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The purpose of this paper is to present an approach to design passive loop systems in order to reach good performances.

The optimization has been performed by means of the MATLAB optimization toolbox “Gatool” which solves the optimization problems with a genetic algorithm.

Several configurations have been analyzed by varying the number of loops from 2 to 15, whose geometry has been chosen by the genetic algorithm. Considering a five loops configuration, along the reference path it is possible to obtain a shielding factor almost constant and equal to 3.5.

The optimized configurations have been compared with a practical employed layout composed of 17 closed loops placed above and around the junction zone. The shielding factors obtained by the six loops configuration are comparable with the ones of the practical layout.

The paper aims to describe the coupling of magnetostatic finite formulation of electromagnetic field with two integral methods.

The first hybrid scheme is based on Green's function applied to magnetization source while the other one is based on a magnetic scalar potential boundary element method. A comparison of the two techniques is performed on a benchmark case with analytical solution, on a 2D multiply‐connected problem and on an industrial case where measurements are available.

The proposed hybrid approaches have proved to be effective techniques to solve open boundary non‐linear magnetostatic problems. Similar convergence speed with respect to the number of unknowns is found for both schemes

The paper shows the effectiveness of hybrid schemes applied to the finite formulation, assessing their performances on various test cases.

The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the ability of a new optimization technique based on the emulation of the immune system to detect the global maximum with multimodal functions and to test the capability of exploring the parameter space with respect to clustering enhanced Genetic Algorithms (GA).

Both algorithms have been tested on analytical test functions and on numerical functions of applicative interest. A set of performance criteria has been defined in order to numerically compare the performances of both optimization strategies.

Results show the great ability of Artificial Immune Systems (AIS) in thoroughly exploring the space of variables. On the other side, GA are faster to converge to the global optimum, but selection pressure can reduce the number of detected local optima.

This work is an attempt to assess the performances of a relatively new optimization algorithm based on AIS and to find its behavior on multimodal test functions, using GAs as reference optimization technique.

Supplying remote wireless sensors is not an easy task if the site where the device is located is not easily accessible. In order to obtain direct measurements of the road-vehicle interactions, sensors must be placed inside the tyre environment thus a power supply must be available for their working there without any wire connection with the car main power. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

An electro-mechanical energy harvester has thus been developed for supplying an automotive wireless sensor of pressure, temperature and acceleration to be placed on the inner line of a tyre. The primary energy source is the vibrations or variable accelerations imposed to the device and induced in the tyre by the wheeling.

The harvester has been designed by means of a multi-physics optimisation based on an integrated electromagnetic-mechanical circuit simulator. Thus an automated optimisation of the device with respect to volume constraints, magnets dimensions, induction coils placement and size have been performed to increase the average power extracted from the device at different wheeling speeds.

The use of the multi-physics environment together with automated optimisation technique has been tested for the first time on the electromagnetic harvester structure.

This paper aims to approach the issue of premium offers in Italy by discussing the case study of Fabbri, a firm operating since 1905 in the business of liqueurs, syrups and semi-manufactured products for ice cream.

The research takes into analysis three marketing schemes, all related to direct premium promotions, adopted by Fabbri at various times during the twentieth century. The evolution of the company’s marketing strategy is outlined drawing on several types of sources: archive documents, posters and labels and audiovisual material. It is analysed in the socio-economic and legal context of twentieth century Italy, and in comparison with premium offers in the USA and Europe.

The study argues that direct premium may represent a long-lasting and efficient marketing strategy when a firm is able to adapt it to a context that changes over time. Fabbri not only used premium offers to launch its products but also to consolidate its brand image.

By showing that innovative promotions are not necessarily connected to large firms, Fabbri’s case suggests that further research should be carried out to outline marketing policies carried out by small to medium enterprises.

Much has been written on premium offers in the USA and in Europe, but very little on such types of promotions in Italy, especially with reference to direct premiums. This study fills this gap and documents that a small family-owned firm was able to carry out innovative marketing policies as far as in the 1920s.

Psychological assessment refers to the process whereby different methods and techniques are used to test hypotheses about people and their psychological characteristics. Understanding employees' psychological makeup is key to allow effective human resource management, from hiring to retirement. However, the gap between scientific evidence and organizational practices dealing with psychological assessment is still great.

General review along with case study

This paper shows the differences between research and practice, i.e. between what scientific evidence suggests to assess people from a psychological point of view reliably and what practitioners do when they want to reach the same goal.

At the end of the article, two examples of integration between research and practice are presented. We discuss how methods and techniques of psychological assessment can be developed to both respect scientific criteria and meet specific organizational needs.