Science. Business. Society.
Vol. 11 (2026), Issue 1

Table of Contents

  • SCIENCE

    • DFT study of the metal selectivity in protein phosphatases: structural and biomedicinal implications

      pg(s) 3-6

      Metal ions are essential for the structural stability and catalytic activity of numerous metalloproteins involved in cellular regulation and signaling. Protein phosphatases such as PHLPP2 and PPM1A play a key role in phosphorylation-dependent pathways with direct biomedical relevance, including cancer-related signaling mechanisms. Still, the factors governing metal selectivity in their active sites remain insufficiently understood. In the present study, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations are employed to investigate the metal preferences of two structurally distinct phosphatases: PHLPP2, characterized by a mononuclear Zn²⁺ binding site, and PPM1A, containing a binuclear Mn²⁺ catalytic center. The calculations are performed at the B3LYP/6-31+G(3d,p) level of theory to assess the thermodynamics of metal substitution in biologically relevant coordination environments. The results indicate pronounced differences in structural protection and solvent accessibility between the two metal-binding sites, with the Zn²⁺ site in PHLPP2 exhibiting high thermodynamic stability and well-pronounced protection against competing divalent metal ions. In contrast, the binuclear Mn²⁺ center in PPM1A demonstrates greater flexibility and increased susceptibility to metal exchange, particularly in the presence of biologically abundant cations. Overall, the study demonstrates the applicability of DFT calculations as a predictive tool for investigating metal selectivity in metalloproteins and provides further insight into the possible prospects of innovative cancer-treatment strategies in biologically relevant systems.

    • Analytical solutions for boundary value problems of transport phenomena in the design of multilayer structures

      pg(s) 7-10

      This article provides a systemic analysis of the application of analytical methods for solving differential equations of heat and mass transfer for the design of building envelopes in the context of modern energy efficiency requirements and the digitalization of the construction industry. It is demonstrated that analytical solutions remain critical for the design of multilayer walls and roofs, thermal stability and vapor permeability calculations, and the verification of BIM models and smart home systems. A review of classic and new analytical results from 2015–2025 is presented, including the use of physically-informed neural networks (PINN) for real-time thermal protection optimization. Examples of implementation in regulatory documents, software, and microclimate management systems are provided.

    • Uncertainty analysis of man B&W 6S70ME-C diesel engine based on measured operating parameters in each cylinder

      pg(s) 11-14

      In this paper, an uncertainty analysis is performed related to the marine MAN B&W 6S70ME-C diesel engine. Uncertainty analysis is based on six different engine operating parameters (Maximum pressure, Compression pressure, Mean indicated pressure, Exhaust Gas Outlet Temperature, Cooling Fresh Water Outlet Temperature, and Piston Cooling Oil Outlet Temperature) measured in each engine cylinder. Various engine loads are observed. Exhaust Gas Outlet Temperature uncertainties are the highest in comparison to uncertainties of all other considered operating parameters. The highest Exhaust Gas Outlet Temperature uncertainty is detected at engine load of 90% and is equal to ±2.421%, while considering all observed engine loads, Exhaust Gas Outlet Temperature uncertainty is equal to ±4.296%. Overall uncertainty of the analysis performed in this paper (which considers all observed operating parameters at all engine loads) is equal to ±4.837%, which also falls within the range of the recommended uncertainty limit (±5%).

    • Ways to reduce atmospheric air pollution from transport in the city of Kutaisi through an artificial intelligence – driven method

      pg(s) 15-16

      The article discusses the ecological state of atmospheric air in the city of Kutaisi and ways to reduce pollution from one of the main factors – transport, through the method of optimizing the urban road traffic system. This method integrates environmental responsibility with the goal of ensuring efficient, safe, and accessible mobility. It will also help urban planners and environmentalists, through an artificial intelligence-driven method, to reduce the negative environmental impact of transport and maintain the efficiency of transport systems.

  • BUSINESS

    • Reconnoitering implementation barriers of industrial symbiosis through social and economic kpi’s: a comparative analysis approach

      pg(s) 17-21

      Industrial Symbiosis (IS) is currently seen as one of the most avantgarde concepts embracing circularity and business cooperation in almost all economic sectors. Industrial Symbiosis processes are novel concepts compared to traditional business models with profit based and business oriented. This paper aims to present key findings and insights from Poland and Albania, both in early stages of IS implementation, as a study within LIAISE COST Action framework. Since the industrialization process for both countries have had similar patterns from their centralized past, they face nowadays similar challenges and barriers. Using a comparative quantitative approach, the findings highlight shared obstacles, including high investments costs, limited awareness of IS benefits, low trust among firms, insufficient coordination mechanisms, and constrained access to finance for collaborative investments. This paper also suggests the importance of tailored policies for each country, as well as the importance of support from public institutions.

    • Contemporary challenges to quality management in the context of the competitiveness of industrial enterprises

      pg(s) 22-25

      Quality management is an often-overlooked business factor that represents a strategic pillar for industrial enterprises that aim to strengthen their competitiveness in the national and global markets. This paper examines the contemporary challenges faced by quality management systems in industrial settings, considering digital transformation and integration with Industry 4.0. Key impediments and opportunities are identified, and recommendations for enhancing quality practices are proposed.

    • How Data Literacy Learning Quality Shapes Student’s Professional Readiness in Albania

      pg(s) 26-30

      Data literacy has become a core competence for employability and digital transformation in higher education. This study investigates how Albanian students perceive the quality of Data Literacy learning experiences and whether perceptions differ between public and private universities. Survey data were collected within the DELTA project (N = 250). A composite learning quality index was constructed across nine dimensions and demonstrated excellent reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.977). Spearman’s correlation revealed a positive association between perceived learning quality and professional usefulness (ρ = 0.287, p < 0.001). A Mann–Whitney U test indicated a statistically significant difference between institutional types (U = 6478.50, p = 0.048), with public university students reporting higher mean ranks. However, the effect size was small (r ≈ 0.13). The findings underline the importance of structured, practice-oriented learning offers while indicating modest institutional variation in perceived quality.

  • SOCIETY

    • The Persistence of Conflict: An Examination of Ten Critical Factors Why the Israeli– Palestinian Dispute Remains Unresolved

      pg(s) 31-35

      The Middle East is a geographical and political region whose boundaries vary with analytical purpose. Depending on whether the emphasis is placed on security, politics, or economic integration, the region may be defined expansively—from Morocco to Pakistan (the ―Greater Middle East,‖ a term popularized in the early 2000s)—or more narrowly, in line with traditional Orientalist framings, from Egypt to Iran. Although the region’s spatial scope is contested, one defining characteristic is widely recognized: chronic instability. At the center of this instability lies the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
      Since Israel’s establishment in 1948, the confrontation has evolved from an element of a broader Arab–Israeli conflict into a distinct and enduring dispute with regional and global ramifications. Although the conflict concerns a relatively small territorial space (approximately 20,000 square kilometers), it has repeatedly expanded in political significance—from local contestation to regional polarization and, ultimately, to internationalization. It remains salient across the Muslim world and continues to command sustained attention from global policymakers, who for more than seven decades have failed to broker a durable settlement.
      The conflict often generates sharply polarized views and is frequently approached through simplified narratives that obscure its historical depth and institutional complexity. While its modern dynamics emerged in the twentieth century, both parties draw on longer historical, religious, and cultural claims in legitimizing competing rights. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has also been instrumentalized by external actors, from Cold War geopolitics to post–September 11 security discourses. This article argues that the persistence of the Israeli–Palestinian dispute is best explained as a product of interacting political, structural, psychological, and international factors. By analyzing ten obstacles to peace, the paper offers a framework for understanding why repeated negotiations have failed and why conflict management has often substituted for conflict resolution.

    • Artificial intelligence in debtor-initiated bankruptcy proceedings

      pg(s) 36-38

      This paper examines the legal framework governing bankruptcy proceedings under Albanian legislation, focusing on the debtor’s status and procedural rights in initiating insolvency procedures. It distinguishes between current insolvency, where financial incapacity is evident, and prospective insolvency, where the debtor’s inability to meet obligations is reasonably foreseeable. The study analyzes the debtor’s petition for the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings, supported by the submission of financial documentation required to substantiate insolvency claims. Particular attention is given to the debtor’s request for reorganization and the submission of a reorganization plan as a mechanism for preserving economic value and improving creditor recovery through structured financial rehabilitation. In addition, the paper explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a decision-support tool in assessing insolvency risk and evaluating the feasibility of reorganization plans through predictive financial analysis. The findings highlight the role of bankruptcy law in ensuring legal certainty while promoting efficient and sustainable corporate restructuring processes.