Research pick: Diabetes patients breathe easy - "Inhaled insulin: current steps towards diabetes treatment"

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.

Research pick: Blowing the froth off real estate - "Impacts of macroeconomic factors on the real estate bubble in Vietnam’s big cities with industrial zones"

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.

International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems' editorial team calls for papers

The following invitation comes from Prof. Tuğrul Özel, Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, and his editorial team:

We are the editorial team of the International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems (online ISSN 1753-1047; print ISSN 1753-1039), which is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes four issues per year including open-access articles. We are calling for papers for Vol. 17 No. 4 of the journal, and cordially invite you to submit your manuscripts.

You can view the journal's profile here. Instructions on how to submit papers are available under the Submitting Articles tab on this journal webpage. Free sample articles from the journal are available here.

The International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems is indexed by Scopus, Compendex, Academic OneFile (Gale), cnpLINKer and Expanded Academic ASAP, among others. It has a CiteScore of 1.7 (2022).

Please feel free to share this invitation with your colleagues and associates.

For any queries, please contact Prof. Tuğrul Özel at ozel@rutgers.edu

Best regards,
Editorial team
International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems

Free open access article available: "The effects of municipal ownership on auditor size and auditor-client distance"

The following paper, "The effects of municipal ownership on auditor size and auditor-client distance" (International Journal of Economics and Business Research 27(3) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Free open access article available: "Impacts of macroeconomic factors on the real estate bubble in Vietnam's big cities with industrial zones"

The following paper, "Impacts of macroeconomic factors on the real estate bubble in Vietnam's big cities with industrial zones" (International Journal of Economics and Business Research 27(3) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Information Systems and Change Management

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Information Systems and Change Management are now available here for free:

• Factors influencing activity-based costing adoption: do they vary among types of organisation?
• The impact of user familiarity to ERP usage: an empirical study
• Exploring the drivers of digital transformation in Indian organisations: a multi-sector study
• The consideration factors of adopting location-based advertising push platform
• Developing a multi-perspective capability model for organisational business process management maturity assessment in digital era

Research pick: Bouncing rubber prices - "Factors affecting natural rubber prices in Thailand"

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.

Free open access article available: "Factors affecting natural rubber prices in Thailand"

The following paper, "Factors affecting natural rubber prices in Thailand" (International Journal of Economics and Business Research 27(3) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies

The following sample articles from the International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies are now available here for free:

• Dynamic capabilities and intergenerational growth in the family business: the role played by director rotation
• Factors affecting the personal knowledge management amongst sales officers in Indonesian leading automotive companies
• Mechanisms for capturing and transferring tacit knowledge between projects
• Investigating the mediating effect of human resource strategies on the relationship between knowledge management and job performance of employees
• Knowledge production and innovation: the potential of local universities to create technology-based companies in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais

Special issue published: "Emergence of New Business Practices for Growth, Competitiveness and Innovation"

International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management 13(3) 2024

• Determinants of trust on social networking sites and its impact on purchase intention through the mediation effect of customer experience
• Emotional intelligence among female hotel employees and their impact in job performance
• Does perceived corporate social responsibility improve customer engagement? - An empirical evidence from Indian banks
• Evaluation of India action plan for prevention of pneumonia and diarrhoea - a diarrhoea management program in Bihar, India
• Econometric investigation of the relationship of return on assets with the capital adequacy and leverage ratios in banking system of Turkey
• Concept and dimensions of employee development and talent development: distinctions and similarities
• Effect of service quality, customer satisfaction, customer trust, and security on customer loyalty with respect to virtual organisation
• Classification of skin lesions using deep learning neural network
• Green technology as a means towards sustainable living and initiatives taken by start up firms in India

Research pick: An academic boost through digital collaboration - "Factors affecting the use of online research collaboration platforms for knowledge sharing: evidence from knowledge-intensive organisations"

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.

Free open access article available: "Exploration and prioritisation of critical success factors in adoption of artificial intelligence: a mixed-methods study"

The following paper, "Exploration and prioritisation of critical success factors in adoption of artificial intelligence: a mixed-methods study" (International Journal of Business Information Systems 45(4) 2024), is freely available for download as an open access article.

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

Research pick: Criminal emotion detector - "Crime detection and crime hot spot prediction using the BI-LSTM deep learning model"

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.

Research pick: Charging up a review of lithium-ion batteries - "Lithium-ion battery: a review"

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.

Free sample articles newly available from International Journal of Powertrains

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

• Energy consumption analysis of extended-range electric vehicles with different driving cycle and different modes
• Design and implementation of novel variants of multi-level inverters for traction and heavy vehicle applications
• Deep-Q-network-based energy management of multi-resources in limited power micro-grid
• Transmission energy consumption analysis using ridge regression in wireless sensor nodes
• Performance analysis of precise energy consumption algorithm for smart home using hybrid renewable energy

Research pick: Clocking the influencer effect on TikTok - "Enhance the effectiveness of affiliate marketing on Tiktok for young people"

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.

Special issue published: "Synthesis and Characterisation of Nanomaterials: Latest Advances and Prospects Part 2"

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties 17(2/3) 2024

• Life prediction of vehicle carbon fibre ceramic brake pads based on wavelet packet energy entropy
• Thermal runaway detection method of SiO2 aerogel battery pack based on mixed Gaussian hidden Markov model
• Analysis of stress corrosion behaviour of TC4 titanium alloy in simulated seawater environment
• Surface wear detection of automotive cermet composite brake pads based on machine vision
• Analysis of the influence of XYPEX admixture on the frost resistance of nanometer CaCO3 concrete
• Experimental study on the effect of composite nano-SiO2 on the durability of concrete
• Strength prediction method of nano ceramic composites based on nonlinear regression analysis
• Analysis of pressure damage characteristics of carbon fibre recycled concrete based on acoustic emission technology
• Experimental study on the microstructure of nano TiO2 concrete under carbonisation freeze-thaw conditions
• Study on the dynamic fracture toughness of laminated fine ceramic composites based on fatigue damage accumulation theory
• Fabrication of aluminium metal matrix composites with Al 6063 reinforced with Al2O3 by two step stir casting method for investigation of mechanical properties
• Study on durability analysis method of concrete mixed with nanometre calcium carbonate in acid environment
• The effect of nano-SiO2 strengthening the performance of recycled concrete under ion erosion environment