Blockchain Implementation Research Articles

Interoperability Requirements for Blockchain-Enabled Electronic Health Records in Healthcare: A Systematic Review and Open Research Challenges

A distributed ledger system blockchain proves to be worthy in the domain of healthcare due to its enormous applications and benefits. Peer-to-peer devolved transactions in an allocated way make the blockchain an efficient and modern tool to be utilized in healthcare as a solution to problems and challenges. The traditional healthcare system utilizes classical approaches to manage and maintain the EHR and cross-domain implementation. Therefore, a systematic investigation is necessary to find the current research trends, challenges, and solutions to implement blockchain to address the challenges. The motivation of this study is to pave the way for future research to find more problem-specific solutions by implementing blockchain to make the healthcare system more robust. The presented systematic survey provides the visualization and graphical representation of current methodologies, challenges, and future directions. The bibliometric analysis has been performed on the published studies in Scopus from 2017 to 2021. The publication published in the first three months of 2021 in the domain of healthcare using blockchain has also been reviewed to find the latest trends in the blockchain. The study covers multiple challenges in the presented systematic literature review, especially the interoperability of blockchain-based systems in the healthcare domain. The presented study results show the top trending research topics, top-ranked authors, and top institutes focusing on blockchain around the world. The proposed study provides a baseline for future challenges and solutions related to blockchain implementation in healthcare.

Blockchain-Based Smart Renewable Energy: Review of Operational and Transactional Challenges

Blockchain has peculiar characteristics among various digital technologies due to its decentralised and cryptographic properties. The combination of intelligent energy systems and blockchain can innovate new forms of transactive energy and navigate the digital journey to transform the future of renewable energy systems. This review studies various blockchain implementations in the smart energy domain and presents the findings on operational and transactional challenges in a blockchain-based smart renewable energy system. We also identify the differences between operations and transactions in smart energy systems. Furthermore, we identify the most pronounced cryptocurrencies in different studies. The findings highlighted various challenges concerning the implementation of blockchain-based smart energy systems. We identified how these challenges spawn across operational and transactional deliverables. Building on these findings, we discuss various challenges impacting the operational and transactional domains, which we believe have significant value for researchers, practitioners, policy makers, entrepreneurs, and start-ups. It will provide long-term benefits to humankind in fulfilling energy requirements, promoting sustainable energy use by developing countermeasures to combat identified challenges and leveraging the optimal use of blockchain technology.

Use of Blockchain Based Techniques in Healthcare: A Study

Blockchain is among the most significant discoveries and innovative trend that plays a critical role in the professional world today. Blockchain will redesign the way patients' electronic health records. Patient’s health records are shared, pre-served and secured in distributed peer-to-peer network in healthcare industries. A systematic organized analysis was undertaken to analyse the Blockchain and healthcare literature to further encourage understanding of Blockchain technologies and to recognize current issues and unanswered questions. This paper's vital contribution is to incorporate preliminary findings from a study of different applications in different areas on the implementation of Blockchain.

Adaptation of Blockchain using Ethereum and IPFS for Fog based E-Healthcare Activity Recognition System

The cloud storage is far away from us and it is not capable of handling huge bandwidth data due to network latency. The goal of the Fog computing is to decrease the data that needs to be transferred to the cloud for data processing and to increase the efficiency. Fog computing improves the QoS and also reduces network bandwidth. All machine learning algorithm performances are dependent on the quality of the training data. If the training data is inadequate or it is modified by attackers, then the machine learning algorithm will miss predict and may give invalid results. In order to avoid modification of training data, it is preferable to store it in Blockchain. Blockchain is a decentralized model and its data structure is practically difficult to forge, hence it has attracted both industry and research now-a-days. Proposed system uses Ethereum platform to implement Blockchain. Ethereum allows users to create and run decentralized applications (DApps) to make agreements and to conduct transactions directly with each other without any third party by making use of smart contracts. Blockchain is convenient to store only a small amount of data, hence alternative solution to store large amount of data, for example in healthcare, in Blockchain is possible with the help of IPFS (Interplanetary File System). In e-healthcare applications, Activity Recognition System (ARS) is the most significant undertaking in remote checking of patients experiencing physical medical issues for taking quick action. Hence this paper, especially concentrate on the overall framework of the e-healthcare ARS and implementation of Blockchain to store e-healthcare training data to avoid forging, ultimately which improves ARS results. Our implementation results also show that constant and less transaction fee required to store into Blockchain irrespective of size of training data with help of IPFS and also proved transaction throughput increases and network delay decreases with help of IPFS.
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 All machine learning algorithm performances are dependent on the quality of the training data. If the training data is inadequate or it is modified by attackers, then the machine learning algorithm will miss predict and may give invalid results
 To avoid modification of training data, it is preferable to store it in Blockchain. Blockchain is a decentralized model, and its data structure is practically difficult to forge
 Proposed system uses Ethereum platform and IPFS to implement Blockchain using smart contracts for health care applications
 Our implementation results also show that constant and less transaction fee required to store into Blockchain irrespective of size of training data with help of IPFS, and proved transaction throughput increases and network delay decreases with help of IPFS
 
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Acceptance of tourism blockchain based on UTAUT and connectivism theory

With advances in internet technologies, innovative industrialization applying big data-based artificial intelligence is leading Industry 4.0. However, opportunities for the public to learn about virtual cryptocurrency or utilities based on blockchain technology are limited, except for Bitcoin. This lack of opportunities generates misunderstandings. This study ascertained and examined the determinants affecting the acceptance of new technologies on Jeju Island, Korea, where tourism is the dominant business. A total of 537 Jeju-do residents and potential visitors from the mainland were analyzed by conducting a partial least squares (PLS)- structural equation modeling (SEM) and one-group pretest–posttest design through a survey after observing a video clip on blockchain implementation on YouTube. The empirical analysis results showed the effect of blockchain trust transparency on the performance and effort expectancy. Facilitating conditions were found to be the most influential in blockchain technology acceptance. Following a video experiment introducing blockchain implementation as a currency for Jeju tourism, a significant positive change towards the implementation of blockchain was observed. This paper presents a concrete application of blockchain technology and shows the possibility of using social media (YouTube) to elicit user awareness and potential interest in the domestic tourism market.

Blockchain adoption in a supply chain system to combat counterfeiting

The ongoing boom in platform retailing has been accompanied by widespread counterfeiting. Blockchain technology has attracted much attention as a way to combat this practice. We consider a supply chain system consisting of one brand seller, one counterfeiter and one platform retailer and examine how blockchain adoption affects the decisions of firms in this system and the performance of the whole system. We show that the platform’s use of blockchain reduces both products’ selling price and increases the brand seller’s demand while also increasing the counterfeiter’s demand under certain conditions when a wholesale contract is adopted. Moreover, we find that blockchain technology could be an effective anticounterfeit tool but that the platform does not always use it, even if its implementation is costless. The platform is more willing to use blockchain when imitation good’s quality is relatively low, and an agency contract can better incentivize the platform to deploy blockchain than a wholesale contract if the commission fee is large. Finally, consumer surplus and social welfare may decrease after the platform adopts blockchain, but the whole supply chain system can perform better through the platform’s blockchain implementation if the imitation good’s quality and consumers’ trust in the platform are low.

Prospects of Implementation of Blockchain Technology into Aquaculture Sector of Ukraine

Introduction. The development of fish farming in aquaculture in a sustainable way ensures the sustainability of fisheries, which is associated with local problems in each region. Ukraine’s fish production has been falling sharply over the last 30 years, and in 2021 the decline was more than 87 percent in comparison with 1990. In the Ukrainian aquaculture sector, there is a high degree of bureaucracy and risks of corruption, which need to be addressed in order to find a solution for the economy and businessmen. World reports show that Ukraine is among the world's leaders in illegal fishing. Thus, it is highly necessary to implement technologies for sector traceability and transparency, i.e., blockchain.
 Aim and tasks. The main aim of this article is to research the possible mechanism of implementation of the transparent and efficient system of using the aquatic bioresources of Ukraine. A secondary aim would be to actualize the information regarding the use of blockchain technology in the aquaculture sector.
 Results. This research shows that Ukraine’s aquacultural sector is going through a crisis, which is being induced by the high level of corruption and poaching. The digitization of the aquaculture supply chain powered by blockchain technology has been proposed. The role of blockchain technologies is revealed through functions such as evidence, tamper-proof, transparency, and decentralization. It was investigated the positive impact of blockchain technology on aquaculture business, such as reduction in bureaucracy, quality assurance, improvement in information exchange, low cost of transactions, improvement in audit performance, easy recall process, product origin verification, and low probability of fraudulent activity. It would greatly reduce the time needed to gather all the documentation essential for work and reporting. The blockchain implementation roadmap has been developed, including the following stages: concept, legislation compliance, limited prototype, final vision, further research and optimization.
 Conclusions. Blockchain technology fits Ukraine’s economic goals in the long term perspective, such as continued digitalization of the country. Due to the blockchain technology, products of aquaculture would not enter the market unless registered in the unified system. That will influence the reduction of "informal economy" in the sector and the increase of market mechanisms. It will also have a positive influence on food security for the population and economic security for the producers. It will be a precedent for a fully transparent and digitalized field of economy.

Technology-Enabled Co-Regulation for Blockchain Implementation

Technology-Enabled Co-Regulation for Blockchain Implementation

Blockchain for Ecologically Embedded Coffee Supply Chains

Background: This research aims to identify how blockchain technology could support the ecological embeddedness of the coffee supply chain. Ecological embeddedness is a subset of the circular economy (CE) that demands legitimacy through design changes to product, production and/or packaging for benefits to economic actors and the environment. This is in contrast with legitimacy as a public relations exercise. Blockchain is a digital transformation technology that is not fully conceptualized with respect to supply chain implementation and the related strategy formulation, particularly in the context of sustainability. Furthermore, the integration of consumers into the CE remains not well understood or researched, with the main focus of CE being the cycling of resources. Methods: This research employs a qualitative case study methodology of the first coffee business in the USA to use blockchain technology as an exemplar. Gap analysis is then applied to identify how blockchain could be used to advance from the current state to a more sustainable one. Results: Findings indicate that the implementation of blockchain is not ecologically embedded in the example studied. Conclusions: The extension of blockchain technology to consider the by-products of production and valorizable waste throughout the supply chain as assets would support ecologically embedded CE for coffee.

Trust Model Concept for IoT Blockchain Applications as Part of the Digital Transformation of Metrology.

Trends for the digital transformation of metrology and regulation of metrology through IT have some keywords in common with the main properties of the blockchain, such as traceability, immutability, and machine-readable documents. The possible applicability of the blockchain as an innovative IT solution for metrology regulation is known in the scientific community. Still, blockchain implementation must consider the entire metrology pyramid—the technical aspects and the legal framework intrinsic to metrology. This is also valid for possible IoT blockchain applications. In resolving the issues, this paper applies a bottom-up approach, starting from IoT devices analyzed as oracles and building up to the sole definition of measurement units, thereby discussing technical aspects concerning relevant standardization documents. The resulting trust model concept encompasses the vertical and horizontal traceability of the measurement results (oracle data), where normative standards and legal requirements are crucial for building trust. Conclusively, for practical implementations, it will be necessary to analyze blockchain properties and applicability with a view to the standard requirements, as shown for WELMEC.

Artificial intelligence and blockchain implementation in supply chains: a pathway to sustainability and data monetisation?

Digitalisation is expected to transform end-to-end supply chain operations by leveraging the technical capabilities of advanced technology applications. Notwithstanding the operations-wise merits associated with the implementation of digital technologies, individually, their combined effect has been overlooked owing to limited real-world evidence. In this regard, this research explores the joint implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain Technology (BCT) in supply chains for extending operations performance boundaries and fostering sustainable development and data monetisation. Specifically, this study empirically studied the tuna fish supply chain in Thailand to identify respective end-to-end operations, observe material and data-handling processes, and envision the implementation of AI and BCT. Therefore, we first mapped the business processes and the system-level interactions to understand the governing material, data, and information flows that could be facilitated through the combined implementation of AI and BCT in the respective supply chain. The mapping results illustrate the central role of AI and BCT in digital supply chains’ management, while the associated sustainability and data monetisation impact depends on the parameters and objectives set by the involved system stakeholders. Afterwards, we proposed a unified framework that captures the key data elements that need to be digitally handled in AI and BCT enabled food supply chains for driving value delivery. Overall, the empirically-driven modelling approach is anticipated to support academics and practitioners’ decision-making in studying and introducing digital interventions toward sustainability and data monetisation.

Blockchain in education: the influence of trust on adoption and implementation

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the influence of trust on adopting and implementing blockchain technology in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach This study uses an exploratory qualitative approach to understand the construct of trust in the context of the educational sector. Data were collected through semistructured questionnaires and online interviews. Findings The research identified that, for most potential blockchain users, trust positively influences the HEIs, because benefits such as secure data sharing and transaction transparency could optimize the daily routine and avoid fraud in academic documents, providing a cooperative and reliable working environment. In addition, the results suggest that trust is needed to overcome challenges related to issues such as costs and privacy. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the advances in the emerging literature on blockchain in the educational sector as a system with the potential to generate trust, as well as the literature on the technology acceptance models. Practical implications For HEI managers and practitioners, this study highlights the need for a greater understanding of the influence of trust in the relationships between HEIs and other stakeholders. Social implications This work shows that adopting blockchain technologies would allow users to build social relationships of trust in a cooperative work environment and develop trusted behavior by sharing data securely and transparently. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies on the adoption and implementation of blockchain in the education sector in Brazil.

Proximal policy optimization-based committee selection algorithm in blockchain-enabled mobile edge computing systems

To cope with the low latency requirements and security issues of the emerging applications such as Internet of Vehicles (IoV) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the blockchain-enabled Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) system has received extensive attention. However, blockchain is a computing and communication intensive technology due to the complex consensus mechanisms. To facilitate the implementation of blockchain in the MEC system, this paper adopts the committee-based Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) consensus algorithm and focuses on the committee selection problem. Vehicles and IIoT devices generate the transactions which are records of the application tasks. Base Stations (BSs) with MEC servers, which serve the transactions according to the wireless channel quality and the available computing resources, are blockchain nodes and candidates for committee members. The income of transaction service fees, the penalty of service delay, the decentralization of the blockchain and the communication complexity of the consensus process constitute the performance index. The committee selection problem is modeled as a Markov decision process, and the Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm is adopted in the solution. Simulation results show that the proposed PPO-based committee selection algorithm can adapt to the system design requirements with different emphases and outperforms other comparison methods.

Enabling Supply Chains by Adopting Blockchain Technology

This paper is aimed at studying the enablement of supply chains by adopting blockchain technology. The implementation of blockchain in supply chain management can solve the current issues faced in the supply chain ecosystem. Supply chains are part and parcel of every business and have multiple inefficiencies in the system. Some of these inefficiencies can be managed by usage of blockchain Platform .Technology, Intra-organizational, Inter-Organizational, external factors, and innovation are critically evaluated for adoption of blockchain in supply chain. A pilot study is conducted in form survey for analysis of these factors. Hypotheses are derived for these factors for quantitative research. Subsequently these hypotheses are examined with the help of ADANCO2.3 for structural equation modelling. As an outcome, it is evident that Innovation and External factors are significantly impacting the adoption of blockchain in supply chain management.

Blockchain Security : Enhanced Control Evaluation Approach to Protect Organizations’ Accounting Information

Blockchain technology can revolutionize transaction processing and reimage organizations’ traditional business practices. The literature argues that blockchain may also hurt organizations when key controls necessary to guide its implementation are not in place. The literature points to inadequacies in blockchain implementations, particularly related to the effective selection and implementation of blockchain controls in organizations. This research develops an approach that addresses the weaknesses in the literature. Such approach will allow organizations to be more precise in their implementation of controls to achieve successful blockchain implementation. The proposed approach uses fuzzy set theory to prioritize business controls more precisely in organizations. It is argued that fuzzy set theory allows for a more accurate assessment of imprecise criteria than traditional assessment methodologies, and therefore generates more accurate assessments critical for decision-making. Through a case, the developed approach proved successful in providing accurate implementation of controls to protect organizations’ accounting information.

Blockchain Implementation Challenges in Developing Countries: An evidence-based systematic review and bibliometric analysis

1. Introduction The present age is filled with science and technology. Today’s modern civilization is the gift of seamless and robust technological development. Therefore, we are going through an innovative flow of amazing technology that spreads among various sectors, like manufacturing, retail, and financial services (Chang et al., 2019; Hou et al., 2020). Blockchain is a

Exploring Implementation of Blockchain for the Supply Chain Resilience and Sustainability of the Construction Industry in Saudi Arabia

The construction industry plays an essential role in economic development since it is one of the largest industries all over the world. Blockchain has the potential to reshape the structure of all accessible networks in the future. Construction businesses are increasingly interested in embracing blockchain technology to improve supply chain sustainability performance and supply chain resilience in times of globally increasing risks and volatility. This study evaluates the readiness of actors involved in the producing of concrete goods to emphasize the necessity to bring blockchain into the construction industry, as it may be a solution for supply chain resilience and long-term sustainable growth. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used in collecting and analyzing the data and testing the hypotheses. Data were collected using an online questionnaire distributed to 300 employees who work within the biggest concrete producing companies in Saudi Arabia. 120 respondents completed the questionnaires. Additionally, confirmatory semi-structured interviews with experts in supply chain financing, IT departments, and procurement departments have been conducted; the study’s findings revealed a low level of blockchain knowledge within Saudi Arabia’s construction industry, since (90%) of respondents have not worked with Blockchain technology. Several technologists barely understand it, and the level of readiness is very low. However, there is a lot of potential, and it is worth investing in it combined with other technologies such as BIM technology. In this study, the authors have sought to provide a measure of Saudi professionals’ attitudes and understanding of blockchain technology solutions within the construction industry in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the study’s novelty aimed to provide a grasp of the conceptual, theoretical, and fundamental features of blockchain technology in the construction industry, as blockchain solutions could benefit the global economy by increasing levels of monitoring, tracing, and confidence in international supply chain resilience.

Traceability vs. sustainability in supply chains: The implications of blockchain

This research proposes a game theory model in a supply chain (SC) involving one manufacturer and one retailer. The SC works in a global market in which consumers are located worldwide and subject to traceability issues that can create distrust of the product quality. This issue can be resolved by implementing blockchain technology which provides benefits in terms of high traceability along with low transaction costs. However, blockchain negatively impacts the environment because of their high energy consumption. Therefore, in this study, we capture the trade-offs between traceability and sustainability for blockchain adoption by characterizing a game theory model. Our findings show that high levels of distrust pushes firms to avoid the implementation of blockchain. In such circumstances, blockchain is not sufficient to make consumers recognize the product quality and trust the firms’ practices. In contrast, low levels of distrust can make blockchain an economically suitable technology conditioned to minimal environmental damages; otherwise, firms need to carefully evaluate the trade-offs between distrust and sustainability. Since the adoption of blockchain leads to an increase in prices and decrease of distrust, two factors determine whether to pursue this technology or not: low consumer sensitivity to price and high sensitivity to quality. In this study, we develop three specific cases where we model: 1) the direct impact of blockchain on distrust, 2) a stochastic distrust term, and 3) a Stackelberg game. Each case confirms our results and strengthens the robustness of our findings.

Waqf in the 21st Century: The Implementation of Blockchain and Smart Contract Technology

Waqf in its role as Islamic charitable institution has considerable role to sustainable economy, since the initiation of waqf itself started from Muslim for the benefit for all people. Despite its important roles and promising potential, the waqf institution is facing problems which will potentially deprive itself of its full potential. One of the main problems faced by waqf and other charitable institutions is the problem of proper administration of its assets, especially when the contribution to the charitable institution came from various sources. Considering the importance of technology to the life of the 21st century, the same technology may be applied to the enhancement of Islamic charitable institutions such as waqf, in the area of supervise and utilization of waqf assets. This paper employs qualitative methods through literature review to identify the possibility and suitability of technology implementation into waqf institutions. This approach is necessary to explore the potential suitability and the extent of Blockchain and Smart Contracts technology are capable of in improving and enhancing waqf institutions. The possibility of these technologies to be applied to become panacea to the problems that are commonly faced by waqf institutions such as asset administration, transparency, accountability, and governance. The implementation of such technology that offers complete transparency is considered effective against transaction costs and to create efficiency in charitable work of waqf institutions. It is expected that the technology implementation may provide ample room for waqf institutions to evolve into modern Islamic charitable institutions which can answer and adapt to the challenge of the 21st century. Keywords: Waqf, Blockchain, Smart Contracts, Waqf Institution, Governance

Recycling Model Selection for Electronic Products Considering Platform Power and Blockchain Empowerment

This paper considers a dynamic platform-based, closed-loop supply chain consisting of a manufacturer and an online platform. As an online distributor of the manufacturer, the platform expands the market scale by exerting the platform power. At the same time, to solve the problem of inconsistency between the actual recycling amount and the theoretical recycling amount in the recycling process of waste electronic products, the whole-process supervision of waste products is carried out with the help of blockchain technology, which is difficult to tamper with and is traceable. With the help of differential game theory, four differential game models of manufacturer recycling and platform recycling with and without blockchain are established. The state feedback strategies are derived from Bellman’s continuous dynamic programming theory. Through analytical results and comparative analysis, the adoption conditions of blockchain and the impact of blockchain on the selection of recycling models are obtained. The results illustrated that the introduction of blockchain technology effectively improves the real recycling rate of waste electronics, building trust in consumers, which benefits corporations in certain conditions. However, it amplifies the double marginal effect of the CLSC. Nevertheless, the implementation of blockchain is still beneficial to consumers, as the adverse impact of the double marginal effect is compensated by the improvement in consumer surplus. In addition, the study shows that the implementation of the blockchain incentivizes members, who benefit on the same recycling model when the fixed cost of the blockchain and the share ratio of the residual value of waste electronics are between certain thresholds. That is, both the manufacturer and the platform are better off in a manufacturer recycling model enabled by blockchain. Moreover, in this model, the social welfare and the recycling rate of waste electronics are increased, which enable the CLSC to achieve benefits related to economy, environment, and society.