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NATIONAL: SCIENCE / ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Produced Gas Turbines to Power ‘INS Vikrant’, India’s First Indigenously Produced Aircraft Carrier

HAL has produced the Gas Turbines to power India’s first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier, IAC-1 Vikrant which was commissioned recently as INS Vikrant at Kochi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

INS Vikrant is powered by four General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbines supplied by HAL.

These Gas Turbines were assembled and tested at HAL’s dedicated facility at Bangalore. With the power of 88 MW and top speed of 28 Knots, INS Vikrant is truly enhancing the maritime capability of India.

HAL carried out critical activities towards readiness of IAC for basin trials.

HAL’s team was actively involved in the integration of the power plant to the IAC and was onboard IAC for all sea trials in the absence of foreign OEM representatives contributing substantially to the Make-in-India concept.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: EDUCATION: AMAZING ACTION: Teacher Umesh T.P. this year’s National-Awardee 2022 Built his School brick-by-brick the GLPS, Amruthapura,Chitradurga

This government lower primary school (GLPS) teacher, recipient of this year’s national award from the Union Ministry of Education, did not wait for the government to help him improve the school, but went the extra mile to do it with the help of locals and donor NGOs.

Over the last 12 years, Umesh T.P., teacher at GLPS at Amruthapura, Chitradurga, has built the school infrastructure slowly and steadily.

Mr. Umesh got transferred to Amruthapura, a village 35 km away from the district headquarters, in 2010. Most residents here belong to the backward Golla community. To this day, the village has no bus service and though there is a railway station here, hardly any trains stop here.

Mr. Umesh says the school was in a poor state when he arrived here, but it has slowly developed infrastructure, including a building, toilets, drinking water, school compound, and others, with the supports of various NGOs and other organisations.

Amidst pandemic

During the pandemic, he stayed back in school and taught classes in shifts whenever he could. He executed initiatives like Vidyagama, Jagali school and Gudi school, besides online classes for the students. He has also written six books and got the State’s Uttam Teacher Award in 2021.

“There is no point in just cribbing about a lack of infrastructure in the school. Twelve years ago, I was teaching students in tin sheds. Then, with the help of various NGOs, we constructed the building and then provided all the basic infrastructure. Today not only is our infrastructure good, our students are confident. They are giving programmes on All-India Radio.”

Social reform

Apart from teaching, Mr. Umesh has put in efforts to eradicate the system of segregation of women outside the village during menstruation in Golla community. “I created awareness in the community and finally the system is eradicated,” he claims.

Mr. Umesh will be presented the national award by the President on September 5 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: Udupi’s Sunil Rodrigues Bags Award for ‘Best Action Sequence for ‘Shershaah’at 67th Filmfare Awards 2022, Jio World Centre, Mumbai

Sunil Rodrigues bagged a Filmfare award for best action sequence for the film ‘Shershaah’ at 67th Filmfare awards which was held on August 30 at Jio World Centre here.

Sunil bagged the award along with Stefan Richter for the Shershaah. The film, directed by Vishnuvardhan, based upon the life of Capt Vikram Bathra starring Siddarth Malothra and Kiara Advani was released in the year 2021. The film also bagged the best film award at the awards.

Sunil was also nominated for the film ‘Sooryavanshi’ for best action sequence.

Sunil from Brahmavar is one of the most sought out action directors of Bollywood today. His prolific stunts are eye catchy and win the awe of the audience.

Specialised in creation, technical design, direction and production of action sequences, Rodrigues has worked with some of Bollywood’s most creative directors and producers for film, television, commercials and music videos for the last 25 years.

Sunil had bagged a Filmfare award earlier in 2019 for action in ‘Mukkabaaz’. He has directed and coordinated action sequences in films like Rocky Handsome, Golmaal Again, Dilwale, Drishyam, Zero, Simmba and many more.

Sunil has directed action sequence for Manmarziyaan, Karwaan, Nanu Ki Janu, Pari, Gurgaon, Phillauri, Dilwale, Badmashiyaan, and Himmatwala. He has also worked in many south Indian films also such as Zanvoy No. 1, 31 Divas, Sophiya and Ashem Zalem Kashem (all Konkani), Puli (Tamil), Neerali (Malayalam) among others.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES / CONVENTION: 3-day National Convention of Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI) inaugurated at JSS, Mysuru- September 01-03

Focus of the convention is to empower academia and advance pharmacy education

The three-day annual national convention of Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India (APTI) began here on Friday and will focus on empowering academia for advancing pharmacy education.

Hosted by the JSS College of Pharmacy, the objectives of the convention is to create a blue print for promoting research culture, develop strategies on adopting technology in education apart from describing the importance of accreditation and ranking for pharmaceutical institutions.

The convention is also expected to offer a collaborative platform for academicians, researchers, scientists, and students of pharmacy to adopt a vision to guide the future activities of the profession.

About two thousand pharmacy professionals, students, industrialists, pharmaceutical scientists, and pharmaceutical leaders from different states of the country are participating in the three-day event which was inaugurated by Mr. Sudarshan Jain Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA). He said such conventions will not only strengthen the academia and pharmaceutical industry but will motivate and help pharmacy teachers and students to update their knowledge and skills in sync with the latest trend in the industry.

Milind Janrao Umekar, president, APTI, in his presidential address said that the healthcare profession was undergoing a rapid change and the Indian pharma industry had registered a spectacular progress.

‘’The ever-expanding practice sectors need clinically and technologically trained pharmacy professionals who can face global challenges and compete with multinational companies. It is in that respect, that pharmacists play leadership roles to ensure optimum drug therapy, by contributing to the discovery, development, manufacturing, ensuring quality, supply, and regulatory control of medicines’’, said Mr. Umekar.

V. Muralidhar, organising secretary of the event, said pharmacy education played a pivotal role in preparing competent pharmaceutical care professionals to meet the healthcare needs of the public, and pharmacists had an essential role in ensuring the effective and responsible use of medicines. Pharmacists monitor medicine use and support patients to adhere to medication regimens and to use medicines responsibly, and pharmaceutical scientists can develop novel medicines and therapeutic strategies, he added.

C.G Betsurmath, executive secretary, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru, addressed the gathering and stressed on the importance of convention for the progress and advancement of the sector.

T.M. Pramod Kumar, Principal, JSS College of Pharmacy, Mysuru, S.P. Manjunath, secretary, JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Surinder Singh, Vice-Chancellor, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, Montu M. Patel, President, Pharmacy Council of India, New Delhi, B. Suresh, Pro-Chancellor, JSSAHER, Mysuru, were among those present.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE / CINEMA: The 4th Bengaluru Bengali Kannada Film Festival (BBKFF) returns to the city after two years- September 02-04, 2022

Various award winning films and documentaries in both languages will be screened at the festival

Film buffs in the city will get a chance to watch some classic Bengali and Kannada movies this weekend, as the Satyajit Ray Film Society Bengaluru (SRFSB) brings the Bengaluru Bengali Kannada Film Festival (BBKFF) back to the city after a gap of two years.

The fourth edition of the festival, which will be held at Inox, Lido Mall, from September 2 to 4, will also showcase award-winning documentaries by various directors in the two languages.

“Cinema is a medium through which people can understand each other irrespective of where you come from. This festival is a cultural integration between Bengalis and Kannadigas. We want to promote the film culture in the city and provide a message that movies are not only about entertainment but go beyond it. We wanted to provide a platform for better cinema and to the upcoming debutante directors,” said Madhushree Sengupta, festival director from SRFSB.

While the inaugural ceremony will be held on Friday, the films will be screened on Saturday and Sunday.

Movie enthusiasts can register for the festival on SRFSB’s website and avail delegation passes which are priced between ₹250 and ₹500.

The delegates will have to carry a government-issued ID card to the screenings and follow all COVID-19 protocols, the organisers said.

Directors M.S. Sathyu, Girish Kasaravalli, and Goutam Ghose will be the chief guests for the inaugural ceremony. The inauguration will be followed by the screening of Mr. Ghose’s short film Somoyer Smritimala.

The two-day screenings will include Satyajit Ray’s Sonar Kella, Jalsaghar, and Aparajito under the retro cinema category.

New-age movies such as Jhilli, Dostojee, and Manikbabur Megh, along with Kannada movies such as Mahishasura Mardini, Pedro, and Kasaravalli’s Illiralaare Allige Hogalaare will also be screened.

Cannes’ Golden Eye-winning documentary, All that Breathes, will also be an added attraction at the screening.

The screenings will be followed by panel discussions, which will include the directors and cast of the screened movie.

The delegates can interact with panellists such as Jaya Ahsan, Rituparna Sengupta, Paoli Dam, Goutam Ghose, Girish Kasaravalli, and Natesh Hegde, among many.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INDIA: KARNATAKA: ARTS & CRAFTS: CINEMA / ANIMATION: Mangaluru’s Plangle Studio Wins Best Indie Studio Award at ANN Awards, Mumbai

Plangle Studio, based in Bejai-Kapikad, Mangaluru, has been awarded the Best Indie Studio at ANN Awards, which took place in Mumbai on August 26. ANN Awards are presented by Animation Xpress and are India’s largest awards in the animation space.

Other award winners during the event included major studios such as Green Gold, Cosmos Maya, Paperboat Design Studio, Viacom18 and Reliance Animation Studio.

Prajwal Vas, CEO and founder, of Plangle Studio, believes that this award provides good exposure and is a boost for talent in Mangaluru. There is immense artistic talent in Mangaluru and the city can be a hub for creative professionals, similar to Mumbai and Bengaluru, Prajwal said. He has established the studio to hire local talent, train them to create world-class VFX and animation to serve the global film industry.

Plangle Studio has done the VFX, edit, DI and VFX supervision for Tulu superhit film Raj Sounds and Lights which recently completed 100 days in cinemas. Plangle Studio also did the VFX and colour grade for Tulu film Pepperere Perererere.

Other notable works of the studio include: Ninnanthor yaaru ilvallo, an animation song featuring a digital version of Dr Rajkumar. The song is a preview for upcoming Kannada movie Daredevil Musthafa, which is based on a novel by the same name written by Mysurean novelist Poornachandra Tejasvi and directed by debutant director Shashank Sogal. The song is a first-of-its kind animation and was created entirely in Mangaluru by Plangle Studio, it has received over 6 lakh views on YouTube so far. The studio has also done other animation work for this film which is currently under post-production and slated for release later this year.

The next project on Plangle Studio’s roster, in collaboration with a Bangalore-based studio, is Kannada film Spooky College directed by Bharath G and other Kannada film projects.
Plangle Studio is also the recipient of a grant under the IDEA2PoC Grant Scheme of of Karnataka Startup Policy, KITS, Dept. of Electronics, IT, Bt and S&T Govt. of Karnataka.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES: CANCER: Free Medicine Kits Given to Cancer Patients by Karnataka Cancer Society (KCS) in Bengaluru

Dr Ramachandra said it was important to cater to all strata of society, and schemes like Aarogya Karnataka and Ayushman Bharat had proved to be extremely helpful.

Poor lifestyle habits, alcohol, drugs and tobacco consumption have led to a rise in cancer cases, said Dr C Ramchandra, director, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Technology. Calling Bengaluru a drug hub, he said these habits are a major reason for all health issues, including obesity, infertility and cancer.

Speaking on the sidelines of the distribution of free medicine kits worth Rs 5,000 each to cancer patients on the occasion of the 54th Founder’s Day organised by Karnataka Cancer Society (KCS), Dr Ramachandra said consumption of tobacco among women has seen a steep rise in cases in the past few years.

Society president HV Suresh said all patients, including those from above and below the poverty line, are provided treatment without bias, be it surgery or chemotherapy medicines. The association also provides support to society and provides medicines at a 40 per cent discount, which has proved helpful. In all, 106 cancer patients were given free medicine kits, and 12 patients in Mysuru were given the free kits two days ago. Doctors and past presidents associated with the organisation were also felicitated.

Dr Ramachandra said it was important to cater to all strata of society, and schemes like Aarogya Karnataka and Ayushman Bharat had proved to be extremely helpful. Cervical cancer has reduced in recent times due to increased awareness about early testing, appropriate hygiene and the ills of child marriage.

The aim is to create awareness and help early detection of cancer, and provide appropriate treatment, he said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

COVID-19: HEALTH & MEDICAL SCIENCES / HEALTH & TECHNOLOGY: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore Researchers Develop Covid Doppelganger

When the pandemic hit, IISc professor Soma Das and his team began working on a VLP for SARS-CoV-2.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has developed and tested a novel virus-like particle (VLP) – a non-infectious nanoscale molecule that resembles and behaves like the virus but does not contain its native genetic material – in a study published in Microbiology Spectrum.

When the pandemic hit, IISc professor Soma Das and his team began working on a VLP for SARS-CoV-2. They artificially synthesised a VLP with all four structural proteins – spike, envelope, membrane and nucleocapsid. “The main challenge was to express all four structural proteins together,” said Harsha Raheja, PhD student at MCB.

Such VLPs have several uses and can also potentially be developed into a vaccine candidate that can trigger an immune response in our bodies, Das said, adding that they can also be used to reduce the time taken to screen drugs that can fight the virus. When the team injected a high dose of VLPs into mice in the lab, it did not affect the liver, lung, or kidney tissues.

Testing immune response
To test its immune response, they gave one primary shot and two booster shots to mice models with a gap of 15 days, after which they found a large number of antibodies generated in the blood serum of the mice. These antibodies were also capable of neutralising the live virus, the team found. “This means that they are protecting the animals,” explained Raheja.

The researchers have applied for a patent for their VLP and hope to develop it into a vaccine candidate. They also plan to study the effect of the VLP on other animal models (using the expertise of SG Ramachandra, one of the inventors), and eventually humans. Raheja said they have also developed VLPs that might be able to offer protection against the more recent variants, like Omicron and other sub-lineages.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

GUINNESS WORLD RECORD: Bengaluru’s ‘Clay Seed Ganesha Campaign’ sets a new Guinness Record for ‘Most Number of People Sculpting with Modelling Clay simultaneously’

People from various age groups join hands to sculpt 3,308 idols

The clay seed Ganesha campaign, organised by Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava and Shree Vidyaranya Yuvaka Sangha, in association with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and Rotary Bangalore Parisara, claimed to have set a new Guinness World Record for ‘the most number of people sculpting with modelling clay simultaneously’ on Sunday at National College Grounds in Basavanagudi. Although the initial goal was set to create 10,000 Ganesha idols, only 3,308 idols could be created, making it to the records book.

“We are elated because we have broken our own record that we had created three years ago. We would like to do this more and more. We couldn’t reach our desired number, but I’m glad that we could set a new benchmark,” said Nandish Mariyappa, managing trustee of Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava.

The campaign saw over 3,000 people from various age groups and professions joining hands to sculpt their personal Ganesha idols. Idol-making materials such as clay, sculpting popsicle sticks, plant seeds, and water were provided at the venue. Many professional artist volunteers were also assisting participants. The live screening of the sculpting procedure by an artist was also organised. Seeds of plants such as tulsi, ashwagandha, sunflower and other flowering plants were provided for embedding within the idols. QR codes were also allocated to individual idols.

“We are so happy about the Guinness record. It’s a milestone for the KSPCB because we had planned to execute this systematically and create awareness about environmental pollution. We have all created our green Ganapa and seed Ganapa. This has been a success not only because of the record but also because of it being environment friendly,” said Shanth A. Thimmaiah, KSPCB Chairman.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA / BUSINESS & ECONOMY, : 3 Bengaluru Startups Win at Conquest a BITS Pilani Students Run Event – Green Tiger Mobility, Daffodil Health and StreamMoney

Green Tiger Mobility, the cleantech firm, and Daffodil Health, a healthcare startup, won in the Pan India Track, where participants were invited from across the country.

Of the 15 startups, shortlisted from over 1,500 applications, four have been selected to receive an equity-less grant of Rs 30 lakh each. Of these, three are from Bengaluru. Winners were chosen based on three categories or tracks — Pan India, BITSian and Web3.0.

Green Tiger Mobility, the cleantech firm, and Daffodil Health, a healthcare startup, won in the Pan India Track, where participants were invited from across the country.

Green Tiger is working on developing a hybrid vehicle, while Daffodil Health is a behavioural healthcare platform aimed at children.The latter aims at giving parent-mediated therapy to children with behavioural and developmental disorders like autism, ADHD, dyslexia and others.

Conquest, run by around 30 engineering students from BITS Pilani’s Centre of Entrepreneurial Leadership, is the first and largest student-run startup accelerator, hosting programmes every year to help startups get funding and mentors.

The Demo Day for the 18th edition of the accelerator programme was held in Bengaluru on Sunday, with 15 startups shortlisted to pitch their ideas to a panel of investors, industry leaders and others. Another Bengaluru-based company StreamMoney won in the Web3.0 Track, where the focus is on startups developing or utilising technology related to Web3.0. StreamMoney focuses on the ability to transfer conditional ownership of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

The startup is working towards making a utility protocol, allowing NFT owners to rent out or allow ticketing or subscriptions of their NFTs. This allows owners to add in a utility contract with their NFTs that allows access to their tokens for a limited period of time.

Green Tiger Mobility, the cleantech firm, and Daffodil Health, a healthcare startup, won in the Pan India Track, where participants were invited from across the country.

A clean technology firm, focusing on building hybrid cars that allow you to switch between electric and internal combustion engines at the switch of a button, was one of the three Bengaluru startups that won big at BITS Pilani’s Conquest.

Green Tiger Mobility, the cleantech firm, and Daffodil Health, a healthcare startup, won in the Pan India Track, where participants were invited from across the country. Green Tiger is working on developing a hybrid vehicle, while Daffodil Health is a behavioural healthcare platform aimed at children.

The latter aims at giving parent-mediated therapy to children with behavioural and developmental disorders like autism, ADHD, dyslexia and others. Conquest, run by around 30 engineering students from BITS Pilani’s Centre of Entrepreneurial Leadership, is the first and largest student-run startup accelerator, hosting programmes every year to help startups get funding and mentors.

The Demo Day for the 18th edition of the accelerator programme was held in Bengaluru on Sunday, with 15 startups shortlisted to pitch their ideas to a panel of investors, industry leaders and others.

Another Bengaluru-based company StreamMoney won in the Web3.0 Track, where the focus is on startups developing or utilising technology related to Web3.0. StreamMoney focuses on the ability to transfer conditional ownership of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)