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Poor cash flow management and lack of profitability have plagued the construction industry for decades. In response, the UK Government published the project bank account (PBA) payment strategy in 2012 to mitigate main contractors unfairly withholding liabilities. However, PBAs suffer from adoption challenges, such as systems fragmentation and a lack of incentives for main contractors to adopt them effectively. This study aims to investigate how to reduce systems fragmentation in construction by integrating PBA procedures with existing management workflows to increase payment automation, resulting in improved cash liquidity and better incentives for using PBAs.

A PBA blockchain decentralised application is developed, presented and critically evaluated. Blockchain is the technology used because of its permissionless, license-free, open-source and immutability properties. It is a suitable general-purpose technology layer for building and testing applications without the limitations associated with centralised technologies, such as high proprietary fees, vendor lock and intellectual property restrictions.

The research demonstrates how a blockchain application can integrate siloed construction workflows such as cash flow scheduling, supply chain management and payment executions, reducing the management workload for implementing PBAs in construction projects. Furthermore, the proposed application is open-source and replicable, and its user interface is available for external testing here: https://console.atra.io/app/bf26f846-7f16-4f80-90a0-c5488ab6edd3.

PBA is a suitable test case because it enforces an auditable, transparent and neutral account, which are inbuilt properties of blockchains; thus, both systems are harmonious to integrate. PBA is mandated in UK public sector construction projects; therefore, the research has a solid practical foundation.

This study aims to examine Big Data and the management of libraries in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its implications for policymakers in Nigeria.

A qualitative methodology was used, involving the administration of open-ended questionnaires to librarians from six selected federal universities located in Southwest Nigeria.

The findings of this research highlight that a significant proportion of librarians are well-acquainted with the relevance of big data and its potential to positively revolutionize library services. Librarians generally express favorable opinions concerning the relevance of big data, acknowledging its capacity to enhance decision-making, optimize services and deliver personalized user experiences.

This study exclusively focuses on the Nigerian context, overlooking insights from other African countries. As a result, it may not be possible to generalize the study’s findings to the broader African library community.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is unique because the paper reported that librarians generally express favorable opinions concerning the relevance of big data, acknowledging its capacity to enhance decision-making, optimize services and deliver personalized user experiences.

An increasing number of images are generated daily, and images are gradually becoming a search target. Content-based image retrieval (CBIR) is helpful for users to express their requirements using an image query. Nevertheless, determining whether the retrieval system can provide convenient operation and relevant retrieval results is challenging. A CBIR system based on deep learning features was proposed in this study to effectively search and navigate images in digital articles.

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) were used as the feature extractors in the author's experiments. Using pretrained parameters, the training time and retrieval time were reduced. Different CNN features were extracted from the constructed image databases consisting of images taken from the National Palace Museum Journals Archive and were compared in the CBIR system.

DenseNet201 achieved the best performance, with a top-10 mAP of 89% and a query time of 0.14 s.

The CBIR homepage displayed image categories showing the content of the database and provided the default query images. After retrieval, the result showed the metadata of the retrieved images and links back to the original pages.

With the interface and retrieval demonstration, a novel image-based reading mode can be established via the CBIR and links to the original images and contextual descriptions.

The teaching and learning of anatomy has experienced a significant paradigm shift. The present study assessed the level of knowledge in anatomy in medical postgraduate students and explored the impact of interventions in the form of anatomical videos on knowledge obtained. An awareness of the importance of human anatomy for clinical skills was created to ensure a certain level of competence be achieved by the end of the anatomy course.

Postgraduate medical students were recruited from various specialties on voluntary basis. The first step was to conduct a preliminary screening exam to determine the level of anatomical knowledge. The students were then divided into two groups at random, one of which received no intervention (the control group), and the other of which watched the videos with content that was pertinent to the practical demonstrations (intervention). To assess the effects of the video intervention, a post-test was administered to all students.

Both spot tests (SPOTs) and short answer question (SAQ) components for scores of all the regions from the intervention groups were comparable to the scores obtained by the post-test control group, although the findings were not significant (p > 0.05). However, the intervention group from the abdomen (ABD) region did perform significantly better (p < 0.05) than the screening test score.

The results of the research study imply that interventions like anatomical videos can bridge the postgraduate trainee’s anatomy knowledge gap in a practical method which will immensely help in increasing their knowledge.

This study aims to explore browsing extension plugins for searching open scholarly literature and gain an understanding of the various available extensions, their functionalities and their benefits.

Instant retrieval of scholarly literature on the internet is challenging for any researcher due to incredibly accessible free and paid content, including various forms of resources, despite the availability of federated and discovery tools. This paper aimed to explore “Access Broker Browser extensions” available for quick retrieval of open scholarly literature. This paper explicitly explains browser extensions – Google Scholar Button, Open Access Button, Open Access Helper, Core, GetFTR and EndNote Click. Furthermore, the paper elaborated on the extension’s features, functionalities and usability in finding scholarly literature. This study found that the Google Scholar Button and GetFTR extensions seems more user-friendly, effective and easy to use on all internet browsers.

This paper identifies that the “Google Scholar Button” and “GetFTR” browser extensions are more effective than any other extensions and very user-friendly to use.

This study recommends that libraries should create awareness and provide training on access broker browser extensions for discovering scholarly open literature for learning.

The study investigates how firm-level governance (FL_G) affects the disclosure of voluntary risk information. Likewise, it explores the influence of FL_G on the informativeness of voluntary risk disclosure (VRD). Specifically, it examines how FL_G shapes the nexus between VRD and firm value.

It uses a sample of non-financial firms from the FTSE350 index listed on the London Stock Exchange between 2010 and 2018. The authors utilise an automated textual analysis technique to code the VRD in the annual reports of these firms. The firm value, adjusted for the industry median, is a proxy for investor response to VRD.

The results suggest that UK firms with significant board independence and larger audit committees disclose more risk information voluntarily. Nevertheless, firms with larger boards of directors and higher managerial ownership disseminate less voluntary risk information. Besides, VRD contains relevant information that enhances investors' valuation of UK firms. These results are more pronounced in firms with higher independent directors, lower managerial ownership and large audit committees.

The study rationalises the ongoing debate on the effect of FL_G on VRD. The findings are helpful to UK policy-setters in reconsidering the guidelines that regulate UK VRD and to the UK investors in considering risk disclosure in their price decisions and thus enhancing their corporate valuations.

It contributes to the risk reporting literature in the UK by presenting the first evidence on the effect of a comprehensive set of FL_G on VRD. Besides, it enriches the existing research by shedding light on the role of FL_G on the informativeness of discretionary risk information in the UK.

By reconsidering the concept of the historic environment, the aim of this study is to better understand how heritage is expressed by examining the networks within which the cultural performances of the historic environment take place. The goal is to move beyond a purely material expression and seek the expansion of the cultural dimension of the historic environment.

Conceptually, the historic environment is considered a valuable resource for heritage expression and exploration. The databases and records that house historic environment data are venerated and frequented entities for archeologists, but arguably less so for non-specialist users. In inventorying the historic environment, databases fulfill a major role in the planning process and asset management that is often considered to be more than just perfunctory. This paper approaches historic environment records (HERs) from an actor network perspective, particularizing the social foundation and relationships within the networks governing the historic environment and the environment's associated records.

The paper concludes that the performance of HERs from an actor-network perspective is a hegemonic process that is biased toward the supply and input to and from professional users. Furthermore, the paper provides a schematic for how many of the flaws in heritage transmission have come about.

The relevance here is largely belied by the fact that HERs as both public digital resources and as heritage networks were awaiting to be addressed in depth from a theoretical point of view.

The digital contents (d-contents) are vulnerable to various threats either natural or manmade. Digital preservation is the plethora of a wide array of strategies necessary for the long-term preservation of digital objects. This study was carried out to assess the digital preservation practices for information resources in university libraries of Pakistan.

A quantitative survey based on a structured questionnaire was carried out to conduct the study. The questionnaire containing two sets of strategies (general and technical) was distributed amongst the whole population and received 90% response rate.

Overall, progressive implementation of general digital preservation practices was noted in these libraries like checking the digital collections for viruses, keeping the digital media in fire/water/theft proof locations, restricting unauthorized access, maintaining ideal humidity and temperature, and checking the digital media for functionality. Amongst the technical practices, only replication was in practice at a progressive rate, followed by metadata recording and media refreshing that was sometimes practiced in these libraries. The other technical practices were rarely or never practiced in these libraries. Significant variances in general and technical digital preservation practices were noted based on their physical locations (regional distribution).

The study contributes a comprehensive set of digital preservation practices divided into general and technical types to conduct similar studies in other parts of the world.

The findings stress the need for national and institutional policies, funding streams and skill enhancement of library staff.

The study fills the literature gap and contributes a comprehensive set of digital preservation practices divided into general and technical types to conduct similar studies in other parts of the world.

The peer-review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-02-2023-0074

Those who believe they excel at architecture or engineering education are more likely to succeed based on self-efficacy principles. To investigate educator self-efficacy and success in the Online Learning Environment (OLE), a set of relationships are observed which describe correlations between experience and potential.

An online survey instrument was distributed the fall after COVID-19 university closures. Respondents were asked to reflect on their level of experience teaching and their ability to teach online. All analyzed data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics using the SPSS 22.0 statistical software package. The compatibility of the variables with normal distribution was tested using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk methods. Variables comparisons were performed using non-parametric tests (Kruskal Wallis test, Mann Whitney U test). The relationships between quantitative variables were examined using the Spearman Rank Correlation and comparisons formed from the qualitative variables were tested using the Pearson Chi-Square and Fisher Exact methods.

Educator self-efficacy was determined throughout the COVID-19 transition. Possessing online teaching experience is related to the perceptions that architectural education can be delivered entirely online. A relationship was found for educators who previously taught using OLE and who had experience with delivering and developing OLE.

It is incumbent on educators and administrators to continue to learn how to best accommodate student learning. The strong relationship for R1: Total teaching experience (IV) and perceptions of whether AEC education can be delivered completely online, points to having educators with a depth of experience and being open to change. The strong relationship shown for R2: Have you ever taught using an online method before January 2020 and Experience in developing online materials demonstrates that a variety of experience will also support educators in a time of change. These relationships illustrate how educator efficacy can provide support for educators during times of crisis.

U.S. Architectural and Architectural Engineering educator pandemic OLE self-efficacy has not been previously been a focus of research efforts. This research adds to the body of knowledge by demonstrating how relationships between teaching experience and OLE can encourage educator self-efficacy during a crisis. Statistical analyses found a strong relationship between total teaching experience and perceptions that AEC education can be delivered completely online. A strong relationship was found between online teaching experience and positive experiences in developing online materials.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate user satisfaction with digital health solutions by identifying and prioritizing different service attributes on the basis of their impact on improving user satisfaction.

Through a literature review and interviews with health professionals and patients, 20 attributes of digital health services provided in Italy have been identified. User satisfaction with these attributes has been evaluated by adopting the Kano model’s continuous and discrete analyses.

The findings reveal the essential attributes of digital health services that meet users' expectations, identify the attributes that users appreciate or dislike having and highlight unexpected attributes that lead to a significant boost in satisfaction when provided.

This study demonstrates the efficacy of the Kano model in assessing the nonlinear correlation between user satisfaction and the quality of digital health services, thus contributing to fill a gap in the literature in this area. The main limitation of this work is the use of a non-probabilistic sampling method.

This research suggests healthcare institutions and organizations consider user preferences when designing digital health solutions to increase their satisfaction. The results indicate different effects on user satisfaction and dissatisfaction for different categories of attributes in the Italian context.

Previous works studied customer satisfaction with digital health, assuming a linear relationship with service quality, or investigated consumer adoption intentions focusing on the technological factors. This work advances available knowledge by analyzing the nonlinear relationship between digital health attributes and users’ satisfaction and dissatisfaction.