Category Archives: Science & Technology

Researcher stumbles on anti-cancer molecule in marine sediment

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :

When Dasari Venkata Ravi Kumar set out with the objective of discovering a compound with a broad spectrum of activity, he accidentally stumbled upon a novel compound belonging to the Actinomycate family that has the potential to make a huge impact in the fields of cancer and microbial research.

Strangely though, Ravi Kumar found this unique molecule in some marine sediment  barely a stone’s throw away from the place where he conducted his research-the Department of Chemical Engineering at Andhra University. Actinomycates are filamentous or rod shaped pathogenic microorganisms resembling bacteria and fungi that are found in soil. These nitrogen deleted compounds have anti-cancer and anti-microbial tendencies.

“The discovery of this bio-microorganism has opened the doors for cancer and microbial research. The potential is huge and Ravi Kumar would be remembered as the man who made it all possible,” observed Professor D Rami Reddy, Ravi Kumar’s mentor, guide and inspiration. Talking about his discovery, an elated Ravi Kumar said that the past one year had been one hell of a ride with three international publications-Journal on Microbial Research, Journal of Microbial and Bio-Chemical Research and Journal of Bio-Technology publishing his research paper on the discovery.

“It was a fascinating experience. I basically set out to discover greater potential in compounds and by accident discovered a novel compound that is as of now unheard of,” says Ravi Kumar, pointing out that the support of his department and guide enabled him to complete his PhD in just two and a half years.

Though upbeat about his success at such a young age, the 30-year-old Dr Ravi Kumar, who was pursued by several pharma companies, is currently employed with a Hyderabad-based pharma player and is now worried about getting his discovery patented.

“Getting the patent is on top of my list of priorities. Things have been good so far and we have already applied for a patent, the compound has to be put through more tests till it can be finally patented. Once that is done, I plan to do more research in anti-cancer and microbial fields,” said the scientist, who jokingly said that sometimes picking up sea shells on the sea shore does help.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Science /  TNN / Visakhapatnam, November 29th, 2012

DRDO to set up Missile Test Range in Machilipatnam

Science & Technology

Hyderabad, Nov 24 (PTI)

The Defence Research and Development Organisation is planning to set up a long range missile testing centre at coastal Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, a top official said here today.

DRDO chief V K Saraswat said the organization has resolved issues with the Ministry of Petroleum as the area where the facility is likely to come up falls under Krishna-Godavari basin.

“We have intentions to set up a launch site at Machilipatnam.

source: http://www.ptinews.com / PTI – Press Trust of India / Home> National / by Staff Reporter / November 24th, 2012

World Agriculture Forum- 2013 to be held in Hyderabad

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Congress, being held for the first time in Asia. / Express photo

To discuss steps to make farming economically-viable in the era of WTO regime, a three-day World Agriculture Forum Congress will be organised here from November 4-7 next year.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Congress, being held for the first time in Asia, which has the theme “Re-shaping agriculture for a sustainable future of small and marginal farmers”.

An agricultural trade fair will also be organised concurrently. As a prelude to the Congress, a meeting was held here today to discuss the agenda and related issues.

World Agriculture Forum Chairman Kenneth M Baker, WAF Advisory Board chairman and former Prime Minister of New Zealand James B Bolger, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Agriculture ministers — Kanna Lakshminarayana (AP), Ramkrishan Kusmariya (Madhya Pradesh) and D Prasad Mishra (Odisha) attended the meeting along with others.

The primary objective of the Congress was to discuss withall key stakeholders like farmers organizations, industry,government and scientists the steps for “re-shaping and re-positioning” small farm-holder agriculture to make farming economically-viable in the era of WTO regime, WAF Chairman Baker said.

Speaking on the occasion, Bolger noted that the challenge was to feed nine billion people in the world in the next 40 years, up from seven billion now.

“About 800 million to one billion people are left hungry everyday now, out of the world’s population of seven billion.

We have to feed not only these people but also an additional two billion people in the next 40 years. We need to produce 70 per cent more food in the next 40 years,” Bolger pointed out.

The task, therefore, in front of agriculture sector was “immense”. Its not a question if it is possible but its a question of the will. The world can feed itself better if there is a political will, the former Prime Minister observed.

“We need to use all the safe sides to reach the goal of feeding all,” he added. Stating that the WAF was trying to reach out to the world, Bolger said the WAF Congress was for the first time being held outside the US.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by PTI- Hyderabad / November 24th, 2012

It’s raining milk on APDDCF

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Science & Technology

PROBLEM OF PLENTY: Extra milk powder will be used in the programme where cooked food is supplied to pregnant and lactating mothers.  / File photo / The Hindu .

The Federation is left with an extra 1.70 lakh litres of milk per day

Usually there are problems with shortages. But in the case of A.P. Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (APDDCF) the opposite is true. It is faced with the unique problem of glut of milk so much so that it doesn’t know where to store all the milk that is coming its way.

Everyday the Federation is left with an extra 1.70 lakh litres to handle which it simply can’t. Therefore, it is toying with the idea of declaring a ‘milk holiday’ once in a fortnight.

The idea is not to procure milk two days in a month so as to take care of storage problem and also the rising cost of procurement. The proposal will be placed before the APDDCF board to get its nod. The last time the Federation declared a milk holiday was in 1993.

The APDDCF has been flooded with surplus milk from September onwards. The per day procurement shot up from 3.90 lakh litres in August to 4.69 lakh litres in September. It touched 5.27 lakh litres in October and 5.93 lakh litres in November. In December, milk procurement is projected to be 6.29 lakh litres.

Faced with this unusual phenomenon, the Federation has started converting the excess milk into skimmed milk powder (SMP).

“We are doing all this only to not inconvenience farmers,” says Mohammed Ali Rafath, managing director and vice chairman, APDDCF.

Unlike private diaries, the APDDCF is procuring milk beyond its requirement to help the farmers. Its factory has a capacity to handle only 4 lakh litres a day, including 30,000 litres of by-products such as flavoured milk, butter, khova, lassi.

In the last few months it has been getting an extra 1.70 lakh litres milk per day. Of this, 1.02 lakh litres is buffalo milk and the rest cow. To procure this excess milk, it has to shell out Rs.41 lakh per day.

To tide over the problem, the APDDCF has started converting the milk into powder and now it has a stock of 1,000 metric tonnes of butter and 800 metric tonnes of skimmed milk powder. To clear this stockpile, the Federation has asked the Women Development and Child Welfare Department to use its powder milk in its programme of supplying cooked food to pregnant and lactating mothers.

“This way we hope to supply 100 tonnes of skimmed milk powder per month”, says Mr. Rafath.

The excess milk production is the result of milch animal induction programme wherein the government provides 25 per cent subsidy on purchase of cattle and also reimburses transport charges.

Another factor is the vigorous artificial insemination programme taken up by the Animal Husbandry Department.

Why can’t the APDDCF push up its sales? It cannot because there are no takers for its Vijay brand of milk. While Hyderabad has a liquid milk market of 12 lakh litres a day, APDDCF accounts for just 3.60 lakh litres a day.

Now the APDDCF is planning to develop forward linkages by strengthening its district market where the sales are very dismal.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by J. S. Ifthekhar / November 21st, 2012

Two prizes for Nalgonda in State science test

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology

Subramanyam of Prakasam district and K. Yeshwant of Nellore bagged the first prizes in Telugu and English respectively in the State-level science talent test conducted by the Jana Vignana Vedika (JVV) at Nagarjunasagar on Friday. Seventy-five students from 16 districts took part.

The other prize winners were Yesasvi (Kadapa) and Nandakumar (Nalgonda) in Telugu, and Rajesh (Nalgonda) and Vijaysai (West Godavari) in English.

K. Sripraja of Nellore and N. Ajita Reddy (Krishna) won the first and second prizes respectively in the display of science exhibits.

Dr. P. Rama Rao, State JVV president, gave away the prizes that included laptop , tablet and cell phone . Chandana Chakravarty, formerly of the CCMB, and Krishna, a professor from the University of Hyderabad, were among those present, along with JVV leaders Dr. Brahma Reddy and N. Bheemarjun Reddy.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Hindu’s Correspondent / Nalgonda, November 17th, 2012

Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Receives Carbon Accreditation

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad, has received Airport Carbon Accreditation at Level 2 –‘Reduction’ for its efforts in managing and reducing carbon emissions.

The Airport Carbon Accreditation certification was presented to RGIA on 8 November during the 8th ACI Asia-Pacific Small Airports Seminar organized by ACI Asia-Pacific and hosted by GMR Hyderabad International Airports Ltd (GHIAL).

Mr. Vikram Jaisinghani, CEO of GHIAL, operator of RGIA, said, “This accreditation is a significant milestone in the advancement of airport’s overall sustainability strategy as it involved calculating the carbon footprint of RGIA, using internationally recognised methodology and independent verification. RGIA has compiled an independently verified carbon footprint and succeeded in reducing their overall emissions and carbon footprint over the past number of years.”

On the same occasion, Mr. P.S. Nair, CEO-Corporate, Airport Sector of GMR Airports Limited was also presented with the Airport Carbon Accreditation certificate for Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, another GMR-led airport in India, which was accredited at Level 2 – ‘Reduction’ in July this year.

Regional Director of ACI Asia-Pacific, Mrs. Patti Chau said, “It was this month last year that Airport Carbon Accreditation was introduced in Asia Pacific and I am indeed very pleased to see that 6 airports in the region have been accredited and 3 are even accredited at Level 2 – ‘Reduction’, including RGIA.”

Airport Carbon Accreditation is the institutionally endorsed program that independently assesses and recognises airports’ efforts to manage and reduce their CO2 emissions.

Participating airports can be certified at 4 progressive levels of accreditation as follows: ‘Mapping’, ‘Reduction’, ‘Optimisation’, and ‘Neutrality’.

First launched by ACI Europe in 2009, the programme received support from ICAO and was extended to the Asia Pacific region in November 2011.

Airport Carbon Accreditation is administered by WSP Environment & Energy, an international consultancy appointed to enforce the accreditation criteria for airports. The administration of the programme is overseen by an independent Advisory Board.

Airports must have carbon footprints independently verified in accordance with ISO14064 (Greenhouse Gas Accounting). Evidence of this must be provided to the administrator together with all claims regarding carbon management processes which must also be independently verified.

source: http://www.asiatraveltips.com / Home / Monday, November 12th, 2012

ISB to host digital summit

Business & Economy, Education, Science & Technology
Hyderabad, NOV. 1:

The Indian School of Business (ISB) is hosting a digital summit at its Hyderabad campus from November 9-12.

The summit Advertising strategies for online retailers is being organised by the Srini Raju Centre for IT and the Networked Economy at the ISB in association with Jigserv, a digital marketing company founded by an ISB alumnus.

The conference will bring together academics, business leaders, marketers and digital media industry practitioners to discuss the new paradigms in digital marketing, and how it will impact businesses.

Some of the prominent speakers include: Ajit Balakrishnan, Founder and CEO, Rediff.com, Arun Sundarajan, of Stern School of Business, New York University, Hari Krishnan, Country Manager, LinkedIn India, Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, Google India; Vikramaditya Sharma, Director, Nielsen Online, India and Virginia Sharma, Vice-President Marketing, IBM India / South Asia.

The summit will discuss and debate current trends in digital media, recent innovations, new biz models and effective ways of leveraging the medium for both large and mid-sized companies, across various verticals, a press release said.

somasekhar.m@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> Industry & Economy> Marketing / by The Hindu’s Bureau / November 01st, 2012

 

Hyderabad to host 1st Edition of IMTCA 2012 on Nov 2 &3

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Taking Indian Healthcare to the next highest level on the global radar, Hyderabad is all set to host the 1st edition of the Indian Medical Tourism Conference scheduled to be held on November 2 and 3, 2012 at HICC.

The two day event is being organized by i-Transition Worldwide (I) Pvt. Limited and ONE HealthCare Worldwide, USA with the  supported by FAPCCI (Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry).

The conference is expected to receive International participation from eight countries including US, UK, France, Turkey, Thailand, Philippines, Dubai and Fiji. Local dignitaries from the government and NGOs, director of Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences and several other eminent doctors, medical professionals and entrepreneurs are expected to take part in the mega event.

High level delegation from Ministry of Healthcare and Tourism department and other important attendees from IT and insurance companies are also expected. International speakers like Josef Woodman, Dr David G Vequist IV, Dr Michael Guiry, Prof. Brent McCallum, etc. have been called to conduct the sessions. The two day conference will largely cover sessions on topics that would cater to ‘Global Healthcare’ and focus on ‘Positioning Hyderabad as medical tourism hub in India’.

Eminent medical professionals from across the world and prominent speakers who would give presentations and hold interactive sessions include Armando F Palanco, president of Trans-national Advisors, Prof. Brent McCallum, Asst. Professor, Zayed University, Dr David G Vequist IV, founder & director, Centre for Medical Tourism Research, Dr Michael Guiry, senior fellow at the Centre for Medical Tourism Research, Dr Guru N Reddy, founder & chairman of Continental Hospitals, Dr Marcia C Inhorn Jr. Professor at Yale University, Dr K S Nayak, chief nephrologist and director of Department of Renal Sciences, Dialysis Centres and Renal Transplant Programme, Josef Woodman, director at Patient Beyond Borders and M V Rajeshwara Rao, general secretary of FAPCCI.

Sharing her views, Varsha Lafargue, founder and chairperson, IMTCA and i-Transition Worldwide said, “India has a wide scope to develop medical tourism, with this conference we would like to provide a common platform to all the Healthcare – Tourism industry professionals to exchange and know the best practices from across the world and position Indian healthcare to raise it’s standard to command a larger revenue share of this multi -billion dollar industry. It will also be a good opportunity for the local entrepreneurs to showcase their strengths to the global market, explore new opportunities to increase market share through an organized medical tourism system like IMTCA.”

Medical Tourism has been the driving force for exponential growth in many countries. This conference is an initiative dedicated to drive economic growth in India through medical tourism and to map India as one of the “best value provider” medical tourism destination of the world.

source: http://www.pharmabiz.com / Home> Events / Thursday, November 01st, 2012

‘Efficient distribution network vital for pharmaceutical market’

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

“Medical Detailing, Force Effectiveness and Automation will be the key in exploiting the expanding pharmaceutical market in Sri Lanka, said K. ShivKumar, Managing Director, Eisai Pharmaceuticals India.

Developing excellent Medical Detailing Force, Effectiveness and Automation strategies will help in identifying the right customers by answering key questions like – which markets, which target audience, why and how, how often and with the right message.

Alembic Pharmaceuticals, Supply Chain International Business, Vice President Himanshu Saxena said, “Supply chain and distribution is the most important aspect of the pharmaceutical business to ensure that drugs are delivered to the end patient quickly and in a safe condition”.

Local pharma industry should implement convenient and implementable technologies designed to manage the supply chain to efficiently maintain adequate stocks and meet ever-changing demand cycles. This would help reduce the pressure on the overall pharma business and ensure that sales are not affected”.

“Even if the manufacturing and production of drugs is done using GMP norms, the products remain unfit for consumption if the safety of the drugs is compromised en route to the end patient.

Also, since pharmaceutical organisations in Sri Lanka are custodians of the products, it is imperative that they ensure an efficient distribution network so that patients can consume quality drugs in time.

Emerging countries like Sri Lanka can draw learnings from new and innovative strategies adopted by countries like India who have passed this stage despite dealing with similar infrastructure challenges.”

According to Sri Lanka Export Development Board sources Sri Lanka is expected to increase the value of the local pharmaceutical manufacture market share from Rs 4 billion to Rs 18 billion within another 4-5 years time.

source: http://www.dailynews.lk / Daily News, Sri Lanka / by Indunil Hewage / Wednesday, October 23rd, 2012

Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital undertakes various cancer awareness programmes in Hyderabad

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology

Marking the breast cancer awareness day, the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute in Hyderabad has embarked up on various cancer awareness programmes in the state.

As part of this initiative the Indo-American Cancer Hospital has been organizing various programmes like Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, Cancer Awareness Programme and a Free Cancer Screening Camp in the city.

Initially to mark the Breast Cancer day on October 18, the hospital had organized Cancer Awareness Walk from Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital to the KBR Park Junction in Jubilee Hills. The programme was flagged off by City police commissioner Anurag Sharma.

In tune with its vision the institute is not only merely involved in treating the patients but it is also taking up programmes towards prevention of the dreaded disease. As part of this, the hospital is organising various programmes that are aimed at understanding the basis of disease and creating awareness among general population about cancer and possible causative agents and practices.

A part from serving the poor patients from all parts of the country, the Basavatarakam Indo-American institute has also taken up research initiatives in the filed of oncology. The R&D wing of BIACH & RI has been in the forefront in conducting research pertaining to cancer and its allied activities and is being recognized as one of the premier R&D centres in the country.

Recognizing the efforts of the R&D wing for the first time ICMR, New Delhi has sanctioned a three-year grant for research project tilted ‘Combinatorial Approaches to Elevate Levels of Intra – Cellular Ceramide in Drug Resistant Head and Neck Cancer Cells.”

“The project aims to understand underlying mechanisms of major pathways which are targets for almost all the anti-cancer treatment strategies, excepting surgery. The pathway that is targeted in the research study may also potentially important in developing drug resistance. The expected outcome of the project might help in developing specific and effective anti-cancer treatment modalities with less side-effect,” informed a source.

It is expected that the new research study taken up by the R&D wing will bring in possible new treatment strategy as it involves bioactive molecules that are present in human body and are thus less likely to have harmful side-effects. The institute has no fund crunch at present. The R&D wing’s another proposal on stem-cell therapeutics has also been approved by the funding agencies. Overall, the Indo-American institute has been doing remarkably well and has even attracted research fellows from reputed national agencies like CSIR and ICMR.

source: http://www.pharmabiz.com / Home> News> Hospitals & Clinics / PharmaBiz.com’s Bureau / Hyderabad, Saturday, October 20th, 2012