Dodging the distro inferno

A new fire detection system designed for lithium battery energy storage facilities described in the International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management could improve safety in the renewable energy sector.

Electricity generation that uses intermittent energy sources, such as wind and solar, relies on large-scale rechargeable batteries for storage. Unfortunately, a phenomenon known as thermal runaway is a well-known issue with lithium batteries. It refers to the feedback that occurs when battery temperature rises, triggering chemical reactions that generate further heat and so on. Thermal runaway can lead to catastrophic fire or explosion, causing damage to infrastructure and releasing hazardous substances, including toxic gases and heavy metals, into the surrounding environment.

The new approach discussed in IJETM addresses the risk through a more responsive and reliable method of fire detection. It uses a combination of sensors to monitor key indicators of potential failure, including temperature changes, smoke levels and the presence of carbon monoxide.

The system integrates these multiple data streams using a mathematical approach known as Dempster–Shafer evidence theory instead of using a single measurement. The framework works with uncertain or incomplete information from different sources and so can make reliable judgements on whether the system is stable or on the verge of catastrophic failure. In so doing, it reduces the number of false alarms and improves detection of genuine fire risk. The processing unit analyses the data in real time and can trigger an alarm and response within two seconds with over 95 per cent accuracy. Both response time and accuracy improve on earlier systems.

The same multi-factorial approach might be used in other sectors that rely on interconnected, sensor-driven technologies, including industrial safety monitoring, transportation networks, and urban infrastructure, where early detection of anomalies can prevent accidents and improve efficiency.

Deng, D.L. and Du, X.C. (2025) ‘Fire warning of lithium battery energy storage power stations for environmental sustainable development’, Int. J. Environmental Technology and Management, Vol. 28, Nos. 4/5/6, pp.355–366.

New Open Access article available: "E-government implementation and internal user satisfaction in a Peruvian naval tertiary medical centre: a cross-sectional study"

The following International Journal of Electronic Governance article, "E-government implementation and internal user satisfaction in a Peruvian naval tertiary medical centre: a cross-sectional study", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Balancing ecology and industry in China - "Marine ecological governance and green development in Beibu Gulf of Guangxi under the digital context"

A new study of the vast Guangxi Beibu Gulf Marine Region (GBGMR) in southern China takes a close look at how environmental limits are being stretched by economic growth. It highlights the disparities between provinces and asks how more effective environmental policies might be put in place across different parts of the region.

The GBGMR is an important coastal zone spanning several provinces. It lies along southern China’s coast on the Beibu Gulf near the border with Vietnam. It acts as an ecological barrier stabilising environmental conditions as well as supporting fisheries, water supply, and industry. The GBGMR encompasses an incredibly varied geography but represents an uneven distribution of natural resources. Both these factors make it especially vulnerable to all kinds of pressures from human activity.

Research in the International Journal of Global Energy Issues has shown that while the region currently operates within what we might call environmental limits, the buffer zone is steadily shrinking based on an assessment of its Ecological Carrying Capacity (ECC). ECC is a measure of an ecosystem’s ability to support human activity without causing long-term damage to the natural environment. In their study, the team combined two indicators of impact: carbon footprint and water footprint.

Their analysis shows clear variation across regions in the GBGMR and over time. Provinces that depend on energy-intensive industries, such as coal and chemicals, face much higher ecological stress whereas areas that have diversified are more resilient and can maintain a better balance between growth and environmental limits.

The findings could help guide policymakers so that locally pertinent regulations are put in place instead of blanket measures. The team suggests that regions with high emissions should accelerate the move to sustainable energy, while water-scarce areas should prioritise conservation and move away from water-intensive industries.

Song, H., Wang, X., Zhao, J., Yuan, S. and Yu, J. (2026) ‘Marine ecological governance and green development in Beibu Gulf of Guangxi under the digital context’, Int. J. Global Energy Issues, Vol. 48, No. 7, pp.1–20.

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• An intelligent decision support framework for financial market risk using big data and optimised XGBoost
• Optimisation of vocal music teaching strategy in colleges and universities based on neural network
• Cross-prompt English composition automatic scoring method integrating CNN, LSTM, and attention mechanism
• The solidification effect of airport road bases using an improved BP neural network and visualisation evaluation model
• Semantic analysis and translation optimisation of English sentences using long short-term memory network

New Open Access article available: "Aspect-level sentiment classification with emotional keywords attention network"

The following International Journal of Computational Intelligence Studies article, "Aspect-level sentiment classification with emotional keywords attention network", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Construction and empirical study of a multi-source data fusion model for adolescent health literacy assessment
• Hierarchical fusion of multi-scale features with transformer for crime scene trace identification
• Visual depth models coupled with 3D pose estimation for sports body training evaluation
• Antennas in the oral English test scenario: meta-learning assisted fast reconstruction
• Fuzzy logic-supported automatic error recognition and efficient optimisation in literary writing texts

Free Open Access special issue on "Nano-Evolution: From Science To Technologies" published by International Journal of Nanotechnology

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

• Synthesis of nanopowders Nd2Fe14B by chemical method
• The second quantum revolution: the development of quantum subatomic nanotechnologies
• Planar nanostructures element analysis using the X-ray radiation emission induced by high energy excitation
• Al2O3 nanoparticles synthesis, and a study of its influence on the fire behaviour of nanocomposite materials based on unsaturated polyester resin
• Properties of the nanoemulsions with seed oils
• The effect of the moisture state of samples on the change in the elastic-strength parameters of epoxy polymers during natural climatic ageing
• Behavioural programs can function as biological genes participating in the social evolution
• Computer simulation of the neutralisation of superoxide radicals by the fullerenol-24 nanomolecular system
• Composite materials in a binary CuBr - SbBr3 system
• Synthesis and perspectives of Ag/In2O3 inverse opal
• Predictive protein module based on PPI network and double clustering algorithm

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Analysis of common error patterns in German software localisation and automated detection tools
• Cross-modal retrieval of Korean intangible cultural heritage multimedia content using deep hashing networks
• Cross-platform adult learning behaviour profiling based on multimodal data fusion
• Harnessing multimodal graph neural networks to predict graduate employment anxiety
• An edge computing system for live-line detection based on multi-sensor data fusion

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Neural differential equations based diffusion models for high-jump posture prediction
• Convergence criteria for iterative formats in high-dimensional optimisation problems discretised from mathematical partial differential equations
• Federated contrastive learning framework for cross-platform teaching quality assessment
• Multi-element animation generation via memory-augmented self-supervised learning and mixture density networks
• Sentiment analysis of English social media based on transfer learning and semantic enhancement

New Open Access article available: "Competitive advantage versus cooperation in strategic management: a framework for success"

The following International Journal of Business Excellence article, "Competitive advantage versus cooperation in strategic management: a framework for success", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Intelligent education recommendation under dual constraints: collaborative mechanism of federated architecture and genetic optimisation
• Integrated intelligent management and control system for million-kilowatt photovoltaic stations
• Swimming action recognition algorithm based on improved C3D and attention-residual network
• English video scene semantic parsing technique based on sentence semantics and adaptive feature selection
• Student behaviour analysis and innovative curriculum planning based on apriori-HGNN model

Research pick: The online protection racket - "Personal data protection in the age of digital financial systems"

Research in the journal Electronic Government discusses the growing need for protecting one’s personal financial data as the online world faces increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. The researchers argue that no single measure is sufficient to secure the modern financial ecosystem. As such, they set out a framework that combines technological tools, regulatory oversight, and individual responsibility to combat the problem.

There are three foundational principles in online financial security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Confidentiality is about making sure that sensitive information, such as account details and biometrics, is accessible only to authorised users. Integrity involves maintaining the accuracy and reliability of data and blocking unauthorised changes. Availability ensures that only legitimate users can access their financial information and no third party.

The researchers explain that a breakdown in any one of these areas can lead to personal financial loss, reputational harm for institutions, and more broadly, an erosion of trust in digital services.

Phishing, in which attackers pose as legitimate entities to extract sensitive information via a rogue email or website, is the most common digital fraud. Malware, software designed to infiltrate or damage systems, is a close second and continues to evolve to evade antivirus systems and get around firewalls. Insider threats, involving individuals within organisations misusing access, add another layer of risk. Then there are institutional, industrial-scale breaches where data is sold to malicious third parties on the dark web.

Financial institutions operate within stringent regulatory systems to reduce the risks but even with protections in place such as data regulation laws, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and routine security audits, vulnerabilities still exist.

All the protection in the world cannot save users from themselves, though. Even the least naïve digital native can succumb to social engineering or the sleekest of phishing attacks. The researchers suggest that user education is key. Users need to learn about avoiding weak passwords, about not repeating passwords, about how to recognise phishing attempts, and about how to be consistent in their practices online to avoid being caught out.

Kumari, A. (2026) ‘Personal data protection in the age of digital financial systems’, Electronic Government, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp.220–240.

Research pick: AI, who drives the cars? - "Transformer-GNN hybrid architecture for optimising real-time traffic forecasting on highways"

Urban congestion is a big problem in our cities. It leads to commuter delays  and economic inefficiency. More tragically, though, it leads to a million deaths annually worldwide. Research in the International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems shows how artificial intelligence (AI) might be able to carry out real-time traffic forecasting and so provide a way for the authorities to manage our road networks better.

Road vehicles do not behave as individual entities, traffic flow is a dynamic system in which there are no truly isolated events at individual locations, but conditions that ebb and flow over time. The researchers describe this phenomenon as spatiotemporal dependency. Events at one point at a given time influence conditions elsewhere on the roads. For example, a slowdown on a motorway might trigger congestion further down the route or in areas fed by the motorway some time later.

The researchers explain that capturing these delayed and distributed effects has long proved difficult for conventional forecasting models. Existing systems rely on simplified assumptions or short-term data patterns. The new approach using a hybrid deep learning system known as STG-Former. This brings together two computational approaches: graph neural networks and transformer models. A graph neural network represents the road system as a network of connections. The model can thus learn about traffic conditions over an area. The transformer component uses an attention mechanism to identify the most relevant information at any given time. It can thus detect patterns as they change through time.

Tests with this new system on standard traffic datasets show the model is much more accurate in its predictions than even the leading rivals and works well during periods of peak congestion when those other models often fail. The improvement is significant in the context of urban congestion, where even a small improvement in predictions can help traffic management improve its operational decisions and so avoid gridlock or major stalls in the flow of traffic.

Cheng, H., Cao, Y. and Li, W. (2026) ‘Transformer-GNN hybrid architecture for optimising real-time traffic forecasting on highways’, Int. J. Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems, Vol. 18, No. 9, pp.38–50.

New Open Access article available: "An edge computing-based fast restoration for urban medium- and low-voltage distribution networks"

The following International Journal of Critical Infrastructures article, "An edge computing-based fast restoration for urban medium- and low-voltage distribution networks", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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New Open Access article available: "Fuzzy best-worst method for analysing the threats of AI in education"

The following International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research article, "Fuzzy best-worst method for analysing the threats of AI in education", 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 Cloud Computing

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• Federated architecture for serverless platforms aimed at transparent execution in the edge-cloud continuum
• An enhanced two-level data sanitisation and elliptic curve cryptography encryption model for securing electronic healthcare data in a hybrid cloud platform
• An effective algorithm for predicting load and dynamic task scheduling in cloud fog architecture for smart homes
• An optimised AI-driven swarm-based enhanced task scheduling model for cloud computing environment
• Designing a hybrid heuristic-aided approach for replica placement and migration strategy for SaaS applications in edge cloud

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Low-power mesh networks for off-grid communication systems: a 5G-fibre hybrid integration solution
• Neural networks and cognitive diagnostic modelling for OBE-oriented curriculum association maps
• Abstract art pattern generation via diffusion models and variational autoencoders
• An automatic English pronunciation scoring model using GAN-enhanced synthetic data and active learning
• Application of generative AI in composition assistance and creative music teaching

Research pick: Grid vibrations – AI detects power supply cyberattacks in less than two seconds - "Network security threat identification based on GNN-transformer fusion model in energy cyber systems"

Modern energy infrastructure is increasingly defined as cyber-physical systems where physical power distribution and digital communication are closely tied together. While this digitalisation boosts efficiency, it exposes electricity grids to sophisticated cybersecurity risks. To combat such threats, researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) method that integrates network structure analysis with data tracking to identify complex attacks that conventional security systems might miss. Details are reported in the International Journal of Global Energy Issues.

Energy infrastructure is vulnerable to Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). Unlike localised glitches, APTs involve long-term infiltration where attackers quietly gather data or manipulate operational signals. A major problem is the False Data Injection (FDI) attack, where sensor measurements are altered to feed operators misleading information. Such changes can cause catastrophic errors in energy flow and paralyse physical fuel supplies across entire regions. Such vulnerabilities are manifest as ransomware attacks, but increasingly, there are the risks associated with international conflict.

Detecting these incursions is difficult because malicious commands often mimic routine operational activity. Legacy detection systems use “signatures”, predefined rules based on known past threats. Such an approach is generally ineffectual in the face of new, “zero-day” exploits or attacks that otherwise do not match existing patterns.

The new AI approach uses two distinct types of information: structural information (the physical and digital layout of devices and control centres) and temporal information (the chronological sequence of commands and signals) to identify an ongoing attack. The dual-layered deep learning architecture is based on a Graph Neural Network (GNN) that maps the system’s spatial layout, and a Transformer model analyses data sequences over time. The former gives the AI a picture of the physical aspects of the infrastructure, and the latter understands how it changes over time. Such a spatiotemporal AI detection system can identify coordinated, multi-stage attacks that appear harmless when viewed as isolated events.

Testing with standard cybersecurity datasets proved the new AI model to have an accuracy of more than 93 per cent. Critically, it identifies suspicious activity in less than two seconds of it starting. This offers a viable way to near-real-time protection of power infrastructure, the research suggests.

Dai, Y., Lu, J., Li, Z., Li, J. and Rafieipour, M. (2026) ‘Network security threat identification based on GNN-transformer fusion model in energy cyber systems’, Int. J. Global Energy Issues, Vol. 48, No. 7, pp.64–84.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems

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• Survey on sport video analysis and event detection
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• An improved salp swarm algorithm for collaborative scheduling of discrete manufacturing logistics with multiple depots

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Intelligent scoring method for English articles leveraging large language models
• An English vocabulary pronunciation evaluation model based on multidimensional audio features and machine learning
• Student dance teaching motion recognition and classification based on spatial temporal graph convolutional networks
• Blockchain-based carbon footprint tracking and circular network construction for the sharing economy
• Real-time detection and correction of pipa playing finger techniques based on video data analysis

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• Network big data association recommendation method based on modified entropy and improved FCM algorithm
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• Intelligent robot path planning based on multimodal deep learning algorithm

Free Open Access special issue on "Interdisciplinary Research of Energy Application, Governance, and Policy for Sustainability – Part 1" published by International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development

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

• Stability of school-enterprise cooperation in energy education: interaction mechanisms and policy implications
• Modelling and diagnosis method of power transformer sound characteristics by integrating sparse representation and deep autoencoder network
• Spatial distribution of geographical indication agricultural product clusters and their impact on the sustainable development of the agricultural energy-economy system
• The high-quality development of China's green energy economy for promotion of digital finance under deep learning technology
• Graph neural network model for cable tunnel cost prediction under high-dimensional construction data

Associate Prof. Fa Zhu appointed as new Editor in Chief of International Journal of Granular Computing, Rough Sets and Intelligent Systems

Associate Prof. Fa Zhu from Nanjing Forestry University in China has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Granular Computing, Rough Sets and Intelligent Systems.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Markets and Business Systems

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• The electrification of passenger transport for sustainable mobility: challenges and opportunities from the perspective of key stakeholders
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• Attributions of QR code-driven perceived flow on customer satisfaction
• The prevalence of emotionality and spirituality over rationality in knowmads' career decision making: a qualitative case study on individual knowledge dynamics
• Mapping the impact of sales promotions on consumer perception and behaviour: a bibliometric analysis

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• Estimation of average TSP distance considering zone length-width ratio: implications for territory design
• Optimal operation and social evaluation in a closed-loop supply chain with quality and reuse of used electric vehicle batteries under government subsidy
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• A study of the multi-objective flexible job-shop scheduling model considering human factors
• An optimised vehicle routing model for minimising distribution costs in cold-chain logistics

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Low-altitude UAVs and IoT-empowered fresh cold chain logistics system for mountainous areas
• Artistic image restoration and semantic reconstruction driven by multimodal AIGC
• Deep learning-based power transformer condition monitoring and fault diagnosis algorithm
• Optimising privacy protection for cross-border data flow based on federated learning
• Agent-driven big data interaction empowers personalised marketing efficiency

Research pick: Don’t cross the streams - "Evolving copyright paradigms in the age of live streaming in music and video piracies"

Digital technologies have over the last few decades reshaped how we consume music, films, and live performances. Consumers can access content with the click of a mouse or the tapping of an icon, and while there are countless legitimate sources for that content, there are perhaps just as many illegal sources, so-called pirate sites.

Content piracy is nothing new. Back in the pre-recorded days when many people had musical instruments, such as pianos, in their homes or access to them in pubs and other venues, printed sheet music was the equivalent of a recording of a song. You could recreate the song in your own home for pennies or less if you could get hold of a pirated copy of said sheet music. Today, the world is a very different place, but the principles are the same. People want to hear music, and many of them don’t want to pay much, if anything, for that privilege.

Research in the International Journal of Intellectual Property Management has looked at piracy in the age of online live streaming. The work shows that copyright systems are struggling to keep pace with technological change, particularly in fast-growing digital markets such as India. The study focuses on the legal and technological obstacles confronting regulators as new forms of piracy proliferate.

Digital piracy refers to the unauthorised copying, distribution or use of copyrighted works. Copyright itself is a form of intellectual property protection covering creative output such as music, books, films, sculpture, artworks, artistic performances, and even light shows. Unlike patents and trademarks, copyright largely operates as what legal scholars call a negative right. This means that rights holders cannot compel others to use their work but can prevent others from reproducing or distributing it without permission or payment.

Copyright is meant to encourage creators to produce new work by protecting their economic interests, while at the same time allowing the public to gain reasonable access to knowledge and culture. That balance becomes more difficult in a digital environment where copying and distribution occur almost instantaneously across global networks. Online streaming services, user-content platforms are on the cold front of the copyright conflict. Platforms support legitimate creative activity but also make it easy for users to distribute unauthorised material.

To counter copyright theft, rightsholders often use Digital Rights Management, or DRM. DRM refers to technological systems designed to control how digital content can be used. These protections may limit copying, restrict access only to authorised devices, or require authentication through a paid account. However, as with much of illegal activity, those developing DRM systems are increasingly vulnerable to circumvention from pirates who develop their own systems to counter the DRM systems. The newest programmes, sometimes enhanced or even developed with generative artificial intelligence, GenAI, can break or evade DRM protection with relative ease.

International agreements such as the Rome Convention and treaties administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization have common standards recognising performers’ rights and requiring member states to extend equivalent protection to foreign creators, but with increasingly sophisticated piracy techniques, legal mechanisms lag way behind.

Nath, A. and Chakravarty, G. (2026) ‘Evolving copyright paradigms in the age of live streaming in music and video piracies’, Int. J. Intellectual Property Management, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.28–44.

Research pick: Understanding urban green space dynamics - "Dynamic monitoring and evolution of urban green space landscape sustainability based on spatiotemporal analysis algorithm"

Rapid urbanisation is reshaping cities across the globe. This is having a detrimental effect on many green spaces, such as parks, urban forests, green corridors, and landscaped public areas. Ultimately, these changes represent a loss of ecological and social benefits, such as helping moderate temperatures, improve air quality, manage stormwater, support biodiversity, and contribute to the wellbeing of city dwellers.

Of course, as people head for the cities, housing, infrastructure, and commercial development must change to accommodate their needs. Understanding how urbanisation and the loss of green spaces affect the city’s sustainability is high on the agenda for urban planners and environmental scientists.

A study in the International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development has looked at one of the limitations of earlier research: the reliance on a static assessment of those urban green spaces. Conventional approaches capture conditions at a single moment in time or compare only a few snapshots, and this does not reflect the complex and dynamic nature of urban landscapes. In reality, green spaces expand, contract, and shift unevenly across neighbourhoods and time periods. This makes it difficult to home in on the causes and consequences of change.

To tackle this problem, the researchers have turned to advanced spatiotemporal analytical methods. Spatiotemporal refers to the combined study of where and when changes occur. An algorithm then detects clusters within the complex shifting datasets and identifies hotspots where green space coverage changed significantly and areas where landscapes became increasingly fragmented.

The team then used a second layer of analysis to understand the underlying causes. They used a geographically and temporally weighted regression model, which considers how population growth, development intensity, land-use policy, and other factors vary across locations and over time. Their approach could then link changes in landscape structure directly to the degradation of the ecological “services” provided by those urban green spaces and point to how urban planning might be used to remedy the problem by countering the losses.

Ouyang, L., He, Y., Chen, Z. and He, K. (2026) ‘Dynamic monitoring and evolution of urban green space landscape sustainability based on spatiotemporal analysis algorithm’, Int. J. Environment and Sustainable Development, Vol. 25, No. 5, pp.3–23.

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems

The International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Dynamic cost control methods for computer-integrated engineering based on digital twins
• Immersive virtual reality art generation via neural style transfer
• Integrated design of performance-oriented cost accounting in colleges and universities driven by artificial intelligence
• Transformer-GNN hybrid architecture for optimising real-time traffic forecasting on highways
• Legal loophole detection model based on multi-agent reinforcement learning

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning

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• Learners' eye movement behaviour in a conceptual knowledge video lecture: a Chinese case study
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• Based on the S-O-R model – how does interaction influence engineering students' English learning continuance on online platforms

Free Open Access special issue on "Contemporary Technology Progress for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Management in the Global Energy Sector: Part 1" published by International Journal of Global Energy Issues

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

• Marine ecological governance and green development in Beibu Gulf of Guangxi under the digital context
• A digital technology for energy-saving ventilation control in underground infrastructures: integrating coupled simulation and BP algorithm
• Effect of international new energy teaching on promoting regional new energy communication based on intelligent BP algorithm
• Network security threat identification based on GNN-transformer fusion model in energy cyber systems
• Carbon comfort prediction and innovation enhancement for campus building clusters based on k-means clustering

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

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• Agent-based simulation model for evacuation operations in fire disasters
• Bi-objective optimisation for intelligent warehouse scheduling based on student psychology mechanism
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• Defect detection method of Chinese mitten crab based on improved EfficientVit
• Simulation-driven fault diagnosis for track circuits using multi-scale convolution and transformers under imbalanced data conditions
• Improving maritime distress target detection through modelling and simulation with YOLOv5s and Next-ViT
• Optimising healthcare process efficiency with HyperBERT: embedding ICD code hierarchy for national healthcare systems simulation and improvement

Research pick: Like attracts like - "The effect of female supervisors on the structure and dynamics of the management board"

Efforts to increase gender diversity on corporate boards have often been justified on grounds of fairness and representation. Research in the International Journal of Corporate Governance suggests that the presence of women in supervisory roles may also shape how companies are run, influencing both who becomes a top executive and how closely senior leaders are monitored.

The study examined publicly listed German companies during a period when political pressure to increase female representation in corporate leadership was high on the agenda. Germany formally introduced a gender quota in 2016 requiring large listed companies to ensure that at least 30 per cent of supervisory board members are women. This led to a significant increase in female representation on supervisory boards by the end of the decade. Yet, say the researchers, women were not as well represented on management boards. A mere one per cent of executive roles were held by women in the mid-2000s, and that figure had only risen to about 10 per cent by 2019.

To understand how female representation influences corporate leadership, the study analysed almost 100 publicly listed firms subject to codetermination rules. It focused on two outcomes: the composition of management boards, particularly the presence of female executives, and executive turnover, the rate at which top leaders leave their positions. The analysis focused on chief executive officers (CEOs), chief financial officers (CFOs), and chief human resources officers (CHRO).

The study used a statistical method known as an instrumental variable approach to address a common difficulty in this kind of research, endogeneity. Endogeneity arises when cause and effect are intertwined. For example, firms that are already committed to diversity may appoint more female supervisors and promote more women to executive roles, making it difficult to determine whether one caused the other. By using earlier levels of female representation as a statistical instrument, the analysis could isolate the causal impact of women serving on supervisory boards.

The results suggest that the influence of female supervisors depends less on their overall numbers than on where they sit within the governance structure. Women serving as shareholder representatives on the remuneration and personnel committee significantly increase the proportion of women on management boards. Because this committee prepares decisions about executive appointments, membership provides direct influence over who joins the leadership team.

This pattern is consistent with a concept in social science known as the similarity attraction paradigm, like attracts like, if you will. The theory holds that individuals often favour colleagues who resemble themselves, whether in background, experience or identity. Applied to corporate boards, it suggests that female supervisors may be more likely to support female candidates for executive roles, particularly when they have direct authority over appointments.

Carow, J. (2026) ‘The effect of female supervisors on the structure and dynamics of the management board‘, Int. J. Corporate Governance, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.1-37.

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• Impact of logistic flows of service quality and delivery dimension towards customer satisfaction: an empirical study
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• Impact of influencer marketing on buying behaviour of millennials and generation Z

New Open Access article available: "Multimodal transformer-driven consistent environment design generation simulation modelling"

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Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Corporate Governance

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• Effect of board attributes on the quality of integrated reports: evidence from India
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New Open Access article available: "Enhancing retail decision-making accuracy through deep learning-based consumer sentiment simulation modelling"

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

Research pick: Women lead on corporate sustainability - "Females on board and sustainability performance: evidence from the emerging markets"

Research in the International Journal of Corporate Governance suggests that the makeup of corporate boards can affect how companies approach sustainability, particularly in emerging economies where governance systems are still developing.

The study is based on observations amounting to almost 20000 firm-years across 25 emerging markets. A firm-year is a single observation representing one company’s data for one year in empirical business research. Thus, 20,000 firm-years consists of data collected for many companies over several years, where each company contributes one observation for each year it appears in the data.

The work shows that companies with more women on their boards tend to have better environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. The work also questions the received wisdom of governance that increasing the number of independent directors strengthens corporate responsibility.

Sustainability performance refers to how companies manage ESG issues. Environmental factors include carbon emissions, pollution, and resource use. Social factors relate to employee welfare, diversity, and community engagement. Governance concerns how firms are directed and controlled, including leadership accountability and board oversight. These various factors can be scored together to give investors and regulators a single metric with which they can assess long-term corporate risk and resilience.

A key feature of the current study is that it distinguishes between female executive directors who hold senior management positions and influence operational decisions and non-executive directors that provide oversight and strategic guidance but are not involved in the daily management of the company.

The works shows that the presence of women in both types of role is associated with better ESG scores. The researchers suggest that gender diversity broadens perspective in boardroom decision-making and encourages focus on long-term risks and stakeholder concerns.

The analysis also identifies an unexpected pattern regarding board independence. Independent directors—board members who are not part of company management—are widely viewed as essential for objective oversight. However, the study finds that a higher proportion of independent directors is linked to lower sustainability scores in the sampled emerging markets.

Elbayoumi, A.F., Elmoursy, H., Eljilany, S.M., Bouaddi, M. and Basuony, M.A.K. (2026) ‘Females on board and sustainability performance: evidence from the emerging markets’, Int. J. Corporate Governance, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.67–89.

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Research on analysis and improvement strategies of consumer loyalty on e-commerce platforms based on big data
• Enterprise energy management optimisation and decision support system based on big data analysis
• Coordinated design of a smart charging control device for the distribution transformer side, integrating AI and optimisation technologies
• A meta-learning-based reinforcement learning framework for rapidly adaptive emotion intervention
• Machine learning-based forecast of procurement budgets for low-value consumables

New Open Access article available: "Discrete-event simulation modelling of inventory turnover under supply chain financial collaboration"

The following International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling article, "Discrete-event simulation modelling of inventory turnover under supply chain financial collaboration", 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 Intellectual Property Management

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

• The impact of intellectual capital on financial performance for selected Indian pharmaceutical companies
• The danger of deepfakes, Indian laws and platform responsibility
• Understanding the possibilities, challenges, and opportunities in relationship between IPRs and food technology
• An empirical study on message forwarding on social networking sites: a sample of Vietnamese users
• Knowledge diffusion and new technologies: a spillover analysis on the artificial intelligence case

Prof. Mahamadou Biga Diambeidou appointed as new Editor in Chief of International Journal of Comparative Management

Prof. Mahamadou Biga Diambeidou from UCLouvain in Belgium has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Comparative Management.

Research pick: Planning for planned obsolescence - "Intentions to upgrade software: evidence from Microsoft Windows users"

A study in the International Journal of Intellectual Property Management suggests that planned obsolescence drives software innovation but also leads to customer lethargy or worse piracy.

The research has looked at the software upgrade cycle and highlights the complex role of planned obsolescence in shaping user behaviour across both legitimate and pirate markets. Planned obsolescence, in the context of software, involves discontinuing updates and technical support for older versions to encourage users to adopt newer releases. While often criticised as a tactic to extract additional revenue, the study notes that this strategy reflects practical considerations in software development. Companies continually invest in new features, security improvements, and interface enhancements, and revenue from upgrades sustains ongoing innovation.

However, the research, which focuses primarily on personal computer operating systems (OS), suggests that when companies end support for older versions of their software, this influences not only consumer choice but also broader patterns of technology adoption.

The team has analysed how users respond to these transitions using a push-pull-mooring (PPM) model. This framework was originally used to study geographic relocation but couches OS updates in terms of push and pull factors. Push factors are the drawbacks to remaining with outdated software, such as vulnerability to security breaches or incompatibility with modern applications and hardware. Pull factors represent advantages of upgrading, including enhanced functionality and a better user experience. The third type of factor, mooring factors, by contrast, are the costs or attachments that inhibit switching, such as financial expense, learning curves, or habit.

The team surveyed almost 300 users of perhaps the most common operating system on personal computers the world over. They found that the recognition of planned obsolescence increased a person’s intention to upgrade but that there is a split between users following the official channel to upgrade or turning to a pirate source. They also found that social influences and the appeal of improved features were particularly strong motivators for legitimate upgrades, whereas high switching costs, including technical challenges and monetary considerations, drove some users almost inevitably towards pirated software.

There exists a dynamic tension that the software companies face. If they discontinue older products, this eventually forces users to upgrade and so leads to new revenues. But that constant cycle of upgrade and obsolescence pushes people towards software piracy, especially in regions where higher cost sensitivity is a major decisive factor, such as in the developing world.

The work suggests that planned obsolescence is more than a marketing tactic. This hints that software companies could increase legitimate adoption and reduce piracy by designing upgrade processes that lower learning costs, clearly communicate benefits, and carefully manage the phasing-out of older products.

Thi, T.D.P. and Duong, N.T. (2026) ‘Intentions to upgrade software: evidence from Microsoft Windows users’, Int. J. Intellectual Property Management, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.45–69.

New Open Access article available: "Automated simulation testing for complex software environments using multi-agent reinforcement learning"

The following International Journal of Simulation and Process Modelling article, "Automated simulation testing for complex software environments using multi-agent reinforcement learning", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Carbon emission prediction and management under the coordinated operation of renewable energy and smart grid
• Adaptive multi-engine optimisation and reinforcement learning for English translation
• Application and effect evaluation of artificial intelligence combined with online cognitive behavioural therapy in depression intervention for college students
• Lightweight design of electric box-type trucks based on deep learning models
• Career planning recommendation method incorporating knowledge graphs

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Internet Manufacturing and Services

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Internet Manufacturing and Services are now available here for free:

• Open-source solutions for real-time data retrieval in industrial automation and IoT environments
• Impact of human resource crisis management on university faculty performance in e-technology during COVID-19
• Paving the future: the role of responsible artificial intelligence, hybrid intelligence and leaders' symbolisation in leveraging breakthrough innovations
• The impact of self-service technology on user satisfaction: a study of mobile banking apps
• A comprehensive systematic review of progressive applications of LoRa and LoRaWAN networks in the internet of things

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Economics and Business Research

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

• The role and importance of human capital in exports and growth: the case of Türkiye
• The impact of digital transformation on competitive advantage of retail enterprises from the perspective of supply chain dynamic capabilities
• Modelling the performance effects of strategic partnerships and supplier development in South African clothing firms
• Strategic human resource governance and forward-looking information disclosure: the role of board gender diversity and audit committee expertise

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications are now available here for free:

• Spectral descriptors for the assessment of vocal fold nodules and feature optimisation using MRMR algorithm
• Face recognition using threshold string representation matching under unconstrained conditions
• Brain tumour segmentation for overall survival prediction
• Detection of waterlogging in urban road traffic based on improved YOLOv5-seg and ellipse fitting algorithm
• Analysis of interference cancellation under limited frequency band resources for B5G communication system application scenarios

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development

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

• The role of civil society and good governance in effective air quality management in the South Durban Industrial Basin, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
• How the mitigation of environmental impacts affect economic performance in UK manufacturing and construction companies
• The research on green logistics management strategy in the perspective of ecological environment protection
• Atmospheric pollution and climate change in urban areas: a review of implemented policies
• GA-IPSO-BSVM based sustainable development of ecological economic logistics data forecasting model
• Simultaneous effects of climate and land use change on watershed hydrological processes

Research pick: Ask not what AI can do for your business… - "Business transformation in the age of generative AI: from strategy to societal impact"

The advent of generative artificial intelligence, GenAI, has changed how businesses use digital technologies. Where for many years AI was used as a predictive, analytical, and diagnostic tool, now it can produce ideas, articles, computer code, images, video, and music.

The turning point perhaps came in late 2022 with the public release of systems such as ChatGPT. These new tools allowed users to interact with complex AI models through conversational prompts. They could give the GenAI written, and more recently, spoken instructions, and the system would respond. These tools have since then become increasingly sophisticated and are now used across the corporate world and beyond.

The change happened partly because there were major developments in machine learning, a branch of computer science in which algorithms learn patterns from large datasets and can produce an output to a given prompt based on what they have learned. Central to this process is the so-called transformer model. This is a type of neural network architecture that can analyse relationships between different entries in a large volume of data. Neural networks are computational systems loosely inspired by the structure of the human brain. Transformer-based systems, including the GPT family of models, are particularly effective at generating coherent language from their training data given an appropriate prompt.

There are other approaches to GenAI. Generative adversarial networks (GANs), for instance, use two neural networks that play off each other. One creates synthetic data based on its training, and the second evaluates how real that data is based on its own training. The process goes back and forth until the output is deemed optimal and the system can no longer improve the synthetic output or make it any more real than it is.

There are various other approaches, such as variational autoencoders, which compress and simplify data and then generate variations on the themes. Diffusion models, widely used for image generation, begin with random noise and gradually transform it into structured images. More often than not, a GenAI might be using at least two of these approaches in a multimodal system that can produce text, images, and audio together.

Writing in the International Journal of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Business, researchers discuss how well all of these systems work, the value they create, and the ethics associated with GenAI. Where GenAI is augmenting one-on-one human interaction or helping make business decisions, there are issues of bias inherent in training data as well as labour disruption to consider.

As AI systems assist increasingly in analytic, writing, and creative work, knowledge workers and many other people will collaborate more and more with machines. The change is disruptive, it is likely that many jobs will become redundant. However, with automation there will be a greater need for critical thinking and ethical judgement.

Zouaghi, I. and Fosso Wamba, S. (2026) ‘Business transformation in the age of generative AI: from strategy to societal impact’, Int. J. Generative Artificial Intelligence in Business, Vol. 1, Nos. 1/2, pp.238–262.

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Integrated knowledge graph and reinforcement learning: a graph modelling approach for international trade behaviour analysis and economic trend prediction
• Knowledge tracing in mathematical problem-solving processes: a spatio-temporal graph neural network approach
• EC-RLPA: a dynamic pricing law framework for smart connected vehicles integrating edge computing and reinforcement learning
• Collaborative multi-agent Q-learning-empowered vocational education resource matching system
• A dynamic evaluation model for sports sponsorship value based on neural-symbolic fusion learning

New Open Access article available: "Visualisation of Chinese phonemes based on three-dimensional tongue model and ultrasound images"

The following International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing article, "Visualisation of Chinese phonemes based on three-dimensional tongue model and ultrasound images", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Coming to your educational rescue - "Emotional support and satisfaction with university campus life: mediation of self-efficacy and problem-solving"

Emotional support from parents and teachers can play an important role in how satisfied students feel with university life in Pakistan, according to research in the International Journal of Services, Economics and Management based on a survey of almost 600 undergraduates. The study suggests that encouragement and understanding from family and faculty do more than provide comfort: they appear to strengthen students’ psychological resources in ways that make campus life more manageable and rewarding for them.

The researchers turned to social support theory, a framework for understanding how caring relationships enhance psychological well-being and resilience, to help them investigate campus life.

Their analysis of the survey data did not just ask whether support improves satisfaction but explored how it does so. In particular, they assessed whether two psychological characteristics, self-efficacy and problem-solving ability, act as mediators of support. Self-efficacy describes a person’s belief in their own ability to succeed. Problem-solving capacity refers to one’s skills and confidence in resolving difficulties.

The team found that parental support is linked to stronger self-efficacy and improved problem-solving skills, which in turn contribute to greater satisfaction. Encouragement from home seems to foster confidence and a sense of competence. Emotional support from teachers follows a different pattern. Students who see their instructors as respectful, attentive, and supportive also report higher satisfaction with campus life. This relationship, the researchers suggest, is partly explained by enhanced problem-solving ability. Supportive teachers appear to help students think through challenges and develop strategies to address them. Teacher support did not significantly influence self-efficacy in this study. In others, words, teachers might help students tackle specific problems without fundamentally shaping the student’s self-belief.

The team adds that the cultural setting is important. In a society where family bonds and collective aspirations remain central even into early adulthood, parental influence may continue to outweigh that of teachers in shaping self-belief. This contrasts with studies in the West, where support from teachers in higher education, are more strongly associated with a student’s sense of competence.

Ahmad, M.S., Ahmad, M.A. and Elgammal, I. (2026) ‘Emotional support and satisfaction with university campus life: mediation of self-efficacy and problem-solving’, Int. J. Services, Economics and Management, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp.81–101.

New Open Access article available: "Sustainable fashion in the digital age: investigating consumer responsiveness to value-driven in-app pre- and post-purchase marketing strategies"

The following International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing article, "Sustainable fashion in the digital age: investigating consumer responsiveness to value-driven in-app pre- and post-purchase marketing strategies", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

New Open Access article available: "The mediating role of psychological capital in linking environmental dynamism to entrepreneurial persistence among nascent entrepreneurs in China"

The following International Journal of Business Innovation and Research article, "The mediating role of psychological capital in linking environmental dynamism to entrepreneurial persistence among nascent entrepreneurs in China", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

New Open Access article available: "Environmental, social and governance reporting quality and firm lag vs. lead performance: evidence from Sri Lankan listed companies"

The following International Journal of Business Excellence article, "Environmental, social and governance reporting quality and firm lag vs. lead performance: evidence from Sri Lankan listed companies", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Throwing shade on the dark side of AI - "The dark side of artificial intelligence"

Artificial intelligence, AI, has become one of the defining technologies of what economists and policymakers describe as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This is an era in which digital, physical, and biological systems are increasingly intertwined. In practical terms, AI refers to computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as recognising patterns, learning from data, making predictions, and assisting in complex decisions.

Aside from the generative AI and search tools that are at the forefront of the media and economic hyperbole, analytical and related AI systems already underpin smart manufacturing platforms, digital twins for testing and optimising equipment performance, adaptive cybersecurity tools, medical diagnostics, and much more. It is unlikely that within a decade or so many occupations will not have been augmented or displaced by AI tools. The potential for productivity, innovation, and economic growth is great.

As with any new technology, however, there are good reasons to look closely at the social and economic impact AI might have. It would be prudent to put safeguards in place urgently given the way in which technologies have often amplified inequality, weakened democratic norms, and introduced new systemic risks in the past.

Research in the International Journal of Generative Artificial Intelligence has looked closely at many of the issues that are coming to the fore, such as labour disruption, deepfakes, the opacity of advanced AI models, bias, copyright, privacy, and security issues. Then, there is the issue of whether a superintelligent AI might surpass human abilities and redefine our very existence, perhaps even determining, algorithmically or some kind of awareness, that we as a species are redundant, or worse, a problem that needs to be removed.

The researchers suggest that at the geopolitical level, international coordination is a major challenge, not least given the rogue behaviour of some so-called state actors. The trajectory that AI takes in this Fourth Industrial Revolution is not fixed, nor is it predictable. We need to work together to ensure that it works for the benefit of humanity and the planet.

Min, H. (2026) ‘The dark side of artificial intelligence’, Int. J. Generative Artificial Intelligence in Business, Vol. 1, Nos. 1/2, pp.199–209.

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:

• Short-term load forecasting technique for power system based on grey correlation analysis and factor analysis
• Experimental study on cold start strategy of high-power fuel cell system
• Physics-based reverse recovery modelling of ultrafast recovery Si diodes with carrier lifetime control
• Performance evaluation of ant colony optimisation suggested energy management in using HOMER
• Energy management techniques for fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles: a critical review

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Critical Infrastructures

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

• Extraction of crack characteristics and local damage detection in complex hydraulic concrete structures
• BIM parametric modelling analysis of instability of concrete building components under continuous vibration

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Smart Technology and Learning

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

• Revolutionising education: the evolution, current landscape and future of digital learning
• Challenges for teachers in integrating ICT into geography teaching and promoting map reading skills in secondary schools in Namibia
• Algerian students' satisfaction with using ICT in higher education: the application of the technology satisfaction model
• The effect of video-based tool approach on facilitating socioemotional regulation skills in CSCL environments
• Unveiling the social media surveillance research: themes, ethics and global implications
• Smart education: opportunities, challenges and future of traditional education

New Open Access article available: "Unethical leadership in the South African public sector tender processes through the lens of game theory"

The following International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics article, "Unethical leadership in the South African public sector tender processes through the lens of game theory", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

New Open Access article available: "AI in sustainable higher education: an interpretive structural model and MICMAC approach"

The following International Journal of Business and Globalisation article, "AI in sustainable higher education: an interpretive structural model and MICMAC approach", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

New Open Access article available: "Applying the Jidoka concept to white-collar departments: an examination of the JKK initiative at Toyota Motors"

The following International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management article, "Applying the Jidoka concept to white-collar departments: an examination of the JKK initiative at Toyota Motors", is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Free Open Access issue published by World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development

The World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development has published an Open Access issue. All of the issue’s papers can be downloaded via the full-text links available here.

• Entrepreneurship at the base of the pyramid: effectual logics and sustainable development
• Potential of digital marketing and determinants of the 5A marketing strategy: a case in Thailand

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Project Organisation and Management

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

• Critical factors and intention to use public private partnership in public projects in Ghana: the mediating role of institutional quality
• Project management methods against failure factors in complex infrastructure projects: the Netherlands view
• Driving forces for multinational construction consortiums: the case of a Greek mega-project
• Cross-functional integration case study from project management office: impacts, controversies and inhibitors
• A critique of project management research

Research pick: Sites of the underground - "Application of deep learning algorithms in the design of urban subway public art space"

Underground metro (subway) stations are no longer merely points of departure and arrival. As cities grow denser and transit networks expand, these spaces have the potential to function as some of the most widely shared public interiors in urban life. They are places where millions pass daily, cutting across age, income, and neighbourhood. They offer a rare platform for collective cultural experience. Stations can, suggests research in the International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, anchor local identity, narrate a city’s history, and shape how residents and visitors alike perceive the character of the urban environment.

The research addresses a practical question confronting transport authorities and urban designers: how can large-scale public art projects fit into this infrastructure as it changes? Traditional artist-led design processes, though highly creative, can be time-intensive. By contrast, deep learning has allowed computers to generate high-quality images at speed. The missing link is that the computer-generated images may not understand the cultural meaning that the images need to convey. There is also a need to take into account how well a design might be installed in a real site.

The researchers hope to bridge this gap and have developed a multi-stage framework that integrates cultural analysis, visual cognition modelling, and spatial feasibility testing into a single pipeline.

Their approach is based on a semantic labelling system. The system can organise cultural concepts, such as local history, regional traditions, and environmental identity, into a knowledge graph. This graph can map relationships between ideas, enabling the computer to understand individual symbols and how they fit with broader narratives.

The framework then uses Contrastive Language-Image Pretraining, CLIP, is a deep neural network trained on vast datasets of containing pairings of images and text. An additional layer simulates human perception through a visual attention prediction network, considering composition, spatial layout, and pedestrian flow. By predicting where passengers are likely to focus while moving through a station, the system can position key symbolic elements in high-attention zones. The researchers suggest this could improve not only the aesthetic impact of the art installation but also the way in which pedestrians navigate the subway stations.

Wang. Q. (2026) ‘Application of deep learning algorithms in the design of urban subway public art space’, Int. J. Environment and Sustainable Development, Vol. 25, No. 5, pp.44–72.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Computing Science and Mathematics

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Computing Science and Mathematics are now available here for free:

• Short-term power load prediction based on CNN-LSTM model
• Multi-objective optimisation of cigarette production planning and inventory management
• Offshore wind power prediction based on chaotic optimisation PSO-SCN-LSTM model
• A method for capturing English oral pronunciation errors based on speech recognition
• Visual communication method for multi feature media images based on interactive modelling
• A synergic deep learning approach for efficient grading of glioma via MRI images

Free Open Access issue published by International Journal of Information and Communication Technology

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

• Cross-modal sentiment analysis of new media content based on an enhanced question-answering framework
• A fusion architecture of heterogeneous graph neural network and reinforcement learning for business innovation decision-making
• Investigation of a music genre data classification method based on an improved ECAPA-TDNN algorithm
• Mobile terminal-assisted interactive English learning design to facilitate knowledge deepening
• Fusing ConvLSTM and graph convolutional network for mapping the suitability of elderly-friendly tourist destinations

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Services, Economics and Management

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Services, Economics and Management are now available here for free:

• Research of the possibilities and results of the implementation of the principles of the green economy using Industry 4.0 technologies on the example of the utility sector
• Is the game worth a candle? Users' adoption of private cloud computing
• Telecommunications service industry collaboration with over the top services for optimising state revenue in Indonesia
• Entrepreneurial initiatives during pandemic in Bangladesh
• Analysis of critical success factors in robust service systems through fuzzy cognitive map

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Environmental Engineering

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

• Assessment of daily and seasonal concentrations of particulates matters generated by rice mills in Makurdi using cluster analysis
• Kinetics of adsorption of pollutants removal from mine wastewater by a coal fly ash-based coagulant
• Exploring the intensity, duration and frequency of rainfall in selected Southern Nigeria's urban landscapes
• Environmental and economic modelling for municipal solid waste management strategies: a case study in OH, USA
• Electrochemical recovery of copper from the waste computer printed circuit board

Research pick: Rebuilding Syria ethically - "Mediating role of ethical intention between social norms, code of ethics and ethical decision-making"

In a country where the physical scars of war remain visible in shattered buildings and disrupted markets, research in the International Journal of Diplomacy and Economy suggests that the moral architecture of business may be just as important to recovery in Syria as capital investment and bricks & mortar.

A study of 200 business leaders working in international companies in Aleppo and Damascus finds that ethical decision-making in Syria can be explained, to a significant degree, by a well-established psychological framework known as the Theory of Planned Behaviour. This theory suggests that human behaviour is primarily shaped by intention, a person’s conscious plan or readiness to act. Those intentions, in turn, are influenced by three factors: personal attitudes, perceived social expectations, and perceived control over whether the behaviour is realistically achievable.

In practical terms, individuals are more likely to act ethically if they believe ethical conduct is right, think that others expect it of them, and feel capable of acting accordingly.

The researchers applied this theory in the context of Syria as part of an effort to understand how business leaders make ethical choices amid conflict, economic disruption, and institutional fragility. Their focus was Syria’s post-war reconstruction drive, a national strategy aimed at restoring infrastructure, reviving markets, and rebuilding social trust after years of violence.

Trust, the study notes, is not an abstract virtue in such an environment. It is a prerequisite for attracting investment, stabilising supply chains, and enabling cooperation between domestic firms and international partners. Ethical business conduct is thus a functional prerequisite of economic recovery.

For practitioners, the implications are concrete. The findings indicate that organisations seeking to strengthen ethical leadership cannot rely solely on written rules. Codes of ethics must be actively communicated and embedded within organisational culture, the shared values and practices that shape everyday work. When ethical expectations become part of that culture, they function as powerful social norms, guiding behaviour even in the absence of direct oversight.

Amoozegar, A., Lata, A., Falahat, M., Shakib, S., Kumar, M., Ramzani, S.R. and Yadav, M. (2026) ‘Mediating role of ethical intention between social norms, code of ethics and ethical decision-making’, Int. J. Diplomacy and Economy, Vol. 12, No. 5, pp.1–20.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation are now available here for free:

• Small and medium-sized entities as users of accounting services: do professional accountants meet the needs of their SME client?
• Fraud investigation skills for internal auditors
• The global credit sector in shadow of COVID-19: financial assessment
• Contents and determinants of corporate social responsibility reporting in the context of the Arab Spring crisis
• The role of big data in public sector accounting and budgeting practices: evidence from a pandemic environment of an emerging economy
• Economic policy uncertainty and earnings management: evidence from China
• Organisational justice, mediated by affective commitment, and time budget pressure effect to the millennial auditor turnover intention
• Successive economic cycles and the Fisher effect
• To what extent Covid-19 pandemic affect corporate risk disclosure: case of UAE listed companies
• Auditing in times of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: qualitative research in the Tunisian context
• Corporate governance and financial stability of the English Premier League before and during COVID-19
• Interdependence between the Moroccan and international stock markets before and during the Covid-19 crisis
• The impact of risk-taking on performance of Islamic and conventional banks in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE
• Do board and audit characteristics affect earnings management in times of Covid-19?
• Financial reporting considerations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: empirical evidence from the UAE accounting professionals

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Sustainable Society

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

• Land use/land cover dynamics and its future scenarios in Luando Reserve, Angola
• Engaging ordinary people in sustainability transition: introducing elasticity and plasticity model for social change
• Circular economy model and sustainable development nexus in Bangladesh
• Effect of firm specific characteristics and interest rate on lease financing of listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria
• A sustainable territorial challenge: the irreversible impressions on waste and residue management from functional community workshops

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Arts and Technology

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

• A survey on the epistolary calligraphy art of Kim Jeonghui during his early exile period
• New media popular music recommendation system based on machine learning algorithm
• An analysis of text-to-image generative models as creativity support tools
• Personalised music experience based on fuzzy music emotion analysis and intelligent recommendation
• Colour configuration of residential interior spaces preferred by the older people in Jinan City

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Web and Grid Services

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Web and Grid Services are now available here for free:

• A survey on knowledge graph evolution: proliferation, dynamic embedding, and versioning
• Optimisation of multi-objective cloud manufacturing service selection based on dynamic adaptive bat algorithm
• IoT avatar: various objects in real space are anthropomorphised as avatars
• Intelligent cognitive internet of things-based spectrum sensing algorithm for future communication
• Improving accessibility of IT devices for individuals with disabilities by examining their characteristics and voice of customers

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Technology Management

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

• Innovation at the project-level: the role of organisational innovation capabilities
• Development and application of patent management maturity model: a capability-based perspective
• Does the techno-nationalism approach work for the nation's catch-up? The evaluation of MLP (2006-2020) in China
• Generational technological change, organisational search, and firm product innovation performance in new generational markets
• Artificial intelligence and business applications, an introduction