Education – Page 6 – Karnataka First

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: Eminent Scientist Padma Shri Prof. MRS Rao passes away in Bengaluru at 75. He was the First Scientist to initiate Chromatin Biology Research in India.

Prof Rao was working as an Honorary Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and was actively running the Chromatin Biology laboratory in the institute.

Manchanahalli Rangaswamy Satyanarayana Rao, popularly known as MRS Rao, an eminent Indian scientist and Padma Shri awardee, died of cardiac arrest at 7 pm at his residence in Tata Nagar in Bengaluru on Sunday.

He was well known for his discipline, scientific knowledge, patience, soft-spoken nature and mentorship of PhD students.

The former Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research president is survived by his wife Padma S Rao and two sons Sharat and Rohan.

MR Satyanarayana Rao’s colleagues told TNIE that his last rites will be conducted on Tuesday after one of his sons returns from Brisbane.

Born on January 21, 1948, in Mysuru, the 75-year-old scientist, was the first scientist to initiate Chromatin Biology research in India.

Prior to his demise, he was working as an Honorary Professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and was actively running the Chromatin Biology laboratory in the institute.

He was honoured with the Padma Sri award in 2010 for his contributions to the field of science and engineering.

He was also honoured by the Karnataka state government with the Sir MV Visvesvaraya Award for his contribution to the field of science and research.

He was the President of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, from 2003-13.

He was also the chairman of many central government science committees. He was also on all committees of the Indian Council of medical research.

Prof Rao completed his BSc in 1966 and Msc in 1968 from Bengaluru University. He did his PhD in biochemistry from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru in 1973.

He then did his postdoctoral research at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston from 1974–76, where he also worked as an assistant professor.

When he returned to India, he joined the Department of Biochemistry at IISc.

In over 30 years of his research career, Prof Rao has mentored and guided over 35 PhD students and hundreds of trainees.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: KANNADA LANGUAGE: Udupi District and Taluk Kannada Sahitya Parishat felicitate eminent Kannada Software Expert Nadoja K.P. Rao

Nadoja K.P. Rao has made immense contribution to the development of Kannada software.

Eminent Kannada software expert K.P. Rao (Kinnikambala Padmanabha Rao) was felicitated by the Udupi District and Taluk Kannada Sahitya Parishat for his immense contribution to the development of Kannada software on Sunday, August 6, in Udupi.

Delivering the felicitation address at a programme organised by Nadoja K.P. Rao Felicitation Committee, noted writer and poet Jayanth Kaikini said that preoccupation without thoughtfulness and thoughtfulness without preoccupation were of little use. Viewed from this background, Mr. Rao has been the epitome of culmination of scholarliness and dedication, he said.

Mr. Kaikini noted that Mr. Rao used to learn textbook lessons by-heart in Yakshagana style while in classes 7 and 8 and return the textbooks to friends or the school. His life had not been a tele-serial monologue, but Mr. Rao evinced keen interest in music, cinema, science and many other fields. “He had five computers in his bedroom while many of us were yet to hear the word ‘computer,’ and used to dismantle every part of the machine and reassembly them. Mr. Rao thus had the habit of analysing every issue with curiosity,” Mr. Kaikini said.

In his response, Mr. Rao said both the almighty and the language were invisible to naked eyes; yet they have the power to take everyone together. The animal word learns the language from mother at first. Language empowers everyone to understand each other and encompasses the masses.

A.V. Baliga Hospital Director P.V. Bhandary inaugurated the programme in the presence of MGM College Principal Lakshminarayana Karantha, Moodbidri Jain Mutt seer Swastishree Bhattaraka Charukeerthi Panditacharyavarya Swamiji, Parishat District president Neelavara Surendra Adiga and others.

The programme was followed by workshops on different subjects and culminated with a dialogue with Mr. Rao.

Felicitation Committee honourary president Jayakara Shetty Indrali, president Vishwanath Shenoy, writer Muralidhara Upadhya Hiriyadka, Rashtra Kavi Manjeshwara Govinda Pai Regional Research Centre administrative officer Jagadish Shetty, Parishat Taluk President H.P. Raviraj, teacher and Yakshagana patron Murali Kadekar and others were present.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: Shobha Rao Smilemaker’s latest video ‘Six Decades in Incredible India’ released

After her video about Memorable Mangalore became viral last year, local resident and soft skills trainer Shobha Rao Smilemaker released a new video, this time about India.

On the occasion of her 60th birthday, the video called ‘Six Decades in Incredible India’ was released among friends and family on her Shobha Smilemaker YouTube channel.

The delightful video gives a pictorial glimpse about her travels across almost all of the 28 states and 8 union territories of India, and still she says one lifetime is not enough to experience the different corners of India.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: NATIONAL PARTICIPATION: 02 Bengaluru College students Krishnan A & Peddi Sai Kaushik, Pedal 3,200 kms to pay Homage to Martyrs at Kargil War Memorial

Two college students from Bengaluru cycled 3,200 km in 60 days to pay homage to the martyrs at the war memorial in Ladakh on Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Navigating through flood-affected areas during monsoon and battling typhoid, two college students from Bengaluru pedalled for more than 60 days covering 3,200 km to pay homage to the martyrs at the war memorial here on the 24th Kargil Vijay Diwas.

Inspired by the heroics of Army Captain Vijayant Thapar, who died in the Kargil war, the duo undertook the journey and reached out to National Cadet Corps (NCC) units along the way to spread awareness about the sacrifices made by army personnel.

Krishnan A, a BBA student of Ramaiah College, and Peddi Sai Kaushik, studying BCom at St Joseph’s University, are NCC cadets and aim to clear the Combined Defence Services examination to join the armed forces.

“We started the expedition in May and reached the Kargil War Memorial on July 24, two days before Vijay Diwas. It took us over two months. The journey was really difficult but the moment we were here, it felt magical,” Krishnan told PTI.

They took the Kanyakumari-Srinagar highway (NH-44) hoping to finish the journey before monsoon.

“But by the time we reached Punjab, it was flooded and we thought we wouldn’t make it. My cycling partner got typhoid during the journey and that slowed us down for two weeks. I met an accident and for some time we had to take rest. But it was worth the effort,” he said.

The duo’s excitement know no bounds when upon arriving in Dras, they were honoured and given VIP passes to attend the wreath-laying ceremony on Vijay Diwas.

“On New Year, I was reading a book about Captain Vijayant Thapar who was martyred during the war and was greatly inspired by him. He was awarded the Vir Chakra. I asked my family to name five others who had won a gallantry award. They couldn’t name any. When I asked my friends, they went blank too.

“That’s when we realised that there is a need for awareness, apart from just a day or two of attention for warriors who sacrificed their lives for our nation,” Sai Kaushik said.

The Indian Army had launched a fierce counter-assault, Operation Vijay, to push back Pakistani forces that had stealthily occupied important heights in Ladakh in 1999.

The war saw Indian armed forces fight in the most challenging terrains amid harsh weather conditions in Drass, Kargil and Batalik sectors.

Kargil Vijay Diwas is observed to mark India’s victory over Pakistan .

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL & KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES /INNOVATION: Patent Won for Medicinal Patch by Scientists of BLDE University

A team of scientists from BLDE Deemed University has won a patent for an innovative method of administering drugs to patients.

The Patent Office, Union government, has granted patent for 20 years, under the Patents Act.

The patent has been granted for the development of “pharmaceutical formulations of electro-responsive smart hydrogel for transdermal drug delivery”.

The patent applicant is Raghavendra V. Kulkarni, Registrar of the university and pharmaceutical scientist.

His team from the Sri Sanganabasava Mahaswami College of Pharmacy includes Sudha B. Patil, Krishnacharya Akkamanchi and Kushal K. Das.

The patented method involves reaching medicine to targeted organs through the skin, at regulated timings, through a patch applied on the skin. The method is expected to ensure painless drug delivery at affordable prices. It is scalable, said a release.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: INDIA & KARNATAKA: MATHS OLYMPIAD: Bengaluru boy Atul Shatvart Nadig Bags Gold Medal at 64th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), Chiba, Japan

Atul Shatavart Nadig, student of Shri Ram Global School, Whitefield, bagged the gold medal at the 64th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), held in Chiba, Japan, from July 2 to 13.

Six-member Indian team has done the country proud by securing two gold, two silver and two bronze medals and finished 9th out of 112 countries. Along with Atul, Arjun Gupta of Delhi secured gold at the event.

“In terms of Olympiad Math, I am mostly self-taught. Ever since grade 10, I have been doing Olympiad Math, through the Art of Problem Solving website, classes on the Online Math Club and handouts by Evan Chen, a past Olympiad medallist. I won a gold medal and placed 12th overall in this year’s event,” said Atul.

He got a perfect score of 1600 on the SAT last year and he will be continuing my future studies, doing Mathematics and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. “I am also the director of the Sophie Fellowship, an initiative to prepare Indian students for Math Olympiads by showing them its beauty. With this, I also hope to reach out to more students in India, most of who are unaware of the prospects mathematics holds as a career,” he added.

This is the fourth time India secured a position in the Top 10. The team was accompanied by Prithwijit De, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai, Sahil Mhaskar, Chennai Mathematical Institute, Chennai, Anant Mudgal, University of California, USA and Pranjal Srivastava, MIT, USA.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INDIA & KARNATAKA: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY / RESEARCH: IISc. Scientists Develop Composite Semiconductor for Next-Gen Foldable Phones and Wearable Devices

Traditional semiconductor devices – such as transistors – are either made of amorphous silicon or amorphous oxides, both of which are not flexible and strain tolerant.

Scientists in the Department of Materials Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) have developed a super flexible, composite semiconductor material that can have possible applications in next-generation flexible or curved display and foldable phones, and in wearable electronics.

Traditional semiconductor devices – such as transistors, the building blocks of most electronic circuits – used in display units are either made of amorphous silicon or amorphous oxides, both of which are not flexible and strain tolerant.

According to IISc, adding polymers to the oxide semiconductors may increase their flexibility, but there is a limit to how much can be added without compromising the semiconductor’s performance.

In the current study, published in Advanced Materials Technologies, researchers have found a way to fabricate a composite containing a significant amount of polymer – up to 40% of the material weight – using a solution-process technique, specifically inkjet printing.

In contrast, previous studies have reported only up to 1-2% polymer addition. Interestingly, the approach enabled the semiconducting properties of the oxide semiconductor to remain unaltered with the polymer addition. The large quantity of polymer made the composite semiconductor highly flexible and foldable without deteriorating its performance.

The composite semiconductor is made up of two materials – a water-insoluble polymer, such as ethyl cellulose that provides flexibility, and indium oxide, a semiconductor which brings in excellent electronic transport properties.

How researchers came up with the new material

To design the material, researchers mixed the polymer with the oxide precursor in such a way that interconnected oxide nanoparticle channels are formed (around phase-separated polymer islands) through which electrons can move from one end of a transistor (source) to the other (drain), ensuring a steady flow of current. The key to form these connected pathways, the researchers found, was the choice of the right kind of water-insoluble polymer that does not mix with the oxide lattice when the oxide semiconductor is being fabricated.

“This phase separation and the formation of polymer-rich islands helps in crack arrest, making it super flexible,” said Subho Dasgupta, Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Engineering, and corresponding author of the study.

Semiconductor materials are usually fabricated using deposition techniques, such as sputtering. Instead, Prof. Dasgupta’s team uses inkjet printing to deposit their material onto various flexible substrates ranging from plastic to paper. In the present study, a polymer called Kapton was used.

Potential use scenarios

Prof. Dasgupta adds that, in the future, such printed semiconductors can be used to fabricate fully printed and flexible television screens, wearables, and large electronic billboards alongside printed organic light emitting diode (OLED) display front-ends. These printed semiconductors will be low cost and easy to manufacture, which could potentially revolutionise the display industry.

The team has obtained a patent for their material, and plans to test its shelf life and quality control from device to device before it can be scaled up for mass production.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CRAFTS / LITERATURE / KANNADA: Meet Kannada’s Golden Girl Soubhagya who Won 2 Gold Medals and Cash Prize too

It was the moment that Soubhagya was waiting for all these years. She has won not one but two gold medals in Kannada apart from a cash prize. A teacher by profession, she was adamant on pursuing Kannada. But due to her professional and personal commitments, it was not possible for her to pursue it regularly. But she found a way out through Karnataka State Open University.

“I could not have achieved it without the support of my family. They stood by me whenever I faced difficulties.

Besides, I am thankful to KSOU for giving this kind of opportunity for me and lakhs of students like me to pursue our dream.

Earlier, it was difficult for me as I found Kannada to be tough. But I am passionate about the Kannada language. Besides, the faculty was quite supportive, hence, I could win such accolades,” Soubhagya said.

source/content: mysoorunews.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: KARNATAKA: Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani Donates Rs 315 crore to IIT Bombay

Nilekani joined IIT Bombay in 1973 for a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. The donation marks the golden jubilee of Nilekani’s association with the Institute.

Infosys co-founder and chairman and founding chairman of UIDAI Nandan Nilekani has donated Rs 315 crore to his alma mater – Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. With this, Nilekani has so far donated Rs 400 crore to IIT Bombay.

The donation will be instrumental in fostering world-class infrastructure, stimulating research in emerging areas of engineering and technology, and nurturing a deep tech startup ecosystem at IIT Bombay, the institute said.

Nilekani joined IIT Bombay in 1973 for a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. The donation marks the golden jubilee of Nilekani’s association with the Institute. It also stands as one of the largest donations made by an alumnus in India.

Nilekani said, “IIT Bombay has been a cornerstone in my life, shaping my formative years and laying the foundation for my journey. As I celebrate 50 years of my association with this institution, I am grateful to contribute to its future. This donation is more than just a financial contribution; it is a tribute to the place that has given me so much and a commitment to the students who will shape our world tomorrow.”

MoU signed in B’luru
A Memorandum of Understanding was formally signed on Tuesday in Bengaluru by Nandan Nilekani and IIT Bombay Director Prof Subhasis Chaudhuri

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: INNOVATION – MEDICAL SERVICES / RESEARCH: Detect Diabetes with a Simple Antigen Test, says IISc study

Currently, researchers rely on Radioimmunoassay (RIA) to detect somatostatin levels which use radioactive materials and need to be carried out in labs only.

Detecting diabetes can become as simple as taking a rapid antigen test for Covid-19. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have discovered that fluctuations in levels of other hormones such as somatostatin, secreted by the pancreas, can have a major impact on developing diabetes.

Scientists argue that usually one gets diagnosed with diabetes when they have high blood glucose levels either because their pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin, or their body cells do not respond to signals from insulin that tell them to use up glucose. This can be avoided by keeping levels of somatostatin in check and potentially detecting diabetes sooner. “Changes in somatostatin secretion can be one of the first signs of diabetes,” said Nikhil Gandasi, Assistant Professor, IISc.

Somatostatin is secreted by specific cells of the pancreas, called delta cells. “It regulates insulin and glucagon which is another hormone that works hand-in-hand with insulin to maintain blood sugar levels,” said the study.

Researchers found that when a person is diabetic, their body will secrete less delta cells which means less Somatostatin hormone. The experiment was conducted in pancreatic cells extracted from both mice and humans. The study was published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences called ‘Somatostatin Containing delta-Cell Number Is Reduced in Type-2 Diabetes.’

The team used artificially synthesised somatostatin to test its binding against several commercially available antibodies, in order to identify the one that bound to it most efficiently, which was used to develop the assay. Similar to the Covid-19 rapid antigen test, the kit works like the standard Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay that uses antibody-coated plates to identify the presence of antigens in a sample.

Currently, researchers rely on Radioimmunoassay (RIA) to detect somatostatin levels which use radioactive materials and need to be carried out in labs only. “The procedure also takes three days to complete,” said Caroline Miranda, another first author and post-doctoral fellow at the University of Gothenburg.” The new kit will use less blood plasma compared to the RIA method. Researchers are developing the kit into a simple hand-held device that can be mass-produced.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)