30 June 2011

Call for Papers: Emergency Information Systems - Information Management Before, During, and After Crisis Events

A special issue of International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management

Recent history has been no stranger to unexpected debilitating events such as natural disasters, political disturbances and terror attacks. No two emergency situations are alike. However, when disaster strikes, the ability to collect, share and distribute accurate and timely information is, in most cases, one of the most important goals in response and recovery efforts.

While crisis scenarios are unpredictable, they often include uncertainty, complexity and physical damage. Numerous recent examples have shown that these characteristics present challenges for the successful management of information during these trying events. In addition, multiple collaborators and sources of data as well as difficult conditions and rapidly changing environments create unique information needs to be addressed by emergency information systems.

The aim of this special issue is to shed light on these needs and to broaden our understanding of past and potential approaches to the use of information systems and technologies to address them. Potential authors are invited to submit contributions analysing issues related to the management of information leading up to, in the midst of, and/or in the aftermath of crisis events.

Submissions might be of a theoretical nature, might include an analysis of notably successful or ineffective aspects of information management during past crises, or propose innovative uses of information systems and technologies for future crisis settings.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to:
  • Early warning and communication systems
  • Monitoring and analysis of hazards and risks
  • Emergency notification and dispatch systems
  • Crisis information management systems
  • Geospatial systems
  • Knowledge management
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Decision support systems
  • Issues in inter-system and inter-organisational interoperability
  • Issues in information accuracy and reliability
  • Roles of social media in information collection and dissemination
  • Frameworks of information needs during crisis
  • Case analyses
  • Flexible and adaptable systems design
  • The role of governments in controlling information flow during crisis
Important Dates
Submission of manuscripts: 15 December, 2011
Notification to authors: 15 March, 2012
Final drafts of papers: 31 May, 2012

Special issue: Computational heat transfer and fluid flow

Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal 11(3/4) 2011
  • A study on the characteristics of liquid interface and condensation process of superheated vapour near a solid wall by Molecular Dynamics method
  • Prediction of 3-D nano-mesh flows by a micro-flow LBM and its evaluation against MD simulations
  • POD study on the mechanism of turbulent drag reduction and heat transfer reduction based on Direct Numerical Simulation
  • Numerical investigation on fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics in a peristaltic micropump
  • Comparison of a least-square weighted residual method and the Taylor–Galerkin method based on level set formulation for interface capturing
  • Numerical study of droplet impact and filling in a microgroove
  • Numerical analysis of onset voltage for the control of droplet from an electrostatic nozzle
  • Numerical simulation of unsteady 3D air-water turbulent flow in a water cannon
  • Numerical simulation of film condensation on vertical plate embedded in metallic foams
  • Dust collection simulation inside a wire-pipe type electrostatic precipitator system
  • Comparison of heat-transfer reduction in drag-reduced turbulent channel flows with different fluid and thermal boundary conditions
  • The criteria of convergence in conjugated simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer in the channel formed by tube bank fins
  • Study on the heat transfer of the plate-fin heat sink under impinging jet cooling
  • Numerical study on performance and fin efficiency of wavy fin-and-tube heat exchangers
  • Combustion and heat transfer characteristics at the combustion chamber of an oxy-fuel boiler for CO2 capturing: a numerical simulation
  • A numerical study of a torque converter with various methods for the accuracy improvement of performance prediction

Special issue: Advances in risk assessment for contaminated environments

International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management 15(1) 2011
  • An integrated health risk assessment of contaminated sites under aleatory and epistemic uncertainties
  • Integrated fuzzy-stochastic risk assessment for contaminated groundwater systems
  • A coupled simulation and fuzzy-rule-based method for assessing health risks at a petroleum-contaminated site
  • Seasonal stratification effects on risk quantification of contaminant spreading in a warm monomictic lake under different hydrodynamic conditions: a case study in Lake Constance, Germany

Special issue: Nanotechnology-based biosensors

International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 2(2) 2011
  • Thermometry on the nanometre-scale for biomedical applications using NMR spectroscopy
  • Gold-carbon nanotube nanocomposites: synthesis and applications
  • Evaluation of electric cell-substrate impedance sensing for the detection of nanomaterial toxicity
  • PCR-based detection of Bacillus anthracis using an integrated microfluidic platform
  • The impact of protein disulfide bonds on the amyloid fibril morphology
  • Oligonucleotide-based signal amplification for ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor

Special issue: Scalable wireless networks

International Journal of Communication Networks and Distributed Systems 7(1/2) 2011
  • A dynamic route change mechanism for mobile ad hoc networks
  • Multipath geographic routing using false destinations
  • A cross-layer approach to the optimal flow, power and rate control for maximum-throughput delivery of VBR traffic over wireless connections
  • A cross-layer protocol for cooperative content delivery over mobile ad-hoc networks
  • Indoor localisation robustness and performance improvement
  • Massively parallel cooperative localisation in scalable sensor networks
  • A scalable, high-performance grouping DCF for the MAC layer enhancement of 802.11n
  • Asymptotic scalability analysis of mobility protocols based on signalling overhead
  • Reliable congestion-aware information transport in wireless sensor networks
Additional Paper
  • ETUS: enhanced triple umpiring system for security and robustness of wireless mobile ad hoc networks

29 June 2011

Special issue: WiMAX integration in NGN

International Journal of Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems 4(3) 2011
  • Unified WiMAX network design with service optimisation
  • Fast Uncontrolled Handover scheme for WiMAX: infrastructure networks
  • An M-Taiwan experience on mobile WiMAX
  • A moving algorithm for non-uniform deployment in mobile sensor networks
  • Combined circuit architecture for computing normal basis and Montgomery multiplications over GF(2m)
  • A novel group authentication for RuBee sensors in wireless sensor networks
  • The MIH-based vertical handover method for Wi-Fi and WiMAX integrated network

Special issue: Integrative data analysis in systems biology

International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design 4(2) 2011

Papers from a workshop held in conjunction with the IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics & Biomedicine (BIBM2010), held in Hong Kong, China, 18 December 2010
  • Gene regulation in glioblastoma: a combinatorial analysis of microRNAs and transcription factors
  • Integrative identification of core genetic regulatory modules via a structural model-based clustering method
  • Gene co-expression network and functional module analysis of ovarian cancer
  • Multiple genome sequences alignment algorithm based on coding regions
  • Integration of clustering and biclustering procedures for analysis of large DNA microarray datasets
  • Exploratory analysis of cell-based screening data for phenotype identification in drug-siRNA study

Special issue: Monitoring, fate and health risks of environmental pollutants (Part 3)

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management 8(1/2) 2011
  • Organotin compounds in sediments of three coastal environments from the Patagonian shore, Argentina
  • Land use patterns and organic pollution in the rivers
  • Optimisation approach for pollution source identification in groundwater: an overview
  • Hydro-geochemical characteristics of groundwater of Sirhind Nala sub-basin (Ghaggar river basin, India) in relation to salinity hazard
  • Specific and exchange adsorption of mercury (II) on Ca-saturated kaolinitic soils in Central Nigeria
  • Phytoremediation of mercury using Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms
  • Activated sludge and chemical treatment process for Chemi-Thermo-Mechanical Pulping black liquors
  • Amelioration of Mn toxicity by Brassinosteroids in Brassica juncea L.
  • In-situ estimation of the methane generation rate for a wet and highly organic solid waste landfill
Added papers
  • Roman and modern slag at S. Domingos mine (IPB, Portugal): compositional features and implications for their long-term stability and potential reuse
  • Effect of physico-chemical characteristics on distribution of PAHs in different size sediments from the Wuhan Reach of the Yangtze River, China
  • Recycling and use of wastes/co-products from the iron/steel and alumina industries

Special issue: Global wealth distribution

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development 7(3) 2011
  • The divine deviance - towards a sociological theory of radical Islamism
  • The role of storyboards and scrapbooks in propagating entrepreneurial value in family business settings
  • Entrepreneurship through indigenisation; the sweet and the bitter: the Zimbabwean example
  • Does the business size matter on corporate sustainable performance? The Australian business case
  • Reformed and engaged boards – not activist shareholders
  • A conceptual model of cultural change for African indigenous organisations
  • Globalisation and the problems of entrepreneurial development in Nigeria

Special issue: Commercialisation process in SMEs and globalisation

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation 10(3/4) 2011
  • Are commercialisation process models beneficial for small technology firms?
  • Role of international precocity in born global firms
  • Inward FDI and ICT: are they a joint technological driver of entrepreneurship?
  • A tale of two chemical family businesses: the evolution of Zobele Chemical Industries (Italy) and of the Chemical Group of Sinon Corporation (Taiwan)
  • Internationalisation of small firms: the importance of a global mindset
  • The early development of Born Global firms in the software industry
Additional Papers
  • Nourishment for the piggy bank: facilitation of external financing in incubators
  • Development of an e-commerce website for innovations emerging from a public sector healthcare system
  • Patent and publication productivity of German professors – a life cycle view
  • The development of high growth and highly successful SMEs: cases from Eastern FinlandLink

28 June 2011

Call for Papers: Ergonomics and Occupational Safety in Organisations

A special issue of International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics

In this special issue we invite research, review and conceptual papers covering different topics related to human factors and ergonomics, which may be included under the “umbrella” of the following subjects: safety management, ergonomics and physical environments, chemical and biological agents, and fire safety.

Original contributions including conceptual, empirical and case studies, as well as technical reports and reviews addressing and/or relating to any of the subject coverage areas, are welcome from authors.

This issue will include revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the International Symposium on Occupational Safety and Hygiene (9-10th February 2012, Guimarães, Portugal), but we also strongly encourage researchers who did not participate in the conference to submit papers for this call.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to:
  • Applied ergonomics
  • Construction safety
  • Education and training in prevention
  • Environmental ergonomics
  • Fire safety
  • Human and organisational factors
  • Injury prevention
  • Occupational ergonomics
  • Occupational safety
  • Occupational health and safety management systems
  • Participatory ergonomics
  • Psychosocial risk factors
  • Risk assessment methods
Important Dates
Manuscript submission: 9 March, 2012
Notification of acceptance: 8 June, 2012
Final submission: 20 July, 2012

Special issue: Understanding collaboration

International Journal of Strategic Business Alliances 2(3) 2011

Papers from the 16th Multi-organisation, Partnerships, Alliances and Networks (MOPAN) conference held in Maynooth, Ireland, 17–20 June 2009
  • Packing more punch? Developing the field of inter-organisational relations
  • An examination of a reciprocal relationship between network governance and network structure
  • Mechanisms of private meta-governance: an analysis of global private governance for sustainable development
  • Proximity and duration in temporary organisations
  • Utilising a national protocol for collaboration on environmental problems in Ireland: the Silvermines case

Special issue: Technologies, architectures and applications for green wireless sensor networks

International Journal of Sensor Networks 10(1/2) 2011
  • Energy-efficient framework for data gathering in wireless sensor networks via the combination of sleeping MAC and data aggregation strategies
  • Scatter – secure code authentication for efficient reprogramming in wireless sensor networks
  • HEEP (Hybrid Energy Efficiency Protocol) based on chain clustering
  • Enhancing AODV routing protocol over mobile ad hoc sensor networks
  • Multi-sensor activation for temporally correlated event monitoring with renewable energy sources
  • A cluster-based algorithm for redundant nodes discovery in dense sensor networks
  • A green wireless sensor network for environmental monitoring and risk identification
  • Autonomic cooperative networking for wireless green sensor systems
  • PERSEN: power-efficient logical ring based key management for clustered sensor networks
  • Adaptive resource allocation in multiuser cooperative networks with proportional rate constraints

Special issue: Biomass and bio-energy

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology 2(3) 2011
  • Assessment of hemicellulose extraction technology for bioethanol production in the emerging bioeconomy
  • Performance and emission characteristics of calophyllum inophyllum linn oil (blends and preheated) in an agricultural diesel engine
  • Hydrogen-diesel dual fuel combustion in a direct injection diesel engine
  • An experimental investigation on the performance and emission characteristics of a twin cylinder DI compression ignition engine employing bio-diesel blend as fuel at different injection timings and injection pressures
  • Performance, emission and combustion characteristics of DI diesel engine running on blends of calophyllum inophyllum linn oil (honne oil)/diesel fuel/kerosene
  • Experimental study on the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of rubber seed oil-diesel blends in a DI diesel engine
  • Performance and emission characteristics of a DI compression ignition engine operated on PODL biofuel

Special issue: Nuclear applications of artificial intelligence and computational intelligence

International Journal of Nuclear Knowledge Management 5(2) 2011

Papers from the 9th International FLINS Conference on Computational Intelligence – Foundations and Applications (FLINS2010) held in Chengdu, China, 2–4 August 2010.
  • Identification of a research nuclear reactor using computational intelligence techniques
  • Stable design of Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy controllers for a laboratory three-tank system
  • A model-based ensemble approach to plant-wide online sensor monitoring
  • Failure possibilities for nuclear safety assessment by fault tree analysis
  • A nature-inspired camouflaging approach to protect nuclear secrets
  • A hybrid model to deal with missing values in nuclear safeguards' evaluation
  • Computing with words on energy options? Towards decision-making under risk and uncertainty

Special issue: Multimedia signal processing and communications

International Journal of Multimedia Intelligence and Security 2(1) 2011
  • An adaptive harmonic broadcasting scheme with download and playback synchronisation for video on demand
  • A relay path selection method for video streaming on shared terminals
  • P2P network system for private live-streaming distribution
  • Distributed multiview video coding with 3D-DCT transform domain Wyner-Ziv codec
  • An improved and secure smart card-based authentication scheme
  • Text binarisation for complex multi coloured textual images

Special issue: Mathematics in industry

International Journal of Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Optimisation 2(3) 2011

Research from the 74th European Study Group with Industry (ESGI) held in Aveiro, Portugal, 26-30 April 2010.
  • Some experiences in industrial mathematics
  • Lot-sizing and scheduling in a glass container manufacture company
  • Scheduling with sequence-dependent batch setup times: planning tests for a pharmaceutic industry
  • Confidence intervals for the minimum of a function using extreme value statistics
  • Performance evaluation of airport taxi services provision
  • Modelling the problem of food distribution by the Portuguese food banks
  • Extreme nitriding limits in aluminium extrusion

Special issue: Corporate entrepreneurship and front-end innovation

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management 14(1) 2011
  • Linking innovation and entrepreneurship – literature overview and introduction of a process-oriented framework
  • Connecting local entrepreneurial ecosystems to global innovation networks: open innovation, double networks and knowledge integration
  • The role of entrepreneurship in innovation
  • Transforming lead user innovations into new corporate ventures: a matter of information asymmetry?
  • Front end innovation and stakeholder involvement in machine tools sector
  • Dynamics of intellectual capital and managerial perspectives in software development process

Special issue: Managing the religious tourism experience

International Journal of Business and Globalisation 7(1) 2011
  • Visitors experience of travel to the City of Heaven (Madinah)
  • Religious tourism and the Lent pilgrimages in Sao Miguel, Azores
  • The museum as visitor experience: displaying sacred Haitian Vodou objects
  • Managing the religious tourism experience in Romanian Christian Orthodoxy
  • A preliminary study of visitors to ancient Merv (Turkmenistan)
  • The role of a religious tourism strategy for the West and North West of Ireland in furthering the development of tourism in the region
  • Church tourism and faith tourism initiatives in Northern England: implications for the management of religious tourism sites
  • Developing religious tourism in emerging destinations: experiences from Mtskheta (Georgia)
  • Church institution and digital world: new opportunities to profess the word of God

Special issue: Cross-cultural management in mergers and acquisitions

European Journal of International Management 5(4) 2011
  • Cross-cultural management in mergers and acquisitions – Editorial
  • The double-edged effect of cultural distance on cross-border acquisition performance
  • Causal ambiguity, cultural integration and partner attractiveness as determinants of knowledge transfer: evidence from Finnish acquisitions
  • Mergers and acquisitions performance paradox: the mediating role of integration approach
  • Culture distance and cross-border acquisition performance: the moderating effect of transformational leadership
  • The role of social capital in cross-cultural M&As: a multinational corporation perspective
  • Wealth impact of cross-border US acquisitions of Chinese firms

27 June 2011

Newly announced title: International Journal of Nuclear Safety and Security

Prompted by the Fukushima accident International Journal of Nuclear Safety and Security - to begin publication in 2012 - will provide an invaluable opportunity to exchange information on the implications of safe and secure operation of nuclear power plants and approaches taken by countries worldwide. It also aims to promote and coordinate developments in the field of nuclear safety and security, and to provide authoritative, reliable information on nuclear safety and security for use in policy analyses and decision making that contributes to sustainable development in the framework of a global economy.

The journal will be the ninth title in Inderscience's Nuclear science and technology collection.

21 June 2011

Call for Papers: Underwater Sensor Networks: Technology and Theory

A special issue of International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing

An Underwater Sensor Network (UWSN) is an emerging network paradigm which consists of a number of underwater sensor nodes and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) that are deployed to perform collaborative monitoring and resource exploration tasks over a given area.

The applications of UWSNs have huge potential for monitoring the health of river and marine environments. Although there are a large number of developed network protocols for wireless sensor networks, the unique characteristics of UWSNs – such as limited bandwidth capacity, large propagation delay and node mobility, as well as high error probability – lead to considerable challenges in their design.

This special issue aims to bring together a variety of advanced technologies, theory and applications in the area of UWSNs. We solicit high-quality theoretical as well as practical studies on a broad range of issues important to communications, networks and applications.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to:
  • Network architecture and topology control
  • Medium access control protocols
  • Routing and data aggregation
  • Network coverage and node placement
  • Localisation and tracking systems
  • Time synchronisation
  • Data collection, storage and management
  • Energy efficiency and power control
  • Reliable transport and quality of service
  • Cross-layer design and optimisation
  • Network modelling and performance analysis
  • Case studies, implementations and real deployments of UWSNs
Important Dates
Deadline for submission: 1 April 2012 (extended)
Acceptance notification (1st round): 15 July 2012
Final notification of acceptance: 15 October 2012

Call for Papers: Advancements in Circuits, Control, Communication, Electricity, Electronics, Energy, Systems, Signals and Simulation

A special issue of International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation

This special issue will provide an opportunity for academic and industry professionals to discuss recent progress in the areas of circuits, control, communication, electricity, electronics, energy, systems, signals and simulation.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at Circuits, Control, Communication, Electricity, Electronics, Energy, System, Signal and Simulation (CES3) (8-10 December 2011, Jeju Island, Korea), but we also strongly encourage researchers who cannot participate in the conference to submit papers to this special issue.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to the following (excellent surveying works in these areas also welcome)
  • Various engineering and mechanical system controls and simulation
  • Analogue, digital, mixed-mode circuits
  • Electronics: components, devices, systems and other applications
  • Silicon devices: technology, modelling, reliability
  • Circuits: models, electrical and electronic measurement and applications
  • Artificial intelligence, robotics, simulation and modelling
  • Fuzzy systems and fuzzy control
  • Circuits and networks inspired by biology
  • Human-machine and virtual reality systems
  • Aerospace, sonar and underwater acoustic signal processing systems
  • Circuit modelling and scientific computing with applications in science and engineering
  • Geophysical and seismic signal processing
  • Control relays, distance protection in high voltage transmissions and measurements
  • SCADA/EMS and information systems
Important Dates
Submission deadline: 31 March, 2012
Notification of acceptance: 31 May, 2012
Final version due: 31 July, 2012

Call for Papers: Metaheuristics and Swarm Intelligence in Engineering and Industry

A special issue of International Journal of Bio-Inspired Computation

Metaheuristics and swarm intelligence are becoming widely used for optimisation and design in engineering and industrial applications. Metaheuristic algorithms tend to be nature-inspired and more often swarm-based, and have permeated almost every area of engineering and industry.

This special issue will focus on recent advances in metaheuristics and swarm intelligence in engineering and industry.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to:
  • Artificial immune systems
  • Ant algorithms
  • Bee algorithms
  • Cuckoo search
  • Differential evolution
  • Evolutionary algorithms
  • Firefly algorithms
  • Genetic algorithms
  • Harmony search
  • Particle swarm optimisation
  • Simulated annealing
  • Tabu search
Important Dates
Submission deadline: 1 November, 2011
Acceptance notification: 15 December, 2011
Final manuscript submission: 15 January, 2012

Call for Papers: Advances in Multimedia, Computer Graphics and Broadcasting

A special issue of International Journal of Advanced Media and Communication

This special issue is focused recent progress, ideas, problems and solutions relating to the multifaceted aspects of multimedia, computer graphics and broadcasting. It is intended for academics, practitioners, scientists and engineers who are involved in multimedia system research, design and application as well as those involved in computer graphics and broadcasting.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at The 2011 International Conference on Multimedia, Computer Graphics and Broadcasting (MULGRAB2011) , but we also strongly encourage researchers who did not participate in the conference to submit papers for this call.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to the following. Excellent surveying works in these areas are also welcome.
  • AI and soft computing in multimedia
  • Content-based image retrieval/QBE
  • Medical image and signal processing
  • Multimedia embedded systems
  • Multimedia in telemedicine
  • Multimedia security
  • Virtual reality and game technology
  • Computational photography
  • Computer animation, graphics and simulation
  • Computer graphics in industry
  • Data compression for graphics
  • Graphics systems architecture
  • Rendering techniques
  • Augmented reality
  • Digital content creation and distribution
Important Dates
Submission deadline: 31 March, 2012
Notification of acceptance: 31 May, 2012
Final version due: 31 July, 2012

Call for Papers: u- and e-Service, Science and Technology

A special issue of International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing

This special issue will present recent progress, ideas, problems and solutions relating to the multifaceted aspects of u- and e-service, science and technology, and will be an essential resource intended for academics, practitioners, scientists and engineers involved in and wishing to understand personal and ubiquitous computing and its implications. Its topics also cover new personal technologies; new developments in handheld, wearable and mobile information devices; and the emerging communications infrastructures that support them.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the 2011 International Conference on u- and e- Service, Science and Technology (UNNEST 2011), but we also strongly encourage researchers who did not participate in the conference to submit papers for this call.

Topics of relevance include but are not limited to the following areas. Excellent surveying works in these areas are also welcome.
  • Adoption of standards and protocols for e- or u-business applications
  • B2B, B2C and C2C architectures
  • Case studies in industry and government
  • Collaborative business systems
  • CRM and business solutions
  • Data and knowledge engineering
  • e- or u-banking
  • e- or u-business systems for multiple platforms
  • e- or u-entertainment
  • e- or u-government
  • e- or u-learning
  • e- or u-marketing and consumer behaviour
  • e- or u-negotiation and auction mechanisms
  • e- or u-payment systems
  • GPS applications and location-based services
  • Grid computing for e- or u-business
  • Healthcare and medical applications
  • Intellectual rights
  • Interoperability and integration
  • m-business and ubiquitous services
  • Mobile services and architectures
  • Mobility management in next generation networks
  • Multi-agent systems and information integration
  • Open source technologies in e- or u-business
  • Quality of service (QoS) and metrics
  • Security and privacy
  • Semantic web applications and ontology sharing
  • Service-oriented architectures
  • Supply-chain management
  • Systems development and evaluation
  • Telematics and middleware platforms
  • Trust and privacy issues in social networks
  • User interfaces and usability
  • Virtual organisations
  • VPN technology and services
  • Web data visualization
  • Web personalisation and decision making
  • Web services
  • Website monitoring and optimisation
  • Workflow management systems
  • XML and domain mark-up languages
Important Dates
Submission deadline: 31 March, 2012
Acceptance notification: 31 May, 2012
Final version due: 31 July, 2012

First issue: International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology

By challenging traditional and conventional methods and publishing new methods in global, regional and national changing climates International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology will help to in the promotion of hydrological science and technology. It will discuss the effects of urbanisation, agriculture, industry, forestry, etc. and the research undertaken and needed to better define their effects on water resources.

There is a free download of the papers from this first issue.

19 June 2011

Call for Papers: Smart Materials and Structures in Automotive Applications

A special issue of International Journal of Vehicle Design

Smart materials exhibit highly functional and changeable properties. They are usually embedded in practical engineering systems as sensors and actuators. They have the ability to change shape, stiffness, position, damping, fluid flow rate and other characteristics in response to changes in applied temperature, electric field and magnetic field. Currently smart materials include piezoelectric ceramics, shape memory alloys, magnetostrictive materials, optical fibres, electrorheological fluids, magnetorheological fluids, conducting polymers and so on.

By incorporating their intrinsic sensing and actuating capabilities into structural elements of vehicles, smart materials have found great promise in automotive applications. For example, General Motors have developed a shape memory alloy-activated louver system to control airflow into engines; conducting polymer-based sensors have been used to develop smart automotive seats; magnetorheological fluids have been employed to develop semi-active suspension systems to improve glide and handling. Driving comfort and safety are important issues in vehicle applications.

Automotive applications tend to require the high volume manufacture of devices at low cost with high performance and high reliability, even in harsh environments. To replace conventional systems or introduce new capabilities into automobiles, systems based on smart materials and structures technology need to add functionality, performance and adaptability without decreasing reliability, while marginally increasing cost and weight.

However, to advantageously exploit the capabilities of smart material-based sensors and actuators in vehicle technology requires multidisciplinary approaches to design and optimisation, where improved controllability, maintainability and extendibility are key goals. These issues are expected to be well-addressed by concurrent investigations.

We welcome papers that can demonstrate the innovative application of smart materials in automotive engineering. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
  • Smart material process and mechanism studies for automotive applications
  • Advanced vehicle control and multidisciplinary modelling to support the design of novel smart materials-based automotive components and/or systems
  • New designs and analyses of smart materials-based automotive components and/or systems for improving automotive performance, for example in reliability, safety, robustness and extendibility
  • Position/vibration/shock control of vehicles with smart materials-based components to improve driving comfort, handling stability and crashworthiness
  • Field testing and evaluation of practical automotive application systems featuring smart materials
Important Dates
Manuscript submission deadline: 15 January 2012 (revised date)

Call for Papers: Advanced Software Engineering and Its Applications

A special issue of International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology

This special issue introduces state-of-the-art innovative and advanced tools and techniques for developing and maintaining large-scale software systems. Recent progress, ideas, problems and solutions relating to the multifaceted aspects of software engineering and its application will be discussed, providing developers with a guide for choosing which tools and methodologies would be most appropriate for solving large-scale software problems.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the Advanced Software Engineering and Its Applications (ASEA 2010) conference (13-15 December 2010, Jeju Island, Korea), but we also strongly encourage researchers who did not participate in the conference to submit papers to this special issue.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to the following areas, in which excellent surveying works are also welcome:
  • Component-based software engineering
  • Software requirements engineering
  • Software architecture and design
  • Information engineering
  • Visual and multimedia computing
  • Economic and financial systems
  • Software security
  • Modelling with UML
  • Reverse engineering and reengineering
  • Use cases, scenarios
  • Middleware design techniques
  • Software economics and cost modelling
  • Programming languages
  • Software tools and development environments
  • Software policy and ethics
  • Theory, formal methods and tools
  • Design patterns and frameworks
  • Software safety and reliability
  • Web engineering and web-based applications
  • Software process models
  • Information management systems
  • Software testing and analysis
  • Software components and reuse
  • Case studies
  • Object-oriented techniques
  • Project management and maintenance
  • Embedded and real-time software
  • Empirical software engineering and metrics
  • Aspect-orientation and feature interaction
  • Software development methodology
  • Software process improvement
  • Project management
  • Quality models
  • Cost estimation
  • Numerical (statistics) analysis development of algorithms
Important Dates
Submission deadline: 31 March, 2012
Notification of acceptance: 31 May, 2012
Final Version Due: 31 July, 2012

Special issue: System modelling and advanced control – Part II

International Journal of Advanced Mechatronic Systems 3(2) 2011

Papers from the 2010 International Conference on Modelling, Identification and Control (ICMIC‘10), held in Okayama, Japan, 17-19 July 2010.

See also International Journal of Advanced Mechatronic Systems 3(1) 2011
  • Effect of physical constraints on the AGC dynamic behaviour in an interconnected power system
  • WAM-signal-based decentralised fuzzy control for large power systems with unavailable states
  • Robust H∞ reliable control of uncertain stochastic switched non-linear systems
  • An exterior-point approach to the robust D-stability control with output feedback
  • Modelling and multivariable robust controller for a power plant
  • Multi-objective dynamic state and output feedback controllers for MIMO system using evolutionary algorithm and eigenstructure assignment
  • Impulsive synchronisation for a class of non-linear coupled reaction-diffusion systems
  • Application of matching pursuits of power quality disturbance classification

Special issue: Rapid manufacturing in medical applications

International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing 2(1/2) 2011
  • Weighted principal component approach for improving surface finish of ABS plastic parts built through fused deposition modelling process
  • Additive manufacturing mechanical property assessment and part candidate screening
  • A hybrid classifier for mammogram mass classification using various new geometric shape and margin features
  • Design for manufacturing of custom-made femoral stem using CT data and rapid prototyping technology
  • Building good quality prototypes for forensic face reproduction from low quality laser scanned files
  • Application of rapid prototyping technology in dentistry

Special issue: Collaborative technologies and applications

International Journal of Collaborative Enterprise 2(1) 2011
  • Collaborative technologies and applications
  • Best collaboration practices in supply chain of technical wholesale items
  • An approach of multi disciplinary collaboration in conceptual automotive development
  • Collaborative systems and internal marketing communications in knowledge transfer
  • On the exploitation of relationships in online communities of practice
  • E-learning system in epidemiology: a Bayesian network approach
  • ERP and TOC collaboration: the whole is greater than the sum of the parts

14 June 2011

Call for Papers: Low Carbon Asia

A special issue of International Journal of Global Energy Issues

Recently the notion of the low carbon society has been receiving global attention. Particularly in Asia, rapid economic growth has resulted in a high energy consumption society. In this context the mechanisms for the development of a low carbon society are widely focused on.

This special issue aims at introducing a wide scope of research related to the energy- and environment-related aspects of developing a low carbon society. Target sectors for developing a low carbon society include residential, civil, industrial, transportation and waste management sectors.

We invite the submission of original theoretical and empirical research papers on the development of a low carbon Asia that either focus on particular Asian countries or on Asia as a whole.

We aim to publish the latest advancements in the highly interdisciplinary field of research and development for a low carbon Asia, which has applications in the fields of economics, engineering, sociology, architectonics, energy and environmental policies.

From this viewpoint, the issue hopes to promote micro and macro analyses of energy efficiency, the understanding of energy consumption, and energy-saving activities.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to the following:
  • Energy modelling
  • Energy economic analyses
  • Social research on environmental activities
  • Ecological economic analyses of energy systems for sustainability
  • Low carbon transportation planning
  • Residential energy saving
  • Policies on energy efficiency
  • Comparative empirical analyses on low carbon cities and countries
Important Dates
Submission deadline (early submissions encouraged): 1 October, 2011
First round reviews: 15 November, 2011

Call for Papers: Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity

A special issue of International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management

This special issue will present recent progress, ideas, problems and solutions relating to the multifaceted aspects of disaster recovery and business continuity. It is intended for academics, practitioners, scientists and engineers who are involved in the areas of business, economics, scientific and technological disciplines, energy industries, environmental and ecological systems, safety, public health and medical services, as well as those working in software services, reliability and safety.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the 2011 International Conference on Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity (8-10 December 2011, Jeju Grand Hotel, Jeju Island, Korea), but we also strongly encourage researchers who cannot participate in the conference to submit papers for this issue.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to the following. Excellent surveying works in these areas are also welcome.
  • Disaster recovery or business continuity for critical infrastructure
  • Disaster recovery or business continuity for critical information infrastructure
  • Guides or standards related to disaster recovery/business continuity
  • Practices related to disaster recovery/business continuity
  • Case studies and lessons learned
  • Coordination in crisis situations of international proportions
  • Crisis management, management systems
  • Decision-making processes in rapidly emerging crises
  • Energy, environment and sustainable development
  • Environmental protection, climate change
  • Environmental management and monitoring
  • GIS in emergency management
  • Health emergencies and response
  • Humanitarian crises
  • Information and communication technologies
  • Operative forces and their organisations
  • Psychological and social approaches in crisis situations
  • Risk assessment, management, professional practice
  • Technologies and equipment for environmental assessment and protection
  • Terrorism and security
  • The role of the press and mass media in crisis situations
  • Training and education
Important Dates
Submission deadline: 31 March, 2012
Notification of acceptance: 31 May, 2012
Final version due: 31 July, 2012

Call for Papers: Social Media Support for Intelligent Service and Interaction

A special issue of International Journal of Knowledge and Web Intelligence

This special issue focuses on social media and related research areas for the intelligent support of human activities. Our current environment provides various kinds of social networking systems, and it has become clear that their roles and effects are too complex and diverse in terms of information sharing, knowledge exchange, virtual communication/discussion and so on for effective evaluation.

Social media including social communication systems and environments are not only dependent on a particular network between specific participants, but are also often more widely available. All activities may be mutually interactive either directly or indirectly through the World Wide Web. Social media plays important roles in promoting our communication effectively, and is a typical communication method which has replaced many traditional social information transfer functions.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to:
  • Foundations of social media mechanisms
  • Interoperability of social media
  • Knowledge management in social media
  • New frameworks in social media
  • New applications in social media
  • Web infrastructure for social media
  • Analysis and evaluation of social media
  • Social media services
  • Human interaction through social media
  • Data/text mining from social media
Important Dates
Submission of papers: 1 October, 2011
Notification of acceptance: 21 November, 2011
Re-submission of papers: 20 December, 2011

13 June 2011

Call for Papers: Advanced Developments in Tyre Modelling, Analysis and Dynamics

A special issue of International Journal of Vehicle Design

The advancement of tyre technology in the areas of tyre analysis, design and development is becoming increasingly complex because of various new challenges in the areas of fuel efficiency and active safety system integration for modern vehicles. These challenges open up new opportunities for synergy in the areas of tyre simulation, application, testing and production.

This special issue will focus on articles related to advanced developments in tyre modelling, analysis and dynamics. Advances in computational methods offer excellent opportunities for cost reduction and prediction of vehicle response over a much larger range of hypothetical scenarios than can ever be examined through experimental testing. In addition, the development of advanced testing methods which add more depth to the level of analysis on today’s tyres will greatly increase our understanding of the dynamics involved in tyres used on vehicles today.

This collection of state-of-the-art research in topics related to tyres and their influence on vehicle design and performance is intended to be an open forum on some of the most up-to-date tyre research being explored for the vehicles of today and tomorrow.

Suitable topics include but are not limited:
  • Advanced tyre design and development
  • The interaction of tyre and vehicle dynamics
  • Tyre mechanics and their influence on vehicle design and performance
  • Advanced developments in tyre noise, vibration and harshness (NVH)
  • Development of analytical/empirical/semi-empirical tyre models for vehicle dynamics simulation
  • Tyres and their interaction with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC)
  • Development of latest techniques for tyre modelling
  • Latest developments in tyre testing and characterisation
  • Recent tyre testing methodology developments
  • Applications of tyre models to heavy truck vehicle simulation
  • Tyres and their interaction with various chassis systems (suspension, braking or steering)
  • Advances in on-road and off-road tyre modelling
  • Advanced tyre characterisation and identification methods for on-road and off-road applications
  • Futuristic concepts in tyre design for next generation vehicles
  • Improvements in the computer-aided design of tyres
  • Tyre model validation and standardisation
Important Dates
Manuscript submission deadline: 30 November, 2011
Reviewers' reports and decisions: 31 January, 2012
Revised manuscript submission: 15 March, 2012

Call for Papers: Pervasive Computing: New Advances and Challenges

A special issue of International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing

Pervasive computing has been investigated for many years with various research outcomes delivered and published. However, with the emerging evolution of computing infrastructures such as cloud computing and social computing, new challenges require innovative solutions such as pervasive computational intelligence, nature-inspired soft computing, social-oriented agent technology and cyber-physical integrated ubiquitous intelligence.

This special issue aims to address a variety of new challenges and advanced technologies. It solicits high-quality theoretical as well as practical works on a broad range of issues important to pervasive computing.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the 9th International Conference on Pervasive Intelligence and Computing (PICom2011) to be held on 12-14 December 2011 in Sydney, Australia, but we also strongly encourage researchers who cannot participate in the conference to submit papers.

Suitable topics include but are not limited to:
  • Pervasive knowledge computing
  • Autonomous systems
  • Pervasive soft computing
  • Pervasive social computing
  • Cloud service provisioning
  • Energy management in pervasive devices
  • Pervasive wearable computers, RFIDs, sensor technology
  • Pervasive smart home networks
  • Pervasive services such as EaaS, SaaS, IaaS, PaaS
  • Pervasive innovative HCI design
  • Pervasive e-market, e-health and commerce
  • Pervasive and ubiquitous data mining
  • Software agents for pervasive computing
  • Semantic technologies for pervasive computing
  • Context and situation awareness for pervasive computing
  • Activity recognition
Important Dates
Deadline for submission: 31 March, 2012
Acceptance notification (1st round): 31 May, 2012
Revision submission: 31 July, 2012
Final notification of acceptance: 31 August, 2012

Call for Papers: Challenges for Energy and Waste Management in Island Countries

A special issue of International Journal of Global Environmental Issues

Most of the world’s island economies are highly dependent on fossil fuels for energy production and transportation, and most face a complex waste management problem. Agriculture and tourism are important sources of income for many islands, but their development is associated with high energy demands and increased waste generation.

New energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes together with creative waste management processes are required. New endogenous scenarios must be developed in order to protect the fragile environment of each island.

This special issue is an initiative of the School of Science and Technology and the School of Engineering of Universidad del Turabo, in their commitment to fostering new knowledge directed towards the improvement of economic, environmental and social welfare, which are the pillars of a sustainable development.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the 4th International Conference on the Environment (http://ciemades.org), but we also strongly encourage researchers who did not participate in the conference to submit papers.

Papers are sought on a wide spectrum of topics related to the sustainable management of energy and wastes. Basic and applied science research results, reviews, new technological approaches and case studies ware welcome.

Topics include but are not limited to:
  • Environmental, energy and economic models for island countries
  • Economic, engineering and social science approaches to solving islands' energy requirements and waste generation issues
  • Endogenous energy sources of islands
  • Renewable energy development and its impact upon islands
  • Integration of renewable energy for thermoelectric cogeneration
  • Technology assessment of ocean waves for electric energy production
  • Solid waste generation and integrated management
  • Energy generation potential of municipal solid wastes and biomass
  • Policy-making and operation experiences in renewable energy and wastes
  • Analysis of uncertainty and scenarios of environmental change issues in islands
Important Dates
Deadline for paper submission: 30 September, 2011
First round of paper reviews: 30 November, 2011
Second round of paper reviews: 31 January, 2012
Final paper submission: 31 March, 2012

Special issue: Incentives for semantic content creation

International Journal of Knowledge Engineering and Data Mining 1(4) 2011
  • Feedback in social semantic applications
  • Mining query-logs towards learning useful kick-off ontologies: an incentive to semantic web content creation
  • Motivation mechanisms for participation in human-driven semantic content creation
  • Semantic need: an approach for guiding users contributing metadata to the Semantic Web
  • User-driven generation of semantic web content in Enterprise 2.0: a case study

Special issue: Strategic change management in high technology industry

International Journal of Strategic Change Management 3(1/2) 2011
  • Chilean venture capital funds, government incentives and investment in technology ventures
  • Strategic management of forest industry transformation
  • Scenarios in technology and research policy: case portable fuel cells
  • Learning enabled human resource practices in software organisations in India
  • A knowledge management view to a strategic change in a high-tech company
  • Strategic orientation in small-sized service retailers
  • Improving technological capability of Beijing in the context of multinational R&D transfer
  • An examination of Chinese own brand development model: a resource perspective
Additional Papers
  • The role of storytelling in the formal mentoring program
  • The discourse of management and the management of discourse

Special issue: Knowledge-based dynamics for local development

International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development 2(1) 2011
  • Editorial: Knowledge-based dynamics for local development – a position paper
  • Mapping knowledge territories for development policies
  • Knowledge-based urban development of Multimedia Super Corridor, Malaysia: an overview
  • Contribution of human capital to economic growth from the education policy point of view – empirical analysis for EU economies
  • The value relevance of intellectual capital on the firm's market value: an empirical survey on the Italian listed firms
  • The application of intellectual capital reports in local authorities: analysis and empirical evidence
  • Role of 'green knowledge' in the environmental transformation of the supply chain: the case of Greek manufacturing

Special issue: Advances in wireless, mobile and P2P-based internet protocols, applications and architectures

International Journal of Internet Protocol Technology 6(1/2) 2011
  • Fast mobility control protocols with sink location protection in wireless sensor networks
  • Interface aware distributed multicast packet replication in ad hoc network using multicast monitoring mobile agent
  • DCCP video streaming over multiple connections in the wireless internet
  • Performance evaluation of routing protocols in vehicular ad hoc networks
  • Trust-based clustering for multicast key distribution scheme in ad hoc network (TBCMKDS)
  • Performance analysis of the CAC scheme CARETON under mixed cell environment in overlay networks
  • A multipath routeless routing protocol with an efficient location update mechanism
  • Vehicle assisted cross-layer handover scheme in NEMO-based VANETs (VANEMO)
  • WSMXDiscoCast: a P2P approach for a better automation of the discovery mechanism for web service execution environment
Additional Papers
  • A new high performance PBV-based approach for simultaneous packet classification and conflict detection
  • U-plant: a RFID-based ubiquitous plant learning system for promoting self-regulation
  • A cross-multilayer mechanism design for improving video quality of SVC coded video streams over mobile WiMAX networks

Special issue: Design education

Journal of Design Research 9(2) 2011
  • Using design education to survive in the 'corporate world' of higher learning and research
  • Some students are more different than others
  • Education to practice: the development of responsibility in product designers
  • Using furniture design to convey a rigorous design education process
  • User-centred research methods in postgraduate teaching
  • Get wet! Teaching innovation theories through experiential learning
  • An exercise programme for cognitive elements of design creativity

Special issue: Ergonomic and industrial design of road vehicles

International Journal of Vehicle Design 55(2-4) 2011
  • A method for simulating the car-entering movement for variably dimensioned vehicles
  • User-centred design and evaluation of automotive seat adjustment controls
  • Defining the ergonomic parameters of the driver's seat in a competition single-seater
  • Simultaneous consideration of user acceptability and regulatory compliance in vehicle seat design
  • Considering race and gender distributions of the target user population in the multivariate design of vehicle seating
  • Driving skills, education and in-vehicle technology
  • Towards personalisation of the driver environment: investigating responses to instrument cluster design
  • An ergonomic case study on the interior customisation of Fast Response Cars (FRCs) based on vehicle adaptation
  • Branding identity, development and application: a comparison of rail and road vehicle liveries
  • Interior aesthetics: an experience-focused approach for the design of brand-specific automotive identity

Special issue: Communications, computers and signal processing

International Journal of Communication Networks and Distributed Systems 6(4) 2011

Extended papers from the 2009 IEEE Pacific Rim Conference on Computers, Communications, and Signal Processing, held in Victoria, BC, Canada, 23–26 August 2009.
  • Network code assisted HARQ scheme in multi-user systems with cooperative relays
  • A practical heterogeneous network optimisation algorithm based on reinforcement learning
  • Single-port and multi-port collective communication operations on single and dual Cell BE processor systems
  • An analytical evaluation method based on generalised random graphs for unstructured peer-to-peer content-sharing systems
  • Probabilistic analysis of time reduction by eliminating barriers in parallel programmes
Regular Paper
  • QoS protection optimisation for MPLS

3 June 2011

Special issue: Systems of systems engineering in a naval application

International Journal of System of Systems Engineering 2(2/3) 2011
  • The US Navy carrier strike group as a system of systems
  • Using system of systems engineering to strengthen carrier strike group C4ISR readiness evaluation
  • Overview of the systems of systems engineering methodology
  • Systems principles: foundation for the SoSE methodology
  • Systems principles in action: application in a navy SoS engineering analysis
  • Perspective 1 of the SoSE methodology: framing the system under study
  • Framing a system of systems in a navy system of systems engineering analysis
  • Perspective 2 of the SoSE methodology: designing the unique methodology
  • Lessons learned during implementation of the SoSE method in a navy SoS engineering analysis
  • Systems of systems engineering: prospects and challenges for the emerging field

2 June 2011

Call for Papers: Management of Culture and Cultural Change in Healthcare Organisations

A special issue of European Journal of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management

Organisational culture plays a vital role in influencing the performance of healthcare organisations. Various actions and symbols define and reinforce the cultural beliefs and values that are associated with organisational performance.

The cultures of highly effective organisations tend to promote employee emotional well-being, morale, productivity and commitment. Conversely, the cultures in other, less-effective organisations often engender just the opposite. Conceptual and empirical work is needed to understand how cultural phenomena influence quality and effectiveness in healthcare organisations, broadly defined.

Examples of questions that could be addressed include, but are not limited to:
  • What changes have occurred in the values and assumptions of healthcare providers and organisations in Eastern Europe as their economic systems have evolved towards market-driven economies?
  • How do healthcare organisations adapt to the cultural changes brought about by the enforcement of EU human resource management rules that contradict traditional organisational practices within their countries?
  • To what extent can management develop interventions to reinforce a “safety culture” when that culture may clash with the current culture in today’s complex healthcare delivery systems?
  • Can healthcare organisations develop a safety culture which has an atmosphere of mutual trust, in which members talk freely about safety problems without fear of blame or punishment, while operating under Red Rules, i.e. rules that cannot be broken without serious disciplinary action?
  • Can healthcare organisations develop cultures within the overall context of the communities in which they are embedded while also reinforcing universal values such as patient safety, quality of care, efficient service delivery and equitable access to care?
  • What effect does significant organisational change such as downsizing, institutional mergers or consolidations have on the culture and performance of healthcare organisations?
These questions are critical as European and other countries wrestle with budget shortfalls to fund essential public services yet hope to maintain adequate levels of care for their populations. This special issue welcomes papers which address these and other topics related to cross-cultural issues within healthcare organisations.

Important Date

Submission deadline: 31 March 2012 (revised date)

Call for Papers: Green e-Participation

A special issue of International Journal of Electronic Governance

This special issue aims to focus on attempts to apply theories and practices of e-participation to environmental policy-making and green development. This raises important methodological and theoretical challenges that we hope to explore through a collection of interdisciplinary papers.

While e-government refers to technologies that facilitate information and service delivery to citizens, e-participation refers to processes and technologies that enable communication among citizens and enhance their capacity to influence collective decision making, or to be engaged in collective action. Citizens can engage in e-deliberations, they can voice their public opinions, collect signatures via e-petitions and try to influence the outcome of decisions and rule-making at all levels of governance. E-voting, digital protests and e-petitions may support or oppose political decisions.

The use of blogs and new social media provide new opportunities to reform the ways that citizens communicate with governments. Networked communities can go beyond deliberation, voice and involvement in decision-making by actively participating in facets of governance such as community support, fund-raising, pledging, monitoring the implementation of policies or changing their own behaviour in ways that tangibly link individual acts with collective outcomes.

Recently, there has even been discussion of tapping into the structure of gaming communities to help resolve social problems. For example, in the World Without Oil game, eighteen hundred people from twelve countries were asked to re-imagine their lives in a world bereft of oil as an exercise in changing attitudes.

Environmental issues and policies, in particular, constitute a typical area where social media are used in some of the ways outlined above. Citizens’ rights to access environmental information have been strengthened through online disclosure. Green e-participation has improved the legitimacy of decision-making processes that have an impact on the environment. Pollution-monitoring sites have provided tools to inform citizens as well as help them take steps towards effective political action.

A number of features make green e-participation particularly interesting and important: the often strong public motivation in environmental matters; the fact that many environmental issues draw support across traditional political borders; the complex nature of environmental problems and solutions; the fact that environmental issues cover all levels of governance from local to global; the cross-jurisdictional and cross-departmental nature of most environmental issues; and the fact that environmental issues do not align well with traditional governance bodies.

The fluidity of informationally-rich forms of networked communities can potentially adapt more effectively and speedily to environmental challenges, whether these involve issues of local waste management; monitoring and reduction of pollutants; household energy conservation; or regional plans to combat climate change. An assumption to be tested in this special issue is that deliberative network technologies can more readily engage relevant stakeholders with the specific problem at hand.

The establishment of green networks of citizens, activists, researchers, business leaders and government decision makers is likely to have a profound impact on the nature of democracy and the forms of environmental governance. Numerous issues arise:
  • What is special about the interface between e-participation and environmental governance?
  • Can citizens monitor their representatives’ actions towards sustainable green development? Can e-participation tools make democracy more accountable and, at the same time, more effective?
  • Does e-rulemaking, in particular, have the potential to level the playing field by opening up new avenues for the involvement of public interest groups for environmental issues?
  • What are the barriers and opportunities to greater online citizen engagement in environmental policy-making and green e-participation? Can all citizens be equally represented via new digital media and online platforms? Can these tools also be used by NGOs, lobbyists and industries to influence the decision process?
The special issue invites research papers, case studies, experience and best practice reports on the following non-exhaustive list of topics:
  • Online participation tools and deliberative processes, including e-petitions, e-campaigns, e-consultations and others, for environmental policies and green development
  • Online strategy tools by NGOs, local administrations and governments for environmental policies and green participation
  • Social media, Web 2.0 and emerging technologies and applications for green e-participation
  • Theoretical approaches to global governance and inclusive policy-making via virtual spaces
  • Success and failure stories, good and bad practices for green e-participation, addressing the barriers and opportunities for online citizen mobilisation on environmental issues
Important Dates
Deadline for paper submission: 31 October, 2011
Notification of review results: 30 December, 2011
Submission of revised manuscripts: 30 March, 2012

Call for Papers: Voting Advice Applications and the State of the Art: Theory, Practice and Comparative Insights

A special issue of International Journal of Electronic Governance

In recent years online voting tools, increasingly referred to as voting advice applications (VAAs), have been deployed in numerous European countries with the purported objective of aiding prospective voters in their electoral choice. These tools have been used during different types of electoral contests, such as national elections as well as in less salient elections such as supranational elections in the EU.

The increasing popularity of VAAs raises numerous questions about how these innovative online tools are designed and their general impact on the election process. This special issue seeks to critically evaluate the VAA phenomenon. It invites research papers, case studies, experience and best practice reports, in the form of interdisciplinary contributions or more specific papers dealing with some of the questions below.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, those that address the following questions:
  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of using such tools? Could they increase participation? Can they improve the process of opinion formation?
  • What is the impact of VAAs on elections? Do different party systems matter?
  • What are the most pertinent methodological issues raised in the design of VAAs? How are results calculated? How are parties/candidates coded? How many answer categories are appropriate?
  • How best to analyse the data generated by VAAs? What can we learn about the ideological profile of parties/candidates from the data collected by VAAs? How best to map the results generated by VAAs? How do we compare VAAs across different electoral events, or countries?
Important Dates
Deadline for paper submission: 31 January 2012 (revised date)
Notification of review results: 30 March, 2012
Submission of revised manuscripts: 30 June, 2012

Special issue: Intra- and cross-regional economic development dynamics: focus on regional/sectoral innovation systems

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development 3(3/4) 2011
  • Forms and role of cluster initiatives in fostering innovation in post-industrial regions: a comparative study of environmental technologies clusters in the British West Midlands and the Spanish Basque Country
  • Building capabilities for innovation in SMEs: a cross-country comparison of technology extension policies and programmes
  • Assessing innovative behaviour of firms: an attempt to reveal path dependency effects
  • The regional dynamics of innovation: a comparative study of oil and gas industry development in Stavanger and Aberdeen
  • The business enabling network – a tool for regional development
  • A role of regional knowledge intermediary in sectoral innovation system
  • A comparative study of four West Mediterranean regions: the role of technology interface structures
  • Experiences and lessons learnt from an interregional growth project: the role of innovation and STPs
  • Learning from past investment incidents in peripheral regions: semiconductors in Patras, Greece

Special issue: Nanomaterials for solar energy harvesting

International Journal of Nanoparticles 4(2/3) 2011
  • Photogenerated charge carriers in semiconductor nanomaterials for solar energy conversion
  • Nanostructured heterogeneous photocatalysts for H2 production using solar energy
  • Nanostructured niobate photocatalysts
  • Self-assembly of one-dimensional nanomaterials for cost-effective photovoltaics
  • One-dimensional coaxial nanowire solar cell
  • Nanomaterials for third generation photovoltaics
  • Effect of TiO2/WO3/C photoanode composition on the photocurrent of all-solid photoelectrochemical cells
  • Nanostructural control of ZnO photoelectrodes for enhancing solar energy conversion efficiency in dye-sensitised solar cells
  • Nanostructured ZnO for photoelectrochemical splitting of water to produce hydrogen: swift heavy ion irradiation vis-a-vis dye-sensitisation
  • A review in visible-light-driven BiVO4 photocatalysts
  • Texturing of crystalline Si thin film solar cells via nanostructure to boost efficiency

Special issue: Management of technology in healthcare organisations

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management 12(3/4) 2011

Papers in honour of Professor Koos Krabbendam upon his retirement from the University of Twente in the Netherlands.
  • Linking medical technology and quality of healthcare delivery: an exploratory study of a stage model
  • Changes in the hospital care following European Working Time Directive with special reference to the craft specialties
  • Ethical and legal issues of privacy and patient rights in the application of information healthcare delivery systems
  • Scope and role of strategic technology management in Austrian hospitals: a decade later
  • Health services innovation: evaluating process changes to improve patient flow
  • The role of operations management in improving emergency department outflow
  • Organisational innovations in Catalan hospitals: the case of telemedicine
  • A sub rosa world: Medicare and the cost of new technology
Additional Paper
  • Moving tele-monitoring and tele-treatment from promise to practice: a business model approach for a chronic lower back pain application

Special issue: Parallel high performance systems and architectures

International Journal of High Performance Systems Architecture 3(2/3) 2011

Papers from the 2009 WSCAD-SSC Conference held in São Paulo, Brail, 28-31 October 2009.
  • A minimalist cache coherent MPSoC designed for FPGAs
  • Dynamic workload balancing deques for branch and bound algorithms in the message passing interface
  • Challenges and solutions to improve the scalability of an operational regional meteorological forecasting model
  • Automated refactorings for high performance Fortran programmes
  • Assessing the influence of data access patterns and contention management policies on the performance of software transactional memory systems
  • The impact of applications' I/O strategies on the performance of the Lustre parallel file system
  • Trebuchet: exploring TLP with dataflow virtualisation
  • A RISC architecture for 2DLNS-based signal processing
  • GNLS: a hybrid on-chip communication architecture for SoC designs
  • A hardware architecture for subtractive clustering