Technological Efforts Research Articles

Cultural preservation and digital heritage: challenges and opportunities

This research aims to examine the challenges and opportunities associated with the digitization of cultural heritage. It seeks to provide insights into the dynamic interplay between technological advancements and the preservation, documentation, and promotion of cultural landmarks. The study employs a comprehensive literature review, analyzing recent scholarly works and case studies to understand the evolving landscape of digital heritage preservation. The results highlights the multifaceted challenges encountered in the digitization process, including issues related to digital obsolescence, accessibility, copyright, data security, and resource constraints. Simultaneously, it identifies opportunities where digital tools contribute significantly to the documentation, archiving, and accessibility of cultural artifacts, traditions, and languages. The results suggest that, especially in the context of Russian-Ukrainian war, digital initiatives play a pivotal role in mitigating risks and ensuring the continued existence and appreciation of diverse cultural legacies. The findings underscore the intricate relationship between geopolitical events and the role of digital strategies in safeguarding and showcasing cultural heritage globally. To sum up the fusion of technology and cultural preservation efforts not only addresses immediate threats, but also provides a forward-looking approach to ensuring the resilience and accessibility of cultural treasures in an evolving world.

Networked nexus of science diplomacy and domestic funding agency coordination: a case study of IntSam

Abstract This study explores the role of network administrative organizations (NAOs) in science diplomacy (SD) by means of a qualitative case study approach. The case in point is a Swedish government initiative to coordinate the internationalization efforts of domestic funding agencies. We examine how the NAO IntSam balances between governmental directives and agency autonomy. Utilizing primary data from semi-structured interviews supplemented by internal documents and policy reports, the analysis delves into the challenges and potential of NAOs in harmonizing top-down directives with agency autonomy. The findings highlight IntSam’s role in facilitating collaboration and aligning domestic and international policy landscapes, while also revealing inherent tensions due to divergent governmental and agency priorities. This study contributes to understanding the complexities of coordinating cross-border Science, Technology, and Innovation efforts, offering insights into the nuances, potentials, and limitations of NAOs in the realm of SD.

Enviro Edible: Satisfying Hunger, Minimizing Waste

"Enviro Edible" is an innovative food waste management system designed to address the escalating global challenge of food waste. This comprehensive solution integrates technology, community engagement, and sustainable practices to minimize food wastage at various stages of the supply chain. The system employs a multi-faceted approach, encompassing smart inventory management, consumer awareness campaigns, and collaborative efforts with local businesses and charities. Key components include a user-friendly website that empowers consumers to make informed purchasing decisions, reducing the likelihood of excess food in households. Additionally, the system incorporates data analytics for businesses to preventing overstocking and expirations. Real-time analytics enable businesses to identify potential issues and make informed decisions to prevent food spoilage, reduce waste, and improve overall supply chain efficiency. "Enviro Edible" fosters partnerships with local charities and food banks, enabling seamless redirection of surplus food from businesses to those in need. Through real-time tracking and analytics, the system not only minimizes food waste but also creates a positive impact on communities by addressing hunger and promoting sustainable consumption. This food waste management system envisions a future where technology and collective efforts converge to create a more sustainable and responsible approach to food consumption, reducing environmental impact and enhancing social welfare. Keywords: Food Waste Management, User-friendly website, Real- time, Supply chain efficiency, Minimize food waste.

In the Shadows of Disinformation

This study examines the interconnected phenomenon of disinformation and fake news and their relationship to the struggle for human rights. Through an interdisciplinary perspective, we explore the crucial role of the deliberate dissemination of false information in threatening and violating human rights globally. The focus is on how disinformation has become a subtle form of conflict, often circumventing traditional perceptions of war and confrontation. Our study reflects on developing effective strategies and mechanisms to counter disinformation. It suggests multidimensional approaches combining legislative, educational, and technological efforts to comprehensively address this emerging challenge.

Empirical Nutrition Models and Their Impact on Public Health

This mini review delves into the transformative role of empirical nutrition models in the field of public health. By leveraging large-scale datasets and advanced statistical analyses, these models offer a more precise understanding of individual dietary needs, moving beyond traditional one-size-fits-all approaches. Their ability to identify and analyze complex dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet or plant-based lifestyles, contributes to a more comprehensive assessment of overall dietary quality. Moreover, empirical nutrition models facilitate early intervention and prevention strategies by identifying risk factors for chronic diseases at an early stage. This proactive approach holds significant promise in reducing the burden of prevalent health issues, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. The article also highlights the crucial role of these models in guiding policy development and influencing public health campaigns, providing evidence-based recommendations that address the diverse dietary needs of populations. Despite their promise, challenges such as data quality, standardization, and the dynamic nature of nutritional science are acknowledged. The abstract underscores the importance of continuous technological advancements and collaborative efforts among researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to address these challenges and refine the accuracy of nutrition models. In conclusion, empirical nutrition models represent a paradigm shift toward more personalized and effective public health strategies. As these models continue to evolve with technological advancements, their impact on public health is poised to grow. They can contribute to creating healthier communities and foster a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between diet and overall well-being.

Usability of inhaler devices: a parameter currently misused.

Inhalation represents the most convenient route for delivering respiratory drugs. Delivery systems showed a huge technological progress and several pocket inhalers had been engineered over the last decades for clinical use. Despite the growing technological efforts aimed to simplify the inhalation procedures and optimize the therapeutic outcomes, the effectiveness of drug inhalation through inhalers still represents a major challenge in respiratory medicine. Patients may actually incur in different types of critical errors when using all inhalers and are not capable to inhale throughout all devices equally well. Therefore, the choice of the most suitable and convenient device to prescribe still is a critical issue in real life. Usability is the only comprehensive parameter consenting the effective and objective assessment of pocket inhalers' performance, and allowing their objective comparison and ranking. Unpredictable discrepancies are in fact easily detectable between inhalers (even belonging to the same class) in terms of Usability, independently of the patient's awareness. The reasons were described and discussed for each class of inhalers presently available. Usability is a multidimensional parameter that is much more multifaceted and complex than usually presumed. Usability takes origin from the integrated, balanced and objective assessment of the role played by several factors from different domains, such as: factors related to patient's beliefs, to patients' behavioural components, to device engineering and to the overall cost. Usability is the key parameter for assessing and optimizing the appropriateness of any inhalation treatment through whatever device. Usability would also represent a key investigational instrument for supporting the future development of -innovative and more performing inhaler devices objectively.

Determining the rational structure of multilayer technical fabric for woven power clamps

The object of research is multi-layered technical fabrics for woven power clamps. A task to determine the rational structure of a multi-layer technical fabric for power clamps has been solved, which makes it possible to achieve an effect when introduced into production through the minimization of raw material costs and the reduction of energy costs for manufacturing a unit of products. The value of the beating force, the tension of warp threads of the outer protective layers, the force layers, the warp threads for connecting the outer protective layers, and the force layers for two structures of multilayer technical fabric were studied. A comparative analysis of conditions for the formation of two multilayer fabrics from polyamide threads was carried out and a multilayer fabric with the most rational structure was selected, the formation of which would require less technological effort. Experimental studies have made it possible to build regression dependences on determining the influence of the initial tension of warp threads of the outer protective layers on the beating force value. The joint effect of the size of an overstep and the different tension of a shed on the beating force value was established, depending on the structure of a multilayer technical fabric. It is shown that when the tension of warp threads of the outer protective layers increases, the beating force value increases. A value of the tension of warp threads in outer protective layers, force layers, warp threads for connecting the outer protective layers and force layers in the position of an overstep and at the moment of thread beating was determined. Analysis of regression dependences will make it possible to determine the optimal loading parameters of the loom. It has been proven that the beating force value is affected by the structure of a multi-layer technical fabric and the tension of warp threads in outer protective layers. The improved multi-layer technical fabric is used for laying pipes with an external factory-made polyethylene coating

A GCC Artificial Food Additives Management based Mobile Application Development

Artificial food additives pose significant health risks to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens despite regional authorities' extensive medical, legislative, and technological efforts. Literature highlights the detrimental impacts of these additives, including malnutrition, digestive disorders, respiratory problems, skin issues, hives, nausea, diarrhea, shortness of breath, allergic reactions, high blood pressure, and tumors. The research project at hand aims at becoming the first official and comprehensive mobile application of its own in the GCC region that manages the calculation and demonstration of an up-to-date health and legal knowledge base of the impacts of artificial additives, enhances the awareness, automatically recognizes the artificial additives, and provides alternative solutions, for both android and IOS mobile platforms. This research project introduces "Weqaya," a pioneering mobile application designed to manage, educate, and raise awareness about the effects of artificial additives. Weqaya provides real-time health and legal information, identifies additives, and suggests alternative solutions for Android and iOS platforms. The project employs an Agile-based SDLC model to explore, develop, and evaluate the food additive phenomena in Weqaya. The application's usability evaluation scores a promising 95.21%, indicating its potential utility for GCC health ministries, dietitians, academics, researchers, and food producers in enhancing knowledge and promoting non-artificial food options.

Greater Expectations: An Appreciative Inquiry into How UK Home-Educating Families Support Their Children’s Learning

Elective home education is a significant aspect of the UK educational system, yet dedicated research on this topic is limited. This study, employing Appreciative Inquiry, explored the best practices perceived by 90 UK home-educating parents. It uncovered diverse strategies, emphasising the importance of resources such as technology, curricula, and collaborative efforts within home education co-operatives. Parents stressed the value of flexible learning environments and strong family commitment, envisioning a future with an enhanced home learning atmosphere and government and school support. They recommended concrete guidance for prospective home-educating parents, focusing on comprehensive child development. Ultimately, families aspired to shape a future for home education that prioritises enriched learning environments, broader societal recognition, and practical support for those embarking on the home education journey. The study’s findings have implications for children’s development, facilitating collaboration between homes and schools, as well as partnerships between families and educators.

Malevolent Monitoring: Dark Triad Traits, Cyber Dating Abuse, and the Instrumental Role of Self-Control.

Cyber dating abuse (CDA) concerns the use of digital technology to control, monitor, and hurt one's intimate partner. CDA can have profound detrimental outcomes, such as mental health problems. As such, it is important to identify intrapersonal factors that may explain these behaviors. Previous research suggests that one such factor is the personality cluster of Dark Triad traits (DTT), comprising Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. Additionally, DTT and CDA perpetration have both been linked to poor self-control ability, but these relationships have not yet been tested together in one model. As such, the present study examines if individuals' poor self-control ability mediates the relationship between the DTT and CDA perpetration. To test these associations, we conducted a survey study among a representative sample of Belgian adults (n = 1,144; Mage = 47.66 years; 51.3% female). Findings from correlation analyses revealed that all three DTT were individually associated with CDA perpetration, such that higher scores on these traits corresponded with more CDA perpetration. Additionally, pathway analyses from structural equation modeling revealed that individuals' poor self-control ability fully explained the relationship between Machiavellianism and narcissism and CDA perpetration, and partially explained the relationship between psychopathy and CDA perpetration. As our findings suggest that self-control plays an instrumental role in explaining why individuals control and monitor their partner via digital technology, prevention and intervention efforts should seek ways to improve individuals' self-control ability in situations that may trigger such harmful interpersonal behaviors, particularly among individuals who exhibit Dark Triad personality traits.

Optimising Offset Defence Implementation as Fulfilment Efforts in Fighters Aircraft Materials and Technology

This research aims to investigate the implementation of defense offset as a strategy to address the gap in the supply of materials and technology for fighter aircraft among countries. In this context, the gap arises due to the complexity and high costs associated with fighter aircraft development. Many countries, particularly those with limited technological and manufacturing capabilities, face challenges in acquiring and developing advanced aircraft. This gap negatively impacts their defense capability enhancement efforts. Therefore, the concept of defense offset emerges as a potential solution. Defense offset is a strategy in which foreign aircraft manufacturers provide compensation in the form of technology transfer, investment in the local defense industry, or research and development collaboration to the purchasing country. Through steps such as identifying material and technological needs, planning clear offset agreements, transferring relevant technology, developing the local industry, supplying materials, research and development collaboration, as well as monitoring and evaluation, the implementation of defense offset can be optimized. This research employs a qualitative method with a descriptive approach, involving a literature study to gain in-depth information about defense offset implementation and its impact on the material and technology gap in fighter aircraft. The results include the identification of factors influencing the success of defense offset implementation, political, economic, and strategic implications, as well as the benefits obtained by purchasing countries. In conclusion, through the optimization of defense offset, purchasing countries can reduce the gap in materials and technology for fighter aircraft, enhance domestic defense industry, and strengthen national defense capabilities. With the right strategy, defense offset can be an effective tool in addressing the gap in fighter aircraft material and technology, thereby fortifying national defense.

The Ayushman Bharat Health Account: A New Frontier for Smart Healthcare Delivery in India

The ever-changing healthcare landscape in India, focusing particularly on the ABHA and the broader Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission. Despite significant progress made in the last decade to mitigate disparities in healthcare access between rural and urban regions, challenges persist in providing healthcare services to underprivileged groups. Telehealth, combining video conferencing and mobile health apps, is essential for distant healthcare and overcomes geography. Telehealth services like consultations and education have grown in prominence, notably during the COVID-19 epidemic. It has helped to modernise healthcare delivery and lead to better results. Statistical assessments of the establishment of ABHA, categorised by state, gender, and age group, uncover distribution patterns and geographical inequalities. The report highlights the increasing influence of digitization in healthcare, specifically emphasising the Ayushman Bharat Digital Health Mission’s objective of establishing a complete digital health ecosystem to enhance the accessibility, efficacy, efficiency, and transparency of healthcare delivery. Ultimately, India’s healthcare industry is poised to enter a period of significant change, propelled by breakthroughs in technology, regulatory changes, and comprehensive efforts. In order to achieve sustainable and equitable healthcare results, it is imperative to address obstacles and allocate resources towards new solutions as the country advances. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with health data shows potential for transforming healthcare delivery, providing customised treatments, and enhancing overall health outcomes for India’s varied population.

Life Cycle Assessment of Biossurfactants: A Critical Analysis

Objective: To analyze the environmental performance of biosurfactants in comparison to synthetic surfactant based on the literature. Theoretical Framework: Surfactants are used in various sectors, ranging from domestic uses to industrial applications. Their surface tension reduction properties make them efficient in cleaning and versatile, however they come predominantly from fossil sources. In contrast, biosurfactants constitute a variety of surfactants obtained by microorganisms, including yeasts, bacteria and fungi, from renewable biomass sources. Method: A systematic four-step approach was used, including advanced search, combined strings, screening and reading of abstracts, validation of results and reading and analysis of documents. The inclusion criteria were: use of environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), biosurfactant study and originality. Results: 6 articles were validated and it was verified that for 1 kg of product, biosurfactants present varying environmental impacts depending on the impact categories analyzed and higher values compared to synthetic surfactant. Technological advances in the production of biosurfactants indicate a potential to increase their efficiency, making them competitive with synthetic surfactants. Research implications: This research addresses the scarcity of data on the environmental performance of biosurfactants, encouraging studies to enable their large-scale production. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) directs technological efforts, aiming at the entry of these products into the commodities market.

The need for communication between researchers and policymakers for the deployment of bioengineered carbon capture and sequestration crops

Bioengineered/genome-edited carbon capture and sequestration (BE/GEd-CCS) crops are being developed to mitigate climate change. This paper explores how technology, regulation, funding, and social implications, could shape the development and deployment of these crops. We conclude that some of the technological efforts to create BE/GEd-CCS crops may work. Still, stakeholders must agree on generally accepted methods of measuring how much carbon is captured in the soil and its value. The regulatory space for BE/GEd-CCS crops remains fluid until the first crops are reviewed. BE/GEd-CCS crops have received considerable initial funding and may benefit financially more from other federal programs and voluntary carbon markets. BE/GEd-CCS crops may continue perpetuating social equity concerns about agricultural biotechnology due to a lack of oversight. We argue that stakeholders need to pursue a multidisciplinary view of BE/GEd-CCS crops that draw in varying perspectives for effective development and deployment. Communication is needed between researchers and policymakers involved in either developing BE/GEd-CCS crops or developing voluntary carbon markets. We argue for the start of a conversation both across disciplines and between researchers and policymakers about the development and deployment of BE/GEd-CCS crops.

Analysis of The Influence of Behavior Intention, Technology Effort Expectancy and Digitalization Performance Expectancy on Behavior To Use of QRIS Users in Small Medium Enterprises Sector

The goal of this study is to see if performance and effort expectations influence behavior intention and, consequently, usage behavior. This study's target audience is QRIS users in micro, small, and medium-sized companies (MSMEs). We used 100 respondents as samples. Data was gathered using two methods: observation and interviews. To ensure that the data collected exhibited a strong association, we performed the validity test using the product moment correlation technique. Before beginning the path analysis test, the researcher used the provided framework to develop a structural equation. The interpretation results lead us to the following conclusions: The variable of performance expectancy has a direct effect on behavior intention. The variable effort expectancy has a direct effect on behavior intention. The variable's performance and effort expectations have a direct impact on behavior intention. The changing performance expectancy has a direct impact on user behavior. The variable effort expectancy has a direct impact on user behavior. The variable behavior intention has a direct impact on user behavior. The variables behavior intention, performance expectancy, and effort expectancy all have a direct impact on user behavior. The performance expectancy variable influences user behavior indirectly through behavior intention. The effort expectancy variable influences user behavior indirectly through behavior intention.

Scoping review on the link between economic growth, decent work, and early childhood caries

BackgroundEarly Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent chronic non-communicable disease that affects millions of young children globally, with profound implications for their well-being and oral health. This paper explores the associations between ECC and the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8).MethodsThe scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. In July 2023, a search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using tailored search terms related to economic growth, decent work sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and efforts to eradicate forced labor, slavery, and human trafficking and ECC all of which are the targets of the SDG8. Only English language publications, and publications that were analytical in design were included. Studies that solely examined ECC prevalence without reference to SDG8 goals were excluded.ResultsThe initial search yielded 761 articles. After removing duplicates and ineligible manuscripts, 84 were screened. However, none of the identified studies provided data on the association between decent work, economic growth-related factors, and ECC.ConclusionsThis scoping review found no English publication on the associations between SDG8 and ECC despite the plausibility for this link. This data gap can hinder policymaking and resource allocation for oral health programs. Further research should explore the complex relationship between economic growth, decent work and ECC to provide additional evidence for better policy formulation and ECC control globally.

Precision Speckle Pattern Reconstruction for High-contrast Imaging

In high-contrast imaging, a large instrumental, technological, and algorithmic effort is made to reduce residual speckle noise and improve the detection capabilities. In this work, we explore the potential of using a precise physical description of speckle images, in conjunction with the optimal detection statistic to perform high-contrast imaging. Our method uses short-exposure speckle images, reconstructing the point-spread function (PSF) of each image with phase retrieval algorithms. Using the reconstructed PSFs, we calculate the optimal detection statistic for all images. We analyze the arising bias due to the use of a reconstructed PSF and correct for it completely up to its accumulation over 104 images. We measure in simulations the method’s sensitivity loss due to overfitting in the reconstruction process and get to an estimated 5σ detection limit of 5 × 10−7 flux ratio at angular separations of 0.″1–0.″5 for a 1h observation of Sirius A with a 2 m telescope.

Digital transformation of aroutine histopathology lab : Dos and don'ts!

The implementation of digital histopathology in the laboratory marks acrucial milestone in the overall digital transformation of pathology. This shift offers arange of new possibilities, including access to extensive datasets for AI-assisted analyses, the flexibility of remote work and home office arrangements for specialists, and the expedited and simplified sharing of images and data for research, conferences, and tumor boards. However, the transition to afully digital workflow involves significant technological and personnel-related efforts. It necessitates careful and adaptable change management to minimize disruptions, particularly in the personnel domain, and to prevent the loss of valuable potential from employees who may be resistant to change. This article consolidates our institute's experiences, highlighting technical and personnel-related challenges encountered during the transition to digital pathology. It also presents acomprehensive overview of potential difficulties at various interfaces when converting routine operations to adigital workflow.

Does value matter? Predicting hotel employees’ intentions towards the adoption of Technologies 4.0

ABSTRACT This study examines value perceptions and behavioural intention of hotel employees on the adoption of Technologies 4.0. Grounded on the Perceived Value Model (PVM), this study extends the PVM to predict factors influencing hotel employees’ intention towards Technologies 4.0. Also, the mediating effect of perceived value in the relationship between perceived usefulness and technology effort on behavioural intention was assessed. Following positivist’s paradigm, quantitative data were gathered from upscale hotel employees using structured survey and PLS-SEM analysis. The results revealed some significant predictors of perceived value. Also, perceived usefulness, technology effort and perceived value were found to significantly influence respondents’ behavioural intention towards Technologies 4.0. Interestingly, perceived value played a complementary partial mediation among the predictors of behavioural intention. Essentially, the originality of the study lies in considering benefits and sacrifice value predictors of Technologies 4.0 and its’ mediation ability. Theoretical and industry implications have been discussed.

Research on collaborative decision making of China's photovoltaic supply chain based on competition policy

Introduce government competition policies and technological innovation efforts into the profit game model of the photovoltaic industry supply chain, establish two different supply chain profit models, and study the impact of government competition policies and manufacturers' technological innovation efforts on the profits of each manufacturer and the overall profit of the supply chain. Construct profit models in both competitive and cooperative situations, and empirically analyze the impact of government competition policies and manufacturers' technological innovation efforts on the optimal supply chain profits in both competitive and cooperative situations. Research has shown that: (1) government competition policies are conducive to promoting an increase in manufacturers' profits; (2) The increase in technological innovation efforts can quickly increase manufacturers' profits; (3) Compared to the cooperation situation, the profit of each manufacturer and the total profit of the entire supply chain are higher in the competitive situation.