Call for papers: "Non-Conventional Energy Technology"

For a special issue of the Interdisciplinary Environmental Review.

The aim of this special issue is to assimilate the latest research in “non-conventional energy technology” and the areas affected by technological advancements in this field. We aim to provide a platform where scientists, researchers, academicians, industry experts, new aspirants, as well as students of science and technology can come together and engage in a fruitful exchange of views and ideas pertaining to the theme of the conference.

However, the scope is not limited, and is wide enough to encompass other related concerns which include environmental and socio-economic impact, security and defence technology, innovative designs, enhancements and improvements in existing frameworks, sustainable technological advancement, societal welfare etc. We intend to bring together a compilation of research work from the best minds from around the world to cover all aspects of non-conventional energy technology from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the International Conference on New and Renewable Energy Resources for a Sustainable future. (ICONRER-2017), but we also strongly encourage researchers unable to participate in the conference to submit articles for this call.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Non-conventional energy
• Solar energy technologies
• Energy modelling and analysis
• Socio-economic Impact and policies
• Nanotechnology
• Energy storage technologies
• Environmental pollution control
• Green technologies and green buildings
• Gasification and pyrolysis
• Alternative fuels and fuel cell technologies
• Strategies for energy demand and use optimization
• Sustainable consumption and production
• CO2 capture, storage, and utilisation
• Heating and cooling systems
• Smart grids
• Energy metrology

Important Dates
Submission of manuscripts: 5 February, 2017
Notification to authors: 5 April, 2017
Final versions due: 5 June, 2017

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy are now available here for free:

• Building multi-factor stock selection models using balanced split regression trees with sorting normalisation and hybrid variables
• Long-range prediction of retail sales using recurrent radial basis function neural network
• The importance of business incubation in developing countries: case study approach
• The use of foresight information in small and medium-sized enterprises - the role of intermediary organisations

Special issue published: "Big Data and Cloud Computing Challenges"

International Journal of Big Data Intelligence 3(3) 2016

Extended versions of papers presented at the 2015 International Symposium on Big Data and Cloud
Computing Challenges (ISBCC).

• Auto-scale: automatic scaling of virtualised resources using neuro-fuzzy reinforcement learning approach
• Service provisioning of flexible advance reservation leases in IaaS clouds
• A trigger-based introspection approach for cloud incident handling
• Discovery of semantic associations in an RDF graph using bi-directional BFS on massively parallel hardware

Additional papers

• Secure multi-owner-based cloud computing scheme for big data
• Distortion-free fragile watermark for relational databases
• PQsel: combining privacy with quality of service in cloud service selection

International Journal of Global Warming increases issues

The International Journal of Global Warming has announced that it will be increasing issues from eight to twelve from 2017 onwards.

Special issue published: "Innovations on Intelligent Information and Communication Technology"

International Journal of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications 15(3) 2016

• An integrated harmony search algorithm-based multi-objective differential evolution of evolving spiking neural network
• Texture and fuzzy colour features to index Roman mosaic-images
• Interactive toon shading using mesh smoothing
• A novel method for selecting initial centroids in K-means clustering algorithm
• Enhanced structural perceptual feature extraction model for Arabic literal amount recognition

Additional paper

• On the fusion of regression and neural network methods

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development increases issues

The World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development has announced that it will be increasing issues from four to six from 2017 onwards.

Special issue published: "Challenge-Oriented Research and Innovation: Concepts, Practices And Policies"

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy 11(1/2/3) 2016

• 'Grand Challenges' concept: a return of the 'big ideas' in science, technology and innovation policy?
• Grand Challenges in US science policy attempt policy innovation
• Competing technological innovation systems as a challenge for new mission orientation - insights from the German Energiewende
• Using transition management concepts for the evaluation of intersecting policy domains ('grand challenges'): the case of Swedish, Norwegian and UK biofuel policy
• Demonstration projects in transition processes to sustainable energy and transport [free OA article]
• Emergence of societal challenges-based innovation policies in market-based innovation systems: lessons from Estonia
• The digital and natural worlds: crisis or challenge?

Additional paper

• Strategic scenario construction made easy

Special Issue published: "Data Acquisition and Processing, Uncertainty Management and Inverse Problem Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring Applications" (inc free OA article)

International Journal of Sustainable Materials and Structural Systems 2(1/2) 2015

• Robust methods for outlier detection and regression for SHM applications [free OA paper]
• Towards real-time health monitoring of structural systems via recursive Bayesian filtering and reduced order modelling
• Structural health assessment using extended and unscented Kalman filters
• Uncertainty quantification of thermal image-based concrete diagnosis
• Assessment of fibre optic strain gauges for field use in India
• Modal identification of seismically isolated bridges with piers having different heights
• Effect of frequency domain attributes of wavelet analysis filter banks for structural damage localisation using the relative wavelet entropy index
• Data recovery via hybrid sensor networks for vibration monitoring of civil structures
• On quantifying the uncertainty of stochastic process power spectrum estimates subject to missing data 

Call for papers: "Supply Chain Quality and Sustainability"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Intelligent Enterprise.

Supply chain quality refers to a set of practices that emphasise continuous process improvement among partners (firms) in the supply chain in order to enhance performance and achieve customer satisfaction through prominence in learning. It takes the paradigm of supply chain beyond a focus on simple product quality. It necessitates highlighting several dimensions such as quality of logistics, human resources, information, relationships, safety etc. along the supply chain.

On the other hand, sustainability is a contemporary factor which is directed towards social, economic and environmental issues. It is an interesting union of two complimentary paradigms which entices researchers to participate in development of theories and quantitative models to explore the interactions between them.

This special issue seeks to gather articles representing such ideas that can contribute to the development of this exciting union of the supply chain quality and sustainability fields. The proposed research agenda is aimed at the development of new theories and analyses of the relationship between supply chain quality and sustainability.

We welcome research papers that offer valuable new insights or present new approaches to any of the topics listed below. Work offering a conceptual framework, empirical insights, case studies, use of different methodological approaches and offering an international dimension are particularly encouraged.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Literature review on supply chain quality and sustainability
• Constructs of supply chain quality for specific industry segments
• Developing supply chain quality from a sustainability perspective
• Interrelationship between the constructs of supply chain quality and sustainability
• Drivers and inhibitors
• Use of multicriteria decision models for the given context
• Modelling of supply chain quality from sustainability perspective
• Supply chain stakeholders involvement in ensuring supply chain quality

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 6 January, 2017

New Editor for Interntional Journal of Computational Complexity and Intelligent Algorithms

Dr. Aladdin Ayesh from De Montfort University in the UK has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Computational Complexity and Intelligent Algorithms.

Research Picks Extra – August 2016

A new public keyIn the world of computer encryption on which the security and privacy of almost all our online transactions so delicately depend, there is always room for improvement to protect users and servers from hackers and crackers. The RSA algorithm developed by Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir and Leonard Adleman in 1978 has been a mainstay of strong public key encryption. However, researchers in India have developed a new algorithm that requires the same level of computational power to function but is demonstrably more effective and much faster under particular conditions needed for certain e-commerce applications in simulations. However, in a real-world environment key generation is only marginally different and the team is now working on optimisation.
Vincent, P.M.D.R. and Sathiyamoorthy, E. (2016) ‘A novel and efficient public key encryption algorithm’, Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.199–211.

Sound watermarkingComputer scientists in Morocco have developed a way to add hidden information to a digital sound file, a watermark, that could be used to protect copyright or provide meta data to users without distorting the sound being played. The approach uses the code division multiple access technique. Tests show that the multi-watermarking system works well against two statistical analytical models under-determined independent subspace analysis (UISA) and Gaussian mixture models (GMM). The data is well hidden, it is essentially inaudible, causing no distortion and is robust in duplication. The team suggests that their approach allows four times as much information to be embedded as is possible with other watermarking techniques.
Khalil, M. and Adib, A. (2016) ‘Multiple audio watermarking system based on CDMA’, Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.160–176.

Supporting vaccination
A review of the history of vaccination beginning in 1800 would suggest that we are now in the third phase of this critically important part of disease prevention and healthcare, according to researchers in The Netherlands. Since the 1990s, the vaccine sector has undergone many profound changes as developments in biotechnology have led to major innovations to drive the sector forward. “After the shift from local to national vaccine fields, and then to an internationally coordinated field, the recent changes can be characterised as a shift to a more encompassing, diversified global field,” the team reports. “Globalisation is neither a ‘natural’ and inevitable process, nor is it a dynamics which merely follows straightforward business logic of profit making and capital accumulation. Instead, the global restructuration of firms and industries is better seen as a field dynamics which is the result of the interaction of a variety of different actors and organisations,” they add.
Quak, S., Heilbron, J. and Meijer, J. (2016) ‘The development of the vaccine industry, 1800–present: a historical-sociological field approach’, Int. J. Business and Globalisation, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp.224–242.

Expert detection
How do you find experts in your online social network, your cybercommunity? Researchers in Taiwan think they have the definitive answer; they have developed an “ExpertRank” system that is akin to Google’s well-known “PageRank” website evaluation system but works with people rather than pages. Tests show it works better than other expert-detection algorithms, the team reports. The team says their systems could be important in evaluating different users of a given network so that more weight can be given to the output and opinions of those deemed to be experts rather than the less-knowledgeable members of the network. “Our research has highlighted a new direction for expert identification research and proposed some practical applications for the cyber knowledge community [in knowledge management], the team says.
Chen, D-N. and Hsieh, P-C. (2016) ‘The expert identification in the cyber knowledge community’, Int. J. Computational Science and Engineering, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp.175–182.


via Inderscience – Science Spot http://ift.tt/2aTj7W0

Inderscience is media partner for Mobile Deployable Communications 2017

Inderscience is a media partner for Mobile Deployable Communications (2-3 February 2017, Warsaw, Poland).

The journals involved are:

• Int. J. of Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems
• Int. J. of Intelligent Defence Support Systems
• Int. J. of Smart Grid and Green Communications
• Int. J. of Security and Networks
• Int. J. of Ultra Wideband Communications and Systems
• Int. J. of Wireless and Mobile Computing

Inderscience is media partner for China Internet and Future Manufacturing 2016

Inderscience is a media partner for China Internet and Future Manufacturing 2016 (9-10 November 2016, Shanghai, China).

The journals involved are:

• European J. of Industrial Engineering
• Int. J. of Abrasive Technology
• Int. J. of Additive and Subtractive Materials Manufacturing
• Int. J. of Agile Systems and Management
• Int. J. of Applied Systemic Studies
• Int. J. of Automotive Composites
• Int. J. of Complexity in Applied Science and Technology
• Int. J. of Computational Materials Science and Surface Engineering
• Int. J. of Computational Vision and Robotics
• Int. J. of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology
• Int. J. of Computer Applications in Technology
• Int. J. of Design Engineering
• Int. J. of Enterprise Network Management
• Int. J. of Forensic Engineering
• Int. J. of Forensic Engineering and Management
• Int. J. of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Int. J. of Information and Operations Management Education
• Int. J. of Integrated Supply Management
• Int. J. of Intelligent Systems Technologies and Applications
• Int. J. of Internet Manufacturing and Services
• Int. J. of Inventory Research
• Int. J. of Lifecycle Performance Engineering
• Int. J. of Logistics Economics and Globalisation
• Int. J. of Logistics Systems and Management
• Int. J. of Machining and Machinability of Materials
• Int. J. of Manufacturing Research
• Int. J. of Manufacturing Technology and Management
• Int. J. of Masonry Research and Innovation
• Int. J. of Mass Customisation
• Int. J. of Materials and Product Technology
• Int. J. of Materials and Structural Integrity
• Int. J. of Materials Engineering Innovation
• Int. J. of Mechanisms and Robotic Systems
• Int. J. of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems
• Int. J. of Microstructure and Materials Properties
• Int. J. of Molecular Engineering
• Int. J. of Nano and Biomaterials
• Int. J. of Nanomanufacturing
• Int. J. of Nanoparticles
• Int. J. of Nanotechnology
• Int. J. of Operational Research
• Int. J. of Planning and Scheduling
• Int. J. of Precision Technology
• Int. J. of Process Management and Benchmarking
• Int. J. of Process Systems Engineering
• Int. J. of Product Development
• Int. J. of Productivity and Quality Management
• Int. J. of Radio Frequency Identification Technology and Applications
• Int. J. of Rapid Manufacturing
• Int. J. of Remanufacturing
• Int. J. of Service and Computing Oriented Manufacturing
• Int. J. of Services and Operations Management
• Int. J. of Strategic Engineering Asset Management
• Int. J. of Structural Engineering
• Int. J. of Supply Chain and Operations Resilience
• Int. J. of Surface Science and Engineering
• Int. J. of Sustainable Design
• Int. J. of Sustainable Manufacturing
• Int. J. of Sustainable Materials and Structural Systems
• Int. J. of Value Chain Management

Call for papers: "E-tourism and Stakeholder Engagement: Theories and Practices"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Digital Culture and Electronic Tourism.

It is recognised that we have not sufficiently explored the roles and influence of stakeholder relationships and interactions, based on the diverse managerial perspectives and different knowledge streams of the tourism and hospitality education and industry, in order to fully exploit the potentials of stakeholder engagement for the progress of the sector. This view is well supported by Ellis and Sheridan (2014) from the perspective of tourism strategy, Waligo http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261517712001884 - aff1 et al. (2013) from the perspective of sustainable tourism, and Del Chiappa and Presenza (2013) and Strobl and Peters (2013) from the perspective of tourism destination management. We will investigate how E-tourism would be instrumental to uphold the stakeholder engagement processes in diverse managerial perspectives and different knowledge streams of the tourism and hospitality education and industry, which includes but not limited to tourism strategy, sustainability and destination management. The purpose here is to understand the contemporary theoretical and practice-based implications of e-tourism in stakeholder engagement processes, in order to reinforce our current knowledge on how the tourism sector could design and deliver its products and services, in a way that is expected and accepted by the diverse stakeholders (Shams and Kaufmann, 2016; Shams 2016a), including the customers.

E-tourism is defined as the application of ICTs (information and communication technologies) on the tourism industry (Buhalis, 2003). Buhalis (2003). It is suggested that e-tourism reflects the digitisation of all processes and value chains in the tourism, travel, hospitality and catering industries. At the tactical level, it includes e-commerce and applies ICTs for maximising the efficiency and effectiveness of the tourism organisation. At the strategic level, e-tourism revolutionises all business processes, the entire value chain as well as the strategic relationships of tourism organisations with all their stakeholders. (As cited in Buhalis and Hyun Jun, 2011, p. 6)

From this perspective of e-tourism, this special issue invites conceptual and empirical research papers for peer review that analyses the influences of e-tourism on the cause and consequence of stakeholder relationships and interactions as stakeholder causal scopes (Shams, 2016b, 2016c) to understand how we could better engage the different tourism and hospitality stakeholders in the value-delivery network of the sector, in order to proactively “tackling the varying market issues, challenges and needs” (Kaufmann and Shams, 2015, np). Value is defined as: an anticipated outcome of any sort of planned and organized activity. The activity could be derived from monetary, psychic, or physical resources. The more the outcome meets initial anticipation, the more the possibility of win-win outcomes or value optimisation for all involved stakeholders (Shams, 2013, p. 244).

From this context, the submitted articles should focus on the implications of e-tourism to enhance stakeholder engagements for the better outcome of the planned and organised strategies and tactics in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Innovative studies that span theoretical boundaries, disciplines and cross-functional areas to develop new insights on e-tourism and stakeholder engagement are particularly welcome to submit.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and tourism and hospitality strategy
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and tourism and hospitality sustainability
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and tourism destination management
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and tourism and hospitality marketing
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and tourism and hospitality HRM
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and tourism and hospitality corporate governance and social responsibility
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and tourism and hospitality entrepreneurship and innovation
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and value co-creation in the tourism and hospitality sector
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and tourism and hospitality and the cross-border markets
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and tourism and hospitality PR
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and tourism and hospitality social businesses
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and performance measurement, governance and intangible assets in the tourism and hospitality sector
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and voluntary-tourism
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and wedding-tourism
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and eco-tourism
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and sports-tourism
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and pilgrimage-tourism
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and corporate-tourism
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and education-tourism
• E-tourism, stakeholder engagement and cultural heritage and so forth

Important Dates
Submission of manuscripts: 15 October, 2017 (earlier submission is highly encouraged)
Notification to authors: 15 February, 2018
Final versions due: 15 April, 2018

References
Buhalis, D. (2003). E-Tourism: Information technology for strategic tourism management. London: Pearson (Financial Times/Prentice Hall).
Buhalis, D. and Hyun Jun, S. (2011). E-tourism. In Cooper, C. (Ed.), Contemporary tourism reviews (pp. 1 - 38). Oxford: Goodfellow Publishers Limited. Del Chiappa, G. and Presenza, A. (2013). The use of network analysis to assess relationships among stakeholders within a tourism destination: An empirical investigation on Cost Smeralda-gallura, Italy. Tourism Analysis, 18 (1), 1 - 13.
Ellis, S. and Sheridan, L. (2014). A critical reflection on the role of stakeholders in sustainable tourism development in least-developed countries. Tourism Planning & Development, 11 (4), 467 - 471.
Kaufmann, H. R. and Shams, S. M. R. (2015). Entrepreneurial co-creation: A call for fresh ideas and innovative perspectives. Retrieved from http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/call_for_papers.htm?id=6334
Shams, S. M. R. (2012). Stakeholder causal scope centric market positioning: Implications of relationship marketing indicators. In Kaufmann, H., and Panni, M. F. (Eds.), Customer-Centric Marketing Strategies: Tools for Building Organizational Performance (pp. 245-263). Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference.
Shams, S. M. R. (2016a). Sustainability issues in transnational education service: A conceptual framework and empirical insights. Journal of Global Marketing, Published online ahead of print, 10.1080/08911762.2016.1161098.
Shams, S. M. R. (2016b). Capacity building for sustained competitive advantage: A conceptual framework. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 34 (5), 671 - 691. Shams, S. M. R. (2016c). Branding destination image: A stakeholder causal scope analysis for internationalisation of destinations. Tourism Planning & Development (formerly Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development), 13 (2), 140 - 153.
Shams, S. M. R. and Kaufmann, H. R. (2016). Entrepreneurial co-creation: A research vision to be materialised. Management Decision, 54 (6), 1250 - 1268.
Strobl, A. and Peters, M. (2013). Entrepreneurial reputation in destination networks. Annals of Tourism Research, 40 (1), 59 - 82.
Waligo, V. M., Clarke, J. and Hawkins, R. (2013). Implementing sustainable tourism: A multi-stakeholder involvement management framework. Tourism Management, 36 (1), 342 - 353.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Strategic Business Alliances

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

• Effect of instituting quality objectives on on-time delivery performance
• Environments of value: the pursuit of value in organisational cultures
• TQM and strategic alliances: development and validation in the context of Egyptian manufacturing sector
• Uni-economics: impact of sunspot on human behaviour and strategic business alliances
• Why do both marriages and strategic alliances have over 50% failure rate? A study of relationship quality of strategic alliances in China, Japan and Mauritius

Special issue published: "Signal and Image Processing with Engineering Applications"

International Journal of Signal and Imaging Systems Engineering 9(4/5) 2016

Extended versions of papers presented at the Second International Conference on Automation, Control, Engineering and Computer Science (ACECS-2015).

• Novel extraction and tumour detection method using histogram study and SVM classification
• A microphone array beamforming-based system for multi-talker speech separation
• Multi-level fractional order PSO new paradigm algorithm for image segmentation
• An extended Mumford-Shah model for shape partitioning
• Auto-connected transformer with 40° phase shifting for harmonic elimination
• Combining watermarking and encryption algorithm for medical image safe transfer: method based on DCT
• Fuzzy linear projection on combined multi-feature characterisation vectors for facial expression recognition enhancement
• Hardware implementation of Gabor filter for MRI using XSG
• Fault analysis and control of grounding power transformer
• A content-based image retrieval using PCA and SOM
• Text classification using scores based k-NN approach and term to category relevance weighting scheme
• An embedded e-voting machine with smart card
• QRS detection combining entropic criterion and wavelet transform
• An adaptive-size median filter for impulse noise removal using neural network-based detector
• Image denoising using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Pixel Surge Model (PSM)
• Sign recognition using key frame selection

New Editor for International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation

Dr. Gunther Paul from Queensland University of Technology in Australia has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation.

Call for papers: "Resource Provisioning in Cloud Computing"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Grid and Utility Computing.

This special issue invites research papers on resource provisioning in cloud computing. Cloud computing has become a business model over the years, and therefore there are many stakeholders with their own objectives. The service providers often intend to maximise their revenue along with offering a certain level of quality of service, whereas the cloud users are more interested in getting their job done via the least expensive means. At the same time, the users want to use the cloud services with a better service quality. From the system’s point of view, energy efficient provisioning is also warranted. Thus, the resource provisioning becomes a complex problem in cloud computing and to combat this there are a number of researchers working in this area to address the issues involved.

 

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Energy-efficient provisioning
• Provisioning in grid computing
• Provisioning with pricing aspect
• Provisioning with big data aspect
• Provisioning with storage aspect
• VM provisioning

 

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 30 March, 2017

Notification to authors 1st round: 30 May, 2017

Notification to authors 2nd round: 30 June, 2017

Final versions due: 15 July, 2017

Inderscience is media partner for 2nd China Commercial Vehicle Congress 2016

Inderscience is a media partner for the 2nd China Commercial Vehicle Congress 2016 (20-22 October 2016, Shanghai, China).

The journals involved are:

• Int. J. of Aerodynamics
• Int. J. of Aerospace System Science and Engineering
• Int. J. of Alternative Propulsion
• Int. J. of Automotive Composites
• Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management
• Int. J. of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
• Int. J. of Electronic Transport
• Int. J. of Heavy Vehicle Systems
• Int. J. of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation
• Int. J. of Ocean Systems Management
• Int. J. of Powertrains
• Int. J. of Space Science and Engineering
• Int. J. of Sustainable Aviation
• Int. J. of Vehicle Autonomous Systems
• Int. J. of Vehicle Design
• Int. J. of Vehicle Information and Communication Systems
• Int. J. of Vehicle Noise and Vibration
• Int. J. of Vehicle Performance
• Int. J. of Vehicle Safety
• Int. J. of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing
• World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research

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:

• Alkali leaching of vanadium from petroleum coke and kinetics analysis
• ANN-based PM prediction model for assessing the temporal variability of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 concentrations at an urban roadway
• Removal of cyanide by sorption onto protonated biomass - effect of variables and kinetic studies
• The profiles of radial liquid velocity and mixing parameters in multi-stage bubble columns
• Treatment of groundwater using phytoremediation technique at Kolar Gold Fields, India
• Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants

Call for papers: "Mathematical Methods for Signal and Image Processing"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Signal and Imaging Systems Engineering.

Mathematical modelling serves as a framework for defining many image and signal processing problems in literature. The design of an appropriate mathematical model simplifies the overall analysis and improves the accuracy and robustness of the processing task at hand. There are quite a few mathematical techniques which are scalable, extendable and tuneable to be suited to some of the well-known image and signal processing problems. We will focus on various mathematical frameworks for defining and solving the well-known problems in image and signal processing.

 

Designing a suitable mathematical model helps in deriving the theoretical aspects of the problem, like stability, convergence, existence and the uniqueness of the solution. Further the verification of the model in terms of these parameters (in theoretical sense) helps in designing a robust experimental setup to test and validate them. This special issue will be a good reference for the researchers working in the area of mathematical image and signal processing. All recent and relevant techniques with regard to the topic will be explored.

 

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Variational methods for image and signal processing
• PDE based image and signal processing
• Wavelet models for image processing
• Stochastic models for images and signals
• Fast numerical algorithms for image processing
• Image and signal reconstruction
• Mathematical morphology
• Image compression
• Image registration, in-painting and analysis
• Mathematical models in imaging (viz. medical, satellite etc.) applications

 

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 31 December, 2016

Notification to authors: 30 April, 2017

Final versions due: 30 June, 2017

 

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Applied Decision Sciences

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

• A fuzzy economic order quantity model for items with imperfect quality and partial backordered shortage under screening errors
• Using grey relation analysis and TOPSIS to evaluate the financial performance of Taiwan's TFT-LCD industry
• A practical framework for assessing business intelligence competencies of enterprise systems using fuzzy ANP approach
• Environmental multi objective uncertain transport trail model using variant of predator prey evolutionary strategy
• A causal loop analysis of the austerity policy adopted to address the Euro crisis - effects and side effects

Special issue published: "Intangible Asset Management in Interorganisational Innovation Processes"

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development 15(2/3) 2016

• Innovation in a globalising world: within or beyond local clusters?
• Exploring innovation contexts: system, network and ecosystem innovation
• Investigating the relationship between open business models and intangible assets
• Adopting open innovation in supply networks
• Inter-organisational innovation processes in the European food and drink industry
• Dimensions and practices of the collaborative relationships between cultural and creative organisations and business
• Research on China's knowledge-sharing system: under open innovation framework

Call for papers: "Machine Learning Techniques for Medical and Biological Applications"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology.

Machine learning is well recognised as an effective tool for researchers to handle problems in the medical and biological fields. It is a method of data analysis that automates analytical model building, using algorithms that iteratively learn from data and then make sophisticated decisions based on the learned practices.

Medicine involves large amounts of important data and medical application problems frequently make human-generated, rule-based heuristics intractable. In this special issue, we aim to provide a forum for presenting cutting-edge machine learning methods for medical and biological applications. Medical and biological applications may include the learning of similarities across different biomechanics; bio-photonics; medical device development, evaluation and commercialization; organ localization; and learning of anatomical changes.

We invite researchers to contribute original research articles and review articles that will address medical diagnosis approaches to provide solutions to existing medical diagnosis and treatment and biological issues.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Nano medicine
• Biomedical signals
• Biosensing
• Medical robots
• Novel surgical devices and sensors
• Surgical and interventional systems
• Computational physiology
• Clinical and biological applications
• Imaging and analysis methods for image-guided therapies
• Physician-computer interfaces using virtual/mixed/augmented reality
• Computer-aided modelling and evaluation of surgical procedures
• Biological image computing
• Neuroscience image computing
• Computational anatomy
• Imaging genetics
• Medical image computing
• Visualisation and interaction

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 25 August, 2017

Notification to authors: 25 October, 2017

Final versions due: 25 December, 2017

Mimicking luxury goods

The luxury goods market for the ultra rich encompasses jewelry, cars, clothes, tableware, ornaments and much more. If luxury hotels, travel and other services are included alongside retail sales, this sector amounted to $1 trillion dollars in 2015. As such, there is a vast grey market for goods that mimic the priciest brands but sell to people who are less well off. Ian Phau and Min Teah of Curtin Business School, at Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, explain how, “brand familiarity is postulated to be a mediator between perception of luxury and product evaluation. It is found that mimicry influences perception of luxury and product evaluation of the mimic brand.”

Writing in the Inderscience publication Luxury Research Journal, the team discusses the implications for brand managers, practitioners and academics carrying out research in business and marketing. The team points out that in economically turbulent times, brand mimicry has taken a strong hold in consumers’ daily consumption and choice and imitation of luxury brands by clothing manufacturers, car designers and others is becoming the norm as the stratum below the ultra rich aspire to some kind of materialistic equity with those they perceive as being better off than themselves.

Most research into brand mimicry has investigated the black market for facsimile and fake products as opposed to legitimate mimicry that does not attempt to pass itself off as the original designer label or marque. When those characteristics are present in the mimic product, the transference of exclusivity, luxury and prestige are high, but the cost is usually lower. However, the existence of mimics in the marketplace diminishes how well the original models are received. The perception of those products as luxurious, exclusive and desirable is lessened.

Of course, there is also the possibility that a mimic brand is actually better quality, longer-lasting and more functional or useful than the original model. But, those characteristics are not what is necessarily being sought by the materialist rather they generally wish to align themselves with the luxurious brand so that they feel greater personal worth and exude that feeling in the presence of others.


Phau, I. and Teah, M. (2016) ‘The influence of brand mimicry on luxury brands‘, Luxury Research J., Vol. 1, No. 2, pp.93-109.
via Inderscience – Science Spot http://ift.tt/2aJ7dQw

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Auditing Technology

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

• Assessing accounting for citizenship: an empirical analysis of the corporate control and capital structure decisions
• Automated portfolio trading systems forensic forecast audit
• Do AIS and MIS have a future?
• PCI DSS - penalty of not being compliant
• An examination of the effectiveness of test-of-controls audit procedures for detecting fraud
• Prevalence profiling: a judgmental context for evaluating initial sample size projections in the audit context

New Editor for International Journal of Social Computing and Cyber-Physical Systems

Dr. Vijendra Singh from NorthCap University in India has been appointed to take over editorship of theInternational Journal of Social Computing and Cyber-Physical Systems.

International Journal of Services Technology and Management to publish expanded papers from ICCM 2016

Extended versions of papers presented at the 2nd International Conference on Computers and Management 2016 (28-29 December 2016, Rajasthan, India) will be published by the International Journal of Services Technology and Management.

Call for papers: "Biomedical Signal and Imaging Trends and Artificial Intelligence Developments"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Computational Systems Engineering.

The aim of this special issue is explore the utilisation of medical, ultrasonic and X-ray imaging for pattern recognition, feature extraction and the classification of such signals and images. The key aim of the issue is to target application-oriented research in the field of biomedical signal and Imaging. It is not however limited to the aforementioned images, but will also cover inferred images for other medical applications. In addition, high-resolution satellite images can also be included in the context of extracting information by utilising imaging and AI methods.

Signal and image processing techniques, along with artificial intelligence, need to be researched to aid the development of medical imaging/satellite imaging for feature extraction and classification which provides more detailed diagnosis systems, preoperational knowledge and easier handling of medical and satellite data.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• X-ray/ultrasonic/MRI imaging techniques
• Manifold learning
• Deep learning models
• Gram-Schmidt method
• Depth stereo-electroencephalography signals of partial epilepsies
• Meta-heuristic optimisation algorithms
• Machine learning methods
• Cascade neural networks
• Median-cut algorithm
• Bayesian belief networks
• Infrared imaging
• Satellite imaging
• Discrete wavelet transform
• Curvelet transform
• Harmony search (HS) algorithm
• DNA fragment

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 31 October, 2016

Inderscience is media partner for 5th China International Diesel Engine Summit

Inderscience is a media partner for the 5th China International Diesel Engine Summit (17-18 November 2016, Beijing, China).

The journals involved are:

• Int. J. of Aerodynamics
• Int. J. of Aerospace System Science and Engineering
• Int. J. of Alternative Propulsion
• Int. J. of Automotive Composites
• Int. J. of Automotive Technology and Management
• Int. J. of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
• Int. J. of Electronic Transport
• Int. J. of Heavy Vehicle Systems
• Int. J. of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation
• Int. J. of Ocean Systems Management
• Int. J. of Powertrains
• Int. J. of Space Science and Engineering
• Int. J. of Sustainable Aviation
• Int. J. of Vehicle Autonomous Systems
• Int. J. of Vehicle Design
• Int. J. of Vehicle Information and Communication Systems
• Int. J. of Vehicle Noise and Vibration
• Int. J. of Vehicle Performance
• Int. J. of Vehicle Safety
• Int. J. of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing
• World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research

First issue: International Journal of Smart Technology and Learning (free sample issue available)

The International Journal of Smart Technology and Learning focuses on the design, application and assessment of smart learning technologies, highlighting how smart learning technologies should be properly implemented in education to enhance smart learning. This perspective acknowledges not only the significance of emerging smart learning technologies but also the importance of educational outcomes those technologies bring. IJSmartTL encourages researchers and educators to be reflective of the use of smart educational technologies and focus on its fundamental goals.

There is a free download of the papers from this first issue.

Call for papers: "Waterborne Transport Information and Safety"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics.

Compared to land transportation, waterborne transportation has many advantages such as lower carbon emissions, lower costs and lower likelihood of congestion. Naturally, there are also accidents of a different nature and with different consequences that are associated with waterborne transport activity.

It is therefore necessary to develop novel techniques aimed at accident prevention (e-navigation developments, traffic management practices), and measures for consequence mitigation (improved decision support systems for evacuation and flooding, ship designs and equipment).

Emerging technologies such as big data, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and resilience engineering have had a profound impact on ways to improve waterborne transportation safety. Therefore, this special issue will focus on the discussions regarding the opportunities, challenges and initiatives of using the above emerging technologies for more efficient and safer waterborne transport processes.

The aim of this issue is to enhance the coordination of transport information and safety in the maritime and inland waterways sectors through the attraction and presentation of high-quality papers. The beneficiaries include, but are not limited to, academic researchers in the areas of transport information, transport safety and security, risk and reliability engineering, logistics, and maritime and inland waterways. The issue will make significant contributions to solutions addressing today’s challenges for shipping and transport logistics in achieving operational safety, security, resilience, sustainability and efficiency through emerging IT technologies, particularly those involving big data.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the 4th International Conference on Transportation Information and Safety (ICTIS 2017), but we also strongly encourage researchers unable to participate in the conference to submit articles for this call.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Waterborne transport risk modelling
• Ship safety in extreme environments
• Use of emerging technologies in waterborne transport
• Efficiency and safety relating to emerging technologies in waterborne transport processes
• Risk-based resilience engineering for ship operations
• Green shipping and information
• Safety and sustainable shipping
• Climate and shipping - mitigation and adaptation
• LNG fuelled ships - safety and sustainability
• IoT (internet of the thing) in waterborne transport
• Safety and risk of shipping logistics

Important Dates
Manuscripts due by: 20 December, 2017

New Editor for International Journal of Alternative Propulsion

Dr. Haotian Wu from Purdue University in the USA has been appointed to take over editorship of theInternational Journal of Alternative Propulsion.

Call for papers: "New and Renewable Energy Resources"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology.

This special issue aims to provide a platform where scientists, researchers, academicians, industry experts, new aspirants and students of science and technology can come together and engage in a fruitful exchange of views and ideas to pave way for new and renewable energy resources.

The scope of the issue encompasses the latest research outcomes pertaining to the energy domain in the areas of theoretical models, environmental impact, security and defence technology, innovative designs, enhancements and improvements in existing frameworks, sustainable technological advancement, societal welfare, etc. Thus the special issue intends to bring together the best minds from around the world to cover all aspects of energy technology from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the International Conference on New and Renewable Energy Resources for a Sustainable future, but we also strongly encourage researchers unable to participate in the conference to submit articles for this call.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Green technologies and green buildings
• Gasification and pyrolysis
• Alternative fuels and fuel cell technologies
• Strategies for energy demand and use optimisation
• Sustainable consumption and production
• CO2 capture, storage and utilisation
• Heating and cooling systems
• Smart grids
• Energy metrology
• Non-conventional energy
• Solar energy technologies
• Energy modelling and analysis
• Socio-economic impact and policies
• Nanotechnology
• Energy storage technologies
• Environmental pollution control

Important Dates
Submission of manuscripts: 5 February, 2017
Notification to authors: 5 April, 2017
Final versions due: 5 June, 2017

Free sample articles newly available from World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research

The following sample articles from the World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research are now available here for free:

• Extended service use and new product possibilities in Swedish trucking: case study
• Can slow steaming lower cost impacts of sulphur directive - shippers' perspective
• A review of mode choice modelling techniques for intra-city and border transport
• The role of contracts in achieving effective governance of intermodal terminals
• Something old is new again: airline-airport consortia and key stakeholder benefits

Call for papers: "Cyber-Assurance: The Next-Generation of Cyber-Security and Information Assurance for Computer Security"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Internet of Things and Cyber-Assurance.

This special issue addresses broad issues on cyber-security and information assurance in the context of cyber-assurance, from a technical and operational perspective. The main goal of is to bring together research which presents recent advances and achievements addressing the challenges related to cyber-assurance in traditional, cloud, distributed, grid and wireless computing environments. Additionally, we seek to provide academics, researchers, and practitioners with an opportunity to share their perspectives on the various aspects of cyber-assurance research, industry best practices and pedagogical developments of interest within the information security field.

 

Cyber-Assurance is emerging as a paradigm for the use and delivery of automated and/or embedded security amongst smart networks and devices. Due to the heavy utilisation of wireless technologies and the advent of innovative technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), this renders data communications and operations very complicated. At the same time, the pace of processing data is significantly accelerated with the focus of how the data is delivered to these new systems, whereas the quick shifting of the focus will inevitably bring about swift and constant changes in the tactics of information security. New information assurance measures are required to be taken to secure these new infrastructures including using different kinds of automated technical defence measures and traffic monitoring and analysing processes and services executed within these new environments.

 

We encourage the submission of papers presenting novel research and development on technical related aspects on cyber-assurance. The papers may present new concepts and approaches related to cyber-assurance, automated tools and systems providing practical implementations supporting such methods and approaches, and the integration and configuration of security services in information systems architectures. In addition, we are also interested in application papers discussing the applicability of these methods and techniques to real-world problems. Submissions of original and unpublished works are invited, including research, theory and applications.

 

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS-50), but we also strongly encourage researchers unable to participate in the conference to submit articles for this call.

 

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Defensive monitoring technologies,
• Cyber threat and damage assessments
• Identification and classification of cyber-attacks
• Cyber anomalies and offenders
• Incident response
• Risk management
• Trend analysis
• Cyber policies and strategies to deal with security vulnerabilities
• Internet of Things security

 

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 1 March, 2017

Notification to authors: 15 April, 2017

Final versions due: 1 May, 2017

Special issue published: "Challenges and Solutions in Wireless Network Security"

International Journal of Information and Computer Security 8(2) 2016

• A novel approach to enhance the network lifetime for hybrid routing protocol
• An MDA approach to secure access to data on cloud using implicit security
• Lightweight identity-based authentication protocol for wireless sensor networks
• Key pre-distribution schemes to support various architectural deployment models in WSN
• Performance comparison of TCP, UDP and TFRC in static wireless environment
• Formally verified TSM centric privacy preserving NFC mobile payment framework and protocol 

New Editor for International Journal of Vehicle Information and Communication Systems

Associate Prof. Chih-Shun Hsu from Shih Hsin University in Taiwan has been appointed to take over editorship of the International Journal of Vehicle Information and Communication Systems.

Call for papers: "Social Media and Social Media Marketing in Tourism, Hospitality and Culture"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Digital Culture and Electronic Tourism.

The last decade’s digitalisation of society and development of Web 2.0 and social media has had a profound impact on how both consumers and organisations communicate and interact online. (Kaplan and Haenlein 2010, Berthon et al 2012). The expectations on tourism/hospitality organisations to implement and use social media technologies are increasing, due to the large usage among customers and stakeholders (Berthron et al 2012). Organisations use social media not only for internal communication but also for marketing purposes in order to communicate and create relationships with their customers. (Baird and Paranasis 2011). Despite the potential for competitive advantages and the growing use of social media technologies, many organisations are not convinced of its value. This is partly due to the difficulties of evaluating the usage of social media and the return of investment (ROI) (Hannah et al 2011, Weinberg et al 2011) but also factors like fear of losing control over the organisational brand and the fear that social media usage also may cause a conflict with the existing organisational culture. (Parameswaran and Whinston 2007, Berthon et al 2012). Researchers argue that to answer why and how organisations should implement and use social media is not yet obvious. (Weinberg et al 2011). Social media related topics have been investigated in the context of tourism/hospitality and culture in recent years, with the focus on both organisations and customers. However, there has been limited research undertaken on some aspects of social media such as social media implementation, organisational usage, eWOM, user-generated-content, and organisational learning. (Sigala et al 2012, Minazzi 2015).

This special issue welcomes contributions examining theoretical and empirical studies addressing organisational, managerial, technical, and marketing perspectives on social media in organisations and the usage of social media in tourism/hospitality and culture. We invite submissions on a broad range of issues in this regard, and invite studies that provide greater clarity regarding the conceptual domain of social media and digitalisation in tourism/hospitality and culture.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Social media implementation and usage
• Evaluation of social media implementation and usage in the workplace
• Social media and knowledge management
• Social media and organisational learning
• Social media marketing/strategies
• Social media and ROI
• E-WOM in social media
• Co-creating value and engagement using social media marketing
• User-generated-content
• Culture heritage of social media

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 30 April, 2017
Notification to authors: 30 June, 2017
Final versions due: 30 August, 2017

References

Baird, C. H. and Parasnis, G. (2011). "From Social Media to Social Customer Relationship Management", Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 39, No. 5, 30-37.

Berthon, P.R., Pitt, L.F., Plangger, K. and Shapiro, D. (2012). "Marketing meets Web 2.0, social media, and creative consumers: implications for international marketing strategy", Business Horizons, Vol. 55 No. 3, 261-71.

Hanna, R., Rohm, A., and Crittenden, V. L. (2011). "We are all connected: The power of the social media ecosystem." Business Horizons, 54(3), 265-273.

Kaplan, A. M., and Haenlein, M. (2010). "Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of social media." Business Horizons, 53(1), 59-68.

Minazzi, R. (2015). Social Media Marketing in Tourism and Hospitality. Springer International Publishing.

Parameswaran, Manoj and Whinston, Andrew B. (2007) "Social Computing: An Overview," Communications of the Association for Information Systems: Vol. 19, pp. 6-30.

Sigala M, Gretzel U, editors (2012). Social media in travel, tourism and hospitality: theory, practice. Farnham: Ashgate.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies are now available here for free:

• The activity of human metadata creation and the semantic web
• Ontology for mapping of data classes for improved data exchange on cotton production in Brazil
• Reconciliation model of heterogeneous information in decisional information systems
• Chinese character metadata: the key to ensure consistency for cataloguing and discoverability of Chinese-language materials
• A structured and in-depth representation of the semantic content of elementary and complex events
• Developing an ontology for cloud-based archive systems

Special issue published: "Green Economy and Sustainability Energy Use"

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal 10(1) 2016

Extended versions of papers presented at the 2014 conference on “Sustainability Energy Use and Management”.

• Environmental and technical evaluation of the use of alternative fuels through multi-criteria analysis model
• Economic sustainability and possibilities of action for the states, in the case of monetary integration: some notes for reflection
• The education level of the human resources in the context of the green economy
• The green economy: EU vision for competitive and sustainable development
• Traditional vs. green energy in Romania
• The social equity of energy parameters: the Romanian case
• EU's sustainable growth strategy: some implications on Romanian labour market

Additional paper

• The growth of the tourism industry and its effect on resource consumption in Macao SAR, China

Call for papers: "Recent Advances in Modelling, Control and Optimisation of Powertrains for Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Powertrains.

The ever-heavier burden on the environment and energy utilisation requires mobility to be cleaner and more efficient. In this context, many novel technologies such as high-efficient combustion, powertrain electrification, and alternative energy have been widely studied for the purpose of energy conservation and the emission reduction. And indeed, a lot of research advances in powertrains have been successfully applied in electric and hybrid electric vehicles.

However, since such an advanced powertrain integrates several complex subsystems, including power sources, energy sources, power electronics, and mechanical transmission, and strong uncertainties, hard nonlinearities, and multi-disciplinary interactions make the modelling, design, control and optimisation of vehicle powertrains even harder. Therefore, it becomes mandatory to consider the whole system in order to reach the best performance. And there are still a number of fundamental and critical issues in vehicle powertrain systems remained open.

This special issue will focus on the state-of-the-art research and development as well as future trends in modelling, design, control and optimisation of advanced powertrains for electric and hybrid electric vehicles. High-quality articles are invited that explore this growing area and provide vision for future research activities.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Topology design and optimisation of electrified powertrain systems
• Dynamical modelling and simulation of electrified powertrains
• Energy management and advanced control of electrified powertrains
• Integration of electrified powertrain within ITS and/or smart grid

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 15 February, 2017

Call for papers: "Bio-Inspired Computing Systems and Their Applications in Medical Image Processing"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Bioinformatics Research and Applications.

Due to rapid growth in technology and advancements in the medical field, responsive systems are used therewith generating a huge volume of data in a variety of formats, especially image data. The processing of these medical images involves extracting the information to diagnose the disease. Moreover, the prediction and classification process involved in medical image processing requires significant attention to accuracy. Subsequently, expecting practitioners with a set of “good practice” recommendations for designing and implementing an accuracy assessment of a medical image based on the reference sample data is paramount. In addition, good practice recommendations for assessing accuracy in the given image data is to implement a probability sampling design, to achieve the priority objectives of accuracy and apply the appropriate optimisation approaches for arriving at the better result.

The primary focus of this special issue is to disseminate the application of evolutionary computational intelligence approaches and bio-inspired optimisation techniques such as ant colony optimisation, particle swarm optimisation and so on in medical image processing. We aim to reveal the state-of-art development prevailing and new trends developing thereof, and to help researchers in this field to showcase their novel contributions and establish research avenues to pursue.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Application of genetic algorithm, ant colony optimisation, bacterial foraging optimisation algorithm and so on for based feature selection and classification
• Particle swarm optimisation for image extraction and change detection
• Simulated annealing based image classification strategies
• Use of artificial bee colony optimisation, glowworm swarm optimisation, cuckoo search algorithm (csa) and firefly approach for image synthesis and analysis
• Swarm intelligence techniques for bio-inspired image based computation
• Deep learning and convolutional neural networks for image processing
• Meta-heuristics, hybrid evolutionary algorithms and methods medical images
• Affective computing techniques for medical image processing
• Application of artificial immune system based optimisation approaches for medical image

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 1 April, 2017
Notification to authors: 1 July, 2017
Submission of revised papers: 1 September, 2017
Final versions due: 15 October, 2017

Narrowing the digital divide

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) learning and support in the UK relies primarily on the goodwill of friends and family and on the availability of staff and volunteers in community venues, such as public libraries. This ad hoc approach is highly variable in quality and reliability and will not reduce the digital divide between older people who could benefit from ICT but do not yet do so and the younger generation, according to research published in the International Journal of Technology.

Leela Damodaran of Loughborough University and Jatinder Sandhu of Nottingham Trent University explain how they have examined the key role of formal and informal social support in reducing digital inequalities by enabling the digital participation of older people. Their work focused on the Sustaining IT use by older people to promote autonomy and independence (Sus-IT) project in the UK over a four-year period working with over 1000 older people using mixed research methods within a participative framework.

The team suggests that the digital divide might be narrowed through the implementation of more informal and socially-embedded community-led ICT support for older people. Such support is likely to be helpful to other digitally excluded groups, but the present research was based upon working with older people in the UK.

Digital technologies are becoming increasingly pervasive and integrated within society, the team explains more aspects of modern life rely on access to online services. As such, those without the necessary skills or training to keep up with an ever-changing online landscape might be left behind. Obviously, many sectors of societies face barriers to the internet, but perhaps none more so than the older generation who in many, but not all, cases may not even have access to a personal computer let alone one with the requisite high-speed, or broadband, internet connection. Further, the process of learning about new things is promoted by social contact and when people retire their social networks often diminish significantly adding an additional barrier to digital participation by older people.
Online shopping, registration for services, communication with friends and family and many other activities that many of us, and particularly the so-called “digital natives” take for granted are essentially inaccessible. They need not be, of course, given the connectivity and social nature of local libraries, community centres and other public places. As such, a primary barrier that needs to be surmounted is the void in ICT learning support beyond the work place.

Build confidence and capacity in the use of ICT in older people and opportunities arise that will enhance their well-being and quality of life, reduce social isolation and loneliness, and moreover give those people access to the services that everyone else now takes for granted.

“The underpinning premise of our proposition is that community-based ICT support provision enables older people to solve their problems, manage their lives (including their health conditions), enhance their well-being, engage with friends and pursue their passions empowered and enabled through their use of technology,” the team reports.


Damodaran, L. and Sandhu, J. (2016) ‘The role of a social context for ICT learning and support in reducing digital inequalities for older ICT users‘, Int. J. Learning Technology, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp.156-175.
via Inderscience – Science Spot http://ift.tt/2aQt2AY

Special issue published: "Behaviour of Composite Laminates under Severe Conditions"

International Journal of Automotive Composites 2(1) 2016

• Finite element modelling of the low velocity impact response of composite plates with block copolymer nano-reinforcements
• Thermal stress analysis of laminated composite plates using exponential shear deformation theory
• A simplified higher-order shear deformation theory for hygrothermal analysis of FRP bridge deck
• Modelling of fatigue damage evolution in composite multilayered cylindrical shells
• Crashworthiness evaluation of composite vehicle side door with an innovative design

Free sample articles newly available from Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal

The following sample articles from Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal are now available here for free:

• Towards sustainable waste management in the Baltic Sea region countries: the contribution of universities
• De-constructing the sustainability challenge for engineering education: an industrial ecology approach
• County government led EIP development using municipal biomass resources for clean energy production, a case study of the Catawba County North Carolina EcoComplex
• The eco-labelling in tourism: energy efficiency way
• Bioeconomic sustainability and modelling energy systems
• The 'green economy' concept in Belarus: today and tomorrow
• Public incentives and environmental taxation for a sustainable C&D waste management in Spain: an industrial ecology challenge
• The impact of privatisation on regulated energy markets: a Great Britain's case study in industrial ecology
• Renewable energy: alternative for the mining industry on the American continent

Call for papers: "Employee Satisfaction and Engagement: Theory and Praxis for Today’s Excellence"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management.

The main objective of this special issue is to present the most interesting papers, involving research on employee satisfaction and engagement as the main competitive advantages of modern businesses, both private and public. Many factors make organisations competitive in achieving business excellence. Many of the factors are easily controllable and changeable whereas those connected with the human factor, such as employee satisfaction and engagement are very difficult to first to establish and later to maintain. Therefore, attracting and retaining satisfied and engaged employees is becoming a critical factor of competitive advantage and business excellence. Leaders are those who should have the competence, authority and interest to encourage and promote high employee satisfaction and engagement since they lead to several measurable and unmeasurable benefits, first, for individual employees, second, for organisations and third, for society as a whole.

In today’s increasingly competitive and rapidly changing business environment, the fields of employee satisfaction and engagement are very important for both theory and praxis. We welcome papers with a focus on all aspects of employee satisfaction and engagement since the excellence and sustainability of operations rely heavily on them. Most employee satisfaction and engagement studies in academia began relatively later than practitioner research, although recently quite a number of researchers have begun to address the constructs of employee satisfaction and engagement - studying their dimensions, predecessors, antecedents and consequences. Some authors have taken their own approach to understanding employee satisfaction and engagement, others have offered their reinterpretations. Both constructs have been examined by different disciplines (e.g. HRM, HRD, psychology, sociology, management) or even interdisciplinary. We aim to include the best research studies and case studies to allow the state-of-the art areas of employee satisfaction and engagement to be brought together. The biggest potential is seen in the recent research on organisational cognition, evolutionary perspectives and historical analysis, as well as narrative and discursive approaches in contributing to an improved understanding of employee satisfaction and engagement. The call is an attempt to link contemporary HRM research to theories and methods that advance our understanding of the discussed fields of research. The main theme will follow the idea that ‘the technology is a motor of changes, but people are the heart’.

According to the theme that is of interest both in and for theory and practice, there is a huge potential to receive a number of high quality papers from all over the world. Besides scientific papers, one-third of them could be best case studies in the areas of employee satisfaction and engagement since in our opinion sharing best practice is an important element of learning and improvements. We are open to a wide range of paradigms within employee satisfaction and engagement. In particular, we invite innovative research that enhances theorising on the mentioned themes through cross-fertilisation of ideas across different perspectives. We would consider papers that are conceptual, qualitative, or quantitative.

In an age of high technology, market model dominance and wage slavery one might claim that employee satisfaction, as one of the most often examined constructs in HRM in the past, does not matter at all. On the other hand, theorists and practitioners from the field of HRM claim that employees and their satisfaction are the key factor of success and excellence in today’s businesses. Moreover, satisfaction is not enough – employees have to be engaged in order to perform to the maximum benefit of the organisation and society.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Predecessors (enablers or drivers) of employee (dis)satisfaction and (dis)engagement, e.g. the impact of personal (demographic, psychological etc.), organisational and external factors
• Consequences of employee satisfaction and engagement (for employees, for organisations, for society) - what if employees are (dis)satisfied and/or (dis)engaged?
• Dimensions (facets) of employee satisfaction and engagement - if taken as multidimensional constructs
• Potential interrelations of employee satisfaction and engagement - does employee satisfaction lead to engagement or the opposite?
• Related terms (commitment, motivation, contribution, etc.)
• How to improve/enhance and maintain employee satisfaction and engagement
• What kills employee satisfaction and engagement?
• Best practices/case studies related to employee satisfaction and engagement

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 31 December, 2016

Notification to authors: 28 February, 2017

Submission of revised papers: 25 April, 2017

Final versions due: 1 June, 2017

Papers submitted earlier than the submission date will be put through the review process on a rolling basis, and their authors may expect to hear back sooner.

Special issue published: "Coopetition and Innovation"

International Journal of Technology Management 71(1/2) 2016

• Introduction to coopetition and innovation: contemporary topics and future research opportunities
• Absorptive capacity, coopetition and generation of product innovation: contrasting Italian and Portuguese manufacturing firms
• Governance models of coopetition and innovation: the case of Spanish firms
• Coopetition in corporate venture capital: the relationship between network attributes, corporate innovativeness, and financial performance
• Organisational innovation and coopetition between SMEs: a tertius strategies approach
• The role of proximity dimensions in the development of innovations in coopetition: a longitudinal case study
• In search of coopetition consensus: shaping the collective identity of a relevant strategic management community

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties are now available here for free:

• Electrical resistivity measurements of Al-cast alloys during solidification
• Combined surface heat treatment: state-of-the-art
• Numerical modelling and experimental implementation of laser shock micro-forming of thin metal sheets
• Overview of heat treatment and surface engineering, influences of surface finishing on hot-work tool steel

Special issue published: "Europe and the Crisis: Country Perspectives on Entrepreneurship"

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business 29(1) 2016

Extended versions of papers presented at the 2014 Interdisciplinary European Conference on Entrepreneurship Research (IECER).

• The impact of the financial crisis on financing technology ventures
• Entering non-traditional and emerging markets: a matter of opportunity orientation and willingness to take risks?
• Young and flexible: labour contracts in young and incumbent firms
• Freelancers and innovation in France 

Invited paper

• Sustainable entrepreneurship education: a new field for research in step with the 'effectual entrepreneur'

Additional papers

• Growth and sustainability of agricultural systems: the case of Sicilian wine-growing farms
• Risk management in Scottish, Chinese and German small and medium-sized enterprises: a country comparison
• Personality of Finnish innovative entrepreneurs

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Environment and Pollution

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

• Inverse modelling methods for identifying unknown releases in emergency scenarios: an overview
• Influence of impounding process on the variation of phytoplankton and microcystin-LR in a tributary of Three Gorges Reservoir, China
• Aerosol mass concentration variations in typical weather conditions during the spring and winter in the Yangtze river Delta region of China
• Monitoring and analysis of PM10 concentration at Delhi Metro construction sites
• Perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid in Qiantang River waters of China
• Public participation in environmental permitting: the Finnish approach and its effects

Inderscience is media partner for 8th Edition Project Management for the Utility and Power Generation Industry

Inderscience is a media partner for 8th Edition Project Management for the Utility and Power Generation Industry (18-20 October 2016, Prague, Czech Republic).

The journals involved are:

• Int. J. of Engineering Management and Economics
• Int. J. of Energy Technology and Policy

Special issue published: "Induction Heating and Heat Treating"

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties 11(1/2) 2016

• Estimation of the heat flux density during the induction heating process based on the parametric optimisation
• Simulation and optimisation of heating stages in a new resource efficient forging process chain
• Investigation of the intermediate layers formed by austenitic nitrocarburising
• Numerical analysis of computational models for induction heat treatment of complex geometrical parts
• Metallurgical and mechanical implications of inductor and process design factors in induction heat treatment
• Influence of diode laser surface melting on microstructure and corrosion resistance of 7075 aluminium alloy
• Electromagnetic forming analysis of AA5182 at elevated temperatures
• Elimination of straightening operation in induction hardening of automotive camshafts

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Corporate Governance

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

• Cross-border share voting and improving voting chain deficiencies in the 21st century
• Director tenure and busyness and corporate governance
• A multiple stakeholder approach to nonprofit board effectiveness: the employee perspective
• Board effectiveness in the European banking industry
• Board busyness and crash risk: evidence from Indian stock market

Research Picks – August 2016

Predictable wind power
One of the perennial problems of wind power is knowing how strongly the wind will blow if at all during any given time. Weather forecasts provide brought regional indicators of wind speed and direction, but a more precise way to determine likely changes hour-by-hour is needed to maximise power output from turbines whether land based or out at sea and to ensure safety when wind speeds pick up. Researchers at the American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates have developed a computer algorithm that can help bring some semblance of order to the chaos that is wind speed. Their hybrid prediction technique outperforms individual forecasting algorithms developed by others over the last decades.
Osman, A.H., Hassan, M.S., Marzbani, F. and Landolsi, T. (2016) ‘One-hour-ahead wind power forecast using hybrid grey models’, Int. J. Operational Research, Vol. 27, Nos. 1/2, pp.212-231.

Watery experiencescapes
There has been an increasing movement towards the exploration and (re)development of waterway sites and their surroundings for leisure, recreation and tourism, according to researchers in Sweden. They have now looked at how selected Nordic destinations might be strategically developed as “experiencescapes”, drawing on different water and edge of water sports and events, museums using outreach and storytelling and other activities. They point out that the success of such projects relies on all those involved working together to compete against other established tourist and leisure destinations.
Olsson, A.K. (2016) ‘Canals, rivers and lakes as experiencescapes – destination development based on strategic use of inland water’, Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp.217-243.

Climate variability and disease
Climate variability affects the spread of disease, whether through the effects of drought, flood, or other conditions. Ultimately, according to research from six regions of Kenya, this has an impact on economic wellbeing. Malaria, respiratory tract infection, typhoid, pneumonia and diarrhoea are the major diseases that afflict residents of the Lake Victoria basin, the researchers report. Frequency of disease is highest in the flood-prone region of Budalang’i and lowest in Bomet, which has relatively good, stable weather conditions. “The findings reveal the often unseen subtle effects of adverse climatic conditions on economically vulnerable communities,” the researchers explain. This should help inform the work of those involved in developing flood and drought prevention and mitigation strategies, as well as those involved in public awareness campaigns. Given the increasing problem of global climate change, this is becoming more urgent.
Ofulla, A.V.O., Gichere, S.K., Olado, G.O., Abuom, P.O., Anyona, D.N., Othero, D.M., Matano, A-S., Gelder, F.B., Dida, G.O., Ouma, C., Owuor, P.O., Amayi, J.B. and Kanangire, C.K. (2016) ‘Effects of regional climate variability on the prevalence of diseases and their economic impacts on households in the Lake Victoria basin of Western Kenya‘, Int. J. Global Warming, Vol. 10, Nos. 1/2/3, pp.332-353.

Tuning into telemedicine
India could exploit the gaps between television stations in the radio frequency electromagnetic spectrum, the so-called “white space” for telemedicine applications and so sidestep the short-range systems like Bluetooth and ZigBee as well as the cell phone network, for which infrastructure may not always exist nor service be reliable. Delivery of remote healthcare services and sharing of medical knowledge could be carried in this white space for the benefit of patients and healthcare provides even in the most far-flung village. In an initial investigation PSG College of Technology has developed a transceiver that might be used to send data from an ECG, electrocardiograph, across the airwaves carried on these otherwise unused white space frequencies.
Mohandass, S. and Umamaheswari, G. (2016) ‘Tapping TV white space spectrum for telemedicine applications in India‘, Int. J. Telemedicine and Clinical Practices, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp.224-237.


via Inderscience – Science Spot http://ift.tt/2aosSOZ