Category Archives: Science & Technologies

Doctors cure toothache that was almost fatal

Science & Technologies

Chennai :

When 59-year-old V Srinivasan fixed a dentist appointment for a toothache, little did he know that two weeks later he would end up in an operation theatre with life-threatening complications.

By the time the bank employee was admitted to a city hospital, he had a huge swelling in his neck, slipped in and out of consciousness and suffered from breathlessness. A preliminary glimpse of his scan reports was sufficient for doctors to pinpoint the cause.

The tooth infection had spread to his carotid artery – the vessel that supplies blood to the brain – causing severe swelling that constricted his wind pipe and limited blood supply to his brain. “The fact that he was diabetic added to the complication,” said neurosurgeon Dr K Sridhar. He led three surgeons and a dozen others to conduct a 12-hour surgery removing about 9cm of the diseased portion of the artery and creating a bypass to resume blood supply to the brain. At every stage of planning, doctors had to monitor Srinivasan’s sugar levels. “He had undergone an amputation of a few toes after they developed gangrene. First, we thought the infection was from his foot, later we realised the infection had spread from his tooth,” said Dr Sridhar.

The scan reports revealed three aneurysms (blood-filled balloon-like bulge on the wall of a blood vessel) in the carotid artery. “One had already burst, if the other two also ruptured, we knew we would lose the patient,” said neuro interventionist Dr Joy Varghese

Before the surgery, an infectious diseases specialist was roped in to help control the diabetes and infection in the body. “The surgery was complex as we had to be wary of the two aneurysms which could rupture at any point,” said Dr Varghese.

Two weeks after the surgery, Srinivasan was out of the intensive care unit and presented before the media on Thursday. Tubes still ran along his frail body as he was wheeled into the room, but his family vouched that he looked much healthier than a month ago, when they thought they had almost lost him. “When doctors at the hospital explained his condition, I had a sinking feeling. They told me the risks involved, but I decided to take the chance,” said Surya S, his wife. Doctors say he will be discharged in a week.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai /  TNN / June 27th, 2014

Watts of energy from sugarcane, soon

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

Sugarcane Breeding Institute develops varieties that can be alternative energy source

Coimbatore : 

The Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore has developed two types “energy canes” – one which can provide sugar and energy and the other which can be a feedstock for ethanol.

The canes are being field tested, according to institute Director N Vijayan Nair said.

He told Business Line on the sidelines of a National Symposium on “Bio-energy for sustainable development – the Potential Role of Sugar crops” that a few clones of energy canes are being tested at Samalkot in Andhra Pradesh.

The institute has registered the clones with the National Bureau of Plant Registry.

Stating that the energy canes were only at the testing stage, he said that the can which can produce sugar and energy can be processed in the existing sugar factories.

The second type, which can be handy for generating energy, has high fibre and biomass yield. It has been developed with an eye on the future. “This can be used for production of cellulosic ethanol,” Nair said.

The Institute plans to promote cultivation of such canes in marginal lands, he said adding that the initial results have been positive.

Nair also said that the technology for cellulosic ethanol was changing rapidly. It nevertheless offers enough opportunity in the coming years.

The Institute, he said, was not a front-runner in this technology, but foreseeing the requirement of feedstock for ethanol, developed bio-energy canes.

“While the development this far has been appreciable, the issue is, we are not integrated on feedstock development or integrating other technologies or in development of research labs that work on process optimisation and other related technologies. Each exist in silos,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Markets> Commodities / by L N Revathy / Coimbatore – June 25th, 2014

New stapler method to treat constipation

Science & Technologies

Chennai :

Malar, 49, was suffering from a problem she thought was unspeakable and untreatable. She had been suffering from chronic constipation for 15 years and no amount of laxatives or fibre-rich food helped.

Malar’s is not a stray case. Doctors say many people suffer from this and nearly 70% of them are women who have given birth. Most of them suffer from a condition called obstructive defecation syndrome (ODS). In this, the lining of the rectum juts out every time the patient strains and obstructs motion, thereby making it impossible for the person to pass motion regularly. ODS causes severe headache, depression and decreased self-esteem. Dr Rajkumar of Rigid Lifeline Hospitals said that it is also one of the common causes of colorectal cancer.

“Since the surface of the bowel is in constant contact with toxic body waste and carcinogens, it puts such people at a cancer risk,” he said. The doctor pointed out that many people who suffer from ODS are not aware of it and suffer in silence. “Till very recently, there was no cure for this. But now we have a new method called stapled ano-rectal resection which is a safe and cost effective method involving minimal pain and hospital stay,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / June 27th, 2014

Govt’s fruit farm in Salem gets 3-star rating for big yield

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies, Uncategorized
Salem :
The government’s fruit farm in Karumandurai in Salem district has received three stars in the agriculture ministry’s five-star rating system. Spread over 1,050 acres, the farm produces varieties of mango and other fruits.The National Horticulture Board, part of the agriculture ministry, gave the Karumandurai Tamil Nadu Government Fruit Farm the rating for its nursery maintenance and plant and fruit production.”This rating would be applicable for two years. We are growing more than two lakh saplings of alphonso, neelam, malgova and imam pasanth mangoes every year. We also raise one lakh guava plants, 20,000 sapota and 10,000 pomegranate plants. Apart from these, we grow other fruits such as banana and jackfruit. Every year, we grow more than 6 lakh fruit plants and made a profit of 17 lakh in the last financial year,” said A Mohan, horticulture officer at the farm.He said a farm should have consistently produced good quality fruit plants for at least three years before it is eligible for the rating. The volume of production should increase every year.

The horticulture department has 66 fruit farms across the state, of which Karumandurai farm is the biggest. The farm, started in 1981, is one of the largest in south Asia.

He said TNGFF has insect-proof screen houses, soil sterilisation yards and indexing against viral and virus-like diseases. Nursery plants are reared under the care of pathologists, entomologists and horticulturists.

The horticulture officer said this year they have planned to sell more than 6 lakh fruit plants to growers and nursery owners and that targets for coming years were also being fixed. The nursery plants of sound health ensure better life expectancy and performance in the orchards, he added.

(AM Shudhagar will send fruit farm photos)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by B. Senthil Kumaran , TNN / June 25th, 2014 

Gung ho about Tamil Nadu buses, blog offers need-to-know info

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

‘Atomic Express’ is neither a new train nor the title of a film. The state government bus gets its name because it plies between Kalpakkam, home to Madras Atomic Power Station, and Bangalore. ‘Triseas’ are buses that buses that originate from Kanyakumari, where the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean meet. And ‘Anandha Paravai’ (Happy Bird) flies from Kuttam to Chennai and to Coimbatore.

These quirky names are a rage in the interior districts of Tamil Nadu. They may be largely lost on the urban crowd, but not for much longer.

Five young bloggers provide information on buses operated by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation. They announce new routes and timings, put up photographs of TNSTC buses and meticulously send mails to subscribers. The blog, tnstc.wordpress.com, is viewed around 2,500 views a day, has 500 subscribers and has had 10 million visitors since it started two years ago.

Preetham Sri Krishna Vignesh, who works in an automobile company in Coimbatore, says he and his friends in Coimbatore, Chennai, Hosur and Tuticorin started the blog in 2012.

“We wanted the world to know that these buses do a great job,” Vignesh said. “Back then the only way to get information about timings was to ask your friends or the depot time keeper. We decided a blog would be a good platform to provide information.”

Another of the bloggers, K Dhandapani, says private buses are getting more fancy all the time – some of them offer WiFi, TV, comfortable seats and even toilets – but government buses do not get any publicity.

“They connect some of the most remote routes in state, like Kodaikanal to Pallangi, but few know this apart from people who commute on the route,” Dhandapani said. “Government buses should be promoted. There are so many positives about them.”

The bloggers source information from newspapers (often translated from Tamil), personal experience and fellow bus enthusiasts. “Twenty people collect details from local bus stands and update the blog,” Dhandapani said. “We’ve even started to use RTI petitions to see how the corporation decides the fares.”

The government got into the act long after portals like Redbus and Ticketgoose. The state started online booking in late 2011 and, a year later, netted more than Rs 1 crore through online booking on a single day.

But users say the government’s website is slow. “It’s not user-friendly like other portals,” said Arun Kumar, who books tickets frequently through tnstc.in.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Karthikeyan Hemalatha, TNN / June 23rd, 2014

Now, Amma pharmacies all set to open across Tamil Nadu

Business & Economy, Science & Technologies
Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa launching the Amma Salt at secretariat in Chennai last month.
Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa launching the Amma Salt at secretariat in Chennai last month.

Chennai :

After Amma canteens, water and salt, plans are afoot to create infrastructure for Amma pharmacies across the state to provide cheap medicine for the poor. The AIADMK government will soon unveil 100 Amma Marunthagam (medical shops) across Tamil Nadu, a proposal that promises to win more goodwill for chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Reiterating her commitment towards creating a welfare state, these Amma pharmacies will sell medicines at a subsidised rate.

A senior official said the co-operative department has been working hard for the launch of the Amma medical shops across the state in 100 places. The shops are ready and staff is being recruited. “Finance minister O Panneerselvam announced the proposal in the state budget in February. We have almost completed the process of setting up the shops,” a senior official in the co-operative department said.

Officials said 10 shops will be opened in Chennai and 90 shops in the rest of the state. “A few co-operative shops in Tamil Nadu have been selling medicines without service tax. The idea of opening medical shops is to ensure sale of medicine at reasonable price to the public,” an official said. The state government had announced that Rs 20 crore will be used from the price distribution fund for opening the Amma pharmacies.

“Though the Amma pharmacies are limited and may not totally fulfill the demand of the people, the low price at which we sell medicines will force private shop owners to at least give some discount. The number of shops will be increased later,” sources said. The co-operative department is likely to recruit pharmacists through Medical Services Recruitment Board (MSRB).

The government recently introduced Amma salt in the market and packaged it as three varieties – low sodium, double fortified and refined free flow iodized salt, all cheaper than similar products available in the open market.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / June 24th, 2014

Madurai hospital performs rare surgery on woman

Science & Technologies

A 42-year-old woman, with unicornuate uterus, a condition which does not allow a woman to bear a child, has delivered a baby girl in a city hospital, following a novel procedure.

Shanthi (name changed), childless for 11 years, was admitted to Guru Hospital recently with right unicornuate uterus.

Only one in 4,000 women had this problem, the reason for which was not known, said Kalpana, obstetrician and gynaecologist.

Explaining the procedure at a press conference here on Saturday, the doctor said that in such cases there was a deformity in the uterus. In such patients, infertility, abortion and ectopic pregnancy were common.

“Since the patient was 42 years old, she had to undergo in-vitro fertilisation as a result of which she conceived three babies.

As the uterus could not carry three babies, foetal reduction was done. Growth of the baby was monitored and a surgery, ‘metroplasty,’ was performed in which the right side of the uterus was expanded to accommodate the infant.

“The woman delivered a baby weighing 2.8 kg,” the doctor said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by Staff Reporter / Madurai – June 22nd, 2014

A day with former President Kalam

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Leaders, Science & Technologies

Books help human beings lead a good life, said former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in the city on Saturday.

In an interactive session with the students of Presidency College, Mr. Kalam said when he was studying at the Madras Institute of Technology in Chromepet, he used to come to Moore Market complex to buy old books.

When asked about his first failure, Mr. Kalam said, in 1979, he headed a team which was involved in launching a satellite at Indian Space Research Organisation, Sriharikotta.

On the day of the launch, the satellite, instead of moving on its scheduled orbit, fell into the Bay of Bengal. That was his first failure from which he learnt and conducted several successful missions.

Answering another question on the importance of technology and research, Mr. Kalam said intensity was lacking amongst researchers today.

To improve this, there is a need to rewrite the curriculum in a way that it promotes research. Students should also learn to accept defeats and celebrate it, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Events / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – June 22nd, 2014

Kuthiraivaali cultivation promises to make farming profitable

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies, Uncategorized
A farmer explaining the salient features of cultivating kuthiraivaali (Barnyard millet) during summer, in Watrap region of Virudhunagar district./ Photo: G. Moorthy / The Hindu
A farmer explaining the salient features of cultivating kuthiraivaali (Barnyard millet) during summer, in Watrap region of Virudhunagar district./ Photo: G. Moorthy / The Hindu

Virudhunagar district to produce 12.5 tonnes of seeds

Summer cultivation of ‘Kuthiraivaali’ (Barnyard Millet), introduced for the first time by the Department of Agriculture, has been a hit among farmers of Virudhunagar district.

While, initially, officials found it tough to convince farmers to come forward to cultivate the minor millet as a major alternative crop to cotton and paddy, the success tasted by a few farmers has helped more farmers evince interest in this crop.

Virudhunagar has been chosen to produce 12.5 tonnes of ‘Kuthiraivaali’ seeds as part of the State government’s ambitious project to increase the area under millet cultivation to ensure food, fodder and livelihood security.

“We have given 125 kg of CO (KV) 2 seeds provided by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University to 25 farmers. Cultivation of minor millets has been taken up on 50 acres,” Joint Director of Agriculture K. Subbiah said. The seeds are expected to be ready by August for sowing in September across the State.

Assured yield

Deputy Director P. Vanniyarajan said diversification to millet cultivation, especially during summer, would give assured yield with higher returns.

P. Poongavanam, a farmer in W. Pudupatti, said he had increased the extent of summer cultivation to eight acres because of ‘Kuthiraivaali’ that consumed less than 50 per cent of the water required for paddy or cotton.

S. Vijayakumar (54) of Maharajapuram is used to rain-fed irrigation of ‘Kuthiraivaali.’ He expected more than double the yield now, thanks to the improved variety of seeds and modern irrigation technique.

Another farmer, R. Gnanagurusamy (63), said that cultivation of the minor millet had the advantages of less water and fertilizer, no pesticide and free from crop damage by birds and animals.

Input cost less

“The input cost is less because of decreased need for weeding and farm preparation,” he said.

Stating that the plants grew taller (up to 6.25 feet) under irrigated condition, the Assistant Director (Seed Certification), S. Ramamoorthy, said farmers had the benefit of getting more quantity of fodder.

Besides getting higher yield and higher price, farmers who have taken up ‘Kuthiraivaali’ for seed production are given higher price. “While the market price is Rs. 25 to 30 a kg, we have promised to give them Rs. 50 a kg,” Muthaiah, an Agricultural Officer, said.

The officials are also planning to set up a unit to process the minor millet at a cost of Rs. 2.20 lakh after forming a cluster of ‘Kuthiraivaali’ farmers. “The farmers will get a better price for value addition,” Mr. Vanniyarajan said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by S. Sundar / Virudhunagar – June 21st, 2014

Rajapalayam all set to produce green power

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies

Virudhunagar :

Work is on full swing in Rajapalayam municipality of Virudhunagar district for the fabrication of digester to convert biodegradable waste into electricity. The project, which is believed to be the first in the southern districts, is expected to produce 40 kW of power from next month.

The Tamil Nadu government had in February this year announced that steps would be taken to produce green power from biodegradable waste and the Rajapalayam municipality was one of the first to take steps towards achieving this. The municipality has its garbage dumping area near the foothills of the Sanjeevi hills in Kothankulam spread over an area of 25 acres. Now, work is underway for constructing the 10.5 m diameter digester, which will produce gas through the process of biomethanization technology and this gas in turn would be utilized to produce electricity.

The municipality produces 55 tonnes of garbage on a daily basis and five metric tones of biodegradable wastes are separated from it every day. The five metric tonnes would go into the production of methane and the residue from the plant that is the treated liquid, which remains after producing the gas would be used as plant fertilizer. The plant itself, which is being built at a cost of Rs 90 lakh is a pre-fabricated one. The power which is expected to be produced by the end of August this year is said to have the capacity to light up to 800 tubelights. Initially, the power produced would be deposited with the TNEB substation in Kothangulam and would be deducted from the municipality power bills.

Once the project comes into effect the municipality is expected to see a reduction in power cuts which has been plaguing the people of this region. “We have faced even 10 hours of no power situations and any improvement would be welcome,” the residents say. According to the municipality commissioner Ramasamy the system is equipped with anaerobic digesters and modified up-flow anaerobic sludge bed reactors which would produce the green electricity. While part of the slurry would be utilized for fertilizer, a part would be used for operating the plant through a specialised system.

According to sources, the environmental impact through this project would be immense as it would help to reduce carbon-dioxide emission by about 500 metric tonnes every year, when the plant goes operational. The chairperson of the municipality Dhanalakshmi said that they plan to go for another bioenergy plant next year, based on the success of this one.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai  / by Padmini Sivarajah , TNN / June 20th, 2014