Category Archives: Science & Technology

UP airport 1st to have national highway under runway

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology
Lal Bahadur Shastri airport

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HIGHLIGHTS

The construction of an underpass will ensure the expansion of the airport’s runway for the landing of big planes, as well as convert the highway into a four-lane road.

The AAI has given its nod to the airport’s runway expansion by building the underpass, which will keep the alignment of the Varanasi-Lucknow highway (NH-56) intact.
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Varanasi :

The Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) International Airport in Babatpur — about 26km from Varanasi — will soon become the first airport in the country to have a national highway running under its runway. The construction of an underpass will ensure the expansion of the airport’s runway for the landing of big planes, as well as convert the highway into a four-lane road.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has given its nod to the airport’s runway expansion by building the underpass, which will keep the alignment of the Varanasi-Lucknow highway (NH-56) intact. The existing runway is 2,750m and is proposed to be extended up to 4,075m to ensure landing of big cargo and Boeing planes at the airport. The runway expansion and underpass construction will commence simultaneously, said officials.

“It will be India’s first highway to pass under the runway of an airport. The proposed underpass will also solve the long-pending issue of deciding the alignment of NH-56, which is being converted into a four-lane road. As AAI’s project of runway expansion is yet to begin, the NHAI is repairing the existing highway patch for smooth vehicular movement,” NHAI project director (Varanasi) S B Singh told TOI.

The proposal to convert the NH-56 into a four-lane has been in the pipeline for over a decade and was approved by the UPA government in 2013. The NHAI started basic work on the Varanasi-Sultanpur stretch but not much headway could be made. With the change of guard at the Centre in 2014, the process of land acquisition and other work on the stretch sped up. However, the alignment issue remained unresolved.

AAI, in its Masterplan-2004, proposed the runway extension. However, as a railway track runs on the eastern side of the runway, the expansion could only take place on the west where the NH-56 exists. For the project, AAI sought 593.77 acres of land in Mangari, Bikunthpur, Karmi, Ghamhapur Karmi, Sagunaha and Pura Raghunathpur villages.

The proposal was neglected for over a decade until AAI sent a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government on March 27, 2015, through the director of civil aviation (UP), seeking the required land. The scheme gained momentum in 2017 when AAI restarted identification of land for expansion.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City News> Varanasi News / by Rajeev Dikshit / TNN / June 05th, 2018

Lucknow boy wins national accolades

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology
Aysuh Mishra has won the national-level science championship – Vidhayarthi Vigyan Manthan

Lucknow :

Ayush Mishra, 15, of the city has bagged the first prize in the north zone division of the national-level science championship—Vidhayarthi Vigyan Manthan—held under the central government’s science ministry on Tuesday.

The young boy who wants to be a scientist in the stream of aeronautical engineering in future is a student of standard XI who had scored 94.4% in class X CBSE result.

The national-level competition tests students on presentations, scientific understanding, creativity, out-of-box activities, assessment and leadership quality. It is jointly organised by Vigyan Prasar (VP), a national institute for science and technology communication established under the Central government’s science and technology department, NCERT and Vigyan Bharati, a national movement for propagation and popularization of science and technology.

“The competition was divided into three levels—district, state and national and the process had started in November last. The state winners were then called to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai on May 12 and 13 for the final competitions,” said Ayush, a student of DPS Janakipuram. He received a trophy, certificate and cash reward for winning the north zone.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Lucknow News> Schools & Colleges / TNN / June 06th, 2018

With IIT-K startup’s help, Lucknow firm ready for drone delivery of food

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel

Kolkata/Lucknow:

In a first, an IIT-Kanpur startup, in association with a Lucknow-based food delivery firm, successfully flown in flasks of freshly brewed tea on the doorsteps of its customers in the city of nawabs.

TechEagle Innovations, founded and run by IIT Kanpur graduate Vikram Singh Meena, pilot-tested delivery of two litres of hot tea with the help of battery-powered and GPS-fitted drones on May 23. It has developed the specialised drone to drop-ship a consignment up to 2 kg within a 10-km-radius of its take-off station with just a single click of a mouse. TechEagle has joined hands with OnlineKaka, a Lucknow-based food delivery startup, for these test flights.

“We have successfully delivered world’s first chai via drone. Now, we would provide these mean machines to other food delivery startups like Zomato, Swiggy and Foodpanda. To begin with, we plan to venture out in north India,” Meena told TOI.

Talking about the drone-delivery model, Bilal Arshad, who founded OnlineKaka, along with friend Ahad Arshad and Salman, said: “It’s not like the customer will directly receive the order from the whirring gadget. The drones would be flown and received by our executives at different points and because they would not be commuting through the busy streets, it would cut down the delivery time drastically.” Although the cost implications would be known only after a full-fledged launch of the service, both Bilal and Ahad said they would try to ensure that there was no extra burden for the customer as they would be saving on commuting. At present, they charge Rs 59 per delivery.

Although the trial was conducted with DGCA’s permission, the firs is yet to get a nod for the regular service. “The DGCA had said the norms for drone delivery would be specified in January but it hasn’t come through. It is now expected sometime in July. In sync with the Civil Aviation ministry, the DGCA would mark zones for the drone flights and assign altitude, etc, besides issuing licence for each gadget. The pilots hired for the drones would be another factor to determine cost of operation,” said Ahad.

Interestingly, there are no active drone-based food delivery services in the world. UberEats, the largest grub-delivery platform which has recently opened shop in India, has recently tested a similar drone-based delivery in San Diego, US.

In October last year, global e-tail giant Amazon had filed patent for delivery of products via drones in India.

In 2014, an unmanned drone was used to deliver a pizza to a flat in a high rise in Worli, Mumbai. Another drone startup, based out of Kanpur, called Aarav Unmanned Systems, raised a bridge round funding In April 2016.

However, many firms and startups, who are raring to begin unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drone-based commercial operations (like door-to-door delivery, aerial mapping, infrastructure monitoring and product transport) across the country, have hit a regulatory roadblock as India’s sky watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), hasn’t yet formulated a final official policy for the same. Although, Goldman Sachs has estimated that drone industry will be worth $125 billion globally by 2020.

The founding members of TechEagle Innovations started designing and manufacturing since 2015 in the garage of IIT Kanpur hostel and formed the B2B tech startup only in January 2017.

“Our startup develops custom-made drones of both types — rotary wing and fixed wing — which can carry 500gm to 5kg payload. The wingspan ranges between 60cm and five-meter, flight time varies between 30 min and two hours,” added Meena.

“The drone-based delivery system came to our minds when we saw real-life problems like traffic jams affecting delivery services, especially food transportation. Then, we partnered with Online Kaka,” the TechEagle CEO said.

TechEagle plans to expand its services across the country based on need and resources. “We have analyzed that around 10-15 drones can be deployed in one city. Our drones can traverse 10 metres in one second and one single trip can last up to 20 minutes. So, it can fly up to 6km to deliver tea and come back to its take-off spot. We are doing research on batteries to increase the payload capacity and flight time,” Meena added.

On the likely cost of food or tea to be delivered via drones, Meena signed off by saying, “Quality and price of tea or any food items will be handled and decided by the food delivery firms, who will use our drones, instead of a bike or a motor van. We can’t disclose the exact selling prices of the drones at present. But when the service becomes fully functional, our drone delivery will definitely be cheaper than the current modes of transportation. We are in talks with quite a few food delivery startups.”

There was a time in the city when one could order little from home other than pizza. It was 2016 and while big names like food panda and zomato were foraying into the Lucknow market, a startup with just two delivery boys caught the fancy of locals, whose staple feast is the kabab-biryani fare. “Our shoestring budget did not allow a lavish ad campaign, so we relied more on word of mouth,” said Ahad Arshad, who founded OnlineKaka, along with friend Bilal Arshad, adding.

Founded in 2016, OnelineKaka is a popular service in Lucknow for delivery and is preferred for delivery from iconic joints from crowded Old City. “It saves people the trouble of commuting to the crowded, jammed areas and they could enjoy kabab-paratha, biryani, kulcha-nihari in the comfort of home,” Bilal says. Today, they have a 125-strong army of delivery boys and an equal number of vendors on their panel, with over 500 new joints in queue. From a turnover of Rs 20 lakh in their first year, they have notched Rs 5 crore and recorded a 15% growth per month, said the founders.

“There was a minimum-order rider in the beginning but now we deliver the smallest of orders,” said Ahad, adding that their latest offering was delivery of the city’s favourite chai and bun-makhan, anywhere. “The packing ensures you get your cuppa steaming hot but with a successful run of delivery by drone, we hope to pick up more orders in this segment,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Lucknow News / by Sovan Manna / TNN / June 01st, 2018

New finding turns sweet potato tastier

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
BSIP scientists said the sweet potato fossil found in Meghalaya is the oldest in the world

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

Education, Science & Technology

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

AMU professor receives National Geoscience Award 2017

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology

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

Lucknow boy’s creation wins top honours at AtomExpo

Business & Economy, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Gautam Bishwas receives the award

Sochi :

‘Atom on Wheels’, a campaign designed by an NPCIL communication expert who hails from Lucknow, won the top honours at AtomExpo Awards 2018 at a glittering ceremony here on Monday evening.

The campaign which especially targeted the rural audience for creating awareness and dispelling myths about nuclear energy, received the award in public communication category. Other two entries in the category were from Hungary and Kenya. Gautam Biswan, executive director, NPCIL received the award from the chairman of the jury.

A beaming Amritesh Srivastava, senior manager (corporate communication) who conceived the campaign, told TOI: “Atom on Wheels” is a unique tailor made public awareness campaign which is especially crafted for rural people to make them aware and educate about numerous aspect of nuclear energy and to dispel the apprehensions related to this. It was organised in 6 states of India, covering more than 6 lakh people in 1500 villages. The response was tremendous and people accepted this wholeheartedly.”

“It’s really a matter of immense pleasure and proud to win this prestigious award for our country and organisation. It’s dream come true for me to achieve this international award,” he said.

‘Atom on Wheels’, the customised AC bus has travelled 1500 villages of Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

It has creative panels, models, posters and multimedia presentations in local languages to help villagers develop a positive and rational thinking towards nuclear energy, particularly to build a constructive opinion for setting up of more and more nuclear power plants in a phase wise manner at various locations across the country.

In all, awards were given in five categories. There were participants from 22 countries and entries were judged by a 25-member jury panel, all world renowned experts from across the world.

This campaign has already got many awards at national level and Monday evening got it the ultimate international recognition at what Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev called ‘Atomic Davos’.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> India News / by Pravin Kumar / TNN / May 15th, 2018

UP to identify, honour ‘jugadu scientists’

Records, All, Science & Technology

Bijnor:

In a bid to identify “homegrown jugadu scientists” — people who haven’t received formal education but have invented things indigenously — the Nav Pravartan centres under UP science and technology department will hold a special drive in Bijnor district on April 28 and May 8. According to officials, the objective behind the exercise is to find out those whose inventions need wider exposure. All village pradhans will be involved and their help will be sought in identifying such individuals. Once the process of shortlisting is over, these “jugadu scientists” will be honoured at the state and national level, officials said.

Giving details about the plan, district coordinator of Nav Pravartan centre, Sudhansu Vats said, “Out here, a large number of people live in rural areas. Some of them invent things indigenously, but their inventions mostly go unnoticed or are not known outside their respective areas/villages. That is why the science and technology department is providing an opportunity to such people to formally showcase their talent. Such individuals will prepare a project and submit it in exhibitions at district and state levels.”

Vats added that in the first phase of the plan, they will take help from village heads. “Several farmers, artisans, mechanics and craftsmen have devised technologies that can contribute in preserving the environment. Also, we have so many vaids who treat people with natural items. All such people are like scientists for us and they need to be identified and honoured,” he said.

On being asked about the larger government plan, state joint director of Nav Pravartan Kendra, Raadhelaal said, “There are many people living in rural areas who know a lot about the use of herbs and plants as medicine. We will invite them to showcase their talent. If their innovation is found good and is up to the mark, we will promote them and attach them to good institutes and universities. If such innovators want their product, medicine or technology to be patented, we will help them in getting that. Our aim is to hone raw talent.

We will also extend invitations to farmers, artisans and mechanics to come forward and show us what they have created. We will also call school and college students to our exhibitions. A four- member team will look at each project and will decide whether it is innovative or not.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Meerut News / by Harveer Dabas / TNN / April 24th, 2018

Biomarker in blood can prevent amputation

Education, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Prof Ajai Singh

Lucknow :

In a study, King George’s Medical University’s (KGMU) paediatric orthopaedic department has found a biomarker (chemical) in blood which if tested within four hours of injury caused to a child, can help in early diagnosis of compartment syndrome and save the child from limb amputation.

Compartment syndrome is a condition after an injury in which internal bleeding or swelling builds up pressure that causes a dangerous condition which may lead to amputation as only treatment.

The syndrome under trauma usually develops in the forearm or leg.

In the research spanning over five years, head of peadiatric orthopaedic department, Prof Ajai Singh, found that if the biomarker — creatinine kinase — is tested to be six times higher or more in the blood after injury, compartment syndrome can be suspected.

“Compartment syndrome in trauma happens to both adults and children but in children, it is difficult to diagnose. Some of them are not able to explain the pain and others are not co-operative, which leads to loss of time, when the situation to amputate can be avoided,” said Prof Singh.

“We tested the findings of the study and progress of the results on 56 patients, and found that the biomarker was 10 times higher in these patients. So if within four hours of an injury, the test is run for the biomarker and it is found to be six times higher or more, treatment should be headed towards compartment syndrome,” he added.

Prof Singh said that test for biomarker is inexpensive and can be performed at any laboratory.

Prof Singh recently presented the study at the 20th Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association Congress 2018, at Antalya in Turkey.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India/ News> City News> Lucknow News / TNN / April 16th, 2018

First stem cell transplant performed at KGMU

Records, All, Science & Technology

Lucknow :

A 38-year-old blood cancer patient has become the first patient to undergo a successful stem cell transplant at KGMU.

The transplant was carried out by the clinical hematology department with support from departments of pathology and blood transfusion. The patient, Panne Lal of Sant Kabirnagar, will be discharged by Saturday.

Lal was diagnosed with blood cancer about 18 months ago.

After initial treatment, his condition relapsed within a year. “We planned a repeat therapy followed by stem cell transplant. He was first given growth factor that increased the stem cells present in his bone marrow which then flowed in his blood after five days. The stem cells were then extracted from his blood through a machine and then injected back,” said head of the clinical hematology department, Prof AK Tripathi.

The white blood count (WBC) levels of Lal that had dropped to around 50, then reached within normal limits of 4,000 -11,000 within 10 days.

“In a private setup the transplant costs around Rs 12 lakh, while here it cost around Rs 2 lakh.

But Lal has been treated for free since he cannot afford the surgery cost. The chances of success in this method are 98% with mortality rate of just 1%. Chances of relapse are also bleak since it is the body’s own stem cells that are used for treatment,” added Prof Tripathi.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Lucknow News> Civic Issues / TNN / March 29th, 2018