Branes and 2d N=(2,2) gauge theories with orthogonal and symplectic groups

We construct two-dimensional N=(2,2) supersymmetric gauge theories with orthogonal and symplectic groups using branes and orientifold planes in Type IIA string theory. A number of puzzles regarding the construction, including the effect of exchanging NS5-branes on an orientifold 2-plane, are resolved by lifting the configurations to M theory. The low energy properties and conjectured dualities of these theories are reproduced in the M-brane description. A similar construction of N=(4,4) theories with orthogonal and symplectic groups leads to new duality conjectures for these theories.Comment: 22 pages, 27 figures. Type IIA linking number computation corrected in section 4.5. Clarified and expanded the discussion of N=(4,4) dualities in section 5. References adde

A note on D0-branes and instantons in 5d supersymmetric gauge theories

We refine a previous proposal for obtaining the multi-instanton partition function from the supersymmetric index of the 1d supersymmetric gauge theory on the worldline of D0-branes. We provide examples where the refinements are crucial for obtaining the correct result.Comment: 30 pages, 6 figures. Typos correcte

“One-size-fits-all”? Differentiation in destinations’ marketing goals and strategies to achieve them

While tourism marketing literature tends to present marketing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ process, the current study suggests various destination marketing goals. Until today, the literature mainly concentrated on analyzing marketing strategies, tactics, tools and initiatives for enhancing and perceiving tourism, while other marketing goals were neglected, such as marketing unfamiliar destinations or promoting tourism during and after tourism crises. The purpose of this study is to propose the model - “Destination Marketing Goals” (DMG) - which offers seven marketing goals for destinations and the possible strategies marketers can use in order to reach each goal. The model was developed based on qualitative content analysis of campaigns (symbols, visuals, slogans, and texts) on many destinations’ websites, academic and news articles focusing on destinations’ campaigns, and marketing initiatives to attract tourists and visitors. The “Destination Marketing Goals” (DMG) model is aimed at expanding the theoretical discussion on the concept of “destination marketing”

The role of marketing in tourism planning: Overplay, underplay or interplay?

Marketing has a key role in tourism planning. Yet, the tourism planning literature offers a range of roles that marketing should take, extending from a secondary planning component to a leading factor that guides the entire planning process. To understand better the relative role of marketing in tourism planning, an exploratory study was conducted, looking at the interplay between tourism marketing and tourism planning in the context of regional planning. Using a quantitative content analysis of regional tourism master plans, this study aims to unveil the exact role of marketing in the tourism planning process. The study\u27s empirical results indicate that marketing plays a dynamic role in tourism planning, and that the specific contribution of marketing to tourism planning changes with the region\u27s level of development and planning needs. Based on these findings, a tentative theoretical model is proposed, portraying the dynamic relations between tourism performance and the level of marketing integration in tourism planning. This model replaces a prevailing theoretical notion, treating the role of marketing in tourism planning as a static, \u27one-size-fits-all\u27 process