A Study of the Non-Visual Factors of Cars Affecting the Consumer’s Cognitive Appeal

The success of a car in the market depends on visual as well as non-visual factors. Both these sets of factors influence the cognitive appeal of cars for potential buyers. Purchasing a car is not only about economic choices but also related to emotional, aesthetic, sensory responses to driving, kinship patterns, habitation, sociability, and functionality. This study aimed to identify the major non-visual factors of cars that affect the cognitive perception of buyers and estimate their importance relative to each other. A set of non-visual factors and their sub-factors were identified through a literature search and an open-ended survey among car owners. Many of the sub-factors had the same meaning and therefore these factors were grouped under twenty separate sub-factors. Then, these twenty sub-factors were analyzed by using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach to evaluate the most influential sub-factors among the identified sub-factors. Six designers were involved in the analysis of the sub-factors through the DEMATEL approach. The results showed that the car’s brand value, cost, engine performance, reliability, and safety are the top five sub-factors. Outcomes of this study can be utilized by designers and top management people to understand the most influential factors affecting the cognitive behavior of consumers when purchasing a car. This understanding will help companies to design cars as per the requirements of consumers, which will ultimately lead to better profitability of these companies

A Study of the Non-Visual Factors of Cars Affecting the Consumer’s Cognitive Appeal

The success of a car in the market depends on visual as well as non-visual factors. Both these sets of factors influence the cognitive appeal of cars for potential buyers. Purchasing a car is not only about economic choices but also related to emotional, aesthetic, sensory responses to driving, kinship patterns, habitation, sociability, and functionality. This study aimed to identify the major non-visual factors of cars that affect the cognitive perception of buyers and estimate their importance relative to each other. A set of non-visual factors and their sub-factors were identified through a literature search and an open-ended survey among car owners. Many of the sub-factors had the same meaning and therefore these factors were grouped under twenty separate sub-factors. Then, these twenty sub-factors were analyzed by using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach to evaluate the most influential sub-factors among the identified sub-factors. Six designers were involved in the analysis of the sub-factors through the DEMATEL approach. The results showed that the car’s brand value, cost, engine performance, reliability, and safety are the top five sub-factors. Outcomes of this study can be utilized by designers and top management people to understand the most influential factors affecting the cognitive behavior of consumers when purchasing a car. This understanding will help companies to design cars as per the requirements of consumers, which will ultimately lead to better profitability of these companies

Role of external and internal perturbations on ferromagnetic phase transitions in manganites:existence of tricritical points

A phenomenological mean-field theory is presented to describe the role of external magnetic field, pressure and chemical substitution on the nature of ferromagnetic (FM) to paramagnetic (PM) phase transition in manganites. The application of external field (or pressure) shifts the transition, leading to a field (or pressure) dependent phase boundary along which a tricritical point is shown to exist where a first-order FM-PM transition becomes second-order. We show that the effect of chemical substitution on the FM transition is analogous to that of external perturbations (magnetic field and pressure); this includes the existence of a tricritical point at which the order of transition changes. Our theoretical predictions satisfactorily explain the nature of FM-PM transition, observed in several systems. The modeling hypothesis has been critically verified from our experimental data from a wide range of colossal magnetoresistive manganite single crystals like Sm0.52Sr0.48MnO3. The theoretical model prediction of a tricritical point has been validated in this experiment which provides a major ramification of the strength of the model proposed

Review on Solubility enhancement of Metoclopramide base by solid dispersion technique for Transdermal drug delivery system

Modern drug discovery has led to the development of drug molecules that exhibit high lipophilicity and poor water solubility, which leads to problematic bioavailability. Approaches have thus been made to enhance dissolution of poorly water soluble drugs through modifications and creation of specific formulations. Metoclopramide is an antiemetic and gastroprokinetic agent, commonly used to treat nausea and vomiting. It is absorbed well after oral administration but a significant first pass effect in some human patients may reduce systemic bioavailability to 30%.The Metoclopramide base is thus modified from Metoclopramide hydrochloride to enhance solubility .This has been achieved by the formulating in solid dispersion since Metoclopramide is poorly water soluble. Though it is absorbed well after oral administration,a significant first pass effect in some patients reduces systemic bioavailability, which can cause adverse side effects. This solid dispersion has then been used through transdermal drug delivery. Enhancement of solubility of poorly water soluble drug by solid dispersion may be attributed to particles modified characters such as particle size reduction, improved wettability, higher porosity, decreased lattice energy, amorphous state. Transdermal drug delivery system has a lot of advantages such as bypassing hepatic first pass, avoidance of risks of I.V therapy, enhancing therapeutic efficiency and others but limitations like skin irritations are also prevalent. Keywords: Solid dispersion, Metoclopramide, solubility, bioavailability, transdermal drug delivery system

Comparing novelty of designs from biological-inspiration with those from brainstorming

This research aims to understand the significance of biological-analogies in fostering novelty by comparing biological-analogies with other design methods for idea generation. Among other design methods, brainstorming was chosen here as benchmark. Four studies were conducted to compare: (i) the levels of abstraction at which concepts were ideated using biological inspiration (represented using biocards) with that using traditional brainstorming; and (ii) the novelty of concepts produced by using these two design methods. Concepts produced in these studies were evaluated for levels of abstraction at which they were ideated, average novelty, and proportion of high-novelty concepts. Results suggest that concepts generated using biocards were ideated at higher abstraction levels than those using brainstorming, but neither were at the highest abstraction levels. The average novelty of concepts produced using biocards was found to be greater than that using brainstorming; however, no statistically significant difference was found in the proportion of high-novelty concepts. We suspect the lack of biological knowledge and cultural difference among the subjects involved in our studies as the two reasons behind the results. The results demonstrate that the design methods substantially influence the novelty of concepts generated, while indicating the need for better training in effective use of biological-analogies

Environmental sustainability of milk production: a comparative environmental impact analysis and sustainability evaluation

ContextAssessing the sustainability of milk production in India (the largest milk producer country in the world) is essential to ensure that the dairy industry can meet the growing demands for dairy products while minimizing its negative impact on the environment, society, and the well-being of the people involved in the sector.ObjectiveCurrent research is intended to compare the emissions associated with packed milk production in two contrasting states, Punjab (an Indian state with helpful agricultural resources and plenty of water) and Rajasthan (a state with a significant desert area) of India. The dairy industry has to undergo different production processes, including livestock, feed, farming, transportation, processing, packaging, and distribution. All of these production steps generate environmental impacts. This study aims to compare the environmental impacts of milk production in Punjab and Rajasthan by understanding the variation in the ecological effects due to the modifications adopted in dairy practices.MethodsThis study uses Umberto LCA+ with Ecoinvent v3.6 dataset as a Life cycle assessment (LCA) tool and data collected from milk producers and processing plants. The primary data was collected from farmers (milk producers) and dairy plants (processing plants), real-time observations, and inputs from the processing plant staff. The LCA analysis was performed, including parameters such as feed agriculture, milking, storage, transportation, processing, packaging, and distribution.Results and conclusionThe analysis results indicate that milk production in Punjab is more environmentally efficient than in Rajasthan, and the feed required for cattle is a critical environmental impact-generating activity along with the selection of packaging material for processed milk.SignificanceThe current article assesses the environmental implications of milk production. The study employs a comprehensive analysis to inform sustainable practices and reduce the ecological footprint of this crucial industry