Technical Environment Research Articles

Assessment of the Influence of Contextual Issues in Evaluating eHealth Systems Usability in Tanzania

The adoption of eHealth systems in healthcare facilities has rapidly increased in many countries. However, the main challenge has been the quality and level of usability of those adopted systems, and the complexity of the challenge varies from one country to another based on contextual issues. Usability is also linked to contextual issues, which have a direct impact on deciding the methods for providing services on similar systems. This research focuses on assessing the influence of contextual issues on metrics that are applicable for evaluating the usability of eHealth systems through a case study of Tanzania. The findings of this research were obtained through the quantitative method, and the analysis was performed through structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS and SPSS applications. It is evident from this research that contextual factors, such as user characteristics, goals and tasks, technical environment, physical environment, and resources and technology, significantly impact the usability metrics that are important to the evaluation of eHealth systems. The usability metrics for eHealth systems identified in this research include navigation visibility, accessibility, perceived ease of use, error correction, internal collaboration, information quality, external collaboration, technical quality, guide and support, and perceived benefits. This study also revealed that the usability evaluation of eHealth systems should consider both common metrics and specific metrics in order to uncover both general information system and health context-specific usability issues

What a waste – A norm-critical design study on how waste is understood and managed

This article seeks to contribute new insights into inclusive recycling environments through universal design. The aim is to develop knowledge on how waste is understood and managed by exploring the practice and design of a recycling environment. Applying a norm-critical view, this is explored in a study with participants from a municipal housing company and waste management company in northern Sweden. Methods used are go-along interviews together with professionals and observations of a recycling environment. The results are discussed as: 1) the “(un)social norm;” where our results show that the waste system is perceived as a social system, contradicting previous approaches where waste systems are treated as technical environments. 2) the “(un)design factor;” where we identify how design in a recycling context that doesn´t emphasise diversity may affect activities of sorting.

Research on Feature Detection of Light Vehicle Emission Pollution Under the Control of Artificial Intelligence

Most modern cars use electronically controlled fuel injection engines. Because the fuel injection rate is strictly in accordance with the intake port, the combustion is more thorough and cleaner, so it usually has better emission performance. However, when there is a problem with it, it will have a great impact on its emission characteristics. By conducting exhaust emission experiments under WLTC, NEDC, and FTP-75 operating conditions, the emission characteristics of exhaust gases under various operating conditions were compared. Through comparative analysis, it is concluded that under WLTC conditions, the strictness of vehicle exhaust emissions has increased compared with the past, which provides a basis for automobile manufacturers to manage vehicle exhaust in the new technical environment.

Psychedelic Drugs used in the Treatment of Depression: A Literature Review

Introduction: When analyzing the main depressive conditions and their treatments, we understand that it is not so simple to take care of psychosomatic conditions, because it is a pathology that has a significant epidemiological aspect and needs a good approach, therefore, psychedelic drugs come in as a an important alternative as a treatment. Methodology: This is a literature review with research in databases, using 60 scientific articles as a basis and being filtered based on scientific impact and approach. Results: Psychedelic agents are chemical substances that, in non-toxic doses, produce changes in conception and thinking in a state of mind, thus altering perception and reason. There are several substances with psychedelic actions, many of which are banned and considered illegal in several countries around the world, however there are regulators that regulate various drugs and substances, and many of these deserve attention, due to the great evolution in the scientific technical environment. Final considerations: It is important to understand the mechanism and how to analyze depressive conditions, as well as adjust changes in life, practices and quality of life.

Neues Lesen. Unikalität und Multisensorik als Strategien der Literaturvermittlung

Neues Lesen<b>. Unikalität und Multisensorik als Strategien der Literaturvermittlung</b>

Blockchain-Based Smart Contracts in Insurance Service Delivery: A Conceptual Analysis

Blockchain is a revolutionary technology that offers a new kind of inventive service. It can handle a variety of sophisticated issues associated with the secrecy, integrity, and availability of fast and secure distributed systems. This concept paper begins by addressing the shift in people's attitudes towards the insurance industry, particularly in Malaysia, and then goes on to understand how the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), Task Technology Fit (TTF), and Initial Trust Model (ITM), influence behavioural intentions in using blockchain smart contracts. A digital insurance platform must be redefined after the increase in online insurance sales transactions prompted by COVID-19 to satisfy the market's expectations. Whereas traditional paper contracts rely on middlemen for execution, blockchain smart contracts are now based on blockchains, which include an immutable record of data and the ability to remove single points of failure. Despite the growing popularity of blockchain research in recent years, research on blockchain smart contract adoption behaviour at the individual level concerning insurance services remains limited. Hence, this study utilises the three models to characterise how performance expectancy, technological context, and initial trust interact to forecast behavioural intention. Furthermore, we stressed the need for additional research to demonstrate the intention to employ blockchain smart contracts is impacted by performance anticipation, technical environment, and personal initial trust. Based on the review, we will design realistic research that will incorporate prospects for theoretical progress as well as empirical discoveries in blockchain smart contract studies. The findings are intended to assist policymakers in developing suitable and improved strategies for capturing interest in blockchain smart contract insurance services in the Malaysian market. We also believe that the evolution of blockchain technology in tandem with smart contracts will enable the creation of new sorts of innovative services, such as insurance.

TRANSMISSION SUITABILITY ROUTE MAP USING THE LEAST COST PATH ANALYSIS (LCPA)

This study uses a Least Cost Path Analysis (LCPA) to create a transmission suitability route map. Environmental issues including electromagnetic pollution, habitat fragmentation, forest clearing, and the sight of pylons and power lines, and electromagnetic pollution are just a few that may come up during the planning and construction phases. The study's objectives are to define the criteria for a suitable transmission route, map the current transmission from Kidurong to Kemena in Bintulu, Sarawak, and suggest a new, LCPA-based transmission route that meets these criteria. It is necessary to determine the criteria that influence the construction of the route. There are three main categories for the proposed routes. There are technical, human health, and natural environments. The road layer and slope layer are combined for the technical group. The residential layer is part of the human health group, and land use is associated with the natural environment. During the planning of a potential power line route, weight was assigned to the criterion maps. The outcome demonstrates that the suggested route was built based on most flat sections, with only a little portion passing through the sharpest sector because there is no other way to depart from the path to avoid it. The output route is nearly straight from the source location to the destination point. The route also curves in a couple of places to go around the step area. The proposed transmission line is inside the buffer zone, and there are no other routes in the area that are more than 1 km from the road. Class 1 has a low dwelling density; therefore, the route passes through it for the residential evaluation. Additionally, there are a few places where the route passes through class 2 because only class 2 has a lower housing density.

Reproduction of Architecture in Modernizing Local Architecture: The Case of Muqarnas

The present study aims to investigate the cultural identity concept and its relation to cultural heritage within a conservation framework under the threat of unfettered interventions for modernity and its requirements by analyzing the reproduced architectural works. Furthermore, the study focused on clarifying and tracking the effects of architectural reproduction on society and individuals, as well as on the local way of thinking and local culture in a specific region known as the "Levant." The research method is developed in two interconnected ways: qualitative 'interpretive' research methods are used to explain the pure concept of cultural heritage, while a 'simulation strategy' is used between traditional and historical architectural elements to create new architectural elements with historical origins and contemporary touches. Construct logic is a method of "modernizing local architecture”, in that it controls modern architecture and uses it to develop local architecture rather than obliterating and distorting it. "Muqarnas," one of the Islamic architectural decorative elements widely used in the Levant and surrounding geography, is chosen as the simulation case study for developing new contemporary architectural elements used both structurally and decoratively. The simulation approach used in the study is limited to several traditional architectural elements from the study's historical and cultural context, which were documented with architectural and technical data as well as illustrative drawings. It may be possible to raise conservation awareness by simulating some traditional architectural elements and developing them in a highly technical environment. Furthermore, it can provide the opportunity to obtain new architectural elements of a contemporary cultural nature that resist architectural reproduction in a variety of internal and external fields, as well as structural solutions.

The Role of Green Marketing Dimensions in Achieving Sustainable Development - An Applied Study in the Etihad Company for Food Industries Ltd. in Iraq

The current research aims to demonstrate the role of green marketing dimensions represented by (green distribution, green promotion, and green products) in achieving sustainable development with its dimensions represented by (environmental, social, economic, and technical dimensions). The Etihad Company for Food Industries Limited adopts green marketing and its role in achieving sustainable development for the importance of preserving the economic and technical environment and natural resources., The research community was represented by the employees of the company amounting to (2000) employees, and an intentional sample of (100) was taken, represented by (senior management and middle management) in the Etihad Food Industries Company. The results were analyzed by adopting the statistical program (SSPS V.25). The company adopts green marketing in its production processes, but not at the required level, due to the obsolescence of the production processes, machines, and equipment that are used in the work.

Ethics Inside the Black Box: Integrating Science and Technology Studies into Engineering and Public Policy Curricula.

There is growing need for hybrid curricula that integrate constructivist methods from Science and Technology Studies (STS) into both engineering and policy courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. However, institutional and disciplinary barriers have made implementing such curricula difficult at many institutions. While several programs have recently been launched that mix technical training with consideration of "societal" or "ethical issues," these programs often lack a constructivist element, leaving newly-minted practitioners entering practical fields ill-equipped to unpack the politics of knowledge and technology or engage with skeptical publics. This paper presents a novel format for designing interdisciplinary coursework that combines conceptual content from STS with training in engineering and policy. Courses following this format would ideally be team taught by instructors with advanced training in diverse fields, and hence co-learning between instructors and disciplines is a key element of the format. Several instruments for facilitating both student and instructor collaborative learning are introduced. The format is also designed for versatility: in addition to being adaptable to both technical and policy training environments, topics are modularized around a conceptual core so that issues ranging from biotech to nuclear security can be incorporated to fit programmatic needs and resources.

Zero Trust: The Magic Bullet or Devil’s Advocate?

The concept of Zero trust was first introduced in mid 1990’s, and has gradually attracted increasing attention. This approach to building organizations’ information system infrastructures has been developed as response to increasing interaction and interconnection of information systems. Along with organizational boundaries have become less clear with the new business models where a business process exceeds the organizational boundaries, also the boundaries of information systems are no longer clear. In this interconnected world the purely perimeter-based security model defining zones of trusted entities inside the perimeter and the untrusted external world outside the perimeter no longer serves the needs of new business models. And the combination of complex technology and sophisticated attack methods it is no longer possible to be sure that all system components and actors inside the perimeter can be trusted. The Zero trust approach brings the sophisticated controls from the perimeter to the entire system. The core idea can be expressed with the four words “never trust, always verify”. No system component is by default trusted , and one-time verification is not sufficient – access to a resource must be verified at each connection attempt. Mutual authentication of the communicating parties is in the core of the approach. But does the zero trust approach have unwanted side-effects? The complexity of the system increases when new control layers are built, and system complexity can increase the possibility of configuration errors. Can there be other side-effects as well? The need for trust does not disappear even when the systems are built on the zero trust principles. When studying the zero trust approach the author started thinking what would happen in human interaction and organizational co-operation if they are based on or partly apply the zero trust approach. And the scenarios were quite gloomy. But is this only a nightmare or already at least partly present in our reality? This article describes the zero trust approach and its applicability to technical environments. The second part present scenarios of the impacts which application of zero trust principles could have – or maybe already has - in human communication and organizational relationships.

Вплив факторів маркетингового середовища на розвиток роздрібної торгівлі в Україні

Retail trade in Ukraine is an important branch of its economy and significantly affects the satisfaction of the population's needs for consumer goods. Based on the analysis of secondary marketing information, it was determined that the volumes of retail turnover of enterprises operating in the field of retail trade increased significantly in 2021 compared to 2013. The influence of changes in certain factors of the macro- and microenvironment on the functioning of retail trade enterprises of Ukraine was studied. It has been established that their development is positively influenced by the cultural environment and the scientific and technical environment. At the same time, the political environment (political instability due to military actions in Ukraine), the economic environment (decrease in the level of population income, inflation, reduction of GDP), the demographic environment (migration of the population, reduction in its number) have a significant negative impact on the functioning of retail trade enterprises of Ukraine. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia into Ukraine, as a result of the destruction of warehouses and shops in a number of regions of our country, the disruption of relations with suppliers, and the shortage of a number of goods, retail enterprises suffered significant losses. Having closed stores in temporarily occupied territories or where active hostilities are taking place, large retail chains in 2022 opened a number of new stores in the Western regions of Ukraine and in the city of Kyiv, significantly changing the territorial structure of retail trade. The destruction of manufacturing enterprises or the limitation of their capacities forces retailers to look for new suppliers of goods, reduce their product range, and optimize logistics. The functioning of retail trade enterprises was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a significant increase in the number of online stores of food retailers, "click and collect", "click and drive" services appeared. Today, there is a sharp increase in the prices of goods, compared to the pre-war period, which, in the conditions of a reduction in the level of income of the population of Ukraine, limits the volume of their purchases in physical terms. Having slightly adapted to the new conditions, retail enterprises need to intensify their marketing activities to increase the volume of purchases by store visitors and expand their customer base.

A stepwise approach for Scenario-based Inventory Modelling for Prospective LCA (SIMPL)

PurposeIn prospective life cycle assessment (pLCA), inventory models represent a future state of a production system and therefore contain assumptions about future developments. Scientific quality should be ensured by using foresight methods for handling these future assumptions during inventory modelling. We present a stepwise approach for integrating future scenario development into inventory modelling for pLCA studies. MethodsA transdisciplinary research method was used to develop the SIMPL approach for scenario-based inventory modelling for pLCA. Our interdisciplinary team of LCA and future scenario experts developed a first draft of the approach. Afterwards, 112 LCA practitioners tested the approach on prospective case studies in group work projects in three courses on pLCA. Lessons learned from application difficulties, misunderstandings and feedback were used to adapt the approach after each course. After the third course, reflection, discussion and in-depth application to case studies were used to solve the remaining problems of the approach. Ongoing courses and this article are intended to bring the approach into a broader application.Results and discussionThe SIMPL approach comprises adaptations and additions to the LCA goal and scope phase necessary for prospective inventory modelling, particularly the prospective definition of scope items in reference to a time horizon. Moreover, three iterative steps for combined inventory modelling and scenario development are incorporated into the inventory phase. Step A covers the identification of relevant inventory parameters and key factors, as well as their interrelations. In step B, future assumptions are made, by either adopting them from existing scenarios or deriving them from the available information, in particular by integrating expert and stakeholder knowledge. Step C addresses the combination of assumptions into consistent scenarios using cross-consistency assessment and distinctness-based selection. Several iterations of steps A–C deliver the final inventory models.ConclusionThe presented approach enables pLCA practitioners to systematically integrate future scenario development into inventory modelling. It helps organize possible future developments of a technology, product or service system, also with regard to future developments in the social, economic and technical environment of the technology. Its application helps to overcome implicit bias and ensures that the resulting assessments are consistent, transparently documented and useful for drawing practically relevant conclusions. The approach is also readily applicable by LCA practitioners and covers all steps of prospective inventory modelling.

The politics of the city: Critical theory of technology and urban design(s)

This article aims at approaching urban design from a philosophical point of view, specifically through Andrew Feenberg's critical theory of technology. It attempts to present the politics of urban design, rejecting an urban-technological determinism that refers to a specific technical environment as the only one possible. If technology is an open process with social implications and consequences, the same holds for urban technologies and designs. This approach argues that contemporary cities are formed within a specific socio-technical context which is seemingly the most functional for the current social, political and economic world, but since environmental and urban crises rise, there seems to be a need for rethinking over the form of current cities. Thus, this article attempts to offer a theoretical contribution to the debate over alternative urban designs through Andrew Feenberg's insights. Drawing upon some of his most crucial notions, like the “technical code”, the “interpretative flexibility” and the “operational autonomy” and presenting their role in a philosophy of the city, I attempt to highlight that current urban forms could be replaced by other functional alternatives. The choice over one or another urban design is political hence the need for the relation between the philosophy of the city and technical politics.

How personal, technical, social environments affecting generation Z to utilise video-based sharing platform in learning process during crisis?

In a crisis such as COVID-19 that struck the world in 2019, social and community activities are restricted, including in-person classes. On the one hand, these restrictions are aimed as a precautionary measure against the virus spread; on the other hand, this could lead to a lost generation without an educational process. Notwithstanding this, online learning through a video-sharing platform is envisaged as the best way to keep learning in this particular situation. However, students have their learning style preferences. While a video-based sharing platform is seen as the most representative way of facilitating self-directed learning, understanding the motivations driving the adoption is crucial. This paper investigates technical, social, and personal environments that motivate generation Z to utilise this tool for self-directed learning, employing Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) as the theoretical lens. A total of 251 survey responses from this cohort were collected and analysed with a structural equation modelling approach. The findings reveal that perceived usefulness and content quality, peer influence, and self-efficacy and outcome from three perspectives, respectively, determine the adoption intention substantially by 67.1%. These findings provide several important implications for video-sharing platform acceptance in terms of both research and practice. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

THE IMPACT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR FREELANCING IN REDUCING THE PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT, CASE STUDY :GAZA STRIP

The study aimed to identify the impact of training programs provided to university graduates on online freelancing work in Gaza, with dimensions including technical skills, managerial skills, and work environment, in creating job opportunities. The study used a descriptive analytical approach, relying on a questionnaire tool to collect data from primary sources. The study community consisted of university graduates who received training courses in Gaza as part of programs to prepare them for the online freelancing market, with a total estimated number of more than one thousand individuals. A random sample of 126 individuals from the study community was selected, and all questionnaires were retrieved and used for analysis. The study concluded that there is a positive impact of training programs on online freelancing work in creating job opportunities for Palestinian university graduates in Gaza. The results showed a significant positive relationship between managerial skills and obtaining remote job opportunities, with a Pearson correlation coefficient value of (.6900). The results also indicated a significant negative relationship between technical skills and obtaining remote job opportunities, with a Pearson correlation coefficient value of (0.673). Finally, the results also showed a similar relationship between the work environment and obtaining remote job opportunities, with a Pearson correlation coefficient value of 0.522, indicating a strong and significant relationship between them. The study recommended the adoption of an online freelancing model within the Palestinian national strategy to reduce the escalating unemployment rates in Palestine .

Preparing student nurses for critical care placements, a quasi-experimental mixed study

Weaving a link between the academic pathway in nursing schools and health care facilities. To co-create a new and adaptive training for nursing students called to do a placement in an intensive care unit. To facilitate their integration and reduce their apprehension in a highly technical clinical environment. These are the goals of the Préparéa workshops implemented within the regional teaching and training center for health professions at the Toulouse University Hospital.

A Framework for Emotion-Oriented Requirements Change Handling in Agile Software Engineering

<bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Background:</b> Requirements Changes (RCs) – the additions/modifications/deletions of functional/non-functional requirements in software products – are challenging for software practitioners to handle. Handling some changes may significantly impact the emotions of the practitioners. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Objective:</b> We wanted to know the key challenges that make RC handling difficult, how these impact the emotions of software practitioners, what influences their RC handling, and how RC handling can be made less emotionally challenging. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Method:</b> We followed a mixed-methods approach. We conducted two survey studies, with 40 participants and 201 participants respectively. The presentation of key quantitative data was followed by descriptive statistical analysis, and the qualitative data was analysed using Strauss–Corbinian Grounded Theory, and Socio–Technical Grounded Theory analysis techniques. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Findings:</b> We found (1) several key factors that make RC handling an emotional challenge, (2) varying emotions that practitioners feel when it is challenging to handle RCs, (3) how stakeholders, including practitioners themselves, peers, managers and customers, influence the RC handling and how practitioners feel due to the stakeholder influence, and (4) practices that can be used to better handle RCs. <bold xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Conclusion:</b> Some challenges are technical and some are social which also belong to aspects of agile practice, emotional intelligence, and likely belong to cognitive intelligence. Therefore, to better handle RCs with positive emotions in socio–technical environments, agility, emotional intelligence, and cognitive intelligence need to work in synergy with each other.

Research on the Current Situation and Innovation Development of China's Automotive Aftermarket

This paper mainly studies the current situation and development of China's automotive aftermarket in the post-COVID-19 era. It mainly elaborates from the economic environment, demand environment, technical environment, industrial environment and social environment, so as to reveal the huge growth potential of the automotive aftermarket and provide a reference for formulating the development strategy of the automotive aftermarket. This paper finds that with the increasing number of privately added cars, the market demand for car services is also increasing, and consumers have higher and higher requirements for services, high-quality services are the foundation of after-market services.

Effective Stakeholder Engagement for Offshore Wind Energy Development: The State of New York's Fisheries and Environmental Technical Working Groups

AbstractThe offshore wind (OSW) energy industry is rapidly developing in the United States. New federal mandates require at least 30 GW of OSW by 2030. With the largest goal in the eastern United States, the state of New York seeks to advance OSW in a way that is both environmentally and socially responsible as well as cost‐effective. To achieve this, New York developed technical working groups (TWGs) in 2017 focused on critical topics relating to OSW energy development, including the Fisheries Technical Working Group and Environment Technical Working Group (F‐TWG and E‐TWG; collectively, “the TWGs”). The TWGs are composed of OSW developers, fishing industry (F‐TWG) or environmental nongovernmental organizations (E‐TWG), federal agency representatives, and state representatives from Maine to North Carolina. These groups advise the state of New York on OSW issues by emphasizing the use of science and technical expertise to inform decision making. The effectiveness of TWG collaborations is due to a variety of reasons, including the regional scale of stakeholder involvement, which allows the groups to develop guidance at an appropriate geographic scale relative to OSW and fishing activities and wildlife populations. The regional collaboration and communication fostered by the TWGs are essential for building trust among stakeholder groups and working collectively to minimize fisheries and environmental impacts as the OSW industry progresses. This paper highlights the OSW stakeholder engagement process and approach implemented by New York through the development of TWGs, as a means of identifying needs for environmental and fisheries resources to inform responsible OSW development within New York and regionally across the eastern United States. The lessons learned from the TWG process can be used to inform stakeholder engagement efforts in other locations.