A structured framework to assess the business application landscape of blockchain technologies.

Blockchain is emerging as a game changing technology in many industries. Although it is increasingly capturing the business community’s attention, a comprehensive overview of commercially available applications is lacking to date. This paper aims to fill this gap. Firstly, we propose a structured approach to assess the application landscape of blockchain technologies. To build our framework, we relied on largely accepted classifications of blockchains, based on protocols, consensus mechanisms and ownership, as well as on the most cited application areas emerging from the literature. Secondly, we applied the framework on a database of 460 released blockchains. The analysis confirms a dominance of applications for cryptocurrencies, financial transactions and certification purposes, with a prevalence of permissionless platforms. We also found new application fields that go far beyond the seven initial areas addressed by the current body of knowledge, leading to some interesting takeaways for both practitioners and IS researchers

The Proliferation of End Users as a Success Metric for Cryptocurrencies

Over the last decade, numerous studies have examined the remarkable appreciation of cryptocurrencies and have typically focused on their price and the factors that predict them. In contrast, this paper argues that the success of a cryptocurrency is determined not only by its monetary value but also by the proliferation of its end users. Specifically, we hypothesize that changes in developers’ and miners’ activities drive the growing proliferation of a cryptocurrency’s end users. Building on the Bitcoin case, we use a time-series model based on 4,285 Bitcoin daily observations to suggest that changes in the number of end users are anticipated by surges or drops in activity by the developers and miners who develop and maintain the network. We further find a limited relationship between these variables and the price of Bitcoin. These results support an alternative view of cryptocurrencies’ success and highlight further research avenues in this nascent domain

Towards a Comprehensive Blockchain Architecture Continuum.

The increasingly need for companies to keep a high level of synchronization globally and the advent of new technologies are pushing more and more to move decision-making and operational power from the centre of organizations to their edges. The blockchain could be the key technology to make this change possible. However, there is no bridge yet capable of shortening the still long distance between this new technological phenomenon and today\u27s business realities. Our work aims precisely at this goal; we propose a framework of blockchain models to help practitioners understanding and potentially implement new solutions based on this technological paradigm. In particular, we have developed an ontology that helps to identify and clarify in detail what are the concepts and structures revolving around this technology, and built a continuum of blockchain architectural solutions, ranging from a classic centralized IT architecture to one completely distributed within a public ecosystem

The Impact of Layer 2 Technologies on the Adoption and Security of Blockchain

Numerous studies have raised concerns over the limited scalability of blockchain technologies and, in particular, Bitcoin. Layer 2 technologies have emerged as an advanced array of complementary innovations designed to solve this problem. Despite the growing optimism around layer 2 technologies, however, there is little evidence to show how they impact blockchain’s long-term success. This paper argues that the use and expansion of layer 2 technologies have a positive impact on the adoption and security levels of the underlying blockchain systems. Building on the Bitcoin and Lightning Network case, we use a time-series model based on 1,494 daily observations to demonstrate that the growing activity on the Lightning Network precipitates increased use and better security for Bitcoin. These results highlight the importance of layer 2 technologies for blockchain systems and suggest several further research avenues in this nascent domain of inquiry

Beyond a Blockchain Paradox: How Intermediaries Can Leverage a Disintermediation Technology

New digital technologies are changing the way organizations create and capture value. In particular, blockchain is bringing up opportunities for organizations in terms of transparency and security, and at the same time threatening the position of intermediaries such as banks and notaries. Therefore, intermediaries need to design new business models to generate value from blockchain. Little academic re-search has been conducted to identify the business models that intermediaries could exploit to leverage a disintermediation technology such as blockchain. Employing a qualitative research based on focus group and interviews, this study highlights how a specific intermediary, the Italian notaries, tried to design appropriate business models to derive value from blockchain ecosystems. Specifically, drawing on the key concepts of value configuration, value creation and business model dimensions, this paper identifies three different business models that Italian notaries can implement to create and capture value from permissionless blockchain ecosystems

When Standard Is Not Enough: a Conceptualization of AI Systems’ Customization and its Antecedents

The centrality of information systems (IS) customization to match companies’ needs with software systems available in the market has been researched extensively. The distinctive characteristics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems compared to other types of IS suggest that customization needs a new conceptualization in this context. We draw on evidence from expert interviews to conceptualize customization of AI systems as composed of four layers: data, models, algorithms, infrastructures. We identify a continuum of levels of customization, from no to complete customization. Since companies customize AI systems in response to business needs, we develop a theoretical model with six antecedents of AI systems’ customization choices. In so doing, we contribute to both AI management research, by introducing the IS customization perspective in the field, and IS customization literature, by introducing AI systems as a novel class of systems and enlarging the understanding of customization for a specific class of software systems

Understanding the Role of Leadership Competencies in Cyber Crisis Management: A Case Study

The amount and severity of cyber-attacks has been constantly increasing in recent years, and the number of cyber-related organizational crises grew accordingly. Despite the relevance of the topic, the literature on the subject is still limited, especially from a non-technical point of view. In the context of leadership, traditional crisis management literature identified specific competencies that organizations can leverage to mitigate the effects of a crisis, but there is a research gap as to whether or not these capabilities make sense in a cyber crisis context. This study aims to bridge this gap by analyzing the case of Norsk Hydro – a Norwegian company that in 2019 fell victim of a disruptive ransomware attack – through the lenses of a traditional crisis leadership model

Digital Twins for Health: Opportunities, Barriers and a Path Forward

The concept of precision medicine involves tailoring medical interventions to each patient’s specific needs, considering factors such as their genetic makeup, lifestyle, environment and response to therapies. The emergence of digital twin (DT) technology is anticipated to enable such customization. The healthcare field is, thus, increasingly exploring the use of digital twins (DTs), benefiting from successful proof of concept demonstrated in various industries. If their full potential is realized, DTs have the capability to revolutionize connected care and reshape the management of lifestyle, health, wellness and chronic diseases in the future. However, the realization of DTs’ full potential in healthcare is currently impeded by technical, regulatory and ethical challenges. In this chapter, we map the current applications of DTs in healthcare, with a primary focus on precision medicine. We also explore their potential applications in clinical trial design and hospital operations. We identify the key enablers of DTs in healthcare and discuss the opportunities and barriers that foster or hinder their larger and faster diffusion. By providing a comprehensive view of the current landscape, opportunities and challenges, we aim to contribute to DTs’ ongoing development and help policymakers facilitate the growth of DTs’ application in healthcare

Fatores associados a mortalidade de pacientes traumatizados: um estudo caso-controle

Introdução: As lesões traumáticas são atualmente a terceira causa de mortalidade no mundo, gerando impacto na morbimortalidade, principalmente na população economicamente ativa. Objetivo: Avaliar os fatores de risco para óbito no trauma em um hospital escola de nível terciário. Métodos: Realizou-se estudo caso-controle retrospectivo, por meio da análise de prontuários eletrônicos e fichas de avaliação inicial de pacientes atendidos em um hospital escola de nível terciário da cidade de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brasil, em 2015. Os 21 pacientes que morreram, compuseram os casos, enquanto 613, que sobreviveram ao evento traumático, o grupo controle. Esses grupos foram comparados, considerando variáveis gerais, dados sobre o evento traumático, atendimento pré-hospitalar, avaliação hospitalar inicial e desfecho da internação. Resultados: Os fatores de risco para mortalidade, por evento traumático identificados pelo estudo, foram: idade superior a 30 anos, traumas por agressão física, tempo de internação do paciente superior a 72 horas, perda de consciência no momento do evento traumático, presença no atendimento inicial do traumatizado de hipotensão arterial (pressão sistólica abaixo de 108,7 mmHg), escore da escala de coma de Glasgow inferior ou igual a 9 e revised trauma score (RTS) inferior a 5,7. Conclusão: Os fatores de risco que determinam maior probabilidade de óbito, após um traumatismo são causados por agressão física ao paciente com idade superior a 30 anos, com perda de consciência após o evento, hipotensão arterial, escore da Escala de Coma de Glasgow e RTS baixos no atendimento inicial, além de tempo de internação prolongado. Dessa forma, apesar de protocolos cada vez mais consolidados de atendimento ao politraumatizado, ainda há limitações em propiciar uma melhor sobrevida para os pacientes com pior prognóstico

In-beam spectroscopy of 215Rn86

The yrast level structure of 215Rn has been studied by means of in-beam spectroscopy α-γ-γ coincidence techniques through the 207Pb(18O,2α2n) reaction at 93 MeV bombarding energy, using the 8π GASP-ISIS spectrometer at Legnaro. New spectroscopic information has been obtained. The deduced low-lying level scheme of 215Rn does not exhibit the alternating parity structure observed in the heavier known isotones 216Fr, 217Ra, 218Ac, and 219Th. From this result, the lightest nucleus showing evidence for octupole collectivity is 216Fr, defining the lowest-mass corner for this kind of phenomenon as N≥129 and Z≥87.Fil: Debray, M. E.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Davidson, Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Davidson, Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Kreiner, Andres Juan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Cardona, Maria Angelica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Hojman, Daniel Leonardo. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Napoli, D. R.. No especifíca;Fil: Lenzi, S.. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: De Angelis, G.. No especifíca;Fil: De Poli, M.. No especifíca;Fil: Gadea, A.. No especifíca;Fil: Bazzacco, D.. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Rossi Alvarez, C.. Università di Padova; ItaliaFil: Medina, N.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Ur, C. A.. Università di Padova; Itali