Top Research Priorities Research Articles

Compressed air energy storage (CAES): current status, geomechanical aspects and future opportunities

Abstract A compressed air energy storage (CAES) facility provides value by supporting the reliability of the energy grid through its ability to repeatedly store and dispatch energy on demand. Two main advantages of CAES are its ability to provide grid-scale energy storage and its utilization of compressed air, which yields a low environmental burden, being neither toxic nor flammable. The focus of this review paper is to deliver a general overview of current CAES technology (diabatic, adiabatic and isothermal CAES), storage requirements, site selection and design constraints. We discuss underground storage options suitable for CAES, including submerged bladders, underground mines, salt caverns, porous aquifers, depleted reservoirs, cased wellbores and surface pressure vessels. A geomechanical perspective is provided regarding the pressure limits for these options. The impacts of cyclic injection and withdrawal of compressed air, and the importance of caprock assessments with porous rock CAES, are also discussed. In addition, we provide an overview of the large-scale CAES facilities that are currently active or under development and a cost comparison of the diabatic, adiabatic and isothermal CAES options. Lastly, we outline major challenges and future opportunities for CAES and the top priorities for research, industry and stakeholders.

Analysis of Fungal Diversity before and after Discoloration of Rubberwood in Xishuangbanna

The discoloration problem of rubber wood caused by the discoloration fungi has caused the degradation of rubber wood and greatly reduced its economic value, and the prevention and control of rubber wood discoloration have become the top priority of basic research on rubber wood protection and modification. To determine the fungal community diversity and dominant groups before and after discoloration of rubber wood, nine rubber wood samples were subjected to ITS sequencing using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that the detected fungal communities comprised 5 phyla, 18 classes, 58 orders, 137 families, 218 genera, and 297 species. Discoloration of rubber wood is not caused by a single species, with the dominant genera for discolored rubber wood being Huntiella, Ceratocystis, and Acremonium and for undiscolored rubber wood, Phomopsis. Furthermore, the diversity, uniformity of species distribution, and richness of discolored rubber wood were found to be higher than those of undiscolored rubber wood. In conclusion, understanding the change trends in the structure of these fungal communities is essential for studying the biological control of rubberwood discoloration.

Identifying the asthma research priorities of people with asthma, their carers and other stakeholders.

People living with asthma, their carers, clinicians and policymakers are the end-users of research and need research that address their individual healthcare needs. We aimed to understand the research priorities of end-users of asthma research. A national cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted. The study included an online survey that engaged patients, carers, healthcare professionals and policymakers to provide statements to free-text questions about what they would like to see answered by research to improve living with asthma on a day-to-day basis. Responses where thematically analysed followed by three online priority setting consensus workshops. There were 593 respondents who provided 1446 text comments. Participants prioritized 10 asthma research themes which were: (1) asthma in children, (2) COVID 19 and asthma, (3) asthma care and self-management, (4) diagnosis and medication, (5) managing asthma attacks, (6) causes, prevention and features of asthma, (7) mental health, (8) asthma and ageing, (9) severe asthma, (10) asthma and other health conditions. Each theme comprises specific research questions. This project successfully established 10 priority research themes for asthma, reflecting the collective voice of the end-users of this research. These novel data can be used to address the documented mismatch in research prioritization between the research community and the end-users of research.

Building the foundation for a community-generated national research blueprint for inherited bleeding disorders: research priorities in health services; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and implementation science

ABSTRACT Background The National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) conducted extensive all-stakeholder inherited bleeding disorder (BD) community consultations to inform a blueprint for future research. Sustaining and expanding the specialized and comprehensive Hemophilia Treatment Center care model, to better serve all people with inherited BDs (PWIBD), and increasing equitable access to optimal health emerged as top priorities. Research Design and Methods NHF, with the American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network (ATHN), convened multidisciplinary expert working groups (WG) to distill priority research initiatives from consultation findings. WG5 was charged with prioritizing health services research (HSR); diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and implementation science (IS) research initiatives to advance community-identified priorities. Results WG5 identified multiple priority research themes and initiatives essential to capitalizing on this potential. Formative studies using qualitative and mixed methods approaches should be conducted to characterize issues and meaningfully investigate interventions. Investment in HSR, DEI and IS education, training, and workforce development are vital. Conclusions An enormous amount of work is required in the areas of HSR, DEI, and IS, which have received inadequate attention in inherited BDs. This research has great potential to evolve the experiences of PWIBD, deliver transformational community-based care, and advance health equity.

Building the foundation for a community-generated national research blueprint for inherited bleeding disorders: research priorities to transform the care of people with hemophilia

ABSTRACT Background Decades of research have transformed hemophilia from severely limiting children’s lives to a manageable disorder compatible with a full, active life, for many in high-income countries. The direction of future research will determine whether exciting developments truly advance health equity for all people with hemophilia (PWH). National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) and American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network conducted extensive inclusive all-stakeholder consultations to identify the priorities of people with inherited bleeding disorders and those who care for them. Research design and methods Working group (WG) 1 of the NHF State of the Science Research Summit distilled the community-identified priorities for hemophilia A and B into concrete research questions and scored their feasibility, impact, and risk. Results WG1 defined 63 top priority research questions concerning arthropathy/pain/bone health, inhibitors, diagnostics, gene therapy, the pediatric to adult transition of care, disparities faced by the community, and cardiovascular disease. This research has the potential to empower PWH to thrive despite lifelong comorbidities and achieve new standards of wellbeing, including psychosocial. Conclusions Collaborative research and care delivery will be key to capitalizing on current and horizon treatments and harnessing technical advances to improve diagnostics and testing, to advance health equity for all PWH.

Cardiovascular health research priorities in the United Arab Emirates.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and have been prioritized for intervention by healthcare authorities and clinicians. To identify clinically relevant research priorities for the treatment and prevention of CVDs in the UAE. This study used the nominal group technique to identify CVD-related research priorities. Participants were 37 experts from UAE hospitals, academic and research institutions, CVD associations, and paramedical organizations. Initially, 138 research topics were suggested by participating experts. These topics were then refined to identify the most important research priorities related to CVD prevention and treatment. The top research priority areas were: development of evidence-based, customized algorithms for CVD prevention and in-hospital emergency interventions; the availability, accessibility, and affordability of CVD treatment and rehabilitation; identification of relationships between CVDs, lifestyle factors, and mental health; efficacy and constraints in the management of cardiac emergencies; and epidemiological studies that trace CVD in the UAE. The identified research priorities will guide a more informed research program for CVD treatment and prevention in the UAE. Funding opportunities and support for researchers should be prioritized for these identified research areas.

Bio-Actives from Natural Products with Potential Cardioprotective Properties: Isolation, Identification, and Pharmacological Actions of Apigenin, Quercetin, and Silibinin

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. As a result, pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions modifying risk factors for CVDs are a top priority of scientific research. Non-pharmaceutical therapeutical approaches, including herbal supplements, have gained growing interest from researchers as part of the therapeutic strategies for primary or secondary prevention of CVDs. Several experimental studies have supported the potential effects of apigenin, quercetin, and silibinin as beneficial supplements in cohorts at risk of CVDs. Accordingly, this comprehensive review focused critically on the cardioprotective effects/mechanisms of the abovementioned three bio-active compounds from natural products. For this purpose, we have included in vitro, preclinical, and clinical studies associated with atherosclerosis and a wide variety of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, cardiac injury, and metabolic syndrome). In addition, we attempted to summarize and categorize the laboratory methods for their isolation and identification from plant extracts. This review unveiled many uncertainties which are still unexplored, such as the extrapolation of experimental results to clinical practice, mainly due to the small clinical studies, heterogeneous doses, divergent constituents, and the absence of pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic analyses.

Spotlight on Research

Journal of Paramedic PracticeVol. 15, No. 3 Spotlight on ResearchSpotlight on ResearchPete GregoryPete GregoryAssociate Dean and Head of School of Allied Health and Midwifery, University of Wolverhampton, UKSearch for more papers by this authorPete GregoryPublished Online:6 Mar 2023https://doi.org/10.12968/jpar.2023.15.3.128AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View article References Ramage L, McLachlan S, Williams K; PreHOspital Trainee Operated research Network (PHOTON). Determining the top research priorities in UK prehospital critical care: a modified Delphi study. Emerg Med J. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2022-212622 Crossref, Google ScholarYang SC, Hsu YH, Chang YH, Chien LT, Chen IC, Chiang WC. Epinephrine administration in adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a comparison between intraosseous and intravenous route. Am J Emerg Med. 2023;67:63–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2023.02.003 Crossref, Google Scholar FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 2 March 2023Volume 15Issue 3ISSN (print): 1759-1376ISSN (online): 2041-9457 Metrics History Published online 6 March 2023 Published in print 2 March 2023 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedPDF download

How to Advance Palliative Care Research in South America? Findings From a Delphi Study.

Progress in palliative care (PC) necessarily involves scientific development. However, research conducted in South America (SA) needs to be improved. To develop a set of recommendations to advance PC research in SA. Eighteen international PC experts participated in a Delphi study. In round one, items were developed (open-ended questions); in round two, each expert scored the importance of each item (from 0 to 10); in round three, they selected the 20 most relevant items. Throughout the rounds, the five main priority themes for research in SA were defined. In Round three, consensus was defined as an agreement of ≥75%. 60 potential suggestions for overcoming research barriers in PC were developed in round one. Also in Round one, 88.2% (15 of 17) of the experts agreed to define a priority research agenda. In Round two, the 36 most relevant suggestions were defined and a new one added. Potential research priorities were investigated (open-ended). In Round three, from the 37 items, 10 were considered the most important. Regarding research priorities, symptom control, PC in primary care, public policies, education and prognosis were defined as the most relevant. Potential strategies to improve scientific research on PC in SA were defined, including stimulating the formation of collaborative research networks, offering courses and workshops on research, structuring centers with infrastructure resources and trained researchers, and lobbying governmental organizations to convince about the importance of palliative care. In addition, priority research topics were identified in the region.

Abstract P6-05-10: An international survey on invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) reveals gaps in knowledge and top priority research areas

Abstract Background: There is growing awareness of the unique etiology, biology, clinical presentation and progression of Invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC), but additional research is needed to assure translation of findings into management and treatment guidelines. We performed a survey to: 1) analyze the landscape of the current understanding of ILC, and 2) identify consensus research questions on ILC. Methods: The IRB-approved survey was developed with input from representatives of three major stakeholder groups - breast cancer clinicians/researchers, laboratory-based researchers, and advocates/patients. We fielded the survey from March to May 2022 using targeted email and via social media. Results: 1,774 participants answered at least one question and 1,310 finished the survey. Participants are from 66 countries from all continents (except Antarctica). Respondents self-identified as clinicians (mostly medical oncologists and surgeons) (N=413), researchers (N=376), and breast cancer patients (1,121), with some belonging to more than one category. 26% of the patients who participated in the survey belong to advocate groups. Only 46% of clinicians reported being confident in describing the differences between ILC and no special type (NST) (invasive ductal) breast cancer. Knowledge of histology was seen as important (73%), affecting their treatment decisions (51%), and refined treatment guidelines would be valuable for patients with ILC in the future (76%). 85% of clinicians have never powered a clinical trial to allow subset analysis for histological subtypes, but the majority would consider it. 88% would participate in a consortium to conduct clinical trials on ILC. The top two most important research questions were: 1) determining mechanisms of endocrine resistance, and, 2) identifying novel therapeutic targets, repurposing existing drugs and progressing them to clinical trials. Of the researchers, 48% reported being confident in describing differences between ILC and NST. They reported that ILCs are inadequately presented in large genomic data sets (52%), and that ILC models are insufficient (42%). Only 13% of respondents have inadequate access to tissue or blood from patients with ILC. The top two most important research questions identified by the laboratory researchers overlapped with those identified by the clinicians, i.e. understanding of endocrine resistance and identifying novel drugs that can be tested in clinical trials. The majority of patients (52%) thought that their health care providers did not explain unique features of ILC, and that in general communication was limited. When asked about top research question, they chose: 1) Improvement of ILC screening/early detection, and, 2) Identifying new and specific imaging tools for ILC. When comparing top priority topics across six research domains, there was a high degree of consistency, especially among clinicians and researcher, but less so when compared with the breast cancer patients (Table 1). Conclusion: In summary, we have gathered timely and representative information from an international community of clinicians, researchers, and patients/advocates that we expect will lay the foundation for a community-informed collaborative research agenda, with the goal of improving the management and personalizing treatment for patients with ILC. Table 1. Ratings by all three stakeholder groups of the most critical and impactful ILC research topics. Top box scores between stakeholder groups were compared using chi-square analysis. Citation Format: Steffi Oesterreich, Leigh Pate, ADRIAN V. LEE, Rachel C. Jankowitz, Patrick Derksen, Rita Mukhtar, Otto Metzger, Matthew J. Sikora, Christopher Li, Christos Sotiriou, Gary Ulaner, Jorge Reis-Filho, Nancy E Davidson, Karen Van Baelen, Laurie Hutcheson, Siobhan Freeney, Flora Migyanka, Claire Turner, Todd Bear, Christine Desmedt. An international survey on invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) reveals gaps in knowledge and top priority research areas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-05-10.

The development of the national tuberculosis research priority in Indonesia: A comprehensive mixed-method approach.

Ranked second in global tuberculosis (TB) incidence, Indonesia has developed a National Strategy for TB Prevention and Control 2020-2024 to accelerate the TB elimination program. Research and innovation are key pillars to support the program and need to be prioritised. This study aimed to develop updated national TB research priorities in Indonesia. This study was a mixed-methods study consisting of an open survey, a published literature survey, and Delphi survey. The open survey invited all related TB stakeholders to answer (a) the main barriers of the TB program and (b) the need for studies to support TB elimination. The published literature survey retrieved scientific articles published in national and international journals between 2015 and 2020 to identify gaps between published research and the current national strategy for TB control. The online survey and literature survey informed a panel of TB experts in a two-phase Delphi Survey to select the top 10 priority research topics. We identified 322 articles and analysed 1143 open survey responses. Through two-phases Delphi surveys, top ten research categories were listed: early TB detection; diagnosis and treatment of DR-TB; contact investigation; case detection and treatment of child TB; TB preventive therapy; government policy; laboratory for drug-sensitive- and drug-resistant-TB diagnosis; treatment adherence; diagnostic tool development; and community empowerment. This study also found the gap between stakeholders' interests and the importance of translating research into policy and practice. TB research priorities have been identified through the involvement of various stakeholders. The combination of an online survey, a published literature survey, and a Delphi survey was a rigorous methodology and was fit to build a systematic consensus about the priority of TB research.

Charting a Course for Smartphones and Wearables to Transform Population Health Research.

The use of data from smartphones and wearable devices has huge potential for population health research, given the high level of device ownership; the range of novel health-relevant data types available from consumer devices; and the frequency and duration with which data are, or could be, collected. Yet, the uptake and success of large-scale mobile health research in the last decade have not met this intensely promoted opportunity. We make the argument that digital person-generated health data are required and necessary to answer many top priority research questions, using illustrative examples taken from the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships. We then summarize the findings from 2 UK initiatives that considered the challenges and possible solutions for what needs to be done and how such solutions can be implemented to realize the future opportunities of digital person-generated health data for clinically important population health research. Examples of important areas that must be addressed to advance the field include digital inequality and possible selection bias; easy access for researchers to the appropriate data collection tools, including how best to harmonize data items; analysis methodologies for time series data; patient and public involvement and engagement methods for optimizing recruitment, retention, and public trust; and methods for providing research participants with greater control over their data. There is also a major opportunity, provided through the linkage of digital person-generated health data to routinely collected data, to support novel population health research, bringing together clinician-reported and patient-reported measures. We recognize that well-conducted studies need a wide range of diverse challenges to be skillfully addressed in unison (eg, challenges regarding epidemiology, data science and biostatistics, psychometrics, behavioral and social science, software engineering, user interface design, information governance, data management, and patient and public involvement and engagement). Consequently, progress would be accelerated by the establishment of a new interdisciplinary community where all relevant and necessary skills are brought together to allow for excellence throughout the life cycle of a research study. This will require a partnership of diverse people, methods, and technologies. If done right, the synergy of such a partnership has the potential to transform many millions of people's lives for the better.

Charting a course for smartphones and wearables to transform population health research.

The use of data from smartphones and wearable devices has huge potential for population health research given high device ownership, the range of novel health-relevant data types available from consumer devices, and the frequency and duration over which data are, or could be, collected. Yet the uptake and success of large-scale mobile health research in the last decade has not matched the hyped opportunity. We make the argument that digital person-generated health data is required and necessary to answer many top priority research questions through illustrative examples taken from the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership. We then summarise the findings from two UK initiatives that considered the challenges and possible solutions for what needs to be done, and in what way, to realise the future opportunities of digital person-generated health data for clinically important population health research. Examples of important areas to be addressed to advance the field include digital inequality and addressing possible selection bias, easy access for researchers to the appropriate data collection tools including how best to harmonise data items, analysis methodology for time series data, methods for patient and public involvement and engagement to optimise recruitment, retention and public trust, and providing greater control of their data to research participants. There is also a major opportunity through the linkage of digital persongenerated health data to routinely-collected data to support novel population health research, bringing together clinician-reported and patient-reported measures. We recognise that well conducted studies need a wide range of diverse challenges to be skilfully addressed in unison: for example, epidemiology, data science and biostatistics, psychometrics, behavioural and social science, software engineering, user interface design, information governance, data management and patient and public involvement and engagement. Consequently, progress would be accelerated by the establishment of a new interdisciplinary community where all relevant and necessary skills are brought together to allow excellence throughout the lifecycle of a research study. This will require a partnership of diverse people, of methods and of technology. Get this right and the synergy has the potential to transform many millions of people's lives for the better.

Recognition of Delirium Superimposed on Dementia: Is There an Ideal Tool?

Delirium in persons with dementia (DSD) is a common occurrence. Over the past three decades, several tools have been developed and validated to diagnose delirium, yet there is still a shortage of tools recommended in persons with dementia and there is a lack of sufficient research on the accuracy of performance of such tools in this growing population. The purpose of this article is to (1) conduct a clinical review of the detection of DSD across settings of care by formal health care professionals and informal family members and care partners; (2) identify barriers and facilitators to detection and highlight delirium tools that have been tested in person with dementia; and (3) make recommendations for future research, practice, and policy. Given this review, an "ideal" tool for DSD would point to tools being brief, easy to integrate into the EMR, and accurate with at least 90% accuracy given the poor outcomes associated with delirium and DSD. Knowing the baseline and communication between family members and healthcare professionals should be a top priority for education, research, and health systems policy. More work is needed in better understanding DSD and optimizing and standardizing feature assessment, especially the acute change feature at the bedside for DSD.

Priority Research Topics and Patient and Family Needs in a National Sample of Hospice Agencies.

Various contextual factors surrounding hospice care have reinforced the need for scholars to pursue practice-relevant research questions. Although priority-setting is a primary approach to streamline such efforts, research appears yet to have conducted priority-setting with hospice professionals. To describe the areas of needed research and clinical focus voiced by a national probability sample of US hospice agency representatives. A national probability sample of 600 hospice agencies proportionately stratified by state and profit status was surveyed. At the end of the survey, participants indicated whether or not they were willing to answer two additional open-ended questions. These two questions requested participants' input on areas of needed attention related to (1) research topics and (2) unmet needs for patients and families. Responses were content analyzed. A total of 317 surveys were completed (response rate=61.8%). Viable responses were recorded by 129 participants responding to at least one item. Content analysis generated the following five categories (and various subcategories): earlier access to hospice, education (outside physicians, patients and families, public), policy barriers to hospice enrollment (hospice eligibility and reimbursement, gaps in insurance coverage), effects of policy restrictions on hospice care (reimbursement for care, pain management, clinician issues), and improving the provision of in-home hospice care (community resources, supports for caregivers, supports for when caregiver assistance is inadequate, needs already are being met). These findings presented by hospice agency representatives reflect directions for research and clinical development. Efforts are needed to cohere professional- and patient-reported areas of needed attention.

UK Medical Cannabis Registry: A Patient Evaluation

The UK Medical Cannabis Registry is the largest real world data platform for medical cannabis outcomes in the UK, providing insight into clinical outcomes and monitoring safety of this novel therapy. This study aims to assess the functionality and accessibility of the online data collection platform and patient priorities for future research. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. For open-ended questions an inductive thematic analysis was performed. 600 responses were recorded. 554 (92.3%) patients had used the platform. 272 (90.4%) patients believed it was easy to input medications. 52 (8.67%) patients recorded an adverse event with 38 (73.1%) finding it easy to record. 535 (96.6%) patients had completed health questionnaires with 490 (91.6%) patients finding this easy to do. 553 (92.2%) patients agreed that contributing to the registry would impact the medical care of future patients. “Assessing the impact of medical cannabis on quality of life generally” was the top research priority for 357 (59.3%) patients. This study demonstrates that most enrolled patients found the platform easy to use and believed they were positively impacting future medical cannabis patient care. Future patient research priorities included assessment of quality of life and condition-specific outcomes.

Review of potential line-transect methodologies for estimating abundance of dolphin stocks in the eastern tropical Pacific

A twelve-year hiatus in fishery-independent marine mammal surveys in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETP), combined with a mandate to monitor dolphin stock status under international agreements and the need for reliable stock status information to set dolphin bycatch limits in the tuna purse-seine fishery, has renewed debate about how best to assess and monitor ETP dolphin stock status. The high cost of replicating previous ship-based surveys has intensified this debate. In this review, transect methods for estimating animal abundance from dedicated research surveys are considered, with a focus on both contemporary and potential methods suitable for surveying large areas for dolphin species that can form large, multi-species aggregations. Covered in this review are potential improvements to the previous ship-based survey methodology, other ship-based methods, alternative approaches based on high-resolution imagery and passive acoustics, and combinations of ship-based and alternative approaches. It is concluded that for immediate management needs, ship-based surveys, with some suggested modifications to improve precision, are the only reliable option despite their high cost. However, it is recommended that a top research priority should be development of composite methods. Pilot studies on the use of high-resolution imagery and passive acoustics for development of indices of relative abundance to be used in composite methods should be part of any future ship-based survey efforts.

Determining the top research priorities in UK prehospital critical care: a modified Delphi study

BackgroundPrehospital critical care is a rapidly evolving field. There is a paucity of evidence relating to its practice, with limited progress in answering those research questions identified over a decade...

Blockchain-based Collaborative Caching Mechanism for Information Center IoT

The development of fifth generation mobile communication (5G) technology and Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled more mobile terminals to access the network and generate huge amounts of information content. This will make it difficult for the traditional IP-based host-to-host model to cope with the demand for massive data transmission, making network congestion an increasingly serious problem. To cope with these problems, a new network architecture, the Information-Centric Networking (ICN), a content network with content caching as one of its most core functions, has emerged. In addition, in the era when 5G and future 6G networks gradually realize the interconnection of everything, the Information-Centric Internet of Things (IC-IoT) based on ICN architecture has emerged, and a large number of IoT devices can use ICN nodes as edge devices to realize collaborative caching. The caching capacity of IC-IoT is directly related to the transmission efficiency and capacity of the whole network, and the performance of IC-IoT caching capacity is the top priority of research in this field. To address the above issues, the research in this paper focuses on deploying blockchains in IC-IoT networks and using the consensus mechanism of custom blockchains to motivate ICN nodes and non-ICN nodes in the network to perform caching collaboratively, which in turn improves the caching capacity of the whole network. The main work of this paper has the following points. First, incentivize IC-IoT collaborative caching based on blockchain consensus mechanism: by deploying blockchain in IC-IoT, rewarding nodes that obtain bookkeeping rights to incentivize network-wide collaborative caching, and designing experiments to compare the caching capacity of the network before and after the incentive; second, improve DPoS consensus mechanism to incentivize collaborative caching: Experiments are designed to compare the incentive capacity of PoW consensus mechanism and improved DPoS consensus mechanism for IC-IoT network collaborative caching, and to select the consensus mechanism with better performance; third, the design and implementation of IC-IoT test bed: write ICN program to form ICN network from basic communication to multiple nodes, and then deploying blockchain on the network for subsequent extension studies. This thesis demonstrates the feasibility of using blockchain for IC-IoT network cache collaborative incentive, and proves that the blockchain incentive method in this paper can improve the throughput of IC-IoT network cache by building a test bed.

Digitalizing customer journeys in B2B markets

This paper explores the digitalization of business-to-business (B2B) customer journeys, which is recognized as a top research priority, but one that has not yet received substantial academic attention. Due to their complexity, customer journeys are particularly relevant in B2B settings, and this is further emphasized through the increasing use of digital technologies. This paper identifies three key dimensions of B2B customer journeys that are influenced by digitalization. These are the digitalization of touchpoints (i.e., adding digital touchpoints and transforming or facilitating touchpoints), the change of roles in digitalized journeys (i.e., introducing new roles, activating customers, and emphasizing collectivity), and the digitalization of the overall process (i.e., extending, enhancing, and supporting the process). The research is based on an in-depth case study of a B2B firm and four customers. Insights from the research add to the customer journey literature through the exploration of digitalized B2B customer journeys, providing guidance for academics and practitioners.