Call for papers: "Transforming Management Systems for Innovation, Development and Governance"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Business and Globalisation.

This special issue aims to encourage scholars to question existing paradigms and practices in management systems and to bridge the gaps in innovative ideas, new models and systems for institutions with suggestions for competencies development. The issue’s goal is to open an interesting and fruitful dialogue on the most pertinent issues in management and economics, and to stimulate a sustainable view of competitiveness.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the 3rd International Conference of the Nepalese Academy of Management, 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:

• Research on cross-cultural management, entrepreneurship and innovation, business model innovation, management and sustainable development in emerging economies
• International business, regional blocs, regional trade efficiencies, inter- and intra-regional academic discourse, and regionalism in business management
• Top management team and business ethics, theory and practices in family business, transforming social networks into value chains through business models
• Strategic processes, practices, and implementation, competitive dynamics, crisis and emergency management, comparative capitalism and institutional comparisons across countries.
• Leadership for organisational change, responsible management, global talent management, organisational learning and knowledge management, and production-operation management
• Behavioural perspectives on corporate governance, transparency and accountability, management information systems, employee commitment and civil society, social movement and community contribution for effectiveness and accountability
• Competitiveness and strategic advantages, decent work conditions, labour relations, formal and informal business and the role of not-for-profit organisations in development and innovation management

Important Dates
Submission of manuscripts: 20 June, 2015
Notification to authors: 20 August, 2015
Final versions due: 20 November, 2015

Special issue published: "Verification, Control and Performance Analysis: Part II"

International Journal of Critical Computer-Based Systems 5(3/4) 2014

Expanded versions of paper presented at the 2011 and 2012 International Workshop on Verification and Evaluation of Computer and Communication Systems (VECoS).

• End-to-end latency and temporal consistency analysis in networked real-time systems
• Size analysis in multiprocessor real-time scheduling
• Controllability for discrete event systems modelled in VeriJ
• Transactional Petri nets: a semantic framework for UML2 activities
• Compositional reactive semantics of system-level designs written in SystemC and formal verification with predicate abstraction
• Functional safety of adaptive embedded control systems: new solutions

Call for papers: "Forensic Engineering Activities in Australia"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Forensic Engineering.

The many thousands of incidents which occur in Australia each year give rise to many actions, including insurance claims, medical treatment, compensation claims, criminal charges for culpable driving, coronial inquests, product liability and other legal actions, injury research and so on. The list is large. At the heart of many of these actions is the need to establish, as clearly and accurately as possible, particular and relevant details relating to any phase of the incident.

With the great advances in computer analysis and graphic presentation techniques, it is more important than ever not to confuse technical sophistication with accuracy and quality. Sophisticated technology may merely transform poor-quality data and analysis into impressive-looking but still poor-quality results. It is our objective to encourage the full and effective use of modern forensic engineering investigation techniques in cases that are unique to Australia, and also to sharpen the focus on ensuring that expert opinions, procedures and results are subject to due and appropriate scrutiny. For example, there has been significant activity in all-terrain vehicles, mining, rail crossings in remote areas, vehicle impacts with kangaroos, road train vehicles in remote areas and go-kart testing, to mention a few topics.

It is expected that this special issue will appeal to academic forensic researchers, forensic engineers, biomechanics specialists, forensic scientists, materials engineers, incident investigators, safety auditors, expert witnesses, lawyers, police, safety responders and the like.

The issue will showcase forensic engineering activities and research in Australia that are unique in their scientific analysis of various incidents pertinent to Australian legal proceedings.

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

• Incident investigation techniques
• Incident reconstruction
• Forensic evidence
• Engineering investigation of materials, products, structures or components that fail to perform
• Expert evidence and the courts
• Legal perspectives, ethical conduct and environmental concerns
• Codes, standards and guidelines
• System, product and operational failures
• Practices to reduce failures and disaster mitigation
• Planning for safety between industries and housing
• Forensic practices
• Investigation methods
• Expert witnessing
• Geoforensic and structural failures
• Material degradation and mechanical failures
• Forensic electrical engineering
• Post disaster damage assessment
• Remediation and rehabilitation
• Insurance and loss adjustment
• Education

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 11 February, 2015

Call for papers: "Short Sea Shipping in a Globalised World"

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

Short sea shipping (SSS) is important in all epochs of humankind. SSS is indispensable for carrying goods and passengers between cities located along the coastline of countries (China, Norway, Brazil and others), within confined waters (the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf), and within limited open sea areas (Indian Ocean). The Portuguese and the Spanish discoveries followed by those of the British, the French and the Dutch also positively influence the development of SSS. The growth of SSS has been reinforced by the internationalisation and globalisation of the world economy. To compete in the intense market, maritime transport operators focused on the development of more advanced technological elements that contributed to reducing the cost per ton-mile of the deep sea shipping sector. The traditional SSS market became outdated and inefficient, made up of a fleet of rust bucket vessels.

SSS came to the forefront of the maritime transport industry when “deep sea”’ shipping operators needed to integrate their ocean-going shipping services with feeder services to deliver cargoes to their final destination. In 1992, the European Commission highlighted the environmental impact of transport. To reduce the negative environmental impact caused by road transport, the European Commission advocated the use of alternative transport modes (i.e. waterborne and rail) with available capacity integrated into transport chains to confine the use of pre- and post-haulage. A policy towards the development of SSS was presented from 1995 onwards. The research on SSS has extended from European research groups to global research communities. In Asia, SSS has been a growing issue in the maritime connectivity among the members of the ASEAN and ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA).

Thematic research conferences were organised and SSS-related papers have been published in several journals. Emphasis was given to several research areas which include: (1) analysis of demand and supply for SSS services; (2) use of new ship technologies; (3) deployment of new cargo vessels; (4) maritime logistics; (5) new ship/terminal interfaces; (6) use of information systems to accelerate the movement of goods through ports; (7) the integration of SSS into multimodal transport chains; (8) SSS policy; and (9) various case studies. More recently, researchers have considered climate change’s impact, environmental issues and eco-friendly SSS operations.

This special issue aims at collecting recent original research outputs related to SSS in a globalised world. It will include revised and substantially extended versions of high-quality papers presented at the 2015 Global Port Research Alliance (GPRA) Conference and the 2015 Asian Logistics Round Table (ALRT) Workshop cum International Conference on Maritime Connectivity in the Asia Pacific Region. We also strongly encourage researchers who are unable to participate in the conferences to submit papers for this call.

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

• Economics of globalised SSS market analysis
• Modes of transport and impact on environment
• SSS financial issues
• Global and regional SSS fleets
• Strategic and marketing issues for intra-regional trades and the use of SSS
• The role of gateways in SSS
• SSS corridor studies
• SSS and port operations integration
• Regional maritime connectivity of SSS
• Relationship between "deep-sea" and "short-sea" shipping
• Globalisation and SSS
• Stages of SSS development
• Future of SSS in Europe, America and Asia
• Shipbuilding issues for SSS

Important Dates

Submission deadline: 30 September, 2015
Review reports: 30 December, 2015
Revised paper submission: 28 February, 2016
Manuscript acceptance: 30 April, 2016

Special issue published: "Recent Trends in Advanced Machining Processes – Part II"

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management 28(1/2/3)

Expanded versions of papers presented at the 4th International and 25th All India Manufacturing Technology, Design and Research (AIMTDR).

• Experimental investigation of ultrasonic assisted pulse electrochemical drilling for INCONEL 718 with rotary tool
• Optimisation of ECM process during machining of titanium using quality loss function 
• Machining of SiC by ECDM process using different electrode configurations under the effect of pulsed DC
• Experimental investigation and parametric analysis of electro chemical discharge machining
• Investigations on performance of ECDM process using NaOH and NaNO3 electrolytes while micro machining soda lime glass
• Prospective methodologies to use impact wear for micro/nano finishing of surfaces
• An experimental investigation during finishing of particulate reinforced Al/10 wt% SiCp-MMC on developed AFF setup
• A new way of erosion-abrasion hybrid machining using slotted-diamond grinding wheel
• Modelling and simulation of spark assisted diamond face grinding of tungsten carbide-cobalt composite using ANN

Call for papers: "Online Education"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Services and Standards.

Online education comes in many forms and is now ubiquitous because of the maturity of technology. The pedagogy side however needs a bit of catching up. Nonetheless, online education is not only more cost-effective than offline education, but can also remove time and geographical limitations.

 

This trend in education is more like a tidal wave in higher education and thus instructors need to be aware when they design and implement online programmes, courses and materials, and institutions’ policies on online learning need to up to date and proactive.

 

This special issue aims to summarise the development of online education and its emerging theories and practice.

 

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

• Online learning management
• Online learning models
• Online learning research
• Role of online learning in education
• Standardisation in online learning
• Strategies for online learning
• Technical, cultural, social, political and pedagogical issues

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 1 October, 2014

Notification to authors: 1 November, 2014

Final versions due: 1 December, 2014

Special issue published: "Emerging Wireless and Sensor Networks and Their Applications"

International Journal of Communication Networks and Distributed Systems 13(3/4)

Expanded versions of papers presented at the Seventh International Conference on P2P, Parallel, Grid, Cloud and Internet Computing (3PGCIC 2012) and the Seventh International Conference on Broadband, Wireless Computing, Communication and Applications (BWCCA 2012).

• Situation evaluate on hierarchical network security based on D-S evidence theory
• Efficient certificate-based verifiable encrypted signature scheme
• The application of dynamic password technology based on ECC algorithm in mobile payment 
• An improvement in strong designated verifier signatures
• A DDOS defence scheme based on two-stage traffic flow control
• Multi-access mixed cognitive body area network architecture
• Adaptive SWE and SNMP-based sensor management for environmental monitoring
• An energy aware resource allocation for cognitive radio OFDMA systems
• Multiparty-controlled teleportation with generalised GHZ states in quantum communication network
• In-orbit test and error analysis of shaped-reflector antenna pattern via satellite's attitude offset
• Improved local binary pattern with pyramid model and its application in face recognition

Special issue published: "Innovation for Financial Services"

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research 8(5) 2014

• Open innovation and collaboration in the financial services sector: exploring the role of trust
• Simple mobile banking: learning from developing countries
• Innovation in financial services: a tale from e-banking development in Indonesia
• E-finance innovation services in Russia
• Valuation of ICT innovation: estimating customer willingness to pay for legal digital archiving
• Technology uncertainty and technology sourcing: case study of biopharmaceuticals in China

Special issue published: "Multiphysics Problems in Computational Engineering"

International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering 9(5/6) 2014

Expanded versions of papers presented at the 2nd International Conference on Computational Engineering.

• Optimal shape design for divertors
• A new user interface for ADiMat: toward accurate and efficient derivatives of MATLAB programmes with ease of use
• Models and simulations of variable-density flow in fractured porous media
• Computational magnetohydrodynamics in the simulation of gas circuit breakers
• FDTD simulation of the acoustic interaction between a cavity and an adaptive Helmholtz resonator
• Numerical solution of contact pressure in lubricated non-smooth point contact using convolution algorithms
• Uncertainty quantification for thermo-convective Poiseuille flow using stochastic collocation
• A boundary conformal discontinuous Galerkin approach for electro-quasistatic field problems on Cartesian grids
• Matrix-free second-order methods in implicit time integration for compressible flows using automatic differentiation
• Using exact Jacobians in an implicit Newton method for solving multiphase flow in porous media
• Model hierarchy-based optimal control of radiative heat transfer
• Adjoint-based reconstruction of an entropy source by discrete temperature measurements
• Coupled simulation of switching arcs considering transient-capacitive effects

Additional paper

• A novel particle swarm optimiser with semi-active congregation and a nature-inspired supervising algorithm

Thematic issue published: "Human Resource Management and Firm Innovativeness in a European Context"

European Journal of International Management 8(5) 2014

• Human resource management and firm innovativeness in a European context: advancing our understanding of the relationship (Introduction to the thematic issue)
• Affecting innovation through HRM: the role of creative capital
• How can HR practices support front-end innovation and increase the innovativeness of companies?
• Exploring the links among organisational commitment, knowledge sharing and innovation capability in a public organisation
• Combining collaboration and competition: a key to improved idea management?
• Cooperating with external partners: the importance of diversity for innovation performance
• HRM and innovation: themes, contingencies and directions for future research

Special issue published: "Shipping, Intermodalism and Ports"

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics 6(5) 2014

Expanded versions of papers presented at the European Conference on Shipping, Intermodalism and 
Ports (ECONSHIP) 2011.

• Measuring the scope of inter-firm agreements in the container shipping industry: an empirical assessment
• Shipowners' structure and fleet distribution in the liquefied natural gas shipping market
• European Union's policy on corporate social responsibility and opportunities for the maritime industry
• The impact of CO2 pricing or biodiesel on container transport in and passing through the Netherlands
• Probabilistic oil outflow: the tanker fleet in the context of risk analysis

Special issue published: "Business and Network Models for Innovation"

International Journal of Technology Management 66(2/3) 2014

Expanded versions of papers presented at the XXIII ISPIM Conference: Action for Innovation - Innovating from Experience and the 5th ISPIM Innovation Symposium: Stimulating Innovation - Challenges for Management, Science and Technology.

• Business and network models for innovation: strategic logic and the role of network position
• Finding the 'boundary mediators': network analysis of the joint R&D project between Toyota and Panasonic
• Innovation exploitation, exploration and supplier relationship management
• Understanding a firm's choice for openness: strategy as determinant
• Investigating open innovation strategies: a simulation study
• Open innovation strategies in the food and drink industry: determinants and impact on innovation performance
• Insights for orchestrating innovation ecosystems: the case of EIT ICT Labs and data-driven network visualisations

Int. J. of Energy Technology and Policy to publish expanded papers from ICEEMS'14

Expanded versions of papers presented at the International Conference on Energy, Environment, Materials, and Safety (10-12 December 2014, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, India) will be published by the International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy.

Call for papers: "Managing Buyer-Seller Relationships in Emerging Markets"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets.

Effectively managing buyer-seller relationships in emerging markets such as the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and the MIKT (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey) countries has been a key focus and strategic concern for many multinational enterprises (MNEs) and domestic firms. In conducting day-to-day operations and fulfilling channel and supply chain tasks, boundary spanners between the buyer firm and the seller firm play an importance role in managing buyer-seller relationships. Previous research on boundary spanners in emerging markets has mostly focused on top executives. More recently, other levels of boundary spanners such as purchasing and sales personnel have also been examined.

In managing buyer-seller relationships, previous research has revealed various governance mechanisms, including formal (such as contracts) and informal (such as personal ties) mechanisms. However, the efficacy of the governance mechanisms in managing buyer-seller relationships in emerging markets has remained a lacuna.

This special issue is focused on the role of boundary spanners in managing buyer-seller relationships in emerging markets. What roles do boundary spanners play in formal and informal governance of buyer-seller relationships? Under what conditions are the formal or informal governance mechanisms more effective? We are particularly interested in informal governance using personal ties between boundary spanners.

Both conceptual and empirical articles are encouraged. In particular, we welcome papers that address the legal and social challenges in managing buyer-seller relationships in emerging markets, as well as papers that offer unique managerial implications and insights on managing buyer-seller relationships in emerging markets.

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

• The roles of boundary spanners in managing buyer-seller relationships in emerging markets
• The efficacy of formal and informal governance mechanisms in emerging markets
• The legal and social challenges of using formal and informal governance mechanisms in emerging markets
• Personal ties between boundary spanners and their effect on buyer-seller relationships in emerging markets
• The ethical and legal issues of personal ties between boundary spanners in emerging markets

Important Dates

Submission of manuscripts: 30 January, 2016
Feedback to authors: 30 April, 2016
Revised papers accepted: August 30, 2016

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

Special issue published: "Cities as Sustainable Wealth Creators"

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues 13(2/3/4) 2014

• The role of culture in sustainable urban development: some economic issues
• Swedish perspectives on creative cities
• The regenerative city and wealth creation/conservation: the role of urban planning
• From urban-rural to global dependencies
• International migrations and urbanisation: 1960-2010
• Equilibrium vs. optimal city size: evidence from Italian cities
• Urbanisation and sustainability: the role of the spatial allocation of property rights and public investment
• Evaluation model for cultural heritage in spatial planning
• Clusters of supernova stars in knowledge-based spaces: value creation through cooperation
• Critical factors in health innovation in cities: from ivory tower to living lab
• Entrepreneurship and economic development: the relative attraction of employment centres by firm size
• Which attributes of culture can we measure? The case of Hungarian micro-regions
• Issues regarding the effective municipal real property management: the question of classification criteria with a case study in Romania
• Urban design and architecture in the service of colonialism in Morocco
• Port cities and urban wealth: between global networks and local transformations
• Interconnected responses for interconnected problems: synergistic pathways for sustainable wealth in port cities

Call for papers: "Dynamic Models and Optimal Control in Biomathematics"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Applied Nonlinear Science.

This special issue aims to solicit research papers that address recent advances and current challenges in mathematical modelling and analysis of dynamical systems (whether deterministic or stochastic) associated with various biological systems (population dynamics, epidemiology, oncology, medicine) and their significance in decision making, through incorporating optimal control theory.

Optimal control theory has developed into a valuable tool that helps policy makers to concoct harvesting, hunting/fishing and culling or re-introduction schemes in populations, and to devise treatment, prophylaxis, vaccination, screening and quarantine strategies in order to reduce or eliminate a disease from a community.

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

• Optimal control in biological systems
• Optimal control theory in ecology
• Optimal control of transmission and spread of diseases
• Optimal control in medicine
• Optimal control theory in oncology

Important Dates

Submission deadline: 31 May, 2015

Inderscience is media partner for Americas Family Office Forum 2014

Inderscience is a media partner for the Americas Family Office Forum 2014 (19-20 November 2014, Miami, USA).

The journals involved are:

• International Journal of Behavioural Accounting and Finance
• International Journal of Financial Engineering and Risk Management
• International Journal of Financial Markets and Derivatives
• International Journal of Financial Services Management
• International Journal of High Performance Computing and Networking
• International Journal of Portfolio Analysis and Management

Call for papers: "Selected Topics in Mathematical and Computational Sciences"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Convergence Computing.

Computational sciences have taken a new shape and lead in the present research world. Fast, accurate and speedy computation for various scientific and industrial applications is an inevitable requirement of the present scientific world. Many researchers have contributed enormously to the improvement of the area of scientific computing.

The aim of this special issue is to bring together active researchers from various disciplines such as mathematics, computer science and electrical and electronics engineering to share their state-of-the-art research results and hopefully to forge new cross-disciplinary interactions among them. This issue is expected to provide a unique opportunity for in-depth technical discussions and the exchange of ideas in mathematical and computational sciences.

The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the International Conference on Mathematical and Computational Sciences (ICMACS) 2015, but we also strongly encourage researchers unable to participate in this event to submit articles for this call.

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

• Mathematical methods
• Numerical analysis
• Functional analysis and operator theory
• Mathematical methods and applications
• PDE methods in computation
• Inverse problems and applications
• Graph theory and applications
• Computational sciences
• Image, speech, signal and video processing
• Pattern recognition and analysis
• Computer and social networks
• High-performance computing
• Data mining applications
• Neural network applications
• Computer graphics, cloud computing

Important Dates
Submission of manuscripts: 30 April, 2015
Notification to authors: 30 June, 2015
Final versions due: 30 August, 2015

Special issue published: "Game-Based Learning"

International Journal of Learning Technology 9(2) 2014

• Challenging interfaces are more fun! Operant conditioning for the interaction designer 
• Game-based assessment: an integrated model for capturing evidence of learning in play
• Using game mechanisms to foster GBL designers' cooperation and creativity
• Model and authoring tool to help teachers adapt serious games to their educational contexts 
• Gameful learning as a way of being
• Game-Based Learning

Call for papers: "Advanced Safety and Security Techniques in Vehicular Networks"

For a special issue of the International Journal of Internet Protocol Technology.

Many traffic accidents such as rear-end collisions and overtaking crashes happen when drivers are unable to recognise obstacles or hazards in their surroundings and thus cannot correctly judge the relative distance between neighboring vehicles on the roads. Many driver assistance systems have been proposed in vehicular networks. Various types of sensors, such as acoustic, optical and wireless sensors, are commonly used in providing collision warnings and pedestrian collision warnings. The sensors detect the shape and distance of front obstacles to produce these warnings.

Moreover, these sensors are used in advanced cars with autonomous cruise control systems and automatic driving. Global positioning systems and dedicated short-range communication technologies are helping to support our understanding of the non-line-of-sight of neighboring vehicles for warning functions, such as emergency electronic brake lights and intersection collision warnings. It is anticipated that advanced safety and security techniques in vehicular networks will continue to play an important role in the future Internet, thereby stimulating the creation of many interesting and novel applications.

This special issue is intended to foster the dissemination of state-of-the-art research in the area of advanced safety and security techniques in vehicular networks. Submissions of high-quality papers describing final results or ongoing work are invited. Additionally, this issue will also include selected best papers from the First International Workshop on Advanced Data Delivery and Security Techniques in Wireless and Mobile Networks 2014.

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

• Advanced safety techniques in vehicular or mobile networks
• Advanced security techniques in vehicular or mobile networks
• Advanced data management in vehicular or mobile networks
• Advanced file sharing in vehicular or mobile networks
• Information sensing and fusion in vehicular or mobile networks
• Systems and platforms for vehicular or mobile networks
• Multimedia communication techniques in vehicular or mobile networks
• Signal processing for vehicular or mobile networks
• Multimedia intelligent computing for vehicular or mobile networks
• Next generation services in vehicular or mobile networks

Important Dates
Full manuscript due: 31 December, 2014
Acceptance notification: 31 March, 2015
Revised manuscript due: 31 May, 2015
Final manuscript due: 30 June, 2015