The authors emphasize the importance of real-time automation in managing technogenic emergencies, particularly through determining optimal area illumination. The study also examines relevant pedagogical approaches and presents the authors’ methods for solving professionally oriented tasks. A rational procedure for calculating area illumination using derivatives is proposed. The originality of the research lies in the methodology for determining the optimal height for illuminating an emergency zone, which combines differential calculus with a comparative analysis of function graphs generated through automated calculations. The results contribute to improving the effectiveness of rescue operations in conditions of limited visibility.

The rapid onset of the COVID-19 crisis compelled immediate responses to mitigate infection risks, particularly in education. A swift transition to e-learning became a necessity, posing myriad challenges for students and institutions. Issues ranged from technical considerations to educators' preparedness and students' readiness, necessitating a reevaluation of the role of information technology in education. The didactic potential of e-learning tools is considered, and methodological recommendations are formulated for their integration into pedagogical practice, adaptation to both distance and traditional conditions. An analysis of relevant international studies informs the development ofa teaching method that optimizes distance-learning efficiency and minimizes network load. This method strategically balances synchronous and asynchronous learning, considering network traffic reduction, fostering equal educational opportunities regardless of location, health, or financial status. This study affirms the method's effectiveness through a com-parative analysis of the results with those of previous traditional semesters. This research contributes valuable insights for navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic in the education sector. This study aims to explore the pedagogical possibilities of e-learning tools and offer methodological recommendations for their incorporation into teaching practices, adaptable to both remote and conventional environments. Additionally, it seeks to develop and validate a teaching approach that enhances the efficiency of distance learning, reduces network load, and promotes equitable educational access, addressing the challenges associated with the rapid development and widespread adoption of e-learning technologies.

The study addresses key issues in the development of fiber-optic gyroscopes with an extended angular velocity measurement range for a Small-Sized Inertial Measuring Unit intended for a wide class of highly maneuverable objects. The study focuses on the output characteristics of fiber-optic gyroscopes with an angular velocity range exceeding 300°/s, as well as on zero-bias error between successive power-on cycles and zero-bias error under varying temperature conditions, with a view to their integration into a Small-Sized Inertial Measuring Unit. The results of experimental investigations into the output characteristics of fiber-optic gyroscopes (FOG) are presented, including their performance over the angular velocity range, across temperature variations, and under repeated power-on conditions for a Small-Sized Inertial Measuring Unit (IMU). The research methodology is based on the design of an open-loop fiber-optic gyroscope employing direct conversion, with its operating principle derived from the Sagnac effect. In addition, the feasibility of using fiber-optic gyroscopes operating at optical wavelengths of 1.3 μm and 1.75 μm with an extended angular velocity range has been examined. The findings confirm the suitability of such gyroscopes for incorporation into a Small-Sized Inertial Measuring Unit.

Metal structural elements remain the primary construction material in many modern structures, which are subject to stringent requirements for safe and reliable operation. During service, structural elements undergo deformation and are exposed to various physical fields and environmental conditions. Situations involving two or more concurrent degradation factors pose particular risks. This study presents selected results of experimental and theoretical studies on the influence of an electromagnetic field and the orientation of its field lines on the corrosion wear of thin-walled steel elements. It also examines the effect of a magnetic field on the corrosion behavior of deformed thin-walled samples. The experiments were conducted in both urban and rural environments. The samples were exposed to the test environment for a specified period. Deformation was introduced using different methods.An experimental - theoretical approach was employed to evaluate the degree of corrosion wear and to determine the mechanical properties of the samples. Tangential and bending stiffness were calculated using relationships derived for the case of pure bending. The results indicate that corrosion wear is greater in samples not subjected to a magnetic field than in those exposed to magnetic field effects. Samples with surfaces oriented parallel to the Earth’s magnetic field lines exhibit more pronounced corrosion. It was also found that the tangential stiffness of undeformed samples under magnetic field exposure is slightly higher than that of tensile-deformed samples, whereas the bending samples of tensile-deformed samples exceeds that of undeformed ones. The study reveals new effects of both theoretical and practical significance.