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Information

Information is a scientific, peer-reviewed, open access journal of information science and technology, data, knowledge, and communication, and is published monthly online by MDPI. The International Society for Information Studies (IS4SI) is affiliated with Information and its members receive discounts on the article processing charges.

Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, ESCI (Web of Science), Ei Compendex, dblp, and other databases.
Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q2 (Information Systems)
Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.4 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.8 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2024).
Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.

Impact Factor: 2.4 (2023); 5-Year Impact Factor: 2.6 (2023)

Imprint Information Journal Flyer Open Access ISSN: 2078-2489

Latest Articles

17 pages, 13068 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Involution-Based Lightweight Network for Fabric Defect Detection

by Zhenxia Ke, Lingjie Yu, Chao Zhi, Tao Xue and Yuming Zhang

Information 2025, 16(5), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16050340 - 23 Apr 2025

For automatic fabric defect detection with deep learning, diverse textures and defect forms are often required for a large training set. However, the computation cost of convolution neural networks (CNNs)-based models is very high. This research proposed an involution-enabled Faster R-CNN network by [...] Read more.

For automatic fabric defect detection with deep learning, diverse textures and defect forms are often required for a large training set. However, the computation cost of convolution neural networks (CNNs)-based models is very high. This research proposed an involution-enabled Faster R-CNN network by using the bottleneck structure of the residual network. The involution has two advantages over convolution: first, it can capture a larger range of receptive fields in the spatial dimension; then, parameters are shared in the channel dimension to reduce information redundancy, thus reducing parameters and computation. The detection performance is evaluated by Params, floating-point operations per second (FLOPs), and average precision (AP) in the collected dataset containing 6308 defective fabric images. The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed involution-based network achieves a lighter model, with Params reduced to 31.21 M and FLOPs decreased to 176.19 G, compared to the Faster R-CNN’s 41.14 M Params and 206.68 G FLOPs. Additionally, it slightly improves the detection effect of large defects, increasing the AP value from 50.5% to 51.1%. The findings of this research could offer a promising solution for efficient fabric defect detection in practical textile manufacturing. Full article

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20 pages, 780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Fuzzy-Neural Model for Personalized Learning Recommendations Grounded in Experiential Learning Theory

by Christos Troussas, Akrivi Krouska, Phivos Mylonas and Cleo Sgouropoulou

Information 2025, 16(5), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16050339 - 23 Apr 2025

Personalized learning is a defining characteristic of current education, with flexible and adaptable experiences that respond to individual learners’ requirements and approaches to learning. Traditional implementations of educational theories—such as Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory—often follow rule-based approaches, offering predefined structures but lacking adaptability [...] Read more.

Personalized learning is a defining characteristic of current education, with flexible and adaptable experiences that respond to individual learners’ requirements and approaches to learning. Traditional implementations of educational theories—such as Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory—often follow rule-based approaches, offering predefined structures but lacking adaptability to dynamically changing learner behavior. In contrast, AI-based approaches such as artificial neural networks (ANNs) have high adaptability but lack interpretability. In this work, a new model, a fuzzy-ANN model, is developed that combines fuzzy logic with ANNs to make recommendations for activities in the learning process, overcoming current model weaknesses. In the first stage, fuzzy logic is used to map Kolb’s dimensions of learning style onto continuous membership values, providing a flexible and easier-to-interpret representation of learners’ preferred approaches to learning. These fuzzy weights are then processed in an ANN, enabling refinement and improvement in learning recommendations through analysis of patterns and adaptable learning. To make recommendations adapt and develop over time, a Weighted Sum Model (WSM) is used, combining learner activity trends and real-time feedback in dynamically updating proposed activity recommendations. Experimental evaluation in an educational environment shows that the model effectively generates personalized and changing experiences for learners, in harmony with learners’ requirements and activity trends. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence)

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17 pages, 7635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bridging Behavioral Insights and Automated Trading: An Internet of Behaviors Approach for Enhanced Financial Decision-Making

by Imane Moustati and Noreddine Gherabi

Information 2025, 16(5), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16050338 - 23 Apr 2025

Effective investment decision-making in today’s volatile financial market demands the integration of advanced predictive analytics, alternative data sources, and behavioral insights. This paper introduces an innovative Internet of Behaviors (IoB) ecosystem that integrates real-time data acquisition, advanced feature engineering, predictive modeling, explainability, automated [...] Read more.

Effective investment decision-making in today’s volatile financial market demands the integration of advanced predictive analytics, alternative data sources, and behavioral insights. This paper introduces an innovative Internet of Behaviors (IoB) ecosystem that integrates real-time data acquisition, advanced feature engineering, predictive modeling, explainability, automated portfolio management, and an intelligent decision support engine to enhance financial decision-making. Our framework effectively captures complex temporal dependencies in financial data by combining robust technical indicators and sentiment-driven metrics—derived from BERT-based sentiment analysis—with a multi-layer LSTM forecasting model. To enhance the model’s performance and transparency and foster user trust, we apply XAI methods, namely, TimeSHAP and TIME. The IoB ecosystem also proposes a portfolio management engine that translates the predictions into actionable strategies and a continuous feedback loop, enabling the system to adapt and refine its strategy in real time. Empirical evaluations demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach: the LSTM forecasting model achieved an RMSE of 0.0312, an MAE of 0.0250, an MSE of 0.0010, and a directional accuracy of 95.24% on TSLA stock returns. Furthermore, the portfolio management algorithm successfully transformed an initial balance of USD 15,000 into a final portfolio value of USD 21,824.12, yielding a net profit of USD 6824.12. These results highlight the potential of IoB-driven methodologies to revolutionize financial services by enabling more personalized, transparent, and adaptive investment solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence and Decision Support Systems)

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30 pages, 16764 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of a Device for Optimizing Burden Distribution in a Blast Furnace Hopper

by Gabriele Degrassi, Lucia Parussini, Marco Boscolo, Elio Padoano, Carlo Poloni, Nicola Petronelli and Vincenzo Dimastromatteo

Information 2025, 16(5), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16050337 - 22 Apr 2025

The coke and ore are stacked alternately in layers inside the blast furnace. The capability of the charging system to distribute them in the desired manner and with optimum strata thickness is crucial for the efficiency and high-performance operation of the blast furnace [...] Read more.

The coke and ore are stacked alternately in layers inside the blast furnace. The capability of the charging system to distribute them in the desired manner and with optimum strata thickness is crucial for the efficiency and high-performance operation of the blast furnace itself. The objective of this work is the optimization of the charging equipment of a specific blast furnace. This blast furnace consists of a hopper, a single bell and a deflector inserted in the hopper under the conveyor belt. The focus is the search for a deflector geometry capable of distributing the material as evenly as possible in the hopper in order to ensure the effective disposal of the material released in the blast furnace. This search was performed by coupling the discrete element method with a multi-strategy and self-adapting optimization algorithm. The numerical results were qualitatively validated with a laboratory-scale model. Low cost and the simplicity of operation and maintenance are the strengths of the proposed charging system. Moreover, the methodological approach can be extended to other applications and contexts, such as chemical, pharmaceutical and food processing industries. This is especially true when complex material release conditions necessitate achieving bulk material distribution requirements in containers, silos, hoppers or similar components. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization Algorithms and Their Applications)

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48 pages, 8140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Building a Cybersecurity Culture in Higher Education: Proposing a Cybersecurity Awareness Paradigm

by Reismary Armas and Hamed Taherdoost

Information 2025, 16(5), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16050336 - 22 Apr 2025

Today, the world is experiencing constant technological evolution, allowing cyberattacks to manifest through different vectors and widely impacting victims, from specific users to serious damage to institutions’ integrity. Research has shown that a significant percentage of recorded cyber incidents are attributed to social [...] Read more.

Today, the world is experiencing constant technological evolution, allowing cyberattacks to manifest through different vectors and widely impacting victims, from specific users to serious damage to institutions’ integrity. Research has shown that a significant percentage of recorded cyber incidents are attributed to social engineering practices or human error. In response to this growing threat, reinforcing cybersecurity awareness among users has become an urgent strategy to develop and apply. However, addressing cybersecurity awareness is a difficult challenge, specifically in the HE industry, where cybersecurity awareness should be an essential part of this type of institution due to the amount of critical data it handles. In addition to the need to strengthen the preparation of new professionals, statistics have shown a significant increase in successful security attacks in this industry. Therefore, this study proposes a conceptual Cybersecurity Awareness and Training Framework for Higher Education to facilitate the establishment of systems that improve the cybersecurity awareness of students in any academic institution, extending to all audiences that coexist in it. This framework encompasses key components intended to continually improve the development, integration, delivery, and evaluation of cybersecurity knowledge for individuals directly or indirectly related to the institution’s information assets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Information Security, Data Preservation and Digital Forensics)

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16 pages, 3224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Pixels to Insights: Unsupervised Knowledge Graph Generation with Large Language Model

by Lei Chen, Zhenyu Chen, Wei Yang, Shi Liu and Yong Li

Information 2025, 16(5), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16050335 - 22 Apr 2025

The role of image data in knowledge extraction and representation has become increasingly significant. This study introduces a novel methodology, termed Image to Graph via Large Language Model (ImgGraph-LLM), which constructs a knowledge graph for each image in a dataset. Unlike existing methods [...] Read more.

The role of image data in knowledge extraction and representation has become increasingly significant. This study introduces a novel methodology, termed Image to Graph via Large Language Model (ImgGraph-LLM), which constructs a knowledge graph for each image in a dataset. Unlike existing methods that rely on text descriptions or multimodal data to build a comprehensive knowledge graph, our approach focuses solely on unlabeled individual image data, representing a distinct form of unsupervised knowledge graph construction. To tackle the challenge of generating a knowledge graph from individual images in an unsupervised manner, we first design two self-supervised operations to generate training data from unlabeled images. We then propose an iterative fine-tuning process that uses this self-supervised information, enabling the fine-tuned LLM to recognize the triplets needed to construct the knowledge graph. To improve the accuracy of triplet extraction, we introduce filtering strategies that effectively remove low-confidence training data. Finally, experiments on two large-scale real-world datasets demonstrate the superiority of our proposed model. Full article

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17 pages, 2957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Early Heart Attack Detection Using Hybrid Deep Learning Techniques

by Niga Amanj Hussain and Aree Ali Mohammed

Information 2025, 16(5), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16050334 - 22 Apr 2025

Given the significant risk that heart disease, particularly heart attacks, poses to individuals’ lives, it is crucial to develop effective techniques for early detection. Advanced machine learning and deep learning algorithms have the ability to predict heart attacks by analyzing a patient’s medical [...] Read more.

Given the significant risk that heart disease, particularly heart attacks, poses to individuals’ lives, it is crucial to develop effective techniques for early detection. Advanced machine learning and deep learning algorithms have the ability to predict heart attacks by analyzing a patient’s medical history and overall health. These algorithms can process large datasets, extracting valuable insights that help mitigate the risk of fatal outcomes. This study integrates a deep learning approach to predict and detect heart attacks early by classifying patient data as normal or abnormal. The proposed model combines a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with self-attention, leveraging the self-attention mechanism to focus on the most critical aspects of the sequence. Since heart attack risk is closely tied to the changes in vital signs over time, this approach enables the model to learn and assign appropriate weights to each input component. Improvements and modifications to the hybrid model resulted in a 98.71% accuracy rate during testing. The model’s strong performance on evaluation metrics shows its potential effectiveness in detecting heart attacks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Learning and Knowledge: Theoretical Issues and Biological Applications)

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24 pages, 967 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing E-Recruitment Recommendations Through Text Summarization Techniques

by Reham Hesham El-Deeb, Walid Abdelmoez and Nashwa El-Bendary

Information 2025, 16(4), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040333 - 21 Apr 2025

This research aims to enhance e-recruitment systems using text summarization techniques and pretrained large language models (LLMs). A job recommender system is built with integrated text summarization. The text summarization techniques that are selected are BART, T5 (Text-to-Text Transfer Transformer), BERT, and Pegasus. [...] Read more.

This research aims to enhance e-recruitment systems using text summarization techniques and pretrained large language models (LLMs). A job recommender system is built with integrated text summarization. The text summarization techniques that are selected are BART, T5 (Text-to-Text Transfer Transformer), BERT, and Pegasus. Content-based recommendation is the model chosen to be implemented. The LinkedIn Job Postings dataset is used. The evaluation of the text summarization techniques is performed using ROUGE-1, ROUGE-2, and ROUGE-L. The results of this approach deduce that the recommendation does improve after text summarization. BERT outperforms other summarization techniques. Recommendation evaluations show that, for MRR, BERT performs 256.44% better, indicating relevant recommendations at the top more effectively. For RMSE, there is a 29.29% boost, indicating recommendations closer to the actual values. For MAP, a 106.46% enhancement is achieved, presenting the highest precision in recommendations. Lastly, for NDCG, there is an 83.94% increase, signifying that the most relevant recommendations are ranked higher. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Social Media Mining and Analysis)

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20 pages, 14434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimized Marine Target Detection in Remote Sensing Images with Attention Mechanism and Multi-Scale Feature Fusion

by Xiantao Jiang, Tianyi Liu, Tian Song and Qi Cen

Information 2025, 16(4), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040332 - 21 Apr 2025

With the continuous growth of maritime activities and the shipping trade, the application of maritime target detection in remote sensing images has become increasingly important. However, existing detection methods face numerous challenges, such as small target localization, recognition of targets with large aspect [...] Read more.

With the continuous growth of maritime activities and the shipping trade, the application of maritime target detection in remote sensing images has become increasingly important. However, existing detection methods face numerous challenges, such as small target localization, recognition of targets with large aspect ratios, and high computational demands. In this paper, we propose an improved target detection model, named YOLOv5-ASC, to address the challenges in maritime target detection. The proposed YOLOv5-ASC integrates three core components: an Attention-based Receptive Field Enhancement Module (ARFEM), an optimized SIoU loss function, and a Deformable Convolution Module (C3DCN). These components work together to enhance the model’s performance in detecting complex maritime targets by improving its ability to capture multi-scale features, optimize the localization process, and adapt to the large aspect ratios typical of maritime objects. Experimental results show that, compared to the original YOLOv5 model, YOLOv5-ASC achieves a 4.36 percentage point increase in mAP@0.5 and a 9.87 percentage point improvement in precision, while maintaining computational complexity within a reasonable range. The proposed method not only achieves significant performance improvements on the ShipRSImageNet dataset but also demonstrates strong potential for application in complex maritime remote sensing scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computer Vision for Security Applications)

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15 pages, 5939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Center-Guided Network with Dynamic Attention for Transmission Tower Detection

by Xiaobin Li, Zhuwei Liang, Jingbin Yang, Chuanlong Lyu and Yuge Xu

Information 2025, 16(4), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040331 - 21 Apr 2025

Transmission tower detection in aerial images is the critical step for the inspection of power transmission equipment, which is essential for the stable operation of the power system. However, transmission towers in aerial images pose numerous challenges for object detection due to their [...] Read more.

Transmission tower detection in aerial images is the critical step for the inspection of power transmission equipment, which is essential for the stable operation of the power system. However, transmission towers in aerial images pose numerous challenges for object detection due to their multi-scale elongated shapes, large aspect ratios, and visually similar backgrounds. To address these problems, we propose the Center-Guided network with Dynamic Attention (CGDA) for detecting TTs from aerial images. Specifically, we apply ResNet and FPN as the feature extractor to extract high-quality and multi-scale features. To obtain more discriminative information, the dynamic attention mechanism is employed to dynamically fuse multi-scale feature maps and place more attention on the object regions. In addition, a two-stage detection head is proposed to employ a two-stage detection process to perform more accurate detection. Extensive experiments are conducted on a subset of the public TTPLA dataset. The results show that CGDA achieves competitive performance in detecting TTs, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI-Based Image Processing and Computer Vision)

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32 pages, 4686 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Impact of Synthetic Data on Emotion Classification: A Linguistic and Structural Analysis

by István Üveges and Orsolya Ring

Information 2025, 16(4), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040330 - 21 Apr 2025

Emotion classification in natural language processing (NLP) has recently witnessed significant advancements. However, class imbalance in emotion datasets remains a critical challenge, as dominant emotion categories tend to overshadow less frequent ones, leading to biased model predictions. Traditional techniques, such as undersampling and [...] Read more.

Emotion classification in natural language processing (NLP) has recently witnessed significant advancements. However, class imbalance in emotion datasets remains a critical challenge, as dominant emotion categories tend to overshadow less frequent ones, leading to biased model predictions. Traditional techniques, such as undersampling and oversampling, offer partial solutions. More recently, synthetic data generation using large language models (LLMs) has emerged as a promising strategy for augmenting minority classes and improving model robustness. In this study, we investigate the impact of synthetic data augmentation on German-language emotion classification. Using an imbalanced dataset, we systematically evaluate multiple balancing strategies, including undersampling overrepresented classes and generating synthetic data for underrepresented emotions using a GPT-4–based model in a few-shot prompting setting. Beyond enhancing model performance, we conduct a detailed linguistic analysis of the synthetic samples, examining their lexical diversity, syntactic structures, and semantic coherence to determine their contribution to overall model generalization. Our results demonstrate that integrating synthetic data significantly improves classification performance, particularly for minority emotion categories, while maintaining overall model stability. However, our linguistic evaluation reveals that synthetic examples exhibit reduced lexical diversity and simplified syntactic structures, which may introduce limitations in certain real-world applications. These findings highlight both the potential and the challenges of synthetic data augmentation in emotion classification. By providing a comprehensive evaluation of balancing techniques and the linguistic properties of generated text, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on improving NLP models for underrepresented linguistic phenomena. Full article

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16 pages, 4154 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthetic User Generation in Games: Cloning Player Behavior with Transformer Models

by Alfredo Chapa Mata, Hisa Nimi and Juan Carlos Chacón

Information 2025, 16(4), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040329 - 21 Apr 2025

User-centered design (UCD) commonly requires direct player participation, yet budget limitations or restricted access to users can impede this goal. To address these challenges, this research explores a transformer-based approach coupled with a diffusion process to replicate real player behavior in a 2D [...] Read more.

User-centered design (UCD) commonly requires direct player participation, yet budget limitations or restricted access to users can impede this goal. To address these challenges, this research explores a transformer-based approach coupled with a diffusion process to replicate real player behavior in a 2D side-scrolling action–adventure environment that emphasizes exploration. By collecting an extensive set of gameplay data from real participants in an open-source game, “A Robot Named Fight!”, this study gathered comprehensive state and input information for training. A transformer model was then adapted to generate button-press sequences from encoded game states, while the diffusion mechanism iteratively introduced and removed noise to refine its predictions. The results indicate a high degree of replication of the participant’s actions in contexts similar to the training data, as well as reasonable adaptation to previously unseen scenarios. Observational analysis further confirmed that the model mirrored essential aspects of the user’s style, including navigation strategies, the avoidance of unnecessary combat, and selective obstacle clearance. Despite hardware constraints and reliance on a single observer’s feedback, these findings suggest that a transformer–diffusion methodology can robustly approximate user behavior. This approach holds promise not only for automated playtesting and level design assistance in similar action–adventure games but also for broader domains where simulating user interaction can streamline iterative design and enhance player-centric outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Next-Generation Applications and Implementations of Gamification Systems)

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24 pages, 2533 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Price Prediction of Stock Price Index Based on Combination Method with Introduction of Options Market Information

by Yi Hu, Xin Sui, Qi Zhang and Wei Zhang

Information 2025, 16(4), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040328 - 21 Apr 2025

This study establishes a combination method-based prediction model for the CSI 300 stock index price embedded with options market information. Firstly, utilizing options and spot market information, a BP neural network is employed to predict the CSI 300 stock index price. Secondly, a [...] Read more.

This study establishes a combination method-based prediction model for the CSI 300 stock index price embedded with options market information. Firstly, utilizing options and spot market information, a BP neural network is employed to predict the CSI 300 stock index price. Secondly, a logical framework based on a combination method is constructed to further optimize the CSI 300 stock index price prediction through decomposition–clustering, error adjustment, and weighted integration approaches. The results demonstrate the following: (1) Compared to price predictions based solely on spot market information, the introduction of options market information significantly enhances the forecasting performance for the CSI 300 index price. (2) From the perspective of options moneyness classification, after incorporating options information, different types of options contracts exhibit varying impacts on the CSI 300 index price prediction. Prior to optimization, predictions incorporating in-the-money call options with maximum trading volume yield the optimal performance based on the MSE metric. (3) Under the logical framework of the combination method, the prediction effect for the CSI 300 stock index price is gradually improved after introducing the decomposition–clustering method, the error adjustment method, and the price-weighted integration method, which shows that it is appropriate to use the combination method to optimize the price prediction. Overall, this study proposes a combination method for price forecasting incorporating options market information across diverse contract types. It allows for weighted integration of prediction results derived from various options information, offering a novel research angle for spot market price prediction. The study also underscores the importance of implicit information mining and multi-market information fusion for price prediction, which is expected to become a key research focus in this field. Full article

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26 pages, 8945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Benchmarking Methods for Pointwise Reliability

by Cláudio Correia, Simão Paredes, Teresa Rocha, Jorge Henriques and Jorge Bernardino

Information 2025, 16(4), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040327 - 20 Apr 2025

The growing interest in machine learning in a critical domain like healthcare emphasizes the need for reliable predictions, as decisions based on these outputs can have significant consequences. This study benchmarks methods for assessing pointwise reliability, focusing on data-driven techniques based on the [...] Read more.

The growing interest in machine learning in a critical domain like healthcare emphasizes the need for reliable predictions, as decisions based on these outputs can have significant consequences. This study benchmarks methods for assessing pointwise reliability, focusing on data-driven techniques based on the density principle and the local fit principle. These methods evaluate the reliability of individual predictions by analyzing their similarity to training data and evaluating the performance of the model in local regions. Aiming to establish a standardized comparison, the study introduces a benchmark framework that combines error rate evaluations across reliability intervals with t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding visualizations to further validate the results. The results demonstrate that methods combining density and local fit principles generally outperform those relying on a single principle, achieving lower error rates for high-reliability predictions. Furthermore, the study identifies challenges such as the adjustment of method parameters and clustering limitations and provides insight into their impact on reliability assessments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Real-World Applications of Machine Learning Techniques)

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31 pages, 2141 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Predicting and Preventing School Dropout with Business Intelligence: Insights from a Systematic Review

by Diana-Margarita Córdova-Esparza, Juan Terven, Julio-Alejandro Romero-González, Karen-Edith Córdova-Esparza, Rocio-Edith López-Martínez, Teresa García-Ramírez and Ricardo Chaparro-Sánchez

Information 2025, 16(4), 326; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040326 - 19 Apr 2025

School dropout in higher education remains a significant global challenge with profound socioeconomic consequences. To address this complex issue, educational institutions increasingly rely on business intelligence (BI) and related predictive analytics, such as machine learning and data mining techniques. This systematic review critically [...] Read more.

School dropout in higher education remains a significant global challenge with profound socioeconomic consequences. To address this complex issue, educational institutions increasingly rely on business intelligence (BI) and related predictive analytics, such as machine learning and data mining techniques. This systematic review critically examines the application of BI and predictive analytics for analyzing and preventing student dropout, synthesizing evidence from 230 studies published globally between 1996 and 2025. We collected literature from the Google Scholar and Scopus databases using a comprehensive search strategy, incorporating keywords such as “business intelligence”, “machine learning”, and “big data”. The results highlight a wide range of predictive tools and methodologies, notably data visualization platforms (e.g., Power BI) and algorithms like decision trees, Random Forest, and logistic regression, demonstrating effectiveness in identifying dropout patterns and at-risk students. Common predictive variables included personal, socioeconomic, academic, institutional, and engagement-related factors, reflecting dropout’s multifaceted nature. Critical challenges identified include data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR and FERPA), limited data integration capabilities, interpretability of advanced models, ethical considerations, and educators’ capacity to leverage BI effectively. Despite these challenges, BI applications significantly enhance institutions’ ability to predict dropout accurately and implement timely, targeted interventions. This review emphasizes the need for ongoing research on integrating ethical AI-driven analytics and scaling BI solutions across diverse educational contexts to reduce dropout rates effectively and sustainably. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue ICT-Based Modelling and Simulation for Education)

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19 pages, 4290 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Active Distribution Network Source–Network–Load–Storage Collaborative Interaction Considering Multiple Flexible and Controllable Resources

by Sheng Li, Tianyu Chen and Rui Ding

Information 2025, 16(4), 325; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040325 - 19 Apr 2025

In the context of rapid advancement of smart cities, a distribution network (DN) serving as the backbone of urban operations is a way to confront multifaceted challenges that demand innovative solutions. Central among these, it is imperative to optimize resource allocation and enhance [...] Read more.

In the context of rapid advancement of smart cities, a distribution network (DN) serving as the backbone of urban operations is a way to confront multifaceted challenges that demand innovative solutions. Central among these, it is imperative to optimize resource allocation and enhance the efficient utilization of diverse energy sources, with particular emphasis on seamless integration of renewable energy systems into existing infrastructure. At the same time, considering that the traditional power system’s “rigid”, instantaneous, dynamic, and balanced law of electricity, “source-load”, is difficult to adapt to the grid-connection of a high proportion of distributed generations (DGs), the collaborative interaction of multiple flexible controllable resources, like flexible loads, are able to supplement the power system with sufficient “flexibility” to effectively alleviate the uncertainty caused by intermittent fluctuations in new energy. Therefore, an active distribution network (ADN) intraday, reactive, power optimization-scheduling model is designed. The dynamic reactive power collaborative interaction model, considering the integration of DG, energy storage (ES), flexible loads, as well as reactive power compensators into the IEEE 33-node system, is constructed with the goals of reducing intraday network losses, keeping voltage deviations to a minimum throughout the day, and optimizing static voltage stability in an active distribution network. Simulation outcomes for an enhanced IEEE 33-node system show that coordinated operation of source–network–load–storage effectively reduces intraday active power loss, improves voltage regulation capability, and achieves secure and reliable operation under ADN. Therefore, it will contribute to the construction of future smart city power systems to a certain extent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence and Data Science for Smart Cities)

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27 pages, 6641 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Automated Construction and Mining of Text-Based Modern Chinese Character Databases: A Case Study of Fujian

by Xueyan Jian, Wen Yuan, Wu Yuan, Xinqi Gao and Rong Wang

Information 2025, 16(4), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040324 - 18 Apr 2025

Historical figures are crucial for understanding historical processes and social changes. However, existing databases of historical figures primarily focused on ancient Chinese individuals and are limited by the simplistic organization of textual information, lacking structured processing. Therefore, this study proposes an automatic method [...] Read more.

Historical figures are crucial for understanding historical processes and social changes. However, existing databases of historical figures primarily focused on ancient Chinese individuals and are limited by the simplistic organization of textual information, lacking structured processing. Therefore, this study proposes an automatic method for constructing a spatio-temporal database of modern Chinese figures. The character state transition matrix reveals the spatio-temporal evolution of historical figures, while the random walk algorithm identifies their primary migration patterns. Using historical figures from Fujian Province (1840–2009) as a case study, the results demonstrate that this method effectively constructs the spatio-temporal chain of figures, encompassing time, space, and events. The character state transition matrix indicates a fluctuating trend of state change from 1840 to 2009, initially increasing and then decreasing. By applying keyword extraction and the random walk method, this study finds that the state transitions and their causes align with the historical trends. The four-dimensional analytical framework of “character-time-space-event” established in this study holds significant value for the field of digital humanities. Full article

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23 pages, 6006 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Collaborative Modeling of BPMN and HCPN: Formal Mapping and Iterative Evolution of Process Models for Scenario Changes

by Zhaoqi Zhang, Feng Ni, Jiang Liu, Niannian Chen and Xingjun Zhou

Information 2025, 16(4), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040323 - 18 Apr 2025

Dynamic and changeable business scenarios pose significant challenges to the adaptability and verifiability of process models. Despite its widespread adoption as an ISO-standard modeling language, Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) faces inherent limitations in formal semantics and verification capabilities, hindering the mathematical [...] Read more.

Dynamic and changeable business scenarios pose significant challenges to the adaptability and verifiability of process models. Despite its widespread adoption as an ISO-standard modeling language, Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) faces inherent limitations in formal semantics and verification capabilities, hindering the mathematical validation of process evolution behaviors under scenario changes. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a collaborative modeling framework integrating BPMN with hierarchical colored Petri nets (HCPNs), enabling the efficient iterative evolution and correctness verification of process change through formal mapping and localized evolution mechanism. First, hierarchical mapping rules are established with subnet-based modular decomposition, transforming BPMN elements into an HCPN executable model and effectively resolving semantic ambiguities; second, atomic evolution operations (addition, deletion, and replacement) are defined to achieve partial HCPN updates, eliminating the computational overhead of global remapping. Furthermore, an automated verification pipeline is constructed by analyzing state spaces, validating critical properties such as deadlock freeness and behavioral reachability. Evaluated through an intelligent AI-driven service scenario involving multi-gateway processes, the framework demonstrates behavioral effectiveness. This work provides a pragmatic solution for scenario-driven process evolution in domains requiring agile iteration, such as fintech and smart manufacturing. Full article

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17 pages, 2690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimized Digital Watermarking for Robust Information Security in Embedded Systems

by Mohcin Mekhfioui, Nabil El Bazi, Oussama Laayati, Amal Satif, Marouan Bouchouirbat, Chaïmaâ Kissi, Tarik Boujiha and Ahmed Chebak

Information 2025, 16(4), 322; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040322 - 18 Apr 2025

With the exponential growth in transactions and exchanges carried out via the Internet, the risks of the falsification and distortion of information are multiplying, encouraged by widespread access to the virtual world. In this context, digital image watermarking has emerged as an essential [...] Read more.

With the exponential growth in transactions and exchanges carried out via the Internet, the risks of the falsification and distortion of information are multiplying, encouraged by widespread access to the virtual world. In this context, digital image watermarking has emerged as an essential solution for protecting digital content by enhancing its durability and resistance to manipulation. However, no current digital watermarking technology offers complete protection against all forms of attack, with each method often limited to specific applications. This field has recently benefited from the integration of deep learning techniques, which have brought significant advances in information security. This article explores the implementation of digital watermarking in embedded systems, addressing the challenges posed by resource constraints such as memory, computing power, and energy consumption. We propose optimization techniques, including frequency domain methods and the use of lightweight deep learning models, to enhance the robustness and resilience of embedded systems. The experimental results validate the effectiveness of these approaches for enhanced image protection, opening new prospects for the development of information security technologies adapted to embedded environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Privacy and Security, 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 6577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Beam STAR MIMO Using Differential Arrays

by Yinyi Zhao, Satheesh Bojja Venkatakrishnan, Constantinos L. Zekios, Soumyajit Mandal and Arjuna Madanayake

Information 2025, 16(4), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/info16040321 - 18 Apr 2025

As we are witnessing the surge of ongoing wireless communication systems, simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) schemes are proving to be advantageous due to the doubling of spectral efficiency. However, for the successful realization of STAR, we need to overcome a major bottleneck [...] Read more.

As we are witnessing the surge of ongoing wireless communication systems, simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) schemes are proving to be advantageous due to the doubling of spectral efficiency. However, for the successful realization of STAR, we need to overcome a major bottleneck in suppressing the self-interference from the transmitter onto the colocated receiver. Currently, mitigating this interference requires complex hardware and advanced algorithms when employing an array for applications such as multiple input, multiple output (MIMO), and beamforming. This interference can arise from both near-field and far-field coupling in a MIMO beamforming system. Consequently, this paper presents a unique STAR approach that provides an average isolation of 40 dB between Tx and Rx ports across all elements of the MIMO beamforming system. The proposed approach can be extended to large antenna arrays. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Telecommunication Networks and Wireless Technology)

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