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PROLOGUE
James Swart
Central University of Technology, (South Africa).
E-mail: aswart@cut.ac.za
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5906-2896
Bishwajeet Pandey
Gyancity Research Consultancy, Motihari, (India).
E-mail: dr.pandey@ieee.org
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5593-8985
Technology is an enabler in all spheres of life today. In Education, it has been said that
“technology will not replace teachers, but teachers who use technology will probably replace
teachers who do not use it”. This extends to Industry, Business and Commerce. Using
technology to its full potential enables that “competitive edge” that so many organisations
are vying for today. It enables eciency of various processes, such as automation, data
analytics, business intelligence and customer service. Indeed, technology is being used
to the full by businessmen, managers, environmentalists, scientists and many more to
achieve the mission and vision of organisations around the globe. In this regard, we have
shortlisted only ten papers out of more than one hundred submissions that were presented
at the “International Conference on Business, Management, Environmental, and Social
Science 2021 (BMESS®-2021)” and the “7th International Conference on Recent Trends
in Computer Science and Electronics” in this special issue of Web of Science/Emerging
Source Citation Index Journal, 3C Tecnología. A brief synopsis of these papers follow.
In the rst paper, Abosaq (2021) discusses how the Blockchain enabled Internet of Things
(IoTs) has gained prominence among global researchers, academicians, planners, managers
and industrialists. Both Blockchain and IoTs have the potential to achieve the 17 Sustainable
Development Goals of the UN by the year 2030. Blockchain enabled IoTs has become an
integrated and distributed Systems of Systems (SoS) networked technology that has been
used in cloud infrastructures and in 5G/6G wireless systems. However, challenges to its use
still exist which are noted in this paper, as well as further potential applications of it. A key
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3C Tecnología. Glosas de innovación aplicadas a la pyme. ISSN: 2254 – 4143 Edición Especial Special Issue Mayo 2021
challenge is noted regarding the lack of security in blockchain technology and resource
constrained architecture of the industrialized IoTs to tackle crypto-materialized protocols.
In the second paper, Memon et al. (2021a) proposes a variable duty-cycle control scheme
to increase the eciency of buck converter operating in discontinuous conduction mode
(DCM). In other words, they propose a control scheme to achieve a high power factor for
DCM buck converters by only modulating the duty-cycle of a buck switch. The simulation
results of this technology indicate that the proposed control scheme increases the eciency
and reduces the losses of a DCM buck convertor.
In the third paper, Çakır and Ulukan (2021) sort existing web (or video) platforms according
to criteria determined by experts and select the best one among dierent alternatives for
class education with the help of interval-valued fuzzy parameterized intuitionistic fuzzy
soft sets. In this work, seven experts determined six criteria and their interval-valued fuzzy
weights depending on educational needs. Ten video conferencing tools for educational
institutions were evaluated in this regard that may also be classied under educational
technologies. The results are intended to guide future research.
In the fourth paper, Memon et al. (2021b) concludes that our life is simpler, easier and
comfortable due to power electronics. However, low power factors remain a challenge
along with harmonic content that leads to higher power loss, voltage distortions and
electromagnetic interference. A modied variable-on-time control scheme for an Integrated
Buck-Boost Converter (IBBC) is therefore proposed in order to make the input current
waveform as a sinusoidal as possible. The research methodology involves comparing a buck
converter within a traditional control scheme to that with the proposed control scheme.
Simulation results of this technology indicate an almost sinusoidal current waveform for the
verication of the theoretical analysis.
In the fth paper, Flores and Silva (2021) review seven models that may be used to predict
divorce that has increased globally over the past two decades. They reference “The Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse” that can lead to divorce, along with the most leading cause
being indelity. The study draws on 56 questions as predictors of divorce and makes use
of 4 automatic machine learning models and 3 hybrid models based on voting criteria that
forms part of computer based technology. 35 experiments are presented in total for these
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3C Tecnología. Glosas de innovación aplicadas a la pyme. ISSN: 2254 – 4143 Edición Especial Special Issue Mayo 2021
seven models where the best results were obtained for the perceptron model. A limitation
of the study relates to the context, the amount of data and the country in which the data
were collected.
In the sixth paper, Panjagal and Ramaiah (2021) focus on odor pollution that can be caused
by a number of factors, including the growth of urbanization with improper sanitation
facilities or from unscientic dumping on vacant lands. It can lead to a number of health
concerns that can negatively impact ones quality of life. They propose an intelligent
mechanism for detecting, measuring and alerting individuals to the possible health eects
of odor pollution. It involves the design of a solar-powered handheld electronic device
(called an E-Nose) where real-time measurements are uploaded to an IoT cloud for remote
monitoring and alerts. The results of these measurements were collaborated by a health
survey that was completed by 80 individuals living in the area of the research site. Threshold
limit values for Ammonia, Hydrogen Sulphide and Sulphur Dioxide were implemented for
this technology from which alerts could be generated.
In the seventh paper, Tas et al. (2021) discuss an important step in the business supply
chain, being supplier selection. They propose a new combined fuzzy methodology (using
the SWARA and MARCOS methods that are made possible through computer based
technology) to select suitable green suppliers that take into account the environment. A
case study using a textile company is used where six suppliers are evaluated against 12 green
criteria. The highest weight criteria were found for suppliers who have a well projected green
image, a clear-cut environmental management system and options for green transportation.
In the eighth paper, Pedraza et al. (2021) propose the design of an ecological green area to
improve the quality of life within a given district of Lima, Peru. The district was selected
based on a topographic survey along with an evaluation of the climate, soil science, ora and
fauna. An online survey was further used to obtain perceptions of the residents regarding
the importance of green areas in their district. Results indicate that this district has only
1.69 m
2
of green area per inhabitant, which is much less than the recommended WHO
standard of around 10 m
2
. The proposed design, derived from computer based technology,
is deemed viable and can be used to respond to the urgent need to raise the environmental
quality of similar districts around the world.
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In the ninth paper, Memon et al. (2021c) presents a power factor improvement technique
for a buck-convertor by only modulating the on-time of a buck switch without the need
of an extra converter. Buck converters exhibit many advantages such as maintaining high
eciency for a wide range of input voltages, cost reduction, low output voltage, protection
against inrush current and lifetime improvement. The technique makes use of a variable-
on-time control scheme for critical current mode (CRM) buck converters. A theoretical
analysis is given in the paper with simulation results to conrm the advantages of this
technology.
In the tenth paper, Geldres et al. (2021) analyses the deciencies of older buildings of
educational institutions within a given district of Peru by using computer based technology.
The methodology is based on percentage variations of the institutions by levels, where a
sample of 79 educational institutions was considered, based on critical components such
as their basic infrastructure, essential services, and advanced infrastructure. Percentage
variations found between 2017 and 2020 reveal that maintenance does not mitigate or
strengthen the educational infrastructure, but are palliatives that are worsening over time.
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