28 November 2007

Special issue: Innovation in energy systems

International Journal of Global Energy Issues 28(2/3) 2007
  • Sustainable nuclear energy: some reasons for optimism
  • CO2 emissions mitigation policies and their effects on the Thailand energy system
  • Potential of crop residue in India as a source of energy
  • Recovering energy from biogas emission: the case of Mariana Mantovana landfill (Italy)
  • Hydrogen production technology for powering civil and industrial systems: a review
  • Physical properties of wood pellets from a novel pelletising process
  • Advanced processes for low rank coal drying and dewatering in high efficient power plants
  • Separation of CO2 during combustion of coal in a pressurised fluidised bed
  • Comparative study of steam injection effects on operation of gas turbine cycles
  • Visible light-operated glucose-O2 biofuel cell
  • Catalysis of atomic hydrogen to new hydrides as a new power source
  • Modelling oil degradation in electric transformer oil under typical loads

27 November 2007

Call for papers: Regional Economic Development Dynamics: Focus on Regional/Sectoral Innovation Systems

Call for papers: Regional Economic Development Dynamics: Focus on Regional/Sectoral Innovation Systems

A special issue of International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development

Deep and broad economic integration in Europe and especially within the European Union has been taking place mostly on an intra- and cross-regional basis transcending national frontiers and identities and being driven by affinities, complementarities and synergies at the regional level.

The presence, role and impact of this phenomenon as a driver of regional economic development and especially in the form of small and medium enterprise formation and growth is the motivation for this Special Issue. In particular, the focus is on profiling, analysing, benchmarking, and modelling in socio-technical terms, ways and means that creativity, invention and innovation are manifested and drive economic development in regions such as the Balkan and Baltic regions within the EU, as well as other parts of the world. Our focus is on deriving insights from comparing and contrasting similarities and differences and critical success and failure factors within and across the regions under study.

The targeted audience for this Special Issue includes policy makers as well as academic researchers and practitioners of technology innovation and entrepreneurship in the regions of focus as well as the EU and the world as a whole as the inter-regional and cross-regional integration, development and convergence phenomenon is replicated around the earth.

In this context, this issue will promote the identification and articulation of insights that could inform both public sector policies and private sector practices to render them more effective and efficient. A series of recommendations for policy makers and practitioners would ideally emerge from this comparative, conceptual and empirical research contributing to the growing literature on the role of knowledge on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship and in particular with regards to the role of knowledge creation, diffusion and use in local, national, regional, and global innovation networks and knowledge clusters that form the underpinnings of the knowledge economy and society.

The intent is to encompass and integrate diverse theoretical perspectives, including, regional development economics and sociology of innovation, as well as regional science, and, technology, innovation and knowledge management research as follows:
  • Select industries of focus would be biotechnology, advanced materials and ICT (as well as cross-disciplinary, emerging threads such as nano/bio-technology, MEMS, bio-informatics, etc) and in each region and/or country therein, innovation networks and knowledge clusters based on such industries would be identified and studied.
  • This is not to exclude low and medium technology sectors and regional innovation networks. For instance, innovation practices, clusters and networks in areas and sectors such as construction, services, maritime and marine technologies, cleaner forms of energy production, eco-innovation, etc.
  • Public-private partnerships for research and technology development, transfer, deployment and commercialisation would also be studied in this context, and, in particular, their relationships and roles in catalysing and accelerating the formation and growth of networks, clusters and individual new ventures.
  • Top-down policies and bottom-up initiatives would be documented and reviewed to identify what works and what does not, how and why in each region, country and industry.
Important Date
Deadline for Submissions: 31 May, 2008

Call for papers: Financial Services Industry: Emerging Challenges and Prospects

Call for papers: Financial Services Industry: Emerging Challenges and Prospects

A special issue of International Journal of Financial Services Management

Over the last few decades there has been a series of substantial changes in the Financial Services industry. Recent advances in policy-making, regulatory framework, information and communication technology and risk management practices, all combined with the explosive growth in the volume of cross border capital flows, have led to an increasing demand for effective, efficient and prudent deployment of economic capital. The objective of this special issue is to bring together current theoretical and empirical research on the issues highlighted above and investigate their implications with regards to the Financial Services industry.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Risk management and incentives
  • Efficiency
  • Bank safety and banking supervision
  • Regulatory framework
  • Corporate ownership
  • Control and corporate governance
  • Mergers and acquisitions activities
  • The availability of credit
  • Risk management and insurance
  • Macroeconomic fluctuations
  • Systemic risk
  • Competitive effects across banks and countries
  • Market discipline
  • Liquidity management
  • Developed and/or/vs. developing areas
Important Dates
1-2 Page Abstract: 31 May 2008
Submission of Manuscripts: 31 August 2008
Notification to Authors: 30 October 2008
Final Versions Due: 15 January 2009

Special issue: Mobile virtual communities

International Journal of Web Based Communities 3(4) 2007
  • The portable community: envisioning and examining mobile social connectedness
  • Mobile virtual communities research: a synthesis of current trends and a look at future perspectives
  • Exploring mobile information systems for chronically ill adolescent patients
  • DIY i-TV producers: emerging nomadic communities
  • A novel collaboration model for mobile virtual communities
  • WebRogue: rendezvous in a web place
  • Tech ties: making online connections in social networks

26 November 2007

Call for papers: Transforming Basic Research in Biomedical Sciences into Commercial Applications: The Role of Universities in Industrialised Countries

Call for papers: Transforming Basic Research in Biomedical Sciences into Commercial Applications: The Role of Universities in Industrialised Countries

A special issue of International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management

Industrialised countries are trying to counter the threat from low-cost manufacturing countries by building on their comparative advantage in high-technology sectors. Industrial policy initiatives in Europe, Japan, and North America attempt to stimulate innovation and productivity, and the health sector is especially prominent in this process in areas including biotech, genetics, microelectronics, and biophysics (see Di Tommaso and Schweitzer, 2005)*.

Among other policies, governments have encouraged universities to participate in the process of commercialisation of basic research, either through patenting inventions (e.g. the Bayh-Dole Act of the United States) or participating directly in spin-off ventures. These spin-offs combine university-based researchers with entrepreneurs and sources of capital. Some of these high-tech industrial clusters have become household words, such as America’s Silicon Valley and Route 128, but the movement is far more diffused than that. Different countries have approached the issue of encouraging commercialisation of biomedical science differently, no doubt in response to different institutions and entrepreneurial climate. Currently there is no unified description of what policies work in particular settings, and which do not. This leaves both government and academic leaders in a quandary as they attempt to construct the best policies for their institutions.

The objective of this Special Issue is to promote a better understanding of the process by which basic research in the health sciences is translated into commercial ventures involving universities. We will illustrate the many factors that must be present in a successful program to encourage commercial development of basic research. These factors include incentives for university researchers, sources of capital, linkages between people with skills in basic research and those with skills in entrepreneurship. To do this, we envision creating a multinational network of scholars working in areas of industrial policy, health sciences research, and university development. We hope to bring together information from Europe, North America (especially the US and Canada), and Asia (especially China and Japan).

* Di Tommaso MR and Schweitzer SO (eds), Health Policy and High-Tech Industrial Development: Learning from Innovation in the Health Industry, Cheltenham England: Edward Elgar Publishers, 2005

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:
  • Incentives and climate toward commercialisation in universities
  • Types of industry/university collaboration
  • Government and university policies toward spin-off ventures
  • Capital formation
  • Direct foreign investment
  • Venture capital
  • Government support
  • Private capital
  • Government policies toward high-tech clusters - the role of industrial policy
  • Important success stories - and lessons to be learned
  • Useful stories of failures - and lessons to be learned
  • Choosing the right industrial policy for the scientific and political setting
Important Date
Submission deadline: 1 October, 2008

25 November 2007

Special issue: Agile organisations and supply chains: performance and strategy

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management 2(4) 2007
  • A new analytical framework of agile supply chain strategies
  • Industry patterns of agility: a study of the role of Information Systems and Information Technology as an antecedent of strategic agility within European organisations
  • Supply chain knowledge work: should we restructure the workforce for improved agility?
  • mpact of innovative procurement on agility within the construction industry
  • Do not lean too far – evidence from the first decade
  • Need for real time Business Intelligence

Call for papers: Knowledge Management in the Project Work Context

Call for papers: Knowledge Management in the Project Work Context

A special issue of International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies

In many companies, knowledge management within and between projects is becoming a prerequisite to sustain a competitive advantage. This is especially the case in project-based firms. Many authors argue that without managing knowledge in projects, knowledge assets can be lost when the projects are completed. However, in many companies - and projects in general - activities such as knowledge acquisition and sharing are often very complex tasks. Therefore, this special issue is dedicated to deal with knowledge management in the project work context.

There is a growing need in companies and in the projects within them to move beyond solving problems at hand towards continuously improving knowledge and skills in the face of changing conditions and situations. However, while in functionally-based companies, departments act as knowledge silos, the pure project-based firms lack the organisational mechanisms for the knowledge acquired in one project to be transferred and used by other projects. Project-based firms, faced with the need to engage in sustained knowledge sharing practices, find themselves without the means to collaborate in the most efficient way.

Therefore reinforcing knowledge sharing is a vital part of the success of these companies. However, achieving this is often difficult, as many projects are interdisciplinary and face the problem of integrating cross-functional contributions and perspectives. Consequently, sharing knowledge across professional and organisational boundaries is vital for creating a situation and a circumstance in which effective project implementation can proceed. The basis of knowledge sharing lies in the promise to increase provision of better knowledge for project management.

Published research on knowledge management often focuses on large corporations, and it is by no means clear that what works for them is a good approach in a project work context. Therefore, this special issue calls for papers dealing with all aspects of knowledge management that are the most relevant in project practices. The suggestions to be dealt with in this issue are not intended to be prescriptive. They are simply intended to help people involved in project work understand how the theoretical principles translate into practicalities, to stimulate thought, and to provide a starting point for experiment and for developing systems which suit individual needs. All in all, this special issue welcomes both conceptual and empirical papers addressing knowledge management in varied project management environments.

We are interested in papers covering, but not limited to, the following areas:
  • Knowledge management as a part of project management
  • Different knowledge related project work environments
  • How individual team members' learning translates into project teams' and companies' learning
  • Knowledge sharing within and between projects
  • Facilitating organisational learning within a project-based company
  • Organisational memory in a project work context
  • Community of practice perspective in a project work context
  • HRM strategies for promoting knowledge sharing within project-based companies
  • Proximity as a factor affecting knowledge sharing in a project work context
  • Boundary brokering between professional domains
  • Management of trusting relationships in a project work context
  • Project culture as a factor affecting knowledge management in a project work context
  • Epistemological considerations in a project work context
Important Dates
150 word abstract by : 1 June, 2008
[Please indicate subject: 'Call for papers – Abstract'. All abstracts must be submitted as Microsoft documents, Times New Roman 12, single space. They must contain on the first page a title, authors’ names, postal addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and keywords.]
Notification of acceptance: 1 September, 2008
Full paper due : 1 December, 2008
Notification of acceptance: 1 March, 2009
Final version of the paper: 1 April, 2009
Due Date : 15 July 2007

23 November 2007

Call for papers: Intelligent Clusters, Communities and Cities: Enhancing Innovation with Embedded Systems and Virtual Environments

Call for papers: Intelligent Clusters, Communities and Cities: Enhancing Innovation with Embedded Systems and Virtual Environments

A special issue of International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development

Intelligent clusters, communities and cities belong to a new orientation of urban and regional planning targeting on the creation of environments that improve the cognitive and learning skills of the population, and the research and innovation capabilities of the organisations located into a city.

An intelligent city is a territory in which the local system of innovation is enhanced by embedded systems, digital spaces, and IT tools. Digital interactions, devices, and information systems sustain a series of the urban functions related to knowledge creation, transfer, application, and dissemination. The city gains innovation capability, which is then translated into increased competitiveness, better environment, more jobs and wealth.

Out of the meeting of innovation and digital space, the two fundamental dimensions of intelligent clusters and cities are defined:
  • On the one hand, the system of innovation (local, regional, sectoral, global) within which a mix of skills and learning institutions takes place, driving the development of new products and technologies in the organisations located into the respective territory (companies, R&D centers, intermediaries, incubators, etc.), and
  • On the other hand, the digital reconstruction of the city based on collaborative digital spaces of knowledge management, innovation, and e-governance. These applications facilitate communication, data storage and retrieval, knowledge transfer, cooperative product development, and product promotion, enhancing localised innovation capabilities and opening windows to global markets and transactions.
Intelligent cities evolve along with the trends characterising the two aforementioned dimensions. For instance, global innovation networks and open procedures actually predominate within systems of innovation; and within digital spaces the Web 2.0 and the active participation of users in content development predominate. No doubt, different trends will appear in the near future, influencing respectively the content of intelligent cities.

With respect to these dimensions, two planning paradigms have also appeared in the making of intelligent cities: cybercities vs. intelligent communities. Their major difference is on the weightings they attach to the two aforementioned components of intelligent cities (innovation system/collaborative digital spaces). Cybercities consider that the main challenge for intelligent cities lies in the level of the digital networking, human-machine communication, sensors, intelligent agents, and other technologies for automation in information collection, processing, and dissemination embedded into the city infrastructures. Intelligent communities, on the other hand, consider intelligent cities to be a combination of human innovativeness, collective intelligence, and digital interaction; and the challenges of their making are at the integration of innovation capabilities, institutional cooperation for innovation, and digital spaces facilitating this cooperation.

Within this framework of development and planning trends, this special issue will offer an opportunity for international researchers to present original work on various subjects related to the social, institutional, and technological aspects of ICT assisted innovation systems.

Papers should address research questions in the field, including but not limited to the following topics:
  • Review papers on the state-of-the-art in intelligent cities research
  • Case studies on communities, clusters and cities having designated as intelligent
  • Strategies for intelligent cities creation
  • Social and institutional aspects of intelligent territories, including studies and research on intellectual capital and creative cities
  • Analysis of territorial systems of innovation functioning on physical, institutional, and virtual spaces
  • Analysis of metrics and measurement systems of intelligent cities
  • Architectures, components, information systems, and services for intelligent cities
  • Collaborative digital spaces linked to urban development, urban functions and life
  • Web-based intelligence, innovation, and technology transfer
  • Web applications at the local and city levels on e-learning, e-business, and e-government
  • Digital platforms and applications facilitating the design and development of intelligent cities
Important Dates
Manuscript due: 30 April 2008
Acceptance notification: 30 June 2008
Final manuscript due: 30 September 2008

20 November 2007

Special issue: Trombay Symposium on Desalination and Water Reuse: TSDWR 2007

International Journal of Nuclear Desalination 2(4) 2007
  • The potential for desalination in India
  • Floating nuclear power plants
  • Climate change: a critical challenge for the water sector
  • Seawater desalination utilising waste heat by low-temperature evaporation
  • Mechanical vapour compression desalination plant at Trombay
  • Solar desalination
  • Alternative energy sources for seawater desalination
  • Experimental studies on a desalination plant using ocean temperature difference
  • Spray flash evaporator for low-temperature saline water desalination application

19 November 2007

Special issue: e-Business and manufacturing performance: impacts and relationships

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management 2(3) 2007
  • Modelling e-business processes: a component-based simulation approach
  • The sequential effects of e-business activity on business performance: a study of manufacturing organisations
  • Impacts of Radio Frequency Identification technology on logistics performance in agile supply chain
  • Radio Frequency Identification: an enabler of agile supply chain decision-making
  • Using electronic Customer Relationship Management to improve manufacturing processes

16 November 2007

Call for papers: Developing Themes in Mobile Learning

Call for papers: Developing Themes in Mobile Learning

A special issue of International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation

Rapid developments in mobile communication services provide new technical and customer (educators and learners) opportunities to experience novel learning activities. For instance, third generation (3G) handsets allow users of 3G services to view video content, including live streaming. Mobile TV phones have recently found great success in some gadget-loving countries (e.g., Korea and Japan), an opportunity, it seems, for the deployment of multimedia-based learning environments on mobile phones. Current mobile technologies hold out the promise of unlimited access to educational resources, amalgamating currently separated learning activities into one with an integrated technical platform. However, the editors personally believe that these promises are far away from being fulfilled in practice, which leads us to think that current m-learning experiences available thus far seem neither usable nor useful, nor markedly different from the traditional learning activities.

We believe that simply being driven by technical initiatives, with a narrow focus on the quality of mobile technologies themselves, does not capture the potential variety and emergent aspects of mobile learning activities. Practitioners as well as researchers should instead embrace the notion of learning experiences, for a better understanding of the important values that mobile learning can provide. Although this ‘experience’ or ‘learning theme’ has been widely used, there are still few available empirical, exploratory or large-scale success cases.

The objective of this special issue is to collect a series of original, high quality, empirical papers on various aspects of new learning experiences with mobile devices. We encourage submissions of both quantitative and qualitative research addressing or critically examining the link between aspects of interactive mobile learning services, use situations and resulting experiences.

This special issue aims at presenting a selection of papers addressing the topics indicated above, but is not limited to them. Work on the following topics is also equally welcome.
  • Experiences on new mobile learning activities and themes
  • Empirical studies of mobile learning implementation or deployment
  • Enriched themes of mobile learning experiences
  • Transformation of traditional learning experiences into mobile learning
  • Learner needs beyond classroom learning activities; social, collaborative, challenge and so forth.
  • Effects of m-learning applications on traditional learning environments: blended with e-learning systems
Important Dates
Full paper deadline: 30 April, 2008
Notification of acceptance and Review results: 30 June, 2008
Revised submission deadline: 15 August, 2008
Camera-ready version deadline: 1 October, 2008

Special issue: Rapid product development, tooling and agile manufacturing

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management 2(2) 2007
  • Trends in agility for rapid product development and manufacturing – a review
  • A case study of flexible tooling solutions for a small healthcare company
  • Chip form strategy for tool wear prediction solution
  • White layer formation and tool wear in high speed milling of 57HRc tool steel using coated and uncoated tools
  • Development of a tool life prediction model for plaster machining
  • Six Sigma approach for build-time estimation of Selective Laser Sintering
  • Critical notes and considerations on the use of ISO 286-1 for CAD modelling and rapid product development
  • Integrating Computational Fluid Dynamic and prototyping technologies in the investigation of multi-element profiles for a high-lift variable pitch vertical-axis tidal power generator

15 November 2007

Call for papers: Mobility: Adding Flexibility to Web-based Communities

Call for papers: Mobility: Adding Flexibility to Web-based Communities

A special issue of International Journal of Web Based Communities

The development of more mobile and more flexible learning communities is being supported by developments in hardware (e.g., smart phones, smaller more powerful notebook computers and a variety of wireless communication options) and software (e.g., the rise of the semantic web tools). Increasingly, communities are being characterised by:
  • diversity of access to content and modes of communication
  • more opportunities to store, share and disseminate information, and
  • convergence of wired and wireless technologies that support more diverse community interactions.
Articles may address the theme of mobility from a variety of perspectives. The following questions are offered as stimulus for potential authors. Specific evidence-based studies would be welcome on any of these (or other) aspects of the theme:
  • To what extent are mobile technologies impacting upon communities of educational practice?
  • Can mobile technologies simultaneously support flexibility and improved learning outcomes?
  • Who are the best users and creators of content in a mobile environment: the instructor or the student?
  • What is the contribution of the student experience of mobile learning to the current institutional models for curriculum design and implementation?
  • What impact are web 2.0 technologies having on improving and/or changing community engagement and interaction?
  • Are there specific cultural issues in the use of mobile devices for web-based communities?
  • How are web-based communities evolving to support greater flexibility of engagement and interaction?
  • How is the integration of wired and wireless environments impacting on, or supporting, web-based communities?
Potential contributors who require clarification or wish to enquire if the topic of their submission fits within the scope of the special issue may contact Dr Kennedy by email at dkennedy@hku.hk. Please provide a paragraph describing the topic and potential title in any enquiries.

Important Date
Deadline for paper submission: 15 March, 2008

Call for papers: Particulate Air Pollution in Urban Environments

Call for papers: Particulate Air Pollution in Urban Environments

A special issue of International Journal of Environment and Pollution

Particulates represent a major threat to human and environmental health of all air pollutants, especially in urban areas. There is still much to learn about sources and quantities of particulate emissions, in particular those emitted by gross emitters such as domestic heating, industry and transportation. Monitoring particulates continues to be fraught with problems, including the metrics that are used, such as particle number, mass and surface area. Particle size distribution (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) is also an issue, particularly with regard to expected health impacts.

New monitoring methods are being developed, including fixed monitors, mobile samplers, remote sensing and satellite techniques. There is also uncertainty over possible detrimental health effects of particulates of natural (e.g. sea salt, pollen, soil) versus anthropogenic (e.g. milk powder, bulk storage, coal, cement, fertilisers, mining) origin, and there is a lack of knowledge of the effects of secondary particulates in contributing to both measured concentrations and their health impact. The purpose of this special issue is to publish the latest results of research into any aspect of particulate air pollution in urban environments.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:
  • Source characteristics of particulate air pollution
  • Monitoring methods for particulate air pollution
  • Exposure assessment and health effects
  • Toxicology of particulate air pollution
  • Health effects of particulates of natural versus anthropogenic origin
  • Secondary particulates
  • Dispersion modelling of particulate air pollution
  • Chemical modelling of particulate air pollution
Important Date
Deadline for manuscript submission: 31 March, 2008

Special issue: Network protocols and applications

International Journal of High Performance Computing and Networking 5(1/2) 2007

Papers from IEEE International Conference on Advanced Information Networking (AINA-2005), held in Tamkang University, Taiwan, 28 to 30 March 2005.
  • Adaptive multi-level explicit congestion notification
  • Zone-based congestion detection and control using routing method on the internet
  • CCReSD: concept-based categorisation of Hidden Web databases
  • A proposal of multi-agent system development framework for cooperative problem solving and its experimental evaluation
  • Modified user-dependent perfect-scheduling multiple access protocol for WLAN
  • Secure broadcast for inter vehicle communications
  • Scalable multimedia streaming model in heterogeneous networks
  • Concurrency control based on role concept
  • A dual pyramid watermarking for JPEG-2000
  • A unified multiple-level cache for high performance storage systems
  • Error recovery mechanism for grid-based workflow within SLA context

12 November 2007

Special issue: Building reliable networked applications. Part II

International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering 3(2) 2007

Further papers from the Fourth International Workshop on Databases in Networked Information Systems (DNIS) held on 28–30 March, 2005 at the University of Aizu, Japan.
(Other papers were published in International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering 2(5/6) 2006)
  • Networked database builder and data-mining engine for electronic journal papers
  • Development of a data mining application for huge scale earth environmental data archives
  • Automation systems for generating web-based mathematical learning and presentation materials
  • Exploring website log data with coordinated dimension hierarchies and network pivots
  • GridFS: highly scalable I/O solution for clusters and computational grids
  • Predictive business operations management
  • Computational interface for web-based access to dynamic contents
  • Integration of virtual reality and database systems for cultural heritage dissemination
  • From MultiMedia to UniversalMedia
  • The multimedia semantic web
  • Storing and retrieving multimedia web notes
  • A searching method based on problem description and algorithmic features

11 November 2007

Call for papers: Grinding Wheel Technology

Call for papers: Grinding Wheel Technology

A special issue of International Journal of Abrasive Technology

In the past ten years, advances have been made in the development of grinding wheels for removing difficult-to-machine materials used in the aerospace, automotive, electronic, semiconductor processing, and tooling industries. Recent developments in grinding wheel technology in recent years include the development of laser dressable grinding wheels, high efficiency deep grinding wheels, creep feed grinding wheels for grinding automotive materials, very high speed grinding wheels, micro and nanogrinding wheels and tools, high porosity grinding wheels, coated grinding wheels, abrasive grain engineering, controlled stress grinding wheels and adaptive grinding wheels.

Therefore, the goal of this special issue is to publish the current state-of-the-art in grinding wheel technology and to provide a forum for developing the future requirements of grinding wheels and tools.

The subject coverage of this special issue includes, but is not limited to, topics that address:
  • Fundamental research and developments on grinding wheels and their materials
  • Applied research and developments on grinding wheels
  • Applications of fundamental and applied research on grinding wheels in the aerospace, automotive, electronic, micro and nanoengineering, and tooling industries
  • Emerging fields of micro and nanogrinding wheels and tools
Research that spans several fields is particularly welcome.

Important Dates
Deadline for submission of manuscripts: 31 May, 2008
Communication of peer review to authors: 31 August 2008
Deadline for revised manuscripts: 30 November 2008

Special issue: Virtual prototyping

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology 30(3) 2007

Papers presented during the Second International Conference on Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping, held on 28 September to 1 October 2005 at the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Portugal.
  • Object contours in virtual conceptual sketches – modelling of perception
  • A 6-DOF haptic interface and its applications in CAD
  • Virtual customisation of product physical properties: a case of real time product stiffness customisation
  • Virtual and rapid prototyping for rapid die-casting development
  • Orbit model from scanning data with anthropometric parameters
  • Innovative design approaches for tooling performance improvement in the packaging industry
  • A multi-platform, multi-language environment for process modelling, simulation and optimisation
  • Collaborative design and manufacturing process planning in tooling industry

Special issue: Computer-aided innovation

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology 30(1/2) 2007

  • Fostering innovation in practice through TRIZ-based CAI tools
  • Formal innovation criteria
  • Development of an empirical-based categorisation scheme for CAI software
  • Fan-shape optimisation using CFD and genetic algorithms for increasing the efficiency of electric motors
  • Automatic shape and topology variations in 3D CAD environments for genetic optimisation
  • Generative design supported by evolutionary computing approach
  • A design language for generic space-frame structure design
  • A framework for OTSM–TRIZ-based computer support to be used in complex problem management
  • A model for problem representation at various generic levels to assist inventive design
  • A substance-field ontology to support the TRIZ thinking approach
  • Parameter network as a means for driving problem solving process
  • Development of an auto-painting technology for dental burs
  • Computer simulation of a 3D free-form surface normal machining by 4SPS + RPS and 5SPS/UPU parallel machine tools

Special issue: Social networking and knowledge flows in organisations

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations 4(4) 2007

* Keynote paper: Enhancing organisational metacognition – flow visualisation to make the knowledge network explicit
* The development, distribution and maintenance of trust in distributed work groups: a social network approach
* The application of social network analysis to identify trust-based networks in construction
* Networks on the ground: rural development in Kenya
* The impact of board interlocks on the diffusion of enterprise resource planning systems
* Network awareness: social network search, innovation and productivity in organisations
* A social network perspective on virtual organisations: social structure as enabler and barrier
* CAS-based social network analysis for collaborative management in the green supply chain network system
* Innovation team networks: the centrality of innovativeness and efficiency

9 November 2007

Call for papers: Behavioural Accounting

Call for papers: Behavioural Accounting

A special issue of International Journal of Behavioural Accounting and Finance

Behavioural accounting is concerned with testing the effects of human psychological behaviour on strategic planning, budgeting, control, financial reporting, and decision-making in organisations. For example, a budget (and hence control and performance evaluation systems) has behavioural implications on everyone in an organisation: those who participate in preparing it, those who use it to assist in the decision-making process, and those who are evaluated using the budget. In addition, the quality of corporate financial reporting, particularly the quality of publicly reported earnings numbers, is influenced by the behaviour of managers who intentionally try to manipulate earnings for their own benefits, and in order to influences investors’ psychological behaviours, which can also be affected by analysts’ self-interests. Auditor’s independence can also be weakened by auditors’ self-interests and over-confidence, and so as managers.

The aim of this special issue is to publish high quality, innovative theoretical and empirical papers that promote the understanding of behavioural corporate accounting, in order to provide a platform for future research agenda.

The issue welcomes theoretical or empirical papers that explore managers, auditors, and regulators regarding corporate earnings quality. Topics include, but are not limited to:
  • The effects of human behaviour and psychology on the quality of corporate financial reporting
  • The effects of human behaviour and psychology on internal decision-making, internal control, performance evaluation, customer satisfaction, total quality management, and companies' performance
  • The effects of human behaviour and psychology on investment decision-making
  • The behaviour implications of budget
  • The behavioural implications of activity-based costing
  • Audit quality and over-confidence
  • Internal control system and earnings quality
  • Restructuring costs and earnings quality
  • Corporate governance and earnings quality
  • Merger and acquisition and earnings quality
  • Sarbanes-Oxley Act and earnings management
  • The effects of Sarbanes-Oxley Act on the decision of managers to cross-list in the US
  • Analysts' earnings forecasts and earnings management/quality
  • Audit quality/auditor's independence and earnings management
  • The effect of IFRS introduction on earnings management of EU companies
  • The market reaction to the introduction of IFRS in Europe
  • International cross-listing and corporate disclosure
  • The quality of the internet corporate reporting, and investors' reaction to it
Important Date
Papers should be submitted by: 31 December, 2008

Call for papers: Achieving Excellence through Quality and Productivity Improvement

Call for papers: Achieving Excellence through Quality and Productivity Improvement

A special issue of International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management

In a fiercely competitive market situation in a globalised economy, organisations, irrespective of their types and product profiles, should stay competitive and improve their market positions continuously. Efforts to improve quality are crucial in attaining these goals. Through improved process control and efficient resource utilisation, an organisation may be able to minimise its cost of production and services significantly. As quality improves, the competitive position of an organisation improves with better customer satisfaction, increased profitability, and all aspects of organisational performance, such as innovation, productivity, effectiveness and quality of work life.

Over the years, a number of tools, techniques, approaches, and methodologies have been proposed and applied by researchers and practitioners in all types of organisations in order to address the quality and productivity issues. With organisations becoming complex, applications of all these tools and approaches may require a constant effort to upgrade them, in content and structure, to address the current industrial problems related to quality and productivity with primary objective of enhanced organisational performance.

In this special issue, research papers will be included in the areas of design and development of appropriate approaches for organisational performance measurement and improvement, as well as specific cases highlighting their application at different levels of organisation and industry sector.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
  • Design and implementation of cellular manufacturing
  • Lean and JIT applications in production and service
  • Quality engineering/Taguchi methods in productivity improvement
  • Reliability estimation and prediction
  • Advances in process control and optimisation
  • Performance improvement through flexible manufacturing systems
  • TQM issues and applications
  • Quality control and improvement in the service industry
  • Human productivity improvement
  • Risk assessment and safety issues in organisations
  • Industry-wide survey/cases
Important Dates
Manuscript submission: 29 February, 2008
Notification of editorial decision: 31 May, 2008
Submission of final manuscript: 15 August, 2008

8 November 2007

Special issue: Ecotoxicology, environmental chemistry and food safety

International Journal of Environment and Pollution 31(1/2) 2007

* The 'whole-effluent' toxicity approach
* Daphnia magna wastewater toxicity assays: an interlaboratory study
* Degradation of abamectin and doramectin in sheep faeces under different experimental conditions
* A 25-year long monitoring of lead content in the blood of cows from a stationary polluted area
* Nucleoplasmatic index in meristematic cells of maize (Zea mays L.) as a tool in environmental bioindication
* Morphologic and morphometric analysis of adrenal gland cortex of sheep grazing on pastures with the ground of electrofilter ash
* Detection of Clostridium botulinum type C in an aquatic area a year after an outbreak of botulism in waterfowl using conventional and molecular methods
* Detection of Bacillus anthracis spores in postal and environmental samples in cases of suspected bioterrorism
* Efficacy and benefits of prevention of coccidiosis in broilers by vaccination in comparison to anticoccidial drug program
* Detection of antibodies against Borrelia afzelii spirochete in stallions from Kocevje region
* Use of qualitative constraints in modelling of the Lake Glumso
* Adsorption of copper (II) ions to peanut hulls and Pinus brutia sawdust
* A case of enzyme immunoassay validation for the determination of clenbuterol residues in bovine urine
* Residues of organophosphorus pesticides in different food commodities in Slovenia, 1997–1998
* Residues of certain veterinary drugs in raw milk in Slovenia in the 2000–2002 period
* Use of quick diagnostic methods in milking
* Evaluation of the hazardous waste landfill cap system design and clay layer thickness criteria of the Turkish Regulation on the Control of Hazardous Waste (RCHW) using the Hydrological Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model
* Pollution reduction from flares by swirl vanes in a cross-flow
* Use of hybrid reactor in treating cellulose wastewater
* Heavy metal levels in tap water in Batina Region, Oman
* Evaluation of the optimum efficiency of fire tubes boilers

7 November 2007

Call for papers: Recent Advances in Machining Science and Technology

Call for papers: Recent Advances in Machining Science and Technology

A special issue of International Journal of Materials and Product Technology

Today, machining is one of the most important manufacturing processes. Parts manufactured by other processes often require further operations before the product is ready for application. Machining processes can be applied to work metallic and non-metallic materials such as polymers, wood, ceramics, composites and special materials.

M. E. Merchant has written: “Today in industrialized countries, the cost of machining amounts to more than 15% of the value of all manufactured products in those countries”. For this reason, machining as part of manufacturing science and technology is very important for modern manufacturing industries.

This special issue invites the submission of high quality research papers related to experimental and computational topics on machining (turning, milling, drilling, grinding, high speed machining, advanced machining processes, etc).

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following aspects:
  • FEM machining simulation
  • Micromachining/precision machining
  • High speed machining (HSM)
  • Computer aided manufacturing (CAM)
  • Ecological machining (MQL - minimal quantity lubrication)
  • Machining of hard materials
  • Machining of metal matrix composites (MMCs)
  • Drilling polymeric matrix composites (PMCs)
  • Machining of wood and MDF
  • Brasses and copper alloy turning
Important Date
Deadline for submission: 30 June 2008

International Journal of Nanotechnology increases issues for 2008

International Journal of Nanotechnology has announced an increase in issues to 12 in 2008. This highly successful journal, included in Science Citation Index and elsewhere, will continue its coverage of nanotechnology in various countries by including within these issues papers about nanotechnology in Australia, France and Canada. Previous issues have covered Spain, Ukraine, Korea, China, Singapore, Australia and Brazil.

Call for papers: Application of Nanotechnology to Orthopaedic Cements

Call for papers: Application of Nanotechnology to Orthopaedic Cements

A special issue of International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials

Extensive research has been completed in developing the physical, mechanical and biological properties of orthopaedic cements since their conception. Research into the next generation of orthopaedic cements indicates nanotechnology could be incorporated to enhance their functionality. Preliminary investigations have recognised the potential for nanoclays, carbon nanotubes, and various nanoparticles to improve a range of properties in acrylic bone cements while calcium phosphate cements have benefited from the addition of chitosan nanoparticles and the use of amorphous tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles. That said, the majority of this research is in its infancy and requires significant work particularly with respect to biological responses, before its true potential can be realised.

Therefore, the purpose of this special issue is to publish the current research on the use of nanotechnology in orthopaedic cements. In doing so, it is hoped to highlight the use of novel materials and approaches that could be used to develop the preparation of orthopaedic bone cements.

The subject coverage of this special issue includes, but is not limited to, topics that address:
  • Fundamental research in nanotechnology applied to orthopaedic cements
  • Appropriate nanomaterials synthesis
  • Emerging technologies or innovations in appropriate materials nanomanufacturing and nanofabrication
  • Applied research and development on alternative delivery techniques for nanomaterial cements
  • Biocompatibility constraints of the nanomaterials.
Interdisciplinary research that spans several fields is particularly welcome.

Important Dates
Deadline for submission of manuscripts: 31 May 2008
Communication of peer reviews to authors: 31 August 2008
Deadline for revised manuscripts: 30 September 2008

Special issue: Sustainable solutions for resource valorisation and regeneration

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management 7(5/6) 2007

* Resource-miser business models
* Sustainable Value creation among companies in the manufacturing sector
* From environmental management to radical technological change: industry in sustainable development
* Eco-Innovation: opportunities for advancing waste prevention
* The introduction and dissemination of the industrial symbiosis projects in the Rotterdam Harbour and Industry Complex
* A decision-making methodology for transition to reuse business
* Resources circulating and sustainable society in Asia: concept and research scheme
* Creating economic, social and environmental value: an information infrastructure perspective
* Integrative environmental research and education
* Technological transitions and Strategic Niche Management: the case of the hydrogen economy
* Cleaner Production and Eco-Efficiency in Australian small firms
* Development of comprehensive LCA database based on input-output tables
* Eco-effectiveness to pursue resource valorisation and conservation: a new approach

6 November 2007

Special Issue: Real-time monitoring and control of electric power systems

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy 5(6) 2007

* Electric power systems real-time monitoring and control
* The CBR-PNN approach to real-time voltage security assessment of power systems
* Detection and classification of power quality events using multiwavelets
* Online condition monitoring of electrical power system imbalance
* Fuzzy-based Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) for improving transient stability performance
* Simulating real-time load management to maximise wind energy supply within a liberalised electricity market – Irish case study
* Design, analysis and control of compensators for distribution power systems

Call for papers: How Unlearning and Relearning Processes Can Help to Implement Information Communication Technologies for Developing Innovations

Call for papers: How Unlearning and Relearning Processes Can Help to Implement Information Communication Technologies for Developing Innovations

A joint special issue of International Journal of Technology Management and International Journal of Information Technology and Management
(Accepted papers will be eligible for publication in either of these.)

Innovation implies the introduction of something new. In the current environment, the introduction of new products and services or the developing of new processes is critical for the survival of the companies. Knowledge from customers and suppliers is required for developing innovations. In this situation, both unlearning and relearning are knowledge management systems (KMS), which allow companies to acquire this new knowledge, and eliminate the obsolete. For example, the implementation information communication technologies (ICT) has to be re-designed around an organisational context to attain any benefit from the knowledge provided by customers or other employees.

In this context, companies with a high degree of organisational memory require what Schumpeter refers to as ‘creative destruction’, destroying, or at least setting aside, the institutional order to enact variations that allow intuitive insights and actions to surface and be pursued (e.g., e-services will be not used unless employees don’t use traditional services as a prior step). Therefore, before new routines can be implemented (e.g., pay corporate tax through e-government websites), the old routines must be challenged and this requires a willingness to unlearn or relearn.

This special issue is devoted to uncovering emerging connections between unlearning, relearning and new theoretical developments, such as e-business, e-government and e-commerce. The aim is to bring together new ideas and directions for technology and knowledge management research and practice. To this end, we welcome theoretical and empirical papers as well as qualitative and quantitative studies from a broad mix of contributors, including management scholars and practitioners, economists, sociologists, psychologists, business and science historians, innovation and technology researchers.

Although the possible set of paper topics is large and we encourage submission on any area within the scope of technology, unlearning and relearning in organisations and its study from recent theoretical approaches, topics which are particularly suitable include (but are not limited to):
  • Relearning and unlearning requirements for successful technology implementation
  • Foundations and critique of unlearning and relearning
  • Linking unlearning and relearning through ICT and/or knowledge management systems (KMS)
  • Effect of unlearning and relearning for innovating
  • Evaluations of unlearning and relearning initiatives and results
  • Knowledge management practices fostering unlearning and relearning
  • Time, relearning and unlearning
  • Antecedents and consequences of organisational memory impacting the level of relearning and unlearning
  • Impact on learning effectiveness of unlearning and relearning
  • Human resource management practices for unlearning and relearning
Important Dates
Deadline for submissions: 14 February, 2008
Contributions distributed to reviewers: 17 February, 2008
Reviews received and distributed to authors: 15 May, 2008
Papers amended and received in light of reviewers' comments: 17 July, 2008

5 November 2007

Call for papers: Behavioural Corporate Governance

Call for papers: Behavioural Corporate Governance

A special issue of International Journal of Behavioural Accounting and Finance

Behavioural corporate governance examines the effects of managers’, monitors’ and investors’ behaviour on corporate performance and seeks to provide greater realism in understanding agent behaviour within a corporate governance setting. Key concerns include, among others, the reliance on the monitoring model of corporate governance, the independence and effectiveness of the board of directors, the impact of investors on managerial decision making, the role of financial reporting and auditing, and questions on executive compensation. The aim of this special issue is to publish high quality papers, both theoretical and empirical, that promote an understanding of behavioural corporate governance.

Topics for this special issue include, but are not limited to:
  • Board of directors size and composition
  • Director independence
  • Independence of monitors and gatekeepers
  • Financial reporting and auditing
  • Audit quality
  • Ownership structures
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Executive compensation
  • Monitoring model of corporate governance
  • Activities of decision makers in large corporations
  • Corporate fraud
  • Corporate failures
Important Date
Papers should be submitted by: 30 April, 2008

New book: Business excellence and competitiveness in the Middle East and North Africa

The second volume of a series of books devoted to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has just been published. Business excellence and competitiveness in the Middle East and North Africa outlines key factors that are influencing and are influenced by the business environment in the MENA region and that are essential for achieving business excellence and competitiveness in the region. In doing so, a holistic approach is used to analyse and assess the performance of the different countries in the region against each other and the rest of the world using different international indicators and measurements. The book costs 160.00 Euros, shipping included, and may be ordered online

4 November 2007

Call for papers: Carbon Nanotubes and Current Applications

Call for papers: Carbon Nanotubes and Current Applications

A special issue of International Journal of Nanoparticles

As a special category of nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes (CNT) have demonstrated unparalleled performances. Since the turn of the century, the outstanding properties of carbon nanotubes have gained significant recognition. Research progress in CNT is accelerating at an unprecedented speed. At present, the CNT synthesis has developed from producing single- and multi-wall tubes to CNT sheets. The length of a CNT has reached more than 100 metres, and CNT can be synthesized in volume as well as on a component.

Among its ever-growing applications, CNT has been used as a new semiconductor material to produce diodes and transistors. CNT is used as a new reinforcement material in nanocomposites, a new energy storage material, and has been used in biomedicine. The acceleration of CNT development is likely to continue in the foreseeable future and will provide new opportunities and challenges to science and engineering.

This special issue of IJNP is dedicated to the publication of papers that reflect the current state-of-the-art in CNT studies and their applications. As such, it provides an important forum for promoting the development of the next generation of novel CNT fabrication, treatment processes, and applications. It is aimed to have a short turnaround time to report the latest CNT development.

The subject coverage of this special issue includes, but is not limited to, topics that address:
  • CNT synthesis using CVD, carbon arc, high pressure CO conversion approaches
  • CNT synthesis using novel processes
  • Local growth of CNT
  • Computer simulation of CNT synthesis
  • Synthesis of CNT in novel forms
  • CNT surface treatment and dispersion
  • CNT composite materials
  • Characterisation
  • Medical applications
  • Biological applications
  • Energy storage applications
  • Applications in electronics
  • Applications in sensors and transducers
  • Alignment and single CNT manipulation
Important Dates
Deadline for submission of manuscripts : 31 December 2007
Communication of peer reviews to authors : 29 February 2008
Deadline for revised manuscripts : 31 March 2008

Special issue: E-Learning - Covering Lifelong Learning in the European Space for Higher Education

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning 17(6) 2007

Papers from the Virtual Campus 2006 Workshop held as part of the 2006 International Expoelearning Conference

* Beyond technocentrism and infocentrism: designing effective e-learning courses for professional education
* AWLA and AIOLE for personal learning environments
* Semantic learning object repositories
* An applied project of ICT-based active learning for the new model of university education
* Didactic interaction in e-learning: new styles for new environments
* Lifelong learning online tutoring methodology approach

2 November 2007

Call for papers: Functionally Graded Materials: an Integrated Approach

Call for papers: Functionally Graded Materials: an Integrated Approach

A special issue of International Journal of Materials and Product Technology

In functionally graded materials (FGMs), properties change gradually with position. The gradient in properties results from intentionally-induced variations in chemical composition and/or structure in selected regions of the material. Careful conception of the spatial gradation is of prime importance. Most of the time, the absence of a smooth gradient causes severe interfacial mismatches of physical, chemical and/or mechanical properties, resulting in a premature deterioration of components or component decrease of its performance limits.

Although in the last decade significant research efforts have been undertaken in order to understand and model the influence of the enormous number of parameters dictating the performance of FGMs, and to develop/improve the processing techniques for these materials, there are currently not many applications in which FGMs are used, mainly in coatings and a few very recent developments for functionally graded bulk materials. Also, an integrated approach is still lacking which joins the benefits of a functionally graded bulk material with a functionally graded coating along with a functionally graded interface, allowing a smooth transition between bulk and coating. A huge gap between the best coating performance combined with the best characteristics for compatibility with the bulk material is still not filled.

This special issue intends to contribute to establish the state-of-the art regarding FGM materials, dissimilar bulk and coatings, and interface characteristics.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Coating deposition techniques: innovations towards composition control
  • Graded coatings: production and characterisation
  • Manufacturing bulk techniques: sintering, casting, rapid prototyping, etc.
  • Optimal design material composition distribution: interface-mismatch characterisation between dissimilar materials and optimisation, modelling, etc.
  • Material-property estimation: numerical and analytical modelling
  • FGMs properties characterisation
  • Degradation mechanisms: corrosion, wear, fracture mechanics, etc.
  • Analysis of stress fields (mechanical and thermal) in FGMs: bulk, coatings and interfaces
  • Nano-, micro-, and meso-scale production, modelling and characterisation
Important Date
Deadline for submission: 31 March, 2008

Call for papers: Mobile Advertising and Communication

Call for papers: Mobile Advertising and Communication

A special issue of International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising

Commercial communication sent to and received with mobile hand held devices (e.g. mobile phones, PDAs) is among the newest ways for marketers to communicate and even interact with their customers. Mobile advertising and communication continues to grow as mobile technology advances and the penetration of sophisticated mobile phones increases. Also, developments in telecommunication networks and internet technologies enable more interactive mobile advertising and communication campaigns.

Currently, text and multimedia messages are used to communicate with customers, both in consumer and business-to-business markets. Even mobile advertising games have been introduced to the market. In research, the topic has been addressed under such labels as mobile marketing, mobile CRM, mobile commerce and/or business and mobile advertising.

Recent studies have suggested that no other form of commercial communication shares the exact same essential elements with the mobile form, making it unique and deserving of more rigorous research. The distinctive features of mobile advertising and communication are interactivity of the media, the personal and ubiquitous nature of the mobile device and services, and its context-sensitivity, for example when the customer is actually shopping.

Regardless of the rapid increase in studies focusing on mobile advertising and communication, the theory development and conceptualisations of mobile means of commercial communication suffer from a lack of attention. The purpose of this special issue is to advance the theory development in this area and bring forward multiple and overlapping aspects of the phenomenon. The theme covers all commercial communication delivered via mobile hand held devices. Theoretical (including reviews) and qualitative and quantitative empirical papers from consumers' and marketers' points of view are welcome.

Topics of relevance to this special issue include, but are not limited to:
  • Mobile advertising and communication in business-to-consumers/business-to-business markets and in non-profit marketing
  • Word-of-mouth in mobile context
  • Mobile advertising and communication as a part of CRM and IMC
  • Ethics and legal considerations in mobile advertising and communication
  • Efficiency and creativity of mobile advertising and communication
  • Role of mobile advertising and communication in service quality and recovery
  • Mobile games as an advertising forum
  • Extension of the social web (2.0) into mobile sphere
  • Young consumers and mobile advertising and communication
  • Acceptance and usage of mobile advertising and communication
  • Search engine marketing coupled with mobile advertising and communication
  • Business models within mobile advertising and communication
  • Digital media and advertising agencies and mobile advertising and communication
  • Global issues in mobile advertising and communication
Important Dates
Due date for full-paper submissions: 15 April, 2008
Outcomes of initial screening are returned to authors whose papers are rejected for further reviews: 1 May, 2008
Outcomes of 1st-round formal reviews are sent to authors of all papers: 1 July, 2008
Due date for resubmission of papers required revisions: 1 September, 2008
Outcomes of 2nd-round formal reviews are sent to authors of resubmitted papers: 1 October, 2008
Due date for resubmission of papers required only minor revisions.: 1 November, 2008
Outcomes of 3rd-round formal reviews are sent to authors of resubmitted papers: 15 November, 2008
Due date for authors to submit properly-formatted copies for all accepted papers: 1 December, 2008

Call for papers: Offshore, Subprime and Underground Finance: Markets and Regulation

Call for papers: Offshore, Subprime and Underground Finance: Markets and Regulation

A special issue of Global Business and Economics Review

In a period of rapid innovation and structural changes in the national financial industries, the activity of non-standard markets – legal and illegal offshore networks, subprime and informal markets – has expanded rapidly. Assessing and addressing the risks of these developments has raised important questions that required effective answers by policymakers and supervisors. The special issue call welcomes unpublished papers, which discuss the implications for financial efficiency, stability and integrity.

The special issue will focus on the economics of offshore, subprime and underground finance. Topics include, but are not limited to:
  • Money laundering
  • Offshore centres
  • Tax havens
  • Underground finance and lending markets
  • Illegal financiers and usury
The special issue welcomes theoretical and empirical papers – in any case with policy implications – which explore causes and effects of the actual evolution of these non-standard financial markets.

Important Date
The deadline for submissions is: 1 December 2007

Newly announced journal: International Journal of Digital Enterprise Technology

International Journal of Digital Enterprise Technology - to begin publication in 2008 - covers the areas of enterprise theory, methods, technologies, and corresponding information and knowledge management issues. The main features of the journal are to highlight the integrated solutions specifically related to both manufacturing enterprises and service enterprises, solving the new problems and facing the new challenges that are brought about through digital technology in the above areas. Contributions that deal with both academic research and industrial practices are included.

1 November 2007

First issue: International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies

The first issue of International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies has just been published.

The journal is intended to serve as the primary international outlet for theoretical and empirical research in all areas of economic policy concerning Russia, the post-Soviet states, China, and other former planned economies.

A free download of the papers from this first issue is available.

First issue: International Journal of Trade and Global Markets

The first issue of International Journal of Trade and Global Markets has just been published.

The journal deals with the various interrelationships between economic growth at national and international levels and international trade. It will emphasise the implications that trade policy exerts on economic growth and vice versa, as well the role of national governments, international organisations and the business community on related issues of worldwide concern.

A free download of the papers from this issue is available.