The following paper, "Empirical research on performance effects of supply chain resilience: systematic literature review, citation network analysis and future research directions" (International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics 17(1/2) 2023), is freely available for download as an open access article.
It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.
International Journal of Innovation and Learning 34(2) 2023
A novel advance in data security is discussed in the International Journal of Information and Computer Security in which the Japanese puzzle known as Sudoku promises a cryptographic system for text information that works even in situations where computational power is limited. The approach could have applications in devices with constrained computer resources such as radio-frequency identification devices (RFID), medical and healthcare instruments, remote sensing networks, and smart cards.
Shadi R. Masadeh of the Department of Cyber Security at Isra University, in Amman, Jordan, Hamza Abbass Al-Sewadi of the Computer Technology Engineering Department at Iraq University College, in Basrah, and Mohammad Abbas Fadhil Al-Husainy of the Al-Maaqal University also in Basrah, Iraq, demonstrate how the dynamic nature of the Sudoku puzzle can be used as the basis of a secret encryption key, or cipher, to unlock a new approach to securing sensitive information.
The dynamic nature of the approach significantly boosts the security of the system. The team’s experimental results demonstrate that this approach is superior to other experimental lightweight cryptography.
The strength of MESP lies in its extensive key space and its superiority in frequency analysis probability when compared to alternative techniques. While sharing a similar character count with Verma’s algorithm, MESP boasts a substantially wider key space. Furthermore, the algorithm’s flexibility is evident in its ability to accommodate a broader range of characters. This adaptability is achieved by expanding the size of the index tables, making room for all conceivable characters within a language, and even accommodating multiple languages. The system adheres to Shannon’s principles of confusion and diffusion so that the substitution and transposition steps seamlessly blend, providing a strong defence against security breaches.
In today’s landscape of symmetric cryptosystems, the fusion of ideas from the Sudoku puzzle, pseudo-random number generation, and dynamic permutation introduces a versatile and potent security technique. The implications stretch across various domains, from fortified healthcare data security to more resilient smart cards and remote sensing networks. Backed by compelling experimental results, this algorithm, which the team calls “Message Encryption (inspired by) Sudoku Puzzle” heralds a new era in lightweight cryptography, beyond its “puzzling” origins.
Masadeh, S.R., Al-Sewadi, H.A. and Al-Husainy, M.A.F. (2023) ‘A message encryption scheme inspired by Sudoku puzzle’, Int. J. Information and Computer Security, Vol. 21, Nos. 3/4, pp.399–413.
The emotion of brand jealousy can allow consumers to ignore higher prices for goods they covet.
A study in the International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, has investigated brand authenticity and the willingness of consumers to pay a premium price for goods to which they have a loyalty. The researchers have defined a comprehensive framework that reveals the interconnections between brand loyalty and brand jealousy and how that sits with premium pricing. The team’s concept of “brand jealousy” could, the work suggests, be a potent driver of consumer decision-making.
Brand jealousy might better be referred to as brand envy, it is that emotional response a consumer might have when seeing someone else with a product they would themselves cherish. The work by Richa Joshi and Shampy Kamboj of the National Institute of Technology in Hamirpur, and Prerna Garg Jaipuria of the Institute of Management in Ghaziabad, India, suggests that brand authenticity and identification are intertwined with this notion of brand jealousy. Ultimately, it drives brand loyalty devotion and nudges consumers to make a purchase of a coveted item with the right label regardless of the premium price the supplier might place on such goods
The work has implications not only for the sportswear industry discussed in detail in the paper but for many other industries. Marketing departments might exploit brand loyalty and brand jealousy in their advertising campaigns and their work with so-called influencers to persuade otherwise hesitant consumers to part with their money.
Fundamentally, the work also reveals a symbiotic link between brand authenticity and customer loyalty. Consumers will commonly ignore a premium price if their reverence for a particular brand and their envy of those who have already purchased those coveted products is underpinned by authenticity.
Future work might consider how willing consumers are to pay a premium for classes of products other than big-label sportswear and the like, such as those with “green” credentials or offering social benefits.
Joshi, R., Garg, P. and Kamboj, S. (2023) ‘Examining the effects of brand authenticity and brand identification on consumers’ willingness to pay premium’, Int. J. Internet Marketing and Advertising, Vol. 19, Nos. 1/2, pp.1–19.
The following paper, "Container transaction type prediction: a seaport case in Turkey" (International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics 17(1/2) 2023), is freely available for download as an open access article.
It can be downloaded via the full-text link available here.
Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal 16(1/2/3) 2023
A recent study conducted in schools in the Al-Najaf province of Iraq suggests that some drinking water in the region is contaminated with radon gas. The research, published in the International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, considers the health implications for children aged 7 to 12 years old exposed to this radioactive element through their drinking water.
Rukia Jabar Dosh, Ali K. Hasan, and Ali Abid Abojassim of the University of Kufa in Al-Najaf, Kufa, Iraq, evaluated radon concentrations in water samples gathered from 37 districts. The team used a portable RAD-7 H2O detector to determine concentrations of radon-222 in the drinking water. Their data revealed an average concentration of 0.12±0.08 becquerels per litre, with readings ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 Bq/L. To assess the putative risk to the children of primary school age, the researchers calculated the Annual Effective Dose (AED) of radon inhaled and ingested by the children. They found this to be from 0.1 to 0.4 nanoSieverts per annum, which closely tracked the recorded radon concentration figures.
Importantly, the team compared their results with international safety standards and found that the majority of the analyzed samples either met safety levels or were better than the recommended safe dose. The radon concentrations mostly fell below the globally accepted standard of 0.5 Bq/l. In addition, the AED values calculated by the team were well within the permissible limits set by major global health and safety organizations. There were just two marginal exceptions among the samples from the 37 districts.
Despite potential fears to the contrary, the study suggests that primary school children drinking tap water in this region faced minimal health risks due to radon exposure. Even in cases where radon concentrations slightly surpassed recommended limits, the associated health implications were found to be negligible, a conclusion supported by the AED results, the team reports. Importantly, statistical analysis revealed no significant correlation between radon concentrations and factors such as the age of the school or whether it was a boys’ or girls’ school.
Dosh, R.J., Hasan, A.K. and Abojassim, A.A. (2023) ‘Health effect of radon gas in water on children at Al-Najaf schools’, Int. J. Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp.143–156.
International Journal of Data Analysis Techniques and Strategies 15(1/2) 2023
A systematic review of the research literature into supply-chain resilience in the International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics offers new insights for businesses striving to navigate these turbulent waters.
Supply chains stretch across continents and disruptions loom as a constant threat, the concept of supply-chain resilience is now high on the business agenda. Supply-chain resilience is the ability to adapt, respond, and recover from unforeseen problems in order to ensure business continuity and sustainability. This urgency has been amplified by the escalating frequency and impact of supply chain disturbances.
An international team has looked for critical insights for businesses striving to ensure supply-chain resilience, by carrying out an exhaustive review of the research literature. The work involved a systematic literature review and a citation network analysis. Through that the team identified and dissected three prominent strategies underpinning supply-chain resilience: agility, risk management, and reengineering, or restoration. The team was thus able to construct a framework to extract the various relationships between these different factors and how they affect supply-chain resilience building on complex adaptive system theory.
The team looked to a remarkable case study of a large Chinese e-commerce powerhouse and how it coped during the COVID-19 pandemic. They look at its adept weathering of the pandemic storm through judicious supply-chain resilience strategies involving operational flexibility, agility, collaboration, and information sharing. The team show how these measures not only shielded the company from adversity but also bolstered its overall performance.
As managers grapple with supply-chain disruptions especially in times of global crisis, the challenge is to make informed decisions amidst the uncertainty. For businesses keen on fortifying their resilience, the study offers actionable insights. It advocates for the adoption of strategies such as knowledge management, flexibility, and enhanced visibility, accompanied by strong information sharing with supply-chain partners. By adopting a multifaceted approach, companies can improve the different facets of their operations simultaneously and so improve their response to disruptions. The review underscores the pivotal roles of supply chain integration, collaboration, and supplier diversification in countering disruptions and sustaining an uninterrupted supply flow.
The same tactics can boulster supply-chain resilience and at the same time can act as catalysts for improving overall operational stability and efficiency.
Li, C.S., Wong, C.W.Y., Wong, C.Y., Boon-itt, S. and Miao, X. (2023) ‘Empirical research on performance effects of supply chain resilience: systematic literature review, citation network analysis and future research directions’, Int. J. Shipping and Transport Logistics, Vol. 17, Nos. 1/2, pp.80–106.
International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control 43(2) 2023
The increasing frequency and intensity of flooding events worldwide due to climate change have drawn attention to the pressing issue of flood risk management. The loss of life can be devastating, particularly in less developed and more vulnerable parts of the world. In developed countries, the response is likely to save lives but sees a greater economic loss because of the damage to expansive and advanced infrastructure. That said, even in the developed world there is a big difference between the impact on low-income and affluent areas within the same regions.
Research in the World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, has focused on two disparate regions of London: the low-income and ethnically diverse Newham and the more affluent Hammersmith. The study reveals that Newham has a much lower level of resiliency compared with Hammersmith in terms of flood risk, despite both being equally in the Thames flood plain.
The researchers, Arzoo Hassan and Cody Morris Paris of Middlesex University Dubai in the United Arab Emirates point out that it might be argued that floods are not a wholly natural phenomenon given that they are almost always associated with the structures of roads and building in an at-risk area. Moreover, they are socially constructed disasters because those worst affected are usually the most vulnerable communities.
Certain neighbourhoods often have a higher susceptibility to damage even within geographically close urban areas, the researchers explain. Poorer and marginalized populations are, they suggest, affected the most. In addition, socio-economic inequalities exacerbate the vulnerability of a given area relative to a more affluent and less demographically diverse area and hinder the ability of the area to recover quickly from the impact of the flood. Part of the problem, of course, is the lack of money to pay for the requisite insurance policies to cover damage and replace and rebuild.
The implications of this study are profound. As flooding events become more intense and frequent, it is critical that the social construct of floods and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities is recognised. Investing in resilience-building measures becomes paramount, particularly in low-income areas, to ensure equitable disaster response and recovery. Indeed, tailored flood risk management strategies are needed to protect vulnerable populations and foster resilient communities.
Hassan, A. and Paris, C.M. (2023) ‘Flood risk: a capacity and vulnerability analysis of Newham and Hammersmith, UK’, World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp.187–204.
Research in the International Journal of Trade and Global Markets has looked at the effects of the evolution of the BRIC economies to the BRICS bloc and the implications of that transition on investment and global trade. The work highlights the independence of leading emerging bond markets and their potential for investment diversification.
Adefemi A. Obalade of the University of the Western Cape in Bellville and Brian Nxumalo, Dylan Hoover, Grace O. Obalade, and Paul-Francois of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa used the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) and Pearson correlation tests to explore long-term relationships among bond markets within these blocs. Their findings suggest that investors might explore these markets for improved portfolio diversification opportunities, despite their being within the same league of emerging economies. The team suggests that understanding the dynamics of cointegration and independence among these markets has implications for portfolio management, risk assessment, and global market exposure.
The BRIC countries are Brazil, Russia, India, and China. This economic collation became BRICS when South Africa was added in 2010. The term “BRIC” was originally coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill in 2001 to cover the fast-growing economies that might dominate global finance by 2050.
Obalade and colleagues looked at the BRIC era from 2007 to 2010 and found that long-running cointegration occurred only among three of the twelve possible combinations of bond markets. For the BRICS period (2010 to 2020), there were only two long-running cointegrations among the twenty possible combinations. The implications of this are that while BRIC and BRICS may have been put together nominally, the bond markets in the emerging markets are more independent than originally thought. Indeed, the strongest connections were between China and India and Brazil and South Africa, respectively, during the two periods the team examined. The addition of South Africa to the bloc led to the evaporation of many of the connections present in the BRIC era.
The findings align with previous research that highlighted certain BRICS bond markets as providing diversification opportunities due to their lack of cointegration. However, they contrast with other studies reporting cointegration among BRICS bond markets, likely due to differences in sample periods and methodological approaches. As such, the present work suggests that despite the BRICS nations being part of a nominal bloc, investment across those markets nevertheless represents diversification.
The lack of cointegration is not surprising, given that BRICS economies respond differently to global factors. The research underscores the country-specific nature of risks associated with bond investments and the heterogeneity among BRICS member states.
Obalade, A.A., Nxumalo, B., Hoover, D., Obalade, G.O. and Muzindutsi, P-F. (2023) ‘Evolution of emerging bond markets’ cointegration: a transition from BRIC to BRICS’, Int. J. Trade and Global Markets, Vol. 17, Nos. 3/4, pp.223–233.
Fires threaten lives, property, and the environment. Fighting fire and rescuing those trapped by a fire is risky but essential. New research in the International Journal of Advanced Mechatronic Systems, looks at how autonomous wheeled rescue robots might be used in fire rescue. The work involves the development of a novel path-planning algorithm with an advanced fire-recognition system for indoor fires. The system offers significant benefits over conventional map-based approaches and finds the shortest and safest escape route for those trapped by the fire.
Shaun Q.Y. Tan, V.J. Karthik, A. Govind, and P.M. Rajasree of the Electronics and Instrumentation Department at RV College of Engineering in Bengaluru, India, tackled the challenge of fire recognition and localization using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) along with various image processing techniques. To optimize their CNN model effectively, they employed the particle swarm optimization (PSO) approach.
The team reports that their CNN model outperformed the MobileNet architecture, demonstrating exceptional recognition and localization accuracy on simulated indoor fire scenarios. Future work will lower the computing demands of the system as well as boosting accuracy. Indeed, a more refined model will be vital to ensure the practicality and efficacy of unmanned rescue robots in real-world emergencies. The system also be adapted to other kinds of emergencies.
The system has a limitation in that the algorithm cannot take into account potential obstacles in the path of the robot. Future improvements would incorporate local optimization techniques, ensuring seamless navigation even in complex indoor environments. With increased accuracy, adaptability, and practicality, the technology promises to become a powerful asset in safeguarding lives and property in the face of unpredictable fire emergencies.
Tan, S.Q.Y., Karthik, V.J., Govind, A. and Rajasree, P.M. (2023) ‘An approach into navigation and vision for autonomous fire fighting robots‘, Int. J. Advanced Mechatronic Systems, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp.156-164.
Research in the International Journal of Environmental Engineering reveals details of the first successful, large-scale landfill mining project in Andalusia, Spain.
Landfill mining is an emerging approach for the remediation of old waste sites. It allows for the re-use of valuable materials, such as plastics and metals that may have been dumped before recycling facilities were widely available. The process might also allow an entire brownfield site to be remediated sufficiently for development or even rewilding.
David Caro-Moreno, Francisco J. RodrÃguez-Gallardo, and Francisco A. Jiménez-Cantizano of the Environmental and Water Agency, part of the Regional Government of Andalusia, together with Germán Coca-López of the Council of Sustainability, Environment and Blue Economy of Andalusia, have assessed a pilot project carried out in the town of Dehesas Viejas, Granada.
This site was an illegal hillside dumping ground for construction and demolition wastes rather than a conventional municipal landfill. The profile of materials there would be rather different from the materials found in a municipal landfill. Nevertheless, the work undertaken on this illegal dump was sufficient to revert the entire site to its natural state thus requiring no ongoing maintenance. Almost 90% of the waste materials were retrieved and found to be low-hazard and so suitable for road construction projects or backfilling conventional landfill sites that have been mined.
Where mining of conventional landfill might be required, there is perhaps a greater need for segregation of the waste materials during the recovery process with a view to their being reused or recycled. The present research nevertheless bodes well for clearing up other big flytipping or illegal landfill sites.
Landfill mining could become an effective approach to addressing the environmental hazards posed by old landfill sites. Moreover, it could offer a supply of raw materials, such as rare and difficult-to-source metals used in electronics. These could be fed into the industrial recycling and supply chains. There will, of course, be issues of contamination with hazardous materials in some landfills set for excavation and mining. With appropriate safety measures in place during the process, landfill mining has great potential for the reuse of erstwhile waste and the possibility of remediating sites either for development or repurposing as wildlife reserves, or simply ensuring that they revert to their natural state.
Caro-Moreno, D., Coca-López, G., RodrÃguez-Gallardo, F.J. and Jiménez-Cantizano, F.A. (2023) ‘Successful illegal dumpsite remediation: a landfill mining demonstration project at Andalusia (Spain)’, Int. J. Environmental Engineering, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp.95–122.
Research in the International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials has demonstrated how Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) can be used to soak up the drug amitriptyline in cases of overdose. Amitriptyline is a commonly prescribed tricyclic antidepressant, used to manage depression, chronic pain, and mood disorders. It is, as with many prescription medicines, also a drug of abuse as well as representing a potential lethal risk to users through overdose.
Amitriptyline can have various detrimental effects if misused. It can affect breathing cause nausea vomiting and diarrhoea. It also affects the central nervous system leading to confusion, agitation, hallucinations, delirium, drowsiness, and potentially coma at higher doses. It has serious effects on the heart and cardiovascular system causing arrhythmia, hypotension (a dangerous drop in blood pressure), and even cardiac arrest.
Soma Chakraborty, Adrienne Nicole S. Bartolome, and Francisgerard A. Aguilar in the Department of Chemistry at Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, Philippines, explain that sequestration, the process of capturing and removing a substance from a solution, could be used to manage amitriptyline overdose. The team has investigated the effectiveness of MCC in sequestering, or adsorbing, amitriptyline from aqueous solutions.
The results are promising showing that MCC has a 74% adsorption rate over just two hours. The researchers also found that at higher concentrations of amitriptyline, sequestration by MCC was even more effective. Their experiments with MCC modified with a well-known pharmaceutical additive seaweed extract beta-carrageenan, a natural polysaccharide, as well as nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) also showed how adsorption of amitriptyline could be enhanced when compared with unmodified MCC.
The findings hold much promise for treating accidental or even deliberate amitriptyline overdose. Prompt emergency action would see the MMC or an optimised modified version used to mop up amitriptyline in the stomach or gastrointestinal tract.
Chakraborty, S., Bartolome, A.N.S. and Aguilar, F.A. (2023) ‘Amitriptyline sequestration by unmodified and modified microcrystalline cellulose: a potential treatment for drug overdosing’, Int. J. Nano and Biomaterials, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp.51–67.
