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The purpose of this paper is to design a qualitative model of crowdfunding dynamics through the document model building (DMB).

Methodology in this paper is the qualitative system dynamics through DMB. In DMB, the authors identify the variables that are drivers of its growth and collapse, and the model will be developed by using the systematic review of the literature.

Designing of the dynamics of crowdfunding model through DMB. Identifying variables that are drivers of crowdfunding growth and collapse. Determining leverage points in crowdfunding diffusion.

This paper, for the first time, with the aim of identifying and explaining the efficient positive and negative dynamics in this method, examines crowdfunding systematically and structurally.

Because of importance of technological learning for less developed countries, the notion has received increasing attention of scholars. The purpose of this paper is to investigate technological learning systematically by assessing the effect of technology transfer actors on technological learning in less developed countries context.

The paper presents assessment model by adopting technological learning concept based on technology absorption and incremental innovation at firm level and identifying key roles of technology transfer actors (State – Scientific and technological infrastructure – Industry) that affect technological learning. The paper follows survey as research methodology. Thus, a questionnaire was addressed to 33 Syrian textile factories to examine the assessment model. Simple linear, multiple linear and ordinal regression analyses are preformed to examine relationships of model components.

The regression models show notable ability of technology transfer actors to explain technological behavior of firms to accumulate operative capability and consequently to generate passive incremental innovation. The findings indicate passive technical change system of Syrian textile industry. Therefore, goal-oriented evaluation of actual technology policy is preliminary step for achieving improvements, as well as activating scientific and technological infrastructure role by enabling strong relationships with industry and supporting interactions of domestic firms of textile industry and with foreign players.

The paper enriches technological learning literature by proposing systematic approach that sets the nature of technical change process of less developed countries in core of analysis. Moreover, it provides a guide for technological learning practices at firm level and for policymakers based on assessing actual status of Syrian textile industry.

A large number of systematic reviews (SRs) studies have been performed in the cloud computing field, demonstrating miscellaneous outcomes and utilizing different approaches. Accordingly, a meta-review of cloud SRs is needed to appraise the results of such studies and create an integrated understanding. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

A tertiary study was conducted using a systematic method to analyze SRs including two stages: searching and screening the SRs and thematic synthesis of results. As a qualitative data management tool, Nvivo software was used to support the research process, for data coding and synthesis.

First, by searching electronic sources between the year of 2011–2016, out of a total of 142 identified articles, 94 articles were included according to pre-determined criteria, of which 76 articles were approved after qualitative evaluation. In the second stage, identifying the research themes, a map of the concepts and issues related to each theme was drawn up. The analysis shows that the quality of articles has improved but can be further enhanced using methodological guidelines as well as supporting tools. The research has focused more on the technical aspect, although there is an equal demand for synthesizing of cloud governance concepts.

This is the first tertiary study which presents the main research themes and concepts of cloud SRs in form of thematic maps by using the thematic synthesis and SR methods. This paper also provides some recommendations to improve reviews after evaluating the quality of papers. This study can support reviewers for future SRs in the field and also helps practitioners and managers to have a better understanding of different aspects of cloud computing.

This study aims to present a systematic review of smart tourism articles using a meta-synthesis method. Effective systematic reviews are essential for assisting stakeholders in implementing smart destinations. A systematic comprehension of studies on smart tourism is needed regarding the various components of smart tourism destinations, the metrics to map these components and their expected results. This study creates a framework for understanding how smart tourism destinations are theorized and developed.

Based on the meta-synthesis approach, this study collects, analyzes and synthesizes relevant research in smart tourism published in online databases by following a predetermined review protocol.

This study contributes to the discourse on smart tourism destinations by increasing the knowledge on the subject of smart destinations in regard to different categories. The selected articles were analyzed according to the proposed research questions and classified into three main categories: components, measurement and outputs. This study presents a new archetype for developing smart destinations and addresses efforts to bridge the gap in this research field.

This paper is noteworthy for stakeholders because it provides a comprehensive vision into the components that influence the growth of smart destinations. The advantage of the proposed methodology is that it creates a framework for understanding how smart destinations are theorized. Furthermore, it is helpful to use qualitative methodologies that efficiently allow the analysis of related literature and that also offer conceptual insights.

The findings provide information that can be used to help shape a fully conceptualized understanding of the smart destinations concept and can also prove important in providing a guide for policymakers and stakeholders in the tourism industry who seek to intelligently develop tourism destinations.

本研究基于综合集成方法, 遵循预先设计的回顾方案, 收集、分析和综合线上资料库中相关智慧旅游的研究成果

本研究旨在运用综合集成方法对智慧旅游文献进行系统的回顾。有效的系统的综述对协助相关利益者实现智慧旅游目的地至关重要。有必要系统地理解智能旅游的研究, 包括智能旅游目的地的各个要素, 映射这些要素的指标及其预期结果。本研究为理解智慧旅游目的地如何理论化和发展提供了框架。

本研究通过增加不同类别的智慧旅游目的地的相关知识, 推动对智慧旅游目的地的探讨。根据提出的研究问题和三大主要类别：组成要素、测量和产出, 对遴选的文章进行分析。本研究为开发智慧旅游目的地提供了新的典例, 并致力于这一研究领域的空白。

本文对利益相关者是重要的, 因为它为影响智慧旅游目的地增长的要素提供了一个综合性视角。此方法的优点在于为理解智慧旅游目的地理论化提供框架。此外, 本文有助于运用定性方法有效地分析相关文献, 并提供概念化见解。

研究结果提供的信息可用于帮助形成对智慧旅游目的地概念的全面的概念化理解, 也对旅游业中寻求智能化开发旅游目的地的决策者和利益相关者提供指导具有重要意义。

Basándose en el enfoque de la metasíntesis, este estudio recoge, analiza y sintetiza las investigaciones pertinentes en materia de turismo inteligente publicadas en bases de datos en línea siguiendo un protocolo de revisión predeterminado.

Este estudio tiene como objetivo presentar una revisión sistemática de los artículos de turismo inteligente utilizando un método de meta-síntesis. Las revisiones sistemáticas eficaces son esenciales para ayudar a los interesados a poner en práctica los destinos inteligentes. Se necesita una comprensión sistemática de los estudios sobre turismo inteligente en relación con los diversos componentes de los destinos de turismo inteligente, las métricas para trazar el mapa de estos componentes y sus resultados esperados. Este estudio crea un marco para comprender cómo se teorizan y desarrollan los destinos turísticos inteligentes.

El presente estudio contribuye al discurso sobre los destinos turísticos inteligentes al aumentar el conocimiento sobre el tema de los destinos inteligentes en relación con diferentes categorías. Los artículos seleccionados fueron analizados de acuerdo con las preguntas de investigación propuestas y clasificados en tres categorías principales: componentes, medición y resultados. Este estudio presenta un nuevo arquetipo para el desarrollo de los destinos inteligentes y aborda los esfuerzos para salvar la brecha en este campo de investigación.

Este artículo es digno de mención para los interesados porque ofrece una visión global de los componentes que influyen en el crecimiento de los destinos inteligentes. La ventaja de la metodología propuesta es que crea un marco para comprender cómo se teorizan los destinos inteligentes. Además, es útil para utilizar metodologías cualitativas que permitan analizar eficazmente la literatura conexa y que también ofrezcan perspectivas conceptuales.

Este estudio ofrece una revisión sistemática de la investigación más reciente publicada sobre turismo inteligente. Los resultados de este estudio podrían ser importantes para proporcionar una guía a los responsables políticos y a los actores del sector turístico que buscan desarrollar inteligentemente sus destinos turísticos. Los resultados del análisis sistemático pueden servir de punto de partida útil para futuras investigaciones en este ámbito.

Urmia lake water has impressively decreased recently and seriously endangered the lives of the inhabitants. In this paper, the effects of various factors on the reduction of the lake water are investigated and appropriate scenarios are proposed for future improvement. Due to the significant impact of agricultural issues on this crisis, this paper has focused specifically on agriculture. So, this paper aims to forecast and improve the lake water level.

In this paper, a system dynamics (SD) model, which is capable to consider various parameters and variables affecting the lake water level within nonlinear and dynamic relations, is developed.

To show the effectiveness of SD model, real data are used to run the model and the results show that the actual behavior of the lake water is reproduced with high validation (around 98.28 per cent). Also, five different scenarios are proposed to increase lake water volume. The hybrid Scenario 5 (which combines three other scenarios including increasing irrigation efficiency in the agricultural sector, changing cultivation pattern of agricultural products and returning some dams’ water that are consumed in the agricultural sector into the lake) is chosen as the most effective scenario for increasing lake volume about 15 billion m³.

The main contributions of this paper are systemic view to the whole problem, paying attention to the agriculture subject as one of the most important issues, considering many critical variables (e.g. evaporation, salinity and precipitation) and providing improvement policies along with assessing the effects of them.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between weight status and food environments, peer influence and dietary intake among high-school students in Shiraz, Iran.

Applying a case-control design, 406 adolescents (n = 203 overweight or obese and n = 203 normal weight) aged 14–18 years were selected using a multistage cluster random sampling method. Demographic information, physical activity level and anthropometric indices were collected. Dietary intake was determined using a 147-item food frequency questionnaire. Food environment (home and out of home) and peer influence were determined by a validated questionnaire.

The type of food purchased using pocket money was different between adolescents with overweight or obesity and normal weight adolescents (p < 0.001). The out-of-home food environment score was not different between groups, but the home food environment score (p = 0.004) and the peer influence score (p = 0.001) were higher in normal weight adolescents. Adolescents with overweight or obesity consumed higher amounts of carbohydrate (p = 0.006) and lower amounts of protein (p = 0.01) and more sweet junk foods (p = 0.01), nonstarchy vegetables (p = 0.03) and fruits (p = 0.01) compared to the normal weight group.

Home food environment, peer influence, differences in macronutrient intake and dietary patterns may be contributing factors to adolescent weight status.

The principal concern of organization managers in the global rivalry of commerce environment is how to select the project portfolio among available projects. In this matter, organizations should consider the uncertainty intrinsic in the projects regarding an appropriate valuation technique within an optimization framework. In this research, the purpose of this paper is to formulate using a robust optimization algorithm to deal with the complexities and uncertainty inherent in the construction of the project portfolio.

First, a general mathematical formulation is presented, which in compound real options valuation is highlighted. This formulation gives managerial flexibility by correcting the deficiency of traditional discounted cash flow technique that excludes any form of flexibility. Then, considering a limitation on budget of the organization, an integer programming formulation to maximize the n-fold compound options for project portfolio selection is proposed. Finally, a robust optimization model is developed along with the robust combinatorial optimization algorithm, which is effective for solving problems under uncertainty.

Sensitivity analysis showed that projects in later phases of development, having survived several phases of pre-clinical and clinical tests, are worth more because they are more likely to pertain to business. However, the investment costs related to each project during development phases limit the number of projects that a company can bring to their final portfolio. Additionally, the analysis of conservatism level represented how project managers can quite easily determine their risk attitude and the corresponding portfolio composition. From a managerial point of view, the proposed framework is very useful because it requires only financial estimates. Hence, the proposed decision support tool can assist research and development (R&D) project managers in the pharmaceutical industry for making decisions.

The first is the application of the n-fold compound options on portfolio of R&D projects and the employment of compound options value of a project portfolio as an objective function. The second one is a mathematical formulation of these concepts and solving it by the robust combinatorial optimization algorithm. The literature is lacking in the application of the robust combinatorial optimization algorithm to R&D project portfolio selection based on the generalized n-fold compound option model of Cassimon et al. (2004). Every framework from calculation of the n-fold compound option to solving robust combinatorial algorithm is programmed in Matlab software, since it can be used as a business support tool.

Increasing heat transfer rate in spiral heat exchangers is possible by using conventional methods such as increasing number of fluid passes and counter flowing. In addition, newer ideas such as using pillows as baffles in the path of cold and hot fluids and using nanofluids can increase heat transfer rate. The purpose of this study is to simulate turbulent flow and heat transfer of two-phase water-silver nanofluid with 0-6 Vol.% nanoparticle concentration in a 180° path of spiral heat exchanger with elliptic pillows.

In this simulation, the finite volume method and two-phase mixture model are used. The walls are subjected to constant heat flux of q″ = 150,000 Wm⁻². The inlet fluid enters curves path of spiral heat exchanger with uniform temperature T_in = 300 K. After flowing past the pillows and traversing the curved route, the working fluid exchanges heat with hot walls and then exits from the section. In this study, the effect of radiation is disregarded because of low temperature range. Also, temperature jump and velocity slipping are disregarded. The effects of thermophoresis and turbulent diffusion on nanofluid heat transfer are disregarded. By using finite volume method and two-phase mixture model, simulations are performed.

The results show that the flow and heat transfer characteristics are dependent on the height of pillows, nanoparticle concentration and Reynolds number. Increasing Reynolds number, nanoparticle concentration and pillow height causes an increase in Nusselt number, pressure drop and pumping power.

Turbulent flow and heat transfer of two-phase water-silver nanofluid of 0-6 per cent volume fraction in a 180° path of spiral heat exchanger with elliptic pillows is simulated.

Although recent years have shown increasing popularity of e-commerce worldwide, there is still a lack of studies comprehensively exploring trust issue in e-commerce. Based on trust transfer theory and signaling theory, the purpose of this paper is to present an integrated research model to test the relationships between trust dimensions and e-loyalty, interactions among trust dimensions, as well as antecedents of different trust dimensions.

Data were collected through a web-based survey in Chinese markets and structural equation modeling with partial least squares was used to analyze the data.

The results identified that three trust dimensions all have significant impacts on e-loyalty, and relationships existed in different trust dimensions. Moreover, information quality and security protection are important factors determining institutional trust while store reputation is the most salient factor determining interpersonal trust.

This research contributes to the body of knowledge on trust by exploring the nature of trust with a multidimensional scale. Another theoretical contribution is the provision of a comprehensive understanding of the trust antecedents in e-commerce. Furthermore, this research benefits the companies doing e-businesses by allowing them to better understand how to improve consumers’ trust in the online environment and thus to retain and attract more loyal customers and succeed in online businesses.

A stroke is a serious, life-threatening condition that occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off. The earlier a stroke is treated, the less damage is likely to occur. One of the methods that can lead to faster treatment is timely and accurate prediction and diagnosis. This paper aims to compare the binary integer programming-data envelopment analysis (BIP-DEA) model and the logistic regression (LR) model for diagnosing and predicting the occurrence of stroke in Iran.

In this study, two algorithms of the BIP-DEA and LR methods were introduced and key risk factors leading to stroke were extracted.

The study population consisted of 2,100 samples (patients) divided into six subsamples of different sizes. The classification table of each algorithm showed that the BIP-DEA model had more reliable results than the LR for the small data size. After running each algorithm, the BIP-DEA and LR algorithms identified eight and five factors as more effective risk factors and causes of stroke, respectively. Finally, predictive models using the important risk factors were proposed.

The main objective of this study is to provide the integrated BIP-DEA algorithm as a fast, easy and suitable tool for evaluation and prediction. In fact, the BIP-DEA algorithm can be used as an alternative tool to the LR model when the sample size is small. These algorithms can be used in various fields, including the health-care industry, to predict and prevent various diseases before the patient’s condition becomes more dangerous.