Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Advanced Mechatronic Systems

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Advanced Mechatronic Systems are now available here for free:

• Japanese economic analysis using fuzzy autocorrelation model with fuzzy confidence intervals
• Velocity control of a DC motor based on fractional order PI and IMC-based fractional order controllers
• Ball and beam system control using PID-based ANFIS controllers
• Research and simulation of piezo hydraulic actuator
• Map-based navigation and control of mobile robots with surveillance cameras

Free open access article available: "Patterns of institutional change - the case of accounting regulation in BRICS countries"

The following paper, "Patterns of institutional change - the case of accounting regulation in BRICS countries" (International Journal of Economics and Accounting 9(3) 2020), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Opinion mining - "Study on microblog public opinion data mining algorithm based on multi-visual clustering model"

Public opinion on microblogging sites, such as Twitter, is randomly distributed and so data mining such information offers many challenges technically. Writing in the International Journal of Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems, a team from China has now used a multi-visual clustering model to underpin a new algorithm to help them extract opinion from microblogging sites.

Lin-lin Li, Wei-zhen Hou, and Jing Liu of Renmin University of China in Beijing explain how microblogging often provides very timely and by virtue of its nature, succinct, public opinion data. Statistical analysis of such data might provide us with an almost real-time perspective on public opinion in various realms of activity whether political, commercial, artistic, scientific, or any other. Such opinion mining can help guide policy, marketing, and other areas of human endeavour so that it might jibe better with public opinion especially in areas of controversy.

The team has had much success but concedes that there is work still to do in removing invalid data prior to applying the algorithmic analysis. They also point out that there needs to be greater precision in the choice of experimental data so that the algorithm can be tuned to work more efficiently and efficaciously.

Li, L-l., Hou, W-z. and Liu, J. (2020) ‘Study on microblog public opinion data mining algorithm based on multi-visual clustering model‘, Int. J. Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp.151-165.

Special issue published: "Trends in Automotive Green Technologies"

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal 14(2) 2020

• A comparative study of performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine using various non-edible extracts
• Experimental investigation on lean burn spark ignition engine using alcohol-gasoline blends
• Assessment of performance, emission and combustion characteristics of dual-fuel engine with exhaust gas recirculation
• Investigation on emission reduction potential of nickel and zinc coated catalytic converters
• Hydrogen storage system integrated with fuel cell
• Automotive air-conditioning system technology: a review

Research pick: Raising the curtain on cyborg theatre - "Interactive fiction video games as cyborg theatre. A postphenomenological approach"

Michail Kouratoras of the Department of Film, Television and Scenography at Aalto University in Finland has investigated the notion of cyborg theatre as defined by Jennifer Parker-Starbuck in 2011 in the context of video games. In Parker-Starbuck’s definition, the organic world of people is merged for theatrical effect with technology. The roots of the concept lie in the fictional world of Frankensteins’ “monster”, “The Cybermen” of Doctor Who fame, “The Borg” of Star Trek, and countless other fanciful creations wherein the organic and the inorganic are fused, hybridised or otherwise melded into allegorical creations for entertainment and edification.

The cyborg may be fanciful but it is a powerful fancy in fiction and, as real-world technology evolves, we begin to see that fictional fusion emerging through what we might call bionic prosthetics. Where such concepts will lead obviously remains to be seen, we are very much at the dawn of that era. Kouratoras, however, has focused on the contemporary, real-time, three-dimensional and avatar-based interactive fiction video game genre as a model for how cyborg theatre itself is evolving.

As such, he has looked at how the gamer becomes a “real” actor or player within the game. One might look to an episode of the TV series Black Mirror, specifically “Striking Vipers” as an extension of this notion wherein the game players can actually be transported mentally into the action of the game and experience it is reality. Such a scenario is an entirely fictional construct and may always remain so. But, playing a game does become a performance when a player becomes as immersed as is possible in the experience, perhaps even more so when connected to a community of other players.

The converse, where augmented reality is utilised in the real world as a component of a game, is of course, already possible and well known with games such as Pokémon GO. In such games, the virtual world is overlaid on reality through the screen of a portable gaming device. Where the worlds collide we will see new entertaining and edifying scenarios arise. Moreover, where those bionic prosthetics become an increasing reality, we might also so virtuality overlaid on reality in physical ways. It will be interesting to see who emerges from the wings as the cyborg theatrical directors, who the actors are, and who keeps an eye on the evolving script and carries out the safety checks

Kouratoras, M. (2020) ‘Interactive fiction video games as cyborg theatre. A postphenomenological approach’, Int. J. Arts and Technology, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp.197–217.

Special issue published: "Multi-Objective Design and Structural Optimisation of Vehicle Components with Nature-Inspired Optimisation Algorithms"

International Journal of Vehicle Design 80(2/3/4) 2019

• Determination of dynamic axle load using suspension deflection method for the load distribution optimisation of multi-axle vehicles
• Grey wolf optimiser in design of leaf springs of railway vehicles
• Optimal design of planetary gear train for automotive transmissions using advanced meta-heuristics
• Robust topology optimisation design of the guiding arm bracket for vehicle suspension
• Automated design of aircraft fuselage stiffeners using multiobjective evolutionary optimisation
• Comparison of recent algorithms for many-objective optimisation of an automotive floor-frame
• Optimisation of pedestrian detection system using FPGA-CPU hybrid implementation for vehicle industry
• Multi-surrogate-assisted metaheuristics for crashworthiness optimisation
• A comparative study on the optimal non-linear seat and suspension design for an electric vehicle using different population-based optimisation algorithms
• HKn-RVEA: a novel many-objective evolutionary algorithm for car side impact bar crashworthiness problem
• Mechanical engineering design optimisation using novel adaptive differential evolution algorithm
• Experimental and numerical fatigue-based design optimisation of clutch diaphragm spring in the automotive industry

Special issue published: "Computational Intelligence Paradigms in Recommender Systems and Online Social Networks"

International Journal of Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems 13(2) 2020

• Research on information popularity prediction of multimedia network based on fast K proximity algorithm
• Design of multivariable big data mobile analysis platform based on collaborative filtering recommendation algorithm
• User privacy protection algorithm of perceptual recommendation system based on group recommendation
• Study on microblog public opinion data mining algorithm based on multi-visual clustering model
• Automatic detection method of OSN content vulnerabilities based on big data analysis
• Research on cloud computing user privacy protection based on dynamic adaptive ant colony algorithm
• Personalised recommendation algorithm for social network based on two-dimensional correlation

Research pick: Teaching cynicism - "Cynicism, autonomy and job satisfaction: evidence from teaching profession"

Research published in the International Journal of Management in Education has sought to ascertain whether there is a relationship between the psychological characteristics of cynicism, autonomy, and job satisfaction in teachers. Navaneethakrishnan Kengatharan of the University of Jaffna in Sri Lanka has integrated the theories of conservation of resources, reasoned action and affective events to see whether this is a valid hypothesis.

The research collected data from more than 700 teachers working in state schools across Sri Lanka. A statistical analysis then revealed a positive relationship between cognitive cynicism and affective cynicism. Further, it confirmed a mediating relationship between cognitive cynicism and teacher job satisfaction through affective cynicism. In other words, feeling cynical and being actively cynical feed on each other and lead to dissatisfaction in the workplace for teachers so affected.

Such findings can be used to guide management style and have the aim of avoiding complacency and failures at that level that lead to frustration, irritation, and cynicism in teachers. Conversely, mentoring or counselling of teachers would also improve autonomy and their perception of their work given such improved management and thus lead to better teaching standards and students in their charge who are ultimately more academically successful.

Kengatharan, N. (2020) ‘Cynicism, autonomy and job satisfaction: evidence from teaching profession’, Int. J. Management in Education, Vol. 14, No. 5, pp.471–493.

Research pick: Growing plastic waste - "The growing global plastic waste problem – lessons for environmental economics policy design and choice"

Humanity is facing many serious problems at the moment, notwithstanding the global viral pandemic that is Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2. Global warming and congener climate change are still with us, water and food security are increasingly problematic for millions of people, and the amount of plastic waste we are generating simply grows and grows.

Kwami Adanu of the Department of Economics at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, in Accra, writing in the International Journal of Green Economics, considers this latter problem. He looks at the lessons policymakers and others might learn in terms of environmental economics.

The research looks at how an environmental solutions decision-making tree might be used together with a plastic waste market to reverse this problem. Some obvious advice for policymakers emerges from the approach such as banning non-recyclable plastic bags, employing centres in that “market” that are both producer- and consumer-run would be more successful, the introduction of taxation to fiscally control the physical problem is also suggested. A putatively controversial finding from the study is that burning plastic waste may well be the only way to dispose of accumulated waste. Although such burning generates pollution, there are ways to remediate that to an extent and the heat generated can be put to good use in powering the plant or heating local homes in colder regions.

Given that common economic policy tools have so far failed us in reducing plastic waste, it is time for radical new thinking, the research suggests.

Adanu, K. (2020) ‘The growing global plastic waste problem – lessons for environmental economics policy design and choice’, Int. J. Green Economics, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp.121–134.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing

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

• Topics and research trends of health clubs management: will innovation be part of the fitness industry research interests?
• Psychological contract fulfilment and innovative work behaviours of employees in sport-based SBEs: the mediating role of organisational citizenship
• Explicating professional boxers' narrative dynamics towards competitive aggressiveness and potential market entry
• Like it or not? The differences between and success factors of sports providers' use of social networking sites
• Motivation and high performance sports events: an exploratory investigation of the motives underlying repeated participation
• Intellectual capital assets and brand value of English football clubs

Special issue published: "Sports Marketing Agenda Revisited"

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing 20(1/2) 2020

• Perceived fan associations with MLB teams: bask inspite of reflected failure versus cut off reflected success
• The brand attachment and consumer behaviour in sports marketing contexts: the case of football fans in Portugal
• Relationships as strategic assets: a sport fan equity approach
• An advancement in the study of marketing partnership longevity: analysing sport sponsorship survival
• The structure, content and context of achieved celebrity brands: a study of footballers in their brandscapes
• The role of patriotism in the city-brand-sport-event relationship
• Perceived motivation in football/futsal practice according to players and coaches approaches: a tool of strategic management
• Determinants of the intention to participate in semi-marathons events

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Precision Technology

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

• Effect of cutting edge radius on 'burnishing-like' mechanism in micromachining
• Performance optimisation of electrochemical micromachining of micro-holes on Inconel 625 alloy
• Improvement of micro-EDM performances with aid of vibration
• Study on nanofinishing of SS304 flat surfaces using electrochemical honing process
• Effect of NiCr on dry sliding wear of high carbon iron-molybdenum composite plasma spray coating

Inderscience journals to invite expanded papers from International Conference on Industrial and Manufacturing Systems (CIMS-2020) for potential publication

Extended versions of papers presented at the International Conference on Industrial and Manufacturing Systems (CIMS-2020) (9-11 October 2020, Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar (an institute of National Importance), Punjab, India) will be invited for review and potential publication by the following journals:

• Int. J. of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage
• Int. J. of Sustainable Materials and Structural Systems

Research pick: What drives a musical revolution? - "Arnold Schoenberg’s embrace of atonality: a brief case study for music educators"

Art takes twists and turns. It finds new ways for humanity to express itself through sound and vision and all of our other senses and sensibilities. When the avant-garde sharpens a new cutting edge buy discovering a new way to work with new materials, and new equipment we see that expression expand beyond the realms of imagination of the earlier generation of creators.

This applies to all artistic media whether we are considering paintings, sculpture, dance, theatre, novels and novellas, poetry, perhaps even food and drink, but nowhere more so than in the realm of music. Some composers hone their art way beyond what is considered normal, they deliberately deviate from the norm, some more than others. Music in the abstract is often atonal in what one might think of as analogous manner to a work by drip paint modern artist Pollock is visually atonal.

Writing in the International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, Alexi Harkiolakis of The American College of Greece, in Paraskevi, has considered the music of Arnold Schoenberg and how the composer embraced atonality. Harkiolakis is a student at the college but previously studied music composition with Greek composer Spiros Mazis and electric jazz guitar at the Philippos Nakas Conservatory with Yiannis Giannakos. He also studied piano at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.

Harkiolakis is keen to understand what is needed to start a revolution in art, specifically a musical revolution. A revolution, he suggests, begins with an idea. Schoenberg had several big ideas…first the free atonal style and then the 12-tone method of composition, and others. Schoenberg’s earlier works sound surprisingly tonal, albeit highly chromatic, explains Harkiolakis. Chromatic meaning not adhering to conventional scales and musical modes, but using all the tones and semitones across the musical scale without necessarily considering a strict key signature. In other words, in the scale of C major one would use only the piano’s white keys to progress through the scale C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C, the conventional “Doh-Rae-Me”. Whereas a chromatic scale would utilise the black notes too, the sharps and flats and so we might progress C-C#-D-D#-E-F-F# and so on. Mixing notes out of conventional key signatures is often described as having atonality whereas conventional melodies might be thought of as being more natural and tonal.

In a case study of Schoenberg’s work, the Second String Quartet Op. 10 for string quartet and solo soprano, Harkiolakis examines and analyses the musical, personal, and socio-political factors that may have influenced Schoenberg to abandon his late romantic style in favour of this kind of free atonality. In exploring the musical, personal, and societal motives that could have played a part in driving Schoenberg towards this revolutionary style, Harkiolakis finds that it is rather unlikely that a single factor was the spark for this particular revolution, rather several disparate factors fed the musical revolutionary flames.

Whatever the spark, kindling or tinder might have been, a quote from Schoenberg writing in 1937 offers us an insight that suggests that it was an inner drive that pushed him to new places:

"I knew I had to fulfil a task, I had to express what was necessary to be expressed and I knew I had the duty of developing my ideas for the sake of progress in music, whether I liked it or not."

Harkiolakis, A. (2020) "Arnold Schoenberg’s embrace of atonality: a brief case study for music educators", Int. J. Teaching and Case Studies, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp.95–104.

Inderscience journals to invite expanded papers from 22nd Annual Conference on Finance and Accounting (ACFA 2021) for potential publication

Extended versions of papers presented at the 22nd Annual Conference on Finance and Accounting (ACFA 2021) (3-4 June 2021, University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic) will be invited for review and potential publication by the following journals:

• International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies
• International Journal of Monetary Economics and Finance

Special issue published: "Artificial Intelligence Facilities Smart Cities Development" (includes free Open Access article)

International Journal of Bio-Inspired Computation 16(2) 2020

• Time-to-contact control: improving safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles
• SmartGC: a software architecture for garbage collection in smart cities
• A novel squeeze YOLO-based real-time people counting approach [FREE OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE]
• A variant of EAM to uncover community structure in complex networks
• Nanoindentation analysis comparing dragonfly-inspired biomimetic micro-aerial vehicle (BMAV) wings
• Integrated deteriorating maintenance and patient scheduling for single medical device with heuristic algorithm

Free open access article available: "A novel squeeze YOLO-based real-time people counting approach"

The following paper, "A novel squeeze YOLO-based real-time people counting approach" (International Journal of Bio-Inspired Computation 16(2) 2020), is freely available for download as an open access article. 

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

Research pick: Making biodiesel with green solvents - "Ionic liquids as solvents in biodiesel production"

Green solvents for making biodiesel would reduce the environmental impact of such fuels still further. Writing in the World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, a team from India discusses the potential of ionic liquids in this field.

Biodiesel is a sustainable alternative to conventional oil-derived biodiesel in that it can be manufactured from resources such as waste organic matter from agriculture, the food industry, or even household refuse. It can also be made from crops grown especially for its production. There is, however, a need for volatile organic solvents at various stages of the manufacturing process and these liquids usually come with their own environmental impact. Biodiesel is usually made by trans esterifying vegetable oil or animal fat feedstock with the help of organic and inorganic solvents.

As such, “greener” alternatives are keenly sought. A. Anitha and D. Jini of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science in Chennai, explain how ionic liquids might represent such an alternative.

Ionic liquids are non-volatile and non-flammable. They also have low toxicity. This is in sharp contrast with highly volatile, flammable, and toxic organic solvents currently used. Such green credentials have made them a focus for a number of research teams around the world in a wide range of chemical disciplines. Intriguingly, they are nothing more than ionic salts that happen to be liquid at or close to room temperature. However, this character endows them with some unique solvating properties that make them ideal for many applications.

“Energy utilisation across the world has been increasing at a steady rate from 1971 and the demand for energy is projected to increase by 55% at the end of 2030. Fossil fuels are not renewable and would be exhausted within 40–60 years even if the rate of consumption remains constant,” the team writes. So, not only are alternatives more environmentally friendly they will ultimately be essential to keep up with energy demand. Ionic fluids can support the enzymatic conversion of feedstock to biodiesel as well as being useful in product purification. They can even be the catalyst themselves for carrying out the necessary reactions. Despite their current high price when compared to organic solvents, they are much more readily reusable, which would reduce environmental impact still further and ultimately costs.

Anitha, A. and Jini, D. (2020) ‘Ionic liquids as solvents in biodiesel production’, World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp.122–140.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Qualitative Research in Services

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Qualitative Research in Services are now available here for free:

• The influence of social media on destination choice of Omani pleasure travellers
• A critical review analysis about the movie Ratatouille and its impact on culinary tourism
• The role of FDA enforcement in misleading product labelling claims in hospitality
• Perceptions of top management about the total rewards statement: a case study in the retail sector
• A case study of Apple v. Samsung and how big data analytics might have changed the outcome
• How ethics impacts hacktivism: a reflection of events
• Exploring entrepreneurial architecture for the service industries: the emerging role of storytelling in higher education

Special issue published: "Intelligent Sensor Data Processing, Mobile Telecommunications and Air Traffic Control"

International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems 12(3) 2020

• Application level extension of bandwidth management in radio access network
• Flight safety sensor and auto-landing system of unmanned aerial system
• Performance of VWM algorithm in the presence of impulse noise and resizing
• Design and optimisation of bio-inspired robotic stochastic search strategy
• Influence of optimal pair-wise SUS algorithm on MU-MIMO-OFDM system performance
• The effect of background and outlier subtraction on the structural entropy of two-dimensional measured data
• A fuzzy decision maker to determine optimal starting time of shiftable loads in the smart grids
• Evaluation research on green degree of equipment manufacturing industry based on improved particle swarm optimisation algorithm
• Network security situation detection of internet of things for smart city based on fuzzy neural network