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Robot selection is one of the critical decision-making tasks frequently performed by various industries in order to choose the best suited robot for specific industrial purposes. In recent marketplace, the number of robot manufacturers has increased remarkably offering a wide range of models and specifications; thus, robot selection has become indeed confusing as well as complicated task. Selection of an appropriate robot is a sensitive process; it may result massive letdown, if not chosen properly. Therefore, for unravel the selection problem; the purpose of this paper is to explore the preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE) II method.

Apart from a large variety of robotic systems, existence of various multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) tools and techniques may create confusion to the decision makers’ in regards of application feasibility as well as superiority in performance to work under different decision-making situations. In this context, the PROMETHEE II method has been found as an efficient decision-making tool which provides complete ranking order of all available alternatives prudently, thus avoiding errors in decision making.

In this context, the present paper highlights application potential of aforesaid PROMETHEE II method in relation to robot selection problem subjected to a set of quantitative (objective) evaluation data collected from the available literature resources. Advantages and disadvantages of PROMETHEE II method have also been reported in comparison to other existing MCDM approaches.

The study bears significant managerial implications. Proper evaluation and selection of appropriate candidate robot would be helpful for the industries in order to improve product quality as well as to increase productivity. Proper utilization of resources could be ensured. Functioning would be accurate with reduced timespan. As a consequence, company can increase its profit margin in long run.

While rapid increase in demand for foods but limited availability of croplands has forced to adopt input-intensive farming practices to increase yield, there are serious long-term ecological implications including degradation of biodiversity. It is increasingly recognised that ensuring agricultural sustainability under the changing climatic conditions requires a change in the production system along with necessary policies and institutional arrangements. In this context, this chapter examines if climate-smart agriculture (CSA) can facilitate adaptation and mitigation practices by improving resource utilisation efficiency in India. Such an attempt has special significance as the existing studies have very limited discussions on three main aspects, viz., resource productivity, adaptation practices and mitigation strategies in a comprehensive manner. Based on insights from the existing studies, this chapter points out that CSA can potentially make significant contribution to enhancing resource productivity, adaptation practices, mitigation strategies and food security, especially among the land-constrained farmers who are highly prone to environmental shocks. In this connection, staggered trench irrigation structure has facilitated rainwater harvesting, local irrigation and livelihood generation in West Bengal. However, it is necessary to revisit the existing approaches to promotion of CSA and dissemination of information on the design of local adaptation strategies. This chapter also proposes a change in the food system from climate-sensitive to CSA through integration of technologies, institutions and policies.

Soy beverage is becoming more and more popular because it is touted as a healthy food containing useful phytochemicals and is free from lactose and cholesterol. The purpose of this paper is to optimize the spray drying process parameters for obtaining soy beverage powder with good reconstitution and handling properties.

Pre-concentrated soy beverage was dried in a laboratory model spray dryer, and the effects of inlet air temperature (180-220°C), feed rate (20-40 ml/min) and feed solid content (15-25 per cent) on some physical parameters and reconstitution properties (wettability and dispersibility) of spray-dried soy beverage powders were investigated. Second order polynomial response surface model was selected for the analysis of data and optimization of the process.

Spray drying of soy beverage at different processing conditions resulted in powders with particle size (volume mean diameter) in the range of 86 to 156 µm. Dispersibility and wetting time of the spray-dried soy beverage powders was found to be in the range of 56 to 78 per cent and 30 to 90 s respectively, under various drying conditions. Inlet air temperature was found to be the main factor affecting most of the quality parameters, followed by solid content of the feed. Temperature significantly affected the wettability, dispersibility, colour parameters, particle size and flowability of the powder at p ≤ 0.01. Lower temperature and higher feed solid content produced bigger-sized powder particles with better handling properties in terms of flowability and cohesiveness. A moderate inlet air temperature (196°C), higher feed solid content (24 per cent) and lower feed rate (27 ml/min) were found suitable for drying of soy beverage.

The study implied the possibility of producing powder from soy beverage using the spray-drying method and optimized drying conditions for obtaining soy beverage powder with good reconstitution properties.

The finding of this study demonstrated for the first time how the inlet air temperature, feed solid content and feed rate during spray-drying influenced different quality parameters of soy beverage powder. Further, an optimized drying condition has been identified.

This study aims to provide a systematic review of consumer privacy literature in the context of smartphones and undertake a comprehensive analysis of academic research on this evolving research area.

This review synthesises antecedents, consequences and mediators reported in consumer privacy literature and presents these factors in a conceptual framework to demonstrate the consumer privacy phenomenon.

Based on the synthesis of constructs reported in the existing literature, a conceptual framework is proposed highlighting antecedents, mediators and outcomes of experiential marketing efforts. Finally, this study deciphers overlooked areas of consumer privacy in the context of smartphone research and provides insightful directions to advance research in this domain in terms of theory development, context, characteristics and methodology.

This study significantly contributes to consumer behaviour literature, specifically consumer privacy literature.

This paper investigates the impact of bank credit on agricultural productivity in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) from 1990 to 2019. Studies’ results on the impact of bank credit on agricultural productivity are not conclusive. The studies demonstrate diverse outcomes which are debatable. The results are conflicting.

Agricultural value added (AGRVA) to the gross domestic product (GDP) proxies agricultural productivity while domestic credit to the private sector by banks (DCPSB), broad money supply, land, inflation (INF), physical capital (PHKAP) and labour supply are explanatory variables. The autoregressive distributed lag technique is utilized.

The co-integration test results show a long-run co-integration among the variables. The findings disclose that DCPSB, land and PHKAP impact positively on the AGRVA. Broad money supply, INF and labour impact negatively on the AGRVA to the GDP.

The results suggest that the CEMAC governments should encourage effective ways to increase bank credit flow to private enterprises in the agricultural sector through efficient bank's intermediation.

The governments should create more agricultural banks and improve the operation of existing ones to ensure direct credit to agricultural activities. The Bank of Central African Economic and Monetary Community should apply aggressive policy which eliminates all the bottlenecks undermining credit flow to the private sector in mutualism with agricultural productivity.

The commercial banks should give more credit to private sector to mutually benefit the agricultural sector and the banking sector. The governments of the CEMAC economies should expand funding into the capital market which considerably boosts agricultural productivity.

Studies’ results on the impact of bank credit on agricultural productivity are not conclusive. The studies demonstrate diverse outcomes which are debatable. The results are conflicting; some reveal positive impacts, some show negative impacts and others indicate U-shape behaviour. Hence, research is required to fill the lacuna.