Semi-systematic Literature Review Research Articles

A LITERATURE REVIEW ON RISK FACTORS ON INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Internationalization is one of the most critical decisions for construction companies. Although expanding into new markets promises several benefits such as new job opportunities, increases in market share and profit margins, etc., it is exposed to risks and difficulties, which in turn result in poor project performance in terms of delays and cost overruns. Therefore, construction companies should thoroughly recognize the potential risk factors and develop proper risk management strategies against these risk factors. This study reviews the recent studies on risk factors on international construction projects, which might cause delays and cost overruns, in order to help construction companies that mostly undertake international construction projects in recognizing risk factors and developing their risk response strategies against them. For this purpose, semi-systematic literature review was conducted, 32 journal articles from 14 academic journals reviewed in depth, and 23 different risk factors were identified. “Host government related risk”, “Resource price fluctuations”, “Unavailability of resources in the host market”, and “Contractor’s lack of managerial skills” were found to be “highly cited risk factors”. On the other hand, “Adverse public attitude”, “Project specification and standard problems”, “Technology and proprietary information sharing problems”, and “Virtual Risk” were found to be “lowly cited risk factors”.

A Social Perspective on AI in the Higher Education System: A Semisystematic Literature Review

A Social Perspective on AI in the Higher Education System: A Semisystematic Literature Review

Blockchain revolution in the tourism industry: A semi-systematic literature review

This paper investigates the application of blockchain technology in the tourism industry, reviews its evolution and develops a future research agenda. A semi-systematic literature review was conducted of 98 publications from 2017 to the first quarter of 2023, indexed in the Web of Science database. This is followed by an in-depth analysis of the most recent papers (2022 to March 2023). The research focuses on the improvement of processes, their interaction with other technologies and adaptation to the environment. However, the studies show the need for further study on social and legal aspects. In addition, blockchain technology could be an enabling tool in the face of new sustainability paradigms or crisis environments. Finally, considering new lines of research, five dimensions were identified (social, organisational, technological, sustainable and economic) as well as the need to develop a regulatory framework and interaction with other technologies.

Biopolymeric Nanocomposites for CO2 Capture.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) impacts the greenhouse effect significantly and results in global warming, prompting urgent attention to climate change concerns. In response, CO2 capture has emerged as a crucial process to capture carbon produced in industrial and power processes before its release into the atmosphere. The main aim of CO2 capture is to mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gas and reduce the anthropogenic impact on climate change. Biopolymer nanocomposites offer a promising avenue for CO2 capture due to their renewable nature. These composites consist of biopolymers derived from biological sources and nanofillers like nanoparticles and nanotubes, enhancing the properties of the composite. Various biopolymers like chitosan, cellulose, carrageenan, and others, possessing unique functional groups, can interact with CO2 molecules. Nanofillers are incorporated to improve mechanical, thermal, and sorption properties, with materials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and metallic nanoparticles enhancing surface area and porosity. The CO2 capture mechanism within biopolymer nanocomposites involves physical absorption, chemisorption, and physisorption, driven by functional groups like amino and hydroxyl groups in the biopolymer matrix. The integration of nanofillers further boosts CO2 adsorption capacity by increasing surface area and porosity. Numerous advanced materials, including biopolymeric derivatives like cellulose, alginate, and chitosan, are developed for CO2 capture technology, offering accessibility and cost-effectiveness. This semi-systematic literature review focuses on recent studies involving biopolymer-based materials for CO2 capture, providing an overview of composite materials enriched with nanomaterials, specifically based on cellulose, alginate, chitosan, and carrageenan; the choice of these biopolymers is dictated by the lack of a literature perspective focused on a currently relevant topic such as these biorenewable resources in the framework of carbon capture. The production and efficacy of biopolymer-based adsorbents and membranes are examined, shedding light on potential trends in global CO2 capture technology enhancement.

The Industry 5.0 (I50) paradigm, blockchain-based applications and the smart city

PurposeAgainst the background of the I50 paradigm, this paper queries in what ways blockchain and blockchain-based applications deployed in the smart city context facilitate the integration of the I50 paradigm in smart urban contexts.Design/methodology/approachA mixed methods approach is applied. First, by means of desk research and thematic literature review, a conceptual model integrating the I50 paradigm, smart city and blockchain-based solutions is built. Second, science mapping bibliometric analysis (SciMat) based on keywords’ co-occurrence is applied to a sample of 491 research articles to identify key domains of blockchain-based applications’ use in smart city. Third, a semi-systematic literature review complements insights gained through SciMat. Fourth, the findings are interpreted through the precepts of the conceptual model devised earlier.FindingsThe key blockchain-based applications in smart cities pertain to two domains, i.e. the foundational, service facilitation-oriented domain, including security (and safety), networks, computing, resource management and the service delivery-oriented domain, including mobility, energy and healthcare. Blockchain serves as the key building block for applications developed to deliver functions specific to each of the thus identified domains. A substantial layering of blockchain-based tools and applications is necessary to advance from the less to the more complex functional domains of the smart city.Originality/valueAt the conceptual level, the intricacies of the (making of the) I50 paradigm are discussed and a case for I50 – smart city – blockchain nexus is made. Easton’s input–output model as well as constructivism is referenced. At the empirical level, the key major domains of blockchain-based applications are discussed; those that bear the prospect of integrating the I50 paradigm in the smart city are highlighted. At the methodological level, a strategic move is made aimed at restoring the literature review’s role as subservient to the key line of exploration, to justify and ultimately support it, rather than to showcase the literature review as the ultimate purpose for itself.

Current practice with operative hysteroscopy for fertility preservation in endometrial cancer and endometrial premalignancies.

The primary aim was to analyze the current practices on the use of operative hysteroscopy for preserving fertility in patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer and premalignancies. Our secondary objectives included investigating medical therapy and analyzing reported pregnancy-related outcomes subsequent to fertility preservation procedures. We performed a semi-systematic literature review on PubMed, employing pertinent terms related to hysteroscopy, fertility preservation, and endometrial cancer and premalignancies. Patients undergoing operative hysteroscopy with or without following medical treatment were included. We adhered to the PRISMA 2020 statement and utilized Covidence software to manage our systematic review. We performed a pooled analysis on various outcomes. Our final analysis included 15 studies evaluating 458 patients, where 238 (52.0%) were diagnosed with endometrial cancer, and 220 (48.0%) had endometrial premalignancies. With 146 pregnancies in our study, the overall pregnancy rate was 31.9%. Among these, 97 resulted in live births, accounting for 66.4% of the reported pregnancies. In terms of medical treatment, various forms of progestins were reported. Complications or adverse effects related to operative hysteroscopy were not reported in more than half of the studies. Among those studies that did report them, no complications nor adverse effects were documented. After hysteroscopic resection, complete response to medical treatment has been reported in 65.5% of the overall cases. Our review sheds light on the contemporary landscape of operative hysteroscopy for fertility preservation in endometrial cancer and premalignancies. Future studies should include the integration of molecular classification into fertility-preserving management of endometrial malignancies to offer a more personalized and precise strategy.

A semi-systematic literature review, identifying the relationship between transit environments and women’s fear of victimization in transportation systems: a global perspective

A semi-systematic literature review, identifying the relationship between transit environments and women’s fear of victimization in transportation systems: a global perspective

The link between consumer-facing technologies and customer experience in physical retail environments: a critical literature review

ABSTRACT This paper aims to explore the link between consumer-facing technologies and customer experience in physical retail environments.It uses a semi-systematic literature review to synthesize existing knowledge, to provide a chronological overview of the evolution of the research area and to create an agenda for future research. To do so, the authors develop a search string based on a preliminary literature screening and four expert interviews, which they apply to the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Using a multistep approach, they select 31 articles published in peer-reviewed journals in the fields of retailing and marketing, management and technology. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the growing body of literature, identifies gaps in the literature, suggests future research areas and develops potential research objectives.By synthesizing the literature, it suggests a conceptual framework that may serve as a basis for further theory building.This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, enabling them to grasp the current state of research, identify gaps, and contribute their own research to the research field.

The functioning of European social protection systems in fulfilling the needs of persons with disabilities during COVID-19 – a semi-systematic review

Previous research has shown that pre-existing social and economic inequalities deepened during the COVID–19 pandemic. Persons with disabilities were among the most affected social groups. This article focuses on the social support that persons with disabilities and their families received during the coronavirus pandemic in Europe. A semi-systematic literature review was conducted: 578 records were identified, and 31 empirical papers were included. Four themes emerged from thematic analysis: (1) challenges in formal social support and care, (2) challenges in informal social support and care, (3) access to information and assistive technology, (4) positive practices, innovative methods and opportunities. In public policy, health-related needs overshadowed the needs to be met by the social support system, revealing the already existing dysfunctions of social protection systems.

Beyond the Classroom: The Potential of Project-Based Learning and YouTube in Fostering Learning Engagement and Creativity in Digital Learning

The background of this research is the low of student learning engagement and creativity. The purpose of this study is to analyze the potential of project-based learning and YouTube in enhancing learning engagement and creativity. The method used in this research is a semi-systematic literature review. The results of the study describe that project-based learning and the YouTube platform have the potential to increase learning engagement and creativity. Some potential aspects of project-based learning integrated with YouTube include relevant and interesting learning content, real project learning experiences, interactive and responsive platforms, flexibility and adaptability, online collaboration features, experimental activity opportunities, and constructive feedback. The findings of this research can be considered by educators when designing learning experiences aimed at improving student learning engagement and creativity. Further research recommendations include the need for experimental implementation of project-based learning integrated with YouTube and measuring the impact of treatment in increasing learning engagement and creativity.

The Impact of Educational Technology on Distance Learning in The Era of Post-Covid-19

E-learning is a type of electronic educational technology that enables online or distance learning to become the norm even before the COVID-19 era. It is a depiction of convergent products, services, and activities that have emerged in the digital media space and are thought to be more efficient at delivering learning and content, resulting in time and cost savings, and having a smaller negative impact on the environment. Based on existing research, the problem area of this study is to understand how technological convergence provides opportunities to promote the convenience of distance learning and its effect on society, as well as the barriers to the idea remaining implemented post-COVID-19. This paper collects data through a semi-systematic literature review based on similar themes which are educational technology, distance learning, and education during and post COVID-19. The primary objectives of this article are to analyse and discuss the impact of educational technology, as well as to discuss the implications of distance learning, particularly after the world was compelled to embrace it during the COVID-19 lockdown. In summary, it appears that educational technology is growing more interactive, mobile, immersive, and ubiquitous in the second decade of this twenty-first century. The development of digital platforms and tools, the availability of digital content to adult professionals, and self-paced continuous learning appear to be the key components of the learning of the future. Although numerous challenges such as infrastructure and internet must be addressed, distance learning has a bright future, and e-learning is the most effective tool for achieving it. More research is needed to shed light on educational technology as a product of technological convergence, which is not only about unification and commonality but also about divergence in various aspects and opportunities.

The institutional approach in entrepreneurship research in Latin America.

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the entrepreneurship research activity that uses the institutional approach as a conceptual framework in the specific context of Latin America. To do so, a semi-systematic literature review is conducted using 24 articles published between 2009 and 2021 in major entrepreneurship journals. The results show that institutional conditions significantly shape entrepreneurial dynamics. The review highlights a two-way relationship between formal and informal institutions that can either drive or hinder ventures. Policymakers should thus prioritize a comprehensive institutional approach to enhance entrepreneurial growth and boost regional prosperity. This is the first review of entrepreneurship research from the institutional approach in the Latin American context.

A Comprehensive Exploration of Entrepreneurial Strategies in The Makeup and Beauty Industry: The Role of Social Media Marketing

The research background is the rapid development of makeup and beauty industry in the social media era that is highly competitive. The study aims to explore the industry's development and its characters, the specialized entrepreneurial strategies, and the influence of social media on this industry. The methodology employed in this research is a semi-systematic literature review. The analytical approach utilized incorporates a meta-narrative framework, encompassing stages such as identifying, analyzing, and identifying patterns and themes related to the topic. The results describe that the characters of makeup and beauty industry includes highly competitive, ever-changing trends, consumer-centric, seasonal and limited-edition products, diverse product range. Furthermore, the role of social media and specialized entrepreneurial strategies related to the influencer collaborations, community building, personalized beauty, virtual beauty consultations, user-generated content, social commerce, online beauty classes, virtual events and live streams. Finally, the challenges of social media on entrepreneurial strategies associated with the policy and algorithm changes, negative feedback and criticism, data privacy and security.

Recent Research and Theory on Market in Sociology; A Semi-Systematic Literature Review

AbstractCurrent studies of market use social science theories and offer new theoretical approaches. This article discusses the latest theories and approaches to analyze the market. This research was conducted with semi-systemic literature review approach. The data is obtained through searching the published article in online scientific journals related to the market. Data analysis was carried out by thematically categorizing the finding and the presented descriptively. The results found two categories of approaches in the study of markets, namely Structural and Performative (consisted of institutional, network, cultural and normative approaches), and an integrative approach (consisted of integration of social forces and neo-institutionalism in sociology). This paper argues that current theories tend to analyze the market towards stability than dynamics, and the market system than the marketplace. Therefore, this paper purpose a suitable theoretical approach to understand market stability, dynamics and the market as a market place and a market system simultaneously.Keywords:Market Place, Market System, Economic Sociology, Sociology of Market

A Review of Analytical Methods and Technologies for Monitoring Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Water

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) consist of a range of manufactured fluorinated chemicals that are used in a variety of household and waterproofing products, industrial processes, and firefighting foams. In the past few years, there has been increasing concern about PFAS in the environment, since they are difficult to break down through natural processes, are highly persistent in humans, animals, soils and waters, and can travel long distances in surface and groundwater. This has created an increased need for PFAS analysis. Most PFAS monitoring currently takes place using field sampling and chromatographic analytical methods, which are laboratory-based and are very costly when used to monitor PFAS in the environment. Using a semi-systematic literature review approach, a comparative study is conducted in this article on the available analytical methods and sensor technologies that can be used to monitor and detect PFAS in the environment, including chromatographic, instrumentation analysis, and sensor-based methods. This study considered four critical factors for effective and efficient monitoring methods, which include the type of PFAS detected, removing background levels, determining detection limits, and identifying samples. In general, other analytical instruments are used in conjunction with chromatographic techniques for detecting both target and non-target analytes at a lower level of detection (LOD). It is shown that even though some sensor types have a low LOD, they are only useful for detecting targeted PFAS in water samples. However, sensors are an emerging technology that could be developed to enable low-cost, portable methods for the remote detection of PFAS species on-site.

Business cycle effects on consumer behavior: A conceptual framework and research agenda

AbstractA brand's long‐term success depends on its ability to adapt to changes in the business cycle, during which consumer responses might vary widely. Decades of research on business cycle effects on consumer behavior have led to a diverse, yet scattered body of knowledge. To lay a foundation for moving the field forward, we conduct a semisystematic literature review and differentiate the literature based on (1) behavioral foci studied and (2) underlying theoretical assumptions made. Our review of 55 articles identifies six literature fields that study business cycle effects on consumer behavior, and a multitude of theoretical approaches, which we categorize as mechanical core, affective layer, motivational ground, sociorelational, and cultural background. Next, we integrate commensurable elements of these distinct research traditions in an interdisciplinary, higher‐order conceptual framework of business cycle effects on consumer behavior, underpinned by four fundamental premises that direct marketing practice. Finally, we use these fundamental premises to delineate guidelines that advance the development of business cycle research in marketing, including (but not limited to) focus on consumer well‐being, consumer engagement and digital marketing. The conceptual framework guides the generalizable application of psychological theories to marketing practice during different stages of the business cycle.

Improving the quality of the acoustic environment in neonatal intensive care units: a review of scientific literature and technological solutions

There is an increased awareness of how the quality of the acoustic environment impacts the lives of human beings. Several studies have shown that sound pollution has adverse effects on many populations, from infants to adults, in different environments and workplaces. Hospitals are susceptible environments that require special attention since sound can aggravate patients' health issues and negatively impact the performance of healthcare professionals. This paper focuses on Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) as an especially sensitive case representing a hostile acoustic environment in which healthcare professionals have little awareness of how unwanted sounds impact the perceived quality of the soundscape. We performed a semi-systematic review of scientific literature on sound assessment studies in NICU from 2001. A thematic analysis was performed to identify emerging themes that informed the analysis of 27 technological solutions for the assessment of sound quality in indoor and outdoor environments. Solutions were categorized by functions and evaluation methods and grouped according to the characteristics of the design components, i.e., acquisition, computation, and communication strategies. Results highlight a lack of solutions to assess the qualitative characteristics of indoor environments such as NICU and forecast the footprint that different sound sources have on the indoor soundscape. Such solutions are urgently needed to empower healthcare professionals, and especially nurses, to actively modify and prevent the negative impact of unwanted sounds on NICU and critical care soundscape.

Building Occupants, Their Behavior and the Resulting Impact on Energy Use in Campus Buildings: A Literature Review with Focus on Smart Building Systems

In the light of global climate change and the current energy crisis, it is crucial to target sustainable energy use in all sectors. Buildings still remain one of the most energy-demanding sectors. Campus buildings and higher educational buildings are important to target due to their high and increasing energy demand. This building segment also represents a research gap, as mostly office or domestic buildings have been studied previously. In the quest for thermal comfort, a key stakeholder in building energy demand is the building occupant. It is therefore crucial to promote energy-aware behaviors. The building systems are another key factor to consider. As conventional building systems are replaced with smart building systems, the entire scenario is redrawn for how building occupants interact with the building and its systems. This study argues that behavior is evolving with the smartness of building systems. By means of a semi-systematic literature review, this study presents key findings from peer-reviewed research that deal with building occupant behavior, building systems and energy use in campus buildings. The literature review was an iterative process based on six predefined research questions. Two key results are presented: a graph of reported energy-saving potentials and a conceptual framework to evaluate building occupants impact on building energy use. Furthermore, based on the identified research gaps in the selected literature, areas for future research are proposed.

A review of intelligent interactive learning methods

The development of intelligent interactive learning approaches has received a lot of attention in recent years due to the trend of incorporating intelligent algorithms. Intelligent interactive education tools have a significant positive impact on user engagement, motivation, and social outcomes. This study attempts to explore the existing models, methods and technologies of intelligent interactive learning including virtual and augmented reality. The method of the current study was a semi-systematic literature review. This study is expected to make a substantial contribution to research on the use of intelligent interactive learning applications in e-learning. It supports earlier research and suggests a wide range of pertinent subject areas that might be investigated to progress the field. These findings lead to recommendations for future research on intelligent interactive learning techniques in e-learning.

Status of Avocado Production, Postharvest Handling and Utilization in Kenya

Avocado is an exotic fleshy fruit dicotyledonous plant grown for its fruit though leaves of the plant have also been used for avocado flavored tea production while the seed is known to contain antioxidants. The consumption of avocados is on the increase in Kenya; however, the value chain experiences losses estimated to be around 40% due to inability of the sector players to convert fresh fruits into more shelf stable products due to limited preservation technologies. Limited information exists on the production status of avocado, postharvest handling and consumption pattern of avocado in Kenya. This paper aims at determining the current Kenyan avocado distribution patterns, production volumes, nutrition properties and post-harvest handling practices. A semi systematic literature review approach was used to review research materials relevant available articles. The most current articles published in reputable journals within the last 10 years were considered. From the literature, avocado crop popularity is on the increase and has surpassed traditional cash crops such as coffee and tea. According to the findings, avocados can be converted to various products which include avocado oil, guacamoles, dry avocado powder, dehydrated products and avocado blended ice creams. There are gaps in avocado fruit preservation with an estimated 40% loss occasioned by low technologies in product transformation. In conclusion, the sector is in need of knowledge and technologies in product transformation to enable the sector avert losses occasioned by poor post-harvest handling techniques. This literature review provides information on the current status of avocado production, postharvest handling and utilization in Kenya which is useful to avocado marketers, policy makers, authorities, consumers and other stakeholders as well as avocado production and post-harvest handling researchers.