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This paper describes an efficient reduced‐order method for the analysis of cylindrical dielectric resonators with an inhomogeneous dielectric medium. The field equations are formulated using the Laplace‐domain finite element method and are reduced to lower‐order models using the complex frequency hopping (CFH) technique. CFH is a moment matching technique which has been used successfully in the circuit simulation area for the solution of a large set of ordinary differential equations. The proposed technique is faster than the conventional approach by one to three orders of magnitude. The results are compared with those of other numerical methods available in the literature.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)/computational structural dynamics (CSD) coupling analysis is an important method in the research of helicopter aeroelasticity due to its high precision. However, this method still suffers from some problems, such as wake dissipation and large computational cost. In this study, a new coupling method and a new air load correction method that combine the free wake model with the CFD/CSD method are proposed to maintain computational efficiency whilst solving the wake dissipation problem of the prior coupling methods.

A new coupling method and a new air load correction method that combine the free wake model with the CFD/CSD method are proposed. With the introduction of the free wake model, the CFD solver can adopt two-order accuracy schemes and fewer aerodynamic grids, thus maintaining computational efficiency whilst solving the wake dissipation problem of the prior coupling methods.

Compared with the predictions of the prior methods and flight test data, those of the proposed method are more accurate and closer to the test data. The difference between the two methods in high-speed forward flight is minimal.

Because of the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalisability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed method further.

In this paper, a CFD/CSD/free wake coupling method is proposed to improve the computational accuracy of the traditional CFD/CSD coupled method and ensure the computational efficiency.

Steel orthotropic bridge deck plates have a remarkable reserve of carrying capacity which should usefully be studied further in practice. This paper shows the application of the finite strip method to the non‐elastic analysis of such plates with arbitrary cross‐sections of the longitudinal ribs (open and closed). It should be underlined that the application of this method is partly limited and approximate; however, some known advantages of this method in some cases are particularly beneficial. The constitutive equations are deduced on the basis of the Prandtl—Reuss theory of plastic flow and the von Mises criterion of flow for the elastic‐ideal plastic material. The methods of variable stiffness of initial distortion, which requires only once stating the stiffness matrix, were used. The calculations were made for two models of such plates for two different load schemes. The results obtained in this way were verified by the experimental investigations of four models of such plates on the big scale (the investigations were made in 1973) and quite good convergency of results in the studied range were obtained.

This paper inquires into the root causes of global imbalances from an international trade perspective. The purpose of the paper is to establish a conceptual framework that links financial market governance, international trade and financial market integration, and to derive implications for the global financial crisis.

In order to analyze global imbalances, the paper draws on a theoretical Heckscher‐Ohlin‐Samuelson international trade model, in which it compares two open economies, solely differing in their financial market governance structures. Building on these findings, the paper extends the analysis to the role of financial market frictions in propagating global imbalances into excessive lending in high‐income economies.

To that extent, it argues that global imbalances are due to impasses in international production. This paper argues that countries seeking to suppress real appreciation have engaged in financial repression, which has, via financial globalization, translated into excessive expansion of financial service sectors in flexible market economies.

In order to derive a tractable framework, the abstract from inter‐temporal aspects and from an in‐depth analysis of financial modelling issues. Owing to the static nature of the set‐up, the analytic link between global imbalances and the global financial crisis is intuitive.

Given that differences in national financial market governance influence the direction of international capital and trade flows, it argues for more international policy coordination in preventing future crisis.

The unique feature of the contribution is that it links financial market governance and international trade to international financial market integration in a tractable theoretical framework.

A large number of new analytical techniques have proved themselves at least potentially useful in coatings research. One of these, investigated by Jilek [Progress in Organic Coatings, 5, 2 (1977) p. 97], is described as ortho‐positronium annihilation. The positronium atom results from the combination of an electron with a positron whose energy level has been diminished through successive collisions. The positronium atom can be thought of as a hydrogen isotope where the nucleus has been replaced by the positron. The positronium atom will eventually annihilate with an electron and, in so doing, it will release energy in the form of gamma rays. Thus, one possibility for use of the positronium ion is to determine crosslink density of a polymer. If in fact it can be used for this it will be an extremely valuable tool, for the degree of crosslink density is not easily determined by known techniques, and work that has been done is largely empirical. The author proposes that positronium annihilation could provide a means for studying comparative crosslink densities and polymers.

The purpose of this paper is to report on service and service-intensive New Zealand-based internationalising firms in respect of their managers’ perceptions towards the usefulness of government assistance.

Interviews were undertaken with the key decision makers in 66 service and service-intensive firms.

Positive perceptions were found relating to government support at a macro-level; for example, Ministerial visits that open opportunities for managers in overseas markets. This was found to enhance micro-level support, such as individual assistance programmes.

The contribution is at the public/private sector interaction within the international marketing literature; the area of originality involves the consideration of support at the macro, as opposed to micro-level, as this is an issue that has not received a great deal of coverage in earlier studies. A contextual aspect of originality relates to the study being undertaken with service and service-intensive firms in comparison to the manufacturing sector that has featured heavily in earlier literature.

This paper aims to examine the long run impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on economic growth in the Sub Saharan African (SSA) region. The direct impact of ICTs use was examined for a 27-year period (1990-2014), before the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era (1990-1999) and during the MDGs era (2000-2014). Second and third objectives examined the nonlinear effect of ICT in the economic growth and their threshold values, respectively. The main growth enhancing transmission channels of ICT use were also looked at.

The study uses panel method technique of system generalist method of moment. The data period was collected from the years 1990-2014 from 45 SSA countries. The three main proxies of ICT are fixed telephone lines, mobile phone users and internet users per 100 inhabitants.

For the direct impact analysis, mobile phone and internet were found to have triggered economic growth. However, for nonlinear effect analysis, mass penetration of ICT proxies seems to slow economic growth. The threshold analysis showed a penetration rate threshold of 4.5 per cent for both mobile phone and internet, and 5 per cent for fixed telephone line before economic growth gets triggered. Finally, the results indicated that, except for financial development, human capital, institutional quality and domestic investment were the main growth enhancing transmission channels of ICTs use in the economy.

From a policy perspective, results suggest SSA region to open more doors for investment in technology to ensure sustainable development. Such policy has to focus on investment into main transmission channels of ICT, namely, human capital, institutional quality and domestic investment. The policymakers have to ensure that penetration of mobile phone, fixed telephone and internet is met by improvement in human capital, institutional quality and domestic investment. Moreover, to fully use the potential of ICT, improving the financial sector is highly recommended.

In SSA, studies that address the impact of ICT on economic growth was almost non-existent, especially on its nonlinear effect and main transmission channels. While few studies have examined the direct impact of ICT, this study extended the scope by including the main growth enhancing transmission channels and nonlinear effect of ICT on SSA economies using recent data.

Die westdeutsche Tourismusentwicklung der jüngeren Vergangenheit ist gekennzeichnet durch ein etwa gleichbleibendes Aufkommen von rund 16 Millionen inländischen Erholungsreisenden pro Jahr. Zwar konnte der Inlandstourismus mit den enormen jährlichen Steigerungsraten der Reiseintensität ins Ausland (1976 – 81 = ?+ 3,3 %) bei weitem nicht Schritt halten, er stellt jedoch trotzdem einen wichtigen Wirtschaftsfaktor für die gesamte Bundesrepublik, insbesondere in bestimmten Landesteilen (z.B. Oberbayern), dar.

There is a noticeable absence of robust debate over the decision to deliver free or subsidised training programmes to those running small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), Many governments offer these schemes, despite the lack of empirical evidence that programmes aimed at individuals contribute positively to firm performance and therefore to economic growth. A similar situation probably exists in the firms that participate in training; a lack of robustness in the way they ensure a relationship between the training selected and the needs of employees in the context of their jobs. This paper explores the issues facing both firms and government agencies in New Zealand as they make decisions about investing in training as an enterprise development strategy. It is suggested that the way in which firms and government agencies behave in relation to training investment decisions is flawed: those involved follow received wisdom, act upon hunches and appear indifferent to ensuring that their respective investments are maximised. This situation will continue until it is realised that training is a key developmental strategy and gaining value from training events means that more rigour needs to be applied to planning and evaluation.

This study aims to examine the influence of environmental knowledge on perceived green benefits and green hotel patronage intention. It also aims to investigate the influence of perceived green benefits on attitude towards green hotel stay and patronage intention.

The purposive sampling method was used in this study. A total of 262 respondents completed the survey questionnaire. For data testing, the partial least squares approach was used.

Environmental knowledge positively influenced the intention to patronise a green hotel and all the perceived green benefits – functional, emotional, social and epistemic benefits. Perceived green benefits did not influence green hotel patronage intention directly, but all the benefits promoted a favourable attitude towards green hotel stay.

Future studies can replicate this study to examine whether consumers in other cities or countries perceive green benefits similarly or differently. The current model can also be used to explore other hospitality and tourism settings.

Green hoteliers should highlight all the four perceived green benefits in their marketing communication materials, especially functional and epistemic benefits that have greater effect on attitude. Green hoteliers can also collaborate with local government, educational institutions and travel agencies to develop pro-environmental materials to increase environmental knowledge of consumers.

Few studies have examined the relationships among environmental knowledge, perceived green benefits with the inclusion of epistemic benefit, attitude and green hotel patronage intention in a single framework.