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The engineering education accreditation (EEA) is a principal quality assurance mechanism. However, at many education institutions, the most labor-intensive work of EEA process is accomplished manually. Without the support of computer and information technology, the EEA process leads to high labor intensity, low work efficiency and poor management level. The purpose of this paper is to build a complex network model and realize an information management system of talent training program for supporting the EEA process.

Based on polychromatic graph (PG), this paper builds a network model of talent training program for engineering specialty. The related information and data are organized and processed in this network model. From the bidirections of top-down and bottom-up, the user requirements are retrieved automatically in logic layer. Together with the specialty of mechanical engineering, the proposed PG-based network modeling method is applied and the corresponding information management system is realized.

The study results show that the PG-based network modeling method takes full advantages of the strong simulation ability of PG to model the complex network system and has some unique merits in formal expression of problem, efficient processing of information and lightweight realization of system. Further, the information management system of talent training program can reduce the tedious human labor and improve the management level of EEA process dramatically.

This paper proposes a PG-based network modeling method, in which the nodes and the edges can be painted by some unified colors to describe the different kinds of activities and the various types of interactions. Theoretically, this modeling method does not distinguish the activities, the interactions and their properties in graphic symbol and the problem size is diminished about a half. Furthermore, this paper provides an effective experience and idea to the education institutions for implementing the engineering education accreditation, increasing the education management efficiency and promoting the talent training quality.

The purpose of this paper is to propose an intelligent service recommendation model. The paper formulates the service adaptation process by using artificial intelligence techniques like Bayesian Network, fuzzy logic and rule based reasoning.

The authors formulate the service adaptation process by using artificial intelligence techniques like Bayesian Network, fuzzy logic and rule based reasoning. Bayesian Network is used to classify the incoming call (high priority call, low priority call and unknown calls), fuzzy linguistic variables and membership degrees to define the context situations, the rules for adopting the policies of implementing a service, fitness degree computation and service recommendation. In addition to this the paper proposes maximum to minimum priority based context attributes matching algorithm for rule selection based on fitness degree of rules. The context aware mobile is tested for library and class room scenario to exemplify the proposed service recommendation engine and demonstrate its effectiveness.

First, it was found that there was reduction in application searching time in different contexts. For example, if user enters into the library, the proposed mobile will be adapted to the library situation automatically by configuring its desktop and internal settings to facilitate the library services like book search, web link, silent mode and friends search. Second, the design of the recommendation engine, utilizing contextual parameters like Location (class room, college campus, house, etc.) Personal (age, name), Temporal (time, date), Physical (fall, normal), and schedule agendas, was found to be of importance.

Exploitation of hybrid fuzzy system, Bayesian Networks and the utility theory (usage history and context history) for modeling and implementation.

This study aims to describe the general picture of the competition in multichannel expert services in duopoly market and discuss how the quality difference may affects the competition between service providers with different quality levels, where both providers offer face-to-face channel and one of providers offers online channel additionally and service quality that consumers have heterogeneous preferences for is vertically differentiated. These results can be used to determine which service providers should offer online expert services and understand the competition in multichannel expert services in duopoly.

This paper uses the stylized vertical differentiation model to investigate the role of quality in expert services market, assuming that two services providers offer the same services with different quality levels and one of them having additional online services. Taking into account the differences of services from products and the particularity of online service, this paper extends the vertical differentiation model to expert services market.

The quality difference is the key factor in the competition of expert services. Service prices and the profits of providers, independent of the quality levels, are positively related to the quality difference, whereas the demand of online services is in the opposite direction regardless of which provider offers online channel. It demonstrates that provider with low-quality level should open online channel from the point of view of social welfare if it is closely related to the expert services, even though any provider can make more profits by opening online channel.

This extended vertical differentiation model, taking into account the importance of vertical differentiation in expert service, ignores the horizontal differentiation. More accurate strategies for multichannel expert services providers with what level of the quality a provider should offer is needed in future work. Moreover, this paper does not consider the different waiting costs of consumers in face-to-face channel and assumes that their problem will be solved eventually.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, no study has focused on the quality difference in multichannel expert services market or discussed how to offer online expert services in the duopoly market. This study extends the vertical differentiation model to the multichannel expert service market. Therefore, it fills this research gap and extends research to expert services market in the new network environment, aiming to help understand the competition in multichannel expert services.

The purpose of this research is to examine Micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Which have limited access to financial resources from financial intermediaries. Thus, resource allocation is a primary concern for them.

This research studies the determinants of cash conversion cycle components and cash flow of MSMEs operating in Ecuador. This study examined a robust sample of 19,680 firms from 2000 to 2020, using the two-step generalized methods of moments to control for endogeneity and multicollinearity of independent variables issues.

The sample was divided into working capital intensive and fixed capital intensive firms. It was found that in every segment (micro-, small- and medium-sized), the majority of firms are working capital intensive and their average return is higher. This implies that small business owners assign the majority of their resources to current assets, which thus far have enabled them to achieve higher profitability.

Research investigated Ecuadorian MSMEs in a dollarized developing environment. Scrutinizing working capital intensive vs fixed capital intensive.

Sharing knowledge of physicians in hospitals is critical and significant in terms of providing better healthcare services. Despite the significance of knowledge sharing in the healthcare setting, very few studies have empirically investigated knowledge sharing drivers among physicians. Particularly, the process of knowledge sharing through the interplay between individual characteristics, knowledge characteristics, and intention in a healthcare setting has received very little empirical support. In this study, the authors draw upon personality traits and knowledge characteristics theories to develop a theoretical model to empirically examine the effect of individual characteristics and knowledge characteristics on physicians' knowledge sharing behavior.

Based on a sample of 215 physicians from 20 hospitals in Jordan, the authors conducted data analysis using the partial least squares statistical technique.

The study revealed that the personality traits (Extraversion, Neuroticism, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness) significantly influence physician intention to share knowledge. Knowledge characteristic (Situatedness) was also found to affect the intention to share knowledge.

Very little is known about the effect of individual characteristics and knowledge characteristics on knowledge sharing behavior among physicians. The study contributes to the related literature by empirically investigating how individual characteristics and knowledge characteristics influence physicians' knowledge sharing behavior. The findings add to the understanding of the role of personality traits and knowledge characteristics in physicians' intention to share knowledge and give important insights for practice and theory.

The purpose of this study was to assess the preservative potential of Tinospora cordifolia as a novel natural preservative in muscle foods.

Chevon sausages were used as a model system and were prepared by incorporating different levels of T. cordifolia, namely, T1 (0.25 per cent), T2 (0.50 per cent) and T3 (0.75 per cent), and assessed for lipid oxidative stability and storage quality under refrigerated (4 ± 10°C) conditions.

Lipid oxidative stability showed a significant improvement as the products incorporated with T. cordifolia exhibited significantly (p = 0.001) lower thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (mg malonaldehyde/kg) in comparison to control. A significant improvement was also observed in the microbial stability as T. cordifolia-incorporated products showed significantly lower values for total plate count (log cfu/g, p = 0.001), psychrophilic count (log cfu/g, p = 0.003), yeast and mould count (log cfu/g, p = 0.02) and free fatty acid (percentage of oleic acid, p = 0.01). Significantly higher scores were observed for various sensory parameters of the treated products during storage.

Tinospora cordifolia successfully improved the lipid oxidative and microbial stability of the model meat product and may be commercially exploited as a novel preservative in muscle foods.

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of customer engagement in sales promotion on purchase intention. Utilizing value co-creation and customer engagement theories, the authors tested a model that specifies the effect of customer engagement in sales promotion on purchase intention, through its impact on perceived value and customer satisfaction.

The model was tested with the PLSc-SEM approach.

Engaging customers to store's offers by giving them the possibility to choose the type of promotional discount that suits their personal preferences and needs is positively associated with purchase intention, and that this relationship is mediated in serial by perceived value and customer satisfaction.

Involving customers in sales promotion provides opportunities for retail front line management, as well as for customer relationship management to attract attention and interest.

While previous research concerned situations where firms and customers collaborate in the co-creation of value, its role in the sales promotion process is yet unclear. This study starts filling this gap by taking a closer look at customer participation in the sales promotion process and its impact on customer purchase intention.

The study examined the influence of small and medium enterprise (SME) owner-managers' managerial competencies on supply chain performance, the mediation role of information quality on the SME owner-managers' managerial competencies and supply chain performance relationship, the mediating role of information quality on the information sharing and supply chain performance relationship and the mediating role of both information sharing and information quality on SME owner-managers' managerial competences and supply chain performance relationship.

Data were collected from SME agro-processing firms. The determined sample size for the agro-processing firms was 200, while an effective sample size of 177 was obtained. The Covariance Structural Equation Modelling software was used to obtain results on the influence of SME owner-managers' managerial competencies on supply chain performance, the mediation role of information quality on the SME owner-managers' managerial competencies and supply chain performance relationship, the mediating role of information quality on the information sharing and supply chain performance relationship and the mediating role of both information sharing and information quality on SME owner-managers' managerial competences and supply chain performance relationship.

Findings indicated that a positive significant influence of SME owner-managers' managerial competencies on supply chain performance and the presence of partial mediation effects when the mediating role of information quality in the SME owner-managers' managerial competencies and supply chain performance relationship and the information sharing and supply chain performance relationship is tested. Also, a partial mediating role of information sharing and information quality is obtained in the SME owner-managers' managerial competencies and supply chain performance relationship.

The study mainly focused on SME agro-processing firms eliminating other SME manufacturing firms. Also, the research employed a wholistic approach when studying the SME agro-processing firms without focusing on how SME owner-managers' managerial competencies would affect information sharing, information quality and supply chain performance based on the market type (local or foreign) and the source of raw materials (local or foreign) and the impact of information sharing on information quality hasn't been given significant attention in the existing literature.

The research focused on the mediation role of quality of information shared by SME owner-managers in the relationship between information sharing and supply chain performance, the mediating role of information quality in the SME owner-managers' managerial competencies and supply chain performance and the mediating role of both SME owner-manager's information sharing and quality of information shared in the relationship between SME owner-managers' managerial competences and supply chain performance. These mediation effects haven't been given significant attention in previous research. Further, while information sharing and information quality have been studied, they have been studied at a supply chain level, not at a managerial level.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the market structure and level of competition in health and wellness food products by type, category, prime positioning and distribution networks in India.

The study is conducted using secondary data from Euromonitor International. Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) has been calculated for analyzing the market trends in terms of type, category and prime positioning and market competition has been analyzed using Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI). Analysis of variance has been used for analyzing the statistical difference in market competition.

Consumer purchase behavior for food is significantly changing across the world and consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the health enhancing properties of food. With growing incidences of problems like obesity, diabetes, coronary heart diseases and foodborne diseases, consumers are becoming aware of the role of food in ensuring health and well-being. There have been significant structural changes in the health and wellness food market compositions and India has huge market potential for health and wellness food products with a market size of Rs. 435 billion in 2013 and growing at a significantly high annual growth rate of about 13.8 percent during 2002-2013. HHI results clearly indicate that there is significant competition in the health and wellness food market with average HHI of 0.19. However, the structure of market competition shows a varied trend across the types, categories, prime-positioning and distribution channels of health and wellness food products.

Results of the study provide a better understanding of temporal as well as intra-category changes in market size of health and wellness food products and the competitiveness of the health and wellness food market, providing valuable insights to the companies involved in producing and marketing of health and wellness food products in India.

Health and wellness food market is an emerging area for the marketer and there are limited analysis on market structure and competition.

This paper aims to provide a detailed study on the influence of slip flow and thermal jump over mixed convection flow along an exponentially stretching surface. Also, impacts of suction/blowing, volumetric heat source/sink and velocity ratio parameter will be studied in this analysis.

The modeled governing equations for the assumed problem are dimensional nonlinear partial differential equations in nature. To reduce these equations, non-similar transformations are used to get the dimensionless nonlinear partial differential equations. Then, quasi-linearization technique is used to linearize these non-dimensional nonlinear partial differential equations. Finally, an implicit finite difference scheme is used to discretize the resulting equations.

The physical explanations are provided for the variations of various non-dimensional governing parameters over the velocity and temperature profiles. Also, the effects of these dimensionless parameters on skin friction coefficient and heat transfer rate are scrutinized in a manner which highlights their physical interpretation. The detailed discussion exhibits the fact that the streamwise co-ordinate velocity ratio parameter, partial slip parameter and the thermal jump parameter have significant influence over the flow and thermal fields.

This work has not been reported in the literature to the authors’ best of knowledge.