Category Archives: Science & Technology

Medical Facilities-A Remarkable Service by Koneru Prasad Charitable Trust

Science & Technology

Trimex Sands Pvt Ltd gives utmost priority for providing medical facilities which can instill confidence among the patients of poor families. The Company’s CSR initiatives through Koneru Prasad Charitable Trust were lauded by Several VIPs including Union Minister of State for Communication and Technology KilliKruparani, former minister DharmanaPrasada Rao and Srikakulam Collector Saurabh Gaur and others. Locals of Srikakulam district are also appreciating the initiatives of Koneru Prasad Charitable Trust saying that it did commendable job with the improvement of medical facilities and establishment of hospitalsand dialysis unit which has become a boon for hundreds of kidney patients of Uddanam region.

It has spent around Rs.1.5 crore for setting up of a dialysis unit in Tekkali area hospital. It has become a big boon for patients as well as attends who were earlier forced to go eitherVisakhapatnam or Srikakulam for dialysis facility. Tedious and expensive problems are over with availability of dialysis unit Tekkli. No need to say that hundreds of people in Uddanam region have been suffering from kidney problems. Several studies couldn’t find the exact reasons for the spread of kidney diseases in the district. The Trust planned to take up studies in future with the help of government to extract reasons apart from providing immediately medical support in the form of dialysis for the poor patients.

Support to RIMS:

The Trust provided beds and medical equipment to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences- helping poor patients to get better treatment facility in the hospital. It is also helping RIMS to improve greenery in its premises by providing saplings and tree guards. Fully grown trees would help patients to have natural oxygen apart from providing shade for the attendants who spend more time in the premises. RIMS administration and senior doctors apart from patients lauded the initiatives of the Trust.

KoneruHF18mar2014

Hospital with State of Art Technology:  

It has also established a poly clinic with State of Art technology in Vatsavalasa where Trimex Sands Pvt Ltd has its unit. It has spent around Rs.25 lakh for establishment of the hospital. Two doctors and four staff members work to provide round the clock medical facility. Earlier, the villagers were forced to go all the way to government hospital in Srikakulam even in the time of emergency. Thank God, the Trust’s clinic relieved all their tensions providing medical facilities round the clock. There is no charge even for costly tests and medicines, helping poor patients to get best medical support in their vicinity.TSPL allocates Rs.2 lakh every month for supply of medicines andsalaries of the staff. A 30 bed facility will be a reality very soon with steps being taken for upgradation of the hospital. The company has also provided an ambulance to the Vatsavalasa poly clinic apart from Ampolu sub-jail, helping the authorities to send sick prisoners to the hospital immediately whenever it is necessary. People of around 10 villages got benefitted with the hospital and other facilities.

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Medical Camps:

The Trust is helping old persons to have proper vision by conducting medical camps to identify eye problems. It helped hundreds of patients for cataract operations and post care. Around 1000patients got benefited with medical camps conducted in association with Shankar Foundation. The senior citizens can lead happy life while seeing the changed life style of next generation with the rapid progress in Gara and Srikakulammandals. The Trust has also been organizing blood donation camps in several parts and helping Blood Bank being operated by Red Cross Society.

source: htp://www.groundreport.com / Ground Report / Home> LifeStyle> Non-Profit / by Koneru Prasad / February 26th, 2014

‘Technology Veda’ for visually-challenged students

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Science & Technology
A student of Danekula Engineering College explaining a few basic machines to visual impaired students at Vijaya Mery Integrated School in Vijayawada on Friday./ Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu
A student of Danekula Engineering College explaining a few basic machines to visual impaired students at Vijaya Mery Integrated School in Vijayawada on Friday./ Photo: Ch.Vijaya Bhaskar / The Hindu

Final year students of Dhanekula Institute of Engineering and Technology under the guidance of Professor T.V. Rao from Department of ECE organised a camp on machines functioning

For Anjusha, Ramya, Naga Chaturya and hundred other visually-challengedchildren of Vijaya Mary Integrated School for the Blind, it was a day of unique experience.

They had a feel of the machines such as gear box, motor engine and windmill that they have been studying.

The final year students of Dhanekula Institute of Engineering and Technology along with the members of US-based Global Business Incubation (GBI) organised a camp called ‘Technology Veda’, wherein models of different basic machines were showcased and their functioning was explained by the students.

Ramya studying in Std. IV said that she was excited to feel the working of the day and night sensor and the feel the contours of a gearwheel and piston of an engine. “We can’t see but we have learnt about their use and functioning and today we had feel of it, thanks to our friends from Dhanekula College,” she said. Ramya dreams to become a doctor and she is confident that by the time she grows up the Government will find a way to allow the challenged children to take up science courses.

The five-member team from the college comprising Md. Basheer (ECE), Abdul Rahman (Mech), D. Siva (Mech), A. Sindhu (CSE) and Md. Basheer (CSE) under the guidance of Professor T.V. Rao from the Department of ECE, created miniature models and had a field day explaining the visually-challenged.

We have participated in many technical festivals, but this was something different. The kids have a very sharp mind and their grasping power is twice the normal kid and we have decided to come at least once a week to engage with them, said an emotionally charged-up Sindhu.

K. Naga Chaturya went to the extent of not only documenting every bit of the workshop, but punch a vote of thanks for the student friends from the engineering college and a press note for the media persons. Prof. T.V. Rao said that the college will take up more such activities. GBI member Siddharth said that the programme was the brainchild of the GBI founder Gogineni Srinivas.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities / by Sumit Bhattacharjee / Vijayawada – March 01st, 2014

IIIT Students Display Their inventions

Education, Science & Technology

The International Institute of Information Technology- Hyderabad (IIIT-H) is holding a two-day exhibition titled ‘R&D Showcase-2014’ from Saturday to showcase the kind of research that is being carried by students and the works of students which have helped various businesses.

Students who are currently pursuing courses at the institute and alumni who have made it big in the outside world are exhibiting their works related to Robotics, Cognitive

Science, Education Technology & Learning Sciences, etc. ‘’Exhibiting our works at the event gives us a chance to get feedback from the industrialists and others,’’ said Akhil Nagaraya, a B Tech student who along with two others is working  on ‘Autonomous Robotic Wheelchair’, an easy-to-operate wheelchair for the disabled.

“This showcase is to demonstrate research results to technical and non-technical   people. We have invited major companies to visit the ‘R & D Showcase” said P J Narayanan, Director of IIIT-H.

“As ours is a research institute, we try to show people the technology we are  developing. It is not only about our achievements but to inspire students and others”,   said Vasudeva Varma, Dean, Research & Development.

Citing an example, Vasudeva said that in 2008, members of Rediff who had visited a   similarexhibition then had licensed the work of a student who had created a search engine which understood Indian languages. “We have also created a Centre for  Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE), wherein students are provided with resources to  develop their ideas” he said.

He added that when students joined the institute the institute dinned into their minds that grabbing a job in a big organisation was something ordinary but creating such an   organisation was something extraordinary.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service – Hyderabad / March 02nd, 2014

LVPEI plans exclusive website for visually challenged

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Science & Technology

Will act as single platform for stakeholders to understand and exchange information about upbringing of children with vision challenges.

Eye image via Shutterstock
Eye image via Shutterstock

The rehabilitation team of Hyderabad-based not-for-profit eye care institution, LV Prasad Eye Institute (PVPEI), is contemplating developing an exclusive website for persons with visually impairment.

Apart from visually impaired , the website would also benefit those who work closely with visually impaired such as their family members, acquaintances, and professionals handling persons with vision disability, as also persons with additional disabilities.

“Our aim in developing the proposed website is to create a platform that eases access to information and knowledge related to a visually challenged person. We anticipate that this website will create a positive impact in enhancing the quality of life of a person with visual impairment, and will hopefully be an equaliser for them in the digital world,” Virender Sangwan, director (Srujana Centre for Innovation), LVPEI, said in a release on Monday.

The proposed website will act as a single platform for stakeholders to understand and exchange information about upbringing of children with vision challenges , early intervention, education, employment, low vision care, social benefits etc, both at the national and international arenas, the release said.

According to LVPEI, there are an estimated 246 million people with visual impairment globally,of whom 18 million are blind and 50 million have low vision due to untreatable eye diseases.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Companies> News / by BS Reporter / Hyderabad – February 28th, 2014

Govt to focus on non-surgical birth control devices

Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :

To encourage men to come forward for vasectomy, the state government has launched an extensive awareness campaign in all the districts aiming to raise the rate of procedures from 2 to 5% by March- end. While rate of tubectomy is more than 60, barely 2 to 3% opt for vasectomy due to myths associated with it. Focus is also on non-surgical ways of population stabilisation for women by popularising IUCD (intra uterine contraceptive device) method.

At present Andhra Pradesh is emphasising on population stabilisation and spacing between children since the total fertility rate at 1.8 is below the national average of 2.7.

The government also gives incentive packages to the parents, motivators and health workers worth Rs 1,000 (tubectomy) and Rs 1,500 (vasectomy).

State joint director for family welfare Dr Ch Jayakumari informed, “Under the government’s new population stabilisation policy, we have been aggressively organising special camps and awareness campaigns for men by distributing IEC (information, education, communication) material and dispelling myths so that they come forward to get vasectomy done. Only around 2-3% men undergo this operation in the state. We want to increase the rate to 5% and our expected level of achievement this year is 50,000. We want to complete at least 20,000 vasectomies by March. It’s mainly myths that one would lose his potency if operated that deter men from opting for vasectomy after birth of two children.”

Moreover, thrust is also given on non-surgical methods of spacing and birth control after the first or second Caesarian, which is also reversible.

For this, post-partum intra uterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) are being distributed to the 23 districts. The IUCDs can be inserted non-surgically for five-10 years and the woman can avoid a tubectomy.

“Health staff, nurses and gynaecologists are being trained by the family welfare department to create awareness about the use of IUCDs among women who come for delivery. This can also help check teenage or young age pregnancies by promoting spacing between children. Around 4 lakh IUCDs have been sanctioned for 23 districts and these will be distributed depending on the eligible population of each district,” added Dr Jayakumari.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / February 22nd, 2014

Nadipathy Centre in Kakinada gaining popularity for treating chronic diseases with Beach Sand Therapy

Nature, Science & Technology

Alternative Medicine :

The Nadipathy Centre in Kakinada of Andhra Pradesh is fast growing popular among locals as it has been curing patients suffering from various ailments (normal to chronic) using traditional Nadipathy techniques. Among the various Nadipathy treatment techniques, the Beach Sand Therapy (BeST) is gaining popularity among the locals. “We treat patients from normal to chronic diseases. The process of diagnosis is same in Nadipathy and we prescribe BeST to the patient to get rid of bodily ailments like aching joints, reducing blood pressure, relieving mental tension and providing treatment for skin and muscle problems,” says Dr Krishnam Raju, a prominent Nadipathy specialist.

According to information from Nadipathy Centre in Kakinada, in west Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh a team of researchers have conducted experiments on various patients and from their observation it is found that the BeST has given proven results. Particularly this method is found more effective in curing skin and muscles related ailments. Beach sand has a special mixture of minerals which can be used as a therapy to relieve aching bones and joints and invigorate the body, mind and soul. The BeST is the origin of many Salt therapies popularly known as Salt room therapy. Among some of the techniques used for treating patients the Nadipathy treatment procedures are being rediscovered by even modern day doctors as these techniques are found quite effective and giving fruitful results in keeping patients fit and healthy.

In fact Nadipathy is a traditional form of Indian treatment practiced in olden days. This traditional treatment method uses technique of utilizing conscious energy or techniques of consciousness along with alternative medicines such as acupressure, acupuncture, marma therapy, mudras, meditation, yoga, vedic chikitsa, nadi chikitsa, cupping therapy, moxa therapy, naturopathy, magnet therapy, seed therapy, beach sand therapy, chromo therapy, reflex therapy, sheitsu therapy, detoxification therapy, bown therapy, bach flowers therapy, Su jox, chiroprachic therapy, massage therapy and so on.

Dr Krishnam Raju, who has started a Clinic of his own in Kakinada, is rediscovered the olden treatment techniques and proving successful in the Alternative Medicine system. “Nadipathy” is a combination of more than 100 alternative therapies. It is fully integrated with the new health System. “After going through several ancient systems of Indian alternative Medicine preached in ancient scripts we experimented and found these techniques to be effective giving a stress-free, conscious cleansing and detoxifying body and mind for patients. It rejuvenates the body organs and increase longevity,” says Dr Krishnam Raju.

The techniques of “Nadipathy’ are designed to maintain cardiac, pulmonary, muscular, skeletal, Psychological fitness as well as nutritional fitness. Using Nadipathy techniques Dr Raju has cured patients suffering from paralysis, hypothyroidism, diabetes and gastric problems. The traditional treatment methods are also found effective in regaining vision in some of the patients. Dr Raju also claims that Nadipathy is subjective approach with objective adjustment. This is the way of Indian synthetic thinking or holistic approach towards the self and the universe.

source: http://www.pharmabiz.com /PharmaBiz.com / Home> Top News> Alternative Medicine / by A. Raju – Hyderabad / Thursday – February 27th, 2014

Pre-clinical study of anti-cancer drug tested successfully

Science & Technology

A joint research collaboration between University of Hyderabad (UoH), National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and IKP Knowledge Park over the last two years has culminated in the successful completion of a pre-clinical study on the anti-cancer drug ‘Temozolomide’ in animal models.

Temozolomide is the only drug approved for brain tumour. The stability of this otherwise potent chemotherapy is compromised due to degradation in storage and shelf handling, causing dark brown discoloration of the drug powder.

The research group of Prof. Ashwini Nangia at School of Chemistry, UoH developed stable pharmaceutical co-crystal of Temozolomide which overcomes the discoloration problem to give a stable, improved crystalline form of the drug.

Then in collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Dinesh Kumar, Coordinator, Preclinical Toxicology at NIN, they tested the stable Temozolomide co-crystal with the reference drug in animal models to establish bioequivalence and bioavailability and drug transport, it was informed in a press release.

A file picture of Cricketer Yuvraj Singh while undergoing chemotherapy in US. / PTI
A file picture of Cricketer Yuvraj Singh while undergoing chemotherapy in US. / PTI

Temozolomide co-crystal is 100-110 per cent efficacious compared to the parent drug. Additionally, pharmacokinetic parameters and haematology and drug metabolism and half life for the stable Temozolomide co-crystal are equal to or better than the pure drug.

This collaborative project is a success story of the Knowledge-to-Equity program of the Ministry of Science and Technology as part of which academic discoveries get a platform for drug translation to the market in PPP model.

This pre clinical research project was part-funded by Department of Biotechnology to Crystalin Research, a start-up R&D venture founded by Dr. Nangia in 2010 at Technology Business Incubator on UOH campus.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> S & T> Health> Medicine / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – February 19th, 2014

Satya Nadella’s story to inspire youngsters with humble backgrounds

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad-born Satya Nadella’s elevation as the CEO of Microsoft has not only made Indians, especially Telugus, proud but it will definitely inspire many youngsters with humble backgrounds, industry leaders feel.

An average student of Hyderabad Public School (HPS) here Nadella did not study at IITs or any top management school, which is often perceived as a must to make it to the top bracket.

The Microsoft board Tuesday named the 46-year-old Nadella as its CEO, the global software giant’s third after Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.

While the families of both Nadella and his wife Anupama have refused to share their thoughts citing privacy, Nadella’s friends, the alumni of HPS and others said they were thrilled at an Indian making it to the top.

“He is very down-to-earth and humble person who never shows off his position or his knowledge of technology,” J.A. Chowdary, founder director of Software Technology Park of India-Hyderabad told IANS.

Chowdary recalled his meetings with Nadella when the latter was at Sun Microsystem Inc. and also after he joined Microsoft in 1992. “He is always a learner of new things from every individual he meets. As he never shows off, people who meet him also freely share their thoughts with him,” said Chowdary.

“I admire his technology vision. With a man like him at the helm, Microsoft will reach greater heights,” he added. Chowdary is also thrilled that like him, Nadella also hails from Anantapur, a drought-prone district in the backward Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh.

He did his BE in electrical and electronics from Manipal Institute of Technology, masters in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

“This will encourage to young boys and girls with humble beginnings both educationally and financially. They can come up in life with sheer hard work and dedication,” Harish Chandra Prasad, a leading industrialist told IANS.

Prasad pointed out that Nadella studied at second-rung colleges. “He did not study at Stanford or Harvard. There is general thinking that the elite club comes from these top schools,” said Prasad, past chairman of the Andhra Pradesh chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

He believed Nadella is one more example of Telugus doing well. Padmasree Warrior, the Chief Technology & Strategy Officer (CTO) of Cisco Systems and the former CTO of Motorola, Inc. and Kirthiga Reddy, who heads India operations of Facebook, are from Andhra Pradesh.

Son of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer B.N. Yugandar, Nadella studied at HPS, Begumpet between 1978 and 1984. According to school authorities, he was not an out-standing student.

“Nadella has made every Indian, every IT professional, every Hyderabadi and every alumnus of HPS proud,” K. Vishweshwar Reddy, MD, Citadel Research, told IANS.

Vishweshwar Reddy, Nadella’s senior at HPS, said Nadella’s elevation was another example of average students doing well. He said Wipro CEO T.K. Kurien, also an HPS alumnus, was also not a top student.

Other famous HPS alumni include Karan Bilimoria, chairman of Cobra Beer; Prem Watsa, chairman, Fairfax Financial Holdings, Canada; Shailesh Jejurikar, vice president of Procter & Gamble’s North American homecare portfolio and Shantanu Narayen, CEO, Adobe Systems.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Union HRD Minister Pallam Raju also studied at the HPS.

“HPS had some magic ingredient. It was the culture and the interaction with students coming from different backgrounds. There were students from rich, middle-class and poor families and there were students from north India and south India,” said Vishhweshwar Reddy, who earlier headed Wipro HCIT and GE MSIT.

He recalled that HPS had very few toppers. “We had the opportunity to play sports and this helped a lot. This shows that it is not just technical skills and academic skills that take you to top,” he said.

Cricket was a passion for Nadella at HPS. “He was a member of the team. He was more of a batsman,” K. Hariprasad, CEO, Central, Apollo Hospitals told IANS.

A senior to Nadella by two years, Hariprasad was captain of the team. “It was a well-knit school. Somebody who has passed from the HPS and is from Hyderabad becoming CEO of one of the largest corporates of the world is a proud thing,” added Hariprasad.

(Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at m.shafeeq@ians.in)

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> News-IANS> Diaspora / IANS / Hyderabad – February 05th, 2014

New Govt, industry to trigger IT biz in residual AP

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

IT products and services will be in great demand once the new govt takes shape

Hyderabad :

The information technology industry in the residual Andhra Pradesh, which has been contributing only a fraction of the State’s revenues, can expect a windfall. The creation of a new capital, a variety of government departments and agencies would require a huge IT backbone.

Likely rollout of government-to-citizen and government-to-business services in the next few months too would create a demand for IT products and services. Of the IT revenues of ₹64,354 crore the State recorded in 2012-13, the Seemandhra cities contributed just ₹1,628 crore. While the IT companies in Visakhapatnam generated ₹1,445 crore, Vijayawada followed with ₹115 crore, Kakinada ₹61 crore and Tirupati ₹7 crore.

Promising future

But the industry leaders see a traction and they believe that the formation of a new government would definitely trigger growth in the region. They, however, caution that one cannot expect a Hyderabad-like growth for the industry overnight. “Perhaps, it will take the same time as Hyderabad did. But it definitely will,” BVR Mohan Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of Infotech Enterprises, toldBusiness Line.

His company has significant operations in Kakinada and Visakhapatnam, both launched a few years ago. “We have just achieved a milestone in Kakinada where the number of employees has crossed the 1,000-mark. In Visakhapatnam too, we see promise in hiring,” he said.

Strong foundations

He, however, said that availability of infrastructure would play a major role in making it an IT hub in the future. “Customers would like to personally come and visit facilities (before placing the orders). You need good infrastructure,” he said.

Ramesh Loganathan, Vice-President of IT industry Association of Andhra Pradesh, said that though the Government’s IT needs would mostly be served by the top league IT firms, there would be trickle down effect. “But primary growth will only come when the industry drives it. Almost all the top notch multi-national companies have presence in all major IT hubs. There’s little scope for their expansion elsewhere. You will see growth only when it is driven by local entrepreneurs,” he felt.

Fresh start

The State Government has readied proposals to get IT Investment Region status to Visakhpatnam and Tirupati. The ITIRs, a Central Government initiative, is aimed at improving IT and physical infrastructure in a limited geography. Hyderabad has become the first City to get such an ITIR, encompassing the old and new IT areas around the city.

“Visakhapatnam ITIR will cover about 11,000 acres (or 45 sq km) and will house IT hardware and services companies. We estimated an investment of ₹25,000 crore to develop infrastructure internal and external infrastructure,” IT and Communication Minister of the undivided State Ponnala Lakshmaiah said.

The 25-year-old project is expected to create 4.28 lakh jobs and generate revenues of ₹37,350 crore when it is fully operational by 2038.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News> National / by K V Kurmanath / Hyderabad – February 20th, 2014

India on a par with global giants in space research: expert

Science & Technology
Geetha Varadan / The Hindu
Geetha Varadan / The Hindu

‘Active participation of young minds is the need of the hour’

India is on a par with global giants when it comes to research in the realm of space science. Active participation of young minds is the need of the hour, said Advanced Data Processing Research Institute Director and Outstanding Scientist Geetha Varadan.

Delivering the keynote address at a two-day national-level seminar on ‘Video Analytics and Image Processing Applications’ here at V.R. Siddhartha Engineering College on Friday, she said that India was marching towards the cutting edge technology in space research. The ADRIN is a wing of the Department of Space, Indian Space Research Organisation.

The scientist pointed out that days were not far when the country would have its own video-graphing satellite like the Skybox and missile monitoring station in the space.

Resource crunch

She said that ‘sky was the limit’ when it came to exploration in science and technology and good brains need to tread the research and development road.

“We should give back something to the country and the best way for technocrats is through research,” she added.

The Director of ADRIN pointed out, “We are definitely short of resources, but we have ideas and the brains. Give your best within the available resources.” At the inaugural session she dealt with the various forms of aerial and satellite imaging and processing and how the technology has evolved over the years.

Ms. Geetha said that today image or video analytics was playing a major role in almost all sectors right from environment to defence and from aviation to cartography. College Research and Development wing head N.N. Sastry urged the students to enjoy research and not take it up as a compulsion.

College principal K. Mohan Rao, president of Siddhartha Academy N. Venkateswarulu, secretary P. Lakshman Rao, CSE Dept. Head Srinivasa Rao and ADRIN Group Director S. Venkata Raman also spoke.

The two-day meet is being organised by the Department of Computer Science Engineering in association with TEQIP.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – February 22nd, 2014