Living with air-conditioning: experiences in Dubai, Chongqing and London

Extreme heat is a likely consequence of global warming, leading to increased mortality and reduced wellbeing. There is limited research evidence of experiences of living with and without air-conditioning (AC), commonly regarded as the sole technological solution, but such knowledge is essential to progressing alternative approaches. A total of 72 participants were interviewed in an exploratory cross-cultural phenomenological study in Dubai (United Arab Emirates—UAE), Chongqing (China) and London (UK). In Dubai and Chongqing, AC was ubiquitous and central to life in the hotter months, although not for all socio-economic groups. AC enabled indoor work to proceed, but a restricted indoor life meant less exercise, less social interaction and health issues. Participants had over-adapted, not to heat but to cold indoor temperatures, which were uncomfortable for many. In London, AC was not yet used, but the purchase of AC was being contemplated. The London participants showed a range of behavioural adaptations to heat. To reduce dependence on AC, regulations and behaviour change interventions regarding AC settings should focus on acclimatisation to heat. Changes in societal patterns, such as workhours, and behavioural adaptations, such as informed use of shading, can help mitigate heat. Deconstruction of the meanings of AC-related thermal comfort is needed to incorporate physiological, behavioural and social responses

Security Risk Assessment of Blockchain-Based Patient Health Record Systems

Blockchain technology is receiving greater attention for enhancing the security of patient records systems; however, it is not a panacea, as many security risks have been found in these healthcare applications. This study conducts a state-of-the-art analysis of emerging risks in blockchain-based patient health record systems, their severity level, impact, and the corresponding countermeasures against them. In addition, we conclude our observations and indicate how blockchain security vulnerabilities may develop in the future. This study aims to promote more research on blockchain security challenges by offering researchers insights into future security and privacy developments in blockchain-based patient health record systems

Reimaging Public-Private Partnership Model as Hybrid: South Africa Viewpoint

As significant increases in the financing of infrastructure and other resources will still be required to bridge the current infrastructure gap experienced globally, alternatives to the standard PPP infrastructure project delivery models are constantly appraised in several nations. This research examined the viability of reframing Public Private Partnership (PPP) frameworks as hybrid PPP alliances (HPPPA), which would enhance current PPP practices and enable practitioners in South Africa to deliver PPP infrastructure projects more efficiently. The research adopted a two-pronged qualitative data collection approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews as well as case studies to obtain empirical evidence that was compared to secondary data on how PPP practices in South Africa can be enhanced. The research established that while the South African PPP legislations was adjudged as being suitable, the delivery framework was found to be highly costly and comprised of long approval processes. </jats:p

Self-Organizing Networks in Complex Infrastructure Projects

While significant importance is given to establishing formal organizational and contractual hierarchies, existing project management techniques neglect the management of self-organizing networks in large-infrastructure projects. We offer a case-specific illustration of self-organization using network theory as an investigative lens. The findings have shown that these networks exhibit a high degree of sparseness, short path lengths, and clustering in dense “functional” communities around highly connected actors, thus demonstrating the small-world topology observed in diverse real-world self-organized networks. The study underlines the need for these non-contractual functions and roles to be identified and sponsored, allowing the self-organizing network the space and capacity to evolve

Intrapreneurial personality and individual innovation behaviour in service organisations: Network building ability as a mediator

The research investigates network building ability as a mediating mechanism of influence in the relationship between intrapreneurial personality and three stages of employees’ innovative behaviours: idea generation, promotion, and realisation. A quantitative research methodology was adopted with 410 questionnaires collected from employees in the UAE service sector and subsequently analysed using structural equation modelling. The research found a significant direct relationship between intrapreneurial personality and the idea realisation stage and no direct relationship between idea generation and idea promotion. In addition, network building ability was found to mediate these relationships, underlining the importance of building networks for intrapreneurial employees to innovate. These results across the three main stages of individuals’ innovative behaviours may enrich our teachable skills to improve individuals’ innovative behaviour

How Can Blockchain Technology Be Used to Manage the COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Chain? A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Directions

To ensure the success of the COVID-19 vaccination program, vaccine supply networks must become more efficient, secure, and dependable. This paper provides a systematic literature review of current academic work on blockchain-based COVID-19 supply chain management (CVSCM), addressing the role of blockchain in CVSCM and its challenges. The paper\u27s objectives are to comprehensively analyze the literature on blockchain solutions in the CVSCM and propose a future research agenda based on gaps in the present literature. The systematic literature review involved 34 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications published between 2019 and 2022. Using a thematic analysis, we observed that the public blockchain is the most often-used blockchain platform for constructing the CVSCM frameworks. The supply chain data privacy and security are major driving factors. Blockchain technology significantly affects CVSCM by allowing for distributed transaction execution and verification. Blockchain technology enables traceability, digitalization, disintermediation of the supply chain, and enhanced data privacy. However, several challenges were identified, including privacy worries, excessive energy consumption, latency, transactional throughput, and scalability. Our results provide the groundwork for future research aimed at increasing technical integration in blockchain supply chain solutions, cross-chain interoperability, and scalability, the feasibility of commercial applications in real-world industrial settings, data security, and privacy. Future research might also closely monitor emerging technologies in CVSCM, such as edge computing, virtual reality, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and blockchain advancements, and provide more impartial support to the many research potentials discussed