Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Happiness and Development

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Happiness and Development are now available here for free:

• Trends and fluctuations in financial satisfaction and macroeconomic indicators in times of economic changes: the case of Latin America
• The relationship between leisure and entertainment cultural aesthetics and organisational identification: the role of healing effects
• The effects of domain satisfaction on overall life satisfaction in Türkiye
• Happy leadership, now more than ever

Free Open Access article available: "Development of a torque motor with enhanced performance employing novel semi-inset PM pole"

The following paper, "Development of a torque motor with enhanced performance employing novel semi-inset PM pole" (International Journal of Hydromechatronics 8(5) 2025), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Going bananas for gluten-free flour

Research in Thailand has looked into the marketing dynamics of banana flour and how more consumers might be persuaded to use this healthy product as an alternative source of dietary fibre. Work in the International Journal of Business and Globalisation highlights the challenges and opportunities in promoting this healthy, gluten-free, alternative to wheat flour. Banana flour has been widely used in Africa and Jamaica, and more recently South America.

Adisak Suvittawat of Suranaree University of Technology in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, explains that banana flour, also known as banana starch, is derived from unripe, green bananas. It is high in resistant starch, colloquially known as fibre, or roughage, which passes through our gastrointestinal tract undigested. Fibre is key to gut health but has additional benefits in terms of reducing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and colon cancer. However, despite the obvious benefits of banana flour in this regard, efforts to penetrate the Thai food market may have been half-baked so far with little awareness of the product among potential consumers.

In the present study, some 400 grocery shop customers were surveyed. They were generally found to be unfamiliar with the health benefits of banana flour, although were often aware of the product itself. Those shoppers who were well-informed about the benefits tended to have a positive perception of the product. The marketing challenge thus seems to lie in bridging the knowledge gap and overcoming consumer scepticism.

An additional barrier to more widespread use in cookery and baking is price. Banana flour is more expensive than other commonly used starch sources, such as tapioca or corn starch, and even all-purpose wheat flour. In a market where consumers are price-sensitive, this price discrepancy is a big obstacle.

When it comes to promotional strategies, the research indicates that online advertising has proven more effective than traditional print media in reaching consumers. Additionally, personal selling by sales teams, which allows for direct consumer education, was also found to be an effective method. Given the unfamiliarity many consumers have with banana flour, this hands-on approach is essential for persuading them of the product’s merits.

Suvittawat, A. (2025) ‘Banana flour goes to market: the marketing mix to introduce banana flour to the consumer market’, Int. J. Business and Globalisation, Vol. 39, Nos. 3/4, pp.442–456.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Data Analysis Techniques and Strategies

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Data Analysis Techniques and Strategies are now available here for free:

• Text mining on social media data: a systematic literature review
• A user friendly anger and anxiety disorder prediction scheme using machine learning and a mobile application for mental healthcare
• Analysis of machine learning's performance in stock market prediction, compared to traditional technical analysis indicators
• Modelling the critical success factors of software development freelancing using an intuitionistic fuzzy DEMATEL approach
• Sentiment analysis of Twitter data using machine learning: COVID-19 perspective

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management

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

• A brief literature review of renewable energy policies in Zimbabwe
• DDoS analysis using machine learning: survey, issues, and future directions
• Calculating the business continuity value by considering several destructive events and co-occurrence of risk factors
• Principles and guidance on climate risk disclosure for businesses
• Organisational factors that favour the development of the unity of effort needed to ensure organisational adaptability

Research pick: The power of social branding - "The role of social media as a brand communication tool: an exploratory work"

Social media has become a very useful tool for companies hoping to boost brand awareness, engagement, and loyalty among consumers. A study in the International Journal of Business Performance Management has looked at its role in detail and found that many companies are directly interacting with consumers, building stronger brand connections, and gaining a competitive edge.

Radhika Madan, a Soft Skills Trainer, in Gurgaon, Haryana and Manmohan Rahul of Sharda University in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, surveyed 350 internet users to help them establish a reliable scale for measuring the effectiveness of brand communication via social media. They used Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to analyse their survey results and found that social media offers a more direct, cost-effective, and rapid means of reaching a wider customer base when compared with conventional media, such as television, papers and magazines, and even email.

The researchers emphasize that social media platforms allow businesses to undertake ongoing dialogues with consumers, which in turn boosts both brand visibility and loyalty. This is particularly important in hospitality, air travel, banking, telecommunications, and e-commerce.

One aspect of social media’s power is the potential to “go viral” when users share information about a brand or product with their networks, and the reach of that message expands quickly across the platform. Going viral can spread a brand message far wider and far more quickly than conventional advertising in many cases.

Of course, the concept of branding itself has evolved alongside the rise of social media. Traditionally, branding referred to creating a distinct identity for a company, highlighting its core values and differentiating it from competitors. Branding is no longer one-way traffic, the consumers themselves are part of the message and can have two-way, real-time conversations with businesses. This allows consumers to offer instantaneous feedback about products and services and gives businesses the means to respond to that feedback, whether positive or negative, just as quickly and to change their “offering” accordingly, if appropriate.

Madan, R. and Rahul, M. (2025) ‘The role of social media as a brand communication tool: an exploratory work’, Int. J. Business Performance Management, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp.228–249.

Free Open Access article available: "A review of independent metering control system for mobile machinery"

The following paper, "A review of independent metering control system for mobile machinery" (International Journal of Hydromechatronics 8(5) 2025), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Free Open Access article available: "Hydraulic characteristics of combined weir-gate structure"

The following paper, "Hydraulic characteristics of combined weir-gate structure" (International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology 19(5) 2025), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Breaking artificial barriers in manufacturing - "Challenges in designing a humancentred AI system in manufacturing"

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into manufacturing processes has huge potential for improving productivity, efficiency, and safety. Machine learning models are already used to monitor equipment health and others predict supply-chain issues and consumer demand. However, research in the International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems suggests that there remain barriers to the more widespread adoption of AI in production environments. In particular, there are obstacles to incorporating AI in the early design phase.

Yuji Yamamoto and Kristian Sandström of Mälardalen University in Eskilstuna, and Aranda Muñoz Álvaro of the Research Institutes of Sweden in Västerås, Sweden, explain how the early design phase is fundamental in determining how AI might ultimately be embedded into the manufacturing workflow. They point out that it is during this period that engineers, data scientists, production staff, and other stakeholders have to align their goals with functionality and outcomes. However, this process can be stymied if there is a misalignment between the technical expertise of the data scientists and the practical knowledge of the manufacturing professionals. Poor communication and unrealistic expectations then lead to the installation of an AI system that does not meet the operational needs of the factory floor.

One of the biggest problems the researchers found is that of cognitive overload, where those involved are overwhelmed by the complexity of the tasks at hand. The technical jargon of machine learning and AI, for example, is often inaccessible to those with expertise in production management but not in data science.

Conversely, data scientists may struggle to understand the intricacies of manufacturing operations, such as workflow design and the real-time adjustments needed to address unpredicted challenges. This knowledge gap between the two groups can lead to failure especially if the AI system does not take into account the very dynamic nature of manufacturing.

Yamamoto, Y., Álvaro, A.M. and Sandström, K. (2024) ‘Challenges in designing a humancentred AI system in manufacturing’, Int. J. Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp.351–369.

Free Open Access article available: "School teacher's innovative work behaviour model"

The following paper, "School teacher's innovative work behaviour model" (International Journal of Management in Education 19(7) 2025), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Prof. Varun Gupta appointed as new Editor in Chief of International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology

Prof. Varun Gupta from Gisma University of Applied Sciences's Multidisciplinary Research Centre for Innovations in SMEs in Germany has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology.

Research pick: Line and weir - "Hydraulic characteristics of combined weir-gate structure"

New insights into the design and performance of combined weir-gate hydraulic structures, a crucial component of modern water-management systems, are discussed in the International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology. Weir-gate hybrid structures merge the functions of a traditional weir and a sluice gate and are now being widely used to regulate water flow, control flood risks, and aid in flow measurement.

Noor I. Khattab, Azza N. Altalib, and Arwa A. Mullah of the University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq, have now looked at a novel design for such structures, which incorporates a triangular shape with interior angles that can range from 60 to 180 degrees. Their findings explain how the configuration of these structures impacts their efficiency in managing water flow.

A weir is typically used to direct water over a barrier to control flow, while a sluice gate is designed to regulate flow beyond the barrier. By combining both functions into a single hybrid structure, engineers can maximize the benefits of each. The new work demonstrates how varying the angle within a triangular opening affects the flow of water and the efficiency of discharge measurement. The team used a key performance indicator, the discharge coefficient, is used to quantify the efficiency of the structure in controlling and measuring flow.

The researchers found that as the interior angle of the hybrid structure decreases, so the discharge coefficient increases. Under constant upstream head values, the discharge coefficient showed an average increase of 27% to 54% as the interior angle became more acute. The study also found that the shape and configuration of the structure, including the length of the crest and the specific type of flow, whether it flows over, under, or through the structure, affect overall performance. One of the important applications of these hybrid structures is the reduction of sediment accumulation beneath gates. The weir pushes materials out while the gate controls flow.

Weir-gate structures play a role in managing water: flood control, irrigation, water supply, and energy generation. If the design of these structures can be improved and optimized for specific purposes, then efficient and cost-effective infrastructure might be developed that is better equipped to handle fluctuating water conditions.

Khattab, N.I., Altalib, A.N. and Mullah, A.A. (2025) ‘Hydraulic characteristics of combined weir-gate structure’, Int. J. Hydrology Science and Technology, Vol. 19, No. 5, pp.1–17.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Embedded Systems

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Embedded Systems are now available here for free:

• Empowering immediate healthcare insights: a deep learning chatbot with modified-CNN and SA-MGO optimisation
• An improved VM selection and allocation hybrid algorithm using grasshopper and firefly in cloud computing
• MOS-IRS: a novel minimum optimisation scheme based on IRS-assisted NOMA in wireless powered communication network
• Pin conjecture for matching automata
• The correction method of block authentication information in edge computing mode
• A secure and lightweight hash-based mutual authentication scheme in fog-assisted healthcare network
• Optimising routing using nature inspired grasshopper algorithm to improve performance of VANETs
• Chatbot for mental health diagnosis using data augmentation techniques and deep learning
• Deep reinforcement learning-based collaborative computation offloading and caching decision for internet of things

Prof. Yuanquan Shi appointed as new Editor in Chief of International Journal of Internet Technology and Secured Transactions

Prof. Yuanquan Shi from Hunan First Normal University in China has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Internet Technology and Secured Transactions.

International Journal of Internet Technology and Secured Transactions is now an open access-only journal

We are pleased to announce that the International Journal of Internet Technology and Secured Transactions is now an Open Access-only journal. All accepted articles submitted from 12 March 2025 onwards will be Open Access, and will require an article processing charge of US $1600.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Applied Cryptography

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Applied Cryptography are now available here for free:

• Yoyo cryptanalysis on Future
• A novel keyless cryptosystem based on Latin square and cognitive artificial intelligence for blockchain and covert communications
• Efficient revocable identity-based encryption with equality test
• Image and object encryption using multiplicative cipher and K-means clustering algorithm
• PPADMA-ABE: a novel privacy-preserving and auditable attribute-based encryption under dynamic multi-authority setting
• Finding differential trails on ChaCha by means of state functions
• WeightedSim: privacy-preserving weighted similarity query over encrypted healthcare data

Research pick: Empowering teachers triggers innovation - "School teacher’s innovative work behaviour model"

Research in the International Journal of Management in Education has looked at the various factors that affect a teacher’s behaviour in terms of innovation. Innovation, the research explains, is an important part of improving educational performance in an increasingly competitive environment.

Jimmy Ellya Kurniawan, Kuncoro Dewi Rahmawati, and Evan Tanuwijaya of the Universitas Ciputra Surabaya in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, carried out research across private schools there and their findings offer a clearer understanding of how the attitudes of teachers as well as their motivation and the organizational culture within which they work can shape their willingness to engage in innovative practices.

Educational innovation can drive teaching quality and student outcomes, the team adds. However, the factors that lead to what drives teachers to be innovative has not been researched in detail until now. The current work focuses on two key elements: learning orientation culture and self-determination. The researchers used the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), a psychological framework that links behaviour to one’s attitudes, social pressures, and perceived control, to show how these elements influence teachers.

TPB shows that our behaviour is affected not only by personal beliefs but also by societal norms and how much we feel in control of our actions. In the context of education, the researchers showed that the organizational culture of a school can help foster innovation. A learning orientation culture, where continuous learning and knowledge application are prioritized, encourages teachers to embrace this. Moreover, when coupled with self-determination or a sense of autonomy there is an even greater likelihood of engaging in innovative practices.

From a practical perspective, the study offers valuable insights for school administrators. It suggests that if they can create a positive environment that emphasizes a learning-oriented culture and support the autonomy of their teachers, they might significantly enhance innovative behaviour and so student outcomes as well as the job satisfaction of their teachers.

Kurniawan, J.E., Rahmawati, K.D. and Tanuwijaya, E. (2025) ‘School teacher’s innovative work behaviour model’, Int. J. Management in Education, Vol. 19, No. 7, pp.1–36.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies are now available here for free:

• Systemically directed knowledge management for public and private organisational life: some perspectives from South Africa
• Practical approaches for the implementation of distributed scrum teams
• Postal sector digitalisation: security and vulnerabilities
• A systematic literature review of frugality and sustainability with life satisfaction: antecedents and consequences model
• Leadership and effectiveness: the case of public sector during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis period

Research pick: Sussing student sentiment - "Deep learning semantic understanding and classification of student online public opinion for new media"

Digital tools continue to redefine much of modern student life and learning. Educational administrators could better serve their student communities if they had a clearer view of the emotions and opinions those students are expressing online. Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, describes a deep learning-based method to analyse and categorize student sentiment in online content. The tools could offer invaluable insights for managing campus dynamics and enhancing the academic environment.

Dan Wang and Li Wang of the Gingko College of Hospitality Management in Chengdu, China, explain how deep learning techniques can be though of a subset of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies with a focus on understanding human language. By analysing content from different online platforms, such as social media, discussion forums, and website comment sections, the team suggests that it is possible to extract a clearer picture of the emotional and ideological landscape of student population.

The approach uses Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. CNNs can identify patterns and extract key features from textual data, while LSTMs are used to understand the relationships between words in long passages of text. By combining the strengths of these tools, it is possible to extract the nuance of ideas and emotions being shared online in the wider student discourse.

A key aspect of the new analytical model is the introduction of an “attention mechanism”. This improves the model’s ability to accurately interpret complex emotional expressions. In online communication, students often use irony, sarcasm, or metaphor to convey sentiments, as do we all. This is difficult to grasp with a simple analytical tool. The attention mechanism allows the system to focus on the most critical words or phrases in a given piece of text and this improves its ability to detect and decode these subtle emotional cues. For instance, the phrase “yeah, right” is familiar American vernacular and is commonly used as a sarcastic riposte to an apparently unbelievable comment. Taken literally, however, it would simply be interpreted as confirmation of the person reading the unbelievable and confirming their acceptance of it.

In addition to the nuances of the model and the AI tools on which it is built, the team has also created a large-scale, annotated dataset of student-generated content. This dataset, drawn from a wide range of platforms, allowed the team to train and validate their model with real data. The same data and model might be used off campus too, to analyse public online sentiment or perhaps within the corporate environment.

Wang, D. and Wang, L. (2024) ‘Deep learning semantic understanding and classification of student online public opinion for new media’, Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 10, pp.62–76.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation are now available here for free:

• Investigating the effect of goods and service tax on operational performance, cost efficiency and profit margins of MSMEs
• Operating performance of initial public offerings: empirical evidence from Oman
• The effect of financial inclusion on poverty alleviation and economic growth: a view from an emerging market
• The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of Turkish banks: a comparative panel data analysis
• Competition, stability and the efficiency channel in the Tunisian banking system
• Is the financial information still useful in issuing stock recommendations? Evidence from the Tunisian financial analysts
• Determinants of national IFRS adoption: evidence from the Middle East and North Africa region
• Evaluation of non-performing financing of non-oil sectors: a case of Bahraini Islamic banks
• Financial contagion during the COVID-19 pandemic: the case of African countries
• Forward-looking disclosure and short-term liabilities: evidence from Oman

Research pick: Gears rubbed up the right way - "Development of precision analysis method of tooth profile in gear skiving process with shape projection of removal area"

A new approach to gear skiving, a specialized machining technique for producing internal gears, could improve the speed and accuracy with which gear teeth are formed. The work, described in the International Journal of Abrasive Technology, could be useful to industries reliant on high-precision gears, such as automotive and aerospace engineering.

Traditionally, manufacturing internal gears, whether spur gears, which have straight teeth, or helical gears, which have angled teeth, has been a complex, time-consuming process. Gear skiving, an advanced technique that uses a specialized cutting tool called a skiving cutter, has emerged as an effective solution.

Hiroki Yonezawa, Jun’ichi Kaneko, and Takeyuki Abe of Saitama University, and Naruhiro Irino, Yuta Shinba, and Yasuhiro Imabeppu of DMG MORI Co, Ltd., Japan, explain that unlike conventional machining methods, which often struggle with the precise geometry of gear teeth, gear skiving synchronizes the rotation of the workpiece with the motion of the cutter. This allows for a continuous and efficient cutting action. However, predicting the exact geometry of the tooth flanks, the surfaces that form the teeth of the gear, has long been a major challenge.

The new research introduces an innovative method for predicting the tooth profile after the skiving process is complete. The team analyses the shape of the material removed during machining, projecting the removal area from the perspective of the workpiece’s “tooth lead” direction. The term “tooth lead” refers to the angle at which the teeth of the gear are shaped. This projection-based approach simplifies the analytical process, significantly reducing the computational resources needed to do the calculations when compared to conventional methods. The new approach focuses on the projection of the removal area, factoring in the rotation of the workpiece around its axis to estimate the final tooth profile more quickly and accurately than was previously possible.

The team explains that by providing more accurate and faster predictions of how gear teeth will form after the skiving process, manufacturers can improve the design of specialized tools such as profile crowning tools and chamfering tools. These tools are critical in ensuring the final gear has the desired geometry and performance characteristics for high-tech engineering applications. In addition, the same method can be used to assess the effects of tool wear or mounting errors on the gear’s final tooth profile, allowing for better control over the production process.

Yonezawa, H., Kaneko, J., Abe, T., Irino, N., Shinba, Y. and Imabeppu, Y. (2024) ‘Development of precision analysis method of tooth profile in gear skiving process with shape projection of removal area’, Int. J. Abrasive Technology, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp.1–14.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Product Development

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Product Development are now available here for free:

• A formal consideration of user tactics during product evaluation in early-stage product development
• Review of models and frameworks for set-based design
• Prediction method of product market demand based on Prophet random forest
• Fuzzy edge detection method of product packaging image based on Kalman filter
• Colour matching method of product interactive interface based on user experience
• Study on evaluation method of human-computer interface quality of intelligent products based on Bayesian classification
• The deep mining of consumer behaviour data on product network marketing platform
• Colour offset compensation method of product packaging image based on colour difference interpolation