Collaborative Engineering Research Articles

Adoption of Collaborative Technologies in Library and Information Science Teaching: A Study of Tertiary Institutions in Rivers and Imo States, Nigeria

Adoption of Collaborative Technologies in Library and Information Science Teaching: A Study of Tertiary Institutions in Rivers and Imo States, Nigeria

Ethnophysics and Technology: Physics e-module integrated with local wisdom based on an Android application

21st century learning is a collaboration of technology and science that can change students' abilities from LOTS (lower order thinking skills) to HOTS (higher order thinking skills). In its application, 21st century learning is supported by teaching resources and media based on environmental phenomena and technological developments. This research aims to determine the feasibility of the physics e-module based android application that has been developed after validation testing by media experts, material experts, and learning experts. This e-module was developed to serve as an innovation in physics learning in schools to improve high school students from LOTS to HOTS abilities. This type of research is development research by applying 4D model consisting of define, design, develop and disseminate stages. At the define stage, researchers examine and analyze phenomena in schools such as curriculum, student learning styles, teacher teaching styles, learning resources and learning media used. In the design stage, researchers design the needs of students and teachers in learning such as learning modules. In the develop stage, researchers develop products for student learning needs through expert validation from lecturers and teachers. In the disminate stage, researchers apply products that have been developed in schools. The population of this study was all class X students at SMAN 5 Mataram. Sampling in this research was carried out using a purposive sampling method. The classes chosen as research samples were classes X IPA 1 and The average score from the media validation results was 4.8 with a very valid category. The average score from the learning validation results was 4.7 in the very valid category. Based on the validation results, it was concluded that the development product in the form of an integrated physics e-module with local wisdom based on an Android application was suitable for use in schools.

Innovating Civil Engineering: Strategies for Fostering Stakeholder Engagement in the Circular Economy

Sustainability and circular economy principles are increasingly important in civil engineering, as highlighted by the United Nations Environmental Programme in 2023 the construction activities represented 36% of global energy use in 2020. However, the sector's focus on reducing operational carbon overshadows the need for addressing embodied carbon from materials like cement, steel, and aluminium. To address this, a shift towards incentivizing all supply chain stakeholders and cultivating collaborative models is necessary. This research provides an initial scoping for the development of the Lithuanian Construction Materials Reuse Optimization (LSEPO) platform, a pioneering regional initiative fostering a marketplace for reused building materials. Such platforms are recognized for their potential to overcome sustainability barriers by utilizing digital technologies for efficient data management and stakeholder collaboration. Our research identifies a significant gap in the existing literature concerning effective stakeholder engagement strategies critical for the success of such platforms. To bridge this gap, we employed a three-tiered methodological approach: firstly, a semi-structured literature analysis delved into existing stakeholder engagement strategies within the circular economy. This review highlighted a fragmented understanding of incentives and collaboration dynamics across different sectors. Secondly, a content analysis of global material exchange and circular construction platforms provided insights into best practices, showcasing successful communication methods, innovative incentive models, and robust collaboration frameworks. Lastly, integrating these findings, our study proposes a conceptual stakeholder engagement framework tailored for social innovation in civil engineering, more specifically Lithuanian Construction Materials Reuse Optimization (LSEPO). Practical implications of our findings underscore the necessity for platforms like LSEPO to incorporate adaptive engagement strategies that are context-sensitive and inclusive, facilitating a broad spectrum of stakeholder inputs. The study demonstrates that effective stakeholder engagement goes beyond traditional communication methods; it requires a systemic integration of technological innovation and incentive alignment to promote sustained participation and collaboration. By providing a comprehensive foundation for the development of the LSEPO platform, this research not only aims to advance it as a beacon of social innovation and environmental stewardship within the civil engineering sector but also sets a benchmark for future initiatives aiming to embed circular economy principles effectively.

Real-Time Document Collaboration—System Architecture and Design

This article explores the world of dependable systems, specifically focusing on system design, software solutions, and architectural decisions that facilitate collaborative work on shared text documents across multiple users in near real time. It aims to dive into the intricacies of designing robust and effective document collaboration software focusing on understanding the requirements of such a system, the working principle of collaborative text editing, software architecture, technology stack selection, and tooling that can sustain such a system. To examine the pros and cons of the proposed system, the paper will detail how collaborative text editing software can benefit from such an architecture regarding availability, elasticity, and scaling. The intricate nature of this system renders this paper a valuable resource for prospective investigations within the domain of dependable systems and distributed systems. This research first examines the requirements of a real-time collaboration system and the necessary core features. Then, it analyzes the design, the application structure, and the system organization while also considering key architectural requirements as the necessity of scaling, the usage of microservices, cross-service communications, and client–server communication. For the technology stack of the implementation, this research considers the alternatives at each layer, from client to server. Once these decisions are made, it follows system development while examining possible improvements for the issues previously encountered. To validate the architecture, a testing strategy is developed, to examine the key capabilities of the system, such as resource consumption and throughput. The conclusions review the combination of modern and conventional application development principles needed to address the challenges of conflict-free document replication, decoupled and stateless event-driven architecture, idempotency, and data consistency. This paper not only showcases the design and implementation process but also sets a foundation for future research and innovation in dependable systems, collaborative technologies, sustainable solutions, and distributed system architecture.

Infectious diseases and global security: Analysis of global control and vaccination strategies

Introduction: Given the recent experience with the COVID-19 vaccine campaign, an optimal global policy to control future pandemics and ensure infectious security globally is highly relevant. Objective: The study aims to determine the optimal vaccination strategy to reduce COVID-19 morbidity and mortality during a pandemic.Methods: A systematic search of studies on infectious disease control and vaccination strategies for the period 2000-2023 in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases using keywords was conducted for the review. Relevant publications, data extraction and systematisation were selected.Results: The findings of the analysis highlight the importance of integrated interventions in global vaccination strategies, including health systems strengthening, innovative technologies for outbreak detection and international collaboration. Vaccination, as an effective preventive measure, significantly reduces the spread of infectious diseases. Vaccination with different types of vaccines has been shown to improve immune response compared to the use of the same type of vaccine. This approach, where the first and second vaccine doses are different, may increase the effectiveness of the immune response.Conclusions: Studies confirm that vaccination reduces the number of cases and deaths, reducing the economic burden. A variety of vaccines, including mRNA, vector, and inactivated vaccines, provide high efficacy in preventing COVID-19 infection and mortality, especially when a heterologous vaccination regimen is used. This review identifies the most effective infectious disease control strategies for the development of global health recommendations

Towards Mine 4.0: A Proposed Multi-Layered Architecture for Real-Time Surveillance and Anomaly Detection in an Open-Pit Phosphate Mine

Given the global importance and limited availability of phosphate, optimizing the use of this critical resource and minimizing its wastage are of paramount importance. In this context, this paper proposes an innovative architecture for the implementation of an intelligent video surveillance system specifically designed for open-pit phosphate mines. The proposed architecture is designed to meet the overall functional requirements of a surveillance system in the challenging environment of open-pit mining, while aligning with the guidelines of the Mine 4.0 revolution. It incorporates advanced technologies that address the critical challenges of latency, data security, and transparency commonly encountered in traditional monitoring systems. By adopting a multi-layered approach that leverages edge, fog, and cloud computing, coupled with blockchain technology and expert collaboration, our architecture offers a comprehensive framework for efficient data processing at every stage, from initial data acquisition to real-time anomaly detection and decision-making.

A Building Designed as a Catalyst for Project-Based Learning: A Case Study in America

Higher education must adapt to a rapidly changing landscape of industries and knowledge. A university developing a new campus aims to transform education by designing its first academic building to promote active collaboration, project-based learning (PBL), and industry-relevant experiences, focusing on a student-centric approach. A well-designed facility is seen as crucial for success. The Active Learning Classroom has shown to positively impact students' perceptions of an inspiring environment, enhancing participation and idea generation (Park & Choi, 2014). PBL effectively connects academic knowledge with workplace experience (Guo et al., 2020). A case study assessed the building's design for PBL during its first operational year. Findings evaluated the design's effectiveness and identified necessary changes. Both qualitative and quantitative data revealed limited use of collaborative spaces and technologies, as well as insufficient PBL integration in the curriculum. Recommendations include aligning faculty practices with program goals and engaging students more with available educational technologies in the learning spaces, both inside and outside the classroom.

V2X Communication Computing Resource Collaboration Technology Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning

In traditional cloud computing, data needs to be transferred from distributed data sources to remote cloud data centers for high-performance computing. However, tasks often experience network transmission delays of hundreds of milliseconds or more from data sources to cloud data centers, which does not meet the need for low latency in V2X (Vehicle to Everything) systems. On the basis of the existing heterogeneous task scenario, this paper proposes a communication computing resource collaboration technology scheme based on heterogeneous task, which can meet the requirements of delay and cost when facing tasks with different delay requirements and different divisibility. This scheme uses the communication computing resources of the roadside unit and the service vehicle, so that the computing task of the task vehicle can be completed within the delay requirement and the cost is minimal. We use the deep reinforcement learning method to study, and finally the performance of the proposed scheme is verified by simulation.

Effects of Teachers’ Technology Leadership on Postgraduate Preservice Teachers’ Application of TPACK: Perspective of Path-Goal Theory of Leadership

A tremendous amount of technology (e.g., online learning platforms, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and robots) has been utilized to create rich interactive activities to upgrade preservice teachers’ knowledge and skills. However, there is a challenge to transform teacher preparation programs into a fully realized technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) application environment. Teachers’ technology leadership (TTL) should be considered to empower preservice teachers to apply TPACK. Since there was no empirical evidence concerning the impact of technology leadership on student outcomes, this study investigated the relationship between TTL and postgraduate preservice teachers’ application of TPACK by collecting quantitative data in Chinese normal university. Factor analyses were first conducted; and results indicated that the questionnaire combined the ISTE-E standards and TPACK framework was a reliable and valid survey instrument. The descriptive statistics results showed that TTL (professional growth and leadership, digital citizenship, technology collaboration, and technology-empowered learning) was highly perceived, and postgraduate preservice teachers’ TPACK components were at medium levels. Structural equation modeling test results revealed that TTL positively and significantly influenced all dimensions of postgraduate preservice teachers’ TPACK. Finally, limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are provided along with theoretical and practical implications.

Review of Human–Robot Collaboration in Robotic Surgery

Human–robot collaboration (HRC) technology has emerged as a pivotal innovation in robotic surgery, significantly augmenting surgeons’ capabilities and enhancing the precision, safety, and efficacy of surgical procedures. This technology has been widely adopted across various surgical disciplines, including general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, urology, and neurosurgery. By classifying HRC technology into three interactive modes based on the level of autonomy in robot‐assisted minimally invasive surgery, key technologies in imaging perception, force sensing, and human–robot interaction control methods are thoroughly explored. In this review, a comprehensive and up‐to‐date overview of advancements in HRC technology within surgical robotics is provided. Additionally, this review delves into the challenges and safety concerns associated with employing robotic systems in surgery, highlighting areas for improvement and innovation. Finally, a forward‐looking perspective on trends in HRC technology is presented, offering insights into how emerging innovations are set to enhance and transform surgical practices.

A Comparative Evaluation of Ad Hoc Team Performance, Effectiveness, and Interactions in Modern Collaborative Technology

The current study utilizes a mixed-method approach to investigate the efficacy and affordances of three modern collaborative technologies (Slack, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft Teams). Distributed teams of three participants collaborated to plan a simulated trip with various requirements using one of three modern collaborative technologies (Slack, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams). The study elicited team performance, perceived platform usability, and qualitative focus group data. Quantitative results show that Microsoft Teams resulted in significantly worse team performance than Slack and Google Hangouts; additionally, only Slack was positively associated with its usability and team members’ perceptions of team effectiveness. Two themes were identified regarding how these technologies afforded and shaped team practices and social interactions: (a) technology leads to a loosely defined (or no) leadership, and (b) technology promotes the sense of team and trust in ad hoc teams performing fast-paced and time-sensitive tasks.

Dismantling Silos: Academia, Industry, and a Science Museum Working Together

ABSTRACT A partnership between four universities, an industrial research lab, and a public science museum, created as a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center, offers diverse collaboration and learning opportunities in cellular engineering. Each institution plays a vital role: universities advance science education, industry develops and commercializes technologies based on basic research, and science museums educate and engage the public. However, differences in the culture, values, and focus of these institutions create collaboration challenges. Three workshops highlight how consistent funding, intellectual property agreements, shared facilities, and long-term collaborations can harness the strengths of each institution to promote rapid prototyping, confront global problems, and encourage commercial applications from research.

TFETF Framework Development in MOOC Based on Art-Technopreneurial

This study explores family economic empowerment through the Framework Economy of the Family (TFETF) through the implementation of the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) through concrete-based pottery, supporting the development of creative family technopreneurs. Integrating traditional arts, entrepreneurship education and technology is the key to creating innovative human resources in the digital era. This research uses the ADDIE model to design a MOOC curriculum that facilitates collaboration in entrepreneurship and craft technology. The results of the research in the form of developing the TFETF framework obtained a media expert validation score of 91.45%, material expert validation 90%, practicality test 90%. The TFETF framework developed has proven effective in strengthening the family economy by providing adaptive learning materials, helping overcome geographic and socio-economic barriers and encouraging social inclusion and global connectivity.

The Research on the Investment Value of Cigna based on SWOT, Financial and Valuation Methods

Health insurance has always been an area of concern for investors. At the same time, the industry has also been strongly supported by the government in recent years and has always been in the forefront of development.The paper utilizes the SWOT method, financial analysis method, and valuation method to assess the investment potential of Cigna Company. The findings indicate that while Cigna demonstrates strong advantages in technology and innovation collaboration, it also faces challenges related to debt.Companies can adapt to the trend of digital technology and aging population, expand and seize growth opportunities. At the same time, it is reasonable to respond to threats such as disease, data risk, and so on.Through various financial indicators, it can be seen that the overall situation of the company is good and always in an upward trend, and has a good development prospect.Through the valuation method, it is evident that Cigna Enterprises holds a high stock investment value, making it a favorable choice for investors. This paper not only serves as a reference for investors to make more informed decisions, but also aids enterprises in gaining clarity on their strengths and weaknesses, thereby providing a foundation for enhancing market competitiveness.

The Effect of Project Management System Implementation, BIM Technology, and Cloud Collaboration on Construction Project Efficiency in Riau

This study examines the impact of Project Management System (PMS) implementation, Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology, and Cloud Collaboration on construction project efficiency in Riau, Indonesia. Utilizing a quantitative research design, data were collected from 190 professionals involved in construction projects and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). The findings reveal that all three factors—PMS implementation, BIM technology, and Cloud Collaboration—positively and significantly influence construction project efficiency. Among these, BIM technology demonstrates the strongest impact, followed by Cloud Collaboration and PMS implementation. The high R² value (0.752) indicates that these factors collectively explain a substantial portion of the variance in project efficiency. This study underscores the importance of integrating advanced technological tools and management practices to enhance project outcomes in the construction industry. The results provide practical insights for construction firms in Riau and similar regions, suggesting that the adoption of BIM, Cloud Collaboration, and PMS can lead to significant improvements in project efficiency.

Innovative Technology Integration in Teaching Practicum: Pre-Service Teachers' Mastery of the TPACK Framework at Universitas Widya Gama Mahakam Samarinda

Consider how Technology has been used in the teaching and learning process. This study aimed to explore PSTs' final practice in practicum integrated into Technology and how they solve the problem if they have it. This research was conducted at Widya Gama Mahakam University. This study focused on PSTs' competence when designing and using Technology in teaching final practice in practicum programs through the TPACK framework. The design of this study was a qualitative study that illustrates the PSTs' competence in integrating Technology in the final practice teaching in the practicum program through TPACK Framework. There were 22 PSTs of seven semesters as the participants. There were three items of instruments. Documents, interviews, Observation, and three PSTs were willing to be interviewees. The study result showed they plan the lesson well before teaching using Technology even though there are slight differences in their performance. The Technology they used, combined with pedagogy and content, varied depending on the state of equipment, facilities, PSTs' abilities, and student levels. PSTs also stated the involvement of supervising teachers was beneficial when they faced difficulties in teaching practice. The Researcher suggested that PSTs design their lesson plan effectively. The teacher preparation program prepares PSTs with technological education skills, and the school provides nondigital or digital technology support, student-centered software, and collaboration media tools.

Usage of (federated) Learning Management Systems in European University Alliances

In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, European universities are increasingly relying on digital technologies for collaboration and learning. European Universities, as transnational alliances, aim to reshape higher education by fostering academic exchange and innovation across borders. With over 40 alliances in existence, enhancing virtual mobility and exchange through interconnected learning infrastructures has become imperative. This paper provides insights into Learning Management System (LMS) adoption within European alliances, focusing on the Unite! alliance as a case study. While Unite! demonstrates successful implementation of Moodle as its central LMS, challenges persist in achieving uniformity across all partners. A desktop analysis of European alliances reveals that Moodle might be the most often used LMS in February 2023. A description of the LMS implementation within the Unite! analysis shows as well that a majority uses Moodle – at least as a second LMS. So, although the decision for a federated LMS based on Moodle might be the right one, these results as well indicate the need for tailored technical solutions for future developments for some partners and disparities in lecturers‘ and students‘ concerning a Moodle so that pre-emptive measures to ensure equitable participation are important. Despite these challenges, Unite!'s experience underscores the potential of Moodle as a widely adopted platform, prompting further exploration into solutions like LTI integration.

Collaborative Network, Technological Progress and Potato Production in China

AbstractThe development of science and technology is one of the vital driving forces for the Chinese agricultural development. Based on 2,513 valid potato invention patents from 1986 to 2019 in China, a social network analysis is applied to investigate the effects of the network changes in potato patents on the innovation activities and potato production. The results show that China has formed a status quo of separation between potato-producing areas and patent-invention places. The collaborative relationships of potato patents are mainly distributed in non-main production areas. Most of the collaborations are intra-provincial rather than inter-provincial. The correlation relationship between potato innovation and potato yield is positive. But the density and cluster coefficients of collaborative networks in potato research affect the potato innovations differently. Considering the variation in collaborative networks and different technology progress in potato production across regions, a cross-regional exchange platform is needed to promote the dissemination and extension of potato patents in the main potato-producing areas.

Application of AI and VR Synergistic Enhancement in Employment Skills Training: A Virtual Simulation Approach

In recent years, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) technology has opened up new approaches in the field of education and training, especially employment skills training. This study explores the application of artificial intelligence and virtual reality collaborative enhancement technology in virtual simulation training of employment skills. It introduces a comprehensive theoretical framework, including data collection and processing, intelligent analysis using multimodal algorithms, collaborative security mechanisms for AI models, and AI-VR interaction optimization techniques. This study confirms the feasibility and validity of the framework through theoretical analysis, simulation experiments, and expert interviews. The results show that the proposed framework significantly improves the personalization and interactivity of training, ensures data privacy and system stability, and improves the efficiency of intelligent diagnosis. This study provides valuable theoretical support and innovative ideas for the deep integration of VR technology in educational training.

Research Progress and Emerging Directions in Stimulus Electro-Responsive Polymer Materials.

Stimulus electro-responsive polymer materials can reversibly change their physical or chemical properties under various external stimuli such as temperature, light, force, humidity, pH, and magnetic fields. This review introduces typical conventional stimulus electro-responsive polymer materials and extensively explores novel directions in the field, including multi-stimuli electro-responsive polymer materials and humidity electro-responsive polymer materials pioneered by our research group. Despite significant advancements in stimulus electro-responsive polymer materials, ongoing research focuses on enhancing their efficiency, lifespan, and production costs. Interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced technologies promise to broaden the application scope of these materials, particularly in medical and environmental protection fields, ultimately benefiting society.