Search Results (19)

Background: Patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) in total knee arthroplasty represents an increasingly relevant component of personalized surgical planning. As nearly half of orthopedic patients search online for medical information before or after clinical consultation, the quality, accuracy, and readability of publicly available digital resources directly influence patient expectations, shared decision-making, and rehabilitation engagement. This study assessed the content, quality, and readability of online information about PSI in TKA. Methods: Google searches using four predefined PSI-related terms were conducted on 6 March 2025. After applying exclusion criteria, 71 websites were included for evaluation. Websites were categorized as academic or non-academic and analyzed for authorship, reporting of advantages and disadvantages, inaccurate assertions, use of peer-reviewed references, multimedia content, and mention of specific PSI platforms. Website quality was assessed using validated quality evaluation tools (QUEST and JAMA criteria), and readability was evaluated using established readability indices (SMOG, FKGL, and FRE). Results: Academic websites demonstrated significantly higher quality than non-academic sources based on QUEST (25.4 vs. 9.8; p < 0.001) and JAMA criteria (3.7 vs. 1.7; p < 0.001). Disadvantages of PSI were reported in 69.1% of academic sites versus 12.5% of non-academic sites (p < 0.001). Inaccurate claims occurred in 31.3% of non-academic sites but were absent in academic sources (p < 0.001). Peer-reviewed references were present in 81.8% of academic websites and only 12.5% of non-academic sites (p < 0.001). Readability was uniformly poor across all websites, with no significant group differences (mean SMOG 13.5; mean FKGL 11.8; mean FRE 32.4). Conclusions: Online information about PSI in total knee arthroplasty varies widely in transparency and accuracy, with non-academic websites frequently omitting risks or presenting misleading claims. Given the role of individualized implant planning, accessible and evidence-based digital content is essential to support personalized patient education and shared decision-making. Because limited readability restricts patient comprehension and informed participation in personalized orthopedic care, improving the clarity and accessibility of digital patient resources is essential. Full article

In the fiercely competitive sharing market, manufacturers have launched product sharing/leasing services through business-to-customer (B2C) and peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms. To reduce the channel conflicts caused by product sharing, manufacturers expand product lines by renting products of different quality on their B2C platform. In this paper, we investigate the product lines in a vertically differentiated duopoly. We examine competing manufacturers’ three product line strategies: the no-product line strategy, the high-end product line strategy, and the low-end product line strategy. We characterize the equilibrium outcomes under these strategies and investigate the manufacturers’ preferences regarding these strategies. Our findings reveal a unique equilibrium: the high-quality manufacturer prefers offering a high-end product line, while the low-quality manufacturer opts for a low-end product line. This configuration leverages each firm’s comparative advantage, mitigates channel conflict, reduces cannibalization, and supports effective market segmentation. The equilibrium leads to a Pareto improvement and enhances operational efficiency for both firms. These results suggest that aligning product line design with intrinsic product quality can balance profitability and market efficiency in shared markets. Full article

In a botnet attack, significant damage can occur when an attacker gains control over a large number of compromised network devices. Botnets have evolved from traditional centralized architectures to decentralized Peer-to-Peer (P2P) and hybrid forms. Recently, a steganography-based botnet (Stego-botnet) has emerged, which conceals command and control (C&C) messages within cover media such as images or video files shared over social networking sites (SNS). This type of Stego-botnet can evade conventional detection systems, as identifying hidden messages embedded in media transmitted via SNS platforms is inherently challenging. However, the inherent file size limitations of SNS platforms restrict the achievable payload capacity of such Stego-botnets. Moreover, the centralized characteristics of conventional botnet architectures expose attackers to a higher risk of identification. To overcome these challenges, researchers have explored network steganography techniques leveraging P2P networks such as BitTorrent, Google Suggest, and Skype. Among these, a hidden communication method utilizing Bitfield messages in BitTorrent has been proposed, demonstrating improved concealment compared to prior studies. Nevertheless, existing approaches still fail to achieve sufficient payload capacity relative to traditional digital steganography techniques. In this study, we extend P2P-based network steganography methods—particularly within the BitTorrent protocol—to address these limitations. We propose a novel botnet C&C communication model that employs network steganography over BitTorrent and validate its feasibility through experimental implementation. Furthermore, our results show that the proposed Stego-botnet achieves a higher payload capacity and outperforms existing Stego-botnet models in terms of both efficiency and concealment performance. Full article

One essential component of insurance technology (Insurtech) is peer-to-peer (P2P) insurance, which represents a transformative shift from conventional insurance to digital platforms by fostering community-based risk sharing. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by engaging the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM2) to explore how perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norms, and perceived trust influence the adoption of P2P insurance, and the moderating influence of income on these relationships. This study used a self-administered survey questionnaire to collect data from short-term insurance clients in South Africa. The survey was analysed using the confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) approach. The findings demonstrate that perceived usefulness, ease of use, and subjective norms present a significant positive influence on the adoption of P2P insurance, underscoring the relevance of value, ease of use, and social influence in predicting the adoption of insurance technologies, particularly P2P insurance. However, perceived risk and trust exhibit a positive but statistically insignificant relationship. Additionally, this study reveals that income exerts a significant positive moderating influence on perceived usefulness, ease of use, and subjective norms in affecting P2P adoption, implying that individuals with higher incomes are responsive to these factors when considering P2P insurance. This study highlights the need for policies that support the development of digital infrastructure, as its accessibility and ease of use, including social norms, are predicted as essential drivers of P2P insurance adoption. Also, policymakers should focus on creating a regulatory environment that encourages accountability and openness to P2P insurance. Full article

Nowadays, advanced metering and communication infrastructures make it possible to enable decentralized control and market schemes. In this context, prosumers can interact with their neighbors in an active manner, thus sharing resources. This practice, known as peer-to-peer (P2P), can be put into practice under cooperative or competitive premises. This paper focuses on the second case, where the peers partaking in the P2P platform compete among themselves to improve their monetary balances. In such contexts, the domestic assets, such as on-site generators and storage systems, should be optimally scheduled to maximize participation in the P2P platform and thus enable the possibility of obtaining monetary incomes or exploiting surplus renewable energy from adjacent prosumers. This paper addresses this issue by developing a home energy management model for optimal participation of prosumers in competitive P2P platforms. The new proposal is cast in a three-stage procedure, in which the first and last stages are focused on domestic asset scheduling, while the second step decides the optimal offering/bidding strategy for the concerned prosumer. Moreover, uncertainties are introduced using interval notation and equivalent scenarios, resulting in an amicable computational framework that can be efficiently solved by average machines and off-the-shelf solvers. The new methodology is tested on a benchmark four-prosumer community. Results prove that the proposed procedure effectively maximizes the participation of prosumers in the P2P platform, thus increasing their monetary benefits. The role of storage systems is also discussed, in particular their capability of increasing exportable energy. Finally, the influence of uncertainties on the final results is illustrated. Full article

The widespread availability of tools to collect and share spatial data enables us to produce a large amount of geographic information on a daily basis. This enormous production of spatial data requires scalable data management systems. Geospatial architectures have changed from clusters to cloud architectures and more parallel and distributed processing platforms to be able to tackle these challenges. Peer-to-peer (P2P) systems as a backbone of distributed systems have been established in several application areas such as web3, blockchains, and crypto-currencies. Unlike centralized systems, data storage in P2P networks is distributed across network nodes, providing scalability and no single point of failure. However, managing and processing queries on these networks has always been challenging. In this work, we propose a spatio-temporal indexing data structure, DSTree. DSTree does not require additional Distributed Hash Trees (DHTs) to perform multi-dimensional range queries. Inserting a piece of new geographic information updates only a portion of the tree structure and does not impact the entire graph of the data. For example, for time-series data, such as storing sensor data, the DSTree performs around 40% faster in spatio-temporal queries for small and medium datasets. Despite the advantages of our proposed framework, challenges such as 20% slower insertion speed or semantic query capabilities remain. We conclude that more significant research effort from GIScience and related fields in developing decentralized applications is needed. The need for the standardization of different geographic information when sharing data on the IPFS network is one of the requirements. Full article

The growing adoption of distributed energy production technologies and the potential for energy underutilisation when the energy is produced by non-connected groups has raised interest in developing ‘sharing economy’ concepts in the electricity sector. We suggest that mechanisms, such as peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, will allow users to exchange their surplus energy for mutual benefits, stimulate the adoption of renewable energy, encourage communities to ‘democratically’ control their own energy supplies for local development, improve energy efficiency, and create many other benefits This approach is receiving increasing attention across the world, particularly in Germany, the Netherlands and Australia. Nevertheless, the actual development and implementation of these platforms are slow and mostly limited to trial activities. This study investigates the challenges and barriers facing P2P energy trading developments based on previous academic and industry studies. We provide a comprehensive multidimensional barrier analysis through a PESTLE approach to assess the barriers from a variety of perspectives, including the political (P), economic (E), social (S), technological (T), legal (L), and environmental (E) aspects. This approach clarifies the many intersecting problem fields for P2P trading in renewable energy, and the paper identifies a list of such barriers and discusses the prospects for addressing these issues. We also elaborate on the importance of incentive-based P2P market design. Full article

To regain overall well-being in the post-pandemic era, the priorities should not be only economic growth but also human physical and mental health. This study investigates how to incorporate the concept of well-being into the circular economy to facilitate the pursuit of individual/personal and social growth, and sustainable consumption. We begin with a systematic search of the literature on well-being and sustainable product–service systems, model the well-being components in peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing and reuse platforms, and propose design guidelines for platform development. According to our findings, (1) allocentric well-being components (such as gratitude, contribution, and altruism) serve as the antecedents of sharing behaviors, while egocentric components (such as pleasure and attachment) serve as the consequences, and (2) information sharing is crucial to initiating the flow of well-being perceptions and sustainable sharing and reuse behaviors. Based on the findings, we suggest a data-driven approach and active inference theory to facilitate related studies. This study sheds light on the potential to develop well-being within the circular economy and facilitate the sustainable working of the sharing and reuse ecosystem. Full article

Due to the rising appeal of travel, as well as the appearance of low-cost carriers that fly to both popular and exotic destinations, people nowadays tend to book their accommodation through the more convenient and flexible sharing economy platforms. The success of such platforms among consumers depends on various factors, such as satisfaction and platform credibility, and on sustainable performance among contributors, increasing their relevance and visibility. This research proposes a conceptual model for measuring the success of sharing economy platforms in tourism, based on added value, unique experience, and enhanced social interactions, together with credibility and sustainable performance. In this vein, the authors conduct an empirical investigation in an emerging market—Romania—where the development of such sharing economy platforms is still in its infancy. Data gathered by the authors by means of a self-developed questionnaire distributed to 500 respondents are modelled via structural equations with SmartPLS. The results indicate that the platform credibility and sustainable performance of sharing economy platforms are key elements in generating their success. The research adds value to the stimulus–organism–response approach, highlighting some insights from a relevant emerging market, which in the future could become a turning point for inbound and outbound tourism. Full article

Blockchain technology (BCT) enables the automated execution of smart contracts in peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading. BCT-based P2P platforms allow the sharing, exchange and trade of energy among consumers or prosumers as peers, fostering the decarbonization, decentralization and digitalization of the energy industry. On the other hand, BCT-based P2P energy trading relies on the collection, storage and processing of a large amount of user data, posing interdisciplinary challenges, including user anonymity, privacy, the governance of BCT systems and the role of energy market players. First, this paper seeks to review the state of the art of European data protection law and regulations by focusing on BCT compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of 2018. Second, it explores both the potentials and the challenges of BCT-based P2P energy trading from a legal–economic perspective. To do so, the paper adopts an interdisciplinary approach which intertwines both law and economics, by reviewing the recent literature on BCT and P2P energy trading. Findings have revealed that the deployment of BCT-based P2P energy trading is still in its pilot stage because of technology immaturity, data protection uncertainty, incomplete disintermediation and the lack of both user awareness and collaboration among market players. Drawing on the review, the paper also proposes a selection of solutions to foster the implementation of BCT-based P2P energy trading. Full article

The Korean government is committed to advance the country’s energy transition to greener energy by increasing the share of renewable electricity to 20 percent by 2030 and to 30–35 percent by 2040. Achieving these goals will necessitate flexibility in energy markets as well as innovative business models and technological solutions. Peer-to-peer (P2P) electricity trading platforms (ETPs) are rapidly gaining traction, as they enable the integration of distributed energy sources into power systems. This study explores whether South Koreans are willing to participate in a hypothetical P2P ETP, which allows prosumers (who both consume and produce electricity) to trade electricity surpluses with their neighbours or with KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation). We employ a choice experiment (CE) to examine respondent heterogeneous preferences and their willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical P2P ETP in South Korea. Our findings indicate that two-thirds of total respondents in our CE are in favour of a P2P ETP if available. Cost savings and security play an essential role in respondent preferences for a P2P ETP business model. Respondents also prefer to trade renewable electricity with KEPCO rather than with other individuals. Per our statistical estimations, respondent WTP for a P2P ETP was estimated at USD 55.68/per month. Our analysis strongly recommends increasing consumer awareness of P2P ETPs to spur adoption. Energy trading platforms that are anchored in secure block chain technology can generate cost savings as well as support the country’s policy tilt toward green energy. Full article

Background: Little research has studied the peer effect of physicians and patients in online health communities (OHCs) simultaneously. The study investigates the impact of the focal physician’s peers (F-peers) on the focal physician (F-physician), and the impact of patients of the focal physician’s peers (F-P-patients) on the focal physician’s patients (F-patients). Moreover, based on brand extension and accessible–diagnosable theories, this study explores the moderating effects of the intensity of F-peers’ knowledge sharing behavior and department reputation. Methods: This study collects data of 3297 physicians and related patients from Haodf.com platform between January 2019 and December 2019. Both two-way fixed effect and panel negative binomial regression are adopted to quantify the effects. Results: Results show that the behavior of F-peers positively affects the behavior of the F-physician, while the behavior of F-P-patients positively affects the behavior of F-patients. Moreover, both the intensity of F-peers’ knowledge sharing behavior and department reputation have a compound moderating effect. Conclusions: This study contributes to the literature of peer effects by constructing the conceptual framework of different types of individual participation behaviors in OHCs. The findings offer practical guides for establishing an incentive mechanism and formulating peer incentives or competition strategies in OHCs. Full article

In a peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing-service model, a platform provider (PP) has no direct control over the service quality of peer service providers (PSPs). However, an unpleasant experience with a single PSP may impact customer responses to the PP. Hence, the PP should offer PSPs guidelines on how to cope with service failures. To identify effective/ineffective recovery strategies, this study examined the influence of the characteristics of service failure/recovery and customers that influence customers’ behavioral intentions toward the PP. Specifically, it employed multiple regression analysis (MRA) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to analyze the complex relationships between service failure/recovery characteristics (severity of service failure and source of service recovery) and customers’ characteristics (PSP experience, age, and gender) regarding customers’ behavioral intentions (reuse and switching intentions of the PP). The results show (1) four solutions leading to high reuse intention and two solutions leading to high switching intention of the PP when the severity of service failure is high and (2) three solutions leading to high reuse intention and two solutions leading to high switching intention of the PP when the severity of service failure is low. By investigating recovery configurations reflecting the unique characteristics of P2P sharing services, this study contributes to the literature on both P2P sharing services and service failure/recovery. Full article

Peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms are gaining increasing popularity due to their scalability, robustness and self-organization. In P2P systems, peers interact directly with each other to share resources or exchange services without a central authority to manage the interaction. However, these features expose P2P platforms to malicious attacks that reduce the level of trust between peers and in extreme situations, may cause the entire system to shut down. Therefore, it is essential to employ a trust management system that establishes trust relationships among peers. Current P2P trust management systems use binary categorization to classify peers as trustworthy or not trustworthy. However, in the real world, trustworthiness is a vague concept; peers have different levels of trustworthiness that affect their overall trust value. Therefore, in this paper, we developed a novel trust management algorithm for P2P platforms based on Hadith science where Hadiths are systematically classified into multiple levels of trustworthiness, based on the quality of narrator and content. To benchmark our proposed system, HadithTrust, we used two state-of-art trust management systems, EigenTrust and InterTrust, with no-trust algorithm as a baseline scenario. Various experimental results demonstrated the superiority of HadithTrust considering eight performance measures. Full article

Though multiple studies have explored the phenomenon of car sharing, very few have indulged into exploring how different forms of trust varies between users of different business models. We address this research gap through employing quantitative data analyses of car sharers in Norway. Results show that the levels of ingroup and outgroup-trust (i.e., trust towards friends/family or unfamiliar persons) are markedly low for the members of the peer-to-peer scheme (M = 3.4/2.9) as compared to the cooperative (M = 6.0/4.8) and business-to-consumer scheme (M = 5.7/4.4). In contrast, technology-based trust is more important for the P2P sharers (M = 5.8) than cooperative (M = 5.6) and the B2C users (M = 5.6). Our findings echo previous studies, indicating that a different set of institutional logics is driving the transactions at the emerging P2P platforms compared to former non-profit sharing communities. Full article