Category Archives: Science & Technology

Diagnostic kit for fish virus released

Agriculture, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Science & Technology

The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has released a virus diagnostic kit specific to betanoda virus that infects marine fish.

The kit was released during a function held at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute by Trilochan Mohapatra, secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education and director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Betanoda virus causes Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN), also known as viral encephalopathy and retinopathy in larvae and juveniles of marine fin fish for which no effective treatments are available and those fish surviving the infection remain carriers of the virus, facilitating vertical and horizontal transmission.

Preventive steps

Hence, only preventive measures such as vaccination, regular screening of broodstock, eggs, larvae and fingerlings, besides effective disposal of positively diagnosed specimens, are options available to prevent disease outbreaks associated with betanodavirus in hatcheries and aquaculture farms, said a press release here.

Cost-effective

The kit is highly specific and cost-effective. Positive reaction is diagnosed by a green fluorescence that can be perceived by the naked eye under visible or UV light and there is no need for sophisticated equipment like a thermal cycler or trans-UV illuminator as in the case of other molecular diagnostic approaches.

The kit released on Monday is meant mainly to screen marine brood stock fish to ensure certified specific pathogen-free eggs and larvae in a sensitive and rapid way. It will also help timely identification of betanoda viral infections in fish hatcheries and aquaculture systems during routine screening of eggs, larvae, fingerlings as well as trash fish used as feed during culture operations.

Hatchery production of marine fish seeds is economically important in the context of enhanced marine fish seed requirements arising out of the increasing popularity of marine cage culture along the Indian coast, the press release issued here said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / Special Correpondent / Kochi – April 19th, 2016

Delhi doctors in awe: 50 surgeries a day!

Science & Technology

Thiruvananthapuram :

The team of doctors from New Delhi who came with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was all praise for the efforts at medical college hospital here following the Paravur fireworks tragedy.

“We should congratulate the efforts of doctors and the nursing staff here, and the excellent facilities you have at the hospital. 50 surgeries were performed within a day , in an excellent coordination among various hospital departments,” said Dr Mansih Singhal, plastic surgery head at All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The 20-member team from AIIMS, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital are camping in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram.”In fact, the doctors at Kollam district hospital and Thiruvananthapuram medical college are well experienced and they proved that they are capable enough to handle such situations,” said Dr Susha Sagar, additional profes sor, AIIMS.

The central team also expressed surprise at the excellent liaison between private and government hospitals. “Private hospitals and doctors willing to provide free treatment and helping government hospitals is a rare phenomenon. In Kerala, we really felt how the health sector has achieved rapid strides,” Dr Sagar said.

The doctors and six para medics received the call to travel with Modi at 9am and they were asked to report at the airport at 10am.

“We saw it as a big opportunity as the Prime Minister himself was leading us in giving specialized treatment to Kerala burn victims. Though we had faced such eventualities earlier, it was a first-time experience to travel with a Prime Minister for crisis management,” said Dr Manoj Jha, burn specialist from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

On survivors, Dr Jha said many patients could develop complications any time as it was not just the burns they are facing. “Several of them have various other complications and they will need more time to recuperate,” he said.
All these doctors, nursing staff and paramedics who were off duty and on leave were asked to report for duty on Sunday soon after the reports of the incident came out. “The doctors and nursing staff stayed at the hospital on Sunday night. Crisis management was at its best,” medical college principal Dr Thomas Mathew said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / TNN / April 12th, 2016

Nirdesh to commence designing naval vessels

Records, All, Science & Technology

Kozhikode :

Nirdesh (National Institute for Research & Development in Defence Shipbuilding), the autonomous institution set up to boost the indigenisation of country’s warship and submarine construction, at Chaliyam near here, is all set to commence designing of various vessels for the Indian Navy. It would also set up the first centralised shipbuilding database in the country at the institute.

Though the foundation stone for the proposed Rs 600 crore project was laid by then defence minister A K Antony back in 2011, the activities of Nirdesh have so far been limited to conducting training programmes on shipbuilding and taking up some R&D projects.

Nirdesh would start off with preparing standard designs for a range of small vessels used by Navy including patrolling vessels, harbour vessels, tugs, ferries, survey ships, etc. “We have got approval to engage a design expert and two naval architects. In the first phase, we will be working towards preparing a standardised design for vessels which are required in substantial numbers by the Navy . It is highly beneficial to have a standardised design as the vessels will be built by different shipyards. It would help in the operation side as well as for maintenance,” Captain Ramesh Babu, project director of Nirdesh said.

Nirdesh has also got approval to engage a data management expert to set up and maintain the country’s first centralised shipbuilding database.

“The shipyards of the country generate a vast amount of data during shipbuil ding. Nirdesh will take up the task of collecting, compi ling and archiving the data in a data centre so that it can be shared among shipyards and used for process improve ments,” he said, adding tha the appointments would be made on contract basis. The design expert would be from among personnel who have retired from the defence shipyards or the Navy .

According to Nirdesh of ficials, the full-scale infrast ructural works at the Chaliy am facility has been held up due to the procedural delay in getting the Cabinet appro val for the formation of an autonomous society headed by the Union defence minister.

According to sources, the Nirdesh board of governors have approved a Rs 115 crore prioritize phase-1 master plan which would see setting up of the design and training facility. Nirdesh already has around Rs 20 crore corpus fund provided by the defence shipyards at Mumbai, Kolkata, Goa and Visakhapatnam for infrastructure creation.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kozhikode / K R rajeev / TNN / April 04th, 2016

Three-day Science Congress Begins

Education, Science & Technology

Kochi :

Aathree-day ‘Children’s Science Congress- 2016’ (Balasasthra Vijnanotsavam – 2016) to identify the best talented students in the field of science and to mould the next young generation of scientists began here on Tuesday.

J Letha, Vice Chancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) inaugurated the event in which 150 students from 14 districts are participating.

The programme, organised by the International School of Photonics and Center for Science in Society, Cusat, is being held under the International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies (IYL 2015), which aims to raise global awareness on the social, economic and developmental role of light and optical technologies.

Many eminent scholars from Cusat campus will be training and guiding the students participating in the Science Congress. Various exhibits on lights and technologies is also on display at the congress.

The main attraction of the fair is the live 3D simulator which displays 3D images in 360 degrees which can be seen by naked eyes. The 3-day camp will also include various entertainment programme for students. The students will also be able to experience the experiments which will be conducted during the program. The exhibition will be a great experience for the young master minds in science.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Service / April 06th, 2016

ICAR award for nutmeg farmer

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

He got the award for developing a devise to de-shell the nutmeg seeds

Sachidanandan Velliyath, a 65-year-old farmer from North Aduvassery, Ernakulam, won the prestigious Innovative Farmer Award of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

He received the award from Union Minister for Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh on March 21 at New Delhi during the National Agricultural Fair – Krishi Unnati (Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela), said a press release here.

Development of a nutmeg decorticator, a devise to de-shell the nutmeg seeds, made him eligible for the award.

Since manual nutmeg de-shelling is laborious, it was not economical to produce kernel though it fetched double the price. The issue could be solved with the introduction of the new machine. The capacity of the nutmeg decorticator, powered by a 0.5 HP electric motor, is 150 kg per hour and costs Rs.28,000.

More than 140 farmers in Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have purchased this machine.

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra – Ernakulam of CMFRI had selected Mr. Velliyath as the Best Innovator and was recommended for the prestigious award, the press release added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – March 28th, 2016

Kochi techie takes challenge to Paris

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives & Environment, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Kiran Raphael with French President Francois Hollande.
Kiran Raphael with French President Francois Hollande.

Kiran Raphael’s diamond clean tech involves cleaning water using diamond micro electrodes

A young technopreneur from the city has bridged the gap between Kochi and Paris, hogging the limelight at the Paris French Tech Ticket entrepreneurship challenge announced by French President Francois Hollande in 2014 to attract technology start-ups from across the globe.

Kiran Raphael, 31, an alumnus of St. Aloysius School, Palluruthy, was among the 20 from across the globe and one of the three Indians selected from more than 1,300 entries in the technology challenge, which saw participants from Japan, China, Canada, Argentina, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt, among others.

Mr. Raphael said from Paris on Sunday that he was invited to speak on behalf of the selected technopreneurs at the Elysee Palace on March 2.

No chemicals, no waste generation

Mr. Raphael, a bio-technology specialist, said the diamond clean tech he espoused involved cleaning water using diamond micro electrodes. “When cleaning water using diamond electrodes, we do not use any chemicals and there is no waste generation,” he said on Sunday describing the technology that would now receive funding from the French government.

He said his plan was to develop the technology company in France and then to expand it to India, where there was a big problem of water pollution. Industrial houses and urban authorities stood to gain from adopting the technology, he said. Boobesh Ramalingam and Mani Doraisamy from Bangalore, he said, were among the other successful technopreneurs from India in the Tech Challenge.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by K.A. Martin / Kochi – March 07th, 2016

Cholanaikkans in the wonderland of science

About Kerala, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology
Members of the Cholanaikkan community from Nilambur watch a water-rocket launch demonstration at the Regional Science Centre and Planetarium in Kozhikode on Thursday.Photo: K. Ragesh
Members of the Cholanaikkan community from Nilambur watch a water-rocket launch demonstration at the Regional Science Centre and Planetarium in Kozhikode on Thursday.Photo: K. Ragesh

A 40-member team from Cholanaikkan community gets a first-hand feel of planetarium; experts look forward to learning a thing or two from the tribals’ knowledge of astronomy

For most of them, it was the first time venturing out of their natural habitat, the forest. Yet, it was wonder, curiosity and enthusiasm rather than discomfort that reflected on the faces of Cholanaikkans who visited the Regional Science Centre in Kozhikode on Thursday.

Cholanaikkans, who live in the deciduous forests of Nilambur, are the only surviving hunter gatherer tribe in the country and the only tribal community in Asia that lives in rock-cave shelters. Except for a few who have ventured out on their own in pursuit of education and jobs, most members of the tribe live 10 km into the forest from Nilambur and do not even accept accommodation provided by the government.

These people from the tribal colonies of Mancheeri, Poochappara, Mannala, Karimpuzha and Kuppam Mala still live on fruits, berries and meat and do not engage in farming.

For the expedition on Thursday, the 40-member team had to leave their hamlets early in the morning and walk up to 5 km to catch a vehicle. The Calicut International Airport was their first stop and later, the Regional Science Centre and Planetarium. At the science centre, a water-rocket launch demonstration welcomed them. After lunch, they had a good time exploring the exhibits at the science centre. They were later treated to a magic show by Pradeep Hudinho. This was followed by cultural programmes.

Interestingly, officials at the Science Centre had an “ulterior motive” in inviting Cholanaikkans to Kozhikode: they wanted to record the tribals’ knowledge about astronomy. In fact, Mayank Vahia from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore, was here with the purpose of extending the horizon of his research on tribal astronomy by partaking in astronomical discussions with Cholanaikkans.

“I have studied the astronomy of tribals in central India. It is very different from our understanding of space. I guess Cholanaikkans have an entirely different understanding of it,” Mr. Vahia said, adding that he planned to record what they had to say when they were shown the constellations in the planetarium.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kozhikode / by Aabha Anoop / Kozhikode – March 04th, 2016

Seven-year-old student creates ‘cleaner’ robot

Amazing Feats, Education, Science & Technology

Kochi:

A Class II student of a city school has created a cleaner robot, a robotic hand and a walking stick for the blind. It was recently exhibited along with works by engineering and science graduates at TECH FOSS 2K16.

Saarang Sumesh (7) from Choice School showcased the work in the tech fest organized by the department of computer science and engineering at TocH Institute of Science and Technology (TIST) and Computer Society of India in association with the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Centre of the institute.

“Saarang left us surprised even with his presentation skills. He not only displayed the uses of the robot but also explained how he made it. He has made the robots using Lego Robotic Kit,” said TIST principal D Vincent H Wilson.

There were 25 projects on display from engineering and polytechnic students. There was also a hands-on workshop on Android and Arduino for the participants. Other events included a hardware project competition and an ‘App Idea’ contest.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kochi / TNN / February 15th, 2016

State’s first organ transplant unit in govt sector to be opened tomorrow

Records, All, Science & Technology

Thiruvananthapuram:

The first organ transplant unit in government sector will be inaugurated at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital on Wednesday.

The unit will have liver transplant and cross matching facilities. “This will be the first such unit in the government sector in south India,” said Kerala Network of Organ Sharing (KNOS) nodal officer Dr Noble Gracious.

The biggest boost will be the tissue matching unit. The state is now depended on one or two private hospitals for its tissue matching needs, he added.

The cross matching or tissue matching is the test conducted on the donor and recipient to find whether the organs to be transplanted would match.

The cross matching is a very sensitive and final test done for any type of organ transplant, including kidney. “The cross matching for medical college hospitals where kidney transplants are currently performed are done at the Amrita Hospital in Kochi.

When it comes to the government sector, the cost of the test can be considerably brought down,” said Dr Gracious. All the equipment and other infrastructure are ready at the unit. We will be fully operational from day one, he added. The unit is part of a health department initiative whereby three private hospitals have agreed to help set up the facilities, share expertise and train doctors for performing liver transplantation surgeries.

The hospitals- -Lakeshore hospital, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences will share their expertise with the MCH and also provide all assistance in performing liver transplants.

The experts in liver transplant surgeries from these three hospitals will be performing the surgeries at the MCH initially. This would also be an opportunity for an in-house training for the doctors at the MCH.

Once liver transplant begins in the government sector, the cost involved could be considerably brought down. The surgery costs between Rs 35 lakh and Rs 40 lakh in the private sector. It may be below Rs 20 lakh in the government sector.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram /  by G Rajiv, TNN / February 02nd, 201y6

Floating solar plant at Banasura Sagar reservoir inaugurated

Green Initiatives & Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology

Kozhikode :

Power minister Aryadan Mohammed inaugurated the state’s first floating solar plant at Banasura Sagar reservoir in Wayanad on Thursday.

The 10-kilowatt-capacity plant, spread over 1,200 sq ft has been installed on concrete floaters with hollow insides. The platform can carry 45 tonnes and the power generated will be fed to the KSEB grid through cables drawn through the reservoir bed. KSEB officials said that it is the first floating solar plant to be set up inside a reservoir in the country.

The innovative power generation system, set up at a cost of Rs 20 lakh, is the brainchild of two young entrepreneurs from Wayanad – Ajay Thomas and V M Sudhin. The duo’s startup firm Vatsaa Energy Private Ltd has implemented the project with financial aid from KSEB under its Energy Open Innovations Zone.

Inaugurating the plant, Aryadan Mohammed said that KSEB was making a big push in the area of renewable energy. He added that the government has acquired 500 acres of land in Kasaragod to set up a 200 MW solar park. A further 1500 acres will be acquired for the project.

The KSEB also has plans to convert the largest earthen dam in the country to a hub of solar power generation with the launch of construction works for two other solar projects at the site.

The projects include a proposed 500-kW floating solar plant at the reservoir and a 400kW ‘dam- top’ solar power generation project. The former is a scaled-up version of the 10kW concrete floating plant. The Rs 9.25-crore project will be spread over the water surface of the reservoir across 1.25 acres.

The minister will also inaugurate the works of the 400-kW dam-top solar project by installing solar panel canopy over the walkway atop the dam at a cost of Rs 4.6 crore. Another hydel tourism development project is being envisaged near the dam premises.

Ajay Thomas, who had developed the indigenous technology for the floating plant, said the device has around 20% higher efficiency compared to ground-mounted units as the cooling effect of water helps in keeping the temperature of the solar panels low, thus boosting output.

“The low dust environment in the reservoir also aids in enhanced performance of the photo-voltaic panels. Water bodies in the state, including those in large hydroelectric projects, can be used for large-scale solar power generation through floating plants,” he said.

KSEB chief engineer (renewable energy and energy savings), Suku R, said the floating solar plant was designed for dam reservoirs in the state, also taking into consideration the seasonal water level variations, heavy rain and winds.

M V Shreyams Kumar MLA presided over the function. KSEB chairman and managing director M Sivasankar, academician RVG Menon among other spoke.

www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /  News Home> City> Kozhikode / K.P. Rajeev / TNN / January 21st, 2016