bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noncommercial Concession as an Adjustment Tool for Russian Regions’ Development
Authors: Orlov Evgeny
Published: December 2020

This article presents the basic aspects of noncommercial concession theory and determines the possible results of its use. Noncommercial concession is an analog of franchising, which transfers advantages of its use onto the level of subfederal and local authorities interaction. Legal framework of noncommercial concession is based on the regional laws and regulations, signed between regional and municipal governments. Intermunicipal social and economic development alignment is a result of noncommercial concession introduction that reduces social tension in both donor municipalities and recipients. The main instruments of intermunicipal alignment are: unification of regional and municipal control and planning systems, creation and implementation of uniform strategic and branch planning documentation system, a possibility for regional government to exert a directive influence on local governments within the signed contracts, accelerated development on the territory of the Russian Federation using noncommercial concession, those branches which have been recognized as priority ones resulting from a comprehensive analysis of the current situation.
Deviant Behavior of Staff and Customers in Service Organizations: Causes and Consequences
Authors: Kazakov Sergey , Babintseva Elena
Published: December 2020

The academic research in the area of service marketing generally assumes friendly or neutral context of the encounters between employees and customers while providing or consuming the product. Recently, however, scholars are witnessing a new notion, namely ‘Dark Side of Marketing’ (DSM) which entails an increasing stream of pertinent publications in the literature. DSM is a complex yet multifaceted notion and refers to adverse effects of marketing paradigm implementation for humans, businesses and environment. Deviant behavior is a notable phenomenon pertinent to the nature of DSM, as it is mostly examined in relevant studies in comparison with other DSM manifestations. Deviant behavior is also emphasized in DSM studies because of its definitely negative impact on customer satisfaction, loyalty, WOM and, ultimately, on business performance metrics. To date, there is no DSM studies completed in the context of the Russian service industry as literature witnesses although this research question bears an apparent relevance for local business. This paper is destined to bridge this gap by defining the deviant behavior antecedents and gauging their consequences for marketing actors at the servicescape. The research results are based on empirical study of data collected from n=133 sample and on the analysis with utilization of Structural Equitation Modeling (SEM) method.
Consumer Behavior Factors in the Sharing Economy in Russia: the Case of Airbnb
Authors: Tishchenko Nazar , Tishchenko Olga , Rebyazina Vera , Slobodchuk Yulia
Published: December 2020

The paper discusses the main approaches to the sharing economy definition, the characteristics of the sharing economy business model, as well as drivers and barriers that consumers of the sharing economy face. Empirical research includes the survey of the Airbnb customers. A series of in-depth interviews followed by quantitative survey are conducted to identify the factors that determine the consumers behavior in the sharing economy. As a result of qualitative and quantitative research, four groups of factors are revealed: economic, social, personal, and environmental. In addition, as a result of cluster analysis, five clusters of consumers are identified: economical, socially active, supporters of new sensations, initiative and home. The results are of great interest to researchers and management practitioners in order to form a deeper understanding of the expectations and behavioral patterns of the Russian customers in a shared economy.
Strategic Alliances: Opportunities for Innovation and Effects for Competition
Authors: Malykh Sofya
Published: December 2020

The study is dedicated to answering the question of what effects, related to which factors, should be taken into account when evaluating the integral effect of a strategic alliance in a knowledge-intensive industry for competition. Features of R & D can significantly affect the public reaction to the desire of companies to cooperate - even if the intended merger will lead to monopolization of the market. Although the problem of the influence of alliances on competition is widely covered, there are quite a few works exploring the impact of cooperation between companies in the field of research and development on social welfare in general. An original model was proposed, based both on the standard prerequisites for such work and on the prerequisites that were rarely included in the models devoted to strategic alliances: the conclusion of a contract for the development of a specific project and the launch of a new product on the market, the asymmetry of investment processes in companies, the possibility of reaching the market at once two solutions.Using my model, I found out that there are hypothetically such circumstances in which a strategic alliance, even if it leads to collusion, can increase social welfare and be desirable for society.
Development of Competition Assessment Methodology for Retail Electricity Market in Russia
Authors: Mozgovaya Oksana , Turbina Svetlana , Kuznetsov Vasily
Published: December 2020

The article examines the competition assessment methodology for retail electricity markets, practiced by antimonopoly regulation agency in Russia. On the side it reviews the system of ranking competition assessment used by regulatory authorities in the European countries with electricity markets successful liberalization and competitive environment. The appropriate recommendations are developed to enhance the competition assessment methodology for retail electricity markets in Russia.
Competitive Balance and the Reform of Seasonality in the Russian Professional Football
Authors: Petrunin Yurij
Published: December 2020

The article examines the results of the football reform in Russia associated with the change of the season of the Premier League championship. The data analysis shows a decrease in the level of competitive balance in Russian football after the calendar reform. The change in the degree of economic inequality of clubs at the same time, calculated on the basis of the transfer cost of clubs, showed that this inequality could not be the reason for the decrease in the level of competition. On the basis of the correlation and regression analysis, a positive correlation between the indicators of the national championship and the rating of the national team was established. Thus, we can talk about the negative impact of the calendar reform on the success of the Russian national team.
Gender Inequality in the Distribution of Household Duties
Authors: Shaykenova Zhadra
Published: December 2020

This article is devoted to the study of factors that affect inequality in the housekeeping time allocation among partners in Russia (without considering the time spent on caring for household members). To identify inequality factors, we used nonparametric methods of statistical analysis. Based on data from Selective supervision of use of daily fund of time by the population, we checked the influence of several respondents’ characteristics and characteristics of the households, which respondents are a part of, on the distribution of household duties between partners. The work on the basis of empirical data confirmed a number of hypotheses, in particular, it was shown that there is a significant relationship between the distribution of household responsibilities between partners and the age of each of the partners, self- assessment of partners’ health status, employment status, self-assessment of the financial status of the household, the number of children and their health condition. It should be noted that, according to our estimates, the difference in the time spent by partners is also influenced by the level of education of male partners, while the level of education of female partners does not have a significant effect. In addition, we did not reveal a clear relationship between the dynamics of the indicator we are interested in and the difference in the age of partners, the presence of chronic diseases or disabilities among respondents, marital status, and working conditions.
Combining GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process for Landfill Siting, Study Area: Paveh County in Iran
Authors: Rostampoor Mahya , Zamani Mitra , Vaighan Amir
Published: December 2020

Landll siting is a complex and challenging operation. It is one of the fundamental problems in waste management, where it is necessary to consider different conditions when it comes to selecting an appropriate site for landll in each area. The factors or criteria we used in this article are environmental, economic, and social criteria. In this research, the Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) were utilized to select the most suitable sites for landll in Paveh, which the current landfill in this county does not follow environmental laws. In the process of zoning sites for landll in Paveh, twelve various criteria were mapped and join for cover analyses within GIS application to construct the last suitability index map for the site. The weightings of criteria were done with the help of AHP, and the weightings of the criteria were identified based on various factors. For this purpose, we used experts opinions, governmental regulations, and previous literature. Paveh is located in Kermanshah in the western part of Iran with 736 km^2area. The results show that almost 93% of the study areas is improper for landfill sitting.
Alcohol mortality in Russia: assessment with representative survey data
Authors: Kuznetsova Polina O.
Published: December 2020

According to vast empirical evidence, excessive alcohol consumption is an important factor of premature mortality in Russia. At the same time, quantifying alcohol-related deaths is not so easy, as generally the discussion of alcohol mortality only concerns the causes of death attributed solely to alcohol, which significantly narrows the range of possible negative consequences. Including data on losses from myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease and other common cardiovascular and other diseases in alcohol mortality estimates is enabled by an approach using data on the relative risks of death from various causes depending on the type of alcohol consumption. Within this study, alcohol consumption, depending on sex and age, was assessed on data from a representative national survey, taking into account information on the volume of recorded sales of alcoholic beverages.

According to the obtained results, in 2018 the death rate from alcohol-related causes in Russia amounted to 196,000 people, 146,000 men and 50,000 women among them. The peak of alcohol mortality is observed among people aged over 50. The structure of alcohol mortality is dominated by diseases of the cardiovascular system and external causes, and for men the contribution of external causes is significantly higher. Excessive alcohol consumption reduces life expectancy by 5.9 and 4.7 years for men and women, and healthy life expectancy by 4.2 and 2.6 years for men and women.
A new species of the genus Noeetomima Enderlein (Diptera, Lauxaniidae) from Guizhou, China with a key to worldwide species
Authors: Shi Li , Liu Miao , Hu Zheng-Kun
Published: December 2020

A species from the Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve in Guizhou Province, China is described as new to science: Noeetomima huzhengkunisp. nov. A key to separate worldwide species of Noeetomima, and a list of all species in the genus together with type information, is presented. The habitat of the new species is discussed.
Stochastic comparisons of series and parallel systems with dependent and heterogeneous Topp-Leone generated components
Authors: Zhang Li ,   College of Mathematics and Statistics, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China, Yan Rongfang
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we carry out stochastic comparisons of lifetimes of series and parallel systems with dependent heterogeneous Topp-Leone generated components. The usual stochastic order and the reversed hazard rate order are developed for the parallel systems with the help of vector majorization under Archimedean copula dependence, and the results for the usual stochastic order are also obtained for the series systems. Finally, some numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our theoretical findings.
Electromagnetism without Electrons: A Brief History of Thermal Hall Effect
Authors: HAN Jung Hoon
Published: December 2020

The past decade has witnessed the rise of the thermal Hall measurement as a sensitive probe of transport properties in solids. Experiments performed on a wide range of materials, such as magnetic insulators, spin ice, kagome spin liquids with both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions, a quantum paraelectric, and even high-Tc cuprates, showed the existence of thermal Hall transport phenomena caused by neutral excitations. There is little doubt that an era of electromagnetism without electrons has dawned. This review covers a brief and somewhat personal account of the theory and the experimental developments of the thermal Hall effect as a new discipline of condensed matter physics over the past decade.
Oxidation of Metals
Authors: KIM Seong-Gon
Published: December 2020

Oxides are formed on the surfaces of most metals we use today when they are exposed to an environment suitable for oxidation. The formation of these oxides usually has negative effects that cause severe corrosion problems detrimental to the operation of electronic devices, but it can also have positive effects in that a protective oxide layer that prevents further penetration of oxygen into the material may be formed. Therefore, understanding the effect of oxidation in metals plays an important role in the advancement of modern science and technology. In this paper, we will review the conventional theory of oxidation and present a state-of-the-art model of oxidation based on recent discoveries.
Good for career-bad for science: Advice, how to optimize your career.
Authors: Dreybrodt Wolfgang
Published: December 2020

The number of scientists and correspondingly the flood of publications explode. “Between 2008 and 2014, the number of scientific articles catalogued in the Science Citation Index of Thomson Reuters’ Web of Science grew by 23%, from 1.029,471 to 1.270,425. There were 7.8 million full-time equivalent researchers in 2013, representing growth of 21% since 2007” (UNESCO science report: towards2030,2015,http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/ files/documents/unesco-science-report-towards- 2030-ex-sum-en.pdf). This has consequences to the rules of science production in the science factories. Publications are products that need marketing and the cash paid is a long list of publications and citations in journals of high impact factors that foster the career of authors. I have observed this during the last ten years and found that the following rules should be observed to support a successful career. All of the rules that I give below rest on true examples. The reader may judge whether these rules support the quality of science. My personal opinion is, they do not. Discussion in the community is urgently needed, but it will need a display of courage.
Practical Issues in Human and Artificial Intelligence Interaction
Authors: Kordon Arthur
Published: December 2020

The chapter will focus on some practical issues in human and AI interaction based on the experience of applying AI in several large corporations. The following issues will be discussed: weaknesses of human intelligence, weaknesses of AI, benefits of human intelligence from AI, negative effects of AI on human intelligence, resistance of human intelligence toward AI, and how to improve the interaction between human and artificial intelligence. The discussed issues will be illustrated with examples from real-world applications.
The Transformation and Enterprise Architecture Framework
Authors: Trad Antoine
Published: December 2020

This chapter proposes the applied holistic mathematical model for geopolitical analysis (AHMM4GA) that is the result of research on societal, business/financial, and geopolitical transformations using applied mathematical models. This research is based on an authentic and proprietary mixed research method that is supported by an underlining mainly qualitative holistic reasoning model module that punctually calls to quantitate functions. The proposed AHMM4GA formalism, attempts to simulate functions to support empirical processes.
Developing Cyber Security Competences Through Simulation-Based Learning
Authors: Vassileva Bistra Konstantinova
Published: December 2020

The importance of cyber security competences is growing both in practice and in academia during the last few years. This chapter provides a current overview of the existing body of the literature in the field of simulation-based learning and the key cyber security issues. The author's primary goal is to develop a methodological business-oriented and evidence-based learning framework which will provide students or trainees with the opportunity to develop practical skills in the field of cyber security issues through a virtual business simulator. The overall intention is to provide a coherent framework that makes use of active-based learning and gamification to support the active participation of students or trainees. To meet these goals, the Reference Framework for Applied Competences (REFRAC) is applied. Taking into account that in 2040 ICT and internet will be ‘culturally invisible', cyber security competences will be a must for everyone. They will be critical both for personal and companies' survival in the turbulent and highly competitive digital environment.
Ethical Aspects of Information Literacy in Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Ottonicar Selma Leticia Capinzaiki , Manhique Ilídio Lobato Ernesto , Mosconi Elaine
Published: December 2020

The purpose is to analyse information literacy to provide ethical insight into artificial intelligence. The methodology was based on a systematic literature review of SCOPUS, Web of Science, Library and Information Science Abstracts, and Science Direct. The results demonstrated that there are only a few studies about the topic, so there is a research opportunity about this type of literacy and its ethical aspects in the context of artificial intelligence. As a conclusion, information literacy is crucial to the development of critical thinking in technology use. Information literacy should be applied in artificial intelligence courses to discuss ethical aspects of technology.
Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Marketing
Authors: Vassileva Bistra Konstantinova , Palamarova Plamena
Published: December 2020

In this chapter, the author argues that technologies will transform the marketing organization and reshape the marketing activities of companies. The aim of the chapter is to summarize the main challenges of digital disruption as well as to identify their implications to the legal and ethical aspects of digital and interactive marketing activities. The research aims driving this chapter are related to the identification of the main challenges regarding the legal protection of social media customers. Survey results about social media behaviour and cybersecurity issues are presented and discussed.
Fostering Creativity and Joy of Learning Amongst Students in a Singapore Classroom Through Fun Design-and-Make STEM Projects
Authors: Amir Nazir
Published: December 2020

This chapter describes a classroom-based research of how the author makes an attempt to foster joy and creativity amongst his class of 38 students, averaging 13 years of age, who are in an academically low achieving group in a secondary school in Singapore. For this purpose, the author developed a simple candy floss kit project to teach science to them in science lessons, as well as guiding them to showcase their creativity through variations of the kit in design and technology lessons. An instrument was designed to capture the students' views towards the use of the project as a vehicle for them to showcase their creativity. This instrument infused elements from Guilford's and Torrance's frameworks for creativity (fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration) and indicators of product creativity (novelty, resolution, and style) through Besemer's Creative Product Analysis Model. Findings highlight that the students enjoyed doing the project and found it as a useful vehicle to showcase their creative use of science in the design-and-make process.
Meaningfully Engaging EFL Students in the Digital School
Authors: Savvani Stamatia
Published: December 2020

Technology is an integral part of our daily and professional lives and is gradually and steadily being introduced into state schools. As for the Greek context, the Digital School project was initiated in 2010 in state schools; digital platforms and materials were made available to teachers and students for the teaching of English. This study follows a mixed-methods approach and employs questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to explore English language teachers' beliefs and practices regarding the use of technology in state schools. The research focuses on how teachers use technology to maximise student engagement. The findings show a tendency from educators to embrace technology despite certain shortcomings found regarding the resources available, content- and technology-wise. Drawing from interview findings and teachers' practices, this chapter proposes educational practices that could be employed to foster student engagement and meaningfully integrate technology in English language classes.
Conceptualizing Student Engagement and Its Role in Meaningful Learning and Teaching Experiences
Authors: Nyika Joan Mwihaki , Mwema Fredrick Madaraka
Published: December 2020

Student engagement is a crucial aspect of learning as it promotes understanding, enables learners to become responsible community members, and plays a crucial role in curriculum development. The concept has varied definitions that depict it as confusing and vague as exposed in this chapter. To demystify this confusion and vagueness, this chapter focuses on the levels of engagement and its associated formations rather than what it is. Three levels of engagement are discussed in relationship to their roles in promoting understanding of knowledge by learners, curriculum designing, and in formation of communities where knowledge, academics, students, and educational institutions interact. The discourse on student engagement conceptualization in this chapter reconciles its existent tensions with the value for education investments. Engagement is depicted as essential in promoting successful learner-instructor relations towards academic excellence and for reputable educational institutions. However, power imbalance of involved stakeholders impedes its optimal use by learners.
Technology Integration and the Teacher-Student Relationship
Authors: Jaafar Inaya , Statti Aubrey , Torres Kelly M. , Pedersen James M.
Published: December 2020

A fundamental part of today's K-12 classroom is 21st-century instruction that infuses technology skills in all subjects to prepare for the digital world. As educators continue to integrate this technology into student learning, it is important to examine the value of the human relationships that develop with the teachers in concert with the technology as they interact with their students in this environment. This integration of technology has created a shift in the role of the teacher and have led researchers to examine how high-quality relationships that are caring, supportive, and reciprocal impact pedagogical approaches, student engagement and motivation, and academic success. This chapter examines the work of several studies that focused on the interplay of technology integration and the teacher-student relationship on the social, emotional, and academic success of students.
LIFI-Based Radiation-Free Monitoring and Transmission Device for Hospitals/Public Places
Authors: Ananth kumar T. , Arun Samuel T. S. , Praveen kumar P. , Pavithra M. , Raj Mohan R.
Published: December 2020

A wireless patient monitoring system involves remote supervision of sensitive patients by wirelessly transmitting patient information to distant locations, especially in pandemic situations like COVID-19. Li-fi-based communication protocol is used in healthcare which helps in reducing the challenges faced by medical professionals in effectively monitoring multiple patients as well as average persons in public places. Due to COVID-19, doctors/healthcare workers are compelled to work with infected patients. This proposed technique lets them observe patients without being on their bedside, whether in the hospital or at home. This device can also be installed in public places to detect the abnormal and symptomatic persons who are affected by COVID-19. It is used to monitor patient health, ranging from heart rate, body temperature, ECG, breathing, non-invasive blood pressure, oxygen saturation, etc. Wireless patient monitoring using li-fi eliminates national therapy barriers. Thus, a li-fi-based patient monitoring system will lead to a significant role in Healthcare services. The radiation-free device shall be implemented in all the industries to find the COVID-19-affected persons easily.
The Gamification in Education, Healthcare, and Industry
Authors: Baby Maruthi Puvvadi
Published: December 2020

Wireless sensor networks (WSN) consist of large numbers of sensor nodes, which are limited in battery power and communication range and have multi-modal sensing capabilities. In this chapter, energy-efficient data aggregation technique is proposed to improve the lifetime of the sensor. Here, the author has used three layer architecture by deploying mobile element/node, which can periodically visit cluster heads (CHs) at which first level data aggregation has been applied to eliminate redundancy. After collecting data from all CHs, mobile element itself will perform second level of data aggregation to eliminate further redundancy. After collecting data from CHs, mobile element will move towards base station/sink and transmits data to base station/sink in order to save energy of entire network. Here, the author has made an attempt to prove that in WSN during data gathering if mobile elements are used to collect the aggregated data from CHs, energy consumption of the entire network will be reduced. The proposed data aggregation with mobile node helps in improving the lifetime of the WSN.
Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Prospects for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Authors: Narayanan Sathiya , Ramesh Nikshith Narayan , Tyagi Amit Kumar , Jani Anbarasi L. , Edwin Raj Benson
Published: December 2020

In the recent years, innovations such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and internet of things have enhanced user experience dramatically. In general, AR is completely different from VR and provides real-time solutions to users by projecting layers of information on real-world environments. Advancements in computer-generated sensory have made the concept of believable virtual environments a reality. With the availability of such technologies, one can investigate “how these technologies can be applied beyond gaming or other useful applications” and “how further improvements can be made to allow for full digital immersion.” This chapter provides a detailed description about AR and VR, followed by interesting real-world examples of AR applications. In addition, this chapter discusses the issues and challenges faced with AR/VR with a motivation of exploring the options for improvement.
A Review on Solid Waste Management Using the DPSIR Framework in a Southern Africa Case Study
Authors: Nyika Joan Mwihaki , Onyari Ednah Kwamboka
Published: December 2020

This chapter uses the DPSIR framework to examine logistical, infrastructural, and operational challenges in SA's SWM system using Buffalo City Municipality as case study. Findings suggest that SWM is an endemic problem in the municipality characterised by a preference to landfill disposal, minimal recycling tendencies, poor waste services, non-enforcement of existent waste regulation, inadequate funding, and non-involvement of urbanites and informal sector in the process. To counter these challenges, BCM has enhanced its financial resources to facilitate scientific landfilling and transit to perceptions of solid waste as a useful good. The municipality has collaborated with local industries and international organizations to synergize efforts to implement state and local waste management plans. For an integrated model of SWM, this review suggests SA and BCM's need to plan innovatively, adopt landfill-mining, plan strategically on all waste cycle aspects, and modify existing regulations to accommodate urbanites and informal waste pickers in the process.
Solid Waste, Treatment Technologies, and Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Farooqi Zia Ur Rahman , Kareem Abdul , Rafi Faizan , Ali Shujahat
Published: December 2020

Waste has a long history of association with humans and other organisms. It is inevitable and has different sources right from crop residues (agriculture), food production and its movement through food chain, industries and their processes. Waste has different environmental implications like leachate and can contaminate groundwater. Emissions from waste burning cause air pollution, and its dumping in soil cause soil pollution. There are different methods and technologies being used in the world to minimize waste. All the technologies being used are reviewed and presented in it with their pros and cons of all the technologies. This chapter will include all these technologies and associated environmental concerns.
Review on Plastic Waste Disposal and Role of Microorganisms in Bioremediation of Plastics
Authors: Rao Vyshnavi V. , R. Sonashree , Halbavi Rashmi R.
Published: December 2020

Plastics are the most commonly used polymers for conventional applications. Plastic wastes accumulating the environment are presenting an ever-increasing ecological threat. Low density polyethylene is major cause of long-term environmental pollution. An eco-friendly approach to resolve this ever-growing persistent menace is bioremediation. The diverse metabolic capability of microbes can be effectively exploited for breakdown of plastic wastes. Another approach is to synthesise biodegradable or organic plastics which is soluble in the natural environment. There are several advantages associated with these biodegradable plastics or plastic degrading microbes. They can be composted with organic wastes and returned to enrich the soil. Their use will not only reduce stress and loss of habitat of wild animals caused by dumping of conventional plastics but will also lessen the labor expenses for the removal of plastic wastes in the environment because they degrade naturally. This review describes bioremediation/biodegradation process, production, types of and advantages of bioplastics.
Sustainable Solid Waste Management via Biological Treatment
Authors: Nayak Arunima , Bhushan Brij
Published: December 2020

The solid wastes generated as a result of human activity have become very complex. Unscientific management of such wastes has resulted in environmental pollution, thereby putting a serious risk to the ecosystem and human health. A sustainable waste management is required for reduced pollution levels as well as for safeguarding the environment for future generation. Biological methods have gained in importance mainly because of its environmentally friendly option for recovering materials and energy. This is true as per the guidelines of “Hierarchy of Sustainable Waste Management.” Composting and anaerobic digestion are two treatment options that is commonly followed in both developing as well as developed countries. The aim of this chapter is thus to address the technical background, advantages, as well as shortfalls related to the waste treatment via biological methods. An up-to-date literature thus presented may be beneficial to the scientists and researchers for working towards further improvement of the present system of waste management.
Wood Waste Characterization and Reuse Possibilities
Authors: Bonfatti Júnior Eraldo Antonio , Monteiro Thiago Campos , Lengowski Elaine Cristina
Published: December 2020

Wood is the most versatile natural material. It can be used to obtain sawn wood, wood for civil construction, naval purpose, packaging, furniture, wood flooring, composites, bioenergy, pulp and paper. More recently, nanotechnology and the biorefinery processes create new possibilities for wood use; however, wood processing still generates a large amount of waste. Wood can be processed mechanically or chemically. The mechanical processing of wood has residues like sawdust, cuttings, and wood chips. From the chemical processing of wood, the main residue is black liquor.
Donors and International Organisations
Authors: Thomason Jane , Bernhardt Sonja , Kansara Tia , Cooper Nichola
Published: December 2020

In this chapter the authors examine the response of the international development community to Blockchain and frontier technologies. It considers multilateral, bilateral organisations, and non-government organisations, and their role in curating the design and implementation of these technologies. The authors conclude that the global development community need to be active regarding the digital future. International development organisations have a key role to play in building the evidence on how technology can contribute to making development co-operation more effective, impactful, and inclusive. There is a widespread view that Blockchain and frontier technologies offer an important opportunity to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. It is time for international development organisations to lean in and help shape the new technologies as they rapidly accelerate and galvanise a more systematic and joined up international development approach to the digital future.
The Framework for Blockchain Innovation and the Impact on Digital Economic Transformation
Authors: Alabbasi Yousef , Sandhu Kamaljeet
Published: December 2020

Blockchain technology has become an epidemic and significant decision that organizations may make in the next few years, as integrated business solution enabling institutions to integrate business functions, operations, and processes in a decentralized distributed ledger technology. This technology will transform the business world and economy in solving the limitations created by centralization and system inefficiency. Accordingly, with the highly demanding and complexity of growing economies such as Gulf Cooperation Council GCC countries, the need for a typical solution technology is a game changer. The result of this will lead GCC to a solid base of the economy. Blockchain technology can be applicable in many different fields such as: banking, education, health care, finance, government, trade, etc. This article will propose a conceptual framework for the acceptance of Blockchain technology and innovation in the GCC, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Also, more research can be conducted in the future as the system might be integrated in these countries.
Developing a Blockchain Solution for West Virginia Medicinal Cannabis
Authors: Schaupp Ludwig Christian
Published: December 2020

West Virginia became the 29th state in the country to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes in 2017. Two years later, the state's medicinal marijuana program is scheduled to start enrolling patients; however, state legislators acknowledge that the program is still years behind actual implementation due to obstacles that have become seemingly insurmountable via existing channels. This paper undertakes a holistic evaluation of the value of blockchain to the nascent medicinal marijuana industry in West Virginia. Three use cases are presented to address the difficulties the state has experienced during the program's first two years of rollout efforts. Specifically, a blockchain use case is developed to address the issue of traceability to prove provenance, managing the vertically integrated supply chain and because of federal tax law the particularly cumbersome issue of collecting and storing payments.
Water Management for Rural Environments and IoT
Authors: Caeiro José Jasnau , Martins João Carlos
Published: December 2020

Internet of Things (IoT) systems are starting to be developed for applications in the management of water quality monitoring systems. The chapter presents some of the work done in this area and also shows some systems being developed by the authors for the Alentejo region. A general architecture for water quality monitoring systems is discussed. The important issue of computer security is mentioned and connected to recent publications related to the blockchain technology. Web services, data transmission technology, micro web frameworks, and cloud IoT services are also discussed.
A Decision Framework for Decentralized Control of Distributed Processes
Authors: Griffin Paul Robert , Megargel Alan , Shankararaman Venky R.
Published: December 2020

A typical example of a distributed process is trade finance where data and documents are transferred between multiple companies including importers, exporters, carriers, and banks. Blockchain is seen as a potential decentralized technology that can be used to automate such processes. However, there are also other competing technologies such as managed file transfers, messaging, and WebAPIs that may also be suitable for automating similar distributed processes. In this chapter, a decision framework is proposed to assist the solution architect in deciding the technology best suited to support decentralized control of a distributed business process where there are multiple companies involved. The framework takes as input the different areas of concern such as data, processing, governance, technical, and the pros and cons of the technologies in addressing these areas of concerns and provides a method to analyze and highlight the best technology for any process in question. Two example processes, trade finance and price distribution, are used to show the application of the framework.
Exploring the Blockchain Technology Application in the Chinese New Retail Business Model
Authors: Li Yuhong , Subramanian Nachiappan
Published: December 2020

While the new retail is revolutionizing retailing in China, the supply chain of the new retail has a few problems or potential risks which will decrease the customer satisfaction level. However, the implementation of one of the cutting-edge technologies—the blockchain—can revolutionize the supply chain of the new retail in China. This qualitative piece uses multiple interviews to find out the specific outcomes blockchain will make for the supply chain of the new retail in China. The major contribution is to fill the gap of the academic literature as well as the business application and such as the new retail in China to increase supply chain security and efficiency with blockchain.
Blockchain and Bitcoin
Authors: Covington Hayden , Choi Young B.
Published: December 2020

Bitcoin and blockchain are two new and innovative technologies that may be confusing. This purpose of this paper is to differentiate these two new technologies and explain their functionalities. The concept of Bitcoin “mining” will be addressed, as well as the impact it has had on the hardware market. Finally, the benefits and concerns of implementing blockchain and Bitcoin will be provided. Despite the concerns, both blockchain and Bitcoin provide a plethora of possible new technological advanced, both in the terms of digital currencies as well as other avenues.
Blockchain Technology Is a Boost to Cyber Security
Authors: Sowmiya B.  , Poovammal E.
Published: December 2020

The information in any real-time application is needed to be digitalized across the world. Since digitalization of data happens, there comes the role of privacy. Blockchain could address the security challenge that happens in the any real sector. There are a few more challenges that prevail in the industry such as integrity in data, traceability of stored records, and interoperability among organizations that share information. This chapter says what blockchain is and applications in which blockchain technology could solve the existing challenges where they lack security, privacy, integrity, and interoperability.
New Tools for Cyber Security Using Blockchain Technology and Avatar-Based Management Technique
Authors: Mkrttchian Vardan , Gamidullaeva Leyla Ayvarovna , Vertakova Yulia , Panasenko Svetlana
Published: December 2020

The chapter introduces the perspectives on the use of avatar-based management techniques for designing new tools to improve blockchain as technology for cyber security issues. The purpose of this chapter was to develop an avatar-based closed model with strong empirical grounding that provides a uniform platform to address issues in different areas of digital economy and creating new tools to improve blockchain technology using the intelligent visualization techniques. The authors show the essence, dignity, current state, and development prospects of avatar-based management using blockchain technology for improving implementation of economic solutions in the digital economy of Russia.
A Call for Second-Generation Cryptocurrency Valuation Metrics
Authors: Lehner Edward , Ziegler John R. , Carter Louis
Published: December 2020

This chapter builds on the body of work that has depicted cryptocurrency as a model for science and higher education funding. To that end, this work examines the degree to which one or more cryptocurrencies would need to be adopted and achieve a network effect prior to implementation of such a funding model. Empirical data from three different cryptocurrencies were examined. The current work deploys generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) to analyze stochastic volatility. This work contends that the examined coins are likely overdistributed and too volatile, thereby limiting the wealth generation possibilities for funding science or higher education. Additionally, based on the GARCH analysis, this work highlights that cryptocurrency pricing metrics and valuation models, to this point, may be insufficiently complex to persuade institutional investors to seriously allocate capital to this ecosphere.
Paradise Found?
Authors: Lehner Edward , Ziegler John R.
Published: December 2020

This chapter conceptualizes a process for cryptocurrency to diversify traditional methods of higher education funding in the United States. Cryptocurrency funding augments traditional revenue streams and shifts the discussion of education costs from expenses to a more robust conversation about innovative avenues to wealth generation as a potential solution to fund the mission of American higher education. This chapter acknowledges the central concerns of higher education funding as it explores these arguments as legacy discourses rooted in career preparation, accessibility and affordability, and arguments about the need for a broad-based education vs. more technical skills training. Further, an alternative model to current higher education funding models is presented, and if deployed, this asset class could help to serve education needs by funding research, students, and the academy through an illustrated conceptual framework for funding.
An Efficient and Secure Certificateless Aggregate Signature From Bilinear Maps
Authors: Kumar Pankaj , Sharma Vishnu , Sharma Gaurav , Bhatia Tarunpreet
Published: December 2020

Certificateless signature schemes are a very intriguing aspect in information security because of its capability of removing the well-known key escrow problem predominately in ID-based cryptography. He et al. proposed an efficient certificateless aggregate signature scheme and proved that their scheme is secure against all possible types of security attacks. However, the authors still managed to find loopholes in the form of insecurities against ‘honest but curious' and ‘malicious but passive' attacks during cryptanalysis of He et al.'s scheme. The authors propose an efficient certificateless aggregate signature scheme which fills the security gaps in He et al.'s scheme and demonstrate the security in their scheme via a mathematical proof, and reinforce the fact that their scheme is much more efficient in a thorough performance comparison of their scheme against the previous schemes.
Blockchains for Value Creation and Supply Chain Optimization
Authors: Nambiar Arun N.
Published: December 2020

Managing today's highly dispersed and intertwined supply chain in order to maximize the overall organizational benefit by leveraging partner competencies is a herculean task and one that is of ever-growing importance in a highly competitive and truly globalized market. Information technology in the form of point-of-sale data, materials requirement planning software, and enterprise-wide systems have often been leveraged to assist with this. However, with the proliferation of data, storing, managing, and analyzing data on a large scale is a challenge. Blockchains provide numerous benefits such as data transparency, immutability, and traceability that are so critical in building a cohesive cyberinfrastructure that facilitates cooperation and collaboration among supply chain partners. This chapter examines the characteristics of blockchain that make it suitable for supply chains and explore how the benefits afforded by blockchain can be leveraged to enhance value creation while optimizing the supply chain.
Transforming Cities
Authors: Thomason Jane , Bernhardt Sonja , Kansara Tia , Cooper Nichola
Published: December 2020

Chapter 5 explores the use of distributed ledger technologies in cities to help improve citizen-centric services: land registries, health care, welfare payments, identity, supply chains, and voting. McKinsey analysts predict that by 2020 the number of smart cities will reach 600 worldwide, and 5 years later almost 60% of the world's GDP will be produced in them. Digital technologies could become an engine of economic progress, and Blockchain could be one of those technologies. This connectivity, however, comes at a cost. How will cybersecurity evolve with Web 3.0 and 4.0 technologies to protect cities from cyber-attacks? This chapter introduces how Blockchains may be used to resolve a range of city-based challenges arising from broader global concerns like national population increases, urban density, anthropomorphic climate change, urban pollution and mobility, local and national citizen services, and infrastructure.
An Exploratory Study on Blockchain Application in a Food Processing Supply Chain to Reduce Waste
Authors: Carey Emily Anne , Subramanian Nachiappan
Published: December 2020

This chapter aims to explore the feasibility of using blockchain in the beef supply chain to reduce waste. A mono-method, qualitative, inductive, single case study approach was taken on a cross-sectional scale from June 2018 to August 2018, with two individuals interviewed: a beef and a blockchain expert. The case study also involved observations, a field visit, and other secondary source data. Beef is a high demand, valuable food product with a limited shelf life. By using blockchain in conjunction with RFID and sensor technologies, farming and processing stages in the beef supply chain can be streamlined. Firstly, using the technology to monitor the animals on the farm and during transportation can reduce the amount of water and energy wasted. Secondly, blockchain can be used to establish exactly when and where the meat is cut and packaged, improving the accuracy of information between supply chain entities, resulting in improved inventory management, specifically more accurate delivery times and lengthened product shelf lives.