Optimizing water sustainability: integrating blockchain technology in the water and wastewater supply chain management

With the growing demand for science education and the need for highly qualified science teachers, improving teacher training and certification processes has become increasingly urgent. This article explores the potential integration and application of blockchain technology to improve quality science teacher education. Key challenges in science teacher education and a conceptual framework for leveraging blockchain technology to address these challenges are also presented. Blockchain technology provides a decentralized, transparent, and immutable platform that can revolutionize the way we train and certify science teachers. The proposed framework integrates features such as secure certification, continuous professional development tracking, and decentralized collaboration among educators. The article also discusses the potential benefits and limitations of implementing blockchain technology for science teacher education. In conclusion, the article highlights the transformative potential of blockchain technology to ensure quality science teacher training in Nigeria.

The water literature has mainly investigated the diversion and distribution of water from the source to the end users or the utilization of water at the farm level in crop production. This paper presents a supply chain perspective that links the innovation supply chain of water delivery and irrigation with the complete water supply chain to the crop and the crop supply chains. These supply chains are symbiotic. Changes in the demand for crops, agronomic technology, and knowledge about water will modify the water infrastructure, irrigation technology, land‐use and crop production patterns, and the pricing of water and related commodities. The parameters that guide investment in water innovation and the design of the water supply chain depend on political, economic, and technological considerations that have coevolved over time with water and crop systems. Evidence from California and elsewhere supports the findings of the paper.

Optimisation of water supply systems in the water – energy nexus: Model development and implementation to support decision making in investment planning

The education system requires transparent and accountable financial management to ensure efficiency, fairness and sustainability. However, there are still many challenges in achieving this, especially related to limited transparency and reliability of financial data. Blockchain technology offers the potential to increase transparency and accountability in educational financial management by providing proof of authentication and an immutable track record. This research aims to explore the potential for integrating blockchain technology in educational financial management to increase transparency and accountability. Researchers also aim to analyze its impact on efficiency and fairness in the education system. This research method uses a qualitative approach with literature study and case analysis. Researchers analyzed literature related to blockchain technology in the context of educational financial management, and collected data from case studies of blockchain technology implementation in educational institutions that have adopted it. The research results show that the integration of blockchain technology in educational financial management can increase transparency and accountability by providing immutable proof of authentication for every financial transaction. In addition, the use of blockchain technology can increase the efficiency of financial administration processes and minimize the risk of fraud or data manipulation. The conclusion of this research is that the integration of blockchain technology in educational financial management has great potential to increase transparency, accountability and efficiency in the education system. However, challenges related to infrastructure availability and technical understanding need to be overcome to optimize its benefits. Therefore, strategic and collaborative steps from related parties are needed to encourage widespread adoption of this technology in educational financial management.

PurposeIn the era of digitization, blockchain technology (BCT) has gained huge attraction in a variety of business processes including operations and supply chains (SC) of different industrial sectors. This paper aims that the adoption of BCT in SC enables the industries to integrate the stakeholders and its distinct features enhance the performance of SC.Design/methodology/approachAn attempt is made to develop a BCT platform a pilot case of bearing-SC and identify the challenges and their solutions in the integration of BCT with SC. Moreover, the impact of BCT on measures of SC performance is also studied.FindingsThe results show enhanced transparency in the transactions, better security of the data, diminished latency period for transfer of information, improved traceability of the bearing, reduced time for payment transfer process and decreased nonvalue-added activities. Ultimately, overall trust of the customer can be improved by the integration of BCT in bearing-SC.Originality/valueIn the same way, BCT can be applied to SC of other components to assure the product quality to the end-users.

The integration of blockchain technology in biomedical diagnostics offers a promising solution to the challenges of data security and privacy in infectious disease surveillance. As the digitalization of healthcare systems accelerates, the need to protect sensitive health information becomes increasingly critical. Blockchain, with its decentralized and immutable nature, provides a robust framework for ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of biomedical data. This abstract explores how blockchain technology can be leveraged to enhance data security and privacy in the context of infectious disease surveillance, where rapid and accurate data sharing is essential for effective public health responses. Infectious disease surveillance relies on the collection, analysis, and dissemination of large volumes of data, often shared across multiple institutions and geographical regions. Traditional systems for managing this data are vulnerable to breaches, unauthorized access, and data tampering, which can compromise public health efforts and patient privacy. Blockchain technology addresses these vulnerabilities by enabling secure, transparent, and tamper-proof data exchanges. Each transaction or data entry is recorded in a distributed ledger, accessible only to authorized participants, thus ensuring that the data remains secure and unaltered. Moreover, blockchain’s inherent transparency allows for real-time monitoring and auditing of data flows, which is crucial in the timely detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks. The use of smart contracts within blockchain networks further enhances the automation and efficiency of data management, ensuring that data is only accessed and shared according to predefined rules and conditions. This not only safeguards patient privacy but also builds trust among stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, and public health authorities. In conclusion, the integration of blockchain technology in biomedical diagnostics presents a transformative approach to addressing the critical issues of data security and privacy in infectious disease surveillance. By leveraging blockchain's unique features, healthcare systems can ensure that sensitive diagnostic data is protected, thus supporting more effective and secure public health interventions in the fight against infectious diseases. Keywords: Blockchain, Biomedical Diagnostics, Data Security, Privacy, Infectious Disease Surveillance.

This paper delves into the integration of blockchain technology within the digital economy, emphasizing its transformative potential to significantly enhance security and transparency in digital transactions. The digital economy, characterized by the rapid growth of online markets, digital banking, and e-commerce, has fundamentally altered how businesses operate and how consumers engage with products and services. However, this rapid digitization has also introduced a range of challenges, particularly concerning the security and transparency of online activities. Issues such as cybersecurity threats, fraud, data breaches, and the opacity of certain systems have underscored the need for more robust mechanisms to protect digital transactions. Blockchain technology, initially developed to underpin Bitcoin, presents a promising solution to these challenges. By offering a decentralized, immutable ledger system, blockchain has the inherent capability to enhance the security and transparency of digital transactions across various sectors. This study not only explores Satoshi Nakamoto’s foundational contributions to blockchain technology but also examines the broader implications and advancements proposed by Don and Alex Tapscott. Furthermore, it investigates the potential applications of blockchain across multiple industries, including finance, supply chain management, and corporate governance, to create more secure, transparent, and efficient systems.

The integration of blockchain technology into supply chain management (SCM) has emerged as a revolutionary force transforming traditional business operations. This study uses bibliometric analysis on 1069 articles from the Scopus database, using text mining and Python to uncover predominant themes and research trends at the intersection of blockchain and SCM. The key findings revealed three main thematic groups: ‘blockchain to improve transparency and traceability in SCM’ (supported by 323 articles), ‘impact of blockchain on supply chain efficiency and cost reduction’ (295 articles), and ‘blockchain-enabled supply chain resilience’ (191 articles). Furthermore, text mining highlighted prominent themes such as ‘decentralized supply chain networks’ (204 articles), ‘smart contracts for automated processes in SCM’ (234 articles), and ‘blockchain for sustainable supply chain practices’ (227 articles). The inclusion of sustainability themes reflects the growing importance of environmentally conscious strategies within supply chains, driven by the capacity of blockchain to reduce waste, and promote resource efficiency. The study identifies critical literature gaps, advocating for further exploration of the socio-economic impacts of blockchain on SCM. The topic extraction suggests new directions for SCM theory, while the role of blockchain in fostering sustainable and ethical supply chains is underscored. Practically, blockchain and IoT emerge as pivotal in the advancement of SCM, with text mining offering industry foresight and emphasizing blockchain-driven resilient strategies. Limitations include reliance on a single database and the recommendation that future studies incorporate diverse sources and qualitative insights. The findings provide a roadmap for academics and practitioners, highlighting potential avenues in SCM, especially in the context of sustainable and ethical practices.

The Agri-food supply chain is pivotal for sustaining and nourishing global populations. Ensuring its high-efficiency, transparency, and integrity is paramount for each party in the supply chain. This paper aims at identify the fitting points between Agri-food Supply Chain Collaboration and Blockchain Technology through a comprehensive review. Research articles and materials related to Agri-food Supply Chain Collaboration with the integration of Blockchain Technology were collected from online databases such as Scopus, CNKI, and Google Scholar for a period of 10 years (2014-2023). It first provides an overview of the characteristics of Agri-foods and Blockchain Technology, and then details the data collection and analysis process. FineReport software is used to complete content and descriptive analysis. Next, the key fitting points of Agri-food Supply Chain Collaboration and Blockchain Technology are discussed, such as smart contracts, trust, quality and safety control, and information sharing. A case analysis on DongNan Rice as for Agri-food Supply Chain Collaboration integrated with Blockchain Technology is carried out. This paper also discusses the current research gaps. It is ended with the conclusions and future research directions.

Advances and challenges in water management within energy systems

In modern times, the technological environment is constantly evolving. Organisations and companies in different scientific fields are trying to examine whether new technologies can offer value or whether existing technology can be used differently to gain a competitive advantage. One of them is blockchain technology. Many sectors exist that can benefit from the integration of blockchain technologies into this sector, having now understood the specificities of the shipping industry. In an industry like shipping, where the volume of documents required is huge and the parties involved a lot, the contribution of blockchain technology can be decisive. This thesis studies Blockchain technology, its use in its various fields, advantages, and disadvantages. This paper also analyses the use of technology in the supply chain, on the Internet of Things (IoT), in shipping in general and more specifically in the field of Smart Containers. The concept of Smart Containers is then analyzed, what they are used for. And finally, it becomes a Swot Analysis of blockchain technology in Smart Containers.

PurposeThis study aims to examine the blockchain landscape in supply chain management by drawing insights from academic and industry literature. It identifies the key drivers, categorizes the products involved and highlights the business values achieved by early adopters of blockchain technology within the supply chain domain. Additionally, it explores fingerprinting techniques to establish a robust connection between physical products and the blockchain ledger.Design/methodology/approachThe authors combined the interpretive sensemaking systematic literature review to offer insights into how organizations interpreted their business challenges and adopted blockchain technology in their specific supply chain context; content analysis (using Leximancer automated text mining software) for concept mapping visualization, facilitating the identification of key themes, trends and relationships, and qualitative thematic analysis (NVivo) for data organization, coding and enhancing the depth and efficiency of analysis.FindingsThe findings highlight the transformative potential of blockchain technology and offer valuable insights into its implementation in optimizing supply chain operations. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of product provenance information to consumers, with blockchain technology offering certainty and increasing customer loyalty toward brands that prioritize transparency.Research limitations/implicationsThis research has several limitations that should be acknowledged. First, there is a possibility that some relevant investigations may have been missed or omitted, which could impact the findings. In addition, the limited availability of literature on blockchain adoption in supply chains may restrict the scope of the conclusions. The evolving nature of blockchain adoption in supply chains also poses a limitation. As the technology is in its infancy, the authors expect that a rapidly emerging body of literature will provide more extensive evidence-based general conclusions in the future. Another limitation is the lack of information contrasting academic and industry research, which could have provided more balanced insights into the technology’s advancement. The authors attributed this limitation to the narrow collaborations between academia and industry in the field of blockchain for supply chain management.Practical implicationsPractitioners recognize the potential of blockchain in addressing industry-specific challenges, such as ensuring transparency and data provenance. Understanding the benefits achieved by early adopters can serve as a starting point for companies considering blockchain adoption. Blockchain technology can verify product origin, enable truthful certifications and comply with established standards, reinforcing trust among stakeholders and customers. Thus, implementing blockchain solutions can enhance brand reputation and consumer confidence by ensuring product authenticity and quality. Based on the results, companies can align their strategies and initiatives with their needs and expectations.Social implicationsIn essence, the integration of blockchain technology within supply chain provenance initiatives not only influences economic aspects but also brings substantial social impacts by reinforcing consumer trust, encouraging sustainable and ethical practices, combating product counterfeiting, empowering stakeholders and contributing to a more responsible, transparent and progressive socioeconomic environment.Originality/valueThis study consolidates current knowledge on blockchain’s capacity and identifies the specific drivers and business values associated with early blockchain adoption in supply chain provenance. Furthermore, it underscores the critical role of product fingerprinting techniques in supporting blockchain for supply chain provenance, facilitating more robust and efficient supply chain operations.

PurposeA sustainable selection method for facility location of the water treatment is formulated by best–worst method. In addition, the model addresses the selection of appropriate technologies in the treatment plant, management of water leakage in the whole transmission network by using modernization and selection of different transmission technologies. Finally, the interaction between water and energy in this network seems to be paying particular attention.Design/methodology/approachRapid population growth and urban development, and the constraints of water supply have become one of the crucial challenges around the world in the 21st century. Hence, the use of refined urban wastewater is increasing in many countries as an alternative source of water. In this regard, the rehabilitation of urban wastewater recycling and reuse has been proposed as one of the most suitable solutions for urban water management. Hence, in this paper, a mathematical model is formulated to design the simultaneous marketing of the urban water distribution network and wastewater treatment (including).FindingsIt seeks to ensure that energy is supplied through chemical methods to ensure that the system's energy dependence is on the national electricity grid. And in order to validate the model, a case study has been studied. By analyzing the results, it can be concluded that the upgrading of sewage treatment plants to replace underground water and water from nearby dams in household, agricultural and industrial applications will have positive environmental and economic impacts. One of the notable environmental impacts is the decline in groundwater and water scarcity in the coming years.Originality/valueThe summary of contributions is presented follow as: design and planning of water and urban wastewater integrated network; sustainable selection of facility location for the water treatment; capability selecting different treatment technologies in simultaneous design water and urban sewage supply chain; managing water leak in the network; proposed a water–energy nexus model in simultaneous design water and urban sewage supply chain; studying the feasibility of construction of power plants from biogas, the resulting of anaerobic digestion in treatment centers.

Blockchain technology has emerged as a potential solution to enhance the supply chain management in various industries, including the pharmaceutical sector. The blockchain is an electronic ledger, or a list of records, that is connected by cryptography and holds data that is made up of a block's header and the block itself. Throughout this procedure, these two elements together form a node in the chain that holds details about the other block's address and the current block. The ordered connection of nodes in a blockchain creates a data structure. As a digital data documentation method, this technology was created in 1991.However, in the early stages, this technology was hardly ever deployed or utilized at all. The rise of Bitcoin in 2009, however, abruptly brought it to greater attention. Enhancing the use of blockchain technology, a digital currency platform developed by Satoshi Nakamoto improved the application of blockchain technology. The block's hash component ensures its security feature by acting as a digital fingerprint. Every block has a different method for delivering encrypted data and security. Three key tenets of blockchain technology are immutability, transparency, and decentralization. By utilizing blockchain technology, pharmaceutical companies can improve transparency, traceability, and security throughout the supply chain process. With blockchain, the complete lifecycle of pharmaceutical products can be tracked, ensuring that the drugs are genuine and not counterfeit. Additionally, blockchain can help streamline the transaction process, enabling faster and more efficient supply chain operations. This can ultimately benefit patients by reducing the risk of receiving counterfeit or substandard medications and ensuring the integrity and safety of pharmaceutical products. Furthermore, the use of blockchain technology in clinical trials can revolutionize the research and development process. Blockchain technology can provide a decentralized and secure repository for storing patient data, ensuring its confidentiality and integrity. Overall, the implementation of blockchain technology in pharmaceutical supply chains can have a profound impact on patient safety, efficient supply chain management, and the advancement of healthcare research and innovation. The integration of blockchain technology in the pharmaceutical supply chain can address key challenges such as counterfeit drugs, inefficient inventory management and a lack of transparency. Due to the extreme disarray and fragmentation of the pharmaceutical business, the existence of numerous suppliers in the supply chain exacerbates the problem with drug quality. The inferred benefits of blockchain technology for improving store network administration involve reducing or eliminating errors and deception, lowering delays caused by printed materials, improving inventory control, identifying problems earlier, cutting down on dispatch costs, and increasing customer and partner trust. Blockchain innovation may also contribute to better inventory network execution through the central mechanism of using smart contracts to automate processes and reduce expenses. By leveraging the decentralized and transparent nature of blockchain, pharmaceutical companies can create a secure and trustworthy system for tracking the movement of drugs from manufacture to endpoints. Despite the fact that blockchain technology is still in its early stages, there have been advancements in application in daily life, primarily in the pharmaceutical and financial industries.

Blockchain critical success factors for sustainable supply chain