Special issue: Environmental implications of urban transportation in Asia

International Journal of Environment and Pollution 30(1) 2007 is a special issue: Environmental implications of urban transportation in Asia.

Article titles:
* Environmental and resource constraints on Asian urban travel
* Limited provision of roads as a bottleneck on vehicle CO2 emissions in Asia: an international comparison of national trends
* Strategies for the promotion of cleaner and energy efficient technologies in the urban transport system in selected Asian cities
* Analysis of policy options for promotion of clean and energy efficient technologies in the transport sector in Beijing
* Model calculation of environmentally friendly traffic flows in a rapidly growing urban centre in India
* Pollution control by reduction of drag on cars and buses through platooning
* Vehicle wake factor for heterogeneous traffic in urban environments
* Development of the Tehran car driving cycle
* Benefits of air quality improvement in Klang Valley Malaysia
* Assessment of noise level due to vehicular traffic at Warangal city, India
* Research Note: Air pollution challenges and solutions for China's urban transportation development

Newly announced title: International Journal of Advanced Intelligence Paradigms

International Journal of Advanced Intelligence Paradigms - to begin publication in 2008 - will cover applications and case studies in the area of advanced intelligence paradigms among professionals in education and research. The aim of the journal is to publish papers dealing with the design, development, testing, implementation and management of advanced intelligent systems and also to provide practical guidelines in the development and management of these systems. It will publish both archival articles and broader assessments of current trends.

Call for papers: New Challenges In Global Chassis Control

Call for papers: New Challenges In Global Chassis Control

A special issue of International Journal of Vehicle Autonomous Systems

Over the past few years, automotive engineering has been characterised by rapid growth in active systems. In particular efforts to improve driving safety and comfort under all driving conditions have been naturally focused on the chassis behaviour. However active safety and comfort are known to satisfy conflicting interests for the conventional chassis.

To tackle this problem, the usual approach consists of an independent optimisation of the different chassis subsystems (in particular brakes, suspension actuators, steering, etc.). However, this currently runs into its limits once data interchange between the systems is needed to improve the overall functions. Therefore, to gain maximum comfort and safety at the same time, an integrated design, called "global chassis control", needs to be considered.

This special issue aims to present recent results on this topic of global chassis control. The performance optimisation of the chassis dynamical behavior requires development of:
new (nonlinear) models: from subsystems where the recent products (active differential, semi-active dampers, etc.) require accurate modelling to the integrated full car model
new control synthesis: aiming to reach enhanced safety and comfort, which can be obtained only using advanced control methodologies (linear H1/LPV, nonlinear, predictive, etc.)
new simulation tools based on accurate models: to avoid the inherent cost of vehicle tests and to allow for analysis of critical driving situations

Among the objectives outlined above, the topics of this special issue include (but are not limited to):

• Subsystems (non linear) modelling to account for new technologies of dampers, differential, brakes, etc
• Vehicle (nonlinear) modelling: integration of subsystems, tires, chassis, etc
• Active and semi-active suspension control to enhance safety and comfort
• Active safety using steering or braking actuators

Important Date
Deadline for submission of manuscripts: 15 December 2007

First issue: International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation

The first issue of International Journal of Logistics Economics and Globalisation has just been published.

The journal deals with the development and application of logistics in the world economy and globalised arena. It aims to bring together current research, development and application in improving logistical systems, supply chains efficiency, networks and enterprises performance. Studies involving supply chain-specific, network-specific, enterprise-specific, cluster-specific, industry-specific, country-specific issues with a national-focus or international-focus, will be included.

There is a free download of papers from this first issue

First issue: International Journal of Internet Manufacturing and Services

The first issue of International Journal of Internet Manufacturing and Services has just been published.

It covers the areas of manufacturing science and technologies, services theory and methods, and corresponding information and knowledge management issues. The main features of the journal are to highlight the use of Internet or World Wide Web techniques, solving the new problems and facing the new challenges that are brought about through network and distribution issues in the above areas. Contributions that deal with both academic research and industrial practices are included.

There is a free download of papers from this first issue, which is a special one on Web-Based Approach to Design, Manufacturing and Life-Cycle Engineering

First issue: International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management

The first issue of International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management has just been published.

The main objective of the journal is to promote research and application of new developments in Indian culture and management. It aims to help professionals working in the field of international business, academic educators, industry consultants, and practitioners to contribute, to disseminate and to learn from each other’s work. International business dimension and the implications of culture are emphasised in developing appropriate strategies, tactics, and operational policies for being successful in India.

There is a free download of papers from this first issue

Special issue: Ethnic sub-economies in the global environment

International Journal of Business and Globalisation 1(2) 2007 is a special issue: Ethnic sub-economies in the global environment.

Article titles:
* Social capital and business performance: ethnic enterprises in Canada
* The value of the psychological capital of immigrant entrepreneurs
* Minority entrepreneurship in the USA
* Cuban-American entrepreneurs in Tampa, Florida: an evolutionary perspective
* The new landscape of immigrant entrepreneurship in France
* Nigerian restaurants in London: bridging the experiential perception/expectation gap
* Entrepreneurship in ethnic groups: the case of the multicultural city of Thessaloniki, Greece
* A study of Chinese-owned firms in New Zealand

Special issue: Media streaming over wireless and mobile environments

International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing 2(2/3) 2007 is a special issue: Media streaming over wireless and mobile environments.

Article titles:
* Robust source-adaptive real-time video transport over wireless multihop networks
* Adaptive semi-soft handoff for Cellular IP networks
* Developing a QoS framework for media streaming over TDMA/TDD wireless networks
* WAQM: managing QoS in wireless networks by means of an XML-based multiagent system
* Rate adaptation for wireless video streaming based on error statistics
* Seamless multimedia sessions and real-time measurements in hybrid 3G and WLAN networks
* A rate adaptation scheme for media streaming over heterogeneous networks
* Mobile face detection and tracking for media streaming applications
* TCP-friendly MPEG-4 streaming video in CDMA networks via power and rate control
* Constraint-based media content delivery over heterogeneous networks and devices

Special issue: Computational methods in computer graphics and scientific visualisation

International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering 3(1) 2007 is a special issue: Computational methods in computer graphics and scientific visualisation, comprising selected papers from the International Conference on Computational Science and Its Applications (ICCSA’04), Assisi, Italy, May 14-17, 2004.

Article titles:
* Smooth natural neighbour interpolants over the whole domain
* Boundary filtering approach in surface reconstruction
* Upper and lower bounds of op-code probabilities for Edgebreaker
* Fast and efficient rendering system for real-time terrain visualisation
* Polygonisation of disjoint implicit surfaces by the adaptive edge spinning algorithm of implicit objects
* Polygonal silhouette error correction: a reverse subdivision approach
* Texture mapping on 3D surfaces using clustering-based cutting paths
* Incremental subdivision for triangle meshes

Call for papers: Supply Chain Management and Knowledge Management

Call for papers: Supply Chain Management and Knowledge Management

A special issue of International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations

Advances in Information Technologies have transformed the way organisations interact with each other, and with their customers. Customers and organisations have become more demanding, desiring customised products and services that are made to their precise needs, at comparatively cheaper costs, and within a time-compressed environment. The last two decades have also witnessed a constantly changing business environment wherein revolutionary technologies are resulting in creation of innovative products with shorter product life cycles, whilst being constant pressure to reduce lead times.

In response, best practice organisations have recognised that they cannot compete alone. Today supply chains compete. Furthermore, the exploitation of knowledge across the supply chain is fundamental to business optimisation. Organisations have accepted and recognised that in the dynamic modern day business environment, knowledge is the prime resource for providing an organisation with a sustainable competitive advantage. Consequently, to enable organisations to respond to this dynamic environment, new management paradigms such as: (1) knowledge management and (2) supply chain management have evolved.

In this special edition, we seek to explore the role of knowledge management in the supply chain. What are the current trends in supply chain management? How effective are current knowledge creation/acquisition, knowledge codification, and knowledge transfer mechanisms among supply chain partners? What are the drivers of supply chain modelling and simulation and what are the critical success factors? What new approaches and skills are required for supply chain managers? What are the barriers to effective customised logistics operations and supply chains and how might these be overcome?

This special issue aims to provide a forum for addressing these questions. Two types of papers are solicited:

• Theoretical research papers that provide original work on current trends and issues in supply chain management and knowledge management.
• Applied research papers that deal with the design, implementation and evaluation of supply chain management and knowledge management solutions

Recommended general topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Agility, responsiveness and customer-focused supply chains
• Communication and information technology
• Customised logistics & supply chains
• Design and development of knowledge management solutions
• Knowledge-enabled global supply networks
• Decision support systems in logistics
• Knowledge creation/acquisition, knowledge codification, knowledge transfer among supply chain partners
• Knowledge management in lean supply chains
• RFID and the impact of real-time data acquisition
• Supply-chain modelling and simulation in supply-chains
• Techniques and methods for managing knowledge across the supply chain
• Empirical and case studies
• Future trends

Important Dates
Extended abstract of no more than 4 pages due: 15 September 2007
Preliminary acceptance/rejection notification: 15 October 2007
Full paper due: 15 January 2008
Final acceptance notification by: 15 March 2008
Camera ready paper due: 15 April 2008

Call for papers: Transportation/Service Network Expansion and Legal Issues in Cargo/Mail Industry

Call for papers: Transportation/Service Network Expansion and Legal Issues in Cargo/Mail Industry

A special issue of World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research

As trade barriers have broken down and e-commerce and B2C business models prevail, air carriers, couriers, freight forwarders, and postal administrations serve as the nerve systems to move cargo, freight, packages and mail to every corner of the world.

The increasing demands of seamless transportation and expedited services bring challenges to these transportation and delivery service providers as well as to academia. To meet the growing demand, it is essential for providers to expand their service networks, expedite their handling processes, and increase the efficiency of their operations.

Due to various legal constraints and limited resources, the improvements needed to meet market demands are subject to constraints. For example, limitations on traffic rights restrict air carriers from expanding their service network to courtiers that do not grant traffic rights to carriers’ home country or only grant limited traffic rights to carriers’ home country; safety and security restrictions limit the types of merchandise flown by air; and customs and border control and environmental (night flight zone) restrictions limit operating hours and slow down operations.

This special issue will present managerial and legal issues faced by transportation and delivery service providers, focusing on the causes of these issues, and on managerial, marketing and legal approaches to resolving these issues.

This special issue is intended to cover the transportation/service network management and legal issues, including transportation modes as well as inter-modal transportation. We encourage papers from a variety of transportation fields, including but not limited to:

• Transportation and inter-model transportation network optimisation
• Network expansion via strategic alliances
• Operation efficiency improvement via standardisation and automation
• Expediting handling procedures for cross-border goods, packages and international mail
• Air cargo liberalisation and the EU-US Open Aviation Area Agreement
• Impact of post-9/11 aviation security restriction on the international cargo industry
• Impact of environmental protection regulations (such as gas emission and night flight zone restrictions) on transportation and inter-model transportation

Important Dates
Submission of full paper before: 15 January, 2008
Notification of acceptance before: 1 April, 2008
Submission of final and revised manuscripts: 1 June, 2008

Call for papers: Entrepreneurial Marketing - The Interface between Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Call for papers: Entrepreneurial Marketing - The Interface between Marketing and Entrepreneurship

A special issue of International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management

Entrepreneurial marketing is a term which is receiving increasing use. It essentially encompasses two very distinct areas of management: marketing and entrepreneurship. Several overlaps between these two disciplines have recently become obvious. Empirical evidence suggests that a significant relationship exists between an enterprise’s marketing and entrepreneurial orientations exists, both widely being responsible for corporate success.

A notable amount of academic work towards this topic has been on the role of marketing in SMEs, although some scholars have also addressed the application of entrepreneurial thinking towards the marketing side of an enterprise, regardless of whether it is a large, established, new or young venture. In these cases, attempts have been made to transfer entrepreneurial concepts to marketing concepts, such as marketing strategy, product development, sales, or buyer behaviour. On the other hand, many researchers have tried to apply marketing ideas to new ventures. In addition, many entrepreneurial activities, like the identification of new opportunities, the application of innovative techniques, the conveyance of products to the marketplace, and successfully meeting customer needs in the chosen target market, are also elementary aspects of marketing theory.

Without doubt, marketing plays a crucial role not only in developing, producing, and selling products or services, but also in guiding recruiting efforts and raising capital. However, it can be stated that successful entrepreneurs undertake marketing in unconventional ways. They rely on interactive marketing methods often communicated through word-of-mouth rather than a more traditional marketing mix. They monitor the marketplace through informal networks rather than formalised market research, and generally adopt more entrepreneurial approaches to marketing activities. However, depending on the business model, a sophisticated and formalised initial market research can be crucial for a successful market entry.

Research findings on the interrelation between marketing and entrepreneurship are extremely fragmented so far, and there is no integrated analysis or comprehensive theory yet. This special issue therefore aims at contributing to the theory building of entrepreneurial marketing. Truly innovative research is appreciated. Papers can be purely theoretical or theory-driven empirical work (quantitative or qualitative).

Potential topic areas suitable for review articles include but are not limited to:

• Similarities, differences and interfaces of marketing and entrepreneurship
• Novel, innovative, risk-taking and proactive ways of marketing in new or established enterprises (such as buzz marketing, guerrilla marketing, viral marketing, internet marketing, public relations etc.)
• Marketing for start-ups and new ventures
• Strategic marketing (strategy, planning etc.) in start-ups and new ventures
• Entrepreneurial pricing
• Entrepreneurial advertising
• Entrepreneurial marketing for hiring and retaining employees
• Entrepreneurial marketing for raising financial resources
• Dealing with uncertainties in new and growing ventures
• Initial market research
• Opportunity evaluation by market research
• Pre-market entry marketing
• Relationship marketing
• Leveraging limited marketing recourses
• Identifying and evaluating marketing opportunities
• Optimizing marketing/sales tools for an entrepreneurial setting

Important Date
Paper Submission Deadline: 14 January 2008

Call for papers: E-Government for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Rural Areas

Call for papers: E-Government for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Rural Areas

A special issue of International Journal of Electronic Democracy

Electronic government (e-government) is rapidly becoming one of governments’ critical means for the provision of seamless services for public agencies, businesses and citizens. With the spread of information and communication technologies (ICT), new challenges have emerged, accentuating the perspective for making governmental services better, more cost effective, and more accessible. Many European local or central governments have made substantial investments for improving e-government infrastructures and services for citizens and businesses. Considerable advances have been achieved in the rollout of ICT-based e-government services in many European regions, and success has already been registered: for example, online tax returns save millions of hours each year. However, much remains to be done in order to record essential progress and social acceptance of e-government in areas that are lagging behind in their development and/or adoption.

This problem can be clearly identified when considering e-government services for small & medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas. SMEs are prevalent in both urban and rural areas, and are particularly common in rural areas. SMEs in rural areas face different barriers to grow and operate than their counterparts in other areas. Away from the central public authorities, rural (also referred to as regional) SMEs, do not have direct, physical access to a variety of services that public agencies offer. They are far away from the decision and policy-making centres and it is not always feasible, due to lack of transportation, time, money or bad weather, nor convenient, to travel to obtain the necessary information or for making use of the available public services.

ICT tools and methods aim to address such problems: first, by providing the means for public authorities to deploy and provide their services online; second, by facilitating rural SMEs in accessing e-services from their region. On the other hand, in many cases professionals and citizens are not aware of electronically available public services, or do not know how to effectively use them so as to reap benefits in their everyday business activities.

In this context, the general aim of this special issue is to assess the current status and technologies, as well as to outline the major challenges and future perspectives, related to the design, deployment, evaluation and uptake of e-government services for SMEs in rural areas.

Topics for the special issue include, but are not limited to:

• E-government technologies and applications for rural SMEs
• Regional authorities adoption of e-government technologies
• Regional SMEs' adoption of e-government services
• Real-life case studies of e-government services that support rural entrepreneurship
• SMEs' requirements and needs for e-government services provision
• Assessing current e-government services for rural areas: efficiency, security, privacy, and cost effectiveness
• E-government services to enhance self-employment in rural areas
• ICT education and training initiatives for rural SMEs
• Methodologies, frameworks and architectures for deploying e-government in SMEs
• Strategic planning for e-government in SMEs
• Policy issues for the provision of e-government services
• Mobile government applications for SMEs
• E-services evaluation for rural SMEs
• Data protection and data privacy affecting e-government adoption in rural areas
• E-government legal issues and rural SMEs
• Privacy-preserving e-government technologies, applications and services
• Digital identity management for e-government services and SMEs
• Future challenges regarding e-government services for SMEs
• E-government for rural communities' inclusion

Important Dates
1-2 Page Abstract: 30 September 2007
Notification of appropriateness: 31 October 2007
Manuscript submission: 31 January 2008
Notification of acceptance/rejection: 31 March 2008
Final manuscript due: 31 May 2008

First issue: International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

The first issue of International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles has just been published.

It covers the field of electric and hybrid automotive systems, including in-vehicle electricity production such as hydrogen fuel cells, and deals with innovative solutions for the technical challenges enabling these new propulsion technologies.

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

First issue: International Journal of Electronic Customer Relationship Management

The first issue of International Journal of Electronic Customer Relationship Management has just been published.

The aim of the journal is to provide an international forum and refereed reference in the field of electronic customer relationship management (ECRM). It also deals with the interaction, collaboration, partnership and cooperation between small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger enterprises in a customer relationship. More innovative analysis and better understanding of the complexity involved in a customer relationship are essential in today’s global businesses. Therefore, manuscripts offering theoretical, conceptual, and practical contributions for ECRM are encouraged.

There is a free download of papers from this first issue

Special issue: Use of sustainable development indicators

International Journal of Sustainable Development 10(1/2) 2007 is a special issue: Use of sustainable development indicators.

Article titles:
* Introduction to the key issue concerning the use of sustainable development indicators
* Political uses of social indicators: overview and application to sustainable development indicators
* Information at the interface between supply and demand for indicators: the use of a model with estimated parameter values as a base for indication in multicriteria analyses
* Scientists dealing with stakeholders' demand for coral reef management indicators: methodological approach and issues
* MONET indicator system: the Swiss road to measuring sustainable development
* Communicating scientific knowledge to actors: how do indicators respond to stakes in relation to the development of the fishery sector in the Guinea Republic?
* Sustainability and vulnerability indicators for decision making: lessons learned from Honduras
* Design of sustainability indicators of the production systems in Brazilian semi-arid area by the * A multicriteria participation-based methodology for selecting sustainable development indicators: an incentive tool for concerted decision making beyond the diagnosis framework
* Joint construction and appropriation of indicators by users, managers and scientists: the case study of Port-Cros and Porquerolles tourist frequentation observatory
* Top-down/bottom-up approach for developing sustainable development indicators for mining: application to the Arlit uranium mines (Niger)
* In search of coastal zone sustainability by means of social carrying capacity indicators construction: lessons learned from the Thau lagoon case study (Region Languedoc-Roussillon, France)

First issue: International Journal of Management in Education

The first issue of International Journal of Management in Education has just been published.

It aims to publish papers which analyse all aspects of international education, providing researchers and professionals from education with the opportunity to discuss the most demanding issues regarding the development and leadership of education at all levels and in all areas of education management. Similarly, it is interested in how international or intercultural questions can produce problems which are ethical in nature or which have ethical consequences with regard to the management in education.

There is a free download of papers from this first issue

First issue: International Journal of Intercultural Information Management

The first issue of International Journal of Intercultural Information Management has just been published.

The journal publishes papers analysing all aspects of international and intercultural issues with regard to information management. It welcomes all scholastic researches addressing how international or intercultural questions can produce information systems/information technology (IS/IT) related problems, which may involve changing management concepts, modelling, methodologies, and business process engineering/re-engineering as well as ethical and security concerns.

There is a free download of papers from this first issue

Call for papers: Advances in Reliability Methods and Probabilistic System Identification Techniques

Call for papers: Advances in Reliability Methods and Probabilistic System Identification Techniques

A special issue of International Journal of Reliability and Safety

Uncertainties are present and inevitable in many engineering decision making problems. Strategies to reduce them or to account for their effects have become increasingly important. Recent years have seen advances in the use of probabilistic concepts and analysis methods in engineering reliability assessment, system identification and health monitoring. The general trend has been towards applications for complex engineering problems that are characterised by a large number of uncertain/design variables, advanced stochastic model description, nonlinear system behavior, multiple-failure criteria, etc. This special issue aims at bringing together recent research findings in the application of probabilistic methods in reliability analysis, system identification and health monitoring.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• stochastic mechanics and random vibrations
• reliability analysis and decision making
• reliability-based design and optimization
• Monte Carlo methods and their applications in engineering systems
• system identification and health monitoring, addressing the effects of uncertainties

Contributions to fundamental theory, methodology development, solution techniques and applications, as well as state-of-the-art reviews are welcome.

Important Dates
Manuscript submission: 28 February, 2008
Notification of acceptance: 30 April, 2008
Submission of final manuscript: 30 June, 2008

Special issue: Wireless sensor networks

International Journal of Sensor Networks 2(5/6) 2007 is a special issue: Wireless sensor networks, comprising enhanced papers from IEEE ICC 2006 Wireless Ad hoc and Sensor Networks Symposium, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2006.

Article titles:
* Self-healing sensor networks with distributed decision making
* Design and application of enhanced communication protocols for wireless sensor networks operating in environmental monitoring
* A flow-based reliability measure for wireless sensor networks
* On constructing low interference topology in multihop wireless sensor networks
* Improving gateway safety in wireless sensor networks using cognitive techniques
* Implementation and performance evaluation of nanoMAC: a low-power MAC solution for high density wireless sensor networks
* Mining and visualising wireless sensor network data
* SUMP: a secure unicast messaging protocol for wireless ad hoc sensor networks
* SHORT: shortest hop routing tree for wireless sensor networks
* Multiple-input turbo code for secure data aggregation and source-channel coding in wireless sensor networks
* A prototype underwater acoustic sensor network platform with topology-aware MAC scheme
* Range-free sensor localisation with ring overlapping based on comparison of received signal strength indicator
* Stochastic binary sensor networks for noisy environments