New genetic condition, likely genetic defect causing it discovered

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Manipal :

The clinicians and researchers at Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal University, Manipal and Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad in collaboration with scientists of University of Hamburg, Germany have discovered a new genetic condition and the likely genetic defect that causes it. The work was published in the online edition of the European Journal of Human Genetics.

Giving details of the discovery, team leader Dr Girish Katta, professor and head, department of Clinical Genetics Kasturba Hospital, Manipal said that the patients with this condition have joint dislocations at birth and have a generalized bone disease. “It was about six years ago that Dr Hitesh Shah and I came across two brothers with the disease. There are very few conditions with such severe dislocation of joints at birth. In addition, both had lax joints,” he said.

“Ever since seeing the two, we realized that brothers had some unknown disorder and so kept working to identify genetic basis,” he added. “Shared genes were first identified by chromosomal microarray and then we performed whole exome sequencing to identify shared genetic defect. German collaborators performed bioinformatic analysis. Proof of causation of disease by EXOC6B gene will require reporting of more patients with similar condition, he added.

Meanwhile, surgical team lead by Dr Hitesh Shah operated on the brothers and they are now mobile and even go to school. The team’s focus was to detect genetic cause of rare disorders. Dr Hitesh is specialized in correcting pediatric bone deformities. Other members of research team are – Dr Ashwin Dalal and Dr Kerstin Kutsche, both adjunct visiting professors of KMC, Manipal.

Vinod Bhat, VC, Manipal University said, “This is one of the very few new genes discovered by Indians. As of today, we have diseases identified for less than quarter of known genes”. Manipal University has a MoU with University of Hamburg on research collaboration for past two years, said Poornima Baliga, Dean KMC, Manipal. Indian Council of Medical Research funded the work. To facilitate research, KMC has established a Central Research Laboratory, she added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /News Home> City> Mangalore / by Jaideep Shenoy, TNN / January 12th, 2016

Last link to a rare folk music form lives on alms

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Anjanappa performing at an event.— photo: by Special Arrangement
Anjanappa performing at an event.— photo: by Special Arrangement

70-year-old Anjanappa from Gudibande taluk learnt to play Mukhaveni, an instrument that resembles a flute, from his father and grandfather

If you happen to see this 70-year-old musician at a public place seeking alms while playing an instrument that resembles a shehanai or a flute, do not dismiss him as just a beggar. Anjanappa is not only a gifted musician, but also one of the last links to Mukhaveni, a wind instrument.

The art of playing Mukhaveni is in his genes as Anjanappa, who hails from Gauguntehalli of Gudibande taluk in Chickballapur district, learnt it from his father and grandfather, who were professional musicians. He has mastered the art of playing Karanji, a piped instrument that involves taking in water from one nostril and leaving it through another, besides Panchavaadhya. Sometimes, he also enthrals the crows by playing all three instruments at once.

Besides Karnataka, Anjanappa has performed in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. “I play the songs from the films of matinee idols of the respective States at concerts,” he says. Despite mastery over this instrument and huge popularity, Anjanappa lives in poverty.

“My music is not for sale. I will never fix a price for my music,” says Anjanappa, when asked why he should not quote a price for the music shows, which he performs at the request of various organisations.

“But, I accept whatever these organisations give me. While some pay a few hundreds, some have even paid Rs. 25,000. However, what they give is not my concern at all, because my main aim is to entertain the crowd with my music,” he says. He does not feel bad about getting alms from people after playing music. “It is a reward they give if they are satisfied. And this is how I lead my life,” says the humble musician.

The Kannada and Culture Department has sanctioned a monthly pension of Rs. 1,000 for him. But, that is not enough for this musician, who has a family of 10 members, who are farm labourers.

“I got a cash reward of Rs. 3 lakh. I used it to build a house for my family. I have built the walls. But I do not have money to put the roof over them,” says Anjanappa, whose dream is to complete his humble house.

However, more than completing the construction of the house, what bothers him is that nobody is willing to learn his music. “I taught these skills to one of my sons. But once when he was playing it outside a house in Mysuru, the owner got annoyed and scolded him by saying that he was wasting his life like his father. My son took it seriously and broke the instruments. Since then, he has not touched them,” says Anjanappa, who is eager to pass on the music tradition so that there will be somebody to carry forward his legacy.

Anjanappa (70) from Gudibande taluk learnt to play Mukhaveni, an instrument that resembles a flute, from his father and grandfather

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities / by B.S. Satish Kumar / Bengaluru – January 11th, 2016

Academy awards conferred on writers amid tight security

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Bengali writer Subodh Sarkar (left) and Kannada writer Baragur Ramachandrappa presenting the Karnataka Sahitya Academy award to rationalist-writer K.S. Bhagavan at the Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Bengali writer Subodh Sarkar (left) and Kannada writer Baragur Ramachandrappa presenting the Karnataka Sahitya Academy award to rationalist-writer K.S. Bhagavan at the Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Writers Rahamat Tarikere and T.K. Dayanand give the event a miss

The Karnataka Sahitya Academy presented its annual awards to rationalist-writer K.S. Bhagavan, who had received threats from right-wing groups, and others amid unprecedented security on Saturday, which was a first in the five-decade history of the academy.

Some persons had threatened the academy of dire consequences if they honoured Prof. Bhagavan with the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2013, in the light of his controversial comments on Hindu epics.

The event saw two award winners — Rahamat Tarikere and T.K. Dayanand — not turning up in protest against the government’s inability to make any headway in the M.M. Kalburgi murder case.

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Though filmmaker B. Suresh received the award, he donated the cash prize towards organising a symposium on contemporary concerns of writers and to bring out a volume of papers presented there. Noted scholar and writer S. Shettar could not attend the function reportedly because of ill-health.

“Dr. Tarikere told me over phone that he had not recovered from the shock of Kalburgi’s death, and was not in a position to receive another award and celebrate,” said Malathi Pattanshetty, Chairperson of the academy.

Prof. Bhagavan, along with B.N. Sumithra Bai, Rajendra Chenni and Mogalli Ganesh, received the award at Ravindra Kalakshetra. Speaking on behalf of the award winners, Prof. Chenni said he was accepting the honour in solidarity because the award was being conferred on rationalist Prof. Bhagavan despite threats by right-wing groups.

Writer Baragur Ramachandrappa said he was participating in the award ceremony with “mixed feelings” at a time when some writers were returning awards condemning Kalburgi’s murder.

Expressing regret over the trend among some writers of mixing myth, history and ritual practices and getting themselves entrapped in contradictions, Prof. Ramachandrappa said writers need to look at Ramayana, Mahabharata, Manusmriti and Bhagavad Gita in different prisms.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bengaluru – January 10th, 2016

City’s Windflower Resort recognised by The World Travel Brands

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Travel, World Opinion

WindflowerBF10jan2015

Mysuru :

Adding yet another feather to its cap, the Windflower Resorts and Spa, Mysuru, was recognised by the World Travel Brands at the Travel Brands Award held in New Delhi recently.

The award of recognition was received by Achuta Rao, Senior Vice-President (Operations), Windflower Resorts and Spa, Mysuru, from celebrity Pooja Bedi at a function held at The Vivanta Taj in New Delhi which was attended by Prahlad Kakkar, Shashi Tharoor, Anupam Kher and MP Bidhuri of South Delhi.

World Travel Brands is a premium status offered exclusively on an invitation basis to brands from the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality industries in countries such as India, USA, UK, UAE, Australia, New Zealand, France, Canada, and Singapore.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Sunday – January 10th, 2016

Violin Maestro Mysore Nagaraj to be conferred ‘Nada Brahma’ title

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

MysoreNagarajBF09jan2015Mysuru :

Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha will be presenting ‘Nada Brahma’ title to Vid. Mysore M. Nagaraj, legendary Violin Maestro from the city, at the Sabha premises on JLB Road in city on Jan. 10 at 5.30 pm, as part of its ongoing Diamond Jubilee ‘Grand Finale’ and Dr. A.K. Gopalrajan Memorial Annual Day.

Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoy and Dr. C.G. Narasimhan will do the honours.

Also, vocalist Shruti Bode will be conferred with ‘Nada Kishori’ title on the occasion. Later, Vid. Mysore M. Nagaraj and Mysore Dr. M. Manjunath will present a Grand Karnatak Classical Violin Duet, accompanied by Vid. Patri Satish Kumar on mridanga, Vid.Giridhar Udupa on ghata.

About Vid. Mysore M. Nagaraj: Son and disciple of renowned violinist Prof.S. Mahadevappa, Nagaraj was a remarkable child prodigy who matured quickly to emerge as one of the top ranking violinist in India. His outstanding musical talents were first revealed at very tender age of 8 when he stormed in to the music world sweeping all the music lovers & critics off their feet by his extraordinary musical acumen and technical virtuosity. Nagaraj has carved a niche for himself in the annals of Karnatak classical music as a superb violinist.

Mysore Nagaraj and his virtuoso young brother Dr. Mysore Manjunath make a formidable violin duet team. They have collaborated with many outstanding musicians from all over the world and have performed innumerable Jugalbandhi concerts with many top-ranking artistes in the contemporary music today including Pandit V.G.Jog, Pandit Vishwamohan Bhat, Dr.M.Balamurali Krishna, Tejendra Narayana Majumdar, Ronu Majumdar, Dr.N.Rajam, etc.

Nagaraj is one of the youngest musicians to be honoured with the prestigious Rajyotsava award by the Government of Karnataka. He has received innumerable awards including the Best Violinist award from The Music Academy and Indian Fine Arts Society, Excellence award from American Institute of World Culture, Honors from the American Arts Council, Aarkay, Inc, Sangeetha Samrat, Sangeetha Rathna, Meritorious Award from University of Oklahoma-USA.

Mysore Nagaraj is the first ever violinist to be invited to perform at the Prestigious Milano Music festival in Italy. He is also the first ever South Indian Musician to perform Karnatak classical music concert at the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / January 09th, 2015

On a glorious path

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Celebratory mode

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The St Joseph’s Indian Educational Institutions located on Vittal Mallya Road is all set to celebrate 110 years of its existence. The institutions have relentlessly transformed thousands of lives over the years.

It was started in 1904 by priests of the Paris Mission Society. They first began working out of the basement of St Joseph’s European School building on Residency Road before the management of the school was taken over in 1937 by the Society of Jesus. In 1968, the school moved to its current location on Vital Mallya Road. In the last 110 years, the institutions have had more than 50,000 students pass out.

Currently, St Joseph’s Indian Educational Institutions encompass a complete range of educational institutions such as St Joseph’s Indian Primary School, St Joseph’s Indian Middle School, St Joseph’s Indian High School, St Joseph’s Indian Composite PU College and St Joseph’s Community College.

Talking about the philosophy of the school, Fr Sunith Prabhu SJ, director St Joseph’s Indian Composite PU College and director of St Joseph’s Indian Middle School, says “We have always mentored and trained our students to be able to face the competition in the outside world. We not only prepare them academically but also to face life. There are 23 clubs in the school and every club has its unique activities that do well to mould the personality of the students,” he explains.

The education is predominantly value-oriented with a special emphasis on providing educational opportunities to the poor and the disadvantaged sections of society. Fr Gerald Furtado, principal of St Joseph’s Indian Composite PU College, says one of the biggest strengths of the institution is the importance given to sports.

“We not only give importance to academics but also to sporting activities so as to keep the students physically, emotionally and mentally active,” he shares. He also says, in addition to sports the management also stresses on every student enrolling in extra-curricular activities.

One other significant wing of the institution is Community College which was started 10 years ago. Fr Melwyn Lobo, director of Community College, states that the courses have been thoughtfully designed in keeping with the current business trends in the market.

“Our emphasis is on the character formation of students through our many programmes, giving equal importance to students, from all classes of society and the importance on sports has given us that extra edge,” explains Fr Melwyn.

The school has produced some of the best minds across the country which includes several social activists, sports personalities and politicians. The list is rather exhaustive but a few notable names among them are TV Mohandas Pai, Kumar and Madhu Bangarappa, Ashok Kheny, actor Prakash Rai, singer Rajesh Krishnan and theatre artiste Sunder Raj just to mention a few.

St Joseph’s Indian Educational Institutions will celebrate the completion of 110 years with a two-day programme on January 10 and 12.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald /Home> Supplements> Metrolife / by Nina C. George, DHNS / January 08th, 2015

The Ugly Indian turns 250 pillars of flyovers beautiful models

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Travel

uglyindianBF07jan2016

Bengaluru:

Last Saturday morning, when most Bengalureans were still in their beds, around 40 people assembled under the flyover opposite Manyata Tech Park along the Outer Ring Road in Nagawara, north Bengaluru. By 8.30 am, they started scraping the about 20 pillars that propped up the flyover. They were enthusiastic children, senior citizens and youngsters and the target: the ugly pillars.

Within a few hours, they had not only scraped off the posters and filth that covered the pillars, but had also painted colourful 3-D pyramids interconnected by triangles. Another mission accomplished: the citizen group had reclaimed the space below yet another flyover.

In the past two months, The Ugly Indian, an anonymous group of citizens with the motto “Kaam Chalu Mooh Bandh”, have fixed more than 250 pillars of about 15 flyovers through their UFO (under the flyover) project. During the weekends, they have been removing the posters that dot the pillars and outer walls , and clearing the waste and garbage piled up around the base.

The UFO project is bringing in a change as well. The pillars that have received a face-lift continue to remain clean with no new poster or filth. For, there is a method to all the spot fixing done. As Vinay Unnikrishnan posted on the Facebook page of TUI: “The design and colours used here make a poster almost redundant due to the excessive clutter. A plain wall would attract posters but this design keeps them away. Brilliant idea and fantastic execution.”

As a result, these spaces have become models for other cities as well, with citizens replicating the model there. Bhumika GV, a student volunteer from Mallathahalli in west Bengaluru, said, “Many of our friends and relatives in other cities such as Kanpur, Mumbai and Gwalior etc are adopting the methodology to remove the ugliness of flyovers.”

The volunteers have brought workers of civic agencies such as BBMP on board. In a way, the spot fixes are a joint project done in partnership with the government.

For these spot fixes, volunteers come empty handed as they are provided with all the tools, materials and instructions on the spot. Besides, the project is self-funded, as citizens themselves contribute for the material costs.

Want be part of UFO spotfix?

Date: Saturday January 9, 2016

Time: 9 am

Spot: Nagawara Flyover, opposite Lumbini Gardens, near ‘Manyata Tech Park’, Outer Ring road.
For more details visit The Ugly Indian Facebook page or write to theuglyindians@gmail.com.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / by Rohith B R, TNN / January 07th, 2016

Diploma dropout develops modified version of ‘Multi-Tree Climber’

Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature, Science & Technology

Shivamogga youth claims to have received 350 orders in two days at ISC

Nithin Herale displaying his invention
Nithin Herale displaying his invention

Mysuru :

True to the saying ‘Necessity is the Mother of all Inventions,’ a young farmer who was unable to get skilled climbers to pluck arecanut in his farm, turned himself as an inventor, came up with a Multi-Tree Climber equipment and is all set to help other farmers including coconut and arecanut growers with his invention.

The young farmer is 23-year-old Nithin Herale, a resident of Gajanur village which is about 10 kms from Shivamogga. Nithin, a diploma dropout, has displayed his invention at the Pride of India Science Expo being held as part of the 103rd Indian Science Congress (ISC) in city.

Nithin, speaking to SOM, said that the Multi-Tree Climber is his sixth modified version of the equipment and has used Stainless Steel 304 grade to reduce the weight of the equipment. He said that when he first invented the equipment, it weighed about 16 kgs and was finding it difficult to carry it to the farm. He then thought of reducing the weight of the equipment so that it would be easy for even women farmers to carry it.

He further said that keeping in mind to reduce the weight, he modified the equipment using SS 304 grade Stainless Steel and added that his equipment now weighs just 7.2 kgs.

Nithin, who has gone commercial by launching his equipment in the market, claims that he has received 350 orders in two days from customers especially in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

He further said that initially he invented equipment for his purpose but due to demand from other fellow farmers he opened a small workshop in his village to manufacture the equipment and even obtained licence to sell it.

He said that the Multi-Tree Climber works on a two assembly locking system, safety belt gripper and rubber plates to help climb tress with ease and added that even those with no expertise or special skills can also easily climb a branch-less tree.

He further said that equipment which is also very useful to climb coconut tress is priced at Rs. 8,000 and comes with an instruction CD.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Thursday – January 07th, 2015

IISc gets Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research

Science & Technology

Bengaluru :

Dr VK Saraswat, member, NITI Aayog, inaugurated the Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research (ICER) and the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru on Wednesday. Saraswat, an alumni of the Institute, recalled his student days during which it was a challenge to conduct experiments in combustion. “It was my dream to have a state of the art Combustion Centre, and I am glad we have one today,” he added.

The Centre is part of the new Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research at IISc.

R V Ravikrishna, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and a Coordinator of the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development, said that the Centre would focus on industrially relevant problems and translational research. He also said that the Centre has planned memorandums of agreement with laboratories belonging to Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, in order to utilise the complementary strengths. The Combustion research centre also aims to leverage new national initiatives such as IMPRINT in the domains of energy and security & defence.

Prof Anurag Kumar, director, IISc, expressed hope that the Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research would work towards developing indigenous technology.

source:  http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / by Rohith B R, TNN / January 06th, 2015

180 agencies to showcase India’s S&T achievements

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

To inspire young minds to cul tivate a scientific attitude, the Pride of India, a five-day expo will be held as part of the In dian Science Congress that gets under way on Sunday . Around 180 organizations, including DRDO and Isro, are expected to participate in the exhibition that will showcase the country’s achievements in science and technology .

Three dozen laboratories attached to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) will put up models and technologies at the DRDO pavilion.This includes models of missiles, aircraft, BrahMos missile, and the LCA fighter jet. Night vision goggles and binoculars, fire suppressing gel, portable water mist gun, aluminized fire retardant clothes, mobile autonomous robotic system, rotary engines, multi-purpose decontamination system and a mannequin with combat free-fall parachute will also be on display .

This year’s Hall of Pride -a section dedicated to eminent personalities in science and technology-looks at the life and achievements of the late President APJ Abdul Kalam.

The expo, spread over an area of 1500 sqm, will be open between 10 am and 7 pm. The National Council of Science Museum will showcase a zoom table, a gravity well and portability curve. Sajju Bhaskaran, curator of Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum, says visitors can zoom into and zoom out of the images to get clear view of the subject. The gravity well explains about movement of planets around the Sun.

A separate enclosure has also been set up to showcase the achievements of the Karnataka education department.

Professor G Hemantha Kumar of the department of computer science, University of Mysore, said the Pride of India expo was first organized during the 87th Indian Science Congress by MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications and since then it has been a regular feature.

Genesis for exchange of ideas

A one-day symposium “Genesis” is being organized at the University of Mysuru during the Indian Science Congress to bring scientists, industrialists, academicians and policymakers to a common platform to exchange ideas and explore collaborative opportunities. The theme of the XIV Genesis is Realising the Make in India mission through indigenous development – role of MSME.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / by Lawrence Milton / TNN / January 03rd, 2016