PsycInfo

This study examines the human and organisational factors influencing the adoption of property technology (PropTech) among real estate professionals in the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia). Adopting a Human-Technology-Organisation (HTO) perspective, the research explores how professionals integrate digital tools into their daily work. Data collected via a questionnaire survey of 20 Baltic real estate executives was analysed using the Relative Importance Index (RII). The findings reveal that PropTech is primarily utilised for people-intensive functions, such as marketing, customer relations and contract administration. It serves to augment human interaction rather than replace it. The most significant barriers to adoption were found to be primarily human- and knowledge-based, including insufficient investment capital, legal ambiguity and, critically, low PropTech knowledge among employees. This knowledge deficit creates uncertainty among staff regarding the proper use of digital tools. Theoretically, the study emphasises that adoption of advanced technologies is strongly moderated by personnel availability, professional knowledge and learning processes rather than technology level itself. In practice, the results highlight the urgent need for real estate industry HR and training departments to address this knowledge gap through targeted training, knowledge transfer and dissemination of best practice. Furthermore, policy should prioritise aligning PropTech investment with human capital development.

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of information technologies and technology-enabled social networks on the efficiency of knowledge management processes in the Middle Eastern audit and consulting companies. Design/methodology/approach. Scientific literature analysis, structural equation modeling and expert evaluation (structured questionnaire) were used to develop the research model, collect data from the audit and consulting companies’ experts and test the research hypotheses. Findings. The empirical results of this research supported the hypotheses stating that information technologies and social networks positively affect the knowledge management cycle, including five processes (acquisition, creation, storage, sharing and application) within the Middle Eastern audit and consulting companies. Research limitations/implications. The research results were generated from the Middle Eastern audit and consulting companies, which form a limitation concerning the geographical area and the business sector. Practical implications. From the results of this study, audit and consulting companies, as well as organizations and society broadly, would benefit via the positive effect of information technologies and technology-enabled social networks on the whole knowledge management cycle, which has a further impact on organizational performance. These practical implications are related to a more open, sharing culture that drives organizational performance to the members and stakeholders of organizations, which, in turn, benefits society. Originality/value. This research analyzes information technologies and technology-enabled social networks’ impact on knowledge management processes, particularly in the context of the Middle Eastern audit and consulting companies. While the phenomena have received some attention in the prior scientific research, the studied context so far remained under-researched, where a gap is found in studying the knowledge management cycle as a whole.

Sharp falls or explosive growths in exchange markets, whether expected or not, generates new challenges for investors who want to protect their investments or achieve an optimum benefit during and after the turmoil. An anomaly of the exchange market, instigated by the Swiss National Bank, occurred when the Swiss Franc decoupled from the euro unexpectedly. The United Kingdom (UK) vote to withdraw from the European Union (Brexit), in contrast, was feared but expected. A comparison of the consequences of the anomalies gives us an unprecedented opportunity to investigate prediction capabilities of the EVOLINO Recurrent Neural Network Ensemble (ERNN) model following an anomaly. By introducing this new information to the ERNN model and analyzing its response, we increase investor resources during large exchange rate fluctuations; this will provide them with additional information that will help them construct different portfolios. Reaction to the anomaly was visible only after the anomaly occurred, this is when the model began to acquire data influenced by the extreme change. Comparing different strategies which are related or unrelated to the anomaly and orthogonal or not orthogonal for conservative, moderate, or aggressive trading shows that in order to profit from the anomaly, speculation depends on prediction-accuracy and on the sets of exchange-rate associated with the anomaly.

Knowledge of viral diversity is expanding greatly, but many lineages remain underexplored. We surveyed RNA viruses in 52 cultured monoxenous relatives of the human parasite Leishmania (Crithidia and Leptomonas), as well as plant-infecting PhytomonasLeptomonas pyrrhocoris was a hotbed for viral discovery, carrying a virus (Leptomonas pyrrhocoris ostravirus 1) with a highly divergent RNA-dependent RNA polymerase missed by conventional BLAST searches, an emergent clade of tombus-like viruses, and an example of viral endogenization. A deep-branching clade of trypanosomatid narnaviruses was found, notable as Leptomonas seymouri bearing Narna-like virus 1 (LepseyNLV1) have been reported in cultures recovered from patients with visceral leishmaniasis. A deep-branching trypanosomatid viral lineage showing strong affinities to bunyaviruses was termed "Leishbunyavirus" (LBV) and judged sufficiently distinct to warrant assignment within a proposed family termed "Leishbunyaviridae" Numerous relatives of trypanosomatid viruses were found in insect metatranscriptomic surveys, which likely arise from trypanosomatid microbiota. Despite extensive sampling we found no relatives of the totivirus Leishmaniavirus (LRV1/2), implying that it was acquired at about the same time the Leishmania became able to parasitize vertebrates. As viruses were found in over a quarter of isolates tested, many more are likely to be found in the >600 unsurveyed trypanosomatid species. Viral loss was occasionally observed in culture, providing potentially isogenic virus-free lines enabling studies probing the biological role of trypanosomatid viruses. These data shed important insights on the emergence of viruses within an important trypanosomatid clade relevant to human disease.

The paper aims to analyse the problem of quality evaluation and personalisation of virtual reality/ augmented reality/mixed reality (VR/AR/MR). First of all, systematic review of relevant scientific literature on the research topic was conducted. After that, findings of the systematic review concerning evaluation of quality and personalisation of VR/AR/MR learning environments are presented. The author’s VR/AR/MR learning systems/environments quality evaluation and personalisation framework is also presented in the paper. Evaluation of quality of VR/AR/MR platforms/environments should be based on (a) applying both expert-centred (top-down) and user-centred (bottom-up) quality evaluation methods and (b) separating ‘internal quality’ criteria, and ‘quality in use’ criteria in the set of quality criteria (model). Personalisation of VR/AR/MR platforms/environments should be based on learners’ models/profiles using students’ learning styles, intelligent technologies, and Semantic Web applications.

This paper analyzes the influence of transient operating modes in the Cat 3512B-HD and MTU 4000 R41 locomotive diesel engines on their energy usage. This analysis represents an integral component of the technological research and development performed at Lietuvos Geležinkeliai AB (JSC Lithuanian Railways) with the objective of increasing the efficiency of freight transportation with the upgraded 2M62M and modern ER20CF/2ER20CF diesel locomotives. The influence of transient modes on the operating variables of the locomotive diesel engines was evaluated under operational load-cycling conditions to aid in the selection of appropriate parameters (e.g., the train weight, the diesel locomotive type, and the technical characteristics of the diesel locomotive to be modeled) for freight transportation on Lithuanian railway lines. It was determined that the engine’s electronic control system compensates for the negative effects of transient operations on the engine’s energy usage. As a result, the increase in fuel consumption is less than 3% during transient operation when compared to steady-state operation. Through this research, methodological foundations have been formulated and adapted for the use of the mathematical modeling of the transient modes of locomotive diesel engines to optimize freight transportation, resulting in an expected decrease of 10–15% in fuel consumption.

Our findings suggest that a child’s individual characteristics are somewhat more related to resilience than his / her interpersonal relations or the setting of a community network. The overall effect sizes are small, the total number of participants is 19 300. Empirical evidence does not support the linear increase of resilience with the child’s age. At present, the measurement is of crucial importance for studies of resilience considered as a dynamic characteristic of functioning. In the studies of early childhood development, it is difficult to differentiate between correlates of post facto resiliency outcomes and attributes of age-appropriate positive functioning. Statements can be made only with regard to the overall quality of life of a child.