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In recent years, the IVD industry has developed rapidly based on the increasing market demand, and plays an important role in disease prevention, clinical diagnosis, health monitoring and guiding treatment. Therefore, followed quality and safety issues are highly concerned. The unique advantages of blockchain technology, decentralization, distrust and non-tampering, can write into trusted node data in every link covering production, circulation and usage of IVD reagents, and establish a distributed ledger with full backup, which makes the anti-conterfeiting and traceability for IVD reagents possible. We discuss whole process intelligent tracing system for IVD reagents based on blockchain technology. Through the strong mechanism of pre-supervision and post-punishment, the source of reagents can be traced, quality and responsibility can be investigated, and the medical inspection quality and diagnostic safety can be guarded.

Although the best-known use of blockchain technology (BCT) is in the field of economics and cryptocurrencies in general, its usefulness is extending to other fields, including the biomedical field. The purpose of this article is to clarify the role that BCT can play in the field of medicine. We have performed a narrative review of the literature on BCT in general and on medicine in particular. The great advantage of BCT in the health arena is that it allows development of a stable and secure data set with which users can interact through transactions of various types. This environment allows the entry and operation of clinical data without compromising other sensitive data. Another important advantage of BCT is that the entire network is decentralized and is maintained by the users themselves; thus, there is no need to rely on organizations for storage. The Blockchain code is open source and can be used, modified and revised by its users. BCT literature is scarce so far. This article describes the basics of this technology and summarizes the various aspects in which BCT could change the paradigm of current medicine. The great potential of BCT, as well as its many applications in the field of health sciences, encompasses the fields of legal medicine, research, electronic medical records, medical data analysis (big data), teaching and the regulation of payment for medical services. If technological advances continue along these lines, it could bring about a revolution in medicine as we know it.

Blockchain technology is often considered as the fourth industrial revolution that will change the world. The enthusiasm of the transformative nature of blockchain technology has infiltrated healthcare. Blockchain is often seen as the much needed and perfect technology for healthcare, addressing the difficult and complex issues of security and inter-operability. More importantly, the "value" and trust-based system can deliver automated action and response via its smart contract mechanism. Healthcare, however, is a complex system. Health information technology (HIT) so far, has not delivered its promise of transforming healthcare due to its complex socio-technical and context sensitive interaction. The introduction of blockchain technology will need to consider a whole range of socio-technical issues in order to improve the quality and safety of patient care. This paper presents a discussion on these socio-technical issues. More importantly, this paper argues that in order to achieve the best outcome from blockchain technology, there is a need to consider a clinical transformation from "information" to "value " and trust. This paper argues that urgent research is needed to address these socio-technical issues in order to facilitate best outcomes for blockchain in healthcare. These socio-technical issues must then be further evaluated by means of working prototypes in the medical domain in coming years.

In order to protect the environment, manufacturing sectors have begun implementing a green supply chain (GSC) strategy. Governments are enacting increasingly stringent environmental regulations; consequently, industries must reduce the environmental impact of their supply chains. Our research investigates the barriers to implementing a GSC in the agriculture equipment manufacturing industries (AEMI). This research aims to discover and prioritize the barriers that impede the implementation of sustainable supply chain strategies in the AEMI. Through an in-depth literature review, contributions from experts, and empirical analysis, seventy-one barriers are identified across ten categories. The top barrier in each category is determined using the Delphi approach. The Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (F-TOPSIS) method creates an exhaustive framework that evaluates and ranks these barriers. The top five barriers are the lack of an environmental partnership with buyers and suppliers, the design complexity when reusing or recycling old goods or products, carbon emissions, paint shop emissions, lack of environmental education and training professionals that lack the necessary skills and less manpower available for the greening supply chain. This framework facilitates decision-makers to organize resources and create effective strategies for overcoming identified barriers. In addition, we proposed a blockchain IoT integrated architecture and strategies. This integrated architecture and strategies will help to mitigate all GSC barriers. It also increases the supply chain's transparency, traceability and effectiveness, fostering sustainability practices and reducing environmental impacts. Blockchain and IoT facilitate real-time data collaboration, computerized transactions and the implementation of smart contracts, thereby enhancing cooperation, trust and collaboration among stakeholders. Implementing GSC practices enables manufacturers to reduce waste and increase productivity, thereby saving funds. In addition, adopting sustainable practices improves these industries' reputation and brand image among environmentally conscious customers, investors and other stakeholders.

The Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan takes blockchain as one of the key industries of the digital economy, and a number of ministries and commissions have also made clear deployments to accelerate the innovative application of blockchain, promote the digital transformation of the industry, and promote the high-quality development of the economy and society in the policy documents related to the informatization of the industry. The regulation and governance of blockchain digital assets cannot be separated from the understanding and analysis of blockchain technology itself, and observing the development mechanism of blockchain digital assets from the scientific and technological end is an innovative and necessary angle of governance. Research on the governance of blockchain digital assets in China should build a two-tier system design of technology governance and governance technology, achieve conditional trust in blockchain technology, accelerate the development of blockchain technology, establish a risk assessment mechanism and realize the ethical role of blockchain technology, and guide the development of distributed digital identities and decentralized organizations, clarify regulatory boundaries and government responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its inception, Blockchain Technology, the underlying technology of Bitcoin has gained a lot of popularity and interest in various industries, varying from the healthcare industry, Internet-of-Things, smart grid, and supply chain management. Sports is one industry where blockchain can have significant breakthroughs where it can reshape the way the sports industry works by providing reliable athlete data management, secure mechanisms for data sharing, reforming the event management practices, collectibles traceability, and many more, but so far its impact is overshadowed by the hype surrounding the use of fan tokens and Non-Fungible-Tokens (NFT) collectibles. This paper aims to provide a systematic review of the ongoing research on the application of blockchain in the sports industry. this work shows that many studies have proposed different use cases for the application of blockchain in the sports industry on and off the field and targeting different stakeholders. However, we inferred a lack of adequate prototype implementations to evaluate the effectiveness of these proposed use cases. We further highlighted the technical details of the implementation of these blockchain-based applications, their limitations, and challenges, and proposed some solutions to support the integration of blockchain in this domain. The findings of this work will be beneficial for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the sports industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nations with developing and emerging economies as Nigeria need to stimulate awareness and adoption of emerging technologies to expedite effective and efficient service delivery. One of such emerging technologies is the blockchain technology. Blockchain technology is a trending technology in the world of the internet of things (IOT). It offers distinct advantages in the world of database technology as it provides for the trustless recording of transaction data without relying on a third party, aid transparency and security. Beyond these, the recent development of blockchain 2.0 and 3.0 has shown its potential in other sectors outside cryptocurrency; such as in health and education sectors, as well as in corruption management and as a democratic tool. This paper seeks to discuss how these potential benefits can be applied to the Nigerian economy. The paper throw light on how blockchain technology can be used to improve transparency in the mode of transactions in Nigeria, improve electoral processes, and education management systems. As well as help in the reduction of corrupt practices.

Recently, there has been a heightened emphasis on employing smart technologies for evaluating logistics performance, and hence we have considered four key technologies, namely blockchain technology (BT), warehouse automation (WA), smart routing (SR), and cloud computing (CC), and measured their aggregate impacts on logistics performance. We have considered these four technologies as exogenous constructs, and the logistics performance factors as endogenous constructs. First, we generate 23 items or indicators under those technologies and measure their loadings to determine how strongly they are linked to each technology. Next, we determine how strongly technologies are linked to logistics performance factors. Finally, we test our theoretical model using partial least squares structured equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Our findings confirm that the constructs and indicators in our theoretical framework meet the criteria, supported by PLS-SEM results and fit indices. This study advances logistics theory by highlighting smart technology adoption in practice and supporting institutional theory.

This study examines blockchain technology (BCT) firms’ ownership structure and cash holding (CH). Using GMM on a sample of firms indexed on Blockchain50 in China during 2009–2022, findings show that Largest-shareholders minimise CH, indicating corporate expansion. Due to their monitoring motive, Top10-shareholders allow corporations to maintain large cash. To prevent currency misuse, institutional ownership and CH are negatively related. Managerial ownership favours, while the chairman ownership lowers CH, supporting the interest alignment theory. Pre- and post-BCT index period analyses demonstrate a weak post-index period influence. The BCT adaptation lessens information asymmetry and aids in reducing agency issues through quick information flow, limiting owners’ influence. This study adds empirical evidence on ownership structure and CH. The study's findings may apply to developing market enterprises employing BCT's corporate governance structures.

This study investigated the potential of blockchain technology to transform Electronic Health Record (EHR) administration, integrity, and security. EHRs store vital health information such as medical history, diagnosis, prescriptions, and imaging findings, which may be shared with healthcare professionals to improve patient care. The existing EHR systems have a centralized framework. These centralized systems have a single point of failure, data management, integrity, and security concerns. Blockchain technology provides a solution to these problems by delivering benefits such as safety, privacy, secrecy, and decentralization. This study presents a framework for adopting blockchain technology in EHR systems, providing a comprehensive, modular, and straightforward approach. Our proposed framework addresses the constraints of existing EHR systems by providing a platform for connected and interoperable EHRs. The proposed blockchain-based patient health records management framework demonstrates the potential to address the limitations of current centralized health records systems. It offers benefits such as data privacy and security, interoperability, audibility, decentralization, and automation through the use of smart contracts. The proposed framework is implemented in Ethereum. The evaluation, i.e., cost and performance results, show that this solution is reasonable and may be used on any blockchain network, whether it is permissioned or permissionless.

With the rapid development of global information technology, smart agriculture has gradually become an important force to promote agricultural modernisation. Taking Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs as the research object, this paper constructs a full-chain traceability process for hairy crabs integrating blockchain and Internet of Things technology in response to the demand for the enhancement of its brand value and market competitiveness. The model covers all aspects of breeding, processing, and transport to sales; realises end-to-end transparent regulation; effectively guarantees the authenticity and non-tamperability of information; and enhances consumers’ trust in the brand. At the technical level, this paper designs the ECMI (Enhanced Cuckoo Merkle Index) model, optimises the data storage and retrieval mechanism, and experimentally verifies the advantages of cuckoo filters over traditional Bloom filters in reducing false positives and improving query efficiency. This paper not only provides an efficient and safe traceability solution for the hairy crab industry in Yangcheng Lake but also provides technical support and practical cases for the further application of blockchain technology in smart agriculture, which is of great value for the realisation of the national rural revitalisation strategy.

Abstract The Trustworthy Healthcare Cloud Storage Auditing Scheme (TCSHAS) represents a progressive solution for resolving trust-related issues linked to third-party auditors (TPAs) within traditional healthcare cloud storage audit systems. As the healthcare industry increasingly relies on cloud storage, concerns surrounding security and privacy have grown, motivating the development of a unique incentive mechanism. This mechanism leverages the non-tamperable and traceable features of blockchain technology to encourage TPAs to uphold honesty and reliability. By organizing TPAs as a group of nodes on the blockchain, a system of mutual surveillance is established, enabling diligent monitoring and penalization of any malicious actions. TCSHAS encompasses a comprehensive system model that incorporates smart contracts to manage transaction-related matters, including dispute resolution. Performance evaluations have confirmed its efficiency and suitability for real-world healthcare applications. Our experiments demonstrate that TCSHAS performs well in terms of gas consumption and exhibits scalability as the number of participant’s increases. Compared with other common smart contracts, TCSHAS maintains a balanced level of complexity, incorporates strong security measures, offers comprehensive auditing capabilities, and remains flexible. To further enhance our research, we can explore ways to optimize TCSHAS scalability and performance, such as through shading, as the volume of healthcare data continues to grow. In addition, we can investigate the integration of advanced privacy technologies or AI-based auditing. These advancements will reinforce the role of TCSHAS in establishing trust and security in healthcare cloud storage audits, making it highly relevant in real-world healthcare settings. Ultimately, TCSHAS contributes to improving trust and security in healthcare cloud storage auditing, ensuring responsible management of sensitive healthcare data.

China’s economic development has achieved great success in recent years, but the problems of energy scarcity and environmental pollution have become increasingly serious. To enhance the reliability and efficiency between energy, the environment and the economy, sustainable development is an inevitable choice. In the context of measuring sustainability efficiency, a network data envelopment analysis model is proposed to formulate the two-stage process of energy use and operations management. A double frontier is derived to optimize the available energy for sustainable development. Due to nonlinearity, previous linear methods are not directly applicable to identify the double frontier and calculate stage efficiencies for inefficient decision-making units. To address this problem, this study develops the primal-dual relationship between multiplicative and envelopment network models based on the Lagrange duality principle of parametric linear programming. The newly developed approach is used to evaluate the sustainability efficiency of 30 administrative regions in China. The results show that insufficient sustainability efficiency is a systemic problem. Different regions should take different measures to conserve energy and reduce pollutant emissions for sustainable development. To increase sustainability efficiency, regions should support energy-saving and emission-reducing technologies in production processes and strengthen their capacity for technological innovation. Compared with energy use efficiency, operations management efficiency in China has a wider range of changes. During the operations management stage, there is not much difference between the capacity and quantity of each region. Based on benchmark regions at the efficiency frontier, there is an opportunity to improve operations management in the near future. Blockchain technology can effectively improve energy allocation efficiency.

In the current landscape of medical data management, processing data across diverse institutions and maximizing their value are paramount. However, traditional methods lack a secure and efficient mechanism for end-to-end traceability and supervision, posing challenges in distributed scenarios lacking mutual trust. Leveraging blockchain’s decentralized, tamper-proof, and traceable features, this paper introduces a blockchain-based medical data management platform. This platform enables full-process management of raw data, operational behaviors, intermediate data, and final data, meeting the needs of trusted storage and supervision of data. We propose two methods, namely, naive method and DAG-based method, to realize forward tracking and backward tracing of medical data stored on the blockchain, respectively. We validated and analyzed the storage and query performance of the medical data management platform on real medical data, and we also conducted experimental analyses on the efficiency of the proposed traceability algorithm under different data scales and processing path lengths. The results demonstrate that our platform and traceability methods effectively meet the management needs of medical data distributed across institutions.

This study details the unique advantages and challenges associated with microreactors. Microreactors offer rapid installation and flexible application capabilities, meeting energy needs in remote and inaccessible areas. Unlike large nuclear power plants, they can be set up and start generating energy within a few days, resulting in significant time and cost savings. Their small size and modular design reduce capital and operational costs while enhancing economic competitiveness. However, some technical and regulatory challenges persist for the widespread adoption of microreactors. Licensing processes designed for large nuclear power plants may delay the widespread adoption of microreactors. Blockchain technology can play a crucial role in overcoming these challenges by providing transparency and reliability in the licensing processes. The operational settings of microreactors should be carefully considered, and regulatory authorities must be effectively designated. Collaboration and coordination are vital in this process. Consequently, the flexibility and innovative solutions offered by microreactors highlight the importance of future research to examine the optimal conditions for their use.

This study employs the Shanghai Environment and Energy Exchange as a case study to investigate the effects of blockchain technology applications on transaction prices within the carbon trading market. Utilizing an event study methodology, the research demonstrates that blockchain technology significantly enhances the transparency, security, and efficiency of the carbon market, thereby exerting a positive influence on transaction prices. Nonetheless, the study also identifies several challenges associated with blockchain applications, including increased costs, heightened energy consumption, transaction delays, and substantial learning costs. To mitigate these issues, the study proposes optimizing blockchain architecture, incorporating Layer 2 technologies to expedite transaction processes, and developing innovative regulatory frameworks.

Blockchain technology is expected to have a radical impact on most industries by boosting security, transparency, and efficiency. This work considers the potential benefits of blockchain-focused applications in industrial process monitoring. The research design facilitates a detailed bibliometric analysis and delivers insights into the intellectual structure of blockchain technology’s application in industry via scientometric approaches. The work also approaches numerous sources in various industrial sectors to identify the transformative role of blockchain in industrial processes. Aspects such as blockchain technology’s impact on industrial processes’ transparency are discussed, while the paper does not ignore that success stories in applying blockchain to industrial sectors are often exaggerated due to a highly competitive environment that the cryptocurrency domain has become. Finally, the work presents major research avenues and decision-making areas that should be tackled to maximize the disruptive potential of blockchain and create a secure, transparent, and inclusive future.

Blockchain-based battery tracking offers solutions to issues like information asymmetry, counterfeit battery risk, and technical barriers in assessing battery condition. This paper aims to identify the drivers behind manufacturers adopting blockchain for battery tracking and assess whether a mutually beneficial outcome exists. We develop a game model featuring two competing manufacturers, and extend it to include asymmetric competition and battery quality considerations. Equilibrium solutions reveal two main incentives for manufacturers to adopt blockchain: reverse profit compensation and enhancement of battery quality. Blockchain traceability facilitates retired battery recovery in a large-scale market, even when adoption costs outweigh reuse savings and collection prices are low. If one manufacturer implements blockchain, reducing blockchain costs or expanding the market can lead to a “win-win” outcome for competitors. Our findings offer novel managerial insights into manufacturers’ blockchain adoption decisions.

Effective management of recyclable plastic waste is critical for environmental sustainability and economic viability. Blockchain technology has transformative potential in addressing the challenges of plastic waste management. Currently, the inefficiency of plastic recycling systems results in low recycling rates and significant environmental impacts due to poor sorting, contamination, and limited technology application. However, innovations such as chemical recycling, solvent-based techniques, and biotechnology offer promising advances in the management of plastic waste. Blockchain technology provides a transparent, decentralized ledger that enhances traceability and incentives through smart contracts, decentralized applications (DApps), and digital watermarks. These blockchain solutions can improve waste tracking, automate payments, and reward participants who recycle responsibly. Although significant investment in technology and education is required, integrating blockchain with the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics could revolutionize plastic waste management by creating transparent, efficient, and collaborative recycling ecosystems. Blockchain technology has immense potential to redefine the management of plastic waste and promote a sustainable, circular economy.

Ensuring safe and transparent tracking of nuclear materials in the modern era is critical for global security and compliance with international regulations. Blockchain technology, a decentralized and immutable ledger, offers a new approach to recording transactions, increasing trust without intermediaries. In this study, it was investigated whether nuclear material tracking was performed with advanced technology blockchain from past to present; it was seen that there needed to be a study on this subject in the literature, and that there was a gap. Search results proving this are presented. The authors present a model that can enable nuclear material tracking with blockchain technology, which will create a solid structure for recording and verifying every process step in the nuclear supply chain, from the creation of the first product to destruction. This model discusses how nuclear materials, which are very important to track from the beginning until they become waste, can be tracked with blockchain technology, and the contributions they can make nationally and internationally are explained. As a result of the research, it is shown that blockchain technology has the potential to pave the way for more resilient and precise nuclear supply chains by significantly increasing the security and efficiency of nuclear material tracking.

This paper analyzes the current status of the engineering supervision process in construction and infrastructure projects in China. It discusses the existing problems, such as low efficiency of supervision, distorted monitoring data, resource waste, and environmental damage. Based on extensive literature research and combining the consensus mechanism, ECDSA encryption algorithm and so on, the paper proposes the idea of integrating blockchain technology with the engineering supervision process. This includes the decision of blockchain type, the use of digital signature technology to implement responsibility, and the construction of a hybrid blockchain system using the blockchain's consensus mechanism. The paper presents the general design, the design of the system structures, and the design of modules of the system. Through this system, project participants can verify their identities and share sensitive information confidentially, thereby improving the efficiency of supervision work and preventing data forgery, reducing resource waste, decreasing carbon emissions, and minimizing environmental damage.

Blockchain Technology has emerged as a key technology with wider applications across all industries. In Agriculture it has wider applications which can improve food traceability, safety and distribution. But there is a dearth of studies which explored the scientific literature associated with block chain, its application in Agriculture and its present status. The current study is an attempt to understand block chain and its emerging applications in Agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the process of continuous development of rural economy, big data management plays an important role. Rural economic data mainly include rural labor force, added value of agriculture, forestry, fishery and animal husbandry, agricultural product output and per capita net income. Using big data to manage economic data can not only integrate and analyze a large number of data, build an economic management analysis database, but also predict and warn related risks in time and provide reasonable and effective economic management suggestions, thus ensuring the smooth operation of the economy. However, there are some shortcomings in data reliability, data quality and data management efficiency in rural regional economic data management, which have a great impact on the long-term stable development of the economy. This paper makes a systematic analysis of rural regional economic data, uses the blockchain consensus mechanism to quickly manage and analyze different types of economy in rural areas, and improves the speed of economic data analysis through smart contracts. This paper makes a comparative analysis of rural regional economic data management before and after adopting blockchain technology. In view of this phenomenon, according to the development demand of data management, this paper uses blockchain technology to effectively analyze and study the big data management of rural regional economy, and makes a comparative analysis through the tests of data operation efficiency, data quality, data management security and sharing degree. The experimental data show that the efficiency of data operation is as high as 1100 times per minute after the combination of blockchain technology, and the minimum manual modification ratio of node data is 0.24. This shows that the data quality of technical means is guaranteed. The data leakage rate per hour is at least 66%, and the data sharing volume is maintained at about 8000 views/hour and 7000 references/hour. The improvement of quality and efficiency can ensure the effectiveness of data management and improve the speed of economic development in rural areas, thus promoting good economic development. This paper uses blockchain technology to manage rural economic data, which has certain reference value for rural economic development.

The chances of food contamination and spoilage get enhanced as it passes through various stages, and prudent consumers often need transparency on the origin of food products, their production and processing facilities utilized. Blockchain, an emerging digital technology, offers food traceability solutions to consumers and supply chain partners. But presently, blockchain adoption in Indian supply chains is in the nascent stages. The present study identified the challenges of adopting blockchain technology in Indian food supply chains and modelled them using Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM). As per the ISM, the ‘regulatory structure’ and ‘lack of realised need’ emerged as the most significant driving forces that impact other challenges, viz. ‘privacy breach issues’, ‘high costs’, ‘lack of skills’, ‘lack of technology’, ‘lack of trust’ and ‘lack of infrastructure’. These challenges have an impact on the ‘scalability problem’. The paper underlines the significance of enabling regulatory structure, improved information and communication technologies infrastructure, and convincing the supply chain stakeholders to use blockchain technology to resolve the underlying challenges and achieve its adoption and scalability in the Indian food industry.

Micro- Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are very significant for a country’s economy due to their contribution to manufacturing, sales and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. The global market competition and standards have been compelling MSMEs to improve quality, reduce waste, improve environmental performance and optimize the cost of products by implementing sustainable practices. The combined approach of lean and sustainable practices can help MSMEs to minimize emissions from waste and manufacture low-cost products with energy-efficient technology. However, MSMEs face many challenges while implementing lean and sustainability tools. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to identify the barriers which create obstruction in the implementation of lean-led sustainable manufacturing practices in Indian MSMEs and prioritize them by calculating their weights. The study also proposes a framework for the integration of blockchain technology in the supply chain to overcome the barriers for the implementation of lean and sustainable manufacturing practices. Extensive literature reviews and experts’ opinions have been used to identify the critical barriers for the implementation of lean-led sustainable manufacturing practices in manufacturing firms. A total of forty barriers were selected and further categorized under seven main categories of barriers. The main category barriers and subcategory barriers are ranked based on the weight obtained through Best Worst Method (BWM). The ranking results are further analysed to assess the reliability and robustness using sensitivity analysis. The study reveals that economic and managerial barriers, knowledge and awareness barriers and organizational barriers are the most prominent category of barriers for lean and sustainable manufacturing. The study found that ‘Lack of awareness among customers towards sustainability’, ‘initial capital investment and low financial profit’, ‘lack of knowledge about potential benefits from sustainable products and practices’ and ‘resistance to change due to past failure’ are the most critical barriers for implementation of lean-led sustainable practices in Indian MSMEs. The study has analysed the features of blockchain technology and their effect on the performance of lean-led sustainable supply chain. The findings of the study will help managers and practitioners in Indian MSMEs from certain perspectives to develop an effective and efficient strategy to overcome these barriers and become sustainable. Therefore, this study provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners.

This research, conducted throughout the years 2022 and 2023, examines the role of blockchain technology in optimizing Demand Response (DR) within Smart Grids (SGs). It critically assesses a range of blockchain architectures, evaluating their impact on enhancing DR’s efficiency, security, and consumer engagement. Concurrently, it addresses challenges like scalability, interoperability, and regulatory complexities inherent in merging blockchain with existing energy systems. By integrating theoretical and practical viewpoints, it reveals the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize Demand Response (DR). Findings affirm that integrating blockchain technology into SGs effectively enhances the efficiency and security of DR, and empirical data illustrate substantial improvements in both cases. Furthermore, key challenges include scalability and interoperability, and also identifying opportunities to enhance consumer engagement and foster system transparency in the adoption of blockchain within DR and SGs. Finally, this work emphasizes the necessity for further investigation to address development hurdles and enhance the effectiveness of blockchain technology in sustainable energy management in SGs.

This article presents a secure framework for remote healthcare monitoring in the context of home isolation, thereby addressing the concerns related to untrustworthy client connections to a hospital information system (HIS) within a secure network. Our proposed solution leverages a public blockchain network as a secure distributed database to buffer and transmit patient vital signs. The framework integrates an algorithm for the secure gathering and transmission of vital signs to the Ethereum network. Additionally, we introduce a publish/subscribe paradigm, thus enhancing security using the TLS channel to connect to the blockchain network. An analysis of the maintenance cost of the distributed database underscores the cost-effectiveness of our approach. In conclusion, our framework provides a highly secure and economical solution for remote healthcare monitoring in home isolation scenarios.

The construction industry, characterized by its intricate network of stakeholders and diverse workforce, grapples with the challenge of managing information effectively. This study delves into this issue, recognizing the universal importance of safeguarding data, particularly amid rising concerns around unauthorized access and breaches. Aiming to harness the potential of blockchain technology to address these challenges, this study used hypothetical biographical and safety data of construction workers securely stored on a Hyperledger Fabric blockchain. Developed within the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform, this blockchain infrastructure emerged as a robust solution for enhancing data security and privacy. Anchored in the core principles of data security, the model emerges as a potent defender against the vulnerabilities of traditional data management systems. Beyond its immediate implications, this study exemplifies the marriage of blockchain technology and the construction sector, and its potential for reshaping workforce management, especially in high-risk projects and optimizing risk assessment, resource allocation, and safety measures to mitigate work-related injuries. Practical validation through transaction testing using Hyperledger Explorer validates the model’s feasibility and operational effectiveness, thus serving as a blueprint for the industry’s data management. Ultimately, this research not only showcases the promise of blockchain technology in addressing construction data security challenges but also underscores its practical applicability through comprehensive testing, thus heralding a new era of data management that harmonizes security and efficiency for stakeholders’ benefit.

The energy blockchain is a platform based on blockchain technology, creating a secure, transparent, and decentralized system for peer-to-peer transactions and automated smart contracts. This platform has the ability to facilitate the exchange and management of energy resources, such as electricity or renewable energy certificates. Our research aims to clarify the growth trends of energy systems with blockchain technology throughout the world. The novelty of this study is to understand the main factor in energy blockchain patent granting using a patent decomposition analysis and log mean Divisia index analysis and discover the relative importance in the R&D shift from electricity to other technology. Additionally, the IPC for energy blockchain technology primarily focuses on configuring and managing energy systems, including electricity, gas, and water supply. We also present a comprehensive overview of how countries and companies engage with energy blockchain technology and find China leads with 59% of patents, followed by the U.S. with 20%, but their specific tech shares differ. Participants span beyond traditional energy sectors, including electric and electronic machinery, IT firms, transport manufacturers, startups, and universities dedicated to blockchain technology.

In the current period, the rapid advancement of digital technologies is leading to radical changes in the education sector. One of these shifts in education is the adoption of blockchain technology. Blockchain is a technology that allows digital information to be stored in a secure and immutable form. The use of blockchain in education has a wide potential and offers significant advantages, especially in areas such as verification of diplomas and certificates and management of student records. This technology offers a variety of benefits in key areas such as data security, accuracy, transparency and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology is an important tool in the armory of state-of-the-art innovations, in terms of both digital expansions and disruptions. With blockchain technology gaining momentum, different industries are emphasizing experimentation with it. Nowadays, organizations are emphasizing towards agile and leaner supply chains with end-to-end prominence via the incorporation of this latest technology, thereby boosting services across the world. The revolutionary features of blockchain technology are paving the way for greater opportunities for supply chain businesses. The technology has the potential to become a supply chain data utility and repository that offers benefits to all its users, such as unique market information that would be otherwise unavailable from any other source. This paper contemplates the need for blockchain technology in the supply chain and its contribution to enhancing the overall efficiency and demand planning processes of businesses. It discusses the latest market trends and factors driving the need for the incorporation of blockchain in the supply chain sector and the future scenario. Different use cases of the technology, market challenges in the implementation of the technology, and the solutions offered by different companies to address such problems have also been discussed.

Objective. The aim of the work is to determine the prospects for the development of digital financial instruments in the management of social and economic systems. Method. The comparative analysis of the results of an anonymous survey using interactive multi-user social networks was used as research methods in the work. Result. The factors and key parameters influencing the development of cryptocurrency mechanisms are revealed, the advantages and disadvantages of using digital tools are identified. Suggestions for the management of cryptocurrency instruments and recommendations for improving the reliability and development of digital instruments in the financial and digital environment are given. The results of the analysis of a survey of 1121 respondents on the topic of using cryptocurrencies are presented. The results of the study showed that the most commonly used cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin and Ethereum, with a significant proportion of respondents preferring digital activities such as mining and trading. At the same time, a significant number of respondents believe that the future development of digital financial instruments is directly dependent on the legitimization of cryptocurrencies by the state and improvement of blockchain technology. Conclusion. The development of cryptocurrencies cannot be assessed unambiguously. With the development of cryptocurrency instruments, a number of threats arise, which include significant volatility, the presence of legislative restrictions on their use, and the inability to withdraw operations. The further development of cryptocurrencies should be associated with the legal regulation of their distribution, both at the national and international levels, which will ensure the determination of their legal status among other monetary units. It is also necessary to carry out a phased introduction of cryptocurrencies into payment systems for cash settlements, which should be carried out on the basis of the organization of the official circulation of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.

This study topic is essential since it highlights the challenges facing the effective integration of blockchain technology and the necessary measures to improve their performance through knowledge management processes. The primary aim of this study was to develop a framework model for advancing the effectiveness of blockchain technology in the Middle East and the Gulf region. For this study, the researchers collected secondary data by conducting a deep systematic review of all the information found online on the topic. The researchers selected essential studies by integrating an inclusion and exclusion criteria. This research exclusively included articles released post-2019 to guarantee that they contained relevant information. In addition, studies had to be in English to ensure clarity for all the researchers involved. The authors collected the secondary data through the GovInfo.gov database as well as the Google Scholar search engine. After the comprehensive reviewing of all the relevant articles that fit the inclusion and exclusion criteria, fifteen articles were included in the research. Out of the fifteen, eight focused on the Middle East and the rest on the Gulf. Conclusion: The development of blockchain technology in the Middle East and the Gulf region has witnessed tremendous improvements over the years. Many sectors like healthcare and banking industries have dedicated efforts to applying the technology in their processes. However, the technology has faced numerous challenges that need immediate address to ensure the ultimate success of this technology. The concerned policymakers should research on the topic and develop appropriate policies that guarantee the effectiveness of the technology.

The field of electronic government (e-government) is gaining prominence in contemporary society, as it has a significant influence on the wider populace within the context of a technologically advanced world. E-government makes use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) at various levels and domains within government agencies and the public sector. ICT reduces manual labour, potential fraud points, errors, and process lapses. The Internet’s quick accessibility and the widespread adoption of modern technologies and disciplines, such as big data, the Internet of Things, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, have accelerated the need for e-government. However, these developments raise a number of data reliability and precision concerns. The adoption of blockchain technology by researchers demonstrates its efficacy in addressing such issues. The present study proposes the SECHash system model, which integrates blockchain and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technologies for the purpose of regulating the processing of incoming documents by governmental agencies. As a case study to assess the proposed system paradigm, the study uses a document containing incoming invoices. The proposal seeks to maintain the integrity of document data by prohibiting its modification after acceptance. Additionally, SECHash guarantees that accepted documents will not be destroyed or lost. The analysis demonstrates that using the SECHash model system will decrease fraudulent transactions by eradicating manual labour and storing documents on a blockchain network.

Healthcare data are considered sensitive and confidential, and storing these sensitive data in traditional (i.e., centralized) databases may expose risks, such as penetration or data leaks. Furthermore, patients may have incomplete health records since they visit various healthcare centers and leave their data scattered in different places. One solution to resolve these problems and permit patients to own their records is a decentralized personal health record (PHR); this can be achieved through decentralization and distribution systems, which are fundamental attributes of blockchain technology. Additionally, the requirements for this solution should be identified to provide practical solutions for stakeholders. This study aims to identify the key requirements for PHRs. A design science methodology was utilized to meet the study objectives, and thirteen healthcare experts were interviewed to elicit the requirements and the previous studies. Thirty-three requirements are defined, and based on these, high- and low-level architectures are developed and explained. The result illustrates that the developed solution-based Hyperledger Fabric framework is a promising method for the achievement of PHRs that guarantee security aspects, such as integrity, confidentiality, privacy, traceability, and access control.

Investors are gearing up to invest their money into wide range of cryptocurrency choices. However, investors are still somewhat hesitant about the adoption of this virtual currency. Therefore, there is a strong need to find out the reasons by identifying the factors that affect the investors' perceptions towards adoption decisions for investing in cryptocurrencies. New constructs have been identified that will provide value and utility for users of cryptocurrencies. The factors proposed in the model have the greatest influence on the behavioral intention of the investors. Findings highlighted the concerns regarding trust, risk factors, ease of use, and supportive technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]