Informatics

20 pages, 1568 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Knowledge Management for Improved Digital Transformation in Insurance Companies: Systematic Review and Perspectives

by Younes Elgargouh, Mohammed Reda Chbihi Louhdi, El Moukhtar Zemmouri and Hicham Behja

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030060 - 12 Aug 2024

Viewed by 564

Knowledge Management (KM) plays a pivotal role in contemporary businesses, facilitating the identification, management, and utilization of existing knowledge for organizational benefit. This article underscores the indispensability of effective KM processes in the insurance industry, which is undergoing profound digital transformation. Through a [...] Read more.

Knowledge Management (KM) plays a pivotal role in contemporary businesses, facilitating the identification, management, and utilization of existing knowledge for organizational benefit. This article underscores the indispensability of effective KM processes in the insurance industry, which is undergoing profound digital transformation. Through a systematic review utilizing the PRISMA framework, we meta-analyzed 85 high-quality scientific papers sourced from prominent databases spanning 2008 to 2022. Our examination centers on the diverse implementation processes of KM worldwide, emphasizing the integration of information technologies to enhance data collection, analysis, processing, and distribution within insurance companies. The objective of this review is twofold: to devise efficient methods for implementing KM systems in the insurance sector and to delineate practical research directions in this domain. Full article

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26 pages, 9128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AI-Based Visual Early Warning System

by Zeena Al-Tekreeti, Jeronimo Moreno-Cuesta, Maria Isabel Madrigal Garcia and Marcos A. Rodrigues

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030059 - 12 Aug 2024

Viewed by 645

Abstract

Facial expressions are a universally recognised means of conveying internal emotional states across diverse human cultural and ethnic groups. Recent advances in understanding people’s emotions expressed through verbal and non-verbal communication are particularly noteworthy in the clinical context for the assessment of patients’ [...] Read more.

Facial expressions are a universally recognised means of conveying internal emotional states across diverse human cultural and ethnic groups. Recent advances in understanding people’s emotions expressed through verbal and non-verbal communication are particularly noteworthy in the clinical context for the assessment of patients’ health and well-being. Facial expression recognition (FER) plays an important and vital role in health care, providing communication with a patient’s feelings and allowing the assessment and monitoring of mental and physical health conditions. This paper shows that automatic machine learning methods can predict health deterioration accurately and robustly, independent of human subjective assessment. The prior work of this paper is to discover the early signs of deteriorating health that align with the principles of preventive reactions, improving health outcomes and human survival, and promoting overall health and well-being. Therefore, methods are developed to create a facial database mimicking the underlying muscular structure of the face, whose Action Unit motions can then be transferred to human face images, thus displaying animated expressions of interest. Then, building and developing an automatic system based on convolution neural networks (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) to recognise patterns of facial expressions with a focus on patients at risk of deterioration in hospital wards. This research presents state-of-the-art results on generating and modelling synthetic database and automated deterioration prediction through FEs with 99.89% accuracy. The main contributions to knowledge from this paper can be summarized as (1) the generation of visual datasets mimicking real-life samples of facial expressions indicating health deterioration, (2) improvement of the understanding and communication with patients at risk of deterioration through facial expression analysis, and (3) development of a state-of-the-art model to recognize such facial expressions using a ConvLSTM model. Full article

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Graphical abstract

29 pages, 456 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Ethical Challenges and Solutions of Generative AI: An Interdisciplinary Perspective

by Mousa Al-kfairy, Dheya Mustafa, Nir Kshetri, Mazen Insiew and Omar Alfandi

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030058 - 9 Aug 2024

Viewed by 866

Abstract

This paper conducts a systematic review and interdisciplinary analysis of the ethical challenges of generative AI technologies (N = 37), highlighting significant concerns such as privacy, data protection, copyright infringement, misinformation, biases, and societal inequalities. The ability of generative AI to produce convincing [...] Read more.

This paper conducts a systematic review and interdisciplinary analysis of the ethical challenges of generative AI technologies (N = 37), highlighting significant concerns such as privacy, data protection, copyright infringement, misinformation, biases, and societal inequalities. The ability of generative AI to produce convincing deepfakes and synthetic media, which threaten the foundations of truth, trust, and democratic values, exacerbates these problems. The paper combines perspectives from various disciplines, including education, media, and healthcare, underscoring the need for AI systems that promote equity and do not perpetuate social inequalities. It advocates for a proactive approach to the ethical development of AI, emphasizing the necessity of establishing policies, guidelines, and frameworks that prioritize human rights, fairness, and transparency. The paper calls for a multidisciplinary dialogue among policymakers, technologists, and researchers to ensure responsible AI development that conforms to societal values and ethical standards. It stresses the urgency of addressing these ethical concerns and advocates for the development of generative AI in a socially beneficial and ethically sound manner, contributing significantly to the discourse on managing AI’s ethical implications in the modern digital era. The study highlights the theoretical and practical implications of these challenges and suggests a number of future research directions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Social Informatics and Digital Humanities)

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23 pages, 2024 KiB

Open AccessReview

Large Language Models in Healthcare and Medical Domain: A Review

by Zabir Al Nazi and Wei Peng

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030057 - 7 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1596

Abstract

The deployment of large language models (LLMs) within the healthcare sector has sparked both enthusiasm and apprehension. These models exhibit the remarkable ability to provide proficient responses to free-text queries, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of professional medical knowledge. This comprehensive survey delves into [...] Read more.

The deployment of large language models (LLMs) within the healthcare sector has sparked both enthusiasm and apprehension. These models exhibit the remarkable ability to provide proficient responses to free-text queries, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of professional medical knowledge. This comprehensive survey delves into the functionalities of existing LLMs designed for healthcare applications and elucidates the trajectory of their development, starting with traditional Pretrained Language Models (PLMs) and then moving to the present state of LLMs in the healthcare sector. First, we explore the potential of LLMs to amplify the efficiency and effectiveness of diverse healthcare applications, particularly focusing on clinical language understanding tasks. These tasks encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from named entity recognition and relation extraction to natural language inference, multimodal medical applications, document classification, and question-answering. Additionally, we conduct an extensive comparison of the most recent state-of-the-art LLMs in the healthcare domain, while also assessing the utilization of various open-source LLMs and highlighting their significance in healthcare applications. Furthermore, we present the essential performance metrics employed to evaluate LLMs in the biomedical domain, shedding light on their effectiveness and limitations. Finally, we summarize the prominent challenges and constraints faced by large language models in the healthcare sector by offering a holistic perspective on their potential benefits and shortcomings. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of the current landscape of LLMs in healthcare, addressing their role in transforming medical applications and the areas that warrant further research and development. Full article

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14 pages, 752 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Innovations in E-Commerce: Augmented Reality Applications in Online Fashion Retail—A Qualitative Study among Gen Z Consumers

by Ildikó Kovács and Éva Réka Keresztes

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030056 - 3 Aug 2024

Viewed by 486

Abstract

Digital innovations have significantly transformed the marketing landscape, with visual technology solutions having become mainstream in the fashion industry approximately a decade ago. Digital technology offers a range of benefits to online fashion retailers, enhancing their online shopping platforms with augmented reality features [...] Read more.

Digital innovations have significantly transformed the marketing landscape, with visual technology solutions having become mainstream in the fashion industry approximately a decade ago. Digital technology offers a range of benefits to online fashion retailers, enhancing their online shopping platforms with augmented reality features that allow customers to “try on” products digitally before making a purchase. This research aims to explore the key factors influencing the use of augmented reality applications and e-commerce sites for purchasing apparel. A qualitative study was conducted to examine the visual experience and usage of augmented reality applications among young customers. The findings highlight the most relevant factors in the online fashion purchasing process, the visual experience, and the potential future use of augmented reality applications in fashion product purchasing. These insights are crucial for developing effective marketing strategies and communication messages. Full article

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17 pages, 260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Internet Use for Health-Related Purposes among Older People in Thailand: An Analysis of Nationwide Cross-Sectional Data

by Kittisak Robru, Prasongchai Setthasuravich, Aphisit Pukdeewut and Suthiwat Wetchakama

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030055 - 28 Jul 2024

Viewed by 806

Abstract

As the global population ages, understanding the digital health behaviors of older adults becomes increasingly crucial. In Thailand, where the elderly population is rapidly growing, examining how older individuals use the internet for health-related purposes can provide valuable insights for enhancing healthcare accessibility [...] Read more.

As the global population ages, understanding the digital health behaviors of older adults becomes increasingly crucial. In Thailand, where the elderly population is rapidly growing, examining how older individuals use the internet for health-related purposes can provide valuable insights for enhancing healthcare accessibility and engagement. This study investigates the use of the internet for health-related purposes among older adults in Thailand, focusing on the socio-demographic factors influencing this behavior. Utilizing cross-sectional data from the “Thailand Internet User Behavior Survey 2022”, which includes responses from 4652 older adults, the study employs descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis. The results reveal that approximately 10.83% of older adults use the internet for health purposes. The analysis shows that higher income (AOR = 1.298, p = 0.030), higher level of education (degree education: AOR = 1.814, p < 0.001), skilled occupations (AOR = 2.003, p < 0.001), residence in an urban area (AOR = 3.006, p < 0.001), and greater confidence in internet use (very confident: AOR = 3.153, p < 0.001) are significantly associated with a greater likelihood of using the internet for health purposes. Gender and age did not show significant differences in health-related internet use, indicating a relatively gender-neutral and age-consistent landscape. Significant regional differences were observed, with the northeastern region showing a markedly higher propensity (AOR = 2.249, p < 0.001) for health-related internet use compared to the northern region. Meanwhile, the eastern region (AOR = 0.489, p = 0.018) showed lower odds. These findings underscore the need for targeted healthcare policies to enhance digital health engagement among older adults in Thailand, emphasizing the importance of improving digital literacy, expanding infrastructure, and addressing region-specific health initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Informatics)

13 pages, 622 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AI Literacy and Intention to Use Text-Based GenAI for Learning: The Case of Business Students in Korea

by Moonkyoung Jang

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030054 - 26 Jul 2024

Viewed by 579

Abstract

With the increasing use of large-scale language model-based AI tools in modern learning environments, it is important to understand students’ motivations, experiences, and contextual influences. These tools offer new support dimensions for learners, enhancing academic achievement and providing valuable resources, but their use [...] Read more.

With the increasing use of large-scale language model-based AI tools in modern learning environments, it is important to understand students’ motivations, experiences, and contextual influences. These tools offer new support dimensions for learners, enhancing academic achievement and providing valuable resources, but their use also raises ethical and social issues. In this context, this study aims to systematically identify factors influencing the usage intentions of text-based GenAI tools among undergraduates. By modifying the core variables of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) with AI literacy, a survey was designed to measure GenAI users’ intentions to collect participants’ opinions. The survey, conducted among business students at a university in South Korea, gathered 239 responses during March and April 2024. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS software (Ver. 4.0.9.6). The findings reveal that performance expectancy significantly affects the intention to use GenAI, while effort expectancy does not. In addition, AI literacy and social influence significantly influence performance, effort expectancy, and the intention to use GenAI. This study provides insights into determinants affecting GenAI usage intentions, aiding the development of effective educational strategies and policies to support ethical and beneficial AI use in academic settings. Full article

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26 pages, 1674 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Comparative Analysis of Virtual Education Technology, E-Learning Systems Research Advances, and Digital Divide in the Global South

by Ikpe Justice Akpan, Onyebuchi Felix Offodile, Aloysius Chris Akpanobong and Yawo Mamoua Kobara

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030053 - 23 Jul 2024

Viewed by 628

Abstract

This pioneering study evaluates the digital divide and advances in virtual education (VE) and e-learning research in the Global South Countries (GSCs). Using metadata from bibliographic and World Bank data on research and development (R&D), we conduct quantitative bibliometric performance analyses and evaluate [...] Read more.

This pioneering study evaluates the digital divide and advances in virtual education (VE) and e-learning research in the Global South Countries (GSCs). Using metadata from bibliographic and World Bank data on research and development (R&D), we conduct quantitative bibliometric performance analyses and evaluate the connection between R&D expenditures on VE/e-learning research advances in GSCs. The results show that ‘East Asia and the Pacific’ (EAP) spent significantly more on (R&D) and achieved the highest scientific literature publication (SLP), with significant impacts. Other GSCs’ R&D expenditure was flat until 2020 (during COVID-19), when R&D funding increased, achieving a corresponding 42% rise in SLPs. About 67% of ‘Arab States’ (AS) SLPs and 60% of citation impact came from SLPs produced from global north and other GSCs regions, indicating high dependence. Also, 51% of high-impact SLPs were ‘Multiple Country Publications’, mainly from non-GSC institutions, indicating high collaboration impact. The EAP, AS, and ‘South Asia’ (SA) regions experienced lower disparity. In contrast, the less developed countries (LDCs), including ‘Sub-Sahara Africa’, ‘Latin America and the Caribbean’, and ‘Europe (Eastern) and Central Asia’, showed few dominant countries with high SLPs and higher digital divides. We advocate for increased educational research funding to enhance innovative R&D in GSCs, especially in LDCs. Full article

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18 pages, 1450 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Chipless Radio Frequency Identification Technology for Smart Food Packaging: An Economic Analysis for an Australian Seafood Industry

by Parya Fathi, Mita Bhattacharya, Sankar Bhattacharya and Nemai Karmakar

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030052 - 22 Jul 2024

Viewed by 501

Abstract

Effective monitoring of perishable food products has become increasingly important for ensuring quality, enabling smart packaging to be a key consideration for food companies. Among the promising technologies available for transforming packaging into intelligent packaging, chipless radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors stand out. [...] Read more.

Effective monitoring of perishable food products has become increasingly important for ensuring quality, enabling smart packaging to be a key consideration for food companies. Among the promising technologies available for transforming packaging into intelligent packaging, chipless radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors stand out. Despite the high initial implementation costs associated with chipless RFID technology, the potential benefits could outweigh the costs if electrical challenges can be overcome. We examine various economic methods to analyze the economic benefits of chipless RFID technology, evaluating the benefits of using this technology for the quality monitoring of seafood products of an Australian seafood producer, Tassal. The analysis considers three primary business drivers, viz. quality monitoring, operational efficiency, and tracking and tracing, using net present value and return on investment as the key indicators to assess the feasibility of implementing the technology. Based on sensitivity analysis, we suggest chipless RFID technology is currently best suited for large firms facing significant quality monitoring and operational efficiency challenges. However, as the cost of chipless RFID sensors decreases with further development, this technology may become a more viable option for small businesses in the future. Full article

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14 pages, 3250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Invasive Diagnostic Approach for Diabetes Using Pulse Wave Analysis and Deep Learning

by Hiruni Gunathilaka, Rumesh Rajapaksha, Thosini Kumarika, Dinusha Perera, Uditha Herath, Charith Jayathilaka, Janitha Liyanage and Sudath Kalingamudali

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030051 - 19 Jul 2024

Viewed by 656

Abstract

The surging prevalence of diabetes globally necessitates advancements in non-invasive diagnostics, particularly for the early detection of cardiovascular anomalies associated with the condition. This study explores the efficacy of Pulse Wave Analysis (PWA) for distinguishing diabetic from non-diabetic individuals through morphological examination of [...] Read more.

The surging prevalence of diabetes globally necessitates advancements in non-invasive diagnostics, particularly for the early detection of cardiovascular anomalies associated with the condition. This study explores the efficacy of Pulse Wave Analysis (PWA) for distinguishing diabetic from non-diabetic individuals through morphological examination of pressure pulse waveforms. The research unfolds in four phases: data accrual, preprocessing, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model construction, and performance evaluation. Data were procured using a multipara patient monitor, resulting in 2000 pulse waves equally divided between healthy individuals and those with diabetes. These were used to train, validate, and test three distinct CNN architectures: the conventional CNN, Visual Geometry Group (VGG16), and Residual Networks (ResNet18). The accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score gauged each model’s proficiency. The CNN demonstrated a training accuracy of 82.09% and a testing accuracy of 80.6%. The VGG16, with its deeper structure, surpassed the baseline with training and testing accuracies of 90.2% and 86.57%, respectively. ResNet18 excelled, achieving a training accuracy of 92.50% and a testing accuracy of 92.00%, indicating its robustness in pattern recognition within pulse wave data. Deploying deep learning for diabetes screening marks progress, suggesting clinical use and future studies on bigger datasets for refinement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Medical and Clinical Informatics)

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15 pages, 1744 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning to Estimate Workload and Balance Resources with Live Migration and VM Placement

by Taufik Hidayat, Kalamullah Ramli, Nadia Thereza, Amarudin Daulay, Rushendra Rushendra and Rahutomo Mahardiko

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030050 - 19 Jul 2024

Viewed by 637

Abstract

Currently, utilizing virtualization technology in data centers often imposes an increasing burden on the host machine (HM), leading to a decline in VM performance. To address this issue, live virtual migration (LVM) is employed to alleviate the load on the VM. This study [...] Read more.

Currently, utilizing virtualization technology in data centers often imposes an increasing burden on the host machine (HM), leading to a decline in VM performance. To address this issue, live virtual migration (LVM) is employed to alleviate the load on the VM. This study introduces a hybrid machine learning model designed to estimate the direct migration of pre-copied migration virtual machines within the data center. The proposed model integrates Markov Decision Process (MDP), genetic algorithm (GA), and random forest (RF) algorithms to forecast the prioritized movement of virtual machines and identify the optimal host machine target. The hybrid models achieve a 99% accuracy rate with quicker training times compared to the previous studies that utilized K-nearest neighbor, decision tree classification, support vector machines, logistic regression, and neural networks. The authors recommend further exploration of a deep learning approach (DL) to address other data center performance issues. This paper outlines promising strategies for enhancing virtual machine migration in data centers. The hybrid models demonstrate high accuracy and faster training times than previous research, indicating the potential for optimizing virtual machine placement and minimizing downtime. The authors emphasize the significance of considering data center performance and propose further investigation. Moreover, it would be beneficial to delve into the practical implementation and dissemination of the proposed model in real-world data centers. Full article

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18 pages, 2039 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AI Language Models: An Opportunity to Enhance Language Learning

by Yan Cong

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030049 - 19 Jul 2024

Viewed by 654

Abstract

AI language models are increasingly transforming language research in various ways. How can language educators and researchers respond to the challenge posed by these AI models? Specifically, how can we embrace this technology to inform and enhance second language learning and teaching? In [...] Read more.

AI language models are increasingly transforming language research in various ways. How can language educators and researchers respond to the challenge posed by these AI models? Specifically, how can we embrace this technology to inform and enhance second language learning and teaching? In order to quantitatively characterize and index second language writing, the current work proposes the use of similarities derived from contextualized meaning representations in AI language models. The computational analysis in this work is hypothesis-driven. The current work predicts how similarities should be distributed in a second language learning setting. The results suggest that similarity metrics are informative of writing proficiency assessment and interlanguage development. Statistically significant effects were found across multiple AI models. Most of the metrics could distinguish language learners’ proficiency levels. Significant correlations were also found between similarity metrics and learners’ writing test scores provided by human experts in the domain. However, not all such effects were strong or interpretable. Several results could not be consistently explained under the proposed second language learning hypotheses. Overall, the current investigation indicates that with careful configuration and systematic metrics design, AI language models can be promising tools in advancing language education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic AI Chatbots: Threat or Opportunity?)

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23 pages, 2819 KiB

Open AccessReview

Machine Learning Applied to the Analysis of Prolonged COVID Symptoms: An Analytical Review

by Paola Patricia Ariza-Colpas, Marlon Alberto Piñeres-Melo, Miguel Alberto Urina-Triana, Ernesto Barceló-Martinez, Camilo Barceló-Castellanos and Fabian Roman

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030048 - 18 Jul 2024

Viewed by 751

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to constitute a public health emergency of international importance, although the state of emergency declaration has indeed been terminated worldwide, many people continue to be infected and present different symptoms associated with the illness. Undoubtedly, solutions based on divergent [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to constitute a public health emergency of international importance, although the state of emergency declaration has indeed been terminated worldwide, many people continue to be infected and present different symptoms associated with the illness. Undoubtedly, solutions based on divergent technologies such as machine learning have made great contributions to the understanding, identification, and treatment of the disease. Due to the sudden appearance of this virus, many works have been carried out by the scientific community to support the detection and treatment processes, which has generated numerous publications, making it difficult to identify the status of current research and future contributions that can continue to be generated around this problem that is still valid among us. To address this problem, this article shows the result of a scientometric analysis, which allows the identification of the various contributions that have been generated from the line of automatic learning for the monitoring and treatment of symptoms associated with this pathology. The methodology for the development of this analysis was carried out through the implementation of two phases: in the first phase, a scientometric analysis was carried out, where the countries, authors, and magazines with the greatest production associated with this subject can be identified, later in the second phase, the contributions based on the use of the Tree of Knowledge metaphor are identified. The main concepts identified in this review are related to symptoms, implemented algorithms, and the impact of applications. These results provide relevant information for researchers in the field in the search for new solutions or the application of existing ones for the treatment of still-existing symptoms of COVID-19. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Informatics: Feature Review Papers)

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24 pages, 1006 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Healthcare and the Internet of Medical Things: Applications, Trends, Key Challenges, and Proposed Resolutions

by Inas Al Khatib, Abdulrahim Shamayleh and Malick Ndiaye

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030047 - 16 Jul 2024

Viewed by 758

Abstract

In recent years, the Internet of medical things (IoMT) has become a significant technological advancement in the healthcare sector. This systematic review aims to identify and summarize the various applications, key challenges, and proposed technical solutions within this domain, based on a comprehensive [...] Read more.

In recent years, the Internet of medical things (IoMT) has become a significant technological advancement in the healthcare sector. This systematic review aims to identify and summarize the various applications, key challenges, and proposed technical solutions within this domain, based on a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature. This review highlights diverse applications of the IoMT, including mobile health (mHealth) applications, remote biomarker detection, hybrid RFID-IoT solutions for scrub distribution in operating rooms, IoT-based disease prediction using machine learning, and the efficient sharing of personal health records through searchable symmetric encryption, blockchain, and IPFS. Other notable applications include remote healthcare management systems, non-invasive real-time blood glucose measurement devices, distributed ledger technology (DLT) platforms, ultra-wideband (UWB) radar systems, IoT-based pulse oximeters, accident and emergency informatics (A&EI), and integrated wearable smart patches. The key challenges identified include privacy protection, sustainable power sources, sensor intelligence, human adaptation to sensors, data speed, device reliability, and storage efficiency. The proposed mitigations encompass network control, cryptography, edge-fog computing, and blockchain, alongside rigorous risk planning. The review also identifies trends and advancements in the IoMT architecture, remote monitoring innovations, the integration of machine learning and AI, and enhanced security measures. This review makes several novel contributions compared to the existing literature, including (1) a comprehensive categorization of IoMT applications, extending beyond the traditional use cases to include emerging technologies such as UWB radar systems and DLT platforms; (2) an in-depth analysis of the integration of machine learning and AI in IoMT, highlighting innovative approaches in disease prediction and remote monitoring; (3) a detailed examination of privacy and security measures, proposing advanced cryptographic solutions and blockchain implementations to enhance data protection; and (4) the identification of future research directions, providing a roadmap for addressing current limitations and advancing the scientific understanding of IoMT in healthcare. By addressing current limitations and suggesting future research directions, this work aims to advance scientific understanding of the IoMT in healthcare. Full article

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17 pages, 575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating and Enhancing Artificial Intelligence Models for Predicting Student Learning Outcomes

by Helia Farhood, Ibrahim Joudah, Amin Beheshti and Samuel Muller

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030046 - 15 Jul 2024

Viewed by 913

Abstract

Predicting student outcomes is an essential task and a central challenge among artificial intelligence-based personalised learning applications. Despite several studies exploring student performance prediction, there is a notable lack of comprehensive and comparative research that methodically evaluates and compares multiple machine learning models [...] Read more.

Predicting student outcomes is an essential task and a central challenge among artificial intelligence-based personalised learning applications. Despite several studies exploring student performance prediction, there is a notable lack of comprehensive and comparative research that methodically evaluates and compares multiple machine learning models alongside deep learning architectures. In response, our research provides a comprehensive comparison to evaluate and improve ten different machine learning and deep learning models, either well-established or cutting-edge techniques, namely, random forest, decision tree, support vector machine, K-nearest neighbours classifier, logistic regression, linear regression, and state-of-the-art extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), as well as a fully connected feed-forward neural network, a convolutional neural network, and a gradient-boosted neural network. We implemented and fine-tuned these models using Python 3.9.5. With a keen emphasis on prediction accuracy and model performance optimisation, we evaluate these methodologies across two benchmark public student datasets. We employ a dual evaluation approach, utilising both k-fold cross-validation and holdout methods, to comprehensively assess the models’ performance. Our research focuses primarily on predicting student outcomes in final examinations by determining their success or failure. Moreover, we explore the importance of feature selection using the ubiquitous Lasso for dimensionality reduction to improve model efficiency, prevent overfitting, and examine its impact on prediction accuracy for each model, both with and without Lasso. This study provides valuable guidance for selecting and deploying predictive models for tabular data classification like student outcome prediction, which seeks to utilise data-driven insights for personalised education. Full article

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22 pages, 353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GPTs or Grim Position Threats? The Potential Impacts of Large Language Models on Non-Managerial Jobs and Certifications in Cybersecurity

by Raza Nowrozy

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030045 - 11 Jul 2024

Viewed by 548

Abstract

ChatGPT, a Large Language Model (LLM) utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP), has caused concerns about its impact on job sectors, including cybersecurity. This study assesses ChatGPT’s impacts in non-managerial cybersecurity roles using the NICE Framework and Technological Displacement theory. It also explores its [...] Read more.

ChatGPT, a Large Language Model (LLM) utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP), has caused concerns about its impact on job sectors, including cybersecurity. This study assesses ChatGPT’s impacts in non-managerial cybersecurity roles using the NICE Framework and Technological Displacement theory. It also explores its potential to pass top cybersecurity certification exams. Findings reveal ChatGPT’s promise to streamline some jobs, especially those requiring memorization. Moreover, this paper highlights ChatGPT’s challenges and limitations, such as ethical implications, LLM limitations, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) security. The study suggests that LLMs like ChatGPT could transform the cybersecurity landscape, causing job losses, skill obsolescence, labor market shifts, and mixed socioeconomic impacts. A shift in focus from memorization to critical thinking, and collaboration between LLM developers and cybersecurity professionals, is recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic AI Chatbots: Threat or Opportunity?)

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14 pages, 1122 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Framework for Antecedents to Health Information Systems Uptake by Healthcare Professionals: An Exploratory Study of Electronic Medical Records

by Reza Torkman, Amir Hossein Ghapanchi and Reza Ghanbarzadeh

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030044 - 9 Jul 2024

Viewed by 532

Abstract

Health information systems (HISs) are essential information systems used by organisations and individuals for various purposes. Past research has studied different types of HIS, such as rostering systems, Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), and Personal Health Records (PHRs). Although several past confirmatory studies have [...] Read more.

Health information systems (HISs) are essential information systems used by organisations and individuals for various purposes. Past research has studied different types of HIS, such as rostering systems, Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), and Personal Health Records (PHRs). Although several past confirmatory studies have quantitatively examined EMR uptake by health professionals, there is a lack of exploratory and qualitative studies that uncover various drivers of healthcare professionals’ uptake of EMRs. Applying an exploratory and qualitative approach, this study introduces various antecedents of healthcare professionals’ uptake of EMRs. This study conducted 78 semi-structured, open-ended interviews with 15 groups of healthcare professional users of EMRs in two large Australian hospitals. Data analysis of qualitative data resulted in proposing a framework comprising 23 factors impacting healthcare professionals’ uptake of EMRs, which are categorised into ten main categories: perceived benefits of EMR, perceived difficulties, hardware/software compatibility, job performance uncertainty, ease of operation, perceived risk, assistance society, user confidence, organisational support, and technological support. Our findings have important implications for various practitioner groups, such as healthcare policymakers, hospital executives, hospital middle and line managers, hospitals’ IT departments, and healthcare professionals using EMRs. Implications of the findings for researchers and practitioners are provided herein in detail. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Theories and Applications of Human-Computer Interaction)

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11 pages, 228 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Hospital Employees’ Awareness of the EMR System Certification on Interoperability Evaluation: Comparison of Public and Private Hospitals

by Choyeal Park and Jikyeong Park

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030043 - 3 Jul 2024

Viewed by 479

Abstract

This study examined the awareness of the EMR certification system among employees of public and private hospitals that have obtained EMR certification. It also assessed how this awareness impacted the evaluation of EMR interoperability. The objective of this study is to contribute to [...] Read more.

This study examined the awareness of the EMR certification system among employees of public and private hospitals that have obtained EMR certification. It also assessed how this awareness impacted the evaluation of EMR interoperability. The objective of this study is to contribute to the stable adoption and further development of EMR system certification in Korea. Data were collected through 3600 questionnaires distributed over three years from 2021 to 2023. After excluding 24 questionnaires owing to missing values or insincere responses, 3576 responses were analyzed. The analysis involved descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple regression using SPSS 26.0. The significance level (α) for statistical tests was set at 0.05. This study revealed differences in awareness of EMR system certification and interoperability among hospital employees. In both public and private hospitals, awareness of the EMR system certification positively influences the evaluation of interoperability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Informatics)

18 pages, 1740 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Mappability of Clinical Real-World Data of Patients with Melanoma to Oncological Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Profiles: A Single-Center Interoperability Study

by Jessica Swoboda, Moritz Albert, Catharina Lena Beckmann, Georg Christian Lodde, Elisabeth Livingstone, Felix Nensa, Dirk Schadendorf and Britta Böckmann

Informatics 2024, 11(3), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics11030042 - 28 Jun 2024

Viewed by 735

Abstract

(1) Background: Tumor-specific standardized data are essential for AI-based progress in research, e.g., for predicting adverse events in patients with melanoma. Although there are oncological Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) profiles, it is unclear how well these can represent malignant melanoma. (2) Methods: [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Tumor-specific standardized data are essential for AI-based progress in research, e.g., for predicting adverse events in patients with melanoma. Although there are oncological Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) profiles, it is unclear how well these can represent malignant melanoma. (2) Methods: We created a methodology pipeline to assess to what extent an oncological FHIR profile, in combination with a standard FHIR specification, can represent a real-world data set. We extracted Electronic Health Record (EHR) data from a data platform, and identified and validated relevant features. We created a melanoma data model and mapped its features to the oncological HL7 FHIR Basisprofil Onkologie [Basic Profile Oncology] and the standard FHIR specification R4. (3) Results: We identified 216 features. Mapping showed that 45 out of 216 (20.83%) features could be mapped completely or with adjustments using the Basisprofil Onkologie [Basic Profile Oncology], and 129 (60.85%) features could be mapped using the standard FHIR specification. A total of 39 (18.06%) new, non-mappable features could be identified. (4) Conclusions: Our tumor-specific real-world melanoma data could be partially mapped using a combination of an oncological FHIR profile and a standard FHIR specification. However, important data features were lost or had to be mapped with self-defined extensions, resulting in limited interoperability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Informatics)

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Informatics, Volume 11, Issue 3 (September 2024) – 19 articles

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