Category Archives: Science & Technology

Youth science awards presented

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology

District-level youth science awards were presented to Virajpet Saint Annamma High School students K S Ajith (first) and Nelamakkada D Bopanna (second) and Gonikoppa’s Kalathmadu Lions High School student M C Manisha Utthappa (third prize) by Department of Science and Technology and Rajya Vijnana Parishat.

The awards carry cash prize of Rs 3,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respectively and were presented by ZP CEO K B Anjanappa and Additional DC Dr N Shivshankar.

K S Ajith has been selected to represent the district in the state level youth science competition.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / DHNS, Madikeri / March 27th, 2013

Coffee can reduce car crash risk – research

Coffee News, Science & Technology

CoffeeCF21mar2013
Researchers linked drinking coffee to stay awake with a 63 per cent lower crash risk. Photo / Thinkstock\

Drinking caffeinated drinks like coffee significantly protects against crash risk for long-distance commercial drivers, new research suggests.

But University of Otago professor Jennie Connor warned that caffeine, while effective for short amounts of time, was not a solution to fatigue.

The research, published in the British Medical Journal, was undertaken in Australia between 2008 and 2011.

It compared 530 long-distance heavy vehicle drivers who crashed their vehicle on a long distance trip in the preceding 12 months, with 517 such drivers who had not crashed.

Researchers linked drinking coffee to stay awake with a 63 per cent lower crash risk.

“Long-distance commercial drivers who consume caffeinated substances such as coffee or energy drinks, to stay awake while driving, are significantly less likely to crash than those who do not, even though they drive longer distances and sleep less,” researchers said.

More than 40 per cent of drivers reported consuming substances containing caffeine for the sole purpose of staying awake.

Lead researcher Lisa Sharwood, from Sydney University, said the study suggested drivers were adapting their behaviour to manage fatigue.

“This may seem effective in enhancing their alertness, but it should be considered carefully in the context of a safe and healthy fatigue management strategy. Energy drinks and coffee certainly don’t replace the need for sleep,” she said.

That notion was shared by Professor Connor, head of preventive and social medicine at the Dunedin School of Medicine.

She had previously researched driver sleepiness and crashes in New Zealand, and said although caffeine was one of the most widely used substances by drivers to stay alert, its effect was short-lived.

“It has to be a substantial amount of caffeine to make a difference to alertness – about two cups of good coffee – and it wears off fairly quickly, after about 45 minutes. To make a significant difference to your ability to drive when sleepy, you need more than a cup of coffee.”

Drowsy drivers were impaired, like drunk drivers, even if they did not fall asleep at the wheel.

“That is to some extent reversible by caffeine for a short period of time. It will provide you with a little bit of extra alertness but it’s not the answer because an hour later you’re back in the same situation,” Professor Connor said.

source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz / The New Zealand Herald / Home> Life & Style> by Rosie Manins of the Otago Daily Times / Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Metal detector to check tourists in Raja Seat

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology, Uncategorized

Detector has been installed in the wake of Hyderabad bomb blasts

In the backdrop of bomb explosion in Hyderabad three days ago, the police have tightened security in Madikeri city which is one of the major tourism hubs in the State.

rajaseatKF02mar2013As a part of the improvised security measures, metal detector has been installed in Raja Seat garden that draws thousands of visitors from across the nation every day.

The police personnel have been posted in some of the key areas in the city including bus stands and tourism places. However, tight security is provided to Raja Seat on priority basis as large number of tourists throng to this garden, especially on week ends. The metal detector installed at the entry gate of the garden will function on three days in a week including Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Bomb Detection Squad which functions under Kodagu District Police Department has installed this metal detector. A team of nine personnel are operating in this squad and the personnel have undergone special training at a training centre in Bangalore.

In case a bomb is traced, a special Bomb Diffusing Squad will arrive from Bangalore to diffuse the bomb. According to the police sources, in the wake of bomb blasts in the nation, the number of police personnel guarding the Madikeri bus stand too has been increased. The general public who are accustomed to undergo examination from metal detector in bigger cities like Bangalore and Mysore, are co-operating in Madikeri too.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Kodagu Superintendent of Police M N Anucheth said that metal detector has been installed at Raja Seat as a preventive measure in the wake of Hyderabad twin bomb blasts. “As the terrorists mostly target more populated areas, metal detectors are installed in such places. Raja Seat and bus stand are under special scrutiny in Madikeri,” he said.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Madikeri, DHNS / February 24th, 2013

TOI Social Impact Awards: Wonder doctor’s success mantra

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nature, Science & Technology

Mysore :
As a child M Jadeyegowda first saw Dr H Sudarshan dispense medicines to tribals at Biligiri Ranaga Hills near here. Initially, he stayed away from the doctor. Later, curiosity drew the tribal boy to the doctor. Dr Sudarshan and his Karuna Trust became the biggest influences on his life.

Other than providing medical help, Dr Sudarshan taught children in the tribal parts of Karnataka’s Chamarajnagar district. Jadeyegowda was a reluctant student. Today, he’s an assistant professor at Kodagu’s College of Forestry. “As a kid, I saw the doctor conduct surgeries with minimum facilities,” Jadeyegowda,43, says.

In October 2006, when the Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra (VGKK) — to which Karuna Trust is affiliated — celebrated silver jubilee, Jadeyegowda, MSc, shook hands with President Abdul Kalam. He was one of the six students who had attended the tribal school set up by the NGO 25 years back. Jadeye now heads VGKK and is a trustee of the Karuna Trust. “I’m more comfortable being recognised as a beneficiary,” he says. “Jadeye is a beneficiary of our health and education programmes. That helped him,” Dr Sudarshan says

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com /Home> City> Mysore> TOI Social Impact Awards /by H M Aravind, TNN / February 01st, 2013

Tech wiz is ‘Coorg person of the year’

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Science & Technology

Google offered to buy his company, which he turned down

Vineet Devaiah, founder of a technology company which is set to offer tough competition to the controversial ‘Google Street View’ project is ‘Coorg Person of the Year, 2012’.

In fact Google had offered to buy out his company TeliportMe, but the Cornell educated CEO of the Palo Alto California-based start-up refused the offer, though Vineet had many a sleepless nights before turning down the once in a lifetime chance because “once you have said no, you cannot go back and ask them again.”

According to well-known technology website techcrunch.com, the Google buyout offer was in the range of $15-20 million, though Vineet is not prepared to comment on the amount.

He was selected ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ in a poll conducted by www.coorgtourisminfo.com, Kodagu’s first news portal, promoted by senior journalist P T Bopanna, said a release from the jouranlist.

Vineet, 26, son of Theetira Subramani and Latha, hailing from Kutta in Kodagu district of Karnataka State, has developed an Android application which focusses on creating virtual tours using 360 degree panoramas. Users can not only capture high-resolution 360 views, but can also share their images on Facebook and Twitter.

New application

Vineet likens his new application TeliportMe to Google Street View. “It is what TeliportMe will be in the next 5 to 6 years. The only difference between the two companies is that Google is paying billions of dollars to create it and we are getting it done for free… It’s kind of Wikipedia or crowd source imagery by people,” he noted.

Among the others who were nominated for this year’s ‘Coorg Person of the Year 2012’, include Commonwealth Games badminton gold medalist Machimanda Ashwini Ponnappa and noted environmentalist Col C P Muthanna, who has been waging a relentless battle to save the Western Ghats from the forest mafia in Kodagu. said the release.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Mysore, DHNS / December 30th, 2012

And what about traditional healers?

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

All the medicines he gives are derived from herbs, collected from the forests and not chemically spiked.

The steady stream of patients has been increasing over the years for this ayurvedic practitioner, whose knowledge has been handed down the generations

The sick and anxious queue up every day at the clinic of a popular ayurvedic pandit in a north Kodagu village, hoping to find a solution to their ailments, and many undertake an arduous journey to reach this remote place nestled in coffee plantations.

His medicines — mostly herbs, powdered and packed in plastic covers — are handed out along with a pamphlet providing details about dosage and diet. The steady stream of patients has been increasing over the years for this ayurvedic practitioner, whose knowledge has been handed down the generations, but not through any formal method.

All the medicines he gives are derived from herbs, collected from the forests and not chemically spiked, he claims, telling patients to test them for heavy metals or steroid if they so wish.

“Most come after allopathic drugs fail to provide relief. Many come with faith in traditional knowledge,” he says.

There are thousands like him, claiming to use remedies handed down generations in a State that has rich biodiversity. Sources in the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) estimate that there could be around 40,000 to 50,000 traditional healers, mostly in rural areas, in the State.

However, without a recognised degree, the medicines they prescribe have not gone through the rigours of modern testing methods.

The role of the traditional healer is thus a matter of debate. Lack of government-monitored system to test their medicines and validate their practice has also not helped.

No recognition

Officially, their role in the health system has not been recognised either by the Karnataka Medical Council or by the AYUSH Department. According to a senior official in the Drug Controller’s Office, prescribing allopathic medication without medical qualification is illegal under the Drug Rules and it is also illegal to prescribe ayurvedic drugs without recognition by the Directorate of AYUSH. AYUSH Department sources said that though no time-frame has been set, there is a loud thinking in the government to address issues pertaining to traditional medicine and healers as this knowledge is considered an important element in society that should not be lost.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Bangalore / by Sharath S. Srivasta / Bangalore, December 04th, 2012

Forest staff, villagers to be immunised against monkey fever

Science & Technology

Mysore, Dec. 5
A mass immunisation drive against monkey fever will be conducted by the Chamarajanagar health officials for the Forest Department personnel of Bandipur and the villagers in Maddur Colony in Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) tomorrow, said BTR Director Kumar Pushkar.

Speaking to a newspaper yesterday, Pushkar, who has confirmed the monkey fever in Maddur forest range, said that there was no need to panic and the situation was under control. Blood samples of primates, suspected to have died of monkey fever, were sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune.

Monkey fever, also known as Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), claimed the lives of eight Bonnet Macaques and two Langurs during last week. No more deaths of primates have been reported after that, Pushkar said and added that forest watchers working at Alegowdanakatte anti-poaching camp are in good health and there was nothing to be anxious about.

Five personnel of the camp had taken ill a few days ago with suspected monkey fever and were admitted to Gundlupet hospital for treatment.

Pushkar said vaccinations will be administered only for those aged between 6 and 65 years. Pregnant women and lactating mothers will not be vaccinated.

Meanwhile, Dr. R. Srinivas from Gundlupet and his team of medicos conducted a health check up for Maddur colony residents and found them to be free from any infection.

The vaccinations will be provided by Virus Diagnostic Laboratory (Shimoga). An expert team from Kyasanur forest of Shimoga (where KFD was first reported in 1957) will arrive in Chamarajanagar to assist the team.

Doctors have asked the forest authorities to take precautions before entering the forest like applying tick-repellent oil, which will be provided by the Department of Animal Husbandry at the veterinary hospitals. This will prevent the ticks, the carriers of KFD, from biting them. They have also been asked to bathe after returning from the forests.

Common symptoms of KFD are bleeding in nose and mouth, fluctuation in blood pressure and repeated fever.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> General News / December 05th, 2012

Science convention from Nov 23

Education, Science & Technology

Deputy Commissioner Dr N V Prasad has said that three-day state-level children’s science convention will be held at St Joseph Girls Composite School, from November 23.

Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah will inaugurate the convention. Minister Appachu Ranjan will preside. Karnataka Rajya Vijnana Parishat President Dr H S Niranjan will deliver key-note address on the occasion.
Hatti Gold Mines Company President H V Ramachandra will inaugurate the science exhibition.
The valedictory will be attended by District-in-Charge Minister M P Appachu Ranjan. Council Chairperson D H Shankaramurthy will distribute awards for the young scientist.

A souvenir ‘Vijnana Kaveri’ will be released by MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik.
Additional DC Dr N Shivashankar said that 1,300 students from 34 educational districts, 200 teachers, will take part in the convention.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Madikeri, DHNS / November 21st, 2012

Karnataka explores cloud seeding to increase water in Cauvery

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Science & Technology

Bangalore, OCT. 2:

The State Government is exploring cloud seeding method to increase water inflow in the Cauvery basin.

“Cloud seeding has been planned in Cauvery catchment areas – Kodagu and Hassan,” Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters.

“The government has already set aside Rs 5 crore for this and will shortly call for both technical and financial bids,” he added.

The State is taking the assistance of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune. The institute is to offer technical assistance. Water Resources Development Organisation (WRDO) has been roped in to be the nodal agency to coordinate the cloud seeding project. Earlier in July, the State government had decided in favour of cloud seeding in the Cauvery basin, but abandoned it as the catchment area experienced good rains.

“Since the State is in a precarious position now due to the Supreme Court and the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) orders, we have revived the cloud seeding project,” Bommai said.

Water inflow into Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) is 10,000 cusecs and outflow is around 9,000 cusecs.

Current storage level at KRS is estimated at 68 TMCft. Bommai said, “For drinking water and irrigation needs in the Cauvery basin we need around 150 TMCft.”

anil.u@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> Industry & Economy> Government & Policy / The Hindu’s Bureau / Bangalore, October 02nd, 2012

Security: GPS fitted on two elephants in Kodagu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology

Tracking pachyderms

In an unique attempt, Global Positioning System (GPS) devices have been installed on the collars of two tamed elephants at Dubare elephant camp in Kushalnagar. It is for the first time that GPS has been installed on elephants.

Two elephants that have got the privilege of GPS are Ranjan (4) and Shivagange (11). With the installation of GPS on Saturday, the path on which the elephants walk could be traced through the internet enabled system.

The elephants at Dubare are left to roam around in the forest after bathing them in Cauvery river and providing them with food. These elephants roam around in the forest in search of food and return to the camp in the evening by 4.30 pm.

The elephants that are left to the forest are tied with iron chains with links. These chain links leave mark on the road on which the elephant walks, thus enabling mahouts to find the route on which the elephant has traveled.

However, mahouts find it challenging to trace elephants during heavy rain as the mark created by chain links are usually washed out. It is at this juncture, that the GPS comes to the rescue of mahouts. The radiation emerging out of the GPS will help to find the exact location of the elephant with the help of internet.

Inspired by Prajna

Animal lover and elephant expert Prajna Chowta is the inspiration behind introducing GPS devices in Dubare. Prajna Chowta, who is looking after four elephants in Dubare camp has installed GPS devices on two of her elephants.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Dubare range forest officer Appaswamy said that Prajna had brought the matter of installing GPS devices on two of her elephants in the camp, to the notice of the higher officials. Hence, the department decided to install devices on the elephants, he said.

A GPS-enabled device normally records and stores location data at a pre-determined interval or on interruption by an environmental sensor.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / by Shrikanth Kallammanavara, Madikeri / September 03rd, 2012