Galactomannans, composed of galactose and mannose, may form gels and are considered safe because of their non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible nature. As a result, they are widely utilized in the food industry as stabilizers and thickeners. Among galactomannan producing species, guar gum and locust bean gum are particularly important due to their economical relevance. Guar gum and locust bean gum are often adulterated with cellulose gums like xanthan gum and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Adulteration of galactomannans with other gums may introduce uncertainties regarding functionality and complicate quality control, posing a potential problem for the food industry. Among the different techniques which have been used for determining and characterizing galactomannans, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy stands out. Especially when coupled to Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR), analyses are performed rapidly, with a minimum sample preparation, and without the need for solvent or previous extraction mechanisms. However, food is a very complex matrix that contains a high number of components which generate a multitude of spectral information and large data sets. Consequently, additional data processing tools such as chemometrics are needed to be able to draw useful information from spectra. Our goal in this work is to show how to optimize conditions for instrumental analysis by infrared spectroscopy of galactomannans and its constituent monomers and create a chemometric model where galactomannans could be differentiated as a single group. We successfully optimized the PCA model obtained after chemometric processing of infrared data through reducing dimensions by loadings selection.

In Uzbekistan, the main food product is bread, which is produced in various forms from local and imported wheat. Most of it is not studied by microelement analysis. The objective of this study is to quantify trace elements in locally produced wheat from various cultivated regions of Uzbekistan. Four different varieties of wheat are cultivated in Sirdarya, Tashkent region, Kashkadarya and Fergana were selected for analysis. Next, a comparative analysis of the elemental composition like iron, zinc, potassium, calcium etc., in the selected samples were studied. To carry out the above aims, an innovative research method was chosen, which is called improved instrumental neutron activation analysis. This method differs from others in its high accuracy in determining trace elements and its multi-element nature. Using this method, we can understand how insufficient nutrients are in baked goods made from wheat grain grown in Uzbekistan. Based on the results of the study, it can be recommended to enrich the soil with fertilizers high in iron and zinc. As a result, in turn, will have a positive effect on the health of the population, since today there is a shortage of the above listed elements. It was also revealed that the concentration of potassium and calcium in wheat cultivated in Uzbekistan is in a high state than other elements. Using the chosen method, two toxic elements were determined and according to the analysis for toxic elements, all four samples are recommended for consumption, as they do not exceed the permissible level for food safety.

Ensuring inclusive rural development of territorial communities requires a comprehensive study and the use of special methods and tools. To ensure such growth, it is advisable to apply financial decentralisation and territorial marketing. The aim of the study is to determine the level of inclusive rural development of territorial communities of Lviv region. The study is based on the analysis of the budgetary indicators of rural territorial communities of Lviv region, a study of the political, economic and social inclusion of active groups of entities of rural territorial communities of Lviv region. The budgetary indicators of rural territorial communities of Lviv region are analysed, taking into account the average values for the region and the country. Based on the results of questionnaire surveys of active groups of entities of rural territorial communities of Lviv region, the level of political, economic and social inclusion is determined. The research identified indicators of political, economic and social inclusion that shape the perceptions of active groups of entities on further improvements aimed at enhancing inclusive rural development of territorial communities. The results of the research show that the level of inclusive rural development of territorial communities of Lviv region is above average. Prospects are aimed at ensuring permanent monitoring of the integrated index of inclusive rural development of territorial communities as an indicator of the efficiency of budgetary funds (financial decentralisation) and meeting the needs of active groups of entities of rural communities (territorial marketing) in Ukraine.

In the realm of innovative product development, a multidisciplinary and scientifically grounded approach plays a pivotal role in shaping the creation of novel solutions. As society faces complex problems and rapidly evolving needs, understanding the scientific methodologies and theories underpinning innovative product development is crucial. Research aim is to comprehensively analyse and synthesize the diverse theoretical foundations from various scientific disciplines that influence the process of innovative product development. Research methods include literature review, content analysis, and expert interviews were employed to identify and categorize relevant theoretical frameworks from various disciplines. The studyʼs key findings emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in innovative product development. The study highlights the roles of creativity, economics, and psychology in product development, stressing the need to weave diverse scientific theories into a systematic approach for user-centric solutions. The study highlights the integrative nature of innovation by elucidating the diverse theoretical foundations underpinning product development, enhancing understanding of how various scientific theories converge to drive innovation systematically. The findings underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in guiding real-world product development, offering practical insights for innovators, educators, and professionals seeking to optimize the innovation process and create user-centric solutions.

Nowadays, when the economic development of countries is more and more influenced by knowledge-based, innovative entrepreneurship, particular attention is paid to the application and protection of intellectual property. Enterprises can acquire intellectual property rights in various ways externally and such rights can also be generated by enterprises internally: they launch and subsequently produce new or improved products and services (research and development) and ensure the protection of intellectually intensive products (patents, trademarks, computer software, etc.). Thus, it is important to study the valuation and accounting of intellectual property rights. The aim of the research is, on the basis of the studies of intellectual property rights accounting policy in Latvia, to identify the shortcomings related to the valuation and accounting of intellectual property rights and to develop recommendations for their elimination. The following research tasks are subject to the aim: to study IPRs concept, regulatory framework and statistical data, to valuate accounting policy for IPRs; to identify shortcomings related to the valuation and accounting of IPRs; to develop recommendations for the elimination of identified shortcomings. The results of research enable to draw a conclusion that the requirements of the laws and regulations of Latvia do not prevent from the capitalization of intellectual property rights as intangible assets; however, it is necessary to revise and improve some requirements. In the conclusion of research, the authors have elaborated recommendations for the elimination of identified shortcomings.

Digital progress in the European Union is a catalyst for economic development. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the pace of digitalization, thereby creating not only challenges for the European Union but also new opportunities for economic development in Europe. The present research focuses on an analysis of digital economy and society index scores for Latvia and Lithuania, comparing the performance of both countries with the European Union average. The research aims to identify the critical areas that hinder digital progress in Latvia and Lithuania. Accordingly, the digital economy and society index was analysed for the period from 2018 to 2023. The empirical part of the research includes a sociological survey, and the survey data were analysed in order to identify population needs for and experience in using digital technologies in Latvia and Lithuania. The survey involved 146 respondents. The research results allowed us to identify the critical areas for Latvia and Lithuania to focus on for further digital progress. Latvia and Lithuania both show high scores, well above the EU average, in the ‘digital public servicesʼ component, indicating that both countries have a high level of e-government users and widespread access to digital public services. The results of the sociological survey further confirm this, showing that a large majority of 84.25% of respondents in both Latvia and Lithuania use digital solutions in their daily lives.

Cooperation and financial stability of agricultural companies, especially small and medium ones, is very significant for the development of agricultural sector. In Latvia, cooperatives represent different sizes and industries: dairy, grain, fruit and vegetable, forest, agricultural services and home production. The research aim is to assess financial distress in agricultural cooperatives in Latvia by applying the prevention system indicators. The evaluation of financial indicators is based on the methodology developed by Deutscher Raiffeisenverband e.V. (DRV) – the leading association of agricultural and food industry cooperatives and cooperative-oriented companies in Germany. This system prescribes reporting and monitoring requirements for cooperatives to perform the preventive case analysis to ensure a successful operation of a cooperative or to prevent financial problems, if any. Therefore, financial indicators of cooperatives in Latvia were analysed adapting the DRV analysis methodology to the situation of Latvia to identify cooperatives requiring support to ensure viability. The evaluation of cooperatives by the number of employees, assets, sales and other financial indicators convincingly demonstrates that the largest and most financially strong cooperatives in Latvia operate in the grain sector, followed by the dairy sector. The assessment of financial distress reports that 10 out of 51 analysed cooperatives experience risk of operation. The most common threat to a cooperative in Latvia is related to its equity; however, it is recommended to evaluate this indicator in line with other indicators, for example, changes in equity in recent years and length of a cooperative’s operation.

The global character of sustainable development has made agritourism a popular phenomenon in both developed and developing countries, as it is advantageous from the standpoint of local economic and social development. Sustainability criteria play a vital role in controlling the quality of agritourist services of leader countries in agritourism. However, the development of agritourism in Uzbekistan has very different characteristics and development levels compared to other countries, especially countries in Western Europe. This article explores the integration of sustainability principles within the quality of agritourism services in Uzbekistan. As Uzbekistanʼs agritourism industry continues to grow, the importance of sustainability criteria in ensuring the quality of agritourist services becomes increasingly evident. A survey was conducted to investigate the importance of sustainability in the quality of agritourism services in Uzbekistan. The research findings indicate that there is a growing interest in agritourism in Uzbekistan. However, there is a need to improve the quality and sustainability of agritourism services in order to meet the expectations of tourists. This, in turn, enhances the overall visitor experience and contributes to the long-term sustainability of the industry. This article, relying on quantitative method, reveals the assessment of quality of agritourism services in Uzbekistan from the sustainability point of view. In the context of Uzbekistan, the article emphasizes the nationʼs strategic initiatives to promote sustainable resource management, water efficiency, conservation, and environmental preservation in its agricultural and agritourism sectors ensuring the delivery of high-quality services and products while contributing to environmental preservation.

Newly constructed buildings are subject to stricter requirements – the building must not harm the environment, they must be energetically and economically efficient, comfortable, ecological, etc. One such green energy-saving idea is green roofs and walls of buildings. The purpose of this study is to determine the dynamics of rainwater runoff under real natural conditions, in a typical green roof construction, compared to runoff from a roof covered with bituminous tiles. The study was conducted in the year 2022–2023 by installing two 1 m² stands, which are affected by real climatic conditions. One stand was covered with traditional bituminous tiles, but the other was covered with a ‘green roof’ coating. Meteorological data were obtained from the Kaunas City meteorological station. During the first months of observation, it was possible to record the tendency that rainwater runoff is slow in the case of a green roof, but it continues even after the intense rain has ended. Analyzing the data, it was found during the research that the regression coefficients are very small in assessing the relationship between average daily temperatures and runoff in individual months, R2 – 0.0453 to 0.0553. The study showed that under certain meteorological conditions, a green roof can accumulate up to 35–45 percent more water than a roof covered with bituminous tiles. This means that the water is accumulated and then slowly drains into the rain collection systems.

In planning active leisure areas, the main emphasis is placed on the elements used in the infrastructure of childrenʼs playgrounds and recreational sports areas, their functionality, and compliance with various safety requirements in the public outdoor space. However, there are no uniform requirements for the aesthetics of the elements or the visually coherent inclusion of such infrastructure in the surrounding environment and existing infrastructure. The study aims to evaluate the impact of the infrastructure of active leisure areas on the visual quality of the public outdoor space and possible improvements by choosing alternative elements with a different visual design but similar functionality and to distinguish the main characteristic features for determining the visual quality of elements and characterize the impact on the surrounding environment. The research uses the descriptive or monographic method to collect and analyse the elements and functionality included in the surveyed territories in the summer and autumn of 2022, evaluating the aesthetic quality of the elements in active leisure areas in the public outdoor space of Riga and Tallinn. The studyʼs main results reflected several problems related to integrating active recreation areas into the surrounding environment. They highlighted issues related to the quality of the existing environment, which can be described as insufficient or low and which characterizes the planned development as coming into conflict with the existing environmentʼs aesthetic qualities or their absence.