The following paper, "Data fusion for improved circularity through higher quality of prediction and increased reliability of inspection" (International Journal of Sustainable Manufacturing 2(2/3/4) 2022), is freely available for download as an open access article.
It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.
A novel way to classify music for the purposes of archiving, sorting and music recommendation has been developed by Yan Yang of the Department of Music and Dance at Hunan University of Science and Engineering in Yongzhou, China. They publish details in the International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations. Their approach can assist with personalised music recommendation by employing a hybrid model based on a user attention mechanism and multi-layer memory to discern the type of musical emotion present in the music and listener behaviour data.
Very few musical artists receive the epithet – genre-defying. Music of all kinds commonly fits into categories albeit some narrower than others whether one is discussing the various forms of classical music, pop and rock, dance music, so-called world music or any other classification. Audiences often place a song into one of a handful of genres they know, while die-hard enthusiasts of a particular genre can discern numerous sub-genres within each category. In today’s era of digital music distribution, archiving, and recommendation systems, it would be useful to automate the task of classifying music into genres.
The multi-layer component of the model, which looks at long- and short-term user music preferences can glean what listeners have liked historically but also their current preferences. It combines this information with an attention mechanism to analyze the emotional attributes of the music with which users interact the most.
Yang demonstrated a recall accuracy of almost 98 percent on two different test datasets. These results indicate that the model can provide highly accurate and tailored music recommendations for users. Such an approach will hopefully benefit listeners who will have an improved experience of using a music streaming service, but it will also benefit the business of the streaming service and potentially the artists providing the musical content for those services.
Many different factors affect a listener’s music choices at a given time or in a given situation. However, when examining personalized recommendations from the vantage point of behavioural traits and emotional attributes it is possible to find ways to improve the listening experience by homing in on particular pieces of music that will be well received by the listener given their immediate environment, social connections, and other factors.
Yang, Y. (2023) ‘Research on long- and short-term music preference recommendation method integrating music emotional attention’, Int. J. Networking and Virtual Organisations, Vol. 28, Nos. 2/3/4, pp.381–397.
The following paper, "Exergetic comparison of a novel to a conventional small-scale power-to-ammonia cycle" (International Journal of Exergy 42(2) 2023), is freely available for download as an open access article.
It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.
International Journal of Sustainable Manufacturing 5(2/3/4) 2022
A new framework that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and data fusion techniques could improve product inspection for sustainability and within the context of the so-called circular economy, according to research published in the International Journal of Sustainable Manufacturing. This work could help address the demands for environmental responsibility across various industries.
AI has been with us for many years and many different forms. It has already been widely adopted in industry with the aim of helping to reduce the carbon footprint of various products and to meet consumer expectations for sustainable products. However, according to Robert Schimanek, Pinar Bilge, and Franz Dietrich of the Institute of Machine Tools and Factory Management at TU Berlin, Germany, there is an inherent disconnection between the product lifecycle and the AI applications that might be of benefit and as such effectiveness is thus limited. The researchers have developed a framework, which they hope will overcome this problem and allow data fusion and AI to work together to improve product inspection.
Data fusion involves combining different data sources, including sensor data and business information, to allow AI applications to make better predictions during product inspection, for instance. The framework focuses on finding ways to incorporate business data into the predictive models. The team’s focus has been on the automotive aftermarket industry but might well be adapted to other industries.
The researchers add that their framework could become an important part of sustainable manufacturing principles. The key factor is that it can improve the management of product returns and reverse logistics so that they become invaluable resources within multiple lifecycles. The researchers explain that their framework can guide and improve decision-making.
Critical to the success of the framework is that the use of data fusion methods ensures stability and reliability even when prediction sources themselves might fail by adding a human factor to AI-based prediction all in the name of improving sustainability in the industry.
Schimanek, R., Bilge, P. and Dietrich, F. (2022) ‘Data fusion for improved circularity through higher quality of prediction and increased reliability of inspection’, Int. J. Sustainable Manufacturing, Vol. 5, Nos. 2/3/4, pp.164–199.
A team of engineering students has recently developed and tested a bench-top particle accelerator they call LOKI, to test what happens to different materials when they are hit by micrometeoroids. The device, discussed in the International Journal of Student Project Reporting offers an innovative approach to controlled testing that could help in the design of spacecraft and satellites that face potential collisions with micrometeroids as well as space debris.
Sabine Fuierer of Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, and Noah Manz, Michael Hargather, and Paul Fuierer of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, New Mexico, USA, explain that LOKI can accelerate tiny particles to simulate the typical behaviour of micrometeoroids. The device has the potential to accelerate these particles to speeds of up to almost kilometres per second in a vacuum, almost 14000 km/h.
The students’ initial tests have demonstrated they can achieve particle velocities of almost 12000 km/h. They used high-speed videography to monitor particle velocities and observe their effects on different materials, including polyimide, used in space blanketing, and widely used plastic materials, such as acrylic. The team describes classic impact craters caused by the ultra-high-speed collisions on the surfaces of these test materials.
The team suggests that LOKI’s practicality, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness could make it a useful tool for this kind of research. Indeed, they suggest that the cost per test would be just US$200. It should allow researchers to assess the effects of micrometeoroid impacts on aerospace materials to be used in space applications including space exploration. The team points out that multiple impact sites with suitable separation distances can be tested in a single experiment, which benefits the requisite statistical analysis.
Fuierer, S., Manz, N., Hargather, M. and Fuierer, P. (2023) ‘Design of an explosive micro-particle accelerator to simulate micrometeoroid impacts in space’, Int. J. Student Project Reporting, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp.301–327.
As yet another space rocket is launched and more technology is placed into orbit, the problem of space junk grows and grows, not to mention the pollution from all the fuel burned en route.
A review in the International Journal of Student Project Reporting has looked at possible solutions to the problem of the abundance of space junk. Jennifer Stein, David Castillo, Elise Bedell, Erriana Thomas, and Nicolas Valiente of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, USA, have looked at whether there are cost-effective, environmentally benign, and efficient methods that might be used to minimise the harm from debris in space, which can damage other craft in orbit, potentially harm astronauts, and represent a risk when it falls to earth.
Space junk can be defined as non-functional man-made objects that remain in near-Earth orbit. There is growing concern regarding such debris as there is no way to track it all, especially debris less than 10 millimetres or so in width nor to allow for potential hazards to spacecraft and satellites. Anything larger can be monitored and tracked with telescopes or radar. However, collisions between spacecraft can produce tens of thousands of tiny fragments that might pierce or otherwise damage another craft in the same orbit. A 25-year safety standard is in place that recommends that defunct objects are put into lower orbit so that they can fall into the earth’s atmosphere and burn up. Or, if that is not possible they can be moved up to a designated “graveyard” orbit.
The team has reviewed four main approaches to dealing with space debris. They considered Pulsed Laser Ablation. This stands out as a time-efficient method for targeting numerous small- and medium-sized pieces of debris pieces. However, it is a costly approach to the problem. A more cost-effective alternative might be the obviously named Harpoon and Net method. However, this is contingent on the absence of tumbling debris. Another, also obviously named, approach that might be used is the claw capture mechanism. A magnetic capture method was also considered, which could be adept at assimilating debris, even under tumbling conditions. All of these approaches with the exception of laser ablations would take months to capture and drag an object, such as a defunct satellite, into a lower orbit s that it can fall into the earth’s atmosphere.
Fundamentally, none of the approaches reviewed would work perfectly, nor are any of them likely to be cost-effective or time-efficient with current technology. However, it might be that a combination of techniques could work synergistically to overcome the drawbacks of each and build on their strengths. Given how much debris is already in orbit around our planet and the continued additions to this debris belt, now is the time to launch research programs to develop the cleanup technology sooner rather than later.
Stein, J., Castillo, D., Bedell, E., Thomas, E. and Valiente, N. (2023) ‘A review of possible solutions to mitigate the abundance of space debris’, Int. J. Student Project Reporting, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp.349–368.
The effect of different cultural characteristics can affect the relationships consumers using social media have with different brands, according to research published in the International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing.
Marsela Thanasi-Boçe and Omar Ali of the American University of the Middle East in Kuwait Ayse Begum Ersoy of Cape Breton University in Nova Scotia, Canada, have examined the role social media plays in the differences in the relationships between consumers and brands. The team used Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory to help them understand social media data gathered from users in Albania and Turkey through online surveys. They used statistical analysis to dig deep into the data and compare the characteristics of communication on social media between these two regions.
The team found a positive correlation between social media communications and the strength of consumer-brand relationships. Indeed, the more a user is engaged in social media activity, the stronger is their relationship with a given brand. However, the findings are more nuanced than that. The researchers found that the effect was less pronounced in the culture with the stronger collectivist tendency. This, they suggest, challenges the conventional wisdom with regard to cultural influences on social media behaviour.
It is worth noting, that other variables such as gender and age perhaps paradoxically had little impact on brand relationship quality. This suggests that these relationships transcend demographic boundaries, emphasizing what we might consider their universality.
The findings offer new insights for marketing, In recognising cultural similarities and differences in how consumers respond to social media communications, the work highlights possible new opportunities for businesses to tailor their social media marketing strategies to align with particular cultural characteristics, preferences, and behaviour patterns rather than applying general principles in a region where the impact may be intrinsically weaker.
The work points to a need for companies to craft more effective and culturally sensitive strategies to connect with putative consumers worldwide depending on local culture. Future work will, of course, need to extend the findings from these two areas to a wider base to help support the hypothesis and allow more general conclusions to be drawn about brand relationships and how social media across different cultures influences them.
Thanasi-Boçe, M., Ali, O. and Ersoy, A.B. (2023) ‘Developing brand relationships through social media communication: a cross-cultural comparison’, Int. J. Electronic Marketing and Retailing, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp.351–370.
Research in the International Journal of Management Practice has looked at sleep disorders among information technology professionals with respect to psychological distress and conflicts between one’s working life and family commitments.
The study by an international team from Bangladesh, Chile and Spain used the statistical tool of partial least squares structural equation modelling to analyse data from a structured questionnaire completed by IT professionals. The work sheds new light on how sleep disorders in this sector are affected by workplace factors. The team found that financial insecurity and job pressure contributed significantly to work-family conflict. In addition, they linked the pressures of the job and excessive work contact to psychological distress. All of these factors then contributed to problems for the professionals in terms of their sleep patterns.
Their findings then suggest that countering these detrimental factors might be achieved by improving a professional’s level of job autonomy and the control they have in alleviating their own psychological distress.
Given that financial worries can be a major factor in affecting sleep patterns, employers are advised to take steps to enhance job security. Moreover, they can reduce problems for their workers by reducing work-related communication demands, alleviating job pressures, and increasing job autonomy and control.
The study details point out that work-family conflict contributes around two-thirds of the negative effect, while psychological distress represents about one-quarter of the impact. The findings underline the pivotal role of reducing work-family conflict in improving the sleep quality of IT professionals. The team says that this is the first study to recognise six constructs in addition to financial insecurity as having a detrimental effect on sleep.
Akther, N., Hoque, M.R., Saona, P. and Azad, M.A.K. (2023) ‘Sleep disorder among IT professionals: the role of psychological distress and work-family conflict’, Int. J. Management Practice, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp.708–726.
International Journal of Business and Globalisation 35(1/2) 2023
International Journal of Sustainable Development 26(3/4) 2023
Ambiguous advertising is nothing new. It has been the stock-in-trade of unscrupulous sellers since the very transactions in an ancient market. In the age of social media unethical marketing methods are rife. Research in the International Journal of Technology Marketing acts as a warning to advertisers hoping to exploit consumers in this manner.
The work by Lilia Khrouf of the University of Manouba and Souad Maghraoui of the University of Soussein, both in Tunis, Tunisia, suggests that ambiguous advertisements placed on social media can compromise user trust and brand loyalty when such ambiguity is obvious or is unveiled . The research, which focused on the impact of ambiguity in advertising on one particular social media site, highlighted that vagueness in advertising statements does not persuade users to make a purchase, but tends to lead them to conclude that the advertiser is attempting to manipulate them. This not only results in fewer sales of the advertised products but also reduces positive electronic word-of-mouth activities. Many companies benefit significantly from electronic word-of-mouth as satisfied users share their experience with a product.
The team analysed data from 250 users, applying the statistical technique known as partial least squares structural equation modelling. They suggest that their study fills a gap in our understanding of a relatively unexplored area of advertising research. Earlier studies have debated the putative benefits of ambiguity in advertising communications. This new work clarifies the negative cognitive and behavioural consequences it can trigger.
The researchers suggest that clear and straightforward messaging with a well-defined communication strategy is crucial to strong and successful advertising rather than attempts to confuse and befuddle potential consumers. The team suggests that future work might look at the effects of cross-cultural differences and the socio-cultural context of internet users in terms of understanding this phenomenon and also across other social media.
Khrouf, L. and Maghraoui, S. (2023) ‘Is ambiguity an efficient tool in Instagram ads?’, Int. J. Technology Marketing, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp.347–362.
International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management 26(6) 2023
There are many challenges facing us in the digital age, especially in terms of security and privacy, safeguarding, and human rights. Research published in the International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics has surveyed the realm of human rights in the wake of digitalisation.
Narkes Zhexembayeva, Arailym K. Jangabulova, Guldana A. Kuanalieva, Makhabbat K. Nakisheva, and Bahytkul M. Konysbai of the Department of Customs, Financial and Environmental Law at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, undertook a comparative study to explore the legal challenges we face in defining digital rights.
There is familiarity with the concepts of human rights in terms of access to clean, drinking water, food, shelter, and safe harbour from threats. In the online world, we might begin to see internet access itself and the protection of users from information and identity theft as being high on the digital rights agenda. The team has undertaken an historical analysis using induction and deduction to examine the issues surrounding digital rights. The researchers’ findings highlight the many legal disparities among the member states of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEU) regarding how we define something as fundamental a digital concept as “information”. The paper underscores the need for harmonization in order to protect digital rights more effectively.
The proliferation of information and communications technology, the advent of portable computers and smartphones has led to a focus on digital rights. There is an urgency now seen in removing ambiguity in underdeveloped legal systems that seemingly have no understanding of this parallel universe in which millions of people now spend much of their time despite the decades that have passed since digitalisation began. While some nations do understand the digital world and the concept of information, the EAEU Treaty itself lacks a unified concept of “information” and this disparity represents a serious challenge for those hoping to see the maturation of consistent digital rights protection across the region.
Of course, this area of research has relevance for legal experts dealing with digital human rights violations. The implications extend beyond the EAEU to the global context and emphasize just how important it is that we find a way to harmonize digital rights definitions.
Zhexembayeva, N., Jangabulova, A.K., Kuanalieva, G.A., Nakisheva, M.K. and Konysbai, B.M. (2023) ‘Human rights information in the context of digitalisation’, Int. J. Electronic Security and Digital Forensics, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp.555–566.
The following paper, "The role of pressure field dynamics on the onset of transonic aeroelastic instabilities of high aspect ratio swept wings" (International Journal of Sustainable Aviation 9(4) 2023), is freely available for download as an open access article.
It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.
The following paper, "Collective redress mechanisms in minority protection: the case of Hungary" (International Journal of Public Law and Policy 9(4) 2023), is freely available for download as an open access article.
It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.
Research published in the International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development has looked at the environmental impact of food waste on natural resources, primarily water, land, and energy. The work focused on the Metropolitan District of Quito in Ecuador.
The researchers hoped to understand the environmental consequences of domestic food waste. The ultimate aim is to develop initiatives that could reduce food waste and policies that could be implemented in the product supply chain. Sustainability is increasingly important at the local and national levels and in the global arena. The new study offers insights into how sustainable development goals might be achieved and acknowledges the importance of the growing problem of food waste in developing countries, within the context of disparate socio-economic and environmental factors.
There are interesting connections between social and demographic factors and food waste uncovered by the study. The team found, for instance, that individuals with a higher level of education were prone to wasting more food than those of a lower educational background. However, there was no correlation between food waste and factors such as urban or rural residence, family size, or even the age of members of a household. The quantitative work focused on food waste associated with fresh vegetable, rice, and potato consumption. Vegetables and rice led to the generation of far more waste than potatoes, it was discovered, although waste from any source had a significant impact on energy, water, and land footprints.
The findings could offer guidance for policy development to enhance food security for vulnerable populations and simultaneously reduce the pressure on natural resources. The picture of food waste and food security is not wholly clear despite the research and food waste associated with bread consumption, for instance, represents a complex multifactorial aspect of the overall picture. As such, there is a need to understand such complexities in the wider context of food consumption and waste.
There is also a need to understand the economic well-being of small rural farmers and how food waste might be reduced. To guide any initiatives or policies, there is a pressing need to establish a baseline for quantifying food waste and to ensure that policies are based on accurate data so that they have minimal detrimental impact on food producers and vulnerable consumers and at the same time nudge better-educated consumers to consider a more sustainable approach to their eating habits.
Oña-Serrano, X., Viteri-Salazar, O., Cadillo Benalcazar, J.J., Buenaño Guerra, X. and Quelal-Vásconez, M.A. (2023) ‘Reducing environmental pressures produced by household food waste: initiatives and policy challenges’, Int. J. Environment and Sustainable Development, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp.463–490.
International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management 26(6) 2023
The following paper, "The effects of weather variability on the performance and risk of Vietnamese listed companies: evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic" (International Journal of Sustainable Economy 15(4) 2023), is freely available for download as an open access article.
It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.
We all know the bleak and desolate scene from a thousand crime dramas – the abandoned building, the blood-stained gravel, the flagging tape that creates a stark cordon around the evidence as it flaps in the chill wind under leaden skies.
Plastic flagging tape is used the world over by law enforcement, construction workers, and many others to create a temporary and obvious boundary around an area that is out-of-bounds to Fred Bloggs, John Doe, and indeed Joanna Public. That’s a lot of single-use plastic waste being generated at crime scenes and building sites. Now, a team from Portugal writing in the World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, describes a more environmentally benign material, an eco-friendly, biodegradable flagging tape.
Coloured, non-sticking flagging tape is used for marking up in various situations, such as the aforementioned crime scene cordons, and also for mapping applications, marking hazardous trees, orientation points for hunters, hikers and runners, geocachers, mountain bikers, and others taking part in outdoor pursuits. Fundamentally, there is an issue of sustainability with any flagging tape use, but more so in public usage where the tape may be left in place rather than retrieved and disposed of after an event, for instance. The researchers point out that commonly flagging tape is manufactured from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a non-degradable synthetic polymer.
The study involves the integration of bacterial cellulose (BC) into a cellulose-based film. To enhance its longevity, the team coated this film with one of two natural polymers, chitosan and hyaluronic acid. Additionally, natural pigments from carrots and spinach were used to test how the tape might be coloured for particular applications. Mechanical testing demonstrated the semi-synthetic tape is sufficiently strong for common applications. Surprisingly, uncoated BC tape was stronger than that coated with hyaluronic acid, but the tape coated with chitosan was weaker, as were tapes incorporating the natural pigments.
Striking a balance between durability and biodegradability is a challenge that must be addressed to reduce environmental impact effectively, the work suggests. However, the team found that complete biodegradation did not occur within their three-month test period. The work does lay the foundations for developing a new formulation with improved mechanical properties, pigment uptake, and biodegradability. It is worth noting that PVC is almost entirely resistant to biodegradation and so the use of natural polymers will hopefully mark the way for a more sustainable approach to flagging tape.
Cordeiro, R., Meneses, J., Dourado, F., Pascoal-Faria, P., Moura, C. and Alves, N. (2023) ‘Eco-friendly flagging tape’, World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, Vol. 19, No. 4, pp.301–313.
International Journal of Data Mining and Bioinformatics 27(4) 2023
International Journal of Multicriteria Decision Making 9(3) 2023
International Journal of Intellectual Property Management 13(3/4) 2023
Research in the International Journal of Sustainable Economy has looked at the interplay between climate variability and the financial health of listed companies in Vietnam with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers, Nguyen Thi Hoa Hong, Pham Thi Mai Huong, and Nguyen Yen Linh of the Foreign Trade University in Ha Noi, Vietnam, emphasize the importance of risk management for businesses during times of combined challenges. The work could have implications for other developing nations that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and not necessarily resilient in the face of a pandemic.
The team found that there is a negative correlation between financial performance of listed companies in Vietnam and the seemingly unrelated factors of atmospheric pressure, humidity, precipitation, but also the number of COVID-19 cases. Variability in extreme weather conditions and surges in cases of this lethal and highly infectious disease led to worse financial performance and increased economic risks for many businesses in the region.
There are broad implications of the research for businesses in the developing world. The work suggests that companies should primarily adopt measures to mitigate against the impact of climate change particularly with a view to protecting themselves when global events might worsen outcomes. Historical events such as financial crises, wars, and pandemics have already shown us that we live in an inherently uncertain world. Climate change, with its erratic weather patterns, is now adding an additional layer of complexity that not only exists alongside such uncertainties, but can exacerbate the problems those uncertainties bring.
The team suggests that companies need to take proactive steps in the face of crises and in order to protect their business and mitigate the negative impact of such crises. Measures such as investment in weather-resistant infrastructure and drainage systems are now needed as well as a deeper understanding of the putative detrimental effects of climate change. The researchers points out that adaptation strategies ought to be developed to improve company resilience. They add that the diversification of sourcing and production and the use of improved technology for decision-making might all play important roles in coping with emerging crises in the face of climate change.
Hong, N.T.H., Huong, P.T.M. and Linh, N.Y. (2023) ‘The effects of weather variability on the performance and risk of Vietnamese listed companies: evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic’, Int. J. Sustainable Economy, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp.415–446.
The following paper, "A signalling game for research fund allocation in Thailand" (International Journal of Applied Decision Sciences 16(6) 2023), is freely available for download as an open access article.
It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.
International Journal of Nanotechnology 20(5/6/7/8/9/10) 2023
International Journal of Embedded Systems 16(1) 2023
In the age of spellcheckers, autocorrect, and grammar-correcting software one might imagine that there would be a dearth of spelling mistakes and typographical errors on websites and other online information. However, mistakes to slip through. Research in the International Journal of Electronic Finance has looked at how spelling mistakes can reflect badly on those working online and in particular people looking to obtain anonymous peer-to-peer loans.
Previous empirical research has demonstrated that poor spelling on P2P lending websites can act as a proxy for hard credit information. In other words, those borrowers with numerous spelling mistakes in their bid for a loan will often be perceived as representing a less certain prospect for those offering to lend money. The new research from Randall Hucks of Eastern Michigan University, USA, shows that misspellings as a proxy for credit quality is thus perceived as such irrespective of the quality of the material being offered by way of plea by the borrower on a P2P lending site.
Hucks examined various factors that might affect a putative borrower’s success on a P2P lending site. Poor spelling proficiency led to lower funding rates and prolonged the waiting period before a loan request was fulfilled. The research suggests that a good quality bid, which means perfect spelling, is essential to quick success for borrowers.
The research also showed that employment length and income would be positively correlated with higher funding rates, while debt-to-income ratios have a detrimental impact. Perhaps surprisingly, income verification by the P2P lending site led to lower funding rates, implying that lenders perceive verified borrowers as less creditworthy. The implications overall are that P2P lenders may not rely solely on conventional credit approaches to estimate credit risk when they evaluate a potential borrower.
The work thus reveals the role of clear communication in a potential borrower’s loan descriptions and highlights the interplay between borrower and loan attributes in determining whether or not they will be successful in obtaining the loan they require from the system.
Hucks, R.J. (2023) ‘On the effects of misspellings on lender demand in peer-to-peer lending’, Int. J. Electronic Finance, Vol. 12, No. 4, pp.374–402.
International Journal of Global Environmental Issues 22(2/3) 2023
International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy 18(3/4/5) 2023
Research in the International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning has investigated the phenomenon of cancel culture and homed in on the emerging problem for companies of “brand cancellation.” The work sheds light on the motivations and strategies that have led to this trend in the world of social media and beyond.
The work from Christina Kyriakou, Tao Papaioannou, and Marcos Komodromos of the University of Nicosia, Cyprus, alludes to cancel culture in which individuals or entities are, perhaps rightly, held accountable for their actions or statements, The results are based on an analysis of twenty in-depth interviews with communication and marketing professionals. It offers new insights into the nature of brand cancellation.
Offensive advertising content is apparently the primary driver behind brand cancellation. How we define offensive is a moot point as there will always be a proportion of any audience that will be sensitive or triggered by a given advertisement. Nevertheless, there is certain content that can be more obviously defined as offensive, such as sexist, racist, or otherwise discriminatory content, political propaganda, victim-blaming, and other matters. Additionally, if a brand’s ethical stance concerns beauty standards, gender equality, environmental policies, and health concerns, then these too can play a significant role in the cancellation of a brand.
The research has shown that anonymity on social media, peer pressure, and a desire for justice can motivate individuals to participate in a brand cancellation. Seemingly, nothing more sophisticated than unfollowing a brand has become a significant way to express one’s disapproval of a problematic brand. It allows consumers to quietly distance themselves from the brand and thus to potentially reduce the brand’s reach and ultimately affect its profits. That said, in some cases, excessive or unjustified hate comments directed at a particular brand can have the reverse effect and even lead to increased support for that brand.
The research underscores the need for businesses to effectively manage their response to brand cancellation. Inevitably, from the company’s perspective, they need to be aware that there is a way back from cancellation. Usually, a sincere public apology and the implementation of corrective action in response to a controversy will help. Brand management and citizen activism can be at odds, but there is space for compromise and acceptance on both sides.
Kyriakou, C., Papaioannou, T. and Komodromos, M. (2023) ‘Online criticism and cancel culture in digital marketing: a case study of audience perceptions of brand cancellation’, Int. J. Technology Enhanced Learning, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp.412–427.
Research in the International Journal of Biometrics has looked at how deep learning can be used to analyse spectrogram images of the human eye and its movements as a biometric tool.
Antonio Ricardo Alexandre Brasil and Patrick Marques Ciarelli of the Federal University of Espírito Santo in Vitória and Izabella Martins da Costa Rodrigues, Jefferson Oliveira Andrade, and Karin Satie Komati of the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo in Serra, Brazil, have developed a novel approach to personal identification based on eye movements for recognition and security applications. Their biometric technique has proven resilient to fraudulent attempts because it focuses on the involuntary nature of certain eye movements.
Conventionally, identifying individuals through eye movements required manual feature extraction from the data. Brasil and colleagues have circumvented the inherent problems with that approach by converting recorded eye movements into a data signal that can be processed by an algorithm trained on known data. Specifically, they use deep convolutional architecture to process the Cartesian coordinates, the points where the eyes are looking over time and the gaze angles of volunteers.
The team were able to achieve an accuracy of around 73% for eye angle spectrogram identification and 65% for eye coordinate spectrogram identification testing against the DOVES dataset. Taken together, this would be effective at identifying an individual from their unique pattern of eye movements and is, the team says, the first time spectrograms have been used in this way.
The spectrograms generated from gaze angles outperformed those based on only Cartesian coordinates. Future research using larger and more diverse datasets has the potential to improve analysis and accuracy still further, the team suggests. The researchers also plan to investigate alternative methodologies, such as using long short-term memory (LSTM) layers and fixation density map (FDM) to boost accuracy.
Brasil, A.R.A., Ciarelli, P.M., Rodrigues, I.M.d.C., Andrade, J.O. and Komati, K.S. (2023) ‘Deep learning with spectrogram image of eye movement for biometrics’, Int. J. Biometrics, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp.726–744.
International Journal of Intellectual Property Management 13(3/4) 2023
Intensive dairy cattle farming is a significant source of methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, that contributes to global warming and thus climate change. A study in the International Journal of Global Warming has looked at emissions in part of Turkey from 2016 to 2020 to determine what might be done to reduce emissions of this gas.
The study undertaken by researchers in Poland and Turkey focused on methane emissions resulting from enteric fermentation and manure management and showed that over the four-year period, dairy cattle farming in the region contributed more than 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere. Almost 1 million tonnes was attributed to methane emissions with more than 98 percent of those due to enteric fermentation and less than 2 percent due to manure management.
The team’s findings underscore the significance of enteric methane emission from cattle and highlights the need to address this issue. The researchers suggest that carefully selecting silage feeds and improving their nutritional content with minerals and vitamins could be used to reduce the amount of methane gas produced in the alimentary tract of the cattle and so cut emissions.
The findings have broader implications beyond Turkey. As the global population continues to grow, the demand for livestock production, including dairy cattle farming, is expected to rise. Consequently, mitigating methane emissions is of increasing importance, necessitating strategies involving dietary adjustments and producer awareness.
The work also alludes to how broader measures, such as tree-planting, afforestation, initiatives and the promotion of renewable energy sources, might also enhance overall environmental sustainability. Balancing emission reduction with the economic viability of dairy cattle enterprises presents an ongoing environmental challenge.
This research has demonstrated that strategies that focus on manure management are perhaps misplaced and that feed selection should be looked at more closely as a way to ameliorate methane emissions from dairy cattle. Given that there will be a demand, and a growing demand at that, for dairy products in the foreseeable future, the need to address methane emissions remains a pressing one.
Atilgan, A., Rolbiecki, R., Ertop, H., Kocięcka, J., Aksoy, E. and Saltuk, B. (2023) ‘Determination of global warming potential of dairy cattle farms’, Int. J. Global Warming, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp.178–193.
International Journal of Nanotechnology 20(5/6/7/8/9/10) 2023
International Journal of Global Environmental Issues 22(2/3) 2023
Research in the International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing has investigated how the rolling resistance of bicycle tyres against the road surface are most affected by ambient temperature and the pressure to which the tyres have been inflated. The findings could have implications for tyre design and maintenance when considering the efficiency of e-bikes that have a motor to assist the cyclist’s pedal power.
Malte Rothhämel of KTH Vehicle Dynamics at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden carried out controlled tests using a specially designed apparatus called a “one-degree-of-freedom, two-wheeled pendulum.” This apparatus consisted of two bicycle wheels connected to a pipe with an attached eccentric weight (pendulum) and an additional centred weight to adjust the vertical load on the tires.
Rothhämel reports that as ambient temperature decreased, the rolling resistance coefficient increased. This was particularly noticeable above freezing point. It is essential that temperature dependency is taken into account when carrying out real-world testing, the work suggests.
He also found, as one might expect, that higher tyre pressure resulted in lower resistance. Changes in vertical load had little effect on resistance, but needs to be taken into account when determining the friction coefficient. The width of the tyres only had about a ten percent impact. Wider tyres have slightly lower rolling resistance but this effect is more pronounced at higher tyre pressure.
Air resistance and the incline and surface of the road also play a part, but generally, in urban cycling it is rolling resistance that plays the biggest part. That said, at higher speeds, air resistance also becomes a significant factor. Topology, traffic and wind also affect overall cycling efficiency.
Rolling resistance is an important factor in how much work a cyclist and their assistance motor if they are riding an e-bike needs to do on a journey. Greater unwarranted resistance means the cyclist and the motor need to work harder, which means a greater drain on the battery. As transport systems begin to focus more on motor-assisted pedal power, there is a need to understand rolling resistance and efficiency to improve the journey and cut energy costs for e-bike riders.
Rothhämel, M. (2023) ‘On rolling resistance of bicycle tyres with ambient temperature in focus’, Int. J. Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp.67–80.
The following paper, "On rolling resistance of bicycle tyres with ambient temperature in focus" (International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing 17(1) 2023), is freely available for download as an open access article.
It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.
International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation 17(4) 2023
Research in the European Journal of International Management has looked at the strategic approaches employed by Chinese Multinational Enterprises (CMNEs) in Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions (CBMAs). The comprehensive analysis by Juan Wu and Dirk Morschett of the University of Fribourg in Fribourg, Switzerland challenges the assumptions made in this area and reveals a more nuanced perspective on the activity of CMNEs in the global business arena.
CMNEs have been increasingly active in acquiring companies in developed economies through CBMAs. Their activity might be described as being driven by the concept of Strategic Asset Seeking (SAS). Wu and Morschett have looked at the motivations and outcomes of twelve CBMAs, examining events from the perspective of both the acquiring and the acquired companies. Their findings reveal a complex interplay of assets, where CMNEs use their existing country-specific and company-specific resources to complement their Western counterparts. Perhaps surprisingly, the work suggests, this balanced approach facilitates the bundling of resources, leading to innovation and technology transfer in both directions.
One side effect of the team’s approach is that they have been able to refine our understanding of the Strategic Asset Seeking concept itself. They have introduced a dual perspective framework for analyzing assets in CBMAs and this opens up new insights into the role of strategic assets in the internationalization process. Moreover, the concept underscores how there needs to be a synergy between the country-specific and company-specific assets of the CMNes that allows for the effective acquisition and bundling of Western assets.
The research also suggests that where we may once have thought of CMNEs as focusing on cost reduction and knowledge transfer, there is a commitment to collaboration, technology exchange, and additional investments in target companies. Indeed, CMNEs often retain acquired Western firms as centres for high-end markets and utilise this stance for the benefit of various aspects of their business.
These findings could offer insights into asset bundling strategies for companies elsewhere in the developed and emerging economies who might wish to garner mutual value creation by working with Western companies too.
Wu, J. and Morschett, D. (2023) ‘M&As by Chinese multinational enterprises in developed economies: strategic asset seeking and bundling’, European J. International Management, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp.460–488.
The following paper, "M&As by Chinese multinational enterprises in developed economies: strategic asset seeking and bundling" (European Journal of International Management 21(3) 2023), is freely available for download as an open access article.
It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.
International Journal of Technology Management 93(3/4) 2023
International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations 28(2/3/4) 2023
Wearable health technology has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, revolutionizing the way we monitor our personal well-being and especially among vulnerable sectors of the population. A study in the International Journal of Business Information Systems has carried out a systematic mapping of the literature to see how other researchers undertake work investigating the perception and acceptance of these innovative healthcare tools. The work offers invaluable insights into how such studies might be improved to gain more information and to preclude biases.
Gustavo Lopes Dominguete, Marluce Rodrigues Pereira, and Andre Pimenta Freire of the Federal University of Lavras in Brazil, analysed the vast corpus of research in this field from sources including Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Their goal was to understand the methods used to evaluate the acceptance of wearable health systems and to pinpoint the key factors influencing how those studies are done and to highlight how they might be improved to better understand the results.
They pooled almost 400 research papers and then homed in on the most pertinent twenty. What they saw was a clear picture of the methods commonly used to gauge user perspectives on wearable health systems: the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the System Usability Scale (SUS). These tools are usually used to analyse data from questionnaires and have proven effective. The research seemed to focus on two particular areas of wearable use: fall detection and physical activity monitoring among older people.
The widespread availability of smart bands and smartwatches has made these functions accessible to a broad user base and so research into their use has come to predominate, the team reports. As such, the research literature commonly looks at the ‘perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of such devices. While it is important to understand how these two factors affect user acceptance, that does mean that other factors are less well investigated but might just as easily have importance.
The researchers suggest that future studies ought to consider other factors and the broader context of the use of wearables for these and other applications. For instance, the work they analysed did not generally pay much attention to considerations such as hygiene, aesthetics, or privacy risks. The dearth of information on the influence of such factors suggests that new investigations need more detailed questionnaires and larger user samples across more diverse demographics, age groups, and cultural and social contexts. Qualitative studies that took such variables into account could provide a more detailed picture of user perception of user healthcare wearables and so help guide research and technology in that area to the benefit of users and their caregivers.
Dominguete, G.L., Pereira, M.R. and Freire, A.P. (2023) ‘Acceptance of wearable health technologies: a mapping of the state of the art’, Int. J. Business Information Systems, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp.137–159.
International Journal of Global Energy Issues 45(6) 2023
Research in the International Journal of Arts and Technology outlines a new approach to the recognition of the emotional content of music, addressing many of the challenges in this field and opening up the possibility of classifying music more accurately for efficient retrieval. Fanguang Zeng of the Academy of Music at Pingdingshan University, China, explains how his approach based on multiple data fusion achieves an accuracy of up to 99% and takes less than 14 seconds per task.
Traditional methods of music emotion recognition have struggled with issues such as low accuracy and lengthy processing times, limiting their effectiveness in music retrieval and recommendation systems. Zeng’s approach uses non-negative matrix decomposition, a technique that breaks down multimodal music emotion into separate audio and text-based emotional data to improve accuracy and reduce processing time considerably.
The approach can extract emotional features from both the audio and the lyrical content of a music file. Audio features encompass elements such as pitch and intensity, while text features can be analysed for particular words and phrases associated with a given emotion using Doc2Vec. Zeng’s system then weights the various characteristics, fuses, and processes them to provide a multimodal music emotional dataset. The analysis uses a support vector machine to process the normalized multimodal data.
Zeng reports a significant improvement over conventional approaches, demonstrating markedly improved accuracy and a substantial reduction in the length of time needed to classify a given piece of music. The work thus addresses the need for efficient music retrieval based on the emotional characteristics of music content in a large streaming system for instance. Swift and accurate recognition would allow a large amount of music to be appropriately tagged so that a listener could home in on a selection of music based on its emotional content to suit their mood, for instance. The same approach would be useful in music recommendation systems, personalized playlists, and music therapy applications. It could also be used by content creators to associated a specific mood to their output, whether a podcast, photographic montage or other kinds of production.
Zeng, F. (2023) ‘Multimodal music emotion recognition method based on multi data fusion’, Int. J. Arts and Technology, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp.271–282.
In business, established companies are facing increasing pressure to embrace sustainability. To address this challenge, many incumbents are turning to corporate venturing, a process that involves collaborating with startups to tap into innovation and explore new markets.
A study in the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing reports an analysis of a systematic research literature review and the outcome of expert interviews. It offers new insights into how incumbents choose startups for these collaborations, shedding light on the criteria and preferences that drive their choices. These results could have implications for both established businesses and those deeply involved in the startup ecosystem.
Lucia Brandt and Stefanie Bröring of Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, Natalie Laibach of the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics in Barcelona, Spain, and Carolin Kamrath of the University of Bonn, Germany, found five key criteria that help incumbents evaluate startups for corporate venturing. First, they place a high priority on the startup’s team, scrutinizing factors such as experience, commitment, professionalism, and technical expertise. A strong team underpins success in such partnerships. Secondly, they assessed the novelty of the startups’ ideas and technologies, with particular emphasis on how well these align with the incumbent’s own capabilities.
The researchers also found that market-related factors, such as growth potential, market acceptance, and the startup’s market orientation, are also important in predicting whether a collaboration will be successful. They add that financial stability and access to resources, whether from public funds or existing investors, are crucial for ensuring the startup’s sustainability. Lastly, strategic alignment plays a pivotal role, with incumbents seeking startups that strengthen, complement, and expand their own core values and abilities. Ultimately, the criteria will guide the incumbents as to whether they feel the collaboration will meet their own long-term objectives as well as be of mutual benefit.
The team’s interviews with experts, conducted as part of the study, also revealed some additional preferences among incumbents. It was found that incumbents value a strong personal fit between their own business team and that of the startup. The emphasis is on trust, commitment, enthusiasm, and professionalism. Moreover, those startups that are better aligned with the incumbent’s long-term vision, especially in the fields of digital and sustainable technologies, are even more highly sought after.
Also apparent is that incumbents will focus on customer-centric business models and markets undergoing transitions as these are considered particularly advantageous in terms of business development and the company’s bottom line. That said, while financial considerations are important, they tend not to be at the forefront of the decision-making process when compared with the other factors discussed.
Brandt, L., Laibach, N., Kamrath, C. and Bröring, S. (2023) ‘Start-up selection criteria for corporate venturing: what matters for incumbents?’, Int. J. Entrepreneurial Venturing, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp.381–408.
Music can be healing for all of us, but what about the mental health of musicians themselves grappling with the challenges of their working lives?
Research in the International Journal of Arts and Technology has looked at the emotional and psychological challenges apparently faced by almost three-quarters of jobbing musicians. Stress, anxiety, and depression are all high on the agenda it seems and part of the problems arise because of the highly competitive nature of the music industry and earlier in the world of music education competitions.
Crismary Ospina Gallego, Maria Nuria Lloret Romero, and Valeria Herrero Ruiz of the Universitat Polytecnica de Valencia, in Spain, delve into the connection between the pressures of music education competitions and the alarming rates of mental health issues among musicians. The work reveals how these competitions can trigger negative emotions and conditions detrimental to artists, including isolation, loneliness, anxiety, stress, and even aggression. The study looks at the historical roots of authoritarianism in the world of music, tracing the lineage of dictatorial teaching styles that contribute to a toxic work environment and foster individualism among musicians. Even in putatively one of the most collaborative of environments, making music, the team found that musicians can often struggle with sharing and empathy. The competitive world within music can improve musical proficiency but can also inadvertently foster counter-empathetic behaviour.
Critically, the team does not simply offer a diagnosis but develops a possible solution to the problem. They advocate a more holistic approach to music education aimed at promoting healthier performance results, mitigating the adverse effects of competitions on the mental health and physical well-being of artists.
Drawing from the past, the research offers valuable lessons for the music industry. They underscore the importance of artists supporting one another, creating together, and utilizing platforms prioritizing their well-being and fair compensation. The team also advocates for interdisciplinary collaboration, where musicians combine their expertise with other fields to find innovative solutions to common challenges.
In the digital age, where loneliness and isolation can become rife, the researchers discuss the potential of collaborative initiatives to reduce any harmful effects of this isolation.
Gallego, C.O., Romero, M.N.L. and Ruiz, V.H. (2023) ‘Present and past of competition versus sharing economy in the music live industry’, Int. J. Arts and Technology, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp.257–270.
The recently published special issue on "Internet Marketing and Advertising: A Tribute to Editor Emerita Professor Hsiuju Rebecca Yen" (International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising 19(3/4) 2023) is now freely available for download, and will remain available for free for a year.
International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering 26(5) 2023
Research in the International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management could help industries grappling with the challenges of creating effective Product-Service Systems (PSS). The work introduces an innovative framework designed to streamline the design and implementation of these systems.
PSS represent intricate combinations of products and services aimed at meeting the ever-evolving needs of customers. However, the success of such systems hinges on building a solid foundation in order to support the value network.
Sophie Peillon of the University of Lyon, Khaled Medini of the University Clermont Auvergne, France, and Thorsten Wuest of West Virginia University, USA have focused on PSS models in the cheese industry in order to help mature the role of value networks. With their work, they introduce a structured approach to decision-making in PSS design. Their approach offers methodical guidance and operational tools for this, and putatively other, industries hoping to improve the efficiency of their business. The framework will allow better collaboration between the various stakeholders, the team suggests, by facilitating a comprehensive analysis of value networks, revenue streams, costs, and value-capture mechanisms. Ultimately, the framework is about enabling constructive discussions and consensus building.
The team points out that their approach is particularly apt for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs often have particular challenges when exploring PSS offerings, including the need for transparent discussions among partners and the cultivation of trust and collaboration. The framework simplifies the process of creating PSS value networks and assessing value capture, making it an indispensable resource for SMEs attempting to improve their business strategy.
The main contribution of the research paper to the field is fundamentally how it can involve all stakeholder perspectives and address their needs. It offers practical guidance to practitioners dealing with uncertainty and concerns related to value creation and capture in PSS.
Peillon, S., Medini, K. and Wuest, T. (2023) ‘Building win-win value networks for product-service systems’ delivery’, Int. J. Manufacturing Technology and Management, Vol. 37, Nos. 5/6, pp.619–637.
