Avatars and access

Research in the International Journal of Web Based Communities has looked at how digital identity might be governed online and specifically in the so-called metaverse. The study found that current frameworks for digital identity are ill-equipped for emerging immersive online environments, which sit under the umbrella term “metaverse”. The work argues that regulators must move from a privacy-focused approach to one that is broader and rights-based.

The study finds that digital identity in the metaverse extends well beyond usernames and authentication. It encompasses avatars, digital personas, identity credentials, data collected by internet-connected sensors, and the relationships and behavioural traces created through continuous interaction in these virtual environments. The team led participatory workshops with young adults to examine three scenarios: social media influencing, extended reality (XR) workplaces, and integrated public-private healthcare.

In each scenario, the team found that the immersive environments blurred the lines between public and private life. They also increased “datafication”, the conversion of everyday behaviour into data that can be analysed and monetised by platform operators, employers, and technology providers. The researchers argue that this new concentration of power compromises user privacy and exposes them to harms the blame for which cannot be readily apportioned.

There is thus an urgent need for a new approach to governance that is centred on human rights and embeds ethical considerations into technology development.

Anand, N. and Hazarika, B. (2026) ‘Beyond avatars and access: rethinking digital identity governance in the metaverse‘, Int. J. Web-Based Communities, Vol. 22, No. 5, pp.1-32.

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Free Open Access special issue on "The Application of Advanced Materials for Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing – Part 2" published by International Journal of Materials and Product Technology

The International Journal of Materials and Product Technology has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Colour fixation process and colour fastness improvement strategies for natural plant dyes in functional clothing fabrics
• Algorithm for visual communication design: generating textures of composite materials using artificial intelligence
• Design of a GUI framework for digital home appliance products based on artificial intelligence
• Preparation of intelligent responsive printing materials and their application in anti-counterfeiting and packaging
• Crack resistance and toughening mechanism of nano-SiO2 reinforced PVA fibre cement matrix composites in steel bridge engineering
• Parametric design in ceramic product form generation and manufacturing optimisation
• Preparation and performance of supramolecular polymer-based piezoresistive damping composites
• Composite material surface texture generation and cultural and creative design application based on generative adversarial networks

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing are now available here for free:

• Energy harvesting-based trust-aware medical data transmission model with multi-objective function in cognitive radio network
• Hybrid ECD model for firewall tuning and attack detection
• Enhancing energy efficiency and QoS in 5G networks with dynamic resource optimisation green communication protocol
• An evaluation model for college students' mental health based on machine learning algorithm
• Improved multilevel scaled cognitive diagnostic model as an aid in mental health education
• Multiscale modelling and control of inductively coupled plasma etching based on recurrent neural networks
• AGOA: Adam gazelle optimisation algorithm for collaborative e-learning application in cloud computing with load balancing
• Energy-efficient dynamic load balanced clustering for MANET
• Research on system parameter optimisation in electromagnetic tomography technology

Prof. Yang Li appointed as new Editor in Chief of International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies

Associate Prof. Yang Li from Shihezi University in China has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies.

Research pick: Code is in the air - "Elastic allocation and recovery of airport computing resources in response to strong disturbances in flight flows"

Airports could become better able to withstand major operational disruptions under a new computing system designed to keep digital services running during periods of intense pressure. Details are reported in the International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems.

The researchers have developed a resource management framework, known as EAR-Sys, that dynamically reallocates computing capacity when severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or other emergencies lead to widespread flight delays, diversions, and cancellations. In simulations using real airport data, they showed that they could reduce the average computing delay by more than 14 per cent and cut recovery time after computing overload from 28 seconds to 22 seconds.

Modern airports rely on networks of computers to support flight scheduling, passenger information, and operational coordination. During major disruptions, these systems are often overwhelmed by a surge in requests as flights are rescheduled and information is updated. The proposed framework combines a spatio-temporal graph with reinforcement learning to redistribute the computational workload before any failures cascade through the network.

Unlike conventional systems, which typically allocate resources using historical demand and recover from failures only after they occur, the new approach continuously monitors changing conditions and proactively shifts computing tasks to less heavily loaded machines.

Wang, W. (2026) ‘Elastic allocation and recovery of airport computing resources in response to strong disturbances in flight flows’, Int. J. Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems, Vol. 18, No. 17, pp.48–66.

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New Open Access article available: "An intelligent fuzzy evaluation model for digital heritage design: a cyber-physical systems perspective on closed-loop feedback mechanisms"

The following International Journal of Systems, Control and Communications article, "An intelligent fuzzy evaluation model for digital heritage design: a cyber-physical systems perspective on closed-loop feedback mechanisms", is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

The International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Biomechanical analysis of multi-sensor fusion shooting action based on spatiotemporal graph convolutional network
• Identification of consumption effects and heterogeneity detection in the digital economy using PSO-BP and a causal inference framework
• Dynamic scheduling and recommendation of cultural tourism resources using AlphaEvolve and graph convolutional networks
• A long-term system for enhancing teachers' AI application skills based on causal inference and reinforcement learning
• The dynamic reform path of teaching standards for digital media technology programs based on outcomes-based education and cognitive psychology

Research pick: Climate washes over human activity in the Yellow River Basin - "Temporal and spatial pattern of vegetation community diversity in Henan section of the Yellow River Basin based on remote sensing and ecological model"

Climate drives vegetation patterns across the Henan section of China’s Yellow River Basin, research in the International Journal of Environmental Engineering shows. However, expanding agriculture and urbanisation do have a detrimental impact on plant diversity in heavily developed areas, according to the study. The findings are based on satellite observations and ecological modelling of the region.

The researchers analysed vegetation change using satellite images and a model, MaxEnt, that predicts where species are likely to occur. They also used the Community Land Model, which simulates how ecosystems respond to changing climate and land conditions.

The team found that the average vegetation cover, as measured by the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, increased across the region. However, recovery was uneven. Mountainous western areas improved more rapidly than the eastern plains, where cultivation and urban expansion have reduced natural vegetation. They add that climate variables, particularly temperature and rainfall, could explain almost half of the variation in vegetation patterns, but diversity was especially sensitive to autumn temperature fluctuations.

The work also shows a strong negative relationship between the intensity of human activity and plant diversity. Although ecological restoration projects increased shrub and grass richness in some areas, large-scale tree planting sometimes reduced the variety of plants growing beneath the forest canopy.

Overall, the findings might provide a framework for identifying where natural regeneration should be prioritised and where more targeted restoration is needed.

Pei, Y., Zhang, X. and Wang, Y. (2026) ‘Temporal and spatial pattern of vegetation community diversity in Henan section of the Yellow River Basin based on remote sensing and ecological model’, Int. J. Environmental Engineering, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp.1–24.

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Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

The International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Optimisation design of electric vehicle charging stations based on GAN and reinforcement learning
• Research on the application of personalised recommendation algorithm for university translation teaching based on big data analysis summary
• Supply-demand matching and personalised recommendation system of educational resources based on deep learning
• Analysis of children's painting quality using reinforcement learning and U-Net algorithm
• Semantic-enhanced multimodal feature fusion for English rhythm analysis

Research pick: Build a better lectern and they will stand - "A user-centred ergonomic redesign of a university lectern significantly mitigates postural risk and enhances usability: evidence from REBA and SUS assessments"

Lecterns have been a feature of public speaking for centuries. Research in the International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics has developed a new design based around body measurements and working patterns of university instructors to reduce postural health risks linked to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Lecturers rated it easier to use than conventional lecterns, the study reports.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders include injuries affecting muscles, joints and tendons that develop or worsen through workplace activities. University instructors are particularly susceptible because teaching often combines prolonged standing, computer work, and sustained awkward postures that can contribute to neck, shoulder and lower back pain.

The researchers recruited 34 instructors and first analysed how they used conventional lecterns. They then built a prototype for a new type of lectern based on anthropometric data, measurements of human body size and proportions collected.

The team assessed posture using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), an ergonomic tool that estimates the risk of injury from working posture, movement, and force. Lower scores indicate lower risk and less need for corrective action. Instructors using the new lectern achieved a REBA score of 3, compared with 4 for conventional lecterns, indicating a reduced ergonomic risk. They also applied the System Usability Scale (SUS), a standard questionnaire that rates how easy and effective a product is to use. The ergonomic lectern achieved an average score well above that obtained for conventional lecterns.

Naserabadi, S.R., Nejad, N.H., Karamoozian, A. and Mohammadian, M. (2026) ‘A user-centred ergonomic redesign of a university lectern significantly mitigates postural risk and enhances usability: evidence from REBA and SUS assessments’, Int. J. Human Factors and Ergonomics, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp.1–17.

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Free Open Access issue published by World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development

The World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Model of ESG indicators in a Brazilian construction company
• Digital transformation and firm performance in Vietnamese food enterprises: evidence on the roles of ambidextrous innovation and organisational readiness

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

The International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• A method for improving English text translation quality by combining BERT and knowledge graphs
• Knowledge graph-enhanced reinforcement learning for generating students personalised career progression sequences
• Implicit measurement of college students' values driven by multimodal affective computing
• Dynamic verification model for cross-border data privacy compliance using federated learning
• Dynamic promotion resource allocation and capacity planning system using utility computing

Research pick: AI in the real world - "Towards general embodied intelligence: integrating large language models, knowledge bases, and reasoning capabilities to build the next generation of AI agents"

A review of artificial intelligence research in the International Journal of Hydromechatronics suggests that combining large language models (LLMs), structured knowledge systems, and physical agents could help create machines capable of understanding, reasoning, and acting in complex environments.

The study examines how LLMs, AI systems trained on extensive text data, might be integrated with knowledge bases, which organise information about the world, and reasoning mechanisms that can produce logical conclusions. The researchers propose a conceptual framework for general embodied intelligence (GEI) and show how these elements might interact.

Current LLMs, familiar to many people as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and others, have strong language abilities but lack direct connection to the physical world. By contrast, embodied AI systems, such as robots, can perform tasks like navigation and object handling in the physical world but commonly do not have inbuilt complex reasoning and adaptation systems.

The researchers suggest that combining these two areas of technology could allow agents to use language for planning, memory, and decision-making while working with real-world conditions. However, challenges remain, including the symbol grounding problem, which boils down to the inherent difficulty in converting abstract language into physical actions.

The review identifies five priorities for progress: efficient AI deployment, integration of updated knowledge sources, improved neural and symbolic reasoning, stronger links between perception and action, and continual learning. If these are implemented successfully, then applications in healthcare support, adaptable manufacturing, and robotics for domestic and even hazardous environments might open up.

Yuan, F., Huang, X., Wang, L., Ding, J., Tian, Z., Wang, Y., Gu, S., Funabora, Y., Peng, Y. and Mao, Z. (2026) ‘Towards general embodied intelligence: integrating large language models, knowledge bases, and reasoning capabilities to build the next generation of AI agents’, Int. J. Hydromechatronics, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.250–316.

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Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Bibliometrics in Business and Management

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Bibliometrics in Business and Management are now available here for free:

• Investigating customer involvement, customer engagement dimensions, and customer loyalty in the smartphone industry: a social exchange theory perspective
• Exploring accounting research repository for innovation in higher education curriculum and contemporary market demand
• Research quality framework for universities and research institutions
• Nobel laureates and new institutional economics: a bibliometric analysis of Douglass North, Ronald Coase, Elinor Ostrom, and Oliver Williamson

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

The International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• A construction behaviour prediction method for cable tunnels based on Qwen3-VL temporal enhancement
• Predicting elderly care needs via spatio-temporal transformer and reinforcement learning
• Deep learning-based time series simulation and forecasting of stock market risks
• Edge-empowered hierarchical attention network for accurate English text source tracing
• A groundbreaking algorithm for deconstructing wind instrument rhythms via transformer architecture and DTW

Research pick: The concrete and the clay - "Hydration and mortar properties of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash as a cement substitute"

Research in the International Journal of Environmental Engineering has demonstrated that bottom ash from incinerated municipal solid waste could be used below a certain concentration as a filler in cement without loss of material strength in construction materials.

The researchers studied micronised powder recycled from bottom ash, a finely ground residue from waste incineration. They tested its chemical composition and performance as a component of mortar, a cement, sand, and water mixture used in construction.

Municipal waste incineration reduces landfill demand and can generate energy but produces large quantities of ash residues. In China’s major cities more than 200 million tonnes of municipal waste are incinerated annually, while almost 20 million tonnes are sent to landfill.

The IJEE paper discusses how bottom ash contains key cement-related minerals, including silicon dioxide, calcium oxide, aluminium oxide and iron oxide. After milling to a particle size of less than 100 micrometres, this material can be used in cement hydration, the chemical process that takes place allowing cement to harden.

However, replacing any more than 30% of the cement with this material reduces the 28-day compressive strength by half and flexural strength by more than a quarter. That said, a longer curing period did eventually see an increase in both compressive and flexural strength.

The researchers recommend lower replacement levels for general construction, with higher proportions reserved for applications such as pavement bases where bending resistance is important. The findings highlight the potential of recycling incineration residues while identifying barriers to wider use.

Cheng, Y. and Mu, W. (2026) ‘Hydration and mortar properties of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash as a cement substitute’, Int. J. Environmental Engineering, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp.183–198.

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New Open Access article available: "Trends and topics in arts education and artificial intelligence: a systematic review using a human-in-the-loop model"

The following International Journal of Arts and Technology article, "Trends and topics in arts education and artificial intelligence: a systematic review using a human-in-the-loop model", is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

The International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• New media public opinion classification technology integrating improved feature selection algorithm and multi-channel random undersampling
• Gradient sparsity compression algorithm for incremental pre-training of large models in power communication scenarios
• Corporate loan risk prediction model based on improved LightGBM
• Research on two-stage distributed collaborative media transmission optimisation based on improved K-means and improved BEGA
• Design and implementation of an immersive virtual simulation learning system for Chinese tea culture

Research pick: Filtering the fake news flunkies - "Decoding user behaviour: identifying user’s prone to misinformation sharing on social media during disasters"

People who receive information on social media play a greater role in the spread of misinformation than research has acknowledged, according to research in the International Journal of Enterprise Network Management. The researchers argue that efforts to tackle “fake news” should focus as much on why users share false information as on identifying those who create the misleading content.

The work combined a review of evidence on the trust and beliefs that influence misinformation sharing and an unsupervised machine learning analysis of user behaviour. The researchers could thus develop a conceptual model to help users recognise and respond more effectively to putatively false information. The model also identified behavioural patterns associated with users who repeatedly share misinformation.

The work addresses what the authors describe as a gap in misinformation research, which has focused on the origin of fake news and the structure of online networks, rather than the decisions made by those seeing and sharing this content.

The findings have particular relevance during emergencies, when social media often becomes a primary source of information. The researchers say the findings could be used to improve social media platform policies, help in the development of media literacy programmes, fact-checking initiatives, and moderation systems aimed at reducing the circulation of misleading information, and improve public trust in information shared online.

Periaiya, S. and SobhaGopi, V. (2026) ‘Decoding user behaviour: identifying user’s prone to misinformation sharing on social media during disasters’, Int. J. Enterprise Network Management, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp.190–214.

News media may use this press release as source material, in whole or in part, provided the content is not materially misrepresented. A link back to the original article is appreciated.

New Open Access article available: "Beyond avatars and access: rethinking digital identity governance in the metaverse"

The following International Journal of Web Based Communities article, "Beyond avatars and access: rethinking digital identity governance in the metaverse", is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics are now available here for free:

• Passenger comfort over time: stationary vs. driven scenarios and implications for study design
• Human factors and ergonomics considerations in the industrial metaverse
• Development of a gripping comfort evaluation method based on numerical simulations using individual hand finite element models
• Website complexity and usability: is there a role for mental workload?
• Decision making in exceptional circumstances: experts' attitude towards artefacts as preparation for encountering unexpected situations

New Open Access article available: "The evolution of showrooming in emerging fashion markets: value co-creation and co-destruction during digital transformation"

The following International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets article, "The evolution of showrooming in emerging fashion markets: value co-creation and co-destruction during digital transformation", is freely available for download as an open access article.

It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.