Category Archives: Science & Technologies

First LHB AC coach flagged off

Records, All, Science & Technologies

Chennai:

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu flagged off the first Linke Hoffman Busch (LHB) three-tier AC coach along with a power car, manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), on Friday via video-conferencing from Trivandrum Central.

The 24th EMU rake of MRVC Phase-II, which will be sent to Western Railway, was also flagged off. The LHB AC three-tier coach has been insulated by stainless steel, floor de-coupling elements and cushioned seats, which reduce noise level to 60 decibel. The speed of the coach can be upgraded to 200kmph, a release stated.

The EMU rake has a sliding door mechanism and roof-mounted forced ventilation system to supply 16,000 cubic m/hr fresh air in the coaches. It also has a GPS-based passenger information system.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / TNN / February 13th, 2016

Associate Prof With Einstein’s Gravitational Pull

Amazing Feats, Education, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

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K G Arun, an associate professor from Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI),  was part of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Scientific Collaboration (LIGO LSC), which made headlines across the globe with its most stunning and significant discovery of gravitational waves.

What is your role in this discovery?

I was one of the 61 Indian participants, representing the CMI in the LSC, under the umbrella of the Indian Initiative in Gravitational-Wave Observations (IndIGO).  The CMI’s role was to check the correctness of the detected GW signals and analyse whether the monitored wave form was consistent with Einstein’s relativity theory which was crucial in the final phase.

What was the method of operation?

We started working on this research right from September 2014. We regularly interacted with the scientists in the United States and other countries through teleconferencing about the recent developments in our research work. Since I have worked with some of these experts in earlier researches in St Louis and Paris, that helped me a lot.

What was the most challenging portion?

Though the entire research work is complicated, we, the Indian scientists, found the initial stages of research more challenging. Since there were several methods and algorithms to validate the relativity theory, we had to explore every one of these to arrive at one single method which can answer the question of consistency. Though the theory was proposed 100 years ago, changes less than the scale of nucleus of an atom were recorded and analysed.

Support from your Indian counterparts and the government?

Research of this magnitude was not possible without their support. My entire research was from the institute (CMI) funded by various government agencies including the Department of Science and Technology (DST). We had several conferences and meetings regarding this and scientists from LIGO-India were extremely supportive throughout the entire process.

What does this detection mean or what is its significance?

This is a very important breakthrough in the field of astrophysics that has provided new ways to look at the universe. This will also allow us to know more about the Big Bang and with LIGO-India’s GW detector proposal in India, this gives us a chance to colloborate with various other industries that can help in differentiating conventional and gravitational astrophysics.

PROFILE

Dr K G Arun

Associate Professor, Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI)

Qualifications

Ph D, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore

MSS in Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology

Positions Held Previously

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Washington University in St Louis, USA.

Virgo Ego Scientific Fellow, Institute of Astrophysics (IAP), Paris

Associate of the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Bangalore

Research Interests

Gravitational Wave Astronomy

Short Gamma Ray Bursts

High Energy Astrophysics

Cosmology

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Ram M. Sundaram / February 13th, 2016

Chennai doctors replace patient’s defective heart valve without using scalpel

Records, All, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

When 73-year-old Padmanabhan approached a city hospital with severe breathing difficulties, poor kidney function and high blood pressure, doctors found the answer to his problem in his heart.

It wasn’t a scalpel that mended his organ, but a thin tube inserted through the groin. Padmanabhan, a retiree, was diagnosed with severe narrowing of his aortic valve, which maintains one-way flow of the blood from the heart to other parts of the body.

While doing an open heart surgery was the only recourse for patients like him, doctors ruled out making the cut, citing his advanced age. “Besides, he was suffering from other conditions like severe asthma, high lung pressure and anemia. The odds were stacked against him,” said Dr G Sengottuvelu, interventional cardiologist at Apollo Hospitals.

As doctors went through medical literature and discussed ways to replace his valve without wielding a scalpel, time became a luxury. Padmanabhan’s heart was fast failing. “I couldn’t walk or lie on my back. I felt this constriction in my chest and couldn’t breathe. I prepared myself for any eventuality,” said Padmanabhan, who was presented before the media on Tuesday.

Doctors at the hospital decided to undertake a procedure that was fast gaining popularity in other countries but is still in the nascent stage in India — transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This minimally invasive procedure replaces the narrowed aortic valve with a valve made of bovine pericardium (membrane enclosing the heart), supported with a metal stent. The new valve is mounted on a catheter (a thin tube) and guided into the heart through a small hole in the leg.

Padmanabhan, who had been in and out of the hospital for more than a year, was discharged in four days. “For years I’ve been climbing the same flight of stairs at home and not once did I think of counting them. My battle with ailments made me do it as they crippled me. I aimed to climb the 21 stairs some day. I can finally do it now,” he said.

Padmanabhan will be remembered by the team of doctors who treated him for being the first to undergo TAVR at the hospital. “We need to undertake more such procedures as the risks are minimal compared to open heart surgery and the recovery is much faster,” said Dr Sengottuvelu.

However, although the procedure shows promises, the cost remains a hurdle. A single valve costs Rs 13 lakh. “The cost will come down probably if these valves are indigenously made. It will translate into lesser people going under the knife,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / Ekatha Ann / TNN / February 09th, 2016

Skiing champ gets hip replacement done in city

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technologies, Sports, World Opinion

Chennai:

In 1976, Frederick Schmidt was part of the Austrian team that won a silver medal for skiing in a qualifying competition for the Innsbruck Winter Olympics.

Agonised over severe pain of the hip in December last year, this athlete-turned-physical trainer logged on to the internet in search of a hip surgeon.

It took him to Chennai orthopaedic surgeon C Vijay Bose who specialises in joint replacements. “Many friends supported my idea,” said Schmidt, after a 3km walk towards the Mamallapuram beach on Thursday.

Schmidt underwent a hip replacement surgery at SIMS Hospital in Vadapalani on January 28. Doctors declared him fit for discharge on Thursday.

Schmidt said he would be flying back home soon.

Doctors at the hospital said Schmidt developed secondary osteoarthritis after he sustained hip injuries in a bike accident.

“He was medically managed but he told us he was in pain,” said his surgeon Dr Bose.

Schmidt had refused surgery in Sweden because he was told there would be a lot of restriction on his sports activities. “When we spoke to him about hip resurfacing, he was convinced that he could start competing again in endurance races,” he said.

During the surgery doctors cut the capsule along the femoral head the highest bone on the thigh without disturbing the other parts of the bone.

“So we preserve blood vessels along the femoral neck, which may in turn preserve blood supply for the femoral head.This will improve longevity of the resurfacing and enable a faster recovery,” Dr Bose said.

Schmidt left the hospital on Thursday evening, promising to return as a participant for the 2017 Chennai Marathon.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / TNN / February 05th, 2016

Seed bank created

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

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As part of observing World Wetlands Day, students of Panchayat Union Middle School in Kannanderi in Magudanchavadi Union have collected 10,000 neem seeds to create a seed bank in the school.

At a function organised by the Eco-Club of the school, headmaster K. Chandrasekar explained the importance of wetlands and the need to create an awareness among the people about its values and benefits.

Eco-Club coordinator R. Jeyakumar explained the signing of the convention on wetlands on February 2, 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar.

The day was celebrated for the first time in 1997.

He said that the theme for the current year is ‘Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods.’ The European Space Agency has published satellite images of wetlands around the world.

As part of the celebrations, students collected neem seeds from various places and formed a seed bank.

They said that the seeds would be sowed in wetlands and more seeds would be added to the bank every year. Teachers too participated in the celebrations.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by Staff Reporter / Salem – February 05th, 2016

ICF Rolls Out First Batch of Military Coaches

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

Integral Coach Factory (ICF) on Thursday rolled out the first two of the Military AC II tier coaches for the defence personnel as part of an order tendered by the Ministry of Defence. ICF General Manager Ashok Kumar Agarwal and  Major General Umamaheshwar, VSM, Additional Directorate, General Strategic movement Integrated HQ, Ministry of Defence( Army) flagged off the coaches in an event held at ICF.

ICF had bagged the order in March last year to supply 40 specially designed Tier II air conditioned coaches and 32 Military Langer (pantry) cars.

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Speaking at the launch, ICF GM, Ashok Kumar Agarwal said, “These coaches have more or less the same features of a standard AC two tier coach and are designed to accommodate the comfort level of troops who are always on the move.”

One of the main features of the coaches include enhanced water storage capacity so as to help the troops in long time sustenance without supplies. Besides this, all the lighting is of LED leading to less power being consumed and an additional diesel generators in the pantry units to give power to one additional coach beside it.

MilitaryCoach02CF05feb2016

Apart from these, minor enhancements such as RO plant with dispenser, bio retention plants for the toilets, charging point on each berth, LED based lighting, Public Address system, Mini office cabin, chest for storing documents,additional inter vehicular coupler for connecting power car are adde  to the standard configuration of AC TIER II coaches, ICF officials said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 05th, 2016

ISTE award for engineering college professor

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technologies
N. Santhiyakumari, Professor and head, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, receiving the Indian Society for Technical Education award at the 45th ISTE annual convention in Amravathi, Maharashtra.
N. Santhiyakumari, Professor and head, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, receiving the Indian Society for Technical Education award at the 45th ISTE annual convention in Amravathi, Maharashtra.

The India Society for Technical Education (ISTE) has announced 20 awards in various disciplines in connection with the 45th ISTE annual convention, 2015.

The ISTE recognises research work from all over the country.

N. Santhiyakumari, Professor and Head, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem was selected for the Maharashtra State National Award – 2015 in recognition of her outstanding research work in the area of biomedical image processing. She received the award from Anandrao Adsul, MP, at a function organised by the ISTE, New Delhi, at the HVPM’s College of Engineering and Technology, Amravati, Maharashtra.

Dr. Santhiyakumari won the award for her research work on implementation of medical decision making system for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease analysis, a press release from the college said

ISTE recognises research works from all over the country

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by Special Correspondent / Salem – January 31st, 2016

‘I dedicate the award to my family, doctors and staff’

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies
D.K. Srinivasan. Photo: M. Karunakaran
D.K. Srinivasan. Photo: M. Karunakaran

Recently, there was jubilation at a multi-specialty hospital in West Tambaram over a rare honour bestowed upon its founder. He had been chosen for the coveted Padma Shri Award and the joy of those who worked with him knew no bounds.

The man, as we all know, is D.K. Srinivasan, who started the Hindu Mission Hospital in West Tambaram along with his friend Dr. C.S. Gangadhar Sharma, a leprologist, on December 5, 1982. What was just started as an outpatient ward in a small shed, over three decades ago, is now a majestic landmark on GST Road with 220 beds. The hospital serves 500 outpatients and 100 inpatients every day.

D.K. Srinivasan, founder-secretary of the hospital, gave up his businesses to serve the poor by offering them medical care at subsidised rates. Apart from providing healthcare, he is instrumental in offering quality education to the underprivileged and first-generation students through Valluvar Gurukulam Higher Secondary School, Grand Southern Trunk Road, West Tambaram. “Initially, it was quite difficult; balancing the funds from donors and meeting out the demands of the public were major challenges,” says Srinivasan.

Today, the multi-specialty hospital has grown by leaps and bounds and has a raft of facilities including 9 operation theatres and offers various specialties, including cardiology, spine surgery, neurology, orthopaedics and also an intensive care unit for children.

It charges Rs.200 per sitting for dialysis, conducts 200 free Intraocular Cataract Lenses (IOL) eye surgeries, distributes free artificial limbs and callipers, free speech and hearing therapy for special students. The hospital also conducts free medical camps regularly in various areas in the region, including Mudichur, Kancheepuram and Tambaram. During the recent deluge, the hospital provided free medical treatment to over 6,000 flood-affected victims and free dialysis for 40 patients. On how he feels about the award, he says, “I dedicate the award to my family, doctors and staff of the Hospital.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> DownTown / by T.S. Atul Swaminathan / Chennai – January 30th, 2016

After an award by Portugal govt, inventor of low cost napkin machine wins Padma Shri

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

Coimbatore :

For Arunachalam Muruganantham, the year 2016 couldn’t have started off any better. It was only a few days back that he got to know that he had been honoured by the Portugal government as Indian Business Leader of the Year.

Even before congratulatory messages for the recognition were still pouring in, Muruganantham’s mobile phone has gone again into a non – stop ringing mode. The 52 year old native of Coimbatore, acclaimed for invention of low cost sanitary napkins, has been chosen by the union government for Padma Shri award 2016.”I am not usually excited by awards. But Padma Shri is an exception,” says Murugantham who had just landed in Coimbatore on Monday evening after a tour of various cities addressing a variety of audiences ranging from students to businessmen.

“The award will be an inspiration for youth, especially engineering students. Rather than helping me, the award might inspire another Muruganantham to emerge,” he said.

He hopes that youth would start realizing that social activism doesn’t always mean getting on to the streets and serving the poor. Youth, especially engineering graduates, should realise that social change and improving someone’s life could also be done through an invention, using engineering,” Muruganantham tells.

There are lakhs of youth without jobs. They should identify a social cause and be a solution provider by coming up with more machines like the low cost sanitary napkin making machine,” he said.

The Coimbatore based social entrepreneur, who was listed by TIME magazine as one among world’s 100 most influential persons in 2014 was born in a poor family of handloom weavers in Coimbatore.He lost his father at a young age and had to drop out of school at the age of 14 years.

Soon after marriage, he realized troubles of women during menstruation after marriage, he started experimenting with sanitary pads to help his wife. When women members of his family grew tired of being test subjects, he started experimenting with sanitary pads on himself. SSubsequently, he came up with a machine to make those low cost sanitary pads and sold his first napkin making machine in 2004 in Madhubani in Bihar. tnnIn the decade since then, he has sold 2500 machines across India and abroad as NGOs and corporates saw the value in promoting the machine for better personal hygiene among women.

I am not inclined to display the Award in my house or call myself Padma Shri,” says Muruganantham signing off with the note that he has a long way to go to ensure that every single woman in the country uses a sanitary napkin.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / TNN / January 27th, 2016

IIT-M Lads Design Foldable Rail Ramp

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

Ever wondered why railway coaches should have just the vertical footboard that is risky for passengers? This could soon change if the idea of a group of IIT Madras students, who have designed a semi-automatic one to be fitted to the coaches, becomes a reality.

Designed at one of India’s premium technology institute’s tech festival Shaastra, the idea has already attracted the attention of top Railway officials.  Impressed by this project idea along with two other ones that won the ‘Indian Railways Design Challenge’, Railway officials have decided to try out these modifications in upcoming coaches.  The contestants were asked to design a suitable mechanism or device that could be fitted to the bogie or moved about on the platform without major alterations to the coaches.

Taking up this task, team ‘Innovators’ comprising mechanical and civil engineering students from IIT, had created a foldable semi-automatic footboard. Explaining its working principle, Borde, a team member said, “On arrival at the station, the guard should press a centrally-connected switch so that the steps, with multiple pin joints and controlled by single pneumatic cylinder and micro-controllers, roll out. When the switch is pressed again, these would fold back.” Borde’s team had designed a standard four-bar mechanism, which will be attached to the bogie with the fixed pivots attached close to the door. This mechanism consists of a ladder, a stepped ramp and a pneumatic telescopic bar.

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A student event-organiser, Surya said, “One of the team members, whose father lost a limb while getting into a train, came up with this innovative automatic footboard design for Southern Railway coaches. This could end the woes of the elderly and differently abled persons.”

Speaking to Express, Narendra Borde, one of the team members said, “Every year, hundreds of passengers get either maimed or even killed while entering or exiting trains through the steep footboard. This is because of the large gap between the platform and the coach.”

While Borde’s team’s project was selected as one of the top three projects by Southern Railway officials who were the judges, another team from IIT-M secured the first place.

Raj Dandekar, a student from the team said, “After taking the maximum and minimum gap into consideration (229-305 mm) across India, with no major modifications in the coach design, our mechanism can help 22-24 people comfortably entrain and detrain within 180 to 250 seconds.”

The students claimed that the total cost of this device would be around Rs 8,300.

R Kuppan, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Southern Railways, who attended the event said, “We are generally skeptical when it comes to student projects, but today their projects were outstanding. The winners will be given a chance to work on their ideas with Railway engineers to develop them and we will try it on our railway coaches.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Ram M Sundaram / January 25th, 2016