All posts by wellnmed@gmail.com
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New finding turns sweet potato tastier
Lucknow :
There’s sweet news for India. Scientists at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, claim that sweet potato plant originated in India and not the United States.
They claim to have discovered a 57 million-year-old sweet potato fossil from the East Garo hill district of Meghalaya, adding that it is older than the last recorded 40-million-old sweet potato fossil found in Colorado, US.
Their premise is based on an 18-year study conducted by a team of three scientists — BSIP’s Rakesh C Mehrotra and Gaurav Srivastava, and David L Dilcher from Indiana University, US.
The sweet potato fossil found in Meghalaya is the oldest in the world, say BSIP scientists.
The study has been published in the international scientific journal “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”.
The fossil of some leaves were collected by the two BSIP scientists in 1996 from Meghalaya. After the initial fossil identification study, they found that the leaves were of sweet potato. A detailed research work began in 2000.
“The discovery of a plant fossil is rare because plants’ soft structure is not easily preserved in the rocks,” said senior scientist Rakesh C Mehrotra.
He said that 17 specimens of the fossil of leaves discovered were made to study the pattern of veins in the blade of a leaf and secretory ducts (cells). The study showed that the leaves were of sweet potato and belonged to the ‘morning glory’ family, Mehrotra added. The research was conducted at three herbariums in the country — National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow; Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, and Central National Herbarium, Howrah.
Mehrotra said the sediment where the fossil was extracted was found to be 57 million years old, hence the fossil was also considered to be of the same date.
BSIP director Sunil Bajpai said it’s a landmark discovery.
“The study will help in understanding the evolutionary origins and the existing concepts of sweet potatoes. It will also help in understanding the climatic conditions and related factors that prevailed millions of years ago.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News / by Mohita Tewari / TNN / May 24th, 2018
Body to study genetic profile of Sitapur dogs
Lucknow :
Another canine attack was reported from Sitapur on Tuesday, this time a 10-year-old boy seriously injured by a pack of five dogs. The incident took place at Akbarpur village in Hargaon police station area.
Intrigued by the unconventional canine attacks in Sitapur, which have resulted in the deaths of 14 children and injuries to 51 in the last seven months, scientists at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have decided to study the genetic profile of the dogs in the district.
City magistrate Harsh Deo Pandey said the victim, Satyam Pandey, had gone to a mango orchard a few metres from his house at around 7 pm where he was attacked by a pack of five dogs.
Police rushed Satyam to the community health centre in Hargaon where he is undergoing treatment. The boy has sustained injuries to his arms and lower back.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Lucknow News / by Pathikrit Chakraborty / TNN / May 23rd, 2018
With steely resolve, they clinch gold
Stories of grit, determination and dreams coming true filled the atmosphere with positivity at Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University on Saturday. At its fourth convocation, chief minister Yogi Adityanath awarded medals to meritorious students. Rehabilitation professional and social worker Uma Tuli was the chief guest at the occasion where governor Ram Naik was also present. TOI spoke to the top three medal winners.
Inspired by differently abled, he emerges as winner
It was peer pressure which forced him to join a master’s course. He chose SMNRU for an MSc in applied statistics in 2015 because the university was close to his place. Two years hence, Vipin Yadav stands as a topper with the chancellor’s gold medal, awarded for his score of 87.7%, the highest among all students.
The turning point of Vipin’s life was seeing differently abled students: the visually impaired, hearing-impaired and physically handicapped, struggling each day to study. “They made efforts to use laptops and typewriters. I thought when they, who had 100 reasons to not come to college, are working so hard, why can’t I? They inspired me,” Vipin said.
So moved was Vipin with their dedication that he is now pursuing research in the area upliftment of the differently abled.
Mother of two conquers disability
Age and disability are no barriers to education. Anju Kumari, 42, not only decided to pursue education after a gap of 19 years but also scored the highest marks among differently abled students in PG.
An accident at the age of 10 years had totally damaged her right hand but not her determination. For one year, she practised writing with her left hand and never took a scribe. She says her husband and young children were very supportive. Anju was awarded for securing 79.6% in MA Hindi. Now, she has joined MA in Bhojpuri. “No knowledge is waste. I had always wanted to learn languages,” said Anju.
Lost eyes but not vision
She has lost 80% vision but used the remaining 20% to excel in studies. The daughter of a small farmer in Basti, Jyoti Mishra has emerged as a winner among all differently abled students enrolled in UG courses. Overall, she has scored the third highest marks—71.4% in BA.
Despite her odds, she decided to not study in Braille.
“I used my mobile phone camera to enlarge the words and then read. With the help of mobile recordings, I learnt my lessons and then reproduced it to my writer in exams,” Jyoti said.
Purusing BEd now from SMNRU, Jyoti wants to become a teacher. “It’s difficult for my family to make ends meet. Before sending me to Lucknow, my father told me to study hard. The medals are for him. He will be very happy when he comes to know about my success.” she said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City News> Lucknow News> Schools & Colleges / TNN / May 20th, 2018
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AMU professor receives National Geoscience Award 2017
Agra:
A professor from Aligarh Muslim University has been conferred the National Geoscience Award, 2017, instituted by the ministry of mines, for his contribution to the field of basic geosciences.
MEA Mondal, a professor in the department of geology at AMU, was presented the award at a felicitation ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday.
He received a certificate and a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh for his significant contribution in the field of basic geosciences. His works have been published in several renowned scientific journals worldwide.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Agra News / TNN / May 18th, 2018