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Despite the digital penetration in the larger consumer market, the adoption of e-pharmacy services is reported to be very low in emerging economies like India. In this context, the purpose of the current study is to examine the influence of consumers’ risk perception on their intention to purchase medicines/pharmaceuticals through online pharmacies. Furthermore, the study seeks to understand to what extent the perceived usefulness of online pharmacy mediates the relationship between different dimensions of perceived risk and purchase intention.

The study was conducted among a sample of 800 consumers in India who are familiar with online e-commerce. To ensure the homogeneity of the sample and hence the generalizations of results, inclusion criteria were set as not to include respondents who have made a prior purchase through e-pharmacy services. Self-reporting questionnaires were administered among the respondents, who were selected through a purposive and convenience sampling method. Measurement modeling and path analysis were done using IBM SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 24.0 to test the hypotheses and draw inferences.

Results revealed that consumers’ risk perceptions, such as financial, product, source and privacy risks, had a significant direct and indirect effect on their intention to purchase medicines through online pharmacies. India is the major universal provider of generic medicines. The insights gained from this study can help policymakers, corporates, consumers, distributors, retailers and marketing managers to frame effective strategies for improved usage of online platforms for procuring medications.

This study is pioneering in conceptualizing and testing a theoretical model linking consumers’ risk perceptions, perceived usefulness and intention to purchase through online pharmacies, particularly in the context of an emerging economy like India. Implications regarding facilitating and nurturing a conducive platform for online purchasing medicines and its outcomes are elaborated, thus striving to fill a gap in the existing literature. By examining the proposed framework through the lens of the technology acceptance model and theory of risk perception, this study seeks to add to the emergent literature on online pharmacies, especially in emerging economies with huge market potential.

This study aims to implement an improved version of the Chimp algorithm (IChimp) for load frequency control (LFC) of power system.

This work was adopted by IChimp to optimize proportional integral derivative (PID) controller parameters used for the LFC of a two area interconnected thermal system.

The supremacy of proposed IChimp tuned PID controller over Chimp optimization, direct synthesis-based PID controller, internal model controller tuned PID controller and recent algorithm based PID controller was demonstrated.

IChimp has good convergence and better search ability. The IChimp optimized PID controller is the proposed controlling method, which ensured better performance in terms of converging behaviour, optimizing controller gains and steady-state response.

This study aims at investigating two-dimensional laminar flow of power-law fluids around three unconfined side-by-side cylinders.

The numerical study is performed by solving the governing (continuity and momentum) equations using a finite volume-based code ANSYS Fluent. The numerical results have been presented for different combinations of the governing dimensionless parameters (dimensionless spacing, 1.2 = L = 4; Reynolds number, 0.1 = Re = 100; power-law index, 0.2 = n = 1.8). The dependence of the kinematic and macroscopic characteristics of the flow such as streamline patterns, distribution of the surface pressure coefficient, total drag coefficient with its components (pressure and friction) and total lift coefficient on these dimensionless parameters has been discussed in detail.

It is found that the separation of the flow and the apparition of the wake region accelerate as the dimensionless spacing decreases, the number of the cylinder increases and/or the fluid behavior moves from shear-thinning to Newtonian then to shear-thickening behavior. In addition, the distribution of the pressure coefficient on the surface of the cylinders presents a complex dependence on the fluid behavior index and Reynolds number when the dimensionless spacing between two adjacent cylinders is varied. At low Reynolds numbers, the drag coefficient of shear-thinning fluids is stronger than that of Newtonian fluids; this tendency decreases progressively with increasing of Re until a critical value; beyond the critical Re, the opposite trend is observed. The lift coefficient of the middle cylinder is null, whereas, the exterior cylinders experience opposite lift coefficients, which show a complex dependence on the dimensionless spacing, the Reynolds number and the power-law index.

The flow over bluff bodies is a practical engineering problem. In the literature, it can be seen that the previous studies on non-Newtonian fluids are limited to the flow over one or two cylinders (effect of an odd number of cylinders on each other). Besides that, the available results concerning the flow of Newtonian fluids over three cylinders are limited to the high Reynolds numbers region only. However, this work treats the flow of non-Newtonian power-law fluids past three circular cylinders in side-by-side arrangements under a wide range of Re. The outcome of the present study demonstrates that the augmentation of the geometry complexity to three cylinders (effect of pair surrounding cylinders on the surrounded ones in what concerns Von Karman Street phenomenon) causes a drastic change in the flow patterns and in the macroscopic characteristics. The present results may be used to predict the flow behavior around multiple side-by-side cylinders.

In a wireless sensor network (WSN), the sensor nodes are distributed in the network, and in general, they are linked through wireless intermediate to assemble physical data. The nodes drop their energy after a specific duration because they are battery-powered, which also reduces network lifetime. In addition, the routing process and cluster head (CH) selection process is the most significant one in WSN. Enhancing network lifetime through balancing path reliability is more challenging in WSN. This paper aims to devise a multihop routing technique with developed IIWEHO technique.

In this method, WSN nodes are simulated originally, and it is fed to the clustering process. Meanwhile, the CH is selected with low energy-based adaptive clustering model with hierarchy (LEACH) model. After CH selection, multipath routing is performed by developed improved invasive weed-based elephant herd optimization (IIWEHO) algorithm. In addition, the multipath routing is selected based on certain fitness functions like delay, energy, link quality and distance. However, the developed IIWEHO technique is the combination of IIWO method and EHO algorithm.

The performance of developed optimization method is estimated with different metrics, like distance, energy, delay and throughput and achieved improved performance for the proposed method.

This paper presents an effectual multihop routing method, named IIWEHO technique in WSN. The developed IIWEHO algorithm is newly devised by incorporating EHO and IIWO approaches. The fitness measures, which include intra- and inter-distance, delay, link quality, delay and consumption of energy, are considered in this model. The proposed model simulates the WSN nodes, and CH selection is done by the LEACH protocol. The suitable CH is chosen for transmitting data through base station from the source to destination. Here, the routing system is devised by a developed optimization technique. The selection of multipath routing is carried out using the developed IIWEHO technique. The developed optimization approach selects the multipath depending on various multi-objective functions.

The purpose of this study is to explore the importance of vibrations during welding process. In recent years, welding has gained its supremacy in the field of production. The main set back of the welding process is induced residual stresses, which is a major cause for many welding defects. These defects can be minimized by post-weld heat treatment methods, which is a time consuming and laborious process. In the recent past, a technique of exciting the weld-pool by vibrating the work-pieces was also adopted to minimize the above-mentioned stresses. A novel technique of electrode vibration is another effective way of transferring the vibrations to the weld-pool to influence the induced residual stress.

In this research, the electrode is vibrated with the help of an electric motor. The specimens were prepared as per American Society for Testing and Materials standards and welded with varying frequencies and voltages. The weldments are tested for hardness along the weld bead and heat affected zone, also the microstructure of the fusion zone is analyzed.

It is observed that there is an improvement in the hardness because of the grain refinement, which is a result of proper excitation of the weld-pool. It is observed that there is an improvement in hardness test up to 28.69% when compared with the conventional welding process. The peak value of hardness is observed at a frequency of 4,450 Hz. This is because of fine grain structure at this frequency, which is observed through the microstructure analysis.

A novel technique is introduced to refine the weld-pool through electrode vibrations. To improve the hardness of the welded joints, vibrations play a major role by refining the grain structure. The vibrations are imparted with the help of a special equipment attached to the electrode.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prominence of mechanical excitations at the time of welding. In the past years, the process of welding technology has expanded its influence in manufacturing. The crucial drawback of conventional welding is prompted by internal stresses and distortions, which is the focal reason for weld defects. These weld defects can be diminished by the process called post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), which consumes more working hours and needs skilled workers. To replace these PWHT processes, mechanical vibrations are introduced during the process of welding to diminish these weld defects.

In the current research, the mechanical vibrations are transferred to weld-pool through vibro-motor and DC motor connected to the electrode. As per standards, the tensile test specimens were prepared for welding with different voltages of vibro-motor and DC motor respectively. The weld joints were tested for tensile strength and analyzed the microstructure at the fusion zone.

Melt-ability at fusion zone of 1018 mild steel was investigated by the single-stroke intense heat process of fusion welding. It is observed that the mechanical vibrations technique has a profound influence on the enhancement of the fusion zone characteristics and grain structure. The peak value of the tensile strength is observed at 100 s of vibration, 190 V of vibro-motor voltage and 18 V of electrode voltage. The tensile strength of the welded joints with vibrations is increased up to 22.64% when it is compared with conventional welding. The enhancement of the tensile strength of the weld bead was obtained because of the formation of fine grain structure. So, mechanical vibrations are identified as the most convenient method for improving the mild steel alloys weld quality.

A novel approach called mechanical vibrations during the process of welding is implemented for fusion zone refinement.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of the corporate brand in a brand alliance that includes one of the corporation’s product brands.

Using a scenario-based study, 899 participants were randomly assigned to one of 84 unique brand alliance scenarios involving a corporate brand, a product brand ally and a focal product brand; a total of 33 corporate brands were represented. Results were estimated using a three-stage least squares model.

Consumers’ evaluations of a focal brand were enhanced when a corporate brand name associated with a product brand ally was included in the brand alliance. The effect was mediated by attitude toward the product brand ally. The indirect effect of the corporate brand was stronger when consumers had low product category knowledge (PCK).

Consistent with competitive cue theory, the findings suggest that a corporate brand can provide superior, consistent and unique information in a brand alliance.

Practitioners should note that the effectiveness of adding a corporate brand name into a product brand alliance is contingent on the extent of consumers’ PCK.

This paper examines when and why corporate brands are effective endorsers in product brand alliances. This paper adds empirical support to previous assertions that, if managed effectively, corporate brands can be valuable assets that convey unique valuable information to consumers.

There is concern that academic research in marketing does not sufficiently support firms confronting today's hostile business conditions. This paper offers a perspective on enhancing the relevance and rigour of research in marketing. It takes the view that rigorous research conducted on issues relevant to practising managers is especially valuable for the marketing discipline's future development and status. Emphasis is placed on identifying a number of “hot” topics worthy of future investigation, accomplished by a brainstorming workshop involving a large number of distinguished marketing professors. Areas identified were global marketing strategy, consumer behaviour and marketing strategy. It is hoped that the identification and discussion of these topics will spark greater research on fundamental marketing issues, and that the allied explication of research rigour will likewise enhance the efficacy of research in marketing.

The aim of this paper is to investigate competitive pricing strategies of apparel brands and retailers.

The paper begins with a broad discussion of competition by examining Porter's five forces model, and narrows by examining price competition within price tiers in the retail apparel industry according to store format and brands. Included are case studies of apparel retailers and brands incorporating concepts of pricing strategies, brand positioning, and price competition, with a focus on retail channel relationships. The paper analyzes the impact of price competition on apparel retailers and brands, and further examines price tiers as a competitive strategy.

The study reveals that the concept of price tiers is applicable to apparel retailers and brands. Price tiering is a vehicle for market positioning for the retail apparel industry. Retailers are enacting a price tier strategy by branding their retail store formats or engaging store brands as a vehicle of differentiation for a tier. Retailers and brands can be successful with a price tier strategy, unless they fail to differentiate between tiers on factors other than on price alone.

The lack of relevant price competition literature, relating to the retailer apparel industry, forced the exploration of price competition literature from grocery and automotive sectors.

The paper provides useful information on the impact of price competition on apparel retailers and brands, and also price tiers as a competitive strategy.