Access To Information Research Articles

Navigating Survival: The Role of Information in the Lives of Trans adults in South Carolina

This community-based action research dissertation interrogates how trans people in South Carolina use information to survive. I am conducting 25 semi-structured interviews with trans people across the state to ask what information they need to survive, what barriers to information access they encounter, and how they overcome those barriers. I am working with an advisory board of five trans people to bring community input into my research. The board has pilot tested the interview protocol and given their feedback. In a practical part of the research, we are identifying a challenge trans people experience in their daily lives. The board collectively chose the lack of resources for trans people as the problem we will address. Together we are building an informational resource to fill those gaps and ease information seeking. Early themes from the interviews indicate that trans people rely on their peers for information over experts. However, trans people do not always have access to trans community, and it can be dangerous to ask friends and family, leaving their information needs unfilled. Overall, participants found a lack of resources related to transness. In response to this lack, participants created their own information resources for themselves and their communities.

Revisiting the Facilitators of Social Media Adoption within the Tourism Sector: An Empirical Investigation in an Emerging Economy

Aim: This study aims to investigate the factors facilitating social media adoption within the tourism sector of an emerging economy. Background: Social media has emerged as a transformative agent within the global tourism industry, fundamentally altering the ways in which tourists engage, disseminate information, and make travel-related decisions. However, the integration of social media platforms within emerging economies poses distinctive challenges and opportunities Objective: The primary objective of this research is to discern the drivers underpinning social media utilization within the tourism sector of an emerging economy, while also comprehending their implications for destination management, sustainable tourism practices, and economic advancement. This study operates within a considered framework to delineate the intricate interplay between social media dynamics and the broader tourism landscape. Methods: Employing a survey methodology, data was collected from local tourists visiting tourist destinations in Ghana, an emerging economy situated in West Africa, to elucidate their patterns of social media usage and associated motivations. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to rigorously analyze the data and discern the key enablers driving social media utilization within the tourism sector. Results: The findings reveal that factors such as information accessibility, behavioral objectives, tourism satisfaction, and destination perception emerge as pivotal enablers fostering social media adoption within Ghana's tourism sector. Moreover, the study underscores the positive impact of social media usage on tourist satisfaction and loyalty, underscoring its significance in shaping visitor experiences. Conclusion: This study underscores the imperative of comprehensively understanding the enablers of social media utilization within the tourism sector of emerging economies. Hence, by explaining these dynamics, stakeholders can make informed strategic decisions regarding destination management, foster sustainable tourism practices, and propel economic development within the region.

Determinants of rural women economic empowerment: the Case of Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

The issue of women's empowerment has been a topic of ongoing discussion in developing countries, considering the complex socio-demographic and cultural factors at play. Women tend to face disadvantages compared to men across various human development indicators. Therefore, it is crucial to thoroughly examine the different factors that influence women's economic empowerment within the specific context of Ethiopia. This study examines the factors that contribute to the economic empowerment of women in rural areas of Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. The research employed multi-stage probability sampling techniques to achieve its objectives, resulting in a sample of 382 rural women randomly selected from seven selected kebeles. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the collected data. The study found that more than half of the women achieved a medium level of economic empowerment. The results revealed that age, educational status, income contribution, and ownership of property positively influenced rural women's economic empowerment. In addition, opening a savings account, information access, mobile phone accessibility, and membership of women's associations positively and significantly affect women's economic empowerment in the study area. Conversely, marital status, hours spent on unpaid work, and early age at marriage negatively.

The impact of the right of access to information on sustainable development goals under the Aarhus Convention

Access to information is a critical tool for citizen oversight of environmental issues. This right is enshrined in the Aarhus Convention. Recognizing the importance of sustainability for present and future generations, Turkey has embraced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and actively pursued related initiatives. This study focuses on the environmental SDGs most relevant to Turkey, examining the role of access to information in achieving them. Fifteen expert interviews in Turkey were conducted and analyzed using MAXQDA 24 software. The findings, primarily contextualized within Turkey, reveal important, albeit incomplete, progress in access to information rights. This right is seen as essential for realizing the SDGs, yet challenges remain. Limited public awareness emerges as the biggest obstacle, as an effective information access system hinges on societal engagement.

The Distinction Between Search and Discovery Systems : A Scholarly Analysis

This comprehensive analysis explores the fundamental distinctions between search and discovery systems in the context of information retrieval and user interaction. The article examines the underlying principles, methodologies, and user experiences associated with each system, elucidating their unique roles in the modern digital landscape. By comparing key aspects such as user intent, interaction models, algorithmic foundations, and evaluation metrics, the article highlights the complementary strengths of these paradigms. The research also investigates emerging hybrid approaches that combine elements of both search and discovery, addressing evolving user expectations and the challenges of information overload. Through this in-depth exploration, the article contributes to the ongoing discourse on the future of information access and informs the development of more effective, user-centric systems capable of meeting diverse information needs in an increasingly complex digital ecosystem.

Collaborative Governance of Stakeholders in the Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services: An SA-SNA-EGA Approach

Forests provide goods and services while maintaining ecological security. However, the market does not adequately reflect their economic benefits, posing a significant challenge to the Payments for Forest Ecosystem Services (PFES). The involvement of multiple stakeholders with varying responsibilities and interests complicates collaboration and hinders effective governance. This study proposes an integrated approach using stakeholder analysis, social network analysis, and evolutionary game analysis to explore the collaborative governance of stakeholders in PFES. Through field surveys, the study empirically investigates PFES in China, demonstrating the effectiveness of this integrated approach. The results indicate the following: (i) Stakeholders are classified into three categories; the key stakeholders include the central and local governments, forest managers, and paying users. (ii) Stakeholders still need to strengthen collaboration. Local governments, forest managers, their employees, and communities exert widespread influence; paying users and research institutions have high efficiency in resource sharing. (iii) Five evolutionarily stable strategies are observed at different stages. Government intervention is crucial for changing the stagnant state. Benefits and government incentives have a positive impact on stakeholder collaborative governance. The research findings offer theoretical insights to enhance stakeholder collaboration and promote the development of the PFES. Key strategies include addressing key stakeholders’ needs, diversifying incentives, and establishing an accessible information platform.

A Cross-Regional Study on the Public's Channel Preferences for Accessing Information

In this study, an online questionnaire was administered simultaneously in Beijing and Seoul to investigate the public's channel preferences for air quality index (AQI) information and risk perception of air pollution in order to comparatively analyze the public's information acquisition behaviors in different media environments. As people become more aware of the health risks of air pollution, the AQI has become routine information released when there is a need to warn of health hazards, and many countries are releasing it to the public through a variety of information channels to ensure that the public can perceive the risks and take appropriate measures in a timely manner. This study, through a comparative cross-regional analysis, found that public preferences for accessing AQI information varied across regions with differing media environments. In addition, the correlation between air pollution risk perceptions and information access behaviors varied across regions.

Highlighting the Urgent Need for Reforms in the Face of Financial Failures at State-Owned Enterprises in Iraq

General Background: The financial analysis of companies' reports is critical for assessing their past performance, forecasting future results, and identifying operational strengths and weaknesses. Specific Background: Financial failure, which occurs when a company cannot generate adequate returns to cover costs and capital expenses, poses significant risks to stakeholders. For state-owned companies, the implications of financial failure are especially profound, given their integral role in national economies, such as Iraq's. Knowledge Gap: There is limited understanding of the extent to which state-owned companies in Iraq utilize financial analysis to predict financial failure, particularly in the context of economic transitions and privatization pressures. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the dependence of Iraqi state-owned companies on financial analysis as a predictive tool for financial distress and to identify the key factors contributing to their financial failures. Results: The research reveals that 42% of the companies examined have experienced financial failure, as measured by the Argenti index. Contributing factors include employment challenges, insufficient financing, and the transition from a socialist to a capitalist economy, which has left companies vulnerable to privatization. Novelty: The study provides novel insights into how economic transition impacts the financial stability of state-owned companies, highlighting the practical application of the Argenti index in diagnosing financial weaknesses. Implications: The findings underscore the urgent need to support state-owned enterprises by revitalizing the industrial sector, improving administrative efficiency, and adopting more systematic financial analysis tools. Additionally, the research recommends creating an accessible information center for investors and creditors, which would enhance transparency and support decision-making. This approach could help mitigate financial distress and attract new investment, ultimately contributing to Iraq’s economic recovery. Highlights: Financial analysis helps predict failures in state-owned companies. 42% of companies fail, based on the Argenti index. Privatization and economic shifts increase financial risk. Keywords: Financial analysis, Argenti index, state-owned companies, financial failure, privatization

Access@tour by Action: A Platform for Improving Accessible Tourism Conditions

Accessible tourism has become relevant, generating significant economic and social impacts. Even though the accessible tourism market is rising and presents an excellent business opportunity, this market is largely ignored, as it is challenging to stimulate the flow of accessibility information. Accessible technologies, such as tourism information systems, can be a potential solution, increasing accessibility through communication. However, these solutions are few and tend to fail the integration of users upon development processes. This research aims to present a technological platform to improve accessibility in the tourism industry. The name of this accessible and adaptable technological solution is access@tour by action, and it was created following a user-centered design methodology. This development involved a requirement engineering process based on three crucial stakeholders in accessible tourism: educational institutions, supply agents, and demand agents. The design phase was achieved with the help of a conceptual model based on a unified modeling language. The initial prototype of the solution, created in Adobe XD, implements a wide range of informational and accessibility requirements. Some access@tour by action interfaces outline the design, content, and primary functionalities. By linking technological development, tourism, and social inclusion components, this study highlights the relevance and interdisciplinarity of processes in developing accessible information systems.

Integration of legal databases in the context of EU accession aspirations

It is determined that the process of cooperation within the framework of the European Union has increased the need for identification and exchange of legal information coming from regional and national authorities at the European level. This need is partially met by digitally accessible legal information and the widespread use of the Internet. However, the exchange of legal information is largely limited by the differences that exist in different national legal systems, as well as the differences in their technical systems used to store and display the law on their respective websites. This hinders interaction between the information systems of national and European institutions, despite the increase in the availability of documents in electronic format. At the same time, the interconnection of national and international legal information from various sources and their presentation in the form of linked data of legal knowledge will undoubtedly improve the process of searching for legal information, expanding the possibilities of inquiries that are not currently possible. Moreover, in an increasingly digital society, where the number of cross-border civil and criminal proceedings is rapidly increasing, and given the complex diversity of different legal systems in the EU Member States, the simplification and facilitation of cross-border judicial cooperation is essential to ensure effective access of citizens and businesses to justice. At the same time, the system of identification and metadata should be well known to citizens and specialists in the field of law. In addition, to increase the chances of finding case law that is supported by an identifier and metadata, these court decisions should be searchable - by identifier and a minimal set of metadata - through a common interface. The exchange of digital evidence in the EU is also an important aspect. Currently, countries cooperate using private international law in cross-border criminal cases and exchange digital evidence based on these tools. The choice of tool depends on the countries involved and the type of information required.

Analysis on the impact of internet use on residents' tourism consumption behavior and the mechanism of action.

Tourism consumption as a typical representative of service consumption, has strong comprehensiveness and driving force, continuously expanding new consumption upgrade space. In the context of the digital economy, the development of the mobile internet has opened up new opportunities for the tourism industry acting as an important factor influencing the consumer behaviour of the residents. Based on 9007 resident survey data from the China General Social Survey (CGSS) in 2017, this paper explores the relationship between Internet use, access to information and residents' travel consumption behavior by means of probit model and mediating effect model. First, according to the findings, Internet use has a positive impact on residents' travel consumption behavior, increasing residents' tourism expenditure. Second, the mechanism suggests that access to information plays a partially mediating role between Internet use and travel consumption behavior. Third, further analysis revealed that, for the retired population, the more frequently they use the Internet, the more likely they are to spend on travel. Compared to those with lower incomes, those with higher incomes will spend less on travel after retirement. With this in mind, in order to promote residents' tourism consumption, speed and fee reduction should be continuously promoted, urban and rural information infrastructure should be strengthened, and accessibility of tourism information for residents should be improved. At the same time, there is a need to innovate the way tourism products are promoted, improve the types of tourism products and launch diversified tourism products.

Assessing changes in COVID-19 vaccine uptake and intentions among the Brigada Digital Latino social media audience: a repeated cross-sectional study

BackgroundU.S. Latinos experienced disproportionate COVID-19 impacts in terms of morbidity and mortality. Vaccination against COVID-19 is an important strategy for mitigating health impacts, and yet, vaccine uptake was slower among U.S. Latino adults compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Vaccine hesitancy has been a significant barrier within Latino communities, and exposure to misinformation has been associated with negative attitudes toward vaccination. While some COVID-19 mitigation efforts have included community-based outreach, few studies have explored the impact of community-based digital messaging in Spanish to counter COVID-19 misinformation, build trust, and promote vaccination. To address this gap, we conducted a one-year repeated cross-sectional study to assess changes in COVID-19 vaccine uptake, intentions, and perceived norms, as well as barriers to accessing reliable information and levels of trust in COVID-19 information sources among Latino adults exposed to Brigada Digital de Salud social media content. This culturally-tailored content disseminated on Facebook, Instagram, and X platforms was amplified by community health workers and partners, and focused on COVID-19 risk and prevention, vaccine safety and efficacy, and correcting related misinformation.ResultsStatistically significant increases in COVID-19 vaccination and intentions to vaccinate children were observed from May 2022 (wave 1) to April 2023 (wave 2). Among perceived difficulties accessing information, respondents indicated the most difficulty in judging the reliability of COVID-19 information in the media; however, a statistically significant decrease in perceived difficulty was observed between waves. With regard to trust in COVID-19 information sources, levels of trust were highest for healthcare providers in both waves, and there were statistically significant increases in trust in the FDA to ensure COVID-19 vaccine safety and trust in the federal government to ensure child COVID-19 vaccine safety at wave 2.ConclusionsSocial media messaging by trusted community-based sources shows promise as a strategy for combating health misinformation and ameliorating information access gaps for language minority populations. This digital approach represents an important tool for deploying critical information to underserved populations in public health emergency and crisis contexts, and for supporting changes in attitudes, trust, and behaviors to improve health outcomes.

Should voice navigation prompts be earlier and more complicated? A study of drivers’ visual attention, physiology and operating performance

Voice navigation systems can help drivers access information about road conditions and make correct decisions, but inappropriate information level and information prompt timing may lead to untimely processing of information, distraction, or even misjudgment of drivers, which in turn may cause safety hazards. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of voice information level and information prompt timing on drivers’ driving behavior and physiological characteristics. Twenty-seven participants were recruited to conduct driving simulator experiments. The results showed that the driver’s visual attention is more focused and the driving performance is better when the voice navigation prompts contain four information units (driving directions, traffic facility information, distance information, and road condition information at the same time). Moreover, when the voice navigation prompts with four information units were played 300 meters from the intersection, the driver’s overall driving performance was the highest. The results offer additional theoretical insights for the design of voice navigation systems, aiding drivers in accurately understanding driving conditions and providing them with ample reaction time to enhance their driving decisions.

Magnetic Supraparticles as Identifiers in Single-Layer Lithium-Ion Battery Pouch Cells.

The development of effective recycling technologies is essential for the recovery and reuse of the raw materials required for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Future recycling processes depend on accessible information, necessitating the implementation of a digital battery passport. The European battery regulation mandates the use of a machine-readable identifier physically attached to the batteries for accessing digital information. Since externally applied optical labels are vulnerable to mechanical damage, technologies for identification without these restrictions could be beneficial. This study demonstrates that magnetic supraparticles (SPs) can be used for contactless identification of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) battery pouch cells via magnetic particle spectroscopy (MPS) and that multiple pouch cells can be discriminated based on their specific magnetic code. A comparison of three independent model scenarios revealed that the detection of SPs and the impact on cell performance are dependent on the integration location. The results validate the concept of magnetic identification in metallic environments with MPS as an alternative to optical labeling methods. This study provides a foundation for the development of a new selective labeling and identification technology for batteries, with the potential to facilitate recycling and contribute to a more sustainable future.

A systematic review upon the online content provided for self-management of diabetes

Background: Diabetes is a major illness that requires appropriate education in order to increase one's understanding of self-management. With the advancement of the internet, the proliferation of online health-related content in supporting the management of chronic illness like diabetes has been ongoing; however, little is understood on the sort of acceptable and/or effective information attainable online. Objective: The aim of this review is to evaluate the current literature in hindsight of online management in diabetes whilst establishing the effectiveness of online management tools, the quality of the online information, and the methods of obtaining online information. Methods: A series of systematic searches of online databases were conducted in accordance with strictly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria relevant to the research question. Additionally, an evidence-based literature (EBL) checklist tool was used to assess the methodological and reporting quality of each study. Each article was peer-reviewed and screened for any biases. Results: A result of 11 electronic searches were critically appraised using the EBL appraisal checklist tool and all were found to have overall validity. The results indicate an increase use of online technology to empower an understanding of one's own health. Web-based tools like social media were useful in promoting the management of diabetes but were not able to provide quality information. Conclusion: Current research indicates the need for more investigation and future development of readily accessible and qualitative information in order to support the self-management of diabetes.

Improving students' openness to artificial intelligence through risk awareness and digital literacy: Evidence form a developing country

The integration of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI) in learning process has the potential to enhance learning efficiency by offering diverse perspectives and quick information access. However, this reliance on AI can lead to overdependence, thereby diminishing the overall learning experience. This study aims to explore student acceptance and risk factors for learning using AI through the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This cross-sectional study surveyed 218 accounting students using a structured questionnaire. The internal consistency of latent constructs was verified through Cronbach's alpha, followed by exploratory factor analysis to ensure the unidimensionality of these constructs. The theoretical framework was tested using Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The result suggests that students with higher self-confidence demonstrate greater enthusiasm for learning AI, while digital literacy significantly influences the perceived ease of use. While accessibility is not prioritized, functionality and information accuracy are deemed more critical. The research model posits that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, self-efficacy, digital literacy, and perceived risk impact student acceptance of AI. Perceived usefulness and self-efficacy positively influence student acceptance, while perceived risk has a negative impact. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of increasing basic technological literacy among students in online learning environments. Despite these insights, the study is limited by its focus on accounting students, and future research should consider a broader demographic. This study contributes to the existing literature by highlighting the role of digital literacy and self-efficacy in AI adoption, offering valuable implications for educators and AI service providers.

ANALISIS PERBEDAAN SISTEM PENYULUHAN PERTANIAN PADA MASA SEBELUM DAN SELAMA PANDEMI COVID-19 DI KABUPATEN MALANG

The agricultural extension system is a whole series of development of abilities, knowledge, skills and attitudes of main actors and business actors through extension. The agricultural extension system in Indonesia has experienced quite dynamic ups and downs since the COVID-19 pandemic hit this country. The extension system has changed in line with the policies taken by the government in response to Covid-19. This research aims to determine the effect of differences in agricultural extension systems before and during COVID-19 in the Malang Regency. This research method is descriptive qualitative with data analysis using Structural Equation Modeling. The research analysis results show significant differences in the agricultural extension system before and during COVID-19 in Malang Regency. During the pandemic, there have been significant changes in agricultural extension methods. Online methods and information technology are increasingly dominant, while face-to-face meetings have decreased drastically. Even though online methods are increasing, there are challenges in information accessibility for some farmers, especially farmers who live in rural areas with limited technological infrastructure. Farmer participation in extension activities tends to decrease during the pandemic. Factors such as technological limitations, unstable internet connections, and difficulty understanding online material are the main causes. The Covid-19 pandemic has also had a significant economic impact on farmers. The main challenges faced by farmers during the pandemic are limited market access, increasing prices of agricultural inputs, and decreasing selling prices for agricultural products.

«ОПТИКА» БӨЛІМІ БОЙЫНША ЭЛЕКТРОНДЫҚ ОҚУЛЫҚТАРДЫҢ ЗАМАНУИ БІЛІМ БЕРУ ҚҰРАЛЫ РЕТІНДЕ РӨЛІ

The article examines the effectiveness and role of the use of electronic textbooks in the education system. And, including in the section «Optics», optical phenomena and patterns are taken as a basis. The creation of electronic textbooks is one of the most pressing problems of the educational process today. The expansion of the use of modern information technologies has led to the need to develop electronic learning tools that increase the effectiveness of self-learning and the quality of learning for students. The use of electronic means in the learning process is effective for both the teacher and the student. The use of electronic learning tools in the educational process does not contradict the traditional teaching method, but rather complements the use of its achievements. Comparison parameters are also considered: page and rotation; reader's movement through the book; plane and depth; book block; personal appearance of the book; text; illustration; tactile sensations; reliability of information storage and accessible information update; one can say about the pros and cons of this and other types of books. The advantages of an electronic textbook in terms of printing are accompanied only by sound effects associated with its large information capacity and ease of use. With all the convenience of the e-book format, the reader may want to see it directly on the site if he does not want to download it, or, as in a bookstore, first view the publication and then decide whether to download it or not. The main disadvantages of the electronic textbook are due to its loss of personal artistic appearance. Currently, there are many tools for creating electronic textbooks. For example, the possibilities of the program SunRav BookEditor, SunRav BookReader, TurboSite, Flipsnack, EdApp, Canva, etc. are considered. In the article, we will define the role of analyzing the digital literacy of students using an electronic textbook. Examples of electronic forms of a physics textbook for grades 7-9 can be given.

Effects of XX catalysts on quantum annealing spectra with perturbative crossings

In adiabatic quantum computation the required run-time to reach a given ground-state fidelity is dictated by the size of the minimum gap that appears between the ground and first-excited state in the annealing spectrum. In general the presence of avoided level crossings demands an exponential increase in the annealing time with the system size which has consequences both for the efficiency of the algorithm and the required qubit coherence times. One promising avenue being explored to produce more favorable gap scaling is the introduction of nonstoquastic XX couplings in the form of a catalyst—of particular interest are catalysts which utilize accessible information about the optimization problem in their construction. Here we show extreme sensitivity of the effect of an XX catalyst to subtle changes in the encoding of the optimization problem. In particular, we observe that a targeted catalyst containing a single coupling can significantly reduce the gap closing with system size at an avoided level crossing. For slightly different encodings of the same problems however, these same catalysts result in closing gaps in the annealing spectrum. To understand the origin of these closing gaps, we study how the evolution of the ground-state vector is altered by the presence of the catalyst and find that the negative components of the ground-state vector are key to understanding the response of the gap spectrum. We also consider how and when these closing gaps could be utilized in diabatic quantum annealing protocols—a promising alternative to adiabatic quantum annealing in which transitions to higher energy levels are exploited to reduce the run time of the algorithm. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

A Didactic Intervention On Written Discourse And Rhetorical Patterns

Reading comprehension skills in EFL is vital for university students. Particularly, being aware of the writer’s intention by means of discourse patters allows students to interact with the written text. Therefore, this research paper examines the implementation of a Discourse Analysis perspective in an Intermediate general EFL lesson aimed to enhance both critical thinking and reading skills by identifying the use of language patterns in written texts. 20 students form an Upper-Intermediate English course that studies a BA in English at a public University situated in the center of the state of Veracruz Mexico were the participants. Qualitative classroom research approach was chosen to implement a didactic intervention aimed at enhancing students communicative and reflective skills on the impact that social media has had on their lives. Results revealed that students were able to identify the meaning, and the relationship discourse markers establish between the written ideas and the meaning the writer wants to transmit. Particularly, students were able to reflect on the implications of social media use on communication, information access, marketing, and self-perception of its users. The didactic implications of the lesson focused on discourse patterns use indicate that such teaching perspective can significantly improve students’ critical thinking and communicative abilities. Therefore, it can be considered this lesson as an innovative proposal for enhancing the development of communicative skills in EFL students.