Model heart helps doctors perfect cure

BANGALORE: What stress do the heart's tissues undergo when it contracts? How much does it deform? Two engineers from IT major Infosys Technologies have developed a three-dimensional model of the human heart to enable doctors understand the vital organ better.

The model simulates the heart's functioning, in particular the deformation and stress induced on its tissues due to systolic (contraction) and diastolic (relaxation) pressures. It's aimed at helping medical professionals improve their understanding of the cardio-mechanics of the heart and to perform quick studies on various parameters influencing the heart.

Anirudha Ambulgekar, engineering analyst, and Dattatraya Parle, principal consultant, are from the biomedical engineering division. "With heart diseases emerging as the No. 1 killer in India, our aim was to provide a near real-life scenario to improve understanding of the complexities of heart disorders. We used finite element analysis, computer aided design and engineering techniques. The objective was to understand the stress and deformation pattern within tissues subjected to pressure loads using mechanical engineering concepts and tools,'' they told TOI.

Parle, earlier a scientist at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, said: "The challenge in developing the model was the need for a combination of anatomical and medical knowledge along with engineering expertise. We collaborated with radiologists and medical experts to understand the heart's functioning, medical imaging and 3D model generation.''

Cardiologists said engineering analysis of the heart helps better understanding of cardio-mechanics. "The work will help medical device manufacturers to virtually test and validate implants, to detect and correct anomalies quickly and evaluate different solutions,'' they said.

Source : TNN

Four crore trees to make Uttrar Pradesh greener

LUCKNOW: The annual plantation drive would add more than four crore trees in Uttar Pradesh. The drive would be different this year as trees would be planted on a bigger area to make them more visible. Besides, plantation of trees at one place would make their maintenance easy. Last year, plantation was done to develop green belts in rural and urban areas.

A total of 4.39 crore trees will be planted on 67,600 hectare during 2013-14. The plantation would be done between July and September. The sites for plantation have been identified in most of the divisions, said sources. The idea behind the exercise is to increase the forest and tree cover in the state. Plantation would be done on the government land, roadsides and private land. The forest department would plant maximum trees, 3.21 crore, on 49,500 hectare area.

The rural development department would plant about seven lakh trees on 12,100 hectare area, energy department 1.17 lakh, industrial development 7.8 lakh, housing and urban development 8.5 lakh, irrigation 7.8 lakh, PWD 5.9 lakh, and higher, secondary and primary education together would plant about 2.9 lakh trees. The state nurseries would provide trees ranging between 8 and 12 feet for plantation.

Source : TNN

With 103 tigers, Sunderbans beats official estimates

KOLKATA: It's official now. Sunderbans, one of the last surviving natural tiger habitats in the world, has a minimum of 103 tigers.

And what's more, each swamp tiger is believed to be maintaining a territory of over 20 square kilometres on this critical habitat, a fact which was challenged several times.

TOI had earlier reported that the mangroves has a minimum 77 tigers, much more than the official estimates given by the Centre in 2011. However, the figure for the National Park West range comprising forests of Netidhopani and Choto Hardi could not be compiled by the foresters then.

"We received the National Park West figures - 22 tigers - from the Wildlife Institute of India recently, which take the minimum number of tigers in the mangroves to 101," said chief wildlife warden NC Bahuguna, adding that taking into account the two tigers undergoing treatment at Sajnekhali and Alipore Zoo, the minimum estimate stands at 103.

"But these are only the individuals which could be captured in the camera trap exercise. So, there can be many more," said Soumitra Das Gupta, field director of Sunderbans Tiger Reserve (STR).

The tiger density, according to the new finding, has also managed to beat the official estimates. "Going by this study, Sunderbans has a minimum 5 tigers per 100 square kilometres, compared to the figure 4.3 thrown up during the national census in 2011," said additional PCCF (wildlife) Pradeep Vyas. According to him, the territory of 20 square kilometres for each tiger can also be compared with that of other mainland tigers in Kanha or Corbett.

Meanwhile, foresters are happy with the number of tigers in tourism zone Sajnekhali - 19.

They are also planning to utilize small pockets in the core area for tourism. "We will again start tourism on a 10 square kilometres area at Netidhopani. The tourism activities in the area had to be stopped last year following a Supreme Court directive," said Das Gupta. However, head of forest force S B Mondal said that tourism will have to be restricted since the apex court has directed utilization of up to 15% area inside core forests for tourism.

While the camera-trap exercise for South 24-Parganas forest division, Sajnekhali, National Park East and Basirhat was conducted by WWF-India, officials of Wildlife Institute of India ( WII) conducted the study in National Park West.

Eminent conservationist Valmik Thapar said: "Considering the habitat of Sunderbans, the population of big cats there should be in the range of 75 and 100. So, a maximum limit is necessary so that we can compare the minimum and maximum ranges for a reliable figure.

Source : TNN

Lucknow University: Fee structure of 36 out of 57 courses reduced

LUCKNOW: In a bid to attract students, Lucknow University on Friday revised the fee structure of 57 post graduate and diploma courses. The decision was taken by the university's finance committee held on Friday under the chairmanship of university vice-chancellor SB Nimse.

While the university has reduced the fee of 36 courses, the trend is upward in 21 courses. All PG courses running in self-finance category, the minimum fee is kept at Rs 16,000 per semester. In 2011, LU had hiked the fee massively. For some courses, the fee was increased to 60%, others, the hike was three times of the existing fee structure. As a result, university had to shut down more than 60 courses facing severe student crunch.

To review the suspended courses and reassess the academic and financial viability of these courses, the university has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of AK Sengupta with deans of all faculties as members. The committee, therefore, rationalized the fee structure. The courses where fee has been revised includes 9 MSc courses, 34 diploma courses, two courses each of law and commerce, one management course and nine arts courses. According to university officials, there has been 25-65% fee reduction of the courses. On the contrary, fee structure of courses which are in demand has been increased. While the university has halved the fees for Tourism Administration, Travel Management, Event Management, Food Production, Total Quality Management, which are in vogue, courses like plant science, women studies, MPEd, environmental sciences, electronics have seen 50-70% hike in fees.

For all self-finance MSc programmes, the fee is rescheduled at Rs 25,000. For self-finance post graduate diploma and diploma courses the fee is Rs 16,000 per semester. Fees of Master of Business Law, and Master of Labour and Personnel Management is kept at Rs 20,000 per semester while that of self-finance MCom courses is Rs 16,000, The fee structure for Master of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Master of Tourism Administration is s Rs 30,000.

Courses like Master of Event Management/Public Health/Physical Education/Hospital and Healthcare Administration, the fee is Rs 25,000. All MA and Master of Public Administration/ Social Work, the fee is Rs 16,000. The fee structure for BCom (Honours) and all BBA programmes is Rs 30,000.

Besides, university has also revived 43 courses that were suspended last year. This includes six courses in science faculty, 32 in arts faculty, three in commerce and two in law faculty.

Source : TNN

Work on Kochi Metro rail project commences

Kochi: Construction work on the Rs 5000 crore Kochi Metro project began on Friday with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurating the piling work at a function in Kochi.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had laid the foundation stone for the project on September 13, 2012.

Chandy waved a green flag at the function at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium as simultaneously, the piling work commenced at nearby Edapally.

The Chief Minister said this was a "proud moment" for the state which had waited for years for its dream to become a reality.

Urging everyone to pledge support for the project to ensure its completion within the stipulated time frame, Chandy said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Principal Advisor E Sreedharan had promised that the project would become a reality in 1095 days, but had also wanted that the metro work should not be affected even a single day.

The 25-km Kochi Metro route, which will have 22 stations from Aluva to Petta, is expected to be completed in about three-year time.

The Chief Minister said there have been demands from various quarters for the extension of the metro to the IT hub at Kakkanad, Tripunithura, Nedumbassery airport-Angamally and Mattancherry.

Chandy said the government has decided to ask the Kochi Metro to study the demands and submit a report in six months on the extension after which the Centre's consent would be taken to go ahead with it, he said.

Consultancy agreement with the DMRC would be signed within a week on the Rs 5000 crore Thiruvananthapuram-Kozhikode Monorail project. By August this year, t

he Mono rail work will commence, he said.

The metro project received the centre's sanction in July last year and the Union and Kerala government are equity partners in the project, executing agency of which is the DMRC.

The centre's share is Rs 1002.23 crore (about 19.3 per cent of total project cost while the state's share is Rs 2009.56 crore (about Rs 38.7 per cent) while loan from funding agencies is Rs 2170 crore (about 42 per cent).

PTI

Jairam Ramesh assures more projects for Arunachal

Itanagar: Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has assured Arunachal Pradesh of considering more projects under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) to increase connectivity in this land-locked state.

The assurance was given to state Chief Minister Nab

am Tuki when he called on the Union Minister in New Delhi on Wednesday, official sources said.

Ramesh has also promised to sanction soon the second lot of projects, including the Miao – Vijoynagar road, besides sanctioning a special package for Puroiks in East Kameng district.

The Union Minister will visit Vijoynagar on June 16 and 17 to take first hand information about the area among other works, they said.

PTI

Pre-Monsoon showers hit Gujarat

Rajkot/Ahmedabad: Parts of drought-affected Gujarat on Friday received rainfall with MeT officials describing the showers as pre-monsoon activity.

"Rain in south Gujarat, parts of Saurashtra, Vadodara and Ahmedabad is (a result of) local phenomenon over the lower level of the Gujarat region.

"Onset of monsoon in the entire state is expected from June 15," a MeT department official said, adding that the showers today was "pre-monsoon activity".

Junagadh district today received 56-mm rain while the rain gauge measured showers of 28-mm in Rajkot district. In Jamnagar district, Jamjodhpur taluka received 14-mm rainfall while Kalavad tehsil (10-mm), too, was in for some showers.

Other districts in the Saurashtra region received sporadic rainfall, the MeT official added.

Many parts of Saurashtra, south Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Vadodara have received rainfall over the last few days. Surat city in south Gujarat received heavy showers.


PTI