Category Archives: Science & Technology

Emergency angioplasty saves Belgian

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Vanhaeren Kohn

Minutes before the Vijayawada-New Delhi Air India flight was to take off from Gannavaram Airport, a 38-year-old Belgian national Vanhaeren Kohn, suffered a massive heart attack, but timely medical help saved his life.

A businessman, who was in Vijayawada to sell his company’s equipment, was on his way to New Delhi and sudden severe chest pain, palpitation left him motionless and identifying the problem, the people around immediately shifted him to the Pinnamaneni Medical College and Hospital in Gannavaram on Thursday evening.

Doctors shifted him to Dr. Ramesh Hospitals, where a primary emergency angioplasty was done in consultation with the family physician of Mr. Kohn back in Belgium. Ramesh Hospitals Chief Cardiologist P. Ramesh Babu said that there was a 100 per cent block in a vessel on the side and they removed it within 25 minutes .

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / February 02nd, 2013

Salar Jung goes solar

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

The SJM has decided to install a solar power plant to reduce the burden on conventional grid and to minimise its power charges

The rising power bill has forced the Salar Jung Museum (SJM) management to consider tapping solar energy to meet its captive needs. The SJM has decided to install a solar power plant to reduce the burden on conventional grid and to minimise its power charges.

The museum executive committee has already given the go-ahead, and the matter will be placed before the Board for its formal approval shortly. The SJM has already indicated Rs. 4 crore for the solar power plant in the budget projections for 2013-14.

Interestingly, SJM will be the first museum in the country to go for non-conventional energy. It plans to install 500 KW solar power plant on its roof top at a cost of Rs. 5.5 crore. The Ministry of Non Renewable Energy will provide a subsidy of 30 per cent.

However, the museum is looking for big companies, preferably those dealing in solar power, to sponsor the project as part of corporate social responsibility. In return, they can freely advertise their product in the museum, which has a visitor turnout of 12 lakh a month. A win-win situation for both.

“If none comes forward, we are prepared to go for the solar plant on our own,” says A. Nagender Reddy, Director, SJM. The New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of A P (NREDCAP) carried out a detailed survey of the museum premises recently and found ample space on the roof top of three buildings to install 500 KWp solar power plant to generate about 2500 KWh units of power a day. In a month the plant will generate nearly 75,000 KWh meeting 50 per cent of museum power requirement. The SJM power consumption is 4,851 units on an average a day. The average monthly consumption comes to 14,5,529 units. Annually the museum shells out a whopping Rs. 1.50 crore towards power charges.

Recently the SJM installed a 500 lpd capacity solar water heating plant at a cost of Rs. 64,000 to meet the needs of families of CISF personnel.

By going for solar power the museum hopes to save Rs. 7 to 8 lakh a month and recover the investment in about four years.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by J.S. Ifthekhar / February 01st, 2013

World Congress on Orthotics in Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Science & Technology
Hyderabad , JAN 30:

Assistive devices and technologies that help people with disabilities will be the focus of a four-day global conference of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) beginning on February 7 in Hyderabad.

The ISPO 2013 World Congress at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre will be the 14th edition and the first to be held in India and South Asia. The ISPO is an advisory body in the field of rehabilitation to the WHO, UN Agencies and the International Red Cross.

The event will showcase the latest equipment, facilities, technology and solutions that can bring in positive changes in the lives of people with disabilities and allied health issues, says a press release.

Over 1,000 delegates from 84 countries would participate in the event that would also see more than 100 exhibitors from across the world.

President of the Society Jan H.B. Geertzan said the changing disability profile, increasing ‘grey’ population, and many lifestyle-generated disorders are creating an ever-increasing demand for professionals in this field.

B.D. Athani, Chair, India Task Force, said the mega scientific event has attracted professionals, policy-planners, academicians and service providers for P&O, rehabilitation, orthopaedic and mobility sectors. The last congress was held in Leipzig, Germany and 3,000 delegates took part.

Somasekhar.m@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> News> Science / by M. Somasekhar / Hyderabad, January 30th, 2013

GEF to invest $8.4M in Hyderabad’s Integrated Cleanroom Technologies

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

GEF, which has approximately $1 billion in aggregate capital under management, has invested over $100 million across eight deals in India.

South Asia Clean Energy Fund (SACEF), an SME fund managed by clean technology investor Global Environment Fund (GEF), is investing Rs 45 crore or $8.4 million in Integrated Cleanroom Technologies Ltd (IClean). The Hyderabad-based firm, founded by first-generation entrepreneurs back in 2002, will use the funding to expand its manufacturing facilities and reach the target revenues of Rs 500 crore by FY17.

SACEF is acquiring a minority stake in IClean, which manufactures prefabricated modular cleanroom and cleanroom equipment (cleanroom technology refers to providing contamination-free and temperature-controlled room facilities in different industrial environments). In addition, the company is aggressively expanding into cleanroom projects execution on a turnkey basis. IClean’s promoters are led by managing director K Gopi besides U Srinivasa Murthy, TV Prasad and D Narendra.

IClean was started after its founders saw an opportunity in the cleanroom equipment segment, where all products used to be imported and companies incurred high costs. The firm set up a domestic manufacturing facility and indigenised the products. It earned revenues of Rs 5 crore in its first year of operation which went up to Rs 125 crore in FY12. IClean also bagged two mega projects during the third quarter, each worth Rs 30 crore.

While manufacturing accounts for 75 per cent of its current revenues, the rest comes from execution of turnkey projects. Going forward, IClean sees this mix heading towards 50:50.

IClean clients are primarily pharmaceutical and biotechnology laboratories, but the company has started servicing clients in healthcare services, food & beverage processing and electronics space.

Its overseas revenue currently accounts for 20 per cent of the total revenue although the company has recently bagged a contract worth Rs 35 crore in the US. Some of its key clients include Dr. Reddy’s, Cipla, GlaxoSmithKline, Glenmark, Pfizer and Biocon.

With the capital infusion from GEF, IClean plans to expand its two existing plants in Hyderabad with additional machinery and finance a new facility in Vadodara, Gujarat. The company has also expanded its manufacturing space from 1.5 lakh sq. ft. to 4.5 lakh sq. ft. and sees no major capex ahead. Its product range includes cleanrooms, cleanroom accessories, heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC), air handling unit and lab furniture.

K Gopi, managing director of IClean, said in a statement that the firm is also entering other engineering products, as well as greenfield projects, which have significant market potential and market size of Rs 5,000 crore.

“Cleanroom solutions, while providing for contamination-free environments, also result in energy efficiency gains through better design and insulation. IClean is one of the leading solution providers in the country with a very strong team and execution record,” said Raj Pai, managing director at GEF Advisors India Pvt Ltd.

GEF, which has approximately $1 billion in aggregate capital under management, has invested over $100 million across eight deals in India. Its current portfolio include energy efficiency firm Kalki Communication Technologies, clean energy firm Greenko Group Plc and Saisudhir Infrastructures, an EPC player focused on sectors like water supply and solid waste management.

(Edited by Sanghamitra Mandal)

source: http://www.elp.com / Electric Light & Power / Distributed by Contify.com / by Mosaic Media Ventures / Wire News by Lexix Nexis

 

Cupping therapy gains momentum in Hyderabad

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology

Cupping therapy, an ancient Chinese therapy also known as hijama in Arabic, draw 500 – 800 patients in the City every day, doctors say.

According to experts, this unconventional therapy, which combines acupressure and acupuncture, is used for curing various diseases, both chronic and mild.

Though this is known to the world as traditional Chinese medicine, several Unani doctors in Hyderabad claim this is a science from West Asia. Most of the cupping therapy centres are located in Medhipatnam and surrounding areas.

This therapy is part of a major branch of medicine known as ‘regimental therapy,’ taught in Unani medicine. Dr Md Ahsan Farooqui, assistant professor at the postgraduate department of medicine, Government Unani College, was the first documented person to perform hijama in India.

Having been reduced to theory rather than practice until recent years, this doctor thought of reviving the therapy in India and performed the first trial in 2008. He said one of the reasons this is gaining acceptance among traditional Muslim families is due to the reference of this therapy as pain reliever in the ‘discourses of Muhammed’ (Hadith).

Claiming to attend to about 15,000 cases in various parts of country, Dr Farooqui demonstrated the therapy to medical students and postgraduates in Delhi, Kolkata and Kozhikode.

With the increasing acceptance from various sections of the society, these therapy centres are burgeoning in areas like Tolichowki and parts of Old City. According to the doctor, the number of patients visiting these centres every day is around 500-800. Though there are about 50 centres giving this therapy, those that are considered to be of good standards, with well qualified therapists, are few.

Each session stretches to an average of four weeks, with four sittings per week. Private clinics charge between `2,000 and `2,600. Obesity, thyroid, skin diseases, back pain, cervical spondylitis, liver diseases, varicose veins, brain tumour and paralysis are some of the diseases that can be treated with cupping therapy. With the success percentage comparatively higher than acupuncture and acupressure, doctors predict a bright future for it.

N Arun Kumar, acupuncturist and hypnotherapist based in Secunderabad, combines acupuncture with cupping therapy. “I learned this from my visits to the far-East, where it is widely practiced,” he said.

Some doctors like Musab Hashmi, who recently developed a love for this therapy, are following the lunar calendar, and arranging special camps for patients. “As it is mentioned in some hadiths (sayings of prophet), there are few important dates on which this could be done. Interestingly, I am getting good results when I perform hijama on these days.”

source: http://www.postnoon.com / Home> City / by Md. Nizamuddin / January 20th, 2013

The wizard weaver of Nalgonda

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Science & Technology

Chintakindi Mallesham with his invention.

Necessity is the mother of invention, but these days, it’s exactly the reverse: invention is the mother of necessity. But for Chintakindi Mallesham, the age old adage stands true. For, the plight of his mother and other Pochampalli weavers impelled him to innovate. He designs machine for weavers, who live at the far end of dirt roads in Sharjipet village, Nalgonda in Andhra Pradesh, as well as in other villages in India. His invention costs Rs 16,000. The idea germinated in his mind in 1992. Reason: his mother’s tired arms. “You can’t understand how difficult asu—the tying of threads and dyeing them in selected colours—is,” he says. It is this understanding of tedium and tired muscles that Mallesham brings to his work.

Despite lacking a formal education or technical training, Mallesham has made a machine that has mechanised the most tedious part of Pochampally weaving—the tying of threads and dyeing them in selected colours. He replaced the woman’s arm with a mechanical one, which winds the silk thread on the pins and offers a choice of settings. The result is that the thread needed for three or four sarees is now processed in a reduced timespan. He has named the machine, Laxmi Asu, as a tribute to his mother.

The journey wasn’t easy, Mallesham was burdened by the loans he took to develop the machine and had to leave it unfinished and work in Hyderabad as a daily wager. In the journey to his invention, once he got stuck, since he did not know which parts to use to provide for one particular movement in the asu process. He then worked in a machine shop where he spent time observing various machines, searching for that one elusive movement. “The owner used to shout at me,” recalls Mallesham, a school dropout. “Finally, one day I found it and rushed off, without my wages for the day. My machine was ready.”

His achievement has made Forbes magazine list him as one of the seven most outstanding rural entrepreneurs of India in 2010. “The Pochampally saree involves weaving patterns on the loom. The yarn has to be wound with hand using the ‘asu’ process, according to the design. This might involve even moving multiple pegs over 9000 to 10,000 times, for each saree. By doing this manually, many weavers suffer from joint pains and strain their eye,” explains Mallesham. The Lakshmi Asu, he explains, does the weaving in 90 minutes against 5 hours with the manual process and enables more innovative designs. Only 200 watts equivalent to the power consumption of an air cooler usage is consumed.

Initially, he was at the receiving end from family and villagers who saw his preoccupation with the machine as an excuse to escape earning a livelihood. So it took seven years to introduce the first prototype of Laxmi Asu.

“The first few customers gave feedback that there should be some technical modifications, and I worked on that too,” says Mallesham. I have sold about 600 machines but most weaver families cannot afford the money. Their lives can change if the government helps them buy the machine,” says Mallesham.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Magazine / by Swati Sharma / January 13th, 2013

Infotech Enterprises opens development centre at Kakinada

Business & Economy, Science & Technology
Hyderabad , JAN 11:

Infotech Enterprises has launched its 7th India Development Centre at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. It has 850 employees now and has plans to ramp up staff strength to up to 2,000 by 2014.

The focus of the centre will be to deliver technology solutions to its oil & gas, energy and utilities customers. It is Infotech’s second centre in the coastal city.

The facility developed in a five acre, sprawling campus has a built up area of 52,000 sq.ft. It has a capacity of 650 seats, which will be increased to 1,500 by 2014. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Union Human Resources Development Minister, M.M. Pallam Raju, formally inaugurated the Centre at Sarpavaram, Special Economic Zone today.

B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, founder and Chairman, Infotech Enterprises, said it was part of the company’s strategy to grow inclusively by expanding operations in tier-II cities. It will also help boost the local economy by generating employment opportunities, he said in a press release.

The Hyderabad-based Infotech Enterprises has also set-up an Avionics M.Tech programme in JNTU Kakinada by providing an avionics lab, enhanced course curriculum and adjunct faculty. The first batch of students will be graduating this year.

Infotech also provides several scholarships for needy students of JNTU Kakinada.

somasekhar.m@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> Industry> Info-Tech / by M. SomaSekhar / Hyderabad, January 11th, 2013

Now, Camera Cat to help low vision students

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology

A. Usha Rani, president of Rotary Club of Waltair, observing the working of  ‘Camera Cat’ classroom device for low vision students, after inaugurating it in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. /  Photo: A.Manikanta Kumar / The Hindu .

The portable equipment will cost Rs. 18,000, says Vision-Aid president

Eight years after introducing Camera Mouse, a device that helps low vision persons to read a book or newspaper with small print, Vision-Aid came up with Camera Cat for the sake of students not able to clearly see the teacher and the blackboard in the classroom.

Camera Cat consists of a LED screen to which is attached a camera with a high definition lens that can be focussed on the blackboard. Camera Cat is portable and all its parts are Indian made and it would cost Rs. 18,000 per equipment, compared to Rs. 5 lakh one has to spend to get similar equipment made in the US which is a wireless one, Vision-Aid India president M.S. Raju said. The cost was expected to come down in future, he said.

The Camera Cat was launched by president of Rotary Club, Waltair A. Sudharani at the Vision-Aid Resource Centre located on the premises of GVP Junior College in Dwakaranagar here on Saturday. She also promised to look into the possibility of providing a Camera Cat at a school before March 2013. A low vision student was not able to see the blackboard and would copy the notes from the student sitting next to him. Mr. Raju expected Camera Cat to become popular like the Camera Mouse. So far 700 pieces of Camera Mouse are in use and there was no single complaint, he said.

Book released

Also on the occasion a book, ‘Enabling the Vision Disabled’, was released. This was meant to help the NGOs and others helping the low vision people. The book consists of four monographs on sight evaluation and sight enhancement of vision impaired; computer training for vision impaired; educating and resourcing on assistive devices for vision impaired and orientation and mobility training for vision impaired. It was based on the research findings of the Rockefeller Foundation.

Founder of Vision Aid Inc. USA M. Ramaraju, co-founder Revathi Ramakrishna, senior executives of Royal Commonwealth Society of UK Pooja Sanghvi and Akbar Mehfuz, vice-president of Vision-Aid A. Srinivas, coordinator A.V. Ramesh Kumar and others were present.

Mr. Ramaraju appreciated the efforts being made by Vision-Aid here and the way two visually impaired teachers Ravi Krishna and Surya Krishna could learn to use computer with the help of training provided by the Vision Aid Resource Centre.

Vision Aid Inc. USA was raising funds by organising programmes in the US to help the visually handicapped persons here. Sightsavers organisation and the Royal Commonwealth Society are helping the programmes of Vision-Aid.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam, December 30th, 2012

Hyderabad girl, Panipat guy win Internet-based talent hunt

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Science & Technology

 

Hyderabad girl Pragya Patra and Rohit Sehgal from Panipat won MOBisur, a mobile and Internet-based singing talent hunt launched by composer-signer Shankar Mahadevan.

The winners received a cash prize of Rs5 lakh and will get an opportunity to record an album with Shankar, which will be released by T-Series and Hungama.

There were six finalists and final decision was taken by the jury members — Shankar and singers Soumini Paul and Tulsi Kumar.

“It has been an incredible and challenging experience to filter and select the best of what India’s rich talent pool has to offer. I am extremely happy that we have successfully selected the right winners,” Shankar said in a statement.

The motive behind launching MOBisur was to gather musical talent from every corner of India through the power of digital medium.

“We received an overwhelming response in the first edition, which has reaffirmed our faith in the digital talent hunt,” he added.

Launched in July, “MOBisur” gave participants the chance to engage in a unique audition format, which required them to either dial in and record a song or perform and upload a video online.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Daily News & Analysis / Home> Entertainment> Report / Place: New Delhi, Agency: DNA / December 24th, 2012

Hyderabad boy clinches Asian schools chess title

Records, All, Science & Technology

Raja Rithvik Playing in Asian Schools Chess Championship-2012 at New Delhi

A student of Class IV in the Orchids International School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Rithvik scored six points in six rounds in the championship organised by the Asian Chess Federation

R. Raja Rithvik, a Hyderabad boy, has clinched the gold medal in the under-9 Rapid event of the Asian Schools Chess Championship-2012 held at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

Rithvik, who has international rating of 1536, scored over A. Nodirbek of Uzbekistan, rated 1932, in the final round, a press release from the AP State Chess Association informed on Saturday.

A student of Class IV in the Orchids International School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Rithvik scored six points in six rounds in the championship organised by the Asian Chess Federation.

He competed with more than 50 players from 10 countries including India, China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, UAE, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. He will also participate in the classical chess format of Asian Chess tournament to be held at New Delhi from December 13 to 20. Recently, Raja Rithvik also bagged the silver medal in the Commonwealth Chess Championship at Chennai.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Sport / by Staff  Reporter / Hyderabad, December 16th, 2012