Tales from the crypto

Consumers are more likely to buy cryptocurrencies when they see them as easy to use, trustworthy, and beneficial, according to research in the International Journal of Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies, which has used the Technology Acceptance Model as a framework to examine perception and adoption.

The team analysed survey data using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). This statistical approach can test relationships between various factors simultaneously. This allowed the researchers to discern that perceived ease of use, trust, and benefits all had significant direct effects on a consumer’s intention to buy cryptocurrency. Trust showed the strongest relationship, followed by ease of use, and finally benefits. Perceived risk reduced perceptions of benefit, but this link was not statistically significant, the team reports.

The findings suggest that concerns over volatility, cybersecurity, and the minimal regulation surrounding cryptocurrencies do not necessarily deter buyers if the platforms are seen as reliable and straightforward to use. The researchers argue that consumers are more likely to recognise advantages such as lower transaction costs, borderless payments, and investment portfolio diversification when they trust the technology and can navigate it easily.

The study has implications beyond cryptocurrency markets as governments and financial regulators consider how to oversee such digital assets. The authors recommend that there should be put in place clearer investor-protection rules, standardised compliance procedures, and enforcement of ethical marketing to reduce systemic financial risks.

They also argue that digital platform providers should prioritise stronger cybersecurity, transparent fee disclosures, and accessible interfaces to strengthen user confidence while protecting financial and personal data.

Jain, R. and Sharma, S. (2026) ‘What drives consumers to purchase cryptocurrencies? An empirical investigation’, Int. J. Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp.291–307.

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Free Open Access special issue on "Intelligent Multimedia Technologies in Cultural Tourism: Enhancing Artistic Expression and Humanistic Engagement – Part 1" published by International Journal of Arts and Technology

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

• Improvement of online music teaching system in cultural tourism assisted by artificial intelligence
• Intelligent teaching methods of music appreciation based on the Kano model in the context of cultural tourism
• The international communication of Chinese red classics by multimodal information fusion and deep learning VGG network
• The role of SARIMA-BP model for development strategy of broadcasting and hosting art under online security network platform
• The impact of VR-integrated piano music appreciation instruction in cultural tourism modules
• Multimedia artificial intelligence for innovative system of university cultural tourism music education based on fuzzy theory
• Optimisation of digital music teaching system based on artificial intelligence and neural network in the context of cultural tourism
• The impact of print advertising images with Miao silver jewellery patterns in cultural tourism under the intelligent generation system
• Singing simulation of male characters in national operas based on PiGAN-SwT model and artificial neural network technology oriented by cultural tourism
• Deep learning and AI technology for the integrated development of urban-rural cultural tourism and sports services

New Open Access article available: "When political embeddedness shapes ESG practice corporate governance"

The following International Journal of Managerial and Financial Accounting article, "When political embeddedness shapes ESG practice corporate governance", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Call for Editors and Editorial Board Members for the International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation

The International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation (IJAAPE) is seeking distinguished scholars and experienced academics to join its Editorial Team under the leadership of the new Editor in Chief, Prof. Khaled Hussainey. Prof. Hussainey invites applications from committed researchers with strong publication records, editorial experience, and expertise in accounting, auditing, performance evaluation and related disciplines.

Editorial Opportunities

Regional Editors

Regional Editors are expected to promote the journal within their geographical regions, strengthen regional research networks and attract high-quality submissions. Applications are particularly welcome from scholars representing regions such as America, Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Associate Editors

Associate Editors play an active role in managing the peer-review process, recommending editorial decisions and contributing to the strategic development of the journal. Candidates should be internationally recognised experts with a strong publication record and previous editorial or reviewing experience.

Editorial Board Members

Editorial Board Members are senior academics who contribute to the journal by reviewing manuscripts, advising on editorial matters and promoting the journal within their research communities and professional networks. Members are expected to actively support the journal's growth and reputation.

Eligibility

Applicants should have the following:A PhD in accounting, auditing, performance evaluation or a closely related discipline.
A strong international publication record.
Experience as a reviewer, editorial board member, or journal editor.
An active international research network.

Interested applicants should submit a current CV, a brief statement indicating the position sought and outlining their relevant experience, and a summary of previous editorial experience (where applicable) to the Editor in Chief, Prof. Khaled Hussainey, at k.hussainey@bangor.ac.uk. The application deadline is 31 July, 2026.

International Journal of International Journal of Internet Protocol Technology is now an open access-only journal

We are pleased to announce that the International Journal of Internet Protocol Technology is now an Open Access-only journal. All accepted articles submitted from 16 July 2026 onwards will be Open Access, and will require an article processing charge of EUR €1700.

New Open Access article available: "Assessing intercultural communicative competence: a survey-based needs analysis of Thai university students"

The following International Journal of Innovation and Learning article, "Assessing intercultural communicative competence: a survey-based needs analysis of Thai university students", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: AI is not yet the answer to detecting software vulnerabilities - "Large language models for vulnerability detection: a multi-use case comparative study"

Writing in the International Journal of Applied Cryptography, a team compares eleven leading large language models (LLMs) for software security. They found that no single system consistently outperforms its rivals in detecting vulnerabilities. This, they suggest, means organisations must select such tools according to the specific software they are analysing.

The study assessed open-source and proprietary LLMs across four public benchmark datasets covering Android applications, Internet of Things (IoT) software, and blockchain smart contracts. They also tested whether the models could identify privacy-invasive behaviour in code and whether retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), a technique that supplements an AI model with external information during use, could improve detection.

The findings come as software vulnerabilities continue to rise. Industry reports cited by the authors suggest an almost two-thirds annual increase in newly discovered vulnerabilities compared with the previous year. Vulnerabilities that have been exploited have increased by 96%. They add that software supply chain attacks, which target the software development and distribution process, have also increased sharply.

Their findings show that while several models showed promise, performance varied across datasets and domains. The authors thus argue that current LLMs remain unsuitable as universal vulnerability detectors. Limitations include outdated training data and the well-known problem of AI hallucinations, where plausible, but false, outputs are presented as fact by the AI. This, they explain, highlights the need for continued updates and testing before deployment in security-critical workflows.

Kouliaridis, V., Karopoulos, G. and Kambourakis, G. (2026) ‘Large language models for vulnerability detection: a multi-use case comparative study’, Int. J. Applied Cryptography, Vol. 5, No. 6, pp.1–17.

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New Open Access article available: "A review of the negative impact of adopting fourth industrial revolution technology in South Africa's mining industry"

The following International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering article, "A review of the negative impact of adopting fourth industrial revolution technology in South Africa's mining industry", 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 System Control and Information Processing

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• Dynamic resource adjustment of hierarchical control Petri nets
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• PCBA defect classification in real world with out-of-distribution detection

New Open Access article available: "Guidelines for the creative integration of workforce competency development with intelligent automation in industrial businesses"

The following International Journal of Business Performance Management article, "Guidelines for the creative integration of workforce competency development with intelligent automation in industrial businesses", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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Research pick: Showboating in China? - "Costly signals and compliance boundaries in human rights diplomacy: China’s UPR engagement"

A study of China’s participation in United Nations human rights reviews argues that its public statements are more than diplomatic rhetoric. The paper published in the International Journal of Public Law and Policy also suggests that they serve as strategic signals that shape later negotiations.

The researchers analysed 51 statements made by China at the United Nations General Assembly between 2018 and 2024 alongside its responses to 428 recommendations during the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The latter is a UN process in which every member state undergoes a peer assessment of its human rights record.

The study identified three recurring themes in China’s human rights discourse. The first being the importance of economic development and basic living standards. The second, the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs. The third appeals to shared values across humanity. The authors argue that these themes define China’s negotiating boundaries.

The study found that China often accepts development-focused recommendations and even accepts policy commitments that carry implementation costs. However, recommendations that touched on issues Beijing sees as a matter of sovereignty were often rejected, despite the reputational costs of refusal.

The findings suggest that analysing a state’s public discourse may help anticipate where compromise is possible in international negotiations and where entrenched positions are likely to persist as competing interpretations of human rights become more prominent in an increasingly multipolar international system.

Jiang, Y. and Song, W. (2026) ‘Costly signals and compliance boundaries in human rights diplomacy: China’s UPR engagement’, Int. J. Public Law and Policy, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp.1–28.

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Free Open Access special issue on "Big Data Industrial Application and Computing Innovation – Part 2" published by International Journal of Data Mining and Bioinformatics

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

• Construction of a natural gas pipeline intelligent early warning platform based on the integration of multi-source heterogeneous data management and GAN reinforcement learning
• Interactive AI virtual human synthesis technology based on multimedia visual images
• A cooperative evolutionary algorithm based on a double deep Q-network for adaptive robust service composition in cloud manufacturing
• Resource collaboration-aware service composition optimisation for cloud manufacturing
• Eye movement fixation point localisation and recognition method based on multimodal features
• Smart contract and distributed ledger based financial transaction settlement and tracking model design in digital economy

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

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• Elucidations on different modes of charging techniques for enhancement of the performance of electric vehicles
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New Open Access article available: "Hearing the witness remotely in Jordanian law"

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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.

• Probabilistic modelling and reliability analysis of smart grid optical communication networks
• Precursor detection for extreme weather in power facilities using deep residual shrinkage networks
• Quantification of the impact of meteorological large models based on transformer on electricity load
• Reinforcement learning-based AI framework for interference control in edge-IoT networks with limited resources
• Deep learning-driven vocal melody generation and simulation of polyphonic harmony arrangements

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation

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• Advancing research, innovation, and commercialisation strategies confronting the challenge of Varroa mites in Australia
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• Crowdsourcing and small business challenges: how to leverage crowdsourcing benefits in the information and communications technology industry
• How do industrial value-added and technical innovation impact environmental deterioration in Asian nations?

Research pick: Alliance matters for disability inclusion at work - "Supervisor social support and disability inclusion: examining mediation and moderation in employee performance"

Supportive supervisors can improve the performance of employees with disabilities, according to research in the International Journal of Business Innovation and Research. However, the wider workplace environment determines how much that support translates into results.

The researchers analysed survey responses from 441 employees with disabilities and their supervisors across a range of organisations using partial least squares structural equation modelling. This is a statistical technique for examining relationships between multiple factors. The analysis showed that supervisors who provide practical, emotional, and informational support are associated with higher employee performance, both directly and indirectly.

A key mechanism was leader-member exchange, the team explains. This term describes the quality of the working relationship between a manager and an employee. Stronger, trust-based relationships partly explained why supportive supervision was linked to better performance. The findings also highlight the importance of organisational culture. A climate for psychological safety wherein employees feel able to speak up, ask for help, and raise concerns without fear of negative consequences led to greater benefits.

By contrast, stigma by association weakened those gains. This term refers to negative attitudes directed not only at the people with a disability but also at colleagues or supervisors who openly support them, potentially discouraging inclusive behaviour.

The researchers argue that the findings have implications for regions where disability inclusion remains underdeveloped. They recommend disability-focused training for supervisors, formal mentoring relationships between managers and employees with disabilities, regular assessments of psychological safety, and stronger anti-discrimination policies that protect both disabled employees and those who advocate for them.

Slade, H., Sohail, M., Ahmad, A. and Sheraz, F. (2026) ‘Supervisor social support and disability inclusion: examining mediation and moderation in employee performance’, Int. J. Business Innovation and Research, Vol. 40, No. 8, pp.1–27.

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New Open Access article available: "Sustainable corporate boards with employee representation"

The following International Journal of Managerial and Financial Accounting article, "Sustainable corporate boards with employee representation", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management

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• Are we ready yet? Assessing Indonesia's readiness for transformative EV battery end-of-life management
• The automotive sector at the end of the ICE age? Market insights to manage a new ecosystem
• The development of subscription car service in Brazil
• Empirical analysis, mapping and prioritisation of supply chain risk - Indian automotive context
• A systematic review of the secondary market aspects of electrified vehicles

New Open Access article available: "Costly signals and compliance boundaries in human rights diplomacy: China's UPR engagement"

The following International Journal of Public Law and Policy article, "Costly signals and compliance boundaries in human rights diplomacy: China's UPR engagement", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Free Open Access special issue on "Intelligent Learning Ecosystems: AI, Metaverse and Emerging Technologies for Continuing Engineering Education – Part 1" published by International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning

The International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Construction and application effect analysis of engineering education knowledge graph based on graph convolutional network
• Evaluation of mechanical engineering classroom teaching effectiveness based on improved MTCNN algorithm
• Intelligent English translation scoring method based on multi-angle semantic feature calculation model
• Dynamic scene motion target segmentation method for physical education
• Learning path planning method for engineering education based on course group knowledge graph and learner portrait
• Campus network public opinion monitoring method based on emotional feature extraction and classification
• Automatic scoring algorithm for English essays based on topic granularity segmentation and feature extraction
• Immersive learning path design of mixed reality technology in business English education
• Teaching content generation and semantic information extraction for art and design courses targeting AIGC
• Virtual teaching laboratory based on cloud computing and improved WLC algorithm

Research pick: Click and make-up - "Digital and managerial capabilities, resilience, and innovation for the sustainability of traditional cosmetic businesses in China"

A study of traditional cosmetics retailers in China’s Guangdong province suggests that digital skills alone are not enough to improve long-term business performance. The study, published in the International Journal of Business Information Systems, suggests that value depends on whether traditional companies can use digital skills to become more resilient and innovative.

The researchers surveyed some 424 retailers. They identified three factors that affected performance improvements: mobile marketing, artificial intelligence (AI) capability, and future-orientated managerial skills. These factors were all associated with better organisational resilience. They add that this greater resilience led to increased sustainability both directly and by improving innovation capability.

The findings address a growing challenge for traditional retailers in China, and perhaps elsewhere. Guangdong produces almost half of China’s cosmetics. However, smaller “bricks-and-mortar” businesses face mounting competition from digital-first brands that are changing consumer habits. They also now have to deal with tighter regulatory requirements.

The researchers argue that resilience and innovation bridge digital resources and sustainable performance. This supports two established management theories. The first, the resource-based view, which treats valuable organisational assets as a source of competitive advantage. Secondly, dynamic capabilities theory, which focuses on how firms adapt those resources to changing conditions.

They recommend that business owners invest in accessible AI tools, mobile customer engagement, and leadership development. Conversely, they encourage policymakers to expand programmes that strengthen digital skills among these kinds of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Wang, J. and Rattanapun, S. (2026) ‘Digital and managerial capabilities, resilience, and innovation for the sustainability of traditional cosmetic businesses in China’, Int. J. Business Information Systems, Vol. 52, No. 5, pp.1–20.

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Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Hospitality and Event Management

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Hospitality and Event Management are now available here for free:

• The importance of MICE services to the hotel industry and their value during the tourist low season
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• A plithogenic model for determining the best hotel chain in the Indian context
• An explorative study of urban wedding consumptions in China: evidence from Shanghai and Chengdu

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 deep knowledge reasoning graph for graduate skill requirements
• Application of multi-modal deep learning in labour education effectiveness analysis and student behaviour prediction in colleges and universities
• Generative adversarial networks for colour pairing in fashion design based on visual perception constraints
• Hybrid real-time synchronisation algorithm for generative English learning
• Design of transfer learning pose detection algorithms for dance instruction

Prof. Khaled Hussainey appointed as new Editor in Chief of International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation

Prof. Khaled Hussainey from Bangor University in the United Kingdom has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation.

Research pick: Pumping hash cash, saves on gas, gas, gas - "Benchmarking gas-saving patterns in AI-generated DeFi smart contract"

Researchers have developed a benchmarking framework to assess whether artificial intelligence (AI) can generate decentralised finance (DeFi) smart contracts that are efficient and cost-effective, lowering computational costs, known jargonistically as “gas”. The work might address a key problem seen in blockchain-based financial systems.

Decentralised finance (DeFi) is a blockchain-based financial system that provides services such as lending, trading, and asset management without the need for conventional intermediaries such as banks. It uses smart contracts, which are self-executing programs that automatically enforce agreed rules, to allow financial applications to operate on decentralised networks. There is a computational cost associated with transactions, the gas. Reducing gas consumption is the key to lowering costs for users.

The study in the International Journal of Agile Systems and Management looked at Code Llama and Code Llama–Python. These two large language models (LLMs) can generate computer code across three DeFi applications: digital tokens, tokenised vaults, and flash loans.

Rather than comparing AI directly with human developers, the researchers examined gas-saving patterns in AI-generated contracts and created a benchmark that can be applied to both human- and machine-produced code. The results showed that improving gas efficiency is not a simple process, with different contract types requiring different optimisation approaches.

The researchers suggest that AI-assisted contract development could reduce development time, improve accessibility for non-specialists, and help smaller projects build decentralised applications. However, further work is needed to reduce “gas” costs.

Pratama, A.N.W. and Wicaksana, A. (2026) ‘Benchmarking gas-saving patterns in AI-generated DeFi smart contract’, Int. J. Agile Systems and Management, Vol. 19, No. 5, pp.1–26.

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: "Large language models for vulnerability detection: a multi-use case comparative study"

The following International Journal of Applied Cryptography article, "Large language models for vulnerability detection: a multi-use case comparative study", 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 African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development

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• Comparative study of doing business in Kenya and Vietnam
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New Open Access article available: "Supervisor social support and disability inclusion: examining mediation and moderation in employee performance"

The following International Journal of Business Innovation and Research article, "Supervisor social support and disability inclusion: examining mediation and moderation in employee performance", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

New Open Access article available: "An adaptive variable frequency control method for motor speed based on PLC"

The following International Journal of Internet Manufacturing and Services article, "An adaptive variable frequency control method for motor speed based on PLC", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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Research pick: On the money - "A financial data forecasting and optimisation model combining LSTM and convolutional neural networks"

A hybrid artificial intelligence model that combines two well-established deep learning techniques has improved the accuracy of financial market forecasts across major stock indices and so-called cryptocurrency, according to work in the International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems.

The researchers designed the model, CLSTM-HN, to address a long-standing problem in financial forecasting. That is to balance the detection of short-term market movements with recognition of longer-term trends. The researchers tested the system on publicly available data and achieved a forecasting error lower by 15 to 20 per cent compared with conventional long short-term memory (LSTM) models. They also saw an improvement in the accuracy of predicting whether prices would rise or fall by 10 to 14 per cent.

Financial markets are difficult to predict because prices are volatile, noisy and subject to sudden structural shifts. Traditional statistical approaches often rely on assumptions about market behaviour that break down during periods of instability.

The new system combines a convolutional neural network (CNN), which identifies local patterns within data, with an LSTM network, which retains information over long sequences. An adaptive alignment mechanism converts CNN outputs into a form the LSTM can process more effectively, while the training objective rewards both numerical accuracy and correct prediction of market direction.

Wang, M. and Wu, Y. (2026) ‘A financial data forecasting and optimisation model combining LSTM and convolutional neural networks’, Int. J. Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems, Vol. 18, No. 17, pp.83–99.

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Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Critical Accounting

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• Understanding compliance management practices of ready-made garment industries in Bangladesh: revisiting the challenges and pathways
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Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing

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

• The role of scarcity cues and consumer attitudes in driving compulsive buying: an S-O-R analysis of flash sales in e-commerce
• Do service bundlers and non-bundlers perceive switching barriers differently?

New Open Access article available: "Interpersonal relationships and career development competencies: a case study of the dynamic self-ball digital game"

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