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Article
Publication date: 6 November 2017

Kamel Barka, Azeddine Bilami and Samir Gourdache

The purpose of this paper is to ensure power efficiency in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) through a new framework-oriented middleware, based on a biologically inspired mechanism…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ensure power efficiency in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) through a new framework-oriented middleware, based on a biologically inspired mechanism that uses an evolutionary multi-objective optimization algorithm. The authors call this middleware framework multi-objective optimization for wireless sensor networks (MONet).

Design/methodology/approach

In MONet, the middleware level of each network node autonomously adjusts its routing parameters according to dynamic network conditions and seeks optimal trade-offs among performance objectives for a balance of its global performance. MONet controls the cooperation between agents (network nodes) while varying transmission paths to reduce and distribute power consumption equitably on all the sensor nodes of network. MONet-runtime uses a modified TinyDDS middleware platform.

Findings

Simulation results confirm that MONet allows power efficiency to WSN nodes while adapting their sleep periods and self-heal false-positive sensor data.

Originality/value

The framework implementation is lightweight and efficient enough to run on resource-limited nodes such as sensor nodes.

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

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Article
Publication date: 14 November 2023

Taher Hamza, Zeineb Barka, Jean-François Verdie and Maher Al Sayah

This paper aims to investigate empirically the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on small-to-medium enterprises’ (SMEs) investment efficiency and whether product market…

332

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate empirically the impact of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on small-to-medium enterprises’ (SMEs) investment efficiency and whether product market competition influences this association.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted on French SMEs listed on the “CAC Mid & Small” Index over 2008–2021. This paper proposes a quantitative approach to test the relationship between the EPU and SME investment efficiency.

Findings

These findings show that EPU significantly alleviates SMEs’ investment inefficiency, reflected in the reduction of overinvestment and underinvestment. As EPU increases, firms with more exposure to such uncertainty invest more efficiently, and their overinvestment tendency becomes lower, while reducing the risk of underinvestment. These results are still significant after a series of robustness checks. Further analysis shows that EPU mitigates investment inefficiency to a greater extent for firms operating in highly competitive industries, and better information environments.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited to the French EPU index and could be extended to a European or even international scale. Moreover, using alternative uncertainty indexes across various European countries can be more advantageous in further studies. Although results suggest that EPU affects investment efficiency, future studies could further explore the mechanisms through which EPU affects SMEs’ investment efficiency and, in particular, across different industries. Understanding these variations due to the specific industry-EPU sensitivity can provide valuable insights. Finally, it would be interesting to examine the risk management strategies adopted by SMEs in the face of EPU, combined with other growing risks, such as climate risk.

Practical implications

In the face of high EPU, SME managers must improve risk management, adopt appropriate investment strategies, consider using predictive analytics or economic forecasting tools and embrace technology and innovation that enhance agility and responsiveness to policy uncertainty. Besides, political decision-makers should adapt their regulatory policies (tax, labor, housing, etc.) to preserve the efficiency of SME investment.

Originality/value

Although the debates on how policy uncertainty affects the investment and financing of large businesses have received a great concern of academia, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that focuses on the effect of EPU on investment distortions for SMEs.

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