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This study aims to investigate the optimal process parameters of the wire-cut electrical discharge machining (WCEDM) for the machining of the GZR-AA7475 hybrid metal matrix composite (HMMC). HMMCs are prepared with 2 Wt.% graphite and 4 Wt.% zirconium dioxide reinforced with aluminium alloy 7475 (GZR-AA7475) composite by using the stir casting method. The objective is to enhance the mechanical properties of the material while preserving its unique features. WCEDM with a 0.18 mm molybdenum wire electrode is used for machining the composite.

To conduct experimental studies, a Taguchi L27 orthogonal array was adopted. Input variables such as peak current (I_p), pulse-on-time (T_ON) and flushing pressure (P_F) were used. The effect of process parameters on the output responses, such as material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness rate (SRR) and wire wear ratio (WWR), were investigated. The grey relational analysis (GRA) is used to obtain the optimal combination of the process parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used to identify the significant process parameters affecting the output responses.

Results from the current study concluded that the optimal condition for grey relational grade is obtained at T_ON = 105 µs, I_p = 100 A and P_F = 90 kg/cm². Peak current is the most prominent parameter influencing the MRR, whereas SRR and WRR are highly influenced by flushing pressure.

Identifying the optimal process parameters in WCEDM for machining of GZR-AA7475 HMMC. ANOVA and GRA are used to obtain the optimal combination of the process parameters.

Investment decisions hold immense significance for investors and eventually affect their portfolio performance. Investors are advised to weigh the costs and benefits associated with every decision in order to make rational investment decisions. However, behavioral finance research reveals that investors' choices often stem from a blend of economic, psychological and sociological factors, leading to irrationality. Moreover, environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors, aligned with behavioral finance hypotheses, also sway opinions and stock prices. Hence, this study aims to identify how individual equity investors prioritize key determinants of investment decisions in the Indian stock market.

The current research gathered data from 391 individual equity investors through a structured questionnaire. Thereafter, a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (F-AHP) was used to meet the purpose of the research.

Information availability, representative heuristics belonging to psychological factors and macroeconomic indicators falling under economic factors were discovered to be the three most prioritized criteria, whereas environmental issues within the realm of ESG factors, recommendations of brokers or investment consultants of sociological factors, and social issues belonging to ESG factors were found to be the least prioritized criteria, respectively.

Only active and experienced individual equity investors were surveyed in this study. Furthermore, with a sample size of 391 participants, the study was confined to individual equity investors in one nation, India.

This research has implications for individual investors, institutional investors, market regulators, corporations, financial advisors, portfolio managers, policymakers and society as a whole.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, no real attempt has been made to comprehend how active and experienced individual investors prioritize critical determinants of investment decisions by taking economic, psychological, sociological and ESG factors collectively under consideration.

This study aims to explore entropy evaluation in the bi-directional flow of Casson hybrid nanofluids within a stagnated domain, a topic of significant importance for optimizing thermal systems. The aim is to investigate the behavior of unsteady, magnetized and laminar flow using a parametric model based on the thermo-physical properties of alumina and copper nanoparticles.

The research uses boundary layer approximations and the Keller-box method to solve the derived ordinary differential equations, ensuring numerical accuracy through convergence and stability analysis. A comparison benchmark has been used to authenticate the accuracy of the numerical outcomes.

Results indicate that increasing the Casson fluid parameter (ranging from 0.1 to 1.0) reduces velocity, the Bejan number decreases with higher bidirectional flow parameter (ranging from 0.1 to 0.9) and the Nusselt number increases with higher nanoparticle concentrations (ranging from 1% to 4%).

This study has limitations, including the assumption of laminar flow and the neglect of possible turbulent effects, which could be significant in practical applications.

The findings offer insights for optimizing thermal management systems, particularly in industries where precise control of heat transfer is crucial. The Keller-box simulation method proves to be effective in accurately predicting the behavior of such complex systems, and the entropy evaluation aids in assessing thermodynamic irreversibilities, which can enhance the efficiency of engineering designs.

These findings provide valuable insights into the thermal management of hybrid nanofluid systems, marking a novel contribution to the field.

The world order is experiencing unremitting changes. With this, the national governance of emerging economies is also becoming robust. Therefore, the current study examines the efficacy of national governance in the context of emerging economies by investigating its effects on the profitability of the microfinancing sector. Further, the study inspects if national governance mitigates the impact of credit risks to protect profitability.

The study considers panel data from 224 microfinancing institutions from five economies of world importance: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). The study uses dynamic panel data modeling, particularly the generalized method of moments, alongside multiple univariate and multivariate techniques.

The findings indicate that credit risks negatively impact profitability. In addition, the study documents a significant positive linkage between national governance and profitability. However, national governance fails to restrict the adverse effects of credit risks. National governance is found to be effective in reducing internal agency problems; the monitoring effects successfully limit the moral hazards due to managers' actions. Conversely, the national governance in these economies misses the mark in regulating the moral hazards due to borrowers' behavior.

The current study provides fresh perspectives on the efficacy of national governance in microfinancing in the setting of emerging economies.

The purpose of this paper is to propose and validate a robust industrial control system. The aim is to design a Multivariable Proportional Integral controller that accommodates multiple responses while considering the process's control and noise parameters. In addition, this paper intended to develop a multidisciplinary approach by combining computational science, control engineering and statistical methodologies to ensure a resilient process with the best use of available resources.

Taguchi's robust design methodology and multi-response optimisation approaches are adopted to meet the research aims. Two-Input-Two-Output transfer function model of the distillation column system is investigated. In designing the control system, the Steady State Gain Matrix and process factors such as time constant (t) and time delay (?) are also used. The unique methodology is implemented and validated using the pilot plant's distillation column. To determine the robustness of the proposed control system, a simulation study, statistical analysis and real-time experimentation are conducted. In addition, the outcomes are compared to different control algorithms.

Research indicates that integral control parameters (K_i) affect outputs substantially more than proportional control parameters (K_p). The results of this paper show that control and noise parameters must be considered to make the control system robust. In addition, Taguchi's approach, in conjunction with multi-response optimisation, ensures robust controller design with optimal use of resources. Eventually, this research shows that the best outcomes for all the performance indices are achieved when Kp11 = 1.6859, Kp12 = −2.061, Kp21 = 3.1846, Kp22 = −1.2176, Ki11 = 1.0628, Ki12 = −1.2989, Ki21 = 2.454 and Ki22 = −0.7676.

This paper provides a step-by-step strategy for designing and validating a multi-response control system that accommodates controllable and uncontrollable parameters (noise parameters). The methodology can be used in any industrial Multi-Input-Multi-Output system to ensure process robustness. In addition, this paper proposes a multidisciplinary approach to industrial controller design that academics and industry can refine and improve.

The purpose of the study is to examine factors influencing cash holding of firms during periods of crisis. In recent times, the level of cash holdings in firms has seen a steady rise across industries for diverse reasons. However, the need to study cash holding becomes even more compelling during geopolitical instability as it causes firms to hold greater cash reserves for precautionary reasons.

This paper systematically reviews literature from 1984 to 2024 by organising the findings thematically based on the relationship between corporate cash holdings (CCH) and firm performance in times of war. The paper used 47 research articles from the Scopus database and Google Scholar. Literature connected to CCH, firm performance and war times was explored. The title and abstract analysis were conducted using VOSviewer software. As a result, the predetermined body of literature was visualised, and six theme-based clusters were identified.

This paper systematically reviews empirical studies, categorising them into six theme-based groups. These clusters encompass CCH and Determinants, Optimal Cash Holding Levels, Cash Holding Adjustment Speed and Theory, Cash Holding and Firm Value, Cash Holding and Firm Performance, Cash Holding in the Context of the Ukraine War and the adaptive financial strategies of firms in response to economic conditions by using cash holding as a hedging instrument. Inflation prompts adjustments in cash-holding strategies at a macro level. During crises, lower interest rates lead to increased cash holdings. Various motives influence firms’ cash-to-assets ratios. According to the pecking order theory, geopolitical risk negatively affects cash holdings. Exposure to pandemics prompts an increase in cash reserves. War shocks have a profound impact on economies, markets and stability; hence, geographic diversification can reduce the need for precautionary cash. In times of uncertainty, the financial stress of firms can get elevated, and therefore, having a well-diversified geographical portfolio of a firm’s investments can aid in meeting any financially distressing situation.

The literature on CCH has been phenomenal. This paper attempts to structure the issues surrounding cash holding and firm performance in wartime, like the Ukraine war, using the VOSviewer software. This study endeavours to highlight the reasons for cash holding during crises and understand how cash holding affects firm performance. Finally, this paper also tries to comprehend whether cash holding helps as a hedging instrument in times of war.

Small farmers in India are collectivized and legalized as Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to progress in agri-food value chains as small agribusiness enterprises. FPCs are dependent on timely information for their sustainability and profitability. Mobile apps are a cost-effective form of information and communication technology. Hence, the purpose of this study is to explore the major determinants of mobile apps adoption by FPCs.

Quantitative and qualitative data are collected by administering a semi-structured questionnaire and conducting in-depth interviews with board members of 115 FPCs, with a total membership of 30,405 farmers operating in 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The logit model is used for quantitative analysis, while dialog mapping is used for qualitative analysis, based on an integrated technology acceptance model and technology organization environment framework.

Logistic regression results evidence that amongst FPC characteristics, while company size and age are significantly impacting apps adoption, there is no significant association between board size, education level, multiple commodities business or export intention of companies on apps adoption. Digital literacy and technical hands-on training for FPC board members are quintessential to facilitate mobile apps adoption.

The findings are pertinent to policymakers to earmark funds for technical handholding and digital upskilling of FPCs. The need for developing comprehensive, location-centric, farmer-friendly apps by agritech companies is evidenced.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is a pioneering work in the domain of mobile apps adoption from a farmers’ agribusiness enterprise perspective in an emerging market economy using a mixed-methods approach.

Efforts to implement supplier selection and order allocation (SSOA) approaches in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are quite restricted due to the lack of affordable and simple-to-use strategies. Although there is a huge amount of literature on SSOA techniques, very few studies have attempted to address the issues faced by SMEs and develop strategies from their point of view. The purpose of this study is to provide an effective, practical, and time-tested integrated SSOA framework for evaluating the performance of suppliers and allocating orders to them that can improve the efficiency and competitiveness of SMEs.

This study was conducted in two stages. First, an integrated supplier selection approach was designed, which consists of the analytic hierarchy process and newly developed measurement alternatives and ranking using compromise solution to evaluate supplier performance and rank them. Second, the Wagner-Whitin algorithm is used to determine optimal order quantities and optimize inventory carrying and ordering costs. The joint impact of quantity discounts is also evaluated at the end.

Insights derived from the case study proved that the proposed approach is capable of assisting purchase managers in the SSOA decision-making process. In addition, this case study resulted in 10.89% total cost savings and fewer stock-out situations.

Criteria selected in this study are based on the advice of the managers in the selected manufacturing organizations. So the methods applied are limited to manufacturing SMEs. There were some aspects of the supplier selection process that this study could not explore. The development of an effective, reliable supplier selection procedure is a continuous process and it is indeed certainly possible that there are other aspects of supplier selection that are more crucial but are not considered in the proposed approach.

Purchase managers working in SMEs will be the primary beneficiaries of the developed approach. The suggested integrated approach can make a strategic difference in the working of SMEs.

A practical SSOA framework is developed for professionals working in SMEs. This approach will help SMEs to manage their operations effectively.

DeLone and McLean (D&M) has been amongst the most widely used models to assess the success elements of information systems (IS) since 1992. A decade later in 2003, D&M proposed a revised design that included several components which have been left out of original proposed model. This study aims to rely on the review of a number of papers casing the era 2011–2022 that satisfies a specific set of requirements to identify the research gaps in this area and to prepare a future research agenda.

This study is a systematic review: a technique that identifies and evaluates pertinent research. This gathers and analyses data from selected studies with objective to catalogue all empirical research studies, which responds to a certain study topic or hypothesis to meets predetermined inclusion criteria. Data collection method was divided into four stages, and selection details are determined through flow chart.

This research discovered D&M 2003 model use in many contexts, countries and cultures to better comprehend the topic and addresses its gaps, particularly with regard to public sector and its particularities. Publications have frequently emphasized the significance of this idea while studying public sector information systems by using associated variables-related items. Findings also include a summary of key components and dimensions used in reviewed studies in relation to each of the seven variables, and associated particularities in government sector over the world.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first ever effort in this developing country in discipline of Information Management to execute such kind of study to review D&M ISS model in detail at this stage to evaluate nonacademic public sector information systems around the world.

As concerns about global warming and environmental degradation have intensified, researchers are trying to create a deeper understanding of country-specific factors that affect environment so that economic growth can be simultaneously achieved. Recently, private equity (PE) has emerged as a significant form of corporate investment worldwide, compelled to reconcile their financial objectives along with the burgeoning demand for sustainable investment practices. However, the nexus between environmental degradation and PE investment at the country level is yet to be explored.

The study uses annual data for 78 developed countries from 2002 to 2020 and 107 developing countries, which have been divided into 54 lower-middle-income and 53 upper-middle-income countries, to explore the relationship between carbon emission, economic growth and PE investment within an energy growth and Environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework.

The study finds the existence of the EKC hypothesis for developed, upper-middle-income developing and lower-middle-income developing countries. PE investment reduces environmental degradation by providing investments in cleaner technologies, energy-efficient sources and renewable investments. Better human development index (HDI) reduces carbon emissions, as more education and knowledge involve an understanding of environmental protection. Increased climate risk index increases carbon emissions, and therefore, the study provides insights for policymakers and government to enhance PE investments within a country, which will eventually lead to development of sustainable business practices.

The study is the first of its kind to look into the impact of PE as a source of investment on environmental degradation, incorporating economic growth and environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.