Diaper disposal? It’s a dung deal!

Research in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management has looked at how used diapers (baby nappies or adult napkins) and sanitary wear might be efficiently composted using cow dung a readily available by-product of cattle farming the world over.

Namasivayam Vasudevan, Greeshma Odukkathil, and Gomathi Ravi of the Centre for Environmental Studies at Anna University in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, explain how absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) including diapers and sanitary wear are now ubiquitous in the developing and developed world having broadly displaced the washable and reusable alternatives. As such, they represent a growing waste disposal problem.

AHPs are generally not biodegradable unless somehow pre-processed nor easily recyclable, not least because of the waste they carry with them. They generally accumulate on rubbish dumps and in landfill in regions where such waste is not burnt. More than 250 tonnes of such waste enters the waste stream in Chennai alone each year, the team writes.

The team has looked at cow dung and effective microbes that might be able to break down used diapers and sanitary pads. They tested the putative composting process over a sixty-day period, recording chemical and physical changes in pH, moisture content, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and nutrient levels.

The team suggests that their results are somewhat promising. The compost derived from AHPs exhibited favourable characteristics, including a neutral pH, optimal moisture content, and suitable nutrient levels. There was, in addition, a significant drop in overall volume and mass, ranging from 70% to 85% during composting. This latter point suggests that the composted AHPs would if ultimately destined for landfill at least take up less volume in the site if processed in this way first. The chemical changes induced by composting would not necessarily make them useful as soil conditioner in other similar applications, but at least the processed materials would be somewhat less polluting. However, with further optimisation, it may well be possible to process used AHPs into a usable compost for an overall more ecologically conscious approach to their disposal.

Vasudevan, N., Odukkathil, G. and Ravi, G. (2024) ‘Effectiveness of cow dung and effective microorganisms on composting of napkins and diapers‘, Int. J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp.511-523.

Research pick: Time for an AI chat - "Enhancing the customer experience AI-chatbot: service quality, emotional intelligence, and personalisation"

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used widely in many different areas of our lives, including healthcare, education, finance, retail, tourism, and e-commerce. It is allowing business to change the way in which they interact with their customers through the advent of chatbots. Research in the International Journal of Trade and Global Markets has looked at how the evolution of AI-driven chatbots can be integrated into the systems businesses use to interact with their customers.

Minh T.H. Le, Khoi Minh Nguyen, Ngan Thanh Nguyen, Nghi Hoang Vo, Khang Trieu Tran, and Duc Trung Dao of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam analysed 335 completed questionnaires which asked correspondents about their experience with AI chatbots. AI chatbots can operate day and night, seven days a week, and give customers prompt responses to their queries. The team explains that such chatbots seem to improve customer experience by boosting quality perception, customer satisfaction, and personalization. Moreover, these AI services appear to cultivate trust and loyalty among customers, which has a positive effect on overall brand relationships.

Earlier studies have tended to focus on the technology itself. This latest work considers the human response. The team explains that the use of AI chatbots allows businesses to streamline operations, tailor their customer interactions, and also to gain useful insights about consumer behaviour. This, they add, is helping with business automation and sales forecasting.

One negative point that arose from the analysis that many people are still worried about the lack of “emotional intelligence” in AI chatbots. This represents an ongoing challenge to maintaining customer satisfaction and trust and is an issue that future developments in AI may well address. Indeed, now is the time for companies that wish to make the most of this emerging technology to encourage and support appropriate development in the AI sector that balances the technological demands with the human experience.

Le, M.T.H., Nguyen, K.M., Nguyen, N.T., Vo, N.H., Tran, K.T. and Dao, D.T. (2024) ‘Enhancing the customer experience AI-chatbot: service quality, emotional intelligence, and personalisation’, Int. J. Trade and Global Markets, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp.111–132.

Research pick: Adopting AI in business - "Exploration and prioritisation of critical success factors in adoption of artificial intelligence: a mixed-methods study"

While discussion is ongoing regarding the definition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the ethics of certain forms of that technology, it cannot be argued that it is transforming processes across a wide range of industries. Research in the International Journal of Business Information Systems would suggest that some businesses are facing challenges in their efforts to incorporate AI tools into their day-to-day and long-term processes.

Sam Solaimani, Reza Dabestani, Thomas Harrison-Prentice, Edward Ellis, and Michael Kerr of Nyenrode Business University in Breukelen and Abhishek Choudhury and Naser Bakhshi of Deloitte in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, have reviewed the research literature. They used a mixed-methods approach to identify the various factors associated with the integration of AI into business. The study focuses on exploration, implementation, and scaling and offers new insights into how these affect adoption of AI technology.

The team explains that during the exploration phase, the company’s culture is important in determining how AI is adopted. A clear business plan and strong support from top management are vital to a successful strategy in this area. The team emphasises how AI projects can be implemented but suggests that leaders within the company must ensure AI adoption matches the company’s goals.

In the implementation stage, it is the technical landscape that is important with problem orientation and data quality being the key parts of identifying obstacles and issues. Good planning and resource allocation are needed in this stage to make sure the deployment of AI will be successful from the technological perspective.

The team then considers the scaling phase. This area considers data governance, safeguards associated with the precision and accuracy of the algorithms used and their outputs, and, inevitably, cybersecurity. They conclude that: “[Our] contribute to the scholarly discourse on critical success factors relevant to AI adoption and help firms sharpen their focus and leverage their resources efficiently towards a more effective adoption of AI.”

Solaimani, S., Dabestani, R., Harrison-Prentice, T., Ellis, E., Kerr, M., Choudhury, A. and Bakhshi, N. (2024) ‘Exploration and prioritisation of critical success factors in adoption of artificial intelligence: a mixed-methods study’, Int. J. Business Information Systems, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp.429–453.

Research pick: Diabetes patients breathe easy - "Inhaled insulin: current steps towards diabetes treatment"

Millions of people around the world live with diabetes mellitus. Many of them have medication and specific dietary management approaches to help them maintain stable blood sugar levels. However, recent innovations, such as inhaled insulin, the hormone made by the pancreas, which controls blood sugar, have sparked hope for more effective and user-friendly treatments.

Diabetes is characterized by insufficient insulin production or ineffective insulin utilization. It causes many health problems and risks for those with one of the various forms of the disease. Risks include cardiovascular disease and microvascular complications such as eye, nerve, and kidney disorders. There is also the risk of acute problems that can lead to sudden death.

Conventional treatments rely on daily insulin injections or insulin pumps used in conjunction with regular blood glucose monitoring. Such regimens can be complicated and are associated with discomfort, time constraints, and the need for precise dosing, to avoid unpredictable blood sugar levels and severe complications.

Inhalable insulin offers a new approach to diabetes management. Using devices, similar to those used by people with asthma or other chronic lung diseases, including nebulizers and metered-dose inhalers it is possible to dispense a precise amount of insulin into the patient’s lungs from where the hormone will be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly and effectively allowing for rapid action when needed.

One such drug, Afrezza, a fast-acting inhalable insulin, was given US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2014 and remains the only inhaled insulin product on the market. It represented an important step towards a new approach to diabetes treatment. Some earlier inhaled therapies had not proven themselves safe nor effective. Afrezza has a more reliable pharmacokinetic profile, which will give patients greater convenience and improved control of their blood sugar levels.

Writing in the International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials, a team from India explains that insulin inhalers could improve patient adherence to their drug regimen and thus outcomes by providing a non-invasive and user-friendly alternative to traditional administration methods. Priya Patel and Bhavisha Kacha of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Saurashtra University in Gujarat, India, add that nanotechnology could help drive the next steps in developing even more effective inhaler-type drug delivery systems for treating diabetes mellitus.

Patel, P. and Kacha, B. (2024) ‘Inhaled insulin: current steps towards diabetes treatment’, Int. J. Nano and Biomaterials, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp.171–188.

Research pick: Blowing the froth off real estate - "Impacts of macroeconomic factors on the real estate bubble in Vietnam’s big cities with industrial zones"

A detailed analysis of Vietnam’s real estate market aimed to identify the factors that contribute to the formation of real estate bubbles. The study, published in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research covered the period from 2011 to 2021 and focused on various economic variables and regional factors influencing property prices and the overall stability of the real estate market.

Le Phuong Lan of the Foreign Trade University and Nguyen Quynh Anh of Tien Phong Bank both in Hanoi, Vietnam, point out that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which itself revealed vulnerabilities in Vietnam’s real estate sector, the new work shows that proactive measures are needed to mitigate against financial risks in this sector and to attempt to avoid unsustainable increases in property prices.

The researchers looked at macroeconomic indicators, such as economic growth, inflation, lending interest rates, money supply, credit growth, migration rates, and provincial competitiveness. They then used their findings to develop a predictive model that would hopefully allow them to spot any patterns as the real estate market evolves.

Critically, economic growth seems to be the real driver for activity across the real estate sector, The team points out that fluctuations in the growth rate of Vietnam’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is linked to changes in the overall demand for property and investment in property. Conversely, inflationary pressures and variations in lending interest rates, because they affect borrowing costs, are another important factor that influences buying and selling behaviour in the real estate market. Unfortunately, the team also showed that liquidity within the financial system in general has a major effect on real estate speculation. The greater the money supply and credit growth, the greater the property price inflation. The team found some regional disparities where migration rates and provincial competitiveness affected movement in the real estate sector in specific geographic areas.

Their conclusion is that measures to enhance transparency and regulatory oversight should be put in place to improve the way in which market participants garner information and to protect them and the sector from at least some of the common risks. They add that prudent monetary policy and effective macroeconomic management could also be used to maintain stability and confidence in the real estate sector and the broader financial system.

Lan, L.P. and Anh, N.Q. (2024) ‘Impacts of macroeconomic factors on the real estate bubble in Vietnam’s big cities with industrial zones’, Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp.511–532.

International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems' editorial team calls for papers

The following invitation comes from Prof. Tuğrul Özel, Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, and his editorial team:

We are the editorial team of the International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems (online ISSN 1753-1047; print ISSN 1753-1039), which is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes four issues per year including open-access articles. We are calling for papers for Vol. 17 No. 4 of the journal, and cordially invite you to submit your manuscripts.

You can view the journal's profile here. Instructions on how to submit papers are available under the Submitting Articles tab on this journal webpage. Free sample articles from the journal are available here.

The International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems is indexed by Scopus, Compendex, Academic OneFile (Gale), cnpLINKer and Expanded Academic ASAP, among others. It has a CiteScore of 1.7 (2022).

Please feel free to share this invitation with your colleagues and associates.

For any queries, please contact Prof. Tuğrul Özel at ozel@rutgers.edu

Best regards,
Editorial team
International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems

Free open access article available: "The effects of municipal ownership on auditor size and auditor-client distance"

The following paper, "The effects of municipal ownership on auditor size and auditor-client distance" (International Journal of Economics and Business Research 27(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: "Impacts of macroeconomic factors on the real estate bubble in Vietnam's big cities with industrial zones"

The following paper, "Impacts of macroeconomic factors on the real estate bubble in Vietnam's big cities with industrial zones" (International Journal of Economics and Business Research 27(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 Information Systems and Change Management

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Information Systems and Change Management are now available here for free:

• Factors influencing activity-based costing adoption: do they vary among types of organisation?
• The impact of user familiarity to ERP usage: an empirical study
• Exploring the drivers of digital transformation in Indian organisations: a multi-sector study
• The consideration factors of adopting location-based advertising push platform
• Developing a multi-perspective capability model for organisational business process management maturity assessment in digital era

Research pick: Bouncing rubber prices - "Factors affecting natural rubber prices in Thailand"

A study in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research has looked at the various factors affecting fluctuations in the price of natural rubber in Thailand, the world’s largest producer of the product. The study considers both domestic and external influences on rubber prices, showing just how the Thai market is affected by global changes and trends.

Part Sungkaew of King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, in Thailand, points out that exports are critical to the Thai rubber industry. Just 18 percent of production is used domestically. Even then, domestic use is largely accounted for by foreign companies operating within Thailand. In other words, external factors such as exchange rates, export volumes, and oil prices all play part in determining the price. Moreover, despite Thailand being the leading producer, Sungkaew found that the market favours foreign buyers.

An important factor that affects price is the volume of natural rubber stock within Thailand and abroad. This factor makes the Thai industry vulnerable to global market dynamics, with price changes in other major producing countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia affecting prices in Thailand. In addition, the rise of China as a major consumer further complicates the changing market, suggesting a shift in the balance of power in the global natural rubber market.

Rubber farm cooperatives have offered some relief through cost-saving measures and efficiency drives. However, the impact of these is very subtle. The actions of the rubber farmers themselves has a very small role to play in the global natural rubber market.

There have also been government interventions aimed at trying to prevent falling prices, driven by changing stocks and demand. But, the study found that the predominance of large buyers persists. The Thai government is under pressure to create policies to support value-added rubber products and the domestic industries in an attempt to mitigate against price fluctuations and stabilise the market.

Sungkaew, P. (2024) ‘Factors affecting natural rubber prices in Thailand’, Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp.489–510.

Free open access article available: "Factors affecting natural rubber prices in Thailand"

The following paper, "Factors affecting natural rubber prices in Thailand" (International Journal of Economics and Business Research 27(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 Knowledge Management Studies

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

• Dynamic capabilities and intergenerational growth in the family business: the role played by director rotation
• Factors affecting the personal knowledge management amongst sales officers in Indonesian leading automotive companies
• Mechanisms for capturing and transferring tacit knowledge between projects
• Investigating the mediating effect of human resource strategies on the relationship between knowledge management and job performance of employees
• Knowledge production and innovation: the potential of local universities to create technology-based companies in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais

Special issue published: "Emergence of New Business Practices for Growth, Competitiveness and Innovation"

International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management 13(3) 2024

• Determinants of trust on social networking sites and its impact on purchase intention through the mediation effect of customer experience
• Emotional intelligence among female hotel employees and their impact in job performance
• Does perceived corporate social responsibility improve customer engagement? - An empirical evidence from Indian banks
• Evaluation of India action plan for prevention of pneumonia and diarrhoea - a diarrhoea management program in Bihar, India
• Econometric investigation of the relationship of return on assets with the capital adequacy and leverage ratios in banking system of Turkey
• Concept and dimensions of employee development and talent development: distinctions and similarities
• Effect of service quality, customer satisfaction, customer trust, and security on customer loyalty with respect to virtual organisation
• Classification of skin lesions using deep learning neural network
• Green technology as a means towards sustainable living and initiatives taken by start up firms in India

Research pick: An academic boost through digital collaboration - "Factors affecting the use of online research collaboration platforms for knowledge sharing: evidence from knowledge-intensive organisations"

The exchange of knowledge has always been an important part of the research process. Digital platforms have made this easier than ever but at the same time added to the information burden. There are efficient tools available to researchers that allow them to collaborate and share knowledge more effectively. Research in the International Journal of Business Innovation and Research has investigated the various factors that lead to academics participating or otherwise in such systems.

Osama F. Al Kurdi of Ahlia University in Manama, Bahrain, has carried out a quantitative study using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyse feedback from academics on their use of online research communities. He has thus been able to identify seven important variables including attitudes towards knowledge, intention to share knowledge, perceived behavioural control, self-efficacy, subjective norms, and the role of tools and technology.

As one might expect, the most important variable driving use of online research collaboration is the individual’s attitude to this kind of approach to research. The research would therefore suggest that to boost use of such systems, the service providers need to do their best to foster positive attitudes within academic institutions.

Beyond the obvious implications of the research, the paper also has broader significance for theoretical frameworks and practical applications. The theoretical integration of elements from the Theory of Planned Behaviour and social exchange theories provides insights into knowledge-sharing behaviour in an academic setting. Individual attitude needs to be considered together with social and technological influences. The ultimate aim is to improve knowledge sharing with a view to improving innovation.

Al Kurdi, O.F. (2024) ‘Factors affecting the use of online research collaboration platforms for knowledge sharing: evidence from knowledge-intensive organisations’, Int. J. Business Innovation and Research, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp.433–456.

Free open access article available: "Exploration and prioritisation of critical success factors in adoption of artificial intelligence: a mixed-methods study"

The following paper, "Exploration and prioritisation of critical success factors in adoption of artificial intelligence: a mixed-methods study" (International Journal of Business Information Systems 45(4) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Criminal emotion detector - "Crime detection and crime hot spot prediction using the BI-LSTM deep learning model"

Crime is an age-old and never-ending problem for societies worldwide and crime detection and crime fighting have always chased after the criminals who often stay one step ahead. Research in the International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development has turned to emotional data alongside machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques to develop technology that might one day help us better understand the criminal mind and perhaps even predict criminal activity so that it might be prevented.

A. Kalai Selvan and N. Sivakumaran of the Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering & Head at the National Institute of Technology,in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India had two main objectives: the prediction of crime using ML models based on emotional data and the identification of future crime hotspots using DL methods applied to crime incident data.

By analysing voice-based emotional cues using ML algorithms, the team has achieved a detection accuracy of 97.2% for various crimes. Additionally, DL techniques, particularly convolutional stacked bidirectional long short-term memory (LSTM), allowed them to detect crime hotspots with an accuracy of 95.64%.

The researchers point out how the significance of emotional states in speech patterns allowed them to explore speech-based emotion detection. They took into account linguistic origin, paralinguistic cues, and the characteristics of the speaker. This allowed them to integrate the emotional data they obtained with other factors such as location and the type of crime that takes place in a hotspot. While, the notion sounds rather futuristic, the rapid advances in algorithms that can extract and identify patterns in data is in no way a matter only for science fiction. The team says that their approach could monitor activity in crime hotspots, detect crimes, and forecast future criminal activities.

Future work might allow similar machine learning techniques to be used for emergency response systems, rather than only in crime fighting. By analysing the emotional content of a person calling the emergency services, the system might be able to distinguish between genuine emergencies and non-emergency or even fraudulent calls, which could reduce the burden on the services considerably. It is only a matter of time before the research takes the prediction accuracy closer and closer to the ideal 100 percent of the ultimate crime-fighting AI emotion detector.

Kalai Selvan, A. and Sivakumaran, N. (2024) ‘Crime detection and crime hot spot prediction using the BI-LSTM deep learning model’, Int. J. Knowledge-Based Development, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp.57–86.

Research pick: Charging up a review of lithium-ion batteries - "Lithium-ion battery: a review"

A comprehensive review of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and energy-storage systems offers a valuable resource for researchers in this area, according to the authors writing in the International Journal of Vehicle Information and Communication Systems.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are an important part of sustainable personal transport as we try to move from a world drive on fossil fuels to one powered by solar, wind, and other renewables. Lithium-ion batteries continue to play a vital role in the ongoing success of EVs, and will do so until an even better alternative storage technology is developed.

Mandar Maruti Bidwe and Swanand Gajanan Kulkarni of the SKN Sinhgad College of Engineering in Korti, Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India, conducted a detailed review of the research literature covering the period 2010 to 2022. They hope that their work will shine headlights on the lithium-ion battery roadmap and help researchers navigate the terrain towards future sustainable of electric transportation and energy storage.

The team’s review looked at various aspects of lithium-ion battery technology and shows that it is important to understanding the diverse materials used in different types of battery and the impact these material choices have on performance, lifetime, and sustainability. The team explains that materials such as lithium cobalt oxide offer high energy density but are hindered by limited availability and lower thermal stability. By contrast, materials such as lithium iron phosphate are much safer and longer-lasting, but do not necessarily have the energy density some applications demand.

There is an ongoing need to model the behaviour of different types of battery in order to develop technology that optimises battery performance and management systems without too much compromise in terms of sustainability and resource safety and ethics. The review points to various papers that have focused on such models and assesses which might be used to best effect by researchers. This is critical given that challenges exist, not least in terms of the recycling and sustainability. The team points to several research gaps in these areas that could help focus efforts.

Research into lithium-ion batteries is multidisciplinary and given its central role in the electrification of transport it will be a focus for several years yet. This review offers waymarkers on the roadmap for research and development.

Bidwe, M.M. and Kulkarni, S.G. (2024) ‘Lithium-ion battery: a review’, Int. J. Vehicle Information and Communication Systems, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.135–163.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Powertrains

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

• Energy consumption analysis of extended-range electric vehicles with different driving cycle and different modes
• Design and implementation of novel variants of multi-level inverters for traction and heavy vehicle applications
• Deep-Q-network-based energy management of multi-resources in limited power micro-grid
• Transmission energy consumption analysis using ridge regression in wireless sensor nodes
• Performance analysis of precise energy consumption algorithm for smart home using hybrid renewable energy

Research pick: Clocking the influencer effect on TikTok - "Enhance the effectiveness of affiliate marketing on Tiktok for young people"

TikTok is a social media platform known for its short-form videos. Content creators, who have built a significant following on the site, often work with corporate brands to promote products to their audience, often through affiliate marketing. This involves a so-called influencer sharing products in their videos with affiliate links and then earning a commission from the company for purchases made through those links. It might be said that success lies in creating authentic content that attracts users and takes advantage of the current trends. However, for an influencer to be successful, they need to be transparent about their affiliate relationships in order to build and maintain the trust of their audience.

Writing in the International Journal of Technology Marketing, Minh T.H. Le of the College of Business at the University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Vietnam, discusses how the effectiveness of affiliate marketing might be improved by users hoping to influence young people. Le’s study was based on a standardized questionnaire distributed across internet platforms. The results were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Her research identified some of the factors affecting consumer trust and buying decisions, including the opinions of other followers.

She found that the perceived expertise of content creators and feedback from their followers is important to consumer trust. Le explains that a marketing campaign can pivot on this point. However, the entertainment value of an influencer video, is perhaps the most important factor leading to better user engagement and whether that user buys the products touted by the influencers they follow.

The detailed findings discussed in IJTMKT offer practical guidance for marketers and businesses who are attempting to make the most of digital marketing. The advice suggests that companies need to understand how Key Opinion Leaders, Key Opinion Consumers, and influencers operate and the effect they have on everyday users. Given that TikTok appeals to a wide audience seeking amusement as well as product recommendations, it is worth exploring in detail its potential as a marketing channel.

Le, M.T.H. (2024) ‘Enhance the effectiveness of affiliate marketing on Tiktok for young people’, Int. J. Technology Marketing, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp.162–184.

Special issue published: "Synthesis and Characterisation of Nanomaterials: Latest Advances and Prospects Part 2"

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties 17(2/3) 2024

• Life prediction of vehicle carbon fibre ceramic brake pads based on wavelet packet energy entropy
• Thermal runaway detection method of SiO2 aerogel battery pack based on mixed Gaussian hidden Markov model
• Analysis of stress corrosion behaviour of TC4 titanium alloy in simulated seawater environment
• Surface wear detection of automotive cermet composite brake pads based on machine vision
• Analysis of the influence of XYPEX admixture on the frost resistance of nanometer CaCO3 concrete
• Experimental study on the effect of composite nano-SiO2 on the durability of concrete
• Strength prediction method of nano ceramic composites based on nonlinear regression analysis
• Analysis of pressure damage characteristics of carbon fibre recycled concrete based on acoustic emission technology
• Experimental study on the microstructure of nano TiO2 concrete under carbonisation freeze-thaw conditions
• Study on the dynamic fracture toughness of laminated fine ceramic composites based on fatigue damage accumulation theory
• Fabrication of aluminium metal matrix composites with Al 6063 reinforced with Al2O3 by two step stir casting method for investigation of mechanical properties
• Study on durability analysis method of concrete mixed with nanometre calcium carbonate in acid environment
• The effect of nano-SiO2 strengthening the performance of recycled concrete under ion erosion environment

Research pick: Deep learning in the digital library - "Development of a unified digital library system: integration of image processing, big data, and deep learning"

The digital library is a searchable store of text, audio and visual materials, and more. However, as the amount of data that must be stored and made searchable increases, efficient management and retrieval can be a major headache for the digital library. Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology could lead to a new solution to the problem by integrating image processing, big data analytics, and deep learning techniques.

Xiaoyan Wang and Meimei Jia of Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan, China, like others, recognise the complexities of enhanced multimedia search and retrieval and have turned to the modern tool of deep learning to help. The team has developed a cross-media semantic search framework. This finds and uses the correlations between different types of media to assist in search and retrieval. Their deep learning algorithm can analyse and organize multimedia resources to improve search accuracy and system performance. Indeed, the use of this cross-modal correlation analysis and hierarchical knowledge inference in refining search results gave the team an almost 12 percent boost in search performance when compared with conventional approaches.

The approach will be useful for generic digital libraries and could be extended to personal devices such as smartphones, enabling greater access to useful information silos for the lay public. In more specialist applications, the same approach might be used in medical and scientific information systems. This could allow complex medical imagery, such as MRI scans and diagnostic test data and chemical databases, to be more readily searchable. In enterprise knowledge management systems, with such a system, companies could better handle their ever-accumulating data and information. Moreover, in any field where vast amounts of multimedia data accumulate every day and need efficient search and retrieval methods to make the most of the information they hold, an improved system will benefit users.

Wang, X. and Jia, M. (2024) ‘Development of a unified digital library system: integration of image processing, big data, and deep learning’, Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp.378–391.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies are now available here for free:

• Design-proposal of a conceptual model of intellectual property management and technology transfer in the context of higher education in Latin America
• Behaviour of financial consumers in banking market: a central and eastern European perspective regarding gender gap
• A study of macroeconomic effects on the growth of BRICS: a systematic review
• The effect of accounting conservatism on the cost of equity capital: evidence from Indonesia
• Integrated perspective of corporate social responsibility on ASEAN Capital Market Forum members corporate governance code
• Economic uncertainty and working capital management: evidence from Turkey

Free open access article available: "Development of a unified digital library system: integration of image processing, big data, and deep learning"

The following paper, "Development of a unified digital library system: integration of image processing, big data, and deep learning" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(3) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: The CALL of the word - "Research on scoring mechanism of spoken English self-study system taking into account artificial intelligence technology and speech knowledge recognition algorithm"

Technology is changing all areas of education not least language learning. Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has looked at the potential of Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL).

Learning a new language has usually relied on the traditional classroom setting and a native speaker of the language to teach students the vocabulary and grammar. However, there have for many years language learning systems that use voice recordings and books. In recent years, these systems have migrated to smartphones. The number of learners answering the CALL has risen because of the accessibility and convenience. Such systems now use artificial intelligence and algorithmic processing to help learners get to grips with their language second, or third, or more, language of choice. Indeed, the new tools offer an immersive and interactive language-learning experience.

Ning Li of the Public Teaching Department at Henan Vocational College of Tuina in Luoyang, Henan, China, explains that one aspect of language learning by app is the potential of the software to provide learners with an assessment of their progress and oral proficiency. If the system can analyse the words spoken by the learner in their non-native tongue, then they can be guided to the next level in their education appropriately or given advice on checking and rechecking their understanding and ability.

CALL systems can offer tailored teaching and thus have the potential to address individual learning needs, accelerating language acquisition for those learners who can cope and slowing the teaching process for those who need more time. Of course, variability in accent and dialect represent a challenge for the assessment algorithms and new innovations and refinements are still needed to make CALL as effective as traditional teaching and learning methods.

CALL could open up linguistic opportunities far and wide. With improvements in AI such systems will be able to assess learners before they are released into the wilds of international conversation.

Li, N. (2024) ‘Research on scoring mechanism of spoken English self-study system taking into account artificial intelligence technology and speech knowledge recognition algorithm’, Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp.350–365.

Free open access article available: "Quality optimised design of English multimedia courseware combined with 4C comprehensive design model"

The following paper, "Quality optimised design of English multimedia courseware combined with 4C comprehensive design model" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(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: "Research on scoring mechanism of spoken English self-study system taking into account artificial intelligence technology and speech knowledge recognition algorithm"

The following paper, "Research on scoring mechanism of spoken English self-study system taking into account artificial intelligence technology and speech knowledge recognition algorithm" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(3) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Cutting content in a crisis - "Supporting digital key workers: addressing the challenges faced by content moderators during and after the COVID-19 pandemic"

The responsibility for maintaining online safety relies on content moderators particularly in times of crisis. However, not all platforms even have moderation systems in place and so disinformation, misinformation, propaganda, and fake news often circulate freely. The time of the COVID-19 pandemic was a case in point, but the propagation of fake news occurs during times of political change and in the wake of other kinds of crises and socioeconomic upheaval. However, there is much content online that is illegal rather than simply being fake and that must be removed summarily.

Some social media platforms and websites do have individuals and even teams who are tasked with checking user-generated content to ensure it does not contravene the law. Elena Martellozzo, Paula Bradbury, Ruth Spence, and Jeffrey DeMarco of Middlesex University, London, UK, and Paul Bleakley of the University of New Haven, West Haven, USA, point out that during and after the COVID-19 pandemic there was a surge in the volume of illegal content. They report details of their findings and the implications in the International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management.

The researchers have looked at the experience of content moderators during this period and their findings offer new insights into how this important online role can affect the moderators’ mental well-being. Indeed, the upward trend in illegal material being shared online, exacerbated by lockdown measures during the pandemic, put the content moderators under immense pressure. There was a heightened risk of personal burnout, mental health problems, and even trauma when it came to particular kinds of illegal content that required moderation. The new findings suggest that there is an urgent need to improve the working conditions and personnel backup for such moderators.

Lessons drawn from the pandemic era should provide service providers and their staff, including their content moderators, useful guidance for the improvement of working conditions. Employers must prioritize mental health support, fair compensation, and comprehensive training, the research suggests. This is especially important given the role played by content moderators in helping to remove illegal content from the internet.

The researchers add that clear communication, professional development opportunities, and tailored support mechanisms, particularly for those working remotely or in a hybrid work environment, are important considerations for employers and service providers.

Martellozzo, E., Bleakley, P., Bradbury, P., Spence, R. and DeMarco, J. (2024) ‘Supporting digital key workers: addressing the challenges faced by content moderators during and after the COVID-19 pandemic’, Int. J. Technology, Policy and Management, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp.212–228.

Special issue published: "Health Economics and Econometrics"

International Journal of Computational Economics and Econometric 2024 Vol.14 No.2

• Procuring medical devices: evidence from Italian public tenders
• Technical efficiency in Irish public hospitals: a multi-output distance function SFA approach
• The role of home healthcare in reducing hospital readmissions and costs in patients with acute myocardial infarction
• Is the European refugee crisis a potential threat to public health? Evidence from Italy
• Might low-protein diet for chronic kidney disease patients be successful? A case study with the application of a random effects ordered probit model
• Financial problems and self-reported health status: an analysis for selected European countries

Free open access article available: "Critical success factors of strategic alliance in the shipping industry"

The following paper, "Critical success factors of strategic alliance in the shipping industry" (International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics 18(2) 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: "Interdisciplinary Applications and Technologies of Computer Vision"

International Journal of Computational Intelligence Studies 12(3/4) 2023

• Performance prediction analysis of college aerobics course based on back propagation neural network
• Research on the optimal charging method of parallel power batteries for smart electric vehicles
• Research on spiking neural network in art visual image classification
• Application of binocular image reconstruction method in the construction of 3D model of wooden arch corridor bridge structure
• New media interaction in art design based on deep learning binocular stereo vision
• Research on intelligent access control technology of face recognition model based on parameter sharing and dense connection
• Nonlinear modelling and analysis of stable behaviour of robot gait control system based on image processing technology

Research pick: Crowdfunding success - "Does first impression count? A look at Indiegogo campaigns on the ‘Explore All Projects’ page"

The advent of crowdfunding, whereby innovative ideas find financial backing from the collective support of online communities, such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter, has allowed countless projects to become viable in recent years. Many of those projects, while attractive and ultimately successful, may never have garnered support from conventional investors and backers. Of course, not all crowdfunding enterprises are successful, and a study in the International Journal of Electronic Business has looked at how much effect first impressions has on what a campaign might ultimately achieve.

Mathupayas Thongmak of the Thammasat Business School at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, has focused on Indiegogo as a well-known crowdfunding platform. She points out that to date, the rate of success among crowdfunding campaigns remains relatively low. The present study offers insights that might help putative campaigners develop a more effective strategy for success.

Presentation is almost all when it comes to a successful campaign. Potential backers wading through many project options commonly rely on first impressions to decide whether to investigate a given campaign further. In other words, an attractive thumbnail image, text introduction, and category choice, are vital. Without them, most backers scanning for opportunities will simply swipe left, to use the parlance of dating apps, where such a swipe amounts to a rejection.

Earlier work has looked at the factors that coincide with a successful crowdfunding campaign, but Thongmak has used descriptive statistics, word clouds, tree maps, and hierarchical regression analysis to analyse data from more than 300 campaigns to look at what characterises successful outcomes. It seems that timing is almost everything, but appropriate category choice can affect success rate for campaigners significantly. Moreover, the most likely to succeed are campaigns in the technology and innovation sectors, with health and fitness products featuring prominently, followed by home, travel, and outdoor equipment. It is worth noting that text on a thumbnail image did not affect success rate. As such, Thongmak suggests that campaigners should use their thumbnail image to make their project stand out more from the other images through the choice of a more creative design and colour scheme.

Thongmak, M. (2024) ‘Does first impression count? A look at Indiegogo campaigns on the ‘Explore All Projects’ page’, Int. J. Electronic Business, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp.181–208.

Free open access article available: "Impact of surface choking on gas-lift stability and flow behaviour in oil producing wells"

 The following paper, "Impact of surface choking on gas-lift stability and flow behaviour in oil producing wells" (International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology 35(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: "AI/Machine Learning Techniques as a Tool for Process Modelling and Product Design"

International Journal of Product Development 28(1/2) 2024

• Colour offset compensation method of product packaging image based on colour difference interpolation
• The deep mining of consumer behaviour data on product network marketing platform
• Study on evaluation method of human-computer interface quality of intelligent products based on Bayesian classification
• Colour matching method of product interactive interface based on user experience
• Fuzzy edge detection method of product packaging image based on Kalman filter
• Prediction method of product market demand based on Prophet random forest

Additional papers

• Review of models and frameworks for set-based design
• A formal consideration of user tactics during product evaluation in early-stage product development

Special issue published: "The Development of Vehicle Design: Safety and Assessment"

International Journal of Vehicle Design 95(1/2) 2024

• Vehicle rear end collision warning method based on MeanShift and Kalman filter tracking
• Remote intelligent monitoring method of automobile driving safety based on Internet of Things technology
• Automatic recognition of vehicle differentiated driving behaviour in automatic driving scenarios
• Power smooth control of automobile drive motor based on torque prediction
• A comparative study of redundant and non-redundant flight control system architectures for unmanned aircraft: key limitations and recommendations
• Side sled test systems: a review
• Low carbon design of automobile front-end structure based on Pareto mining

Additional paper

• Mortise-tenon structural design for improving initial permanent magnetic guideway irregularity in the maglev vehicle system

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Learning Technology

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

• Visual programming and computational thinking environments for K-9 education: a systematic literature review
• Audio-visual resources and learning improvement: an experimental analysis
• Extending the technology acceptance model to understand the use of e-learning during COVID-19 pandemic for enhancing learning process: Iraqi universities' students
• Implications of student satisfaction with flipped classroom design in a Taiwan university
• Factors influencing online learning on social media

Research pick: Navigating shipping alliances - "Critical success factors of strategic alliance in the shipping industry"

Research in the International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics has looked at the various factors that affect the overall effectiveness of shipping alliances in the container shipping industry. These alliances, formed as cooperative agreements between container carriers, have become an important part of the industry, providing benefits such as expanded market access, operational efficiency, and keeping companies afloat in turbulent times.

Hui Ting Lu, Kum Fai Yuen, and Kim Hock Tan of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and Guanqiu Qi of Chung-Ang University in South Korea surveyed 180 executives from major shipping lines involved in prominent alliances. They used the survey results to identify 20 factors associated with successful alliances. They then measured the impact of these factors, such as opportunistic behaviour and constructive coordination, on outcomes for the companies involved in the alliances.

In order to formalise their results, the team categorized the critical success factors as: alliance rationale and conditions, partner search and selection, partnership design, partnership implementation, and partnership outcome evaluation. Within these different phases, the team found that alliance rationale and conditions in particular influenced constructive coordination among partners.

The team also used various theoretical frameworks, such as transaction cost theory, resource-based view, knowledge-based theory, sociological approaches, and general management and leadership theory to provide a comprehensive understanding of critical success factors and how they relate to those different phases and the outcomes among shipping alliances.

The team found that the initial phases of alliance building depended on strong foundations built through careful partner selection and the ongoing strength of the alliance needed a good working relationship for its implementation but also continuous evaluation of the pros and cons. The researchers also found that success depended on the ability for partners to adapt to external factors such as regulatory changes and cybersecurity threats to maintain coordination and achieve their goals.

The container shipping industry must ride the waves of changing markets. The research highlights a continued need for improved understanding of how alliances between different companies can work and to allow them to navigate safely through smooth seas and dire straits.

Lu, H.T., Yuen, K.F., Tan, K.H. and Qi, G. (2024) ‘Critical success factors of strategic alliance in the shipping industry’, Int. J. Shipping and Transport Logistics, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp.111–137.

Special issue published: "Applications of Renewable Energy and Sustainability"

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development 23(2/3) 2024

• Integrating fuzzy multi-criteria analysis for sustainable configuration of an on-grid hybrid renewable energy system: case study of Tunisia
• Data mining-based ecotourism visitor evaluation management model in the context of sustainable development
• Ecological assessment of low carbon design of garden based on optimal BP neural network
• A study on the technology of reviewing smart campus construction under energy consumption limit constraints
• Effects of different aquatic plant configuration patterns on water quality
• A GIS-based green infrastructure planning framework for water sensitive spatial planning
• A two-stage optimal scheduling strategy of hybrid energy system integrated day-ahead electricity market
• Research on energy-saving construction technology of campus building exterior wall under the restriction of energy consumption quota
• Examination of green technology implementations impacts on the employee income, investment and manufacturing productivity: an empirical assessment

Additional papers

• Analysing the constraints of circular economy models and policy challenges in waste management
• Thermal comfort investigation and management of public spaces of Clement Town, Dehradun, India

Free open access article available: "Supporting digital key workers: addressing the challenges faced by content moderators during and after the COVID-19 pandemic"

The following paper, "Supporting digital key workers: addressing the challenges faced by content moderators during and after the COVID-19 pandemic" (International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management  24(2) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Glacial retreat and water worries - "Inventory and status of glaciers in the Pir Panjal Range Kashmir basin between 1980 and 2020"

An analysis of glacial data spanning four decades has provided valuable insights into the changes taking place in the glaciers of the Pir Panjal range within the Kashmir basin in India. The research, published in the International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, analysed data for the period 1980 to 2020. It reveals significant losses in glacial mass and points out just how important this could be for the people and ecosystems that rely on the melt waters from these glaciers. It also highlights the flood risks associated with sudden catastrophic changes in the glaciers as they melt.

Mohmad Ashraf Ganaie and Syed Kaiser Bukhari of the National Institute of Technology Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, identified 122 glaciers that by 2020 had decreased notably in size since 1980. For example, a glacial region of almost 26 kilometres in 1980 had shrunk to just under 16 square kilometres by 2020. One particular glacial watershed, Vishaw, which encompasses 55 glaciers, had lost more than 6 square kilometres.

Topography plays an important role in how rapidly glaciers have receded during this period of time. The smaller glaciers, those less than or equal to 0.5 square kilometre, were found to be receded faster than the bigger glaciers. Moreover, south-facing glaciers and those at lower elevations demonstrated too were receding more rapidly, the team found. The different rates of glacial loss suggest that there are many complex factors at play.

The Himalayan glaciers are a vital source of water for those in their shadow. They play a major role in sustaining river flow and supporting human activities such as agriculture and hydroelectric power generation, as well maintaining the natural, local ecosystems, wildlife, and habitats. The impact of glacial loss will be gradual, but with accelerating loss due to climate change there is the risk of melted glacial lakes suddenly release huge volumes of water downstream, which could devastate human settlements and the ecosystems in its path.

Historically, there have been limited numbers of remote sensors and monitoring of the glaciers in this region. There is now a pressing need to understand the changes taking place and the effect these changes will have on water resource management, flood risk, and the local environment.

Ganaie, M.A. and Bukhari, S.K. (2024) ‘Inventory and status of glaciers in the Pir Panjal Range Kashmir basin between 1980 and 2020’, Int. J. Hydrology Science and Technology, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp.319–347.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Product Development

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

• Virtual display of intelligent human-computer interaction products based on attention matrix
• An evaluation method for human-computer interaction interface of sports electronic products based on Naive Bayes algorithm
• Research on layout optimisation of human-computer interaction interface of electronic music products based on ERP technology
• Design of human-computer interaction display terminal system for intelligent home products based on colour vision analysis
• Design of virtual reality cycling intelligent interaction system based on VR technology
• User experience evaluation method of sports product based on genetic algorithm
• Human gesture interaction recognition algorithm based on augmented reality in smart wristband equipment
• Fault data extraction of human-computer interaction interface for music electronic products based on improved second generation wavelet algorithm
• Gesture recognition method for wearable sports devices based on sparse representation
• Visual perception-based human-computer interaction information classification method for intelligent products
• Gesture interactive recognition method of moving equipment based on virtual reality technology
• A method for layout planning of product web UI visual interface based on clone selection algorithm

Free open access article available: "Regulating digital currencies in the Emirate of Dubai: a comparative legislative review"

The following paper, "Regulating digital currencies in the Emirate of Dubai: a comparative legislative review" (International Journal of Public Law and Policy 10(2) 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: "Big Data Mining Applications for Enterprise Operations and Management"

International Journal of Data Mining and Bioinformatics 28(2) 2024

• Consumer purchasing intention and marketing data mining model in the digital economy
• Cross-border e-commerce logistics distribution optimisation based on IoT artificial intelligence algorithm
• An enterprise operation management method based on mobile edge computing and data mining
• Development strategy of online English teaching based on attention mechanism and recurrent neural network recommendation method
• Design of a financial reporting management generation system based on Bi-LSTM model and MultiWord-Embedding method
• Rural e-commerce data analysis based on data mining and its enlightenment to rural digital economy management
• Design of performance assessment and management model for regional technological innovation under the background of machine learning

Research pick: Challenging the gig economy - "Disengaged: the problem of employee engagement in gig workers"

Employee engagement among independent gig workers is an important issue facing organisations working with remote teams and individuals. A study in the International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy which looked at the connections between gig workers and their client teams, suggests there is a need to improve engagement to improve working conditions, well-being, and mental health for remote workers.

The gig economy is a labour market where individuals work on short-term contracts or as long-term freelancers. Freelancers have been a part of the economy for many years, but in the digital era, applications and platforms have opened up many jobs that were previously restricted to the conventional workplace. Gig workers enjoy flexibility but also face challenges like job security and benefits.

Rebecca Wason of Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, has used a structured questionnaire based on William Kahn’s three facets of employee engagement – meaningfulness, safety, and availability – and found significant differences in gig worker engagement levels. It seems that gig workers commonly feel satisfied with their work, but often feel isolated from their peers and management.

The research found that many respondents felt a lack of clarity from their managers regarding the significance and purpose of their work was a major problem. In addition, Wason found that some respondents felt that they had insufficient guidance on organisational culture and norms. This, the work suggests, leads to difficulty in integrating within client teams as well as a problem with forming social bonds. This leads to feelings of exclusion and detachment.

Effective communication, clear task assignment, and supportive organisational structures are all important in improving gig worker engagement. Addressing such issues could improve the working lives of gig workers, as well the outcomes for the organisations for which they work.

Wason, R. (2024) ‘Disengaged: the problem of employee engagement in gig workers’, Int. J. Management Concepts and Philosophy, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp.149–160.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Vehicle Safety

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

• Relationship between mobile phone addiction and driving accidents in two groups of drivers with and without accidents
• Research on test scenarios of AEB pedestrian system based on knowledge and accident data
• Driving safety of articulated vehicle on a typical interchange
• Multi-objective optimisation design and fuzzy PID control for racing car variable rear wing system
• Evaluation of human seated posture exposure to low-frequency vibrations using biodynamic model
• Pedestrian airbag folding patterns on airbag deployment and head injuries based on corpuscular particle method
• Impact of vehicle-related factors on speed selection and accident severity rates
• Accident detection system using laser, multiple sensors and GNSS

Special issue published: "Advanced Data Mining Techniques for Big Data and E-Learning"

International Journal of Business Intelligence and Data Mining 24(3/4) 2024

• An automatic error correction method for business English text translation based on natural language processing
• A multi-agent interactive teaching effect evaluation method based on matrix method
• Knowledge mapping-based online teaching resource recommendation method for Chinese education
• A personalised push method of English mobile reading resources based on tag similarity
• Detection method of students' online learning state based on posture recognition
• Prediction method of MOOC teaching effect based on data mining
• Personalised recommendation of educational resources based on collaborative filtering
• Push method of online learning resources based on user behaviour characteristics
• An intelligent recommendation method of remote ideological and political education resources based on user clustering
• Research on classification of educational digital resources based on KNN algorithm
• Research on anomaly recognition of the English MOOC teaching platform based on deep feature learning
• Personalised recommendation method of online ideological and political education resources in colleges and universities based on spectral clustering

Special issue published: "Social Computing with Cognitive Awareness for User Centric Web Services"

International Journal of Web and Grid Services 20(1) 2024

• Effectively learn how to learn: a novel few-shot learning with meta-gradient memory
• Smart contracts and marketplace for just-in-time management of pharmaceutical drugs
• An augmented interpretive framework based on aspect sentiment words aggregation
• Attention-based mechanism and feature fusion network for person re-identification
• Simplified swarm optimisation for CNN hyperparameters: a sound classification approach
• C3D-LSTM: a novel convolution-3D-based LSTM for link prediction in dynamic social networks

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Hydromechatronics

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

• Surrogate models in machine learning for computational stochastic multi-scale modelling in composite materials design
• TCM in milling processes based on attention mechanism-combined long short-term memory using a sound sensor under different working conditions
• Study on high frequency response characteristics of a moving-coil-type linear actuator using the coils combinations
• Rolling bearing fault diagnosis based on VMD reconstruction and DCS demodulation
• Review on processing stability, weld defects, finite element analysis, and field assisted welding of ultra-high-power laser (≥ 10 kW) welding
• Large eddy simulation studies of two-phase flow characteristics in the abrasive flow machining of complex flow ways with a cross-section of cycloidal lobes
• Solution of structural mechanic's problems by machine learning

These selections by the Editor in Chief represent the journal's most highly cited articles.

Research pick: Digital games debrief cyberbullies - "Ubiquitous game-based learning with a multimedia debriefing on cyberbullying during the COVID-19 pandemic"

The global COVID-19 pandemic caused much suffering and tragedy and continues to do so. One aspect of our everyday lives that was massively disrupted was education. Conventional classroom teaching methods had to be digitised urgently during lockdowns when schools were forced to close to reduce the risk of spreading the potentially lethal coronavirus. A study in the International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation has looked out how new strategies had to be developed during this time and how educators were forced to tackle the emergence of cyberbullying among middle school students that the shift to online learning led to.

In their work, Sasipim Poompimol, Suthiporn Sajjapanroj, and Thanyaluck Ingkavara of Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom, Patcharin Panjaburee of Khon Kaen University in Khon Kaen, Chanayuth Changpetch of Mahasarakham University in Maha Sarakham, and Preeyada Tapingkae of Bansanpasak School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, introduced a digital board game along with multimedia debriefing sessions that could be used as educational tools for online and distance learning. These tools can be used to reduce the incidence of cyberbullying during a major crisis and afterwards, where online learning has become part of the new normal.

The team’s case study involved 56 middle school students. The team found that the students’ understanding and perceptions of cyberbullying after participating in gaming sessions with multimedia debriefing was much greater than when compared to those gaming sessions without the debriefing. Self-reported questionnaires and interviews further indicated positive experiences with the multimedia debriefing method and effectiveness of this game-based approach to learning in improving the students’ understanding of cyberbullying and hopefully leading to a fall in the number of such incidents.

The research also has implications beyond addressing the problem of cyberbullying. A similar approach might also be used to address mental health and digital well-being issues that arise when students are isolated from classmates and find themselves learning in their homes rather than the classroom, where there might be family or other environmental pressures on them. Innovation of this kind allows teachers to improve the learning experience for students. This will be relevant in the post-pandemic world and in the future when we have to face another such crisis.

Poompimol, S., Panjaburee, P., Sajjapanroj, S., Changpetch, C., Tapingkae, P. and Ingkavara, T. (2024) ‘Ubiquitous game-based learning with a multimedia debriefing on cyberbullying during the COVID-19 pandemic’, Int. J. Mobile Learning and Organisation, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp.135–168.

International Journal of Hydromechatronics to invite expanded papers from 25th International Conference of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Control Engineering (ICFPMCE) for potential publication

Extended versions of papers presented at the 25th International Conference of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Control Engineering (ICFPMCE) (17-20 July 2024, Kunming, China) will be invited for review and potential publication by the International Journal of Hydromechatronics.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Intelligent Engineering Informatics

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Intelligent Engineering Informatics are now available here for free:

• Similarity-based optimised and adaptive adversarial attack on image classification using neural network
• An investigation of machine learning-based intrusion detection system in mobile ad hoc network
• Efficient feature extraction on mammogram images using enhanced grey level co-occurrence matrix
• Adaptive and effective spatio-temporal modelling for offensive video classification using deep neural network
• Context parameters retrieval framework from electronic healthcare record through biomedical NLP for clinical support

Special issue published: "Building 5G Networks Through Cloud Edge Computing"

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations 30(2) 2024

• An improved data aggregation for fog computing devices in internet of things
• An efficient optimal load balancing algorithm for distributed file systems in cloud environment
• The nexus between allied policies of GST and FDI with dependent telecom policies of licensing and universal service in India
• Architectural framework for multiplayer cooperative cloud gaming to optimise quality of service
• The triggers on compulsive online shopping of jeans

Research pick: Checking in on India’s hospitality sector - "Effect of sustainable competitive advantage on business excellence in the hotel industry"

Sustainable competitive advantage and business are critical to long-term viability in the hospitality industry in India, according to a study published in the International Journal of Business Excellence. The study focused on the National Capital Region but could equally apply more widely. Such insight is important to those working in the sector, given its highly competitive nature and ever-changing consumer preferences.

Deepali Anand and Alka Munjal of Amity University in Noida, India looked at the sector regarding hotels given star ratings in the region. They investigated how hoteliers boost their competitive advantage through cost leadership and differentiation. Cost leadership involves minimizing production and distribution costs while still offering a high-quality service to hotel guests. This is typically done through measures such as economies of scale and improved technology that can improve efficiency. On the other hand, differentiation focuses on giving customers a unique “offering” or “value proposition” that improves brand loyalty and the chances of a customer using the hotel repeatedly or sticking with a given of hotels if visiting other areas.

The hospitality industry, by its very nature, is obviously service-oriented. Aspiring to excellence at whatever star-rating a given hotel has, is critical to its long-term success. This involves excellent customer relations, organizational growth, employee satisfaction, and the quality of what the hotel offers its guests. However, demands of the modern traveller are constantly changing, albeit the basic need remains the same – a room with a bed and bathroom facilities. In India, there are also government initiatives that are there to support the hospitality sector. Hotels can benefit from these, but must, in their part, adapt to change and so innovate when it comes to how they operate.

The team considered whether hotels could benefit from prioritizing cost leadership, differentiation, or a combination of both. And, yes, these strategies do affect how hotels are run. Understanding the effect of different strategies can then decide whether a given hotel will have greater or less success in a competitive market environment.

Anand, D. and Munjal, A. (2024) ‘Effect of sustainable competitive advantage on business excellence in the hotel industry’, Int. J. Business Excellence, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp.545–560.

Free open access article available: "Expected utilities of liner shipping market trends: how can companies benefit?"

The following paper, "Expected utilities of liner shipping market trends: how can companies benefit?" (International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics 18(1) 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: "Emerging Technologies and Trends in Modern E-Education for Sustainable Development"

International Journal of Computational Systems Engineering 8(1/2) 2024

• A data mining-based approach to integrating multimedia English teaching resources
• Research on an online teaching system for ethnic music courses incorporating fuzzy control and CRP algorithms
• Designing remote sharing system of network education resources for software engineering specialty based on web technology
• Analysis of word vector combined with group intelligence perception based on STEM concept for ELT word recommendation strategy
• A corpus-based study on the characteristics of the use of spoken English chunks
• Research on the integration of English online teaching resources based on improved association rule algorithm
• A review of hybrid collaborative filtering algorithms for ELT resources under cognitive diagnosis price
• A transfer learning-based model for assessing university students' innovation and entrepreneurship
• Blockchain technology: a tool to solve the challenges of the education sector in developing countries
• A study on the application of teaching differential equations in higher mathematics based on visual network topology algorithm
• A study of personalised recommendation methods for multimedia ELT online course
• A study on the application of data envelopment analysis in evaluating the quality of physical education teaching in universities
• Depression prediction and therapy recommendation using machine learning technique

Research pick: The digital jean genie is out of the bottle - "The triggers on compulsive online shopping of jeans"

Research in the International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations has investigated compulsive online shopping behaviour in India, with a specific focus aimed at unzipping the triggers and antecedents related to the purchase of jeans.

D. Manimegalai of the Department of Management Studies and S. Senthilkumar of the College of Management at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Tamil Nadu, India, carried out an online survey with more than 200 participants. They identified several factors that drive compulsive shopping tendencies among different demographic groups, including both male and female consumers.

The team has identified, through a detailed statistical analysis of their survey results, what compels shoppers to by denim trousers. Internal triggers, such as emotions and personal experiences, interact with external stimuli like online usage patterns and social influences to shape the purchasing decisions of online shoppers. Their findings could help marketing executives better understand consumer behaviour and so develop strategies to sell more jeans online.

The researchers point out that there are almost three-quarters of a billion pairs of jeans sold each year in India. That suggests on average that the population as a whole has a new pair of jeans every two years. But, the assumption is that everyone from toddlers to senior adults wears jeans. However, the research does suggest that there is a lot of compulsive behaviour and presumably a lot of adults with disposable income buying many more pairs of genes than that glib average would suggest.

Such repetitive buying may have future financial implications as well as highlighting latent social and psychological well-being issues. This would be especially the case if the compulsive buying extended to other products and led to increasing levels of debt. Indeed, the findings hint at the role of loneliness, anxiety, and novelty-seeking tendencies in driving compulsive shopping. The work thus highlights a responsibility and the need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms.

Manimegalai, D. and Senthilkumar, S. (2024) ‘The triggers on compulsive online shopping of jeans’, Int. J. Networking and Virtual Organisations, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp.206–219.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development

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

• Intelligent recommendation of educational resources combining Neu-MF and T-S fuzzy control
• The relationship between organisational culture, knowledge sharing, work satisfaction and knowledge management maturity
• A paradigm for the development of knowledge-intensive enterprises: the case of agricultural knowledge-intensive enterprises in west of Iran
• Transformational leadership, organisational rich culture, and sustainability: a mediating role of an inclusive environment
• A study of stakeholders' perspectives to inform management of the development of a civil nuclear power program for electricity generation in Ghana

Special issue published: "Contemporary Issues in Commerce, Technology and Sustainable Development"

International Journal of Business and Globalisation 36(2/3) 2024

• Investigating effect of social media advice and corporate information on retail investors' decisions in stock market
• Is ESG disclosure related to corporate performance? Empirical evidence from Indian companies
• Examining non-performing assets in financial institutions in India
• The effect of perceived philanthropic activities of corporate organisations on consumer's purchase intention
• Measuring the impact of eco-friendly or green marketing on buying behaviour of Indian consumers
• Building a sustainable relationship between customers and marketers
• Moderating role of the 'type of hotel' on the relationship between human resource practices and job satisfaction in the hotel sector in India: a PLS-based SEM approach
• Group cohesiveness and conformity as determinants of choice of promotions - an empirical study
• Impact of product types and shopping incidence on perceptions of customer's e-tailing quality
• Value co-creation through customer engagement in virtual communities for product innovation
• Investigating the best attributes in selection of e-tailer for purchasing footwear: a conjoint approach

Additional papers

• Bestination: an approach to 'sustainable' networking for Buddhist entrepreneurs
• Eastern philosophies and employee retention in emerging Southeast Asian economies - the case of Vietnam