Research pick: On your knees - "The effect of running experience on muscle forces and knee joint reaction forces during running"

The relationship between running experience, running mechanics, and the risk of injury, particularly to the knees is discussed in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology. The research looks at the differences in joint loading and muscle forces between novice and experienced runners.

Zhihui Kang of Ningbo University of Finance and Economics in Ningbo, China, and Xinyan Jiang of Obuda University in Budapest, Hungary, carried out a 3D running analysis of fifteen novice and fifteen experienced runners and used OpenSim software to model the behaviour of the musculoskeletal system, estimating lower limb muscle forces and knee joint loading.

The team found that there were notable differences in running mechanics between each group. Novice runners exhibited significantly higher knee loading and muscle forces during most of the stance phase of running compared to their experienced counterparts. This increased loading would coincide with a higher susceptibility to lower extremity injuries, such as sprains, strains and ruptures of the knee join, among novice runners. Understanding the biomechanics and neuromuscular control of running movements is crucial for developing coaching and training strategies to prevent such injuries and enhance running performance. However, the research did not record direct evidence linking novice status to an increased risk of knee injury when running. The current work will be useful to those working in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and athletic training.

By identifying biomechanical differences between novice and experienced runners, targeted interventions might be developed to reduce injury risk and improve running techniques. This could involve tailored training programs that gradually increase the tolerance of novice runners to running loads, thereby enhancing their musculoskeletal adaptations over time.

Future research could focus on longitudinal studies to determine whether specific knee joint variables can reliably predict running-related injuries. Such studies would help refine injury prevention strategies and contribute to safer and more effective running practices for athletes at all levels.

Kang, Z. and Jiang, X. (2024) ‘The effect of running experience on muscle forces and knee joint reaction forces during running’, Int. J. Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp.183–197.

Research pick: From the Norfolk Broads to Ibiza - "Sun, beach … and nightclubs: a study on the nightlife and tourism in Ibiza (1950–1971)"

It’s no small affair. In the 1960s, Spain was transformed into one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations. Visitors who might otherwise have travelled and done their sightseeing in their own country, were attracted to the region by the promise of sun, sea, and sand. As the tourist industry of the “Costas” and the “Balearics” evolved, the hordes of visitors sparked the growth of a vibrant nightlife industry, especially on the island of Ibiza, anything but a saddening bore. While the beach and the Mediterranean Sea were the usual daytime haunt of countless tourists, bars and nightclubs became their nocturnal destination.

Research in the International Journal of Tourism Anthropology has looked at how Ibiza’s nightclubs evolved through advertising, revealing the preferences and behaviour of the tourists who flocked to this “holiday island”.

Joan Carles Cirer-Costa of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya in Eivissa, Spain explains that the influx of post-war European tourists to Spain began in the early 1950s as society bounced back into the sunshine from darker days. These early adventurers navigated a challenging transportation landscape, often travelling by personal car or early charter flights to reach their destinations. By the mid-1960s, mass tourism had firmly established itself, driven by this collective yearning for sun, sea, and sand and the creation of the package holiday. Mediterranean tourism continues to grow to this day.

The evolution of the nightlife of Ibiza over the decades all but eschewed local culture. Indeed, cultural authenticity was not generally what the hedonistic tourists sought. Nevertheless, it was the early tourists that have guided us to the modern Mediterranean holiday format and as more and more Europeans recognised their own desire for this summer experience, so the tourist industry has pandered to their whims.

Cirer-Costa’s work could also have implications beyond historical curiosity. It offers those studying modern tourism lessons in the dynamics of the industry. It might help contemporary tourism professionals and policymakers create more sustainable and appealing tourist experiences that balance leisure with cultural appreciation.

Cirer-Costa, J.C (2024) ‘Sun, beach … and nightclubs: a study on the nightlife and tourism in Ibiza (1950–1971)’, Int. J. Tourism Anthropology, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp.218–236.

Special issue published: "Active Safety Design for Autonomous Electric Vehicles" [includes Open Access article]

International Journal of Vehicle Design 95(3/4) 2024

• Multi-level decision framework collision avoidance algorithm in emergency scenarios [OPEN ACCESS]
• Sensor-fusion-based road friction estimation for robust safety-critical trajectory planning of automated driving
• A novel prediction and evaluation method for vehicle stability
• A novel nonlinear observer for inertial parameters of lightweight electric vehicle through adaptive dual unscented Kalman filter
• Energy management and dynamic control for skid-steered unmanned special vehicle with range-extended system
• Designing a simulation framework to develop and evaluate an eco-routing strategy
• Path tracking and stability control of 4WID electric vehicles based on variable prediction horizon MPC
• Efficient motion planning and control for automated lane change considering road adhesion coefficient

Free sample articles newly available from Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development

The following sample articles from the Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development are now available here for free:

• Fostering organisational high performance through leadership and organisational learning: evidence from tourism firms in Vietnam
• Perception and attitude toward applying e-learning in workplace training - an empirical study in Ho Chi Minh City enterprises
• Leading to an organisation's competitive advantage: antecedents and outcomes of the industry and university collaborative relationships
• Recovery of international destination image and its consequence on trust and travel planning behaviour towards online generated contents in Vietnam
• The relationship between firm financial distress, firm life cycle and firm cash holdings of non-financial listed Vietnamese companies
• The dual role of online trust: a study of Generation Z through online purchase intentions in Vietnam

Research pick: Uncertainty, the only certainty - "Challenges related to emerging risk management"

Risk has always been a part of life. But, the modern world is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Organisations cannot rely on conventional approaches to risk management (RM) and mitigation strategies they must now move towards integrated risk management (IRM). This shift acknowledges the limitations of conventional approaches in addressing new and emergent risks stemming from rapid changes in climate, social dynamics, geopolitics, and technology. A team in Canada discusses the issues in the International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management.

Traditional approaches to risk management usually focus on an analysis of possible failure scenarios. They use mathematical models to work out how best to safeguard physical infrastructure. However, Luciano Morabito and Benoît Robert of the Polytechnique Montréal in Québec, Canada, suggest that these methods are out-dated and cannot keep pace with the emerging risks we see today where the so-called butterfly effect can see a seemingly insignificant and unchecked risk in one part of the world unleash worldwide upheaval. The COVID-19 pandemic is perhaps a case in point.

According to Morabito and Robert, integrated risk management offers a more complete approach to addressing various interconnected issues. As the term suggests, it integrates the principles of risk governance and social constructivism. There is an emphasis on understanding an organisation’s assets, operations, and external environment so that it can improve resilience and adaptability in the face of emerging risks. The approach rests on good communication, collaboration, and coordination across an organisation at all levels as well as with external stakeholders. Without these “three-Cs”, effective mitigation strategies may not be possible and organisations will succumb to the detrimental effects of the crises as they emerge.

The work suggests that there is a need for organisations and stakeholders to recognise that we need more than technological tools to manage risks well. Integrated risk management must use those tools but also consider the social and organizational dimensions. Collaboration is key to this where stakeholders share risk knowledge and establish common frameworks, all the while avoiding disruption to the organisation’s daily operations. Organisations that cope well with integrated risk management will position themselves to be proactive in their response to the risky business of an increasingly uncertain world.

Morabito, L. and Robert, B. (2023) ‘Challenges related to emerging risk management’, Int. J. Risk Assessment and Management, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp.175–195.

Free Open Access article available: "Multi-level decision framework collision avoidance algorithm in emergency scenarios"

The following paper, "Multi-level decision framework collision avoidance algorithm in emergency scenarios" (International Journal of Vehicle Design 95(3/4) 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: "Assessing and improving supervisory behaviours at standardised meetings using self-recorded video and the operant supervisory taxonomy index"

The following paper, "Assessing and improving supervisory behaviours at standardised meetings using self-recorded video and the operant supervisory taxonomy index" (International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics 11(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: Electronic health - "Using electronic health records to improve healthcare information management"

In a demonstration of what is plausible in the developing world, Nigeria’s Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) is changing from error-prone paper-based patient records to an advanced Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. This move will streamline patient information management and enhance the overall quality of care provided to patients.

EHRs are the digital counterparts of conventional medical charts and records kept by healthcare providers. They can include a wide array of patient information, including medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergy information, radiology images, and laboratory test results. The digital nature of EHRs means that can offer the healthcare provider much more information at a given time than conventional paper records. Indeed, they can ensure that critical information is accessible to the healthcare provider whenever it is needed allowing them to make informed decisions so improve patient outcomes.

A study published in the International Journal of Electronic Healthcare surveyed healthcare information management professionals to assess their readiness for the adoption of EHR systems. The findings revealed strong support for the transition, with these professionals recognizing the availability of necessary infrastructure and training. Respondents to the survey undertaken by Oluwatoyin Rhoda Akinyemi, Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya of Mangosuthu University of Technology in Durban and O. Oladimeji of the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria, South Africa, demonstrated a high level of proficiency with basic computer applications. However, despite their enthusiasm, the research shows that barriers remain.

The team writes that these barriers include a shortage of staff, a high patient volume, and limited digital navigation skills among some employees. There are also concerns about patient privacy and confidentiality. Nevertheless, obstacles were not insurmountable and given the positive sentiment overall, the implementation of EHRs will outweigh any problems significantly. Overcoming the various barriers will involve continuous staff training and organizational support, as well as ensuring the availability of the requisite hardware.

Akinyemi, O.R., Sibiya, M.N. and Oladimeji, O. (2024) ‘Using electronic health records to improve healthcare information management’, Int. J. Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 14, No. 5, pp.1–12.

International Journal of Vehicle Performance indexed by Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index

Inderscience is pleased to announce the news that the International Journal of Vehicle Performance has been indexed by Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index.

The journal's Editor in Chief, Dr. Xiaobo Yang, has offered the following comments:

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the inclusion of the International Journal of Vehicle Performance (IJVP) in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI). This marks a significant milestone for IJVP and reflects the dedication and hard work of our editorial team, contributors and reviewers.

Inclusion in ESCI not only acknowledges the quality and relevance of the research published in our journal, but also enhances the journal's visibility and accessibility across the global academic community. We are confident that this will further encourage scholarly contributions and enrich the discourse within the field of vehicle systems performance.

We are committed to maintaining and improving the standards that have led to this achievement. This recognition provides us with the motivation to continue our efforts in publishing high-quality research and fostering academic excellence."

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.

• Sentiment classification model for student teaching evaluation based on deep learning technology
• From toy-like to intelligent: ARM-based cloud-injected AI companion robot
• Research on intelligent teaching curriculum of preschool education majors in universities based on artificial intelligence technology support
• Early warning and decision-making model of geological disaster damage of transmission lines based on intelligent online monitoring technology
• Data analysis of digital teaching resources and interactive behaviour between teachers and students based on K-means algorithm
• Apple surface defect detection based on lightweight improved YOLOv5s

Special issue published: "Exploring the Intersection of Technology, Society, and Economy in Contemporary Vietnam"

Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development 16(1) 2024

• Understanding the moderating role of trust on continuance intention towards smartphone banking services: empirical evidence from Vietnam
• Exploring moral voice in Vietnam's public sector: a study of socially responsible human resource management, public service motivation, and ethical leadership
• Effects of online-generated content on consumer engagement across post-pandemic pre-travel stage among young domestic tourists in Vietnam
• Innovation, export orientation, export assistance, and SMEs' export performance: a case in Vietnam's Mekong delta provinces
• The impact of online reviews and eWOM on impulse buying tendency: a study of Vietnamese Gen Z consumers
• The relationship between CEO's reputation and firm abnormal earnings - evidence from Vietnam

Research pick: Fanning the flames for fuel not fire - "Forest fire mitigation by social economic development of local communities using pine needle as potential fuel"

The increasing frequency of environmental fires is a serious issue around the world and one that is being exacerbated by climate change. Millions of hectares and thousands of homes are at risk. Recovery times will, for much of the devastation, in Australia, Greece, California, India, and elsewhere will run to decades. New approaches to reducing the risk of fires are now needs, ones that do not simply involve political grandstanding and the purchase of glamorous but largely ineffective solutions.

Writing in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, a research team from India point out that one of the main contributors to the ease with which fires can spread is the accumulation of biomass, such as dry pine needles, on the forest floor. Pankaj Verma of the TR Abhilashi Memorial Institute of Engineering and Technology in Tanda Mandi, and colleagues have explored the potential for reducing the biomass risk. They suggest that it is worth engaging at-risk communities to see this “waste” material as a valuable energy resource for power production. This would have many other environmental and economic benefits, as well as clearing the forest floor and reducing a highly inflammable fuel source for fires.

Forests play an integral role in the ecological cycle, offering habitat and food for various species and hosting diverse vegetation. The team note that in Himachal Pradesh, India, forest cover has increased, but the predominant species is the Chir Pine or Longleaf Indian Pine (Pinus roxburghii), which sheds a large volume of dry needles particularly from January to April. The number of forest fires in the region seems to have risen with the ascent of this tree species.

Despite their availability, dry pine needles are seldom used as fuel due to their low energy density and heating value. The researchers propose that with appropriate technology, it should be feasible to convert this low energy density biomass into high energy density fuel, such as briquettes. As India’s energy demands rise, such a waste-to-energy approach could help address this issue, providing a renewable energy source and simultaneously reducing forest fire risk.

This concept also promotes the sustainable use of forest resources, encourages environmental conservation, and offers social and financial benefits to local communities.

Verma, P., Sharma, K., Mahajan, A. and Sharma, R. (2024) ‘Forest fire mitigation by social economic development of local communities using pine needle as potential fuel’, Int. J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp.57–67.

Free Open Access article available: "The effects of information environment on internal and external financing choices"

The following paper, "The effects of information environment on internal and external financing choices" (International Journal of Business Excellence 33(1) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Chatting about chatbots - "Chatbots and ChatGPT: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review of publications in Web of Science and Scopus databases"

Researchers writing in the International Journal of Data Mining, Modelling and Management discuss the evolution and growing academic interest in chatbots, with a special focus on the widely discussed large language model known as ChatGPT. The team has analysed data from Scopus and the Web of Science (WoS) covering the period 1998 to 2023.

The results show remarkable annual growth rates of almost 20 percent in WoS and almost 30 percent in Scopus in the number of publications discussing chatbots. This obvious conclusion is that there is a growing scholarly interest in this kind of artificial intelligence and its use in “conversational” software agents.

Hamed Khosravi, Ahmed Shoyeb Raihan, and Imtiaz Ahmed of West Virginia University in Morgantown, USA, and Mohammad Reza Shafie and Morteza Hajiabadiof the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran, explain how chatbots use algorithms trained on natural language databases to mimic human conversation. These AI tools can respond with apparently cogent answers to questions or prompts and are increasingly used in customer service, education, mental health, financial management, and many other areas. Users need to be aware that while the term “intelligence” is used in this context, the software is not inherently intelligent in the conventional sense and can readily generate fanciful or even false information in response to a given prompt. Nevertheless, on the whole, these tools can be very useful in streamlining interactions and precluding the need for human staff to undertake many mundane tasks.

These systems employ natural language processing (NLP), a subset of AI that allows machines to interpret prompts and generate an apparently human response. In the current work, Khosravi and colleagues focus on one of the more well known systems, ChatGPT. This tool uses deep-learning techniques to generate contextually relevant and coherent responses. Its advocates point to its more advanced abilities when compared to the previous generation of chatbots and other AI tools in this area.

In examining the research literature, the team notes that there has been a shift towards areas such as mental health and task analysis and how AI tools might be used in those contexts and what its limitations might be. The way AI is being used now and how that is changing will, of course, affect how development moves.

There is a pressing need to ensure that the tools are not only technologically superior but also ethically sound and contextually aware. The next generation of AI tools may need less human oversight, but there will perhaps always be a need for some human supervision of outputs. This progression could lead to AI applications that provide preliminary medical insights, support clinical decision-making, enhance writing and translation tasks, simulate organizational interactions, and assist in policy formulation.

Khosravi, H., Shafie, M.R., Hajiabadi, M., Raihan, A.S. and Ahmed, I. (2024) ‘Chatbots and ChatGPT: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review of publications in Web of Science and Scopus databases’, Int. J. Data Mining, Modelling and Management, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp.113–147.

Special issue published: "Dependable Computing"

International Journal of Critical Computer-Based Systems 11(1/2) 2024

• Algorithm-based fault-tolerant parallel sorting
• Application of multi-criteria decision-making approach using TOPSIS to identify the vulnerable time zone of earthquake time series signal
• Refining malware detection with enhanced machine learning algorithms using hyperparameter tuning
• Conceptual design and implementation of FIDO2 compatible smart medical card for healthcare information system
• Using the theorem of inaccessibility to assess dependable real-time networks
• Highly available virtual network functions and services based on checkpointing/restore

International Journal of Hydromechatronics increases CiteScore to 7.6

Inderscience's Editorial Office is pleased to report that the International Journal of Hydromechatronics has increased its Scopus CiteScore from 6.0 to 7.6.

The journal's Editor in Chief, Prof. Liang Yan, said, "This year, IJHM achieved a CiteScore of 7.6, marking a 27% increase. Over the past year, the editorial team has made significant efforts to control manuscript quality, optimise the review process and enhance promotional efforts. Both the editorial board and the young editorial members have dedicated more effort to the journal's development. We sincerely extend our gratitude to our readers and authors for their support. Moving forward, we will continue to strive to make IJHM a better and more influential journal."

Research pick: Cashing up a new theory of money - "Revisiting the origin of money: from precious metals to work: alternative pathways on the origin of currency and its impact on modern economics"

In the International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, Bas Dommerholt of the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets in The Netherlands, explores the history of money from the earliest coins and notes to the world of digital “crypto” currencies.

Dommerholt’s analysis of the evolution of money offers a new perspective that diverges from conventional theories. He suggests that the roots of money can be traced back to early agricultural societies. Early farmers kept records of food distributions, and it is these that over the course of prehistory evolved into wage standards. And from there the calculation of production costs and the filling in of balance sheets. Eventually, coins were minted as tokens of these. Coins, often considered the first form of money, emerged as tokens of credit backed by precious metals.

This novel historical narrative has implications for contemporary economic policies, from addressing predatory lending practices to understanding the rise of digital currencies. Dommerholt’s findings suggest that educators could benefit from integrating this perspective to provide students with a more nuanced historical understanding of money.

In Western philosophy, money is a pivotal element, integral to the modern production and distribution of goods and fundamental to the market economy. Despite its importance, the public’s understanding of money remains muddled, partly due to the inadequate representation of money’s history in educational materials. Dommerholt argues for a comprehensive and objective depiction of money in public education with a modern perspective rather than some of the outdated textbook definitions.

Traditionally, it has been believed that money and prices evolved from market transactions involving precious metals. However, the article highlights a critical transition in the nature of money: modern money is no longer based on metals but is an official administrative unit with a market value that floats under governmental control. This shift has profound implications for current policy debates, distinguishing between the traditional and modern understandings of money.

The research builds on chartal theory. This theory suggests that money’s origins actually lie not in markets or material measurements but in government administration and record-keeping. In this theory, money originated from government records of taxes paid in kind. Many educational resources still describe the evolution of money from barter systems and privately owned precious metals, which the evidence suggests is not the case.

The evidence shows that early accounting practices were tied to central institutions responsible for food distribution, with prices evolving from labour cost benchmarks. Coins were introduced later as interest-free notes of credit and backed by precious metals to ensure trust and stability. By fixing the misconceptions about the origins of money, Dommerholt hopes to improve debate and discussion regarding modern lending practices, financial globalization, and digital currencies.

Dommerholt, B. (2023) ‘Revisiting the origin of money: from precious metals to work: alternative pathways on the origin of currency and its impact on modern economics’, Int. J. Pluralism and Economics Education, Vol. 14, Nos. 3/4, pp.219–233.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology are now available here for free:

• Health effect of radon gas in water on children at Al-Najaf schools
• Preliminary design of ADS for low to medium power output with uranium fuel
• Xe and Kr extraction for Th-U sustainable ICMSR fuel
• Determination of radiological hazards due to alpha emitters from ceramic used in Iraq
• Real-time sub-assembly identification through IMU data fusion with vision sensor for an inspection system
• Spallation reaction study to improve cross-section measurements of fission products in nuclear waste using Cs-137 on proton or deuteron ranging from 0.1 to 2.4 GeV

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Critical Computer-Based Systems

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Critical Computer-Based Systems are now available here for free:

• Tuna swarm optimisation-based feature selection and deep multimodal-sequential-hierarchical progressive network for network intrusion detection approach
• Detection of cyber-attacks for sensor measurement data using supervised machine learning models for modern power grid system
• Task models for mixed criticality systems - a review
• An enhanced digital image watermarking technique using DWT-HD-SVD and deep convolutional neural network

Free Open Access article available: "Apple surface defect detection based on lightweight improved YOLOv5s"

The following paper, "Apple surface defect detection based on lightweight improved YOLOv5s" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(7) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: From notes to noteworthy – tuning up music education in China - "Application of improved K-means algorithm in the cultivation of creative music talents under the needs of sustainable development and transformation"

Research published in the International Journal of Web Engineering and Technology has looked at how training might be enhanced to help foster innovative musical talent in university education. The work used advanced data analysis techniques with an improved K-means clustering algorithm to help educators identify how they might improve matters in this area.

Peng Li of Beijing Normal University and Zeng Fan of the City University of Macau, China, explain how China has experienced substantial development, leading to major changes in industry and its economic structure. This recent progress has led to greater demands for educational reform that fit society’s needs. The government hopes to develop world-class universities that have distinctive Chinese character and to use technology to assist in this endeavour. As such, data analysis has become important in understanding educational matters.

The team used this data-driven technology to analyse learning outcomes among students on music courses. In their work, the K-means clustering algorithm, known for its efficiency, was assisted by a noise reduction autoencoder, a type of neural network, to improve the results beyond what is commonly possible with just the clustering algorithm. This approach allows them to manage and analyse large data sets.

The results show a disparity between student performance in theoretical and practical music courses. Students generally perform better in theoretical subjects, with a high percentage achieving passing and top scores. In contrast, practical courses such as composition, improvisation, and live performance show lower and more average scores, highlighting a gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Li and Fan suggest that their findings point to how current curricula, which place a lot of emphasis on theoretical knowledge at the expense of practical skills, might be modified to rectify this imbalance.

Li, P. and Fan, Z. (2024) ‘Application of improved K-means algorithm in the cultivation of creative music talents under the needs of sustainable development and transformation’, Int. J. Web Engineering and Technology, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp.4–19.

International Journal of Information and Computer Security indexed by Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index

Inderscience is pleased to announce that the International Journal of Information and Computer Security has been indexed by Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index.

The journal's Editor in Chief, Associate Prof. Biju Issac, has shared the following statement concerning this achievement:

"The news of IJICS getting indexed in Clarivate's Emerging Sources Citation Index is fantastic. It clearly reflects the quality of the papers published in the journal through rigorous peer review, and I am sure it will attract further high-quality paper submissions. I would especially like to thank the authors, editorial board members and reviewers for their contributions in making this journal successful. I hope the quality of this journal will only get better in the days to come. We will be aiming for a higher impact factor over the next few years."

Free Open Access article available: "Data analysis of digital teaching resources and interactive behaviour between teachers and students based on K-means algorithm"

The following paper, "Data analysis of digital teaching resources and interactive behaviour between teachers and students based on K-means algorithm" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(7) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Prof. Eldon Li appointed as new Editor in Chief of International Journal of Information Systems and Management

Prof. Eldon Li from National Chung Cheng University in Taiwan has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Information Systems and Management.

Free Open Access article available: "Early warning and decision-making model of geological disaster damage of transmission lines based on intelligent online monitoring technology"

The following paper, "Early warning and decision-making model of geological disaster damage of transmission lines based on intelligent online monitoring technology" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(7) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Risky business in Vietnam - "Improving brand security through good brand risk management"

Research in the International Journal of Trade and Global Markets has looked at the role of effective brand risk management in improving brand security across the food and drink industry in Vietnam, specifically in the areas of manufacturing and processing.

Hai-Yen Thi Bui of the Hanoi School of Business and Management at Vietnam National University surveyed more than 400 businesses and found a strong correlation between those companies with strong brand risk management practices and the improvements they saw in three key aspects of brand security: safety, stability, and sustainability. She suggests that the findings show how important such brand strategies are in this sector. Ignoring them could lead to problems with a company’s reputation, reduced customer trust, and ultimately, financial losses.

There has previously been much discussion around enterprise risk management and how it can affect a company’s performance. Some studies have shown it to have an economic benefit and that it leads to a better financial bottom-line. However, others have found it not to have as much effect as imagined.

It is, of course, difficult to get a handle on the intangible, assets such as reputation, trademarks, and corporate culture. These all play into how well a company might do in the market and its competitive edge.

Brand risk management, however, defined as the process of protecting a brand through systematic risk assessment and control, is, this new research suggests, vital. Effective brand risk management can protect a company’s reputation, ensure customer loyalty and trust, and preclude financial losses. By preventing crises and ensuring the brand’s safety, stability, and sustainability, it safeguards brand security.

The research has implications beyond the food and drink sector. It may well apply to businesses across very disparate industries, and so could benefit them in nudging them to adopt similar brand risk management strategies in order to safeguard their company reputation and sustain financial success.

Bui, H-Y.T. (2024) ‘Improving brand security through good brand risk management’, Int. J. Trade and Global Markets, Vol. 19, No. 5, pp.1–20.

Free Open Access article available: "Research on intelligent teaching curriculum of preschool education majors in universities based on artificial intelligence technology support"

The following paper, "Research on intelligent teaching curriculum of preschool education majors in universities based on artificial intelligence technology support" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(7) 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 American Journal of Finance and Accounting

The following sample articles from the American Journal of Finance and Accounting are now available here for free:

• Digital lending in emerging economies: the nexus between financial innovation and consumer protection
• Intellectual structure, themes and disciplines of credit rating determination by rating agencies - a bibliometric analysis
• Investor sentiment metrics and stock market returns: a study of the causality relationship using VAR models
• Citation analysis of audit fee determinants literature

Research pick: Standardising terminology to stop the spread of disease - "Domestication matters: risk analyses necessary to prevent zoonotic pathogen spillover from international wildlife trade are constrained by terminology"

Researchers writing in the International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management, explain how the USA is a major importer of wildlife, bringing into the states a great diversity and quantity of different species. This trade, they caution, has the potential to introduce pathogens into the region, specifically zoonotic pathogens, which cause disease in those many different species, but that might make the leap animal to human. The potential here being that such pathogens, like bird flu, SARS, and COVID-19 before they pose a serious risk of a new pandemic.

Jonathan E. Kolby and Jamie K. Reaser of Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, and William C. Pitt of The American Chestnut Foundation in Asheville, North Carolina explain that current regulatory policies designed to prevent the entry of these pathogens are not in as sound a state as they ought to be. The team discusses how the effectiveness of those policies is hindered by the inconsistent use of terminology. For instance, the phrases “domesticated animals” and “wildlife” are not always used consistently nor with a solid scientific definition between various federal agencies. This, the team suggests, could undermine the integrity of the scientific data being used for zoonotic risk assessment.

Kolby and his colleagues suggest that there is an urgent need to standardize the terms being used based on scientific principles. There is also a need to update the long list of recognized domesticated animals and to then implement species-specific customs codes to improve the accuracy and reliability of data being fed into those zoonotic risk assessments.

Throughout human history, we have come into contact with wild animals carrying disease. On many occasions, those diseases have spread from anima to people. However, in the modern world of international trade and travel, there has for decades been the potential for such diseases to spread globally rather than being confined close to the site of origin. The COVID-19 pandemic is a case in point, with the likely source of the zoonotic pathogen thought to be bats in China. There are other theories about the original vector and animals that may well have acted as carriers prior to the virus making the jump to people.

The human and economic costs of pandemics are immense. Preventive measures are far more cost-effective than dealing with the consequences. Indeed, research shows that the overall costs of blocking the emergence of a pandemic are far less than the economic losses and lives lost once a disease has spread around the world. Effective prevention strategies offer ethical and equity benefits that can safeguard both human and animal lives. As such, risk analysis is a powerful tool for governments to evaluate and prioritize measures to help tackle emerging zoonotic diseases before they become pandemics. Standardising terminology for the sake of the science could be a key part of this defence, the current paper shows.

Kolby, J.E., Pitt, W.C. and Reaser, J.K. (2023) ‘Domestication matters: risk analyses necessary to prevent zoonotic pathogen spillover from international wildlife trade are constrained by terminology’, Int. J. Risk Assessment and Management, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp.95–117.

Free Open Access article available: "From toy-like to intelligent: ARM-based cloud-injected AI companion robot"

The following paper, "From toy-like to intelligent: ARM-based cloud-injected AI companion robot" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(7) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Dr. Carlos Alberto Devece Carañana appointed as new Editor in Chief of International Journal of Technoentrepreneurship

Dr. Carlos Alberto Devece Carañana from the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Technoentrepreneurship.

Free Open Access article available: "Sentiment classification model for student teaching evaluation based on deep learning technology"

The following paper, "Sentiment classification model for student teaching evaluation based on deep learning technology" (International Journal of Information and Communication Technology 24(7) 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: "New Challenges and Economic Policy for Emerging Economies in the Age of Intellectual Machines"

International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies 19(3/4) 2024

• A new educational model for training digital personnel and intelligent machines: standardisation vs. flexibility
• Formation and development of digital marketing in a business environment
• Financial strategy of human development management in emerging economies in the age of intellectual machines
• Financial measurement of emerging economies' effectiveness in the age of intellectual machines: scientific methodology and policy implications
• Engineering enterprise cost management policy in a developing real economy
• Digital personnel in labour market as the basis of creating highly efficient jobs in developing countries in the age of intellectual machines
• Budgetary stability of territories as a consequence of developing and developed economies of the regions of Russia
• Models of economic growth of Russia's regions in the age of intellectual machines: technological breakthrough vs. stability and sustainability
• Marketing model of distribution of intellectual machines as new subjects of socio-economic relations in emerging economies
• Managing innovations and digitalisation in the age of intellectual machines: challenges for the economic policy in Russian regions
• Labour mobility in emerging economies: a contribution to provision of employees' competitiveness in the age of intellectual machines
• Hi-tech production based on intelligent machines in emerging economies in Industry 4.0: a source of new quality of economic growth or a path to socio-economic crisis
• Industry 4.0 as the vector of industrial development in emerging economies in the age of intellectual machines: a financial aspect
• Innovative post-industrial development in the age of intellectual machines: experience and perspectives of financing in emerging economies

Free Open Access article available: "Vulnerability analysis of Maritime Silk Road shipping network under port emergencies"

The following paper, "Vulnerability analysis of Maritime Silk Road shipping network under port emergencies" (International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics 18(3) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Prof. Ikou Kaku appointed as new Editor in Chief of Asian Journal of Management Science and Applications

Prof. Ikou Kaku from Tokyo City University in Japan has been appointed to take over editorship of the Asian Journal of Management Science and Applications.

Free Open Access article available: "Analyses of the principles of legality and justice in administrative proceedings of the Republic of Kazakhstan"

The following paper, "Analyses of the principles of legality and justice in administrative proceedings of the Republic of Kazakhstan" (International Journal of Public Law and Policy 10(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 Oil, Gas and Coal Technology

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology are now available here for free:

• Estimating coal consumption in Turkey using machine learning methods
• Evaluating the effect of petroleum price volatility on government revenue in Ghana
• A comprehensive review on the high-density clear completion fluids for applications in HPHT well completion
• Numerical simulation of the reservoir and operational parameters to optimise steam flooding performance
• Influence of relative permeability, capillary pressure, and well orientation in the geological carbon sequestration in a saline aquifer

Special issue published: "Intelligent System Design and Optimisation for Next Generation Smart Applications"

International Journal of Embedded Systems 16(3) 2023

• Construction of Simulink-CarSim joint simulation platform for distributed drive electric vehicles
• Design of the control system for preventing automobile accelerator from treading on brake mistakenly based on artificial intelligence technology
• Design and optimisation strategy of linear traffic spatial dynamic vision guidance system based on multi-source data
• Application of cloud and fog networks and QoS routing optimisation strategies for low delay
• Evaluation of hidden danger types of optical channel performance degradation based on machine learning cascading technology
• Mechanical design and key technology of automatic production line based on artificial intelligence
• Evaluation and exploration of 3D reconstruction based on real-time embedded system in building mapping and surveying
• A malicious traffic detection method based on Bayesian meta-learning for few samples

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Computational Materials Science and Surface Engineering

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Computational Materials Science and Surface Engineering are now available here for free:

• A finite element simulation for notch stress intensity factors of sharp center V-notched tensile configuration using strain gauge technique
• Numerical simulation of SiC crystal growth during physical vapour transport using the lattice Boltzmann - phase field model
• Improving engine's lubrication based on optimised partial micro-textures
• Computational and experimental analysis of partly coated hydrophobic airfoil
• Corrosion estimation of Cu and Br based automotive parts exposed to biodiesel environment: case of RSM and ANN
• Predicting the tensile behaviour of friction stir welded AA2024 and AA5083 alloy based on artificial neural network and mayfly optimisation algorithm

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Bibliometrics in Business and Management

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Bibliometrics in Business and Management are now available here for free:

• Green manufacturing practices: a bibliometric and thematic analysis
• Barriers in entrepreneurship: a bibliometric study
• Contributions of the balanced scorecard as a support instrument in strategic decision-making: a bibliometric study
• Business economics research in the context of COVID-19 pandemic: a crisis management perspective

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business are now available here for free:

• Prioritising the determinants entrepreneurial firms in the sustainable supply chain networks using fuzzy TOPSIS method
• Social ties, prior experience, and venture creation by transnational entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurship and universities David B. Audretsch
• Transnationals in an English-speaking world Ivan Light
• The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship: an application to foreign direct investment
• Entrepreneurship theory, process, and practice in the 21st century
• Enterprise profiles in deprived areas: are they distinctive?
• Celebrity entrepreneurship: communication effectiveness through perceived involvement
• Expanding the scope of methodologies used in entrepreneurship research
• Towards a theory of indigenous entrepreneurship

Free Open Access article available: "Domestication matters: risk analyses necessary to prevent zoonotic pathogen spillover from international wildlife trade are constrained by terminology"

The following paper, "Domestication matters: risk analyses necessary to prevent zoonotic pathogen spillover from international wildlife trade are constrained by terminology" (International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management 26(2) 2023), 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 Regions and Cities: Development, Policy and Governance in the Age of Uncertainty"

International Journal of Trade and Global Markets 19(3/4) 2024

• Modelling of a regional industry specialisation: the impact of agglomeration economies on labour productivity
• Accounting aspects of measuring the economic activity of countries and regions with GDP
• Impact of network interaction on the quality of higher education in CIS countries
• "Invisible" single-industry towns in Russia
• Factors influencing the initiative budgeting development in Russia's regions
• Economic contribution and social effects of youth volunteering in the early period of the Covid-19 pandemic: a case of a large Russian region

Free Open Access article available: "Improving brand security through good brand risk management"

The following paper, "Improving brand security through good brand risk management"(International Journal of Trade and Global Markets 19(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 Design Engineering

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

• Comparative effect of biogas and biodiesel on performance and emission of diesel engine: a review
• Lubricant distribution evolution in asymmetric double-row tapered roller bearings during the loss of lubrication process
• Influence of steel fibres on the sorptivity of corroded reinforced concrete
• Design exploration of a spring plate using FEM and Box-Behnken design
• Analysis of dimensional accuracy of RP pattern and RTV mould inserts using DOE technique

Free Open Access article available: "Understanding non-designers' practices and processes in a human-centered design course"

The following paper, "Understanding non-designers' practices and processes in a human-centered design course" (International Journal of Innovation in Education 9(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 Hydromechatronics

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

• Prescribed performance control for a pneumatic cylinder with strong friction via nonlinear extended state observer
• Methods to improve motion servo control accuracy of pneumatic cylinders - review and prospect
• An improved gated convolutional neural network for rolling bearing fault diagnosis with imbalanced data
• A novel tool condition monitoring based on Gramian angular field and comparative learning
• Hybrid model-driven and data-driven approach for the health assessment of axial piston pumps
• Applications of level set method in computational fluid dynamics: a review

Free Open Access article available: "The security environment in Indian commercial banks: an employee's information security behaviour perspective"

The following paper, "The security environment in Indian commercial banks: an employee's information security behaviour perspective" (International Journal of Business Innovation and Research 34(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: "Organisational Tenets for Effectiveness and Efficiency: Technological Functions, Ethical Behaviours and Institutional Considerations"

Journal for Global Business Advancement 16(3) 2023

• Entrepreneurial networks and their impact on entrepreneurship intentions: perceived desirability and the perceived feasibility as mediators
• Online marketing during a global crisis: an exploration of sponsorship's effectiveness over the internet
• The microfoundations of the innovation-internationalisation nexus: insight from SME manufacturers in Canada
• Examining the influence of governance on the quality of public services: the moderating effect of trust in government
• Factors influencing ethical behaviour in the workplace: the case of schools in Kuwait
• Examining the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity on adoption of emerging technologies by entrepreneurs

Research pick: A prescription for procurement progress - "Donor-funded procurement determinants and effectiveness of procurement in the public health medical laboratory services: examining the mediating factors"

Research in the International Journal of Procurement Management has looked at donor-funded procurement within Zimbabwe’s public health medical laboratory services. The work based on a survey of 221 healthcare professionals and administrative personnel shows that operational efficiency relies mostly on strategic planning.

Crossman Mayavo and Fanny Saruchera of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, studied the Ministry of Health and Childcare using a mixed-method approach to analyse the data. They applied statistical techniques, such as structural equation modelling, to get the most from the data and to show what were the most important factors influencing procurement effectiveness.

The team found that the donation recipient planning process is an important mediator that affects the effectiveness of donor-funded procurement. In contrast, the donation implementation process does not affect outcomes to the same degree. The work suggests that strategic planning is critical to success, rather than simply relying on implementation efforts to maximize the benefits of donor-funded projects.

This work sits in the broader context of the enormous global health funding that is directed towards lower and middle-income countries, especially developing nations in Africa. It also points to the issues of dependency, mismanagement, and corruption that persist across the continent. Mismanagement and corruption can, of course, undermine the improvements finding might bring and are exacerbated by goverment-level challenges and bureaucratic inefficiencies.

In Zimbabwe, the study shows that effective donor-funded procurement works best if a lead donor is present, if stakeholder collaborations are fostered, if there is transparency in fund allocation, and strong leadership support. In addition, the recruitment of competent personnel is important, as is the efficient management of the necessary logistics. These determinants serve as mediators, significantly enhancing procurement outcomes by bridging the gap between donor recipient planning and actual procurement effectiveness.

The findings could have implications beyond Zimbabwe. Strategic planning and strong leadership are perhaps obvious components of a successful system and this will apply to other developing nations. The team urges policymakers to cultivate environments that support effective donor-funded procurement and so ensure that their healthcare institutions are not only well-equipped but also well-managed.

Mayavo, C. and Saruchera, F. (2024) ‘Donor-funded procurement determinants and effectiveness of procurement in the public health medical laboratory services: examining the mediating factors’, Int. J. Procurement Management, Vol. 20, No. 5, pp.1–19.

Prof. Dmitry Ivanov appointed as new Editor in Chief of International Journal of Integrated Supply Management

Prof. Dmitry Ivanov from the Berlin School of Economics and Law in Germany has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Integrated Supply Management. Prof. Ivanov and Inderscience's Editorial Office send their sincere thanks to Dr. Ajay Das, the journal's previous Editor in Chief, who will remain involved in the journal as a member of its Advisory Board.

Free Open Access article available: "Factors affect consumers' online shopping behaviour via a mediator factor"

The following paper, "Factors affect consumers' online shopping behaviour via a mediator factor" (International Journal of Economics and Business Research 27(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: Prognosis for a healthy app market - "Monetisation strategies for health apps: evidence from Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store"

Research in the International Journal of Electronic Healthcare has looked at how different monetisation models affect the pricing of health software for mobile devices on the two major app platforms, the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The findings from the work could be used by developers, healthcare providers, and users alike to understand the market for such apps.

Natália Lemos, Cláudia Cardoso, and Cândida Sofia Machado of the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave in Barcelos, Portugal, used a censored regression model to pinpoint key factors that determine the price of health apps that users expect to pay. This then points to how additional approaches to monetisation might be used to lower the initial cost of an app, with the likes of advertising-based approaches to revenue generation having the greatest impact.

The healthcare sector is facing mounting pressure as an aging population faces chronic disease. Moreover, patients are more demanding than ever of their healthcare providers. However, as is almost always the case, budgets and staff are limited resources. New technology might supplement conventional healthcare provision and help patients find ways to improve their quality of life even when suffering from a chronic illness. Indeed, digital and mobile technology have already changed healthcare delivery, improved productivity, efficiency, equity, and quality in many ways. So-called e-Health, which integrates electronic communication and information technology, and m-Health, which focuses on mobile and wireless technologies, are both advancing healthcare provision.

Many health apps work to make facile connections between patients and healthcare providers. The larger the user base, the greater impact a given platform can have on patients and improve health outcomes for them. But, in order to be economically sustainable, there is a balance to be struck in terms of what the apps offer, the resources they need, and the cost to providers and patients.

This new work shows that many users are not necessarily happy to pay a large up-front cost for an app, but are happy to see advertising if that keeps the app price low. This effect is more pronounced among Google Play Store users compared to those on Apple’s App Store. However, such ad-based models do detract from the user experience as they are a distraction and be a waste of a user’s time on the app in question. In addition, there is growing concern that some apps are monetised through third parties, selling on data and information about their users, which brings with it privacy and security concerns, something that is an especially sensitive issue in the health sector.

The team found, however, that there are alternatives that can make an app economically viable. For instance, if in-app purchases are offered this does not affect whether users will pay a given initial download price but does open up the possibility of additional revenue for providers and developers. This study focused mainly on Europe and more specifically the market for healthcare apps in Portugal. There is thus potential to extend the work to see whether it might be generalised to the wider and obviously vast international app markets.

Lemos, N., Cardoso, C. and Machado, C.S. (2023) ‘Monetisation strategies for health apps: evidence from Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store’, Int. J. Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 13, No. 4, pp.295–310.

Associate Prof. Maoqing Zhang appointed as new Editor in Chief of International Journal of Complexity in Applied Science and Technology

Associate Prof. Maoqing Zhang from Henan University of Technology in China has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Complexity in Applied Science and Technology.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Leisure and Tourism Marketing

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Leisure and Tourism Marketing are now available here for free:

• The college student travel market: exploring the key factors influencing higher education Arab students' travel decisions
• The perceptions turned chaff at the destination – experience effect on cultural tourists' satisfaction
• Impact of overtourism on sustainable development and local community wellbeing in the Himalayan region
• Does financial leakage mediate sustainability and competitive advantages of star classified hotels in Ethiopia?
• The effect of adventure tourists' profile characteristics toward wellness dimensions

Free Open Access article available: "Donor-funded procurement determinants and effectiveness of procurement in the public health medical laboratory services: examining the mediating factors"

The following paper, "Donor-funded procurement determinants and effectiveness of procurement in the public health medical laboratory services: examining the mediating factors" (International Journal of Procurement Management 20(5) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Working with AI - "Stepping into the future: unravelling breakthrough innovations through AI ambidexterity, hybrid intelligence, and transformational leadership"

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in global markets is increasing day by day. The results are often mixed, with outcomes influenced strongly by how employees perceive the use of AI within their workplace.

A study in the International Journal of Information Systems and Change Management has looked at the psychological dimension of the perception of AI and has focused on what might be referred to as AI ambidexterity. This ambidexterity embodies the two sides of AI – its capacity to perform both routine and innovative tasks. —and its impact on breakthrough innovation engagement. Shahan Bin Tariq and Jian Zhang of the University of Science and Technology in Beijing, China and Faheem Gul Gilal of the Sukkur IBA University in Sindh, Pakistan, surveyed 337 employees in Pakistan’s high-tech sector and used social exchange theory (SET) and the resource-based view (RBV) to analyse their opinions regarding AI and how difference affect innovation.

Business is marked by globalization and shifting consumer demands. This has compelled companies to innovate continuously to gain or maintain a competitive edge. Some commentators suggest that the innovative use of AI, is critical to business innovation, and many businesses agree and are investing heavily in this fledgling technology.

Of course, as with any new technology there are mixed results and outcomes and while there are supporters there are also inevitably detractors. If employees perceive a threat to their livelihoods, then they are perhaps more likely to have a negative opinion towards that threat. Yet, there is also the potential for AI to make their jobs easier in many ways and open up new opportunities for creativity and innovation.

AI ambidexterity could improve the strategic agility and innovation capacity of many different types of company. The researchers found that there can be both positive and negative employee perceptions, but where the relationship works best seems to be in the concept of hybrid intelligence. In hybrid intelligence, AI’s predictive abilities are combined with human intuition and decision-making to solve problems more effectively.

With transformational leadership, this synergy of human and artificial intelligence might be moderated for the benefit of the companies using it without disenfranchising employees. The study concludes that as AI evolves and matures, a nuanced approach to its implementation and a recognition of its impact on employees in companies using it needs to be taken.

Tariq, S.B., Zhang, J. and Gilal, F.G. (2024) ‘Stepping into the future: unravelling breakthrough innovations through AI ambidexterity, hybrid intelligence, and transformational leadership’, Int. J. Information Systems and Change Management, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp.3–29.

Special issue published: "Art and Imagination for Responsible and Disruptive Innovation: Foresight, Fiction, and Narratives and Their Influence, Exploitation, and Potential"

International Journal of Technology Management 95(3/4) 2024

• Innovation as manifesting imagination: exploring the role of imaginations and imaginators in the innovation process
• Sectoral myths, technotypes and institutional science fiction: how organisations stimulate their creativity
• Cyberpunk as a frame for institutional change through blockchain applications? A narrative analysis of three blockchain projects examining their goals regarding established institutions
• Back to the roots: imagining the application of Bauhaus methodologies in design thinking
• Creative transdisciplinary architectural design as means for realising the sustainable development goals in the built environment
• The interplay between moral and creativity: examples from R&D institutions
• Using green team creativity in developing eco-innovation prototypes
• University incubators and entrepreneurial universities: a case study of the process of setting up a university incubator in a developing country
• Impact entrepreneurship to fight global warming: from utopia to practice

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Water

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

• Perspectives on 2018 'water crisis management' in Cape Town, South Africa: a systematic review
• Examining sediment accumulation pattern and storage capacity loss of Lake Ziway, Ethiopia
• Evaluation of the impact of climate change on water resources and droughts frequency and severity in a small-scale international catchment in the Iberian Peninsula
• Predicting aluminium using full-scale data of a conventional water treatment plant on Orontes River by ANN, GEP, and DT
• Hydrological modelling of Usk River basin in the State of Wales, UK using geospatial technologies

Research pick: Can vague go viral for Gen Y? - "I like, I don’t like, I don’t know: consumers’ attitude towards marketing content in social media from Gen Y glasses"

Generation Y, Gen Y, is commonly referred to the Millennial generation. It usually includes individuals born between the early 1980s and the mid-to-late 1990s or early 2000s. This generation follows Generation X and precedes Generation Z. The Millennials, it is said, grew up during the transition to digital technology and the rise of the internet, and this has shaped their perspectives, behaviour, and the way they use technology and media. They are often characterized as tech-savvy, adaptable, and socially conscious, with a strong affinity for social media and digital communication platforms. However, this can be said of individuals from preceding or subsequent generations too.

A study in the International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing, has looked at Gen Y consumer attitudes in the light of marketing content on social media. Nor Azimah Kamaruddin of the Universiti Utara Malaysia, and Lennora Putit and Amily Fikry of the Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia, have investigated how advertising content, crucial for business and marketing success, seeks to engage audiences effectively.

The team used qualitative methods, such as focus group discussions, to uncover prevalent attitudes among Millennial social media users and their attitudes to marketing content on Facebook, Instagram, and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

The team found that attitudes varied from positive (I like), negative (I don’t like), and vague (I don’t know), as one might have anticipated. Positive attitudes typically stem from content that resonates with the interests of users or their values, leading to actions more “liking” or “sharing” of such content. Conversely, negative attitudes arose from being presented with content that conflicted with user preferences or values. This had the potential to produce a “thumbs down”, a dislike, or negative comments. The team found that the “don’t-knows” with their vague response to marketing content, were often curious nevertheless and sometimes shared content despite initial uncertainty.

While, the bottom line in marketing is always about purchasing behaviour and thus sales, the focus has shifted to some degree to concepts such as viral reach, which can lead to widespread content dissemination that then brings with it the sales way beyond conventional campaigns or traditional word-of-mouth. However, marketers face many challenges in understanding what motivates social media users and how to trigger that much sought after virality of content.

The present study has moved away from the binary “like-dislike” assessment of user behaviour to include those who are virally curious, the vague attitudes and the don’t-knows that might lead to viral reach. This new understanding could give business a better way to develop tailored marketing strategies for social media.

Kamaruddin, N.A., Putit, L. and Fikry, A. (2024) ‘I like, I don’t like, I don’t know: consumers’ attitude towards marketing content in social media from Gen Y glasses’, Int. J. Electronic Marketing and Retailing, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp.308–329.

Free Open Access article available: "A steady-state model-based evaluation of performance characteristics and feasibility analysis of retrofit hydrogen-powered aircraft configurations"

The following paper, "A steady-state model-based evaluation of performance characteristics and feasibility analysis of retrofit hydrogen-powered aircraft configurations" (International Journal of International Journal of Sustainable Aviation 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: Digitalisation of Education: Technology-Enhanced Learning"

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology 73(4) 2023

• Retrieval method for English teaching resources based on decision tree algorithm
• Personalised push of English online and offline mixed teaching resources
• Research on automatic annotation of English pronunciation errors based on deep transfer learning
• Study on personalised search of English teaching resources database based on semantic association mining
• An English translation syntax error recognition based on improved transformer model
• Student privacy data encryption in network teaching platform based on dynamic key
• Data classification mining of university mental health education resources based on global search algorithm
• Identifying student behavioural states in business English listening classroom based on SSD algorithm
• Anomaly identification of English online learning data based on local outlier factor
• Balanced allocation of teaching information resources based on discrete particle swarm optimisation algorithm
• A knowledge sharing method for virtual academic community based on social network analysis
• Online learning effectiveness evaluation for college students based on social network data mining
• A method for sharing online assisted teaching resources based on mobile social networks
• Dynamic classification of English teaching resources based on frequent itemset mining
• A sharing method of English book resources in regional teaching consortium based on XDS technology

Research pick: Candidate crush - "Decision-making analysis for a new variant of the classical secretary problem"

The classic “secretary problem” involves interviewing job candidates in a random order. Candidates are interviewed one by one, and the interviewer ranks them. After each interview, the interviewer must either accept or reject the candidate. If they accept a candidate, the process stops; otherwise, the next candidate is interviewed and so on. Of course, if a candidate is accepted then a subsequent candidate who may well be better suited to the job will never be interviewed and so never selected. Nevertheless, the goal is to maximize the probability of selecting the best candidate.

Since its introduction in the 1950s, this problem has been researched extensively because it is a fundamental example of optimal stopping problems. Many variants of the problem, such as multiple choices, regret-permit, and weighted versions, have been studied.

Research in the International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research has looked at a variant on the secretary problem. Yu Wu of Southwest Jiaotong University in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, explains that in this variant the interviewer has a “look-ahead privilege” and can see some of the details regarding subsequent candidates before making a decision about the current interviewee at each step. Wu defines the degree of look-ahead privilege as the number of candidates interviewed between the first interview and the final decision.

In one sense, this version of the problem is a more realistic sequential interviewing scenario wherein the interviewer may well have seen the resumes of all candidates or perhaps even have met them all before the interviewing process begins. This contrasts with the blind sequential interviewing of the classic problem and allows a decision to be deferred until subsequent candidates have been interviewed. It should therefore allow a better decision to be made regarding the choice of candidate who is offered the job. This is the first time this variant has been studied in detail in this way.

Wu has proposed a general optimal decision strategy framework to maximize the probability of selecting the best candidate. He focuses on a specific look-ahead privilege structure, applying the strategy framework to derive a closed-form probability of success. This provides for an optimal strategy. Computational experiments have been carried out to explore the relationships between the various factors in the process and to show how this variant of the problem can be solved.

Wu, Y. (2024) ‘Decision-making analysis for a new variant of the classical secretary problem’, Int. J. Mathematics in Operational Research, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp.305–316.