Category Archives: Science & Technology

Hyderabad to host IndiaSoft 2012 next month

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad: February 13th

Business deals worth Rs 400 crore in the information technology sector are expected to be concluded between Indian and overseas firms at the 12th international conference IndiaSoft, the flagship IT event of the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), in Hyderabad between March 21 and 23.

This is the third time that Hyderabad is hosting the event.

“In the last year’s event, business deals worth Rs 300 crore were concluded. This year it will be more as a larger contingent of foreign delegates have confirmed their participation,” Mr D.K. Sareen, Executive Director of ESC, told media persons here on Monday.

A significant feature of this edition of IndiaSoft will be the larger participation from emerging countries, which are now in the focus of Indian IT firms in the SME sector.

“About 30 delegates from Latin American countries, 30 from African countries and 25 from the Middle East will be participating in the event. Totally, we expect 360 foreign delegates from 70-odd countries,” he said.

The event is an important one for SMEs in the IT business, as these smaller firms could showcase their products and services to prospective clients globally. While the top 200 IT companies in India account for a 80 per cent share in the country’s IT-related exports, 2,200 SMEs account for only 20 per cent.

TWO MORE EVENTS

The AP Minister for Information Technology, Mr P. Lakshmaiah, said “Hyderabad will host two other international IT-related events. While the International Conference of Software Engineers will be held here in 2014, the International Internet Companies for Assigned Names and Number (ICANN) is likely to hold its convention in the city in 2013.”

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Industry & Economy> Info-Tech / our Bureau / February 13th, 2012

 

High-security number plates soon

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

The transport department is gearing up to call for tenders for the high-security number plates following a Supreme Court order that the process should be complete before March 2012.

The transport department will be drawing up plans to implement the project. The issue was in cold storage for the last six months as it was found to be a costly proposition. While the court has set a deadline, the government might seek some more time.

An electronic chip would be installed in the number plate made of aluminium and coated with chrome.

The chip fixed in the plate would allow the officials to track the vehicle. The transport department will advise the vehicle owners to fix the high security number plates at the earliest. The number plate will also have Ashoka Chakra inscribed in the middle.

The project got delayed because of various problems. It was supposed to have been done as early as 2005.

“We have decided to hand over the responsibility of manufacturing and vending the high security number plates to APSRTC” said transport minister Botsa Satyanarayana.

The State Road Transport Authority will assist APSRTC in this regard, he stated.

Botsa Satyanarayana, at an earlier meeting, said the APSRTC wanted to provide the number plates at a cost of less than Rs.500 each.

The transport department will enforce the new number plates in the twin cities as a pilot project.

“The new number plates will display the chassis and engine number of the vehicle, apart from the registration number,” according to officials of RTA in Khairatabad.

“They will have a uniform serial number for the entire country and a unique hologram that cannot be duplicated.” The police and the transport department say that this would help prevent vehicle thefts and also enable tracking of stolen vehicles.

In Chandigarh, after the bids were finalised, it was decided that the number plate for a four-wheeler could be priced between Rs.400-500 as against Rs.1,000, and the ones for two-wheelers are expected to be available at around Rs.200, as against Rs.300 proposed earlier.

Satyanarayana said his department would issue a notification calling for fresh tenders from suppliers for high-security number plates (HSNP) in two or three days.

source:  http://www.postnoon.com / Home> City / by Srinivas. U. / February 13th, 2012

 

Cancer Awareness Program

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Science & Technology, Uncategorized

Bala Vedhika, Kakinada has conducted a Cancer awareness program here on Saturday at Recharlapeta Municipal Corporation School in Kakinada.

Speaking on this, School Head Master, Mr. V.Lakshmi Narayana explained about the causes & symptoms for this dangerous disease. He stated that total 76 Lakhs people per year are being effected by Cancer disease in the country. He said that it can be prevented in the starting stage, so every one should be aware about the symptoms to identify the disease.

Mr. N.Balarama Krishna, Mr. T.Ratna Shekar, Mr. Rabbani, Sridevi, Karuna and others participated in the program.

source: http://www.inkakinada.com / February 05th, 2012

IIL developing vaccine for Chikungunya

Science & Technology

Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board, is developing a vaccine for Chikungunya.

“Currently, no vaccine is available for Chikungunya anywhere in the world. IIL is developing a vaccine for this disease using a virus strain isolated by a laboratory in the US,” KV Balasubramaniam, managing director of IIL, said in a press release on Thursday.

For the for the first time in the country, IIL is also developing a live vaccine for Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV) infection, by producing the virus in cell culture, instead of using mouse brain for growing the virus. The inactivated JEV vaccine is thus a safer one, he added.

Right now, both the vaccines are undergoing pre-clinical toxicology studies.

During the outbreak in 2006, over 7,4000 cases of Chikungunya were reported in Tamil Nadu and Orissa alone.

And, mortality is high for JEV infection too. In 2011, Uttar Pradesh reported over 5,000 cases of JEV with 376 deaths.

“We are expecting to enter human trials in the next six to 12 months and commercialise within 24-36 months. Once approved, the company intends to manufacture these products at its facility that is being constructed in Karakapatla on the outskirts of Hyderabad,” said Ramesh Mathur, general manager (research and development).

With the mission of making biotechnology in healthcare affordable and accessible, IIL hopes to market these vaccines at highly affordable prices, the release said.

Indian Immunologicals is involved in research and development of conventional vaccines and new recombinant vaccines for infectious bacterial and viral diseases.

The company has several vaccines at various stages of development in its pipeline, the company said in the release.

source: http://www.Business-Standard.com / Home> Companies & Industry /  BS Reporter / Chennai,Hyderabad / February 10th, 2012

 

 

Celon Labs launches Healon

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad, Feb 6 :

Hyderabad-based Celon Laboratories Limited, a fully integrated specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced the launch of its fifth division ‘Healon’.

Healon is a multispecialty division with robust product basket comprising antibiotics, pain management, astro- intestinal, cough and cold and nutraceuticals, a company release said here today.

The release aid the new division targets to achieve a part of Rs 2,500 crore market existing in India by adding around 1,000 people to its field force.

With this foray, the company envisages a turnover of Rs 250 crore by the end of FY 2013, the release said.

(UNI)

source: http://www.NewKerala.com / Home> News> Pharmaceutical-News / February 06th, 2012

 

Dr Reddy’s posts 88% jump in Q3 net profit to Rs 513 cr

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad:


Pharma major Dr Reddy’s Laboratories on Friday reported a whopping 88 percent growth in consolidated net profit to Rs 513 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2011, on the back of robust Olanzapine sales in the USA.

The company had posted a net profit of Rs 273.14 crore for the third quarter of the previous fiscal.

The Hyderabad-based firm’s net income from sales and services rose to Rs 2,769 crore in the third quarter ended December 31, 2011, from Rs 1,899 crore in the same period last fiscal, translating into 46 percent growth, said DRL Managing Director and COO K Satish Reddy.

“It has been one of the best quarters we have ever had, both in terms of sales as well as profits. It is because of the exclusivity we had on the drug Olanzapine 20 mg, which we launched in October last year in the US market,” Reddy told reporters in a press conference.

He said revenues from the North American market grew by 120 percent to Rs 1,283 crore from Rs 582 crore in the same quarter last fiscal, with Olanzapine contributing USD 99 million to overall North American revenues.

Reddy said the USA growth story may continue in this quarter and next quarter as well, as the exclusivity of Olanzapine will continue.

“At least for the next six months, important launches are coming up and this will continue to drive the growth for the USA market. This quarter also has the benefit of Olanzapine exclusivity. With several good new launches, USA is looking like a good story,” Reddy hoped.

Olanzapine is used to treat psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Annual sales of  Eli Lilly’s Zyprexa (Olanzapine) amount to around USD 3.2 billion in the US, based on IMS sales data.

According to Reddy, the strong volume growth in North America was supported by key products such as Lansoprazole, Tacrolimus, Omeprazole Mg OTC and products from its Shreveport facility in USA, besides the launch of Fondaparinux and expansion of its antibiotics portfolio.

Revenues from Russia and India witnessed a growth of 15 and 16 percent, respectively, to Rs 332 crore and Rs 419 crore in the third quarter of FY’12.

India sales growth was driven by new product launches such as Stamlo, Reditux, Omez-D and Razo.

PTI

source: http://www.ZeeNews.com / Home> News> Companies / Friday, February 03rd, 2012

Kalam asks experts in medicine to develop new technology

Science & Technology, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam , the former President of India inagurating the VICTUS Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery Machine installed at the Maxivision in Hyderabad on Tuesday.Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

Former President inaugurates laser surgery machine at Maxivision Eye Care

Former President of India, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam said here on Tuesday that the country’s best talent in the field of medicine should strive to develop innovative technology so that the needy could afford the fruits of modern medicine. On Tuesday, Dr. Kalam inaugurated VICTUS Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery machine at Maxivision Eye Care, Somajiguda.

“I call upon the Maxivision eye surgeons to form a team of experts who can explore the multidimensional uses of Femtosecond laser in treating various eye ailments. We need to utilise the technology and help people who can’t afford modern medical care,” Dr. Kalam said.

The former President said that the multiple applications of the Femtosecond laser would help doctors treat a host of eye ailments.

Immediately after the inauguration, the renowned nuclear scientist also interacted with the eye surgeons of Maxivision and enquired about the newly acquired laser surgery machine.

The officials of Maxivision said that the new machine had been under test from November 2010.

Already, the eye surgeons had completed close to 450 eye surgeries by using the new laser machine. The surgeons pointed out that not a single case had reported complications after the surgery.

The VICTUS platform, essentially, helped doctors conduct cataract, refractive and therapeutic procedures of the eye on a single platform. The laser machine would help surgeons perform computer controlled precise, accurate and reproducible incisions compared to current manual procedures. The success rate for such surgery was 100 per cent, doctors added.

“This is the first such laser machine in the World and I would like to congratulate Maxivision for this accomplishment,” founder and chairman of GVK, G. V. K. Reddy said.

Chairman of L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Dr. G. N. Rao, Founder of Maxivision Eye Hospitals, Dr. Kasu Prasad Reddy, Film Producer D. Ramanaidu and several other doctors were present.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff  Reporter / Hyderabad, February 01st, 2012

 

Global Engagement Fund Awards

Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology, Uncategorized

The Office of the Provost announces 17 awards from the Global Engagement Fund. This Fund is designed primarily to support projects that collaborate across Schools and disciplines; involve multiple faculty members; engage regions in which Penn has active academic partnerships and collaborative ventures, such as China and India; or represent academic and thematic priorities, such as sustainability or neuroscience.

Proposals were reviewed by a faculty committee according to criteria of scholarly merit and significance for global research, teaching, and service. The 17 awards encompass 11 of Penn’s 12 Schools and involve engagement with at least 15 countries outside the US.

Proposals for the next round of funding are due March 2, 2012. The Call for Proposals can be found here.

The Fall 2011 Global Engagement Fund Awards are:

Student Activities and Courses

  • Michael Knoll (Law), research seminar on contemporary Islamic finance
  • Carol Muller (SAS), expansion of study abroad program in Grahamstown, South Africa
  • Monroe Price (ASC), seminar on methods of monitoring and evaluation in international development

Research Projects and Collaborations

  • Linda Aiken (SON), collaboration with Katholieke Universiteit Leuven on the impact of nursing on patient outcomes in sixteen countries
  • Charles Branas (PSOM), expansion of Penn’s engagement in Guatemala
  • Alison Buttenheim (SON), research on the use of incentives to increase participation in Chagas disease control programs
  • Femida Handy (SP2), research on philanthropy in India
  • Michael Levy (PSOM), collaboration with Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and Peru Ministry of Health on control of Chagas disease in Arequipa, Peru
  • Rahul Mangharam (SEAS), collaboration with NIIT University in India on design and development of new machine-to-machine communication protocols
  • Daniel Raff (Wharton), research on the history of the Beijing housing market, 1644-1948

Conferences

  • Eugenie L. Birch (Design), David Galligan (Vet Med), Mauro Guillen (Wharton), Frederick Scatena (SAS), Marilyn Sommers(SON), Brian Spooner (SAS), Susan Wachter (Wharton), Food Security in a Rapidly Urbanizing World
  • Cherie Kagan (SEAS), Controlling Matter at the Nanoscale
  • Richard Leventhal (SAS), Evaluating the Past, Present, and Future of UNESCO’s Cultural Policy Program

Distinguished Visiting Scholars

  • Daud Ali (SAS), hosting Prof. R.V.S. Sundaram, from the University of Mysore, to teach Indian language and literature
  • James Ferguson (Vet Med), hosting Profs. Yao Junhu and Jun Luo, from Northwest A&F University, and Prof. Y. Ramana Reddy, from the College of Veterinary Science in Hyderabad, to work with faculty in the Center for Animal Health and Productivity on methods of sustainable ruminant production
  • John Jackson (ASC/SAS), hosting Prof. Tudor Parfitt, from the University of London, a leading interdisciplinary scholar of Africana, African, and Jewish Studies
  • Charlie Johnson (SAS), hosting Prof. Yung Woo Park, from Seoul National University, an expert in nano-bio hybrid structures.

source: http://www.upenn.com / University of Pennsylvania / Vol. 58, No. 19 / January 24th, 2012

 

Puttaparthi girl from Oz gets sponsorship for water project

Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Nature, Science & Technology, Uncategorized

Saideepa Kumar grew up in the little town of Puttaparthi in the Anantapur district in the Rayalaseema region of the state, where water is very scarce. Ten years later, studying for a Master’s in water management in Australia, Ms Kumar has decided to do her research in the same region, where farmers face a constant water crisis. She gave up her career in IT to follow her heart and apply the knowledge gained in Australia to help farmers in her home district.

“After having worked in the IT sector, I quit my job and enrolled for a Master’s course in water management and undertook my research project in India,” she says, adding that her research study is a joint venture between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Hyderabad and the University of Melbourne.

Ms Kumar’ research has been funded by the Australian Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Award. Australia has also witnessed severe drought-like conditions in the past one decade which led them to develop innovative ways to manage scarce water resources. “The study suggest solutions for efficient water use of canal system to address both drought and water logging situations by uniform distribution of water,” said an official.

The study focuses on the Srisailam Right Branch Canal (SRBC) commissioned in 2004 to provide canal water to drought-prone areas around Nandyal in the Rayalaseema region, which has scanty rain and over-exploitation of ground water. Though the canal system initially helped farmers, it also threw up new problems, as the study shows.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> Cities> Hyderabad / DC / January 23rd, 2012

 

New aero-armrest for computer geeks

Science & Technology, Sports

Vikas using the new aero-arm rest for computer users. He has been nominated for the top innovator of the world award (under 35 years category) for the invention.

An engineering student from Visakhapatnam has designed an innovative product — the aero-arm- rest — which reduces arm strain and backache in people working on computers for long hours.

The product is now pending patent with the National Research Development Corporation.

The inventor, 21-year-old Vikas Kumar Singh, has been nominated for the Top Innovator for World (under 35 years category) Award by the technical review panel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. Mr Singh has based the design of his aero-armrest on cognitive ergonomics, which improve both the health and efficiency of an individual.

“The idea came from personal experience. While working on the computer, I noticed strain on the hand and on the spinal cord. Discussions were held with senior IT professionals. They told me they facedback and arm pain. This, they said, affected their productivity,” said Mr Singh who is doing final year B.Tech at Visakhapatnam’s Gitam University,

Mr Singh was one of the Indian students who participated in Nasa’s moon robot design competition held in the US last year.

“Although the market is flooded with chairs that provide rest to the back and help relax during the no-work hours, there is no attempt to develop a product that helps one work perfectly in the relaxed posture. The aero-armrest solves this problem,” Mr Singh said.

He gives credit to his teachers, Prof P. Madar Vali, Dr B. Surendra Babu and Prof P.S. Rao, for inspiring him. The aero-armrest is fitted with a height adjuster, which adjusts the height of the mouse pad.

The degree of freedom given to the arm holder is 360. The armrest can be clamped on any surface and then tightened.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> SCI-TECH> Others / by Syed Akbar / DC / Hyderabad, January 22nd, 2012