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This study aims to investigate the flow behavior of aluminum oxide–water nanofluid with variable viscosity flowing through the microchannel parallel with the ground, with low aspect ratio. The study focuses on the first and second law analyses of Poiseuille flow using water as the base fluid with alumina nanoparticles suspended in it. Combined effects of thermal radiation, viscous dissipation, variable viscosity, nanoparticle shape factor and volume fraction on the thermal performance are studied and the in-built irreversibility in the process is examined.

The governing equations with dimensions are reduced to non-dimensional equations by using dimensionless quantities. Then, the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg shooting scheme tackles the present non-linear equations.

The outcomes of the present analysis reveal that the activation energy parameter with its increase, depletes the exergetic effectiveness of the system, thus defending the fact to keep the activation energy parameter the lowest as possible for the system efficiency. In addition, thermal radiation and Biot number enhance the release of heat energy, thereby cooling the system. Bejan number graph exhibits the decreasing behavior for the increased nanoparticle shape factor, whereas the temperature enhances with the rise in nanoparticle shape factor.

The effects of nanoparticle shape factor in Poiseuille flow for alumina–water nanoliquid in low aspect ratio microchannel is inspected at the earliest. Exergetic effectiveness of the system is studied and heat transfer characteristics are explored for thermal radiation effect and activation energy parameter. Besides, BeηSphere>BeηBlades.

The present study aims to provide new evidence regarding the factors that determine the survival of firms in the Spanish wine industry and to improve the understanding of sector dynamics.

The empirical analysis, conducted over a representative sample of wineries in the DOC Rioja wine industry, is based on non-parametric (Kaplan–Meier graph) and semi-parametric survival models (Cox proportional hazard model).

The empirical model finds that wineries with a higher number of networks with institutions enjoy better survival prospects. This study also shows that a winery’s previous performance affects the winery’s survival probability; therefore, successful wineries in the past encounter a smaller hazard of exit. Although spending on R&D and exporting are factors likely to improve wineries' efficiency and competitiveness, these factors did not contribute significantly to the survival of DOC Rioja wineries.

This paper makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the determinants of wineries' survival and has important policy implications. In order to raise the probability of survival, policy makers should promote the networks that link wineries and institutions. Moreover, this study is based on survival analysis which, although frequently used in medical and behavioural sciences, has rarely been applied to wine economics. Finally, it uses a unique data set obtained from primary data collection, which previous studies have not analysed in relation to the probability of winery survival.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the moderated effect of family involvement on the relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) and firm performance.

According to agency and transaction cost theories, distinctive family business characteristics provide a unique context that favours a more efficient use of ICT. The authors perform a multivariate analysis that includes the moderating effect of family involvement and considers the possible endogeneity of the ICT variable.

The results, using a large panel of Spanish manufacturing firms, confirm the importance of family involvement for explaining differences in terms of the impact of this technology in family and non-family businesses. The relationship between ICT and performance is stronger for family firms than for non-family firms.

The paper provides new evidence for the academic literature on ICT impact and family firms. It corroborates the importance of using an organizational perspective to explain differences in the effect of ICT on performance.

Family firms should understand the opportunities that family involvement offers regarding ICT impact on performance, and exploit this moderating effect to achieve competitive advantages.

No previous studies deal with the impact of family involvement on ICT-performance analysis. This study fills this gap and increases the understanding of how family business involvement moderates the ICT-performance relationship.

Este trabajo explora el efecto moderador de la participación familiar en la relación entre las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) y resultados de la empresa.

De acuerdo con la teoría de Agencia y la teoría de los costes de transacción, las características distintivas de las empresas familiares proporcionan un contexto único que favorece un uso más eficiente de las TIC. Se lleva a cabo un análisis multivariante que incluye el efecto moderador de la participación de la familia y recoge la posible endogeneidad de la variable TIC.

Los resultados, obtenidos a partir de un gran panel de empresas manufactureras españolas, confirman la importancia de la participación de la familia para explicar las diferencias en términos del impacto de esta tecnología en las empresas familiares y no familiares. La relación entre las TIC y el rendimiento es más fuerte en las empresas familiares que en las no familiares.

El artículo proporciona nueva evidencia sobre el impacto de las TIC y sobre las particularidades de las empresas familiares. Se corrobora la importancia de utilizar un punto de vista organizativo para explicar las diferencias en el efecto de las TIC en el rendimiento.

Las empresas familiares deben entender las oportunidades que ofrece la participación de la familia en relación con el impacto de las TIC en el rendimiento, y explotar este efecto moderador para lograr ventajas competitivas.

No hay estudios previos sobre el efecto de la participación de la familia en el análisis del impacto de las TIC en el rendimiento. Este estudio ofrece evidencia al respecto y una mayor comprensión del papel moderador de la participación familiar en la relación TIC-rendimiento.

The purpose of this research is to identify and analyse the common characteristics and behaviour of entrepreneurs that affect the establishment of Born Global firms. The differences between the Australian and Swedish contexts will be scrutinized.

This study was designed to be qualitative in nature so that rich insights can be obtained directly from the entrepreneurs themselves. The sample consists of three Born Global firms each from Australia and Sweden.

This study shows the importance of entrepreneurs for the rapid internationalization of firms in Australia and Sweden. Different types of entrepreneurs were identified and small but important differences were identified between the two countries and different industries.

This study shows that analysis on an individual level enhances the understanding of internationalisation in new firms. By using the concept marketing and technical entrepreneur in different industrial contexts a more detailed understanding of different internationalization patterns can be obtained. This study is limited to two countries and six case studies. The findings may be limited to the chosen firms and studies across more countries and industries are needed.

This study shows that the entrepreneur should be in focus when analysing new firms' possibilities to expand abroad. Entrepreneurs can use their international experience, visions, ambitions and networks as crucial competencies in an international expansion. Different types of entrepreneurs can use different international strategies.

The focus and detailed analysis on the individual level across different countries make this study original.

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the conceptual frameworks and concepts with which the research on internationalization patterns of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) should be conducted.

A comprehensive overview of concepts and a conceptual framework to study internationalization patterns of SMEs is offered.

The complexities of existing definitions and methodologies for researching internationalization patterns are highlighted, and a synthesis of the issues is provided. An integrative model of internationalization pathways, and their antecedents and outcomes is presented.

It is recommended that future research focuses especially on the time dimension of internationalization patterns. Future research can contribute to the literature by adopting a longitudinal approach with larger samples and more detailed cases to capture the dynamics of internationalization.

Practitioners might map their positions, and look for challenges and opportunities with regard to their chosen internationalization pattern. They can also benchmark other firms’ pathways and fine‐tune their own approach to internationalization.

The paper integrates a large body of research in an important research area in international marketing. It also provides guidance on how to conduct future research in the area, and introduces the content of this special issue of the International Marketing Review.

A growing number of studies indicate that the export growth of China’s textiles poses serious threats to many developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to empirically measure the extent to which the export growth of Chinese textiles has come at the expense of Egyptian textiles exports in third importing markets.

To measure this effect, an augmented gravity model equation was estimated using annual data covering the period 1994-2012 on Egyptian and Chinese textile exports to traditional importers of Egyptian textiles.

The empirical results suggest that Egyptian textiles are vulnerable to competitive threat posed by China, especially in the EU and US markets. In contact, Egyptian textile exports have moved hand-in-hand with Chinese textile exports to Asian markets. Moreover, the results suggest that the expiration of the Multi-fiber Agreement in 2005 has exposed Egyptian textile exports to fierce completion with China and resulted in declines in Egypt’s textile exports to the world. However, the trade agreements that Egypt signed with the world countries have given Egypt a competitive edge in major importing regions and mitigated the negative impacts of China in the post-2005 period. Finally, the paper argues that unless Egypt adjusts and develops its textile sector in response to such heightened competition from China, Egyptian textile exports undoubtedly would further be negatively impacted.

In this study, Egypt’s textile products are aggregated to one group and analyzed as a whole, “textile exports.” Further research using a more disaggregated level of data would offer deeper insights into the impacts of China on Egyptian textile exports.

The contribution of this paper is twofold: first, it adds to the growing literature aiming to understand the impacts of China’s growth on developing countries exports by providing a case study of Egyptian textile export sector. Second, the policy implications drawn from this paper could be useful to Egyptian policy makers and stakeholders to address and respond to the competitiveness challenges posed by China to the Egyptian textile industry.