Category: Records, India

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.

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.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INVESTMENT INTO INDIA: BUSINESS & ECONOMY/ IT & eCommerce: Japanese Company Rakuten Opens Office in Bengaluru.

Rakuten India is a global product and innovation centre for Tokyo-based Rakuten Group that focuses on electronic commerce and online retailing.

Rakuten India, a global product and innovation centre for Tokyo-based Rakuten Group that focuses on electronic commerce and online retailing, has opened an office in Bengaluru to grow its customer base in India.

Rakuten’s new office is situated near Cubbon Park. The 20-storey building, Rakuten-Crimson House, has office space of 3 lakh sq.ft. with a capacity to accommodate over 3,000 persons.

The office is expected to enhance the company’s capability for deep-tech innovation and R&D in e-commerce, fintech, content and entertainment, as well as AI in computer vision, speech, and natural language processing (NLP).

“India is and has been central to our growth strategy. Our new R&D centre will build on the high value-added engagements that Rakuten has been delivering from India in deep tech and product innovation,’‘ said Yasufumi Hirai, CIO, CISO, Group Executive Vice President of Rakuten Group, Inc.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: TRAVEL & TOURISM: Airbnb Ranks Bengaluru among Top Tourist Destinations

Travellers are eager to visit India, and inclined to stay on for longer to explore more places, which is increasing economic opportunities for the locals, a survey by Airbnb has revealed.

Travellers are eager to visit India, and inclined to stay for longer to explore more places, which is increasing economic opportunities for the locals, a survey by Airbnb has revealed. A study of searches by international tourists for Airbnb Stays in India showed that it jumped by more than 60 per cent Y-o-Y from Q1 2021 to Q1 2022, indicating that the tourism industry is bouncing back.

Data also showed that metro cities like New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai have emerged as the most popular destinations among international and domestic travellers.

Those from Canada, the UAE, the UK, Germany, and Australia were among the top origin countries for searches for India.

Airbnb GM for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Amanpreet Bajaj said the uptick in preference for metro cities and tourist hotspots indicates people have resumed travelling along with workstations and vacations.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / INNOVATION: Mysuru’s Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE) Students Develop an ‘Automated Stick for the Visually Challenged’

Four students from Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE), Mysuru, have developed an automated stick as a supportive device for the visually challenged.

Constant worry about potholes and obstacles affects the confidence of the visually impaired when they step out of their home. The stick helps them traverse safely, identifying potholes and hurdles while moving in crowded places, according to the students.

The stick developed by the students uses ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection and pothole detection for ensuring timely alerts to the visually challenged person.

Smrithi Baliga, a third-year Electronics and Communications Engineering student at VVCE, was worried seeing visually-challenged persons facing difficulties while crossing roads.

Teaming up with enthusiastic classmates Sapna H.M., Shreyas N., and Yogesh Gowda V., Ms. Smrithi came up with the idea of developing the stick. The Internet of Things (IoT)-based stick with an obstacle and pothole detection system using ultrasonic sensors was developed with guidance from Chandrashekar M. Patil, professor and Head, Department of ECE, and Girijamba D.L., assistant professor.

B. Sadashivegowda, principal, VVCE, said: “We are proud of our students for taking up the project. In recent times, technology has helped improve healthcare across the world. Through this project, our students have proven how technology could be used to fight visual impairment. The automated stick helps visually-impaired individuals move freely with confidence.”

The students have proposed to bring in some improvements to their product. Voice output via Bluetooth; upgrade of pothole detection from ultrasonic sensors to image-processing technique; LDR to sense lighting conditions; RF remote to locate the stick itself are among the additions, a note from the college said.

source/contents: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: Gandhian, Veteran Freedom Fighter and Rajyothsava Awardee Meerabhai Koppikar of Mudhol, Bagalkot District passes away.

Bommai condoles the death Gandhian Meerabhai Koppikar

Leading Gandhian Meerabhai Koppikar, a close follower and associate of Bhoodan movement leader Vinoba Bhave has expired at her home in Mudhol of Bagalkot district.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has expressed his deep sense of grief and extended condolences on the death of a leading freedom fighter, who had followed Gandhian ideals and philosophy.

The Chief Minister, has in a condolence message, said Meerabhai aged 97 years had practiced simple living, shramdan, dairying and organic farming.

When she was conferred the Rajyothsava award, the Gandhian lady had utilized the amount of the award for the welfare of the poor.

Karnataka has lost a veteran freedom fighter and Gandhian, the chief minister said.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES : Clinical Psychology Society of India (CPSI) Launched to Boost Mental Healthcare

More investment should come into the crucial clinical psychology segment, said Capt. P Manivannan, secretary to the government, Social Welfare Department.

At the launch of the Clinical Psychology Society of India (CPSI), he said 75 per cent of employees face mental health issues because of an unstable work environment and initiatives like CPSI will help in educating professionals to provide the right care.

NIMHANS Director Dr Pratima Murty said the number of clinical psychologists at 2,900 is meagre in the country. Efforts are required to bring a drastic change in resolving mental health issues. CSPI will help in providing quality healthcare to people and training and education to medical graduates, she said.

CPSI president Dr Jamuna Rajeshwaran said the organisation will establish evidence-based care for psychological disorders. CPSI was formed as a regulating and monitoring body was lacking, she added.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INDIA OVERSEAS: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Opens Office in Kuala Lumpur to Explore Business Operations both in Malaysian and all of Southeast Asia

HAL’s new office in Kuala Lumpur would take up the market promotion of the company’s range of products and services not only in Malaysia but also all of Southeast Asia.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will set up an office in Kuala Lumpur to tap business opportunities in Malaysia and the entire Southeast Asian region, the PSU said in a statement on Thursday.

The new office is expected to help the public sector firm to explore business around Fighter Lead-in Trainer (FLIT) LCA and other requirements of Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) like Su-30 MKM and Hawk upgrades, as per HAL.

“It will reinforce the commitment of India in supporting the Malaysian Defence Forces and industry for sustainable aerospace and defence landscape in Malaysia,’‘ said a company communique.

According to HAL, the company had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Malaysia in October 2021 for the supply of 18 FLIT LCAs against a global tender issued by RMAF.

The final winner of the tender is expected to be declared soon by Malaysian authorities and LCA Tejas stands a fair chance of selection in the bid as it meets all the parameters sought by RMAF, as per the release.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SPORTS, MARTIAL ARTS: Mangaluru’s Samhita Alevooraya Wins Silver Medal in ’14th International World Taekwondo Championships 2022′, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

State minister of education B C Nagesh has congratulated over the phone Samhita Alevooraya, first PUC student of Sharada College here who won silver medal in the world Taekwondo championships.

The education minister who telephoned Vasudev Bhat Kunjathodi, the parent of Samhita residing at Kadri here, congratulated the student. He appreciated the encouragement provided to the student in the sport and said that he will inform the chief minister about her.

Bantwal MLA Rajesh Naik also telephoned and congratulated the student for her achievement and said that it is an inspiration to other students.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)