scholarly journals E-VOTING SYSTEMS USING BLOCKCHAIN: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTION

2021 ◽  
pp. 413-423
Author(s):  
Dhiraj Amrutkar ◽  
Gaurav Dongare ◽  
Sayog Sonune ◽  
Archana Y. Chaudhari
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Information Storage ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Voting Systems ◽  
Storage Mechanism ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Secure Information ◽  
Wide Range

One of the most important discoveries and creative developments that is playing a vital role in the professional world today is blockchain technology. A blockchain is a distributed, digitized and consensus-based secure information storage mechanism. Blockchain technology moves in the direction of persistent revolution and change. In the last couple of years, the upsurge in blockchain technology has obliged scholars and specialists to scrutinize new ways to apply blockchain technology with a wide range of domains. The dramatic increase in blockchain technology has provided many new application opportunities, including e-voting application. The present article provides a systematic review of emerging blockchain-based e-voting systems. In this paper, we call attention to the open research matters in this fast-growing field, explaining them in some details. It was concluded that frameworks needed enhancements in order to be used in voting systems due to these reservations. KEYWORDS: blockchain, e-voting, cloud computing, ethereum; ballot

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Challenges and Opportunities of Blockchain for E-Voting

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruhi Taş ◽  
Ömer Özgür Tanrıöver
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Information Storage ◽  
Voting Systems ◽  
Storage Mechanism ◽  
Scientific Databases ◽  
Secure Information ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Election Systems ◽  
Remote Participation

A blockchain is a distributed, digitized and consensus-based secure information storage mechanism. The present article provides an overview of blockchain based e-voting systems. The primary purpose of this review is to study the up-to-date state of blockchain-based voting research along with associated possible challenges while aiming to forecast future directions. The methodology applied in the review is a systematic review approach. Following an introduction to the basic structure and features of the blockchain in relation to e-voting, we provide a conceptual description of the desired blockchain-based e-voting application. Symmetrical and asymmetrical cryptography improvements play a key role in developing blockchain systems. We have extracted and reviewed 63 research papers from scientific databases that have advised the adoption of the blockchain framework to voting systems. These articles indicate that blockchain-supported voting systems may provide different solutions than traditional e-voting. We classified the main prevailing issues into the five following categories: general, integrity, coin-based, privacy and consensus. As a result of this research, it was determined that blockchain systems can provide solutions to certain problems that prevail in current election systems. On the other hand, privacy protection and transaction speed are most frequently emphasized problems in blockchain applications. Security of remote participation and scalability should be improved for sustainable blockchain based e-voting. It was concluded that frameworks needed enhancements in order to be used in voting systems due to these reservations.

scholarly journals Blockchain Technology in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Review and Directions for Future Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyednima Khezr ◽  
Md Moniruzzaman ◽  
Abdulsalam Yassine ◽  
Rachid Benlamri
Keyword(s):  
Vital Role ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Healthcare Industry ◽  
Healthcare Applications ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Open Research ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Healthcare Technologies ◽  
A Chain

One of the most important discoveries and creative developments that is playing a vital role in the professional world today is blockchain technology. Blockchain technology moves in the direction of persistent revolution and change. It is a chain of blocks that covers information and maintains trust between individuals no matter how far they are. In the last couple of years, the upsurge in blockchain technology has obliged scholars and specialists to scrutinize new ways to apply blockchain technology with a wide range of domains. The dramatic increase in blockchain technology has provided many new application opportunities, including healthcare applications. This survey provides a comprehensive review of emerging blockchain-based healthcare technologies and related applications. In this inquiry, we call attention to the open research matters in this fast-growing field, explaining them in some details. We also show the potential of blockchain technology in revolutionizing healthcare industry.

scholarly journals Flow and Particle Modelling of Dry Powder Inhalers: Methodologies, Recent Development and Emerging Applications

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 189
Author(s):  
Zhanying Zheng ◽  
Sharon Shui Yee Leung ◽  
Raghvendra Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Dry Powder Inhaler ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Particle Methods ◽  
Future Research ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Dry Powder ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Discrete Element Methods

Dry powder inhaler (DPI) is a device used to deliver a drug in dry powder form to the lungs. A wide range of DPI products is currently available, with the choice of DPI device largely depending on the dose, dosing frequency and powder properties of formulations. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), together with various particle motion modelling tools, such as discrete particle methods (DPM) and discrete element methods (DEM), have been increasingly used to optimise DPI design by revealing the details of flow patterns, particle trajectories, de-agglomerations and depositions within the device and the delivery paths. This review article focuses on the development of the modelling methodologies of flow and particle behaviours in DPI devices and their applications to device design in several emerging fields. Various modelling methods, including the most recent multi-scale approaches, are covered and the latest simulation studies of different devices are summarised and critically assessed. The potential and effectiveness of the modelling tools in optimising designs of emerging DPI devices are specifically discussed, such as those with the features of high-dose, pediatric patient compatibility and independency of patients’ inhalation manoeuvres. Lastly, we summarise the challenges that remain to be addressed in DPI-related fluid and particle modelling and provide our thoughts on future research direction in this field.

The Application of the Blockchain Technology in Voting Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Jun Huang ◽  
Debiao He ◽  
Mohammad S. Obaidat ◽  
Pandi Vijayakumar ◽  
Min Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Agenda ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Voting Systems ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Formal Expression ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Peer Network ◽  
Peer To Peer Network ◽  
Insight Into

Voting is a formal expression of opinion or choice, either positive or negative, made by an individual or a group of individuals. However, conventional voting systems tend to be centralized, which are known to suffer from security and efficiency limitations. Hence, there has been a trend of moving to decentralized voting systems, such as those based on blockchain. The latter is a decentralized digital ledger in a peer-to-peer network, where a copy of the append-only ledger of digitally signed and encrypted transactions is maintained by each participant. Therefore, in this article, we perform a comprehensive review of blockchain-based voting systems and classify them based on a number of features (e.g., the types of blockchain used, the consensus approaches used, and the scale of participants). By systematically analyzing and comparing the different blockchain-based voting systems, we also identify a number of limitations and research opportunities. Hopefully, this survey will provide an in-depth insight into the potential utility of blockchain in voting systems and device future research agenda.

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Improves Sleep Quality in Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 158 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel C. Sukato ◽  
Jason M. Abramowitz ◽  
Marina Boruk ◽  
Nira A. Goldstein ◽  
Richard M. Rosenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Chronic Rhinosinusitis ◽  
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Sinus Surgery ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽  
Poor Sleep

Objective Up to 75% of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) suffer with poor sleep quality and reduced quality of life. Endoscopic sinus surgery has demonstrated encouraging results in improving sleep function. The aim of this systematic review is to assess the change in sleep quality after surgery for CRS. Data Sources PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE. Review Methods An electronic search was conducted with the keywords “sinusitis” or “rhinosinusitis” and “sleep.” Studies were included only when adults underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and were evaluated pre- and postoperatively by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), the sleep domain of Sino-Nasal Outcome Test–22, or the sleep domain of Rhinosinusitis Disability Index. Results The database search yielded 1939 studies, of which 7 remained after dual-investigator screening. The standardized mean differences (95% CI) for the ESS, PSQI, and AHI were −0.94 (−1.63 to −0.26), −0.80 (−1.46 to −0.14), and −0.20 (−0.32 to −0.07), indicating large, moderate to large, and small improvements, respectively. All analyses displayed high heterogeneity ( I2 = 95%-99%). Conclusion Sleep quality, as measured by the ESS and PSQI surveys, shows substantial improvement after surgery for CRS, with smaller improvement seen for AHI. Generalizability of our results is limited by high heterogeneity among studies and by broad confidence intervals that cannot exclude small to trivial changes. The findings of this meta-analysis provide insight into the effect of CRS-related endoscopic sinus surgery on sleep quality, which should guide future research direction and counseling of patients in the clinical setting.

scholarly journals A systematic review of provider-and system-level factors influencing the delivery of cardiac rehabilitation for heart failure

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulina Daw ◽  
Thomas M. Withers ◽  
Jet J. C. S. Veldhuijzen van Zanten ◽  
Alexander Harrison ◽  
Colin J. Greaves
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
System Level ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Heart Failure Patients ◽  
Barriers And Enablers ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Background There is a longstanding research-to-practice gap in the delivery of cardiac rehabilitation for patients with heart failure. Despite adequate evidence confirming that comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation can improve quality of life and decrease morbidity and mortality in heart failure patients, only a fraction of eligible patients receives it. Many studies and reviews have identified patient-level barriers that might contribute to this disparity, yet little is known about provider- and system-level influences. Methods A systematic review using narrative synthesis. The aims of the systematic review were to a) determine provider- and system-level barriers and enablers that affect the delivery of cardiac rehabilitation for heart failure and b) juxtapose identified barriers with possible solutions reported in the literature. A comprehensive search strategy was applied to the MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, EThoS and ProQuest databases. Articles were included if they were empirical, peer-reviewed, conducted in any setting, using any study design and describing factors influencing the delivery of cardiac rehabilitation for heart failure patients. Data were synthesised using inductive thematic analysis and a triangulation protocol to identify convergence/contradiction between different data sources. Results Seven eligible studies were identified. Thematic analysis identified nine overarching categories of barriers and enablers which were classified into 24 and 26 themes respectively. The most prevalent categories were ‘the organisation of healthcare system’, ‘the organisation of cardiac rehabilitation programmes’, ‘healthcare professional’ factors and ‘guidelines’. The most frequent themes included ‘lack of resources: time, staff, facilities and equipment’ and ‘professional’s knowledge, awareness and attitude’. Conclusions Our systematic review identified a wide range of provider- and system-level barriers impacting the delivery of cardiac rehabilitation for heart failure, along with a range of potential solutions. This information may be useful for healthcare professionals to deliver, plan or commission cardiac rehabilitation services, as well as future research.

scholarly journals Arts-Based Interventions for Professionals in Caring Roles During and After Crisis: A Systematic Review of the Literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik Havsteen-Franklin ◽  
Megan Tjasink ◽  
Jacqueline Winter Kottler ◽  
Claire Grant ◽  
Veena Kumari
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Safe Place ◽  
Practice Elements ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Crisis Events ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Crisis events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can have a devastating effect on communities and the care professionals within them. Over recent years, arts-based interventions have helped in a wide range of crisis situations, being recommended to support the workforce during and after complex crisis but there has been no systematic review of the role of arts-based crisis interventions and whether there are cogent themes regarding practice elements and outcomes. We, therefore, conducted a systematic review to (i) define the arts-based change process used during and after crisis events, and (ii) explore the perceptions of intermediate and long-term mental health benefits of arts-based interventions for professionals in caring roles. Our search yielded six studies (all qualitative). All data were thematically aggregated and meta-synthesized, revealing seven practice elements (a safe place, focusing on strengths and protective factors, developing psychosocial competencies to support peers, emotional expression and processing, identifying and naming the impact of the crisis, using an integrative creative approach, and cultural and organizational sensitivity) applied across all six studies, as well as a range of intermediate and long-term benefits shared common features (adapting, growing, and recovering; using the community as a healing resource; reducing or preventing symptoms of stress or trauma reactions, psychophysiological homeostasis). The ways in which these studies were designed independently from one another and yet used the same practice elements in their crisis interventions indicates that there is comparability about how and why the arts-based practice elements are being used and to what effect. Our findings provide a sound basis and meaningful parameters for future research incorporating quantitative and qualitative approaches to firmly establish the effectiveness of art-based interventions, and how arts can support cultural sensitivity, acceptability and indicated outcomes, particularly those relating to stress and trauma during or following a crisis.

scholarly journals Takāful demand: a review of selected literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-455
Author(s):  
Maizaitulaidawati Md Husin ◽  
Razali Haron
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Review Of Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Develop Market ◽  
Islamic Insurance ◽  
Published Research ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to provide a systematic review of literature on the demand for takāful (Islamic insurance) from articles published from January 2009 to June 2019. The review aims to synthesise and segment previously published research to identify the gaps and provide future research direction. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Past research was analysed, and content comparisons based on research focus, context and methodology were evaluated. Findings It was found that not much has been written and published on takāful demand in quality journals. The first two articles were published in 2009, but it was only in 2017 that coverage of the topic rapidly expanded. Although no article was found to have been published in 2018 on takāful demand, there was one published article on the topic in 2019. This paper also found that not much attention has been given to takāful demand from the corporate sector. Research limitations/implications The defined rule for document searching and selection excluded out-of-scope documents that might be relevant. Furthermore, as this paper concentrates exclusively on articles published in English journals, the possibility that other relevant works do appear elsewhere in a different language is not denied. Practical implications Factors determining takāful demand are provided, and general directions are discussed, which managers can use to develop market share further. Originality/value Such an extensive review of literature on takāful demand has not been done before. Other than revealing ambiguities, gaps and contradictions in the literature, this paper sketches an avenue for further research. It also provides information and guidance for other researchers wishing to embark on research on takāful demand.

scholarly journals Towards the best kidney failure prediction tool: a systematic review and selection aid

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (9) ◽  
pp. 1527-1538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chava L Ramspek ◽  
Ype de Jong ◽  
Friedo W Dekker ◽  
Merel van Diepen
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Kidney Failure ◽  
External Validation ◽  
Model Development ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Prediction Tool ◽  
Clinical Value ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Background Prediction tools that identify chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients at a high risk of developing kidney failure have the potential for great clinical value, but limited uptake. The aim of the current study is to systematically review all available models predicting kidney failure in CKD patients, organize empirical evidence on their validity and ultimately provide guidance in the interpretation and uptake of these tools. Methods PubMed and EMBASE were searched for relevant articles. Titles, abstracts and full-text articles were sequentially screened for inclusion by two independent researchers. Data on study design, model development and performance were extracted. The risk of bias and clinical usefulness were assessed and combined in order to provide recommendations on which models to use. Results Of 2183 screened studies, a total of 42 studies were included in the current review. Most studies showed high discriminatory capacity and the included predictors had large overlap. Overall, the risk of bias was high. Slightly less than half the studies (48%) presented enough detail for the use of their prediction tool in practice and few models were externally validated. Conclusions The current systematic review may be used as a tool to select the most appropriate and robust prognostic model for various settings. Although some models showed great potential, many lacked clinical relevance due to being developed in a prevalent patient population with a wide range of disease severity. Future research efforts should focus on external validation and impact assessment in clinically relevant patient populations.

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