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This document is an editorial note introducing a special issue of the journal Electronics on the topic of "Trends and Applications in Information Systems and Technologies." The note highlights the importance of information technologies in reshaping business models and improving operational efficiency. It also discusses the challenges associated with information systems, such as cybersecurity issues and data-centric decision-making processes. The special issue includes fourteen selected papers covering topics such as the adoption of blockchain technology, digital business solutions, ICT penetration, processing and information extraction in information systems, and innovative applications of information systems. The note concludes by expressing the hope that readers will find the special issue informative and inspiring for further research. [Extracted from the article]

Keeping a record of attendance is a practice as old as the world and still as useful as ever, but being an old practice doesn't imply keeping to old methods, as much as every other aspect of modern human life, attendance registers are long overdue going through a digitization process. Creating a single-purpose digital attendance register for a specific field may seem ideal, it can be done relatively quickly, requiring at most a month of development time but other requirements such as multi-platform availability could increase either the development time or deployment costs of the solution and it could also become obsolete and require a complete re-writing in a year or two if any major changes to the structure of the organization happen. This paper proposes a digital solution for attendance register, which can easily and quickly be modified to accommodate any changes or even switching to a completely different field or type of organization, the minimum development time of such a project would begin at three months for full functionality with security adding another month or two however when done it would run on all major platforms and could be modified in as low as a single day to offer as a ready-made solution to a different organization and could also easily integrate hardware-based attendance tracking mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a guest editorial from the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management. It highlights a special issue that features papers presented at the 7th Colloquium on European Research in Retailing (CERR). The colloquium focused on the challenges of digitalization in retailing, covering topics such as marketing, distribution channels, operations, and consumer behavior. The special issue includes 15 papers that explore the transformation of retail channels in the digital era, covering topics such as shopper behavior, digitalization in retailing, online shopping experience, and sustainable retail operations. The goal of the special issue is to contribute to the scientific standing of both CERR and the International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management. [Extracted from the article]

In this paper, we analyze the literature concerning the implementation of digital twins (DTs) for zero-defect manufacturing (ZDM) following a systematic method and, guided by a preliminary finding that a structured and standardised approach to the development of the DT applications is lacking, we provide a standardised design methodology to guide researchers and practitioners in their efforts to develop DTs regardless of the domain. After examination and interpretation of the literature, we also present the results of our state-of-the-art analysis, discuss the current state and limitations of research and practice, and provide useful insights on this important and complex topic. The design methodology proposed in our study will benefit both practitioners and academicians by covering the essential elements to be considered when developing DTs for ZDM for any applications in this domain. The study also contributes to knowledge by presenting a structured overview of the specific research area with a comprehensive, systematic, and critical analysis of the literature and by providing answers to some fundamental questions in the context of DTs for ZDM. Finally, we provide suggestions for further developments in research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reconceptualizes student engagement with course readings in management education. We challenge the perception of assigned readings as a solely student-centered issue, and propose a codesign approach that emphasizes the relational and intersubjective nature of various stakeholders contributing to the engagement design. The paper extends prior research by identifying concepts of quality of participation, connecting practices, and digital engagement that impact meaningful engagement with course readings. Grounded in action research theory, we propose a framework to design meaningful student engagement that is structured around six dimensions: (1) usefulness, (2) enjoyment, (3) quantity, (4) access, (5) intent, and (6) participative integration. These dimensions are entangled and viewed through three lenses: (a) what, (b) how, and (c) why. This paper presents theoretical and practical contributions, and importantly offers a paradigm shift in how educators and educational developers can enhance engagement with course readings in management education and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between digital finance and regional green innovation has been partially confirmed, yet the role of environmental regulation in it remains unexplored. Therefore, this paper examines the impact of digital finance on regional green innovation and tests the moderating role of environmental regulation using Chinese city-level data from 2011 to 2019 as a research sample. The results show that digital finance can significantly promote regional green innovation by alleviating regional financing constraints and increasing regional R&D investment. Besides, digital finance has apparent regional difference effects (the contribution of digital finance to regional green innovation is greater in eastern China than in western China, and the development of digital finance in neighbouring regions has a negative transmission effect on local green innovation). Finally, environmental regulation positively moderates the relationship between digital finance and regional green innovation. This paper explores the relationship between digital finance and regional green innovation from the perspective of environmental regulation, providing empirical evidence to promote regional green innovation., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This paper explores the digital landscape shaped by tech giants Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), and TikTok, emphasizing their influence on information sharing, communication, and entertainment. A case study on Luxury Anis Srl, an e-commerce company, illustrates its strategic use of Google Ads, Meta Ads, and TikTok Ads from 2021 to 2023. The study delves into campaign types and their evolution, focusing on the pivotal Performance Max campaign. Key performance metrics, including Click-Through Rate (CTR), Conversion Rate, Cost Per Click (CPC), and Return on Investment (ROI), are analyzed. The study concludes with insights for future campaigns, emphasizing the importance of continual evaluation, adaptation, and strategic planning in the ever-evolving realm of digital advertising. The Luxury Anis case study showcases the significance of adeptly utilizing specific tools and understanding market dynamics for successful outcomes in digital advertising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of new-generation information technologies, such as big data and artificial intelligence, digital twins have become a key technology in intelligent manufacturing. The introduction of digital twin technology has addressed many problems in discrete manufacturing lines, including low visualization and difficult cyber–physical integration. However, the application of digital twin technology to discrete manufacturing lines still faces problems of low modeling accuracy, response delay, and insufficient production line control accuracy. Therefore, this paper proposes a digital twin four-dimension fusion modeling method to solve the above problems. First, a digital twin system architecture for a discrete manufacturing production line is designed. Then, the information control dimension is integrated into traditional digital twin modeling methods. Further, a digital twin geometry–physics–behavior–information control four-dimension fusion modeling method is proposed. This method can describe the geometric and physical characteristics of a physical entity and map its behavior mechanism. More importantly, it reveals the control logic and virtual–real mapping rules, which provides important support for the virtual–real intelligent mutual control. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified by experiments on a fidget spinner discrete manufacturing line, and a digital twin operation and maintenance management system is developed. The results presented in this study could provide ideas for the digital transformation of discrete manufacturing enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper experimentally validates a fully digitalized active gate driver for suppressing the switching surge voltage of SiC MOSFETs in a boost converter. High‐voltage power conversion systems are expected to adopt SiC unipolar power devices utilizing their high‐speed switching capability. The high‐speed switching operation causes the switching surge voltage in its switching transient. Active gate driving is a key technology for suppressing it. A fully digitalized active gate driver is particularly focused upon, which freely shaped the output gate‐source voltage waveform by a multi‐bit gate control signal. This driver achieves the dynamical control of the voltage/current behaviours of MOSFET in the switching transient by taking the Miller effect into account. It contributes to suppressing the switching surge voltage. This paper applies this digital active gate driver to a high voltage power conversion circuit. The switching surge voltage is experimentally suppressed by slew rate control with the digital active gate driver for various operating conditions. The results clarify the control strategy of the digital active gate driver for SiC MOSFET in a power conversion circuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Affected by the COVID-19, many colleges have adopted online teaching. Meanwhile, the digital transformation of academic journals has shifted readers' reading habits from traditional paper media to digital media. Digital academic reading has become the main reading method of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavioral characteristics of college students' digital academic reading and explore the internal factors and external environmental factors affecting the Intention and Use behavior of digital academic reading. At the same time this study provide recommendations to address these influencing factors in terms of the individual, the environment and library resources. Methods: Based on UTAUT2 model and digital academic reading theories, this paper constructs a digital academic reading information behavior (DARB) model of college students to examine college students' digital academic reading behavior and intention. College students with digital academic reading behavior were recruited as research participants. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect representative samples from universities in Nanjing. 239 respondents participated in the questionnaire, with 189 providing valid data. Results: Effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI), price value (PV), perceived risk (PR) and habit (BH) have a significant impact on behavioral intention (BI), and behavioral intention (BI) and habit (BH) have a significant impact on use behavior (B). However, performance expectancy (PE) and facilitating conditions (FC) have no significant influence on behavioral intention (BI). Originality/value: The findings of this study will help fill the gap in previous research on the relationship between the influencing factors of digital academic reading and college students' reading intentions and behaviors, so as to provide a basis for improving the academic reading literacy program in colleges and optimizing the current digital academic reading environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific and professional research and writing academic papers have always been a challenge for people with experience and for those who are just starting with these activities. Nowadays, when the digital transformation in this field has reached its full bloom, we have various digital tools at our disposal to help us in research and writing academic papers in an organized way. Digital technologies have created a new ecosystem for research, both for searching and accessing information as well as for writing with the possibility of mutual collaboration among authors. The paper highlights the major categories of digital tools and describes the most important ones in more detail. Digital tools help authors throughout the research process and in writing academic papers. These include thinking about an idea, taking notes from the literature, citing, adding graphical elements, and collaborating with colleagues in real time. A new paradigm in writing academic papers with the help of artificial intelligence was briefly discussed, which includes the use of language models of natural language, and text processing with a critical review of the ethics of using these tools was briefly discussed. The research was conducted on the use of digital tools in two populations: teachers and students. The obtained research results were presented and discussed, after which appropriate conclusions were drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to find out whether educated Arabs read paper or digital materials; which reading technologies they use; amount of material they read; the place where they read; how much time they spend on reading; when they read; how they reduce distractions; how they motivate themselves to read; how they interact with the text; their reading rituals; and whether there are significant differences in reading habits according to gender, age, area of specialty and educational level. Unsolicited responses to a Twitter survey from 172 male and female adult Arabs with different ages, educational levels and areas of specialty showed that 13.5% use reading technologies, 15% prefer to listen audiobooks, and 71.5% read paper books. 16% read an hour a day; the majority read less than an hour a day and 13% read whenever they can. Some read 10 pages a day; others finish three chapters/articles a week; 14% read before bedtime; 15% listen to audiobooks while driving, working out, walking, cooking, and running errands; 5% read during wait times; 4% read before they start work; 3% read during their break at work; 3% read in the afternoon; 3% read after sunset prayer, and over the weekend. Some carry their Kindle device with them and read anywhere. To reduce distractions, 23% set a specific time for reading; 12% stay away from their smart phones or turn their mobiles to the silent mode; 6% read in a quiet place; 6% use a timer; 3% drink coffee to focus; 2% listen to music; and some use a pencil and paper to take notes and underline. No significant differences were found among respondents in terms of gender, area of specialty, educational level, the type of material read, reading technologies and applications they use, how much time they allocate to reading, where they read, how they reduce distractions, how they motivate themselves to read, their reading rituals and how they interact with the reading material. The study gave recommendations for encouraging the young generation to read in the age of social media and distractions and which technologies help them develop better reading habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marked by the killing of a senior ICT professional working for the Electoral Commission and the invalidation of the presidential election by the Supreme Court, the 2017 Kenyan elections make for a good case through which to study how digital technologies shape contemporary electoral practice. This article examines the practice of electoral transparency through technology and argues that it can be conceived as a socio-technical device based both on distancing people from knowledge of the electoral infrastructure and on staging a simplified discourse on public access to the electoral infrastructure. Drawing on interviews with key actors in election technology implementation and ethnographic observations of public events around it, the article argues that digital technology has had three sets of implications for elections. First, it has shaped the electoral infrastructure and the nature of the final result (now a paper and digital hybrid). Second, it has shaped the distribution of knowledge among electoral professionals, giving a central role to ICT actors, objects, and knowledge in the definition of electoral transparency. Third, the centrality of ICTs in elections and the order of knowledge they bring are highly controversial and criticized by other electoral actors who demand for material proof for understanding the inner workings of elections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This review examines the concept of Industry 4.0, underscoring its genesis, integral technologies, implementation hurdles, and the imperative nature of sustainability. The successful transition to Industry 4.0 necessitates the comprehensive understanding and efficacious management of a multitude of intricate variables. Methods: A Systematic Literature Review was undertaken and coupled with a bibliometric analysis to probe into the current status of Project Management and Industry 4.0 research. The stringent procedures employed encompassed a literature search, selection based on precise inclusion/exclusion criteria, and an in-depth analysis, culminating in the identification of future research opportunities. Results: The findings reveal a burgeoning interest in project management and Industry 4.0, the dominance of conference papers and scholarly articles, an interdisciplinary approach to project management and Industry 4.0, global participation, and notable authors in the field. Moreover, content analysis facilitated the delineation of study topics concerning the transformation of the project manager's role in Industry 4.0, the adoption and utilization of digital technologies in project management during the Industry 4.0 era, success determinants for project management in the Industry 4.0 epoch, the adaptation and evolution of project management in light of Industry 4.0, the influence of digitalization on project management and sustainability, strategic project management methodologies in the context of Industry 4.0 technologies, and barriers impeding the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies. Conclusion: This study clearly shows that there is a rising interest in project management and Industry 4.0, with a specific emphasis on the application of digital technologies. It underscores the pivotal role of education and training in these novel technologies. Crucial success factors include maturity in project management, effective training, and adeptness in implementing Industry 4.0 components. The review uncovers opportunities for future research that could aid organizations and professionals in navigating the progressively more digitized landscape of their respective fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current media digitization and artistic strength are more powerful than the previous application. Using its advanced information display methods and technologies, this paper proposed a digital museum built by integrating digital media art with AR technology, which was helpful to analyze and solve the objective problems of current museums' ecological imbalance and single-system function. Based on the principles and laws of augmented reality technology, the museum guide system is optimized. In the system evaluation experiment, firstly, the cultural relics of six kinds of materials are used as the target image to extract and identify the features of the image. In experiments, the recognition performance of three feature algorithms, Binary Robust Invariant Scalable Keypoints (BRISK), organizational retaliatory behavior (ORB), and Accelerated-KAZE (AKAZE), is compared. Among them, the ORB algorithm is superior to other algorithms in feature richness and recognition speed but is inferior to the other two algorithms in recognition accuracy. Therefore, this paper optimized the ORB algorithm based on the characteristics of the ORB algorithm. The ORB algorithm must calculate the orientation of the feature points before constructing the feature descriptor. After optimizing the parameters, the improved ORB algorithm not only has advantages in feature richness and recognition time but also improves the recognition accuracy up to 98.3%, which is 16% higher than the traditional ORB algorithm. Therefore, the application prospects of AR technology in digital media design are very important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 1526, Emperor Charles V decided to build a new Renaissance palace in addition to the Nasrid palaces in the Alhambra of Granada, a monumental site currently included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage List. In that period, a large floor plan, which is preserved today at the Library of the Royal Palace of Madrid, was drawn to represent the building and its surroundings. Although this anonymous drawing has attracted considerable historiographic interest, a study of the graphical aspects analysed here, namely, paper assemblage, drawing technique, representation system, metrology, graphical scale, dimensioning, and labelling, is lacking. To accomplish this analysis, the original document was carefully examined and digitalised with high definition. This process allowed a comprehensive graphic analysis, utilising other drawings from the same period as a comparative reference and studying for the first time the major characteristics of one of the most relevant architectural drawings of the 16th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]