Search

This randomized pilot trial investigated the feasibility of an active learning physical activity intervention through video conferencing and its preliminary effects. Participants comprised community-dwelling older adults who could use e-mail. The intervention group underwent a 12-week active learning intervention via video conferencing to promote a healthy lifestyle, particularly physical activity. The control group received information via e-mail once per week. The amount of physical activity and sedentary behavior was measured using an accelerometer at baseline, postintervention, and 24-week postintervention (36 weeks). Of the 31 participants, 29 were eligible and randomized into two groups (15 for the intervention and 14 for the control). Adherence to the intervention was 83%–100% (mean, 97%). Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed moderate maintenance effects on total physical activity and sedentary behavior at 36 weeks. Active learning physical activity intervention through video conferencing was found to be feasible and contributed to the prevention of physical activity decline in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motivation of the present study is to complement the extant literature by assessing the relevance of governance and information technology in how African trade affects female labour force participation. The study focuses on 48 African countries using data for the period 1996–2021. An adopted empirical strategy is the fixed effects regressions that are designed to address concerns for simultaneity and the unobserved heterogeneity. The fractional probit model based on the pooled Bernoulli quasi-maximum likelihood method is also employed. The following main findings are established. First, governance moderates intra-African trade to engender positive synergies on female labour force participation. The positive synergies are apparent from the overall quality of institutions, government effectiveness and the rule of law. Second, information technology does not significantly moderate intra-African trade to affect female labour force participation. The established findings from fixed effects regressions are robust to fractional probit model estimations. The findings are relevant in informing policy makers on how governance can be used to moderate the influence of African trade in promoting female labour force participation. Policy implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The recent global trend is the convergence of information and communications technology (ICT). By applying ICT in various fields such as the humanities, new types of products and services are created, and new values that help people's lives can be created. AI can be selected as a representative technology in such convergence ICT. However, applying AI technology to actual production requires ensuring data security. Federated learning (FL) can achieve secure sharing of data, where all parties participate in model training locally and upload it to the server for aggregation. The data never leaves the parties involved, thus solving the problems of data privacy and data silos. However, FL faces issues such as high communication cost, imbalanced performance distribution among participants, and low privacy protection. To achieve a balance between model accuracy, communication cost, fairness, and privacy, this paper proposes a multi‐objective optimization‐based FL algorithm (M‐FedAvg). The multi‐objective optimization problem of maximising the accuracy of the global model, minimising the communication cost, minimising the variance of the accuracy, and minimising the privacy budget is solved by NSGA‐III. The experimental results show that the algorithm proposed can effectively reduce the communication cost of FL and achieve privacy protection for participants without affecting the accuracy of the global model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel category of asymmetric boron chromophores with the attachment of two BF2 moieties denoted as BOPAM has been successfully synthesized via a one‐pot three‐step reaction starting from N‐phenylbenzothioamide. This synthetic route results in the production of [a] and [b]benzo‐fused BOPAMs along with post‐functionalization of the [a]benzo‐fused BOPAMs. The photophysical properties of these compounds have been systematically investigated through steady‐state absorption and fluorescence emission measurements in solvents at both ambient and cryogenic temperatures, as well as in the solid state. Computational methods have been employed to elucidate the emissive characteristics of the benzo‐fused BOPAMs, revealing distinctive photophysical attributes, including solvent‐dependent fluorescence intensity. Remarkably, certain BOPAM derivatives exhibit noteworthy photophysical phenomena, such as the induction of off‐on fluorescence emission under specific solvent conditions and the manifestation of intermolecular charge transfer states in solid‐state matrices. Through post‐functionalization strategies involving the introduction of electron‐donating groups onto the [a]benzo‐fused BOPAM scaffold, an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) pathway is activated, leading to substantial fluorescence quenching via non‐radiative decay processes. Notably, one [a]benzo‐fused BOPAM variant exhibits a pronounced fluorescence enhancement upon exposure to acidic conditions, thereby underscoring its potential utility in pH‐sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This quasi-experimental study investigated the efficacy of technology integration to multigrade learners. Poor numeracy and literacy have been a problem for multigrade learners. Having multiple grade levels present in the classroom, managing a multigrade setting can be challenging. For this purpose, 22 Grade 1 to Grade 3 multigrade students of New Malinao Elementary School were selected as the subjects of the study. This paper found out that there is a significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores in numeracy of the control group multigrade learners with p = .001 which is lesser than .05 level of significance and implies that there is improvement of the numeracy of the control group after employing the traditional method of teaching. Furthermore, there is a significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores in literacy of the experimental group of multigrade learners with p = .003 which is lesser than .05 level of significance and implies that there is improvement in the literacy of the experimental group of multigrade learners after the intervention of technology. This study recommended teachers should receive ICT usage training and the assistance they require to work well in a multigrade setting. Teachers must possess the necessary knowledge and abilities to use technology to change the way they teach and generate new learning possibilities if they are to be digitally connected and guarantee ICT integration in the teaching and learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to understand the processes that occur until the adoption of information technology resources yields the expected results. In particular, a value chain perspective is integrated with this relationship to investigate how the characteristics of each business activity result in distinct outcomes, thereby providing specific evidence for the management of information technology resources. The study also examines the moderating role of organisational restructuring in the relationship between information technology resources and firm performance. This study takes a third way to look at this relationship, assuming that both impacts can be observed, depending on the usage level. By doing so, this study may provide some clues for the mechanisms behind assimilating technology into organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Professional Business Review (JPBReview) is the property of Open Access Publications LLC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study explores digital competence education by looking into how discourse in a typical digital competence framework for educators may or may not promote democracy in the way it features information and communication technology (ICT). The authors examined the Norwegian Professional Digital Competence Framework for Teachers, which is aligned with similar frameworks from all over the world and therefore offers insight into international discourse about ICT. They performed a critical discourse study (sociocognitive approach) to uncover inherent knowledge and assumptions about ICT. Findings show an adaptive approach to this technology, which is conveyed as a 'tool', 'arena for participation', '(communication) channel' and 'changing force'. Thus, there is a focus on participation in politics ON the internet. Politics OF the internet and ICT, however, is not mentioned, which indicates that the technology is naturalised and thereby kept away from democratic debate. This suggests a risk of democratic deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread adoption of mobile phones (MPs) presents the possibility of creating employment and self‐employment opportunities. Although several studies have documented the impact of MPs on income, the link between MP ownership and poverty reduction channeled by income diversification has not been fully explored. This paper aims to examine this relationship using nationally representative panel data and fixed effect models to account for confounding factors and unobserved heterogeneity. Results indicate that MP ownership is associated with increased income diversification, particularly through on‐farm and off‐farm self‐employment, as well as non‐earned income. This relationship is more pronounced in households with lower levels of education and deprived areas. In addition, owning a MP is also found to decrease poverty via income diversification. Therefore, policies aimed at enhancing access to mobile technologies could create a resilient income portfolio by decreasing transaction costs and improving market efficiency, ultimately mitigating poverty in rural regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The detection of brain tumours presents a significant challenge in the medical domain, where prompt and precise diagnosis is crucial as patient outcomes depend on it. Conventional deep neural networks perform well in carrying out various imaging tasks within the healthcare sector; however, their effectiveness often falls short of expectations in practical applications due to the substantial computational resources required and issues with reliability. In this research, an optimised and effective deep learning model founded on the DenseNet‐169 architecture is introduced for the classification of magnetic resonance imaging brain tumours, which is particularly advantageous for smart healthcare systems and information and communication technology (ICT) settings with limited computational capabilities. The model compression methodologies, including pruning and quantization, have been employed to significantly diminish the dimensions and intricacy of the model while achieving a classification accuracy of 97.07%. Furthermore, this endeavour necessitates the enhancement of the model's interpretability through the utilisation of explainable artificial intelligence methodologies such as Gradient‐weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad‐CAM) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), which will aid clinicians in highlighting crucial areas of the images and validating feature importance concerning the decisions rendered by the model. A comparative performance evaluation is conducted against DenseNet‐169, ResNet‐50 and various other models to delineate the superior efficacy of our model, rendering it exceptionally adept for knowledge‐driven, real‐time brain tumour diagnosis within smart healthcare and ICT systems where resources are constrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the influence of schools' general characteristics, and their information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities on students' computational thinking. The computational thinking achievements of 31,823 students who participated in a large-scale comparative study in 1412 schools and across nine countries/regions were analyzed using supervised machine learning. Five classification rules were triangulated to determine how 22 schools' general characteristics and their ICT capabilities predicted students' computational thinking achievements. Data analysis showed no predictive relationship between schools' ICT capabilities and computational thinking. However, some classification rules predicted higher computational thinking achievement for students from affluent schools. The discussion amplifies the need for proper incorporation of ICT in schools with recommendations for more research on the nuanced relationship between schools' characteristics and computational thinking development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of the abrupt transition to emergency remote learning (ERT), specifically focusing on teachers' cognitive resources and technological resources both before and during ERT. The sample comprised 1,071 teachers: before ERT (53.0%), during ERT (47.0%). Five questionnaires were administered. Results indicated that teachers surveyed during ERT, compared to their counterparts surveyed before ERT, exhibited significantly elevated attitudes toward information and communication technology (ICT), increased usage of the online environment for teaching and use of computers for communication. Additionally, the degree of readiness for educational change significantly contributed to the teachers' changed attitudes toward ICT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As economies increasingly rely on digitalization, information and communication technologies (ICT) have become critical in shaping global economic transformations. This study explores the impact of ICT on export concentration and diversification in emerging markets and developing countries. Using a panel data set of 110 countries from 2000 to 2019, the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator has been employed to assess the short- and long-term effects of ICT on these economies. To summarize information on various ICT channels, an ICT index has been constructed through principal component analysis (PCA). Additionally, the study examines the combined influence of ICT and human capital on export concentration. Findings indicate that ICT development significantly accelerates export diversification in developing countries, aligning their export structures with global standards. The interaction between ICT and human capital positively impacts export concentration, suggesting that higher levels of human capital enhance ICT's effects. Overall, ICT not only boosts human capital but also equips developing countries with the skills needed to enter new markets, develop high-value products, and compete globally. Consequently, governments in developing countries should prioritize investments in ICT infrastructure to lower trade costs, diversify exports, and promote sustainable economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of the knowledge society, due mainly to the ubiquity and access of information and communication technology (ICT), places a professional demand on teachers to acquire relevant knowledge to make use of technology in their classrooms. Thus, for teachers to effectively integrate ICT into their teaching repertoire, they must transform their pedagogical practices. In this regard, the quality of pre-service and in-service training is pivotal in preparing teachers for effective technology integration. Utilising a case study approach and Activity Theory principles as a theoretical lens, this study set out to explore the influence of ICT as a tool of instruction on the classroom practice of in-service teachers in Rwanda. Qualitative methods were employed to capture data through interviews, observations, and document analysis. Data was analysed using content analysis to understand in-service teachers' constructions about learning through ICT and how it influenced their classroom practice. The investigation of the influence of ICT as an instructional tool to in-service teachers yielded unique patterns of their ICT learning-teaching experiences. The findings were two-fold. First, the ICT learning experiences of the in-service teachers changed their perspective towards teaching and learning with ICT in their own classrooms. Second, the teacher participants vicariously mirrored their lecturers' use of ICT in their own classroom practice. This unintended experience created affordances for the in-service teacher trainees to not only learn 'about' ICT, but significantly 'how to teach' pedagogically with ICT. It is crucial for teacher trainees to experience the same type of learning environments they are expected to create in their own classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization appears as a lever to enhance agriculture sustainability. However, existing works on digital agriculture's own sustainability remain scarce, disregarding the environmental effects of deploying digital devices on a large scale. We propose a bottom‐up method to estimate the carbon footprint of digital agriculture scenarios considering deployment of devices over a diversity of farm sizes. It is applied to two use‐cases and demonstrates that digital agriculture encompasses a diversity of devices with heterogeneous carbon footprints and that more complex devices yield higher footprints not always compensated by better performances or scaling gains. By emphasizing the necessity of considering the multiplicity of devices, and the territorial distribution of farm sizes when modeling digital agriculture deployments, this study highlights the need for further exploration of the first‐order effects of digital technologies in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitization has carved out the migration patterns of immigrants over the recent years of increased technological interventions in human mobility. Migration infrastructures, which typically refer to the physical, commercial, humanitarian, and governmental modes of operation, are multidimensional in nature. Digital infrastructures are equally important to the physical ones as digital technologies facilitate these migration processes through agents like hardware, software, and mediating actors. Amongst the multiple forms of migration, the concept of return-writing and nostalgia-struck-returnees encompass individuals whose life trajectories run parallel to the homeland. The narrative of return to the homeland emerges aβs a dominant motif in literature due to the rising trends of globalization, the writers' reflection on their own migrant experiences, and publishing trends meeting the demand of the global book market. The objective is to assess the role of digital migration infrastructures in return migrations to India through a close reading of the selected texts and review of postcolonial literary theories by using conditional operation in Python. The study here explores the varied nuances of return migration with a primary focus on the external conditions of travel in migration literature. The paper aims to analyze the genre of return-writing in Indian English literature, through three novels over a period of two decades, i.e., from 2000-2023. The selected texts, beginning with Amit Chaudhuri's A New World (2000), Gun Island (2019) by Amitav Ghosh, and Devika Rege's novel Quarterlife (2023), offer a panoramic view of return migration. These novels are extensive in the time period of technological interventions and in depiction of return migration. The Python code examines the extent of existence of a set of digital migration infrastructure keywords by analyzing the content of the novels and creates bar plots and charts to offer a visual representation of the classification results. The resulting trend traces the increased intervention of Digital Migration Infrastructure in the recent migration literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the Higher Institute of Technological Studies of Jendouba (HITSJ) before the COVID-19 pandemic and after the action plan followed to ensure the online educational support of students during the period of confinement. The objectives are to (1) emphasize the use of Distance Learning (DL) before the pandemic in the HITS of Jendouba using the statistics produced by the E-learning correspondent (ELC) of the establishment; (2) the action plan of the Virtual University of Tunis (VUT) during the confinement period, including the role of the online education department in the action plan, the role of the ELC in the plan of action, teacher training and the pedagogical scenario adopted; (3) newly acquired pedagogical and technical skills, teaching staff pedagogical skills and technical skills; (4) educational support during the confinement period, the deployment of study plans on the Moodle platform iset.uvt.tn, the adaptation of group timetables and the synchronization of videoconference sessions; (5) an empirical study of pedagogical support, measurement of the Commitment of the teaching staff, measurement of the registration of students on the platform and in the courses, measurement of the success rate of distance education in the transmission of knowledge and learning, measurement of feasibility according to the departments, measurement of the impact of teacher training in remote education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of adequate educommunicative training often results in the problematic use of ICT by adolescents, leading to various issues such as anxiety, depression, isolation, and the deterioration of intra- and interpersonal relationships, language impoverishment, and even aggression. In relation to the latter, the significant increase in child-to-parent violence in recent years is noteworthy, emerging as a concerning problem in multiple countries. Therefore, this study conducts a systematic review based on the PRISMA method to identify the most suitable instruments for assessing potential inappropriate use of ICT in adolescents and the child-to-parent violence stemming from it. The databases employed include Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, WorldCat, PubMed, PubPsych, and Dialnet, yielding a total of 224 instruments. Of these, fifteen scales were analyzed based on their characteristics and psychometric properties. After applying exclusion criteria, the ERA-RSI scale, the UPNT Questionnaire, and the CPV-Q-P were chosen. The complementarity of these three instruments allows for an exploration of the issue’s current state and provides a holistic perspective that facilitates the design of appropriate educommunicative training benefiting all stakeholders and establishes measures to prevent both the inappropriate use of ICT and manifestations of child-to-parent violence arising from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) significantly impacts communicative, social, and behavioral skills, especially in children with Level 3 ASD. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems can help address these challenges. Aided augmented input emerges as an AAC strategy that enhances expression and comprehension through visual and verbal inputs from the communicator. Additionally, the development of information and communication technologies (ICT) has enabled their educational and therapeutic use to support individuals with ASD, providing versatile and accessible tools that facilitate learning, interaction, and skill development. This study aims to analyze the effects of combining aided augmented input with a multimodal ICT support called EC+, compared to ARASAAC paper-based resources, on communicative, social, and behavioral skills. A quasi-experimental design was employed to compare the effects of both resources, including two groups of 6 children each, all with Level 3 ASD. The results showed significant improvements with both resources, but the ICT support proved more effective in the areas of communication and behavior. It is concluded that EC+ offers a more interactive and effective approach to enhancing the overall development of children with ASD, complementing paper-based resources in a valuable and innovative way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting spatial intelligence and intuition in secondary school is critical for future architecture and engineering professionals to develop their skills. Secondary schools, based mainly on digital tools, work in this direction. However, given the performance of undergraduate students, there is still room for improvement in acquiring this skill. The main drawbacks identified in developing spatial intelligence using digital tools are the need for more development of spatial vision and its lack of correlation with the physical environment. This work aims to present the experience, and results obtained in the 4º ESO+EMPRESA program of the Community of Madrid to promote spatial intelligence. The experience used a workshop methodology to relate digital and classic spatial didactics, thus interpreting the built and urban space. This activity had a favorable development among secondary school students, in which students with architecture degrees also collaborated. The results obtained in the workshop highlight that secondary school students could correlate digital and classical media to understand the relationship between urban wandering and architectural design. The workshop results confirm that using mixed spatial methods is fundamental to achieving adequate spatial development where digital tools must complement classical ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent pandemic forced the virtualization of educational processes around the world, which caused a series of problems in the quality of teaching due to the improvisation of its execution. The reappearance of the metaverse as a new social scenario has opened new possibilities to overcome the problems inherited by education during a pandemic. Therefore, the present study aims to review the literature on the emerging concept of “metaversity” through a systematic review. A methodology was developed following the PRISMA statement in the WoS, Scopus and Scielo databases. Twenty research studies were selected that were closest to the proposed concept of metaversity, where their main characteristics and scope are identified. The results show that, although there are no experiences that unify all possible areas to be developed in a virtualized university, there are fundamental advances in specific sectors. Educational benefits of the implementation of metaversity for students are identified, such as the improvement of cognitive skills and personalization of learning. The potential of metaversity to transform higher education is evidenced by offering not only the implementation of immersive learning but also a new center of virtual social interaction within the university campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For about a decade, telecommunication network operators (TNOs) have explored the potential greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions their customers can achieve by using TNO services (e.g., by substituting physical travel with video conferencing), the so‐called GHG enablement. Some TNOs also calculate a GHG enablement factor, which is the ratio between the GHG enablement and their own GHG footprint. Since GHG enablements usually exceed the footprint, they create the narrative that TNOs contribute to GHG reductions across society. In this paper, we systematically analyze TNO GHG enablement claims and the underlying methodological approaches. We find several methodological shortcomings and inconsistencies, such as different sets of TNO services considered, inconsistent system boundaries, potential double counting of GHG reductions, and a disregard for rebound effects. Most importantly, TNO assessments focus exclusively on those services likely to yield GHG reductions, neglecting possible GHG‐increasing services. We conclude that current GHG enablement (factors) do not accurately and comprehensively represent TNOs' overall GHG impacts and create a flawed picture. To provide a reliable decision basis to stakeholders such as TNOs themselves, customers, investors, and policymakers, we provide eight recommendations on how to substantially improve the methodological basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enteric protozoan parasites Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. are common cause of diarrhea in pet dogs and cats, affecting primarily young animals. This comparative study evaluates the diagnostic performance of conventional and molecular methods for the detection of G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. infection in dogs and cats. The compared diagnostic assays included merthiolate-iodine-formalin (MIF) method, lateral flow immunochromatography rapid test (ICT) and real-time PCR; using direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) as golden standard. The study included the analysis of 328 fecal samples from different dog (n = 225) and cat (n = 103) populations. According to DFA, the overall prevalence of G. duodenalis was 24.4% (80/328, 95% CI: 19.8–29.4), varying from 11.6% (12/103, 95% CI: 6.2–19.5) in cats to 30.2% (68/225, 95% CI: 24.3–36.7) in dogs. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was 4.0% (13/328, 95% CI: 2.1–6.7), varying from 2.9% (3/103, 95% CI: 0.6–8.3) in cats to 4.4% (10/225, 95% CI: 2.1–8.0) in dogs. MIF was only used for the detection of G. duodenalis, which was identified by this method in 22.7% of dogs and 7.8% of cats, respectively. DFA was the most sensitive technique for detecting G. duodenalis in samples from dogs and cats (p-value: < 0.001), followed by real-time PCR. Identification of Cryptosporidium infections was most effectively accomplished by the combination of DFA and PCR technique (p-value: < 0.001). In addition, epidemiological (sex, age, origin) and clinical (fecal consistency) variables were collected to assess their potential associations with an increased likelihood of infection by G. duodenalis and/or Cryptosporidium spp. Breeder dogs were more likely to harbor G. duodenalis infection (p-value: 0.004), whereas female cats were significantly more infected with Cryptosporidium (p-value: 0.003). In conclusion, DFA (alone or in combination with PCR) has been identified as the most accurate and cost-effective method for detecting G. duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in fecal samples from pet dogs and cats. This highlights their importance in both veterinary and clinical settings for enabling prompt treatment and preventing potential transmission to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing agricultural productivity in developing countries is crucial for attaining the sustainable development goal 2.4 by 2030 through integrating information and communication technology (ICT) and renewable energy. Thus, this study investigates the role of ICT, renewable energy, and agricultural credit in enhancing agricultural productivity in developing countries from 2000 to 2021. This study has used the 'Driscoll-Kraay and the Method of Moments Quantile Regression' for robust empirical analysis. The estimated results indicate that renewable energy, ICT, and agricultural credit can enhance agricultural productivity in developing countries. The robustness analysis, however, indicates that the moderation effects of the interaction of ICT with renewable energy and agricultural credit with ICT and renewable energy have a weak and insignificant effect on agricultural productivity over the increasing quantiles. From a policy viewpoint, it is suggested that coherent and effective policies be implemented to encourage the advancement of formal credit institutions to bridge the gap between farmers and lending institutions offering flexible lending options to farmers. Thus, this helps farmers to access and deploy modern technologies and renewable energy in the agricultural field, which ensures sustainable agricultural practices to foster agricultural productivity while enriching environmental quality in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past several decades, the world has been putting strong emphasis on the role of environmental technology innovation which can reduce environmental degradation and promote sustainable development. This research sheds light on the impact of green technology or eco innovation on sustainable development for China. Additionally, the effects of other variables such as governance, information and communication technology, trade uncertainty and urban population are also analysed. The study employs Fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and Canonical Cointegration Regression (CCR) as the long run tests and Breitung and Candelon Spectral Granger-Causality as the time varying granger causality test. The results suggest that green innovation promotes sustainable development in the long run. The roles of governance quality and urbanization are also found to be positive while the role of ICT is found to be insignificant yet negative. The role of trade uncertainty is positive yet insignificant. Based on these results, the study calls for the private and public organizations and industries to invest in eco innovation. Different incentives from the government can also encourage private industries to invest in green innovation technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imperfect information is a major obstacle for agricultural businesses in developing countries. The resulting information asymmetry increases transaction costs and affects the behavior of market stakeholders. In Benin, market gardeners' participation is limited by geographical isolation and poor communication and transport infrastructures. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) now offer a fast and less costly means of accessing and disseminating information for more active market participation. The aim of this article is to measure the contribution of ICTs to market participation by testing whether they improve participation. Using a recursive bivariate probit model, our results indicate that market gardeners who use ICT to access information have a higher frequency of market participation than those who do not. Cell phones, radios, and televisions lead to a 35.3%, 25.6% and 8% higher probability of market participation respectively than those who don't use them. These results suggest that a platform for disseminating knowledge via ICT could be set up to increase market participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper applies a scoping review of k = 16 empirical studies from nine countries and three continents that aim at an empirical investigation of teachers' ICT integration in lesson plans as part of their professional competence. We summarise the results into four sections: conceptualisations, study design, measurement instruments, and key findings of studies. Although most studies predominantly relate their conceptualisations on the TPACK model, they go beyond in addressing ICT integration in lesson plans as a skill, using various measurement instruments. We therefore link key findings of studies to the teacher competence discourse, highlighting ICT integration in lesson plans as a situation-specific skill of teachers, being predicted by teacher knowledge and beliefs and predicting observable teacher performance in class. Moreover, intervention studies inform about the change of ICT integration in lesson plans effected by learning opportunities both in initial teacher education and in teacher professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization and the widespread adoption of novel Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has transformed almost all aspects of society. Remote working, e-commerce and remote services have had a major impact on the lives of individuals, and they increasingly enable individuals to choose their place of residence regardless of geographical constraints. These trends also have a considerable impact on urban spatial structure and regional development. This study examines and compares the probability and desirability of how residents and decision-makers perceive the development trends influenced by ICT and digitalization in shrinking cities and regions. Based on the results the perceptions of residents and decision-makers regarding the desirability of analysed future scenarios are quite well in line, but there exists significant differences regarding the probability of these trends. The results and methodology provide valuable insights for policymakers and other decision-makers to make informed and more participatory decisions regarding future regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, pedagogical design and practice have undergone a forced transformation that has brought many innovative methods and tools to the implementation process. The transition to online education has demanded new infrastructural solutions that have temporarily replaced traditional classroom practices. Most teachers seem to have adapted well to these new challenges. Learning support platforms and online teaching elements had to be harnessed by teachers who, in many cases, acquired this knowledge on their own, in awareness of their importance. Our study examines the need for digital learning support elements in primary schools of the German national minority in Hungary. Our research tools comprised an online questionnaire survey conducted in 2022. The goal of our study was to identify the problems that teachers faced in the transition to online teaching during the period of distance learning introduced due to the COVID pandemic in 2020 and since; the forms of support teachers received nationwide; and the measure of success in their work as language teachers. We also looked at the factors that influenced the digital elements being used. Finally, we examined whether teachers are still willing to use online learning support tools when returning to face-to-face teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital education transformation introduced a new source of stress for higher education teachers (HETs). Research has studied the effects of technostress, or technology-induced stress, focusing on its harmful consequences (techno-distress). Recent literature further suggests that technostress can also benefit individuals and organizations (techno-eustress), contributing to wellbeing, effectiveness, and performance. However, techno-eustress measurements are scarce. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Techno-eustress Scale for HETs. The scale was translated, adapted, and tested in a nationwide sample of 1,107 Portuguese HETs. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used. Results led to a brief 5-item Portuguese version of the techno-eustress scale, exhibiting a onedimensional structure and robust psychometric qualities, evidencing reliability, construct validity, and strict measurement invariance. The study provided a parsimonious techno-eustress assessment that assists future research and practice. Our work extended technostress research and crosses scientific domains such as education, psychology, information systems, and management. This brief measurement underpins positive organizational studies as it opposes the eternalization of techno(di)stress measurements, in a technology-based era when wellbeing, notably for HETs, is a precious asset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of wireless and mobile technologies in developing countries, the availability of low-cost, miniaturized wireless sensors, as well as the cost-efficient services provided by new hardware infrastructures have enabled new healthcare services, or new levels of quality and cost-efficiency in established ones. One crucial aspect of Healthcare 4.0 is the concept of P4 in Medicine: predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory. This approach, based on a comprehensive understanding of each patient biology, opposite to clustering patients into treatment groups, is being applied to reduce global health budgets by minimizing unnecessary use of drugs and procedures. These innovations come from the broad set of ICTs, and among them, the pillars of HC4.0 for their importance: IoT, Cloud Computing, and Big Data. Health 4.0 is used to improve the efficiency of physicians by enabling them to optimize resources and data availability. The future of health management will become timesaving and personalized as new technologies will empower individuals to conduct their health monitoring by using cyber–physical systems. Thanks to IoT, Cloud and Fog, as well as Big Data, researchers are allowed to design novel solutions, which are able to efficiently and effectively renew consolidated healthcare practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Caucasian countries has begun to have an impact on the service sector. ICT has made many firms in the service sector more competitive and innovative, enabling them to achieve high productivity at a low cost. These effects of ICT in the service sector can lead to economic growth and development in Caucasian countries. This study examines the impact of information and communication technologies on service exports in Caucasian countries. The time period covering 2003-2022 is analyzed using time series. Given the differences in internet infrastructure, internet access, and internet availability across each country, a distinct ICT indicator is utilized for each country. The empirical findings reveal that fixed telephony contributes to service exports in Azerbaijan, service exports are influenced by individual internet usage rates in Georgia, and mobile telephony plays a role in service exports in Armenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do automation-induced changes in labour and capital income undermine public revenues? Decomposing taxes by source (labour, capital, sales), we analyse the impact of automation on tax revenues and the structure of taxation in nineteen EU countries during 1995–2016. Before 2008 robot diffusion was associated with a decline in total tax revenues and taxes from capital, along with decreasing labour and capital income and output. After 2007, the negative effects diminish. Information and Communication Technologies show a weak negative but persistent effect on total tax revenues and taxes on goods for the full period, and an increase in capital income. Overall, the impact of automation on production and taxation varies over time. Whether automation erodes taxation depends on the technology and stage of diffusion. Concerns about public budgets appear myopic when focusing on the short run and ignoring relevant technological trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of financial innovation and women's entrepreneurship practices in the relationship between ICT adoption and women's business performance. The sample consisted of 210 women SMEs, selected from a database from the Office of Cooperatives and SMEs in West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The findings showed that financial innovation mediates the relationship between ICT adoption and SMEs' business performance. However, the study did not find that women's entrepreneurship practices and SMEs' business performance mediate the relationship between ICT adoption and SMEs' business performance. The findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the mediating role in the relationships between financial innovation and women's entrepreneurial practices, thereby facilitating the integration of ICT with the business performance of SMEs. Additionally, the findings have significant implications for policymakers seeking to design an effective support system for the digitalization of SMEs' businesses, especially among Indonesian women-owned SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to determine whether or not there are significant improvements with respect to the use of didactic materials in the learning by competencies (conceptual, procedural and attitudinal) of statistical topics in postgraduate students. The study used a quantitative, correlational and descriptive approach with a quasi-experimental design and a deductive hypothetical methodology. The sample consisted of 58 postgraduate students of the Enrique Guzmán y Valle National University of Education who were segregated into two groups: control and experimental. The survey technique was applied and a questionnaire validated by experts was used as an instrument for data collection. Finally, the results obtained were subjected to the normality test to select the appropriate statistical method, thus determining that the most appropriate test for the study is the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test which shows that there is a significant improvement with respect to the use of digital didactic material in the learning of postgraduate students with the method of competencies (conceptual, procedural and attitudinal). The conclusion is that learning with digital didactic materials in the area of statistics should be implemented to improve academic quality in all areas for postgraduate and undergraduate students in order to obtain better academic results. The implications are immediate for the postgraduate students since they improved their academic performance and they will be able to perform the multiplier effect in some educational center since many of them are university teachers of different universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers are the crux of every developing mind of newly blooming pupils in the education institutes and it is a universal factor in the learning process of every nature or aspect of study. Nowadays, the use of innovative technologies has become an essential practice in learning and teaching systems of every subject including art studies which indicates the constant incorporation of technology in instructional communication and reflects an advancement in the teaching process. Quantitative research design was implemented to assess the cause-and-effect relationship among variables. Primary data was collected through the survey strategy and a close-ended questions comprised questionnaire was designed. The researcher disbursed 350 questionnaires and finalized 331 questionnaires for the data analysis. The study encountered significant results for all synthesized associations except for the mediating role of ability beliefs. The present result hold numerous theoretical and practical implications. This study extends the growing body of literature regarding technology integration practices through the professional development, ICT knowledge and technical assistance. However, the study also provides practical implications as beneficial insights can be provided through which professional development can be fostered through technology integration practices. Research limitations and future indications have also been explained to increase the generalizability of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effect of information and communication technology (ICT) usage on economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a focus on how education levels modulate this relationship. Covering data from 2000 to 2020 and employing a panel ARDL model for analysis, this research finds that, while ICT is prevalent across MENA, its impact on economic growth is negative. Furthermore, it reveals that education plays a crucial role in determining ICT's effectiveness on economic growth. However, the positive impact of education is overshadowed by the adverse effects of brain drain, which negates the potential benefits ICT could have on the economy. This study highlights the importance for MENA policymakers to address the brain drain issue to enhance the positive impact of ICT on economic growth, suggesting the need for strategies that leverage both ICT and education to effectively foster economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)