Monthly Archives: August 2014

Twinning Tale Delivers More Wonders

Amazing Feats, Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Mallappuram : 

Less than a week ago, gynaecologist Laila Beegum supervised the birthing of a set of identical twins to a couple from Kodinhi village, now known globally for the high number of multiple births. The twin babies born on August 7 this year took the total number of such deliveries witnessed by her to 452.

Though the total number of twins in the village has now crossed 500, the mystery behind the phenomenon is yet to be unravelled.

Located close to Tirurangadi town in Malappuram district, Kodinhi village, with its high twinning rate, garnered global media attention around six years ago. At Kodinhi, twins account for 42 per 1,000 live births while the global average of twinning is reportedly around six per 1,000.

Brazil’s Candido Godoi and Nigeria’s Igbo-Ora have witnessed similar birth phenomenon. Attempts by several scientists and organisations to find the secret behind the high twinning rate have failed to bear fruit.

Recently, Dr N K Sribiju, public health consultant, Taluk Hospital, Tirurangadi, approached the state government seeking permission to conduct a genetic study on the local populace.

“Surely, there would be a scientific reason behind the birth of a huge number of twins in such a small area. But, the secret can be revealed only through a detailed genetic and environment study. We are awaiting permission from the ethical committee of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology at Thiruvananthapuram for the same,” said Dr Sribiju.

Significantly, more than 90 per cent of the couples from Kodinhi who reported twin births conceived normally. “Hence, IVF treatment cannot be considered as a reason for the high rate of twinning in Kodinhi,” Dr Biju said.

Dr Laila, who runs Laila’s Hospital, Chemmad, said multiple births are not just being reported by persons born and brought up here.

“Many women who came to Kodinhi after marrying someone here have also experienced twin birth. So, it could be due to some mysterious element of nature.

“Earlier, we conducted a water test but the results were not conclusive,” Dr Laila added.

Twins and Kins Association (TAKA) of Kodinhi believes that their village has the most density of twins in the world and is planning to approach officials of the Guinness Book to claim a record.

Get-together

“There are families having three pairs of twins and triplets at home. A 90-year-old man here is the eldest among the twins who are alive,” said Bhaskaran Pullani, president, Twins and Kins Association, which is planning to organise a get-together of all Kodinhi twins.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Santosh Christy / August 17th, 2014

An array of rare charkas on display

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence
overnor Sheila Dikshit takes a look at the exhibits at the Charka museum after inaugurating it in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar / The Hindu
overnor Sheila Dikshit takes a look at the exhibits at the Charka museum after inaugurating it in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar / The Hindu

Charka museum at Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi

When Kerala Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi planned to set up a charka museum, one of the challenges was to locate and collect enough exhibits. Though it had some of the earlier wooden charkas and the more recent spindle charkas, those were not enough to start a museum.

For the past few months, the Smaraka Nidhi volunteers have been travelling around the State and outside, visiting the homes of freedom fighters and other old-timers. In Kanyakumari, they met R.K. Sunder, a veteran Sarvodaya worker.

“He had a Kisaan charka, one of the earliest forms of the charka, made of wood. Despite its antique value, he did not take any money from us. He just wanted it to be useful to more people and he thinks here in this museum, future generations can learn about how it all started from this charka,” says K.G. Jagadeesan, secretary of the Kerala Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi.

The Kisaan charka now sits inside the Charka museum, a small building inside the Smaraka Nidhi compound at Thycaud, which was inaugurated by Kerala Governor Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday. Beside it sits a ‘Petty charka,’ which, as the name signifies, is a miniature charka inside an open ‘petty’ (box), which can be carried around easily.

“These charkas can be operated even when one is speaking or sitting in a meeting. Even now during the meetings of Gandhians and Sarvodaya workers, you can see old-timers spinning the wheels, to make maximum use of the time,” says a volunteer here.

Also at the exhibition are allied instruments such as ‘otni,’ used for removing the cotton seed and ‘Balni,’ used to thread the cotton.

The modern spindle charkas, which are still used in production centres of the Smaraka Nidhi, are exhibited too. Operating it is sheer drudgery and the pay is less too.

“Three of us are involved in the charka work at Smaraka Nidhi’s centre in Thozhukkal in Neyyattinkara. We make around 15 sets of thread per day and for each of those we get paid around Rs.4. I have been working on this for the past 18 years,” says Leela.

The Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi is now banking on the renewed interest in khadi clothes among the younger generation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities / by S. R Praveen / Thursday – August 14th, 2014

Malayali toddler bags a BMW

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Nri's / Pio's, Travel, World Opinion
Tanishka, with her family.
Tanishka, with her family.

Dubai:

The Dubai Summer Surprises lucky draw prize winner is a young Malayali girl who won a BMW car worth 130,000 dirhams (Rs 21.5 lakh approx). Tanishka,the 2 year old, is the daughter of Abhilash Ayyapan who resides in Dubai.

Abhilash was born in the UAE, and is currently in Dubai with his family, running his own business. He was at Oasis mall with his family, when he filled out the coupons for the lucky draw. Tanishka’s family has decided to acquire money equivalent to the cost of the car and save it for their daughter’s future. The event, conducted by Dubai Department of Tourism and Commercial Marketing, would be on a gift giving spree till September 5.

source: http://www.beta.english.manoramaonline.com / Manorama Online / Home> News> Kerala / by Manorama Online Correspondent / Thursday – August 14th, 2014

NIT-C alumni to relive ‘REC’ days

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

The silver jubilee batch of National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NIT-C), formerly known as Regional Engineering College, will conduct their silver jubilee reunion on August 15 and 16.

Sreekumar K. Iyer, one of the organisers, said that the two-day event, titled, RECollection’89, would be held on the NIT-C campus and in the city. Around 200 former students, who passed out in 1989, would take part in the event. A souvenir would be published at Hyson Heritage in the city to mark the occasion.

NIT-C Director M.N. Bandyopadhyay would inaugurate the programme at the college auditorium. A session, ‘Guruvandanam,’ to honour teachers who taught at the college during the 1985-89 period, would be held on Saturday.

A family gathering would be held at Malabar Palace on Saturday. The reunion celebrations would conclude with cultural activities and a musical night, Mr. Iyer said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode  / Special Correspondent  / Kozhikode  – August 15th, 2014

Kick-starting ‘Lady Freedom’

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

On Sunday, brand new scooters will be delivered to 1,000 women under a ‘mass bank loan’ scheme of the Calicut City Service Cooperative Bank. The initiative, titled ‘Lady Freedom,’ is part of a ‘women empowerment’ programme conceived in connection with the Independence Day celebrations,

The loan scheme with a reduced interest rate (11 per cent) was introduced by the bank in collaboration with the authorised dealer of a major two-wheeler company in the city, said bank chairman C.N. Vijayakrishnan at a press meet here on Thursday. “A sum of up to Rs.50,000 is being given as credit by the bank which will be repaid by the borrowers in 30 monthly instalments,” said Mr. Vijayakrishnan.

The borrowers had made a down payment of Rs.2,225 and produced one person as guarantor. The vehicles will be distributed at a public function at the Zamorin School grounds at Chalappuram in the city at 10 a.m. on August 17. Mayor A.K. Premajam will inaugurate the programme.

District panchayat president K. Jameela will inaugurate the distribution of free helmets to all the women. Cooperative Society registrar S. Lalithambika will hand over the first key. Mr. Vijayakrishnan said around 15,000 women had registered for the loan scheme. “The scheme will be made available to the rest of the applicants as well in the coming weeks,” he said.

Following the “overwhelming” response to the scheme, the bank had decided to launch a car loan scheme for women in the coming days, said the bank chairman. “Up to Rs.5 lakh will be given in loan as per the scheme,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode  / Staff Reporter / Kozhikode  – August 15th, 2014

President’s medal for police officers

Leaders, Records, All

Two police officers from the city were announced as recipients of the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service on the occasion of Independence Day 2014. Assistant Commissioner of the District Crime Records Bureau Amose Mammen and Cyber Cell Sub-Inspector Francis Perera are among the six officers in the State selected for the medal. The officers will receive the medals next year.

AC Amose Mammen began service in the police force in 1988 as an assistant sub-inspector and had earlier received the Chief Minister’s medal for service in 2000.

SI Francis Perera entered the police force in 1985 as a civil police officer and has been with the Cyber Cell in the city since its inception in 2007. – Staff Reporter

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / Staff Reporter / Kochi – August 15th, 2014

[Techie Tuesdays] Indian DIY hacker Arvind Sanjeev, the inventor of ‘desi’ Google Glass

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

As a child, Arvind Sanjeev loved breaking new toys. That was his way of playing with them.  He has continued his hacking habit and is now a do-it-yourself hard coder. He was recently in the news for creating his own open-source Google Glass clone.

ArvindKERALA13aug2014

A hardcode electronics and mechatronics fan, he completed his engineering in Electronics and Communication in 2013. He was involved in developing functional prototypes while in college.

He has completed 15 projects  and numerous hacks which include following:

1. RideSmart – It is a remote Vehicle Activation System using SmartPhones (Android, Blackberry 10, Nokia) and he has filed for a patent (pending) for this project.

2. Smart Cap – It is the open source Glass clone which he developed mounting the display over the cap.

3. Fin – The Wearable Smart Finger Ring controller for SmartTVs, Smartphones, etc.

4. He has developed Internet of Things based home automation system.

5. You might have probably heard of (Android) SmartPhone Application Controlled Robot. Arvind has developed (Android) SmartPhone Application Controlled Honda Scooter.

6. He has manufactured the remote control of quad-rotor helicopter which has auto stabilization in it.

7. He has made a hovercraft with GPS which can be controlled by a wearable hand glove.

8. He has designed a smart and an interactive offline voice response system for home automation.

9. At times, two wheelers are just too easy to steal. Hence, he designed Gspeed, an anti-theft and navigation system for two wheelers.

10. He went on to make a portable GPS navigation module for explorers.

11. He has earned recognition from Kerala Power Minister and Electricity Board for developing home power and internet logger.

12. We have lighted a rocket using normal ignition. Arvind went a step ahead and designed an electric ignition based rocket using self-made solid fuel mixture.

He tells us that he used to refer to YouTube, StackOverflow, etc, to learn more about technologies around Android and other open source hardware like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.

Commenting on the present education system, he says that the ultimate aim of any academic course should be to equip the student with the ability to apply the working knowledge gained through practical applications. He adds that there is an urgent need to revamp the outdated academic curriculum.

Arvind2KERALA13aug2014

Arvind feels that India lacks proper resources and a conducive breeding ground for the hardware industry to prosper. At present, there is a boom of 3D printers and rapid prototyping, and hardware is going to become nearly as scalable as software. Arvind says that India should equip itself with the latest technologies in the market, and only then will we be able to start the race from the same starting line as our counterparts abroad. “Even today, many people, including developers, etc are skeptical about developing a hardware product,” he says.

Wearable market is another rat race which everyone is venturing into, be it smart watches, glasses, arm bands and even rings have entered the fray.  According to Arvind Sanjeev, the quintessential use for it in our daily life still deserves contemplation. He mentions that affordable augmented reality displays running on artificial intelligence that can be controlled using our brain waves or thoughts, sound promising.

He started a platform called DIY Hacking to serve as a medium to tutor students, hobbyists, etc about the latest technology development. It consists of detailed step by step instructions on how to do several projects centered on modern technology, and has tutorials ranging from $ 80 per head, which include mounted displays, Internet of Things and smartphone controlled robots.

Arvind says that the support he got from his parents — Dr.Sanjeev S (Principal Scientist, CIFT) and Dr. Usha Sanjeev (Technical Officer, CIFT) — has helped him in all his endeavors. They have helped him in funding several of his projects and continue to provide him with several resources. He also credits Startup Village, Cochin, for the support and guidance.  He also mentions that Sijo Kuruvilla George, Founding CEO of Startup Village, has guided him and several others in all their endeavors and is a true source of motivation.

source: http://www.yourstory.com / Your Story / Home> Techie Tuesdays / by Shreyansh Singhal / August 12th, 2014

Calicut University’s Course in Vocology to Bring Your Silky Voice Back

Education, Science & Technology

Thrissur :  

This just might be the good news the playback singers, actors, anchors, teacher, lawyers and politicians, who earn their livelihood through their voice, in the state have long been waiting for.

In a development that will cheer thousands of voice professionals and voice patients who have developed  various voice disorders, the Calicut University has come out with a unique graduate programme in Vocology, the science and practice of voice habilitation and rehabilitation, in collaboration with Chetana National Institute of Vocology, Thrissur.

This is the first time in the country that an Indian university is offering a course in vocology with an aim of producing vocologists who habilitate vocal behaviour – a speech-language pathologist, otolaryngologist, vocalist trainer, or voice coach.

Based on the proposal submitted by the National Institute of Vocology, the University gas given permission (U.O No6304/2014/admn) to the Vocology institute to frame the syllabus and other things related to the launching of the course, said Dr Musthafa, director of SDE, Calicut University.

There are hardly a dozen major vocology institutes across the world mainly in developed countries like NCVS Summer Vocology Institute in USA and institutes in Finland, Japan, Turkey, and UK. “There is a huge dearth of trained vocologists in the country since  vocology is not widely taught in academic institutions in the country as an independent discipline. Celebrity voice professionals, including film stars and vocalists, are used to confront with voice disorders and seek rehabilitation and the return of their operational voice or to benefit professionally from vocal habilitation by learning to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of their speaking voices,” said Fr Paul Poovathingal, the first vocologist in the country and the principal of National Institute of Vocology. “This six-semester course will equip a batch of 20 candidates to deal with all kinds of voice professionals and voice patients suffering from puberphonia (male having female sound), vocal cord paralysis, vocal nodule, phonatry gap, patients with wrong voice production, breathing techniques and poor lung pressure, and other voice disorders,” said Poovathingal. “Actor Mohanlal and even the late Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, who had lost his functional voice suddenly at the peak of a concert, have confronted with voice disorders at one point of time in their careers. Some of the eminent professionals have even vanished from their field for ever after voice disorders developed,” said George S Paul, an academician and a physicist.

The high-level of pollution in lifestyle and surroundings is taking a toll on the voice professionals and they often need the help of professional to overcome the difficulties in their voice production and to discipline their voice. So vocology being a new branch of knowledge, there is great scope for job in this sector, he added.

The syllabus for the course is being prepared by Fr Paul Poovathingal, George S Paul, Dr R Jayakumar, famed laryngologist who performed surgery on Mohanlal, V R Prabodhachandran Nair, a linguist, in consultation with Dr Ingo Titz of USA, who is considered as the father of Vocology.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by  Dhinesh Kallungal – ENS / August 11th, 2014

Tenets of an ancient science

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature, Science & Technology
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Kaumarabhrithya (Paediatrics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: S. Mahinsha / The Hindu
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Kaumarabhrithya (Paediatrics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: S. Mahinsha / The Hindu

Explore the world of Ayurveda at an exhibition on the premises of Government Ayurveda College

It is a journey through facets of wellness and good health that is practised and advocated by an ancient system of treatment. ‘Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014’, a mega exhibition currently on at Government Ayurveda College to mark the 125th anniversary celebrations of the college, gives a wealth of information about this indigenous system of healing. From baby food and kits for the new born, the exhibition is a delightful discovery of methods and medicines that were once used by our ancestors to take care of their health and well-being.

“Each of the 14 departments of the college has set up separate stalls, explaining their area of study and work,” says Jayan Damodaran, associate professor and an office-bearer of the expo.

Through charts, models and posters, a stall put up by the Department of Prasoothitantra and Sthreeroga (Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology) has explained various aspects related to pregnancy and child birth, breast-feeding techniques and so on.

Exhibits at the stall of Department of Agadatantra Vyavaharaayurveda and Vidhivaidyaka (Forensic Science, Toxicology and Dermatology) at Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M.
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Agadatantra Vyavaharaayurveda and Vidhivaidyaka (Forensic Science, Toxicology and Dermatology) at Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M.

A highlight of the stall is a model of Soothikagaram or a separate house constructed for a pregnant woman for delivery and post-pregnancy care during the seventh century BC. “This house used to be constructed when the woman was in her ninth month of pregnancy. She would stay there till her delivery,” says Dr. Prajitha.

Department of Kaumarabhrithya (Paediatrics) has showcased different aspects related to child care, including baby food, home remedies, and toys for different stages of growth.

Exhibits at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu
Exhibits at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram. Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu

An Ayurveda baby care kit has skin powder, massage oil, kaajal, and medicinal drops, all of which have been manufactured in the department. At a separate counter, visitors get to know and taste nutritious food for infants. No more tinned stuff for your little one. Check out Sriratna Modaka (made of dates, banana, ghee, honey and cardamom), mango syrup, sandal syrup, tulsi halwa, date syrup, cucumber halwa, healthy cutlets and soups. Recipes are happily shared with curious parents who want their little one to have organic food.

If you thought Ayurveda was all about herbs and plants with medicinal values, think again. The college has an open snake park under its Department of Agadatantra Vyavaharaayurveda and Vidhivaidyaka (Forensic Science, Toxicology and Dermatology) on its campus at Poojappura. The department has showcased specimens of poisonous and non-poisonous reptiles, besides giving exhaustive information about the kind of toxic substances found in households and toxic minerals and plants which also has medicinal properties. There is even a stall on forensic science.

Department of Salyatantra (Surgery and Orthopaedic) has arranged video documentation of successful stories of marma treatment, and exhibited ancient surgical instruments, bandage techniques and suturing methods.

While Department of Shalakya Tantra (ENT and Ophthalmology) has focussed on dealing with refractive errors, Department of Panchakarma tells about various treatment modalities along with pre and post operatory regiments for various diseases.

Department of Sanskritha Sidhantha and Samhitha, besides explaining the basic tenets of Ayurveda, has also stocked its various publications, some of which are rare books and palm leaf manuscripts.

Department of Swasthavritha (Social and Preventive Medicine) stresses on the Ayurveda nutrition and dietetics, with reference to various seasonal changes. A naturopathy food counter has also been put up by the students, where visitors get information on carrot tea, beetroot sweet and various other naturopathic food items.

Department of Kayachikitsa (General medicine) has set up the model of a ‘Rasayana griham’, that is a house where the patient would stay for months taking treatment, cut out from the outside world.

Ancient utensils used to make medicines exhibited at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu
Ancient utensils used to make medicines exhibited at the stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) at the Ashtanga Ayurveda Expo 2014 organised as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Government Ayurveda College in Thiruvananthapuram Photo: Athira M. / The Hindu

The stall of Department of Rasa Sastra and Baishajya Kalpana (Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics) stands out from the rest in that the department has traced the evolution of the medicine with matching interiors. Ancient utensils in which the medicines were prepared, which include a century-old huge vessel handed over by the royal family of erstwhile Travancore when the hospital was opened, different steps of preparing medicines, fermentation process and other activities of the department have been showcased.

The expo ends on August 12. Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by  Athira M. / Thiruvananthapuram – August 07th, 2014

Kottayam Gets Complete Palliative-Care District Tag

Science & Technology
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy receiving a petition from a nurse who returned from Libya at a function held to announce Kottayam as complete palliative-care district, on Sunday | RAJEEV PRASAD
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy receiving a petition from a nurse who returned from Libya at a function held to announce Kottayam as complete palliative-care district, on Sunday | RAJEEV PRASAD

Kottayam  :

The land of letters is all set to receive yet another tagline with the district being recognised as the complete palliative- care district in the state.

The announcement   was made by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a function held here at the district panchayat Hall at 10 am on Sunday.The Chief Minister said that the government will raise the remunerations for palliative care nurses.

“The nurses are playing a crucial role in the palliative care sector. An order to raise their remuneration by Rs 2,000, increasing their basic salary to Rs 8,000, will be issued. Along with this, the government is also planning to further hike their salaries. Favourable decision will be taken to address each and every demand they have raised, including regularising of their jobs,” he said.

He offered all possible support from governmental agencies for the smooth functioning of the Palliative Care Project. He gave away the awards for palliative care activities to the respective local governing bodies and charitable organisations at the event. Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan presided over the function. The project aims at taking care of those who have been suffering from chronic illness, paraplegics, mentally challenged persons etc. Under the project, the volunteers conduct home visits and provide special care and attention to the patients. The project is coordinated by the district panchayat, Health Department, Arogya Keralam Palliative Care Project and various other charity organisations.

The Vaikom municipality, Kidangoor, Chembu, Kadanadu, Parathodu and Meenadam grama panchayats, the Caritas Hospital, Thellakom, and Mar Gregorian Palliative Care Society, Thoothootty, were selected for the awards. Along with that, awards were given for palliative care activists.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / August 11th, 2014