Category Archives: Science & Technology

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

Innovation rules at TechTop

Education, Science & Technology
Students from the Pankajakasthuri College of Engineering and Technology show the working of ‘Armstrong,’ an upper-limb exoskeleton for rehabilitation and power augmentation, at the TechTop National Innovation Challenge 2014 in the city. / The Hindu
Students from the Pankajakasthuri College of Engineering and Technology show the working of ‘Armstrong,’ an upper-limb exoskeleton for rehabilitation and power augmentation, at the TechTop National Innovation Challenge 2014 in the city. / The Hindu

The 17 final projects at the TechTop National Innovation Challenge 2014 ranging from a low-cost solar panel that relies on slaughterhouse waste to an upper-limb exoskeleton for rehabilitation and power augmentation all aim at identifying a pertinent issue and devising an efficient system to address it.

The 17 final projects at the TechTop National Innovation Challenge 2014 ranging from a low-cost solar panel that relies on slaughterhouse waste to an upper-limb exoskeleton for rehabilitation and power augmentation all aim at identifying a pertinent issue and devising an efficient system to address it.

These projects, chosen from 192 proposals in January, are finally on display at the Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology — this year’s venue for the TechTop event.

Design workshop

In addition to this competition, the ninth edition of the programme also featured a five-day Design Innovation Workshop, which saw the halls of the college turn into a sanctuary for creative thought and entrepreneurial spirit as 67 students from across the country gathered here for a residential workshop led by founder of TechTop Rajesh Nair.

Information Technology Principal Secretary P.H. Kurien, after inaugurating the two-day exhibition here on Friday morning, said TechTop was a platform for the youth to think beyond their textbook curriculum and showcase their innovative projects.

The increase in attendance showed how TechTop was encouraging more students every year.

Open for public

Students from colleges and schools poured in for the exhibition, which is open for public viewing till Saturday evening.

They were fascinated by projects such as the ‘Affordable Refreshable Braille Display’ by students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi, which seeks to increase Braille literacy.

There is also the Tree Climbing Mechanism by the students of the Acharya Institute of Technology, Bangalore; and the Smart Wearable Device by Mar Baselios students which monitors vital statistics, has GPS tracking, and an emergency SOS button, to name a few.

Alongside these projects, student who attended the design workshop are also exhibiting their products, which can be classified into mobile and wireless, health and living, and toys to enable easier learning for the differently abled. The classes were conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Tata Centre.

The prize winners will announced during the valedictory event on Saturday. The best project will be awarded a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / Staff Reporter / Thiruvananthapuram – July 26th, 2014

3 Keralites for Mission Palliative Care in Rural West Bengal

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technology

Kozhikode :

Three Keralite Civil Service officers would soon add a new chapter in palliative care in rural West Bengal, inspired by similar initiative in their home state.

‘Sanjeevani’, an end-of-life care project to be launched in September in the Nadia district of WB, is the brain child of IAS officers P B Salim and Bijin Krishna and Amarnath, an IPS officer. The project has been conceptualised by the Kozhikode based Institute of Palliative Medicine (IPM), the training, research and outreach arm of Pain and Palliative Care Society, which pioneered community volunteering in end-of-life care.

Salim, hailing from Muvattupuzha, is currently working as the District Magistrate of Nadia while Amarnath, a native of Moozhikkal in Kozhikode, is the ASP of South 24 Parganas. Bijin from Meppayur in Kozhikode is the Assistant Collector of Murshidabad district. “Both Amarnath and Salim had associated with IPM years ago. Salim suggested starting a palliative care programme in West Bengal. He along with Amarnath then approached me. Later, Bijin also extended support to the initiative,” said Dr Suresh, director of IPM, which provides technical support for the project.

According to Salim, Sanjeevani is aimed at improving the quality of life of the terminally ill in Nadia.

“The project intends to introduce a new culture of providing care for the bed-ridden patients utilising a network of physicians, nurses and volunteers,” he said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Shafeeq Alingal / July 25th, 2014

As she turns 100, nurse takes a walk down time

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

Chennai :

With a rusty trunk in hand and a plethora of instructions in mind, Anna Jacob boarded SS Franconia from Bombay to Liverpool to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. “It was 1947. There were 3,500 passengers on board, and most of them were Britons returning home,” says Jacob, 67 years later.

The journey lasted three weeks. “There was a badminton court, a swimming pool, a live band. Many of them were upbeat as they all were returning home at last,” says Jacob, her face breaking into a wrinkled smile.

Jacob, who will turn 100 this month-end, was among the first batch of students who completed the higher grade nursing course from Christian Medical College, Vellore, in 1936. In the city to attend the centenary celebration of Women’s Christian College, where she did an intermediate course in 1946, she recounts her days with Dr Ida Scudder, founder of CMC, and Vera Pitman, her nursing tutor.

Jacob, fondly called Annamma by her family and friends, surprises people with her sharp memory. “I still remember the day Miss Pitman came to our school in Tiruvalla, Kerala,” she recalls. “She was really tall and graceful, but what drew people to her was her passion for what she did — nursing. Fifteen minutes into her talk on the need for dedicated nurses in the country, I had already made up my mind to join her team in Vellore.”

Her family members were aghast as “Nursing was looked down at that time. No woman from a good family would get into the profession.” When I broke the news to my family that I was moving to Vellore, they were aghast. News spread fast and my father received condolence letters,” said Jacob, who was the third among five sisters. Undeterred, she went on to be among the first batch of nine students under Pitman. “It was the best move I made in my life,” says Jacob.

After completing her course three years later, Jacob moved on to work in Delhi, before she got a scholarship in 1947 to do a bachelor’s in Canada. “A month later, I saw myself on board SS Franconia and later made my way from Liverpool to Montreal,” she said. She returned to Vellore two years later, where she was made the Nursing Superintendent. She worked there from 1949 to 1974.

Pitman continued mentoring her through letters from London. “She said it was up to me to now to pass on what I was taught. And that’s what I did and continue doing,” says Jacob, who stays on her own in Vellore and continues mentoring young nurses.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by  Ekatha Ann John, TNN / July 20th, 2014

Southern Air Command turns 30

About Kerala, Records, All, Science & Technology
The headquarters of the Southern Air Command, the fifth operational command of the Indian Air Force, in Thiruvananthapuram.
The headquarters of the Southern Air Command, the fifth operational command of the Indian Air Force, in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Southern Air Command (SAC), the fifth operational command of the Indian Air Force, would be 30 years old on July 20. To commemorate three decades of operations, it has lined up programmes lasting a year.

According to a press note, the events include a Sarang helicopter display, sky diving by the Akash Ganga team, fly past by various aircraft, a performance by Air Warriors Drill Team, a combat skill display by Air Force commandos (Garud), a community lunch and a commanders’ conclave.

The celebrations began with an ‘entertainment evening’ at the SAC headquarters here on Saturday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Special Correspondent / Thursday – July 20th, 2014

Nine Ships in Nine Months: Record Delivery for CSL

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Science & Technology
The protocol of delivery and acceptance of the seventh fast patrol vessel being exchanged by Capt R S Sundar, Director of Operations, on behalf of the CSL to Commanding Officer (designate) of the vessel Cmdt Nitin M Rathore of the Indian Coast Guard
The protocol of delivery and acceptance of the seventh fast patrol vessel being exchanged by Capt R S Sundar, Director of Operations, on behalf of the CSL to Commanding Officer (designate) of the vessel Cmdt Nitin M Rathore of the Indian Coast Guard

Kochi :

The Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has set a record by delivering nine ships in nine months, on average one vessel in a month.

The seventh of the series of 20 fast patrol vessels being  built for the Indian Coast Guard was delivered today.

The nine ships consisted of 7 fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard, and two platform supply ships for international owners.

The ship that was delivered prior to today’s delivery was ICGS Agrim. It was delivered to the Indian Coast Guard on May 30, 2014. The company has delivered the next ship within one-and-half month, compared to the contractual requirement of delivery in every three months. The Coast Guard expressed satisfaction over the quality of the ship delivered by the Shipyard.

The Protocol of delivery and acceptance was signed by Capt R S Sundar, Director of operations, on behalf of the CSL, and Commanding Officer (designate) of the vessel Cmdt Nitin M Rathore of the Indian Coast Guard.

Cmde K Subramaniam; Vivek Vajpayee, principal director (materials) of Indian Coast

Guard; DIG T P Sadanandan (Kochi); Paul Ranjan, director of finance at the CSL; and Sunny Thomas, technical director at the CSL were present on the occasion.  The vessel that was delivered today is named ‘ICGS AMAL’, which will be operated by the Coast Guard station in Goa.

The Cochin Shipyard had signed the contract for the construction of the 20 fast patrol vessels (FPV) for the Indian Coast Guard on October 20, 2010.

Like its sister ships, ‘ICGS AMAL’ is a fast patrol vessel, with a speed of 33 knots. The vessel will be very effective in supporting the Coast Guard in its anti-smuggling operations, anti-piracy operations, as well as in the monitoring and protection of fisheries. As the speed of the vessel is crucial in coastal security operations, the superstructure of fast patrol vessels are made of aluminium.A considerable amount of innovation was brought in in the welding and fabrication techniques by the CSL to achieve a very high quality product.

The ship is propelled by water jets powered by three main engines, each with a capacity of 2720 KW, and built to the dual classification requirements of ABS and IRS.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Kochi / by Express News Service / July 19th, 2014

Researchers try aquaponics to woo new-generation

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

Mallapuram : 

In an attempt to attract new generation farmers, the Agricultural Research Centre of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) at Anakkayam near here has decided to try its hand at aquaponics – an ancient method of farming vegetables and fishes together practised by ethnic groups in Mexico and China.

The centre has successfully cultivated tomatoes, cabbages, cauliflower, chilli and paddy via the soil-free method in which fish excreta is used as fertilizer. In fact, it began a second round of cultivation two weeks ago. Aquaponics is a portmanteau of words aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil).

Researchers at the centre used 12 units made of PVC pipes in which vegetables are grown. The units are placed inside a polyhouse situated close to a pond that holds about 3,000 varieties of fishes. The saplings or seeds are planted in small disposable fibre vessels filled with sponge-like pith particles of coconut husk. The vessels are then placed on small holes in PVS pipes. Water from the pond, carrying fish excrement is always circulated through the pipes and the plants grow in a hydroponic bath of flowing water enriched with minerals.

Farm officer at the centre E Jubail said the method is ideal for farming in populated areas and is cost effective. “No chemical fertilizers are used in the method as it would kill the fishes. This ensures that the crops are organic,” he said, adding that the method does not call for the use of pesticides and consumes less water compared to traditiional farming methods.

The plan is to introduce the method to farmers and visitors at the centre besides providing provide assistance to set up the system at their farmhouses.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kozhikode / by T P Nijish, TNN / July 02nd, 2014

Two-year-old gets liver transplant

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technology

A two-year-old child, suffering from a complex liver disease, has a new shot at life, thanks to a life-saving transplant performed on her by a team of doctors at the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) here.

Sreelekshmi, born to her parents after 18 years of marriage, was transplanted with a portion of the liver donated by her father himself. The family hails from Shoranur, Palakkad.

Sreelekshmi’s liver disease began in infancy and she was diagnosed with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, a rare autosomal recessive disorder of the liver (Though both parents carry a copy of faulty genes, they remain carriers only while the condition manifests in the offspring). She had been undergoing treatment in Kochi and came to KIMS when her condition worsened and a liver transplant emerged as the only option to save her.

Doctors at KIMS said that the child’s asthma was something that aggravated the complexity of the transplant. The father’s liver was found to be more compatible for the child.

Liver transplants in children who weigh less than 10 kg are rarely successful but Sreelekshmi, who weighed just 7.5 kg, beat all odds and came through the surgery well.

She was ready to be discharged, according to a statement issued by KIMS.

The transplant was done by a team of doctors at KIMS, led by Venugopal and Shabeer Ali, liver transplant surgeons, and other specialists.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Thirvananthapuram / by Special Correspondent / Thirvananthapuram – July 09th, 2014

Pampakuda to be Declared the First Digitised Local Body

Records, All, Science & Technology

Kochi :

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will declare the Pampakuda panchayat, situated near Muvattupuzha, as the first digitised local body in the state, at a function to be held on Saturday.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob will preside over the function.

Under the ambitious project, the details of all the people residing in the panchayat will be made available at the click of a mouse button.

The project was conceived by panchayat president Eby N Elias. He has entrusted the task of develop ing a software for the purpose to IT company Nextuz.

The details of every individual, including profession, blood group, educational qualification and bank account, will be available digitally.

Data collection for the project was done by the Asha workers. Data was collected  by distributing a questionnaire prepared by the panchayat.

The questionnaire had 30 questions, with several sub-sections. The data was later uploaded to a computer server, with the support of NSS volunteers from the Holy Kings Engineering College

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

Seaweed Extract in Pill Form to Provide Relief to Arthritis Patients

Nature, Science & Technology

Kochi :

It’s no secret that seaweeds offer an array of therapeutic possibilities, taken internally or applied externally. Now these magic weeds have again proved their worth by effectively fighting arthritis.

Scientists at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), which comes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), have developed a cost-effective nutraceutical product called ‘Green Algal Extract’ (GAE) for arthritic patients.

The institute claims it to be one of the best substitute to anti-inflammatory drugs, which are usually prescribed for arthritis, as it has no undesirable side-effects.

Synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs like paracetamol are usually prescribed for arthritis. But if used for a prolonged period, it could result in grave side-effects.  But this product will not have serious repercussions, said K K Vijayan, principal scientist and head of marine biotechnology division, CMFRI. GAE is made from the extract of anti-inflammatory ingredients from seaweeds. Since seaweed farming is not that rampant in the state, the required constituents are obtained from the east coast area of the country.

“Places like Mandapam and Rameswaram where its industry thrives have contributed immensely to provide the needed ingredients,” Vijayan said. The product is marketed in tablet form. One tablet will contain 500 mg and has to be taken for three months to get the desired result. Exhorting its success, the technology of the product  has already been transferred to a Hyderabad-based company. “Soon the product will be in the market at a competitive price,” the official said. The idea to develop a vegetarian product struck when the CMFRI’s another nutraceutical product ‘Cadalmine GMe’ became an instant hit.  It is made by extracting anti-inflammatory ingredients from mussels.

But prior to it, there was already a mussels-based product called ‘Seatone’, manufactured by a New Zealand-based company circulating in the market.

“But the price was huge. One tablet costs around `30. Hence we thought of producing a similar product especially because North Kerala thrives in mussel farming,” he said.

The product proved to be much more effective than ‘Seatone’. “Since it became a hit, requests poured in for a vegetarian product. Eventually our research led us to seaweeds,” he said.

source: http://www.m.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Kerala / by Shalet Jimmy / Kochi – June 23rd, 2014