Search results

In the paper, a single-objective optimization problem characterized by high-frequency field analysis is investigated: the optimal design of a two-port microwave (MW) oven, taking into account the possibility of two independently controlled sources, with the aim of improving the efficiency is considered as the case study. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

A high-frequency field analysis has been coupled to a robust evolutionary-computing algorithm in order to create an appropriate procedure for the optimal design of a MW oven based on a cascade optimization: in the first step the optimized geometry has been identified, while in the second step the optimized electrical supply values have been synthesized. In particular, the direct problem has been faced by means of a 3D-FEM approach in order to obtain realistic results; the inverse problem has been faced by means of a derivative-free robust algorithm based on evolutionary strategy in order to get a fast convergence of the solution.

A new design procedure for high efficiency MW ovens for household application by means of the proposed numerical approach.

These results allow industrial designers to improve this kind of devices.

The original contribution of the paper is the systematic approach to the optimal design of a MW oven with multiple feeding, based on the link between an algorithm of evolutionary strategy optimization algorithm and a finite-element solver.

Social factors can shape economic decisions. Corporate governance (CG) studies and guidelines usually neglect that the chief executive officer (CEO) and board members may be socially tied. This study investigates the effects of social ties between the CEO and board members on earnings management (EM).

The authors run a series of regressions using a sample of Brazilian companies listed on the Brazilian Stock Exchange [B]³ between 2011 and 2017 to assess the effect of the social ties between the CEO and board members on EM using a social ties index. The authors also employ five robustness tests to verify the consistency of results, including alternative proxies of EM and social ties and an estimation using fixed effects.

After developing and computing a social ties index between the CEOs and members of the board of directors (BD) and the fiscal council (FC), the study’s findings indicate that a significant level of social ties between the CEO and BD has a negative impact on EM. However, for FC members, the authors found non-significant results.

Unlike previous studies, the authors built a social tie index (STI) from five elements of social ties assessed in an environment with a two-tier board system. Results show that elements of social interactions and personal relationships can benefit the company, as a CEO's level of social ties with the BD reduces EM practices.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating effect of religiosity of farm owners on the resource-capability-competitive advantage interaction.

A self-administered structured questionnaire was developed to collect data from farm owners who possess the experience in commercial cultivation of three main minor export crops in Sri Lanka.

The results of linear regression analysis on 456 responses received suggest that the religiosity of farm owners significantly moderates the relationships between resources, capabilities and competitive advantage of the minor export crop farms, confirming the study hypotheses.

Future studies should consider the specific impact of different religious affiliations, traits and/or precepts of the farm owners. In addition, educational level, income level and mental capacity of the farm owners should be considered too since they may form part of the observed relationships.

The study has addressed the gap in literature by highlighting the potential of religiosity in the interaction between resources, capabilities and competitive advantage. From the practical standpoint, besides providing some directions to the farm owners, the results also benefit different stakeholders such as policy makers, government and local communities in suggesting and implementing appropriate measures with regard to selecting suitable resources and integrating them with proper capabilities for greater competitive advantage of the agribusiness sector.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of acai pulp consumption on biometric parameters and inflammatory biomarkers (sCD40L, CCL5, TNF-a and CRP) in apparently healthy women.

Nutritional intervention was performed with women who consumed 200 g of acai pulp daily during 30 consecutive days. Firstly, they were divided into two groups: normal weight and overweight related to BMI. Then, such volunteers were subdivided into other two groups according to values below or above the median of sCD40L.

sCD40L (ρg/mL) concentrations increased in overweight volunteers post-consumption of acai (964 ± 542) compared with the same volunteers pre-consumption of acai (633 ± 187, p = 0.03), and the CCL5 concentrations (ρg/mL) decreased in volunteers with sCD40L concentrations below median after the treatment (4.1 ± 1.5) when compared in same volunteers before the treatment (5.8 ± 1.8, p = 0.02). Protein consumption (g) reduced in volunteers with sCD40L concentrations below median after the intervention (96.6 ± 44.5), when compared before the intervention (96.7 ± 33.8, p = 0.03).

This paper concluded that the acai consumption can modulate the inflammatory profile in both stratified volunteers according to the BMI and the sCD40L marker median.

Family businesses (FB), mostly small-sized, dominate the tourism and hospitality industry (THI), especially in the rural areas. While many would have been used to the impact of demand seasonality, it is unknown how these businesses would have survived through the restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as compared to non-family business (NFB) counterparts. This study aims to determine if there were differences on how family and non-family enterprises in the THI coped with government restrictions.

By subjecting the survey data from tourism enterprises to non-parametric techniques, the authors establish empirical evidence on similarities and differences of coping strategies adopted by FBs and NFBs; their required support from government and their perceptions of a post-pandemic THI.

The analysis revealed that family-owned tourism and hospitality businesses in the Philippines tended to collaborate with other businesses to manage the impact of the pandemic restrictions. Since they hired more seasonal workers prior to the restrictions, they tended to avoid hiring workers during the restricted period. NFBs, on the other hand, that were generally larger in size and more professionally managed with more regular employees, tended to streamline operations for greater efficiency.

The study relied on survey results distributed and collected online. There is an innate bias against those firms that did not have access to the survey links.

The comparative study suggests that interventions to assist firms in the THI should consider the differences in firm ownership as “one size does not fit all.”

The study provides evidence about how environmental factors impact the operations of family firms. Thus, it provides valuable insights for both the academic community and industry practitioners.

This is the first study in the Philippines that was able to capture response of family and non-family firms in the THI during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Wine tourism has stood out as a very recognized and valid tourism and marketing segment, growing worldwide and urging the complex needed advances on wine tourism practices performance. This paper aims to develop a new framework strictly applied to the global wine tourism system, taking into account emerging and future constructs and dimensions that precede and consequence it.

The systematic mapping study (SMS) was adopted as the selected research methodological approach, both to analyze and to structure a broad research field concerning methods, designs and research, focuses on the papers published in reliable academic databases such as Emerald, ProQuest, Sage, Science Direct, Scopus, Wiley, Web of Science, Taylor and Francis and Wiley were properly selected and analyzed.

The following four dimensions were found to comprise the global framework of the wine tourism system: (1) support features (governance, public policies and economic investment; supply development; physical and capacity conditions; requirements of health safety; opinion makers and leaders: managers/stakeholders/players/marketers and benchmarking and value chain); (2) innovation ecosystem (profile of the new generations of wine tourists; virtual and augmented reality: digital and hybrid wine events; smart wine tourism companies; digital channels and platforms: blogs, websites, applications; wine tourism creative activities for all [from kids to seniors] and sustainable and ecologic wine tourism practices); (3) wine tourism experience dimensions (storytelling; involvement; winescape; attachment; emotions and sensory) and (4) behavioural intentions (satisfaction; loyalty; and WoM).

The framework still needs to be empirically applied in wine tourism settings to enrich tourists’ robustness in cross-cultural wine tourism experiences, covering a wider spread of abroad wine tourism destinations and products.

This framework is a useful tool and becomes vital to their continued success, as a key reference of wine tourism management and marketing. As a wine tourist's visitation frequency plays a role in his/her travel motives, product and service quality of tour packages must be improved and monitored.

This is the first research study to demonstrate the combined use of the main domains forming the wine tourism system within a global perspective, covering of the most critical aspects.

This paper aims to investigate the economic impacts of the current coronavirus disease, which is globally known as (COVID-19) pandemic, on small businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry, including food and beverages (F&B) industries in Malaysia during and after the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) and conditional (CMCO) with the emergence of new business models.

In this paper, the implemented methodology involved a secondary qualitative research design based mainly on the existing literature, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports, the government’s documents, in addition to online sources and observations regarding local business experiences.

The findings revealed that implementing effective strategies of recovery, shaping resilience solutions and supporting policies such as the National Recovery Plan, which is backed by the government played a pivotal role in avoiding the turndown of small businesses.

This critical review is submitted as an original research paper, which aims to provide important perspectives regarding the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on the tourism and hospitality industry in Malaysia. This paper serves as a scholarly platform for further in-depth studies on various resilience solutions of small businesses.