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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the static behavior of different type of butt joints for application in a timber sofa furniture frame. In timber sofa structure, butt joints are commonly used between plywood and hardwood members but they are normally designed without any regard to the effect of grain directions of the wood members on the joint strength. The focus of the paper is to look at the effect of grain directions on the wooden member properties and on the strength of the butt joint in order to understand the failure mode to establish a more durable and effective sofa butt joint than the one normally used by the manufacturers.

Experiment tests are conducted to determine the mechanical properties of joint members, the maximum load‐carrying capacity of the butt joints, and the types of the failure in the joints in relation to different grain orientations under transverse loading conditions. Plywood and hardwood members are used in construction of the joint tests. Four types of butt joints are constructed with different condition of grain orientation, glue, and screw used in the joint members. The specimens are tested by fixing the plywood member and applying a transverse load to the hardwood member to simulate the conditions in the sofa frame.

Result shows that butt joint with vertical grain orientation and joint with two screws and glue have the maximum load‐carrying capacity compared to the other three cases and compared to the current joint type used in the existing sofa frame design.

The paper is of value to furniture manufacturing industry, in which furniture members and joints are usually over‐designed without regard to grain orientations or applying sound engineering techniques.

The purpose of this paper is to stabilize the type-2 Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy systems with the sufficient and guaranteed stability conditions. The given conditions efficaciously handle parameter uncertainties by the upper and lower membership functions of the type-2 fuzzy sets (FSs).

This paper reports on a relevant study of stable fuzzy controllers and type-2 T–S fuzzy systems and reported that the synthesis of controller for nonlinear systems described by the type-2 T–S fuzzy model is a key problem and it can be resolve to convex problems via linear matrix inequalities (LMIs).

The multigain fuzzy controllers are established to improve the solvability of the stability conditions, and the authors design multigain fuzzy controllers which have extensive information of upper and lower membership grades. Consequently, the authors derive the traditional stability condition in terms of LMIs. One simulation examples illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the derived stabilization conditions.

The uncertain MIMO nonlinear system described by Type-2 Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model, and successively LMI approach used to determine the system stability conditions. The proposed control approach will give superior fault-tolerant control permanence under the actuator fault [partial loss of effectiveness (LOE)]. Also the controller robust against the unmeasurable process disturbances. Additionally, the statistical z-test are carried out to validate the proposed control approach against the control approach proposed by Himanshukumar and Vipul (2019a).

The two-tank level control system is one of the real-world's second-order system (SOS) widely used as the process control in industries. It is normally operated under the Proportional integral and derivative (PID) feedback control loop. The conventional PID controller performance degrades significantly in the existence of modeling uncertainty, faults and process disturbances. To overcome these limitations, the paper suggests an interval type-2 fuzzy logic based Tilt-Integral-Derivative Controller (IT2TID) which is modified structure of PID controller.

In this paper, an optimization IT2TID controller design for the conical, noninteracting level control system is presented. Regarding to modern optimization context, the flower pollination algorithm (FPA), among the most coherent population-based metaheuristic optimization techniques is applied to search for the appropriate IT2FTID's and IT2FPID's parameters. The proposed FPA-based IT2FTID/IT2FPID design framework is considered as the constrained optimization problem. System responses obtained by the IT2FTID controller designed by the FPA will be differentiated with those acquired by the IT2FPID controller also designed by the FPA.

As the results, it was found that the IT2FTID can provide the very satisfactory tracking and regulating responses of the conical two-tank noninteracting level control system superior as compared to IT2FPID significantly under the actuator and system component faults. Additionally, statistical Z-test carried out for both the controllers and an effectiveness of the proposed IT2FTID controller is proven as compared to IT2FPID and existing passive fault tolerant controller in recent literature.

Application of new metaheuristic algorithm to optimize interval type-2 fractional order TID controller for nonlinear level control system with two type of faults. Also, proposed method will compare with other method and statistical analysis will be presented.

In recent times, fuzzy logic is gaining more and more attention, and this is because of the capability of understanding the functioning of the system as per human knowledge-based system. The main contribution of the work is dynamically adapting the important parameters throughout the execution of the flower pollination algorithm (FPA) using concepts of fuzzy logic. By adapting the main parameters of the metaheuristics, the performance and accuracy of the metaheuristic have been improving in a varied range of applications.

The fuzzy logic-based parameter adaptation in the FPA is proposed. In addition, type-2 fuzzy logic is used to design fuzzy inference system for dynamic parameter adaptation in metaheuristics, which can help in eliminating uncertainty and hence offers an attractive improvement in dynamic parameter adaption in metaheuristic method, and, in reality, the effectiveness of the interval type-2 fuzzy inference system (IT2 FIS) has shown to provide improved results as matched to type-1 fuzzy inference system (T1 FIS) in some latest work.

One case study is considered for testing the proposed approach in a fault tolerant control problem without faults and with partial loss of effectiveness of main actuator fault with abrupt and incipient nature. For comparison between the type-1 fuzzy FPA and interval type-2 fuzzy FPA is presented using statistical analysis which validates the advantages of the interval type-2 fuzzy FPA. The statistical Z-test is presented for comparison of efficiency between two fuzzy variants of the FPA optimization method.

The main contribution of the work is a dynamical adaptation of the important parameters throughout the execution of the flower pollination optimization algorithm using concepts of type-2 fuzzy logic. By adapting the main parameters of the metaheuristics, the performance and accuracy of the metaheuristic have been improving in a varied range of applications.

The purpose of this article is about the design of controllers for conical two-tank noninteracting level (CTTNL) system in simulation. Local linearization around the equilibrium point has been done for the nonlinear CTTNL system to obtain a linearized model transfer function.

This article deals with the design of novel optimal fractional-order tilt-integral-derivative (TID) controller using type-1 fuzzy set for the CTTNL prototype system. In this study, type-1 fuzzy TID controller parameters have been optimized through genetic algorithm (GA) and those set of values have been employed for the design of proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller.

A performance comparison between FTID and PID controller is then investigated. The analysis shows the superiority of FTID controller over PID controller in terms of integral absolute error (IAE), integral square error (ISE), integral of time multiplied absolute error (ITAE) and integral of time multiplied squared error (ITSE) integral errors. The transient and steady state performance of the FTID controller are superior as compared to conventional PID controller. In future, the FTID controller fault-tolerance capability tested on CTTNL system subject to actuator and system component (leak) faults. The detailed study of robustness in presence of model uncertainties will be incorporated as a scope of further research.

A performance comparison between FTID and PID controller is then investigated. The analysis shows the superiority of FTID controller over PID controller in terms of IAE, ISE, ITAE and ITSE integral errors. Additionally, fault-tolerant performance of the proposed controller evaluated with fault-recovery time (F_rt) parameter. The transient and steady state performance of the FTID controller are superior as compared to conventional PID controller.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which Indian consumers of different demographic groups vary in terms of shopping mall visits (frequency of visit, hours spent in the mall, and number of shops visited) and purchase behaviour (total money spent, number of shops purchased from and number of items purchased).

The study used a self-administered survey of 400 Indian mall shoppers to examine Indian shoppers’ behaviour with respect to visiting and buying behaviour. Descriptive analyses and χ² tests were conducted to identify patterns and capture the significant relationships in shopping behaviour across different demographic segments.

The results show that shoppers of different age cohorts and from different household sizes behave differently from one another in a significant manner. In terms of gender, however, men and women tend to behave in a similar manner in terms of visit frequency, time and money spent per visit. The study also provides insight into where the differences occur and between which specific groups.

Data comes from one major city of India which limits the generalizability of the results.

For mall managers and retailers, the study findings indicate that the stores that serve recreational needs should focus more on younger segments, where men and women share similar buying patterns. Findings from this study could also be used for segmentation exercises and to build strategies to convert footfall into actual purchase, especially within the rapidly growing Indian mall market.

The study adds value to the body of retail literature and provides empirical evidence from the rapidly developing Indian market. The study also provides insight into where differences occur and between which specific groups. By highlighting the differences in greater detail, the study benefits retailers in general and specifically, mall managers.

Teams have become the dominant mode of work in contemporary organizations and critical for successful completion of various tasks, projects and overall organizational effectiveness. Organizational factors such as organizational culture have often been investigated as contributing to team performance since it is difficult to develop and engage teams. But the effect of (organizational) team culture on team effectiveness (TE) has received less support. Therefore, this paper examines how factors such as organization team culture (OTC) affect different dimensions of TE in a power sector organization which has undergone a business transformation resulting in adoption of team-based work structures.

Survey instrument capturing the variables of organizational team culture and TE was administered to mid-level managers in a power sector organization in India. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the model fit for the proposed model.

A key finding of the research was that team culture (OTC dimensions) (i.e. participation, communication, trust, training inputs and support and support for teamwork) contribute to TE.

OTC and its impact on creating effective teams, particularly in the power sector, is an original contribution of this research. The OTC and TE framework may be used to diagnose team weaknesses and concerns and to design effective HR interventions.

This case describes the challenges faced by Amul in organising dairy farmers into a co-operative and creating continuous opportunities for value addition. Participants in the case discussion are required to review the developments in the organisation and recommend a strategy for the future.

This paper aims to describe the main challenges of identifying and accessing useful information and knowledge about natural hazards and disasters results. The paper presents a grid‐based digital library system designed to address the challenges.

The need to organize and publish metadata about European research results in the field of natural disasters has been met with the help of two innovative technologies: the Open Grid Service Architecture (OGSA) and the Resource Description Framework (RDF). OGSA provides a common platform for sharing distributed metadata securely. RDF facilitates the creation and exchange of metadata.

Using grid technology allows the RDF metadata of European research results in the field of natural disasters to be shared securely and effectively in a heterogeneous network environment.

A metadata approach is proposed for the extraction of the metadata, and their distribution to third parties in batch, and their sharing with other applications can be a quickly process. Furthermore, a method is set out to describe metadata in a common and open format, which can become a widely accepted standard; the existence of a common standard enables the metadata storage in different platforms while supporting the capability of distributed queries across different metadata databases, the integration of metadata extracted from different sources, etc. It can be used for the general‐purpose search engines.

The case helps learn various aspects of entrepreneurship, startups and startup-ecosystem in India. It also talks about challenges that a startup entrepreneur faces that others or people potential to enter business can learn. It develops one to identify diverse and holistic solutions for overcoming these challenges. Apply and explain strategies suitable to business management.

After facing lot of difficulties in personal life, Mr Mitesh Shethwala started an e-commerce business named Alagrand.com. This Ahmedabad city-based startup for selling apparels and accessories for all age group is doing so well that the valuation of company has gone beyond Rs. 20 crores. In spite of the high valuation, company is facing problem of funds and investments. The protagonist of the company has lot of plans for growing business and taking it to next level that can happen only if he gets funds for the business. The case talks about issue of investment and funding of this startup company. The company also has issues in the area of setting standard operating procedures and marketing.

Teachers can discuss this case study for various subjects like Strategic Management, Retail Management, Digital Marketing and Product and Brand Management that are taught to the students of management courses at graduate and post-graduate levels. Academicians and students should read current information and data regarding setting up startups, investment and capital budgeting related to startups and funding methods.

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.