Category Archives: Science & Technologies

Man awarded for selling purified ground water at low cost

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore :

Anuj Sharma, COO of Sarvajal, a firm that sells water, was in town to receive the Force Park Shared Value Award from the Park Group of Institutions on Wednesday. His firm purifies ground water and sells it through water ATMs.

“Pure water can easily be made available at a lower cost,” said Anuj. He had started the project 4 years ago in his home town of Alwar in Rajasthan. His water is now available in a few states as of now. The purified water is supplied through tanks from where people can collect it using their ATMs. “A litre of water will cost a maximum of 50 paise. The ATM which is similar to those used to withdraw money from banks can be recharged using cards. They will show the quality of water apart from the balance available.

“We target places where there are ground water sources, but lack quality water distribution. There should be a minimum of 1,000 households in the area,” he said. ‘Water ATM’ was a concept they developed to monitor the distribution of the water and check its quality.

“Around 50 percent of diseases are water borne diseases. At the same time, most water purifiers are either inefficient or costly. Thus, I came up with this idea,” he said. Responding to charges of commercialisation of water resources, he says they make sure their business model is affordable to all.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore> Water Resources / TNN / August 08th, 2013

Epiphany technical fest held

Education, Science & Technologies

The Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur launched its first Technical Fest ‘Epiphany’ on Tuesday. The event drew in over 2,000 students from various colleges and schools in Chennai.

The fest was inaugurated by T J Kotteeswaran, director, Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalapakkam and M Sai Baba, associate director, Resource Management Group, Indira Gandhi Center of Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, in the presence of C Muthamizhchelvam, director, Engineering and Technology, SRM University.

TJ Kotteeswaran said that Kalpakkam will soon emerge as a front runner in nuclear programs in India.

The highlights of the fest was youth nuclear summit and an exhibition by Indira Gandhi Center of Atomic Research (IGCAR).

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai /by Express News Service – Chennai / August 15th, 2013

Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University releases vaccine for swine fever

Records, All, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

The Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) on Wednesday released a vaccine for classical swine fever, a contagious viral disease affecting pigs.

The vaccine was released by university officials at an international conference on the ‘Emerging and Transboundary Diseases of Global Importance.’ Dr V Purushothaman, director, Centre for Animal Health Studies at TANUVAS, said classical swine fever should not be confused with swine flu that affected humans.

The classical swine fever is prevalent in Tamil Nadu and northeast parts of the country. It causes death of pigs. “The spread of this disease results in a loss of Rs 10 crore annually in the country,” Dr Purushothaman said.

Veterinarians in India had been administering the crystal violet vaccine to curb the disease in pigs earlier. But the vaccine was discontinued a few years ago because of some side effects. “The new vaccine has been proved safe and potent without side effects,” Dr Purushothaman said.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai> Side Effects / by M Ramya / July 17th, 2013

Ugam Solutions signs MoU with PSG

Business & Economy, Education, Science & Technologies

PSG Polytechnic College, and PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, signs MoU with Ugam Solutions to create a Retail and Analytics Elective. 

HandshakeCF25aug2013

Ugam Solutions has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PSG Polytechnic College and PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, to expand their student training opportunities by creating a new industry elective for retail and analytics. The college will work closely with Ugam Solutions to develop a business-based elective that will prepare students for specific and highly marketable skills within the retail and analytics fields.

The MoU was signed by Dr. R. Rudhramoorthy, Principal of PSG College of Technology and Polytechnic College, and Mr. Sunil Mirani, CEO Ugam Solutions, at the college on Monday 12th August 2013. Dr. R. Rudhramoorthy presided over the signing ceremony. Other dignitaries attending included Ms. S. Sharmila, Head of Department Information Technology, and Mr. Dharmesh Mistry, Chief Talent Officer, Ugam Solutions.

Commenting on this new academic offering, Mr. Sunil Mirani said, “While students today come well equipped with the technical skills, the application of the same in the business context is missing. With this new elective, Ugam will impart the practical understanding of the application of analytics and technology in the world of retail, thereby making students more employable”, Dr. R. Rudhramoorthy added, “Bridging the gap between academics and industry is one of the major trends of PSG polytechnic college. This MoU targets the final year students to fulfill the expectations of the industry and make them industry ready.”

About Ugam Solutions

Ugam Solutions is a research and analytics firm providing cutting edge solutions to global retailers, brands and insights-based consultancies that improves their business performance. Ugam’s analytics solutions for pricing, assortment, and content decisions help retailers and brands grow and retain their customers. Nine of the largest 25 on the Top 500 internet retailer companies are benefitting from these solutions that combine the best of domain consulting, analytics expertise and a proprietary big data technology platform. Learn more at www.UgamSolutions.com

About PSG Polytechnic College

PSG Polytechnic College, established in the year 1939, a pioneer institute in the field of Technical Education and Research is a Government aided, ISO 9001 certified institution with Autonomous status from 1976. This aids it to have a flexible curriculum and updated syllabi. The Polytechnic College has the best laboratories with free access to the students and prepares them with the latest method of learning industrial practices. The industry attachment Programme, compulsory for all courses provides the students an exposure for current industrial practices. The college is located in the same campus as the PSG Industrial Institute.

source: http://www.moneycontrol.com / MoneyControl / Home> News> Business / by Business Wire India / August 14th, 2013

Soon, a memorial for Kongu chief who built grand canal

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore :

Seven hundred and thirty years after he built the 56.5 mile long Kalingarayancanal to connect River Bhavani with River Noyyal, hoping to enhance irrigation facilities in the Erode region, a fitting memorial for the Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan inKalingarayanpalayam, where the irrigation canal originated, is in the pipeline. PWD Minister K V Ramalingam has confirmed that the memorial would come up inside a children’s park where there will be a special column and statue of Kalingarayan.

A memorial for the chieftain has been a long pending demand from the Kongu Vellalar community. Long forgotten by authorities, there is no memorial of Kalingarayan anywhere in Western Tamil Nadu. When the minister visited Kalingarayanpalayam recently, to release water through the canal, the locals urged him to initiate the long pending project.

The canal supports one of the largest ayacuts in the state. It irrigates vast stretches of turmeric, sugarcane and paddy fields. So, its creator must get a fitting tribute,” said Ramalingam. The canal had deteriorated in recent years and a massive renovation is in progress. Efforts to ensure smooth flow of water till the tail end of the canal and prevent the flow of sewage and industrial waste into it are going on. The canal is the worst affected waterway in the district due to indiscriminate dumping of untreated effluents by the textile processing and tannery industries.

Kalingarayan has contributed significantly to the region’s development. Born Lingaya Gounder around 1240, he rose to become Veera Pandian’s (1265-1280) chieftain,” says Periyaswami Prahladan, a farmer on its banks. The PWD is planning to build the memorial at an estimated cost of Rs1crore. In the beginning, the canal irrigated only about 3,500 acres, as historian and traveller Francis Buchanan noted in his diary, later published as ‘A Journey From Madras Through the Countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar”.

Buchanan visited the entire region as per the orders of then British Governor General Marquis Wellesley to check the state of agriculture from April 23, 1800 to January 15, 1801. In his book he writes that Kalingarayan’s family never seemed to have received any reward in the form of land on account of the grand canal that he built.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore> Industrial Waste / by K A Shaji, TNN / August 14th, 2013

Madras Medical College ranked first in number of patients treated under CM’s health insurance scheme

Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

Madras Medical College (MMC) has been ranked first in the number of patients treated under the chief minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme. A total of 691 private hospitals and 120 government hospitals participated in the scheme, which was launched on January 11, 2012.

As many as 35,000 patients were treated under scheme at five hospitals attached to Madras Medical College. The hospitals earned a total of Rs 53 crore during the period, a release fromMMC said. The five hospitals attached to MMC are Government General Hospital , Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Government Hospital for Women and Children, Government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and Children and Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital.

Under the scheme, the sum assured for each family is Rs 1 lakh every year for a period of four years. The scheme covers 1,016 procedures, 113 follow-up procedures and 23 diagnostic procedures. The cost of the tests required for treatment is also a part of the insurance cover.

Any family whose annual income was Rs 72,000 or less, members of unorganized labour welfare boards, and, the spouse, children and dependent parents of such members in urban and rural areas are eligible for the scheme.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai> Madras Medical College / by Manish Raj, TNN / July 18th, 2013

Noted Prof Rangabashyam no more

Education, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies
Prof N. Rangabashyam
Prof N. Rangabashyam
Chennai:
Renowned surgical gastroenterologist, Prof N. Rangabashyam, 79, passed away in his sleep on Sunday morning.
His last rites were performed the same eve­ning at Besant Nagar crematorium. Prof Ranga­ba­shyam is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
Former head of the depar­t­ment of surgical gastroenterology and proctology and clinical professor of surgery, Madras Medical Col­lege, and GGH, Prof Ranga­bashyam was the first to start a separate department for surgical gastroenterology and again the first to start a specialisation in surgical gastroenterology, M.Ch. degree course in India.
Recalling his association with Prof Ranga­bahsyam from 1985-1991 at GH, the present head of department of surgical gastroenterology, Dr S.M. Chand­­­ra­mohan, said Ranga­ba­­shyam was a visionary and a doctor with commitment.
“I’m sitting in the department that he started. He wanted healthcare of our country on a par with other countries and worked towards it. Ranga­bashyam was the one to start M.Ch degree and the course has produced many eminent doctors,” he said.
A student of Rangaba­shyam and at present the transplant coordinator of state cadaver transplant programme, Dr J. Amalopa­vanathan, said he was a go-getter.  Prof Rangabashyam was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and won the prestigious Dr B C Roy national award twice.
A.C Muthaiah, former president of FICCI and BCCI, condoled the death of Dr Rangabashyam saying that India has lost an eminent surgical gastroenterologist.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by DC / July 15th, 2013

Madurai students hail exhibition train; slam poor access to Kudal Nagar

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Science & Technologies

Madurai :

A stream of visitors thronged the KudalNagar station, near Madurai junction, on Thursday to explore a special train that is circling the country to promote awareness on science and biodiversity. Aptly named Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS), it reached Maduraiafter a four-day stay at Trichy junction.

The 16-coach train showcases the rich biodiversity of the country with each coach displaying in detail the different biodiversity zones of the country. The train also displays other facets of biodiversity and its impact on livelihoods of the people in specific regions.

The SEBS was inaugurated at Kudal Nagar station by V Ajithkumar, additional railway divisional manager, in the presence of railway officials. By afternoon students from more than ten schools visited the train, SEBS project staff said. “The response is very good and school students are the majority. We expect more people on the coming days as next three days are holidays,” commented Divya Pande, a project staff. “Comparatively, the response in south India is overwhelming. For instance, we had 57,000 visitors in a single day at Vizakapatanam, while the average visitor count for four days at a north Indian station is around 50,000,” she said.

“The exhibition train is very informative and the volunteers are explaining the concepts very well,” said D Dhya neswaran, a class 6 student of Equitas Gurukul Matriculation School in Dindigul. Students from government schools were also present for the event. The eager students from government high school, Valayankulam were seen jotting the information they had gleaned from the exhibts. “Our teachers brought us to have a look and we are very thrilled,” commented Roobarani, another school student.

The visitors, including students, had a tough time reaching the station as they had to negotiate the uneven road without proper metal tops. The access roads are poor and moreover the entry is confusing, said a school teacher from Valayankulam government school. The school vans have to navigate a dirt road nearby the Kudalpudur bridge to reach the station. It will be good if the railway authorities construct proper roads since many of the exhibition trains are stationed at Kudal Nagar regularly, the visitors said.

When contacted ADRM, V Ajithkumar said that the proposal to improve the roads is on anvil since the station was declared as Adarsh station recently. “We are working on the proposal and the station will be provided more facilities including roads in future,” he said.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai> Government School / by TNN / August 09th, 2013

Students design window cleaner robot

Education, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

The life of a window cleaner hangs on a rope, but the invention of a group of Anna University students may just make it safer.

H Ramkumar, along with his three team members from the production technology department of the university’s MIT campus, has created a semi-manned robot that can climb glass walls, cling onto them and give them a wipe.

“We wanted to bring out something that would be lively and stand out from monotonous models,” said Ramkumar on the robot that was designed as part of the students’ BE final year project. “We also need a safe and efficient cleaning system because, conventionally, a human worker has to hang several feet above the ground with an unreliable safety system. Sometimes it proves fatal.”

Though it is in its skeletal form now, the 2.1kg robot is ready with its functions. The remote has four buttons to control the robot’s movement, done with the help of suction cups that take turns to climb glass walls. The light and rectangular vehicle has two wheels in the middle  and four suction cups at the corners. While two cups help in climbing, the other two help the machine hold onto the wall.

WindowRobotCF14aug2013

On one corner of the device is a rolling wiper with a compartment above that to keep a water bottle. Near that is a tube through which water is sprayed continuously and the wiper cleans the wall, moving up or down simultaneously. A sponge wiper at the other corner and two flat ones in the middle do the finishing job. The dirty water is collected by a rolling wiper.

The students don’t claim it is the first of its kind. “We were inspired by some models in other countries,” said Ramkumar. “They use high-end technology for skyscrapers but we’ve used simple methods so far. But, our innovation would be an image processing camera,” said Ramkumar. The sensor in the built-in camera would show obstacles in the path or in any particular area to be cleared so that the machine can be moved accordingly. “The video can be continuously observed on a screen,” he said.

“Finalising the design was the toughest part,” said Ramkumar’s teammate S R Sadhve. “We had to stay back till late in the evening during the designing stage. Building the device was easier because we got most of the equipment from our college laboratory.” There are many such robots in other countries, but these are not available in the Indian market. “We would like to take this project forward and improvise it,” said Sadhve.

The duo, along with Sahil Bharti and S Ishwarya Lakshmi, got the ‘excellent paper’ award at the International Conference on Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering (ICCSME) and their paper was also published in the journal of South Asian Research Centre ( SARC).

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai> Mechanical Engineering / by Saradha Mohan Kumar, TNN / August 02nd, 2013

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University advices rice farmers to carry out pest control

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore : 

Advising farmers in rice growing areas to carry out integrated pest and disease management in rice, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has said that farmers growing samba rice in Cauvery delta and other rice growing areas should be vigilant against the possible infection of diseases. In its monthly pest and disease forecasting report, Centre for Plant Protection Studies of TNAU, cautioned that insects and pests like thrips and caseworms are expected in the nursery during this samba season. “It is recommended to adopt methods like wet seed treatment and seedling root dip to tackle this issue”, said a communique from TNAU.

Under the wet seed treatment method, seeds should be treated with carbendazim, a fungicide before sowing. Under the seedling root dip method nursery seedlings should be dipped in a solution dissolved with pseudomonas fluorescens before planting. Light trap to monitor adult moths and other insects, applying neem cake and spraying neem oil can be followed for controlling insects. Further details can be had from the department of agricultural entomology of TNAU at 0422-6611226.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore> Tamil Nadu Agricultural University / TNN / August 02nd, 2013