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The criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) and range of value (ROV) combined methods were used to determine a single index for all multiple responses.

This paper used cold metal transfer (CMT) and pulse metal-inert gas (MIG) welding processes to study the weld-on-bead geometry of AA2099-T86 alloy. This study used Taguchi's approach to find the optimal setting of the input welding parameters. The welding current, welding speed and contact-tip-to workpiece distance were the input welding parameters for finding the output responses, i.e. weld penetration, dilution and heat input. The L9 orthogonal array of Taguchi's approach was used to find out the optimal setting of the input parameters.

The optimal input welding parameters were determined with combined output responses. The predicted optimum welding input parameters were validated through confirmation tests. Analysis of variance showed that welding speed is the most influential factor in determining the weld bead geometry of the CMT and pulse MIG welding techniques.

The heat input and weld bead geometry are compared in both welding processes. The CMT welding samples show superior defect-free weld beads than pulse MIG welding due to lesser heat input and lesser dilution.

In many of today’s manufacturing industries, such as automobile, aerospace, defence, die and mould making, medical and electrical discharge machining (EDM) has emerged as an effective material removal process. In this process, a series of discontinuous electric discharges is used for removing material from the workpiece in the form of craters generating a replica of the tool into the workpiece in a dielectric environment. Appropriate selection of the tool electrode material and combination of input parameters is an important requirement for performance enhancement of an EDM process. This paper aims to optimize an EDM process using single-valued neutrosophic grey relational analysis using Cu-multi-walled carbon nanotube (Cu-MWCNT) composite tool electrode.

This paper proposes the application of grey relational analysis (GRA) in a single-valued neutrosophic fuzzy environment to identify the optimal parametric intermix of an EDM process while considering Cu-MWCNT composite as the tool electrode material. Based on Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array, nine experiments are conducted at varying combinations of four EDM parameters, i.e. pulse-on time, duty factor, discharge current and gap voltage, with subsequent measurement of two responses, i.e. material removal rate (MRR) and tool wear rate (TWR). The electrodeposition process is used to fabricate the Cu-MWCNT composite tool.

It is noticed that both the responses would be simultaneously optimized at higher levels of pulse-on time (38 µs) and duty factor (8), moderate level of discharge current (5 A) and lower level of gap voltage (30 V). During bi-objective optimization (maximization of MRR and minimization of TWR) of the said EDM process, the achieved values of MRR and TWR are 243.74 mm³/min and 0.001034 g/min, respectively.

Keeping in mind the type of response under consideration, their measured values for each of the EDM experiments are expressed in terms of linguistic variables which are subsequently converted into single-valued neutrosophic numbers. Integration of GRA with single-valued neutrosophic sets would help in optimizing the said EDM process with the Cu-MWCNT composite tool while simultaneously considering truth-membership, indeterminacy membership and falsity-membership degrees in a human-centric uncertain decision-making environment.

Given the prevalence of protecting geoheritage tourism sites, Ladakh has enormous potential. However, Ladakh’s potential and developments in its growth as a geotourism destination have received scant consideration. As such, this paper aims to explore Ladakh’s key drivers as a potential geotourism destination through cognitive dissonance and protection motivation theories.

This paper conducted in-depth interviews with 86 geoscientists and tourism professionals to assess Ladakh’s potential as a geotourism destination. This paper used a qualitative approach to congregate four constructs based on the image difference of the consensus map.

Because of the interviewees’ heterogeneity and uniqueness, meaningful constructs in the consensus were included for each figure and cloud words. This paper concluded that four drivers are the main forces behind geotourism development.

This paper explores the drivers – geotourism services, legislative requirements, experiential geotourism and SPARC (scientific, preservation, aesthetic, recreational, cultural) values – affecting geotourism in Ladakh. It is feasible to lessen the negative effects of overtourism and make sure that Ladakh’s distinctive nature is preserved for future generations by implementing sustainable tourism practices.

This article aims to explore the concept of chain value of the public port system in Ecuador from the perspective of importing/exporting companies, analyzing how perceived value in the use of port services affects customer satisfaction and the intermediate links of the influence of trust and commitment on customer loyalty.

Relying on a survey of 634 Ecuadorian companies with experience in international trade as port users and a theoretical framework well-established in the literature on consumer behavior, the empirical study found evidence of a positive and significant relationship with the knowledge of chain effects.

The findings confirm the chain effect and reveal ways to maintain an ongoing satisfactory, trust and committed relationship with users, thereby ultimately gaining and maintaining their loyalty. The conclusions suggest how this postulate can help to close the gap referred to the effective management of port services, and point out that port managers should be concerned with a continuous in-depth understanding of the perceived value and its chain effects.

The authors add evidence of the use of the postulate of the chain of effects on these dimensions, whose applicability is very well established, tested and consensual for the doctrine in industrial marketing. In contrast, it is scarcely present in the port relationship with its users.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mechanical characteristics and optimization of wear parameters of hybrid (TiO₂ + Y₂O₃) nanoparticles with Al matrix using squeeze casting technique.

The hybrid aluminium matrix nanocomposites (HAMNCs) were fabricated with varying concentrations of titanium oxide (TiO₂) and yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃), from 2.5 to 10 Wt.% in 2.5 Wt.% increments. Dry sliding wear test variables were optimized using the Taguchi method.

The introduction of hybrid nanoparticles in the aluminium (Al) matrix was evenly distributed in contrast to the base matrix. HAMNC6 (5 Wt.% TiO₂ + 5 Wt.% Y₂O₃) reported the maximum enhancement in mechanical properties (tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and density) and decrease in porosity% and elongation% among other HAMNCs. The results showed that the optimal combination of parameters to achieve the lowest wear rate was A3B3C1, or 15 N load, 1.5 m/s sliding velocity and 200 m sliding distance. The sliding distance showed the greatest effect on the dry sliding wear rate of HAMNC6 followed by applied load and sliding velocity. The fractured surfaces of the tensile sample showed traces of cracking as well as substantial craters with fine dimples and the wear worn surfaces were caused by abrasion, cracks and delamination of HAMNC6.

Squeeze-cast Al-reinforced hybrid (TiO₂+Y₂O₃) nanoparticles have been investigated for their impact on mechanical properties and optimization of wear parameters.

The purpose of this study is to find what kind of leadership is suitable for developing a business in an Islamic boarding school.

This study used a qualitative research method by conducting in-depth interviews with 16 informants.

This study resulted in three critical factors leadership qualities, entrepreneurial qualities and Muslim qualities. The unique combination of these essential elements must be in the soul of a business leader in a boarding school in carrying out its business activities to meet school operational costs while developing it into a sustainable business.

This research is limited to being conducted in Indonesia’s most densely populated areas, namely, West Java Province, which also has the highest number of Islamic boarding schools. Not all Islamic boarding schools have business units because their operational needs have been met either by tuition fees or outside assistance.

These findings are expected to be a guideline for other Islamic boarding schools to find out how business leadership in Islamic boarding schools should be in carrying out their activities so that their business not only survives but also develops and competes with other companies.

This study presents a combination of theories of entrepreneurship, leadership and Muslim qualities obtained from the literature review and empirical data from the results of in-depth interviews.