All Management Events

Hans India – March 01

The Pioneer – March 02

The Hindu – March 09

Hans India – March 09

Indian Express – March 09

The Pioneer – March 09

The Department of Commerce is glad to announce that Dr Shailender Singh, Associate Professor, published a paper titled ‘Pro-Environmental Purchase Intention Towards Eco-friendly Apparel: Extension of the theory of planned behavior model’ in the Journal of Global Fashion Marketing published by Taylor and Francis. The research is conducted in collaboration with Dr Nishant Kumar, Amity University, Noida.

Abstract of the Research

In this study, the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model is employed with environmental concern, personal moral norms, and perceived consumer effectiveness to better predict the eco-friendly apparel purchase intention of educated Indian youths. Variance-based partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is applied to evaluate the hypothesized model. Findings indicated that perceived behavioural control has a strong significant positive influence on purchase intention, followed by personal moral norms, attitude, and perceived consumer effectiveness. Environmental concern is found to indirectly affect purchase intention through three primary TPB variables and personal moral norms. Multi-group analysis (MGA) examines the moderating effect of perceived consumer effectiveness on an attitude–intention relationship. The highly perceived consumer effectiveness group is shown to have a more consistent attitude-purchase intention relationship as compared to the low-perceived consumer effectiveness group. The study promulgates insights to professionals and policymakers to formulate sustainable marketing strategies and policies to cope with the indigenous market conditions.

The textile industry has emerged as a significant pollution source owing to a rise in carbon footprint, the spike in greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing landfill waste. Sustainable fashion has become a new style statement, and industries are shifting their orientation towards environment-friendly manufacturing. A plethora of research studies have been conducted to explore consumer behaviour intention towards visiting green hotels, green products, organic food, and electric vehicles. Studies have also been done to understand consumer behavioural intention toward sustainability in apparel, sustainability, social media communication, ethical fashion consumption behaviour, and eco-friendly apparel in developed countries. However, the paucity of research studies examining the influential factors affecting purchase intention of eco-friendly apparel in a developing economy makes this study more imperative.

This study furnishes the problem by examining the eco-friendly apparel purchase intention of the educated Indian youth in the sustainable apparel framework by investigating the potential of three core predictors of purchase intention in the theory of the planned behaviour model. Furthermore, the study extends the model by adding three more variables: environmental concern (EC), personal moral norm (PMN), and perceived consumer effectiveness (PCE). Moreover, this study also examines the PCE as a moderator between consumer attitude and eco-friendly apparel purchase intention (PI), which adds to the existing body of knowledge. The study promulgates insights to professionals and policymakers to formulate sustainable marketing strategies and policies to cope with the indigenous market conditions.

Based on the proposed extended framework, the study disseminates several practical implications to attain sustainability in fashion:

(i) The strong PBC influence on apparel purchase intention would facilitate marketing professionals to support consumers with sustainable apparel choices through clear visibility, long-term benefits, and striking design with a vast form of offerings, sustainability certification, and ease of access.
(ii) It has also been observed that youth’s moral obligation to behave ethically no longer depends on social pressure. Consumers may feel that the discussion on pro-environmental intention is not having social acceptance. Policymakers must bring opinion leaders to pitch the benefit of using organic clothing so that it can be discussed socially and develop suitable sustainable purchase intent.
(iii) Marketers should use vivid marketing communication tools to educate customers about the attribute-based benefits of organic apparel and the technological difference which makes it different from fast fashion.
(iv) Policymakers should sensitize people about the deteriorating environment and try to teach pro-environmental intent through green info-commercials, organic apparel labels, socio-environmental themes in products, and affordable pricing strategies.
(v) Marketers may adopt various media platforms to showcase how individual-specific green behaviour is self-sufficient in combating environmental problems. This would increase the PCE level among people, further leading to an attitudinal shift.

The Indian government can launch an awareness campaign based on the theme of environment protection through individual contributions and urge citizens to accept green as a socially accepted norm.

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The Department of Mechanical Engineering is hosting a Distinguished Departmental Faculty Seminar Series to encourage discussions on diverse aspects of the subject. Experts from various fields are invited to divulge their views and help students broaden their perspectives. The talk ‘Nano sensors, Flexible energy devices and IOT’ organised as part of the series will be held on March 30, 2022 at 3.00 pm IST. Prof Mangilal Agarwal, Director of Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute (INDI)-IUPUI is the distinguished speaker of the event. The talk will focus on Identification of volatile organic compound biomarkers in breath, development of integrated nanosensor systems and electrospinning epoxy/carbon nanotubes on carbon reinforced polymers for structural applications.

Speaker’s Profile

Prof Mangilal Agarwal is a full-time professor in the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana, USA. He has an overarching vision to become an innovative leader in high-quality research and serve industry and government agencies in Indianapolis, the state of Indiana, and beyond.

Prof Agarwal has an array of interdisciplinary research projects at IUPUI involving big data, data analytics, machine learning, analytical chemistry, and mechanical engineering. Specifically, his research consists of canine-inspired chemometric analysis of volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarkers, developing integrated nanosensor arrays that detect VOC biomarkers sensitively or selectively, and enhancing carbon reinforced materials through electrospinning epoxy/carbon nanotube composite nanofibers.

Over the years Prof Agarwal’s research has been well received and funded through numerous grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DoD) and the industry.

Prof Agarwal has previously served as the Associate Director for Research and Development for the IUPUI Office of the Vice Chancellors for research and is currently the Director of Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute (INDI) at IUPUI, which strives to advance nanotechnology research, education, and outreach.

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Studies that open new possibilities into some of the gripping issues in the scientific domain have transformed SRM University-AP into the epicentre of cutting-edge research and investigations. We are proud to announce that Dr B Lokeshgupta, Assistant Professor of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering has won the Best Paper Award at IEEE Second International Conference on Power, Control and Computing Technologies ICPC²T 2022 held at NIT Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The paper titled “Reliability Improvement of a Radial Distribution System Considering Load Modeling and Energy Management” was co-authored by Dr S Sivasubramani and Mr. Ram Prakash from IIT, Patna. The research gives new insight into energy management and power consumption patterns.

Abstract of the Research

Increasing energy demand and recent advancements in electrical and distributed generation (DG) technology have made power systems complex. Therefore, the reliability assessment is important for efficient planning and operation of distribution networks. The system reliability can be improved with optimal DG integration and energy management schemes. This work mainly studies the impact of optimal DG planning with an energy management scheme on the reliability of radial distribution network. Usually, the reliability of a power system is evaluated using the distribution system reliability indices which are based on load point and customers. The voltage-dependent load model and time-varying load profile for different load classes are included in this work for pragmatic planning. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to find the optimal site and size of DG units and optimal scheduling of the shiftable loads. The proposed model of optimal DG allocation with energy management is evaluated with a case-based analysis. The modified IEEE 33-bus distribution system is considered in this model to demonstrate the improvement of reliability and operational parameters. Simulation results verify the efficacy of the model.

About the Research

In recent decades, a high load growth rate and frequently changing power consumption patterns are observed due to urbanization and industrialization. Also, the increasing penetration of renewable-based DG has caused a significant mismatch between power generation and electricity demand pattern. This mismatch introduces reliability and power quality issues with loss of energy and revenue to the utilities in power systems. Thus, various energy management programs are carried out by utilities to encourage consumers to change their load patterns. This paper proposes a reliability improvement technique in a radial distribution system by optimal planning of disperse generation and energy management programme.

Social Implication

The research proposes an offline algorithm for the efficient planning and operation of radial distribution networks. Simultaneous deployment of distribution generation (DG) and energy management system (EMS) makes the network more reliable compared to just DG allocation. Application of DG and EMS also improves other operational parameters of the network like power loss and voltage profile.

In future, the energy management concept can be extended with the inclusion of neighbourhood power-sharing model in the environment of multiple smart home consumers and prosumers.

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Have you ever thought Mathematics is a hard nut to crack? The Department of Mathematics brings to you Dr Rossi D’Souza to break the myth associated with Math. The seminar will be held on March 28, 2022 at 03.45 pm IST. Dr D’Souza, from Homi Bhabha Centre for Science will deliver a talk on ‘Why is the relationship between Mathematics, Education & Society important for research?’.

Abstract of the Talk

“Mathematics is hard!” has been a universal refrain among school children (and often their parents) for as long as we recall. But why do so many children dislike Mathematics? Is it the way Mathematics is taught – because Math teachers follow a “rote-learning” approach instead of making sure students understand the basic concepts? Why are students from marginalized backgrounds/identities disproportionately lagging behind in & excluded from Mathematics knowledge production? Or is Mathematics really not for everybody?

Drawing on experience from his PhD research with visually challenged students and industry experience the speaker will highlight the importance of taking into account the social factors in Mathematics Education Research to effectively address the challenges posed by STEM Education – and to work towards a world where Mathematics really is for everybody!

Speaker’s Profile

Dr Rossi D’Souza recently completed his PhD in Mathematics education from HBCSE-TIFR. His research interests include exploring how ableism operates in Mathematics education. Prior to working as a Research scholar, Rossi completed his M.Tech in Modeling and Simulation from Pune University, specializing in and then working in the field of Computational Genomics. He has also worked as a visiting lecturer at Govt. Polytechnic Mumbai, as a medical instrument repairman at Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital, Bangalore and as a Science Communicator on the Science Express train.

Join the session with Dr D’Souza and make your Mathematics learning a delightful experience.

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The modern business landscape is experiencing sweeping changes with each passing day, and so do the expectations in the field. Giving lessons on cutting-edge industrial practices is the need of the hour. Students should be levelled up to remain competitive in entrepreneurship and trained to keep abreast of the latest industry trends.

The Department of Corporate Relations and Career Services is bringing forth the fourth session of the Industry Readiness webinar series on the topic “Industry Expectations Today” to give the students an extended perspective on present-day expectations in the business world.

Date: March 26, 2022

Time: 4.00 pm IST

About the Speaker:

Mr D Eragamani is the founder and director of Maple Tech Solutions, Hosur. He has 28 years of wide-ranging experience in the industrial domain. Mr Eragamani has worked as the Head of Manufacturing &TQM with major Corporates such as Titan Industries Ltd, Tyco group, TERUMOPENPOL LTD and Murugappa group.

Currently, he is running a consultancy and imparting training to industries and startups. He has gathered expertise in training by conducting workshops for MSMEs and Startups on Leadership, Business Model Canvas, Improving Leads and Digital Marketing. He has guided and judged several Quality Circle competitions.

Mr Eragamani also had the opportunity to work as an adjunct faculty in VIT School of management, NIT school of management, INDUS Business Academy, IIM-Bangalore etc. He is a member of various reputed organisations such as QCFI – Governing Council Member, Hosur Chapter; ICT Academy, Chennai; MMA, Chennai and many more. He has received numerous awards and accolades including the QCFI Platinum category award at the International forum, Taiwan and the Business Excellence award for TITAN.

Join Mr D Eragamani for a productive session and augment your possibilities of getting placed with leading companies.

The healthcare system across the globe has been under colossal pressure since the emergence of novel coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has also unveiled some of the greatest gaps in the existing healthcare systems. The research paper authored by Dr Ashok Kumar Pradhan and his PhD student E Bhaskara Santhosh, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, proposing a blockchain-based pandemic detection model was recognised by WHO and the paper was listed in COVID-19 Global literature on coronavirus disease. The paper titled “iBlock: An Intelligent Decentralised Blockchain-based Pandemic Detection and Assisting System” was published in collaboration with Saraju Mohanty, University of North Texas and Dr Venkata Ramana Badarla, Associate Professor, IIT Tirupati. The authors have expressed their deepest gratitude to Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) for Grant number TAR/2019/000286 and SRM University-AP for supporting this work.

Abstract of the Research

The recent COVID-19 outbreak highlighted the requirement for a more sophisticated healthcare system and real-time data analytics in the pandemic mitigation process. Moreover, real-time data plays a crucial role in detection and alerting process. Combining smart healthcare systems with accurate real-time information about medical service availability, vaccination, and how the pandemic is spreading can directly affect the quality of life and economy. The existing architecture models become inadequate in handling the pandemic mitigation process in a real-time dataset. This is because, the present models are server-centric and controlled by a single party, hence to manage confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA) of dataset is a challenging task. Therefore, a decentralised user-centric model is essential, where the CIA of user data can be assured. In this paper, we have suggested a decentralized blockchain-based pandemic detection and assistance system named as (iBlock) that uses robust technologies like hybrid computing and IPFS to support system functionality. Moreover, a pseudo-anonymous personal identity is suggested using H-PCS and cryptography for anonymous data sharing. The distributed data management module guarantees data CIA, security, and privacy using cryptography mechanisms. Furthermore, it delivers useful intelligent information in the form of suggestions and alerts to assist the users. Finally, the iBlock reduces stress on healthcare infrastructure and workers by providing accurate predictions and early warnings using AI/ML technology.

Contributions of the Research

i) Proposes a novel architecture model for pandemic detection and alertness using a blockchain called as “iBlock”. It supports sharing of real-time data utilization.
ii) The proposed system introduces suitable privacy and security mechanisms to cover system-level data privacy and security.
iii) It also suggests a logical combination of blockchain and AI/ML on hybrid computing to support global level requirements during pandemic mitigation and alerting the systems.

Social Implications

The proposed system helps in the early detection of Covid-19 and encourages people to use their health data anonymously in pandemic detection and mitigation process. Moreover, iBlock maintains all crucial data on blockchain for future sustainable healthcare solutions. The majority of pandemic detection and alerting systems are limited to prediction, however iBlock further simplifies the area-labelling to cover area wise mitigation mechanisms. The classification of areas helps the government and healthcare organizations to plan sustainable preventive measures in a real-time scenario. It also helps in prediction of new cases and death rates with the aid of a dedicated AI/ML detection engine module. To motivate the people to share legitimate data, the proposed model even suggests a reward mechanism to influence the participants.

The research investigates the advanced possibilities in smart healthcare architecture to bring down the time and effort for pandemic mitigation activities. Read to know more.

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Our bright young minds bring fame and glory to the university from all around the world. Mr Haseesh Rahithya Nandam, from the final year of BSc (Hons) Integrative Biology, has received admission offers to MSc Infection and Immunity course, University College London (QS ranking 8) and MSc Medical and Molecular Virology, The University of Manchester (QS ranking 27).

UCL is rated the top university in the UK for research strength in the most recent Research Excellence Framework. The MSc course that Mr Haseesh has enrolled in primarily focuses on teaching concepts of infection and immunity. It contains course modules such as Molecular Virology, Evolution of Diseases, and Epidemiology.

“I am excited and happy since UCL stands in 8th rank and offers a course I dearly love to study”, says Mr Haseesh. According to him, the selection process for University College London was a piece of cake. The admission requirements were the English language proficiency test (IELTS/TOEFL) result, SoP, LoRs, CV, and Grade Card. He has also applied to Imperial College London and is waiting for the admission announcement.

SRM University-AP enables students to become the best version of themselves every single day and work towards their goals. “I am grateful for the support of my professor Dr Sutharsan Govindarajan to work in his lab. There, I got the opportunity to gain experience and learn new things”, says Mr Haseesh. He further thanked the Head of the Department, Prof Jayaseelan Murugaiyan, for his relentless guidance and support.

Health expenditure assumed enormous importance with the outset of coronavirus pandemic. The disparity between public and private health expenditure will often reflect in the health outcome of any nation. Through the research paper titled ‘The dynamics of public and private health expenditure on health outcome in Southeast Asia’ published in the journal Health and Social Care in the Community, Dr Shailender Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Commerce, attempts to argue that public expenditure on health has a substantial impact over private spending across the countries of ASEA.

Abstract of the Research

This study examines the dynamics of public and private health expenditure on health outcomes in Southeast Asia, vis-a-vis two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The techniques of fixed effect, random effect, and feasible generalized least square methods are employed to obtain robust estimates. Further, the analysis dives deep into the country-specific impact of public and private health expenditure on health outcomes using the technique of seemingly unrelated regression. Estimates show that, across Southeast Asia, public health expenditure alone contributes to improving life expectancy at birth, lower levels of under-five, and non-communicable disease mortality rates. Unlike public health expenditure, private health expenditure contributes to better health outcomes only in Brunei and Singapore but not across the countries of Southeast Asia.

The paper asserts that, despite the statistical significance of private health spending with respect to the health outcomes, it does not contribute to lower mortality rate (MR) and higher life expectancy at birth. The results strongly support several prior pieces of evidence in the literature regarding health expenditure and health outcomes. The country-specific estimates show that public health spending contributes greatly to lower mortality rate, particularly in Brunei and Singapore. By contrast, private health spending does not contribute to lower levels of U5MR and NCD mortality rate across the countries of ASEA except in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Philippines.

The differences in economic development and the settings of health systems in these countries could be a plausible reason for the inability of private health expenditure to contribute to lower levels of NCD mortality rate in most of these countries. The result implies that more funding to the public health system has the potential to lower U5MR and NCD MR close to the SDGs target across the countries of ASEA. Also, strengthening the health system through providing greater access to preventive services for diabetes, hypertension, respiratory diseases, and cancers at primary care units may help in better diagnosis and management of these chronic conditions in Indonesia, Laos, and Myanmar where NCD MR is relatively high. However, an increase in funding alone may not be sufficient at improving health outcomes. For emerging conditions, diet modification, active physical exercise, little tobacco and alcohol consumption are also imperative.

The research is reported to be the first of its kind that examines the dynamics of public and private health expenditure on health outcomes in line with the SDGs targets. Apart from the traditional indicators commonly used as health outcomes in the literature (life expectancy and U5MR), the study further extends the literature by introducing NCD MR as an additional health outcome which could play a pivotal role in providing empirical evidence to the health policymakers and researchers.

Health plays an important role in promoting human capital and the economic growth of a country. The available stock of human capital in a country determines the rate of growth in its per capita income. A healthy individual contributes more to their economy by allocating more hours to work, earning more disposable income, in turn investing more in human development.

As the individual stock of health tends to diminish over time, there is a need to augment it by making more investment in time, income, and regular medical care. Thus, this research work has a societal benefit for the population of Southeast Asia to identify the threats in the field of health and focus more on their well-being for improving the state of health. Dr Singh conducted this research in collaboration with Dr Nishant Kumar, Amity University, Noida.

In future, he also intends to analyse the impact of socioeconomic and behavioural health determinants on the health system efficiency of the Middle East region, and to predict the key drivers for health care expenditure growth in the Middle East region through Grossman-PLS Modeling Approach.

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