Indo-German expertise for infertility treatment

Science & Technology, World Opinion

An Indo-German initiative of fertility specialists, Morpheus Kasturi International IVF Center, Secunderabad has recently unveiled its range of infertility treatments for couples. 

Hyderabad :

An Indo-German initiative of fertility specialists, Morpheus Kasturi International IVF Center, Secunderabad has recently unveiled its range of infertility treatments for couples. The procedures include IUI (Intrauterine insemination), ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection) through treatments such as PESA (Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) for those with blocked ducts and TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction), for couples having low sperm count and TESA (Testicular Sperm Aspiration) and MESA (Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) for those with no sperm cells in their sperm.

The institute also has advanced techniques like Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection (IMSI), which enables to select the best shape and size sperms for injecting into the egg; Laser Assisted Hatching (LAH), for thinning of the thicker than the usual egg covering, to ease hatching of the embryo and Zona Birefringence, for selection of better oocytes resulting in good quality embryos.

Core Fertility Specialist Dr Kalpana said, “The key to improving success rate in IVF treatment is appropriate diagnosis and fertility specialist’s expertise to determine the apt treatment option for the patient.” “We are confident of replicating the care and success rate being achieved at our facilities in Germany and across India, which will set a benchmark for others,” said Dr Ulrich Gohring, Principal, IVF University of Tubingen, Germany.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / January 14th, 2019

The two-decade journey of Biodiversity Festival

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

A member of Deccan Development Society decorating a bullock cart to be taken in procession on the eve of Biodiversity Festival, in Sangareddy on Sunday.  

Month-long festival to commence at Arjun Naik Tanda today

It’s almost been two decades since the Biodiversity Festival (Pata pantala Jatara) has been initiated by Deccan Development Society (DDS) near Zaheerabad.

This year, the DDS has decided to celebrate the festival in new villages, through which the decked-up bullock carts would travel, creating awareness among villagers about the importance of biodiversity. As many as 16 bullock carts have already been moved to the villages for the event.

Every year, the month-long festival begins on January 14. The bullock carts travel through several villages before culminating at Machanur, the activity centre of DDS.

On Monday, the festival would commence at Arjun Naik Tanda in Zaheerabad mandal and conclude at Pastapur on February 13. The bullock cart procession would pass through 23 villages in Zaheerabad, Kohir and Mogudampally mandals, of which about 80% of new ones.

State Civil Supplies Commissioner Akun Sabarval would participate in the inaugural programme.

“The festival has made villagers understand what biodiversity is. They now know their valuable heritage and the need to protect it,” said DDS director P.V. Satheesh.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Sangareddy – January 13th, 2019

Working all alone, woman farmer scripts history

Agriculture, Amazing Feats, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

Rupireddy Laxmi at her field.   | Photo Credit: K M Dayashankar r

School dropout impresses scientists

A woman farmer from the interior Kondapalkala village of Manakondur mandal scripted history and emerged a role model.

She cultivated paddy without engaging farm labourers — be it for tilling the soil, removing weeds or any other related activity. She adopted innovative farming techniques and reaped a bumper harvest compared to other farmers who employed farmhands.

Adversity to opportunity

Meet Rupireddy Laxmi, a native of Kondapalkala village, who had dropped out of school after class 5. But she received appreciation from scientists of the agricultural university, Krishi Vignana Kendra, and others. For the last four and a half years, she has been cultivating paddy single-handedly on her 12 acres of land. Ms. Laxmi only sprinkles paddy, which is kept wet for one day on the field. Her cultivation technique have reduced the use of fertilizers and pesticides and also water consumption. She sprays pesticides only to avoid growth of weeds on the field.

The idea of taking up paddy cultivation by sprinkling seed occurred to Ms. Laxmi when there was acute shortage of labourers in the village. So, she did it all by herself, and saved an average of ₹ 6,000 to ₹7,000 per acre in the process. Moreover, when other farmers harvested 40 to 45 bags of paddy per acre by adopting the normal form of cultivation, she could reap 55 bags, much to their dismay.

Labour of love

Inspired by her innovative farming techniques, more than 10 farmers of the village had adopted the Ms. Laxmi’s techniques since the last kharif season and reaped more. Incidentally, her husband Tirupathi Reddy had taught her driving of tractor, two-wheeler and car and tilling operations. Recently, this progressive woman farmer purchased a luxury car, following a bumper harvest. Talking to The Hindu on Sunday, Ms. Laxmi said farmers could reap riches if they enjoyed the profession. “If there is no zeal to do cultivation, then the farmer cannot become a king by securing a good harvest,” she says boldly. Ms. Laxmi feeling proud of her herself is well-deserved as agricultural scientists invited her to various agricultural research stations in the State for displaying and sharing her techniques.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by K. M. Dayashankar / Karimnagar – January 13th, 2019

ASI, GHMC, State unite to secure World Heritage tag for Golconda

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

GHMC is also expected to take up the tricky task of removing wild vegetation in and around the monuments.


The Golconda Fort. (Photo | File/EPS)

Hyderabad :

After more than one unsuccessful attempts to secure the World Heritage Site tag for Golconda Fort and the Qutub Shahi tombs owing to the massive encroachments around the monuments, the State government has now directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to recover the lost lands in the site’s vicinity, to improve sanitation, and to take up other beautification works.

In a stake holders’ meeting convened earlier this week by Chief Secretary SK Joshi—attended by GHMC, ASI, officials of the District Collectorate, State Government and police — the municipal body was directed to remove ‘a few encroachments’ on Murda Darwaza, GHMC Central Zone Commissioner Musharraf Faruqui told Express.  

Faruqui, who attended the stake holders’ meeting, said, “Our people (at GHMC) have visited the Murda Darwaza area and a survey has been undertaken. Once we get an idea of the number of people who stay there, the kind of livelihood they have and put an estimate into the cost, we will come up with an appropriate rehabilitation programme. In the coming week, along with ASI officials, a final survey will be undertaken.”

GHMC is also expected to take up the tricky task of removing wild vegetation in and around the monuments. “You simply can’t uproot the vegetation because it might cause damage to the monument. It has to be chemically treated before being removed,” Faruqui said, adding that the work will be done under supervision of an ASI-appointed expert.

Water stagnation is the other major focus area, instructed the Chief Secretary, which includes identifying and clearing water stagnation points in the entire fort perimeter. Places like the Darwazas where locals dump garbage and debris, have been identified. Speaking to Express, Director of Department of Archaeology & Museums N R Visalatchy said, “Works to clear the moat where locals dump debris have already started.”

The District Collectorate will assist in taking up surveys and settling land disputes while police will help in maintaining law and order.Officials expect all works to be completed before September which is when officials of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre will visit the city for inspection.

Golconda Fort and Qutub Shahi Tombs are part of the ‘Monuments of the Deccan Sultanate’ nomination for World Heritage Site tag made by the central government in 2014. Apart from the two Qutub Shahi monuments from the State, the nominations include Bahmani monuments at Gulbarga in Karnataka, Barid Shahi monuments in Bidar, Karnataka, and Adil Shahi monuments at Bijapur, Karnataka.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Aihik Sur / Express News Service / January 12th, 2019

Telangana sailors give their all

Records, All, Sports

Sailors who won big at Youth National Sailing Championship with coach Suheim Sehikh.  

Win two gold, two silver and six bronze in Youth National Sailing Championship

Telangana sailors put up an impressive show winning two gold, two silver and six bronze in the Youth National Sailing Championship, said coach Suheim Sehikh.

Jaikiran Bolli, a product of a social welfare school in Telangana, chose to defend his bronze rather than try for a gold that was within a striking distance on the final day of medal race, the coach said. And, Mahboobie of Marredpally Government School had a confirmed silver well before the final race, he added.

“Mahboobie could have bagged a gold, but she received a black flag that disqualified her in the penultimate race, dashing all hopes of a gold or a silver. She had to settle for a bronze in her last-ever appearance at a sub-junior regatta before moving on to the Olympic Class Laser this year,” the coach said.

“The stars of the junior fleet were Ravali Parandi and Vaishnavi Veeravamsham, both from Udbhav School, Rasoolpura here, who bagged two golds and two silvers respectively at the nationals and the international,” Mr. Suheim said. “Ravali was not even a favourite before the nationals and was seeded well below seventh in the Telangana fleet. With the two-meter swell and winds and current, we did not expect this diminutive 12-year-old of just 29 kg to strike gold,” the proud coach said.

“The best part is that five of our trainees are now ranked in the top 10 boys in the national fleet, thanks to the huge support of Yacht Club of Hyderabad,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – January 10th, 2019