Category Archives: Science & Technology

Rare cochlear implantation performed

Science & Technology
Abin John Ninan with his grandfather John Babu Panackamattom and doctor Vivek Saseendran.
Abin John Ninan with his grandfather John Babu Panackamattom and doctor Vivek Saseendran.

A three-year-old boy, tuned his ears to the first sound he had ever heard when his grandpa clapped from behind

Abin John Ninan, a three-year-old boy, tuned his ears to the first sound he had ever heard when his grandpa clapped from behind at a demonstration room of the ENT Department at Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (PIMSR) in Thiruvalla on Thursday.

The boy screamed aloud, hearing the sound. Incidentally, it was also his third birthday.

ENT specialist at PIMSR Vivek Saseendran, and P.A. Jacob, anaesthetist, conducted a successful cochlear implantation on him on January 17.

Abin, son of Cyriac Ninan and Lizy Mary Ninan, of Kattappurathu House in the Upper Kuttanad village of Mepral, had been suffering from a series of health problems associated with Congenital Rubella Syndrome, said Dr. Saseendran. He had undergone surgery for congenital cardiac ailment, and bilateral congenital cataract too, earlier. It took six hours for the successful completion of the cochlear implantation on both ears of the child.

The hospital authorities had made the switching on of the implant on Thursday a grand celebration at PIMSR as it was the boy’s third birthday. Fr Shaji Vazhayil, Pushpagiri chairman, inaugurated the function. Suresh David, PIMSR medical superintendent, presided. Mathew Punakkulam, Pushpagiri director, and Dr. Vivek spoke.

According to John Babu Panackamattom, grandfather of Abin who has been looking after the child all these years, the boy with delayed developmental milestones is now very much active The hospital authorities said that the boy would be given speech therapy at the specially designed centre with state-of-the-art facility at Pushpagiri.

Dr. Vivek said the boy was suffering from Bilateral Sensory Neural Deafness, which was associated with his Congenital Rubella Syndrome. The total cost of the two implants was Rs. 10.16 lakh, besides surgical expenses of Rs. 1 lakh, hospital sources said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by  RadhaKrishnan Kuttoor / Pathanamthitta – February 06th, 2015

Kerala Agricultural Varsity Develops Seedless Cucumber

Agriculture, Education, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology

SeedlessCucumberKERALA28feb2015

Thrissur :

Paving the way for a fillip in ‘polyhouse’ cucumber cultivation, the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has developed a seedless hybrid cucumber variety, ideal for polyhouse cultivation.

This is the first such hybrid developed by a public sector research team in South India, according to reports on Friday.

At present, multinationals have monopolised in ‘parthenocarpic’ variety of cucumber hybrids used in poly house farming which have the ability of producing fruits without pollination.

Farmers have to depend now on corporate sector for such variety of hybrids, and they have to pay in the range of Rs 5 to 7 per seed. The development of parthenocarpic hybrid by KAU offers availability of indigenously developed hybrid seeds to Kerala farmers.

Field tests in university farms have proved that a 10-cent polyhouse can yield five tons of fruits in three months. Dark green fruits, weighing 220 gm with a length of 24 cm and 15 cm width, can be stored up to one week at room temperature without any loss in quality.

The Southern Zone Research Extension Advisory Council of KAU, held at College of Agriculture, Vellayani, recommended this hybrid for multi-locational testing across selected polyhouses in all districts, said Dr Pradeepkumar T, associate professor, Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, who led the research team.

The team, according to reports, developed the hybrid variety by inculcating parthenocarpic trait into plant types with only female flowers through complex breeding programme.

The team had also developed earlier seedless hybrids of watermelon successfully. It has now followed with the technique of F1 hybrid seed production in parthenocarpic cucumber.

The state government has accorded high priority to polyhouse cultivation in the state by providing subsidy for polyhouse construction in 1000-odd panchayats.

Polyhouse cultivation requires specific cultivars in each crop, and farmers now depend on the seed produced from Korea, Thailand, imported and marketed by multinational companies.

KAU vice-chancellor Dr P Rajendran said cucumber is an ideal vegetable variety for polyhouse cultivation as the fruit is harvested in immature stage. The vertical height of the polyhouse structure can also be exploited for producing more number of fruiting nodes.

F1 hybrids have a very important role in boosting vegetable production in the state. Development of parthenocarpic cucumber is a great beginning in this direction. Time bound action for making available this technology to farming community is the next step, he said.

Normal cucumber types produce both male and female flowers and require pollination for fruit development, said Dr T R Gopalkrishnan, KAU director of Research. Development of fruit without pollination is a tricky trait in cucumber and naturally seedless fruits in this hybrid make the commercial production of seeds a cumbersome task, he added.

Seeds of the new hybrid cucumber are expected to reach the farming community within a year.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Express News Service / February 28th, 2015

Ayurveda sports clinic at district hospital in Kottayam

Science & Technology, Sports

Kottayam :

In a unique project launched with financial aid from district panchayath, a sports Ayurveda clinic will be launched at the district hospital here. The programme will be officially inaugurated on Thursday at 2.30pm by sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

The office of the deputy director of education will be providing a list of students who are eligible to avail the facility from the clinic. The list would include students who have already participated in athletic meets and tournaments as well as trainees. “The list will be screened and finalised,” said Rathi B Unnithan, Ayurveda DMO. The clinic will deal with sports injuries and general health improvement of the students, she added.

According to Dr Sreejith SP, coordinator of the project, the clinic will help students manage their injuries and also help enhance performance.

The Panchayath is providing Rs 5 lakhs for the project in its launching year. “This is a positive step towards promoting sports in the district,” said Anita Shaji, welfare committee chairman of the Panchayath and principal of CKMHSS Koruthodu. “I know many talented students who gave up sports due to continuous injuries. Now, this clinic will help such sportspersons manage their injuries better,” she said.

Initially, the clinic will open special OP clinics on Tuesdays and Saturdays. A possibility of starting an outdoor unit to assist sportspersons in athletic meets and tournaments in the district is also under consideration.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of  India / Home> City> Kochi / TNN / February 19th, 2015

‘State played lead role in country’s space science’

Records, All, Science & Technology

Thiruvananthapuram  :

With the first rocket launch in Thumba, Kerala played a major role in the setting up the country’s space programme and the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), said Kerala Governor and India’s former chief justice P Sathasivam.

“Scientists and engineers here play a lead role behind many successful space missions in the country, but they are the last to be honoured,” he added while honouring the scientists of Isro establishments here on Tuesday for the success of the experimental flight of GSLV Mark-III and Mangalyaan mission at a felicitation meet organized by the Space Engineers Association (SEA).

He stressed the need to focus on space science and satellite technological development in enhancing the applications in remote sensing, transportation, better cropping, communication and telemedicine. Quoting Vikram Sarabhai, the father of Indian space science, he said the fruits of technology should be utilised for the betterment of mankind.

He likened the Isro to Supreme Court judges’ assembly, both have representation from across the country. SEA, a 1,200 member association of space engineers, had aptly honoured the brains behind the various successful space missions, including GSLV with its indigenous cryogenic test, PSLV, LVM-3 and Mangalyaan, he said.

VSSC director M C Dathan, liquid propulsion systems centre (LPSC) director K Sivan, Isro inertial systems unit (IISU) director P P Mohanlal, Isro propulsion complex (IPRC) director D Karthikesan and VSSC former director S Ramakrishnan were among those who were felicitated.

The project directors and associate project directors of various launch vehicles and top scientists of various divisions of Isro establishments, including NRV Kartha, Unnikrishnan Nair, S Arunan, BK Venkatraman, R Umamaheswaran, P Vijayakumar, G Ayyappan, R Ramavarma, S Venkateswaran, Koshi M George, P Ratnakara Rao and C Joseph, were also honoured.

The felicitation programme took off with the screening of a documentary by VSSC’s technical documentation and archival division on the milestones achieved by the Isro establishments, including India’s proven PSLV launch vehicle, the maiden interplanetary mission to Mars ‘Mangalyaan’ and launch of India’s next generation launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III on December 18 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota, etc. It also focused on further space flights of the next PSLV launches to place the remote sensing series satellite IRNSS 1D on March 9 this year, other PSLV launches and advanced GSLV Mark III with indigenous cryogenic engine.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / TNN / February 18th, 2015

Vechur Cow to be Micro-chipped Today

Agriculture, Nature, Science & Technology

VechurKERALA27jan2015

Thrissur :

The Vechur cow, a rare breed of Bos indicus cattle with an average length of 124 cm and height of 87 cm, is all set to join the elite club of the ‘micro-chipped livestock’ in the world on Monday as the authorities have made elaborate arrangements to tag the indigenous cattle species with pet microchips that uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.

The Vechur Conservation Trust, a body formed to conserve domestic animal diversity in the state, will officially begin the drive of electronically tagging Vechur cows and distributing the pedigree certificate to the owners of the cows at a function to be held in Kottayam on Monday.

Dr Sosamma Iype, Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics, who is instrumental in popularising the Vechur breed in the country, said the Trust came forward with this venture of tagging the animals following widespread complaints of genetic pollution in the rare species of this local cow variety.

The unscrupulous middlemen in this sector have been promoting the sale of calves of Vechur cows that were bred with local ox varieties in the absence of enough Vechur cows because of the high demand for the indigenous cattle population among dairy farmers in the country. The introduction of micro-chipping and distribution of pedigree certificates will not only check the practice of genetic pollution,  but also serve as a tool to trace and isolate them in the event of a disease outbreak, said Dr Abraham Varkey, who assists the project.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Dhinesh Kallungal / January 26th, 2015

KAU technology for solid waste disposal

Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives & Environment, Science & Technology

A new technology developed by Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) for safe and hygienic disposal of household garbage has been released for user trials.

KAUkerala24jan2014

The technology, which involves rapid conversion of degradable waste to value-added manure, was released by KAU Vice Chancellor P. Rajendran at a function held at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, last week.

The bioconversion methods currently in operation necessitate the dumping of waste for long periods, leading to environmental pollution and human health problems. The KAU claims that the novel mechanism of bioconversion developed by scientists at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry is fast, efficient, non-polluting and completed within a day.

The research team led by C.R. Sudharmaidevi has fabricated a technology demonstration unit named Suchitha to be deployed for trials at various locations. The machine with 20 kg processing capacity requires only 1.5 sq m space and three units of electricity for operation.

A press note by the KAU said the product could be used as manure for various crops. The whole process was completed within a day.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by T. Nandakumar / Thiruvananthapuram – January 23rd, 2015

Fuel-efficient car heads for global contest

Education, Green Initiatives & Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology, Sports, World Opinion

CarKERALA15jan2015

A prototype of a fuel-efficient car, developed by mechanical engineering students of the Government Engineering College, Barton Hill, has been selected for the International Fuel Efficiency Contest, to be held from February 26 in the Philippines.

College Principal B. Anil said the car could give mileage of 200 km per litre. The technology was developed with the support of Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment under the Technology Development and Adaptation Programme. The innovation was made by Bibin Sagaram, Ronith Stanley and Vishnu Prasad S., all in their sixth semester, with guidance of faculty members Santhosh Kumar and Anver Sadath.

The college was the only one selected from the State for the International Fuel Efficiency Contest, named Shell Eco Marathon. The contest would see participation of 120 teams from 16 countries, a press release said.

Prototype developed by students of Barton Hill engineering college.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Staff Reporter / Thiruvananthapuram – January 15th, 2015

New Oracle chief’s Kerala roots

Leaders, Science & Technology, World Opinion

 

Thomas Kurian
Thomas Kurian

Thomas Kurian, the newly-appointed president of Oracle Product Development, has his roots in the sleepy village of Pampady off Kottayam town.

His uncle and cardiologist George Jacob says: ‘‘They were four brothers, born and brought up in Bengaluru, where my elder brother P.C. Kurian, a chemical engineer, was with Graphite India. Thomas and his twin brother George, after passing out from St Joseph’s Boys High School, Bengaluru, had joined IIT Madras. However, six months into their programme, they both went to Princeton University to pursue their studies.’’

Thomas has a BA in electrical engineering which he graduated with ‘‘summa cum laude’’ (highest distinction). In the second place was his twin brother George, Dr. Jacob says.

‘‘The boys had migrated to the U.S. at the age of 17, and have very little connections here,’’ he says.

He came to know of his nephew’s elevation on Friday. ‘‘Of course, we are all happy though we had not held any celebrations,’’ he says.

Mr. Kurian, however, used to visit his ancestral house annually after the retirement of his father who chose to settle down in Pampady. About three months back, his father passed away and that was the last time Mr. Kurian visited his ancestral home.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Business> Industry / by Special Correspondent / Kottayam – January 11th, 2014

Earth’s rotation at real-time speed visualised at Kochi Biennale

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology

KochiBiennaleKERALA28dec2014

Four years ago, Christian Waldvogel boarded a plane and flew westward at supersonic speed to shoot a video that succeeded in showing that the earth “turned for a while without me”.

Today, that unique four-minute aerial visual by the Swiss artist is wooing visitors at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB).

It was on March 17, 2010 that Zurich resident Waldvogel succeeded in his efforts to get into a Swiss Air Force (SAF) plane and move at a speed faster than the speed of sound at exactly 1,158 km per hour — the rotational velocity of the earth in his native country. He thus got to film the earth’s rotation while standing still with respect to the sun, said a press release.

Waldvogel’s ‘The Earth Turns Without Me’ is a four-part installation tuning into the core curatorial theme ‘Whorled Explorations’ of KMB in which artistic director Jitish Kallat has assembled works that allude to cosmology often referencing Kochi.

Kallat says he finds Waldvogel’s works “contemplative and sometimes even humorous”.  They look at humanity from a distance and are “often grounded in intricate scientific calculations”, he adds.

To achieve his aim of remaining stationary vis-a-vis the sun, the artist converted the SAF plane’s rear cockpit into a pinhole camera that he would use to shoot the solar system’s central star. The project was triggered by two light-box images—Earthstill and Starstill, which Waldvogel shot and are also being exhibited at KMB’14. The first reveals stars as streaks because they are blurred by the earth’s motion, while the latter is a clear image of the stars using an astronomer’s camera that cancels the planet’s motion. Then, there is also the sun’s image displayed as a concentrated point.

The artist, who was born in Austin (USA), has a second work at KMB’14. Titled ‘Recently, the non-flat-earth paradigm’ is based on his “rediscovery” that for a person in Kochi, India’s northernmost point lies 125 km underneath the horizon — a fall that is equal to 15 times the height of the country’s tallest mountain range: the Himalayas.

Meanwhile, the organisers of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale informed in a communication that the exhibition would stay open from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. “The organisers have decided to extend the time due to popular demand. Nearly 55,000 people have visited the Biennale since December 12,” said the press release.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Staff Reporter / Kochi – December 27th, 2014

A Useful Guide to Tackle Waste

Green Initiatives & Environment, Science & Technology

Green-ExpoKERALA27dec2014

Thiruvananthapuram  :

A city-based firm, which specialises in manufacturing biogas plants, has introduced incinerators for the slow biodegradable waste. The incinerators are among the items on display at ‘Green Expo’, an exhibition conducted by the firm Biotech Renewable Energy Private Limited.

The incinerators, being fairly new, are yet to find favour with the people here. The product that is turning out to be very popular is the water jacket model of biogas plants. “In this model, the water gets separated from the slurry and can be used as fertiliser. Most users bought the plants at the exhibition for domestic purposes,” according to Simon D Joseph, supply officer, Biotech Renewable Energy Private Limited.

A biogas plant, which avoids the growth of mosquitoes, is among the exhibits. In ordinary plants, to avoid mosquito menace, one needs to pour kerosene or grow guppies, which are time-consuming affairs. The anti-mosquito model, however, has a membrane which prevents mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water.  The exhibition has biogas plants for domestic purposes as well as institutional use. There are also peripheral devices like bone crushers which would be of use at hotels, restaurants and other institutions which have high volumes of food waste.

The exhibition, which started on December 21 at Biotech Towers, Vazhuthacaud, will conclude on January 22.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / December 27th, 2014