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

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

• 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.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling are now available here for free:

• Autonomous entities: a comparison between simulation models
• Research on cooperative game model for distributed photovoltaic microgrid based on blockchain
• Study of vehicle dynamics response to collision in windrows of mine access roads through computer simulation
• Numerical study of sago pith waste drying process in a fluidised bed dryer
• Finite element modelling for electrical discharge machining of Ti-6Al-4V alloy and multi-objective optimisation using response surface modelling
• Patient waiting time analysis in a multi-specialty ophthalmic outpatient clinic using data analysis and discrete event simulation
• Performance optimisation of the feed water system of thermal power plant using stochastic Petri nets with comparative analysis using PSO

Free Open Access article available: "Analysis and assessment of multimedia-assisted physical education quality based on graded score algorithm"

The following paper, "Analysis and assessment of multimedia-assisted physical education quality based on graded score algorithm" (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.

Research pick: Blockchain redefines e-commerce - "Business model based on the synergistic drive of flexible supply chain and digital marketing"

Cross-border e-commerce has transformed international trade. Nowhere are the changes more keenly felt than in China where e-commerce has moved business away from traditional, large-scale trade towards more fragmented, personalized, and frequent transactions. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) along with solo entrepreneurs are now at the forefront of this change.

Banban Mao of Hunan Vocational College of Commerce and Hua Tian of the Hunan International Economics University, China, discuss the impact of this change on the “green” food industry. The sector focuses on environmentally friendly and sustainable food production and has embraced technology such as “big data” and collaborative innovation where information sharing and coordination across the entire supply chain, from producer to retailer is critical to success. Writing in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, the team discusses how the implementation of intelligent supply chain collaboration and the integration of online and offline operations can allow the green food industry to respond more effectively to market demands and the evolving internet economy.

The team points out that these changes have not been without their challenges. The rapid rise of cross-border e-commerce has meant an increased reliance on third-party platforms, and this builds information silos and complicates data sharing and transparency. The researchers add that the complex nature of the supply chain also makes it difficult to verify product legitimacy and quality as well as adding logistical challenges that reduce efficiency.

Additionally, high cross-border payment costs and security risks, coupled with the various international regulations and legal standards, add obstacles to what might otherwise be seamless trade operations.

Blockchain technology might well offer a way to address many of these problems. Blockchain provides a secure and transparent method for recording transactions and sharing information. Thus, by establishing a cross-border e-commerce alliance chain, blockchain could be used to streamline intermediary processes and enhance trust among participants. The research demonstrates how technology might add value to the green food supply chain.

Mao, B. and Tian, H. (2024) ‘Business model based on the synergistic drive of flexible supply chain and digital marketing’, Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 8, pp.1–19.

Research pick: Virtually transforming classrooms with the Internet of Things - "Design and implementation method of immersive IoT teaching platform based on virtual reality technology"

Education has already been transformed radically by technological advancements and by societal changes. Traditional, classroom and lecture-based models have evolved into more interactive and engaging approaches. However, challenges remain, and the student experience is not always as they and their educators might hope for. A study in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has looked at how virtual reality (VR) technology might be integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) teaching platforms to create a more immersive and interactive educational experience for certain parts of the curriculum.

Dafei Wu of the School of Information Engineering at Hunan University of Science and Engineering in Yongzhou, Hunan, China discusses how VR technology provides an immersive environment and could for many students enhance traditional teaching methods by offering a dynamic and engaging platform. When combined with the IoT that allows interconnected devices to interact with their environment and exchange data, the potential of VR might be opened up even further, changing how educational content might be delivered and so experienced.

Wu suggests that this kind of integration could lead to novel teaching methods paradigm to the benefit of students. It might even be tailored to be more closely aligned with society and industry requirements from the educational system. Conventional teaching methods often keep theoretical and practical learning separate, the world of VR technology coupled with the IoT might help better support teaching objectives and student development.

Fundamentally, with such an approach, students might access course materials and engage with content at any time and anywhere, thus allowing them to experience continuous learning and develop skills at their own pace within the overall educational framework. This, Wu suggests, might be particularly useful on courses where the demand for resources often exceeds availability.

“Simulation results demonstrate VR’s extensive applicability, offering a broader and more open educational platform,” concludes Wu. He adds that “Future endeavours should focus on effectively combining immersive IoT with higher education to enhance educational outcomes.”

Wu, D. (2024) ‘Design and implementation method of immersive IoT teaching platform based on virtual reality technology’, Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 8, pp.76–89.

Free Open Access article available: "Multimedia interactive creative dance choreography design integrating hybrid density network algorithms"

The following paper, "Multimedia interactive creative dance choreography design integrating hybrid density network algorithms" (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 Open Access article available: "Business model based on the synergistic drive of flexible supply chain and digital marketing"

The following paper, "Business model based on the synergistic drive of flexible supply chain and digital marketing" (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.

Research pick: Supply chains under pressure - "Conditions for viable horizontal collaborative transport: insights from a stylised model"

Recent upheavals in the global market have put supply chains under immense pressure and the logistics and road transportation sectors are struggling to keep apace with geopolitical tensions, rampant inflation, and the rising demand for sustainability as well as many other issues. Rising energy costs and a shortage of qualified drivers are also adding to the burden. Research in the International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering has looked at the potential for Horizontal Logistics Collaboration to overcome many of the problems.

Taher Ahmadi, Jack A.A. van der Veen, and V. Venugopal of the Nyenrode Business Universiteit in Breukelen, The Netherlands, and Mehdi A. Kamran of the German University of Technology in Oman, Muscat, Oman, discuss how HLC involves different companies combining their transportation or logistics activities to mutual benefit in the face of the afore-mentioned growing challenges. This strategy aims to enhance economic, social, and environmental outcomes by optimizing the use of vehicles and so reduce transportation costs as well as carbon emissions.

However, while the theoretical benefits of HLC are well-documented, practical implementation has not lived up to expectations, the work suggests. The main obstacle is a lack of understanding regarding the hidden coordination costs, particularly those associated with inventory and warehousing.

The new study has investigated the complexities of HLC and developed a quantitative model of two supply chains. Each supply chain includes a single buyer and supplier situated in different regions. The model then compares and contrasts two scenarios: a standalone case in which each buyer manages transportation independently, and a second HLC scenario wherein the buyers coordinate inventory replenishments and deliveries using shared transport vehicles.

The team found that while the HLC scenario did reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions, it also introduced a downside in terms of higher warehousing costs. This increase stemmed from the need for synchronized, but less-than-optimal, ordering frequencies. The extra warehousing costs could negate the benefits of HLC as well as adding a layer of complexity to the decision-making process for companies considering this collaborative approach.

Nevertheless, the study shows just how important it is to evaluate the total costs for transportation and warehousing, rather than simply focusing on the potential transportation savings. Of course, there may well be ways to optimize such an approach and make it work better for all parties involved. If collaborating parties can mesh more effectively in terms of geographic proximity and order frequency, then they might gain all the pros with much-reduced cons of HLC.

Ahmadi, T., van der Veen, J.A.A., Venugopal, V. and Kamran, M.A. (2024) ‘Conditions for viable horizontal collaborative transport: insights from a stylised model’, Int. J. Industrial and Systems Engineering, Vol. 47, No. 5, pp.1–35.

Electronic Government indexed by Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index

Inderscience's Editorial Office is delighted to report that Electronic Government, an International Journal has been indexed by Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index.

The journal's Editor in Chief, Dr. June Wei, would like to take this opportunity to express her deep appreciation to her Editorial Board Members and to Inderscience's Editorial Office staff. She says, "It is all their hard work and great support over the years that's brought Electronic Government the success of being indexed in Clarivate's ESCI."

Special issue published: "AI Aided Smart Big Data Applications"

International Journal of Data Mining and Bioinformatics 28(3/4) 2024

• Digital architectural decoration design and production based on computer image
• Evaluation on stock market forecasting framework for AI and embedded real-time system
• Design of data mining system for sports training biochemical indicators based on artificial intelligence and association rules
• Application of digital twin virtual design and BIM technology in intelligent building image processing
• Urban public space environment design based on intelligent algorithm and fuzzy control
• Research on low voltage current transformer power measurement technology in the context of cloud computing
• Application of AI intelligent technology in natural resource planning and management
• Computer aided translation technology based on edge computing intelligent algorithm
• Design of an intelligent financial sharing platform driven by digital economy and its role in optimising accounting transformation production
• Educational countermeasures of different learners in virtual learning community based on artificial intelligence
• Dual network control system for bottom hole throttling pressure control based on RBF with big data computing
• Natural language processing-based machine learning psychological emotion analysis method
• An empirical study on construction emergency disaster management and risk assessment in shield tunnel construction project with big data analysis
• Design of intelligent financial sharing platform driven by consensus mechanism under mobile edge computing and accounting transformation
• Human resource management and organisation decision optimisation based on data mining
• Access controllable multi-blockchain platform for enterprise R&D data management
• Integrating big data collaboration models: advancements in health security and infectious disease early warning systems

Free Open Access article available: "Middle managers' practices during organisational restructuring: coping or copping out?"

The following paper, "Middle managers' practices during organisational restructuring: coping or copping out?" (International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion 15(5) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "Personalising Learning in Mobile and Ubiquitous Environments" (includes Open Access article)

International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation 18(3) 2024

• A comparison of a computerised adaptive test for mathematics instruction with the classical test
• Ubiquitous teaching design and implementation of open education based on the OMO model: a case study of a software engineering course
• Investigating students' perceptions of the use of a multifunctional mobile-based virtual reality application for English/Chinese interpreting learning
• Transformation of workplace learning after the pandemic in Indonesia: middle-aged employees' experiences
• Students' approaches to learning from physical to online environments: an assessment with exploratory factor analysis
• Mobile application that integrates challenge-based learning with a chatbot to encourage innovation in university students [OPEN ACCESS]
• Virtual educational environments: an investigation into interactive immersive learning in higher education

Free Open Access article available: "When the going gets tougher: international assignments, external shocks and the factor of gender"

The following paper, "When the going gets tougher: international assignments, external shocks and the factor of gender" (European Journal of International Management 23(4) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "Edge Computing in Business Intelligence and Data Mining"

International Journal of Business Intelligence and Data Mining 25(1) 2024

• The application of machine learning in real estate enterprise risk management
• Innovative model of real estate financing based on internet of things thinking
• Information accuracy verification system of invoice metadata based on data warehouse
• Design and application of a new massive open online training platform
• Visual analysis of financial big data based on data centre
• Safety assurance mechanism of athletes in ice and snow sports based on edge computing
• Intelligent construction project management schedule technology based on internet of things computing
• Identification of enterprise financial risk based on logistics model
• Application of artificial intelligence technology in electronic information security protection system

Free Open Access article available: "Advanced techniques in profiling cryptocurrency influencers: a review"

The following paper, "Advanced techniques in profiling cryptocurrency influencers: a review" (International Journal of Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies 5(5) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "Sustainable Finance, Governance and Business Ethics"

International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics 18(4/5) 2024

• Investment in ESG activities and bank performance: does bank ownership matter?
• CSR investment and operating and financial leverage under competitive pressure
• Do CEO debt-like compensations promote investment efficiency?
• Financial expert CEOs and corporate social responsibility decoupling
• Cost-benefit analysis economic evaluation of CSR projects: evidence from Morocco
• The effect of corporate social responsibility on European bank credit ratings
• ESG dimensions, firm performance and corporate governance systems
• Politically connected CEOs and risk-taking behaviour: comparative evidence from private and foreign-owned banks in China
• Moving towards sustainable waste management: a critical analysis of corporate governance
• Stock market integration in emerging markets in the spectre of the global financial crisis
• Corporate social responsibility and debt maturity: the moderating role of CSR reporting quality

Free Open Access article available: "The impact and effect of government interventions on business ecosystems: a case study of the Nigerian music ecosystem"

The following paper, "The impact and effect of government interventions on business ecosystems: a case study of the Nigerian music ecosystem" (International Journal of Public Policy 17(4) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "Innovation and Sustainability in Industrial Latin American Contexts"

International Journal of Business Environment 15(3/4) 2024

• Barriers affects application of lean practices and financial performance in Mexican manufacturing SMEs
• Limits of open innovation: bridging boundaries between technological and non-technological innovation
• Eco-innovation drivers really improve firm performance? Sustainable performance mediating role in Mexican automotive industry
• Innovation in KIBS firms: the effects of innovation activities, employees' level of education, and the sources in the supply chain
• Innovation in strategic planning through fuzzy methodologies: a study of the industrial context of Bogota, Colombia during COVID-19
• Technological learning in natural resources-based activities: the role of idiosyncratic knowledge and knowledge intensive business services
• The B2B relationship in industrial companies from the position of hidden champions: knowledge-intensive services for small business
• Exploring the influence of digitalisation on the formalisation process of informal businesses: a comparative strategic management in China and Peru
• Green management, perceived barriers to sustainability, and innovation performance in Latin American SMEs

Additional paper

• The impact of marketing signals on the performance of foreign subsidiaries in the COVID-19 pandemic

Research pick: Shedding light on deepfake detection - "Deepfake detection and localisation based on illumination inconsistency"

The emergence of so-called deepfake technology, which commonly involves the generation of fake images, video, and sound that seem so authentic as to confuse even expert viewers and listeners is at the point where it can influence important aspects of our lives, such as politics, finance, and beyond. This new era of deception sees sophisticated image and video forgeries making the headlines. Often these deepfakes are identified quickly, but sometimes the damage may well already be done once the deepfakes are called out, especially given the rate in which videos and other digital media can go viral on social media.

Digital manipulations that alter or completely synthesize faces, have become alarmingly convincing, contributing to fake news and eroding public trust in digital media. Research in the International Journal of Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems has led to a new approach that spots illumination inconsistencies within images and so can identify whether a video or photograph is a deepfake.

According to Fei Gu, Yunshu Dai, Jianwei Fei, and Xianyi Chen of Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology in Nanjing, China, deepfakes, which can be classified into four main types: identity swaps, expression swaps, attribute manipulations, and entire face synthesis. Each poses different threats and risk to. Identity swaps, where one person’s face is replaced with another’s, and expression swaps, which transfer facial expressions from one individual to another, are particularly worrying. Deepfakes can cause serious harm to the reputation and perception of the individuals or groups that are being deepfaked.

The usual approach to deepfake detection is to take a binary classification approach. However, the conventional approach can fail if the video or images are highly compressed or of poor quality. Compression and quality can obfuscate facial features and reduce the trust in deepfake detection.

Even expert deepfakers can falter when it comes to getting the lighting matched perfectly between altered and unaltered regions in an image or video. It is this issue that Gu and colleagues have focused on in their detection method, which uses a neural network to spot illumination discrepancies.

Gu, F., Dai, Y., Fei, J. and Chen, X. (2024) ‘Deepfake detection and localisation based on illumination inconsistency’, Int. J. Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp.352–368.

Free Open Access article available: "Mobile application that integrates challenge-based learning with a chatbot to encourage innovation in university students"

The following paper, "Mobile application that integrates challenge-based learning with a chatbot to encourage innovation in university students" (International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation 18(3) 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: "Recursive quantitative analysis modelling of computer art design interaction"

The following paper, "Recursive quantitative analysis modelling of computer art design interaction" (International Journal of Computational Systems Engineering 8(5) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "Internet of Things and Big Data on Industrial Production and Operation Applications"

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management 38(4/5) 2024

• Economic investment risk prediction model and algorithm based on data mining method
• Image dehazing network based on improved convolutional neural network
• Design of computer image automatic processing system based on artificial intelligence algorithm
• Fuzzy system for image defect detection based on machine vision
• Pre-settlement audit in project cost management based on cloud computing
• Automatic human face recognition system of image processing based on BP neural network paradigm
• Simulation of EPC consortium partnership stability and data based on prospect theory
• Investigation on security management risk assessment of accounting resource sharing under internet of things big data technology

Free Open Access article available: "Pursuing diversity in disaster management: the Korean experience"

The following paper, "Pursuing diversity in disaster management: the Korean experience" (Business Continuity and Risk Management 14(5) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

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

Free Open Access article available: "The impact of project management maturity on the choice of SME growth strategies: the case of Kazakhstan"

The following paper, "The impact of project management maturity on the choice of SME growth strategies: the case of Kazakhstan" (International Journal of Business Innovation and Research 34(5) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "Information Systems Innovation for Business: Change, Growth and Management"

International Journal of Information Technology and Management 23(3/4) 2024

• Study on marketing strategy innovation of mobile payment service under internet environment
• An evaluation of customer trust in e-commerce market based on entropy weight analytic hierarchy process
• Research on fast mining of enterprise marketing investment databased on improved association rules
• A data mining method based on label mapping for long-term and short-term browsing behaviour of network users
• Student's classroom behaviour recognition method based on abstract hidden Markov model
• Risk assessment method of power grid construction project investment based on grey relational analysis
• Evaluation method of cross-border e-commerce supply chain innovation mode based on blockchain technology
• Online allocation of teaching resources for ideological and political courses in colleges and universities based on differential search algorithm
• Research on evaluation method of e-commerce platform customer relationship based on decision tree algorithm
• A risk identification method for abnormal accounting data based on weighted random forest
• The performance evaluation of teaching reform based on hierarchical multi-task deep learning
• Quantitative evaluation method of ideological and political teaching achievements based on collaborative filtering algorithm
• Research on construction of police online teaching platform based on blockchain and IPFS technology
• An evaluation of English distance information teaching quality based on decision tree classification algorithm

Research pick: Restructuring middle managers - "Middle managers’ practices during organisational restructuring: coping or copping out?"

Middle managers play an important role in an organisation undergoing structural change. They are the ones who must implement the changes, but conversely as employees they will be subject to the very changes they put in place. This can often put them in a place of conflicting demands, where they must manage their own stress and uncertainty while carrying out new directives that will affect their colleagues and subordinates.

A study in the International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion has taken a major bank as a case study in order to look at how middle managers might cope with this stress during corporate restructuring and what strategies they might use to overcome the stress and find their way around the many challenges.

Pravitha Jogie, Annemarie Davis, and Catherine Le Roux of the Department of Business Management at the University of South Africa in the City of Tshwane suggest that middle managers generally respond to corporate restructuring in one of two ways. They either cope or they “cop out” and evade the responsibilities placed on them in some way. The team explains that coping usually involves proactive strategies such as positive reframing, where managers view themselves as agents of change and engage with the process. Positive reframing allows middle managers to perceive restructuring as an opportunity for growth and improvement. By contrast, “copping out” refers to disengagement and withdrawal behaviour, such as territorialism, where the middle manager protects their own interests and is perhaps involved in spreading rumours, all of which can disrupt the restructuring process but also provide something of a psychological escape route for the managers who engage in such behaviour.

The business environment has always been marked by constant change where globalization, economic fluctuations, technological advancements, and international crises affect the way a company operates and its bottom line. The team explains that the financial services sector faces particularly intense competition, regulatory changes, and digital transformation. These factors have led to frequent organizational restructuring for many companies, which puts pressure on the middle managers to interpret, communicate, and implement new structures and strategies.

The research suggests that it is obviously better that middle managers cope rather than cop out, and points to the learning of new skills and networking with peers and mentors as being useful tools to help in this regard. They even suggest that engaging in hobbies or other “extracurricular” activities might be useful coping mechanisms. It is possible then for a manager to maintain a sense of control and purpose, as this is essential for their mental well-being and their productivity in the workplace, as well as ensuring the same for colleagues and subordinates.

However, the research often showed the converse. Middle managers might become withdrawn and disengage from the task at hand. This was especially common among managers who felt powerless or unsupported, indicating a need for organisations to foster a supportive environment to ensure smooth restructuring when this is needed.

Jogie, P., Davis, A. and Le Roux, C. (2024) ‘Middle managers’ practices during organisational restructuring: coping or copping out?’, Int. J. Work Organisation and Emotion, Vol. 15, No. 5, pp.1–21.

Free Open Access article available: "Revisiting Walter Bradford Cannon's 100-year-old fight-or-flight concept"

The following paper, "Revisiting Walter Bradford Cannon's 100-year-old fight-or-flight concept" (International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy 17(5) 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: "The chatbot artificial intelligence as the alternative customer services strategic to improve the customer relationship management in real-time responses"

The following paper, "The chatbot artificial intelligence as the alternative customer services strategic to improve the customer relationship management in real-time responses" (International Journal of Economics and Business Research 27(5) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "AI Aided Smart Big Data Applications"

International Journal of Data Mining and Bioinformatics 28(3/4) 2024

• Digital architectural decoration design and production based on computer image
• Evaluation on stock market forecasting framework for AI and embedded real-time system
• Design of data mining system for sports training biochemical indicators based on artificial intelligence and association rules
• Application of digital twin virtual design and BIM technology in intelligent building image processing
• Urban public space environment design based on intelligent algorithm and fuzzy control
• Research on low voltage current transformer power measurement technology in the context of cloud computing
• Application of AI intelligent technology in natural resource planning and management
• Computer aided translation technology based on edge computing intelligent algorithm
• Design of an intelligent financial sharing platform driven by digital economy and its role in optimising accounting transformation production
• Educational countermeasures of different learners in virtual learning community based on artificial intelligence
• Dual network control system for bottom hole throttling pressure control based on RBF with big data computing
• Natural language processing-based machine learning psychological emotion analysis method
• An empirical study on construction emergency disaster management and risk assessment in shield tunnel construction project with big data analysis
• Design of intelligent financial sharing platform driven by consensus mechanism under mobile edge computing and accounting transformation
• Human resource management and organisation decision optimisation based on data mining
• Access controllable multi-blockchain platform for enterprise R&D data management
• Integrating big data collaboration models: advancements in health security and infectious disease early warning systems

Research pick: Modelling a right royal butterfly effect - "Three-dimensional flow evaluation of monarch butterfly wing"

The Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus, is renowned for its striking appearance and perhaps even more than that, its remarkable long-distance migration. The population present in North America heads south each year in the late-summer, early autumn, travelling thousands of miles to its wintering grounds. The prowess of these magnificent butterflies as natural aviators is beyond doubt. Unlike almost every other species of butterfly, Monarchs do not have coupled forewings and hindwings. This gives them unique flight stability and manoeuvrability that allows them to generate great lift and navigate efficiently, even at low speeds and high angles of attack.

Research in Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, has investigated the aerodynamics of the Monarch Butterfly. The work provides new insights into the species itself but also points to the potential for non-fixed wing micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs). Fadile Yudum Comez and Dilek Funda Kurtulus of the Middle East Technical University, and Nevsan Sengil of the University of Turkish Aeronautical Association in Ankara, Turkey, have used a model of the butterfly’s wings to investigate the flow field around fully opened forewings at various angles of attack. With this study, the team hoped to understand the complex aerodynamic phenomena that allow these butterflies to fly so well.

The researchers used computational fluid dynamics simulations, including unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations, to analyse the airflow around the model of the Monarch’s rigid wings. An important finding from the study was the recognition of significant differences in the aerodynamic performance in smooth (laminar) or turbulent flow models, particularly at higher angles of attack. They showed that the maximum lift-to-drag ratio was achieved at an angle of 30 degrees, but the wings “stall” at 40 degrees. Such insights will be useful in designing and developing micro-aerial vehicles that might mimic Monarchs. Such flying machines may well one day be magnificent, but the designs will have to be able to copy with unsteady aerodynamic effects.

Comez, F.Y., Sengil, N. and Kurtulus, D.F. (2024) ‘Three-dimensional flow evaluation of monarch butterfly wing’, Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp.191–203.

Free Open Access article available: "Exploring publication trends in accounting information systems and identifying research positions in Indonesia: a bibliometric analysis"

The following paper, "Exploring publication trends in accounting information systems and identifying research positions in Indonesia: a bibliometric analysis" (International Journal of Economics and Business Research 27(5) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "Personalising Learning in Mobile and Ubiquitous Environments" (includes Open Access article)

International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation 18(3) 2024

• A comparison of a computerised adaptive test for mathematics instruction with the classical test
• Ubiquitous teaching design and implementation of open education based on the OMO model: a case study of a software engineering course
• Investigating students' perceptions of the use of a multifunctional mobile-based virtual reality application for English/Chinese interpreting learning
• Transformation of workplace learning after the pandemic in Indonesia: middle-aged employees' experiences
• Students' approaches to learning from physical to online environments: an assessment with exploratory factor analysis
• Mobile application that integrates challenge-based learning with a chatbot to encourage innovation in university students [OPEN ACCESS]
• Virtual educational environments: an investigation into interactive immersive learning in higher education

Free Open Access article available: "Challenges of person-organisation fit in (post)pandemic times: a comparative study in the service sector under the aspect of digitisation and alienation"

The following paper, "Challenges of person-organisation fit in (post)pandemic times: a comparative study in the service sector under the aspect of digitisation and alienation" (International Journal of Economics and Business Research 27(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 Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage are now available here for free:

• The minimisation of giveaway and underweight in poultry proportioning process
• The interplay of technical and human lean practices in enhancing operational performance: evidence from Yemeni SMEs
• PMDECS approach of red bin analysis – the art of problem solving in manufacturing industry
• A Six Sigma and DEA approach for learning outcomes assessment at industrial engineering programs

Special issue published: "Edge Computing in Business Intelligence and Data Mining"

International Journal of Business Intelligence and Data Mining 25(1) 2024

• The application of machine learning in real estate enterprise risk management
• Innovative model of real estate financing based on internet of things thinking
• Information accuracy verification system of invoice metadata based on data warehouse
• Design and application of a new massive open online training platform
• Visual analysis of financial big data based on data centre
• Safety assurance mechanism of athletes in ice and snow sports based on edge computing
• Intelligent construction project management schedule technology based on internet of things computing
• Identification of enterprise financial risk based on logistics model
• Application of artificial intelligence technology in electronic information security protection system

Research pick: Chatbot bridges educational gap - "Mobile application that integrates challenge-based learning with a chatbot to encourage innovation in university students"

Research in the International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation has investigated how the preparedness of university students and graduates for the complexities of the job market might be improved. A software application that integrates challenge-based learning (CBL) with a personalized chatbot is introduced and the benefits discussed. The findings suggest that this innovative approach might well address some of the longstanding issues associated with conventional education and how to equip students with both the technical knowledge and the soft skills required in the world of work.

Andrea Sofia Cornejo Paredes, Alexander Acuña Ramírez, Beatrice Cueva Medina, Aremi Isabel Paja Medina, José David Esquicha Tejada, and José Alfredo Sulla-Torres of the Universidad Católica de Santa María in Arequipa, Perú, explain that challenge-based learning, CBL, is a learner-centric educational tool that focuses on solving real-world problems and conducting research that contributes to societal development. The approach contrasts with conventional learning methods, which often prioritize theoretical knowledge over practical applications. By focusing on real-world challenges, CBL can be used to help learners develop critical skills such as teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving.

In the present work, the team has developed software, a mobile application, or app, using agile methodologies including the open workbench Scrum and a lean startup approach. These prioritize iterative development, user feedback, and minimal wasted resources, so that the final product meets user needs most efficiently. The app facilitates the publication and management of both academic and business challenges, providing a dynamic platform for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios.

One of the main features of this application is its integration of a personalized chatbot. This AI-driven assistant supports students by answering queries related to CBL, so improving their understanding and effective use of the learning approach itself. The chatbot can offer immediate, tailored responses so that the learners receive the help they need precisely when they need it, making the learning process more efficient and engaging.

Cornejo Paredes, A.S., Acuña Ramírez, A., Cueva Medina, B., Paja Medina, A.I., Esquicha Tejada, J.D. and Sulla-Torres, J.A. (2024) ‘Mobile application that integrates challenge-based learning with a chatbot to encourage innovation in university students’, Int. J. Mobile Learning and Organisation, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp.363–380.

Free Open Access article available: "Consultation and central public administration in Hungary"

The following paper, "Consultation and central public administration in Hungary" (International Journal of Public Law and Policy 10(3) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "Sustainable Finance, Governance and Business Ethics"

International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics 18(4/5) 2024

• Investment in ESG activities and bank performance: does bank ownership matter?
• CSR investment and operating and financial leverage under competitive pressure
• Do CEO debt-like compensations promote investment efficiency?
• Financial expert CEOs and corporate social responsibility decoupling
• Cost-benefit analysis economic evaluation of CSR projects: evidence from Morocco
• The effect of corporate social responsibility on European bank credit ratings
• ESG dimensions, firm performance and corporate governance systems
• Politically connected CEOs and risk-taking behaviour: comparative evidence from private and foreign-owned banks in China
• Moving towards sustainable waste management: a critical analysis of corporate governance
• Stock market integration in emerging markets in the spectre of the global financial crisis
• Corporate social responsibility and debt maturity: the moderating role of CSR reporting quality

Special Issue on: Innovation and Sustainability in Industrial Latin American Contexts

International Journal of Business Environment 15(3/4) 2024

• Barriers affects application of lean practices and financial performance in Mexican manufacturing SMEs
• Limits of open innovation: bridging boundaries between technological and non-technological innovation
• Eco-innovation drivers really improve firm performance? Sustainable performance mediating role in Mexican automotive industry
• Innovation in KIBS firms: the effects of innovation activities, employees' level of education, and the sources in the supply chain
• Innovation in strategic planning through fuzzy methodologies: a study of the industrial context of Bogota, Colombia during COVID-19
• Technological learning in natural resources-based activities: the role of idiosyncratic knowledge and knowledge intensive business services
• The B2B relationship in industrial companies from the position of hidden champions: knowledge-intensive services for small business
• Exploring the influence of digitalisation on the formalisation process of informal businesses: a comparative strategic management in China and Peru
• Green management, perceived barriers to sustainability, and innovation performance in Latin American SMEs
• The impact of marketing signals on the performance of foreign subsidiaries in the COVID-19 pandemic

Special issue published: "Internet of Things and Big Data on Industrial Production and Operation Applications"

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management 38(4/5) 2024

• Economic investment risk prediction model and algorithm based on data mining method
• Image dehazing network based on improved convolutional neural network
• Design of computer image automatic processing system based on artificial intelligence algorithm
• Fuzzy system for image defect detection based on machine vision
• Pre-settlement audit in project cost management based on cloud computing
• Automatic human face recognition system of image processing based on BP neural network paradigm
• Simulation of EPC consortium partnership stability and data based on prospect theory
• Investigation on security management risk assessment of accounting resource sharing under internet of things big data technology

Free Open Access article available: "Kunta.live - a tool for participatory decision-making in local governments"

The following paper, "Kunta.live - a tool for participatory decision-making in local governments" (Electronic Government, an International Journal 20(4) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "Information Systems Innovation for Business: Change, Growth and Management"

International Journal of Information Technology and Management 23(3/4) 2024

• Study on marketing strategy innovation of mobile payment service under internet environment
• An evaluation of customer trust in e-commerce market based on entropy weight analytic hierarchy process
• Research on fast mining of enterprise marketing investment databased on improved association rules
• A data mining method based on label mapping for long-term and short-term browsing behaviour of network users
• Student's classroom behaviour recognition method based on abstract hidden Markov model
• Risk assessment method of power grid construction project investment based on grey relational analysis
• Evaluation method of cross-border e-commerce supply chain innovation mode based on blockchain technology
• Online allocation of teaching resources for ideological and political courses in colleges and universities based on differential search algorithm
• Research on evaluation method of e-commerce platform customer relationship based on decision tree algorithm
• A risk identification method for abnormal accounting data based on weighted random forest
• The performance evaluation of teaching reform based on hierarchical multi-task deep learning
• Quantitative evaluation method of ideological and political teaching achievements based on collaborative filtering algorithm
• Research on construction of police online teaching platform based on blockchain and IPFS technology
• An evaluation of English distance information teaching quality based on decision tree classification algorithm

Free Open Access article available: "Women entrepreneurship: the role of education, national culture, and various supports"

The following paper, "Women entrepreneurship: the role of education, national culture, and various supports" (International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets 16(3) 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 Computational Biology and Drug Design

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design are now available here for free:

• A review on speech organ diseases and cancer detection using artificial intelligence
• Generation of 2D-QSAR and pharmacophore models for fishing better anti-leishmanial therapeutics
• Random forest with SMOTE and ensemble feature selection for cervical cancer diagnosis
• In silico phytochemical repurposing of natural molecules as entry inhibitors against RBD of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 using molecular docking studies

Research pick: You’ve got to laugh - "Examining the role of workplace humour in stimulating innovative work behaviour – an empirical investigation using structural equation modelling"

Business environments that foster innovative work behaviour can become more competitive. If employees can introduce new ideas, processes, and solutions, then the company can thrive. An intriguing, yet little explored, factor that can significantly influence this is discussed in the International Journal of Work Innovation – workplace humour.

A. Rajeswari and Pulidindi Venugopal of the Vellore Institute of Technology in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, discuss how workplace humour, often seen as merely a source of entertainment, can have a greater significance in terms of employee attitudes, motivation, and overall work dynamics. The team has looked at the relationship between positive humour and innovative work behaviour, having surveyed 236 information technology (IT) employees. They found a positive association using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling to analyse the results of their survey. The work suggests that a workplace culture encouraging humour might improve innovative behaviour among employees and ultimately improve the company’s bottom line.

Humour as a way to tighten social bonds among employees, reduce stress, and even improve overall well-being has been noted in earlier studies. The benefits lead to greater job satisfaction, improved communication among colleagues, and better performance. There are additional benefits in terms of improved group cohesion, higher employee engagement, and reduced numbers of employees suffering burnout.

It is important that any company hoping to harness the power of humour should ensure it promotes positive, constructive humour that enhances well-being and creativity. There are various strategies that a company might use such as encouraging light-hearted interactions, celebrating successes with humour, and creating opportunities for employees to share amusing experiences.

Leadership thus plays an important role in setting the tone for humour in the workplace. Managers who are role models for positive humour can create an environment where employees feel safe to express themselves creatively and engage more deeply with their work. This top-down approach can ensure that humour is part of the organizational ethos and so cultivate an environment where a cohesive and happy workforce can grow and innovate to the benefit of both employee and employer.

Rajeswari, A. and Venugopal, P. (2024) ‘Examining the role of workplace humour in stimulating innovative work behaviour – an empirical investigation using structural equation modelling’, Int. J. Work Innovation, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp.226–243.

New Clarivate Web of Science impact factors for Inderscience journals

Clarivate has recently released its latest impact factors, and Inderscience's Editorial Office is pleased to report that many Inderscience journals have increased their impact factors, particularly the European Journal of Industrial Engineering, International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies, International Journal of Applied Pattern Recognition and International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics.

Impact factors are displayed on all indexed journals' homepages. We congratulate all the editors, board members, reviewers and authors who have contributed to these latest indexing achievements.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology are now available here for free:

• The pH role about synthesis, distribution and potential applications of gold nanoparticles
• Modelling of transport properties of graphene field-effect transistor for sensor application
• Preparation and characterisation of nanofibres from bio cellulose and neem-AgNP bio composites for wound healing
• Different strategies to synthesise gold nanoparticles and their applications
• Ameliorative effects of selenium nanoparticles on letrozole induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in adult rats
• Recent advances in chemical functionalisation of graphene and sensing applications

Research pick: Education empowers entrepreneurs - "Women entrepreneurship: the role of education, national culture, and various supports"

Education and financial support are critical to whether or not women become entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, according to research in the International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets. The same study, which surveyed more than 350 female entrepreneurs, also suggests that government, social support, and national culture do not substantially influence a woman’s decision to pursue entrepreneurship.

Md. Shahadat Hossain of the Universiti Putra Malaysia, Weng Marc Lim of Sunway University both in Selangor, Malaysia, and Md Asadul Islam of BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, discuss how the global rise of female entrepreneurship is an important trend. It has been driven by technological advancements that have democratized access to business opportunities. Digital platforms have made it easier and safer for women to engage in entrepreneurial activities, facilitating online sales and other business operations. This is particularly apparent in developing nations. However, despite the progress, women entrepreneurs continue to face significant challenges associated with caregiving responsibilities, a lack of family support, and barriers across society.

The team suggests that understanding the motivations of female entrepreneurs is important to improving access to business and support. It will help in increasing the number of women entering the entrepreneurial space, provide support for those already engaged in entrepreneurial activities, and boost the potential of female entrepreneurship.

Education equips women with the knowledge and skills for starting and running their own businesses. An improved understanding of the impact of education can help fill knowledge gaps and guide both educators and policymakers. Financial support, which includes access to funding for business start-up and growth, is also a critical factor in whether women choose to start a business. There is perhaps now a need for better financial interventions to foster female entrepreneurship.

The researchers suggest that the work could have far-reaching implications, particularly in developing nations and in collectivist societies, such as Bangladesh, where traditional support mechanisms may be less effective. There is a need to empower women through education and financial resources more effectively and to move away from relying on somewhat lacking government support structures as well as surmounting social barriers.

Hossain, M.S., Lim, W.M. and Islam, M.A. (2024) ‘Women entrepreneurship: the role of education, national culture, and various supports’, Int. J. Business and Emerging Markets, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp.429–452.

Free Open Access article available: "Knowledge of declared behaviour: effect of attitude and intention"

The following paper, "Knowledge of declared behaviour: effect of attitude and intention" (International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development 14(2) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

New Scopus CiteScores for Inderscience journals

Scopus has now released its 2023 CiteScores. Inderscience's Editorial Office is pleased to report that many Inderscience journals have improved their CiteScores, particularly the following titles:

• International Journal of Integrated Supply Management
• International Journal of Green Economics
• International Journal of Hydromechatronics
• International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning
• Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development
• International Journal of Medical Engineering & Informatics
• International Journal of Intelligent Information and Database Systems
• International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering
• International Journal of High Performance Systems Architecture

All CiteScores are available on indexed journals' homepages. The Editorial Office thanks all of the editors, board members, authors and reviewers who have helped to make these successes possible.

Free Open Access article available: "Enhancing portfolio risk management: a comparative study of parametric, non-parametric, and Monte Carlo methods, with VaR and percentile ranking"

The following paper, "Enhancing portfolio risk management: a comparative study of parametric, non-parametric, and Monte Carlo methods, with VaR and percentile ranking" (International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets 16(3) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Special issue published: "Recent Advances of Quality, Reliability, Risk, Maintenance and Safety Engineering"

International Journal of Reliability and Safety 2024 Vol.18 No.2

• Research on crack propagation of aircraft engine blades based on multi-physics field coupling and modal frequencies
• An NPV analysis of opportunity-based age replacement model
• Condition-based maintenance plan for multi-state systems using reinforcement learning
• Railway track fault detection using optimised convolution neural network
• Reliability analysis of discrete model by continuous model: fluidisation approaches
• Influence of investment on failure rate in power distribution systems based on the value of assets

Research pick: Mind the curriculum gap - "Bridging the gap between academia and industry: a case study of collaborative curriculum development"

Aligning curricula with industry need has long been recognized as an important factor in making academic courses relevant to the job market. One effective approach involves educators collaborating with industry stakeholders to help shape the academic programs offered. Such collaboration leads to knowledge exchange and potentially an improved social impact of the education system in areas relevant to industry. Such an approach can help equip students with practical skills and knowledge that will be valued by potential employers

Research in the International Journal of Business Performance Management looks at one method of aligning higher education curricula with industry requirements through an industry-driven curriculum framework. Tamilselvan Mahalingam of the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai Men’s Campus in Dubai International Academic City, UAE, has worked with subject-matter experts from various sectors to review syllabuses in order to identify gaps. The research shows the benefits of the approach in a specific institutional setting, which may well be more widely applicable. The results show the value of integrating an industry-driven curriculum framework into curriculum design and delivery to bridge the gap between academic offerings and industry needs.

Of course, the concept of co-creating curricula is not new, and many educational institutions worldwide have adopted it with varying success. The research literature shows the benefits of such collaborations, including better graduate employability and curricula that better reflect industry requirements. However, the approaches to engaging industry partners differ significantly among institutions, and clear governance structures for these collaborations have proven advantageous.

Mahalingam’s approach fits the mould in this regard. Instead of focusing on developing generic frameworks and best practices and overlooking specific recommendations for co-creating curricula, the new work offers a dedicated framework. This framework can be integrated with the institution’s existing governance system in order to improve collaboration and course content. Mahalingam demonstrates how valuable this framework approach could be and adds that continuous evaluation and adaptation would be important to maintaining its effectiveness in an ever-changing industry landscape.

Mahalingam, T. (2024) ‘Bridging the gap between academia and industry: a case study of collaborative curriculum development’, Int. J. Business Performance Management, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp.589–603.