Category Archives: World Opinion

MLA selected for US young leaders’ programme

Education, Leaders, World Opinion

Qutbullapur MLA K.P. Vivekanand has been selected for American Council of Young Political Leaders’ (ACYPL) and he is among the five selected from India who will attend the programme to be conducted in Tampa, Florida and Washington DC.

The programme will be held from October 28 to November 7. It helps future leaders of the world understand the ‘global society’ better and develop a mutual understanding, respect and cultivate long lasting relationships among themselves.

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

Pratt & Whitney to set up centre in city

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

‘Brand Hyderabad’ received a shot in the arm with aerospace engine manufacturers Pratt and Whitney (P&W) all set to throw open the country’s first customer training centre here. The facility, spread over two acres, and located close to the international airport in Shamshabad, will be operational by mid-2015.

After training centres in USA and China, Hyderabad is the company’s third facility that will exclusively train aircraft engineers and technicians of their customers on their current and new engines. “About 40 per cent of the world’s training of our engines will happen here,” informed Bruce Hall, general manager (customer training), Pratt & Whitney, UTC India at the ground-breaking ceremony of the facility on Thursday. “Setting up of this facility was a logical decision for us since we have a huge customer base here,” Mr. Hall said.

He said the engineers of their customers from other countries in the region would also train at the centre and the training volume would double by 2018. In the initial phase, the facility will be used to train only the technicians of airlines using Pratt and Whitney engines but in future, academic education would also be imparted. The training would be provided on V2500 and PW1100G-JM Engines with scope for adding newer models. Telangana IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao, who was the chief guest, invited the company to set up their manufacturing unit in the city.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / Hyderabad – October 17th, 2014

‘Cancer can be treated without chemotherapy’

Science & Technology, World Opinion

Oncologists from Fuda Cancer Hospital, Guangzhou, China on Monday said that a cancer treatment technique ‘Cryosurgical Ablation (CSA)’ has been effective in treatment of the disease without the need for painful chemotherapy. The surgeons said that between 2008 and 2014, they have treated close to 8,000 patients with a success rate of more than 70 per cent in China.

On Monday, while interacting with presspersons, oncologist and vice-president, Fuda Cancer Hospital, Dr. Mu Feng said that there was no need for chemotherapy and radiation under CSA. “Cancer side effects have the potential to complicate patients’ recovery process. In CSA, there is no need for chemotherapy, a huge advantage for patients,” he said.

CSA is a procedure where cryo-probes are inserted around tumours to lower temperature of the targeted area to minus 160 degree Celsius or even lower. Later, temperature is raised and brought up to 20 to 40 degree Celsius. This is repeated two to three times, resulting in the destruction of tumour cells.

“Once the tumour cells are destroyed, they start releasing antigens, stimulating immune system to react. This eventually eradicates the remaining cancer cells and reduces chances of recurrence. This is applicable for small and large tumours, single tumour or several tumours and there is less pain for patients,” the doctor said.

However, this technique is only to manage localised tumours and not for ailments like blood cancer or brain cancer, the doctors clarified.

According to the hospital officials, this year, close to 63 Indian patients underwent CSA at its facility in China. “While there is not much difference in cost of treatment, the big advantage is no side effects. The recovery process is quick. This procedure has already been adopted in US,” the doctors said. For details contact on 094221-09789.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Corrrespondent / Hyderabad – October 14th, 2014

Thankful for His Teachers

Amazing Feats, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

A volley ball enthusiast, ever-learning photographer, avid reader of science-related articles, ardent blogger and a passionate father would be too few words to describe Syed Maqbool Ahmed, who is presently heading the Central Instrumentation Laboratory of the University of Hyderabad, where he oversees the day-to-day functionings.

Perhaps the description that instantly draws eyeballs to him would be of his association with India’s successful Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan. Ahmed is the person who developed a quadrupole-based mass spectrometer, CHACE (Chandra’s Altitudinal Composition Explorer), which was used in India’s mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-1, which discovered water there. An upgraded variant of CHACE, named MENCA (Mars Enospheric Neutral Composition Analyser), is aboard Mangalyaan.

The 53-year old Principal Scientific Officer is known for his passion for science. Having worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the US earlier (1994-96) and with ISRO’s Chandrayaan-1 project, Ahmed is a content and accomplished scientist who acknowledges the role of destiny and his teachers in his success.

Ahmed was the project manager of the team of scientists who, as part of the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) mission, developed an indigenous science payload called CHACE, which detected the presence of water on the Moon in November 2008.

Hailing from a middle class family in the remote village Alampur in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana, Ahmed went to Hyderabad for higher studies after completing his schooling in the Telugu medium. “My family, comprising five brothers and three sisters, wanted me to become an Engineer due to obvious reasons of poverty. I gave the EAMCET entrance test thrice and failed each time. That was a big jolt in life, but my aspirations were alive,” says Ahmed.

Back then, he had no passion for Science. After BSc Honours from New Science College in the city, the biggest turnaround happened in his life when he gave the interview for MSc Physics at University of Hyderabad in 1982. “Out of the 30 faculty members in the Physics department, 28 were US returned. In the interview, I could barely understand the questions due to the complex language,” recalls Ahmed.

“AK Kapur sir in the panel understood my difficulty and started asking me questions in Hindi and translated others’ questions too. The panel was happy and I got through. Had he not done that, I would neither have got through nor have realised my passion for Science. Such teachers of exceptionally high standards are hard to find,” says Ahmed.

Soon after his postgraduation, while his parents wanted him to go to the Gulf to earn a living, he decided to join Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad for a PhD in 1985. “I had to literally fight with my siblings to pursue my PhD and I had to choose PRL over two IITs because of a few hundred rupees extra I would receive towards fellowship,” quips the scientist.

He went on to complete his PhD in Simulation of Planetary Atmosphere or Laboratory Astrophysics in 1990 and joined the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, in 1992 and continued to work as Associate Professor, till 2004. During a sabbatical in 2001-02, he was engaged with the Swiss Federal Institute in Switzerland.

Ahmed joined ISRO’s Chandrayaan project in 2005 and developed a quadrupole-based mass spectrometer, CHACE, which worked successfully in India’s Moon mission. He left ISRO at the age of 46 when he found about a mysterious disease that had infected his daughter. The same year, he joined Central Instruments Laboratory of University of Hyderabad as Principal Scientific Officer.

For him, life has been driven by serendipity. “ISRO happened to me by chance. It was a coincidence when I met Prof R Sridharan, Director of Space Physics Lab (SPL). He took me to the Chief, Madhavan Nair, who handpicked me from Department of Atomic Energy (IPR comes under this department) to Department of Space. This was incredible,” recollects Ahmed.

Acknowledging the contributions of his teachers in his life, Ahmed, presently, apart from heading CIL, holds regular talks on Indian space programmes and also conducts training sessions for Science teachers.

“Schools have to ensure Science is taught with passion. The introduction of the subject is very important. It is very difficult to capture students’ attention for more than half an hour. I try to link the subject to day-to-day activities,” he points out.

He believes a bit of Psychology and sequencing of dosage where teachers ensure students understand the basics first before moving on to bigger things too is important in teaching.

“Students today are much aware of things around them. When they ask me well-prepared questions, I am forced to say I don’t know,” says Ahmed, who believes teachers need to be honest and prepared to bring their experiences and observations from life into the classroom.

According to him, India has failed to attract the best minds into research. “The reason US prospers in Science and research is because they have attracted the best minds and are providing incentives. Our people are doing programming at the same time,” he laughs.

On the CHACE-turned-MENCA, he offers, “It is a very sensitive instrument and I am confident that we will be the first to locate water on Mars,” says the proud scientist, who has been blogging about Mangalyaan for the past 18 months.

Rahul.v@newindianexpress.com

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Education> Edex / by Rahul V. Pisharody / Hyderabad – October 13th, 2014

Workshop on Geomagnestism Commences at NGRI

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics president Harsh K Gupta having a word with NGRI director YJ Bhaskar Rao at the inauguration of XVI IAGA observatory workshop at NGRI in Hyderabad on Monday. | A RADHAKRISHNA
International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics president Harsh K Gupta having a word with NGRI director YJ Bhaskar Rao at the inauguration of XVI IAGA observatory workshop at NGRI in Hyderabad on Monday. | A RADHAKRISHNA

Hyderabad :

A four-day workshop on geomagnetism and aeronomy kickstarted at the National Institute of Geophysical Research (NGRI) on Monday. The workshop, which would continue till October 16, is being hosted by NGRI in association with International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, Mumbai. Several scientists from across the globe are participating in the workshop.

The event is held once in every two years in different magnetic observatories across the globe. This year, the event was organised on a large scale at NGRI, commemorating the golden jubilee of their geomagnetic observatory that was launched in 1965.

“This is the last time we are operating the geomagnetic observatory here. We have shifted the base to Choutuppal where we have established a new set-up,” said Kusumita Arora, senior scientist, adding that geomagnetic observatory should ideally be located in a place which is away from disturbances like traffic. “Sometimes, even the use of a mobile phone can alter the signals. With the ongoing Metro construction, it has become increasingly difficult for us to record the waves accurately. Hence, we have shifted the base to Choutuppal,” she added.

Pavel Hedja, director of the Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic, who is here to participate in the workshop, said: “We have gone to the Choutuppal observatory and took the measurements of the geomagnetic signals there. In the coming days of the workshop, we will be comparing and studying the behaviour of these signals. “We have to constantly record the geomagnetic waves to constantly keep a check on the geomagnetic storms, which are not so common in India,” he added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / October 14th, 2014

Medicinal Plants Expo Goes Viral

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Karimnagar :

The students of Government Upper Primary School, Ramakrishna Colony, Timmapur have attracted national and international attention with a social media post about their exhibition on medicinal plants, ‘Mana Mokkalu – Mana Avushadalu’ (Our plants – our medicines).

Their post evoked good response with a number of likes and comments, said Kola Ramachandra Reddy, school headmaster.Non-resident Indians also responded, appreciating their team work as a inspiration for many. They complimented the students for their efforts.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / October 13th, 2014

CCMB director selected for Ramineni Foundation, USA award

Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) director Dr ChMohanRao, has been selected for the award of VisishtaPuraskarm by Ramineni Foundation, USA on the occasion of its 15th Anniversary Puraskaarams-2014.

He was chosen for his outstanding contributions in science and technology, particularly in the areas of protein folding in health and disease and molecular basis for lens transparency and cataract.

He played a key role in developing a diagnostic tool to identify a number of eye infections under the CSIR’s programme on New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) and looking into a cost-effective treatment for cancer using photodynamic therapy.

He has combined biophysical, molecular biological and cell biological approaches to address problems of biomedical importance. He has published more than 100 research papers and several science articles in many national and international journals and is a Fellow of several national and international academies.

Dr Mohan Rao’s multidisciplinary expertise including electronics, fabrication and digital interfacing along with cellular, molecular and biophysical approaches enabled him to provide vision and leadership in several contexts. In addition to his outstanding research activity, he has been playing a significant role in popularizing science among the school children, science teachers and uninitiated public in general.

Ramineni Foundation was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA with a noble mission of recognising and felicitating the spirited, relentless efforts and immeasurable services of all those veterans drawn from a broad spectrum of fields in Arts, Science and Humanities. The award of Vishishta Puraskaaram carries rs one lakh cash, a plaque and a memento by Ramineni Foundation. He will receive the award on October 12 at a function to be organised by the Foundation in Vijayawada.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Ch. Sushil Rao, TNN / October 10th, 2014

XI Metropolis World Congress Commences in City

Business & Economy, World Opinion

(1) International specialists on urban planning Alfonso Govela and Tim Campbell (right) at the XI Metropolis World Congress (2) Interceptor police stand guard near HITEX (3) Bomb squad personnel checking the surrounding area near the venue of XI Metropolis World Congress at HICC in Hyderabad on Monday | A SURESH KUMAR
(1) International specialists on urban planning Alfonso Govela and Tim Campbell (right) at the XI Metropolis World Congress (2) Interceptor police stand guard near HITEX (3) Bomb squad personnel checking the surrounding area near the venue of XI Metropolis World Congress at HICC in Hyderabad on Monday | A SURESH KUMAR

Hyderabad :

The much-awaited XI Metropolis World Congress, organised by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in coordination with the Telangana state government, commenced here on Monday.

While the media was kept away from the event, GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar later briefed newsmen about the day’s proceedings at the event. He said that “Day Zero of the XI Metropolis World Congress saw 857 register for the conference, including 135 people from abroad . He added that the event with the theme ‘Cities for All’, had five technical sessions on Voices of the Children, Empowering Youth, Habitat in Urban India, Housing For All and Metropolis ‘Hackathon’.

Kumar said, “We had a session titled ‘Voices of Children’ where we sought the opinions of children from across the country, who articulately described the problems in their citites/towns, including the need for improvement of housing, public toilets, better sanitation and waste management in slum areas, among others.”

According to the GHMC commissioner, children from across the country, including Maharashtra, Orissa and Delhi were present. “To get an insight into children’s thinking is very rare in conferences like these.

The children also brought to our notice the presence of electrical poles which hang dangerously as also the dirty condition of most of the transformers,” he added.

The GHMC Commissioner listed out some of the suggestions made by the youth on why it was essential to involve them in policy-making and decision-making. He further said: “We discussed the importance of providing affordable housing to everyone. Everybody present unanimously agreed that the participation of the private sector is a must to improve the quality of housing, ” he added.

Meanwhile, the international specialists on urban planning who attended the Metropolis Hackathon, were highly impressed with the participation from the youth of the City in the conference. Speaking to the newsmen after the event, Alfonso Govela, architect and founder of Mex Smart Cities, Alain Renk, architect and city planner from France, Tim Campbell, an independent observer and a holder of Phd in urban studies from MIT, Philip Weist, entrepreneur and author, and Subromonium Sarma, senior director of Indian School of Business, gave an insight into what transpired during the Metropolis Hackathon.

“At the hackathon, we asked the youth of Hyderabad to come and give us ideas using technology on how to make it a better city. We had 360 team entries, from which 20 have been chosen,” informed Sarma.

Alfonso Govela, who hails from France, said: “ I’m very glad to see plenty of vibrant ideas from the youth of Hyderabad. Out of the 20 teams, five will be chosen as winners and they shall work together with the government of Telangana, Microsoft and Indian School of Business to implement their ideas. These ideas can be used not just in Hyderabad, but across the world,” he said.

Impressed by the enthusiastic participation of children and youth during the event Tim Campbell said, Hyderabad city held a bright future.

Media Blackout

The print and electronic media were denied access to the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC), where the XI Metropolis World Congress was taking place. They were instead provided with a media centre in the administrative building with a promise that live footage will be shown on screen. However, much to the dismay of the journalists present, the footage was not shown the entire day and the mediamen were totally unaware of what actually transpired at the event. It all started when the Public Relations group for the event Perfect Relations was replaced by Information & Public Relations (I&PR) at the last moment – i.e., late on Sunday evening by the government for inexplicable reasons. The mediamen were subsequently informed that they could not enter the premises and must instead stay put in the media centre and await press briefing from the officials. RV Chandravadan, Commissioner, I &PR, explained that there were very ‘specific’ reasons for this decision.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / Express News Service / October 07th, 2014

For that ‘elevated coffee house’ experience

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

Starbucks opens new outlet in Hyderabad on Tuesday.-PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL
Starbucks opens new outlet in Hyderabad on Tuesday.-PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

The first flagship Starbucks store was thrown open in Hyderabad on Tuesday. A joint venture between Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Global Beverages, the Starbucks store promises to provide ‘elevated coffeehouse’ experience to customers.

This is not all; the company very soon will add one more store in the city in the coming months.

According to Tata Starbucks officials, within two years of launch in India, the company has managed to start 58 Starbucks stores across the country.

The well decorated Starbucks store at Road no-92, Banjara Hills has a range of offerings including the signature Starbucks espresso based beverages and extensive food menu comprising Indian and International favourites.

“Starbucks stores have always been a third place, a place away from home and office for customers where they can enjoy high quality Arabica coffee in an unparalleled store environment. We are excited to bring Starbucks Hyderabad,” said CEO, Tata Starbucks Limited, Avani Davda during the launch.

The store is also offering Starbucks range of merchandise and free Wi-Fi to customers. Currently, Starbucks is present in Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bangalore and Chennai.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – September 30th, 2014

Success from very first appearance

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Mohammed Ahmed with his coach Ismail Baig. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Mohammed Ahmed with his coach Ismail Baig. Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

The 20-year-old Mohammad Ahmed has every reason to look back with a sense of pride after winning the bronze medal being part of the Indian coxed eights team in the Asian Games in his very first appearance.

“It was an unforgettable experience for me. To win a medal in my first Asiad is something which I never dreamt off. I am grateful to Ismail Sir (pointing to coach),” exclaims the young CPRF constable.

“We all enjoyed every moment of the race. It could have been great if only we had won a gold for which we were all confident,” says Ahmed, who incidentally picked his third medal at the Asian level.

‘My dream’
“My dream is to be part of the Indian rowing team for the 2016 Olympics. I am confident I will realise that goal too,” says the smiling young rower, who loves watching soccer and also plays gully cricket whenever he finds time.

The youngest of all the Indian rowers in the Incheon Asian Games is born in a family which survives on his father Mohammad Ismail’s meat shop in the by-lanes of Kavadiguda.

This enterprising young rower took to the sport during one of the routine trips with his father who supplies meat to the rowing contingent as part of their daily diet.

India’s chief national coach and Dronacharya Ismail Baig was quick to spot the spark in the young boy and coaxed him to rowing.

The rest is history. Ahmed won gold in the Kolkata Senior Nationals in the coxed four event, bronze in the Hyderabad Nationals in the coxed eight team and later a silver in the Asian championship later on in Korea.

Later on, he has been groomed as the ‘cox’ in the Indian eights team which also has the 2010 Asiad gold medallist Bajrang Lal Thakkar. Technically, he is supposed to give direction to the team to be straight and keep track of the wind conditions and guide the rowers accordingly.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V.Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – September 29th, 2014