【Abstract】Smart logistics and supply chain play can determine the success or failure of any business. The cost, time, and carbon footprint are critical elements to be considered. Smart logistics solely consume 53% of the company's income and produce up to 10% of its carbon footprint. Moreover, the time consumed in transportation and supply chains from the resource acquisition to the client contributes to the business profit. Enhancing smart logistics systems by selecting the optimal route is a hard problem even for today's supercomputers. On the other hand, Quantum-based processing and Quantum algorithms are proved to solve convoluted computation to attain a heuristic system swiftly compared with classical processing methods. Notably, Quantum approximate optimization algorithm (QAOA), as a variational Quantum algorithm for approximately solving discrete combinatorial optimization problems can be deployed into the smart logistics dilemma to improve the scalability of the system, decrease the time, thus reducing the carbon footprint and smart manufacturing system cost. Moreover, blockchain, as a secure distributed ledger, is capable of bringing the desired security to the smart logistic system. To this end, we propose an improved QAOA based on blockchain technology to improve the scalability and reduce the cost of smart logistics.
【Abstract】To successfully introduce blockchain-enabled booking platforms in the tourism and hospitality industry, providers need to understand their target audiences. We present the results of a survey of 505 US consumers who, in a simulated hotel booking scenario for a leisure trip, picked between traditional Online Travel Agencies (OTA) and a blockchain-enabled booking app with varying degrees of services, discounts, and brand recognition. We find that blockchain-enabled booking apps that meet the following three conditions could attract up to half of the market: (1) offer discounts over OTAs, (2) provide services which go beyond mere booking, and (3) have well-known brand names. In a series of three nested logistic regressions, we investigate the impact of demographic, psychographic, and service-related traveler characteristics. We find that early adopters of blockchain-enabled hotel booking platforms will be young and highly educated. Potential cost savings over OTAs will also attract travelers with lower incomes and from larger households. Other traveler characteristics that facilitate adoption include a high preparedness to take risks, high IT innovativeness, prior familiarity with blockchain technology, and, mediated through IT innovativeness, a high Generalized Sense of Power. Male travelers are more likely than female travelers to be early adopters due to their higher familiarity with blockchain technology.
【Abstract】This paper introduces new methods to study behaviours among the 52 largest cryptocurrencies between 01-01-2019 and 30-06-2021. First, we explore evolutionary correlation behaviours and apply a recently proposed turning point algorithm to identify regimes in market correlation. Next, we inspect the relationship between collective dynamics and the cryptocurrency market size-revealing an inverse relationship between the size of the market and the strength of collective dynamics. We then explore the time-varying consistency of the relationships between cryptocurrencies' size and their returns and volatility. There, we demonstrate that there is greater consistency between size and volatility than size and returns. Finally, we study the spread of volatility behaviours across the market changing with time by examining the structure of Wasserstein distances between probability density functions of rolling volatility. We demonstrate a new phenomenon of increased uniformity in volatility during market crashes, which we term volatility dispersion.
【Abstract】Because of the risks existing in supply chain finance, taking accounts receivable factoring business as the research object, this paper uses the evolutionary game method to analyzes the factors affecting the decision-making of the participants in supply chain finance, constructs an evolutionary game model between small and medium-sized enterprises and financial institutions, and analyzes the mechanism of blockchain to solve the financial risks of the supply chain by comparing the changes of evolutionary stability strategies before and after the introduction of blockchain technology. This paper aims to reduce financing risks by analyzing the mechanism of blockchain technology in supply chain finance. It is found that, firstly, blockchain technology can reduce the credit risk of financial institutions and solve financing problem. Credit risk plays a decisive role in whether financial institutions accept financing business decisions. Blockchain technology can reduce the operational risk of financial institutions and improve the business income of financial institutions. Secondly, the strict regulatory environment formed by blockchain technology makes the default behavior of small and medium-sized enterprises and core enterprises in a high-risk state at all times. No matter the profit distribution proportion that small and medium-sized enterprises can obtain through collusion, they will not choose to default, which effectively solves the paradox that small and medium-sized enterprises cannot obtain loans from financial institutions despite the increased probability of compliance. Then, the evolutionary game between financial institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises is balanced in that financial institutions accept business applications, small and medium-sized enterprises abide by the contract, and the convergence effect is better. Therefore, blockchain technology not only reduces the financing risk of financial institutions but also helps to solve the financing problems of small and medium-sized enterprises.
【Abstract】Supply Chain Finance (SCF) faces the complex problem of implementing inventory, purchase order and accounts receivable financing automation in terms of transaction data trust and validation. This paper aims to explore how blockchain technology adoption solves the SCF problem using a multi-case method based on the Technological Acceptance Model (TAM). With purposive sampling, 30 cases were selected on the criteria of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use in solving SCF problems. The results show that trust, validity and distributed ledger transaction data as perceived usefulness are the main drivers of blockchain adoption because it provides solutions to SCF automation problems such as Know Your Customer (KYC), accounting, and transaction settlement. Smart contracts offer easy and fast transactions such as in L/C export processing as perceived ease to use. Of the 30 blockchain projects, 21 offer the usefulness of automated accounts receivable financing, 15 offer easy-to-use purchase order financing and 8 offer easy-to-use inventory financing processes. This study provides the current state of blockchain technology adoption by exploring 30 real application cases in SCF globally. Blockchain advantages provide automation solutions in global supply SCF practices with smart contracts, transparency and security of distributed ledger data feature.
【Abstract】In future years, airline companies will be leaning more and more towards cryptocurrencies to implement their digital marketing strategies as leaders seek to gain an understanding of the factors affecting airlines' visibility parameters. Cryptocurrency investment websites are currently experiencing rising demand, making them an appropriate site for paid advertisements. The above factors suggest the need for airlines to harvest cryptocurrency investment and platform users in their favour. To this end, it can be beneficial for airlines' web promotions to link certain web analytics metrics to cryptocurrency trading site metrics. For research purposes, web analytics data were monitored and gathered for 2 consecutive years from 10 globally leading cryptocurrency trading companies and 10 airline websites. A three-stage model was adopted by the authors. In the first stage, statistical analysis was implemented using cryptocurrency and airline metrics, followed by fuzzy cognitive mapping and agent-based modelling stages. The findings of the study indicate that engagement with cryptocurrency trading websites has a positive impact on airline websites' global ranking and visibility parameters. The outcomes of this research provide noteworthy digital marketing strategies which can be addressed by airline companies to increase their website visitors and optimise visibility parameters with the assistance of cryptocurrency trading websites.
【Abstract】Bitcoin, a decentralized cryptocurrency, has not only given rise to a wave of digital innovations but also stirred up considerable controversy. Some have hailed it as the most significant innovation since the Internet, while others have dismissed it as a Ponzi scheme that should be abandoned and forbidden. Regardless of these varying views, this is an innovation in need of scrutiny. In this paper we present a metastory of Bitcoin, based on an interpretative study of 737 news articles between 2011-2019. Through our analysis, we identified five narratives, including The Dark Side, The Bright Side, The Tulip Mania, The Idea, and The Normality. Our analysis demonstrates the interpretive flexibility of technology as influenced by ideologies, and we construct a theoretical model demonstrating media's role as constructor and conduit. The metastory provides an institutional look at the broader interpretations of digital innovations as well as the multifaceted nature of digital innovations and how their interpretation evolve over time.
【Abstract】This study investigates the social representation of Blockchain from the perspective of professionals in Brazil, herein considered as a proxy for emerging markets, and then compares the results found with the existing academic literature on the concept of Blockchain. To do that, the social representation theory was applied, operationalized through the words evocation technique. Security, bitcoin and decentralization were the categories located in the central nucleus of the social representation of Blockchain, while innovation, data, network, cryptocurrency, and technology were the categories located in the peripheral system. Based on the results obtained, there was a perceived strong association of Blockchain with bitcoin, one of its applications, and a dissonance between the existing academic literature and the perception of Brazilian professionals about the concept of Blockchain, as the latter is a privilege of the technical and operational issues of Blockchain to the detriment of its strategic potential. This dissonance can cause Blockchain initiatives to have results below expectations. Finally, Brazilian professionals did not realize the potential for inclusion of Blockchain in an emerging market such as Brazil and did not notice the need and relevance of a specific legal governance for Blockchain, an issue also forgotten by academia.
【Abstract】One of the strategic objectives of the European Union is a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and improvement of energy efficiency by at least 32.5% in different areas of the economy by 2030. However, little is known about the impact of payment in retail on energy consumption. The purpose of this paper is to assess the chain of losses of time and energy, and therefore financial losses, that occur due to the imperfection of payment infrastructure and instruments using data of cashiers' working time. The research is based on a regression analysis method, where the energy cost per payment transaction is considered in this study as a function of the number of customers per hour and the energy cost. The results of the panel models highlight that the number of customers per hour has a negative impact on the cost of energy per payment transaction. Furthermore, modern means and methods of payment, including cryptocurrencies, do not solve the problem of the excessive time that it takes to service payments, which entails a waste of energy and money. The empirical results give valuable insights into how to best organise payment in retail to achieve lower energy costs and improve energy efficiency in payment infrastructure.
【Abstract】Global economic growth, demographic explosion, digitization, increased mobility, and greater demand for heating and cooling due to climate change in different world areas are the main drivers for the surge in energy demand. The increase in energy demand is the basis of economic challenges for power companies alongside several socio-economic problems in communities, such as energy poverty, defined as the insufficient coverage of energy needs, especially in the residential sector. Two main strategies are considered to meet this increased demand. The first strategy focuses on new sustainable and eco-friendly modes of power generation, such as renewable energy resources and distributed energy resources. The second strategy is demand-side oriented rather than the supply side. Demand-side management, demand response (DR), and energy efficiency (EE) programs fall under this category. On the other hand, the decentralization and digitization of the energy sector convoyed by the emersion of new technologies such as blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), opened the door to new solutions for the energy demand dilemma. Among these technologies, blockchain has proved itself as a decentralized trading platform between untrusted peers without the involvement of a trusted third party. This newly introduced Peer-to-Peer (P2P) trading model can be used to create a new demand load control model. In this article, the concept of an energy cap and trade demand-side management (DSM) model is introduced and simulated. The introduced DSM model is based on the concept of capping consumers' monthly energy consumption and rewarding consumers who do not exceed this cap with energy tradeable credits that can be traded using blockchain-based Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy trading. A model based on 200 households is used to simulate the proposed DSM model and prove that this model can be beneficial to both energy companies and consumers.
【Abstract】Federated learning is widely used in the context of wireless networks to protect sensitive user data. However, centralized federated learning encounters some issues when applied to the Social Internet of Vehicles, specifically low communication efficiency and high computational cost. In order to alleviate communication bottlenecks and protect vehicle user data privacy, we herein propose the Conditional Choice Probability-Federated Deep Learning algorithm based on user trust chain. This algorithm introduces inter-user trust elements to characterize the vehicle connection network from a vehicle-user relationship perspective. It computes the node conditional choice trust probability based on the single-way trust atomic chain and circular chain of user nodes. Local model interactions are then performed to complete the decentralized federated deep learning framework. Experiments are conducted to verify the robustness of the proposed algorithm's conditional choice probability estimation and confirm that decentralized federated deep learning is effective.
【Abstract】The concept of blockchain was introduced as the Bitcoin cryptocurrency in a 2008 whitepaper by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto. Blockchain has applications in many domains, such as healthcare, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data management. Data management is defined as obtaining, processing, safeguarding, and storing information about an organization to aid with making better business decisions for the firm. The collected information is often shared across organizations without the consent of the individuals who provided the information. As a result, the information must be protected from unauthorized access or exploitation. Therefore, organizations must ensure that their systems are transparent to build user confidence. This paper introduces the architectural design and development of a blockchain-based system for private data management, discusses the proof-of-concept prototype using Hyperledger Fabric, and presents evaluation results of the proposed system using Hyperledger Caliper. The proposed solution can be used in any application domain where managing the privacy of user data is important, such as in health care systems.
【Abstract】We consider the performance of cryptocurrencies in the light of fundamental asset pricing and portfolio theory. We observe how a traditional focus on reducing asset return volatility with Markowitz diversification misses the significance of such volatility for growth. The recognition that asset growth is more likely subject to exponential or continuously compounding growth characteristics reveals that asset volatility can be exploited both across assets and across investment periods to deliver superior returns.
【Abstract】E-commerce platforms have made our life easier and bought plenty of advantages too. However, due to fraud and scams, trust is a concern while buying products online. In this study, we proposed a blockchain-based architecture for the e-commerce sector where data mining technology is used to detect fraudulent users by generating precise and effective rules, and smart contracts are used for enforcement and functionality management within the blockchain network. Our data mining approach yielded a competitive accuracy, precision, recall, and f1-measure of over 99% compared to the state-of-the-art. High performing rules are further tested for ten simulated cycles under completely unseen data to test their rigidity in a real-time scenario. Details analysis of delineation (if any) in rule antecedents has also been analyzed for these cycles. Tested and selected rules are stored in smart contracts deployed within blockchain network for security and immutability. For ensuring strict order criteria maintenance, better return policy, authentic review and scam avoidance, two smart contracts have been written which implement seller reputation mechanism and authentic review maintenance while safeguarding the seller from intentional defaming too. Altogether, the goal of this study is to establish a balance between all the parties within an e-commerce platform so that everyone's right is protected, money is safe and resources are not exploited.
【Abstract】This article develops a conceptual taxonomy of five emerging digital citizenship regimes: (i) the globalised and generalisable regime called pandemic citizenship that clarifies how post-COVID-19 datafication processes have amplified the emergence of four intertwined, non-mutually exclusive, and non-generalisable new techno-politicalised and city-regionalised digital citizenship regimes in certain European nation-states' urban areas; (ii) algorithmic citizenship, which is driven by blockchain and has allowed the implementation of an e-Residency programme in Tallinn; (iii) liquid citizenship, driven by dataism - the deterministic ideology of Big Data - and contested through claims for digital rights in Barcelona and Amsterdam; (iv) metropolitan citizenship, as revindicated in reaction to Brexit and reshuffled through data co-operatives in Cardiff; and (v) stateless citizenship, driven by devolution and reinvigorated through data sovereignty in Barcelona, Glasgow, and Bilbao. This article challenges the existing interpretation of how these emerging digital citizenship regimes together are ubiquitously rescaling the associated spaces/practices of European nation-states.
【Abstract】In today's big data era, the number of daily data visits on the platform is an incalculable number, which poses a challenge for users' data security. This article aims to study the decentralized blockchain technology, take advantage of the immutable advantages of the blockchain and integrate it into the digital media sharing platform, so as to achieve the optimization and improvement of the algorithm. This paper proposes an algorithm optimization plan for building a digital media sharing platform, adding a user data security backstage on the platform side, combining blockchain technology to design data security maintenance algorithms, and setting relevant parameters to maximize the immutability of data and ensure user data security. The experimental results of this article show that blockchain technology can be fully applied to digital media sharing platforms, and data security can be increased to more than 90%.
【Abstract】Food safety plays an essential role in our daily lives, and it becomes serious with the development of worldwide trade. To tackle the food safety issues, many advanced technologies have been developed to monitor the process of the food industry (FI) to ensure food safety, including the process of food production, processing, transporting, storage, and retailing. These technologies are often referred to as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and blockchain, which have been widely applied in many research areas. In this review, we introduce these technologies and their applications in the food safety domain. Firstly, basic concepts of these technologies are presented. Then, applications for food safety from a data perspective based on these technologies are analyzed. Finally, future challenges of the applications of AI, big data, and blockchain are discussed.
