The social gold rush – tales from the crypto

In the last year or so, the cryptocurrencies market has seen significant fluctuations, which, according to research in the International Journal of Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies, has led to surge in influencer activity on social media. However, Sijie Yu and Jon Padfield of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, point out that despite this increased activity there has been little academic research into the behaviour and impact of cryptocurrency influencers

The team has endeavoured to fill this gap in our knowledge and has looked at how such influencers – usually individuals, but sometimes organisations, with large numbers of highly engaged followers on social media – affect perception and use of cryptocurrencies. The researchers have explored the classification and impact of influencers based on various metrics such as platform statistics, psychological traits, update content (specifically on the X platform formerly known as Twitter), social connectivity, and cryptocurrency price fluctuations. The researchers have also looked at how decentralized social media platforms have emerged following the change of Twitter ownership and its rebranding as X. Their review highlights some of the unique monetization models that shape influencer activities.

The way in which the cryptocurrency landscape has changed recently with financial approvals, settlements, news platforms, and novel approaches has led many people to turn to influencers for information and advice. Many of these influencers have such large followings and such sway that their online pronouncements are known to affect digital currency values, the value of digital assets known as NFTs (non-fungible tokens), and influence market trends.

The researchers point out that given the influence of such individuals, there is a lot of interest in the ethical and legal aspects of their activities. Much of their behaviour may be beyond the grasp of regulators, but some are being called to account when they fail to declare conflicts of interest in promoting schemes and assets. The current review offers policymakers, regulators, and enforcement, a detailed technical guide for profiling and identifying cryptocurrency influencers. This will allow them to analyse influencer social media content in a more informed manner and so apply the law forcefully.

Yu, S. and Padfield, J. (2024) ‘Advanced techniques in profiling cryptocurrency influencers: a review’, Int. J. Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies, Vol. 5, No. 5, pp.1–18.

Free Open Access article available: "Bordering through legal non-existence: the production of de facto statelessness among women and children through the National Registry of Citizens in Assam, India"

The following paper, "Bordering through legal non-existence: the production of de facto statelessness among women and children through the National Registry of Citizens in Assam, India" (International Journal of Migration and Border Studies 8(1/2) 2024), 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 Migration and Border Studies

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Migration and Border Studies are now available here for free:

• Making live and letting die: Nepali migrant workers returning from India encounter the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic
• Local variations in integration policies: experiences from the perspectives of immigrants in Sweden
• Border crossings as soft power: international relations, digital diplomacy and the 'border control museum complex'
• 'The press has gone crazy': online media and political rhetoric of immigrants in the USA

Research pick: The problem of Canadian crimmigration - "Narratives from non-citizen former youth in child welfare care fighting crimmigration and deportation"

Research in the International Journal of Migration and Border Studies has looked at how government policies in Canada are affecting non-citizen migrant youth in the country’s child welfare system. The disheartening reality revealed by Mandeep Kaur Mucina of the University of Victoria, Abigail Lash-Ballew of the University of Toronto, Canada, is that the purportedly interconnected systems – child welfare, immigration, and criminal justice – are leading to ongoing instability for these people and systemic oppression.

The researchers looked at four youth who were formerly in the care system, who each live with precarious legal status. Their findings suggest that there is a transcarceral framework in place, a disturbing pipeline that funnels youth from welfare to incarceration and thence to deportation even where that is wholly inappropriate for a given case.

Canada is often celebrated for its inclusive stance towards migrants. However, this study shows a starkly different reality for non-citizen migrant youth. Without citizenship or permanent residency, these young individuals live under the constant threat of deportation, particularly when they come into contact with the criminal justice system. The team has looked at the lives of four young women as case studies of the issues and problems they face.

The research reveals deficiencies in the child welfare system that simply do not address the unique needs and rights of migrant youth. It also alludes to the psychological scars these young women bear, despite their successfully resisting deportation with the support of legal advocates and organizations. The harsh transition from protected child to being deemed a disposable adult fit only for incarceration and deportation makes criminals of innocent youth. The team, thus drawing attention to this crimmigration process, hopes to see policy changed so that the necessary care and support are at the forefront of the nation’s approach to young migrants rather than the surveillance and marginalization that often frame these people as a threat.

Mucina, M.K. and Lash-Ballew, A. (2024) ‘Narratives from non-citizen former youth in child welfare care fighting crimmigration and deportation’, Int. J. Migration and Border Studies, Vol. 8, Nos. 1/2, pp.35–55.

Free Open Access article available: "Narratives from non-citizen former youth in child welfare care fighting crimmigration and deportation"

The following paper, "Narratives from non-citizen former youth in child welfare care fighting crimmigration and deportation" (International Journal of Migration and Border Studies 8(1/2) 2024), 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: "Active sensing in froth flotation"

The following paper, "Active sensing in froth flotation" (International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering 15(2) 2024), 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 Electronic Healthcare

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

• Integrated e-healthcare management system using machine learning and flask
• Predicting diabetes using Cohen's Kappa blending ensemble learning
• The effect of perceived risk, technology trust, and technology awareness on the consumer's behavioural intention to adopt online pharmacy
• The digital transformation of Czech healthcare: trends and COVID-19 impact
• Use of web-based medication error reporting and management systems in improving medication safety in assisted living facilities: a systematic review

Research pick: New takeaways regarding Indian food sustainability - "Sustainable food consumption behaviour: what really matters!"

Researchers in India have expanded the well-known theory of planned behaviour to obtain useful marketing and policy insights concerning the sustainability choices of consumers when it comes to food. The work, published in the International Journal of Sustainable Society, analysed data from 440 Indian households via self-administered questionnaires, which were then analysed using structural equation modelling. The addition of three variables – environmental knowledge, personal norms, and product attributes – not commonly used in traditional TPB model allowed the researchers to extract implications for various stakeholders, including producers, marketers, government agencies, and policymakers.

Priyanka Garg and Ashish Kumar of the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in New Delhi, and Raj Kumar Mittal of the Chaudhary Bansi Lal University in Haryana, India, demonstrated that their extended model could account for much of the variance in behavioural intentions. It showed that product attributes are the strongest predictor of sustainable food consumption behaviour. By contrast, and perhaps surprisingly, social norms had far less influence on the choices made by consumers. This, the team suggests, implies that factors such as food labelling, quality, and price must play a significant role in shaping choice rather than societal and peer pressure.

This research sits in the middle of growing global food and environmental crises. We are seeing continued population growth, environmental degradation and habitat loss, as well as the detrimental effects of climate change. As such, there are increasing pressures on agriculture and food resources. This is all despite, and perhaps in some ways, because of technological advances. There is a pressing need to shift our approach to food security towards more sustainable options. Sustainable dietary practices, including the consumption of local and plant-based foods rather than intensively produced meat products, could play a role in this. The side effects might even be a boost to our overall health, as well as a reduction in the environmental impact of food production. However, making such changes requires commitment and our ability to overcome many deeply ingrained cultural and social practices.

There is potential to change attitudes through clear, informative food labelling as well as educational campaigns to emphasize the benefits of sustainable food products. If marketing strategies can be aligned with addressing the ongoing crises, then consumer preferences might change and we could see the more widespread adoption of sustainable food choices. However, the market share for sustainable food products remains low. This suggests the need for a concerted effort from all stakeholders – producers, marketers, governments, and campaigners – to persuade consumers to make the sustainable choice.

Garg, P., Kumar, A. and Mittal, R.K. (2024) ‘Sustainable food consumption behaviour: what really matters!’, Int. J. Sustainable Society, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp.125–149.

Free Open Access article available: "Conditions for viable horizontal collaborative transport: insights from a stylised model"

The following paper, "Conditions for viable horizontal collaborative transport: insights from a stylised model" (International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering 47(5) 2024), 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 Services and Standards

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

• Service innovation insights in the grocery retail service ecosystem
• Protective shields: the drivers of adopting information security standards and complementarity with different security standards
• The antecedents and consequences of the customer's attitude toward social media adoption: a meta-analytic approach
• The effects of the legal environment on cybersecurity

Research pick: Five whys failed M.O. - "Five whys: a possible path to failure"

The “five whys” technique is a problem-solving approach that involves repeatedly asking “why” to uncover the root cause of a failure. It is widely used in manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, aerospace and aviation, and in the service industries. However, it has limitations, not least a lack of understanding of how to use the approach correctly. Research in the International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage has now looked at how the method can be used as either a superficial brainstorming tool or a rigorous investigative process and that understanding the approach in detail is essential to good quality control and safety in many different sectors.

The “five whys” is the modus operandi of many a root-cause analysis. It is a systematic approach that can be used to identify the causes of a given problem or failure so that a recurrence might be prevented. Matthew Barsalou of QPLUS in Manama, Bahrain, Beata Starzyńska of Poznan University of Technology in Poznań, and Maria Konrad of Spawmet Zbigniew Kaczmarek in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland, explain that the efficacy of the “five whys” method works by alternating between asking “why” and conducting empirical investigations to validate each cause identified. For instance, if a bolt breaks and the answer to the question “why?” is simply because it was a weak or faulty bolt, then simply replacing it with a stronger bolt may well fail to address the underlying issue if the true cause of the bolt’s demise was vibration in the system. The correct use of the “five whys” ensures that the underlying cause is found and mitigated.

The team has carried out a comprehensive review of the literature in this area and categorized the descriptions of the “five whys” problem-solving approach into three distinct groups. The first is the simplified approach that merely asks why without empirical evidence. The second is the empirical approach that requires actual investigation following each “why?”. The third is ambiguous use, where the item in the research literature was unclear as to the precise usage of the method. The researchers found that more than half of the research literature described the “five whys” as a simple brainstorming tool. Only a minority highlighted the necessity of empirical investigation to validate each step.

The team followed up their review by surveying organisations about their use of the “five whys” method. This survey vindicated the review findings to reveal that many organisations simply used the “five whys” as a brainstorming method rather than an investigative approach. However, they note that those organisations that used the method frequently were more likely to recognize the importance of thorough investigation to back up the answer to each question “why?”.

The problem that is obvious in retrospect is that the approach is being misused widely, leading to ineffective solutions and unresolved issues. Brainstorming alone is usually insufficient to identify the true cause of a problem, whereas empirical investigation after each “why” ensures solutions are based on verified causes, leading to more reliable and effective problem-solving.

Barsalou, M., Starzyńska, B. and Konrad, M. (2024) ‘Five whys: a possible path to failure’, Int. J. Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp.19–32.

Free Open Access article available: "Analysis of control characteristics of intelligent digital pump combined with discrete variables"

The following paper, "Analysis of control characteristics of intelligent digital pump combined with discrete variables" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(8) 2024), 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 Mining and Mineral Engineering

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering are now available here for free:

• Enhancement of efficient coal fragmentation through technological advancement
• 3D-imaging of boulders using a solid-state 2D profilometer: case study for autonomous robotic rock breaker
• Mineralogical studies of Cretaceous phosphatic nodules of Nambakuruchi block of Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu, India
• Effect of seasonal variations on quarry operations in Southwest Nigeria
• An advanced overview of recent developments in tantalum, tin, and tungsten production in Rwanda

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Signal and Imaging Systems Engineering

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Signal and Imaging Systems Engineering are now available here for free:

• Design of high speed and low power multiplier using dual-mode square adder
• Computational simulation of human fovea
• Image correlation, non-uniformly sampled rotation displacement measurement estimation
• Segmentation and detection of the retinal vascular network using fast filtering
• Syntactic approach to reconstruct simple and complex medical images

Special issue published: "Recent Trends in Historic Masonry Building Assessment: Principles, Models, Methods, and Practices – Part 2"

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation 9(4) 2024

• Experimental investigation of the horizontal load orientation on masonry corner failure
• Consolidation of historic buildings damaged by settlements with composite materials
• Motion magnification technique for the monitoring of masonry structures
• The detect-ageing prototype building, a benchmark for structural health monitoring of masonry structures
• Garisenda Tower in Bologna (Italy): structural assessment and numerical simulation
• FE modelling for the nonlinear dynamics of a historic tower in Central Italy
• Sensitivity to uncertainties in the dynamic response of masonry arches
• Damage assessment of Apennine masonry churches severely damaged during the 2016 Central Italy seismic sequence

Research pick: Rock-solid research for mineral froth - "Active sensing in froth flotation"

Research in the International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering introduces a new approach to controlling mineral processing that uses active sensing. This method embeds intelligence within sensor systems, significantly reducing the need for human intervention in the process to improve efficiency and precision in mineral separation processes. Even tiny improvements in efficiency can have a major economic impact on processing of ores containing copper, lead, and zinc, and even more so in the case of precious metals.

Active sensing involves the integration of intelligent sensor systems that minimize human involvement by optimizing measurement processes. These systems use a combination of different measurements to put detailed information into the broader context. Primary measurements are precise but limited in range while auxiliary measurements provide broader, but more diffuse, data that can be used to guide the primary sensors to specific areas of interest that need detailed measurements.

Mikko Salo, Teijo Juntunen, and Risto Ritala of Tampere University in Tampere, Finland, have looked at this approach for froth flotation, an important process used in mineral processing. Froth flotation separates minerals based on how they interact with water, their water-repellent, or hydrophobic, character. A slurry of mixed minerals and water is treated with reagents to make certain particles hydrophobic, this makes them accumulate on air bubbles and so rise to the surface as froth. This froth containing much of the mineral of interest from the slurry can be scooped off as concentrate for further purification and processing. The remaining slurry, known as tailings, flows out of the system.

In most contexts, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis is used to measure mineral concentrations in froth flotation. While XRF is precise, it is slow and expensive. It also only works sequentially, typically measuring multiple slurry lines one after the other, which also reduces efficiency.

As a cost-effective alternative, visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectral measurements might be used. VNIR measurements works faster, with one measurement every three seconds, instead of one every five minutes with XRF. But VNIR data is less accurate than XRF and needs continuous calibration based on XRF data.

To overcome these limitations, the researchers have developed a control architecture using a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller with exception handling. They have used a simulated environment with plant data from the froth flotation process to test this approach. They demonstrated that the architecture optimizes the measurement sequence and incorporates interruptions when VNIR data detects anomalies. This ensures timely and accurate responses to process disturbances.

Salo, M., Juntunen, T. and Ritala, R. (2024) ‘Active sensing in froth flotation’, Int. J. Mining and Mineral Engineering, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp.111–130.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Business Performance and Supply Chain Modelling

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Business Performance and Supply Chain Modelling are now available here for free:

• Scenario-based multi-objective optimisation model based on supervised machine learning to configure a plastic closed-loop supply chain network
• Investigating the multi-objective optimisation problem of supplier selection using the new COTOP hybrid method
• Selection of ideal supplier in e-procurement for manufacturing industry using intuitionistic fuzzy AHP
• Modelling cloud computing adoption barriers for Indian SMEs' supply chain using TISM and MICMAC analysis
• A proposed hybrid VUCA theory and decision making for logistics enterprises in Oman due to uncertainty contemporary factors

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.

• Business model based on the synergistic drive of flexible supply chain and digital marketing
• Analysis of control characteristics of intelligent digital pump combined with discrete variables
• Multimedia interactive creative dance choreography design integrating hybrid density network algorithms
• Analysis and assessment of multimedia-assisted physical education quality based on graded score algorithm
• A study into text sentiment analysis model based on deep learning
• Design and implementation method of immersive IoT teaching platform based on virtual reality technology

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management indexed by Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index

The International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management is the latest Inderscience title to be indexed by Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index.

The journal's Editor in Chief, Dr. Giuseppe Giulio Calabrese, had the following to say:

"Reaching this remarkable milestone is a testament to the hard work, dedication and innovation of each and every IJATM board member in contributing to our mission of issuing an outstanding academic journal in industrial organisation and business management.

The goal of IJATM is to publish original, high-quality research within the field of the automotive industry. Our editors actively seek articles that will have a significant impact on theory and practice. IJATM aims to establish channels of communication between policy makers, executives in the automotive industry, both OEM and suppliers, and related business and academic experts in the field.

IJATM has come a long way, but we still have a lot to accomplish. We have ambitious goals and exciting opportunities ahead of us. I am confident that with the talent and passion of our board members, authors and reviewers, we will continue to grow and improve the indexing status of our journal."

Research pick: The answer to job stress? Why, a pet! - "Job stress and well-being: the moderating role of pet attachment"

Research in the International Journal of Management Practice has looked at the relationship between job stress and well-being in people who are pet owners. The work suggests that pets can play a significant part in their owners’ lives beyond the obvious role of owning a pet. Jehn-Yih Wong, Ying-Ying Cheng, Chia-Ying ChouHua, and Shih-Hao Liu of Ming Chuan University in Taipei, Taiwan, surveyed 228 pet owners in order to investigate how job stress impacts life satisfaction and emotional exhaustion and to determine whether a strong attachment with a pet can ameliorate these potentially detrimental effects.

Job stress is defined as anxiety, dissatisfaction and other negative emotions associated with one’s work. They can all affect emotional and physical health. The researchers reiterate earlier findings that found that high levels of job stress are linked to decreased life satisfaction and increased emotional exhaustion. They raise the idea of coping mechanisms and used structural equation modelling and multi-group analysis to tease out the relationships better pet owners with a strong emotional attachment to their animals and job stress.

Intriguingly, the team found that while pet attachment did not actually influence a person’s overall life satisfaction, it had an effect on emotional exhaustion in those suffering job stress. Pet owners with stronger attachments to their pets actually reported higher levels of emotional exhaustion than those with weaker attachments. This seems to be a counterintuitive finding that suggests that while pets provide significant companionship and emotional support, a deeper attachment may also amplify the emotional burden during stressful periods. Conversely, it might be that those people with strong attachments to their pets are more likely to be in touch with their emotions and able to recognise and express that kind of exhaustion more readily than others.

Less paradoxically, those pet owners who felt a strong bond with their pets did report that the negative impact of job stress on life satisfaction was less pronounced. Similarly, the reported greater emotional exhaustion associated with job stress in those people was somewhat mitigated by having a pet. This indicates that pet attachment can serve as a form of social support, helping to buffer against the adverse effects of stress in a manner similar to support from close human relationships.

Wong, J-Y., Cheng, Y-Y., ChouHua, C-Y. and Liu, S-H. (2024) ‘Job stress and well-being: the moderating role of pet attachment’, Int. J. Management Practice, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp.448–462.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Auditing Technology

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• The similarities of judicial reorganisation process of SMEs in financial distress: cross-cultural analysis of France and Morocco during COVID-19
• Benford test based on logarithmic property
• The benefits of adopting International Financial Reporting Standards: auditors' perception
• Assurance and consultancy internal audit roles in information technology risk management

Research pick: Filling the expat employee gender gap - "When the going gets tougher: international assignments, external shocks and the factor of gender"

A study in the European Journal of International Management sheds light on gender differences in how job embeddedness affects expatriates. This is especially true when individual face unexpected challenges, the research suggests.

Job embeddedness theory says that individuals who feel a strong sense of integration with their work environment and community are less inclined to leave their jobs, even during difficult times. The theory hinges on three primary dimensions: fit, links, and sacrifices. “Fit” describes the alignment an individual feels with their job and community. “Links” refer to their interpersonal connections, both at work and within the community. “Sacrifices” are the perceived costs associated with leaving their current environment. The more embedded someone is in terms of these various factors, the less likely they are to leave their job, particularly when they face unexpected events, “external shocks”, that might prompt them to reconsider their position.

Sonja Sperber of Vienna University of Economics and Business in Vienna, Austria and Christian Linder of the University of Côte d’Azur, Suresnes, France, explain that research in this area has tended to focus on male expatriates. As such, there is an obvious and significant gap in our understanding of job embeddedness. The team hopes to begin to fill this gap. They have analysed data from expatriates in the United Kingdom and used Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to identify what factors influence employment turnover intentions among male and female expatriates having faced some kind of shock.

Migration and the movement of skilled female workers in particular has become an important trend in recent years and is not expected to decline. It is known that many female expatriates face issues not experienced by their male counterparts. Many of these issues are associated with why they have migrated, the cultural adjustments they must make, the balancing of family responsibilities, and the management of gender stereotypes. These factors can affect their experience and also whether they choose to remain in their position when faced with shocks.

The team found that the concept of “fit” appears to be more crucial for female expatriates. This suggests that women tend to prioritize how well they align with their job and community. In contrast, male expatriates apparently emphasize the “sacrifices” involved in leaving their job, indicating a greater focus on the costs of leaving their current position.

Such differences point to a need to consider gender-specific perspectives in job embeddedness theory and human resource management practices. Understanding the differences will allow HR managers and others to develop more nuanced and effective support mechanisms for expatriate employees. A one-size-fits-all approach is wholly inadequate, the work would suggest. Gender-sensitive human resource policies could be critical in helping expatriate employees cope with shocks, and at the same time help organizations with the retention of their skilled international workforce.

Sperber, S. and Linder, C. (2024) ‘When the going gets tougher: international assignments, external shocks and the factor of gender’, European J. International Management, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp.537–567.

Free Open Access article available: "Design and implementation method of immersive IoT teaching platform based on virtual reality technology"

The following paper, "Design and implementation method of immersive IoT teaching platform based on virtual reality technology" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(8) 2024), 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 Environment and Pollution

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

• The customer trust evaluation of e-commerce market based on portfolio weighting: cloud model
• Research on the integrated development of innovation and entrepreneurship education curriculum structure optimisation and employment guidance
• Study on evaluation method of online education reform effect based on analytic hierarchy process
• Analysis of the role of higher vocational education in the sustainable development of social economy
• Research on the path of integrating the concept of sustainable development into innovation and entrepreneurship education
• A performance evaluation method of innovation and entrepreneurship policy based on DPSIR model
• Research and exploration on the optimisation of innovation and entrepreneurship education model from the collaborative perspective
• An evaluation method of college students' innovation and entrepreneurship ability based on AHP method
• Can mobile banking apps usage contribute towards the environmental sustainability: a mediation analysis

Free Open Access article available: "A study into text sentiment analysis model based on deep learning"

The following paper, "A study into text sentiment analysis model based on deep learning" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(8) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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