Preliminary study on factors affecting E-commerce success: a modified Delone and McLean model

Electronic commerce has gained the popularity since last two decades, due to its recompenses towards the online transactions. Academicians and e-retailers eagerly want to identify the factors which affect the e-commerce success. The main intention of this study to investigate the factors which are essential to draw the net benefits of e-commerce from an individual perspective rather than the organization perspective. The proposed framework in this paper is based on Mclean and Delone 2003 IS success model along with two extra variables that are privacy and trust. In this paper, the author discussed the result of the pilot study. The authors designed the quantitative research questionnaire by adopting the items from the previous studies and conducted the pilot study to check the reliability of the questionnaire. The overall value for Cronbach's alpha was 0.89 and also the Cronbach's alpha value for individual constructs were greater than 0.7, which indicates that there is a strong relation between the items. This research engrossed on four factors that are system quality, service quality, privacy, trust, that are essential for achieving the user satisfaction which in turn leads to achieve the e-commerce net benefits. In addition to service quality and system quality, trust and privacy are the important factors that affect the net benefits through user satisfaction, hence the modified version of Delone and Mclean IS success model from individual perspective is proposed

Double Pulse Resistance Spot Welding of Dual Phase Steel: Parametric Study on Microstructure, Failure Mode and Low Dynamic Tensile Shear Properties

Resistance spot welding (RSW) of dual phase (DP) steels is a challenging task due to formation of brittle martensitic structure in the fusion zone (FZ), resulting in a low energy capacity of the joint during high-rate loading. In the present study, in situ postweld heat treatment (PWHT) was carried out by employing a double pulse welding scheme with the aim of improving the mechanical performance of DP590 steel resistance spot weld joint. Taguchi method was used to optimize in situ PWHT parameters to obtain maximum peak load and failure energy. Experiments were designed based on orthogonal array (OA) L16. Mechanical performance was evaluated in terms of peak load and failure energy after performing low dynamic tensile shear (TS) test. Microstructural characterization was carried out using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that improvements of 17 and 86% in peak load and failure energy, respectively, were achieved in double-pulse welding (DPW) at optimum conditions compared to traditional single-pulse welding (SPW). The improvement in mechanical performance resulted from (i) enlargement of the FZ and (ii) improved weld toughness due to tempering of martensite in the FZ and subcritical heat affected zone (SCHAZ). These factors are influenced by heat input, which in turn depends upon in situ PWHT parameters

Effect of Intercritical Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Plain Carbon Dual Phase Steel

Mechanical properties of DP (Dual Phase) steels are greatly influenced by the microstructural features such as grain size, morphology and martensite volume fraction (Vm%). These microstructural features can be altered by changing the soaking time and temperature within intercritical zone. Present study aims to study the effect of intercritical annealing temperature and soaking time on Vm% and its effects on mechanical properties of plain low carbon steel grade (AISI 1020) steel having ferritemartensitemicrostructure. Nine DP steel specimens with various amount of martensite were produced via intercritical heat treatment. Mechanical properties including TS (Tensile Strength), hardness and toughness were characterized and co-related with martensite volume fraction. It was found that increasing the intercritical annealing temperature and soaking time increases the Vm%. The optimum TS and hardness were found at 64Vm% and then decrease with further increase in Vm%. The toughness was found to have linear relationship with Vm%

Modeling and Analysis of Linearized Wheel-Rail Contact Dynamics

The dynamics of the railway vehicles are nonlinear and depend upon several factors including vehicle speed, normal load and adhesion level. The presence of contaminants on the railway track makes them unpredictable too. Therefore in order to develop an effective control strategy it is important to analyze the effect of each factor on dynamic response thoroughly. In this paper a linearized model of a railway wheel-set is developed and is later analyzed by varying the speed and adhesion level by keeping the normal load constant. A wheel-set is the wheel-axle assembly of a railroad car. Patch contact is the study of the deformation of solids that touch each other at one or more point

A Comprehensive Review of Friction Stir Additive Manufacturing (FSAM) of Non-Ferrous Alloys

Additive manufacturing is a key component of the fourth industrial revolution (IR4.0) that has received increased attention over the last three decades. Metal additive manufacturing is broadly classified into two types: melting-based additive manufacturing and solid-state additive manufacturing. Friction stir additive manufacturing (FSAM) is a subset of solid-state additive manufacturing that produces big area multi-layered components through plate addition fashion using the friction stir welding (FSW) concept. Because of the solid-state process in nature, the part produced has equiaxed grain structure, which leads to better mechanical properties with less residual stresses and solidification defects when compared to existing melting-based additive manufacturing processes. The current review article intends to highlight the working principle and previous research conducted by various research groups using FSAM as an emerging material synthesizing technique. The summary of affecting process parameters and defects claimed for different research materials is discussed in detail based on open access experimental data. Mechanical properties such as microhardness and tensile strength, as well as microstructural properties such as grain refinement and morphology, are summarized in comparison to the base material. Furthermore, the viability and potential application of FSAM, as well as its current academic research status with technology readiness level and future recommendations are discussed meticulously

Artificial Neural Network Modeling to Predict the Effect of Milling Time and TiC Content on the Crystallite Size and Lattice Strain of Al7075-TiC Composites Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy

In the study, Al7075-TiC composites were synthesized by using a novel dual step blending process followed by cold pressing and sintering. The effect of ball milling time on the microstructure of the synthesized composite powder was characterized using X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Subsequently, the integrated effects of the two-stage mechanical alloying process were investigated on the crystallite size and lattice strain. The crystallite size and lattice strain of blended samples were calculated using the Scherrer method. The prediction of the crystallite size and lattice strain of synthesized composite powders was conducted by an artificial neural network technique. The results of the mixed powder revealed that the particle size and crystallite size improved with increasing milling time. The particle size of the 3 h-milled composites was 463 nm, and it reduces to 225 nm after 7 h of milling time. The microhardness of the produced composites was significantly improved with milling time. Furthermore, an artificial neuron network (ANN) model was developed to predict the crystallite size and lattice strain of the synthesized composites. The ANN model provides an accurate model for the prediction of lattice parameters of the composites

Epidemiological study of tick infestation in buffalo of various regions of district Khairpur, Pakistan

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological infestation and identification of Ixodidae and Argasidae ticks species in buffalo of different parts of district Khairpur, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: A total of 720 Water buffaloes from three tehsils (subdivisions) were selected randomly and examined from organized and unorganized dairy farms for tick infestation in district Khairpur, Pakistan. This epidemiological survey was conducted during April to September 2015. Results: The overall mean population and preferred site of tick attachment to infested animals, in Gambat, Sobhodero, and Kot Diji tehsils, were observed on different body parts. The primary body area of infestation by ticks (head, thorax, abdomen, udder, and tail) ranged from highest in tail and udder part compared to lowest in the abdomen, head, and thorax. In all study areas, the infestation was higher (p<0.05) in tail and udder than other parts of the body. In all the study areas, the overall highest population was found in the month of July. In addition, we first time identify four new species of ticks (Hyalomma anatolicum, H. anatolicum excavatum, Hyalomma Ixodes excavatum, and Ixodes ricinus) in district Khairpur, Pakistan. Conclusion: Results of this study provide additional information of epidemiological tick infestation, and will be helpful for evolving effective control policy for the management of tick infestation in study district

CoSe2@Co3O4 nanostructures: A promising catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media

Synergistic integration based on some transition-metal (TM) derived compounds is a unique and appealing technique, especially toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under alkaline circumstances. Herein, we present a cobalt-selenide (CoSe2) and cobalt-oxide (Co3O4) based composite (CSCO-2) material through a wet chemical method. As-prepared catalyst has been analyzed for various physicochemical characterizations. CSCO-2 offers efficient OER performance in 1.0 M KOH with an overpotential of 252 mV at current density of 20 mA/cm2, with a low Tafel slope value of 69 mV/dec. Importantly, as-prepared catalyst shows stability of 48 h for longer electrochemical performance as a potential candidate for OER

Study on Cultivators Associating Post Harvest Losses of Onion Vegetable in Sindh’s Mirpurkhas District

A study was carried out in Mirpurkhas District of Sindh Province during the year 2015-16, aiming to observe post-harvest losses of onions associated with the cultivators. Following the random sampling 60 respondents were selected from 12 villages of 06 Talukas in the District. Interviews were conducted for the collection of data. Problems expressed were as; high cost of fertilizers (93.33%), high cost of pesticides (93.33%), hand weeding is labour consuming and expensive (91.66%), labour problems during harvesting (85%), ineffective and costly weedicides (80%), lack of knowledge about recommended fertilizers doses for onion crop (80%) and lack of knowledge about improved varieties (68.33%). The problems in marketing of onion include lack of remunerative price (96.66%), fluctuation in market price (93.33%) and high charges of transportation (20%). The present study suggested that training/ awareness programs should be conducted for cultivators regarding establishing technical storage and handling onion problems

Study on Cultivators Associating Post Harvest Losses of Onion Vegetable in Sindh’s Mirpurkhas District

A study was carried out in Mirpurkhas District of Sindh Province during the year 2015-16, aiming to observe post-harvest losses of onions associated with the cultivators. Following the random sampling 60 respondents were selected from 12 villages of 06 Talukas in the District. Interviews were conducted for the collection of data. Problems expressed were as; high cost of fertilizers (93.33%), high cost of pesticides (93.33%), hand weeding is labour consuming and expensive (91.66%), labour problems during harvesting (85%), ineffective and costly weedicides (80%), lack of knowledge about recommended fertilizers doses for onion crop (80%) and lack of knowledge about improved varieties (68.33%). The problems in marketing of onion include lack of remunerative price (96.66%), fluctuation in market price (93.33%) and high charges of transportation (20%). The present study suggested that training/ awareness programs should be conducted for cultivators regarding establishing technical storage and handling onion problems