Category Archives: Science & Technologies

With the Right Focus

Education, Science & Technologies

RajeshCF30dec2013

The co-founder of Focus Academy for Career Enhancement (FACE), B Rajesh, has over 3,000 friends on Facebook. This is not surprising, given that his company has trained more than 5.5 lakh students over the past five years. Rajesh grew up in Coimbatore, where he completed electrical engineering from PSG College of Technology in 2004. His campus job at TCS took him to Mumbai, which he left after a year to join IIM-Kozhikode.

This was where he met Venkataraghulan, a classmate who also hailed from Coimbatore, with whom he teamed up to win a number of business school competitions. Rajesh was fairly active on campus, as a member of the placement committee and a part of many sports teams.

Both Venkataraghulan and Rajesh had the entrepreneurial itch at college, but had to put it on the back burner after landing jobs at Deloitte and Citibank respectively. “We would meet from time to time to discuss a number of business ideas, trying to figure out the next big thing. We did not want to remain in the rat race for long,” remembers Rajesh.

The final push came when they attended the ‘Laboratory in Entrepreneurial Motivation’ workshop at IIM-Kozhikode, conducted by Prof Sunil Handa from IIM-Ahmedabad, and decided to quit their jobs the very next morning. “It was truly a life-altering experience,” recalls Rajesh.

They philosophised that instead of waiting for the big idea, they should convert any idea into something big. As luck would have it, they met a teacher from school, who was running a new engineering college. They started with providing communication and aptitude training to her students. CAT coaching is the low hanging fruit for any IIM graduate, so it was a logical progression for them. However, the market was crowded, with national players like TIME, Career Launcher and IMS in the reckoning. They pivoted the business when a college approached them to train its students for campus recruitment. It was a golden opportunity as there were no organised players in the market yet, and they haven’t looked back. They now have five offices in the south, and deliver all their programmes using in-house faculty.

Rajesh says, “Education is an interesting but difficult space to crack, given the number of regulations and the cadre of people currently in the sector. One needs a lot of perseverance along with nimbleness to keep adapting to the market needs and remain contemporary.”

Rajesh is a travel buff and a foodie, an interest that has taken him to many places in Europe and South East Asia. He also loves movies, Surya being one of his favourite actors. His mantra for success includes aggression, ambition and extremely good people skills. Visit www.focusacademy.in.

— rohit@learnbizsimulations.com

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Education> Edex / by Rohit Koshy -Bangalore / December 16th, 2013

Two-Day Expo Offers Insight Into Disability Management

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technologies
Dr V Kanagasabai inspects a prosthetic limb at the two-day exhibition ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities | A Raja Chidambaram
Dr V Kanagasabai inspects a prosthetic limb at the two-day exhibition ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities | A Raja Chidambaram

Close to three percent of the Indian population are differently-abled, said Dr V Kanagasabai, Dean, Madras Medical College and Rajiv Gandhi Government  General Hospital on Monday.

He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day exhibition at the Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at KK Nagar ahead of International Day of  Persons with Disabilities, which falls on Tuesday.

Kanagasabai said that among the differently-abled, more than one percent are visually challenged, 0.6 percent have locomotor disability and another 0.6 percent are hearing impairing, while the rest are either mute or suffer cerebral palsy.

“Apart from that, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of road accidents where people lose their limbs or vision or become paralysed. For them, we offer immediate  treatment at the RGGGH and are later sent for rehabilitation,” the dean said after inaugurating the exhibition.

He also elaborated on the services offered at the Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. He said that they manufacture prostheses and orthotics for those  who lose their limbs and the paraplegic. “Awareness about disabled-friendly environments is slowly picking up,” the dean said when he spoke about the United Nations theme for this year – Break Barriers, Open Doors: For An Inclusive Society and Development For All.

Stressing that the aim of the two-day exhibition was to create public awareness on the hospital’s work on disability management, Dr C Ramesh, Director and Head of the institution, said there were about 20 stalls, including one that has a display of artificial limbs for amputees and calipers. “We have stalls that attempt to give an idea  on the rehabilitation we do here, including physical medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and more.”

The exhibition also had live demonstrations on small scale projects focusing on self-employment and micro loans from various centres. NGOs that had been working towards the upliftment of the differently-abled also participated in the expo, apart from displaying artwork, artificial jewellery and other products made by  them.

The Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, which was part of the Government General Hospital, moved to the present campus in KK Nagar in 1979. The 60 -bed hospital treats about 150 out-patients a day and supplies over 1000 artificial limbs a year for nominal amount of `38 and calipers and splints at `30.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / December 03rd, 2013

Aiming for AIDS-Free Generation

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Science & Technologies

Asha Nivas and Queen Mary’s College organised an AIDS Awareness programme at the Queen Mary’s College on Monday. The program was themed ‘For an AIDS free generation’.

A Viluppattu presentation was given by the Asha Nivas Culture Group on HIV/AIDS, the way it spreads, the risks involved in it and the precautions one had to take to prevent contracting the disease.

The programme also had Kurian Thomas, director of Asha Nivas, G Bhaskaran, NSS co-ordinator, University of Madras, S Sridhar from the Men and Women Clinic, Anna Nagar, and Lilly Josephine, chief community development Officer, Asha Nivas, speaking to the students attending the program.

Eswari Ramesh, NSS programme officer, Queen Mary’s College, also added that the program was one of the hundred events that QMC was planning to conduct to celebrate the college’s centenary, which falls in  the academic year 2014-15.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / December 03rd, 2013

Lamborghini tractors to launch in India on Dec 12

Business & Economy, Science & Technologies, World Opinion
Lamborghini tractors have the potential to change the way India's view farm vehicles.
Lamborghini tractors have the potential to change the way India’s view farm vehicles.

Soon there will be a name everyone knows in fields across India. On December 12, Lamborghini will launch its luxurious tractors here as part of the Kisan agri exhibition being held at Pune.

Though the Italian brand Lamborghini is usually associated with sports cars, its tractors have a longer history since they were launched in mid 1950s, even before the cars. The tractor brands has been owned by the SDF Group since 1973.

In India the tractors are manufactured at SDF’s plant in Ranipet, primarily for export. The plant is a global production hub for many of SDF’s internationally renowned tractor models including Deutz-Fahr.

Lamborghini tractors have the potential to change the way India’s view farm vehicles. Initially, the plan is to target rich farmers, golf courses, vine yards, cricket stadia and luxury resorts.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> FE Online / New Delhi – Monday, December 02nd, 2013

Treasure trove dug out at village pond

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Science & Technologies
TreasureCF15dec2013
Thanjavur:
 An ancient copper urn and a treasure trove were unearthed by workers engaged in desilting a village pond near Amma­pettai. A group of 10 workers, led by panchayat president Manickam, was busy desilting the pond located on a field owned by Kirubanandam at Thirubuvanam Tho­ppu street near Amma­pettai on Saturday.
One of the workers, Krishnasamy stumbled upon the ancient copper burial urn. When he dug further, he unearthed a treasure trove which included one set of ear-studs, two sets of girdle-like ornament (oddiyanam) worn by women, a gold chain and two gold coins, all weighing 7.3 sovereigns (59 grams).
Krishnasamy took the treasure trove to his house much to the chagrin of the other workers. On being informed, revenue and police officials from Papanasam rushed to his house and seized the treasure trove.
They took it to the Papanasam taluk office. Later, the copper urn and gold ornaments were handed over to officials of the state archaeology department for further examination. The age of the copper urn and the gold ornaments is yet to be ascertained, sources said. Revenue officials have also ordered locals not to undertake any more work at the spot.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / December 02nd, 2013

IIT-Madras students bag Nissan scholarship

Education, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

Suraj Vallamkonda and Sripriya Kalidoss, in their third year of mechanical engineering at IIT Madras, have won the Nissan Global Foundation scholarship for this year.

In its fourth year, the Nissan initiative, besides recognising two students of IIT Madras every year for their efforts in automotive engineering, also offers internships for students and assists young researchers. The winners get a Rs 1.2-lakh grant and training at the carmaker’s plants and research centres in Japan.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News> National / by The Hindu Bureau  bharani.v@thehindu.co.in / Chennai – November 29th, 2013

India’s First Minimal Access Transplant for Lung Performed Successfully at Global Health City, Chennai

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technologies

— Minimal Access Transplant procedure provides immense patient benefits

— Recipients recover faster due to reduced pain and risk of infections

The Lung Transplant Surgeons at Global Health City, Chennai, part of Global Hospitals Group, performed successfully India’s First successful Minimal Access Transplant for Lung on a 61 year recipient. On 24th November 2013, Mr. Raja Babu Shah underwent the minimal access transplant procedure, bringing smiles on the face of his wife and their three kids. Mr. Raja Babu Shah, was diagnosed to have Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis several years ago. It is a progressive interstitial lung disease and shows poor response to maximal medical management. So he was on the waiting list for Lung Transplantation under the Cadaver Transplantation Program of Tamil Nadu since July 2013. He has been confined to bed and wheelchair for more than a year now.

LuntCF14dec2013

On November 24, a suitable donor became available at Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore. So Mr. Raja was offered a Lung Transplantation, which would give him a near normal life without oxygen. This was a Minimally Invasive Lung Transplantation.

The surgical team was headed byDr. Jnanesh Thacker – Senior Consultant Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon, Specialist in Heart and Lung Transplantation for Global Hospitals Group, and his team consisted of Dr. Nandkishore Kapadia, Dr. Vijil Rahulan, Dr. Govini Balasubramani, Dr. Manohar, Dr. Kalyan, Dr. Rajgopal & Dr. Sanjay Singh. Elated over the success of the country’s first Minimal Access Transplant procedure for lung, for the team at Global Health City, Chennai, it’s what they are committed to do every day, deliver their best to save lives, demonstrating exceptional clinical capabilities, innovation and deploy most advanced treatment, technology & utmost patient care.

“Raja Babu Shah is the recipient of India’s first recipient of Minimal Access Lung Transplant. He is also the oldest patient in India to receive a Lung Transplantation and his recuperation is going to be reduced with less pain due to Minimal Access method adopted” said Dr. Vijil Rahulan, Head of Department of Respiratory Medicine & Senior Consultant Pulmonologist, Global Health City.

Speaking to the media, Dr. Jnanesh Thacker iterated that “Based on clinical evaluations and considering the age of the patient, we knew this transplant surgery is going to be a litmus test. We got together as a team to discuss what we need to ensure for best clinical outcomes and after that the decision was made to take the road less travelled – Minimal access mode. We did a Minimal access anterio-axillary thoracotomy with an incision, 7 inches long, just below the nipple. We ensured that the internal mammary artery is preserved.”

Dr. Nandkishore Kapadia, Senior Consultant, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon, Global Health City added saying “This was like a time bound mission shown in the movies, with the cadaver lung retrieval done at CMC Vellore, transported to Global Health City, Chennai, within a time span of 105 minutes, followed immediately by a four- hour recipient surgery”

Speaking on this occasion, Dr. Ravindranath – Chairman & Managing Director, Global Hospitals Group applauded the Transplantation Team’s effort in saving the life of this patient with a novel attempt helping faster recovery. He also stated “I was pleased to know that the patient was off the ventilator on the next day and he walked inside his room on the third post operative day.”

Referring to the two patients who had received successful Lung Transplantation the previous year, Dr. Ravindranath said ‘I am also extremely happy to meet Ms. Hanan Hasan & Ms. Fatima,both from Bahrain. As a foremost Transplant center & the largest lung transplant program in the country, we are pleased to have successfully completed our 10th lung transplant at Global Health City, Chennai with this Minimal access thoracotomy incision.

GLOBAL HEALTH CITY

Global Health City, Chennai is a 500 bedded super specialty tertiary care facility, with a capacity to expand to 1000 beds. It renders 360 degree advanced tertiary healthcare services as a foremost premier tertiary care super specialty health city that performs the most complex transplant procedures for liver, heart, lung, kidneys and one of the most advanced organ specific cancer care programme. With the finest combination of expertise, experience, state-of-the art technology and well coordinated team work, every step is aimed at ensuring excellence in patient care.

source: http://www.moneylife.in / MoneyLife.in / Home / by Business Wire India / Chennai, TamilNadu – November 29th, 2013

53-yr-old delivers capsule baby

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technologies
Picture for representational purpose only.
Picture for representational purpose only.

Coimbatore :

A 53-year-old woman delivered a girl baby through the capsule test tube baby technology at a hospital in Er­ode on Thursday mo­r­ning.  Pank­aj­am Ve­l­­­­a­ppan, who battled inf­ertility for over two de­cades, is now an ecstatic mother, said Dr Nir­mala Sadasivam, Me­dical Director, Ma­aruthi Medical Centre and Hospitals, Erode.

This capsule test tube baby technology was first introduced in USA in 2011 and a year later in India. The advantage of the capsule IVF is that it is far less expensive than test tube baby treatment.

The procedure requ­ires minimal ovulation induction wi­th few hormonal drugs. The procedure invol­ves retrieving of eggs from the woman and fusing it with the prepared sperm.

The prepared material will be placed inside the capsule under ideal aseptic laboratory condition and this is then kept in the woman’s vaginal cavity to promote the culture of the embryos.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / November 29th, 2013

Nature and YOU

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies
A first aid kit for snake bite at Adventure Shoppe in Coimbatore / Photo: K. Ananthan / The Hindu
A first aid kit for snake bite at Adventure Shoppe in Coimbatore / Photo: K. Ananthan / The Hindu

Nature enthusiast A. Sivakumar speaks to K. Jeshi on how hitting the outdoors brings alive the conservationist in every traveller

He spends weekends in the company of birds, butterflies and Nature. He goes trekking in Wayanad, Mudumalai and the Niligiris and believes enjoying Nature is the first step in conservation. “You take ownership and want to give something back,” says A. Sivakumar.

He enrolled as a member of Salim Ali Naturalist Forum (SANF) for bird watching. During an outing, he realised that trekkers often sourced camping and trekking equipment from other States. That’s when he got the idea of starting Adventure Shoppe. It stocks equipment for camping and trekking, riding, racing and wildlife management, and has compact travel kits and accessories. “We want to encourage people to travel more. The idea is to kindle the conservationist in every traveller,” says Sivakumar.

Initially, orders were hard to come by. Sivakumar persisted, personally meeting forest officials, wildlife and Nature enthusiasts, birders and conservationists. “The word spread. My first order was for 10 sleeping bags for the Forest Department,” he recalls.

Slowly, he was approached for providing equipment (carabiner, hooks, climbing rope and body harness) for windmill installations and cleaning of high-rises. Sivakumar explored wildlife management equipment and introduced a range of camera traps. “The Forest Department uses it to record wildlife. Recently, it also helped them arrest a poacher,” he points out.

A camera trap at Adventure Shoppe in Coimbatore / Photo: K. Ananthan / The Hindu
A camera trap at Adventure Shoppe in Coimbatore / Photo: K. Ananthan / The Hindu

What’s new?

All the products are imported from the U.S. and South East Asian countries. “Selecting the right product, supplier and brand makes up 70 per cent of our work. We go in for CE-certified products as we are dealing with lives. Hundreds of products hit the market every day and we keep a watch on what’s new.” There is stiff online competition, but credibility keeps us going, he says. This wildlife enthusiast has also supplied 5,000 snake bite first-aid kits to 240 battalions of the CRPF. “In 2010, we got just five kits because we weren’t sure about the product. The former Director-General K. Vijayakumar saw the product on our website. They found the product useful. In fact, the kit saved the life of one of my friends Rajkumar, who worked as honorary wildlife warden of Nagarhole.”

Sivakumar’s clientele is spread across the country and includes conservationists, racers, riders, climbers, trekkers and corporate houses, besides Government departments. Recently, he supplied multi-function watches for Indian Air Force pilots. They track heart beat, altitude, latitude, longitude and work as a barometer.

At the shop

He walks me down his shop in Fun Republic. There are temperature-specific sleeping bags (that can keep you comfortable even at minus five degrees!), infra red and no-flash camera traps, scuba-diving accessories, archery equipment, fishing accessories, racing suit for riders, backpacks…. There is also a mini refrigerator, Swiss knife, riding luggage for bikers, universal dynamo charger for cell phones, gloves, boots and helmets. The latest addition is wildlife T-shirts.

A.Sivakumar of Adventure Shoppe / Photo: K. Ananthan / The Hindu
A.Sivakumar of Adventure Shoppe / Photo: K. Ananthan / The Hindu

He says there is great potential for his products in Coimbatore. “People from here often travel to the Himalayas and Rishikesh. They buy water-proof shoes, hiking poles and winter clothing. They also buy compact travel accessories such as foldable chairs, cots and a multi-fuel cooking stove that works on petrol, diesel or kerosene.”

In the pipeline are plans to launch a no-flash camera traps for home security and a life straw with an inbuilt filter. It ensures that the water trekkers drink from any open body is instantly filtered.

Sivakumar says weekend travel has taken off in a big way. So has dirt biking. “Customers ask for helmets that cost Rs. 40,000 or more. They are aware and prioritise on safety.”

He also helps travellers makes the transition to conservation. “I tell them that photographing Nature alone won’t do. They should stay connected with Nature, observe and conserve. It helps them stay stress free.” Sivakumar follows what he preaches. He takes off on his Royal Enfield 500 cc bike during the weekends. “I am a biker and a conservationist,” he smiles.

Trekking essentials

Good footwear, sleeping bag, compass or GPS, first-aid kit, camping tents, backpacks, water bottles, rain coats, protective gear, multi-fuel stove. “One has to go prepared inside a forest. You need to wear protective shoes to avoid ankle injury. Carry sleeping bags to protect yourself from lizards, snakes, and insects. A pepper spray works as self-defence, and also distracts elephants and bears.”

Camps for children

Sivakumar and a couple of friends have started Iternis that arranges two-day, two-night treks and nature camps for children and adults. Call: 9843222000.

To know more, visit: www.adventureshoppe.com

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by K. Jeshi / Coimbatore – November 21st, 2013

Arvind Remedies’ anti-viral drug

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

Chennai :

Chennai-based drugmaker Arvind Remedies has filed for patenting a new drug for treating chikungunya, chicken pox, and combating the herpes viruses such as Varivella Zoster Virus, and Human Herpes.

The drug, slated for clinical trials, will be formulated into a product with higher bio-availability and minimum side effects, according to a release by the company.

The company had signed agreements in 2010 with Presidency College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, and Indian Institute of Integrative Medicines, Jammu, for developing the drug.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Companies / Chennai – November 19th, 2013