Successful and ongoing e-participation systems require prioritized cybersecurity measures. These measures protect user privacy while safeguarding against scams, harassment, and the spread of misinformation. The impact of cybersecurity protections and citizens' education level on the link between VSN diffusion and e-participation initiatives is the focus of the research model presented in this paper. In addition, this exploration of the research model encompasses different stages of e-participation (e-information, e-consultation, and e-decision-making) and delves into the five dimensions of cybersecurity (legal, technical, organizational, capacity building, and interoperability). The findings highlight an increase in e-participation, particularly in e-consultation and e-decision-making through improved VSN usage, a result of enhanced cybersecurity protection and public education, showcasing the varied significance of cybersecurity measures at different stages of e-participation. Subsequently, considering the recent difficulties such as platform manipulation, the spread of false information, and data breaches related to VSN use in online participation, this study stresses the importance of implementing regulations, developing policies, forming partnerships, establishing technical systems, and undertaking research to ensure cybersecurity, and emphasizes the need for public education to facilitate effective engagement in electronic participation activities. intrauterine infection Based on the theoretical framework of the Protection Motivation Theory, Structuration Theory, and Endogenous Growth Theory, this study employs a research model developed from publicly available data collected across 115 countries. Recognizing the multifaceted theoretical and practical implications, along with the inherent limitations, this paper outlines prospective research directions.
Extensive involvement with numerous intermediaries and the high costs associated with real estate transactions are inherent to both the purchase and sale processes, demonstrating their time-consuming and labor-intensive nature. Blockchain technology, a dependable system for transaction tracking in real estate, builds trust between those involved. Even with the potential benefits, blockchain's penetration into the real estate industry is still at a nascent stage. Hence, we scrutinize the elements influencing the embrace of blockchain technology by real estate transaction participants. By combining the strengths of the unified theory of technology acceptance and use model and the technology readiness index model, a novel research model was devised. Analysis of data from 301 real estate buyers and sellers was carried out via the partial least squares method. The study's findings indicate that real estate stakeholders ought to prioritize psychological over technological aspects when incorporating blockchain into their operations. By implementing a blockchain approach, this study offers significant knowledge and valuable insights to real estate stakeholders, further enriching the existing body of work.
The Metaverse, a potential pervasive computing model for society, could dramatically alter work and daily life. Though the metaverse is anticipated to yield considerable advantages, its potential for harm remains largely uncharted, with the current discourse primarily rooted in logical extrapolations from precedents set by analogous technologies, consequently lacking substantial academic and expert perspectives. Leading academics and experts from diverse disciplinary backgrounds offer informed and multifaceted narratives, thereby responding to the pessimistic perspectives in this study. The metaverse's dark side includes a range of issues, including vulnerabilities in technology and consumer behavior, privacy concerns, and the potential for diminished reality, human-computer interface problems, identity theft, invasive advertising, misinformation, propaganda, phishing attempts, financial crimes, terrorist activities, abuse, pornography, social inclusion concerns, detrimental effects on mental health, sexual harassment, and the unforeseen negative consequences stemming from the metaverse's development. By way of synthesis, the paper identifies and integrates recurring themes, proposes frameworks, and expounds on the implications for policy and practice.
For a long time, ICT has been a widely recognized facilitator of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). NSC 617145 The present study explores the correlation between information and communication technology (ICT), gender inequity (SDG 5), and income inequality (SDG 10). We posit ICT as an institutional force, applying the Capabilities Approach to analyze the links between ICT, gender inequality, and income inequality. In this study, a cross-lagged panel analysis is performed, encompassing 86 countries and utilizing publicly available archival data for the years 2013 to 2016. Significantly, this study demonstrates a correlation between (a) ICTs and the gap between genders, and (b) this gender gap and the disparity in income. Employing cross-lagged panel data analysis, we seek to contribute to the field's methodology by deepening our understanding of the intertwined relationships between ICT, gender equality, and income inequality over time. The implications of our findings for research and practice are elaborated upon.
The blossoming of new methods for enhancing machine learning (ML) transparency presents a necessity for traditional decision-support systems to advance their approach in delivering more actionable insights for practitioners. The complex decision-making processes of individuals could potentially lead to unpredictable consequences when employing group-level machine learning model interpretations to guide the design of individual interventions. A hybrid machine learning framework for decision support systems is presented in this study, utilizing combined predictive and explainable machine learning techniques to forecast human decisions and tailor interventions. Actionable insights for creating personalized interventions are offered through this suggested framework. The integrated dataset, comprehensive in its scope and encompassing demographic, educational, financial, and socioeconomic details of freshman college students, was used to examine the issue of student attrition. Comparing feature importances at the aggregate and individual levels demonstrated that, while insights from group data might be useful for fine-tuning long-term plans, applying them uniformly to individual interventions frequently results in suboptimal outcomes.
Semantic interoperability provides the means to share data and facilitate intercommunication among different systems. We present an ostensive information architecture for healthcare information systems in this study to diminish the ambiguity that arises from the use of signs for different purposes in various contexts. An ostensive information architecture, founded on a consensus approach derived from information systems re-design, is adaptable to other domains requiring information exchange between disparate systems. In response to challenges encountered during the implementation of FHIR (Fast Health Interoperability Resources), a supplementary lexical approach to semantic exchange is presented, differing from the existing paradigm. An FHIR knowledge graph, acting as the core of a semantic engine, employs Neo4j for semantic interpretation, providing supporting examples. By using the MIMIC III (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care) datasets and diabetes datasets, the effectiveness of the proposed information architecture was demonstrated. We proceed to explore the advantages of separating semantic interpretation and data storage, within the framework of information system design, focusing on the semantic reasoning towards patient-centric care, as powered by the Semantic Engine.
Our lives and societal well-being can be substantially enhanced by the immense power of information and communication technologies. Digital spaces have unfortunately become a significant vector for the spread of fabricated news and hate speech, escalating societal divisions and posing a significant threat to social harmony. While the literature recognizes this dark facet, the multifaceted nature of polarization, coupled with the interwoven socio-technical elements of fake news, necessitates a new approach to understanding its intricacies. To account for the complexity of this issue, this current study employs complexity theory and a configurational strategy to scrutinize the effects of varied disinformation campaigns and hate speech on polarizing societies throughout 177 countries via a cross-country investigation. Polarization of societies is demonstrably linked to disinformation and hate speech, as the results indicate. The study's conclusions offer a balanced assessment of internet censorship and social media monitoring as potentially vital tools to address the spread of disinformation and control social polarization, but propose that these efforts might, paradoxically, provide a supportive environment for hate speech, further instigating societal divisions. Implications for the advancement of theory and the application of knowledge are examined.
The Black Sea's salmon farming season, which takes place during the winter months, is capped at seven months due to the high water temperatures experienced during the summer. In the summer months, temporarily submerging the salmon cages could potentially solve the year-round grow-out challenge. This research sought to compare the economic performance of submerged and surface cages employed in Turkish Black Sea salmon farming, evaluating structural costs and returns. By employing the temporary submerged cage approach, economic profitability soared by approximately 70%, resulting in improved financial metrics, notably a higher net profit of 685,652.5 USD per year and a significantly higher margin of safety (896%). This vastly outperformed the traditional surface cage method, which saw a net profit of 397,058.5 USD annually and a margin of safety of 884%. Chronic HBV infection Both cage system profits, according to the What-if analysis, were affected by variations in sale price. The simulation projecting a 10% reduction in export market value predicted reduced revenues, and the submerged cage encountered less financial loss than its surface counterpart.