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A Model-Driven Engineering Approach to AI-Powered Healthcare Platforms -
Generative AI in Developing Countries: Adoption Dynamics in Vietnamese Local Government -
New Concept of Digital Learning Space for Health Professional Students: Quantitative Research Analysis on Perceptions -
Visual Harmony Between Avatar Appearance and On-Avatar Text: Effects on Self-Expression Fit and Interpersonal Perception in Social VR -
C-STEER: A Dynamic Sentiment-Aware Framework for Fake News Detection with Lifecycle Emotional Evolution
Journal Description
Informatics
Informatics
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on information and communication technologies, human–computer interaction, and social informatics, and is published monthly online by MDPI.
- 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), dblp, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q1 (Communication)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 32.1 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 4.2 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2025).
- 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.
- Journal Cluster of Information Systems and Technology: Analytics, Applied System Innovation, Cryptography, Data, Digital, Informatics, Information, Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy and Multimedia.
Impact Factor:
2.8 (2024);
5-Year Impact Factor:
3.1 (2024)
Latest Articles
Intelligent Question-Answering System for New Energy Vehicles Integrating Deep Semantic Parsing and Knowledge Graphs
Informatics 2026, 13(5), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13050066 - 24 Apr 2026
Abstract
The new energy vehicle (NEV) industry generates massive multi-source heterogeneous data. To overcome traditional database limitations in terminology disambiguation and multi-hop reasoning, this paper proposes a knowledge graph (KG)-based question-answering (QA) architecture. Three primary domain challenges are addressed: First, to tackle the poor
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The new energy vehicle (NEV) industry generates massive multi-source heterogeneous data. To overcome traditional database limitations in terminology disambiguation and multi-hop reasoning, this paper proposes a knowledge graph (KG)-based question-answering (QA) architecture. Three primary domain challenges are addressed: First, to tackle the poor semantic extraction of informal diagnostic texts, a deep semantic parsing network (BERT-BiLSTM-CRF) is integrated to extract high-precision knowledge from 150,000 real-world maintenance records. Second, to solve topological redundancy, the Labeled Property Graph (LPG) specification is employed to encapsulate parameters of 2157 vehicle models as internal attributes, significantly streamlining complex multi-hop reasoning. Finally, to enhance limited reasoning capabilities, an intent classification module (TextCNN) automatically translates natural language into graph queries, enabling deep fault tracing across up to five semantic levels. Experimental results demonstrate 98% and 93% accuracy in entity-relation recognition and intent classification, respectively. The resulting KG (8274 nodes, 14,488 edges) establishes a scalable paradigm for intelligent diagnostic reasoning in complex vertical domains.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Machine Learning)
Open AccessArticle
The Relevance of Compound Events in Bee Traffic Monitoring
by
Andrea Nieves-Rivera, Marie Lluberes-Contreras and Rémi Mégret
Informatics 2026, 13(5), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13050065 - 23 Apr 2026
Abstract
Bees are essential pollinators for agricultural systems, making accurate, automated monitoring of their behavior critical for assessing colony health and ecosystem stability. Recent advances in computer vision and artificial intelligence have enabled large-scale bee traffic monitoring at hive entrances; however, most existing event
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Bees are essential pollinators for agricultural systems, making accurate, automated monitoring of their behavior critical for assessing colony health and ecosystem stability. Recent advances in computer vision and artificial intelligence have enabled large-scale bee traffic monitoring at hive entrances; however, most existing event classification methods focus exclusively on simple entrance and exit events. This simplification overlooks compound movements—such as U-turns and guarding behaviors—that represent a substantial portion of bee activity and can lead to inaccurate trajectory reconstruction and misleading behavioral interpretations. In this work, we systematically analyze existing event classification strategies used in automatic bee traffic monitoring, evaluating their performance on both simple and compound movements. We then propose extended classification methods that explicitly model compound events by incorporating bidirectional movement patterns derived from positional and angular cues. Using a manually annotated dataset of computer-vision-based hive entrance recordings, we compare threshold-based, displacement-based, and angle-based approaches under simple and mixed-event conditions. Our results demonstrate that compound events account for over one-third of all detected movements and that classification methods explicitly designed to handle bidirectional behavior substantially outperform traditional approaches in both accuracy and robustness. In particular, threshold-based bidirectional classification achieves near-perfect performance when full trajectories are available, while displacement-based methods provide a reliable alternative under partial observations. These findings highlight the importance of modeling compound behaviors in automated bee monitoring systems and contribute to more accurate flight reconstruction, behavioral analysis, and AI-driven decision support for precision agriculture and pollinator management.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Revolutionizing Agriculture and Natural Resource Management with Artificial Intelligence Approaches)
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Open AccessArticle
The Role of Human–Computer Interaction in Shaping User Engagement with E-Commerce Applications
by
Hasan Razzaqi, Mahmood Akbar, Jayendira P. Sankar and T. Ramayah
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040064 - 20 Apr 2026
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This research aimed to determine the influence of human–computer interaction usability on the behavioral intention and self-reported continued usage intentions of e-commerce applications. Moreover, it investigated the moderating role of trust in the relationship between behavioral intention and self-reported continued usage intentions of
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This research aimed to determine the influence of human–computer interaction usability on the behavioral intention and self-reported continued usage intentions of e-commerce applications. Moreover, it investigated the moderating role of trust in the relationship between behavioral intention and self-reported continued usage intentions of e-commerce applications. The data were gathered from 398 Bahraini individuals using a convenience sampling approach and analyzed using SmartPLS 4. The results highlighted that human–computer interaction usability sub-characteristics, including appropriateness, recognizability, user interface esthetics, learnability, and operability, are significantly associated with behavioral intention toward e-commerce applications within this sample. Furthermore, the results reported that trust strengthens the influence of behavioral intention on self-reported continued usage intentions toward e-commerce applications. The research provides context-specific exploratory insights from a segment of the Bahraini e-commerce sector. Due to the study’s non-probabilistic convenience sampling design, the cross-sectional nature of the data, and a sample predominantly composed of young, male, English-proficient respondents, the findings should be interpreted as exploratory rather than representative of the entire Bahraini population. In addition, the research findings helped e-commerce application developers and marketing experts within e-commerce companies develop efficient, operable, attractive, and learnable applications.
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Open AccessArticle
SPARK_AI: A Prompt-Orchestrated Architecture for Stateful, Process-Oriented Reasoning with Large Language Models
by
Marija Kaplar, Sebastijan Kaplar, Miloš Vučić, Lidija Ivanović, Aleksandra Stevanović, Aleksandar Milenković and Nemanja Vučićević
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040063 - 17 Apr 2026
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This paper presents SPARK_AI, a prompt-orchestrated system architecture for governing how large language models (LLMs) conduct structured and adaptive reasoning in human–AI interaction. The framework mitigates ad hoc LLM use by replacing direct answer generation with a process-oriented, step-by-step reasoning workflow. We focus
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This paper presents SPARK_AI, a prompt-orchestrated system architecture for governing how large language models (LLMs) conduct structured and adaptive reasoning in human–AI interaction. The framework mitigates ad hoc LLM use by replacing direct answer generation with a process-oriented, step-by-step reasoning workflow. We focus on SPARK_AI_MATH, a domain module that supports learners in solving non-routine problem-solving tasks by operationalizing well-established problem-solving phases and guided questioning dialog strategies (Socratic-style prompts), with an optional tool-mediated visualization layer (e.g., GeoGebra). The module implements a five-phase conversational protocol consisting of problem interpretation, analysis of givens, planning, execution, and reflection, together with a controlled hint policy. This design is realized through a stateful system architecture in which each problem instance is maintained as an independent interaction track with a persistent reasoning state. User acceptance was evaluated by first-year mechanical engineering students (N = 108) using an expanded Technology Acceptance Model instrument, and the results were analyzed via PLS-SEM. The findings indicate overall favorable perceptions, with perceived usefulness and learning support emerging as key predictors of intention for continued use. Beyond this specific domain, the SPARK_AI framework enables efficient domain adaptation through localized prompt strategies while preserving a shared cognitive control layer for reasoning-centered human–LLM interaction.
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Open AccessArticle
Collaborative Multi-Agent Method for Zero-Shot LLM-Generated Text Detection
by
Gang Sun, Bowen Li, Ying Zhou, Yi Zhu and Jipeng Qiang
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040062 - 16 Apr 2026
Abstract
With the rapid proliferation of large language models (LLMs), distinguishing machine-generated text from human-authored content has become increasingly critical for ensuring content authenticity, academic integrity, and trust in information systems. However, detecting text generated by LLMs remains a challenging problem, particularly in zero-shot
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With the rapid proliferation of large language models (LLMs), distinguishing machine-generated text from human-authored content has become increasingly critical for ensuring content authenticity, academic integrity, and trust in information systems. However, detecting text generated by LLMs remains a challenging problem, particularly in zero-shot settings where labeled data and domain-specific tuning are unavailable. To address this challenge, in this paper, we propose a novel Collaborative Multi-Agent Zero-Shot Detection framework (CMA-ZSD). In contrast to existing methods based on watermarking, statistical heuristics, or neural classifiers, our CMA-ZSD employs three functionally heterogeneous agents that perform differentiated perturbations of the input text. By jointly modeling semantic consistency, grammatical normalization, and feature-level reconstruction, our method captures intrinsic asymmetries between human-authored and LLM-generated text. A semantic similarity evaluation mechanism, combined with majority voting, enables robust and interpretable detection decisions that balance individual agent autonomy with collective consensus. Extensive experiments across 11 domains demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, with its zero-shot detection achieving accuracy comparable to domain-finetuned models in specific domains such as Finance and Reddit-dli5.
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(This article belongs to the Section Big Data Mining and Analytics)
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Open AccessArticle
On the Implementations of the BiTemporal RDF Model: An Experimental Approach
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Di Wu, Hsien-Tseng Wang and Abdullah Uz Tansel
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040061 - 15 Apr 2026
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The BiTemporal RDF (BiTRDF) model extends the standard RDF data model by integrating both valid time and transaction time, thus enabling the representation and querying of dynamic and historical knowledge. While the theoretical foundations of BiTRDF have been established, practical implementation strategies have
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The BiTemporal RDF (BiTRDF) model extends the standard RDF data model by integrating both valid time and transaction time, thus enabling the representation and querying of dynamic and historical knowledge. While the theoretical foundations of BiTRDF have been established, practical implementation strategies have not yet been systematically studied. This paper bridges this gap by exploring six alternative approaches to implementing BiTRDF, combining object-oriented programming and database-oriented designs using Python and PostgreSQL. We evaluate these approaches using six synthetic datasets ranging from 0.5 million to 16 million bitemporal triples. The evaluation focuses on memory consumption, data-loading time, and query performance as data load increases. The results show that all approaches perform comparably when the knowledge store fits in memory. As the dataset size grows beyond available RAM, database-oriented implementations achieve substantially better loading and query performance, while object-oriented implementations offer greater flexibility and extensibility. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of implementing BiTRDF using existing technologies and provide practical guidance for selecting appropriate implementation strategies based on data size, performance requirements, and extensibility needs.
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Open AccessArticle
GRU-Based Beam Pattern Synthesis for Optimized Uniform Linear Antenna Arrays
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Armando Arce, Fernando Arce, Enrique Stevens-Navarro, Ulises Pineda-Rico, Mohammad Reza Rahmati and Abel García-Barrientos
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040060 - 14 Apr 2026
Abstract
This study presents a deep learning-based framework for beam pattern synthesis in optimized uniform linear antenna arrays, combining Differential Evolution–based pre-optimization with recurrent neural network (RNN) modeling. Radiation patterns are first generated to satisfy sidelobe suppression and directivity constraints and are then used
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This study presents a deep learning-based framework for beam pattern synthesis in optimized uniform linear antenna arrays, combining Differential Evolution–based pre-optimization with recurrent neural network (RNN) modeling. Radiation patterns are first generated to satisfy sidelobe suppression and directivity constraints and are then used to train recurrent models that learn the mapping between radiation patterns and complex excitation parameters. A formal mathematical formulation of the Simple RNN, Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architectures is provided, together with a per–time-step computational cost analysis based on dominant matrix–vector multiplications. A comparative evaluation under identical training conditions shows that gated architectures significantly outperform the standard RNN. Although the LSTM achieves the lowest prediction errors, the GRU attains comparable performance with reduced structural complexity. Beam pattern synthesis experiments for unseen steering directions demonstrate accurate reconstruction of main lobe alignment, sidelobe levels (approximately −12 to −13 dB), and directivity values close to 8 dB. The floating-point operations (FLOPs) analysis indicates that the GRU requires fewer dominant operations per time step than the LSTM, potentially reducing computational cost and energy consumption in resource-constrained beamforming applications.
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(This article belongs to the Section Machine Learning)
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Enabling Inclusive Access to Restricted Sacred Spaces: A Real-World Comparison of VR360 and AI-Driven Virtual Reality
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Phimphakan Thongthip, Darin Poollapalin, Songpon Khanchai, Pakinee Ariya and Phichete Julrode
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040059 - 9 Apr 2026
Abstract
This study investigates how virtual reality systems can support inclusive access to culturally restricted sacred heritage sites. Two extended reality (XR) approaches were developed and deployed in a real-world setting: a VR360 virtual tour and an AI-driven immersive virtual reality prototype with conversational
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This study investigates how virtual reality systems can support inclusive access to culturally restricted sacred heritage sites. Two extended reality (XR) approaches were developed and deployed in a real-world setting: a VR360 virtual tour and an AI-driven immersive virtual reality prototype with conversational interaction. A research-in-the-wild, between-subjects study was conducted with 136 participants using mixed methods, including standardized questionnaires (System Usability Scale, User Engagement Scale, and Igroup Presence Questionnaire), retrospective interviews, and exhibition staff observations. The results reveal clear trade-offs between the two systems. The VR360 system demonstrated higher usability and operational reliability, requiring minimal supervision and technical resources, whereas the AI-driven immersive VR system supported embodied exploration and conversational inquiry, which was associated with higher spatial presence and helped visitors address questions during exploration. Qualitative findings further indicate that conversational interaction enhanced user experience but also introduced greater technical complexity and staffing requirements. Overall, the study provides empirical insights for designing and deploying XR systems in heritage contexts and highlights how different levels of immersion and interaction influence usability, presence, and operational feasibility when supporting inclusive access to culturally restricted sites.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Real-World Applications and Prototyping of Information Systems for Extended Reality (VR, AR, and MR))
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Augmented Reality as a Tool for 5G Learning: Interactive Visualization of NSA/SA Architectures and Network Components
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Nathaly Orozco Garzón, David Herrera, Angel Gomez, Pablo Plaza, Henry Carvajal Mora, Roberto Sánchez Albán, José Vega-Sánchez and Paola Vinueza-Naranjo
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040058 - 3 Apr 2026
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The rapid advancement of digital and mobile technologies has reshaped the educational landscape, fostering the adoption of interactive and learner-centered methodologies. Among these, immersive technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), when coupled with next-generation wireless communication systems, hold the potential to revolutionize knowledge
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The rapid advancement of digital and mobile technologies has reshaped the educational landscape, fostering the adoption of interactive and learner-centered methodologies. Among these, immersive technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), when coupled with next-generation wireless communication systems, hold the potential to revolutionize knowledge acquisition and student engagement. In this paper, we present the design and development of an AR-based educational tool specifically oriented to teaching concepts of fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks. The tool provides a real-time interactive visualization of 3D network components on mobile devices, enabling learners to explore 5G NSA/SA architectures in an accessible manner with real-world environments through mobile devices and their integrated cameras. The application was developed using Blender for 3D modeling and Unity as the rendering engine, incorporating the Vuforia SDK for marker-based AR tracking, and it was deployed on the Android operating system. Unlike traditional static approaches, the proposed solution enables learners to explore complex network architectures and key functionalities of 5G in an interactive and accessible manner. To assess its perceived effectiveness, quantitative surveys were conducted with both university and high school students, focusing on usability, engagement, and perceived learning outcomes. Results indicate that the tool is user-friendly, enhances motivation, and supports conceptual understanding as perceived by participants of 5G technologies. These findings highlight the potential of AR, supported by advanced wireless networks, as a pedagogical strategy to improve STEM education and foster technological literacy in the era of digital transformation.
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Open AccessArticle
A Multimodal Vision: Language Framework for Intelligent Detection and Semantic Interpretation of Urban Waste
by
Verda Misimi Jonuzi and Igor Mishkovski
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040057 - 3 Apr 2026
Abstract
Urban waste management remains a significant challenge for achieving environmental sustainability and advancing smart city infrastructures. This study proposes a multimodal vision–language framework that integrates real-time object detection with automated semantic interpretation and structured semantic analysis for intelligent urban waste monitoring. A custom
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Urban waste management remains a significant challenge for achieving environmental sustainability and advancing smart city infrastructures. This study proposes a multimodal vision–language framework that integrates real-time object detection with automated semantic interpretation and structured semantic analysis for intelligent urban waste monitoring. A custom dataset including 2247 manually annotated images was constructed from publicly available sources (TrashNet and TACO), enabling robust multi-class detection across six waste categories. Two state-of-the-art object detection models, YOLOv8m and YOLOv10m, were trained and evaluated using a fixed 70/15/15 train–validation–test split. Under this configuration, YOLOv8m achieved a mAP@50 of 90.5% and a mAP@50–95 of 87.1%, slightly outperforming YOLOv10m (89.5% and 86.0%, respectively). Moreover, YOLOv8m demonstrated superior inference efficiency, reaching 120 FPS compared to 105 FPS for YOLOv10m. To obtain a more reliable estimate of performance stability across data partitions, stratified 5-Fold Cross-Validation was conducted. YOLOv8m achieved an average Precision of 0.9324 and an average mAP@50–95 of 0.9315 ± 0.0575 across folds, suggesting generally stable performance across data partitions, while also revealing variability associated with dataset heterogeneity. Beyond object detection, the framework integrates MiniGPT-4 to generate context-aware textual descriptions of detected waste items, thereby enhancing semantic interpretability and user engagement. Furthermore, GPT-5 Vision is incorporated as a structured auxiliary semantic classification and category-suggestion module that analyzes object crops and multi-class scenes, producing constrained JSON-formatted outputs that include category labels, concise descriptions, and recyclability indicators. Overall, the proposed YOLOv8–MiniGPT-4–GPT-5 Vision pipeline shows that combining accurate real-time detection with multimodal semantic reasoning can improve interpretability and support interactive, semantically enriched waste analysis in smart-city and environmental monitoring scenarios.
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(This article belongs to the Section Machine Learning)
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Assessment Validity in the Age of Generative AI: A Natural Experiment
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Håvar Brattli, Alexander Utne and Matthew Lynch
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040056 - 3 Apr 2026
Abstract
Universities play a dual role as sites of learning and as institutions that certify student competence through assessment. The rapid diffusion of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) challenges this certification function by altering the conditions under which assessment evidence is produced. When powerful AI
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Universities play a dual role as sites of learning and as institutions that certify student competence through assessment. The rapid diffusion of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) challenges this certification function by altering the conditions under which assessment evidence is produced. When powerful AI tools are widely available, grades may increasingly reflect a combination of individual understanding and external cognitive support rather than solely independent competence. This study examines how changes in assessment format interact with GenAI availability to reshape observable performance outcomes in higher education. Using exam grade data from a compulsory undergraduate course delivered over five years (2021–2025; N = 1066), the study exploits a naturally occurring change in assessment conditions as a natural experiment. From 2021 to 2024, the course was assessed using an AI-permissive take-home examination, while in 2025 the assessment shifted to an AI-restricted, supervised in-person examination. Course content, intended learning outcomes, grading criteria, examiner continuity, and the structural design of the examination tasks remained stable across cohorts. The results reveal a pronounced shift in grade distributions coinciding with the format change. Failure rates increased sharply in 2025, mid-range grades declined, and the proportion of top grades remained largely unchanged. Statistical analysis indicates a significant association between examination period and grade outcomes (χ2(5, N = 1066) = 60.62, p < 0.001), with a small-to-moderate effect size (Cramér’s V = 0.24), driven primarily by the increase in failing grades. These findings suggest that AI-permissive and AI-restricted assessment formats may not be measurement-equivalent under conditions of widespread GenAI use. The results raise concerns about construct validity and the credibility of grades as signals of independent competence, while also highlighting tensions between certification credibility and assessment authenticity.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Generative AI in Higher Education: Applications, Implications, and Future Directions)
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Open AccessReview
Toward Network-Managed 5G Fixed Wireless Access: Technologies, Challenges, and Future Directions
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Asri Wulandari, Muhammad Suryanegara and Dadang Gunawan
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040055 - 3 Apr 2026
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The increasing digitalization of industrial ecosystems under the Industrial Revolution 4.0 has intensified the demand for fast, reliable, and inclusive broadband connectivity. The expansion of 5G technology led by data-driven services addresses the growing demand for high-capacity, low-latency communication through Fixed Wireless Access
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The increasing digitalization of industrial ecosystems under the Industrial Revolution 4.0 has intensified the demand for fast, reliable, and inclusive broadband connectivity. The expansion of 5G technology led by data-driven services addresses the growing demand for high-capacity, low-latency communication through Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) as a cost-effective broadband solution. FWA is a wireless broadband access technology that provides high-speed connectivity to fixed locations using 5G New Radio (NR) infrastructure instead of physical fiber networks, while reducing deployment time and infrastructure investment. This review examines the technical challenges, economic business implications, and comparative performance of 5G FWA relative to other broadband technologies. It also examines the implementation of Enhanced Telecom Operations Map (eTOM) in several telecommunication network functions. The analysis indicates that successful 5G FWA implementation requires not only technical optimization, but also the adaption of standardized, scalable, and AI-driven network management practices. Emphasis is placed on the role of the eTOM as a structured framework for aligning technical, operational, and organizational processes in FWA deployment. This review highlights how eTOM can support readiness assessment, process harmonization, and lifecycle management to ensure consistent and efficient service delivery. This study provides a comprehensive reference for researchers and industry stakeholders in developing sustainable and future-ready 5G FWA networks.
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Cybersecurity Challenges in Hospitals: International Incident Reports Analysis and Expert Validation
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Grigori Rogge and Sabine Bohnet-Joschko
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040054 - 2 Apr 2026
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The healthcare sector is undergoing a digital transformation that improves the quality of care, increases efficiency, and enhances connectivity. With digitalization comes an increase in cyber threats. Hospitals are among the primary targets of cybercriminals. Adequate protective measures require knowledge and analysis of
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The healthcare sector is undergoing a digital transformation that improves the quality of care, increases efficiency, and enhances connectivity. With digitalization comes an increase in cyber threats. Hospitals are among the primary targets of cybercriminals. Adequate protective measures require knowledge and analysis of frequently occurring incidents. This study aimed to identify types of cyber risks and to evaluate factors influencing incident occurrence using a mixed-methods approach. Data on cyber incidents and data breaches from 2021 to 2024 were consolidated from five publicly accessible international datasets into a single unified dataset with 3459 entries and analyzed with a focus on hospital incidents. Results showed that hacking, especially involving ransomware, poses a key security risk in hospitals. The results were then discussed in four focus groups with 14 IT experts from hospitals. They highlighted threats and potential conflicts arising from the integration of new technologies, including the escalation of external risks as hacking activities become more organized and professionalized. The need for openly accessible and understandable data on hospital cyber risks, as well as for collaborative exchange among institutions, was emphasized. The study identifies gaps in current knowledge regarding the integration of technology into hospital networks, suggesting directions for future research.
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Open AccessArticle
Quality Assessment of Generative AI in Cybersecurity Certification
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Vanessa G. Félix, Rodolfo Ostos, Luis J. Mena, Homero Toral-Cruz, Alberto Ochoa-Brust, Pablo Velarde-Alvarado, Apolinar González-Potes, Ramón A. Félix-Cuadras, José A. León-Borges and Rafael Martínez-Peláez
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040053 - 30 Mar 2026
Abstract
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), is rapidly changing how higher education approaches teaching, learning, and assessment. In cybersecurity education, professional certification exams are key for measuring competence and helping professionals find better job offers, but there is little research
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Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), is rapidly changing how higher education approaches teaching, learning, and assessment. In cybersecurity education, professional certification exams are key for measuring competence and helping professionals find better job offers, but there is little research on how GenAI systems perform in these exam settings. This study looks at how three popular LLMs, ChatGPT-5, Gemini-2.5 Pro, and Copilot-2.5 Pro, handle 183 practice questions from the CompTIA Security+ certification. The study used a two-phase evaluation: a domain-based assessment and a full-length practice exam that mirrors real certification tests. The researchers measured model performance with accuracy scores, chi-square tests for statistical differences, and an error taxonomy to spot patterns of mistakes important for education. All three GenAI systems scored above the passing mark, and there were no significant differences between them. Still, the error analysis showed ongoing conceptual and classification mistakes that did not show up in the overall accuracy scores. Our results show that GenAI systems can pass structured certification tests, but accuracy by itself does not fully measure professional skills. The study points out important issues for the reliability and validity of AI-based assessments in higher education and stresses the need for more realistic, concept-focused ways to evaluate GenAI in cybersecurity education.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Generative AI in Higher Education: Applications, Implications, and Future Directions)
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Open AccessArticle
Tax Professionals’ Perceptions, Compliance Costs, and Compliance Intentions Under Indonesia’s Core Tax Administration System
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Prianto Budi Saptono, Gustofan Mahmud, Ismail Khozen, Arfah Habib Saragih, Wulandari Kartika Sari, Adang Hendrawan and Milla Sepliana Setyowati
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040052 - 27 Mar 2026
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This study provides an early evaluation of the effectiveness of the Core Tax Administration System, a digital taxation platform introduced to integrate all tax administration processes in Indonesia into a single system. To conduct this evaluation, the study integrates two of the most
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This study provides an early evaluation of the effectiveness of the Core Tax Administration System, a digital taxation platform introduced to integrate all tax administration processes in Indonesia into a single system. To conduct this evaluation, the study integrates two of the most established frameworks in the information systems literature, namely the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model and the Technology Acceptance Model. Tax professionals are involved in the evaluation process because they are the primary users of the system and possess advanced knowledge of taxation. Structural equation modeling is employed as the analytical technique. The results indicate that system usage generates individual-level benefits by reducing perceived compliance costs, which in turn translate into organizational-level outcomes in the form of increased tax compliance intentions. However, the non-linear effect analysis reveals that this relationship is not entirely linear but follows an inverted U-shaped pattern. This finding suggests that over time, highly routine system usage may reduce professional vigilance by fostering excessive reliance on automated features and superficial processing. Such dependence can weaken perceived efficiency gains and diminish intrinsic motivation for careful and accurate reporting, highlighting the importance of balancing efficiency with system design features that support professional judgment and vigilance.
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Open AccessReview
Ethics in Artificial Intelligence: A Cross-Sectoral Review of 2019–2025
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Charalampos M. Liapis, Nikos Fazakis, Sotiris Kotsiantis and Yannis Dimakopoulos
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040051 - 27 Mar 2026
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transitioned from a specialized research area to a ubiquitous socio-technical infrastructure influencing sectors from healthcare and law to manufacturing and defense. In tandem with its transformative promise, AI has created an exponentially expanding ethics literature questioning, fairness, transparency, accountability,
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transitioned from a specialized research area to a ubiquitous socio-technical infrastructure influencing sectors from healthcare and law to manufacturing and defense. In tandem with its transformative promise, AI has created an exponentially expanding ethics literature questioning, fairness, transparency, accountability, and justice. This review synthesizes publications and key policy developments between 2019 and 2025, bringing sectoral discourses together with cross-cutting frameworks. Grounded in a systematic scoping review methodology, we frame the field along four meta-dimensions: trust and transparency, bias and fairness, governance & regulation, and justice, while we investigate their expression across diverse sectors. Special attention is dedicated to healthcare (patient trust and algorithmic bias), education (integrity and authorship), media (misinformation), law (accountability), and the industrial sector (data integrity, intellectual property protection, and environmental safety). We ground abstract principles in concrete case studies to illustrate real-world harms and mitigation strategies. Furthermore, we incorporate pluralistic ethics (e.g., Ubuntu, Islamic perspectives), environmental ethics, and emerging challenges posed by Generative AI and neuro-AI interfaces. To bridge theory and practice, we propose an operational governance framework for organizations. We contend that success involves transitioning from principles toward ethics-by-design, pluralistic governance, sustainability, and adaptive oversight. This review is intended for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers who need a comprehensive and actionable framework for navigating the complex landscape of AI ethics.
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Open AccessArticle
Data Mining to Identify Factors Associated with University Student Retention
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Yuri Reina Marín, Lenin Quiñones Huatangari, Judith Nathaly Alva Tuesta, Omer Cruz Caro, Jorge Luis Maicelo Guevara, Einstein Sánchez Bardales and River Chávez Santos
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040050 - 27 Mar 2026
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Student retention has become a major challenge for higher education institutions due to the influence that academic, socioeconomic, family, and motivational factors exert on students’ academic continuity. In this context, understanding the determinants that explain university persistence is essential for designing effective retention
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Student retention has become a major challenge for higher education institutions due to the influence that academic, socioeconomic, family, and motivational factors exert on students’ academic continuity. In this context, understanding the determinants that explain university persistence is essential for designing effective retention strategies. Based on the analysis of factors related to motivation, commitment, attitude, academic integration, and social and economic conditions, retention patterns were examined in a population of 532 university students, of whom 57.7% showed high retention, 38.2% medium retention, and 4.1% low retention. To identify the factors with the greatest influence on academic continuity, educational data mining techniques and supervised classification models were applied and evaluated using stratified 10-fold cross-validation. Tree-based ensemble models showed the most consistent predictive performance, with Random Forest achieving the best results (accuracy = 0.729 ± 0.058; F1-macro = 0.636 ± 0.136). Model interpretability was examined through SHAP analysis, which revealed that transportation conditions (0.249), task completion (0.170), absence of work obligations (0.168), and course completion (0.164) were the most influential predictors in the classification of retention levels. In addition, sensitivity analysis indicated that academic commitment accounts for 41.6% of the predictive impact, followed by motivation (23.5%). These findings demonstrate that student retention is shaped by the interaction of academic, motivational, and contextual factors and provide practical implications for the development of **early warning systems, personalized tutoring programs, psychosocial support initiatives, and financial assistance policies aimed at strengthening university retention.
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Open AccessArticle
A Discrete-Form Double-Integration-Enhanced Recurrent Neural Network for Stewart Platform Control with Time-Varying Disturbance Suppression
by
Yueyang Ma, Yang Shi and Chao Jiang
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040049 - 25 Mar 2026
Abstract
The discrete-form control of the Stewart platform is essential for digital implementation in intelligent manufacturing and robotic systems under the context of Industry 4.0, yet its performance is often degraded by unavoidable discrete disturbances. This challenge motivates the development of algorithms with strong
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The discrete-form control of the Stewart platform is essential for digital implementation in intelligent manufacturing and robotic systems under the context of Industry 4.0, yet its performance is often degraded by unavoidable discrete disturbances. This challenge motivates the development of algorithms with strong disturbance suppression capability. To address this issue, a continuous-form double-integration-enhanced recurrent neural network (CF-DIE-RNN) algorithm incorporating a novel double-integration-enhanced design concept is first developed to improve robustness against time-varying disturbances. For digital hardware applications, a discrete-form double-integration-enhanced RNN (DF-DIE-RNN) algorithm is then constructed by discretizing the CF-DIE-RNN algorithm using a general four-step discretization formula and a one-step forward difference formula based on Taylor expansion. Rigorous theoretical analysis establishes the convergence properties of the proposed algorithm and characterizes its steady-state residual bounds under different disturbance types, revealing its capability to suppress discrete quadratic time-varying disturbances. Numerical and simulation experiments demonstrate that the DF-DIE-RNN algorithm achieves superior disturbance suppression and more accurate trajectory tracking than existing discrete-form RNN algorithms, confirming its effectiveness for discrete-form Stewart platform control.
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(This article belongs to the Section Industry 4.0)
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Open AccessArticle
Generative AI-Assisted Automation of Clinical Data Processing: A Methodological Framework for Streamlining Behavioral Research Workflows
by
Marta Lilia Eraña-Díaz, Alejandra Rosales-Lagarde, Iván Arango-de-Montis and José Alejandro Velázquez-Monzón
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040048 - 25 Mar 2026
Abstract
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This article presents a methodological framework for automating clinical data processing workflows using Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an interactive co-developer. We demonstrate how Large Language Models (LLMs), specifically ChatGPT and Claude, can assist researchers in designing, implementing, and deploying complete ETL (Extract,
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This article presents a methodological framework for automating clinical data processing workflows using Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an interactive co-developer. We demonstrate how Large Language Models (LLMs), specifically ChatGPT and Claude, can assist researchers in designing, implementing, and deploying complete ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines without requiring advanced programming or DevOps expertise. Using a dataset of 102 participants from a nonverbal expression study as a proof-of-concept, we show how AI-assisted automation transforms FaceReader video analysis outputs during the Cyberball paradigm into structured, analysis-ready datasets through containerized workflows orchestrated via Docker and n8n. The resulting framework successfully processes all 102 datasets, generating machine learning outputs to validate pipeline execution stability (rather than clinical predictivity), and deploys interactive visualization dashboards, tasks that would normally require significant manual effort and technical specialization expertise. This work establishes a replicable methodology for integrating Generative AI into research data management workflows, with implications for accelerating scientific discovery across behavioral and medical research domains.
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Open AccessArticle
Concurrent Prediction of Length of Stay, Mortality, and Total Charges in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using Continuous Machine Learning
by
Jiahui Ma, Elizabeth Johnson, Bradley M. Whitaker, Faraz Dadgostari, Hansjorg Schwertz and Bernadette McCrory
Informatics 2026, 13(4), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics13040047 - 24 Mar 2026
Abstract
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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) presents significant clinical challenges due to its genetic complexity and high relapse rates. While outcomes like length of stay (LOS), mortality, and total charges (TCs) are critical quality indicators, most existing models rely on static data and separate outcome
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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) presents significant clinical challenges due to its genetic complexity and high relapse rates. While outcomes like length of stay (LOS), mortality, and total charges (TCs) are critical quality indicators, most existing models rely on static data and separate outcome modeling. This study utilized the HCUP National Inpatient Sample (NIS) to develop a dynamic, concurrent prediction model for prolonged LOS and mortality (PLOSM), alongside a framework for TCs. By integrating temporally updated patient information, the concurrent approach outperformed single-outcome models. Within the first seven days of hospitalization, the model achieved accuracy and precision above 90%, with recall and F1-scores exceeding 80%. Key predictors of these outcomes included age, race, insurance type, financial indicators, and elective surgery status. Notably, both prolonged LOS and mortality were significant drivers of TCs. By bridging predictive modeling and real-time clinical data, this framework enables data-driven decision-making to optimize patient management, enhance safety, and mitigate the financial burden of ALL care.
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