Research News

Today, we live in a world where sustainability and sustainable development are the need of the hour and amidst this, Associate Professor, Dr A Lakshmana Rao and Research Scholar, Mr Akhil Pasupuleti from the Department of Commerce have come up with their pacesetting research publication titled – “A Thematic Study of Green Finance with Special Reference to Polluting Companies: A Review and Future Direction.” The research work gives an impetus to many polluting companies to adopt green finance as an option to combat environmental pollution, this can be in the form of business strategy, energy saving, green credit, and innovation.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to understand the phenomenon of green finance in polluting companies through a systematic literature review. The methodology involves the search, selection, classification, and categorisation of thirty-five articles on green finance in polluting companies which were analysed for the time span of eleven years, i.e., 2011–2022. The outcome of the review identified the following five themes: (i) green credit and environmental protection; (ii) green finance and green innovation; (iii) green innovation and environmental protection; (iv) green finance and investment; and (v) green innovation and firm performance. The review has put forward recommendations for further advancement in policy strengthening and the utilisation of extensive data analysis, indicating potential avenues for future research and development. The findings of the study provide insights to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers about the status of green finance in polluting companies.

Dr Lakshmana Rao Ayyagari and his student Mr Akhil Pasupuleti are working on developing future prospects of Green Finance such as ESG disclosure and reporting practices, its application and the relationship of CSR and sustainability.

Dr Ghanshyam Kumar Pandey, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics has published a paper titled “Market Integration of Chickpea Crop: An Evidence of India”, in the esteemed Q1 Journal, Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies having an impact factor of 3.50. Through this paper, Dr Pandey analyses the integration and direction of causality of prices of chickpea produce in the markets of India.

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the market integration and direction of causality of wholesale and retail prices for chickpea legumes in major chickpea markets in India.

Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, the authors have employed the Johansen co-integration test, Granger causality test, vector autoregression (VAR), and vector error correction model (VECM) to examine the integration of markets. The authors use monthly wholesale and retail price data of the chickpea crop from select markets in India spanning January 2003–December 2020.

Findings – The results of this study strongly confirm the co-integration and interdependency of the selected chickpea markets in India. However, the speed of adjustment of prices in the wholesale market is weakest in Bikaner, followed by Daryapur and Narsinghpur; it is relatively moderate in Gulbarga. In contrast, the speed of adjustment is negative for Bhopal and Delhi, weak for Nasik, and moderate for retail market prices in Bangalore. The results of the causality test show that the Narsinghpur, Daryapur, and Gulbarga markets are the most influential, with bidirectional relations in the case of wholesale market prices. Meanwhile, the Bangalore market is the most connected and effective retail market among the selected retail markets. It has bidirectional price transmission with two other markets, i.e., Bhopal and Nasik.

Research limitations/implications – This paper calls for forthcoming studies to investigate the impact of external and internal factors, such as market infrastructure; government policy regarding self-reliant production; product physical characteristics; and rate of utilisation indicating market integration. They should also focus on strengthening information technology for the regular flow of market information to help farmers increase their incomes. Very few studies have explored market efficiency and direction of causality using both linear and nonlinear techniques for wholesale and retail prices of chickpeas in India.

Dr Rajapandiyan Panneerselvam, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, and his team have developed a method using a portable Raman spectrometer to quickly identify six common pathogenic Vibrio species that can contaminate seafood. His latest research paper Intelligent convolution neural network-assisted SERS to realise highly accurate identification of six pathogenic Vibrio, has been published in the Q1 Nature Index journal Chemical Communications, having an Impact Factor of 6.0.

By using gold-silver nanoparticles, the study was able to accurately detect these harmful microorganisms. The new deep learning model called a convolutional neural network (CNN), outperformed traditional machine learning methods with a classification accuracy of 99.7%. The entire identification process only took 15 minutes. The researchers also discovered that the Raman signals emitted by Vibrio species are similar to signals from certain substances found in purine degradation, such as uric acid and adenine. This knowledge helps them explain why different Vibrio species produce slightly different Raman signals. Overall, the CNN-assisted Raman spectroscopy method offers a fast and accurate way to diagnose and identify harmful microorganisms responsible for food contamination.

Abstract

The utilisation of label-free Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) technology enabled a comprehensive analysis of the connection between Raman signals emitted by pathogenic Vibrio microorganisms and purine metabolites. Through extensive research, a sophisticated Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model was developed, demonstrating exceptional performance with an accuracy rate of 99.7% in the rapid identification of six common pathogenic Vibrio species within a mere 15-minute timeframe. This breakthrough offers a groundbreaking approach to pathogen identification, introducing a novel and efficient method to the field.

Practical Implementation of the Research

The practical implementation of label-free SERS technology combined with a deep learning CNN model enables rapid and accurate identification of pathogenic Vibrio microorganisms. This has important social implications, including improving public health and safety by quickly identifying and controlling outbreaks, enhancing food safety measures, and enabling real-time pathogen detection in resource-limited areas. The method’s speed and accuracy contribute to more informed decision-making, mitigating the spread of infectious diseases and ultimately creating a safer society.

Future Research Plans

Moving forward, future work in the field of label-free SERS technology for pathogen identification could focus on expanding the coverage to include a wider range of Vibrio species, increasing the diversity of the dataset used for training, conducting rigorous cross-validation and external validation studies, exploring integration with portable SERS devices for on-site detection, optimising the deep learning model for speed and efficiency, and investigating clinical and environmental applications. By pursuing these avenues, the research can further enhance the versatility, reliability, and real-world applicability of the method, leading to improved methods for rapid and accurate pathogen identification in various domains.

Collaborations

• Dr Jianfeng Li (College of Materials, State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Energy, School of Aerospace Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China)
• Dr Lin Zhang (State Key Laboratory of NBC Protection for Civilian, Beijing 102205, China)
• Dr Zehui Chen (Xiamen City Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen 361005, China)

In an era where numerous policies and measures are taken to give women an equal footing with the rest of the world and where women shoulder equal responsibilities in the family and work front, the representation of women in Indian Politics still lags behind. Dr Vineeth Thomas, Assistant Professor, Department of Liberal Arts in his paper titled- “The Intersection of Culture and Politics: Understanding Women’s Under representation in Indian Democracy” in the Journal of Asian and African Studies – Sage Journals (Q2 Journal)  has tried to comprehend the issue of women’s under representation in politics.

Abstract

The representation of women in Indian politics has been low and inadequate, with women comprising only 14.4% of the members of the seventeenth Lok Sabha. Despite numerous policy measures aimed at promoting women’s political representation, the under representation of women remains a persistent challenge. This study seeks to understand the intersection of culture and politics in explaining the under representation of women in Indian democracy. The findings suggest that a change in the civic political culture, through a multifaceted approach, is crucial in breaking down the glass ceiling in Indian politics.

Dr Vineeth Thomas is currently engaged in collaborative research works on Public relations, democracy and ethics, poverty in SAARC region and judicial delay in Indian high courts.

The Department of Mathematics is glad to announce that the project of Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma, Assistant Professor, titled “Investigation and development of wavelet transform and its applications in the framework of fractional Dunkl transform”, has been selected to be funded by DST, Govt. of India under SERB-SURE Scheme, securing an approved grant of 20.13 Lacs. Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma is the Principal Investigator of the project.

Title of the Project: Investigation and development of wavelet transform and its applications in the framework of fractional Dunkl transform

Approved Grant: 20.13 Lacs (As per university calculation)

Funded by: DST, Govt. of India under SERB-SURE Scheme

PI: Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics

Project Summary: Dunkl operators are differential-difference operators associated with finite reflection groups in a Euclidean space. Dunkl transform is attracting widespread interest and giving us new perspectives on familiar topics from Harmonic Analysis and Partial Differential Equations. The fractional Dunkl transform (FRDT), which is introduced with one extra parameter, is the generalization of the well-known signal processing operations, such as the Fourier transform (FT), the fractional Fourier transform (FRFT), the Fresnel transform, Hankel transforms, fractional Hankel transforms, and the Dunkl transform. The FRDT will also find applications in the solution of optical systems, filter design, time-frequency analysis, and many others. The wavelet transforms (WT), which has had a growing importance in optics and signal processing, has been shown to be a successful tool for time-frequency analysis and image processing. It has found many applications in time-dependent frequency analysis of short-transient signals, data compression, optical correlators, sound analysis, representation of fractal aggregates, and many others.

The fractional wavelet transforms (FRWT) based on the fractional Fourier transform, which generalizes the classical wavelet transform, has proven potentially useful for signal processing, data compression, pattern recognition, and computer graphics. Thus, fractional wavelet transform gives more flexibility for time-frequency analysis than the usual wavelet transforms. As a generalization of the WT, a novel fractional Dunkl wavelet transform (FRDWT) can combine the advantages of the WT and the FRDT, i.e., it will be a linear transformation without cross-term interference and will be capable of providing multiresolution analysis and representing signals in the fractional domain. Simultaneously, compared to the Dunkl transforms, FRDT is more flexible for its one extra degree of freedom and can be used frequently in time-frequency analysis and non-stationary signal processing. Inspired by the fractional wavelet transform (FRWT), we introduce the concept of the (FRDWT), combining the idea of FRDT and WT. The proposed transform will not only inherit the advantages of multiresolution analysis of the WT, but also will have the capability of signal representations in the fractional Dunkl transform domain. Compared with the existing WT, the fractional Dunkl wavelet transform can offer signal representations in the time-fractional-frequency plane in the FRDT domain.

The faculty of SRM University-AP have been awarded 10 projects worth 2.50 crores from the Science and Engineering Research Board  (SERB-SURE). Department of Science and Technology (DST) received a total of 2000 proposals, of which 466 were sanctioned. Among the 466 projects, 151 projects were awarded to Private Universities. Of the 151 projects approved to state private universities and colleges throughout India, the five-and-a-half-year young varsity was awarded 10 projects. 10 professors from various Science and Engineering Departments brought this incredible achievement to the university.

SERB-SURE is a research grant scheme initiated by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) in India to provide financial support to young researchers in the early stages of their careers. The grants are intended to support research in basic and applied sciences, engineering, and technology and is typically granted for a period of three years.The SERB-SURE scheme is one of several initiatives by SERB to promote scientific research in India and support the development of a strong research community in the country.

“It is a milestone achievement that resonates with the University’s unparalleled commitment for excellence. We are striving towards research-intensive learning to build cutting-edge innovation for a transformative tomorrow”, commented Vice Chancellor, Prof. Manoj K Arora. The Executive Director-Research of SRM Group, Prof. Narayana Rao said that, “SRM University-AP has travailed hard to achieve the world-class scientific temperament that we now advocate, and this achievement is a testimonial recognition of all our efforts.” The prestigious grants were sanctioned to the faculty in the on-going domains of Quantum Kinetic Approach, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Profiling and Changing of Hydroclimatic conditions in Bay of Bengal among 7 others.

Dean-SEAS, Prof. Ranjith Thapa said, “These research could be path-breaking and could offer a solution to many of the societal difficulties.” Prof. Jayaseelan Murugaiyan, Dr Sandeep Singh and Dr Pitchaiah Cherukuri of the Department of Biological Sciences; Dr Sabyasachi Chakrabortty, Dr V S Baswanth Oruganti of the Department of Chemistry; Dr Debabrata Pramanik, Dr Ravi Kumar and Dr Pankaj Bhalla  of the Department of Physics ; Dr Sandeep Kumar Verma of the Department of Mathematics; Dr Uma Maheswar Arepalli of the Department of Civil Engineering; and Dr Kousik Das of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering were awarded the grants.

Researchers at the Department of Physics have successfully developed large-area ultra-thin 2D transition metal oxide (TMO) layers using a cost-effective and straightforward method through proximity evaporation under ambient conditions. Associate Professor Dr Jatis Kumar Dash and his students Shaik Md. Abzal, Kurapati Kalyan, and Sai Lakshmi Janga have secured a patent for their research in Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Oxide Layers and A method for their Synthesis (application no: 202241005220). They have integrated the 2D TMO layers with various other 2D materials to create nano-electronic devices. Their work demonstrates the immense potential of ultra-thin TMOs in 2D-material-based flexible electronics.

Patent Background

The two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin hetero-stacked layers show unusual physiochemical properties when reduced to a few atoms in thickness. These 2D heterostructures offer significant benefits for next-generation devices. Firstly, their atomically thin 2D nanosheets provide a larger surface area due to the complete exposure of surface atoms. Secondly, edge sites in 2D nanosheets are chemically more reactive than their basal planes, and open gaps allow for the intercalation of electrolyte ions. In addition, the high mechanical strength and flexibility at atomic dimensions make them suitable for use in next-generation wearable electronics. However, growing and stacking 2D materials is challenging, and existing growth tools are complex and costly.

Future Prospects

2D materials are critical for making flexible, wearable, foldable and transparent self-powered smart electronic devices. The next generation smart electronic devices will be
made of 2D materials heterostructures which will need less operating power, fewer materials consumption and will have ultimate scalability.

Dr Aehsan Ahmad Dar, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, delivered a lecture titled Impact of Childhood Adversity on the Mental Health of Young Adults in Kashmir at the Two – day National Conference on Youth Development held on March 24 and 25, 2023. Youth in the 21st Century: Prospects and Psychosocial Challenges was the theme of the conference, which was organised by the Department of Social Work and Department of Applied Psychology, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development (RGNIYD), Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with ICMR – NIRT, Chennai.

Abstract of the Lecture

The study examines the impact of Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on mental health among young adults in Kashmir. A cross-sectional research design was followed to study the effect of ACEs on the mental health of Kashmiri youth by employing a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected from 693 research participants who were studying in different colleges and universities in Kashmir, with the help of the Adverse Childhood Experiences scale and Mental Health Inventory (MHI-18). Findings revealed that various adversities during childhood, including psychological abuse, physical abuse, contact sexual abuse, household substance abuse, violent household treatment of mothers and fathers, household mental illness, and household criminal behaviour, had a significant impact on the mental health of Kashmiri youth in terms of increased anxiety, depression and loss of behavioural control and decreased positive affect.

Practical Implementation of the Findings

ACEs are traumatic events that individuals under 18 have experienced. Various individual, family, and community factors can affect a child’s likelihood of experiencing ACEs, and it causes long-term risks for mental health with the potential to carry over beyond the present generation. ACEs are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and adult risk-taking behaviours. There is a “dose-response relationship” between ACEs and health outcomes. Therefore, findings suggest advocating early targeted interventions to reduce ACEs and their impact on young people’s mental health in Kashmir. There is a need to design efficient measures, to enhance ACE resilience programs and ‘trauma-informed’ approaches to tackle the longer-term impact of ACEs on health and wellbeing.

SRM University-AP observed the 6th edition of Research Day on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Research Day aims to foster the exchange of information across disciplines, encourages extensive research projects, and appreciates innovative efforts in research. Prof. B J Rao, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, was the Chief Guest and Prof. Venugopal Achanta, Director, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Delhi, was the Guest of honour of the illustrious event held on the campus.

‘‘There are multiple ways to look at the truth. It is the journey of truth that gives you interest in insights, and it is in that context that Research Day is significant. You are not just a human being when you do research; you become a thinker. When you become a thinker, you discover new things and find the actual purpose of your existence. That is the level of culture we need to generate in our educational ecosystem,’’ stated Prof. B J Rao, Chief Guest of the event. He proceeded to explain why education must be an open process of learning and how it happens only by diffusion. ‘‘Scientific ethics is a big challenge in the country. Whatever I do, it is always looked under the microscope. It will take a longer time. It doesn’t matter. Are you not sure? Do one more experiment,’’ said the Guest of honour Prof. Venugopal Achanta.

The 6th edition of Research Day, for the first time, invited researchers from all SRM Group of Educational Institutions, AIIMS Mangalagiri, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, and Vignan University. It was an excellent opportunity for research enthusiasts to exchange and exhibit their ideas on research. UG, PG, and PhD students presented their research abstracts which is the culmination of innovative ideas and a sign of continuous contributions to research advancements on April 26, 2023. The various themes covered diverse topics such as AI, Machine learning, Cyber Security, Electric Vehicle, Renewal and Nonrenewal energy, Health Care Technologies, Image Processing and Computer Vision, Communication and Digital technologies, Robotics, VLSI and Embedded Systems, Drone Technologies, and Geoscience etc.

‘‘During the next five years, besides fundamental research, our focus will be on industrial research, research commercialisation, prototype and product development, and technology transfers,’’ said Prof. Manoj K Arora, Vice Chancellor, SRM University-AP, while addressing the gathering. ‘‘We have conceptualised Research Day to provide an opportunity for the students to get a comprehensive knowledge of the diverse research activities being carried out in the university. It is also a chance for enthusiastic students to showcase their research work,’’ added Prof. D Narayana Rao, Pro-vice-chancellor, SRM University-AP.

As part of Research Day, students and research scholars were advised to submit their research abstracts. Over 350 abstracts were received. 181 abstracts from the UG/PG category and 110 abstracts from the PhD category were accepted. A special issue of the research abstracts booklet comprising all selected abstracts was unveiled during the event. Gold and Silver medals and certificates have been awarded to the winners for their research work in various thematic areas. The potential abstracts will be converted into full papers, which will be submitted further to reputed conferences and journal papers.

Conventional agricultural utility vehicles used for crop cultivation involve complex operations such as ploughing and seeding, require trained personnel, and are expensive and not affordable to many farmers, especially in developing countries. Thus, there is a need for an agricultural utility vehicle for carrying out crop cultivation activities that alleviate the drawbacks of conventional practices.

Researchers at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering have been granted a patent for an invention entitled An Agricultural Utility Vehicle for Crop Cultivation Activities (Application number 202241051059). Assistant Professor Dr Somesh Vinayak Tewari and his students Gundrevula Sisir Srivastav, Kolisetty Jayanth, Tempalli Pallavi Sri, and Jayana Keerthi Tanvita have accomplished this milestone through their dedicated research.

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses an agricultural utility vehicle (1000) for carrying out crop cultivation activities comprising a framed structure (200) having wheels configured to be driven in an open plot of land. An agricultural implement (400) is configured to be attached to the vehicle. An electric drive system (100) is configured to drive the framed structure, and a battery (300) is coupled to the electric drive system to provide power.