Research in the International Journal of Business Innovation and Research has looked at the relationship between digitalisation and labour productivity in the European Union. The study found that the growing digital divide between some countries means that the impact of technological transformation on productivity is far from uniform.

Giuseppe Cinquegrana of the Italian National Institute of Statistics in Rome, and Giovanni De Luca, Paolo Mazzocchi, Claudio Quintano, and Antonella Rocca of the University of Naples Parthenope, Italy, looked at 23 EU member states over a five-year period and found that digital advancements, such as internet connectivity, digital skills, and the adoption of new technologies, can have different effects around the EU.

Broadly speaking, digitalisation has a positive effect on productivity. However, this study shows that the benefits are most pronounced in countries that already have high levels of digitalisation, such as those in Northern Europe. Nations like Sweden and Denmark, with good digital infrastructure and a highly skilled workforce, experience the biggest productivity gains as digitalisation spreads. The relationship can be measured using the European Commission's Digital Economy and Society Index, which tracks the progress of digital transformation, and gross domestic product per worker, a standard measure of productivity.

However, the study also reveals a more nuanced picture than is obtained from that data. It suggests that the impact of digitalisation on productivity is not immediate or even implicit. The team found that countries with better education systems and more extensive technological adoption are more likely to see digitalisation pay off in terms of higher productivity.

The findings reveal a stark north-south digital divide within the EU. Southern and Eastern European countries, in particular, lag behind their Northern counterparts in both digitalisation and productivity levels. This gap is further exacerbated by factors like lower investment in research and development and the presence of smaller, less innovative businesses. In these regions, the lack of resources to train workers in digital skills and the relatively low rate of technology adoption in businesses continue to hinder productivity growth. In highlighting this divide, the work offers the opportunity for policymakers to endeavour to close this digital divide.

Cinquegrana, G., De Luca, G., Mazzocchi, P., Quintano, C. and Rocca, A. (2024) 'Impact of digitalisation on labour productivity in the EU', Int. J. Business Innovation and Research, Vol. 35, No. 6, pp.1–39.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2024.142806

A novel framework for designing smarter, more sustainable products is discussed in the International Journal of Product Development. The framework could help car manufacturers and others navigate the increasing demand for digital services. Zhang Yan, Tobias Larsson, and Andreas Larsson of the Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden, explain that the Future Innovation Framework could change the way companies develop Product-Service Systems.

Product-Service Systems combine physical products with digital services in a collaborative process for their customers. With traditional product development models struggling to keep pace with technological advancements, the Future Innovation Framework gives manufacturers a structured approach to integrating digital solutions into their products as well as ensuring that they are meeting their sustainability goals.

At the heart of the Future Innovation Framework is the idea of value co-creation. In this, businesses and consumers work together to design products that provide mutual benefits. This is made possible by advances in information and communication technologies such as digital twins. Digital twins allow for real-time data sharing and the creation of virtual facsimiles of prototypes that can then be assessed so that smarter decisions can be made. By facilitating collaboration among the various people involved on both sides of the business, equation, the Future Innovation Framework can help companies create products and services that are more responsive to changing consumer needs as well as being more aligned with long-term sustainability.

The team reports on how car manufacture, Volkswagen, has already used the Future Innovation Framework in the design of its smart electric vehicle. The company's work illustrates the practical benefits of this framework. The team explains that by getting diverse teams involved early in the design process, the manufacturer was able to address those technological challenges and sustainability concerns. The case study highlights the potential of the Future Innovation Framework to streamline the design process, improve innovation, and reduce the environmental impact of a product. It also has a role to play in the promotion of the circular economy, which can reduce waste and improve the lifespan of a given product, by shifting the focus from short-term sales to more sustainable practices.

Yan, Z., Larsson, T. and Larsson, A. (2024) 'Future innovation framework (FIF) for value co-creation of smart product-service system design in a global automotive manufacturing company', Int. J. Product Development, Vol. 28, No. 5, pp.1–29.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2024.142760

A study in the International Journal of Vehicle Safety has looked at driver behaviour during turning manoeuvres at road junctions (intersections). The work raises concerns about pedestrian safety, particularly when several vehicles are involved in making the same turn.

Shoko Oikawa, Yuta Kusakari, and Naoyuki Kubota of Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, and Yasuhiro Matsui of the National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory, in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan, used a driving simulator to replicate five different traffic scenarios. They hoped to better understand how various factors, such as the presence of pedestrians and other vehicles, influence how drivers approach and navigate junctions.

The team saw a rather troubling issue: when three vehicles were turning ahead of a driver, the speed at which the driver entered and moved through the junction increased. This scenario also led to a decrease in the amount of time drivers spent looking for pedestrians, which in turn points to a higher risk of them hitting someone crossing the road on foot. Moreover, the driver's attention was focused mainly on the movements of other vehicles, with scant attention paid to the presence of pedestrians. Thus, in turning, many drivers seem to assume dangerously that the road is clear when it is patently not.

In some countries, laws are in place to help protect pedestrians crossing at junctions. Some of those tell drivers that they must give way to someone about to cross before they make their own turn. However, the behaviour revealed in the study suggests that if drivers are not even aware of the presence of pedestrians at a junction, then no amount of law-making without enforcement will reduce the risk to pedestrians in this situation.

The team points out that Japan has major traffic safety issues, with pedestrian fatalities a major concern. In 2023, pedestrian deaths accounted for well over a third of all traffic-related fatalities, many of those occurred at junctions. The findings mesh with previous studies, that also found that the presence of other vehicles on the road can divert a driver's attention and increase the risk of pedestrian accidents.

While many modern cars have technology in place that is aware of obstacles and even pedestrians, this will be compromised by the presence of other vehicles as well as by driver inattention. There is this a need for more effective safety measures to be put in place, particularly at busy junctions where cars and pedestrians meet in often unpredictable ways.

Oikawa, S., Kusakari, Y.,Matsui, Y. and Kubota, N. (2024) 'Analysis of driving behaviour for right-turn manoeuvres at intersections with different types of traffic participants',Int. J. Vehicle Safety, Vol. 13, No. 5, pp.1–13.
DOI: 10.1504/IJVS.2024.142706

Research in the International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets, is set to challenge the received wisdom on entrepreneurship among marginalized groups, particularly people with disabilities. The work shows how inclusivity and diversity can perhaps unexpectedly drive social and economic change.

Chi Nghia Nguyen of Aomori Chuo Gakuin University, Japan, Matteo Rossi of the University of Sannio in Benevento BN, Italy, Laurent Vilaine of the Catholic University of Lyon, France, and Mohamad Baker Hamieh of the Lebanese International University in Mazraa, Lebanon undertook a comparison of social entrepreneurship. They compared eight case studies of people with disabilities in Vietnam and six cases involving non-disabled entrepreneurs in Japan. Their findings suggest, as one might hope, that disability does not inherently limit entrepreneurial success. Instead, they found that such individuals turn constraints into opportunities for innovation and community empowerment.

Social entrepreneurship, the practice of using business methods to address societal challenges while generating income, takes on a transformative role in disadvantaged settings, the researchers suggest. They found that in Vietnam, disabled entrepreneurs have developed ways to boost their skills, their technical expertise or social networks, while collaborating with others to overcome inherent limitations derived from their disability. The team explains that this adaptive approach not only creates sustainable livelihoods for themselves but also generates broader opportunities within their communities.

Such efforts are in stark contrast to traditional poverty alleviation models, which often cast marginalized individuals simply as passive recipients of aid. The research sees how disability can be reframed within the context of human capital—a term that encompasses the knowledge, skills, and other attributes individuals can bring to bear in their work. So, instead of viewing disabilities as insurmountable barriers, those disabilities are just one aspect of a person's capabilities and character, which can be complemented or compensated for by other strengths as needed. This shift in perspective moves the narrative away from what individuals cannot do to what they can and opens new pathways for innovation and inclusion.

Nguyen, C.N., Rossi, M., Vilaine, L. and Hamieh, M.B. (2024) 'Creating opportunities: social entrepreneurship and disability employment', Int. J. Business and Emerging Markets, Vol. 16, No. 5, pp.1–18.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBEM.2024.142635

A study in the International Journal of Environment and Pollution, has looked at a fast, efficient method of assessing environmental pollution across nature reserves and so could offer a clearer view of the impact of tourism on such putatively fragile ecosystems. Qiong Da, Fang Zhou, and Nima Ciren of the Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University in Nyingchi, China, used factor analysis, a statistical technique to simplify complex data, to assess the various forms of pollution that might be present on a nature reserve including water and soil contamination, and air pollution. Their approach can highlight core environmental risks in less than half an hour.

Nature reserves draw millions of visitors annually, benefiting local economies, but tourist activity can put a strain on the environment. The researchers point out that current pollution assessment approaches can take days if not weeks and are data-heavy. Ultimately, these leave reserve management and policymakers in a quandary as to how to respond effectively to environmental issues as they arise.

The new approach uses an environmental pollution framework tailored for tourist destinations within reserves, making it possible to condense diverse indicators into the common factors that represent the most important pollution threats. The team suggests that their approach offers a more focused and so manageable dataset that might allow conservationists to act on immediate risks essentially in real-time.

The approach is adaptable and could be useful to the broader conservation effort. The framework offered by the researchers could be used in ecological assessment across other areas, not just tourist traps within nature reserves. It might thus allow timely and useful insights to be gleaned from other kinds of conservation areas that are also facing pressures from human activities. The approach could thus support resilience and long-term sustainability of conservation areas beyond the tourist hotspots.

Da, Q., Zhou, F. and Ciren, N. (2024) 'An environmental pollution assessment method for tourist attractions in nature reserves based on factor analysis', Int. J. Environment and Pollution, Vol. 74, Nos. 1/2/3/4, pp.1–15.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2024.142543

The future of MOFs, metal-organic framework materials, looks bright. A review in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management has looked at how a specific class of these sponge-like materials might find increasing use in removing dye contaminants from industrial wastewater.

Irvan Dahlan and Hamidi Abdul Aziz of the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, and Yung-Tse Hung of Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, have focused on MOF-5 materials. These substances, constructed from a metal such as zinc to which organic molecules are bonds to build vast crystalline structures are highly porous and so have a large internal surface area compared to their overall volume, which means they can soak up, or adsorb (sic) small molecules, such as organic dye pollutants present in industrial wastewater.

The textile, pharmaceutical, and paper industries all generate vast quantities of wastewater contaminated with synthetic dyes. This represents an enormous burden on the environment and a serious risk to ecosystems where this contaminated wastewater might end up.

Organic dyes can be stubborn pollutants, as they are often chemically stable and difficult to break down. They can resist traditional wastewater treatments. Once present in natural waters, they block sunlight and so hamper photosynthesis in aquatic plants, and can thus disturb entire ecosystems. Moreover, some dyes are toxic, carcinogenic, or have mutagenic properties, and so represent a risk to marine life as well as throwing up health concerns for communities dependent on the water sources that are contaminated.

Conventional dye-removal methods, such as chemical treatment, filtration, and biological processes, are often too costly and complex to be commercially viable and commonly inefficient at handling large volumes of wastewater regardless of cost. MOFs, on the other hand, have emerged as a promising alternative due to their unique structures. Importantly, simple changes to the organic molecules from which they are constructed, and the metals used to lock these molecules together into a three-dimensional structure can be made relatively easily so that they can be given different pore sizes and adsorption characteristics.

The team's review shows that much work remains to be done with MOF-5 materials so that they bugger pore sizes can be developed for the larger dye molecules. There is also a need to improve the durability and reusability of these materials to make them suitable for industrial remediation use. Optimisation of their physical and chemical characteristics is now possible, but there is also a need to find ways to scale up their manufacture economically.

Dahlan, I., Aziz, H.A. and Hung, Y-T. (2024) 'Recent development of metal-organic framework 5 adsorbents for organic dye removal from aqueous solution', Int. J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp.378–389.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.142506

One of the biggest buzzwords of recent years is metaverse. The term encompasses the notion of a virtual world that blends reality with digital environments. We have seen steps towards this destination over the last couple of decades with the development of virtual online spaces and their convergence with virtual reality hardware. A detailed review in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research, has now looked at how the development of a functional metaverse might change education and take us beyond the confines of the traditional classrooms.

Shorouq F. Eletter, Ghaleb A. Elrefae, Amer Qasim, and Tahira Yasmin of Al Ain University, United Arab Emirates suggest that the metaverse holds the promise of immersive, interactive, and customized learning experiences. They explain that the metaverse in the context of education would likely combine virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) so allowing students to engage in a dynamic learning experience that could essentially be set anywhere in time and space. For example, historical sites, geological locations, science laboratories, even with the world of mathematical visualisation.

Unlike conventional e-learning platforms, which are commonly based on video clips, graphics, and text-based resources, the metaverse offers a digital space where learners can engage with the content, instructors, and peers in real time, often as so-called avatars or characters immersed in this meta world. These digital classrooms offer more than just a place for lecture-based learning. They foster collaboration, engagement, and creativity, and could allow countless new possibilities for students around the world.

The team mined the Scopus database of academic publications and found that there has been a significant increase in the number of studies exploring the intersection of the metaverse and education. The researchers have identified various themes such as student engagement, global collaboration, and personalized learning as the main drivers of this growing interest. Their findings suggest that the development of the metaverse in education has the potential to break down barriers related to time, space, and socio-economic background for students and educators alike.

Eletter, S.F., Elrefae, G.A., Qasim, A. and Yasmin, T. (2024) 'Education in the Metaverse: a bibliometric exploration', Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 28, No. 6, pp.42–55.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2024.142498

China is perhaps in pole position when it comes to electric vehicle (EV) adoption, accounting for over 60% of worldwide sales in 2022. This dominant position makes it a critical player in addressing one of the most pressing sustainability challenges of the electric vehicle revolution: how to recycle batteries. As the world increasingly turns to EVs to combat climate change, the question of what happens to EV batteries once they reach the end of their life has never been more urgent.

Writing in the International Journal of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, Igor Laine of LUT University in Lappeenranta, Finland, explains how the big issue is the lifecycle of lithium-ion batteries, which are used to power most of today's EVs. These batteries contain valuable metals, including cobalt, lithium, and nickel, which are finite resources and environmentally harmful if not disposed of correctly. As demand for EVs grows, so too does the pressure on these raw materials, making effective recycling both a necessity and a challenge.

According to Laine, China has become the world's largest manufacturer and consumer of EVs and is responding to the growing challenge of waste batteries with a strong recycling strategy. The country has implemented a variety of regulations aimed at holding manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products. In addition to legal measures, China has invested heavily in the development of new technologies designed to improve the efficiency of battery recycling. Techniques for diagnosing battery health, dismantling old batteries, and extracting precious metals for re-use have been developed in recent years. China's EV future could well become sustainable in terms of batteries.

However, Laine points out that China's recycling infrastructure is not entirely mature. Recycling processes themselves could be improved in terms of efficiency. One of the major problems is that the precious metals that are at the heart of EV batteries are present with myriad other substances, all of which make extracting those metals difficult.

Extraction of the metals is the fine detail problem of battery recycling. The bigger picture sees the vast EV market in China where concerns about efficiency of battery recycling are overarched by the sheer scale of the problem, the enormous numbers involved. There is something a paradox at play with these two perspectives. On one hand, demand for EVs is growing, which means there is a constant flow of waste batteries to be harvested for the next generation of vehicles. But, the size of the market puts the potential for scalable sustainability out of reach, at least for the time being.

Laine's work suggests that the regulatory approach to EV battery recycling taken by China represents a drive in the right direction. However, to address the big problems might require an international stance, a global collective effort. International cooperation could help with research and development into recycling technology and allow standardized recycling practices to be established. The path to truly sustainable battery recycling needs innovation, regulation, and collaboration.

Laine, I. (2024) 'The evolving frontiers of sustainability and innovation: analysing China's approach to electric vehicle battery recycling', Int. J. Electric and Hybrid Vehicles, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp.342–357.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEHV.2024.142384

A study in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research, looks at the part digital transformation has played in improving efficiency in financial systems across Jordan's public shareholding industrial companies. Information and communications technology has changed industries around the world and continues to do so.

This research, from Khalid Alomari, Ali Salah, and Rukana Alshweesh of Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, in Ma'an, Jordan, focuses on the impact of changing technology on Jordan's industrial sector. They point out that businesses are readily adopting digital tools to streamline their operations and improve how they make decisions.

The term "digital transformation" is rather broad and encompasses changes in many different areas: business models, operations, and customer interactions, as well as financial systems. Technology is important for providing accurate and timely financial data to guide day-to-day operations as well as long-term strategy. Of course, data volumes are enormous given all the technology that can soak up information. It is increasingly obvious that traditional methods of handling financial information are no longer sufficient.

The research touches on various elements of digital transformation, including customer engagement and innovation in business models and ultimately the effect on financial performance. Companies that embrace new business models incorporating digital tools and platforms can improve their internal operations and position themselves to better meet the needs of their customers. Adapting to rapidly changing digital trends is now a business necessity if organisations are to gain and sustain their competitive advantage.

Companies across Jordan are modernising in terms of fintech and this will eventually have a wider impact on the Jordanian economy itself, the research suggests. It will boost national competitiveness, create new growth opportunities, and perhaps even lead to sustainable economic development.

Alomari, K., Salah, A. and Alshweesh, R. (2024) 'The impact of digital transformation on the effectiveness of electronic financial systems', Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 28, No. 6, pp.21–41.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2024.142497

Research in the International Journal of Services and Operations Management has shown that the success of lean management techniques in public healthcare depends not only on the tools used to implement it, but on a fundamental shift in organisational culture. Lean management has proved itself able to reduce waste and improve efficiency across the public and private sectors. This work, by Petra Hurme and Johanna Liljeroos-Cork of Tampere University, Finland, emphasises the need to encourage long-term collaboration and improve staff well-being to make it work well in the healthcare sector.

Lean management is designed to maximise value by eliminating waste, often by streamlining processes, reducing waiting times between steps in a process, and generally improving the allocation of resources. In public healthcare settings, early applications of the lean approach have led to positive outcomes, such as enhanced service delivery, improved staff satisfaction, and even cost savings. However, within this sector, many organisations have not reaped the rewards or gained only temporary or superficial improvements.

The research looked at several healthcare and social service organisations and found that transient and superficial benefits of lean in those settings were often down to a failure to change the organisation's internal culture in order to embraces more fully the principles of lean to allow staff to engage in ongoing improvements. The team suggests that leaders need to prioritise the development of an environment that is supportive of staff where they will experience greater job satisfaction and be happier. When employees are emotionally engaged and feel included in decision-making, they are better able to drive the changes necessary to improve services, it seems.

One of the critical findings of the research is that organisations and management need to redefine how value is measured in this sector. It is not solely about operational efficiency as it might be in a factory where working more efficiently and faster towards greater profit are important. Instead, healthcare value should also be understood in terms of how well the service meets the needs and expectations of patients and service users and how well it treats its staff.

Hurme, P. and Liljeroos-Cork, J. (2024) 'Factors promoting value creation in lean management within public social and healthcare organisation', Int. J. Services and Operations Management, Vol. 49, No. 5, pp.1–21.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2024.142519

A quiz bowl is usually an academic competition in which teams of students, typically from high schools or universities, compete by answering questions across a variety of subjects, such as history, science, literature, and current events. The format is often fast-paced, with teams buzzing in to answer questions posed by the moderator. Correct answers earn points, and the team with the most points at the end of the game wins. These tournaments can vary in size, but usually involve multiple rounds heading towards a grand final. Readers in the US and elsewhere will be familiar with College Bowl, a televised tournament and its spinoffs, such as the UK's, University Challenge.

Organizing a quiz bowl tournament is no small feat. While the players compete in fast-paced intellectual battles, behind the scenes, the real work lies in preparing and fact-checking the questions. Traditionally, this has been a painstakingly manual task, requiring hours of work to ensure that questions are arranged in a balanced, fair, and engaging manner. However, research in the International Journal of Data Analysis Techniques and Strategies has demonstrated how technology might offer a more efficient but just as effective approach to the challenge.

Kara L. Combs and Trevor J. Bihl of Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA, have devised an approach to automating the organisation of quiz bowl question sets that uses optimisation techniques to reduce the burden on those responsible for preparing the competitions. The study focuses on applying mathematical models to arrange the questions in a way that meets the key criteria of any tournament: a smooth difficulty curve, thematic balance, and consistency. The team's approach proves itself a timesaver but could also improve the overall quality and consistency of any quiz bowl competition.

The researchers used the well-known Python programming language to implement their solution. Optimisation algorithms were used to arrange the questions automatically so that the final set for each round of the competitions fits the requirements of a fair, balanced, and entertaining competition. They tested their approach and were able to cut in half the time needed to organise the questions.

Combs, K.L. and Bihl, T.J. (2024) 'Question optimisation: building quiz bowl tournament sets', Int. J. Data Analysis Techniques and Strategies, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp.386–409.
DOI: 10.1504/10.1504/IJDATS.2024.142487

As the commercial landscape evolves, the integration of technology into entrepreneurship education is emerging as an important part of educating the next generation of innovative business leaders. A study in the International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning highlights the changes taking place and points to how technological tools are reshaping not only the design and delivery of entrepreneurial knowledge but also the very skills that students need to master in order to thrive in the commercial world today.

Marsela Thanasi-Boçe and Selma Kurtishi-Kastrati of the American University of the Middle East in Egaila, Al Ahmadi, Kuwait, explain that conventionally entrepreneurship education focuses on foundational business skills such as planning and operations. However, their work suggests a more subtle approach is needed that also places emphasis on creativity and innovative thinking. Recent global events, such as the pandemic, have given this shift new urgency, catalysing the rapid adoption of digital learning platforms. With these new tools, educators can create a more engaging learning environment for their students and even mirror the complexities of real-world business challenges.

The team suggests that we need to have ongoing discussions about technology-enhanced education, and their work sheds new light on the various digital resources that might be used to support entrepreneurial training. Online learning platforms, business simulations, and other interactive tools not only engage students but also provide practical experiences that reinforce critical skills such as opportunity recognition, resource acquisition, and risk management. These skills can then be transferred to the businesses those students start when they enter the commercial world with all its uncertainties and opportunities.

The research also highlights how educators themselves need to be adept at using the new technologies. Knowledge of the curriculum is no longer sufficient, the must-have the skills to use the digital tools effectively in order to pass those skills. In other words, there is an increased pressure for ongoing professional development among educators in this field. Educational establishments, such as business schools, that invest in faculty training are in turn investing in their students and the quality of their entrepreneurship teaching.

In addition to investing in faculty education, the work hints that stronger partnerships between educational institutions and industry stakeholders should be mutually beneficial. Collaborations with businesses can provide students with opportunities to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical contexts. This can bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real-world, as well as offering networking opportunities for students and businesses.

Thanasi-Boçe, M. and Kurtishi-Kastrati, S. (2024) 'The use of technology to develop students' entrepreneurial mindset and competencies', Int. J. Technology Enhanced Learning, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp.428–446.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTEL.2024.141833

A step towards improving online music education by developing an AI tool that can recognise musical notation is described in the International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing. The work of Ting Zhang of the Academy of Arts at Shangluo University, Shaanxi, China, addresses a longstanding problem in digital music instruction, where the ability to recognise and interpret musical notation often falls short due to platform limitations. The research shows how image processing and machine learning can help online learners, allowing them to gain a richer, more accurate grasp of musical concepts.

Zhang has developed the Pulse-Coupled Neural Network (PCNN), an artificial neural network inspired by the workings of biological neurons, which "fire" in response to certain stimuli. Traditionally, online music education has relied on simplified digital representations of musical notation, leaving students without crucial guidance when attempting to understand the intricacies of symbols and musical structures.

The PCNN model focuses on improving the digital segmentation of musical symbols within an image of a musical score, for instance. By incorporating oblique spectral correction in the system, Zhang is able to break down the image into segments for precise differentiation between symbols. This allows even distorted representations of the music score to be analysed accurately, taking into account tilted symbols or misalignments.

The use of an optimized Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for the image-recognition tasks makes the system efficient and accurate, giving it an up to 97 percent success rate.

For students, the enhanced notation recognition system could give them feedback in real-time even when no tutor is available for discussion. This system emulates face-to-face instruction, where instant feedback is usually available. The researchers saw notable improvements in student understanding of pitch and rhythm and in their grasping foundational music theory concepts.

Zhang, T. (2024) 'Application of integrated image processing technology based on PCNN in online music symbol recognition training', Int. J. Wireless and Mobile Computing, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp.369–380.
DOI: 10.1504/IJWMC.2024.142069

The population grows daily and with it the number of tourists heading for popular spots, attractions and cities. Research in the International Journal of Security and Networks has considered one aspect of the safety of large crowds, the sheer number of people that might be present in a given location. Qinqin Dong of Xinyang University, China, points out that the biggest challenge in managing dense groups of people in real-time is determining how many people are present in a crowd.

Dong has turned to artificial intelligence to develop a new took that can track and trace the movements of people in a crowd with unprecedented accuracy. The new system, SMACSTR (Scene Monitoring Algorithm based on Crowd Scene Type Recognition), could allow us to improve safety in bustling urban spaces and popular destinations.

The behaviour of a crowd is largely unpredictable unless barriers and other measures are in place to guide their movements. At popular tourist spots, there can be many hundreds or even thousands of people moving in unexpected surges that can represent a risk to safety. Overcrowding leads to bottlenecks and if an emergency arises, hazardous crowd movements that need to be addressed and controlled quickly to avoid injury and death.

Dong's SMACSTR system can carry out crowd scene recognition, to interpret images of crowds and their behaviour. The system focuses on both static and dynamic features within the crowd and allows its operators to spot risky behaviour as it arises and so be able to implement a timely and effective response.

The static component of the system, the static density field, reveals crowd positioning and numbers, while the dynamic, the motion feature maps, indicate how the crowd is behaving. It can distinguish between calm and peaceful movements of individuals in the crowd or the emergence of erratic or panicked behaviour. By combining both characteristics of the crowd, the system can assess risks more effectively in real-time in a way that conventional systems, such as human monitoring of CCTV feeds, might not.

Dong, Q. (2024) 'Safety monitoring system for tourist scenic spots based on crowd scene type recognition', Int. J. Security and Networks, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp.128–137.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSN.2024.141780

A study in the International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics suggests that minimalism is perhaps the only viable, sustainable path forward to address the problem of environmental damage due to ever-increasing consumption. Global consumption is thought to account for almost two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions. Our seemingly endless buying and discarding of material goods at a rapid pace has also become an important factor in environmental degradation.

Varghese Joy and Vijay Kumar Jain of DIT University Dehradun in India, have explored minimalism, a lifestyle shift that emphasizes reduced consumption and purposeful living, as a promising antidote to modern consumer excess.

In the 1970s, the voluntary simplicity movement began in the USA. This advocated for a less material-focused life, but today that kind of minimalism has taken on added urgency. Rather than a lifestyle trend, minimalism could have policy implications and reshape how we think about happiness and well-being and to weave that into mental clarity, purposeful experiences, and environmental responsibility. The team suggests that such a shift in attitude away from endless consumerism could reduce our environmental footprint, as well as moving society towards a less materialistic future.

The team has looked at what they call, enablers, factors that drive people towards a minimalist approach to life. They used interpretive structural modelling to analyse these enablers. At the top of the list were personal attitude, cautious shopping habits, self-sufficiency, and the strategic elimination of clutter. Each of these enablers could have a role in helping people adopt minimalism.

Personal attitude reflects a mindset that eschews the cultural push and pull of materialism. It is an attitude that values experiences over possessions, prioritises environmental responsibility, and allows us to appreciate the non-material side of life. In adopting this positive personal attitude towards minimalism, we might take on conscious consumption where we buy only what we need and not everything we want.

The next enabler is self-sufficiency. This encourages us to focus on using what we already have, maximizing our skills and resources before buying more of anything. This attitude shuns our dependency on novelty and so reduces demand on production, which in turn lessens waste and resource depletion.

Clutter elimination is third on the list and involves removing non-essential items from one's living space to create a calmer, more organized environment, which might then boost mental clarity and reduce stress.

While minimalism seems to offer many personal benefits, such as a less stressful existence, better mental health, and greater fulfilment. The true potential could be on a global scale.

Joy, V. and Jain, V.K. (2024) 'Quest for less! Living with minimalism for building a better sustainable world – a qualitative study exploring millennials perspective', Int. J. Sustainable Agricultural Management and Informatics, Vol. 10, No. 4, pp.405–428.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSAMI.2024.141846

Remote working and working from home have changed the daily routine for many people around the world allowing them to balance work and life in ways that were simply not possible with the conventional commuter-bracketed 9-to-5. However, a study in the International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management reveals that there is a growing problem, a habit among home-based workers known as "cyberslacking" where they use their normal paid working hours to carry out personal internet activities. Whether doom-scrolling through social media or messaging with family and friends, cyberslacking has, the study suggests, become a common distraction from their work for many home-workers.

It could be that the rush to create a better work-life balance is actually now tipping the scales in a direction detrimental to the employers that rely on their workers to be diligent and fulfil their obligations in a timely, effective, and efficient manners.

The focus of the work by Natasha Tageja and Vijit Chaturvedi of Amity University Noida in Uttar Pradesh and Deepika Mishra and Namita Rajput of the University of Delhi, India, is on the idea that stress, rather than procrastination tendencies or simple laziness, is fuelling this trend. The team used structural equation modelling to analyse surveys from 272 employees across three private information technology companies to see what patterns there might be linking job stress and cyberslacking. Cyberslacking, the team suggests, offers a quick mental escape for the digital nomad or the homeworker, a few stolen moments to distract briefly from the pressures of a demanding job. They suggest that strong ethical values built into the workplace are needed to reverse this trend.

As companies adjust to the new normal of flexible working arrangements, it is time to recognise the implications of job stress on employees and employers alike. For sectors such as information technology, education, and finance, where stress is almost part of the job description, there is an urgent need to address this hidden loss in productivity, especially as it erodes both team performance and organizational goals.

Tageja, N., Mishra, D., Chaturvedi, V. and Rajput, N. (2024) 'What is behind cyberslacking? Investigating the effects of job stress and ethical climate at workplace', Int. J. Public Sector Performance Management, Vol. 14, Nos. 3/4, pp.530–544.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPSPM.2024.142351

A study in the International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics has looked at the largely ignored potential for shipping companies to boost their recruitment appeal through social media. Social media has transformed many industries, such as show business, fashion, and tourism, largely by transforming brand visibility.

In some sectors, such as maritime, it has been less used. Equally, many companies around the world have used LinkedIn and Instagram to attract talent and to grow their corporate image, but the shipping industry has remained cautious. This, the paper suggests, may have left it at a distinct disadvantage in terms of competing for talent new recruits perhaps more readily enticed by job offers in other sectors.

Taha Talip Türkistanlı of Mersin University and Coşkan Sevgili of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Türkiye, surveyed 578 maritime students and analysed the social media activity of 27 shipping companies. The data showed that the maritime sector has a significant opportunity to relaunch its digital presence.

The team found that while larger companies with big fleets had a little more engagement on platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn, the overall activity level of the industry was surprisingly low. Shipping companies have not yet sailed into the high seas of social media and as such are perhaps stuck in the doldrums. This lack of engagement with the various platforms means they are almost invisible to the younger demographic that has embraced the digital age.

However, the research also revealed a mismatch between where students look for engaging content and where shipping companies tend to focus their efforts. While Facebook and LinkedIn are the mainstays of the maritime industry, the students surveyed reported a preference for more visually-orientated platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. These are not only visual but offer story-driven formats that seem well-suited to engaging new recruits.

The social media gap suggests that maritime companies might change course and so target younger audiences more effectively. This is especially true as so many prospective recruits use social media not only for job information but to gauge the values and culture of potential employers before applying for jobs.

Türkistanlı, T.T. and Sevgili, C. (2024) 'Social media presence and organisational attractiveness of ship owner and management companies', Int. J. Shipping and Transport Logistics, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp.124–148.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2024.142362

The automotive industry is changing as it charges up electric vehicles. In Southeast Asia, the leading vehicle-producing regions, Thailand and Indonesia, are embracing this gear shift and developing new strategies to maintain and even improve their position in the road to electrification.

Writing in the International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, Martin Schröder of Ritsumeikan University in Osaka, Japan, discusses this transition from the fossil-fuel powered internal combustion engine to the electric motor and how it is changing not only the automotive industry radically, but the value chains that exist around it. Moreover, ironically enough, it is sparking new industrial dynamics, with new opportunities and challenges. How, these strategies move forward will redefine the competitive edge of this region.

Until recently, vehicle manufacture has had global spread. Where developing nations could change lanes and become major players in the market and even find themselves in pole position, as may well be the case with Thailand and Indonesia, among the wider producers of the region. Indeed, they had already geared up to commodified production processes that allow for standardized manufacturing methods. Now, the boom in electric vehicle production is disrupting the landscape because it requires different technologies that were not previously part of automotive manufacture, such as lithium-ion batteries.

The work points out that Thailand is perhaps taking a more conservative approach based on its existing strengths and working with vehicle manufacturers elsewhere. However, pressure from Chinese manufacturers is forcing it to rethink its conservative approach. In contrast, Indonesia has taken a less conventional route. It has built on its abundant nickel reserves, a critical material in battery production, to underpin its electric vehicle industry. Indonesia has this managed to establish itself as a key supplier for Southeast Asia.

The contrasting approaches of Thailand and Indonesia show how industrial policies can either reinforce or redefine a country's position in the global automotive landscape. The research could thus help policymakers elsewhere understand how to drive forward their manufacturing sectors in this area and participate in the global electric vehicle market.

Schröder, M. (2024) 'Towards a new division of labour in Southeast Asia: Indonesian and Thai Industrial policy and the electric vehicle value chain in ASEAN', Int. J. Automotive Technology and Management, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp.73–99.
DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2024.142126

Research in the International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development has looked at how mindfulness can play a role in keeping volunteers engaged and less likely to leave their roles in non-profit organisations. The research looks at the notion of job embeddedness and uncovers several ways in which mindfulness helps strengthen the connection between individuals and their voluntary work. The findings could help these organisations and perhaps commercial concerns develop better strategies to reduce staff turnover.

Luc Phan Tan of Thu Dau Mot University, Binh Duong and Lan Pham Xuan of the University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, explain that mindfulness is a mental practice that involves one paying close attention to the present moment and the present activity. It involves avoiding distracting thoughts about the past or the future or other activities while involved in the given activity. They add that there are three aspects to job embeddedness: fit, which refers to how well an individual's skills and values match their role; links, which means the social connections they form at work; and sacrifice, which represents what they might lose if the person were to leave their position.

The team found that mindfulness positively influences all three dimensions of job embeddedness. However, it was only the surveyed volunteers' sense of "fit" that was associated with their intention to leave.

It is obvious, but worth noting, that volunteers are not bound by the financial incentives that employees have. Their commitment to a role has to derive from a sense of personal fulfilment, altruism, and purpose. As such, volunteers are often less tightly bound to their role than a company employee might be. For non-profits that obviously depend heavily on volunteer labour, this freedom can lead to high turnover rates. The concept of mindfulness might help volunteers and an organisation foster a greater sense of connection that might reduce turnover if successful in its goals. While the study focuses on volunteer workers, it could be applicable to paid employees in any sector that suffers from high staff turnover.

Tan, L.P. and Xuan, L.P. (2024) 'Impact of mindfulness on intention to leave among volunteers of non-profit organisations through job embeddedness', Int. J. Management and Enterprise Development, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp.289–306.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2024.142300

Textile patterns are woven into the fabric of many parts of manufacturing, from clothes and soft furnishings to the interiors of luxury cars and public transport vehicles and beyond. A new approach to classification of these patterns based on artificial intelligence is discussed in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology. ZhaoJue Dai of Wenzhou Polytechnic in Wenzhou, China, has developed an advanced method to automate textile pattern classification, which can cope with the incredible diversity of fabric designs.

Textile classification has traditionally been done by eye. But, in an era of information overload where there are myriad fabric designs entering the marketplace every day and patterns have become increasingly sophisticated as design, production technology, and dyes advance, classification needs more than an expert eye. Dai explains that computer vision, a branch of artificial intelligence that enables machines to see and interpret visual information, could solve the problem of textile overload.

Dai has now used convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to bring the process of textile classification into the digital age. She uses two techniques: mixture enhancement and attribute clustering within the analysis. Mixture enhancement can combine several textile images to create "enriched" digital swatches that can be used to train the CNN. This essentially teaches the computer to recognize novel patterns, improving its ability to handle the sheer diversity of textile designs in the real world. Attribute clustering then organizes the patterns by grouping together shared features. When presented with samples, the algorithm then has the ability to spot the nuances in a textile and classify it accordingly.

To fine-tune the process, Dai used entropy discretization. This technique converts continuous data into chunks that can be handled by the computer more efficiently as it compares different textiles. The system thus achieves a classification accuracy of well over 90 percent. This is better than previous textile classification models, which often unravel when presented with highly detailed or ornate designs.

Dai, ZJ. (2024) 'Textile pattern style classification based on popular mixture enhancement and attribute clustering', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 8, pp.49–63.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.142294

Technology increasingly relies on facial recognition, whether to unlock one's smartphone or to monitor public spaces. However, faces move, cameras rarely face catch use perfectly face on. People tilt their heads, glance sideways, or are caught in the periphery of a busy scene. This issue thus remains a challenge for facial recognition systems that tend to need our full attention, as it were.

Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology discusses a new approach developed by a team in China – the Guided Deformable Attention (GDA) network. Bin Deng and Guanghui Dengof Hunan University of Technology in Zhuzhou, Hunan, China, say this approach steps up to address the problem of rotated faces. The system could improve security systems as well as have applications in gaming and the entertainment industry in general.

Standard facial recognition systems use convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to detect features such as our eyes and nose based on their expected position in a straightforward, front-facing portrait. They are quite rigid in how they work and require fixed kernels to detect those features and confirm an identity based on the precise positions, size, and shape in the acquired image of the person's face. The CNNs have been improved in recent years by allowing deformable convolutions, but this still does not work well in complicated real-world environments such as crowds or other busy scenes.

The new GDA network approach could solve the problem by introducing a guiding mechanism that helps the system remain focused on the face itself, regardless of orientation or background noise. The key innovation here is the system's ability to maintain its focus on the essential structure of a face even when there are distractions in the scene. The system, the researchers explain, knows what a face looks like and can remain locked on it. This is not dissimilar to the ability of many modern digital cameras to track a moving object, such as an animal, and to focus lock on to the animal's eye for the best photograph.

The GDA first identifies the location of the face within an image using an affine matrix, a mathematical method that allows the system to rotate or scale the image to get a better understanding of where the face might be. The second step is to refine this detection process using those deformable convolutions. It does this in such a way as to remain locked on the face and not turns its digital attention to competing objects or noise in the acquired image.

Thus, in security surveillance, where faces in a crowd rarely present themselves in perfect profile, the system can home in on a chosen face, and accurately detect that face in the crowd for subsequent identification. The approach is not limited to security and law enforcement. It could be used in virtual reality and augmented reality, where users' faces are often seen from different angles yet accurate face detection is important to creating an immersive, real-time experience for the user.

Deng, B. and Deng, G. (2024) 'Rotation-invariant face detection with guided deformable attention', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 8, pp.32–48.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.142299

In an era where realism is expectated in animated films, motion capture technology (MCT) has emerged as the secret weapon of modern animation studios. Thanks to its ability to capture and replicate real-life movements, the technology has transformed the creative process, allowing digital characters to leap, stroll, and even blink with a degree of nuance that was not possible in animation just a few years ago.

Once upon a time, animators had to painstakingly create frames by hand to create the illusion of movement. Computers reduced the workload but the subtlety of human movement and facial expression was often lost and an animated character would never look quite as authentic as an actor. Motion capture opened up a more direct route to visual realism and allowed the creatives to tell their stories more evocatively than ever before. Today, digital artists can access libraries of real-world movements and expressions that can be incorporated into their work.

The impact of this technology can be seen in landmark films such as Avatar and The Lord of the Rings, where MCT breathed life into digital creatures and characters, making their movements appear real and adding emotional authenticity to the characters. Indeed, the technology's ability to replicate dynamic body language and facial expressions with precision allows animations to mimic the subtleties of behaviour, whether that's a playful wink from the heroine or the flick of a unicorn's tail.

All that said, the application of motion capture is no longer the reserve of the movie industry. Writing in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, Zhuqing Liu of the Jin Zhong Vocational and Technical College in Shanxi, China, explains how this technology is now spilling into the virtual and augmented reality environments. Here it is leading to new approaches in creating immersive and interactive experiences.

Liu explains that motion capture systems are not perfect and still have challenges such as limb and hand detection for the most intricate movements crucial to truly life-like animation. Better sensors and higher-resolution cameras are allowing the initial motion capture to be done more accurately. The ongoing refinement of software, meanwhile, is heading inevitably into the area of advanced algorithms and machine learning which can analyse those captured movements and allow them to be replicated in an animation with intricate and realistic detail.

The technology has obvious applications in film and television, but also in video games, and even medical simulations as well as in research looking at how our bodies move in real life.

Liu, Z. (2024) 'Optimisation of digital media technology for film and television animation post-production considering motion capture technology', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 8, pp.1–13.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.142297

There is an urgent need to transition from conventional energy sources to environmentally friendly, sustainable alternatives. Research in the International Journal of Power and Energy Conversion, discusses a control system that could be used to balance solar and wind power within a hybrid microgrid. The work could help address the issue of the inherent unpredictability of power generation involving solar and wind, so improving the overall reliability of a microgrid power supply.

A hybrid microgrid typically has a few core components: Renewable energy sources including solar panels, wind turbines, or sometimes hydroelectric systems. They also have conventional backup, such as a fossil fuel generators or other traditional energy source. They usually have batteries as an energy storage system. A control system integrates the different energy sources to give as steady and efficient an output as possible.

Such hybrid microgrids could be the power-generating mainstay of remote and off-grid areas of the world, such as remote villages or even mines and other industrial sites. They might also be employed in disaster zones when conventional power supply has been disrupted by extreme weather events, earthquakes and other geological activity, or due to military activity.

Guoku Wang of Harbin Institute of Petroleum, China, explains that while renewable energy is at the heart of global sustainability goals, it presents us with a major problem: instability. Solar power fluctuates with light conditions, while wind power is as changeable as the weather. A new approach that integrates photovoltaic (solar) power generation with direct-drive wind power within a smart system could automatically adjust its operations to accommodate changing environmental conditions.

The research demonstrates how the system can compensate for real-time changes in wind speed and sunlight. When wind conditions are unfavourable, the system responds by increasing the photovoltaic output to maintain a steady power supply. The adaptive balancing keeps power supply stable, mitigating for the dips and spikes that can be common with renewable energy supply.

Wang, G. (2024) 'Architecture and research of photovoltaic hybrid microgrid control system combined with renewable energy', Int. J. Power and Energy Conversion, Vol. 15, No. 5, pp.1–19.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPEC.2024.142271

Digital media technology has changed journalism considerably, and perhaps most obviously in data journalism. Data journalism uses the power of data analysis and visualization to develop news stories that can be highly engaging and accessible to the public. Yet, as this particular form of journalism matures, there are obstacles to its efficient sharing and consumption.

Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has looked at the pathways through which data-driven news is conveyed. Yizhou Gong of Macau University of Science and Technology and Zhihu Shi of the Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation, China, used social network analysis and viral communication theories to identify the three main ways in which data-driven journalism is disseminated. The team found that the efficacy of the different channels is often compromised by simplistic communication tools, many of which have been used since this early days of data journalism. This limitation has restricted user interactivity, as well as narrowing the focus on familiar subjects, such as finance and entertainment.

The team points out that early platforms sharing data journalism stories simply integrated text with basic visuals. Given the power of the mobile devices so many people carry with them at all times, the inadequacy of those early approaches, which are still widely used, emphasises again and again how they fail to capture the public imagination in many cases. There is a pressing need for enhanced interactive features to engage the public once more in data journalism.

Moreover, the research points to a need to integrate adaptive recommendation algorithms to optimize how data news reaches the audience in the first place. Algorithms that might tailor content based on user interests and historical preferences could lead to a more personalized experience. Such an approach has the potential to broaden audience engagement and extend the reach of data-driven stories. This kind of change is essential if journalism, and specifically data journalism, is to remain relevant and thrive, the work suggests.

Gong, Y. and Shi, Z. (2024) 'Optimisation of news propagation path in media convergence era under interactive digital media technology', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 7, pp.25–36.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.142168

Traditional lessons in economics seem to have less of a place in this world when they fail to change students who are often more interested in the latest viral content and influencers. However, it could be the best day for educators who recognise this and speak now. They might turn to unexpected allies, such as pop culture icon Taylor Swift or maybe even social media influencer James Stephen Donaldson, better known to millions online as MrBeast.

Both stars are globally celebrated not only for their fame but for their remarkable business acumen. A new wave of research suggests that using their stories might be the key to engaging Generation Z students, the so-called Zoomers, in the subject of economics. Gen Z is demographically the generation born 1997 to 2012. Swift and Donaldson were born in 1989 and 1988 respectively and themselves are mid-generation Millennials (Gen Y, born 1981 to 1996). Millennials are usually considered the digital natives, individuals who grew up in a world where personal computing and communications had become almost ubiquitous.

Research in the International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education suggests that an innovative approach to teaching economics might focus on how such celebrities, which many students already admire, develop their businesses. For instance, Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour grossed more than $1 billion, while MrBeast's YouTube "empire", which includes entrepreneurial ventures such as his Feastables brand, offers real-world examples of economics in action. From pricing strategies to branding, these two have built formidable enterprises, making them ideal case studies to explain otherwise abstract economic concepts.

Educators know all too well that engaging case studies are important in navigating the treacherous world of teaching economics, where a blank space might disenfranchise even the keenest student. What sets apart a method that focuses on such well-known figures as case studies, is that they have a ready-made resonance with Gen Z. This generation was raised on digital content and stereotypically has a short attention span and yet prizes entrepreneurship and innovation.

Even in their wildest dreams, students in a typical high school economics class will be taught little more than equations and theoretical models. Even if all they had to do was stay, this can seem distant and irrelevant to many students. Call it what you want, but by incorporating Swift and MrBeast into the curriculum, the teacher's new end game is to illustrate complex economic ideas, such as supply and demand, monetization strategies, and market engagement, in the afterglow of personalities they admire and follow closely or at the very least know a lot about. It can be an epiphany.

The work hints at an educational gold rush, where this shift in focus could transform the way economics is taught and how well students understand and learn about the subject. To cut a long story shot, by moving beyond dry textbooks, a pop culture approach might draw into economics a diverse and inclusive group of students.

It doesn't take a mastermind to navigate the labyrinth of thinking on how this all might come to more than sweet nothing. Many young people already admire the entrepreneurial journeys of their favourite influencers and celebrities. If educators can demonstrate that economics is more than spreadsheet and Wall Street, then the creativity, audience engagement, and smart financial decisions of those celebrities will appear almost bejewelled and show how economics is part of all our lives, it is, in a sense, everyday alchemy.

Dahlberg, K.H., DeWind, S., Geerling, W. and Mateer, G.D. (2024) 'Behind the billions: how Taylor Swift and MrBeast can be used to teach economics', Int. J. Pluralism and Economics Education, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp.69–89.
DOI: IJPEE.2024.141777

Managing an increasingly diverse workforce is no longer a mere rubber-stamping exercise for companies, it is an essential and beneficial part of the corporate agenda. Organizations are beginning to recognise that diversity underpins success in the modern world.

A comprehensive review of more than 2500 research papers, shows that unlocking the full potential of a diverse workforce lies at the intersection of human resource management and what we might term diversity management. The review published in the International Journal of Management Practice suggests that many companies in disparate areas are yet to reach this intersection.

Federica Testa, Alessandro Hinna, and Rocco Palumbo of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, and Federico Ceschel of the University of Rome Tre, Italy, explain that diversity management refers to policies and practices that are aimed fundamentally at creating an inclusive work environment. It ensures that all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute. This inclusiveness has direct and measurable effects on motivation, performance, and innovation, the review suggests. Moreover, companies that successfully manage diversity often outperform their competitors.

Where conventional human resource management is involved in how an organization manages its people, the employment lifecycle, from recruitment and training to compensation and performance evaluation, diversity management adds critical functions. The research highlights how these might best be incorporated into business practice to the benefit of all employees and the company itself.

The review suggests that until recently, much of the practice in the area of diversity management has been rather piecemeal. Organizations might implement diversity initiatives in one area, such as inclusive hiring practices, but then do not necessarily follow through with that in performance evaluations, training, and even compensation structures. This fragmented approach reduces the effectiveness of diversity initiatives and risks making them seem irrelevant to the main objectives of an organization, the review suggests.

There is perhaps a growing need for a holistic strategy that brings together diversity management and human resource practices. Instead of isolated efforts, diversity must be part of all human resources functions. For instance, a company that hires diversely should ensure that its training programs are tailored to support all employees. Similarly, performance reviews should be designed with inclusiveness in mind, ensuring that no group is disadvantaged by unconscious biases or outdated criteria. There is a need for a top-down commitment across corporations that ensures diversity initiatives receive the resources and attention they ought to have, again for the benefit of all employees and the corporations themselves.

Testa, F., Ceschel, F., Hinna, A. and Palumbo, R. (2024) 'Does it make sense to manage people 'diversely'? A scoping review on human resource management practices rooted in diversity', Int. J. Management Practice, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp.635–668.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2024.142039

Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology describes a new approach to the encryption of digital images. The method could be used to protective sensitive information, such as medical and scientific images, online. By using chaotic systems to do the work, the approach, developed by Zhengbao Cai of the College of Information Technology in Lu'an, China, improves on existing approaches.

Digital image transmission has made encryption essential for safeguarding personal data, medical records, business, political, and military intelligence. However, traditional encryption methods, such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), have limitations when it comes to handling complex and dense data of the kind found in a digital image file. To work around the various problems, Cai turned to a chaotic encryption system. Such an approach uses the irregular and nonlinear dynamics of chaos theory to obscure data. The new work introduces a six-dimensional cellular neural network (CNN) that can encrypt colour more efficiently and with lower demands on computing resources than earlier chaos-based methods.

Conventional two- or three-dimensional CNNs models generate sequences of chaotic numbers that are highly unpredictable. By taking that approach to a higher dimension, Cai improves on the degree of unpredictability as well as making the encrypted output more stable when encrypting large, high-dimensional datasets like high-resolution medical scans or satellite images.

Tests demonstrate that Cai's encrypted images are much better at resisting attempt to reverse-engineer them to view the original image than conventional encryption methods.

There is a pressing need for secure, efficient, and scalable encryption methods for a wide range of digital image types. The current research with its novel combination of a six-dimensional CNN and the use of a differential evolutionary algorithm could make those sensitive digital images more secure than ever before.

Cai, Z. (2024) 'Chaotic colour image encryption based on differential evolutionary deep learning', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 7, pp.57–74.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.142166

Software development is a fast-paced environment where it is easy to get lost in the code and lose sight of the bigger picture. Research in the International Journal of Agile Systems and Management looks at how design, technology, and business might work more effectively together to help in the development of digital platforms, particularly for small and medium-sized manufacturers in Europe.

Diana Chronéer, Mari Runardotter, and Jeaneth Johansson of Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, describe the frameworks, or logics, that represent different ways of thinking. A clearer understanding of these logics can be used to guide different aspects of development in terms of the technology, the service, and the design logic. Each logic has its own priorities, but the researchers suggest that the key to success is ensuring that all three work synergistically. Achieving this synergy is, of course, easier said than done.

The team explains that the technological logic revolves around the working details of software development, the writing of code, the addition of new features, and the squashing of bugs. This logic, the team suggests, is the engine of agile development in this context, driving incremental progress and flexibility and allowing the developers to fine tune a system to meet new demands.

The demands of the design logic are entirely different. It homes in on the user experience (UX) and aims to ensure that platforms are intuitive, accessible, and effective for the people who have to use them. Design logic is user-focused and considers the wants, the needs, and the behaviour of users, which can then determine the look and feel of the platform. However, there is often conflict between the design logic and the rapid cycles of technological development, where deadlines and technical constraints can take priority over a flawless UX.

The third logic, the service-dominant logic, focuses on the business aspects of development its currency is value exchange and in the world of business-to-business (B2B) platforms, this means boosting collaboration, sharing services, and adding mutual value. This logic nudges the developers to think beyond the technology or the UX to see how the platform will improve the company's bottom line.

Balancing these three logics is thus key to success. A team that focuses too much on the technology might develop a sound platform that is difficult to use. Conversely, an overemphasis on design might result in a platform that looks good but fails to address key business or technical needs.

The researchers propose a new logic, a new framework, "adaptive space" to help manage the three core logics. Adaptive space is a theoretical and practical approach designed to make the ongoing interplay between the three main aspects of development visible and manageable. It maps out the competing priorities of the three logics and emphasises regular reflection and co-creation, so that different perspectives are considered holistically.

The work suggests that a new approach is not simply about improving software, but about rethinking how we build technology in an era of rapid innovation. Software development in this new paradigm would be not purely a technical or design problem, but a sociotechnical process, a blending of human and technical elements working together.

Chronéer, D., Runardotter, M. and Johansson, J. (2024) 'Logics alignment in agile software design processes', Int. J. Agile Systems and Management, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp.1–31.
DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2024.142139

Formula 1 (F1) is the highest level of international motorsport, known for its fast, high-performance, single-seat racing cars. It is governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), and features a series of races, Grands Prix, held on racing circuits worldwide. The races are known for their speed, technical precision, and intense strategy.

A study in the International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management discusses how this global racing series acts as a real-time laboratory that can test and refine motoring technologies that often take a turn into the world of the road vehicles. In other words, Laura Rehberg of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Science at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, suggests, F1 is in the driving seat when it comes to shaping the future of the automotive industry.

Rehberg has investigated the world of prototyping within F1 showing how car manufacturers and their suppliers collaborate with one of the most competitive sporting environments. Prototyping refers to the stage in development where experimental versions of components are created and tested. Often, new technologies are pushed to their limits in this environment before they ever go into production. Within F1, prototyping is high-pressure, with the requisite innovation being relentless and having the drive to cut seconds off lap times. Of course, innovation is constrained by the strict FIA regulations, but some important inventions have emerged from F1 innovation, and many of those, such as mild-hybrid vehicles, were actually driven by the regulations themselves.

It is the collaboration between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the carmakers, their suppliers, and the F1 teams that at the heart of Rehberg's work. The research shows that the sport has pulled away from the conventional, arms-length relationships and a change of gear has led to "collaborative prototyping," where suppliers are not merely vendors but partners, contributing to the design and testing process itself. Such integration allows for more rapid innovation and precludes many of the costly mistakes that can occur later in development when innovation moves on to the production line. Innovations in engine efficiency, vehicle aerodynamics, and materials science are all tested to the extreme in F1 and many developments that have improved times and fuel efficiency on the racing track have act as a catalyst for production cars to hit the roads.

Rehberg, L. (2024) 'Prototyping in motorsports: exploring manufacturer-supplier collaboration in Formula One', Int. J. Automotive Technology and Management, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp.100-118.
DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2024.142122

Diet plays an important role in health. A study in the International Journal of Business and Systems Research has looked closely at the relationship between nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It is worth noting that despite increasing public awareness of the link between poor diet and disease, many people struggle to make healthy choices for themselves.

The researchers, Suvendu Kumar Nayak, Sangram Keshari Swain, of Centurion University of Technology and Management, Mamata Garanayak Kalinga of the Deemed to be University, and Bijay Kumar Paikaray of the Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be) University, Odisha, India, point out that tracking food intake and nutritional value and making informed dietary choices can be overwhelming. This then can lead to bad habits that contribute to the risk of chronic illness.

In recognizing this gap between information and application and nutritional awareness, the researchers have proposed a new approach to offering personalized dietary advice that is tailored to individual health profiles and preferences. Their system determines a patient's nutritional needs in conjunction with their medical history and current health conditions using the K-Nearest Neighbours (K-NN) algorithm. The algorithm, trained on data from a range of people with different conditions and dietary requirements, allows it to find the optimal diet most beneficial to the current patient.

The team explains that by introducing a structured approach to nutrition using their approach, it might be possible to reduce the dietary risk factors associated with many chronic diseases. This could improve health for individuals but also lower the burden on healthcare systems. There is already a growing trend towards personalized healthcare, such as fitness trackers and other health apps, the addition of dietary tools will help guide those individuals who hope to improve their health in these and other ways.

Nayak, S.K., Garanayak, M., Swain, S.K. and Paikaray, B.K. (2024) 'A prototype for intelligent diet recommendations by considering disease and medical condition of the patient', Int. J. Business and Systems Research, Vol. 18, No. 6, pp.515–538.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBSR.2024.142053

Wearable technology is well known to anyone with a fitness tracker but it is also moving into critical care medicine. Research in the International Journal of Systems, Control and Communications has looked at how wearables might change the management of patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Such devices can provide continuous, real-time data for healthcare professionals following the vital signs and movements of critically ill patients. The technology might offer a more personalized and less invasive approach to treatment.

Decheng Fan of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Junmin Li and Jingjing Fang of The Second Military Medical University, Jianbo Su of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, explain that conventional ICU monitoring usually relies on bulky equipment such as heart monitors, devices for monitoring respiratory function, and measuring blood pressure, for instance. These methods, while effective, usually require active and regular intervention from the healthcare workers. There is also usually a need for taking samples of blood and urine etc, which is usually invasive and carries a risk of introducing infection.

Wearable technology could offer a viable alternative to the more intrusive and invasive technologies that have been used for many years. One of the biggest benefits is the non-invasive and continuous monitoring that wearables could offer. Wearables will support healthcare by transmitting personalized data to clinicians, allowing them to make decisions in real time to assist patients with complex, life-threatening conditions such as multi-organ failure.

Researchers are already working on multifunctional sensors that could be integrated into a single device to streamline the whole process of data assimilation and transmission. Such devices could be of great benefit in specialist care settings where resources are scarce, such as during a pandemic, for instance.

Fan, D., Li, J., Su, J. and Fang, J. (2024) 'Wearable sensors in critical care medicine', Int. J. Systems, Control and Communications, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp.312–324.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSCC.2024.141395

There is seemingly no endeavour untouched by the potential of algorithms and artificial intelligence. Writing in the International Journal of Communication Networks and Distributed Systems, a Czech team discusses the potential for chatbots to carry out initial job interviews with candidates.

A chatbot-mediated screening process could allow wholly unsuitable candidates to be quickly removed from the short list so that interviewers can focus on those applicants best suited to the role being sought. Such a change in the way recruitment is undertaken raises ethical issues about just how fair is screening job applicants in this way, especially given many of the known problems surrounding algorithm training bias and other issues that have been raised about artificial intelligence carrying out human jobs.

Insights from the research could help guide exactly how companies approach recruitment in the wake of these intriguing technological developments. There are three important aspects that Helena Repová, Jan Zouhar, and Pavel Král of Prague University of Economics and Business consider in their paper: procedural justice, in other words, fairness in decision-making, interactional justice, fairness in how candidates are treated, and interpersonal justice, the quality of personal interaction.

The researchers compared applicant perceptions of these forms of justice across different interview formats, including interviews conducted by humans, chatbots, and those where the interview type wasn't revealed.

Chatbots offer a clear efficiency advantage to companies in screening applicants. But, for applicants accustomed to conventional interviews, issues of fairness, or a lack thereof, are apparent. Indeed, an applicant's perception of justice in recruitment might alter their opinion of the organization itself and deter bright and well-suited applicants from applying for a position with a given company in the first place based on that company using chatbots for initial interviews. Companies could miss out on talent and the talented candidates could miss out on their dream role!

Repová, H., Zouhar, J. and Král, P. (2024) 'Attractiveness of firms with chatbot as job interviewers: does the interviewer-type matter in the first contact with candidates?', Int. J. Communication Networks and Distributed Systems, Vol. 30, No. 6, pp.711–732.
DOI: 10.1504/IJCNDS.2024.141672

A powerful algorithm that can automatically classify different singing voices by vocal characteristics is described in the International Journal of Bio-Inspired Computation. Balachandra Kumaraswamy of the B.M.S. College of Engineering in Bangalore, India, suggests that the development is an important step forward in music technology, allowing a system to quickly and accurately distinguish one voice from another without human intervention.

Everyone's singing voice is shaped by a range of physiological characteristics such as their vocal folds, lung capacity and diaphragm, the shape of their nose and mouth, the tongue and teeth, and more. Add to that the emotional delivery and stylistic choices a singer might make, and each of us sounds unique. It is fairly easy for us to tell singers apart, even if the singing is within a complex and textured musical environment. However, using machine learning to distinguish voices has remained challenging. Kumaraswamy's system performs well and could be employed in a wide range of contexts such as music cataloguing, streaming, recommendation, music production, and even for legal purposes such as copyright control.

The new approach takes four steps to distinguish between singers. The first is pre-processing in which an advanced convolutional neural network (CNN) identifies and isolates the vocals from a complex audio recording, discarding instrumentation and other non-vocal sounds.

The second step is feature extraction whereby key characteristics of the voice are obtained from the audio track and various metrics, such as the zero crossing rate (ZCR), which measures the frequency of signal changes, capture the characteristics of the singer's voice.

The third step involves an algorithm identifying the vibration patterns of the notes being sung and so can create a profile distribution of the harmonics to map the timbre, or texture, of the voice.

The final step used yet more neural networking in the form of bidirectional gated recurrent units (BI-GRU) and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks to analyse the vocal data. These two models can process sequences and so reveal the flow of a singer's performance over time. This last step is key to the success of Kumaraswamy's approach.

At this point in the development of the system, the neural networks used require extensive computational resources and large datasets for training. For now, this might limit scalability. However, such issues can be addressed with optimisation of the way the algorithms are applied and the training data used.

Kumaraswamy, B. (2024) 'Improved harmonic spectral envelope extraction for singer classification with hybridised model', Int. J. Bio-Inspired Computation, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp.150–163.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBIC.2024.141676

The sale of refurbished products, refurbs, represents a delicate balancing act for companies attempting to retain a share of their market and to incorporate recycling strategies into their approach. A study in the European Journal of Industrial Engineering discusses this balancing act in the context of new and refurbished sales, where consumers weigh affordability against quality.

According to Yeu-Shiang Huang of National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, Chih-Chiang of Zhaoqing University, China, and Yi-Hsiang Tsao of the National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, businesses must decide how to stay competitive while addressing environmental concerns. The team has used game theory to model the kinds of decisions that retailers must make and offers them tips on that balancing act.

Selling refurbished as opposed to brand-new products, especially electronic gadgets and devices, represents a classic dilemma in economics. Refurbished products are usually sold at lower cost and so offer less profit for the retailer, but they might be more attractive to the consumer because they have eco-friendly credentials. Refurbs can thus undercut the sales of brand-new items. As such, manufacturers themselves remain hesitant in their adoption of remanufacturing, despite its environmental benefits. But, for retailers, offering refurbished goods can lead to a new class of sale.

The researchers have modelled the strategic interactions between manufacturers and retailers to look at how manufacturers set the official price for the wholesale cost of their new products, while retailers respond by adding refurbs to the mix and setting the best price for those and for the brand-new products they sell.

The research emphasises that it is the environmental rather than the economic that is at stake. Strict recycling laws mean that there is a drive towards refurbishment and recycling that the retailers can be happy with, but the original manufacturers may well not be. Indeed, if retailers can take control of recycling and remanufacturing and connect directly with the end consumers of refurbs, the manufacturers' share might shrink at least until the refurbished products have become wholly obsolete and can only be recycled for components and materials and a new product must enter the market. Retailers by working to their own economic strategy might thus play a critical role in driving sustainable practices.

Huang, Y-S., Fang, C-C. and Tsao, Y-H. (2024) 'A study on pricing and recycling strategies for retailers with consideration of selling new and refurbished products', European J. Industrial Engineering, Vol. 18, No. 6, pp.791–816.
DOI: 10.1504/EJIE.2024.141720

A comprehensive literature review in the International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking sheds light on research into the notion of toxic leadership and how this increasingly pervasive issue affects the workplace and can damage organisations.

Emily Maria K. Jose and Bijay Prasad Kushwaha of the Vellore Institute of Technology, India, used a systematic approach to extract relevant research articles from a scholarly database. Their analysis of these papers revealed five principal characteristics of toxic leadership: authoritarian leadership, abusive supervision, narcissism, unpredictability, and maladjustment. Their findings highlight the nature of toxic leadership but also point to how it can affect employee engagement, performance, and retention.

Toxic leadership is defined as management behaviour that is ultimately harmful to both employees and the company for which they work. Toxic leaders are commonly indifferent to employee well-being and prioritize self-interest. The result is the creation of a working environment filled with fear and instability. The current review suggests that common toxic behaviour affects individual employees but also propagates through the corporate culture and so can affect an organisation deeply.

Jose and Kushwaha found that toxic leadership leads to high employee turnover rates. Indeed, almost three quarters of employees faced with toxic leadership will contemplate leaving their jobs. High staff turnover leads to a loss of team cohesion and other negative effects that will eventually have financial repercussions for the company if not remedied. Research suggests that toxic leadership can lead to almost a third of business failures each year.

The study discusses psychological safety and employee engagement, both of which can be affected negatively by toxic leadership. In a toxic work environment, employees become disenfranchised, which leads to a fall in their productivity and a deterioration of their work-life balance. A vicious cycle of dissatisfaction then feeds the toxic culture still further. There is thus a critical need for organisations to recognize and address this potentially destructive problem more proactively now than ever before. Effective coaching, constructive feedback, and monitoring should be key to mitigating the risks associated with toxic leadership behaviour, the research suggests.

Jose, E.M.K. and Kushwaha, B.P. (2024) 'The dark side of organisation identification: systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis on toxic leadership on employee's behaviour', Int. J. Process Management and Benchmarking, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp.240–265.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPMB.2024.141538

Can companies do well by doing good? Research in the International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management that has looked at companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) provides a positive answer to that question. The researchers found that there is a strong link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance. They also suggest that risk management is an important mediator of this effect.

Nasrin Dadashi and Seyyed Saeb of the Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran, and Ali Mayeli of Stony Brook University, New York, USA, explain that CSR is a rather broad term that covers a company's ethical conduct and its contributions to society. It spans three areas: economic, social, and environmental. CSR is, they suggest, no longer about box-ticking, green-washing, or rubber-stamping, and goes hand-in-hand with a company's financial health as well reflecting investor confidence. The team demonstrated that those companies that embraced CSR saw significant improvements.

This, they emphasise, is only half the story. Risk management, specifically Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), also emerged from the work as a key factor in the overall equation. ERM involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential threats to a company's objectives, is nothing new, yet the study shows it to play an important part not only in enhancing CSR, but also in boosting the positive impact CSR has on financial performance. CSR is no longer merely a moral imperative. CSR is a strategic imperative.

The team suggests that the integration of CSR and ERM into a company's core strategies will not only build trust and reduce the information gap between the company and its stakeholders, but also position it better for long-term success financially speaking. From the investor perspective, these findings also carry significant weight. When money is so often the only matter arising on an investor's agenda, they could do well to consider an investment's CSR and ERM, as they emerge as good indicators of future performance.

Dadashi, N., Mousavi, S.S. and Mayeli, A. (2024) 'The effect of social responsibility on financial performance with emphasis on the moderating role of risk management', Int. J. Productivity and Quality Management, Vol. 43, No. 1, pp.26–45.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2024.141493

Social media is now rooted in the terrain of our daily lives. Research in the International Journal of Mobile Communications has looked at whether the psychological toll of our constant use of these tools and our comparing ourselves to others online is doing more harm than good. With the advent of always-on, ubiquitous messaging apps, we catch sight of more and more people participating in and enjoying the things we imagine we ourselves should be doing.

The notion of FOMO – fear of missing out – is always at the back of our minds even when other notions, detachment, acceptance, and mindfulness, are high on the mental health agenda. The researchers have studied the well known Chinese app WeChat and looked at the impact of social comparison and observed how it can go beyond merely influencing our thoughts and emotions but might shape online behaviour in unpredictable and putatively troubling ways.

Bao Dai of Hefei University of Technology, Anhui, and Lingling Yu and Ying of Shanghai University, Shanghai, China, explain that users of WeChat and similar apps often share highly curated, glossy snapshots of their lives. This leads others with perhaps less glamorous opportunities to experience envy and mental fatigue. Envy, in this context, refers to the unpleasant feeling that arises when individuals believe others are more successful, attractive, or happier than themselves. Fatigue, on the other hand, is the mental exhaustion that stems from constantly being bombarded with these idealized portrayals of life. Both emotions can act as catalysts, transforming the stress of comparison into tangible behavioural changes.

The team found that envy is much more detrimental than fatigue. Feeling like one is falling short can trigger a much stronger behavioural change that is not necessarily positive. They add that many users, overwhelmed by these emotions, choose to disengage. This disengagement takes two forms: discontinuance and information avoidance. Discontinuance is a full or partial withdrawal from the social media platform, where users cut back on their usage or quit entirely to avoid further emotional strain. Information avoidance, a more subtle but no less troubling response, occurs when users selectively filter out certain content and so avoid updates or posts that could reignite feelings of envy or inadequacy.

The research highlights the often hidden emotional price of staying connected in the digital age. While social media is lauded for its ability to foster communication and self-expression, it can also nurture environments where users feel more isolated or inferior. There is perhaps an urgent need for more research and for users and platform providers to address the darker side of digital connectivity.

Dai, B., Yu, L. and Chen, Y. (2024) 'Exploring users' behavioural responses to social comparison on social media: the mediating roles of envy and fatigue', Int. J. Mobile Communications, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp.330–354.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2024.140735

Winter is coming and in many places with it the risk of ice accumulation on overhead power lines and all the problems that can lead to, including, in extreme cases, pylon collapse.

Writing in the International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, a team from China describes a new approach to monitoring ice accumulation on power lines and pylons using unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, to acquire images of the infrastructure and image-processing algorithms to identify icy problems.

Yang Yang, Hongxia Wang, Meng Li, Minguan Zhao, Yuanhao Wan, and Shuyang Ma of Xinjiang Power Transmission, Urumqi, Shenbing Hua of China Electric Power Research Institute Co., Ltd., Qifei He of the Power Dispatch Control Center of State Grid Corporation of China, Beijing, China, suggest their work could improve winter safety and reliability of electricity networks. It has real implications for countries such as China where transmission lines cross vast and diverse terrains stretching across remote and largely inaccessible areas.

Conventional approaches to checking for dangerous ice accumulation have led operators to act either too conservatively and so undertaking unnecessary maintenance or less cautiously and too late, risking damage and power outages. The new method uses camera-equipped drones to capture live images of power lines and then applies compressive sensing theory to the images to remove environmental noise and clean the data for processing. The Canny algorithm is then applied to carry out advanced edge detection to reveal ice formation on power lines. A random Hough transform then finds the straight edges of the ice deposits and helps with calculations of the ice thickness to show which stretches of transmission lines are likely to be problematic.

With China's weather extremes, a better way to monitoring power lines in winter is crucial to keeping the lights on.

Yang, Y., Hua, S., Wang, H., Li, M., He, Q., Zhao, M., Wan, Y. and Ma, S. (2024) 'Detection method of icing thickness of overhead transmission lines based on canny algorithm', Int. J. Energy Technology and Policy, Vol. 19, Nos. 3/4, pp.344–362.
DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2024.141389

A fictional business case study of an imaginary company known as Bright Lights is discussed in a research paper in the International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies. As the case study pans out, so the authors of the paper allude to the ethical decisions that a company might need to make and how these affect its response to strategic challenges, and ultimately its bottom line.

Lee Tyner and M. Suzanne Clinton of the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma, USA, consider Jim, one of Bright Light's top sales people. Jim's enterprising response to the company's new policies now has Bright Lights asking tough questions about loyalty, ethics, and the future of its corporate culture. Jim is known for generating strong sales through an innovative approach, but he is finding himself at odds with a major strategic shift initiated by the newly appointed national sales manager, Cindy. Cindy is a follower of the Pareto principle, 80% of revenue comes from 20% of clients. This has led her to nudge the company towards larger accounts, which has side lined smaller, loyal customers.

Cindy's approach is a data-driven approach common among many real businesses and is usually aimed are warding off rising competition and declining market share. But, it is implemented at a cost of carefully cultivated relationships of the kind that traditional salespeople may have cultivated over a long period with smaller but high-margin clients. In the imaginary case study, many of the smaller clients, no longer serviced by Bright Lights, feel abandoned, and face dissatisfaction with new suppliers. A common side effect of implementing the Pareto principle in the real world of business.

Jim has spotted an opportunity that will help him sustain his income and the lifestyle it brings. Jim's answer if not necessarily black hat, may nevertheless represent a grey area ethically speaking. Jim has formed a side business to fill the gap left by the strategic pivot of Bright Lights. This company buys up Bright Lights' inventory and then sells it to Jim's smaller clients who have been disenfranchised by Cindy's approach. Jim is not working in competition with his employer, strictly speaking, but it presents a dilemma for Bright Lights.

Should the company applaud Jim's initiative even if it blurs ethical lines and perhaps fragments the sales force or should it punish and so disenfranchise him, one of their top salespeople. How they respond will send a message to other salespeople in the company perhaps suggesting that innovative thinking and branching out in this way is not something the company wishes to promote.

The researchers suggest that the ethical dilemmas that their fictional case study raises could help companies examine the dynamics of their own place in the rapidly evolving business world where employees might take the initiative in improving their income.

Tyner, L. and Clinton, M.S. (2024) 'Case study: when a bright idea creates a business dilemma', Int. J. Teaching and Case Studies, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp.384–392.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2024.139178

Research in the International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development considers the growing influence of the large language model (LLM) ChatGPT. This and related tools are often colloquially referred to as generative artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. The team has looked at how it might affect higher education.

Sami Mejri of Khalifa University, Moatsum Al Awida of Abu Dhabi University, Stavroula Kalogeras of Heriot-Watt University, Dubai, and Bayan Abu Shawar of Al Ain University, UAE, discuss some of the opportunities and risks faced by academic institutions where students and educators are using LLMs. This kind of software can be prompted to generate text that has many of the characteristics of human-written text and has already become a powerful tool in many areas. However, there are growing concerns about the impact of LLMs and related tools on academic integrity and the nature of education.

The team surveyed faculty, staff, and student groups and found that there is a tension between the potential for AI-driven educational innovation and the need to safeguard the principles of academic integrity. The researchers found that many respondents suggested that ChatGPT has the potential to reshape student engagement, creativity, and communication. However, there are risks associated with its use, not least reduced student effort and an increase in what might be considered academic dishonesty.

The ability of such tools to auto-generate coherent text from the vast datasets used to train ChatGPT, like a glorified autocomplete, one might ungenerously say, would suggest that its widespread use might undermine student intellectual development. Conversely, it might be argued that, aside from the issue of the origins of those datasets and copyright and plagiarism issues, the use of LLMs requires a level of creativity in devising prompts to trigger particular kinds of output from the LLMs and to make them useful. There is also a great need to validate and fact check any output from such tools.

The researchers suggest that there are various implications of their research. Higher education must adapt to the digital age and the emergence of AI tools like ChatGPT and others. These tools might transform not only how students learn but also how educators assess them. Traditional methods of assessment, such as essays or written exams, may need to be rethought as LLMs come to the fore.

As mentioned, there is creativity to be developed in prompting the likes of ChatGPT and it might be that the long-term effects on developing critical thinking, a foundational skill of education, could be taught or tailored to the assessment and validation of LLM output in ways not previously possible with published text, say. Educators might prompt their students to prompt an AI, but the learning and critical thinking skills then come from interpretation and assessment of the LLM output itself and comparison with how people might respond to those prompts.

There is no obvious answer to how we decided on where AI sits within education. We should recognise that AI and LLMs are tools, all tools can be used for good or bad. Educators will need to acquire an overarching understanding of these new tools, just as they did with earlier technological developments, and then be the guide for their students in their use as well as their instructors so that students can learn to use the tools positively.

Mejri, S., Al Awida, M., Kalogeras, S. and Shawar, B.A. (2024) 'ChatGPT: an emerging innovation or a threat to creativity and knowledge generation?', Int. J. Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp.425–448.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTLID.2024.140320

A little-known threat to tourists in the form of stinging jellyfish could affect those who like to take a dip in between lazing in the heat on the sun-drenched beaches of Málaga. These sea creatures are of increasing concern along Spain's most tourism-dependent coastline, the Costa del Sol with more and more frequent outbreaks of jellyfish swarms since the summer of 2018. While beachgoers are often preoccupied with sunscreen and sangria, it turns out that jellyfish are creating a new kind of trouble in paradise, according to research published in Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal.

Francisco José Cantarero Prados and Ana Luisa de la Fuente Roselló of the Department of Geography at the University of Málaga have studied the jellyfish swarms along Málaga's coastline, pinpointing the sections where swimmers are most at risk of encountering the creatures. To gather data, the researchers turned to citizen science and two mobile apps: Infomedusa and Medusapp. These apps allowed ordinary beachgoers to report jellyfish sightings in real-time. The crowdsourced data could then be combined with historical scientific data from the regional government. The team suggests that the citizen science data represents a useful, scalable, and cost-effective means of environmental monitoring.

The researchers then used geographic information system (GIS) technology to chart detailed maps of the coast and show that a 50-kilometre stretch from Benalmádena to Torre del Mar is particularly risky based on the historical and citizen science data. The implications of the research are important for beach tourism. Jellyfish blooms can shake up tourism, deterring visitors and so threatening the local economy.

The same approach to citizen science and GIS might also be used in the future to map and monitor other harmful coastal phenomena such as algal blooms, shark sightings, or even the effects of climate change on local marine ecosystems.

Cantarero Prados, F.J. and de la Fuente Roselló, A.L. (2024) 'Citizen science as a resource to define threats to bathing on beaches: the case of jellyfish in Malaga', Progress in Industrial Ecology – An International Journal, Vol. 17, Nos. 1/2, pp.26–39.
DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2024.140515

The concept of rurality is well-trodden ground in policy discussions, but less attention has been given to its more elusive sibling, remote-rurality. A study in the World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development has looked at this concept and reveals the complexities of defining and addressing the needs of remote-rural areas, particularly in Scotland, where the distinction is not merely academic but vital to economic sustainability and infrastructure planning.

Sayed Abdul Majid Gilani and Naveed Yasin of the Canadian University Dubai, UAE, and Peter Duncan and Anne M.J. Smith of Glasgow Caledonian University, UK, introduce five dimensions to discuss remote-rural regions: population size, proximity to urban centres, level of development, cultural characteristics, and social perception. These categories highlight the inadequacy of relying on a single definition for remote-rural areas, emphasizing the need for a multidimensional approach.

Defining "rural" is no simple task, the team points out, as various countries use different metrics – such as population thresholds of under 2500 in the USA and fewer than 10000 in the UK. However, the addition of remote-rurality introduces further layers of isolation, limited services, and distinct cultural identities that demand attention from researchers and thence from policymakers.

In Scotland, the government distinguishes between "accessible-rural" and "remote-rural" regions, the latter being considerably more isolated from urban hubs. This distinction is more than theoretical – it has implications for infrastructure, most notably transport, food availability, and now, broadband connectivity, which remains alarmingly inadequate in many remote-rural areas. The research highlights that over 80% of businesses in Scotland's remote regions are small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), many of which cannot operate effectively nor efficiently because they lack access to basic services those in urban regions take for granted.

In this study, the team urges policymakers to adopt a more nuanced understanding of remote-rural areas when considering infrastructure investments. By addressing the challenges faced by such communities, governments might create conditions that enable businesses not just to survive, but to thrive, and so preclude the exodus of SMEs to the cities. This would not only benefit those business but reduce some of the pressure on already overcrowded cities as well as reducing the cultural and economic divide between urban and rural areas.

The team emphasizes that enhanced broadband access, for instance, could allow SMEs to operate more efficiently and allow them to exploit national and global markets more effectively. The survival of these SMEs, is often critical to the economic sustainability of remote-rural regions.

Gilani, S.A.M., Yasin, N., Duncan, P. and Smith, A.M.J. (2024) 'What is remote-rural and why is it important?', World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 20, No. 5, pp.517–537.
DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2024.140706

A new system aimed at improving the monitoring and detection of forest fires through advanced real-time image processing is reported in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology. The work could lead to faster and more accurate detection and so help improve the emergency response to reduce the environmental, human, and economic impacts.

Zhuangwei Ji and Xincheng Zhong of Changzhi College, in Shanxi, China, describe an image segmentation model based on STDCNet, an enhanced version of the BiseNet model. Image segmentation involves classifying areas within an image to allow flames and forest background to be differentiated. The STDCNet approach can extract relevant features efficiently without demanding excessive computational resources.

The team explains how their approach uses a bidirectional attention module (BAM). This allows it to focus on distinct characteristics of different image features and determine the relationships between adjacent areas in the image within the same feature. This dual approach improves the precision of fire boundary detection, particularly for small-scale fires that are often missed until they have grown much larger.

Tests with the model on a public dataset showed better performance than existing approaches in terms of both accuracy and computational efficiency. This bolsters the potential for real-time fire detection, where early identification can prevent fires from spreading uncontrollably.

The new system has several advantages over standard fire detection methods, such as ground-based sensors and satellite imagery. These have limitations such as high maintenance costs, signal transmission issues, and interference from environmental factors such as clouds and rugged terrain. The researchers suggest that drones equipped with the new image processing technology could offer a more adaptable and cost-effective alternative to sensors or satellites, allowing fire detection to be carried out in different weather conditions and in challenging environments.

Ji, Z. and Zhong, X. (2024) 'Bidirectional attention network for real-time segmentation of forest fires based on UAV images', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp.38–51.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.141434

Online gaming is increasingly popular. As such, server efficiency is becoming an increasingly urgent priority. With millions of players interacting in real-time, game servers are under enormous pressure to process a huge amount of data without latency (delays) or crashes. Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology discusses an innovative solution to the problem, offering a promising path to greater stability and performance in mobile real-time strategy games and beyond.

WenZhen Wang of the Animation Art Department at Zibo Vocational Institute, Zibo, Shandong, China, hope to address the most critical issue in online multiplayer games – load balancing to ensure there is a high level of concurrency and interactivity. Load balancing refers to the distribution of work across multiple servers to prevent any one server from being overwhelmed. If a server receives too many requests at once, it can slow down, leading to frustrating lag or even server crashes. Ensuring efficient distribution of this workload is essential to maintaining a seamless gaming experience.

Wang has introduced a new method for handling load balancing using a "consistent hash" algorithm. In simple terms, a hash function takes an input – player activity or game data – and converts it into a fixed-size output, a sequence of characters, or hash. This consistent hash helps the system allocate data and tasks across multiple servers more evenly because it knows in advance the size of the packets of data, rather than having to handle packets of different sizes on the fly. The main advantage lies in its adaptability to the highly dynamic environments of multiplayer games, where the number of players and the complexity of in-game interactions changes quickly throughout the game.

To test the effectiveness of the algorithm, Wang ran virtual simulations replicating real-world game scenarios and demonstrated that the approach allowed for load balancing that led to stable server operations. The system could then handle large numbers of simultaneous player interactions while maintaining performance quality.

Wang, W. (2024) 'Virtual simulation of game scene based on communication load balancing algorithm', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp.18–37.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.141435

The media landscape is increasingly complicated. It is also plagued by sensationalism and a disconnection between media literacy and management practices. Many observers worry about the proliferation of 'click bait' and "fake news". Misleading reports rife with hyperbole exacerbate the problems faced by many people, and the distortion of serious issues creates a turbulent environment where the lines between information, disinformation, and misinformation are often blurred. Moreover, the lack of a clear distinction between the news and the public relations and marketing output of companies, especially in the age of influencers, is also of increasing concern.

Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, suggests that the only way to address these problems is to make a determined shift towards more rigorous news ethics, adapted to the modern media environment. An Shi of Fujian Business University, in Fuzhou, Fujian, China, points out that the use of mathematical algorithms, specifically the Fredholm integral equation algorithm, could help us tackle many of the complex problems we have with the news media. Despite the often negative press about artificial intelligence (AI), ironically it is the use of machine learning, trained algorithms, and neural networks that might provide us with an escape route from the era of clickbait and fake news.

It is worth noting that the concept of 'non-standard' press behaviour has been with us for many years – a term introduced to address deviations from accepted professional standards in the media. Where these ethical shortcomings undermine societal responsibilities and negatively affect audiences, there is a serious problem. This has been exacerbated by the move from traditional media channels, such as newspapers, radio, and television – to dynamic platforms like social media and online news outlets where the frontiers are wide open.

Empirical studies have demonstrated that the influence of unethical practices in the media extends way beyond public perception into financial markets and politics. The rapid dissemination of news can significantly impact stock prices and market stability and even affect the outcomes of election and referenda, or at the least colour the public response to them. The current work offers policy recommendations and governance schemes that could help market regulators and company managers ameliorate the negative impact of clickbait and fake news.

Shi, A. (2024) 'News media coverage and market efficiency research based on Fredholm integral equation algorithm', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp.68–77.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.141438

Research published in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology may soon help solve a long-standing challenge in semiconductor manufacture: the accurate detection of surface defects on silicon wafers. Crystalline silicon is the critical material used in the production of integrated circuits and in order to provide the computing power for everyday electronics and advanced automotive systems needs to be as pristine as possible prior to printing of the microscopic features of the circuit on the silicon surface.

Of course, no manufacturing technology is perfect and the intricate process of fabricating semiconductor chips inevitably leads to some defects on the silicon wafers. This reduces the number of working chips in a batch and leads to a small, but significant proportion of the production line output failing.

The usual way to spot defects on silicon wafers has been done manually, with human operators examining each wafer by eye. This is both time-consuming and error-prone due to the fine attention to detail required. As wafer production has ramped up globally to meet demand and the defects themselves have become harder to detect by eye, the limitations of this approach have become more apparent.

Chen Tang, Lijie Yin and Yongchao Xie of the Hunan Railway Professional Technology College in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, China explain that automated detection systems have emerged as a possible solution. These too present efficiency and accuracy issues in large-scale production environments. As such, the team has turned to deep learning, particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), to improve wafer defect detection.

The researchers explain that CNNs have demonstrated significant potential in image recognition. They have now demonstrated that this can be used to identify minute irregularities on the surface of a silicon wafer. The "You Only Look Once" series of object detection algorithms is well known for being able to balances accuracy against detection speed.

The Hunan team has taken the YOLOv7 algorithm a step further to address the specific problems faced in wafer defect detection. The main innovation in the work lies in using SPD-Conv, a specialized convolutional operation to enhance the ability of the algorithm to extract fine details from images of silicon wafers. Additionally, the researchers incorporated a Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) into the model to sharpen the system's focus on smaller defects that are often missed in manual inspection or by other algorithms.

When tested on the standard dataset (WM-811k) for assessing wafer defect detection systems, the team's refined YOLOv7 algorithm achieved a mean average precision of 92.5% and had a recall rate of 94.1%. It did this quickly, at a rate of 136 images per second, which is faster than earlier systems.

Tang, C., Yin, L. and Xie, Y. (2024) 'Wafer surface defect detection with enhanced YOLOv7', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp.1–17.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.141433

Odd as it may seem, coal seams that cannot be mined might provide an underground storage medium for carbon dioxide produced by industries burning coal above ground. Research in the International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology has undertaken controlled experiments designed to simulate the deep geological environments where carbon dioxide might be trapped as a way to reduce the global carbon footprint and ameliorate some of the impact of our burning fossil fuels. Coal seams represent a potential repository for long-term storage of carbon dioxide sequestered from flue gases, as they can trap a lot of carbon dioxide gas in a small volume.

Major Mabuza of the University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Kasturie Premlall of Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, and Mandlenkosi G.R. Mahlobo of the University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa, subjected coals to a synthetic flue gas for 90 days at high pressure (9.0 megapascals) and a mildly high raised temperatures of 60 degrees Celsius. These conditions were intended to replicate the pressures and temperatures found deep underground, providing a realistic model for how coal might behave when used for carbon dioxide sequestration.

The team then looked at how the chemical structure of coal was changed by exposure to flue gas under these conditions using various advanced analytical chemistry techniques – carbon-13 solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, universal attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission gun scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction.

The results showed that exposure to synthetic flue gas led to major changes to the chemical makeup of the coal. For instance, key functional groups, such as aliphatic hydroxyl groups, aromatic carbon-hydrogen bonds, and carbon-oxygen bonds, were all weakened by the process and the overall physical properties of the coal were also changed.

By clarifying how coal interacts with flue gas under simulated, but realistic, conditions, the team fills important gaps in our knowledge about the long-term stability and effectiveness of carbon dioxide storage below ground and specifically in coal seams.

Mabuza, M., Premlall, K. and Mahlobo, M.G.R. (2024) 'In-depth analysis of coal chemical structural properties response to flue gas saturation: perspective on long-term CO2 sequestration', Int. J. Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 36, No. 5, pp.1–17.
DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2024.141437

Research in the International Journal of Computational Science and Engineering describes a new approach to spotting messages hidden in digital images. The work contributes to the field of steganalysis, which plays a key role in cybersecurity and digital forensics.

Steganography involves embedding data within a common media, such as words hidden among the bits and bytes of a digital image. The image looks no different when displayed on a screen, but someone who knows there is a hidden message can extract or display the message. Given the vast numbers of digital images that now exist, and that number grows at a remarkable rate every day, it is difficult to see how such hidden information might be found by a third party, such as law enforcement. Indeed, in a sense it is security by obscurity, but it is a powerful technique nevertheless. There are legitimate uses of steganography, of course, but there are perhaps more nefarious uses and so effective detection is important for law enforcement and security.

Ankita Gupta, Rita Chhikara, and Prabha Sharma of The NorthCap University in Gurugram, India, have introduced a new approach that improves detection accuracy while addressing the computational challenges associated with processing the requisite large amounts of data.

Steganalysis involves identifying whether an image contains hidden data. Usually, the spatial rich model (SRM) is employed to detect those hidden messages. It analyses the image to identify tiny changes in the fingerprint that would be present due to the addition of hidden data. However, SRM is complex, has a large number of features, and can overwhelm detection algorithms, leading to reduced effectiveness. This issue is often referred to as the "curse of dimensionality."

The team has turned to a hybrid optimisation algorithm called DEHHPSO, which combines three algorithms: the Harris Hawks Optimiser (HHO), Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO), and Differential Evolution (DE). Each of these algorithms was inspired by natural processes. For example, the HHO algorithm simulates the hunting behaviour of Harris Hawks and balances exploration of the environment with targeting optimal solutions. The team explains that by combining HHO, PSO, and DE, they can work through complex feature sets much more quickly than is possible with a current single algorithm, however sophisticated.

The hybrid approach reduces computational demand by eliminating more than 94% of the features that would otherwise have to be processed. The stripped back information can then be processed with a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. The team says this method works better than meta-heuristic (essentially trial-and-error methods) and better even than several deep learning methods, which are usually used to solve more complex problems than steganalysis.

Gupta, A., Chhikara, R. and Sharma, P. (2024) 'An improved continuous and discrete Harris Hawks optimiser applied to feature selection for image steganalysis', Int. J. Computational Science and Engineering, Vol. 27, No. 5, pp.515–535.
DOI: 10.1504/IJCSE.2024.141339

Cloud computing has become an important part of information technology ventures. It offers a flexible and cost-effective alternative to conventional desktop and local computer infrastructures for storage, processing, and other activities. The biggest advantage to startup companies is that while conventional systems require significant upfront investment in hardware and software, cloud computing gives them the power and capacity on a "pay-as-you-go" basis. This model not only reduces initial capital expenditures at a time when a company may need to invest elsewhere but also allows businesses to scale their resources based on demand without extensive, repeated, and costly physical upgrades.

A study in the International Journal of Business Information Systems has highlighted the role of fuzzy logic in evaluating the cost benefits of migrating to cloud computing. Fuzzy logic, a method for dealing with uncertainty and imprecision, offers a more flexible approach compared to traditional binary logic. Fuzzy logic recognises the shades of grey inherent in most business decisions rather than seeing things in black and white.

The team, Aveek Basu and Sraboni Dutta of the Birla Institute of Technology in Jharkhand, and Sanchita Ghosh of the Salt Lake City Electronics Complex, Kolkata, India, explains that conventional cost-benefit analyses often fall short when assessing cloud migration due to the inherent unpredictability in factors such as data duplication, workload fluctuations, and capital expenditures. Fuzzy logic, on the other hand, addresses these challenges by allowing decisions to be made that take into account the uncertainties of the real world.

The team applied fuzzy logic to evaluate three factors associated with the adoption of cloud computing platforms. First, the probability of data duplication, secondly capital expenditure, and finally workload variation. By incorporating these different factors into the analysis, the team obtained a comprehensive view of the potential benefits and drawbacks of cloud computing from the perspective of a startup company. The approach offers a more adaptable assessment than traditional models.

One of the key findings is that cloud computing leads to a huge reduction in the complexity and costs associated with managing business software and the requisite hardware as well as the endless upgrades and IT support often needed. Cloud service providers manage all of that on behalf of their clients, allowing the business to focus instead on its primary operations rather than IT.

Basu, A., Ghosh, S. and Dutta, S. (2024) 'Analysing the cloud efficacy by fuzzy logic', Int. J. Business Information Systems, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp.460–490.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2024.141318

Research in the International Journal of Global Energy Issues has looked at the volatility of rare earth metals traded on the London Stock Exchange. The work used an advanced statistical model known as gjrGARCH(1,1) to follow and predict market turbulence. It was found to be the best fit for predicting rare earth price volatility and offers important insights into the stability of these crucial resources.

Auguste Mpacko Priso of Paris-Saclay University, France and the Open Knowledge Higher Institute (OKHI), Cameroon, with OKHI colleague explain that the rare earths, are a group of 17 metals* with unique and useful chemical properties. They are essential to high-tech products and industry, particularly electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy infrastructure. They are also used in other electronic components, lasers, glass, magnetic materials, and as components of catalysts for a range of industrial processes. As the global transition to reduced-carbon and even zero-carbon technologies moves forward, there is an urgent need to understand the pricing of rare earth metals, as they are such an important part of the technology we need for that environment friendly future.

The team compared the volatility of rare earth prices with that of other metals and stocks. Volatility, or the degree of price fluctuation, was found to be persistent in rare earths, meaning that prices tend to fluctuate continually over time rather than reaching a stable point quickly. For investors and manufacturers dependent on these metals, such constant volatility poses a substantial economic risk. As such, forecasting the price changes might be used to mitigate that. It might lead to greater stability and allowing investors to work in this area secure in the returns they hope to see.

Other models used in stock price prediction failed to model the volatility of the rare earth metals well, suggesting that this market has distinctive characteristics that affect prices differently from other more familiar commodities. Given that the demand and use of rare earth metals is set to surge, there is a need to understand their price volatility and to take this into account in green investments and development. It is worth noting that there is a major political component in this volatility given that China, and other nations, with vast reserves of rare earth metal ores, do not necessarily share the political views or purpose of the nations demanding these resources.

Mpacko Priso, A. and Doumbia, S. (2024) 'Price and volatility of rare earths', Int. J. Global Energy Issues, Vol. 46, No. 5, pp.436–453.
DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2024.140736

*Rare earth metals: cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, lanthanum (sometimes considered a transition metal), lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, scandium, terbium, thulium, ytterbium, yttrium

Container ports are important hubs in the global trade network. They have seen enormous growth in their roles over recent years and operational demands are always changing, especially as more sophisticated logistics systems emerge. A study in the International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics sheds new light on how the changes in this sector are affecting port efficiency, the focus is on the different types of container activities.

Fernando González-Laxe of the University Institute of Maritime Studies, A Coruña University and Xose Luis Fernández and Pablo Coto-Millán of the Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain, explain that container ports handle cargo that is packed in standardized shipping containers, the big metal boxes with which many people are familiar commonly transported en masse on vast sea-going vessels, unloaded port-side, and loaded on to trains and road transporters for their onward journey. The increasing size of ships used for transporting these containers, some of which can carry up to 25000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units, the containers), means there is increasing pressure on ports to increase their capacity. As such, there is a lot of ongoing effort to automate processes and optimize port operations to allow the big container ports to remain viable and competitive.

The team used Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate the efficiency of container ports by comparing the input and output of their operations. The focused on ten major Spanish container ports – among them the major ports of Algeciras, Barcelona, and Valencia – in order to understand how various types of container activities – import/export, transshipment, and cabotage (coastal shipping) – influence port performance.

One of the key findings from the study is the relationship between port efficiency and the types of container activities handled. The team found that there is an inverted U-shape relationship: ports that balanced transshipment (transferring containers between ships at intermediate points) with import/export activities tended to perform better than those that specialized in only one type of activity. This suggests that a diversified approach to container activities may enhance port efficiency.

The work suggests that by adopting a balanced approach to their activities, container ports could boost efficiency and reinforce their role in the global supply chain.

González-Laxe, F., Fernández, X.L. and Coto-Millán, P. (2024) 'Transhipment: when movement matters in port efficiency', Int. J. Shipping and Transport Logistics, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp.383–402.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2024.140429

Dr Dolittle eat your heart out! Researchers writing in the International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation demonstrate how a trained algorithm can identify the trumpeting calls of elephants, distinguishing them from human and other animals sounds in the environment. The work could improve safety for villagers and help farmers protect their crops and homesteads from wild elephants in India.

T. Thomas Leonid of the KCG College of Technology and R. Jayaparvathyof the SSN College of Engineering in Chennai, India, explain how conflicts between people and elephants are becoming increasingly common, especially in areas where human activity has encroached on natural elephant habitats. This is particularly true where agriculture meets forested land. These conflicts are not just an environmental concern, they pose a thread to human life and livelihoods.

In India, wild elephants are responsible for more human fatalities than large predators. Their presence also leads to the destruction of crops and infrastructure, which creates a heavy financial burden on rural communities. Of course, the elephants are not to blame, they are wild animals, doing their best to survive. The root causes lie in habitat destruction due to human activities such as mining, dam construction, and increasing encroachment into forests for resources like firewood and water.

As such, finding effective solutions to mitigate human-elephant encounters is becoming increasingly urgent. The team suggests that a way to reduce the number of tragic and costly outcomes would be to put in place an early-warning system. Such a system would recognise elephant behaviour from their vocalisations and allow farmers and others to avoid the elephants or perhaps even safely divert an incoming herd before it becomes a serious and damaging hazard.

The researchers compared several machine learning models to determine which one best detects and classifies elephant sounds. The models tested included Support Vector Machines (SVM), K-nearest Neighbours (KNN), Naive Bayes, and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). They trained each of these algorithms on a dataset of 450 animal sound samples from five different species. One of the key steps in the process is feature extraction, which involves identifying distinctive characteristics within the audio signals, such as frequency, amplitude, and the temporal structure of the sounds. These features are then used to train the machine learning models to recognise elephant calls.

The most accurate was the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), a deep learning model that automatically learns complex features from raw data. CNNs are particularly well-suited for this type of task due to their ability to recognise intricate patterns in sound data. The CNN had a high accuracy of 84 percent, far better than the models. This might be improved, but is sufficiently accurate to have potential for a reliable, automated system to detect elephants on the march that might be heading towards homes and farms.

Leonid, T.T. and Jayaparvathy, R. (2024) 'Elephant sound classification using machine learning algorithms for mitigation strategy', Int. J. Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, Vol. 15, No. 5, pp.248–252.
DOI: 10.1504/IJESMS.2024.140803

Research in the International Journal of Biometrics introduces a method to improve the accuracy and speed of dynamic emotion recognition using a convolutional neural network (CNN) to analyse faces. The work undertaken by Lanbo Xu of Northeastern University in Shenyang, China, could have applications mental health, human-computer interaction, security, and other areas.

Facial expressions are a major part of non-verbal communication, providing clues about an individual's emotional state. Until now, emotion recognition systems have used static images, which means they cannot capture the changing nature of emotions as they play out over a person's face during a conversation, interview or other interaction. Xu's work addresses this by focusing on video sequences. The system can track changing facial expressions over a series of video frames and then offer a detailed analysis of how a person's emotions unfold in real time.

However, prior to analysis, the system applies an algorithm, the "chaotic frog leap algorithm" to sharpen key facial features. The algorithm mimics the foraging behaviour of frogs to find optimal parameters in the digital images. The CNN trained on a dataset of human expressions is the most important part of the approach, allowing Xu to process visual data by recognizing patterns in new images that intersect with the training data. By analysing several frames from video footage, the system can capture movements of the mouth, eyes, and eyebrows, which are often subtle but important indicators of emotional changes.

Xu reports an accuracy of up to 99 percent, with the system providing an ouput in a fraction of a second. Such precision and speed is ideal for real-time use in various areas where detecting emotion might be useful without the need for subjective assessment by another person or team. Its potential applications lie in improving user experiences with computer interactions where the computer can respond appropriately to the user's emotional state, such as frustration, anger, or boredom.

The system might be useful in screening people for emotional disorders without initial human intervention. It could also be used in enhancing security systems allowing access to resources but only to those in a particular emotional state and barring entry to an angry or upset person, perhaps. The same system could even be used to identify driver fatigue on transport systems or even in one's own vehicle. The entertainment and marketing sectors might also see applications where understanding emotional responses could improve content development, delivery, and consumer engagement.

Xu, L. (2024) 'Dynamic emotion recognition of human face based on convolutional neural network', Int. J. Biometrics, Vol. 16, No. 5, pp.533–551.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBM.2024.140785

As computer network security threats continue to grow in complexity, the need for more advanced security systems is obvious. Indeed, traditional methods of intrusion detection have struggled to keep pace with the changes and so researchers are looking to explore alternatives. A study in the International Journal of Computational Systems Engineering suggests that the integration of data augmentation and ensemble learning methods could be used to improve the accuracy of intrusion detection systems.

Xiaoli Zhou of the School of Information Engineering at Sichuan Top IT Vocational Institute in Chengdu, China, has focused on a Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network with Gradient Penalty (WGAN-GP). This is an advanced version of the standard machine learning model and can create realistic data through a process of competition between two neural networks. Conventional GANs often suffer from unstable training and pattern collapse, where the model fails to generate diverse data. The WGAN-GP variant mitigates these issues by incorporating a gradient penalty, according to the research, this helps to stabilize the training process and improve the quality of the generated data. It can then be used effectively to simulate network traffic for intrusion detection with a view to blocking hacking attempts.

There is the potential to enhance the WGAN-GP data quality still further by combining it with a stacking learning module. Stacking is an ensemble learning technique that involves training multiple models and then combining their outputs using a meta-classifier. In Zhou's work, the stacking module integrates the predictions from several WGAN-GP models to allow them to be classified as normal or intrusive.

The approach was tested against well-established data augmentation methods, including the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE), Adaptive Synthetic Sampling (ADASYN), and a simple version of WGAN. The results showed that the WGAN-GP-based model had an accuracy rate of almost 90%, which is better than the scores for the other techniques tested. The model can thus distinguish between legitimate and potentially harmful network activity effectively. Optimisation might improve the accuracy and allow the system to be used to protect governments, corporations, individual, and others at risk from network security threats.

Zhou, X. (2024) 'Research on network intrusion detection model that integrates WGAN-GP algorithm and stacking learning module', Int. J. Computational Systems Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 6, pp.1–10.
DOI: 10.1504/IJCSYSE.2024.140760

Science-based university spin-offs, especially in the biotech sector, play an important role in transforming cutting-edge academic science into marketable technological products. However, such start-ups face lots of challenges that can be very different from those encountered by conventional startups. Research in the International Journal of Technology Management has looked at the complexities and potential of such spin-offs and sheds new light on the role played by the academic scientists involved in the process and how launch timing can make all the difference.

Andrew Park of the University of Victoria, Canada, and colleagues explain that unlike typical start-ups, which might bring a product to market relatively quickly, new biotechnology companies often have long periods of financial investment and require lengthy development, testing, and regulatory periods for their products. This is particularly true in drug development, where the path from the laboratory bench to the marketplace can span a decade or more, not least because of the need for extensive clinical trials and the completion of regulatory requirements. As such, there is often a greater need to plan strategically and to use resources more effectively even before the spin-off company is officially launched.

Many laboratory scientists make the leap from bench to business, some with much greater success than others. The successful scientist-entrepreneurs bring with them their research acumen and intellectual property, but also various intangible assets that can make or break a spin-off company. Among those intangibles might be research publications and patents, networks of contacts and collaborators, and access to funding opportunities that might be unavailable to companies with no direct academic links.

The paper's case studies of three biotechnology spin-offs within the British Columbia innovation ecosystem suggests that the value of intangible assets is usually only realised when strong entrepreneurial capabilities are available to the start-up company. These capabilities are not just about business acumen but also an understanding of how to align the technology with market needs, protect intellectual property effectively, and mentor the founding team to reach biotech commercialization successfully. Critically, the timing of a company launch can correlate strongly with success or failure, the researchers found.

Park, A., Goudarzi, A., Yaghmaie, P., Thomas, V.J. and Maine, E. (2024) 'The role of pre-formation intangible assets in the endowment of science-based university spin-offs', Int. J. Technology Management, Vol. 96, No. 4, pp.230–260.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2024.140712

A multi-centre research team writing in the International Journal of Metadata, Semantics and Ontologies discusses how they hope to fill a significant gap in the documentation and sharing of research data by focusing on "contextual metadata." The researchers explain that traditionally, research metadata has usually been about research outputs, such as publications or datasets. The new stance considers the detailed information about the research process, such as how the data was generated, the techniques used, and the specific conditions under which the research was conducted.

The project considered six research domains across the life sciences, social science, and the humanities. Semi-structured interviews and literature review allowed the team to unravel how researchers in each domain manage this kind of contextual metadata. They found that although a considerable amount of such metadata is available, it is often implicit and scattered across various documentation fields. This fragmentation makes it difficult to identify and use the information effectively.

The team thus suggests that there is a need for a standardized framework for contextual metadata that could be used across all disciplines. Such a framework would support future work to look at the replicability and reproducibility of research, which are important in scientific integrity and validation. Replicability refers to the ability to duplicate a study's results under the same conditions, while reproducibility involves obtaining consistent results using the same datasets and methods.

Additionally, a standardized approach to contextual metadata could reduce research waste and even help reduce research misconduct by providing a clearer and more consistent way to document research processes. However, there remain many challenges because of the diverse nature of research practices across different disciplines. Differences in funding models, regulatory requirements, and methods mean that a universal framework might not be directly applicable to all fields. As such, the team has proposed a generic framework that recognize the need for domain-specific adaptations.

Ohmann, C., Panagiotopoulou, M., Canham, S., Holub, P., Majcen, K., Saunders, G., Fratelli, M., Tang, J., Gribbon, P., Karki, R., Kleemola, M., Moilanen, K., Broeder, D., Daelemans, W. and Fivez, P. (2023) 'Proposal for a framework of contextual metadata in selected research infrastructures of the life sciences and the social sciences & humanities', Int. J. Metadata Semantics and Ontologies, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp.261–277.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMSO.2023.140695

The COVID-19 pandemic not only gave us a global health crisis but also an infodemic, a term coined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to describe the overwhelming flood of information – both accurate and misleading – that inundated media channels. This information complicated the public understanding and response to the pandemic as people struggled to separate fact from fiction.

Researchers writing in the International Journal of Advanced Media and Communication suggest that a lot of attention has been paid to tracking and mitigating the spread of misinformation, but there has been less focus on the characteristics of the messages and sources that allow information to spread. This gap in the research literature has implications for how we might develop better strategies to counteract misinformation, particularly in times of crisis.

Ezgi Akar of the University of Wisconsin, USA, looked at social media updates, "Tweets" as they were once referred on the Twitter microblogging platform. Twitter has since been rebranded as "X". At the time of the pandemic, Twitter had famously risen to the point where it was a powerful tool that could shape public discourse and at the time played an important role in the dissemination of information and social interaction, and, unfortunately, the spread of misinformation.

The research hoped to reveal how the content of a given update and the credibility of its source might contribute to its spread, or reach, across the social media platform, and beyond. The aim would be to see what factors might then be influenced to reduce the spread of false information, often referred to as fake news in the vernacular of the time.

Akar's model used three main theoretical frameworks: the Undeutsch hypothesis, which examines the credibility of statements; the four-factor theory, which looks at the various aspects that influence how believable a message is; and source credibility theory, which explores how the perceived reliability of a source affects the dissemination of information. He then used the model to analyse a dataset of tweets, both true and false to look for patterns.

The findings of the study reveal that while the content of an update – such as the use of extreme sentiments, external links, and media, such as photos and videos – affects the likelihood of the update being "liked" or shared "retweeted", the credibility of the source has more effect on how widely the information spreads. This suggests that users will engage more with content from seemingly credible sources, even if the content itself is not particularly compelling.

An additional finding, that updates in all capital letters were more likely to be shared if they were providing true information. Usually, messages written in all capital letters are perceived as aggressive, akin to shouting, or naïve. But, "all caps" in the case of an important and urgent message seems to override typical user behaviour in certain situations.

Akar, E. (2024) 'Unmasking an infodemic: what characteristics are fuelling misinformation on social media?', Int. J. Advanced Media and Communication, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp.53–76.
DOI: 10.1504/IJAMC.2024.140646

New Product Development (NPD) is a complex undertaking for any company, but where the initial stage of idea screening is what commonly determines the ultimate success or failure of a product. This important phase usually involves the evaluation of countless product ideas, each of which must be scrutinized for technical feasibility, commercial viability, and practicality. It can throw up many problems, not least because of the uncertainty inherent in predicting a product's market success based on early-stage concepts.

Research in the International Journal of Business Excellence has introduced a new approach to idea screening that could make it more reliable. Mahesh Caisucar of Goa College of Engineering and Rajesh Suresh Prabhu Gaonkar of the Indian Institute of Technology Goa in Ponda-Goa, India, have proposed an approach that addresses one of the key limitations in existing decision-making frameworks, particularly those used in Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM). MCDM techniques are used to evaluate and prioritize options based on various factors, each of which may hold different levels of importance. However, these weightings can often be skewed inadvertently and so lead to poor decisions.

The new approach uses a hierarchical ranking system that takes into account the relative weight of each option by considering how it stacks up against the sum of all other ratings. This, the researchers suggest, offers a more subtle perspective on how likely a new product is to be successful. The team has undertaken tests on their hierarchical approach that works across five main criteria: design, manufacturing, cost, ergonomics, and handling. This gives them a ranking method for obtaining an overall performance score for each product idea.

The team suggests that the success of their approach could improve the ability of a company to choose product ideas most likely to be successful in the market.

Caisucar, M. and Gaonkar, R.S.P. (2024) 'A novel hierarchical ranking method for idea screening in new product development', Int. J. Business Excellence, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp.585–601.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2024.140591

Research in the International Journal of Agile Systems and Management has investigated the relationship between people and their environment, with a particular focus on food. The research by Ysanne Yeo and Masahiro Niitsuma of the Graduate School of System Design and Management at Keio University in Yokohama, Japan, suggests that standard approaches to analysing human behaviour need an upgrade. They suggest a more holistic view that recognizes the complexity of human systems is needed. The work could lead to a change in the way we design social systems and behavioural interventions.

Traditional methods of studying human behaviour often break down complex systems into separate components. This has the unfortunate side effect of ignoring the interactions seen in real-world situations, and so can result in fragmented understanding that then leads to interventions that do not take into account all the issues underlying that situation.

The new study adopts a model-based systems approach to bring together different aspects of human behaviour and to create a more comprehensive framework for studying them. This, the researchers suggest, should allow a better understanding of the various factors that affect attitudes to healthy eating or otherwise. This could then be used to guide how policymakers and healthcare providers encourage healthier eating habits in a way that does not lead to unintended consequences. The likes of “calorie counting” and “dietary restrictions” are often at odds with the body’s natural signals of hunger and fullness and so more holistic, sustainable, interventions might emerge from this new understanding.

The work points to the need for a more collaborative and nuanced approach to designing social systems that takes into account the knowledge inherent in any human system. This kind of knowledge can play an important role in how people interact with their environment. Understanding the factors involved could help us create environments that better support long-term positive outcomes for individuals and society as a whole.

Yeo, Y. and Niitsuma, M. (2024) ‘Proposal of an integral model of human-food interaction: insights for social systems design’, Int. J. Agile Systems and Management, Vol. 17, No. 5, pp.48–72.
DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2024.140464

The business environment is constantly changing, and sometimes does so very rapidly. Research in the International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, discusses how Agile Portfolio Management (APM) has emerged as a useful approach to allow companies to align their organizational strategies with the demands of this dynamic and complex environment.

Conventionally, portfolio management has relied on predictive methods that work across a range of project sizes and levels of complexity. However, as businesses increasingly adopt agile methodologies – originally designed for small, closely-knit teams – there has been a shift in portfolio management practices. Indeed, this shift has become necessary for continued success. Agile methodologies emphasize flexibility and responsiveness and work well with small-scale projects but can be problematic when they are used for larger, more complex portfolios.

Kwete Mwana Nyandongo of the School of Consumer Intelligence and Information Systems at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, has demonstrated that scaled agile frameworks, which have been developed to manage large-scale implementations, offer some value, but even these are often inadequate. He found that this is especially true in industries, such as information technology, where rapid technological change and complex project interdependencies are the stock-in-trade of the industry.

Nyandongo's study goes on to suggest that these frameworks, while useful for large solutions, do not fully address the challenges of managing an entire portfolio in a rapidly changing environment. He says that this shortfall may lead some organizations to struggle with effectively implementing their strategies or responding to new opportunities and facing up to emerging risks.

The answer lies, the study suggests, in taking an even more flexible approach to portfolio management. That approach needs to extend the capabilities of existing scaled agile frameworks and to bring together traditional and agile methods. Such a hybrid approach might better accommodate the deliberate strategies of long-term business plans, as well as exploit the short-term nature of emergent opportunities.

In other words, organizations need to recognize that the methods effective for managing individual projects or even large-scale solutions may not translate directly to managing an entire portfolio. Instead, they must be yet more adaptable than ever.

Nyandongo, K.M. (2024) 'Relevance of scaled agile practices to agile portfolio management', Int. J. Agile Systems and Management, Vol. 17, No. 5, pp.1–47.
DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2024.140478

An area of increasing importance in digital marketing is the role of the influencer. Influencers are individuals with some degree of fame online, a large and loyal following, and great reach, usually across a number of social media platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has looked at how personality traits shape an individual's attitudes towards influencers.

Influencers have gained a lot of prominence in industries such as fashion, beauty, technology, and food and the biggest can affect public attitudes to brands quite significantly. Indeed, many people are reliant on these modern-day celebrities to guide their purchasing decisions and follow closely their favourite influencer's advice on brands. Brands know this and invest vast sums in influencer marketing to encourage the influencers to help them sell their products and services.

In the current research, a survey of almost 400 people from Colombia and Spain was conducted in order to fill the knowledge gap with regards to what leads to someone being "influenced". The team used the statistical approach partial least squares analysis, to help them identify cause and effect relationships in the data. They found that people with extrovert and disorganized personalities were more likely to have favourable attitudes toward influencers. That said, there was a gender gap: calm men and sympathetic women were particularly drawn to influencers.

The results suggest that the success of an influencer markting campaign may depend not only on the influencer's content but also on the psychological makeup of their audience. Armed this knowledge marketers might craft more personalized and targeted campaigns. Such an approach could be particularly beneficial in highly competitive sectors where influencer marketing has become a near-essential part of brand promotion.

Future research in this area might look at the specifics of whether various personality traits and being influenced are associated with specific influence types, such as beauty influencer as opposed to tech influencer.

Sánchez-Torres, J.A., Roldan-Gallego, J.S., Arroyo-Cañada, F-J. and Argila-Irurita, A.M. (2024) 'Which people are loyal followers of influencers? An exploratory study', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp.25–34.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.139828

Various recent technological advances allowed people to reshape their physical exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those technologies are still in place and continue to allow people to engage in physical activity and sports in a virtual training setting. While many people have gone back to their traditional exercise venues, the outdoors, sports fields, and the gym, the paradigm shift wrought by the pandemic pressed alternatives on us with regard to our fitness routines that might continue to be a natural part of future public health.

Research in the International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management has looked at how the integration of technology into everyday exercise routines affected people in Colombia, Pakistan, and Spain. It offers insight into how the pandemic affected those people, how virtual training continues to be a part of people's lives, and how we might keep fit during the next pandemic or another global crisis.

The researchers used the Theory of Planned Behaviour, a psychological model often used to explain and predict individual actions based on attitudes, social influences (subjective norms), and perceived control over actions. This approach allowed them to understand the human response to abrupt closure of gyms and restrictions on outdoor movement during the pandemic lockdowns. They added structural equation modelling, a statistical technique, to analyse data from surveys to reveal the relationships between psychological factors and the adoption of virtual sports activities.

Earlier work has shown that psychological factors influence conventional sports participation, but the focus on virtual training during a global crisis, shows just how useful technology, such as fitness-monitoring watches, smartphones, and other devices, was during the lockdowns. In addition, people with access to fitness tutorials and online classes commonly used those in parallel with their devices to help them follow a structured routine and monitor their progress.

From the opposite perspective, the virtual world allowed many trainers and instructors to continue teaching but remotely from their students. Indeed, the notion of virtual training, which had been around for a while, but necessarily widely adopted, allowed trainers to teach students around the world and many did so during and after the height of the pandemic.

The pandemic emphasised once again the need to stay physically active even in times of crisis. Future public health initiatives might now prioritize accessible home-based sports and exercise options. This could happen with more investment in virtual training platforms, the promotion of digital fitness tools, and efforts to ensure that such resources are widely available to all before and after a period of crisis.

Sánchez-Torres, J.A., Arroyo-Cañada, F-J., Argila-Irurita, A., Montoya-Restrepo, A. and Saleem-ahmed, M. (2024) 'At-home virtual workouts: embracing exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic', Int. J. Healthcare Technology and Management, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp.129–142.
DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2024.140383

The invasive North American plant species, Parthenium hysterophorus, commonly known as Santa Maria Feverfew and Famine Weed. The species is now present in Africa, Australia, and India, where it is locally known in English as Congress Grass. According to researchers writing in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, Congress Grass, has become a serious concern for food security, biodiversity, and public health in India and beyond. The species is highly resilient and can quickly displace native plants and crops, threatening agricultural systems. It grows well even under poor climate and soil conditions in which crops usually struggle, and it is one of the most destructive weeds agriculture sees.

Not only is P. hysterophorus very resilient, it has allelopathic properties, which means it releases chemicals that suppress the growth of nearby plants. This gives it even more of an advantage over native plants and crop plants, allowing it to soak up water and nutrients and block sunlight from reaching seedlings. This results in even worse impact on biodiversity and ecosystems and on agricultural productivity where it is rife. In addition to ecological and agricultural problems, the plant is very allergenic and toxic to livestock.

The current research proposes a new approach to dealing with this weed. Instead of focusing on attempting to eradicate it, the team suggests that it might be harvested and composted so that any nutrient loss can be reincorporated into the farm. Moreover, proper composting will destroy the plant's seeds and so reduce the risk of it spreading. The approach benefits from all the economic and ecological advantages of avoiding herbicide use.

Satish Kumar Ameta of Mewar University in Rajasthan, India, and colleagues suggest that governmental and non-governmental organizations have an important role to play in educating farmers about the potential of exploiting a weed in this way so that it might be adopted as a sustainable practice.

Ameta, S.K., Bhatt, J., Joshi, M., Ameta, R. and Ameta, S.C. (2024) 'Management of an obnoxious weed Parthenium hysterophorus through composting: a contrivance for recycling the nutrients', Int. J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp.187–208.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.139280

Thermal, infrared (IR), facial recognition technology has advanced apace recently. Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, moves us another step towards a tenable system that overcomes some of the limitations of traditional visible-light systems.

Naser Zaeri of the Faculty of Computer Studies at the Arab Open University in Ardiya and Rusul R. Qasim of Kuwait Technical College in Abu-Halifa, Kuwait, explain how IR imaging sidesteps the problem of ambient lighting conditions and variations in skin tone seen with visible-light facial recognition. The use of thermal imaging relies on capturing the unique heat patterns emitted by the face rather than reflected light. The heat pattern observed is determined almost wholly by a person's facial vasculature and tissue structures beneath the skin. These are consistent, broadly speaking, regardless of environmental lighting and skin tone. This could make thermal IR a much more reliable alternative to visible-light imaging for biometric identification.

However, thermal recognition has faced challenges. The technology often has to cope with degraded image quality due to factors such as noise, blurring, reduced spatial resolution, and temperature drift. Additionally, variations in facial expression and pose can complicate the recognition process. Overcoming these issues requires advanced methods capable of accurately processing and recognizing faces even in less-than-ideal conditions.

Zaeri and colleagues have demonstrated the potential of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in enhancing the recognition of degraded thermal face images. CNNs are a class of deep learning models that have made a significant impact on the field of computer vision, thanks to their ability to automatically extract and learn complex features from raw images without requiring extensive pre-processing. This capability makes CNNs particularly well-suited to face the biometric challenge.

The team has worked with the well-known ResNet-50 CNN architecture. They applied it to a database of 7500 thermal images in order to evaluate performance with images of different quality and where facial expression and pose are different. The promising results show that this CNN-based system can achieve better recognition accuracy even with degraded thermal images and works across a range of scenarios. The work will have applications in security and the military world.

Zaeri, N. and Qasim, R.R. (2024) 'Resilient recognition system for degraded thermal images using convolutional neural networks', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 25, No. 5, pp.50–71.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.140327

Research published in the European Journal of International Management has looked at how positive attitudes towards cultural diversity can significantly enhance team performance. The study, conducted with over 1000 leaders from highly globalized academic research teams in the Nordic region, shows that teams open to diverse cultural values, especially when combined with openness to language diversity, perform better and are more creative than others.

The findings from Jakob Lauring of Aarhus University, Denmark, Christina L. Butler of Kingston Business School, London, UK, Minna Paunova of Copenhagen Business School in Copenhagen, Denmark, Timur Uman of Jönköping University, Sweden, and Lena Zander of Uppsala University, Sweden, have some implications for better management of multicultural teams across various sectors, particularly in an increasingly globalized work environment.

It is important from the management perspective to understand how cultural values and language interact and how they affect workplace behaviour and success. "Cultural values" usually refers to the underlying principles that guide decisions in different societies, such as beliefs about hierarchy, individualism, and communication styles. Language diversity, by contrast, refers to the inclusion of multiple languages within a team, reflecting the varied backgrounds of its members. Both factors are critical to success in increasingly international teams.

Openness to cultural values it appears influences team performance positively. Moreover, teams that are receptive to both cultural and language diversity are commonly better positioned to capitalize on the benefits of each. Essentially, a willingness to embrace different languages within a team enhances the positive effects of being open to various cultural values, leading to improved collaboration, creativity, and overall team outcomes. The impact is synergistic, whereas earlier studies had not necessarily demonstrated that these two factors work together and were perhaps considered as operating independently. It is therefore time to refine research models concerning the way teams work Different types of diversity attitude and how they interact and influence each other must be embedded in such models.

Lauring, J., Butler, C.L., Paunova, M., Uman, T. and Zander, L. (2024) 'Openness towards language differences and cultural differences in multicultural teams: how do they interact?', European J. International Management, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp.1–24.
DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.140297

Research published in the International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management has looked at how additive manufacturing, colloquially referred to as "3D printing", is changing healthcare. This transformative technology, long associated with advances in traditional manufacturing, is increasingly being recognized for its capacity to produce highly customized, patient-specific medical models. Such models can be used in surgical planning, training, and the production of custom prosthetics and other medical devices.

However, despite its promise, Ethan Sanekane, Jill Speece, Mohamed Awwad, and Xuan Wang of California Polytechnic State University in Obispo and Sara Moghtadernejad California State University Long Beach, California, USA, suggest that access to this technology in healthcare is rather limited. There is an information gap that the current research seeks to fill.

Additive manufacturing, as the name suggests, involves the creation of objects by adding material layer by layer. This approach, pioneered in the 1980s, but having come to the fore in many areas in the last couple of decades, can be used to produce highly complex and detailed structures that would be beyond economic viability in conventional manufacturing. In healthcare, this technology enables the creation of models that might be an exact replica of a patient's anatomy, for instance. Surgeons could, for example, then use such a model of a disease site to plan a sophisticated procedure with unprecedented precision. Such a model might be even more useful with robotic surgery, where the model could be used to train the robot with no risk to the patient.

The same technology could be used to craft bespoke orthotics and prosthetics that are precisely tailored to the patient's unique needs, rather than being off-the shelf components that might be cut to fit, as it were.

The research has taken an important step forward in identifying the full potential of additive manufacturing in healthcare. By addressing the barriers to access and strategically locating additive manufacturing hubs, the researchers have perhaps paved the way for greater adoption of this transformative technology.

Sanekane, E., Speece, J., Awwad, M., Wang, X. and Moghtadernejad, S. (2024) 'Healthcare industry input parameters for a deterministic model that optimally locates additive manufacturing hubs', Int. J. Healthcare Technology and Management, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp.111–128.
DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2024.140392

Research in the International Journal of Computational Systems Engineering has demonstrated a new image compression tool that combines recursive algorithms with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to out-perform other approaches to the compression of images from computer art and interaction design. Digital art and design increasingly rely on large volumes of visual data, so effective image compression is important for reducing the computer storage requirements without compromising quality. Duan Song of the Department of Fine Arts at Hebei Vocational Art College in Shijiazhuang, China, has proposed an algorithm that works to address the issues by integrating traditional and modern techniques.

Recursive algorithms, which simplify complex problems through repeated application of rules. Song explains that the approach works by breaking an image down into simpler components. By applying the process iteratively, quality can be maintained. The integration of CNNs into the compression approach builds on the way in which such systems were initially inspired by the way the human brain processes visual information. They are widely used in deep learning for image recognition and processing. Song's innovative merging of the recursive methods with CNNs allows him to overcome some of the limitations of earlier image compression techniques, which commonly struggle to achieve useful compression ratios because of the increasing complexity and scale of modern image data.

Song has tested the algorithm on two well-known image datasets, Kodak1 and Kodak2, to evaluate its performance. The results indicate that the algorithm consistently reduced the mean square error (MSE) between the original and compressed images. A lower MSE means better conservation of image quality. After 800 iterations, the algorithm achieved the lowest MSE compared to other methods and also performed well in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio and multi-scale structural similarity. These results suggest that the proposed method can compress images effectively with no significant loss of quality.

The approach will be useful in the field of computer art but might also be useful in animation modelling, art interface design, and medical imaging.

Song, D. (2024) 'Recursive quantitative analysis modelling of computer art design interaction', Int. J. Computational Systems Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 5, pp.1–11.
DOI: 10.1504/IJCSYSE.2024.139715

A paper in the International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, has highlighted the potential benefits of adopting a new approach to collaboration in eHealth initiatives. The approach suggested by Maria Qvarfordt, Stefan Lagrosen, and Lina Nilsson of Linnaeus University in Kalmar, Sweden, braids together the four strands of stakeholder relationships – academia, business, the public sector, and citizens – into what the team calls a quadruple helix (QH).

Digitalisation in healthcare encompasses the adoption of digital technologies across various sectors and is crucial for global healthcare advancements. eHealth specifically refers to the use of electronic tools and methods to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. For eHealth to be effective, collaboration among various stakeholders is critical. Previous studies have shown that the involvement of different stakeholders can be understood and developed with a traditional triple helix model (academia, government, and industry).

By incorporating a fourth strand – the public – which we might more formally refer to as civil society, an emphasis on the importance of the end-user perspective can be incorporated into eHealth solutions. Each stakeholder group brings unique knowledge, resources, and perspectives and so can benefit the outcomes as a whole, with that whole being more than the sum of its parts in some instances.

To develop the QH approach, the researchers used a grounded theory methodology and collected and analysed stakeholder perspectives on eHealth collaboration. They then aligned their findings from the study with an actor-resource-activity (ARA) model – a framework designed to understand business relationships. The team emphasise the importance of promoting value and quality in eHealth development collaborations. They highlight the role of knowledge and competence.

Overall, the QH approach is more inclusive and participatory and will hopefully lead to more effective and more widely accepted eHealth implementations. The paper thus offers an invaluable framework for understanding and improving stakeholder collaboration in the digitalisation of healthcare.

Qvarfordt, M., Lagrosen, S. and Nilsson, L. (2024) 'Quadruple helix collaboration for eHealth: a business relationship approach', Int. J. Healthcare Technology and Management, Vol. 21, No. 2, pp.89–110.
DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2024.140387

We are living in an era of astonishing data proliferation and the sharing of user-created content across all kinds of media, from social networks to news sites, e-commerce reviews to endless forums for every kind of interest and niche. Being able to accurately interpret emotions conveyed through such messages is increasingly important for social science and politics, in marketing, business, and economics, and elsewhere.

Recent advancements in the field of so-called "sentiment analysis" have led to the development of more sophisticated models capable of extracting and interpreting emotional subtleties in textual data. One such model is the BERT-ABiLSTM – Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers, Attention Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory. Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology reports on how this large-scale pre-trained algorithmic can be used for sentiment analysis. However, as author Zhubin Luo, of the Hunan University of Humanities, Science and Technology in China, points out the system's use of ABiLSTM, means there are some limitations as it focuses on global features and can overlook nuance.

BERT, Luo explains, can learn language representations from extensive bodies of text. The ABiLSTM, a recurrent neural network, processes text sequences. Luo has now added TextCNN (Text Convolutional Neural Network) to the system to make BERT-CNN-ABiLSTM, a more sophisticated version of the model.

Overall, the underlying bidirectional approach allows the model to understand context from both past-to-future and future-to-past segments of text. This is important for capturing long-term dependencies in text. The attention mechanism within ABiLSTM further refines this by enabling the model to focus on the most pertinent parts of the text when making predictions, thus improving the accuracy of sentiment analysis.

The TextCNN component then uses convolutional kernels of various sizes to detect different granularities of features within the text. This allows the model to capture much more subtle local patterns within the text that would have been missed by simpler models, thus providing a yet more detailed analysis of textual content.

The improvements reported by Luo are particularly relevant for scenarios that require detailed text classification and recognition. This might include sentiment analysis on social media, evaluating customer feedback in e-commerce platforms, or empowering "intelligent" online question-and-answer systems.

Luo, Z. (2024) 'A study into text sentiment analysis model based on deep learning', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 8, pp.64–75.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.139869

In 2015, the United Nations initiated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) an ambitious plan to end poverty, safeguard the environment, and promote prosperity for all by 2030. These 17 interconnected goals recognise that progress in one area can affect another area in positive ways. For instance, improving water quality (SDG 6) can have a ripple effect, enhancing health (SDG 3) and education (SDG 4). It is important to understand the connections so that effective policies can be put in place to help us achieve the goals in what might be referred to as a holistic manner.

A review in the International Journal of Sustainable Development has looked at the state of research in this area and provide a systematic summary, as well as incorporating insights from a workshop with SDG experts. The findings show that work is still in its infancy and focuses largely on statistical and conceptual associations rather than causal relationships. The reviewers suggest that this emphasis on correlation rather than causation means it is difficult to reproduce findings and apply them to policymaking. This, they add, is a particular issue at the local level.

The SDGs are the successor to the Millennium Development Goals and emerged from a participatory process that required consensus among UN member states. Unlike those earlier projects, the SDGs are broader in their scope and more integrated. They emphasize the need to understand how progress in one goal might affect other goals. This, the team suggests, means that policymakers and other stakeholders must recognise the interconnectedness of the goals and dismantle the old policy silos to help promote integrated approaches to sustainable development.

A new framework to address the gaps in research and understanding, emerges from this current review. The framework stresses the importance of the local context, as well as the interconnections that might vary critically because of regional socio-economic and environmental conditions. As the 2030 deadline approaches, there is an increasing urgency in attempting to achieve the SDGs. The consolidation of research findings and the standardization of data collection could help us implement real-world action that works to achieve those goals.

Chaniotakis, E., Siragusa, A., Tzanis, D. and Stamos, I. (2024) 'Scoping SDG interlinkages and methods to infer them', Int. J. Sustainable Development, Vol. 27, No. 5, pp.1–54.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSD.2024.140326

Wound infections, particularly associated with burns, are a serious health problem causing high morbidity and mortality. Aside from hygiene and basic dressings, antibiotics are the standard treatment for serious wounds. However, cost, access, and emerging bacterial resistance, make their use difficult and ineffective, especially when a course of treatment is not completed. Globally, a huge number of deaths occur because of infected burns especially in low- and middle-income countries, and most commonly in rural areas.

Treating burn wounds is complex due to various factors. Burns disrupt the skin barrier, exposing fluid from the wound to opportunistic bacteria that thrive on the exuded nutrients. Such wounds also compromise blood supply and affect the local immune response. Moreover, a large burn, covering more than a fifth of the skin will often lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), further complicating infection management.

Research in the International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, has looked at how silver-containing antimicrobial nanoparticle preparations might be used, not as topical antiseptic creams, but as a sustained-release component of an advanced wound dressing. The cost of such a dressing would likely make it unviable in normal circumstance. However, the team involved from KLE University in Belagavi, India, has developed a low-cost, antimicrobial starch-based polymer film within which they can embed silver nanoparticles, synthesized using a simple method from tea extracts.

The team's environmentally friendly approach also benefits from using those plant extracts as they contain polyphenolic compounds, which have an additional antimicrobial character as they are antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and antimicrobial.

In tests, the researchers – Sambuddha Dinda, Anuradha B. Patil, Sumati Annigeri Hogade, and Abhishek Bansal – showed that their starch-based film showed significant antimicrobial activity against various types of bacteria, including the ever-troublesome Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

"This study showed anti-microbial efficacy of a low-cost starch-based polymer film containing Ag-NP with antioxidant biomolecules of green tea which can be easily fabricated and used for wound dressing," the researchers conclude.

Dinda, S., Patil, A.B., Hogade, S.A. and Bansal, A. (2024) 'Development of an anti-microbial starch-based polymer film embedded with silver nanoparticles by green synthesis from tea extract: a potential low cost wound dressing for rural population of developing countries', Int. J. Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp.1–14.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBNN.2024.139295

Research in the journal Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, which draws on data from the "Climate Change in the American Mind: National Survey," offers new insights into generational attitudes towards climate change and discusses the implications for businesses.

The survey itself captured responses from various generations born after World War II – The Baby Boomer generation (born approximately 1946 to 1964), Generation X (~1965 to 1980), the Millennials (born ~1981 to 1996), and Generation Z (born ~1997 to 2012). The research unravels common threads of concern about global warming that spans all age groups. This, the researchers suggest, means there is an evolving awareness among consumers across the generations that is means businesses must adapt to new expectations regarding climate change and sustainability.

Global warming, a term often interchanged with climate change but technically distinct, refers to the long-term rise in Earth's average surface temperature due to increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases. In contrast, climate change encompasses a broader range of shifts in weather patterns. Both phenomena, driven primarily by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and industrial processes have led to a rise in the frequency of extreme weather events and an increase in their severity. Hurricanes, droughts, wildfires, and floods, have been with us for millennia but their increasing rage is leading to human tragedy as ell as substantial destruction and disruption for communities and businesses alike.

Angelina Kiser and Tracie Edmond of the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, USA, discuss the international response to the present environmental challenges, such as the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. However, they add that despite these efforts, countries vary in their levels of commitment and activity is heavily influenced by economic considerations and political pressure rather than the science.

They point out that while all generations have awareness of the issues, the younger generation is perhaps more keenly attuned to the growing crises and is therefore more demanding of business and the need for sustainable business practices. They add that a significant number of younger Americans support a transition to renewable energy sources, indicating a potential shift in market demands.

Businesses now face the challenge of balancing their diverse stakeholder interests with consumer values. Finding the balance between what shareholders, employees, and the public need and want of them is perhaps the most pressing issue they face because they may all hold potentially conflicting expectations and mutually exclusive demands. While sustainability initiatives may incur higher costs, leading to increased prices or reduced profits, neglecting consumer demands for climate-friendly practices could result in a loss of market share.

Kiser, A. and Edmond, T. (2024) 'From baby boomers to Gen Z: global warming and business', Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp.301–316.
DOI: 10.1504/IER.2024.140246

Nature has provided inspiration for many innovations. In recent years, the development of algorithms that emulate the problem-solving ability of the natural world have come to the fore. Such algorithms, computer programs that are modelled on various natural behaviours, are known collectively as nature-inspired algorithms. They are designed by studying the dynamics of a natural or social system, such as those observed in ants and bees or the movements and skills of bats and birds. There are several classes defined by the behaviour on which they are modelled, including swarm intelligence, biological systems, and physical or chemical processes.

Swarm intelligence is a particularly useful part of nature-inspired algorithms. It is derived from the collective behaviour of groups of animals, such as flocks of birds or schools of fish. The principle behind these algorithms is the concept of self-optimization, a hallmark of natural systems that efficiently manage resources and adapt to changing environments to solve seemingly complex problems. By transferring these natural skills into an algorithm, researchers are finding ways to develop self-optimizing systems for some of the problems we face.

Writing in the International Journal of Advanced Intelligence Paradigms, S. Thanga Revathi of the Misrimal Navajee Munoth Jain Engineering College in Chennai and N. Ramaraj of Vignan University in Guntur, India, explain how nature-inspired algorithms can give us an efficient and adaptable way to approach difficult and perhaps otherwise intractable problems.

They cite some of the most notable, such as the ant colony optimization (ACO), particle swarm optimization (PSO), cuckoo search, and the bat algorithm. Each of these algorithms uses characteristics of natural collective behaviour to converge on a solution to a problem. For instance, within a bird flock, each bird follows simple rules without any single leader that then gives rise to the complex system that is a starling murmuration, for instance. Flocking behaviour like a murmuration is commonly a collective predator avoidance technique. The birds' movements are influenced by their closest neighbours organization. Critical avoiding collisions, matching velocities, and maintaining proximity to the group are what lead to this coordinated and cohesive movement of the flock.

The practical applications of swarm-based algorithms span a wide array of fields. In biomedicine, for example, they can be used in diagnosis, genetics, and protein structure prediction. Other algorithms can be used to manage networks, classify data, and managing queuing systems. The review suggests that we have only just begun to develop nature-inspired systems and that there is great potential to model many different systems in the natural world for addressing a wide range of the problems facing humanity.

Revathi, S.T. and Ramaraj, N. (2024) 'A brief study about nature inspired optimisation algorithms', Int. J. Advanced Intelligence Paradigms, Vol. 28, Nos. 1/2, pp.1–15.
DOI: 10.1504/IJAIP.2024.139952

All companies need to be agile and adept in their management practices to cope with the challenges of the current business landscape. Nowhere is this more marked than in the oil and gas sector. In this sector, volatile conditions stemming from fluctuating oil prices, economic shifts, geopolitical factors, environmental concerns, and dynamic market demands on this sector mean companies have additional pressures in managing their relationships with external stakeholders.

A study in the International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, has focused on the upstream oil and gas sector in Indonesia, an area known for its vibrant oil and gas industry. The research by Muh Arifuddin Budiman, Budi Widjaja Soetjipto, Ratih Dyah Kusumastuti, and Setyo Wijanto of the University of Indonesia, offers new insights into the interplay between organisational agility, stakeholder management, and project success. The team used quantitative analysis to look at data from various national and multinational companies operating within the sector.

Organisational agility is defined as how well a company can react and reallocate resources to maximize value and sustain high-yield activities. By contrast, effective stakeholder management requires something more than agility, it requires an ability to understand and address the needs and influences of all parties involved in or affected by a project. External stakeholders might include buyers, contractors, suppliers, and regulatory agencies. Together organisational agility and stakeholder management capabilities are needed to ensure high-risk, capital-intensive projects with significant social, environmental, and safety considerations are addressed effectively.

The team confirmed their hypothesis and showed that strategic management literacy plays an important part in bringing together organisational agility and stakeholder management to give them project success. Fundamentally, company success therefore needs investment in this kind of literacy.

The team adds that their analytical approach might be useful investigating other industries that operate under volatile and uncertain conditions.

Budiman, M.A., Soetjipto, B.W., Kusumastuti, R.D. and Wijanto, S. (2024) 'The influence of organisational agility and stakeholder management on the success of projects: an empirical study from the oil and gas sectors', Int. J. Project Organisation and Management, Vol. 16, No. 5, pp.1–23.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2024.140206

Research published in the International Journal of Innovation and Learning has reviewed the way we identify "at-risk" students. The study offers new insights into how educational support systems might be improved. Kam Cheong Li, Billy Tak-Ming Wong, and Maggie Liu of Hong Kong Metropolitan University in Homantin, Hong Kong, China, carried out an extensive review of some 233 papers from 2004 to 2023. They looked for common data types, sources, prediction targets, learning analytics methods, and performance metrics and how they are used in this field. The aim being to find the optimal approaches to identifying at-risk students effectively and efficiently.

Cheong and colleagues discuss how learning analytics involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data from various sources such as student performance, behaviour, and engagement. If it is possible to more effectively identify students at risk of academic failure, dropout, or other issues, then timely interventions might be made to address the problems those students are facing and help them make their way through academia successfully or guide them towards alternatives if appropriate.

The analysis highlights that data related to students' academic performance, socio-demographic factors, and learning behaviour have traditionally been the mainstay of at-risk predictions. Most studies, the team reports, focus on identifying students at risk of poor academic performance or dropping out using decision trees, random forests, and artificial neural networks. They add that ensemble methods have come to the fore recently. The team has evaluated these various techniques using performance metrics such as classification accuracy, recall, sensitivity, and true positive rate.

This paper addresses the limitations of earlier literature reviews in this area by providing a comprehensive survey that includes a broad range of data sources and analytics techniques. The findings suggest that using multiple data types and combining various analytics methods and metrics can enhance the accuracy of at-risk student predictions. This emphasizes the need for a multifaceted approach to effectively identify and support such students.

Li, K.C., Wong, B.T-M. and Liu, M. (2024) 'A survey on predicting at-risk students through learning analytics', Int. J. Innovation and Learning, Vol. 36, No. 5, pp.1–15.
DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2024.140170

In the last year or so, the cryptocurrencies market has seen significant fluctuations, which, according to research in the International Journal of Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies, has led to surge in influencer activity on social media. However, Sijie Yu and Jon Padfield of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, point out that despite this increased activity there has been little academic research into the behaviour and impact of cryptocurrency influencers.

The team has endeavoured to fill this gap in our knowledge and has looked at how such influencers – usually individuals, but sometimes organisations, with large numbers of highly engaged followers on social media – affect perception and use of cryptocurrencies. The researchers have explored the classification and impact of influencers based on various metrics such as platform statistics, psychological traits, update content (specifically on the X platform formerly known as Twitter), social connectivity, and cryptocurrency price fluctuations. The researchers have also looked at how decentralized social media platforms have emerged following the change of Twitter ownership and its rebranding as X. Their review highlights some of the unique monetization models that shape influencer activities.

The way in which the cryptocurrency landscape has changed recently with financial approvals, settlements, news platforms, and novel approaches has led many people to turn to influencers for information and advice. Many of these influencers have such large followings and such sway that their online pronouncements are known to affect digital currency values, the value of digital assets known as NFTs (non-fungible tokens), and influence market trends.

The researchers point out that given the influence of such individuals, there is a lot of interest in the ethical and legal aspects of their activities. Much of their behaviour may be beyond the grasp of regulators, but some are being called to account when they fail to declare conflicts of interest in promoting schemes and assets. The current review offers policymakers, regulators, and enforcement, a detailed technical guide for profiling and identifying cryptocurrency influencers. This will allow them to analyse influencer social media content in a more informed manner and so apply the law forcefully.

Yu, S. and Padfield, J. (2024) 'Advanced techniques in profiling cryptocurrency influencers: a review', Int. J. Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies, Vol. 5, No. 5, pp.1–18.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBC.2024.139867

Research in the International Journal of Migration and Border Studies has looked at how government policies in Canada are affecting non-citizen migrant youth in the country's child welfare system. The disheartening reality revealed by Mandeep Kaur Mucina of the University of Victoria, Abigail Lash-Ballew of the University of Toronto, Canada, is that the purportedly interconnected systems – child welfare, immigration, and criminal justice – are leading to ongoing instability for these people and systemic oppression.

The researchers looked at four youth who were formerly in the care system, who each live with precarious legal status. Their findings suggest that there is a transcarceral framework in place, a disturbing pipeline that funnels youth from welfare to incarceration and thence to deportation even where that is wholly inappropriate for a given case.

Canada is often celebrated for its inclusive stance towards migrants. However, this study shows a starkly different reality for non-citizen migrant youth. Without citizenship or permanent residency, these young individuals live under the constant threat of deportation, particularly when they come into contact with the criminal justice system. The team has looked at the lives of four young women as case studies of the issues and problems they face.

The research reveals deficiencies in the child welfare system that simply do not address the unique needs and rights of migrant youth. It also alludes to the psychological scars these young women bear, despite their successfully resisting deportation with the support of legal advocates and organizations. The harsh transition from protected child to being deemed a disposable adult fit only for incarceration and deportation makes criminals of innocent youth. The team, thus drawing attention to this crimmigration process, hopes to see policy changed so that the necessary care and support are at the forefront of the nation's approach to young migrants rather than the surveillance and marginalization that often frame these people as a threat.

Mucina, M.K. and Lash-Ballew, A. (2024) 'Narratives from non-citizen former youth in child welfare care fighting crimmigration and deportation', Int. J. Migration and Border Studies, Vol. 8, Nos. 1/2, pp.35–55.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMBS.2024.140104

Researchers in India have expanded the well-known theory of planned behaviour to obtain useful marketing and policy insights concerning the sustainability choices of consumers when it comes to food. The work, published in the International Journal of Sustainable Society, analysed data from 440 Indian households via self-administered questionnaires, which were then analysed using structural equation modelling. The addition of three variables – environmental knowledge, personal norms, and product attributes – not commonly used in traditional TPB model allowed the researchers to extract implications for various stakeholders, including producers, marketers, government agencies, and policymakers.

Priyanka Garg and Ashish Kumar of the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in New Delhi, and Raj Kumar Mittal of the Chaudhary Bansi Lal University in Haryana, India, demonstrated that their extended model could account for much of the variance in behavioural intentions. It showed that product attributes are the strongest predictor of sustainable food consumption behaviour. By contrast, and perhaps surprisingly, social norms had far less influence on the choices made by consumers. This, the team suggests, implies that factors such as food labelling, quality, and price must play a significant role in shaping choice rather than societal and peer pressure.

This research sits in the middle of growing global food and environmental crises. We are seeing continued population growth, environmental degradation and habitat loss, as well as the detrimental effects of climate change. As such, there are increasing pressures on agriculture and food resources. This is all despite, and perhaps in some ways, because of technological advances. There is a pressing need to shift our approach to food security towards more sustainable options. Sustainable dietary practices, including the consumption of local and plant-based foods rather than intensively produced meat products, could play a role in this. The side effects might even be a boost to our overall health, as well as a reduction in the environmental impact of food production. However, making such changes requires commitment and our ability to overcome many deeply ingrained cultural and social practices.

There is potential to change attitudes through clear, informative food labelling as well as educational campaigns to emphasize the benefits of sustainable food products. If marketing strategies can be aligned with addressing the ongoing crises, then consumer preferences might change and we could see the more widespread adoption of sustainable food choices. However, the market share for sustainable food products remains low. This suggests the need for a concerted effort from all stakeholders – producers, marketers, governments, and campaigners – to persuade consumers to make the sustainable choice.

Garg, P., Kumar, A. and Mittal, R.K. (2024) 'Sustainable food consumption behaviour: what really matters!', Int. J. Sustainable Society, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp.125–149.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2024.139496

The "five whys" technique is a problem-solving approach that involves repeatedly asking "why" to uncover the root cause of a failure. It is widely used in manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, aerospace and aviation, and in the service industries. However, it has limitations, not least a lack of understanding of how to use the approach correctly. Research in the International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage has now looked at how the method can be used as either a superficial brainstorming tool or a rigorous investigative process and that understanding the approach in detail is essential to good quality control and safety in many different sectors.

The "five whys" is the modus operandi of many a root-cause analysis. It is a systematic approach that can be used to identify the causes of a given problem or failure so that a recurrence might be prevented. Matthew Barsalou of QPLUS in Manama, Bahrain, Beata Starzynska of Poznan University of Technology in Poznan, and Maria Konrad of Spawmet Zbigniew Kaczmarek in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland, explain that the efficacy of the "five whys" method works by alternating between asking "why" and conducting empirical investigations to validate each cause identified. For instance, if a bolt breaks and the answer to the question "why?" is simply because it was a weak or faulty bolt, then simply replacing it with a stronger bolt may well fail to address the underlying issue if the true cause of the bolt's demise was vibration in the system. The correct use of the "five whys" ensures that the underlying cause is found and mitigated.

The team has carried out a comprehensive review of the literature in this area and categorized the descriptions of the "five whys" problem-solving approach into three distinct groups. The first is the simplified approach that merely asks why without empirical evidence. The second is the empirical approach that requires actual investigation following each "why?". The third is ambiguous use, where the item in the research literature was unclear as to the precise usage of the method. The researchers found that more than half of the research literature described the "five whys" as a simple brainstorming tool. Only a minority highlighted the necessity of empirical investigation to validate each step.

The team followed up their review by surveying organisations about their use of the "five whys" method. This survey vindicated the review findings to reveal that many organisations simply used the "five whys" as a brainstorming method rather than an investigative approach. However, they note that those organisations that used the method frequently were more likely to recognize the importance of thorough investigation to back up the answer to each question "why?"

The problem that is obvious in retrospect is that the approach is being misused widely, leading to ineffective solutions and unresolved issues. Brainstorming alone is usually insufficient to identify the true cause of a problem, whereas empirical investigation after each "why" ensures solutions are based on verified causes, leading to more reliable and effective problem-solving.

Barsalou, M., Starzynska, B. and Konrad, M. (2024) 'Five whys: a possible path to failure', Int. J. Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp.19–32.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCA.2024.139599

Research in the International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering introduces a new approach to controlling mineral processing that uses active sensing. This method embeds intelligence within sensor systems, significantly reducing the need for human intervention in the process to improve efficiency and precision in mineral separation processes. Even tiny improvements in efficiency can have a major economic impact on processing of ores containing copper, lead, and zinc, and even more so in the case of precious metals.

Active sensing involves the integration of intelligent sensor systems that minimize human involvement by optimizing measurement processes. These systems use a combination of different measurements to put detailed information into the broader context. Primary measurements are precise but limited in range while auxiliary measurements provide broader, but more diffuse, data that can be used to guide the primary sensors to specific areas of interest that need detailed measurements.

Mikko Salo, Teijo Juntunen, and Risto Ritala of Tampere University in Tampere, Finland, have looked at this approach for froth flotation, an important process used in mineral processing. Froth flotation separates minerals based on how they interact with water, their water-repellent, or hydrophobic, character. A slurry of mixed minerals and water is treated with reagents to make certain particles hydrophobic, this makes them accumulate on air bubbles and so rise to the surface as froth. This froth containing much of the mineral of interest from the slurry can be scooped off as concentrate for further purification and processing. The remaining slurry, known as tailings, flows out of the system.

In most contexts, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis is used to measure mineral concentrations in froth flotation. While XRF is precise, it is slow and expensive. It also only works sequentially, typically measuring multiple slurry lines one after the other, which also reduces efficiency.

As a cost-effective alternative, visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectral measurements might be used. VNIR measurements works faster, with one measurement every three seconds, instead of one every five minutes with XRF. But VNIR data is less accurate than XRF and needs continuous calibration based on XRF data.

To overcome these limitations, the researchers have developed a control architecture using a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controller with exception handling. They have used a simulated environment with plant data from the froth flotation process to test this approach. They demonstrated that the architecture optimizes the measurement sequence and incorporates interruptions when VNIR data detects anomalies. This ensures timely and accurate responses to process disturbances.

Salo, M., Juntunen, T. and Ritala, R. (2024) 'Active sensing in froth flotation', Int. J. Mining and Mineral Engineering, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp.111–130.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2024.140070

Research in the International Journal of Management Practice has looked at the relationship between job stress and well-being in people who are pet owners. The work suggests that pets can play a significant part in their owners' lives beyond the obvious role of owning a pet. Jehn-Yih Wong, Ying-Ying Cheng, Chia-Ying ChouHua, and Shih-Hao Liu of Ming Chuan University in Taipei, Taiwan, surveyed 228 pet owners in order to investigate how job stress impacts life satisfaction and emotional exhaustion and to determine whether a strong attachment with a pet can ameliorate these potentially detrimental effects.

Job stress is defined as anxiety, dissatisfaction and other negative emotions associated with one's work. They can all affect emotional and physical health. The researchers reiterate earlier findings that found that high levels of job stress are linked to decreased life satisfaction and increased emotional exhaustion. They raise the idea of coping mechanisms and used structural equation modelling and multi-group analysis to tease out the relationships better pet owners with a strong emotional attachment to their animals and job stress.

Intriguingly, the team found that while pet attachment did not actually influence a person's overall life satisfaction, it had an effect on emotional exhaustion in those suffering job stress. Pet owners with stronger attachments to their pets actually reported higher levels of emotional exhaustion than those with weaker attachments. This seems to be a counterintuitive finding that suggests that while pets provide significant companionship and emotional support, a deeper attachment may also amplify the emotional burden during stressful periods. Conversely, it might be that those people with strong attachments to their pets are more likely to be in touch with their emotions and able to recognise and express that kind of exhaustion more readily than others.

Less paradoxically, those pet owners who felt a strong bond with their pets did report that the negative impact of job stress on life satisfaction was less pronounced. Similarly, the reported greater emotional exhaustion associated with job stress in those people was somewhat mitigated by having a pet. This indicates that pet attachment can serve as a form of social support, helping to buffer against the adverse effects of stress in a manner similar to support from close human relationships.

Wong, J-Y., Cheng, Y-Y., ChouHua, C-Y. and Liu, S-H. (2024) 'Job stress and well-being: the moderating role of pet attachment', Int. J. Management Practice, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp.448–462.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2024.139697

A study in the European Journal of International Management sheds light on gender differences in how job embeddedness affects expatriates. This is especially true when individual face unexpected challenges, the research suggests.

Job embeddedness theory says that individuals who feel a strong sense of integration with their work environment and community are less inclined to leave their jobs, even during difficult times. The theory hinges on three primary dimensions: fit, links, and sacrifices. "Fit" describes the alignment an individual feels with their job and community. "Links" refer to their interpersonal connections, both at work and within the community. "Sacrifices" are the perceived costs associated with leaving their current environment. The more embedded someone is in terms of these various factors, the less likely they are to leave their job, particularly when they face unexpected events, "external shocks", that might prompt them to reconsider their position.

Sonja Sperber of Vienna University of Economics and Business in Vienna, Austria and Christian Linder of the University of Côte d'Azur, Suresnes, France, explain that research in this area has tended to focus on male expatriates. As such, there is an obvious and significant gap in our understanding of job embeddedness. The team hopes to begin to fill this gap. They have analysed data from expatriates in the United Kingdom and used Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to identify what factors influence employment turnover intentions among male and female expatriates having faced some kind of shock.

Migration and the movement of skilled female workers in particular has become an important trend in recent years and is not expected to decline. It is known that many female expatriates face issues not experienced by their male counterparts. Many of these issues are associated with why they have migrated, the cultural adjustments they must make, the balancing of family responsibilities, and the management of gender stereotypes. These factors can affect their experience and also whether they choose to remain in their position when faced with shocks.

The team found that the concept of "fit" appears to be more crucial for female expatriates. This suggests that women tend to prioritize how well they align with their job and community. In contrast, male expatriates apparently emphasize the "sacrifices" involved in leaving their job, indicating a greater focus on the costs of leaving their current position.

Such differences point to a need to consider gender-specific perspectives in job embeddedness theory and human resource management practices. Understanding the differences will allow HR managers and others to develop more nuanced and effective support mechanisms for expatriate employees. A one-size-fits-all approach is wholly inadequate, the work would suggest. Gender-sensitive human resource policies could be critical in helping expatriate employees cope with shocks, and at the same time help organizations with the retention of their skilled international workforce.

Sperber, S. and Linder, C. (2024) 'When the going gets tougher: international assignments, external shocks and the factor of gender', European J. International Management, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp.537–567.
DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.139797

Cross-border e-commerce has transformed international trade. Nowhere are the changes more keenly felt than in China where e-commerce has moved business away from traditional, large-scale trade towards more fragmented, personalized, and frequent transactions. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) along with solo entrepreneurs are now at the forefront of this change.

Banban Mao of Hunan Vocational College of Commerce and Hua Tian of the Hunan International Economics University, China, discuss the impact of this change on the "green" food industry. The sector focuses on environmentally friendly and sustainable food production and has embraced technology such as "big data" and collaborative innovation where information sharing and coordination across the entire supply chain, from producer to retailer is critical to success. Writing in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology, the team discusses how the implementation of intelligent supply chain collaboration and the integration of online and offline operations can allow the green food industry to respond more effectively to market demands and the evolving internet economy.

The team points out that these changes have not been without their challenges. The rapid rise of cross-border e-commerce has meant an increased reliance on third-party platforms, and this builds information silos and complicates data sharing and transparency. The researchers add that the complex nature of the supply chain also makes it difficult to verify product legitimacy and quality as well as adding logistical challenges that reduce efficiency.

Additionally, high cross-border payment costs and security risks, coupled with the various international regulations and legal standards, add obstacles to what might otherwise be seamless trade operations.

Blockchain technology might well offer a way to address many of these problems. Blockchain provides a secure and transparent method for recording transactions and sharing information. Thus, by establishing a cross-border e-commerce alliance chain, blockchain could be used to streamline intermediary processes and enhance trust among participants. The research demonstrates how technology might add value to the green food supply chain.

Mao, B. and Tian, H. (2024) 'Business model based on the synergistic drive of flexible supply chain and digital marketing', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 8, pp.1–19.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.139868

Education has already been transformed radically by technological advancements and by societal changes. Traditional, classroom and lecture-based models have evolved into more interactive and engaging approaches. However, challenges remain, and the student experience is not always as they and their educators might hope for. A study in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has looked at how virtual reality (VR) technology might be integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) teaching platforms to create a more immersive and interactive educational experience for certain parts of the curriculum.

Dafei Wu of the School of Information Engineering at Hunan University of Science and Engineering in Yongzhou, Hunan, China discusses how VR technology provides an immersive environment and could for many students enhance traditional teaching methods by offering a dynamic and engaging platform. When combined with the IoT that allows interconnected devices to interact with their environment and exchange data, the potential of VR might be opened up even further, changing how educational content might be delivered and so experienced.

Wu suggests that this kind of integration could lead to novel teaching methods paradigm to the benefit of students. It might even be tailored to be more closely aligned with society and industry requirements from the educational system. Conventional teaching methods often keep theoretical and practical learning separate, the world of VR technology coupled with the IoT might help better support teaching objectives and student development.

Fundamentally, with such an approach, students might access course materials and engage with content at any time and anywhere, thus allowing them to experience continuous learning and develop skills at their own pace within the overall educational framework. This, Wu suggests, might be particularly useful on courses where the demand for resources often exceeds availability.

"Simulation results demonstrate VR's extensive applicability, offering a broader and more open educational platform," concludes Wu. He adds that "Future endeavours should focus on effectively combining immersive IoT with higher education to enhance educational outcomes."

Wu, D. (2024) 'Design and implementation method of immersive IoT teaching platform based on virtual reality technology', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 8, pp.76–89.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.139865

Recent upheavals in the global market have put supply chains under immense pressure and the logistics and road transportation sectors are struggling to keep apace with geopolitical tensions, rampant inflation, and the rising demand for sustainability as well as many other issues. Rising energy costs and a shortage of qualified drivers are also adding to the burden. Research in the International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering has looked at the potential for Horizontal Logistics Collaboration to overcome many of the problems.

Taher Ahmadi, Jack A.A. van der Veen, and V. Venugopal of the Nyenrode Business Universiteit in Breukelen, The Netherlands, and Mehdi A. Kamran of the German University of Technology in Oman, Muscat, Oman, discuss how HLC involves different companies combining their transportation or logistics activities to mutual benefit in the face of the afore-mentioned growing challenges. This strategy aims to enhance economic, social, and environmental outcomes by optimizing the use of vehicles and so reduce transportation costs as well as carbon emissions.

However, while the theoretical benefits of HLC are well-documented, practical implementation has not lived up to expectations, the work suggests. The main obstacle is a lack of understanding regarding the hidden coordination costs, particularly those associated with inventory and warehousing.

The new study has investigated the complexities of HLC and developed a quantitative model of two supply chains. Each supply chain includes a single buyer and supplier situated in different regions. The model then compares and contrasts two scenarios: a standalone case in which each buyer manages transportation independently, and a second HLC scenario wherein the buyers coordinate inventory replenishments and deliveries using shared transport vehicles.

The team found that while the HLC scenario did reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions, it also introduced a downside in terms of higher warehousing costs. This increase stemmed from the need for synchronized, but less-than-optimal, ordering frequencies. The extra warehousing costs could negate the benefits of HLC as well as adding a layer of complexity to the decision-making process for companies considering this collaborative approach.

Nevertheless, the study shows just how important it is to evaluate the total costs for transportation and warehousing, rather than simply focusing on the potential transportation savings. Of course, there may well be ways to optimize such an approach and make it work better for all parties involved. If collaborating parties can mesh more effectively in terms of geographic proximity and order frequency, then they might gain all the pros with much-reduced cons of HLC.

Ahmadi, T., van der Veen, J.A.A., Venugopal, V. and Kamran, M.A. (2024) 'Conditions for viable horizontal collaborative transport: insights from a stylised model', Int. J. Industrial and Systems Engineering, Vol. 47, No. 5, pp.1–35.
DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2024.139945

The emergence of so-called deepfake technology, which commonly involves the generation of fake images, video, and sound that seem so authentic as to confuse even expert viewers and listeners is at the point where it can influence important aspects of our lives, such as politics, finance, and beyond. This new era of deception sees sophisticated image and video forgeries making the headlines. Often these deepfakes are identified quickly, but sometimes the damage may well already be done once the deepfakes are called out, especially given the rate in which videos and other digital media can go viral on social media.

Digital manipulations that alter or completely synthesize faces, have become alarmingly convincing, contributing to fake news and eroding public trust in digital media. Research in the International Journal of Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems has led to a new approach that spots illumination inconsistencies within images and so can identify whether a video or photograph is a deepfake.

According to Fei Gu, Yunshu Dai, Jianwei Fei, and Xianyi Chen of Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology in Nanjing, China, deepfakes, which can be classified into four main types: identity swaps, expression swaps, attribute manipulations, and entire face synthesis. Each poses different threats and risk to. Identity swaps, where one person's face is replaced with another's, and expression swaps, which transfer facial expressions from one individual to another, are particularly worrying. Deepfakes can cause serious harm to the reputation and perception of the individuals or groups that are being deepfaked.

The usual approach to deepfake detection is to take a binary classification approach. However, the conventional approach can fail if the video or images are highly compressed or of poor quality. Compression and quality can obfuscate facial features and reduce the trust in deepfake detection.

Even expert deepfakers can falter when it comes to getting the lighting matched perfectly between altered and unaltered regions in an image or video. It is this issue that Gu and colleagues have focused on in their detection method, which uses a neural network to spot illumination discrepancies.

Gu, F., Dai, Y., Fei, J. and Chen, X. (2024) 'Deepfake detection and localisation based on illumination inconsistency', Int. J. Autonomous and Adaptive Communications Systems, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp.352–368.
DOI: 10.1504/IJAACS.2024.139383

Middle managers play an important role in an organisation undergoing structural change. They are the ones who must implement the changes, but conversely as employees they will be subject to the very changes they put in place. This can often put them in a place of conflicting demands, where they must manage their own stress and uncertainty while carrying out new directives that will affect their colleagues and subordinates.

A study in the International Journal of Work Organisation and Emotion has taken a major bank as a case study in order to look at how middle managers might cope with this stress during corporate restructuring and what strategies they might use to overcome the stress and find their way around the many challenges.

Pravitha Jogie, Annemarie Davis, and Catherine Le Roux of the Department of Business Management at the University of South Africa in the City of Tshwane suggest that middle managers generally respond to corporate restructuring in one of two ways. They either cope or they "cop out" and evade the responsibilities placed on them in some way. The team explains that coping usually involves proactive strategies such as positive reframing, where managers view themselves as agents of change and engage with the process. Positive reframing allows middle managers to perceive restructuring as an opportunity for growth and improvement. By contrast, "copping out" refers to disengagement and withdrawal behaviour, such as territorialism, where the middle manager protects their own interests and is perhaps involved in spreading rumours, all of which can disrupt the restructuring process but also provide something of a psychological escape route for the managers who engage in such behaviour.

The business environment has always been marked by constant change where globalization, economic fluctuations, technological advancements, and international crises affect the way a company operates and its bottom line. The team explains that the financial services sector faces particularly intense competition, regulatory changes, and digital transformation. These factors have led to frequent organizational restructuring for many companies, which puts pressure on the middle managers to interpret, communicate, and implement new structures and strategies.

The research suggests that it is obviously better that middle managers cope rather than cop out, and points to the learning of new skills and networking with peers and mentors as being useful tools to help in this regard. They even suggest that engaging in hobbies or other "extracurricular" activities might be useful coping mechanisms. It is possible then for a manager to maintain a sense of control and purpose, as this is essential for their mental well-being and their productivity in the workplace, as well as ensuring the same for colleagues and subordinates.

However, the research often showed the converse. Middle managers might become withdrawn and disengage from the task at hand. This was especially common among managers who felt powerless or unsupported, indicating a need for organisations to foster a supportive environment to ensure smooth restructuring when this is needed.

Jogie, P., Davis, A. and Le Roux, C. (2024) 'Middle managers' practices during organisational restructuring: coping or copping out?', Int. J. Work Organisation and Emotion, Vol. 15, No. 5, pp.1–21.
DOI: 10.1504/IJWOE.2024.139912

The Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus, is renowned for its striking appearance and perhaps even more than that, its remarkable long-distance migration. The population present in North America heads south each year in the late-summer, early autumn, travelling thousands of miles to its wintering grounds. The prowess of these magnificent butterflies as natural aviators is beyond doubt. Unlike almost every other species of butterfly, Monarchs do not have coupled forewings and hindwings. This gives them unique flight stability and manoeuvrability that allows them to generate great lift and navigate efficiently, even at low speeds and high angles of attack.

Research in Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, An International Journal, has investigated the aerodynamics of the Monarch Butterfly. The work provides new insights into the species itself but also points to the potential for non-fixed wing micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs). Fadile Yudum Comez and Dilek Funda Kurtulus of the Middle East Technical University, and Nevsan Sengil of the University of Turkish Aeronautical Association in Ankara, Turkey, have used a model of the butterfly's wings to investigate the flow field around fully opened forewings at various angles of attack. With this study, the team hoped to understand the complex aerodynamic phenomena that allow these butterflies to fly so well.

The researchers used computational fluid dynamics simulations, including unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations, to analyse the airflow around the model of the Monarch's rigid wings. An important finding from the study was the recognition of significant differences in the aerodynamic performance in smooth (laminar) or turbulent flow models, particularly at higher angles of attack. They showed that the maximum lift-to-drag ratio was achieved at an angle of 30 degrees, but the wings "stall" at 40 degrees. Such insights will be useful in designing and developing micro-aerial vehicles that might mimic Monarchs. Such flying machines may well one day be magnificent, but the designs will have to be able to copy with unsteady aerodynamic effects.

Comez, F.Y., Sengil, N. and Kurtulus, D.F. (2024) 'Three-dimensional flow evaluation of monarch butterfly wing', Progress in Computational Fluid Dynamics, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp.191–203.
DOI: 10.1504/PCFD.2024.139335

Research in the International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation has investigated how the preparedness of university students and graduates for the complexities of the job market might be improved. A software application that integrates challenge-based learning (CBL) with a personalized chatbot is introduced and the benefits discussed. The findings suggest that this innovative approach might well address some of the longstanding issues associated with conventional education and how to equip students with both the technical knowledge and the soft skills required in the world of work.

Andrea Sofia Cornejo Paredes, Alexander Acuña Ramírez, Beatrice Cueva Medina, Aremi Isabel Paja Medina, José David Esquicha Tejada, and José Alfredo Sulla-Torres of the Universidad Católica de Santa María in Arequipa, Perú, explain that challenge-based learning, CBL, is a learner-centric educational tool that focuses on solving real-world problems and conducting research that contributes to societal development. The approach contrasts with conventional learning methods, which often prioritize theoretical knowledge over practical applications. By focusing on real-world challenges, CBL can be used to help learners develop critical skills such as teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving.

In the present work, the team has developed software, a mobile application, or app, using agile methodologies including the open workbench Scrum and a lean startup approach. These prioritize iterative development, user feedback, and minimal wasted resources, so that the final product meets user needs most efficiently. The app facilitates the publication and management of both academic and business challenges, providing a dynamic platform for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in practical scenarios.

One of the main features of this application is its integration of a personalized chatbot. This AI-driven assistant supports students by answering queries related to CBL, so improving their understanding and effective use of the learning approach itself. The chatbot can offer immediate, tailored responses so that the learners receive the help they need precisely when they need it, making the learning process more efficient and engaging.

Cornejo Paredes, A.S., Acuña Ramírez, A., Cueva Medina, B., Paja Medina, A.I., Esquicha Tejada, J.D. and Sulla-Torres, J.A. (2024) 'Mobile application that integrates challenge-based learning with a chatbot to encourage innovation in university students', Int. J. Mobile Learning and Organisation, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp.363–380.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMLO.2024.139718

Research in the International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy has looked at the concept of "fight-or-flight", a behavioural theory that was first proposed by American physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon in 1915. The idea also "hyperarousal" or the "acute stress response" is an animal's physiological reaction to threats and is a survival response to that threat. Vidar Top, Carl Åberg, and Ole Boe of the University of South-Eastern Norway, have focused on fight-or-flight in the context of human conflict. They have undertaken a comprehensive literature review and carried out a comparative concept analysis to develop a unified understanding of how people react under pressure.

The fight-or-flight concept has underpinned our understanding of animal behaviour and our own actions for more than a century. The concept has also evolved in that time and been applied to many different situations from one on one interactions, conflicts in the workplace, and at the international level.

The team points out that despite extensive research, there remain inconsistencies and competing arguments about how emotions like anger and fear affect our behaviour. In order to address these inconsistencies, the team has analysed various word pairs related to the fight-or-flight response, finding that the terms "violence" and "silence" are common reference points that can encapsulate much of the behaviour associated with fight-or-flight. This, the team suggests, might unify diverse research perspectives and so could help with cross-disciplinary collaboration.

One of the study's insights is the redefinition of silence. We might have conventionally perceived silence as a passive behaviour. However, in some contexts, silence is very much a proactive stance, often a deliberate tactic to withhold information from an aggressor. Silence might thus be a non-verbal form of violence, presenting as passive-aggressive behaviour. Silence may therefore have a much more active role in workplace dynamics, for instance, where it might be used to navigate office politics or ostracize colleagues.

Conversely, the study also redefines the term "violence" to include aggressive communication tactics. This kind of non-physical action is often used by leaders to gain support or intimidate opponents. There are more subtle power plays and emotional undercurrents in human interactions than the simplistic "fight-or-flight" might suggest. In other words, by expanding the definitions of violence and silence in this way, the researchers have moved the theory beyond a binary paradigm and revealed a more complex picture of how we respond to conflict.

Such new understanding might help in conflict management and so allow us to foster innovation, strengthen relationships at all levels, and enhance decision-making.

Top, V., Åberg, C. and Boe, O. (2024) 'Revisiting Walter Bradford Cannon's 100-year-old fight-or-flight concept', Int. J. Management Concepts and Philosophy, Vol. 17, No. 5, pp.1–35.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2024.139807

Business environments that foster innovative work behaviour can become more competitive. If employees can introduce new ideas, processes, and solutions, then the company can thrive. An intriguing, yet little explored, factor that can significantly influence this is discussed in the International Journal of Work Innovation – workplace humour.

A. Rajeswari and Pulidindi Venugopal of the Vellore Institute of Technology in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, discuss how workplace humour, often seen as merely a source of entertainment, can have a greater significance in terms of employee attitudes, motivation, and overall work dynamics. The team has looked at the relationship between positive humour and innovative work behaviour, having surveyed 236 information technology (IT) employees. They found a positive association using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling to analyse the results of their survey. The work suggests that a workplace culture encouraging humour might improve innovative behaviour among employees and ultimately improve the company's bottom line.

Humour as a way to tighten social bonds among employees, reduce stress, and even improve overall well-being has been noted in earlier studies. The benefits lead to greater job satisfaction, improved communication among colleagues, and better performance. There are additional benefits in terms of improved group cohesion, higher employee engagement, and reduced numbers of employees suffering burnout.

It is important that any company hoping to harness the power of humour should ensure it promotes positive, constructive humour that enhances well-being and creativity. There are various strategies that a company might use such as encouraging light-hearted interactions, celebrating successes with humour, and creating opportunities for employees to share amusing experiences.

Leadership thus plays an important role in setting the tone for humour in the workplace. Managers who are role models for positive humour can create an environment where employees feel safe to express themselves creatively and engage more deeply with their work. This top-down approach can ensure that humour is part of the organizational ethos and so cultivate an environment where a cohesive and happy workforce can grow and innovate to the benefit of both employee and employer.

Rajeswari, A. and Venugopal, P. (2024) 'Examining the role of workplace humour in stimulating innovative work behaviour – an empirical investigation using structural equation modelling', Int. J. Work Innovation, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp.226–243.
DOI: 10.1504/IJWI.2024.139443

Education and financial support are critical to whether or not women become entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, according to research in the International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets. The same study, which surveyed more than 350 female entrepreneurs, also suggests that government, social support, and national culture do not substantially influence a woman's decision to pursue entrepreneurship.

Md. Shahadat Hossain of the Universiti Putra Malaysia, Weng Marc Lim of Sunway University both in Selangor, Malaysia, and Md Asadul Islam of BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, discuss how the global rise of female entrepreneurship is an important trend. It has been driven by technological advancements that have democratized access to business opportunities. Digital platforms have made it easier and safer for women to engage in entrepreneurial activities, facilitating online sales and other business operations. This is particularly apparent in developing nations. However, despite the progress, women entrepreneurs continue to face significant challenges associated with caregiving responsibilities, a lack of family support, and barriers across society.

The team suggests that understanding the motivations of female entrepreneurs is important to improving access to business and support. It will help in increasing the number of women entering the entrepreneurial space, provide support for those already engaged in entrepreneurial activities, and boost the potential of female entrepreneurship.

Education equips women with the knowledge and skills for starting and running their own businesses. An improved understanding of the impact of education can help fill knowledge gaps and guide both educators and policymakers. Financial support, which includes access to funding for business start-up and growth, is also a critical factor in whether women choose to start a business. There is perhaps now a need for better financial interventions to foster female entrepreneurship.

The researchers suggest that the work could have far-reaching implications, particularly in developing nations and in collectivist societies, such as Bangladesh, where traditional support mechanisms may be less effective. There is a need to empower women through education and financial resources more effectively and to move away from relying on somewhat lacking government support structures as well as surmounting social barriers.

Hossain, M.S., Lim, W.M. and Islam, M.A. (2024) 'Women entrepreneurship: the role of education, national culture, and various supports', Int. J. Business and Emerging Markets, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp.429–452.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBEM.2024.139473

Aligning curricula with industry need has long been recognized as an important factor in making academic courses relevant to the job market. One effective approach involves educators collaborating with industry stakeholders to help shape the academic programs offered. Such collaboration leads to knowledge exchange and potentially an improved social impact of the education system in areas relevant to industry. Such an approach can help equip students with practical skills and knowledge that will be valued by potential employers

Research in the International Journal of Business Performance Management looks at one method of aligning higher education curricula with industry requirements through an industry-driven curriculum framework. Tamilselvan Mahalingam of the Higher Colleges of Technology, Dubai Men's Campus in Dubai International Academic City, UAE, has worked with subject-matter experts from various sectors to review syllabuses in order to identify gaps. The research shows the benefits of the approach in a specific institutional setting, which may well be more widely applicable. The results show the value of integrating an industry-driven curriculum framework into curriculum design and delivery to bridge the gap between academic offerings and industry needs.

Of course, the concept of co-creating curricula is not new, and many educational institutions worldwide have adopted it with varying success. The research literature shows the benefits of such collaborations, including better graduate employability and curricula that better reflect industry requirements. However, the approaches to engaging industry partners differ significantly among institutions, and clear governance structures for these collaborations have proven advantageous.

Mahalingam's approach fits the mould in this regard. Instead of focusing on developing generic frameworks and best practices and overlooking specific recommendations for co-creating curricula, the new work offers a dedicated framework. This framework can be integrated with the institution's existing governance system in order to improve collaboration and course content. Mahalingam demonstrates how valuable this framework approach could be and adds that continuous evaluation and adaptation would be important to maintaining its effectiveness in an ever-changing industry landscape.

Mahalingam, T. (2024) 'Bridging the gap between academia and industry: a case study of collaborative curriculum development', Int. J. Business Performance Management, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp.589–603.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.2024.139482

Research in the International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development has found that our feelings and attitudes during times of crises affect our behaviour and that during a globally testing times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, governments should make themselves fully aware of this prior to communicating with the public on the policy matters associated with addressing such a crisis.

Kirti Dutta of Rishihood University in Haryana, India, Guillaume P. Fernandez of the Academy of Marketing and Communications SAWI in Geneva, Bart F. Norré and Joaquin Fernandez of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland in Marly, Switzerland, Dorota Reykowska of NEUROHM and Rafal Ohme of WSB University in Warsaw, Poland, Dunia Harajli of the Lebanese American University in Beirut, Lebanon, used the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) in their study. They focused on declared behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and Sweden. Their findings offer useful insight for policymakers hoping to improve the government response to such a health crisis.

TPB, originally developed by social psychologist Icek Ajzen, extended the theory of reasoned action and suggests that our behaviour has three main drivers: personal attitudes and views towards that behaviour, subjective norms, such as perceived social pressures to perform or not perform said behaviour, and perceived behavioural control, the ease or difficulty faced in performing the behaviour.

Dutta and colleagues used this framework to look at the complex way in which people responded to the pandemic. Fundamentally, they found that people's perceived threats from the pandemic significantly affected their behaviour, as one might expect. But, the effect was both direct and indirect, and attitude then played an important part in how people responded to the different ways in which governments attempted to handle the pandemic. The team notes that in Australia and New Zealand, where the speed with which COVID-19 spread was lower than elsewhere, there were higher levels of social cooperation and positive public attitudes towards the health measures implemented by government. In contrast, the USA, India, and Brazil encountered challenges because of a lower level of public compliance.

The research suggests that policymakers must prioritize understanding and shaping public attitudes through better strategic communication. This would allow them to improve the positive impact of any health measures needed during a future pandemic. Of course, public compliance during such a crisis may well pivot markedly depending on the behaviour and compliance of those policymakers themselves.

In the broader context of the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings emphasize the importance of public attitudes in shaping behaviour. Governments worldwide will have to face global crises again. The study offers useful pointers on enhancing public health strategies and fostering greater social cooperation.

Dutta, K., Fernandez, G.P., Norré, B.F., Reykowska, D., Ohme, R., Harajli, D. and Fernandez, J. (2024) 'Knowledge of declared behaviour: effect of attitude and intention', Int. J. Knowledge-Based Development, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp.133–161.
DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2024.139361

Research in the International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing has investigated the effect of celebrity endorsements on consumer attitudes and purchasing decisions. The work focused on particular well-known brands and the influence of fan identification.

Eduardo Fons, Maria-José Miquel-Romero, Manuel Cuadrado-García, and Juan D. Montoro-Pons of the University of Valencia in Valencia, Spain, surveyed 324 Spanish football league fans. They asked questions to find out about brand recall, brand attitudes, and purchase intentions related to celebrity-endorsed sports brands. The team's findings challenge the received wisdom that prominent brands significantly benefit from celebrity endorsements. Indeed, the implication is that the glamour has faded somewhat and that fans in this niche are perhaps experiencing celebrity fatigue when it comes to these kinds of so-called influencers.

Since the 1960s, sport has evolved into a major form of mass entertainment. Athletes in many sporting areas, particularly football (soccer) leading players at the big teams have become celebrities. As such, these people can attract not only enormous fees from their clubs but command significant sponsorship from brands hoping to exploit their fame.

Billions of dollars are invested in sponsorships each year, with some two-thirds of that being directed toward sports. Celebrity endorsement as a marketing strategy has for many years been a big part of this especially in attempting to influence younger people with disposable income.

However, the present study suggests that the effectiveness of celebrity endorsements depends on the attributes of both the celebrity and the brand. Celebrities and brands bring unique characteristics to an endorsement relationship, and their compatibility can significantly impact the campaign's success. The team adds that until this work there was something of a gap in the research literature regarding the differential effects of celebrities and brands in endorsement campaigns, especially when both are already well-known.

The most important finding from the work is that a fan's identification with a celebrity plays a crucial role in their perception of endorsements. Fans who strongly identify with a celebrity are more likely to recall the endorsed brand and exhibit positive attitudes and purchase intentions towards it. However, for prominent brands, celebrity endorsement does not change this significantly. In other words, celebrity endorsement does not necessarily boost sales of a previously strong and prominent brand. Marketing departments for such brands might save their money and side-step the sports stars.

Fons, E., Miquel-Romero, M-J., Cuadrado-García, M. and Montoro-Pons, J.D. (2024) 'I like you, but I don't need you: the diminishing returns of celebrity endorsement for popular brands', Int. J. Sport Management and Marketing, Vol. 24, Nos. 3/4, pp.244–261.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2024.138985

The relationship between running experience, running mechanics, and the risk of injury, particularly to the knees is discussed in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology. The research looks at the differences in joint loading and muscle forces between novice and experienced runners.

Zhihui Kang of Ningbo University of Finance and Economics in Ningbo, China, and Xinyan Jiang of Obuda University in Budapest, Hungary, carried out a 3D running analysis of fifteen novice and fifteen experienced runners and used OpenSim software to model the behaviour of the musculoskeletal system, estimating lower limb muscle forces and knee joint loading.

The team found that there were notable differences in running mechanics between each group. Novice runners exhibited significantly higher knee loading and muscle forces during most of the stance phase of running compared to their experienced counterparts. This increased loading would coincide with a higher susceptibility to lower extremity injuries, such as sprains, strains and ruptures of the knee join, among novice runners. Understanding the biomechanics and neuromuscular control of running movements is crucial for developing coaching and training strategies to prevent such injuries and enhance running performance. However, the research did not record direct evidence linking novice status to an increased risk of knee injury when running. The current work will be useful to those working in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and athletic training.

By identifying biomechanical differences between novice and experienced runners, targeted interventions might be developed to reduce injury risk and improve running techniques. This could involve tailored training programs that gradually increase the tolerance of novice runners to running loads, thereby enhancing their musculoskeletal adaptations over time.

Future research could focus on longitudinal studies to determine whether specific knee joint variables can reliably predict running-related injuries. Such studies would help refine injury prevention strategies and contribute to safer and more effective running practices for athletes at all levels.

Kang, Z. and Jiang, X. (2024) 'The effect of running experience on muscle forces and knee joint reaction forces during running', Int. J. Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp.183–197.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2024.138969

It's no small affair. In the 1960s, Spain was transformed into one of Europe's leading tourist destinations. Visitors who might otherwise have travelled and done their sightseeing in their own country, were attracted to the region by the promise of sun, sea, and sand. As the tourist industry of the "Costas" and the "Balearics" evolved, the hordes of visitors sparked the growth of a vibrant nightlife industry, especially on the island of Ibiza, anything but a saddening bore. While the beach and the Mediterranean Sea were the usual daytime haunt of countless tourists, bars and nightclubs became their nocturnal destination.

Research in the International Journal of Tourism Anthropology has looked at how Ibiza's nightclubs evolved through advertising, revealing the preferences and behaviour of the tourists who flocked to this "holiday island".

Joan Carles Cirer-Costa of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya in Eivissa, Spain explains that the influx of post-war European tourists to Spain began in the early 1950s as society bounced back into the sunshine from darker days. These early adventurers navigated a challenging transportation landscape, often travelling by personal car or early charter flights to reach their destinations. By the mid-1960s, mass tourism had firmly established itself, driven by this collective yearning for sun, sea, and sand and the creation of the package holiday. Mediterranean tourism continues to grow to this day.

The evolution of the nightlife of Ibiza over the decades all but eschewed local culture. Indeed, cultural authenticity was not generally what the hedonistic tourists sought. Nevertheless, it was the early tourists that have guided us to the modern Mediterranean holiday format and as more and more Europeans recognised their own desire for this summer experience, so the tourist industry has pandered to their whims.

Cirer-Costa's work could also have implications beyond historical curiosity. It offers those studying modern tourism lessons in the dynamics of the industry. It might help contemporary tourism professionals and policymakers create more sustainable and appealing tourist experiences that balance leisure with cultural appreciation.

Cirer-Costa, J.C (2024) 'Sun, beach … and nightclubs: a study on the nightlife and tourism in Ibiza (1950–1971)', Int. J. Tourism Anthropology, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp.218–236.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTA.2024.138908

Risk has always been a part of life. But, the modern world is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Organisations cannot rely on conventional approaches to risk management (RM) and mitigation strategies they must now move towards integrated risk management (IRM). This shift acknowledges the limitations of conventional approaches in addressing new and emergent risks stemming from rapid changes in climate, social dynamics, geopolitics, and technology. A team in Canada discusses the issues in the International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management.

Traditional approaches to risk management usually focus on an analysis of possible failure scenarios. They use mathematical models to work out how best to safeguard physical infrastructure. However, Luciano Morabito and Benoît Robert of the Polytechnique Montréal in Québec, Canada, suggest that these methods are out-dated and cannot keep pace with the emerging risks we see today where the so-called butterfly effect can see a seemingly insignificant and unchecked risk in one part of the world unleash worldwide upheaval. The COVID-19 pandemic is perhaps a case in point.

According to Morabito and Robert, integrated risk management offers a more complete approach to addressing various interconnected issues. As the term suggests, it integrates the principles of risk governance and social constructivism. There is an emphasis on understanding an organisation's assets, operations, and external environment so that it can improve resilience and adaptability in the face of emerging risks. The approach rests on good communication, collaboration, and coordination across an organisation at all levels as well as with external stakeholders. Without these "three-Cs", effective mitigation strategies may not be possible and organisations will succumb to the detrimental effects of the crises as they emerge.

The work suggests that there is a need for organisations and stakeholders to recognise that we need more than technological tools to manage risks well. Integrated risk management must use those tools but also consider the social and organizational dimensions. Collaboration is key to this where stakeholders share risk knowledge and establish common frameworks, all the while avoiding disruption to the organisation's daily operations. Organisations that cope well with integrated risk management will position themselves to be proactive in their response to the risky business of an increasingly uncertain world.

Morabito, L. and Robert, B. (2023) 'Challenges related to emerging risk management', Int. J. Risk Assessment and Management, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp.175–195.
DOI: 10.1504/IJRAM.2023.139015

In a demonstration of what is plausible in the developing world, Nigeria's Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) is changing from error-prone paper-based patient records to an advanced Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. This move will streamline patient information management and enhance the overall quality of care provided to patients.

EHRs are the digital counterparts of conventional medical charts and records kept by healthcare providers. They can include a wide array of patient information, including medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergy information, radiology images, and laboratory test results. The digital nature of EHRs means that can offer the healthcare provider much more information at a given time than conventional paper records. Indeed, they can ensure that critical information is accessible to the healthcare provider whenever it is needed allowing them to make informed decisions so improve patient outcomes.

A study published in the International Journal of Electronic Healthcare surveyed healthcare information management professionals to assess their readiness for the adoption of EHR systems. The findings revealed strong support for the transition, with these professionals recognizing the availability of necessary infrastructure and training. Respondents to the survey undertaken by Oluwatoyin Rhoda Akinyemi, Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya of Mangosuthu University of Technology in Durban and O. Oladimeji of the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria, South Africa, demonstrated a high level of proficiency with basic computer applications. However, despite their enthusiasm, the research shows that barriers remain.

The team writes that these barriers include a shortage of staff, a high patient volume, and limited digital navigation skills among some employees. There are also concerns about patient privacy and confidentiality. Nevertheless, obstacles were not insurmountable and given the positive sentiment overall, the implementation of EHRs will outweigh any problems significantly. Overcoming the various barriers will involve continuous staff training and organizational support, as well as ensuring the availability of the requisite hardware.

Akinyemi, O.R., Sibiya, M.N. and Oladimeji, O. (2024) 'Using electronic health records to improve healthcare information management', Int. J. Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 14, No. 5, pp.1–12.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2024.139193

The increasing frequency of environmental fires is a serious issue around the world and one that is being exacerbated by climate change. Millions of hectares and thousands of homes are at risk. Recovery times will, for much of the devastation, in Australia, Greece, California, India, and elsewhere will run to decades. New approaches to reducing the risk of fires are now needs, ones that do not simply involve political grandstanding and the purchase of glamorous but largely ineffective solutions.

Writing in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, a research team from India point out that one of the main contributors to the ease with which fires can spread is the accumulation of biomass, such as dry pine needles, on the forest floor. Pankaj Verma of the TR Abhilashi Memorial Institute of Engineering and Technology in Tanda Mandi, and colleagues have explored the potential for reducing the biomass risk. They suggest that it is worth engaging at-risk communities to see this "waste" material as a valuable energy resource for power production. This would have many other environmental and economic benefits, as well as clearing the forest floor and reducing a highly inflammable fuel source for fires.

Forests play an integral role in the ecological cycle, offering habitat and food for various species and hosting diverse vegetation. The team note that in Himachal Pradesh, India, forest cover has increased, but the predominant species is the Chir Pine or Longleaf Indian Pine (Pinus roxburghii), which sheds a large volume of dry needles particularly from January to April. The number of forest fires in the region seems to have risen with the ascent of this tree species.

Despite their availability, dry pine needles are seldom used as fuel due to their low energy density and heating value. The researchers propose that with appropriate technology, it should be feasible to convert this low energy density biomass into high energy density fuel, such as briquettes. As India's energy demands rise, such a waste-to-energy approach could help address this issue, providing a renewable energy source and simultaneously reducing forest fire risk.

This concept also promotes the sustainable use of forest resources, encourages environmental conservation, and offers social and financial benefits to local communities.

Verma, P., Sharma, K., Mahajan, A. and Sharma, R. (2024) 'Forest fire mitigation by social economic development of local communities using pine needle as potential fuel', Int. J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp.57–67.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.138887

Researchers writing in the International Journal of Data Mining, Modelling and Management discuss the evolution and growing academic interest in chatbots, with a special focus on the widely discussed large language model known as ChatGPT. The team has analysed data from Scopus and the Web of Science (WoS) covering the period 1998 to 2023.

The results show remarkable annual growth rates of almost 20 percent in WoS and almost 30 percent in Scopus in the number of publications discussing chatbots. This obvious conclusion is that there is a growing scholarly interest in this kind of artificial intelligence and its use in "conversational" software agents.

Hamed Khosravi, Ahmed Shoyeb Raihan, and Imtiaz Ahmed of West Virginia University in Morgantown, USA, and Mohammad Reza Shafie and Morteza Hajiabadiof the Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran, explain how chatbots use algorithms trained on natural language databases to mimic human conversation. These AI tools can respond with apparently cogent answers to questions or prompts and are increasingly used in customer service, education, mental health, financial management, and many other areas. Users need to be aware that while the term "intelligence" is used in this context, the software is not inherently intelligent in the conventional sense and can readily generate fanciful or even false information in response to a given prompt. Nevertheless, on the whole, these tools can be very useful in streamlining interactions and precluding the need for human staff to undertake many mundane tasks.

These systems employ natural language processing (NLP), a subset of AI that allows machines to interpret prompts and generate an apparently human response. In the current work, Khosravi and colleagues focus on one of the more well known systems, ChatGPT. This tool uses deep-learning techniques to generate contextually relevant and coherent responses. Its advocates point to its more advanced abilities when compared to the previous generation of chatbots and other AI tools in this area.

In examining the research literature, the team notes that there has been a shift towards areas such as mental health and task analysis and how AI tools might be used in those contexts and what its limitations might be. The way AI is being used now and how that is changing will, of course, affect how development moves.

There is a pressing need to ensure that the tools are not only technologically superior but also ethically sound and contextually aware. The next generation of AI tools may need less human oversight, but there will perhaps always be a need for some human supervision of outputs. This progression could lead to AI applications that provide preliminary medical insights, support clinical decision-making, enhance writing and translation tasks, simulate organizational interactions, and assist in policy formulation.

Khosravi, H., Shafie, M.R., Hajiabadi, M., Raihan, A.S. and Ahmed, I. (2024) 'Chatbots and ChatGPT: a bibliometric analysis and systematic review of publications in Web of Science and Scopus databases', Int. J. Data Mining, Modelling and Management, Vol. 16, No. 2, pp.113–147.
DOI: 10.1504/IJDMMM.2024.138824

In the International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, Bas Dommerholt of the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets in The Netherlands, explores the history of money from the earliest coins and notes to the world of digital "crypto" currencies.

Dommerholt's analysis of the evolution of money offers a new perspective that diverges from conventional theories. He suggests that the roots of money can be traced back to early agricultural societies. Early farmers kept records of food distributions, and it is these that over the course of prehistory evolved into wage standards. And from there the calculation of production costs and the filling in of balance sheets. Eventually, coins were minted as tokens of these. Coins, often considered the first form of money, emerged as tokens of credit backed by precious metals.

This novel historical narrative has implications for contemporary economic policies, from addressing predatory lending practices to understanding the rise of digital currencies. Dommerholt's findings suggest that educators could benefit from integrating this perspective to provide students with a more nuanced historical understanding of money.

In Western philosophy, money is a pivotal element, integral to the modern production and distribution of goods and fundamental to the market economy. Despite its importance, the public's understanding of money remains muddled, partly due to the inadequate representation of money's history in educational materials. Dommerholt argues for a comprehensive and objective depiction of money in public education with a modern perspective rather than some of the outdated textbook definitions.

Traditionally, it has been believed that money and prices evolved from market transactions involving precious metals. However, the article highlights a critical transition in the nature of money: modern money is no longer based on metals but is an official administrative unit with a market value that floats under governmental control. This shift has profound implications for current policy debates, distinguishing between the traditional and modern understandings of money.

The research builds on chartal theory. This theory suggests that money's origins actually lie not in markets or material measurements but in government administration and record-keeping. In this theory, money originated from government records of taxes paid in kind. Many educational resources still describe the evolution of money from barter systems and privately owned precious metals, which the evidence suggests is not the case.

The evidence shows that early accounting practices were tied to central institutions responsible for food distribution, with prices evolving from labour cost benchmarks. Coins were introduced later as interest-free notes of credit and backed by precious metals to ensure trust and stability. By fixing the misconceptions about the origins of money, Dommerholt hopes to improve debate and discussion regarding modern lending practices, financial globalization, and digital currencies.

Dommerholt, B. (2023) 'Revisiting the origin of money: from precious metals to work: alternative pathways on the origin of currency and its impact on modern economics', Int. J. Pluralism and Economics Education, Vol. 14, Nos. 3/4, pp.219–233.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPEE.2023.138579

Research published in the International Journal of Web Engineering and Technology has looked at how training might be enhanced to help foster innovative musical talent in university education. The work used advanced data analysis techniques with an improved K-means clustering algorithm to help educators identify how they might improve matters in this area.

Peng Li of Beijing Normal University and Zeng Fan of the City University of Macau, China, explain how China has experienced substantial development, leading to major changes in industry and its economic structure. This recent progress has led to greater demands for educational reform that fit society's needs. The government hopes to develop world-class universities that have distinctive Chinese character and to use technology to assist in this endeavour. As such, data analysis has become important in understanding educational matters.

The team used this data-driven technology to analyse learning outcomes among students on music courses. In their work, the K-means clustering algorithm, known for its efficiency, was assisted by a noise reduction autoencoder, a type of neural network, to improve the results beyond what is commonly possible with just the clustering algorithm. This approach allows them to manage and analyse large data sets.

The results show a disparity between student performance in theoretical and practical music courses. Students generally perform better in theoretical subjects, with a high percentage achieving passing and top scores. In contrast, practical courses such as composition, improvisation, and live performance show lower and more average scores, highlighting a gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Li and Fan suggest that their findings point to how current curricula, which place a lot of emphasis on theoretical knowledge at the expense of practical skills, might be modified to rectify this imbalance.

Li, P. and Fan, Z. (2024) 'Application of improved K-means algorithm in the cultivation of creative music talents under the needs of sustainable development and transformation', Int. J. Web Engineering and Technology, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp.4–19.
DOI: 10.1504/IJWET.2024.138098

Research in the International Journal of Trade and Global Markets has looked at the role of effective brand risk management in improving brand security across the food and drink industry in Vietnam, specifically in the areas of manufacturing and processing.

Hai-Yen Thi Bui of the Hanoi School of Business and Management at Vietnam National University surveyed more than 400 businesses and found a strong correlation between those companies with strong brand risk management practices and the improvements they saw in three key aspects of brand security: safety, stability, and sustainability. She suggests that the findings show how important such brand strategies are in this sector. Ignoring them could lead to problems with a company's reputation, reduced customer trust, and ultimately, financial losses.

There has previously been much discussion around enterprise risk management and how it can affect a company's performance. Some studies have shown it to have an economic benefit and that it leads to a better financial bottom-line. However, others have found it not to have as much effect as imagined.

It is, of course, difficult to get a handle on the intangible, assets such as reputation, trademarks, and corporate culture. These all play into how well a company might do in the market and its competitive edge.

Brand risk management, however, defined as the process of protecting a brand through systematic risk assessment and control, is, this new research suggests, vital. Effective brand risk management can protect a company's reputation, ensure customer loyalty and trust, and preclude financial losses. By preventing crises and ensuring the brand's safety, stability, and sustainability, it safeguards brand security.

The research has implications beyond the food and drink sector. It may well apply to businesses across very disparate industries, and so could benefit them in nudging them to adopt similar brand risk management strategies in order to safeguard their company reputation and sustain financial success.

Bui, H-Y.T. (2024) 'Improving brand security through good brand risk management', Int. J. Trade and Global Markets, Vol. 19, No. 5, pp.1–20.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2024.138977

Researchers writing in the International Journal of Risk Assessment and Management, explain how the USA is a major importer of wildlife, bringing into the states a great diversity and quantity of different species. This trade, they caution, has the potential to introduce pathogens into the region, specifically zoonotic pathogens, which cause disease in those many different species, but that might make the leap animal to human. The potential here being that such pathogens, like bird flu, SARS, and COVID-19 before they pose a serious risk of a new pandemic.

Jonathan E. Kolby and Jamie K. Reaser of Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, and William C. Pitt of The American Chestnut Foundation in Asheville, North Carolina explain that current regulatory policies designed to prevent the entry of these pathogens are not in as sound a state as they ought to be. The team discusses how the effectiveness of those policies is hindered by the inconsistent use of terminology. For instance, the phrases "domesticated animals" and "wildlife" are not always used consistently nor with a solid scientific definition between various federal agencies. This, the team suggests, could undermine the integrity of the scientific data being used for zoonotic risk assessment.

Kolby and his colleagues suggest that there is an urgent need to standardize the terms being used based on scientific principles. There is also a need to update the long list of recognized domesticated animals and to then implement species-specific customs codes to improve the accuracy and reliability of data being fed into those zoonotic risk assessments.

Throughout human history, we have come into contact with wild animals carrying disease. On many occasions, those diseases have spread from anima to people. However, in the modern world of international trade and travel, there has for decades been the potential for such diseases to spread globally rather than being confined close to the site of origin. The COVID-19 pandemic is a case in point, with the likely source of the zoonotic pathogen thought to be bats in China. There are other theories about the original vector and animals that may well have acted as carriers prior to the virus making the jump to people.

The human and economic costs of pandemics are immense. Preventive measures are far more cost-effective than dealing with the consequences. Indeed, research shows that the overall costs of blocking the emergence of a pandemic are far less than the economic losses and lives lost once a disease has spread around the world. Effective prevention strategies offer ethical and equity benefits that can safeguard both human and animal lives. As such, risk analysis is a powerful tool for governments to evaluate and prioritize measures to help tackle emerging zoonotic diseases before they become pandemics. Standardising terminology for the sake of the science could be a key part of this defence, the current paper shows.

Kolby, J.E., Pitt, W.C. and Reaser, J.K. (2023) 'Domestication matters: risk analyses necessary to prevent zoonotic pathogen spillover from international wildlife trade are constrained by terminology', Int. J. Risk Assessment and Management, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp.95–117.
DOI: 10.1504/IJRAM.2023.139016

Research in the International Journal of Procurement Management has looked at donor-funded procurement within Zimbabwe's public health medical laboratory services. The work based on a survey of 221 healthcare professionals and administrative personnel shows that operational efficiency relies mostly on strategic planning.

Crossman Mayavo and Fanny Saruchera of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, studied the Ministry of Health and Childcare using a mixed-method approach to analyse the data. They applied statistical techniques, such as structural equation modelling, to get the most from the data and to show what were the most important factors influencing procurement effectiveness.

The team found that the donation recipient planning process is an important mediator that affects the effectiveness of donor-funded procurement. In contrast, the donation implementation process does not affect outcomes to the same degree. The work suggests that strategic planning is critical to success, rather than simply relying on implementation efforts to maximize the benefits of donor-funded projects.

This work sits in the broader context of the enormous global health funding that is directed towards lower and middle-income countries, especially developing nations in Africa. It also points to the issues of dependency, mismanagement, and corruption that persist across the continent. Mismanagement and corruption can, of course, undermine the improvements finding might bring and are exacerbated by goverment-level challenges and bureaucratic inefficiencies.

In Zimbabwe, the study shows that effective donor-funded procurement works best if a lead donor is present, if stakeholder collaborations are fostered, if there is transparency in fund allocation, and strong leadership support. In addition, the recruitment of competent personnel is important, as is the efficient management of the necessary logistics. These determinants serve as mediators, significantly enhancing procurement outcomes by bridging the gap between donor recipient planning and actual procurement effectiveness.

The findings could have implications beyond Zimbabwe. Strategic planning and strong leadership are perhaps obvious components of a successful system and this will apply to other developing nations. The team urges policymakers to cultivate environments that support effective donor-funded procurement and so ensure that their healthcare institutions are not only well-equipped but also well-managed.

Mayavo, C. and Saruchera, F. (2024) 'Donor-funded procurement determinants and effectiveness of procurement in the public health medical laboratory services: examining the mediating factors', Int. J. Procurement Management, Vol. 20, No. 5, pp.1–19.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2024.138755

Research in the International Journal of Electronic Healthcare has looked at how different monetisation models affect the pricing of health software for mobile devices on the two major app platforms, the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The findings from the work could be used by developers, healthcare providers, and users alike to understand the market for such apps.

Natália Lemos, Cláudia Cardoso, and Cândida Sofia Machado of the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave in Barcelos, Portugal, used a censored regression model to pinpoint key factors that determine the price of health apps that users expect to pay. This then points to how additional approaches to monetisation might be used to lower the initial cost of an app, with the likes of advertising-based approaches to revenue generation having the greatest impact.

The healthcare sector is facing mounting pressure as an aging population faces chronic disease. Moreover, patients are more demanding than ever of their healthcare providers. However, as is almost always the case, budgets and staff are limited resources. New technology might supplement conventional healthcare provision and help patients find ways to improve their quality of life even when suffering from a chronic illness. Indeed, digital and mobile technology have already changed healthcare delivery, improved productivity, efficiency, equity, and quality in many ways. So-called e-Health, which integrates electronic communication and information technology, and m-Health, which focuses on mobile and wireless technologies, are both advancing healthcare provision.

Many health apps work to make facile connections between patients and healthcare providers. The larger the user base, the greater impact a given platform can have on patients and improve health outcomes for them. But, in order to be economically sustainable, there is a balance to be struck in terms of what the apps offer, the resources they need, and the cost to providers and patients.

This new work shows that many users are not necessarily happy to pay a large up-front cost for an app, but are happy to see advertising if that keeps the app price low. This effect is more pronounced among Google Play Store users compared to those on Apple's App Store. However, such ad-based models do detract from the user experience as they are a distraction and be a waste of a user's time on the app in question. In addition, there is growing concern that some apps are monetised through third parties, selling on data and information about their users, which brings with it privacy and security concerns, something that is an especially sensitive issue in the health sector.

The team found, however, that there are alternatives that can make an app economically viable. For instance, if in-app purchases are offered this does not affect whether users will pay a given initial download price but does open up the possibility of additional revenue for providers and developers. This study focused mainly on Europe and more specifically the market for healthcare apps in Portugal. There is thus potential to extend the work to see whether it might be generalised to the wider and obviously vast international app markets.

Lemos, N., Cardoso, C. and Machado, C.S. (2023) 'Monetisation strategies for health apps: evidence from Apple's App Store and Google Play Store', Int. J. Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 13, No. 4, pp.295–310.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2023.138254

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in global markets is increasing day by day. The results are often mixed, with outcomes influenced strongly by how employees perceive the use of AI within their workplace.

A study in the International Journal of Information Systems and Change Management has looked at the psychological dimension of the perception of AI and has focused on what might be referred to as AI ambidexterity. This ambidexterity embodies the two sides of AI – its capacity to perform both routine and innovative tasks. —and its impact on breakthrough innovation engagement. Shahan Bin Tariq and Jian Zhang of the University of Science and Technology in Beijing, China and Faheem Gul Gilal of the Sukkur IBA University in Sindh, Pakistan, surveyed 337 employees in Pakistan's high-tech sector and used social exchange theory (SET) and the resource-based view (RBV) to analyse their opinions regarding AI and how difference affect innovation.

Business is marked by globalization and shifting consumer demands. This has compelled companies to innovate continuously to gain or maintain a competitive edge. Some commentators suggest that the innovative use of AI, is critical to business innovation, and many businesses agree and are investing heavily in this fledgling technology.

Of course, as with any new technology there are mixed results and outcomes and while there are supporters there are also inevitably detractors. If employees perceive a threat to their livelihoods, then they are perhaps more likely to have a negative opinion towards that threat. Yet, there is also the potential for AI to make their jobs easier in many ways and open up new opportunities for creativity and innovation.

AI ambidexterity could improve the strategic agility and innovation capacity of many different types of company. The researchers found that there can be both positive and negative employee perceptions, but where the relationship works best seems to be in the concept of hybrid intelligence. In hybrid intelligence, AI's predictive abilities are combined with human intuition and decision-making to solve problems more effectively.

With transformational leadership, this synergy of human and artificial intelligence might be moderated for the benefit of the companies using it without disenfranchising employees. The study concludes that as AI evolves and matures, a nuanced approach to its implementation and a recognition of its impact on employees in companies using it needs to be taken.

Tariq, S.B., Zhang, J. and Gilal, F.G. (2024) 'Stepping into the future: unravelling breakthrough innovations through AI ambidexterity, hybrid intelligence, and transformational leadership', Int. J. Information Systems and Change Management, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp.3–29.
DOI: 10.1504/IJISCM.2024.138078

Generation Y, Gen Y, is commonly referred to the Millennial generation. It usually includes individuals born between the early 1980s and the mid-to-late 1990s or early 2000s. This generation follows Generation X and precedes Generation Z. The Millennials, it is said, grew up during the transition to digital technology and the rise of the internet, and this has shaped their perspectives, behaviour, and the way they use technology and media. They are often characterized as tech-savvy, adaptable, and socially conscious, with a strong affinity for social media and digital communication platforms. However, this can be said of individuals from preceding or subsequent generations too.

A study in the International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing, has looked at Gen Y consumer attitudes in the light of marketing content on social media. Nor Azimah Kamaruddin of the Universiti Utara Malaysia, and Lennora Putit and Amily Fikry of the Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia, have investigated how advertising content, crucial for business and marketing success, seeks to engage audiences effectively.

The team used qualitative methods, such as focus group discussions, to uncover prevalent attitudes among Millennial social media users and their attitudes to marketing content on Facebook, Instagram, and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

The team found that attitudes varied from positive (I like), negative (I don't like), and vague (I don't know), as one might have anticipated. Positive attitudes typically stem from content that resonates with the interests of users or their values, leading to actions more "liking" or "sharing" of such content. Conversely, negative attitudes arose from being presented with content that conflicted with user preferences or values. This had the potential to produce a "thumbs down", a dislike, or negative comments. The team found that the "don't-knows" with their vague response to marketing content, were often curious nevertheless and sometimes shared content despite initial uncertainty.

While, the bottom line in marketing is always about purchasing behaviour and thus sales, the focus has shifted to some degree to concepts such as viral reach, which can lead to widespread content dissemination that then brings with it the sales way beyond conventional campaigns or traditional word-of-mouth. However, marketers face many challenges in understanding what motivates social media users and how to trigger that much sought after virality of content.

The present study has moved away from the binary "like-dislike" assessment of user behaviour to include those who are virally curious, the vague attitudes and the don't-knows that might lead to viral reach. This new understanding could give business a better way to develop tailored marketing strategies for social media.

Kamaruddin, N.A., Putit, L. and Fikry, A. (2024) 'I like, I don't like, I don't know: consumers' attitude towards marketing content in social media from Gen Y glasses', Int. J. Electronic Marketing and Retailing, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp.308–329.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEMR.2024.138300

The classic "secretary problem" involves interviewing job candidates in a random order. Candidates are interviewed one by one, and the interviewer ranks them. After each interview, the interviewer must either accept or reject the candidate. If they accept a candidate, the process stops; otherwise, the next candidate is interviewed and so on. Of course, if a candidate is accepted then a subsequent candidate who may well be better suited to the job will never be interviewed and so never selected. Nevertheless, the goal is to maximize the probability of selecting the best candidate.

Since its introduction in the 1950s, this problem has been researched extensively because it is a fundamental example of optimal stopping problems. Many variants of the problem, such as multiple choices, regret-permit, and weighted versions, have been studied.

Research in the International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research has looked at a variant on the secretary problem. Yu Wu of Southwest Jiaotong University in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, explains that in this variant the interviewer has a "look-ahead privilege" and can see some of the details regarding subsequent candidates before making a decision about the current interviewee at each step. Wu defines the degree of look-ahead privilege as the number of candidates interviewed between the first interview and the final decision.

In one sense, this version of the problem is a more realistic sequential interviewing scenario wherein the interviewer may well have seen the resumes of all candidates or perhaps even have met them all before the interviewing process begins. This contrasts with the blind sequential interviewing of the classic problem and allows a decision to be deferred until subsequent candidates have been interviewed. It should therefore allow a better decision to be made regarding the choice of candidate who is offered the job. This is the first time this variant has been studied in detail in this way.

Wu has proposed a general optimal decision strategy framework to maximize the probability of selecting the best candidate. He focuses on a specific look-ahead privilege structure, applying the strategy framework to derive a closed-form probability of success. This provides for an optimal strategy. Computational experiments have been carried out to explore the relationships between the various factors in the process and to show how this variant of the problem can be solved.

Wu, Y. (2024) 'Decision-making analysis for a new variant of the classical secretary problem', Int. J. Mathematics in Operational Research, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp.305–316.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMOR.2024.138054

A review in the International Journal of Environment and Pollution has looked at research into the impact of climate change on the coastal environments of small islands. The study covers the literature from 1985 to 2021, and offers new insights into the deleterious effects of human activities on small island coasts. Lorenzo Carlos Quesada-Ruiz of the University of Seville and Carolina Peña-Alonso of the Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain, examined more than 500 papers, which focused broadly on North Atlantic and North Pacific islands and highlighted the effects of various human activities on ecosystem services.

Human actions, including climate change, environmental policy, and tourism, have been identified as important factors that are detrimentally affecting delicate ecosystems. Factors such as increasing populations, technological advancements, and an increase in tourist activities have put increased pressure on small island coastal regions in many different ways. This pressure has disrupted ecosystem balances and led to increased vulnerability to natural disasters and climate extremes.

In addition, the review shows that of major concern are habitat loss, biodiversity decline, shoreline alterations, and landscape degradation. Activities like maritime trade, fishing, agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development have exacerbated the problems and pose ongoing threats to both ecosystems and local populations. Moreover, the looming threat of climate change, with its projections of sea level rise and more frequent extreme storm events, will further compound the vulnerabilities, particularly for islands that have dense coastal populations.

In their review, Quesada-Ruiz and Peña-Alonso emphasize the importance of understanding the complex interactions between human activities and coastal ecosystems with a view to developing effective mitigation strategies to manage the worst effects.

For some areas, marine litter, extractive activities, and the lack of management of protected areas, remain underexplored in the research literature. The team points out that there are also methodological gaps, including limited integration of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and sparse utilization of data-driven models. This, their review suggests, highlights the need for more comprehensive approaches to coastal environmental research.

Quesada-Ruiz, L.C. and Peña-Alonso, C. (2023) 'Studies of environmental coastal impacts in small islands: a review', Int. J. Environment and Pollution, Vol. 72, Nos. 2/3/4, pp.99–128.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2023.137972

The year 2022 saw the death of composer Monty Norman, perhaps best known for the iconic James Bond theme. 2022 also marked the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise itself with Dr No being the first in a long list of films to use Norman's psychedelic big band sound with the twangy guitar. That same year also saw a legal precedent being set by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in the world of trademarks. US company Danjaq LLC which holds the copyright for the James Bond film franchise successful registered a segment of the James Bond theme as a trademark.

This trademark decision reflects the evolving nature of intellectual property protection, especially concerning audio branding in the film industry. By securing a trademark for this well-known portion of the original James Bond theme, Danjaq LLC, has shown just how important music and sounds can be for branding.

Writing in the International Journal of Intellectual Property Management, Alexandros Antoniou of Essex Law School at the University of Essex in Colchester, UK discusses the intricacies of trademark law and how this particular case played out, legally speaking. He points out that for a sound to qualify as a trademark, it must be distinctive enough that the average consumer associates it exclusively with a particular source. Common sounds, such as the two-tone chime of a doorbell or the sound of a cuckoo clock, usually do not reach this legal threshold and so cannot be trademarked. Conversely, aural themes that much longer are usually protected by copyright as creative works. The familiar snippet of the James Bond theme associated with the fictional spy with the licence to kill is recognised around the world and has a strong association with the film franchise. It is sufficiently long as to be non-trivial and short enough to meet the criteria of a sonic trademark.

Of course, a creative work, even rendered as a snippet, is also covered by copyright law so that nobody can use said work without the appropriate permissions from the holder of the copyright. The dual protection of the James Bond theme through both copyright and trademark law gives the owners of this intellectual property even greater advantages. Copyright protects the original creative work, granting exclusive rights to the creator for a limited period—the creator's life plus 70 years. The trademark protection can be renewed indefinitely, potentially allowing perpetual control over this musical snippet. The owner's of the film franchise can therefore safeguard their sonic identity against unauthorized use and exploit it for profit or other ends almost in perpetuity with legal protection with a view to making a killing. The legal spectre suggests that it's not only diamonds that are forever, after all.

However, adds Antoniou, the overlap of trademark and copyright protections raises important questions about the balance between protecting intellectual property and fostering cultural innovation. Copyright law aims to promote creativity by eventually releasing works into the public domain, while trademark law can extend protection indefinitely, potentially limiting access to cultural works. The legal decision regarding the James Bond theme highlights the need for careful regulation to prevent the abuse of trademark rights, ensuring they do not stifle creativity and innovation.

Antoniou, A. (2024) "The registration of an iconic movie theme as a trade mark: only 'diamonds are forever'", Int. J. Intellectual Property Management, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp.300–308.
DOI: 10.1504/IJIPM.2024.138332

A study in the International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing has provided new insights into social media influencers, particularly focusing on those in the women's fashion sector on the well-known image and video sharing platform Instagram. In a departure from the approach taken by earlier studies, Jens K. Perret of the International School of Management in Cologne, Germany, has used network statistics and centrality measures to establish a model of influencer importance within their network.

Perret analysed data from 255 influencers covering a four-year period. Influencers are loosely defined as individuals, or even companies, that have a significant online presence and influence on one or more social media platforms. They typically have a large number of followers and a high level of engagement with that audience in terms of their sharing of content and approval by their fans. Topics such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, fitness, and gaming have many prominent influencers. Influencers often work with brands to promote products or services to their followers, and so can have an important effect on marketing strategies for companies.

The work has found four main factors contributing to an influencer's significance: followers, reach, engagement rate, and posting frequency. Through regression analysis and artificial neural networks, Perret examined just how consistent these factors were in affecting the influencer's relationships.

The practical implications of the work are that it offers a methodology for evaluating an influencer's importance using readily available metrics. This could streamline the influencer selection process for companies seeking to recruit influencers for their marketing campaigns. It also provides solid evidence that could be used in fair compensation negotiations between companies and influencers.

While the study focused on Instagram, the same approach could work just as well with other social media platforms and even in other cultural contexts. This could open up the possibility of related research into social media dynamics and influencer marketing.

Perret, J.K. (2024) 'Who influences the influencer – a network analytical study of an influencer's peer-based importance', Int. J. Electronic Marketing and Retailing, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp.370–392.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEMR.2024.138301

As technologists search for approaches to reduce our global carbon footprint and stave off the worst ravages of climate change, they are turning to an old friend – hydrogen. The potential of hydrogen fuel cells for generating power is enormous although not without issues. Writing in the International Journal of Sustainable Aviation, a team from the UK and Romania discusses hydrogen-powered aircraft. The concept of replacing carbon-rich jet fuel with zero-carbon hydrogen is high on the agenda.

The team has compared the performance of a regional aircraft, the ATR 72-600, using three different propulsion systems: conventional jet fuel, direct hydrogen combustion, and hydrogen fuel cells. Bassam Rakhshani and Tony Leslie of the University of the West of Scotland in Paisley, UK, and Alexandru Stan of Premium Aerotec Ghimbav (Airbus) in Romania used Simulink, a computational tool, to model and analyse power requirements, fuel consumption, propulsion efficiency, and emissions.

The findings show that hydrogen propulsion, either through direct combustion in a jet engine or using fuel cells, reduces fuel mass significantly. Specifically, hydrogen fuel cells achieve a 50% reduction, and direct hydrogen combustion an 80% reduction compared to traditional jet fuel. This efficiency is attributed to hydrogen's higher energy density when compared to conventional jet fuel. However, the researchers also found a significant drawback: the increased weight from hydrogen storage, which negatively impacts overall aircraft performance.

The aviation industry is estimated to contribute 2-3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, and that percentage is set to double by 2050. There thus remains an urgent need to make aviation more sustainable. As it stands, hydrogen propulsion, alongside electric propulsion, could be the answer, but new technology is needed to overcome that storage weight-gain problem in order to achieve near-zero aircraft carbon emissions.

The transition to hydrogen-powered aircraft has other challenges: shorter operational ranges with current technology, lower passenger capacity, higher operational costs, and the need for new refuelling infrastructure. There are also the safety issues to consider. Nevertheless, the companies are looking at how they might retrofit their aircraft. It is possible that the development of novel storage systems might address some of these issues.

Rakhshani, B., Stan, A. and Leslie, T. (2024) 'A steady-state model-based evaluation of performance characteristics and feasibility analysis of retrofit hydrogen-powered aircraft configurations', Int. J. Sustainable Aviation, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp.99–123.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSA.2024.138699

Research in the World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development discusses how the integration of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data, and cloud computing can bring about significant change in agriculture. This point is particularly relevant in South Korea, where there is a growing demand for affordable, nutritious, and healthy food.

The research by Sean Watts of the International Business Keimyung Adams College at KeiMyung University in Daegu, South Korea, and colleagues in Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam, focuses on Samsung as a leading player in IoT and the role it might play in improving efficiency and sustainability in agriculture.

The team has taken a mixed-methodology approach, including qualitative action-based research, to investigate how a company might expand its IoT services into South Korean agriculture. Surveys conducted with representatives from the South Korean Farmers' Agricultural Association (Nonghyup) identified four promising IoT-based smart grid initiatives. The research points out that despite Samsung's strong brand presence and the potential benefits of IoT, its use in South Korean farming is still limited and not yet widely recognized.

The combination of AI and IoT could lead to new opportunities for a company well positioned to support farmers in their quest for improved efficiency and the demands of sustainability given the environmental and socioeconomic issues we currently face globally. There is also the potential for consumers to use technological advancements to grow their own food in kitchen gardens and on allotments more effectively. This would extend the benefits of IoT technology well beyond conventional farming environments.

Globally, a lack of food security affects almost 700 million people where they lack easy and affordable access to sufficient, nutritious, and safe food, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In Asia, a grain deficit of 10.8 million tonnes has resulted in well over 300 million people facing food insecurity, a crisis surpassed only by Sub-Saharan Africa. If the global population expands by 1.7 billion by the year 2050, the pressure on food production resources will worsen. Technological solutions might be the only way to continue to put food on the table.

Watts, S., Hoa, N.T.T., Martens, W., Doan, D.T. and Guzman, A. (2024) 'An examination of internet of things in the South Korean agricultural industry: the case of Samsung', World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp.374–396.
DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2024.138282

The Digital Silk Road (DSR) an economic initiative launched by China in 2015 is a key component of the country's broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Its primary aim is to extend China's influence through digital and technological means globally, including the Central and Eastern Europe region, the CEE.

Research by Ágnes Szunomár of the Corvinus University of Budapest and Institute of World Economics in Hungary in the European Journal of International Management has looked at how the initiative seeks to integrate Chinese technologies and standards into the digital ecosystems of various countries. Ultimately, the DSR will open up new markets around the world to Chinese companies. Szunomár's work shows how this expansion has been met with a mixed response across the CEE. Of concern are the balance of economic, political, and security considerations facing the region as China expands its global reach.

One of the major concerns surrounding the DSR is the increased involvement of Chinese companies in the development, installation, implementation, and maintenance of critical digital infrastructure. European countries are concerned that there could be not only a loss of industrial competitiveness, but increased dependence on China. Moreover, there is the worry that the Chinese government may well have ultimate control of such companies. There are thus national security issues to be considered as well as lower-level, but important, threats to privacy and security at the industrial and personal level. Given the potential for China to have control over the flow of data through the infrastructure its companies build these concerns may well be warranted.

The research touches on the growing economic presence in Europe of Chinese companies over the past two decades. Indeed, the European Union (EU) has designated China as a systemic rival. Although across the broader CEE, reactions to the DSR and Chinese technology companies varies enormously. Many CEE countries share the general European and, indeed, American concerns about Chinese influence. However, Hungary and Serbia are I seems more accepting and receptive to Chinese investment and technology. These countries see the low-cost telecommunications equipment offered by Chinese firms as presenting them with an opportunity for greater national economic growth and technological advancement.

In contrast, Czechia, Estonia, Poland, and Romania are among the more sceptical of Chinese advances and in some ways are in outright opposition. These countries are aligned more closely with the US and EU positions, in particular on the notion of digital sovereignty and cellular broadband, 5G, security.

Szunomár has looked at why there are such disparate responses to Chinese advances. Inevitably, those countries that prioritize security concerns and are aligned with the US and EU stance, tend to show greater opposition to the involvement of Chinese technology. The counties that are happy to take the perceived risks in favour of economic advancement are thus emboldened to accept greater participation from China in their technological affairs.

Szunomár, Á. (2024) 'To connect or not to connect? Responding to the Digital Silk Road in Central and Eastern Europe', European J. International Management, Vol. 23, Nos. 2/3, pp.344-363.
DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.138658

A study from Japan published in the International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology reveals a way to optimize the composition of functionally graded materials (FGMs). FGMs are advanced composite materials with a gradual variation in composition and properties across their volume, designed to optimize performance under specific loading conditions. The work could be used to mitigate residual thermal stress in uniformly cooled, multi-layered FGM plates allowing them to cope better with the significant thermal cycles found in aerospace applications and in the power generation industry.

Ryoichi Chiba of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Sanyo-Onoda City University has used what are referred to as black-box optimization (BBO) techniques within the open-source framework Optuna to carry out the investigation. Optuna is known as a user-friendly interface, ideal for complex such optimization tasks. Chiba has used three Optuna algorithms: the tree-structured Parzen estimator (TPE), the covariance matrix adaptation evolutionary strategy (CMA-ES), and the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). Each of these algorithms offers a unique approach to optimization, with TPE focusing on rapid convergence, and CMA-ES and NSGA-II on evolutionary strategies.

The optimization of FGMs has always proved a tough task as there are so many variables at play in their design and production any one of which might have a significant positive or negative impact on their properties. Chiba explains that the CMA-ES algorithm worked best. While TPE converged quickly on a solution, its optimization quality was not as high as the more thorough evolutionary approaches of CMA-ES and NSGA-II. There were, the work shows, problems that can arise in attempting to account for interactions between design variables that were sometimes counterproductive leading to a more complicated optimization rather than an enhanced process.

Chiba, R. (2024) 'Comparing open-source optimisation algorithms for functionally graded material design: a thermoelastic case study', Int. J. Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp.1–12.
DOI: 10.1504/IJCAET.2024.138652

A new approach to searching through video content has been developed by a team in South Korea. The system, described in the International Journal of Computational Vision and Robotics, extracts spoken word from a video recording, converts it to text, and then makes that text searchable. Importantly, the system thus does not rely on embedded keywords nor curated tags or hashtags to be associated with the video content.

The approach obviously relies on the dialogue or spoken commentary of an item being associated with the scenes in the video that users might wish to search. It is, of course, superfluous if the video has subtitles already baked in. Nevertheless, it will be a boon for users wishing to search the millions of hours of video available in databases, on streaming services, and elsewhere on the internet and could be used to help catalogue videos.

Kitae Hwang, In Hwan Jung, and Jae Moon Lee of the School of Computer Engineering at Hansung University in Seoul, have developed an Android app for use with appropriate smartphones. It is worth noting, however, that there is at least one other app with the same name, so should this app be made available in the Google Play Store for Android apps, it is likely to require a change of name.

The new app works by extracting audio from videos using the FFmpeg code and converting it into text in ten-second increments. This, the team explains, creates a searchable timeline for the video. Advanced speech recognition technology then generates a transcription of those audio segments, which are indexed on the video timeline. For a 20-minute video, the process is complete in just two to three minutes and runs in the background while the video plays. The team points out that users can then search for specific terms and find all mentions in the video.

The app will have applications in education, news analysis, and other information-dense video where quick access to specific information is needed. For instance, students reviewing lecture recordings or journalists searching for specific statements in interviews could make use of this app. There are many more scenarios where it would be useful to be able to search video in this manner.

Hwang, K., Jung, I.H. and Lee, J.M. (2024) 'An implementation of searchable video player', Int. J. Computational Vision and Robotics, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp.325–337.
DOI: 10.1504/IJCVR.2024.138324

Could permeable and high-albedo materials for road surfaces that replace asphalt across towns and cities reduce the urban heat island effect at the height of summer as well as reducing the risk of flash floods and groundwater depletion? An idea in the International Journal of Student Project Reporting hopes to answer that very question.

Julianna Syros, Alexander Villiers, Ginger Arnold, Bryan De La Paz, and Trevor Fai of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, USA, allude to how urbanization has become synonymous with progress, bringing with it modern amenities, economic growth, and improved living standards. However, this expansion has brought with it serious environmental challenges, notably flash floods, groundwater depletion, and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. These issues largely arise from the extensive use of impermeable materials like asphalt in road construction, revealing a critical need to rethink our choices when it comes to transport infrastructure.

Asphalt is relatively low cost when compared to concrete and so has become the primary material used in road surfacing in urban areas the world over. However, this preference comes at a significant environmental cost. The impermeable nature of asphalt prevents rainwater from being absorbed into the ground, leading to rapid runoff and flash floods. This runoff can carry pollutants to water bodies and also hinders groundwater recharge, depleting vital water resources.

Moreover, asphalt's heat-absorbing properties contribute to the heat island effect. This effect sees urban areas experiencing higher temperatures than their rural counterparts, a problem that will become increasingly worrying as global temperature rises through climate change. The phenomenon is largely driven by the high density of heat-absorbing surfaces, such as roads and buildings, which trap heat and only slowly release it from the "island" as a whole. For towns and cities in hot countries and those facing increasingly common temperature spikes, the effect is to increase urban energy demands as those living and working there rely more and more on air conditioning to keep cool. Those without access that luxury will suffer the heat, which could lead to health problems and increased fatalities among the vulnerable during a heatwave.

Concrete, despite its higher upfront cost, presents a viable alternative with long-term benefits. Unlike asphalt, concrete is more durable and requires less maintenance, leading to lower costs over its lifespan. Furthermore, concrete can be designed to be permeable, allowing water to percolate through and recharge groundwater, thereby mitigating flash floods. High-albedo (reflective) concrete surfaces can also reflect more sunlight, reducing heat absorption and alleviating the UHI effect.

The team suggests that overcoming the societal and economic barriers are essential if sustainable transport infrastructure is to be developed to address the increasingly detrimental effects of urbanization. Investment may well attract greater initial costs, but in the long-term fewer flash floods, conservation of groundwater resources, and a significant reduction in the heat island effect would offer immediate payback when compared to sticking to asphalt.

Syros, J., Villiers, A., Arnold, G., De La Paz, B. and Fai, T. (2024) 'A study on high albedo permeable pavement reducing urban heat islands, flash floods and groundwater depletion', Int. J. Student Project Reporting, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp.1–20.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSPR.2024.137963

A comprehensive survey by a team from Croatia in the International Journal of Student Project Reporting, has looked at the intersection of art and artificial intelligence (AI). The team has focused on how AI technologies are employed in the classification and also the creation of artworks. Andrej Šimić and Marina Bagić Babac of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb have analysed and categorised a number of research papers in this field to understand the methodologies, techniques, and outcomes in this emerging field. They discuss the two main applications of AI in art: the automated analysis of existing artworks and the generation of new ones.

AI-based art classification involves using machine learning algorithms to categorise artworks by attributes such as genre, style, and artist. This automated classification improves the ability of art historians and collectors to identify and categorise artworks with greater accuracy and efficiency. Techniques such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been key in achieving high accuracy in these classification tasks, the team reports. CNNs can identify subtle patterns and features that might be challenging for human analysts to discern, providing deeper insights into the artistic attributes of different works.

In terms of art creation, the survey explores innovative AI-driven techniques such as style transfer, Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), and text-to-image synthesis. Style transfer allows an image to be reinterpreted in the style of another, facilitating creative explorations and new artistic expressions.

GANs, the team explains, consist of two neural networks working together to generate realistic images. They enable the creation of "novel" artworks with intricate details and often a high degree of realism. Text-to-image synthesis offers a different approach where the AI generates images based on a prompt describing what the user would like to see. This can allow an almost seamless translation of ideas into the visual form.

The integration of AI in art has several implications. For art analysis, it democratizes access to art historical research and enhances the precision of art authentication and valuation. For art creation, AI provides artists with new tools and sources of inspiration, potentially expanding the scope of creativity. The ability of AI to generate art also raises questions about authorship and originality, challenging traditional notions of creativity. Indeed, the issues of copyright, permissions and plagiarism are high on the agenda in this area and have not yet been settled to everyone's agreement.

Šimić, A. and Bagić Babac, M. (2024) 'Artificial intelligence in classifying and creating art: a survey', Int. J. Student Project Reporting, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp.59–89.
DOI: 10.1504/137964

In social media marketing, where the transmission of messages is incessant, researchers from the UK have investigated the concept of different kinds of message noise, which act as barriers to clear communication by distorting the social media messages.

Writing in the International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising, Kimberley Hardcastle, Prabash Edirisingha, and Paul Cook of Northumbria University, Newcastle, explain how they carried out a 21-month study to analyse data from the well-known social media sites Instagram and Twitter, now known as X, based on an analysis of hashtags. Hashtags are keywords used with a hash, #, to help users define the content they post and for other users to find content of interest in a particular area.

The team identified three main types of message noise: technical, material, and architectural. Technical noise stems from software and hardware limitations, material noise arises from intentional, and perhaps unintentional, design features of platforms and devices, and architectural noise emerges from network interactions.

The researchers identified five key interception points where message meaning can become distorted on social media. This distortion affects how consumers interpret those incessant messages on their smart devices. In addition, the research shows that the user's choice of communication platform and device can greatly influence how well a message is transmitted and received and subsequently interpreted. Moreover, specific functionality of the platform being used also affects message retrieval and interpretation.

In practical terms, the findings might help guide digital marketing practitioners. By understanding the nature of material noise marketers can find better ways to help their would-be customers navigate technological barriers. For instance, guiding consumers to access messages across different platforms or encouraging them to develop skills to navigate material noise effectively.

The work also shows that there has been limitations in our understanding of noise in social media communication so far. The team urges fellow researchers to look more deeply into this area to improve still further our understanding and how they affect human and "non-human" choices made in response to the interpretation of a given message.

Hardcastle, K., Edirisingha, P. and Cook, P. (2024) 'Identifying sources of noise within the networked interplay of marketing messages in social media communication', Int. J. Internet Marketing and Advertising, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp.164–187.
DOI: 10.1504/IJIMA.2024.137920

Researchers in India have developed a tool that can estimate the remaining useful life of an otherwise obsolete laptop computer based on quality grading of two of its main components – hard drive and rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The work, published in the International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, focused on developing a decision support tool (DST) that could improve sustainable laptop remanufacturing practices.

Gurunathan Anandh, Shanmugam Prasanna Venkatesan, Sandanam Domnic, and Santosh Awaje of the National Institute of Technology in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, discuss the concept of remanufacturing, the process of disassembling, assessing, and repairing or replacing components to restore functionality to a device. Remanufacturing could be one solution to the environmental and economic challenges we currently face. However, successful remanufacturing needs accurate information about the device's components, which presents its own challenges.

The team turned to machine-learning algorithms such as Random Forest (RF) to help them predict remaining useful life and K-means clustering for the quality grading of components. The researchers' approach uses well-known spreadsheet software, Microsoft Excel, as its interface and is supplemented with Python scripting. By making such choices, the researchers hope their system should be accessible to practitioners with varying levels of expertise.

The practical use of the research will fill the gaps needed for improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the laptop remanufacturing process. By using an approach based on data and machine learning, the team suggests that remanufacturing can be guided for the repair, replacement, or necessary disposal of the main components. This would not only reduce waste and give a new lease of life to old equipment but could improve profitability for the companies involved in remanufacturing. The next step will be to extend the method to other laptop components and perhaps to other types of device.

Anandh, G., Venkatesan, S.P., Domnic, S. and Awaje, S. (2024) 'Remanufacturing of end-of-life laptop based on remaining useful life prediction and quality grading with random forest and cluster analysis', Int. J. Process Management and Benchmarking, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp.137–152.
DOI: 10.1504/IJPMB.2024.138350

In the world of fast fashion, New Product Development (NPD) is the main option for companies hoping to maintain relevance and competitiveness in an ever-changing market. NPD is a multifaceted process and covers the generation of ideas, design and implementation of those ideas, prototype and product testing, and eventual launch of a new product on to the market with the aim of capitalizing on emerging market opportunities and addressing consumer needs.

According to Duong Quang Hao, Ngoc-Hien Do, and Duc Duy Nguyen of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology in Vietnam writing in the International Journal of Services and Operations Management, NPD is a complex process and demands a lot of company resources. This is particularly true in industries marked by rapid shifts in consumer preferences and short product lifecycles, such as fashion. However, an alternative approach to NPD has emerged that puts the focus on strategic integration of competitor analysis and customer feedback. This can allow a company to streamline the development processes and improve its competitiveness, especially in the world of start-up ventures.

A useful tool on this overall streamlining process is the Competitor Profile Matrix (CPM) method. This allows companies to identify and analyse their main competitors. They can dissect their best-selling products to work out what are the important customer preferences at a given time. This initial step in the new NPD process gives them a template for understanding the changing market and allows them to stitch together their own product ideas.

Once ideas are sewn up, the wily company might then engage directly with its target customer base to gain feedback and gauge preferences. By opting for a customer-centric approach, they can ensure that their new product features and functionalities are going to be welcomed by the market. This will then mitigate the risk of pushing products that end up hemmed in by more competitive offerings and so remain on the fringes of the fashion patchwork rather than becoming the chic pieces everyone wants to be seen to wear.

While the approach is tailored for start-ups in the fast fashion sector, a similar iterative methodology might also be used across other industries. The strategic integration of competitor analysis and customer feedback into the NPD process offers a pragmatic approach to the modern marketplace.

Hao, D.Q., Do, N-H. and Nguyen, D.D. (2024) 'New product development in the fast fashion industry: a case study in Vietnam', Int. J. Services and Operations Management, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp.136–154.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2024.138601

Across commerce, the presence of the smartphone has changed consumer behaviour beyond recognition. This shift is most evident in what might be terms mobile commerce, or m-commerce. Research in the International Journal of Business Information Systems has looked at India, with its rapidly growing smartphone user base, and suggests that the nation is poised to become a major part of the global m-commerce market by 2025.

K.A. Asraar Ahmed of the VIT-AP University in Andhra Pradesh, India, V.S. Damodharan of the Al Jazirah Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and S. Kumaraperumal of the Rajalakshmi School of Business in Tamil Nadu, India, have looked at the various factors influencing the adoption of mobile coupon applications (apps) among Indian consumers. The team used extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) model as well as Structural Equation Modelling to analyse the way in which consumers use mobile coupons when shopping online via their smartphones.

Mobile coupons, or vouchers, offer discounts on purchases and are used directly in one's smartphone at the time of sale. As with web coupons and before them, paper shopping coupons, have become a powerful marketing tool for sellers around the world. Their appeal is evident for consumers, they get an apparent discount on their purchases, but for the sellers, they get the kudos of having offered such a discount, which might lead to subsequent sales. The team points out that in India, smartphone penetration is expected to surpass 1 billion by 2025. As such, the potential for widespread adoption of mobile coupons is enormous.

The researchers found several key drivers that affected whether consumers used mobile coupon apps in India. These included the perceived value of the discount offered, trust in the security of the online transaction using the coupon, the influence of social networks, concerns regarding privacy and data security, expectations regarding app performance, willingness to embrace innovation, hedonic motivation, and a person's own confidence in using mobile technology effectively. Fundamentally, however, it was price value that was most important, followed closely by trust and external social influence.

The work thus has implications for marketers and policymakers. For marketers, a better understanding of the various factors influence mobile coupon use can help guide their marketing strategy. For policymakers, understanding the way in which the market is being influenced and the impact on buyers and sellers is important for ensuring safety and security on both sides and allowing for appropriate regulations surrounding this area of commerce.

Ahmed, K.A.A., Damodharan, V.S. and Kumaraperumal, S. (2024) 'Factors affecting mobile coupon acceptance through smartphone app', Int. J. Business Information Systems, Vol. 46, No. 1, pp.140–164.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2024.138557

Research in the International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation has considered the growing concerns regarding financial integrity and transparency and has looked at the concept of financial statement fraud (FSF), how it might be more easily detected, and how it might be prevented. The work results in some practical insights into how fraud risks might be mitigated around the world and shares with implications for the various stakeholders, including regulators, financial analysts, and investors.

Milad Soltani and Alexios Kythreotis of the European University Cyprus in Nicosia, Cyprus, and Arash Roshanpoor of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran, Iran, explain that there is an increasing need for accountability in the wake of contemporary financial scandals. Regulatory measures and laws have been put in place but subsequent crises repeatedly emphasise a need for tougher measures against fraud and greater financial transparency at all levels.

The team has developed a framework for understanding the factors that contribute to fraudulent behaviour and looked at the efficacy of the fraud triangle for addressing the problem. To do so, the researchers used a meta-analysis of studies in these areas to achieve their three primary objectives. First, they identified effective risk factors for FSF, considering the influence of a nation's characteristics on fraud risks. Secondly, they examined variations in research outcomes, focusing on country-related attributes impacting FSF detection. Thirdly, they have evaluated global fraud risks and propose tailored fraud detection models by clustering countries with similar characteristics.

There was, the researchers found, a significant difference in fraud risk among countries despite some of them sharing similar characteristics. They say that this suggests a tailored approach to fraud detection models is needed to examine each cluster of countries. Such findings will be important to policymakers, regulators, and financial analysts hoping to develop and implement new targeted measures to fight financial fraud globally.

Soltani, M., Kythreotis, A. and Roshanpoor, A. (2024) 'The moderate role of national culture and prosperity index on the effectiveness of the fraud triangle to prevent financial statement fraud: a cross-country meta-analysis approach', Int. J. Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation, Vol. 20, Nos. 3/4, pp.251–290.
DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2024.138486

Research in the journal World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, has looked at consumer attitudes towards naturally coloured cotton clothing. The study found that amid increasing concerns over the environmental impact of conventional cotton processing, consumers are willing to pay more for a greener tee-shirt.

A.S. Dishoja, Nisha Bharti, and Sushant Malik of the Symbiosis Institute of International Business at Symbiosis International (Deemed University) in Pune, Maharashtra, India, used data analysis techniques, including decision trees and cluster analysis, to reveal that a fairly significant proportion of respondents to their survey on consumer attitudes expressed interest in purchasing naturally coloured cotton apparel. 28 percent of consumers, they found, were willing to pay a premium of up to 15% for such products.

Naturally coloured cotton is appealing to a certain type of consumer because it aligns with their environmental attitudes more than the conventional approaches taken by the textiles dying industry. There are also notions of comfort, durability, and price being associated with greener products.

India has a great historical legacy in cotton production, including the cultivation of naturally coloured cotton varieties. Despite the challenges of lower productivity and reduced fibre quality when compared to conventional cotton, naturally coloured cotton has begun to gain traction in the textile markets, especially in Europe. The problem facing the supply chain, is the limited marketing infrastructure in India, which represents something of a barrier to the wider adoption of greener cotton.

The researchers, however, have demonstrated that consumers are beginning to change their mindset towards sustainability and many of them are now willing to pay more in the name of saving the planet, as it were. This, the team says, represents a new opportunity for companies to selectively and effectively market naturally coloured cotton apparel. There will be a pressing need for policymakers hoping to develop a sustainable agenda to encourage this kind of change in mindset and consumer behaviour. If they can foster an environment conducive to the growth of eco-friendly alternatives to standard cotton products, then they can contribute to sustainability in the clothing industry.

Dishoja, A.S., Bharti, N. and Malik, S. (2024) 'Is naturally coloured cotton a sustainable substitute for cotton textile?', World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp.338–354.
DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2024.138280

In business, company mergers and acquisitions (M&As) have weighty implications for companies and stakeholders alike. A study in the International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation has looked at M&As in the years following the global financial crisis (GFC) with a specific focus on Italy's generally slow recovery from this crisis and teh the response of family-owned businesses, in particular. The team of Cristina Florio and Francesca Rossignoli of the Department of Management at the University of Verona, have looked at whether Italian companies were bolstered by disclosure standards in the aftermath of the GFC compared to pre-crisis levels.

M&As are, generally speaking, a strategic manoeuvre involving substantial investments and inherent risks. Disclosures surrounding such major business transactions are vital to transparency and understanding among shareholders, investors, lenders, and other stakeholders regarding the long-term impact on the acquiring company's performance and the impact on those employed or investing in the company that is subsumed.

Before the GFC of 2007-2008, considered the biggest international economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s, evidence suggested that those involved in M&As were often failing to meeting the mandatory disclosure requirements of acquiring companies. However, the aftermath of the GFC, which was marked by unprecedented disruption to financial markets and subsequent heightened uncertainty, led to serious problems for companies seeking capital afterwards.

Florio and Rossignoli have looked at how companies responded by improving their M&A disclosure practices. This, they suggest, was an attempt to mitigate against investor wariness and to help them secure funding. As such, the team found that there was a significant improvement in M&A disclosures after the GFC. This was particularly noticeable among family-owned businesses that were seeking to acquire other business. This improvement in disclosure information shows that companies were trying to improve investor trust and so help them gain access to capital in the wake of the GFC.

From the perspective of regulators, these improvements in disclosures will be welcomed as a sign of companies better complying with mandatory requirements, which is important in turbulent times and bodes well for how companies might respond in a future crisis.

The team offers a precautionary note, however. They explain that there likely remain potential risks around opportunistic behaviour, where an acquirer might only selectively disclose information concerning goodwill recognition. The team suggests that investors should be vigilant and diligent in examining M&A disclosures in order to spot any underhand behaviour on the part of an acquirer.

Florio, C. and Rossignoli, F. (2024) 'M&A disclosure post-global financial crisis: the influence of family ownership', Int. J. Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation, Vol. 20, Nos. 3/4, pp.291–318.
DOI: 10.1504/IJAAPE.2024.138490

As the European single market evolves alongside advancements in digital technology, there is an increasing need to consider cross-border digital public services. A systematic literature review in the International Journal of Electronic Governance shows that there are many gaps in research in this area. Work has primarily focused on the national and local levels rather than the European Union as a whole, and so lead to a fragmented understanding across disciplines.

The review by Stefan Dedovic and Vincent Homburg of the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies at the University of Tartu in Estonia suggests that European policy coordination thus faces many challenges concerning organizational matters and interoperability. This applies most to EU public administrations with respect to cross-border digital public services. The research considered in their review suggests that these issues are recognised, but there is a lack of a comprehensive framework to help us understand the issues and how they might be addressed.

European integration relies on the free movement of people, services, capital, and goods. However, there are obstacles that individuals and businesses encounter repeatedly when trying to use cross-border digital public services, such as digital enrolment, identity verification, and business registry access. Indeed, such essential services are often badly implemented.

Some efforts have been made to introduce legal frameworks such as regulations on electronic identification and trust services that are meant to standardize digital services and smooth cross-border accessibility. But, to work well, such regulations need prioritisation at the national and EU-level. Millions of European jobs rely on cross-border services so this is vital to development and growth.

The team's review shows the gaps in research and so could provide a roadmap for future research directions to help in the development of governance, inter-organizational relationships, and interoperability. More research in those areas will allow problems to be solved. The team suggests that more research into the decision-making processes in multi-level governance settings, understanding the dynamics of organizational change, and addressing interoperability challenges will help move us forward. In addition, there is a pressing need to focus on the experiences of EU citizens.

Dedovic, S. and Homburg, V. (2024) 'Cross-border digital public services in the European Union: a systematic literature review', Int. J. Electronic Governance, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.4–28.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2024.138457

Bringing together virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to significant advancements in the field of interior design, according to research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology. Such a technological merger could be used to improve the design experience, tailor designs through simulated indoor environments, and give us better architectural outcomes. Such an approach would not remove our reliance on specialist designers and architects, but could lead to new approaches and opportunities.

According to Nan Yin of the Jilin University of Architecture and Technology in Changchun, Jilin, China, user-friendly design software, particularly from industry leaders like Autodesk in the USA and Kusile in China, has helped lower the overall workload for designers. Such software has allowed professionals to engage in interior design in different ways and even opened up the possibility of design to amateur designers. These tools have commonly used 3D reconstruction and virtual environments to offer an intuitive design experience.

Yin suggests that geometric and mathematical optimization strategies are now needed to address the complexity of building interior design. He suggests that in the use of hybrid recommendation modes and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) it should be possible to allow professional standards to be maintained while allowing for user preferences. Such a system has great potential for interior design, the research suggests.

The work focuses on the scientific application of geometric forms in interior design, particularly in terms of furniture selection and placement, with the emphasis on space functionality and user experience. The study offers insights into how different geometric forms affect the way in which we can move around a space and how it can be broken up into different areas, or zones, with different purposes.

Yin has used collaborative filtering (CF) methods and CNNs to develop intelligent interior design schemes. The research thus offers a theoretical basis for the use of geometric forms in design. The use of CNNs specifically allows texture analysis for comparing design elements.

Yin, N. (2024) 'The application of geometric form in architectural interior environment design', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 5, pp.95–105
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.138449

During the COVID-19 pandemic, facemasks became almost ubiquitous and still are in some environments. There is a need for face recognition to be able to "see behind the mask" for security and safety. Research in the International Journal of Computational Vision and Robotics discusses the potential of new software that might be trained on a large database of photographs of individuals in different poses and holding different facial expressions, where a simulated mask has been superimposed on the image, to allow facial recognition to work despite the mask you use.

Freha Mezzoudj and Chahreddine Medjahed of the Department of Computer Science at the University Hassiba Benbouali of Chlef in Algeria, have developed a comprehensive database of masked faces, termed FEI-SM. The training set contained images of 2000 unmasked faces and 18000 "masked" faces with different types of face covering, surgical masks and consumer-type masks. The database might now be used to test biometric identification of masked individuals.

Facial recognition as a form of biometric identification is now widely used in security systems. It can be used to open one's smartphone, for instance, or be used to allow access to a building only for accredited individuals. It can also be used by the police and other authorities to identify individuals in a given, putatively illegal, setting.

The team explains that "deep learning" a subset of artificial intelligence technology is a powerful approach to image recognition that usually stumbles when faced with a masked individual. The team has used several convolutional neural network systems – deep learning tools – based on three ResNet and two DarkNet models (ResNet18, ResNet50, ResNet101, DarkNet19, and DarkNet53) to see how successful they might be in the biometric identification of masked and unmasked faces from their database. They found that ResNet18 is the most accurate and fastest in their tests.

Mezzoudj, F. and Medjahed, C. (2024) 'Efficient masked face identification biometric systems based on ResNet and DarkNet convolutional neural networks', Int. J. Computational Vision and Robotics, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp.284–303.
DOI: 10.1504/IJCVR.2024.138306

The accurate validation of signed documents is important to ensuring personal privacy and digital safety and security. Offline handwritten signature recognition is now widely used in sectors like banking, healthcare, and legal proceedings. However, there remains a security risk in that a handwritten signature might easily be forged by a malicious third party. There is an urgent need in many sectors to improve the current recognition techniques so that they can identify faked autographs.

Research from China published in the International Journal of Biometrics has introduced a new approach to offline handwritten signature recognition based on Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). This approach allows variable features such as a measure of the pen pressure and tilt angle to be used for signature recognition. Xiaoguang Jiang of the Department of Culture and Arts at Yongcheng Vocational College explains that by integrating GANs to enhance accuracy it is possible to generate realistic virtual signatures that alongside training classifiers from authentic written signatures and so improve the accuracy of the classifier.

Jianh has used a Deep Convolutional GAN (DCGAN) model and demonstrated 95 percent accuracy in tests, which is much greater than the accuracy possible with earlier models. Accurate signature recognition is critical for identity verification processes in finance, law, healthcare, and other areas. The same techniques might also be applied more esoterically to signature verification in the art world, for instance, or the digitization of historical documents to ensure authenticity and provenance.

Jiang, X. (2024) 'Offline handwritten signature recognition based on generative adversarial networks', Int. J. Biometrics, Vol. 16, Nos. 3/4, pp.236–255.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBM.2024.138227

Research in the International Journal of Biometrics introduces a new method for assessing a practitioner's precision in martial arts training. The method focuses on quickly identifying errors in the athlete's movements and allowing their trainer to more precisely guide them to correct form. The system has been developed with a particular focus on Wushu, a collection of Chinese martial arts styles known for their complexity and precision.

Zhiqiang Li of the Department of Police Sports Teaching and Research at Jilin Police College in Changchun, China, explains how the system used advanced algorithms, including the optical flow method and shot adaptive K-means clustering. These are used to extract "key frames" from video and to then analyse texture features of the martial artist's movements. The analysis can attain a high accuracy rate of 96.58% in detecting incorrect movements. The minimal recognition error is 1.9%, Li adds. Critically, the method is very efficient, giving the trainer or student a positive recognition within just 11 seconds or so.

The approach could be very useful in martial arts training, allowing coaches to identify errors in real-time and offer on the spot advice and guidance to their students, even if an error was difficult to spot in the class or there were ambiguity in judging it. The method could thus enhance training effectiveness and, given that incorrect actions are often associated with injury, it could also reduce the number of physical problems faced by students. The high precision will benefit the students in developing their technical proficiency but also make their participation in martial arts safer. The system will also benefit to the overall aesthetic appeal of a martial arts performances.

One might imagine that the system could be extended for refereeing purposes where there is ambiguity in judging a move or action as allowed or illegal in the particular marshal art. It would also be quite easy to imagine that such a system would be as controversial as the likes of the digital line judges used in international tennis and the video assistant referee (VAR) used in (association) football.

Li, Z. (2024) 'A method for recognising wrong actions of martial arts athletes based on keyframe extraction', Int. J. Biometrics, Vol. 16, Nos. 3/4, pp.256–271.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBM.2024.138228

Industry faces many problems in the current economic, sociopolitical, and environmental context. The idea of industrial renewal has thus come to the fore as an approach that might allow us to address those different challenges sitting with the new approach to understanding, known as service ecosystems.

Writing in the International Journal of Services Technology and Management, a team from Finland explains how service ecosystems might play an important part in speeding up industrial renewal. However, they add that there are many aspects of the complex social dynamics that drive these ecosystems, which must be understood before we can move ahead and which have previously been overlooked in some research.

Maaria Nuutinen, Katri Valkokari, and Maarit Halttunen of the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, and Katariina Palomäki of Sitowise Ltd, have taken a new look at service ecosystem research. They focused on the practical aspects of industrial service ecosystems in order to help explain what they need to encompass in order to facilitate industrial renewal.

Industrial renewal refers to the process of revitalizing or rejuvenating a given industrial sector. It generally involves implementing strategies and initiatives to modernize, upgrade, or transform existing practices to allow them to adapt to changing markets, to adopt technological advancements, to take into account environmental considerations, and to face up to global competition.

The team has identified three main characteristics in service ecosystem practice that will be useful in guiding future work: accomplishment, attractiveness, and actionability. Accomplishment refers to the ongoing process of creating value within the service ecosystem by bringing together technology, data, and skills. Attractiveness pertains to the ability of the ecosystem to draw in and retain talented people in the sector. Actionability emphasizes how effective the service ecosystem is in reaching useful goals as well as helping in the process of industrial renewal.

By offering a new perspective for research in this area, the team also provides useful insights for policymakers, businesses, and others involved in a range of industrial sectors. These insights should help us to use the concept of service ecosystems to tackle global problems by accelerating industrial renewal.

Nuutinen, M., Valkokari, K., Halttunen, M. and Palomäki, K. (2024) 'Characteristics of industrial service ecosystem practices for industrial renewal', Int. J. Services Technology and Management, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp.76–96.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2024.138259

A review in the International Journal of Grid and Utility Computing has investigated ways in which the increasing problem of duplicate data in computer storage systems might be addressed. Solutions to this problem could improve storage efficiency, system performance, and reduce the overall demand on resources.

Amdewar Godavari and Chapram Sudhakar of the department of Computer Science and Engineering at the National Institute of Technology Warangal in Warangal, Telangana, India explain how the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the emergence of big data in science, engineering, medical, and many other areas has led to a massive increase in computer storage demand.

Some researchers have suggested that by 2025, the amount of stored data will amount to around 175 zettabytes (175 trillion terabytes). Other research has provided estimates of duplication in this data and suggests that around three-quarters, 75 percent, is wholly redundant. This redundancy leads to inefficient storage utilization and decreased performance in storage systems. Identifying the duplicate content that might be removed from a system is not a simple matter.

To address this challenge, the researchers point out that there are two general approaches. The first is data compression, which will compare files and crush file sizes based in the identification of duplicates. Full-on data deduplication, however, can compute a unique "hash value" for much larger blocks of data, compares those hashes to find blocks containing identical data and so flag them for removal as appropriate. This latter approach could be used to reduce the amount of down-time or latency that would otherwise impinge on performance and access.

The team suggests that various chunking algorithms and machine learning-based techniques might be used to identify redundant blocks of data. Their tests show that variable-sized chunking offers better deduplication ratios compared to fixed-sized chunking, although this approach is slower. The algorithmic approach, however, could allow redundancy categorization to use machine learning to improve efficiency still further.

Godavari, A. and Sudhakar, C. (2024) 'A survey on deduplication systems', Int. J. Grid and Utility Computing, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp.143–159.
DOI: 10.1504/IJGUC.2024.137902

Research in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management has looked at how used diapers (baby nappies or adult napkins) and sanitary wear might be efficiently composted using cow dung a readily available by-product of cattle farming the world over.

Namasivayam Vasudevan, Greeshma Odukkathil, and Gomathi Ravi of the Centre for Environmental Studies at Anna University in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India, explain how absorbent hygiene products (AHPs) including diapers and sanitary wear are now ubiquitous in the developing and developed world having broadly displaced the washable and reusable alternatives. As such, they represent a growing waste disposal problem.

AHPs are generally not biodegradable unless somehow pre-processed nor easily recyclable, not least because of the waste they carry with them. They generally accumulate on rubbish dumps and in landfill in regions where such waste is not burnt. More than 250 tonnes of such waste enters the waste stream in Chennai alone each year, the team writes.

The team has looked at cow dung and effective microbes that might be able to break down used diapers and sanitary pads. They tested the putative composting process over a sixty-day period, recording chemical and physical changes in pH, moisture content, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and nutrient levels.

The team suggests that their results are somewhat promising. The compost derived from AHPs exhibited favourable characteristics, including a neutral pH, optimal moisture content, and suitable nutrient levels. There was, in addition, a significant drop in overall volume and mass, ranging from 70% to 85% during composting. This latter point suggests that the composted AHPs would if ultimately destined for landfill at least take up less volume in the site if processed in this way first. The chemical changes induced by composting would not necessarily make them useful as soil conditioner in other similar applications, but at least the processed materials would be somewhat less polluting. However, with further optimisation, it may well be possible to process used AHPs into a usable compost for an overall more ecologically conscious approach to their disposal.

Vasudevan, N., Odukkathil, G. and Ravi, G. (2024) 'Effectiveness of cow dung and effective microorganisms on composting of napkins and diapers', Int. J. Environment and Waste Management, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp.511-523.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.137953

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used widely in many different areas of our lives, including healthcare, education, finance, retail, tourism, and e-commerce. It is allowing business to change the way in which they interact with their customers through the advent of chatbots. Research in the International Journal of Trade and Global Markets has looked at how the evolution of AI-driven chatbots can be integrated into the systems businesses use to interact with their customers.

Minh T.H. Le, Khoi Minh Nguyen, Ngan Thanh Nguyen, Nghi Hoang Vo, Khang Trieu Tran, and Duc Trung Dao of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam analysed 335 completed questionnaires which asked correspondents about their experience with AI chatbots. AI chatbots can operate day and night, seven days a week, and give customers prompt responses to their queries. The team explains that such chatbots seem to improve customer experience by boosting quality perception, customer satisfaction, and personalization. Moreover, these AI services appear to cultivate trust and loyalty among customers, which has a positive effect on overall brand relationships.

Earlier studies have tended to focus on the technology itself. This latest work considers the human response. The team explains that the use of AI chatbots allows businesses to streamline operations, tailor their customer interactions, and also to gain useful insights about consumer behaviour. This, they add, is helping with business automation and sales forecasting.

One negative point that arose from the analysis that many people are still worried about the lack of "emotional intelligence" in AI chatbots. This represents an ongoing challenge to maintaining customer satisfaction and trust and is an issue that future developments in AI may well address. Indeed, now is the time for companies that wish to make the most of this emerging technology to encourage and support appropriate development in the AI sector that balances the technological demands with the human experience.

Le, M.T.H., Nguyen, K.M., Nguyen, N.T., Vo, N.H., Tran, K.T. and Dao, D.T. (2024) 'Enhancing the customer experience AI-chatbot: service quality, emotional intelligence, and personalisation', Int. J. Trade and Global Markets, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp.111–132.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2024.137744

While discussion is ongoing regarding the definition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the ethics of certain forms of that technology, it cannot be argued that it is transforming processes across a wide range of industries. Research in the International Journal of Business Information Systems would suggest that some businesses are facing challenges in their efforts to incorporate AI tools into their day-to-day and long-term processes.

Sam Solaimani, Reza Dabestani, Thomas Harrison-Prentice, Edward Ellis, and Michael Kerr of Nyenrode Business University in Breukelen and Abhishek Choudhury and Naser Bakhshi of Deloitte in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, have reviewed the research literature. They used a mixed-methods approach to identify the various factors associated with the integration of AI into business. The study focuses on exploration, implementation, and scaling and offers new insights into how these affect adoption of AI technology.

The team explains that during the exploration phase, the company's culture is important in determining how AI is adopted. A clear business plan and strong support from top management are vital to a successful strategy in this area. The team emphasises how AI projects can be implemented but suggests that leaders within the company must ensure AI adoption matches the company's goals.

In the implementation stage, it is the technical landscape that is important with problem orientation and data quality being the key parts of identifying obstacles and issues. Good planning and resource allocation are needed in this stage to make sure the deployment of AI will be successful from the technological perspective.

The team then considers the scaling phase. This area considers data governance, safeguards associated with the precision and accuracy of the algorithms used and their outputs, and, inevitably, cybersecurity. They conclude that: "[Our] contribute to the scholarly discourse on critical success factors relevant to AI adoption and help firms sharpen their focus and leverage their resources efficiently towards a more effective adoption of AI."

Solaimani, S., Dabestani, R., Harrison-Prentice, T., Ellis, E., Kerr, M., Choudhury, A. and Bakhshi, N. (2024) 'Exploration and prioritisation of critical success factors in adoption of artificial intelligence: a mixed-methods study', Int. J. Business Information Systems, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp.429–453.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2024.138052

Millions of people around the world live with diabetes mellitus. Many of them have medication and specific dietary management approaches to help them maintain stable blood sugar levels. However, recent innovations, such as inhaled insulin, the hormone made by the pancreas, which controls blood sugar, have sparked hope for more effective and user-friendly treatments.

Diabetes is characterized by insufficient insulin production or ineffective insulin utilization. It causes many health problems and risks for those with one of the various forms of the disease. Risks include cardiovascular disease and microvascular complications such as eye, nerve, and kidney disorders. There is also the risk of acute problems that can lead to sudden death.

Conventional treatments rely on daily insulin injections or insulin pumps used in conjunction with regular blood glucose monitoring. Such regimens can be complicated and are associated with discomfort, time constraints, and the need for precise dosing, to avoid unpredictable blood sugar levels and severe complications.

Inhalable insulin offers a new approach to diabetes management. Using devices, similar to those used by people with asthma or other chronic lung diseases, including nebulizers and metered-dose inhalers it is possible to dispense a precise amount of insulin into the patient's lungs from where the hormone will be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly and effectively allowing for rapid action when needed.

One such drug, Afrezza, a fast-acting inhalable insulin, was given US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2014 and remains the only inhaled insulin product on the market. It represented an important step towards a new approach to diabetes treatment. Some earlier inhaled therapies had not proven themselves safe nor effective. Afrezza has a more reliable pharmacokinetic profile, which will give patients greater convenience and improved control of their blood sugar levels.

Writing in the International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials, a team from India explains that insulin inhalers could improve patient adherence to their drug regimen and thus outcomes by providing a non-invasive and user-friendly alternative to traditional administration methods. Priya Patel and Bhavisha Kacha of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Saurashtra University in Gujarat, India, add that nanotechnology could help drive the next steps in developing even more effective inhaler-type drug delivery systems for treating diabetes mellitus.

Patel, P. and Kacha, B. (2024) 'Inhaled insulin: current steps towards diabetes treatment', Int. J. Nano and Biomaterials, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp.171–188.
DOI: 10.1504/IJNBM.2024.137687

A detailed analysis of Vietnam's real estate market aimed to identify the factors that contribute to the formation of real estate bubbles. The study, published in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research covered the period from 2011 to 2021 and focused on various economic variables and regional factors influencing property prices and the overall stability of the real estate market.

Le Phuong Lan of the Foreign Trade University and Nguyen Quynh Anh of Tien Phong Bank both in Hanoi, Vietnam, point out that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which itself revealed vulnerabilities in Vietnam's real estate sector, the new work shows that proactive measures are needed to mitigate against financial risks in this sector and to attempt to avoid unsustainable increases in property prices.

The researchers looked at macroeconomic indicators, such as economic growth, inflation, lending interest rates, money supply, credit growth, migration rates, and provincial competitiveness. They then used their findings to develop a predictive model that would hopefully allow them to spot any patterns as the real estate market evolves.

Critically, economic growth seems to be the real driver for activity across the real estate sector, The team points out that fluctuations in the growth rate of Vietnam's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is linked to changes in the overall demand for property and investment in property. Conversely, inflationary pressures and variations in lending interest rates, because they affect borrowing costs, are another important factor that influences buying and selling behaviour in the real estate market. Unfortunately, the team also showed that liquidity within the financial system in general has a major effect on real estate speculation. The greater the money supply and credit growth, the greater the property price inflation. The team found some regional disparities where migration rates and provincial competitiveness affected movement in the real estate sector in specific geographic areas.

Their conclusion is that measures to enhance transparency and regulatory oversight should be put in place to improve the way in which market participants garner information and to protect them and the sector from at least some of the common risks. They add that prudent monetary policy and effective macroeconomic management could also be used to maintain stability and confidence in the real estate sector and the broader financial system.

Lan, L.P. and Anh, N.Q. (2024) 'Impacts of macroeconomic factors on the real estate bubble in Vietnam's big cities with industrial zones', Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp.511–532.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2024.138079

A study in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research has looked at the various factors affecting fluctuations in the price of natural rubber in Thailand, the world's largest producer of the product. The study considers both domestic and external influences on rubber prices, showing just how the Thai market is affected by global changes and trends.

Part Sungkaew of King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, in Thailand, points out that exports are critical to the Thai rubber industry. Just 18 percent of production is used domestically. Even then, domestic use is largely accounted for by foreign companies operating within Thailand. In other words, external factors such as exchange rates, export volumes, and oil prices all play part in determining the price. Moreover, despite Thailand being the leading producer, Sungkaew found that the market favours foreign buyers.

An important factor that affects price is the volume of natural rubber stock within Thailand and abroad. This factor makes the Thai industry vulnerable to global market dynamics, with price changes in other major producing countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia affecting prices in Thailand. In addition, the rise of China as a major consumer further complicates the changing market, suggesting a shift in the balance of power in the global natural rubber market.

Rubber farm cooperatives have offered some relief through cost-saving measures and efficiency drives. However, the impact of these is very subtle. The actions of the rubber farmers themselves has a very small role to play in the global natural rubber market.

There have also been government interventions aimed at trying to prevent falling prices, driven by changing stocks and demand. But, the study found that the predominance of large buyers persists. The Thai government is under pressure to create policies to support value-added rubber products and the domestic industries in an attempt to mitigate against price fluctuations and stabilise the market.

Sungkaew, P. (2024) 'Factors affecting natural rubber prices in Thailand', Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp.489–510.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2024.138077

The exchange of knowledge has always been an important part of the research process. Digital platforms have made this easier than ever but at the same time added to the information burden. There are efficient tools available to researchers that allow them to collaborate and share knowledge more effectively. Research in the International Journal of Business Innovation and Research has investigated the various factors that lead to academics participating or otherwise in such systems.

Osama F. Al Kurdi of Ahlia University in Manama, Bahrain, has carried out a quantitative study using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyse feedback from academics on their use of online research communities. He has thus been able to identify seven important variables including attitudes towards knowledge, intention to share knowledge, perceived behavioural control, self-efficacy, subjective norms, and the role of tools and technology.

As one might expect, the most important variable driving use of online research collaboration is the individual's attitude to this kind of approach to research. The research would therefore suggest that to boost use of such systems, the service providers need to do their best to foster positive attitudes within academic institutions.

Beyond the obvious implications of the research, the paper also has broader significance for theoretical frameworks and practical applications. The theoretical integration of elements from the Theory of Planned Behaviour and social exchange theories provides insights into knowledge-sharing behaviour in an academic setting. Individual attitude needs to be considered together with social and technological influences. The ultimate aim is to improve knowledge sharing with a view to improving innovation.

Al Kurdi, O.F. (2024) 'Factors affecting the use of online research collaboration platforms for knowledge sharing: evidence from knowledge-intensive organisations', Int. J. Business Innovation and Research, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp.433–456
DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2024.137604

Crime is an age-old and never-ending problem for societies worldwide and crime detection and crime fighting have always chased after the criminals who often stay one step ahead. Research in the International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development has turned to emotional data alongside machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques to develop technology that might one day help us better understand the criminal mind and perhaps even predict criminal activity so that it might be prevented.

A. Kalai Selvan and N. Sivakumaran of the Department of Instrumentation and Control Engineering & Head at the National Institute of Technology,in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India had two main objectives: the prediction of crime using ML models based on emotional data and the identification of future crime hotspots using DL methods applied to crime incident data.

By analysing voice-based emotional cues using ML algorithms, the team has achieved a detection accuracy of 97.2% for various crimes. Additionally, DL techniques, particularly convolutional stacked bidirectional long short-term memory (LSTM), allowed them to detect crime hotspots with an accuracy of 95.64%.

The researchers point out how the significance of emotional states in speech patterns allowed them to explore speech-based emotion detection. They took into account linguistic origin, paralinguistic cues, and the characteristics of the speaker. This allowed them to integrate the emotional data they obtained with other factors such as location and the type of crime that takes place in a hotspot. While, the notion sounds rather futuristic, the rapid advances in algorithms that can extract and identify patterns in data is in no way a matter only for science fiction. The team says that their approach could monitor activity in crime hotspots, detect crimes, and forecast future criminal activities.

Future work might allow similar machine learning techniques to be used for emergency response systems, rather than only in crime fighting. By analysing the emotional content of a person calling the emergency services, the system might be able to distinguish between genuine emergencies and non-emergency or even fraudulent calls, which could reduce the burden on the services considerably. It is only a matter of time before the research takes the prediction accuracy closer and closer to the ideal 100 percent of the ultimate crime-fighting AI emotion detector.

Kalai Selvan, A. and Sivakumaran, N. (2024) 'Crime detection and crime hot spot prediction using the BI-LSTM deep learning model', Int. J. Knowledge-Based Development, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp.57–86.
DOI: 10.1504/IJKBD.2024.137600

A comprehensive review of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and energy-storage systems offers a valuable resource for researchers in this area, according to the authors writing in the International Journal of Vehicle Information and Communication Systems.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are an important part of sustainable personal transport as we try to move from a world drive on fossil fuels to one powered by solar, wind, and other renewables. Lithium-ion batteries continue to play a vital role in the ongoing success of EVs, and will do so until an even better alternative storage technology is developed.

Mandar Maruti Bidwe and Swanand Gajanan Kulkarni of the SKN Sinhgad College of Engineering in Korti, Pandharpur, Maharashtra, India, conducted a detailed review of the research literature covering the period 2010 to 2022. They hope that their work will shine headlights on the lithium-ion battery roadmap and help researchers navigate the terrain towards future sustainable of electric transportation and energy storage.

The team's review looked at various aspects of lithium-ion battery technology and shows that it is important to understanding the diverse materials used in different types of battery and the impact these material choices have on performance, lifetime, and sustainability. The team explains that materials such as lithium cobalt oxide offer high energy density but are hindered by limited availability and lower thermal stability. By contrast, materials such as lithium iron phosphate are much safer and longer-lasting, but do not necessarily have the energy density some applications demand.

There is an ongoing need to model the behaviour of different types of battery in order to develop technology that optimises battery performance and management systems without too much compromise in terms of sustainability and resource safety and ethics. The review points to various papers that have focused on such models and assesses which might be used to best effect by researchers. This is critical given that challenges exist, not least in terms of the recycling and sustainability. The team points to several research gaps in these areas that could help focus efforts.

Research into lithium-ion batteries is multidisciplinary and given its central role in the electrification of transport it will be a focus for several years yet. This review offers waymarkers on the roadmap for research and development.

Bidwe, M.M. and Kulkarni, S.G. (2024) 'Lithium-ion battery: a review', Int. J. Vehicle Information and Communication Systems, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp.135–163.
DOI: 10.1504/IJVICS.2024.137854

TikTok is a social media platform known for its short-form videos. Content creators, who have built a significant following on the site, often work with corporate brands to promote products to their audience, often through affiliate marketing. This involves a so-called influencer sharing products in their videos with affiliate links and then earning a commission from the company for purchases made through those links. It might be said that success lies in creating authentic content that attracts users and takes advantage of the current trends. However, for an influencer to be successful, they need to be transparent about their affiliate relationships in order to build and maintain the trust of their audience.

Writing in the International Journal of Technology Marketing, Minh T.H. Le of the College of Business at the University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Vietnam, discusses how the effectiveness of affiliate marketing might be improved by users hoping to influence young people. Le's study was based on a standardized questionnaire distributed across internet platforms. The results were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Her research identified some of the factors affecting consumer trust and buying decisions, including the opinions of other followers.

She found that the perceived expertise of content creators and feedback from their followers is important to consumer trust. Le explains that a marketing campaign can pivot on this point. However, the entertainment value of an influencer video, is perhaps the most important factor leading to better user engagement and whether that user buys the products touted by the influencers they follow.

The detailed findings discussed in IJTMKT offer practical guidance for marketers and businesses who are attempting to make the most of digital marketing. The advice suggests that companies need to understand how Key Opinion Leaders, Key Opinion Consumers, and influencers operate and the effect they have on everyday users. Given that TikTok appeals to a wide audience seeking amusement as well as product recommendations, it is worth exploring in detail its potential as a marketing channel.

Le, M.T.H. (2024) 'Enhance the effectiveness of affiliate marketing on Tiktok for young people', Int. J. Technology Marketing, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp.162–184.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTMKT.2024.137669

The digital library is a searchable store of text, audio and visual materials, and more. However, as the amount of data that must be stored and made searchable increases, efficient management and retrieval can be a major headache for the digital library. Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology could lead to a new solution to the problem by integrating image processing, big data analytics, and deep learning techniques.

Xiaoyan Wang and Meimei Jia of Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, Henan, China, like others, recognise the complexities of enhanced multimedia search and retrieval and have turned to the modern tool of deep learning to help. The team has developed a cross-media semantic search framework. This finds and uses the correlations between different types of media to assist in search and retrieval. Their deep learning algorithm can analyse and organize multimedia resources to improve search accuracy and system performance. Indeed, the use of this cross-modal correlation analysis and hierarchical knowledge inference in refining search results gave the team an almost 12 percent boost in search performance when compared with conventional approaches.

The approach will be useful for generic digital libraries and could be extended to personal devices such as smartphones, enabling greater access to useful information silos for the lay public. In more specialist applications, the same approach might be used in medical and scientific information systems. This could allow complex medical imagery, such as MRI scans and diagnostic test data and chemical databases, to be more readily searchable. In enterprise knowledge management systems, with such a system, companies could better handle their ever-accumulating data and information. Moreover, in any field where vast amounts of multimedia data accumulate every day and need efficient search and retrieval methods to make the most of the information they hold, an improved system will benefit users.

Wang, X. and Jia, M. (2024) 'Development of a unified digital library system: integration of image processing, big data, and deep learning', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp.378–391.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.137942

Technology is changing all areas of education not least language learning. Research in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology has looked at the potential of Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL).

Learning a new language has usually relied on the traditional classroom setting and a native speaker of the language to teach students the vocabulary and grammar. However, there have for many years language learning systems that use voice recordings and books. In recent years, these systems have migrated to smartphones. The number of learners answering the CALL has risen because of the accessibility and convenience. Such systems now use artificial intelligence and algorithmic processing to help learners get to grips with their language second, or third, or more, language of choice. Indeed, the new tools offer an immersive and interactive language-learning experience.

Ning Li of the Public Teaching Department at Henan Vocational College of Tuina in Luoyang, Henan, China, explains that one aspect of language learning by app is the potential of the software to provide learners with an assessment of their progress and oral proficiency. If the system can analyse the words spoken by the learner in their non-native tongue, then they can be guided to the next level in their education appropriately or given advice on checking and rechecking their understanding and ability.

CALL systems can offer tailored teaching and thus have the potential to address individual learning needs, accelerating language acquisition for those learners who can cope and slowing the teaching process for those who need more time. Of course, variability in accent and dialect represent a challenge for the assessment algorithms and new innovations and refinements are still needed to make CALL as effective as traditional teaching and learning methods.

CALL could open up linguistic opportunities far and wide. With improvements in AI such systems will be able to assess learners before they are released into the wilds of international conversation.

Li, N. (2024) 'Research on scoring mechanism of spoken English self-study system taking into account artificial intelligence technology and speech knowledge recognition algorithm', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 3, pp.350–365.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.137941

The responsibility for maintaining online safety relies on content moderators particularly in times of crisis. However, not all platforms even have moderation systems in place and so disinformation, misinformation, propaganda, and fake news often circulate freely. The time of the COVID-19 pandemic was a case in point, but the propagation of fake news occurs during times of political change and in the wake of other kinds of crises and socioeconomic upheaval. However, there is much content online that is illegal rather than simply being fake and that must be removed summarily.

Some social media platforms and websites do have individuals and even teams who are tasked with checking user-generated content to ensure it does not contravene the law. Elena Martellozzo, Paula Bradbury, Ruth Spence, and Jeffrey DeMarco of Middlesex University, London, UK, and Paul Bleakley of the University of New Haven, West Haven, USA, point out that during and after the COVID-19 pandemic there was a surge in the volume of illegal content. They report details of their findings and the implications in the International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management.

The researchers have looked at the experience of content moderators during this period and their findings offer new insights into how this important online role can affect the moderators' mental well-being. Indeed, the upward trend in illegal material being shared online, exacerbated by lockdown measures during the pandemic, put the content moderators under immense pressure. There was a heightened risk of personal burnout, mental health problems, and even trauma when it came to particular kinds of illegal content that required moderation. The new findings suggest that there is an urgent need to improve the working conditions and personnel backup for such moderators.

Lessons drawn from the pandemic era should provide service providers and their staff, including their content moderators, useful guidance for the improvement of working conditions. Employers must prioritize mental health support, fair compensation, and comprehensive training, the research suggests. This is especially important given the role played by content moderators in helping to remove illegal content from the internet.

The researchers add that clear communication, professional development opportunities, and tailored support mechanisms, particularly for those working remotely or in a hybrid work environment, are important considerations for employers and service providers.

Martellozzo, E., Bleakley, P., Bradbury, P., Spence, R. and DeMarco, J. (2024) 'Supporting digital key workers: addressing the challenges faced by content moderators during and after the COVID-19 pandemic', Int. J. Technology, Policy and Management, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp.212–228.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2024.137818

The advent of crowdfunding, whereby innovative ideas find financial backing from the collective support of online communities, such as Indiegogo and Kickstarter, has allowed countless projects to become viable in recent years. Many of those projects, while attractive and ultimately successful, may never have garnered support from conventional investors and backers. Of course, not all crowdfunding enterprises are successful, and a study in the International Journal of Electronic Business has looked at how much effect first impressions has on what a campaign might ultimately achieve.

Mathupayas Thongmak of the Thammasat Business School at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, has focused on Indiegogo as a well-known crowdfunding platform. She points out that to date, the rate of success among crowdfunding campaigns remains relatively low. The present study offers insights that might help putative campaigners develop a more effective strategy for success.

Presentation is almost all when it comes to a successful campaign. Potential backers wading through many project options commonly rely on first impressions to decide whether to investigate a given campaign further. In other words, an attractive thumbnail image, text introduction, and category choice, are vital. Without them, most backers scanning for opportunities will simply swipe left, to use the parlance of dating apps, where such a swipe amounts to a rejection.

Earlier work has looked at the factors that coincide with a successful crowdfunding campaign, but Thongmak has used descriptive statistics, word clouds, tree maps, and hierarchical regression analysis to analyse data from more than 300 campaigns to look at what characterises successful outcomes. It seems that timing is almost everything, but appropriate category choice can affect success rate for campaigners significantly. Moreover, the most likely to succeed are campaigns in the technology and innovation sectors, with health and fitness products featuring prominently, followed by home, travel, and outdoor equipment. It is worth noting that text on a thumbnail image did not affect success rate. As such, Thongmak suggests that campaigners should use their thumbnail image to make their project stand out more from the other images through the choice of a more creative design and colour scheme.

Thongmak, M. (2024) 'Does first impression count? A look at Indiegogo campaigns on the 'Explore All Projects' page', Int. J. Electronic Business, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp.181–208.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEB.2024.137688

Research in the International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics has looked at the various factors that affect the overall effectiveness of shipping alliances in the container shipping industry. These alliances, formed as cooperative agreements between container carriers, have become an important part of the industry, providing benefits such as expanded market access, operational efficiency, and keeping companies afloat in turbulent times.

Hui Ting Lu, Kum Fai Yuen, and Kim Hock Tan of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and Guanqiu Qi of Chung-Ang University in South Korea surveyed 180 executives from major shipping lines involved in prominent alliances. They used the survey results to identify 20 factors associated with successful alliances. They then measured the impact of these factors, such as opportunistic behaviour and constructive coordination, on outcomes for the companies involved in the alliances.

In order to formalise their results, the team categorized the critical success factors as: alliance rationale and conditions, partner search and selection, partnership design, partnership implementation, and partnership outcome evaluation. Within these different phases, the team found that alliance rationale and conditions in particular influenced constructive coordination among partners.

The team also used various theoretical frameworks, such as transaction cost theory, resource-based view, knowledge-based theory, sociological approaches, and general management and leadership theory to provide a comprehensive understanding of critical success factors and how they relate to those different phases and the outcomes among shipping alliances.

The team found that the initial phases of alliance building depended on strong foundations built through careful partner selection and the ongoing strength of the alliance needed a good working relationship for its implementation but also continuous evaluation of the pros and cons. The researchers also found that success depended on the ability for partners to adapt to external factors such as regulatory changes and cybersecurity threats to maintain coordination and achieve their goals.

The container shipping industry must ride the waves of changing markets. The research highlights a continued need for improved understanding of how alliances between different companies can work and to allow them to navigate safely through smooth seas and dire straits.

Lu, H.T., Yuen, K.F., Tan, K.H. and Qi, G. (2024) 'Critical success factors of strategic alliance in the shipping industry', Int. J. Shipping and Transport Logistics, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp.111–137.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2024.137890

An analysis of glacial data spanning four decades has provided valuable insights into the changes taking place in the glaciers of the Pir Panjal range within the Kashmir basin in India. The research, published in the International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, analysed data for the period 1980 to 2020. It reveals significant losses in glacial mass and points out just how important this could be for the people and ecosystems that rely on the melt waters from these glaciers. It also highlights the flood risks associated with sudden catastrophic changes in the glaciers as they melt.

Mohmad Ashraf Ganaie and Syed Kaiser Bukhari of the National Institute of Technology Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, identified 122 glaciers that by 2020 had decreased notably in size since 1980. For example, a glacial region of almost 26 kilometres in 1980 had shrunk to just under 16 square kilometres by 2020. One particular glacial watershed, Vishaw, which encompasses 55 glaciers, had lost more than 6 square kilometres.

Topography plays an important role in how rapidly glaciers have receded during this period of time. The smaller glaciers, those less than or equal to 0.5 square kilometre, were found to be receded faster than the bigger glaciers. Moreover, south-facing glaciers and those at lower elevations demonstrated too were receding more rapidly, the team found. The different rates of glacial loss suggest that there are many complex factors at play.

The Himalayan glaciers are a vital source of water for those in their shadow. They play a major role in sustaining river flow and supporting human activities such as agriculture and hydroelectric power generation, as well maintaining the natural, local ecosystems, wildlife, and habitats. The impact of glacial loss will be gradual, but with accelerating loss due to climate change there is the risk of melted glacial lakes suddenly release huge volumes of water downstream, which could devastate human settlements and the ecosystems in its path.

Historically, there have been limited numbers of remote sensors and monitoring of the glaciers in this region. There is now a pressing need to understand the changes taking place and the effect these changes will have on water resource management, flood risk, and the local environment.

Ganaie, M.A. and Bukhari, S.K. (2024) 'Inventory and status of glaciers in the Pir Panjal Range Kashmir basin between 1980 and 2020', Int. J. Hydrology Science and Technology, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp.319–347.
DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2024.137781

Employee engagement among independent gig workers is an important issue facing organisations working with remote teams and individuals. A study in the International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy which looked at the connections between gig workers and their client teams, suggests there is a need to improve engagement to improve working conditions, well-being, and mental health for remote workers.

The gig economy is a labour market where individuals work on short-term contracts or as long-term freelancers. Freelancers have been a part of the economy for many years, but in the digital era, applications and platforms have opened up many jobs that were previously restricted to the conventional workplace. Gig workers enjoy flexibility but also face challenges like job security and benefits.

Rebecca Wason of Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, has used a structured questionnaire based on William Kahn's three facets of employee engagement – meaningfulness, safety, and availability – and found significant differences in gig worker engagement levels. It seems that gig workers commonly feel satisfied with their work, but often feel isolated from their peers and management.

The research found that many respondents felt a lack of clarity from their managers regarding the significance and purpose of their work was a major problem. In addition, Wason found that some respondents felt that they had insufficient guidance on organisational culture and norms. This, the work suggests, leads to difficulty in integrating within client teams as well as a problem with forming social bonds. This leads to feelings of exclusion and detachment.

Effective communication, clear task assignment, and supportive organisational structures are all important in improving gig worker engagement. Addressing such issues could improve the working lives of gig workers, as well the outcomes for the organisations for which they work.

Wason, R. (2024) 'Disengaged: the problem of employee engagement in gig workers', Int. J. Management Concepts and Philosophy, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp.149–160.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2024.137637

The global COVID-19 pandemic caused much suffering and tragedy and continues to do so. One aspect of our everyday lives that was massively disrupted was education. Conventional classroom teaching methods had to be digitised urgently during lockdowns when schools were forced to close to reduce the risk of spreading the potentially lethal coronavirus. A study in the International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation has looked out how new strategies had to be developed during this time and how educators were forced to tackle the emergence of cyberbullying among middle school students that the shift to online learning led to.

In their work, Sasipim Poompimol, Suthiporn Sajjapanroj, and Thanyaluck Ingkavara of Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom, Patcharin Panjaburee of Khon Kaen University in Khon Kaen, Chanayuth Changpetch of Mahasarakham University in Maha Sarakham, and Preeyada Tapingkae of Bansanpasak School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, introduced a digital board game along with multimedia debriefing sessions that could be used as educational tools for online and distance learning. These tools can be used to reduce the incidence of cyberbullying during a major crisis and afterwards, where online learning has become part of the new normal.

The team's case study involved 56 middle school students. The team found that the students' understanding and perceptions of cyberbullying after participating in gaming sessions with multimedia debriefing was much greater than when compared to those gaming sessions without the debriefing. Self-reported questionnaires and interviews further indicated positive experiences with the multimedia debriefing method and effectiveness of this game-based approach to learning in improving the students' understanding of cyberbullying and hopefully leading to a fall in the number of such incidents.

The research also has implications beyond addressing the problem of cyberbullying. A similar approach might also be used to address mental health and digital well-being issues that arise when students are isolated from classmates and find themselves learning in their homes rather than the classroom, where there might be family or other environmental pressures on them. Innovation of this kind allows teachers to improve the learning experience for students. This will be relevant in the post-pandemic world and in the future when we have to face another such crisis.

Poompimol, S., Panjaburee, P., Sajjapanroj, S., Changpetch, C., Tapingkae, P. and Ingkavara, T. (2024) 'Ubiquitous game-based learning with a multimedia debriefing on cyberbullying during the COVID-19 pandemic', Int. J. Mobile Learning and Organisation, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp.135–168.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMLO.2024.137610

Sustainable competitive advantage and business are critical to long-term viability in the hospitality industry in India, according to a study published in the International Journal of Business Excellence. The study focused on the National Capital Region but could equally apply more widely. Such insight is important to those working in the sector, given its highly competitive nature and ever-changing consumer preferences.

Deepali Anand and Alka Munjal of Amity University in Noida, India looked at the sector regarding hotels given star ratings in the region. They investigated how hoteliers boost their competitive advantage through cost leadership and differentiation. Cost leadership involves minimizing production and distribution costs while still offering a high-quality service to hotel guests. This is typically done through measures such as economies of scale and improved technology that can improve efficiency. On the other hand, differentiation focuses on giving customers a unique "offering" or "value proposition" that improves brand loyalty and the chances of a customer using the hotel repeatedly or sticking with a given of hotels if visiting other areas.

The hospitality industry, by its very nature, is obviously service-oriented. Aspiring to excellence at whatever star-rating a given hotel has, is critical to its long-term success. This involves excellent customer relations, organizational growth, employee satisfaction, and the quality of what the hotel offers its guests. However, demands of the modern traveller are constantly changing, albeit the basic need remains the same – a room with a bed and bathroom facilities. In India, there are also government initiatives that are there to support the hospitality sector. Hotels can benefit from these, but must, in their part, adapt to change and so innovate when it comes to how they operate.

The team considered whether hotels could benefit from prioritizing cost leadership, differentiation, or a combination of both. And, yes, these strategies do affect how hotels are run. Understanding the effect of different strategies can then decide whether a given hotel will have greater or less success in a competitive market environment.

Anand, D. and Munjal, A. (2024) 'Effect of sustainable competitive advantage on business excellence in the hotel industry', Int. J. Business Excellence, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp.545–560.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2024.137569

Research in the International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations has investigated compulsive online shopping behaviour in India, with a specific focus aimed at unzipping the triggers and antecedents related to the purchase of jeans.

D. Manimegalai of the Department of Management Studies and S. Senthilkumar of the College of Management at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Tamil Nadu, India, carried out an online survey with more than 200 participants. They identified several factors that drive compulsive shopping tendencies among different demographic groups, including both male and female consumers.

The team has identified, through a detailed statistical analysis of their survey results, what compels shoppers to by denim trousers. Internal triggers, such as emotions and personal experiences, interact with external stimuli like online usage patterns and social influences to shape the purchasing decisions of online shoppers. Their findings could help marketing executives better understand consumer behaviour and so develop strategies to sell more jeans online.

The researchers point out that there are almost three-quarters of a billion pairs of jeans sold each year in India. That suggests on average that the population as a whole has a new pair of jeans every two years. But, the assumption is that everyone from toddlers to senior adults wears jeans. However, the research does suggest that there is a lot of compulsive behaviour and presumably a lot of adults with disposable income buying many more pairs of genes than that glib average would suggest.

Such repetitive buying may have future financial implications as well as highlighting latent social and psychological well-being issues. This would be especially the case if the compulsive buying extended to other products and led to increasing levels of debt. Indeed, the findings hint at the role of loneliness, anxiety, and novelty-seeking tendencies in driving compulsive shopping. The work thus highlights a responsibility and the need for targeted interventions and support mechanisms.

Manimegalai, D. and Senthilkumar, S. (2024) 'The triggers on compulsive online shopping of jeans', Int. J. Networking and Virtual Organisations, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp.206–219.
DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2024.137541

A study in the International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics has outlined strategies to help liner shipping companies navigate the global market more effectively. The work was undertaken by Umur Bucak of the Department of Maritime Business Administration at Kocaeli University in Turkey against a challenging seascape. The study identifies key trends that are shaping the sector and offers practical insights for how companies might maintain competitiveness and build bridges to span the many challenges they face.

Bucak focused on the impact of geopolitical tensions, environmental regulations, and crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The work emphasises how liner shipping companies must be able to change course quickly to benefit from changes in the market.

Using a combination of expected utilities theory and competitive advantage theory, Bucak was able to assess the prevalent market trends, which include digital transformation, decarbonisation initiatives, and supply chain integration. These trends are all key to making strategic decisions in the industry.

In order to determine effective strategies that would align with these trends, Bucak then used a hybrid methodology involving a fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) model and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The work showed that the prioritization of rapid shipping between ports emerged as particularly beneficial and reflects the industry's focus on speed and reliability amid rising freight rates and port congestion. The research also considers the economic implications of the trends identified by Bucak. By providing a framework for decision-making, his work could assist industry practitioners anchor themselves in a competitive market.

The study thus represents a significant step towards understanding and responding to changes within the liner shipping market. By using methodological innovations and theoretical frameworks, the research offers new and invaluable guidance for companies seeking to thrive amidst market shifts.

Bucak, U. (2024) 'Expected utilities of liner shipping market trends: how can companies benefit?', Int. J. Shipping and Transport Logistics, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp.92–110.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2024.137588

A study of economic indicators in the wine industry across the European Union has shown significant variation between member states. Many of these are influenced by factors such as vineyard size and specialization.

Writing in the Journal for Global Business Advancement, a team from Cyprus explains how they used the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) methodology to examine the economic indicators crucial for assessing the financial health of wine-producing farms. Aleksandra Figurek, Alkis Thrassou, and Demetris Vrontis of the University of Nicosia in Cyprus, EU, focused on metrics such as farm net value added (FNVA), FNVA per annual working unit (AWU), farm net income (FNI), and family farm income (FFI/FWU) for wine producers participating in the FADN. The team's analysis provides insights into productivity and profitability by looking at the ratio between total output and input utilization, including intermediate consumption and specific expenses.

Despite this diversity between EU member states, the FADN methodology uses a standardized framework for analysing financial performance. It is this that allowed the team to identify best practices and areas for improvement, which could be useful for various stakeholders across the wine industry in different parts of the EU.

The transition to the Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN) for many wine producers highlights the opportunity to expand data collection efforts to include environmental and social practices. This integrated approach enables a more comprehensive assessment of agricultural performance, which could help stakeholder decision-making at the local, micro, and macro levels. Additionally, the implementation of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (2023 to 2027), which prioritizes environmental sustainability and support for smaller farmers, aims to align agricultural growth with ecological and technological goals while enhancing competitiveness. The data analysis could thus help evaluate the efficacy of the CAP.

This research shows how new data methodologies can be used to study what programs are improving economic performance in wine production across the EU. By using such data-driven insights and seeing how this fits in with the ever-changing policy frameworks, the EU wine industry might at once address the challenges it faces and capitalize on the opportunities for sustainable growth and competitiveness in the global market.

Figurek, A., Thrassou, A. and Vrontis, D. (2023) 'Economic performance of wine production in EU: a multi-indicator comparative analysis', J. Global Business Advancement, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.3–30.
DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2023.137469

A recent study in the International Journal of Learning and Change has looked at how consumers interpret masculinity in advertising. The study reveals some intriguing findings and sheds light on how active engagement is shaped by an analysis of the portrayals of masculinity in advertisements on the well-known video-sharing platform YouTube.

Toms Kreicbergs and Deniss Šceulovs of Riga Technical University in Riga, Latvia, took YouTube comments as a source of qualitative data and found that consumers consider various factors beyond the immediate presentation. Such factors included the broader cultural context and comparisons with the approach of others in the advertising world. Surprisingly, the study highlights that the depiction of masculinity often takes precedence over the advertised product itself. This suggests that the marketing is often more important than the product itself in influencing consumer perception and purchasing intention.

At a time when societal norms surrounding masculinity are evolving, it is interesting to note that traditional depictions persist alongside emerging ideals that otherwise challenge gender stereotypes. With increasing awareness and acceptance of diverse gender identities, consumers are scrutinizing advertisements for their portrayal of masculinity, seeking authenticity and inclusivity and by turn increasingly making their buying decisions in this context.

The research suggests that humour can effectively convey traditional masculinity without eliciting negative reactions. However, there is a need to embrace progressive and diverse representations as these are increasingly important to society and so to advertisers hoping to sit easily within the evolving cultural world. To be successful, advertisers need to write copy and produce advertisements that resonate with what we might refer to as the modern audience. Indeed, brands that successfully navigate this fragmented landscape might ultimately build stronger connections with consumers who value authenticity and representation and become loyal followers of said brands and perhaps even word-of-mouth advocates of those brands and what they perceive them to stand for.

In contrast to what one might expect, the research indicates that on the whole consumers react positively to the portrayal of masculinity in advertising. The finding suggests that such advertisements might serve as a cultural touchstone for those who see them. This finding challenges previous assumptions about consumer attitudes toward gender portrayals in marketing and underscores the evolving nature of societal norms. There is thus a need for a more comprehensive approach to understanding consumer attitudes by incorporating surveys, focus groups, and expert interviews alongside existing methods.

Kreicbergs, T. and Šceulovs, D. (2024) 'A qualitative study of consumer perceptions about masculinity in advertising: content, sentiment, and discourse analysis', Int. J. Learning and Change, Vol. 16, Nos. 2/3, pp.327–348.
DOI: 10.1504/IJLC.2024.137503

Research in the International Journal of Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems discusses a new approach to the identification of ingredients in photographs of food. The work will be useful in our moving forward on food safety endeavours. Sharanabasappa A. Madival and Shivkumar S. Jawaligi of Sharnbasva University in Kalburgi, Karanataka, India, used a two-stage process of feature extraction and classification to improve on previous approaches to ingredient identification in this context.

The team explain that their approach used Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based deep features to extract both image and textual features. Once extracted, the features are fed into a hybrid classifier, which merges Neural Network (NN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models. The team explains that precision of their model can be further refined through the application of the Chebyshev Map Evaluated Teamwork Optimization (CME-TWO) algorithm. All of this leads to an accurate identification of the ingredients.

Food management in a globalised world is critical to worldwide supply chains, to food security, traceability and detection of fake food and food fraud. We, as consumers and diners, need to know that the ingredients in the food we eat, especially in the context of diverse dietary preferences and health considerations, are valid.

The team found that their approach works more effectively than current ingredient identification systems. Specifically, they demonstrated that the HC + CME-TWO model performs the best by a large margin, which can thus be taken as indicating a significant advancement in this area. It is the use of a hybrid classifier and the fine-tuning of weightings using the CME-TWO algorithm that leads to the marked improvement in accuracy and reliability. Moreover, the team says that there is still room for improvement in terms of shortening processing times through optimization.

The work focuses on food safety but could be used to address the challenges facing regulators and others attempting to ensure food authenticity, especially among high-value foods.

Madival, S.A. and Jawaligi, S.S. (2024) 'Food ingredient recognition model via image and textual feature extraction and hybrid classification strategy', Int. J. Reasoning-based Intelligent Systems, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp.74–90.
DOI: 10.1504/IJRIS.2024.137455

A study in the International Journal of Computational Systems Engineering has introduced a new approach to identifying depression through the analysis of online comments, particularly on social media platforms, including Reddit, one of the earliest and still-popular microblogging systems. K.G. Saranya, C.H. Babitha Reddy, M. Bhavyasree, M. Rubika, and E. Varsha of PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore, India, have used machine learning techniques, specifically the BERT model, to pick out signs of depression in the language patterns used online discussions.

The BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) model is a type of natural language processing (NLP) model developed by researchers at Google in 2018. It belongs to the family of Transformer models, which have become increasingly popular in NLP tasks due to their effectiveness in capturing long-range dependencies in text.

In contemporary health discussions, mental wellbeing has come to the fore, especially since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current research could fill critical gaps in conventional mental health diagnostics. Where traditional approaches remain challenging, there is a need for more wide-ranging methods that might be used to identify issues as they arise without the need to head into the clinic for full-blown assessment prior to a healthcare intervention.

The BERT model has promise in accurately distinguishing between individuals exhibiting signs of depression and those who are not. The team explains that their approach integrates collaborative filtering techniques to recommend tailored therapies based on identified depression patterns It has an accuracy rate of 87 percent which obviously leaves room for improvement, which is where further investigation or help would come into its own.

The implications of this research are far-reaching. By harnessing the power of AI and computational methods, early diagnosis of mental health problems, specifically depression in this instance, could become more accessible and efficient. The ability to detect depression through online interactions could free up healthcare workers to work with more challenging cases, but more importantly for the individual, allow earlier diagnosis and intervention to support them when they face, previously unrecognised mental problems.

The next step will be to expand the dataset to other online communities with different userbases, ethos, and approach to allow accurate and applicable diagnoses to be made essentially independently of the platform being analysed. The team will continue to refine the algorithms used and thus to improve accuracy and develop approaches to offer personalized interventions and treatments tailored to the individual.

Saranya, K.G., Reddy, C.H.B., Bhavyasree, M., Rubika, M. and Varsha, E. (2024) 'Depression prediction and therapy recommendation using machine learning technique', Int. J. Computational Systems Engineering, Vol. 8, Nos. 1/2, pp.120–127.
DOI: 10.1504/IJCSYSE.2024.137475

Web applications increasingly underpin other technologies and systems not least cloud computing services and the Internet of Things networks, smart infrastructure, and much more. Safeguarding user privacy on various systems and networks that use web applications has emerged as a critical concern among computer security experts.

Among the many threats they have to address and defeat are so-called cache side-channel attacks within virtualization systems as these are gaining prominence and being exploited widely by malicious and criminal third parties. Commonly, such attacks will allow the third party to steal a cryptographic key from a user and thus gain access to any data protected by that key.

Writing in the International Journal of Security and Networks, Sangeetha Ganesan of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at the R.M.K College of Engineering and Technology in Tamil Nadu, India, explains how the almost ubiquitous web development programming language JavaScript enables access to various APIs and sensors. It is the prevalence of this language, however, that leads to privacy concerns where vulnerabilities are found and exploited by malicious third-parties. For instance, cache side-channel attacks exploit shared cache memory to allow a third party to illicitly access private, personal or otherwise sensitive information held within the cache from various users on the system by exploiting vulnerabilities in Javascript.

Unlike more conventional threats, cache side-channel attacks work by detecting the subtle differences in access times between cached and uncached values to allow the third party to extract information. Some of the malware available to such third parties is very fast and effective and so countermeasures are urgently needed to protect vulnerable systems from abuse.

To address this growing problem, Ganesan has developed the Browser Watcher system. This security solution can defend against time-based cache side-channel attacks. It works by prioritising the security of the putative victim's secret keys. When it detects an ongoing attack, the system promptly flushes the Last Level Cache, which effectively thwarts any attempt to steal data from the cache. This proactive approach might lead to a temporary drop in computing performance, but that is a price worth paying for securing one's data when under attack.

Ganesan, S. (2024) 'Enabling secure modern web browsers against cache-based timing attacks', Int. J. Security and Networks, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp.43–54.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSN.2024.137330

A new method for classifying electronic music has been developed by researchers in China. The approach offers a novel solution in an age of exploding digital content to curating music libraries and streaming services. Writing in the International Journal of Arts and Technology, Hongyuan Wu and Lin Zhu of the College of Music at Chong'qing Normal University, explain how such services are currently overwhelmed in terms of valid classification methods.

Traditional approaches are simplistic, based on labelling, and not keeping up with modern use and tastes. The team points out that classifying electronic music by genre is particularly difficult as this broad genre has wide and diffuse boundaries between different styles that are often highly subjective and influenced by cultural nuances.

The team's new approach uses a complex decision tree framework to achieve high accuracy and speed up processing times, making a leap from 33-and-a-third to 45, you might say! The process starts with noise removal using principal component analysis and then segments the track into small chunks. The features from each chunk are then extracted using a method known as short-time Fourier transform. The team then fine-tunes their decision tree model to achieve the most precise classification possible.

Indeed, their tests have shown that their method can be very effective, with a classification accuracy up to 98.6 percent. The implications go far beyond academic interest, with potential applications across the music and other industries. Music streaming services and online libraries rely heavily on accurate genre classification and could take advantage of this new approach to allow them to organize their collections and market music more subtly to their users. Users might include everyday music fans or those involved in the media or elsewhere who need specific styles of music to accompany their creative outputs.

For instance, the classification approach should make it easier for everyday users to explore music, discover new sounds or retrieve golden oldies. In marketing and advertising and other areas, understanding music preferences based on genre classification is critical for targeted campaigns based on music taste.

Wu, H. and Zhu, L. (2024) 'Adaptive classification method of electronic music based on improved decision tree', Int. J. Arts and Technology, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp.1–12.
DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2024.137296

A study in the International Journal of Arts and Technology has looked at the relationship between traditional Javanese music and the introduction of technology and western instrumentation into this genre. The work undertaken by Aris Setiawan of the Faculty of Performing Arts at the Indonesia Institute of the Arts in Surakarta, Indonesia, focuses on the integration of advancements in music technology within the context of gamelan music. The research offers insights into the opportunities and challenges offered by this novel fusion in the context of tradition and preservation and innovation in Javanese musical heritage.

Setiawan explains that central to his study is the emergence of campursari, this is the emerging musical genre that blends traditional Javanese gamelan instruments with Western counterparts. The emergence of campursari has been embraced by many music fans and labelled garbage by those worried about a loss of cultural authenticity and the preservation of traditional music practices in Indonesia. Raging debates of a similar sort have been experienced in other parts of the world where modern instruments and playing have clashed with the classical. Purists commonly eschew the fusion, but others embrace it and find the styles and sounds that emerge to be engaging, challenging, and above all else, enjoyable.

Campursari's incorporation of Western instruments has raised questions about tonal clashes and the impact on the authenticity of gamelan music. However, beyond aesthetic considerations, Setiawan's work explores the broader implications of technology's role in cultural preservation. He has used a phenomenological approach to investigate the individual and group response to the integration of technology into gamelan music development. A particular focus was on the modern multi-pad percussion technology and how it sits with traditional gamelan instruments, such as the kendang.

Setiawan suggests that technology, particularly the multi-pad percussion device, can complement traditional instruments like the kendang, known for its complexity. The fusion might allow many more people to enjoy creating music without extensive training. Such a notion does indeed move away from the classical or traditional ethos, but it will not detract from the approach of those who wish to continue in the classical tradition. Just as Mozart and Motorhead can sit alongside each other on an esoteric playlist, so too might the multi-pad and the kendang sit together rhythmically in this new musical form.

However, despite the new aesthetic, there remain concerns among some critics and scholars that there could be an erosion of tradition and a loss of cultural practices associated with traditional music performance. A balanced approach to allow the integration of technology into traditional music education is needed. Ultimately, the goal will be to preserve the rich tradition of gamelan music while allowing musical innovators to bang their own drum and perhaps blow their own trumpet when they do so.

Setiawan, A. (2024) 'Gamelan, technology, and controversy', Int. J. Arts and Technology, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp.38–60.
DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2024.137304

In retail, fragrance cues are nothing to be sniffed at. Indeed, the scent of vanilla, baking bread, even fresh linen, can affect customer behaviour, according to a study in the International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management.

In the competitive realm of retail, understanding consumer decision-making is very important. A study by Shuvam Chatterjee and Pawel Bryla of the University of Lodz in Poland has looked at so-called olfactory marketing – the strategic use of scents in the retail environments – to see how much influence they might have on the shopping experience and how much customers spend in those shops. The team focused on a Kolkata shopping mall for their case study.

In many ways, our sense of smell is often perceived as a lesser sense when compared with sight and hearing. However, our sense of smell is very deep-rooted in our evolution and connects to what we might think of as primitive responses and behaviour. Recent research suggests it significantly affects our emotions and memories, and, in the shopping context, putatively on purchase behaviour. Fragrance cues, such as the smell of fresh bread in a retail setting, can evoke a strong emotional response, influencing product recognition, recall, and purchase intent.

Fresh linen and cotton blossom scents are often used to evoke feelings of cleanliness, relaxation, and comfort, Citrus is considered invigorating and refreshing. Vanilla is warm and sweet and evokes feelings of nostalgia and relaxation. Lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomile are known for being reminiscent of calming and soothing feelings. Sandalwood, on the other hand, has a rich, woody aroma that is perceived as quite exotic and often used in luxury boutiques and high-end hotels. Oceanic scents are reminiscent of sea air and commonly used in spas and wellness centres.

The IJICBM work shows a direct correlation between the presence of fragrance cues in the shopping mall and customer behaviour. If fragrance is coupled with other environmental factors such as music, the layout of the shop, and the ambient temperature, there can be a strong effect on how long a customer browses in a given shop and ultimately how much money they spend. In addition, the team determined that while age influenced purchasing decisions in this context, gender did not seem to affect how much time or money was spent.

Shop managers and marketers could benefit from working on olfactory marketing. By enhancing the shopping experience in this way, the researchers say that it is possible to boost the emotional connection with the brands on sale and perhaps even improve long-term customer loyalty. Of course, fragrance selection should be done with care as there may well be odours that could negatively affect the perception and behaviour of some customers and counter the benefits achieved with other shoppers who have responded positively.

Chatterjee, S. and Bryla, P. (2024) 'Olfactory marketing as a technological innovation tool for the Indian retail industry – a study of Shoppers Stop retail store in Kolkata, India', Int. J. Indian Culture and Business Management, Vol. 31, No. 3, pp.261–273.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICBM.2024.137276

European industries could soon benefit from a novel approach that introduces hybrid-autonomous assembly and disassembly systems to tackle the many pressing environmental concerns and enhance production flexibility. That is the suggestion of research published in the International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems. The new approach looks to integrate autonomous robotics systems with manual assembly stations, which could lead to improved adaptability and efficiency in a wide range of manufacturing processes.

Uwe Frieß, Lena Oberfichtner, Arvid Hellmich, Rayk Fritzsche, and Steffen Ihlenfeldt of the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU, Germany, point out that mounting environmental, social and political pressures are driving change across industry. The need to achieve carbon neutrality and have a less detrimental impact on the environment are both high on the agenda. There is also a pressing need to reduce the risks associated with reliance on single suppliers especially where resources that are not widely available or are difficult to obtain are required. Overall, the traditional landscape of industrial assembly is changing.

The concept of hybrid-autonomous systems enables batch-individual task allocation and dynamic planning. In other words, workers use their knowledge and skills in concert with computers and robotic systems to determine which tasks need to be undertaken at what stage of a process and whether by people or robots doing the jobs. If there is a sudden change in requirements, the system can adjust quickly to keep the processes running smoothly. This, the research suggests, could address many of the challenges posed by fluctuating demand and diverse product specifications.

It is the adaptability of these systems that is their defining feature. By seamlessly blending autonomous robots with conventional manual labour, different industries can gain flexibility and efficiency and not compromise on stringent production requirements.

Hybrid-autonomous assembly systems might also integrate high-performance camera systems, pattern recognition, and artificial intelligence enabling real-time monitoring and adjustment of assembly processes. This is a marked departure from conventional automation. The promise is not simply economic. By reducing reliance on single suppliers and optimizing resource utilization, hybrid-autonomous systems could improve sustainability in manufacturing.

Frieß, U., Oberfichtner, L., Hellmich, A., Fritzsche, R. and Ihlenfeldt, S. (2023) 'Autonomous assembly and disassembly by cognition using hybrid assembly cells', Int. J. Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp.381–398.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMMS.2023.137377

An analysis of the research literature published between 1974 and 2019 provides insight into how international corporate governance research evolved over the decades before the covid pandemic.

Jaime Guerrero-Villegas and Mar Bornay-Barrachina of the Department of Management at the University of Cádiz, and Leticia Pérez-Calero and Mónica Santana of the Department of Management and Marketing at the Pablo de Olavide University in Seville, Spain, used sophisticated bibliometric techniques to outline changes in the themes and theories within the field.

The team writes in the European Journal of International Management that the earlier research papers tended to focus on Agency Theory and homed in on the impact of risk-taking on the decision-making processes. In more recent work, there was a transition towards the exploration of the human and social aspects of governance. In those papers, theories such as upper echelons and dependence theory gained more prominence underscoring the importance of board composition and executive dynamics in how corporate strategy is shaped. This was particularly relevant in the context of international commerce.

The team has identified four distinct periods, with the more recent period, 2016 to 2019, having the greatest diversity of research themes. Indeed, the findings suggest that there has been a growing interest in understanding how boards of directors influence the internationalization efforts of companies. In addition, topics such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the challenges faced by family-owned businesses in international markets came to the fore in the later research analysed.

The analysis also shows that while traditional views regarding board independence have declined over the years there has been an increase in research into board diversity, in particular regarding gender. Those studies suggest that company boards with diverse membership see improved strategic decision-making, approaches to market entry, and the fostering of innovation.

The EJIM review and analysis of almost half a century of research into International Corporate Governance reveals how it has evolved in that time. The findings have implications for future research as well as international management practice.

Guerrero-Villegas, J., Pérez-Calero, L., Santana, M. and Bornay-Barrachina, M. (2024) 'International corporate governance: a science mapping approach', European J. International Management, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp.616–646.
DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.137340

In the search for safer working conditions in the mining sector, a recent review published in the International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering has highlighted what might become a rich seam for future safety endeavours. The study, which looked at 54 research articles, not only categorizes existing safety measures but also identifies gaps in the existing literature, which could lead to more targeted investigations.

Erik Sundström and Magnus Nygren of the Department of Social Sciences, Technology and Arts at Luleå University of Technology in Luleå, Sweden, have examined closely the various safety initiatives within the global mining industry, uncovering ten important themes. These themes encapsulate the breadth of safety measures covered in the research literature. Foremost among these themes is the cultivation of a safety culture and the promotion of safe behaviour among workers. This underpins the significance of fostering a more proactive approach to safety within mining operations worldwide.

However, beyond simply categorizing existing strategies, the work also has the potential to shape how future research is planned and carried out. By homing in on overlooked subjects, such as the influence of societal norms on safety strategies and changes in safety culture, the team offers a guide for more nuanced investigations in the field.

Given that mining operations now increasingly use digitalization and automation, the study emphasizes that there is a need to focus on where technological advancements and worker safety meet. Understanding how innovations affect safety measures is critical to ensuring the well-being of workers in the face of a rapidly changing industrial landscape. Additionally, the research suggests that there is a need for a deeper examination of how safety practices are shared efficiently across and among organizations.

The review offers a snapshot of current safety research in the mining sector but also lays the groundwork for advancing the field towards greater protection and sustainability. By addressing overlooked topics and embracing interdisciplinary perspectives, future studies could not only improve safety but also lead to a more sustainable mining industry.

Sundström, E. and Nygren, M. (2023) 'Understanding the mining safety research field: exploring safety measures and programs in international research', Int. J. Mining and Mineral Engineering, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp.315–340.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2023.137309

Research in the International Journal of Business Innovation and Research has looked at the role of social learning with respect to the professional performance of medical representatives in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Daniel Kisahwan of PT. Eisai Indonesia in Jakarta, Alex Winarno of Telkom University in Bandung, and Deni Hermana of the University of Indonesia in Jawa Barat, Indonesia drew on implicit and social learning theories to explore how social environments affected engagement and success among medical representatives.

Medical representatives, colloquially known as drug reps, are pharmaceutical sales professionals who promote medical products and pharmaceuticals to healthcare workers. Their results shed new light on the factors influencing that drug rep performance during the pandemic and might help us understand what happens in a future pandemic and how the pharmaceutical industry might better respond during such a crisis.

The team surveyed more than 200 drug reps in the major cities of Indonesia cities. They found a significant correlation between the social context and the performance of these professionals. Social context in this sense refers to the relationships, dynamics, and influences within the professional networks and social circles of the drug reps.

The findings suggest that social learning played a crucial role in shaping how they operated and their successes and failures during this period. Role models within a drug rep's social circles might guide how they operate in their job and whether or not they endeavoured to work to the best of their abilities during challenging times, such as the pandemic period. The study also highlights differences in social learning processes among experienced and inexperienced medical representatives, underlining the importance of individual attributes in determining how well they perform in their jobs.

The paper highlights a distinguishing feature of this research in that it involved the development of a framework through which the team could elucidate how work engagement and performance were influenced by social learning within pharmaceutical companies. This framework, based on the experiences and perspectives of those working in these environments, offers insights for human resource practices such as social learning, education, and training. The same framework might also find application beyond the pharmaceutical sector.

Kisahwan, D., Winarno, A. and Hermana, D. (2024) 'Implicit and social learning theory: an explanation of why experienced medical representatives have higher engagement and performance', Int. J. Business Innovation and Research, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp.418–432.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2024.137272

A study in the International Journal of Business Excellence examining the relationship between gender diversity on corporate boards and corporate social responsibility spending has found a positive correlation. The research focused on 738 firms across India listed on the national stock exchange over a seven-year period.

Corporate social responsibility refers to initiatives at a company that essentially take responsibility for the company's impact on the environment and social well-being. These initiatives might encompass a wide range of actions, including reducing carbon emissions, improving labour practices, supporting community development, promoting diversity and inclusion, and engaging in philanthropy. The aim being to ensure that businesses operate in an ethical and sustainable manner and rather than considering success by looking at their financial bottom line, they can take into account their wider impact on society and the environment.

Sudheer Reddy, Aditya Jadhav, and Krishna Prasad of the T A Pai Management Institute in Manipal, Karnataka, India, found that the presence of women directors on corporate boards was correlated with greater spending on corporate social responsibility. This phenomenon was consistent even within loss-making firms, indicating that women board members may exert influence towards larger contributions regardless of financial performance.

Additionally, the research identifies a negative impact of board independence on such spending, suggesting that a higher degree of independence may hinder social responsibility initiatives. Conversely, a larger board size correlates with greater spending, hinting at the potential positive influence of diverse perspectives on corporate social initiatives.

The team's findings highlight the role of gender diversity on corporate boards in shaping corporate social responsibility agendas, particularly in emerging markets such as that of India. Understanding the dynamics of board composition becomes crucial in the global business environment, which is increasingly prioritizing sustainability and so-called stakeholder engagement. This can fulfil ethical obligations but also boost brand reputation, mitigate risks, and improve long-term relationships with stakeholders, including the people who work with the companies up and down the supply chain, their customers, and, of course, the wider public.

Reddy, S., Jadhav, A. and Prasad, K. (2024) 'Board gender diversity and corporate social responsibility: evidence from India', Int. J. Business Excellence, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp.380-393.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2024.137261

Researchers in China have developed a novel approach to higher education student management that integrates machine vision and intelligent detection technologies. They report details in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology. The system could address the problems commonly encountered in traditional approaches to management that often cannot cope effectively in meeting the diverse needs of students. Moreover, the system should strengthen safety and improve how a higher-education establishment responds to emergencies.

Yawei Han of Sichuan University in Chengdu Sichuan, China, explains how the new system uses machine vision techniques, including frustum plane calculations and spherical bounding boxes. The system uses the Bresenham algorithm, a computational technique primarily used for drawing lines on a grid-based display, such as a computer screen, to efficiently determine which grid points to plot to form a straight line between two given points. Its use allows for precise conversion of an image into a format that the computer can use for analysis. One important aspect of the new approach is its method for assessing and improving nodes (which are points or elements in a system) using factors like how far away they are and how complex they are. This adaptive approach makes the system more reliable than it would otherwise be.

Overall, the ability of the system to accurately convert vector-based representations of lines into pixel-based raster images for image processing will allow the system to simplify image handling and improve visualization for the identification of students and behaviour.

The new system emphasises inclusivity and responsive communication channels in a way that focuses on the needs of students in a way that conventional approaches have not. Using machine vision and intelligent monitoring technologies can enhance managerial efficiency and bring the focus back to the students. Furthermore, the system highlights the value of utilizing student behaviour data to guide management strategies. Employing various algorithms to model student behaviour, enables targeted interventions and personalized support. There remains the potential to improve sensitivity and database integration. Enhancements in these areas could further strengthen the system's capabilities and performance.

Han, Y. (2024) 'College student management based on machine vision and intelligent monitoring system', Int. J. Information and Communication Technology, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp.228–244.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICT.2024.137221

Research in the International Journal of Global Energy Issues sheds a green light on an innovative approach to addressing the design challenges faced by care facilities for older people amidst societal ageing and growing environmental concerns. The work, from Yi Wu from the School of Urban Construction Engineering at Chongqing Technology and Business Institute in Chongqing, China, focuses on incorporating green technologies into the interior environments of senior care buildings to improve both the well-being of the residents and boost energy efficiency.

Wu has undertaken detailed demographic projections and noise level measurements across different locations and her analysis of the data demonstrates how significant enhancement in overall energy efficiency might be made.

As the global population "ages", there are increasing challenges that face society worldwide. Wu points out that Western developed nations have long grappled with their ageing populations, countries such as China are now facing similar issues due to rapid demographic shifts driven by economic and societal change.

Elderly care buildings, including senior apartments and nursing homes, are essential in meeting the diverse needs of an ageing population, encompassing psychological, physiological, and behavioural aspects. However, amid concerns over resource depletion and environmental degradation, improving the energy efficiency of such homes is becoming increasingly important. Green technologies offer a practical approach to addressing energy consumption and pollution concerns simultaneously. The development of elderly care infrastructure requires not only innovative architectural designs but also supportive national policies and public engagement to improve such housing. Wu suggests that policy measures should include setting realistic development targets, refining regulations, conducting quality assessments, and establishing industry frameworks is critical.

There is an opportunity where the integration of environmental sustainability and elderly care infrastructure is met. By embracing green technologies and implementing supportive policies, societies can create more resilient and inclusive environments for their ageing populations and hopefully mitigate the environmental impact of the changing demographic. Collaborative efforts across different sectors are now needed to address the challenges sustainably.

Wu, Y. (2024) 'Indoor environment design of old-age green buildings based on environmental energy efficiency', Int. J. Global Energy Issues, Vol. 46, Nos. 3/4, pp.327–344.
DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2024.137087

Research in the International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing introduces a new model aimed at assessing the credibility and relevance of online healthcare information. With the proliferation of online health advice, the challenge of distinguishing trustworthy sources from false information has become increasingly important for patients and their carers.

S. Sri Hari of the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, USA, S. Porkodi and R. Saranya of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, and N. Vijayakumar of the Technical Administrative Training Institute in Muscat, Oman have developed a model that uses sentiment analysis on reader comments to gauge the reliability of digital healthcare content. Using content relevance analysis, word scoring using a lexicon analyzer, and classification via a maximum entropy model, the model generates what the team refers to as a veracity score, which can help users make a better-informed decision about the information they find online.

The researchers tested their model using healthcare content and found it to work effectively in evaluating the veracity of information. The new model could have significant implications for content marketing efforts within the healthcare sector, providing users with tailored recommendations while enhancing the credibility of digital healthcare information. The model's ability to identify and highlight trustworthy content benefits patients and carers as consumers.

The model's impact could affect all age groups, youngsters, the middle-aged, and an ageing population. The identification of reliable healthcare information among the vast number of online medical and health resources is critical. The model could allow better-informed decision-making and mitigate the problems that might arise through the spread of misinformation.

Future work will expand the model's capabilities by developing tools to analyse multimedia content and incorporate additional mechanisms to identify misinformation and disinformation.

Hari, S.S., Porkodi, S., Saranya, R. and Vijayakumar, N. (2024) 'Intelligent model to improve the efficacy of healthcare content marketing by auto-tagging and exploring the veracity of content using opinion mining', Int. J. Electronic Marketing and Retailing, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp.240–260.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEMR.2024.136978

There are an estimated 280 million people in the world with debilitating levels of visual impairment. A new tool to empower them with a richer understanding of their surroundings is discussed in the International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation.

S. Pavithra, T. Helan Vidhya, D. Gururaj, and P. Shanmuga Priya of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Rajalakshmi Engineering College and V. Prabhakaran of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, have demonstrated that integrating digital image processing and voice technology allows them to a certain degree bridge the gap between visual impairment and a person's surroundings.

The core of their approach lies in a system that captures real-time images and translates them into audio descriptions. It utilises sophisticated image recognition algorithms powered by machine learning and allows the computer to identify objects within a scene with remarkable accuracy, the team reports. The researchers explain that the process is helped by platforms such as TensorFlow and ensures that users receive detailed descriptions tailored to their immediate surroundings.

The new technology goes way beyond simple object recognition. It functions as a personal assistant, providing users with timely updates on relevant information and potential hazards that they may encounter in navigating their environment whether at home or elsewhere. The team also points out that a distress call mechanism can be used in the system to add an extra layer of safety, being activated in an emergency situation in order to summon help.

The researchers have tested their system rigorously, demonstrating high accuracy rates in identifying both primary (90 percent accuracy) and secondary objects (80 percent). Moreover, they have demonstrated that it can be adapted to different environments, whether indoor or outdoor. It distinguishes itself in this way from current solutions that may be limited in scope or responsiveness.

The team hopes that their new technology will improve the quality of life for visually impaired people by addressing the shortcomings of current assistive technologies. By enabling real-time interaction with the world, this innovation will foster independence and inclusion, the researchers suggest.

Pavithra, S., Prabhakaran, V., Vidhya, T.H., Gururaj, D. and Priya, P.S. (2024) 'Machine learning and image processing technique to describe outdoor scenes for visually impaired people', Int. J. Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp.63–67.
DOI: 10.1504/IJESMS.2024.136970

In collaborative work between police organizations and experts in ergonomics and biomechanics, a new equipment vest has been developed to address the issue of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly lower back pain, among police officers. The work undertaken in Sweden is described in detail in the International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics. The new vest design aims to redistribute the weight of essential equipment, such as communication equipment weapons, and handcuffs, from the traditional duty belt to a more ergonomically designed vest.

The standard duty belt worn by officers has been identified as a contributor to lower back pain due to its unfavourable load on the lumbar spine, particularly during sitting or driving. This seems to be a universal issue and one that research might address. Additionally, the ballistic vest worn underneath the uniform presents challenges in regulating body temperature.

Kristina Eliasson and Teresia Nyman of the Department of Medical Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Uppsala University, Roy Tranberg of the Department of Orthopedics in the Institute of Clinical Sciences, part of the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, and Louise Bæk Larsen of the Department of Rehabilitation in School of Health and Welfare at Jönköping University undertook thorough analysis and testing during the development process. They carried out interviews, held focus groups, and took pressure measurements with 95 active-duty police officers. Their findings allowed them to make iterative design changes with ongoing user feedback. This resulted in a vest better tailored to the needs of Swedish police officers.

The researchers suggest that the redistribution of equipment on the newly developed vest will reduce musculoskeletal discomfort and make important improvements to the physical component of being a police officer. Ultimately, the new vest design aims to enhance the well-being and comfort of police officers on active duty, potentially influencing occupational equipment standards globally.

This project highlights the importance of a dedicated project management team to coordinate efforts so that any changes are inclusive and take into account the views of those who are to use the new equipment as well as their physical measurements. Such a user-centric development process could also be used as a model for future occupational equipment projects, not only in law enforcement but across various types of workplace from healthcare to industry and other occupations in between.

Eliasson, K., Nyman, T., Tranberg, R. and Larsen, L.B. (2024) 'A user-centred development process for an equipment vest for the Swedish police force', Int. J. Human Factors and Ergonomics, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp.56–77.
DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2024.137126

A study in the International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing has revealed the impact of virtual brand communities associated with the success of a popular fitness product brand.

Melissa Davies of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, Eric Hungenberg of the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Thomas J. Aicher of the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Brianna L. Newland of New York University in New York, New York, USA, have investigated the user community surrounding well-known fitness product brand Peloton Interactive Inc.

The company markets connected fitness products and services including stationary exercise bikes, indoor rowing machines, and treadmills. They also sell related accessories, such as heart rate monitors and workout apparel. Additionally, the company offers subscription-based services that provide users with access to live and on-demand fitness classes led by instructors, accessible through its proprietary software platform. Classes include cycling, running, strength training, yoga, and meditation, all of which can be undertaken interactively from the comfort of one's home or, indeed any suitable place.

The researchers examined the influence of virtual brand communities on branding outcomes. They surveyed 663 Peloton users and analysed their responses using structural equation modelling to discern any relationships between brand community and brand outcomes.

Their results indicate that Peloton users who felt a strong sense of community were more active on brand-related social media and used Peloton products more often. This sense of community correlated with favourable brand outcomes, including brand love, equity, advocacy, and word-of-mouth communication. All of which highlights the importance of a brand developing an emotional connection with consumers and users.

The study also explored the interplay between engagement in virtual brand communities, product usage, and brand community perception. Individuals who perceived they had interests in common with other users and enjoyed using the social spaces facilitated by the brand were more likely to have a strong sense of community. This, again, would lead to increased product engagement and brand affection. This has practical implications for brands in the connected fitness industry as it emphasizes the need to prioritize the creation and nurturing of virtual brand communities, something in which the company in question has apparently been rather successful.

Davies, M., Hungenberg, E., Aicher, T.J. and Newland, B.L. (2024) 'Work[out] from home: examining brand community among connected fitness brand users', Int. J. Sport Management and Marketing, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp.113–136.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2023.10059412

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has very quickly transitioned from science fiction to practical applications, particularly in industrial sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and retail. A study in the International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation looks at the AI landscape and sheds light on its evolution, implications, and integration challenges across industries.

In his study, Ibrahim Saleem Alotaibi of the College of Administrative and Financial Sciences at the Saudi Electronic University in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlights a significant shift driven by AI technologies such as machine learning and deep learning. Industries are increasingly adopting AI-driven automation to meet market demands and improve operational efficiency. However, he also demonstrates that this transition from conventional approaches presents various challenges at different levels.

One key challenge is the need for substantial investment and skilled technicians to implement AI-driven processes effectively. Moreover, there are concerns about software failures, cybersecurity risks, and data privacy that add enormously to the complexity of the integration process. In addition, to such technical issues, as the legal and regulatory frameworks mature, there will be issues of how companies must comply with laws around AI and its implementation. This too will require much consideration by the companies, particularly in regions where laws associated with AI use are present in parallel with stringent data protection laws.

In his study, Alotaibi underscores the leading role played by China in the adoption of AI tools, particularly in manufacturing and logistics. Despite its rapid embracing of AI technologies, there remain many questions about sustainability given the computing resources that are needed to train and run the most powerful AI tools. Of course, this issue will ultimately present itself to all regions utilising high-level AI across all industries.

As businesses navigate the complexities of AI integration, responsible deployment becomes crucial. Those involved in developing, implementing, and using AI tools must prioritize risk assessment, ethical frameworks, and collaborative approaches to address the technical, societal, and regulatory challenges that the increasingly widespread adoption of AI will bring.

Even precluding the hyperbole, AI offers many incredible opportunities for innovation and efficiency across industries. Its wider integration nevertheless requires careful consideration of the implications and the challenges presented. Alotaibi's research emphasizes the importance of taking a considered and inclusive approach to realizing the full potential of AI to mitigate the risks associated with its use.

Alotaibi, I.S. (2023) 'Impact of artificial intelligence in manufacturing and logistics: an exploratory study', Int. J. Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, Vol. 20, No. 4, pp.355–386.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2023.136890

A study in the International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management has provided new insights into the influence of cultural values and ethnic identity on consumer attitudes towards global brands in India. Harsandaldeep Kaur and Pranay Moktan of the University School of Financial Studies at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, Punjab, hoped to fill the gaps in our understanding of these factors by developing a comprehensive framework for investigation.

The team surveyed 456 respondents and used structural equation modelling to analyze the relationships between ethnic identity, masculinity, collectivism, and consumer attitudes towards global brands. The results showed significant associations among the various factors. For instance, ethnic identity was found to influence both masculinity and collectivism, which in turn affected consumer attitudes towards global brands. Additionally, collectivism and masculinity were found to mediate to some extent the relationship between ethnic identity and consumer attitudes.

In the context of this work, "masculinity" refers to a cultural dimension that influences consumer attitudes towards global brands and relates to traditional gender roles, behaviours, and characteristics associated with masculinity. The term "collectivism" refers to a cultural orientation or value system that emphasizes the importance of group harmony, interdependence, and cooperation within a society.

The implications of the research extend particularly to global brand managers operating in diverse markets. The findings thus underscore the importance of considering cultural values and ethnic identity in brand strategies, as they significantly shape consumer perceptions. Brands that align with cultural values and traditions are likely to resonate more often with consumers. This suggests that companies need to take a much more nuanced and tailored approach to their marketing and commercial strategies.

It is worth noting, that the study highlights the aspirational nature of global brands in developing countries, where consumers often aspire to lifestyles associated with other regions considered to be more advanced economically. This aspirational mindset underscores the universal appeal of global brands, particularly in regions characterized by cultural diversity, the research suggests.

The researchers suggest that by recognizing and incorporating the various highlighted factors into their strategies, managers and marketers can enhance brand appeal and connect more effectively with their target consumers in diverse markets, like that found in India.

Kaur, H. and Moktan, P. (2024) 'The curious case of global branding: investigating the link between ethnic identity and consumer attitudes towards global brands', Int. J. Indian Culture and Business Management, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp.123–144.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICBM.2024.136803

Research in the International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing introduces a new approach to tackling the challenges posed by deepfake technology, which generates manipulated media content that closely resembles authentic footage. The novel method combines the miniXception and long short-term memory (LSTM) models to analyse suspicious content more effectively and identify deepfake images with greater than 99 percent accuracy.

While fake and fraudulent videos and images have been with us for many years, the term "deepfake" more commonly refers to manipulated videos or images that have been created using artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques. These technologies allow users to superimpose or replace, the original contents of an image or video with other content. Commonly a person's face and voice might be faked in a video. Such deepfakes might be used for entertainment purposes as is the case with many apps that allow everyday users to create "amusing" content featuring their friends and family or indeed celebrities.

However, the more insidious use of deepfakes has gained popular attention because of the potential to deceive viewers, often leading to concerns about misinformation, privacy infringement, and the manipulation of public and political discourse. Such videos represent a significant threat to democracy where voters and consumers alike might be exposed to seemingly legitimate political content that is faked propaganda with malicious intent. Identifying deepfake content is more important than ever at a time of heightened political tensions and fragility. There is an urgent need for powerful detection methods and awareness about their existence and potential consequences.

Until now, deepfake detection has been hindered by low accuracy rates and difficulties in generalizing across different datasets. Yong Liu, Xu Zhao, and Ruosi Cheng of the PLA Strategic Support Force Information Engineering University in Henan, Tianning Sun of the Zhejiang Lab, Zonghui Wang of Zhejiang University, China, and Baolan Shi of the University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, Colorado, USA, have proposed a model that improves on the accuracy of earlier approaches.

The team conducted cross-dataset training and testing, employing transfer learning methods to improve the model's ability to generalize across various datasets. They used focal loss during training to balance samples and enhance generalization still further. Their tests demonstrate the promise of this approach, showing a detection accuracy of 99.05% on the FaceSwap dataset. This is better than previous methods, such as CNN-GRU, and requires fewer parameters to achieve this level of success.

Liu, Y., Sun, T., Wang, Z., Zhao, X., Cheng, R. and Shi, B. (2024) 'Detection of deepfake technology in images and videos', Int. J. Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp.135–148.
DOI: 10.1504/IJAHUC.2024.136851

A study in the International Journal of Services and Operations Management introduces a practical approach to quality control that could help reshape manufacturing and reduce the number of end-of-line rejects in production as well as the need to rework components and products. Such additional, and often costly, processes are undertaken in what can be referred to as the hidden factory.

P. Raghuram, Ashwin Srikanth, and P. Rithan Mandesh of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Amrita School of Engineering in Coimbatore, India, have developed a Quality Filter Mapping (QFM), an approach to manufacturing methodology that addresses one of the big problems facing companies with high production volumes, stringent quality standards all hoping to improve their profit margins and their sustainability credentials.

Conventionally, quality control is a reactive process in manufacturing. Components are made, assemblies undertaken and at any stage where tolerances are not met, a component or assembly will be rejected. At this point, depending on the nature of the product, the reject may be fed to a parallel process to be reworked in some way so that it reaches the necessary standard. This approach is costly and wasteful.

QFM represents a shift towards a proactive quality control strategy, the research suggests. The team uses Pareto analysis in their new approach. The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, is named for Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, He observed that approximately 80% of effects come from 20% of causes. In the context of quality control, Pareto analysis involves identifying the most significant factors contributing to a problem or outcome. By focusing efforts on addressing these critical factors, organizations can achieve substantial improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.

Through this analysis, major defects can be identified and their root causes traced using cause-and-effect diagrams. The underlying causes can then be mapped along the material flow in the assembly plant. This, the team suggests, seamlessly integrates quality control into the production process itself.

QFM offers significant cost savings by preventing the flow of defective components at an early stage in the manufacturing process rather than identifying them at the end of the line. This reduces the need for extensive end-of-line inspections and reworking in the hidden factory and so can reduce waste and improve efficiency throughout the whole manufacturing process. The team has taken an engine assembly line as a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the QFM approach.

QFM also promotes a culture of continual improvement and root cause analysis within organizations, contributing to heightened standards and customer satisfaction. The approach might also help companies address the broader challenges of evolving customer demand and fluctuating order volumes.

Raghuram, P., Srikanth, A. and Mandesh, P.R. (2024) 'Eliminating end-of-line rejections – a quality filter mapping approach', Int. J. Services and Operations Management, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp.123–140.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2024.136797

Understanding the dynamics of online brand advocacy is increasingly important in today's digital landscape, particularly for businesses targeting Generation Z (Gen Z) consumers. A study in the International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising surveyed 221 students intending to explore the factors influencing online brand advocacy behaviour and its impact on purchase intentions and also examining the involvement of social media.

Generation Z usually refers to the demographic cohort succeeding the so-called Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. While there is no specific definition of Gen Z, it usually refers to individuals born between the mid-to-late 1990s and the early 2010s, often stated as 1997 to 2012.

It is worth noting that the Millennials (born from 1981 to 1996) are often thought of as the original "digital natives" having been born after the invention of the World Wide Web and the emergence of ubiquitous computer technology. However, all subsequent generations have also grown up in an era characterized by rapid technological advancement, ubiquitous internet access, and widespread social media usage. Gen Z exhibits distinctive characteristics and behaviour shaped by what we might refer to as their digital upbringing. This technological environment influences their worldview, their approach to communication, and their preferences as consumers.

The work of Vivek Mishra of IIIT Bhubaneswar and Biswajit Das of the KIIT School of Management, also in Bhubaneswar, India offers several insights. First, it shows that brand-related factors such as brand social benefits, distinctiveness, prestige, and warmth significantly influence behaviour among Gen Z individuals. Additionally, online brand advocacy correlates positively with purchase intent, indicating its role in driving actual purchasing decisions, with social media involvement having a moderating effect.

The findings highlight the evolving nature of consumer behaviour showing how there has been a shift from traditional loyalty to advocacy. Moreover, they reveal how the latter represents an invaluable tool for companies to build trust and loyalty in a competitive market environment. Understanding and utilizing advocacy could improve the chances of long-term success for a brand.

Mishra, V. and Das, B. (2024) 'What drives Generation Z to advocate for a brand online?', Int. J. Internet Marketing and Advertising, Vol. 20, No. 1, pp.1–25.
DOI: 10.1504/IJIMA.2024.136800

A new approach to the evaluation of teaching effectiveness in universities has been introduced in the International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations. In response to the various reforms and economic advancements in China, higher education has experienced some profound transformations in recent years. It is growing rapidly and university enrolment, once accessible only to the elite is transitioning towards mass education. Thus evaluation tools are increasingly important so that society can rely on good, solid education.

The new technique uses a social network to obtain a more comprehensive assessment than was previously possible. According to the researchers, Xiyang Li of Hunan City University Hunan and Quanzhong Yang of Luoyang Polytechnic, China, their method could provide universities with a systematic tool for evaluating instructional practices and so potentially improving educational quality.

The team first looked at the ways in which teaching effectiveness is currently judged with the aim of understanding what factors are used in evaluation. From this starting point, the researchers have established a set of principles to guide the creation of a new evaluation system.

To help in this process, they have used various computational techniques, including calculating something called "entropy matching degree." This measurement helps gauge how well different factors align or correspond. Additionally, they utilize the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm, a computer program designed to develop a solid evaluation framework. This helps in organizing and analyzing data to accurately assess the quality of teaching. Then, by building a social network, they can look at how the different factors are perceived by different groups of people within education.

This network-driven approach generates evaluation results with a confidence level of 99%, says the team, and with minimal entropy matching errors, which suggests it could be a practical approach to educational evaluation.

Li, X. and Yang, Q. (2024) 'Evaluation of teaching effectiveness in higher education based on social networks', Int. J. Networking and Virtual Organisations, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp.1–14.
DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2024.136771

An analysis in the Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development has looked at the various approaches to cybersecurity and data protection taken by key global players, namely the European Union (EU), the United States of America (USA), and China. As nations address historical data concerns and evolving cyber threats, the practical implications for businesses and individuals are significant. In this context, they consider the impact of the emergence of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, often, and perhaps erroneously, referred to as artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Cybersecurity and data privacy have become central concerns, affecting business operations and user safety worldwide. The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) stands out as one of the more well-known and effective cyber strategies that have nudged businesses to strengthen cybersecurity measures and improve data management practices for compliance and consumer trust.

In contrast, the USA currently lacks a unified legislative framework for cybersecurity, relying instead on various regulations many of which are rather outdated in the digital landscape as it stands. Nevertheless, the USA does maintain high levels of preparedness against cyberattacks through legal, technical, and organizational measures.

China, on the other hand, has taken a stringent and strident position on cybersecurity and data protection, balancing the safeguarding of its citizens with strict regulations. These, of course, have raised concerns in many quarters about individual rights.

In their paper, Teddy Lynn Ladd of Wipro Enterprise Futuring in Plano, Texas, Shawn M. Carraher of KFUPM in Dhahran, KSA, Sherry E. Sullivan of BGSU, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Shawn M. Carraher Jr. of TAMU in Commerce, Texas, USA, suggest that LLMs have an important role to play.

These tools offer a new way to understand and navigate the complex current regulations and future legislation, which could help organizations in their compliance efforts as well as improve cybersecurity for those organizations, governments, and individuals. LLMs might be prompted to help in the interpretation of regulations and provide assistance in developing proactive rather than reactive strategies to address the challenges involved in compliance and cybersecurity. They might even be useful in allowing organisations to surmount the financial burdens and resource constraints, particularly for multinational corporations, that are necessitated by the need for cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.

Ladd, T.L., Carraher, S.M., Sullivan, S.E. and Carraher Jr., S.M. (2023) 'Cybersecurity and data protection in the European Union, the USA, and China: does ChatGPT really make a difference?', J. International Business and Entrepreneurship Development, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp.355–390.
DOI: 10.1504/JIBED.2023.136751

A recent study in the International Journal of Information and Computer Security has introduced an innovative approach to addressing the persistent challenge of zero-day phishing attacks in cybersecurity. Zero-day threats represent a significant challenge for computer security systems. Such threats can be used to exploit previously unidentified vulnerabilities in software, networks, and computer systems before those security systems can be patched or updated to address the new exploit. Although they have only a brief window to circumvent conventional malware detection, antivirus software, and firewalls this can be sufficient to allow a data breach or other malicious process to be undertaken.

Thomas Nagunwa of the Department of Computer Science at the Institute of Finance Management in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, has proposed a machine learning (ML) model that is designed to detect these emerging and ever-evolving threats in real time. It could offer a much-needed and pragmatic solution to enhancing computer security in a range of environments.

One of the biggest threats to computer security often exploits social engineering wherein the user's gullibility or lack of understanding is used to breach the first line of defence. In the case of a "phishing" attack, for instance, an unwary user is persuaded or coerced into unwittingly clicking a malicious link in an email or on a website. Often such phishing attacks will use zero-day tactics, approaches that have not been widely recognised at the point or time of implementation. Commonly, such exploits evade detection because their characteristics and format have not been added to the conventional blacklists used by security systems to otherwise block them.

The newly developed model aims to overcome these limitations by using a diverse set of features extracted from the structural characteristics of phishing websites. Those features are categorized into five groups, including web page structure, URL characteristics, WHOIS records, TLS certificates, and web page reputation. Notably, features derived from third-party services and web page reputation proved particularly influential in predicting phishing attacks, highlighting the significance of external sources and reputation-based indicators in enhancing detection capabilities.

Nagunwa evaluated the performance of his model against both traditional machine learning and deep learning algorithms, with promising results. Accuracy above 99% with minimal false positives and false negatives was achievable. Critically, working in a browser in real-time did not slow the loading of websites to the point at which they would compromise the user browsing experience.

Nagunwa, T. (2024) 'AI-driven approach for robust real-time detection of zero-day phishing websites', Int. J. Information and Computer Security, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp.79–118.
DOI: 10.1504/IJICS.2024.136735

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a relatively familiar concept. It refers to the network of interconnected devices embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies that enable them to collect and exchange data over the Internet. These devices can range from everyday objects such as household appliances, wearable devices, and industrial machines to vehicles and infrastructure components like traffic lights and smart meters.

The underlying concept of the IoT is the creation of a seamless network in which physical objects can communicate and interact with each other without requiring human intervention. This connectivity enables IoT devices to gather real-time data, analyze it, and respond accordingly, leading to increased efficiency, automation, and convenience in various aspects of life and industry.

The IoT represents a move away from the conventional way in which we perceive and interact with the world around us, as it integrates the physical and digital realms to create networked systems that can enhance productivity, improve decision-making, and drive innovation across numerous sectors.

When we talk specifically of the IoT of vehicles, that represents its own digital ecosystem, which we might call the IoV, the Internet of Vehicles. Work in the International Journal of Internet Technology and Secured Transactions introduces innovative security schemes to tackle the growing security challenges facing the Internet of Vehicles (IoV). The aim is to enhance the integrity and resilience of connected vehicles in the face of evolving smart technologies where vehicles have increasing autonomy and connectivity. Given that any connectivity has associated security risks, such as authentication breaches, data confidentiality breaches, and routing attacks, it is important that the IoV can be made secure.

Roumissa Sahbi and Salim Ghanemi of Badji Mokhtar Annaba University, in Annaba and Mohamed Amine Ferrag of Guelma University, in Guelma, Algeria, have proposed security solutions that use Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). This allows them to identify and block potential attacks within the IoV system and so boost security.

With the Internet of Things (IoT) linking smart devices across different domains, the need for strong security measures is critical. The proposed security schemes offer a way to protect the IoV network against different kinds of threats. The team has used formal and informal security analyses with tools like AVISPA and BAN logic to verify the effectiveness of their protocols in mitigating attacks.

Sahbi, R., Ghanemi, S. and Ferrag, M.A. (2024) 'Security of internet of vehicles in smart cities: authentication and confidentiality aspects', Int. J. Internet Technology and Secured Transactions, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp.232–269.
DOI: 10.1504/IJITST.2024.136655

Research in the International Journal of Internet Technology and Secured Transactions, uses a hybrid approach to boosting the security of online applications, particularly within the realm of cloud computing. By merging two distinct techniques – homomorphic encryption and the squirrel search algorithm (SSA) – the study demonstrates a significant enhancement in the security of cloud computing models.

Homomorphic encryption is a form of encryption that allows mathematical operations to be performed on encrypted data without first having to decrypt data. This means that computations can be carried out on encrypted text, to yield useful results that, when decrypted, match the results of the same operations as if they had been performed on the plain text.

The SSA is a nature-inspired optimization algorithm that mimics the dynamic foraging behaviour of flying squirrels. It's classified as a metaheuristic algorithm, meaning it solves problems iteratively using randomness and guided search instead of using a conventional approach.

R.S. Kanakasabapathi and J.E. Judith of the Department of Computer Applications at the Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education in Kumarcoil, India, hoped to boost cloud data storage systems using an advanced encryption technique. Encryption obviously plays a key role in safeguarding data from unauthorized access or breaches. The team has assessed the effectiveness of their approach, measuring upload and download time and encryption and decryption time. They demonstrated that the hybrid approach outperforms the Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) and ECC-based cryptography.

Ultimately, minimizing encryption and decryption times while maximizing data protection and so ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of cloud-stored information is critical. Given that there are ongoing concerns surrounding the security of cloud computing, ever-expanding volumes of data being stored and processed in the cloud, innovative approaches are needed to safeguard that data as each wave of malicious actors comes to the fore who might compromise or illicitly access that data.

Kanakasabapathi, R.S. and Judith, J.E. (2024) 'Improving cloud security model for web applications using hybrid encryption techniques', Int. J. Internet Technology and Secured Transactions, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp.291–308.
DOI: 10.1504/IJITST.2024.136677

Single-use plastics cause pollution, harm wildlife, deplete resources, pose health risks, and create waste management challenges, necessitating urgent action for reduction and better management. A study in the Global Business and Economics Review has identified drivers for the consumer shift away from single-use plastics.

The work conducted by Rajendran Geetha and Chandrasekaran Padmavathy of the Vellore Institute of Technology in Vellore, India, improves our understanding of the factors influencing consumers' decisions to avoid single-use plastic (SUP) bags. The team used Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory to analyse the various external influences and internal motivations.

External factors such as green advertisements, retailer incentives, and government policies were found to play significant roles. Green advertisements were effective in motivating individuals to choose what are commonly referred to as eco-friendly alternatives, while incentives such as discounts and rewards from retailers also encouraged them to avoid SUP bags and opt for reusable cloth and reinforced, "bag-for-life" type bags. Additionally, government policies such as bans and taxes on SUP bags have had a significant impact on consumer choice, emphasizing the importance of regulatory interventions in promoting sustainability and nudging consumers to use alternatives.

The findings provide insights for policymakers, advertisers, retailers, and communities on the importance of environmental messaging and individual perceptions in promoting sustainable behaviour. Millions if not billions of SUP bags are manufactured every year the world over. Most, as the name would suggest, are used once, and then discarded. Ultimately, they add a heavy burden to the waste stream and many of those that don't end up in landfill or being incinerated with other waste will reach environmental niches or the seas where they cause immense problems to different kinds of ecosystems and living things.

Implications drawn from the study suggest a need for a comprehensive approach. Advertisers can use environmental appeals, while retailers can incentivize behavioural change through discounts and rewards. Government and policymakers are urged to implement regulations and awareness campaigns to address plastic pollution effectively.

The study underscores the urgency of addressing environmental challenges and calls for collective efforts to build a sustainable ecosystem. Understanding and acting upon these findings are essential steps toward a greener future.

Geetha, R. and Padmavathy, C. (2024) 'Effects of external and internal influences on intentions to avoid single-use plastic bags', Global Business and Economics Review, Vol. 30, No. 2, pp.176–188.
DOI: 10.1504/GBER.2024.136423

A study published in the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business has investigated entrepreneurship education within higher education institutions. The results shed light on the critical role of such educators in engaging with students and communities while navigating various institutional perspectives.

Ethné Swartz of Montclair State University, New Jersey, Dianne H.B. Welsh of the University of North Carolina (Greensboro), Steven Tello of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, USA, and Norris Krueger of Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan, collected and analysed survey data to understand the dynamics of entrepreneurship education.

The team found a correlation between institutional roles and the level of engagement in boundary-spanning activities. Boundary spanning refers to connections between disparate groups, departments, or organizations within a larger system. It involves individuals or units that operate at the interface between different domains, facilitating communication, collaboration, and information exchange across various boundaries. In the context of entrepreneurship education, boundary spanning often entails interactions between educators, students, academic departments, industry partners, and community organizations to promote learning, innovation, and engagement.

Intriguingly, faculty members, despite their active involvement, showed lower levels of engagement compared to other stakeholders. This raises concerns about the factors influencing faculty commitment, with tenure requirements being identified as a potential deterrent due to their heavy emphasis on research outcomes.

The study underscores the need for further investigation into the motivations and challenges within entrepreneurship education. It highlights the evolving nature of the educator's role and emphasizes the importance of aligning roles with core values, whether focusing on teaching, networking, or student-centred activities.

The work also draws attention to the increasing complexity of the institutional environment in which entrepreneurship education operates. It points to the growing significance of governing boards in navigating such complexities. In essence, the study provides insights into the challenges faced by entrepreneurship educators and the changing institutional context shaping their roles.

These findings have broader implications beyond academia for society and he wider economy. Understanding and supporting entrepreneurship educators are therefore important in fostering innovation and community engagement.

Swartz, E., Welsh, D.H.B., Krueger, N. and Tello, S. (2024) 'Engagement through boundary spanning: insights from US entrepreneurship educators', Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp.281-300.
DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2024.136392

Sarcasm, a complex linguistic phenomenon often found in online communication, often serves as a means to express deep-seated opinions or emotions in a particular manner that can be in some sense witty, passive-aggressive, or more often than not demeaning or ridiculing to the person being addressed. Recognizing sarcasm in the written word is crucial for understanding the true intent behind a given statement, particularly when we are considering social media or online customer reviews.

While spotting that someone is being sarcastic in the offline world is usually fairly easy given facial expression, body language and other indicators, it is harder to decipher sarcasm in online text. Work in the International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing hopes to meet this challenge. Geeta Abakash Sahu and Manoj Hudnurkar of the Symbiosis International University in Pune, India, have developed an advanced sarcasm detection model aimed at accurately identifying sarcastic remarks in digital conversations, a task crucial for understanding the true intent behind online statements.

The team's model comprises four main phases. It begins with text pre-processing, which involves filtering out common, or "noise", words like "the", "it", and "and". It then breaks down the text into smaller units. To address the challenge of dealing with a large number of features, the team used optimal feature selection techniques to ensure the model's efficiency by prioritizing only the most relevant features. Features indicative of sarcasm, such as 'information gain,' 'chi-square,' 'mutual information,' and 'symmetrical uncertainty,' are then extracted from this pre-processed data by the algorithm.

For sarcasm detection, the team used an ensemble classifier comprising various algorithms including Neural Networks (NN), Random Forests (RF), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and a Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN). The performance of the latter was optimized using a newly proposed optimization algorithm called Clan Updated Grey Wolf Optimization (CU-GWO).

The team found that their approach could outperform existing methods across various performance measures. Specifically, it improves on specificity, reduces false negative rates, and has superior correlation values when compared with standard approaches.

Beyond its immediate implications for natural language processing and sentiment analysis, the research holds promise for enhancing sentiment analysis algorithms, social media monitoring tools, and automated customer service systems.

Sahu, G.A. and Hudnurkar, M. (2024) 'Metaheuristic-assisted deep ensemble technique for identifying sarcasm from social media data', Int. J. Wireless and Mobile Computing, Vol. 26, No. 1, pp.25–38.
DOI: 10.1504/IJWMC.2024.136558

TikTok is a popular social media platform where users can create and share short videos, often featuring music, dance, comedy, and other creative content.

Research in the International Journal of Mobile Communications has compared TikTok usage between China and the United States of America and offers invaluable insights into user behaviour and motivations on the social media platform and how they differ between these two regions. The study involved surveying around 150 each Chinese and US users and introduced the Comprehensive Gratifications Engagement Model to reveal how users interact with TikTok content.

Jian Shi, Mohammad Ali, and Fiona Chew of Syracuse University, New York, USA make several points based on their study. First, TikTok users engage more in self-promotion and with the platform's video content compared with other short-video apps such as Snapchat. This would suggest that part of TikTok's unique appeal is its potential for working as a goal-oriented activity.

Secondly, differences in user engagement between TikTok users in China and the USA were apparent, particularly when it comes to the degree of gratification people hope for in using the app, users in the USA seek a greater degree of gratification than those in China, the team reports. Understanding such cultural differences is essential for companies hoping to tailor marketing strategies on social media in different countries.

Fundamentally, TikTok is widely used as a pastime to help someone escape their everyday life, to relax, to learn, but also as a tool for procrastination and as a status-seeking tool and to impress others. Thankfully, it's not all about self-aggrandisement, people also want to meet and discover interesting people on the app and to make connections and thus to feel like they belong to an interesting community. There remains an element of social in this form of social media. The specifics as detailed in the paper showed the nuanced differences between users in China and the USA.

Shi, J., Ali, M. and Chew, F. (2024) 'Understanding gratifications for engaging with short-video: a comparison of TikTok use in the USA and China', Int. J. Mobile Communications, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp.175–200.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2024.136627

Insomnia is a pervasive sleep disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. It has long been considered a significant health concern characterized by difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep for a sufficiently long period. While almost everyone suffers sleeplessness on occasion. It can often be alleviated by changing one's bedtime routine, avoiding late food and drink, relaxation and breathing exercises, switching off one's gadgets earlier in the evening, reducing stress overall, and with short-term medication. Chronic insomnia if left untreated can ultimately lead to health issues, such as ongoing fatigue during the day and an increased risk of other health conditions. Approaches to address the problem of insomnia are thus keenly sought.

Research in the International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering offers a promising advancement in sleep aid technology. Shan Hu, Liyan Zhang, Weiqi Guo, Dong Zhang, Qi Jia, Zitong Yang, and Min Guo of Hubei University of Technology in Wuhan, Hubei, China, have used neural network science to develop a sleep aid that "understands" the individual user's needs and uses sophisticated processes to model their sleep patterns and then play soothing, music at appropriate points to help overcome the person's insomnia. The team suggests that their work might change how sleep aid products are designed by prioritizing the user rather than their problem.

The team's approach integrates sophisticated techniques such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Quality Function Deployment (QFD), and Function Behaviour Structure (FBS) models to develop a more effective approach. AHP is used to assess the user's needs and give a weighting to each factor. Convolutional neural networks then allow the team to craft a personalized sleep state model that can be tailored to individual sleep patterns and then be optimized for effective sleep assistance. The sleep, or rather "lack-of-sleep" patterns are initially monitored using a heart monitor and skin conductivity measurements the data from which are fed into the model.

Critically, what emerges from this project is that design has to focus on the user as well as the device to get the best results. "This method can improve the user experience of intelligent sleep aid products from the perspective of user needs and provide a feasible reference for the design research of intelligent sleep aid products," the team writes.

Hu, S., Zhang, L., Guo, W., Zhang, D., Jia, Q., Yang, Z. and Guo, M. (2024) 'Research on the design of smart sleep aid interactive products', Int. J. Industrial and Systems Engineering, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp.151–168.
DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2024.136413

Bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filters are used in various electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, Wi-Fi routers, and communication systems to help produce smooth and reliable high-frequency radio signals for 5G communications. They are thus important in ensuring efficient communication and data transmission. BAW filters are widely used in the radio frequency front ends of diverse devices, such as magnetoelectric transducer antennae for wireless communication. BAW filters are also used in physical sensors, actuators, and biochemical sensors.

In high-power applications an issue known as the self-heating effect can arise in BAW filters. Self-heating BAW filters when they are powered leads to a degradation in performance known as insertion loss, a fall in signal power. Research in the International Journal of Nanomanufacturing has investigated this phenomenon. Mitigating the detrimental effects of self-heating could improve the overall efficiency of a component or device as well as improving durability.

Bin Ruan and Tingting Liu of Southwest University of Science and Technology, in Mianyang, Shaohua Yang, Qinwen, and Weiheng Shao of the China Electronic Product Reliability, and Environmental Testing Research Institute in Guangzhou, and Ming Wu of Pandhus Microsystem Co., Ltd also in Mianyang, China, have investigated self-heating at high-frequency power levels. The team built a dedicated test system to measure the maximum surface temperature and the insertion loss of BAW filters at different power levels.

The relatively simple but important finding from their tests is that as power levels increased, so did heating, and thus, insertion loss. The correlation between higher power and greater insertion loss represents a fundamental trade-off in filter design. As power levels increase, the filter's components may experience greater stress, leading to increased losses.

Armed with this knowledge, it might be possible to use various approaches to mitigate insertion loss while maintaining adequate power handling capabilities. For instance, choosing alternative materials, refining fabrication techniques, and implementing innovative filter configurations might all be used to reduce self-heating and so reduce insertion loss. For instance, incorporating advanced materials with improved thermal properties or refining the geometry of the filter structure might help dissipate heat more effectively, reducing losses at higher power levels.

Ruan, B., Liu, T., Yang, S., Huang, Q., Wu, M. and Shao, W. (2023) 'Study on the effect of self-heating effect of bulk acoustic wave filter on the interpolation loss in the band', Int. J. Nanomanufacturing, Vol. 18, Nos. 3/4, pp.178–188.
DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2023.136571

Writing in the International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, a team from Japan explains that "Wetlands play an important role in a sustainable urban future." They add these these environmental regions provide what might be called ecological services to the cities in which they are sited as well as sustaining wildlife and even allowing the transmission and development of indigenous culture.

In this context the wetland parks of Suzhou, China, have emerged as exemplars of urban sustainability, offering crucial ecological services and preserving cultural heritage. Lihui Zhou and John Joseph Puthenkalam of Sophia University, Japan in their study shed light on the significance both locally and globally of such wetlands.

Suzhou is located in the Jiangsu Province of eastern China and boasts a rich tapestry of wetlands. These wetlands, which include a network of rivers, lakes, and marshes, have played a vital role in the region's ecology and culture for centuries. They serve as crucial habitats for a variety of plant and animal species, providing breeding grounds for migratory birds and supporting diverse aquatic life. They also play an important role in flood control, water purification, and sediment retention. In addition to this environmental and ecological significance, Suzhou's wetlands hold immense cultural value with the city's ancient and renowned classical gardens, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, intricately connected with the wetlands.

Despite facing threats from urbanization and industrialization, Suzhou has made efforts to preserve and restore its wetlands in recent years. Wetland restoration projects, ecological conservation programs, and sustainable development planning have allowed the city to balance economic growth and environmental protection.

The research explores how tailored restoration efforts have boosted the ecological and cultural impact as sustainable urban development takes place. The Suzhou model thus demonstrates how local conditions can help with restoration strategies, ultimately enhancing the ecological resilience and cultural relevance of such sites.

By prioritizing wetland conservation, Suzhou has been able to safeguard its local ecosystems, nurture cultural heritage, and promote environmental education. Such initiatives might even resonate beyond Suzhou, emphasizing the broader implications of wetland park development for urban sustainability worldwide.

Zhou, L. and Puthenkalam, J.J. (2023) 'Analysis of the role of wetland parks in urban sustainability: a case study of Suzhou, China', Int. J. Global Environmental Issues, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp.375–392.
DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2023.136301

Effective communication played a pivotal role in guiding public behaviour and health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic and will do so again during any future global health crisis. A paper in the International Journal of Technology Management has explored the significance of strategies driven by technological understanding in persuading individuals to adopt new behaviour and adhere to health guidelines. The work could offer insights that might allow us to shape a more effective global response to a future pandemic.

The phrase "the new normal" became common parlance in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. New norms and practices were urgently required to help us reduce the risk of contracting the virus and passing it on to others. Different countries took different approaches, some with more success than others, the virus continued to spread and mutate into novel variants. How bad the health costs might have been if the new normal in different regions had been managed differently is open to debate. Indeed, the new normal seems a thing of the past despite the ongoing presence of the virus in society.

Talayeh Ghofrani of the Eastern Mediterranean University in Famagusta, Cyprus emphasizes the importance of persuasive messaging. She has focused on the intersection of technology and communication strategies in light of the rapid advancement and development of digital platforms and the increasing and more widespread social media use as the coronavirus spread across the globe.

The work identifies four important factors associated with successful and persuasive communication: the targeted audience, presentation model, message content and context, and the type of technologies employed. Ultimately, whether the message was received and understood by individuals at critical times depended on the complex relationship between these different factors. The subtleties perhaps explain why messages were often misinterpreted or even deliberately obfuscated when a political agenda stood in the way of healthcare in many places.

Ghofrani's work suggests that digital platforms are a powerful tool for tailoring persuasive messages during times of crisis to allow us to mobilize the public response appropriately. An improved strategy given a sensible and non-corrupt government response would ultimately improve the ability of health organizations to engage more effectively with diverse populations and promote adherence to recommended health measures. It might even be able to defeat the misinformation, the spread of rumours, and so-called "fake news" all of which worsened the challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and could do so again in a future crisis.

Ghofrani, T. (2024) 'The impact of new media technologies on persuasive communication in the time of global crisis', Int. J. Technology Management, Vol. 94, Nos. 3/4, pp.419-435.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2024.136420

A study in the European Journal of International Management has looked into the relationship between learning from failure and the internationalization process in entrepreneurial ventures. The researchers show a subtle link that perhaps challenges the received wisdom regarding success and failure suggesting that a cyclical process exists where the global expansion of entrepreneurial firms is intricately linked to experiential learning.

Leila Hurmerinta, Niina Nummela, and Eriikka Paavilainen-Mäntymäki of the Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku in Turku, Finland, explain that this process involves a reciprocal transfer, analysis, and internalization of experiential knowledge. Failures within the entrepreneurial landscape act as stimuli whether they are failures of the entrepreneur themselves or their peers.

Indeed, entrepreneurs play a pivotal role as gatekeepers of experiential learning, absorbing, digesting, and transferring knowledge within their organization to enhance the positive effects of learning from failure. Moreover, contrary to the received wisdom, this research indicates that entrepreneurs need not experience failure personally to gain valuable insights. Failures encountered by peers, other companies in the same industry, or fellow entrepreneurs, even in different sectors, can serve as valuable sources for long-term learning and ultimately help nudge the company towards success.

The team adds that the timing of the learning process regarding failure emerges as a critical factor, with delayed learning leading to reactive as opposed to proactive decisions without sufficient analytical thinking. The work offers a dynamic model that illustrates the interaction between non-linear internationalization and experiential learning with feedback loops depicted in the model highlighting how experience might either fuel or inhibit the internationalization process. In this context, the importance of near-failures is also revealed.

By offering a conceptual, theory-based cyclical model, the researchers thus shed light on the role of learning from failure and also suggest new avenues of exploration for future research where the subjective and context-dependent nature of both success and failure are investigated.

Hurmerinta, L., Nummela, N. and Paavilainen-Mäntymäki, E. (2024) 'Boosted by failure? Entrepreneurial internationalisation as a cyclical learning process', European J. International Management, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp.337–353.
DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.136483

A novel smartwatch system clocks your activity more precisely and could offer you a better perspective on your activity levels than simply counting your 10,000 steps or how long you stay storing in bed.

Writing in the International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing, a team from India and the UK, have introduced a novel system designed to reshape how smartwatches interpret and categorize our daily activities. The system has the potential to improve the way we monitor our physical activity as well as perhaps leading to new applications in the broader wearable technology sector.

Ankita Dewan of IIT Ropar in Rupnagar, India, Venkata M.V. Gunturi of the University of Hull, UK, and Vinayak Naik of BITS Pilani in Goa, India, have focused on distinguishing between non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) and non-NEAT activities recorded by smartwatches. NEAT activities, also known as non-exercise physical activity (NEPA), involve energy expenditure during routine tasks like doing common hobbies, working on a laptop, using a smartphone, cooking, eating, standing instead of sitting, walking around, climbing stairs, doing chores, and fidgeting.

The opposite, which might call non-NEAT, non-NEPA, activities encompasses more formal exercising such as running, cycling, swimming, and gym activities, for instance. These are usually intentional and structured exercises aimed at improving cardiovascular fitness, strength, and overall health.

Unlike previous studies that overlooked specific NEAT activities, this new approach uses lower-frequency data sampling to address the limitations of earlier models. The team has thus been able to delve into critical parameters including classification features, data sampling frequency, upload rate, and window length to improve classification accuracy. At the same time, they have also considered how to reduce power consumption and so extend battery life for the smartwatch. At a current of 33 Amps per hour, 87% is feasible. However, 97% accuracy is possible at a higher energy cost of 37 Amps per hour.

The system defines several novel activity categories not usually adopted by fitness apps, which tend to focus on walking, running, and cycling, for instance. These NEAT activities are cooking, sweeping, mopping, climbing stairs, eating, driving or being a passenger in a car, working on a laptop or phone, and watching TV. The smartwatch's sensors can be tuned to recognise such activities.

The research presents a practical and innovative approach to activity recognition, addressing challenges in existing models. The implications lie in the potential for improved user experience, battery efficiency, and more informed decision-making regarding parameter settings to help the user determine how active they are with a view to modifying their habits and perhaps improving their overall physical health.

Dewan, A., Gunturi, V.M.V. and Naik, V. (2024) 'NEAT activity detection using smartwatch', Int. J. Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing, Vol. 45, No. 1, pp.36–51.
DOI: 10.1504/IJAHUC.2024.136141

A study in the International Journal of Economics and Business Research has investigated customer loyalty dynamics in the retail banking sector in Cyprus. The work challenges established assumptions by emphasizing the significance of emotional connections over transactional factors. The investigation highlights affective commitment and attitudinal loyalty as important factors influencing a customer's decision to stay with their current banking provider.

Maria Georgiou, Sofia Daskou, and Michailina Siakalli of Neapolis University Pafos in Cyprus, and Athanasios Anastasiou of the University of Peloponnese in Tripolis, Greece, have shown that contrary to the received wisdom, behavioural loyalty and continuance commitment have little effect on customer retention in the retail banking area.

This finding suggests that emotional bonds and genuine loyalty hold more sway than other factors like switching costs or habitual purchasing patterns and so can help guide customer retention strategy. Conversely, if customers are shown such evidence about their behaviour then they might usefully find a way to see through such strategies and make a better-informed choice about whether or not to stay with a given bank or find an alternative that better suits their needs.

In parallel with such insights, the research also shows that a strong banking system is important at the national level. The work emphasizes that a well-functioning banking system can ensure financial efficiency but also contribute to economic growth and development. Banks that are facilitating household financial planning and ensuring liquidity across the economy play a vital role in the flow of capital, payments, goods, and services across the nation.

The study's examination of relational constructs provides insights into the behaviour of Cypriot retail banking customers. Affective commitment and attitudinal loyalty emerge as pivotal motivators for customer retention, the research suggests. It is worth noting that normative commitment is identified as a unique yet negatively correlated contributor to customer loyalty. Normative commitment is an individual's perceived sense of obligation or moral responsibility to remain committed to, in this case, their bank.

For businesses and policymakers, they must recognise the importance of emotional bonds and genuine loyalty in the banking sector. A better-informed customer might also be made aware of this for the mutual benefit of the broader economy as well as their circumstances.

Georgiou, M., Daskou, S., Siakalli, M. and Anastasiou, A. (2024) 'An explanatory study of predictive factors of customer retention with Cypriot retail banks', Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 27, No. 1, pp.127–150.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2024.136166

Research in the International Journal of Intelligent Engineering Informatics proposes the use of system behavioural modelling and unattended or semi-supervised machine learning to help solve the problem of cyber security in smart cities. By training machine learning models on relevant datasets, the researchers suggest that security systems can be improved so that they can identify and mitigate cyber threats. An ongoing challenge is to ensure the reliability and completeness of those very datasets to allow for anomalies to be detected with confidence.

The development of technologically connected and enabled 'smart cities' could help us face better rapid urbanization and growing populations. Connectivity allows Internet of Things (IoT) systems to be used more effectively and to harness the power big data analytics to tackle various urban issues, such as traffic congestion, air pollution, water management, housing issues, urban planning, healthcare, and equitable accessibility to resources for everyone. However, as with any integrated and networked technology, IoT devices can be vulnerable to unauthorized access by those with malicious intent. This is most worrying in the area of safety systems, but also of concern across many others such as transport and healthcare.

N. Girubagari and T.N. Ravi of the Thanthai Periyar Government Arts and Science College in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India, point out that cyber attacks in this context go way beyond the kind of the privacy concerns of individuals. They might affect smart infrastructure, communications, and e-governance. As such, intelligent detection systems based on machine learning to safeguard against cyber threats are needed urgently.

The team looks at various anomaly detection methods and assesses their pros and cons. The paper highlights existing obstacles and gaps in research that are currently stymieing the full potential of the smart city. The work evaluates and contrasts methods for identifying anomalies in big data-based cybersecurity, utilizing survival analysis to assess the benefits and drawbacks of current techniques. The long-term objective is, of course, the efficient detection of cyber attacks in real-world scenarios. The research emphasizes that performance assessment for machine learning methodologies is important at this juncture.

In future work, the researchers hope to conduct additional experiments to test performance and establish a methodology for precise and comprehensive anomaly identification in smart city systems.

Girubagari, N. and Ravi, T.N. (2023) 'Methods of anomaly detection for the prevention and detection of cyber attacks', Int. J. Intelligent Engineering Informatics, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp.299–316.
DOI: 10.1504/IJIEI.2023.136097

Research in the International Journal of Information Technology and Management sheds light on the potential of OpenStack, an open-source cloud-computing platform, in the realm of educational virtualization.

OpenStack, often shortened to O~S, is used as a standardized Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solution for both public and private cloud environments. The platform allows users to access virtual servers and manage hardware components such as computer processors, storage, and networking. It could also offer major benefits to educational establishments such as cost savings and the optimization of hardware resource utilization.

Faouzi Mechraoui of the University of Leuven Limburg in Leuven, Belgium, and Pedro Martins and Filipe Caldeira of the Polytechnic of Viseu in Portugal have reviewed OpenStack's capabilities in the virtualization of resources and how it can provide a flexible and scalable infrastructure for data management, scaling, and networking configurations. Specifically, their review explores the deployment of IaaS using OpenStack.

The team looked at the functional and architectural aspects of OpenStack and discusses how it can be used to build large-scale virtual environments. The research highlights an experimental virtualization setup within an educational scenario, showcasing OpenStack's adaptability to specific use cases at Viseu. They point out that the system might equally be used in governmental settings too.

OpenStack has many advantages among them how well it can be aligned with user needs and how well it adheres to emerging open standards. These benefits ensure compatibility with current approaches to virtualization, which thus position OpenStack as a practical and reliable solution. As technology evolves around it, OpenStack will be able to stand as a versatile solution.

The team suggest that the next step in an evaluation of OpenStack will be to undertake benchmarking tests to evaluate OpenStack's performance under stress. The ultimate goal is the implementation of OpenStack to virtualize entire on-premise educational systems. This would allow students to manage their "instances" within the system, creating a dynamic and hands-on learning environment.

Mechraoui, F., Martins, P. and Caldeira, F. (2024) 'OpenStack: a virtualisation overview', Int. J. Information Technology and Management, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp.1–12.
DOI: 10.1504/IJITM.2024.136181

Research in the International Journal of Education Economics and Development has used the entrepreneurial intention model to investigate what if any influence of parental self-employed status has on the aspirations of their offspring. The researchers obtainted data and questionnaire results from 319 respondents at a public university in Spain. The data and answers were analysed through structural equation modelling, using multi-group analysis (MGA) to discern the differences between those individuals with self-employed parents and those without.

Kwaku Amofah, Jones Lewis Arthur, and Edward Owusu of Sunyani Technical University in Sunyani, Ghana, and Ramon Saladrigues Solé of the University of Lleida in Lleida, Spain, demonstrated that respondents with self-employed parents were much more likely to have a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship, perceived behavioural control, entrepreneurial skills, and environmental support compared to those without such parental background. However, the MGA showed that, despite these differences, the overall entrepreneurial intention in both groups was comparable.

The results reinforce the role of parental self-employment in this kind of study. They also underscore the importance of conducting multi-group analysis to reveal the nuances and variations among different groups. The researchers thus suggest that their work has implications for education and policy-making, particularly when it comes to entrepreneurship teaching and learning. By shedding light on the impact of parental self-employment on key elements of the entrepreneurial mindset, the team suggests the need for a more subtle approach to teaching entrepreneurship skills as well as recognizing influences that might be shaping a student's perception and intention when starting their own business.

The insights regarding family background, individual perceptions, and environmental support are important in shaping entrepreneurial ambitions. The current findings will contribute to defining educational strategies and policies. The team also uncovered a discernible gender gap in entrepreneurial intention. This, the work suggests, highlights the need to explore further and to consider other cultural and contextual factors that might influence entrepreneurial intentions in different settings.

An additional notable contribution of this research lies in its approach in that the exploration using the integrated form of the entrepreneurial intention model was shown to be rather useful whereas it has received less attention in previous studies.

Amofah, K., Saladrigues Solé, R., Arthur, J.L. and Owusu, E. (2024) 'Entrepreneurial intentions: the role of parental self-employment', Int. J. Education Economics and Development, Vol. 15, Nos. 1/2, pp.234–266.
DOI: 10.1504/IJEED.2024.136223

Traditional fingerprint identification methods can struggle with accurately identifying feature points in smaller regions. This is usually where a subset of fingerprints that are of limited size might typically be found in a restricted regions of a larger fingerprint image. Ultimately this usually leads to lower recognition accuracy and weaker evidence gleaned from a crime scene investigation, for instance.

Research in the International Journal of Data Mining and Bioinformatics hopes to overcome that problem. The paper introduces a machine vision technique that has been refined to work on small fingerprint areas. It could overcome many of the challenges faced by crime scene investigators and improve the overall precision of fingerprint recognition. The same technology might also be extended to biometric security systems.

Qiqun Liu and Tan Liu of Henan Vocational College of Agriculture in Zhengzhou Henan, China, have introduced this new approach to small-area fingerprint recognition in order to overcome the limitations of conventional techniques particularly with respect to the recognition of feature points in boundary regions.

The key component of their new approach is a descriptor that provides an analysis of estimated values of the important fingerprint parameters. By using this descriptor, the method extracts detailed feature points and establishes a so-called frequency field. This can then be used to direct enhancements of the small-area fingerprint image to improve clarity. An additional process then extracts detailed features from the enhanced small-area fingerprint image.

The researcher's experiments give a good indication of the effectiveness of this method, allowing them to accurately extract detailed features from seemingly obscure fingerprint images. Notably, the average recognition time has been reduced to just over half a minute compared with the much longer times of more conventional approaches when presented with the same kinds of image. Moreover, the technique offers a more uniform distribution of feature points and so excels in the identification of ridge features on image edges.

The same machine vision technology might be extended beyond forensic science to applications in biometric security systems and access control. The efficiency and accuracy improvements wrought by the new approach could thus be used to enhance the reliability of biometric authentication systems.

Liu, Q. and Liu, T. (2024) 'A high precision recognition method for small area fingerprints based on machine vision', Int. J. Data Mining and Bioinformatics, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp.40–57.
DOI: 10.1504/IJDMB.2024.136226

Conventional search and rescue operations after major disasters face many problems. A team from Malaysia writing in the International Journal of Vehicle Autonomous Systems, now suggests a practical solution that involves a real-time human detection system using a fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

Cheok Jun Hong and Vimal Rau Aparow of the University of Nottingham Malaysia, in Selangor and Hishamuddin Jamaluddin of Southern University College in Skudai, Johor, Malaysia, have brought together UAV technology with readily available small-scale tools such as the Raspberry Pi computer. This allows them not only to better manage system functions than with conventional technology but also to stream aerial imagery from an attached camera.

What makes this novel approach particularly attractive is the ability to offload the computationally intensive human detection tasks to a server at the edge, enabled by 4G cellular network technology. The team explains that the server employs the YOLOv3 deep neural network, trained on VisDrone and SARD datasets, and can precisely identify people from the images gathered by the UAV's camera and transmit results to ground control. With a positive identification, a rescue team can then be sent to the exact spot where a rescue is needed.

The system brings together deep learning algorithms and mobile-edge computing and represents a shift away from conventional search and rescue approaches that could speed up the whole process during a major incident. There are also benefits to precluding the need for manned aircraft or people to cover a lot of ground in hazardous environments.

The team explains that their convolutional neural network with the YOLOv3 architecture can achieve a mean Average Precision (mAP) of almost 80 per cent for identifying people in the images from the UAV camera. By using the TensorRT toolkit the researchers can further optimize the approach and speed up inference by some three times when compared with the original neural network but without loss of accuracy. Of course, while the system can have a greater range than a radio-enabled system, it does rely on the stability and existence of the 4G network across the search and rescue area.

The researchers initially designed the system for human search and rescue scenarios, but it could be adapted to other applications, such as public safety and crime prevention. It could be repurposed for patrolling a site vulnerable to criminal activity or even used in tracking criminals.

Hong, C.J., Aparow, V.R. and Jamaluddin, H. (2023) 'Real-time human search and monitoring system using unmanned aerial vehicle', Int. J. Vehicle Autonomous Systems, Vol. 17, Nos. 1/2, pp.106–132.
DOI: 10.1504/IJVAS.2023.136180

A team in Turkey has tested different machine-learning algorithms for predicting electricity demand from different sources. They trained the algorithms on electricity demand data for the period 2000-2022 and used them to successfully make predictions for 2023 with differing degrees of accuracy.

The researchers tested the predictive power of long short-term memory (LSTM), artificial neural network (ANN), linear regression (LR), support vector regression (SVR), decision tree regression (DTR), random forest regression (RFR), and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and demonstrated that LSTM is the most accurate. Such an algorithm could be used to model energy usage and production for long-term electricity planning around the world.

Writing in the International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Mehmet Hakan Özdemir and Batin Latif Aylak of the Turkish-German University in Istanbul, Murat Ince of Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta, and Okan Oral of Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey, suggest that understanding supply and demand in terms of the different non-renewable and renewable energy sources is critical at this point in human history.

Given that non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels are finite and irreplaceable, renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and biogas which can be replenished are high on the generation agenda. Machine learning, with its ability to discern intricate relationships and patterns from large bodies of data, offers a powerful and flexible approach to prediction. In contrast to traditional statistical methods, machine learning algorithms, trained on appropriate data sets, can consider the entirety of the available data and thus discern conclusions about complex interactions that traditional analytical methods cannot reach.

Machine learning could thus help us in our energy policy decisions and steer the electricity generation industry towards a path to a more sustainable future. The insights gleaned from the research not only inform decision-makers but also highlight just how transformative machine learning algorithms can be in redefining how we solve problems of this kind.

Özdemir, M.H., Aylak, B.L., Ince, M. and Oral, O. (2024) 'Predicting world electricity generation by sources using different machine learning algorithms', Int. J. Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp.98–115.
DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2024.136028

Online shopping and home delivery have displaced the traditional trip to the shops for many people. This has been an ongoing process in retail that has seen the closure of high-street shops and many of the big department store chains as customers turn to shopping online. The process was somewhat accelerated during the pandemic when many people simply could not go shopping because of the prevalence of the disease and lockdown restrictions.

Writing in the International Journal of Revenue Management, a team in the USA discusses how suppliers are hoping to take advantage of this changing retail environment in which shoppers have everything from groceries and medication to devices and tools delivered to their homes rather than buying at a bricks-and-mortar store. They are looking at how retailers are exploring innovative strategies to enhance their resilience and revenue generation.

One novel approach known as the 'driver-becoming-salesperson' strategy, could, despite its rather clumsy name, become an important component in on-the-doorstep upselling and cross-selling. The delivery driver hands over the goods ordered but with additional offers for associated products made directly to the customer at their own home.

Conventionally, the last-mile phase of the delivery process has been viewed as nothing more than a logistics operation. Drivers are hired, vehicles are serviced and packed with goods and an efficient route is planned around the sales region to get those goods to the customers as quickly and efficiently as possible. The passive hope is that satisfied customers will shop with the retailer again. However, a more proactive approach would represent a paradigm shift by adding a new role for the delivery personnel – sales agent.

The concept is simple but may well be sophisticated in its implementation. The idea capitalizes on the direct, face-to-face interaction the driver can have with the customer when fulfilling the order. With appropriate skills, training, and the wares to offer, the delivery personnel might bring the showroom experience to the customer. Of course, door-to-door salespeople have existed ever since we have had doors, but this driver-as-upseller approach aligns more with the evolving landscape of e-commerce and modern retailing where storefronts are almost always virtual for many shoppers.

Timothy L. Urban and Robert A. Russell of the Collins College of Business at The University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, USA, have modelled this scenario by looking at two well-known complex problems, a vehicle-routing problem and the multiple-knapsack problem. By merging these two problems, they hoped to come up with an optimal way for sellers to select products that their drivers might then upsell from their delivery vehicles. The model that combines logistics and selling takes into account product attributes, customer preferences, and route efficiency. The results from the model highlight the fact that it is relatively easy to find an efficient route, but finding the right customers for upselling is the key to success.

The 'driver-upseller' strategy offers a pragmatic approach to help retailers adapt more effectively to the way people now shop. It will make an opportunity of the logistical paradigm of the last-mile delivery allowing for ad hoc customer engagement and upselling at the time of delivery. As online sales continue to grow, retailers that embrace such an approach are likely to boost their competitiveness, their sales, and customer satisfaction.

Urban, T.L. and Russell, R.A. (2024) 'Upselling at delivery', Int. J. Revenue Management, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp.1–32.
DOI: 10.1504/IJRM.2024.135962

Researchers in Switzerland and the UK have delved into the intricate world of digital interactions, using a unique combination of theories to shed light on the often-overlooked aspects of how customers engage with online services. By merging two theoretical frameworks, Activity Theory (AT) and Service-Dominant Logic (SDL), the study focuses on deciphering how user actions contribute to the overall value of digital services.

When one uses a voice assistant or interacts with a smart application, one is not simply completing a task but also creating value in different ways. Writing in the International Journal of Web Engineering and Technology, researchers break down this value creation into various dimensions. These are dematerialization (moving away from physical interactions), objectification (transforming actions into tangible outcomes), institutionalization (establishing patterns), modularization (breaking down tasks into manageable parts and streamlining processes), and platformization (building on existing digital structures and helping enhance them). These different dimensions can benefit both the customer and the service provider.

Uwe V. Riss and Michael Ziegler of the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and Lindsay J. Smith of the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, UK focused on understanding how user activities, defined by AT, integrate into the theoretical framework of service systems represented by SDL. Their findings shed light on the various dimensions of customer value with a specific application to voice assistants.

The team explains that this integration provides a deeper insight into customer interactions within service systems, essential for investigating customer experience in the context of service ecosystems. The study underscores the significance of smart products, highlighting the inseparable intertwining of service and material interaction in what we might call digital ecosystems. Moreover, the work reconciles the different focuses of AT and SDL, which are both centred on customers using services within action objectives or service ecosystems but with differences. AT emphasizes specific actions and outcomes, while SDL concentrates on the interplay of various service providers.

The common thread, the work suggests, is the concept of cocreation of value, either as the success of action in AT or as resource integration in SDL. The research thus brings together the understanding offered by each approach. Given that the customer experience plays a pivotal role in representing digital ways of value creation, it is important to encompass customer activities with that understanding.

Riss, U.V., Ziegler, M. and Smith, L.J. (2023) 'Value dimensions of digital applications and services: the example of voice assistants', Int. J. Web Engineering and Technology, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp.319–343.
DOI: 10.1504/IJWET.2023.136174

A study in the European Journal of International Management has looked at the complex relationship between gender, governance, and corruption in Europe. The research analysed evidence from 35 European countries between the years 2010 and 2020 to discern the nuanced relationship between heightened gender inequality and increased corruption. Fundamentally, the research found that a substantial female presence in decision-making positions, especially in societies with robust legal frameworks, was associated closely with transparency and lower levels of corruption.

Andrea Cámara-Payno, Julieta Díez-Hernández, Martyna Novak, and Elena Temiño-Santamaría of the University of Burgos in Burgos, Castilla y Leon, Spain, found that contrary to expectations, they did not identify gender-based disparities in attitudes toward corruption. Rather, greater representation of women in decision-making roles contributed to enhanced overall gender equality and, it was this that was associated with lower levels of corruption.

It is well-documented that among the European nations, Denmark, Finland, and Norway have good gender equality and adherence to the rule of law. It is unlikely to be a coincidence that these nations have a higher proportion of women in both public and corporate spheres of influence and that this correlates with more effective corruption control than is seen in other nations that are more dominated by men. This, the research suggests, actually challenges traditional gender theory that would otherwise indicate that gender ultimately becomes of little consequence in terms of attitudes to corruption once a good degree of equality has been achieved.

The issue is complex, of course, and gender equality and decision-making are just part of broader considerations in the context of combating corruption. Nevertheless, the study emphasizes the importance of improving gender equality and the rule of law in the fight against corruption. The promotion of equal opportunities is thus an important part of societal evolution.

Cámara-Payno, A., DíezHernández, J., Novak, M. and Temiño-Santamaría, E. (2024) 'The attitude towards corruption in the EU under a gender perspective', European J. International Management, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp.254–280.
DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.135934

A study in the International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies has explored the various factors that might contribute to procrastination among female university students.

For many people, it can take a lot of willpower or the threat of some kind of penalty to ensure they keep themselves on track in terms of studying and working rather than finding alternative, unrelated activities with which to distract themselves from the task at hand. S. Chandni, V. Sethuramalingam, and N. Rajavel of the Department of Social Work at Bharathidasan University in Tamil Nadu, India, have investigated procrastination among 277 female university students living in university hostel-type accommodation. They utilized statistical analyses such as cross-tabulations, one-way ANOVA, t-tests, and Step-wise Regression to process data about the use of social media, mobile phones, and demographic factors on procrastination.

The team found that the age of the students significantly affected how much they procrastinate. Younger students were more prone to delaying tasks on which they were purportedly focused. Additionally, the number of years someone had been studying was also a factor that influenced procrastination. The longer a student had been at university the more inclined were they to procrastinate. Perhaps more intriguingly, family income was identified as a contributing factor. A higher level of procrastination among the students was associated with lower family incomes.

Less surprisingly, perhaps, was that the team found a direct correlation between time spent on social media and the degree of procrastination. Given that social media has become a ubiquitous distraction for so many people it is perhaps not surprising that young students succumb to its whiles just as do so many other people. Those students with dual-SIM phones displayed a greater degree of procrastination than those with single-SIM devices. Why that should be is not entirely clear, except perhaps to say that high-end phones and the choice to have a dual-SIM device may well be associated with a greater degree of "tech savvy" and an inclination to enjoy the functionality of more sophisticated devices.

Procrastination among students, and others, linked to social media use specifically, poses a challenge for educators, and in the wider world, perhaps employers, where it might be detrimentally affecting academic performance, personal growth, and even job prospects.

There is perhaps now a need for policymakers and healthcare professionals to look at this particular aspect of social media activity and to find novel ways to support students, and others, in overcoming what might be considered a problematic addiction in circumstances where it is seriously detrimental to the individual user, their education and their life prospects.

Chandni, S., Sethuramalingam, V. and Rajavel, N. (2024) 'Right to good mental health: procrastination and social media addiction among girl students', Int. J. Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp.99–112.
DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2024.136091

A study in the International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics has introduced a new Shipping Industry Risk Sentiment Index (SRSI). This tool has been designed to analyse sentiment in the news media concerning South Korea's shipping industry. The SRSI utilizes an innovative method involving text analysis of news articles from Korean newspapers, focusing on terms related to the six C's of credit – character, capacity, capital, company, conditions, and collateral.

Sunghwa Park of Gyeongsang National University in Gyeongsangnam-do, Hyunsok Kim of Pusan National University in Busan, Janghan Kwon and Taeil Kim of the Korea Maritime Institute in Busan, South Korea, explain how the index can reveal spikes in financial risk sentiment. The team employed statistical models such as the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and impulse response functions. They found that increased news reporting associated with global financial crises and court receiverships of major Korean shipping companies are associated with these spikes.

The research highlights the predictive capabilities of the SRSI. It not only reflects risk sentiment within the shipping industry but also provides valuable insights into market situations. The SRSI's forecasting capabilities can be used to analyse the impact of risk sentiment on maritime transport freight income. The results indicate that the SRSI serves as a statistically significant predictor variable for freight income, demonstrating its usefulness in detecting credit risk in advance. These findings align with a broader trend emphasizing the positive impact of shipping sentiment indices on freight rates.

The research is underpinned by the powerful concept of big data analysis which allowed the team to measure credit risk in the shipping industry. The proposed SRSI could become an invaluable tool for government authorities, assisting in the management and supervision of risk within the shipping market and helping with decision-making. The same approach might be extended to the wider global shipping industry. This could be especially important given the interconnected nature of the shipping industry. There is thus potential for creating a Global Shipping Market News Index.

Park, S., Kim, H., Kwon, J. and Kim, T. (2023) 'Construction of Korean Shipping Industry Risk Sentiment Index using news articles', Int. J. Shipping and Transport Logistics, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp.469–486.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2023.136047

Writing in the International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, a team from China has revealed a novel approach to boost privacy for cross-border e-commerce users. Na Wang, Feng Gao, and Ji Zhang of Changchun University of Architecture and Civil Engineering in Changchun introduce an encryption algorithm based on social network analysis. The new approach could help users remain secure when transferring sensitive information during international transactions.

The team has used a multi-faceted strategy. Initially, they used a logical inference mapping method for blockchain to encode both public and private keys with asymmetric encryption. Next, the social network analysis method reorganizes the user's social network structure using arithmetic coding and homomorphic encryption.

Social network analysis can be used to study social structures and relationships among entities whether these are individuals, organizations, or any other units with connections or interactions. Such an analysis focuses on mapping and measuring the various relationships to understand the patterns within the network. This approach allowed the streamlining of the user information fusion processing and the optimization of the encryption tool.

The team carried out simulations to highlight their method's anti-attack capabilities and efficiency in terms of how little time is required for the encryption process. The team's work thus introduces an optimized privacy protection model for cross-border e-commerce users, incorporating encryption and optimized encoding designs through grouping information reorganization and chaotic sequence control, the team reports. A notable feature is that the adoption of dual keys improves the system still further while simplifying key construction and optimising the design of the encryption algorithm.

The researchers explain that the implementation of this encryption approach could be used for internal data protection and cross-border payment security within enterprises. It is important to have strong data security and confidentiality in these areas. The next step is to explore and test the system in real-time settings.

Wang, N., Gao, F. and Zhang, J. (2023) 'Privacy information encryption for cross-border e-commerce users based on social network analysis', Int. J. Networking and Virtual Organisations, Vol. 29, Nos. 3/4, pp.312–327.
DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2023.135961

Progress has been made recently in carbon capture technology that might allow us to efficiently absorb carbon dioxide directly from the air and perhaps halt the rise of atmospheric concentrations of the greenhouse gas. The development of moisture swing sorbents as a technology in this area is discussed in the International Journal of Global Warming. The benefit when compared with conventional approaches is that such sorbents use water as their primary energy source and so themselves can be carbon neutral in mitigating climate change.

Conventional moisture swing sorbents, or humidity swing sorbents, can adsorb or desorb water vapour from the atmosphere. These materials "swing" from one behaviour to the other reversibly depending on humidity or moisture levels. Moisture swing sorbents used for carbon dioxide capture sees related materials adsorb carbon dioxide from their surroundings when they are dry but when they get wet, they release, or desorb, the gas.

Weishu Wang, Xiangxin Zhang, Jun Liu, Chenyang Liang, Jingzun Niu, and Feiyue Wang of the North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power in Henan, China, have reviewed research in this area spanning more than two decades. They focus their review on how the adsorption capacity of moisture swing sorbents for large-scale applications might be reviewed. The team looked at how sorbents have been prepared. They also identified the various factors that affect carbon dioxide adsorption and desorption performance.

Materials for moisture swing sorbents fall into two categories: resin and non-resin materials. While resin materials offer faster adsorption rates and are easier to prepare, non-resin materials offer greater carbon dioxide adsorption capacity. The review suggests that the reliance on resin materials is currently a limitation which suggests that there is an urgent need for diversification in materials choice.

The application of carbon dioxide adsorbents is not limited to atmospheric absorption. There are many closed environments, such as submarines and spacecraft, and enclosed crop production environments where the level of carbon dioxide needs to be controlled precisely.

The review suggests that moisture swing sorbents represent a promising avenue for carbon dioxide capture. Ongoing research will help diversify raw materials, lead to the optimisation of preparation methods, and explore innovative technologies for enhanced performance and broader applications, as well as in addressing climate change.

Wang, W., Zhang, X., Liu, J., Liang, C., Niu, J. and Wang, F. (2024) 'Review of moisture swing sorbents for carbon dioxide capture from ambient air', Int. J. Global Warming, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp.119–147.
DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2024.135979

Streaming video services are rapidly displacing the traditional ways in which people watch television. Consumers want immediate access to shows and movies rather than patiently waiting for a broadcaster to schedule the programming they desire. Researchers in Egypt have surveyed the streaming video landscape, more formally known as the Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) sector, and found it to now be taking centre stage in the evolving entertainment landscape.

Writing in the EuroMed Journal of Management, Neveen Badr of Nile University, and Sayed Sharaf and Abeer A. Mahrous of Cairo University in Giza, Egypt, explain how the shift in the consumption of programming is seeing traditional television use dwindling in many places. As it does so, the multi-billion-dollar SVOD market continues to expand with the likes of Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Netflix, perhaps the most prominent proponents although many other services are vying for consumer attention and consumer subscriptions. The research looks closely at this global expansion but also focuses on the industry in Egypt where the "Watch It" streaming service is becoming well-known.

Demographically, SVOD services find favour primarily among Generation Y (the so-called Millennials who were born roughly between 1981 and 1996) and Generation Z (the "Zoomers" born around 1997 to 2012) in markets like Egypt. Understanding their preferences is crucial for both local startups like Watch It and the internationally renowned industry leaders such as Netflix, prompting tailored content for different demographics. The study highlights the importance of customer choice and financial analysis in efforts to understand the streaming market.

Badr and colleagues point out that the ability of the larger streaming companies to weather a crisis like the pandemic, and perhaps even thrive, highlights their resilience and adaptability to changing consumer demands. However, society is changing, technology evolves, new players come and go, and even the political landscape can have an economic significance on how the SVOD industry changes. Moreover, where a crisis like the pandemic benefited those companies offering services that consumers could use at home during lockdowns, for instance, there may well be changes afoot in the ranking of the various players in the streaming market as demands become sharpened in the post-pandemic world.

Digital transformation and developing technology, changes in audience perception and demands, pricing strategies, subscription models, and content initiatives are all now emerging as key considerations for any streaming company hoping to compete in this still-burgeoning market. Most important, however, is to understand customer needs and behaviour. This would allow established companies to plan strategically for their ongoing success. But also allow competitors to emerge, grow, and provide increasingly tailored offerings to consumers.

Badr, N., Sharaf, S. and Mahrous, A.A. (2024) 'Streaming wars: an analysis of the growth and competitive landscape of the subscription video-on-demand services market', EuroMed J. Management, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp.23–41.
DOI: 10.1504/EMJM.2024.135992

A recent study focusing on European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) could help improve fraud detection by identifying key indicators at the national level across the European Union, EU. The findings, published in the European Journal of International Management cover the period 2014 to 2020 and involved analysing data from 454 funds across all of the then extant 28 EU member states.

Thomas Baumgärtler and Philipp Eudelle of Offenburg University in Offenburg, Germany and Jorge Gallud Cano of the Universidad de Valladolid in Valladolid, Spain used an original database and employed regression analyses across EU member states to look for correlations between fraud detection rates and indicators related to fund utilization and monitoring, the frequency of fraudulent irregularities, economic development levels, and transparency within the nation.

The findings highlight the significance of vigilant fund monitoring to help combat fraud. In particular this, the team says, is more viable in those nations with the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and transparency levels. Interestingly, they observed a decrease in irregularities in countries with elevated GDP and those receiving larger funds. However, there are considerable variations in fraud and fraud detection rates among individual states, with federal states like the Federal Republic of Germany demonstrating relative success in detecting fraud within EU funds.

The researchers explain that efforts to combat fraud and protect the financial interests of the EU, must involve collaboration between the EU itself and its member states. Indeed, a "multi-eye" principle in control is essential and the team emphasizes that this coupled with a zero-tolerance policy is the most efficient way forward in combating fraud and corruption.

However, despite the availability of tools such as anti-corruption reports from the European Commission, audit reports from the European Court of Auditors, as well as the existence of the anti-fraud office known as "OLAF" (Office Européen de Lutte Antifraude), during the period investigated, the team found significant differences in understanding of fraud detection between EU member states.

Fundamentally, the research findings underline the importance of closely monitoring funds, especially in economically advanced and transparent countries. The work points to how the European Commission might improve its overseeing of fund management among member states.

Baumgärtler, T., Eudelle, P. and Gallud Cano, J. (2024) 'An international analysis of fraud detection in European structural and investment funds', European J. International Management, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp.198–229.
DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.135943

Researchers in Switzerland have taken a close look at the marketing strategies of several small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector there. Their findings, published in the International Journal of Technology Marketing, are based on a literature review and interviews with managers from 14 such SMEs. The team hoped to unravel how Swiss SMEs define their marketing strategies in the digital era, the role of digital transformation in customer value, and to identify new strategies to help them circumvent common problems.

Mona A. Meyer of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts HSLU in Lucerne, Switzerland, Marc K. Peter of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW in Olten, Switzerland explain how their investigation has brought to light some interesting patterns. They explain how micro-enterprises appear to recognize the relevance of marketing strategies in digital transformation but display a limited focus on the customer.

By contrast, small enterprises orientate their marketing strategies towards external factors in order to adapt to the business landscape in which they find themselves. Medium-sized enterprises, on the other hand, recognise the importance of digital marketing to attract new customers and generally take a more customer-oriented strategic marketing approach.

Based on the team's review and interviews, the team suggests possible ways to formulate marketing strategies tailored to the evolving marketing landscape in the Swiss ICT sector. They concede that all of the findings may not be universally applicable across industries but broadly underscore various points such as the finding that targeting customer segments digitally and optimizing usability and processes are imperative for success among Swiss SMEs in the ICT sector. Paradoxically, the study revealed despite any given SME successfully adapting to digitalization there are only limited improvements with respect to customer loyalty. However, SMEs across all size ranges do report other tangible benefits such as more efficient processes, cost reduction, and enhanced data transparency.

Meyer, M.A. and Peter, M.K. (2024) 'Evolving marketing strategies for Swiss SMEs in the ICT sector: a marketing strategy canvas in support of digital transformation', Int. J. Technology Marketing, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp.91–112.
DOI: 10.1504/IJTMKT.2024.135672

In the ever-changing landscape of smart city innovation, researchers have introduced the Residual Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Neural Network (RST-GCNN), which could help users find an on-street parking space more efficiently. This new model could help change the urban driving experience and perhaps reduce congestion and pollution by enhancing the prediction of parking availability. As cities grapple with escalating congestion, pollution, and the perpetual quest for efficient urban living, artificial intelligence (AI) could be set to ease one of the daily struggles for drivers and perhaps help us navigate out of gridlock.

Neural networks, inspired by the structure of the human brain, are used increasingly in solving complex problems across diverse domains such as image and pattern recognition, medical diagnostics, natural language processing and translation, and speech recognition. The RST-GCNN discussed in the International Journal of Sensor Networks represents a sophisticated application of neural network technology tailored to address the ever-present urban challenge of parking availability.

Unlike conventional models, the RST-GCNN integrates a residual structure, efficiently combining spatial and temporal information derived from graph and convolution modules, according to its developers Guanlin Chen, Sheng Zhang, Wenyong Weng, and Wujian Yang of Hangzhou City University, in Hangzhou, China. The RST-GCNN can predict long-term parking occupancy rates by discerning patterns in the parking dataset.

The team has tested their approach on the real-world Melb-Parking dataset and were able to validate the system's efficacy. It has, the work suggests, superior performance in predicting parking occupancy rates compared to baseline models. The new approach holds great promise for city drivers and could be used to streamline an automated parking search process, ultimately reducing congestion and optimizing transport efficiency in busy cities where cars remain a mainstay of transportation.

In the future, the team will expand the application to larger parking datasets with a view to refining prediction accuracy still further. Future iterations will embed weather, temperature, holiday periods, and other vagaries of traffic and parking thus broadening its scope and applicability.

Chen, G., Zhang, S., Weng, W. and Yang, W. (2023) 'Residual spatial-temporal graph convolutional neural network for on-street parking availability prediction', Int. J. Sensor Networks, Vol. 43, No. 4, pp.246–257.
DOI: 10.1504/IJSNET.2023.135840

A study in the International Journal of Nanotechnology has looked at the controlled synthesis and coating of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), specifically using oleic acid (OA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). These two well-studied polymers can be used in a co-precipitation approach to produce MNPs, which can be coated with different ratios of the two polymers to give different nanoparticle characteristics.

Magnetic nanoparticles can have many roles in medicine from targeted drug delivery and cellular tracking to serving as contrast agents in medical imaging, facilitating delivery of gene therapy agents, aiding in radiotherapy, and contributing to innovative hyperthermia treatments.

Nur Khalida Rahayu Zainon, Che Azurahanim Che Abdullah, and Mohd Basyaruddin Abdul Rahman of the Universiti Putra Malaysia in Selangor, Malaysia, used various characterization tools to study their coated nanoparticles. These techniques included X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Each technique can be used to investigate chemical structures in different ways offering disparate and detailed information about the coated MNPs including structural, optical, and magnetic properties.

The team has highlighted the optimal concentration ratios for coated MNPs and demonstrated how excessive levels of coating might impede the nanoparticle targeting capabilities. Conversely, insufficient coating can lead to unwanted aggregation of the nanoparticles. Magnetic saturation is reduced slightly in coated particles because the coating itself if non-magnetic, however, the coatings add several desirable properties, such as providing a protective and biocompatible shell around the magnetic nanoparticle as well as allowing functional biological agents and therapeutics to be attached to the nanoparticles in a way that is not easy to do with naked magnetic nanoparticles.

As the field advances, considerations such as the type of MNPs, nanoparticle shape, synthesis methods, particle size distribution, biocompatibility, and particle-particle interactions will emerge as critical factors in their development for biomedical applications. The present research enhances our understanding of MNP synthesis and coating and offers useful insights into their potential in nanomedicine.

Zainon, N.K.R., Che Abdullah, C.A. and Abdul Rahman, M.B. (2023) 'Assessment of different organic coatings on magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications', Int. J. Nanotechnol., Vol. 20, Nos. 11/12, pp.965–979.
DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2023.135810

A study in the International Journal of Business Competition and Growth has drawn insights from 621 survey samples to help improve our understanding of what elements of viral videos affect consumer behaviour and purchasing decisions the most. The elements highlighted include entertainment, brand awareness, source credibility, informativeness, interactivity, and incentives.

A viral video is a piece of content, typically a short video clip, that spreads rapidly and widely across the internet through social media sharing. The term "viral" in this context refers to the video's ability to quickly accumulate a large number of views, likes, shares, and comments, often reaching a massive audience in a short period.

Nguyen Hong Quan, Hoang Thi Hong Nga, Nguyen Thi Hai Ha, Pham Phuong Hien, Truong Nguyen Yen Thanh, and Nguyen Thi Kieu Trang of the Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, Vietnam, suggest that their research underscores the significance of entertainment in viral videos. It correlates higher entertainment levels with positive consumer attitudes. This aligns with earlier studies that also highlighted the role of entertainment value in influencing consumer perceptions, especially in emerging marketing channels like mobile advertising. The team also found that brand awareness, coupled with source credibility, is influential in shaping positive consumer attitudes, emphasizing the importance of reputation and recognition in today's information-driven consumer landscape.

The study also identified gender-based differences in the impact of various factors in viral videos. They thus suggest that marketing needs to consider nuanced strategies across genders. They found that males respond well to entertaining and trustworthy content, while females prefer informative videos with attractive offers and positive product feedback.

Additionally, however, brand awareness not only influences consumer attitudes positively but can boost advertising effectiveness on social platforms. Viral videos thus act as dual agents, impacting consumer behaviour and contributing to brand image, thereby bolstering brand equity.

The team offers various practical recommendations for businesses hoping to gain marketing advantages using viral videos in their advertising campaigns. They emphasise that by incorporating entertainment, informativeness, incentives, and source credibility into their strategy they can nudge consumers to engage more with their brand and ultimately purchase their products or services. Conversely, they advise businesses not to exaggerate their content and to ensure it is as authentic as possible. Businesses might collaborate with credible experts or consumers for genuine product reviews, and embed brand information strategically without overwhelming consumers to this end.

Quan, N.H., Nga, H.T.H., Ha, N.T.H., Hien, P.P., Thanh, T.N.Y. and Trang, N.T.K. (2023) 'How do viral videos on social media affect purchase intention?', Int. J. Business Competition and Growth, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp.202-222.
DOI: 10.1504/IJBCG.2023.135805

In a recent study examining the accuracy of self-estimation in evaluating technology use, researchers analyzed data from more than 300 iPhone users in China. The findings indicate a moderate correlation between self-reported usage and actual screen time. However, a notable finding is that the longer individuals engage with social media or smartphones, the less accurate their self-reporting of use becomes.

Self-estimation refers to an individual's subjective assessment or perception of their behaviour. In the present study, published in the International Journal of Mobile Communications, it refers specifically to the use of smartphones and social media.

Gefei Li and Jialong Li of Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan and E. Qinyu of the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and Xia Li of Shanghai Jiaotong University in Shanghai, China, have examined the psychological factors influencing the precision of recall of smartphone and social media use. The team found that loneliness is one factor that correlates with discrepancies in estimating social media use, suggesting that the lonelier an individual feels, the more they overestimate their use. Conversely, those who reported greater life satisfaction were less likely to underreport their actual smartphone use. Fundamentally, the study suggests that as individuals spend more time on smartphones and social media, the reliability of their self-reporting of how long they spend on them diminishes.

The team suggests that one practical implication of these findings is that researchers should be questioning the adequacy of traditional self-reporting measures for assessing how much we use these digital technologies.

The team recommends a standardized time perception approach, which could challenge the common practice of subjective time measurement in studying behaviour. The researchers also introduce the concept of "Screen Time", which could be used to provide a more accurate measure of smartphone usage and so mitigate underreporting. This tool could offer valuable data for researchers studying the impacts of digital technology use on our digital habits.

The findings and implications of this study may well extend beyond the immediate results, suggesting that screen time reports could be a valuable resource for researchers in communication studies, cognitive psychology, and neuropsychology. By adopting a more precise measurement approach, researchers might gain a deeper understanding of the implications of digital technology use on our lives or at the very least glean more accurate data than self-estimation might offer so that future studies can give us clearer results.

Li, G., Qinyu, E., Li, J. and Li, X. (2024) 'What influences our recall of the use of social media and smartphones? An exploratory study based on a sample of Chinese iPhone users', Int. J. Mobile Communications, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp.24–42.
DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2024.135696