Information Technology and Product/Service Innovation: A Brief Assessment and Some Suggestions for Future Research

In this paper, I follow up on my previous article about information systems as a reference discipline for new product development (Nambisan, 2003) and assess the extant research on this topic. To facilitate the assessment, I develop a framework that considers information technology’s (IT’s) dual roles as operand resource and as operant resource and its impact on innovation process and on innovation outcome. My analysis reveals the advance that has been made in understanding IT’s role as operand resource in innovation and the considerable opportunity that exists to explore IT’s emerging role as operant resource in innovation. I also comment on the need for IS scholars working in this area to make careful choices regarding their research topic and theoretical perspectives to enhance the potential impact on and contribution to the product/service innovation literature

Nonlinear and adaptive control systems for underwater and air vehicles

This thesis considers the design of nonlinear and adaptive control systems for the control of submersibles as well as aircraft. In the first part of the thesis, control of submersibles using bow and stern hydroplanes is considered, and (i) a robust output feedback nonlinear control law using modeling error compensation, (ii) a nonlinear adaptive state feedback law using SDU decomposition; and (iii) an output feedback linear adaptive law for the dive-plane maneuvering are derived. The robust nonlinear controller with high-gain observer is designed for depth and pitch angle tracking along constant trajectories in the presence of parametric uncertainties and disturbances due to the sea waves. Next, the adaptive backstopping controller is developed to accomplish depth and pitch angle tracKing SDU decomposition of the high-frequency gain matrix is done to prevent singularity in the control law. For this design, one needs to know the sign of the two minors of the input matrix, but no other knowledge of the submarine parameters is required. Finally, a Model Reference Adaptive Control (MRAC) law using output feedback is derived for the linear model of the submersible; In the second part of the thesis (i) an adaptive Variable Structure flight Control (VSC) system and (ii) an adaptive flight control system for the roll-coupled maneuvers of aircraft using the aileron, rudder and elevator inputs are derived. Again, the SDU decomposition of the high frequency gain matrix is used for the derivation of singularity free control laws. Simulations performed for the underwater and the air vehicles using Matlab and Simulink show that in the closed-loop system, desired trajectory tracking is accomplished using each of the control systems

Successful management of recurrent puerperal uterine inversion

The puerperal uterine inversion is a rare and severe complication occurring in the third stage of labour. The exact mechanisms are unclear. However, extrinsic factors such as prolonged labour, umbilical cord traction, oxytocic use etc. have been mentioned. Other intrinsic factors such as primiparity, uterine hypotonia, different placental localizations, fundal location of a myoma or short umbilical cord have also been reported. The diagnosis of uterine inversion is mainly made on the basis of clinical symptoms which include haemorrhage, shock and a strong pelvic pain. The immediate treatment of the uterine inversion is required. A case of 23 years old, second gravida with one previous spontaneous first trimester abortion, who had a full term normal vaginal delivery but while trying to deliver the placenta after confirmation of placental separation clinically, uterine inversion was diagnosed immediately and manual repositioning of uterus was done under general anaesthesia. On the 6 th post natal day, during the routine postnatal rounds, uterus was not palpable per abdomen and a local examination revealed a mass at the introitus. A diagnosis of grade 3 sub-acute inversion was made and she was taken up for exploratory laparotomy. Reinsertion was done according to the Huntington technique by placing clamps on the round ligament, near its insertion on the uterus, and applying traction upwards while the assistant exerted traction on the contra lateral way through the vagina. As persistent atonicity and diffuse oozing was noted multiple Cho sutures were put over the uterus. Patient had an uneventful postnatal period. This is a rare scenario where the same patient had an acute inversion initially followed by sub-acute inversion

The Adoption and Use of National Information Infrastructure: A Social Network and Stakeholder Perspective

This study draws upon stakeholder theory and social network analysis to examine the diffusion of national information infrastructure (NII) among two key stakeholders—the end users (or customers) and application/ service providers. The context chosen is Singapore ONE. The study also investigates the types of mechanisms utilized by network participants for resolving their concerns with respect to NII adoption

Maternal obesity as a risk factor for caesarean section: a case control study

Background: Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder in the affluent, industrialized and developed world. Worldwide it exists at a prevalence of about 20% when Body Mass Index of more than 30 was considered. According to the current Asian Guidelines a BMI >25 in pregnancy is considered to be obese. Maternal obesity is on the rise and so are the maternal and perinatal complications. The objective of the study was to find out if maternal obesity was an independent risk factor for Caesarean section. Over the years, there have been innumerable accounts of obstetricians coming under the media and public ire, blaming them for the rising Caesarean section rates. This study was undertaken to know if changing socio-demographic characteristics have also contributed to the rise.Methods: This was a case control study. In order to have uniformity amongst ‘cases’ and ‘controls’, in terms of age group and other co morbidities, only primigravida were included in this study. It was conducted in, a tertiary reference centre in Thiruvananthapuram under government sector which mostly caters to low and medium socioeconomic groups. The ‘cases’ were defined as ‘all subjects who underwent Caesarean section’ and the ‘controls’ were defined as ‘all those who underwent vaginal delivery’. Data were collected, after informed consent, by going through patient records and interview method using a questionnaire. Sample size was statistically calculated using data conducted from a pilot study done, using few subjects. Current Asian guidelines for obesity were used with BMI >25 being considered as obese and weight of the pregnant women in the very first visit was considered, if in the first trimester. Literature search has shown very few studies that were done considering current Asian guidelines.Results: This study conclusively proved that maternal obesity is an independent risk factor for Caesarean section. The odds of ending up in caesarean section are about 2.8 times more amongst the obese than the non-obese. When the overweight and obese were considered together, the odds of ending up in Caesarean section was 2.3 times more.Conclusions: Since obesity is an independent risk factor for Caesarean section, it is imperative that weight control measures are initiated from adolescence. Preconceptional counseling regarding weight control is also important to prevent complications of obesity in reproductive years

Lane-Departure Safety Countermeasures: Strategic Action Plan for the Iowa Department of Transportation

Lane departure crashes are the single largest category of fatal and major injury crashes in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) estimates that 60 percent of roadway-related fatal crashes are lane departures and that 39 percent of Iowa’s fatal crashes are single-vehicle run-off-road (SVROR) crashes. Addressing roadway departure was identified as one of the top eight program strategies for the Iowa DOT in their Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan (CHSP). The goal is to reduce lane departure crashes and their consequences through lane departure-related design standards and policies including paved shoulders, centerline and shoulder rumble strips, pavement markings, signs, and median barriers. Lane-Departure Safety Countermeasures: Strategic Action Plan for the Iowa Department of Transportation outlines roadway countermeasures that can be used to address lane departure crashes. This guidance report was prepared by the Institute for Transportation (InTrans) at Iowa State University for the Iowa DOT. The content reflects input from and multiple reviews by both a technical advisory committee and other knowledgeable individuals with the Iowa DOT

Integration of Service-Learning into Civil and Environmental Engineering Curriculum

Service-learning is defined as integrating the community service experience of students with their academic study so that learning is enhanced. The level of student participation in community service is at an all time high as students feel the need to confront today\u27s technical and societal problems. However, service-learning is more than community service or volunteerism. Service-learning as defined above, integrates the community service experience with the student’s academic study (note the hyphen in service-learning means that both are considered equal). This enhances learning which is a fundamental goal of colleges and universities. Boyer highlights the need for service-learning stating that At no time in our history has the need been greater for connecting the work of the academy to the social and environmental changes beyond the campus. Service-learning is a campus wide learning pedagogy including a range of disciplines and has been implemented at over 600 institutions; however, not as widely implemented in engineering and science. A noteworthy contribution in the engineering education, is the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program at Purdue University (http://epics.ecn.purdue.edu) that partners undergraduate students and local community not-for-profit organizations to solve engineering-based problems in the community