Monthly Archives: September 2020

Ayush Ministry to conduct clinical study of Vasa and Guduchi for Covid-19 treatment

Posted on by
Reply

In view of the need for accelerated solutions for Covid-19, the Ministry of AYUSH has taken up a clinical study to assess the role of Vasa Ghana, Guduchi Ghana and Vasa-Guduchi Ghana in therapeutic management of symptoms in Covid-19 positive cases.

The trials will be a “randomized, open label three armed” study, and will be conducted at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, in collaboration with the IGIB unit of CSIR.

The detailed proposal with methodology including outcome measures, clinical and laboratory parameters, the logistics of the research has been prepared. The study will use a unique Case Report Forum (CRF), suitable for Ayush mode research.

VASA  is an ayurvedic classical medicine. It is a herbal decoction (kashayam) with Vasa and Guduchi as its main ingredients, used to treat liver disorders. It is believed to reduce the aggravation of pitta in the body.

Study Protocol

The CRF and study protocol has also been peer reviewed by experts from different domains including modern medicine and their suggestions have been incorporated. The study will be undertaken subject to the required approvals like that of the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC).

The project would look into the following specific considerations:

  1. The efficacy/action of mono-herbal formulations of whole extracts of Vasa and Guduchi respectively, and polyherbal formulation of Vasa-Guduchi whole extract on therapeutic management of SARS-CoV2 positive asymptomatic and/ or mild Covid-19 symptomatic cases. The impact of the said formulations on the speed of viral replication.
  2. Whether the said mono-herbal and polyherbal formulations can alter the expression profiles of key bio markers associated with Covid-19 disease.

Vasa and Guduchi are time tested herbs in Indian healthcare traditions, used in a variety of disease conditions. The outcome of this study would therefore be of considerable interest to the entire Ayush Sector.

 

What Has Changed on Jupiter from 2006 to Now? Hubble captures all in detail

Posted on by
Reply

This (above) latest image of Jupiter was captured by Hubble Space Telescope on 25 August 2020, when the planet was 653 million kilometres from Earth, giving clues on updated weather report on the monster planet’s turbulent atmosphere. A remarkable new storm is brewing, and a cousin of the Great Red Spot is changing colour again. The tiny new image is Jupiter’s icy moon Europa.

Hubble’s new snapshot appears at mid-northern latitudes as a bright, white, stretched-out storm moving at 560 kilometres per hour. This single plume erupted on 18 August 2020 and another has since appeared.

Unlike other common storms in this region, this particular disturbance appears to have more structure behind it than observed in the past storms. Trailing behind the plume are small, counterclockwise dark clumps also not seen in the past, which could mean the beginning of a longer-lasting northern hemisphere spot, perhaps to rival the legendary Great Red Spot that dominates the southern hemisphere.

Great Red Spot

Hubble shows that the Great Red Spot, rolling counterclockwise in the planet’s southern hemisphere, is ploughing into the clouds ahead of it, forming a cascade of white and beige ribbons, while its current exceptionally rich red colour, with its core and outermost band, is appearing deeper red.

Researchers say the Great Red Spot now measures about 15 800 kilometres across, big enough to swallow the Earth. The super-storm is still shrinking, as noted in telescopic observations dating back to 1930, but its rate of shrinkage appears to have slowed though the reason for its dwindling size remains a  mystery.

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is giving astronomers their most detailed view yet of a second red spot emerging on Jupiter. For the first time in history, astronomers have witnessed the birth of a new red spot on the giant planet, which is located half a billion miles away (about 800 thousand kilometres). The storm is roughly one-half the diameter of its bigger and legendary cousin, the Great Red Spot. Researchers suggest that the new spot may be related to a possible major climate change in Jupiter’s atmosphere.
Credit: NASA, ESA, A. Simon-Miller (NASA/GSFC), and I. de Pater (University of California Berkeley)

Researchers are noticing that another feature has changed: the Oval BA, nicknamed by astronomers as Red Spot Jr., which appears just below the Great Red Spot in this image. For the past few years, Red Spot Jr. has been fading in colour to its original shade of white after appearing red in 2006. However, now the core of this storm appears to be darkening to a reddish hue. This could hint that Red Spot Jr. is on its way to reverting to a colour more similar to that of its cousin.

Hubble’s image shows that Jupiter is clearing out its higher-altitude white clouds, especially along the planet’s equator, which is enveloped in an orangish hydrocarbon smog.

Jupiter’s icy moon Europa is visible to the left of the gas giant. Europa is already thought to harbour a liquid ocean beneath its icy crust, making this moon one of the main targets in the search for habitable worlds beyond Earth.

Water vapour

In 2013 it was announced that the Hubble Space Telescope discovered water vapour erupting from the frigid surface of Europa, in one or more localised plumes near its south pole. ESA’s JUpiter ICy moons Explorer, a mission planned for launch in 2022, aims to explore both Jupiter and three of its largest moons: Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.

Hubble also captured a new multiwavelength observation in ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared light of Jupiter on 25 August 2020, which is giving researchers an entirely new view of the giant planet. Hubble’s near infrared imaging, combined with ultraviolet views, provides a unique panchromatic look that offers insights into the altitude and distribution of the planet’s haze and particles. This complements Hubble’s visible-light picture that shows the ever-changing cloud patterns.

Sony PS5: Priced at $400, India launch on Nov 19, Pre-Order from Sept 18

Posted on by
Reply

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) on Thursday announced November 12 as the launch date for its highly anticipated next-generation videogame system, PlayStation 5, which will be priced $399.99 or ¥39,980. SIE also revealed new updates to the PS5 game portfolio, including Final Fantasy XVI, Fortnite, Hogwarts Legacy, and a new God of War title.

On November 12, PS5 will be launched in seven key markets — the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. The global rollout, including India, will be on November 19, including Europe, Middle East, South America, Asia and South Africa.

The PS5 Digital Edition will be available for $399.99/¥39,980/€399.99, and PS5 with an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive will be available for $499.99/¥49,980/€499.99. Pre-orders will be available starting Thursday, Sept. 17 at select retailers, said Sony in a statement.

4K high-fidelity graphics 

Both PS5 models use the same custom processor with integrated CPU and GPU for high-fidelity graphics up to 4K, besides the same ultra-high speed SSD with integrated I/O that will deliver lightning-fast loading. Both PS5 models offer a deepened sense of immersion through the DualSense wireless controller and 3D audio capabilities, enabling players the same transformative gameplay experience regardless of which PS5 they choose, said Sony.

Sony launches PS5 Thursday and pre-order begins Friday, Sept 18, 2020 (SIE)

“Since we first announced our next generation console last year, we have received astounding support from developers and gaming fans all around the world, and it’s truly humbling,” said Jim Ryan, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment.

“Now we are just a couple of months away from launching PS5, which will offer a new generation of experiences that go beyond players’ expectations of how games can look, feel, sound, and play. We can’t wait for our fans to experience for themselves the incredible speed, the heightened immersion and the breathtaking games on PS5 when we launch this November.”

New Games on PS5

In addition, Sony has also unveiled several new games coming to PS5, including:

  1. Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition (Capcom)
  2. Final Fantasy XVI (Square Enix)
  3. Five Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach (Steel Wool Studios and ScottGames)
  4. Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros. Games)
  5. A new God of War title (Santa Monica Studio)

 

With titles such as Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Demon’s Souls, exclusive titles from SIE Worldwide Studios will be priced at launch from US$49.99 to US$69.99 (RRP) on PS5. However, to support the PlayStation4 community as they transition to the next generation when they’re ready, SIE will launch PS4 versions of a few exclusive titles:

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales,
Sackboy A Big Adventure, and
Horizon Forbidden West.

While these three games were designed to take advantage of PS5 and its unique next-gen features like the ultra-high speed SSD and DualSense controller, PS4 owners will also be able to enjoy these experiences when they launch. The PS4 digital versions of launch games include a free upgrade on both PS5 consoles, while the PS4 disc versions of these games include a free upgrade on the PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-Ray disc drive.

In addition, Sony has revealed the PlayStation Plus Collection, a curated lineup of PS4 games that defined the generation, which will be available to PS Plus members to download and play on PS5. The PS Plus Collection features critically acclaimed games, including Batman Arkham Knight, Bloodborne, Fallout 4, God of War, Monster Hunter: World, Persona 5 among others.

NCB arrests Rhea after 3 days of grilling in Sushant Singh Rajput Suicide Case

Posted on by
Reply

After three days of grilling, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday arrested Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty in connection with her alleged role in the drugs angle into the June 14 death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Sushant’s girlfriend Rhea has been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and quickly whisked away for a mandatory medical test at the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation’s LTMG Sion Hospital. Rhea has pleaded innocence throughout, though.

She will be presented by the NCB before a court for her remand. Rhea’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde termed the arrest a “travesty” of justice. “Three central agencies hounding a single woman — just because she was in love with a drug addict, suffering from mental health issues for several years under the care of five leading psychiatrists in Mumbai, who ended up committing suicide due to consumption of illegally administered medicines and used drugs,” he said.

Earlier, Rhea filed an FIR at the late actor’s sister Priyanka Singh and Dr Tarun Kumar of RML Hospital in New Delhi among others alleging forged medical prescriptions under the Indian Penal Code and the NDPS Act, and as per the Supreme Court orders, the case has been transferred to the CBI for investigation.

Rhea’s arrest came three days after her brother Showik Chakraborty, Sushant’s home manager Samuel Miranda, and his house helper Dipesh Sawant were arrested and sent in NCB custody till September 9 (Wednesday), besides two other drug peddlers Abdel Basit Parihar and Zaid Vilatra, who are also in NCB custody.

The NCB said the arrests would help it to “uproot the drugs citadel in Bollywood and Mumbai” amidst talk of several other Bollywood personalities involved in it. Rhea was grilled several times by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate, and even the Mumbai Police, but was finally arrested by the NCB, nearly 11 weeks after Sushant was found dead in his Bandra home.

Rhea, however, remained calm and composed as she stepped out of the NCB office post-arrest to proceed for a medical test. She did not seek any anticipatory bail either so far, said her lawyer Maneshinde, who is likely to seek bail soon in this case following the arrest.

 

Taj Hotel Attack: Harvard learns new lesson in Tata’s recruitment style

Posted on by
3

Taj Hotel terror attack has become a massive psychology case study in Harvard. Not one Taj employee abandoned the hotel during the attack but stayed right through the tragedy. They helped the guests escape and, in the process, many employees died.

The attack on Nov. 26, 2008 by a group of terrorists struck a dozen targets in Mumbai, including the iconic, 103-year old Taj Palace Hotel. The siege at the hotel  lasted two days and three nights and was covered extensively by international media.

Hemant Oberoi, head chef of the Taj Mahal Palace & Towers, whose staff kept over a hundred guests safe in the exclusive Chambers lounge, though seven of his staff were shot in the kitchen. “If I had not moved on, my team wouldn’t have. If they would see their leader shattered and broken, they would have given up,” Oberoi told India Today 10 years later, recollecting the events.

Oberoi, with 17 of his staff members, rescued and took care of at least 150 guests during three nights of seige. “We went out three times to call the cops to protect us and thereby help us take out the guests,” he said. “But they didn’t have orders.”

Taj Hotel Mumbai

Remembering the scene he said that there was no electricity but blood stains, mobiles and shoes were vivdly seen around. How he held it together in such a crisis? “We have become so selfish that we want to save our lives and not others. I strongly believe that karma comes back to you,”he says.

Harvard Study

There is an amazing, inspirational back story about the heroic actions of the Taj staff couched in the culture of the Taj Hotels company. What can the staff, who saved lives while endangering their own, teach American companies about ethical behaviour? It confounded psychologists who studied their resolve.

Finally, they pin pointed 3 recruitment strategies :

1) Taj Hotels did not recruit from big cities , they recruited from smaller cities where traditional culture still holds strong;
2) They did not recruit toppers, they spoke to school masters to find out who were  most respectful of their parents, elders , teachers and and others;
3) They taught their employees to be ambassadors of their guests to the organisation not ambassadors of the company to their guests.

The results are stupefying. Listen to this TED talk by Rohit Deshpande that focussed on the employees of the Taj during the 26/11 attack:

 

 

Telugu actor Jayaprakash Reddy dies of heart attack amid Covid-19 pandemic

Posted on by
Reply

Telugu actor Jaya Prakash Reddy, best-known for his comic and villainous roles, died on Tuesday, aged 74. The actor suffered a cardiac arrest at his residence in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. The actor was last seen in Mahesh Babu starrer Sarileru Neekevvaru (2020).

Jaya Prakash Reddy’s death has left the Telugu film industry in a shock and several condolence messages started pouring in on Twitter from all actors who worked with him in several films. Known for friends and film industry as JP, he acted as the villain in more than a hundred films and also played the comic roles in some films.

Born on Oct. 10, 1946 in Sirivella, Kurnool district, he came to limelight with his role in ‘Samarasimha Reddy’ as Veera Raghava Reddy.

Here’s a list of his filmography:

Year Title Language Role
1988 Brahma Puthrudu Telugu
1990 Shatruvu Telugu Mayor
1990 Lorry Driver Telugu Bank manager
1990 Bobbili Raja Telugu Tribal
1991 Chitram Bhalare Vichitram Telugu Phani
1993 Jamba Lakidi Pamba Telugu Hijra
1997 Preminchukundam Raa Telugu Veerabadrayya
1999 Samarasimha Reddy Telugu Veeraraghava Reddy
2000 Jayam Manade Raa Telugu Narasimha Naidu
2000 Vijayaramaraju Telugu
2001 Narasimha Naidu Telugu
2001 Anandam Telugu Sub-Inspector of Police Cameo appearance
2002 Seema Simham Telugu Kulashekar Rao
2002 Avunu Valliddaru Ista Paddaru Telugu Constable
2002 Sontham Telugu Gulabi Thief
2002 Chennakeshava Reddy Telugu Venkat Reddy
2003 Palnati Brahmanayudu Telugu Narsinga Naidu
2003 Swetha Naagara Kannada Sarpa Kaadu Dhorey simultaneously shot in Kannada and Telugu languages
2003 Swetha Naagu Telugu Sarpararanya Dhora simultaneously shot in Kannada and Telugu languages
2003 Nijam Telugu Sidda Reddy
2003 Seetayya Telugu Rama Naidu
2003 Anjaneya Tamil Jaya Prakash
2003 Kabaddi Kabaddi Telugu Head Constable
2004 Shiva Shankar Telugu
2005 Evadi Gola Vaadidi Telugu Banda Reddy
2005 Chatrapati Telugu Municipal Commissioner
2005 Aaru Tamil Reddy (Nathan’s enemy)
2005 Chinna Tamil china’s ex boss
2005 Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana Telugu JP
2005 Narasimhudu Telugu Local MLA
2006 Kithakithalu Telugu Soundarya’s father
2006 Dharmapuri Tamil MLA Konda Mookan
2006 Vikramarkudu Telugu Home Minister
2007 Julayi Telugu Reddy
2007 Thiru Ranga Tamil Reddy
2007 Dhee Telugu Pedhananayana
2007 Godava Telugu
2008 Ready Telugu Chitti Naidu
2008 Siddu From Sikakulam Telugu Obul Reddy
2008 King Telugu Appaji
2008 Satya in Love Kannada Veda’s Father (Telugu Factionist)
2008 Krishna Telugu Jakka’s uncle
2008 Parugu Telugu Sub-Inspector
2008 Citizen Kannada Home minister of Karnataka
2009 Raju Maharaju Telugu
2009 Maa Nanna Chiranjeevi Telugu
2009 Anjaneyulu Telugu Babulal
2009 Bangaru Babu Telugu
2009 Kick Telugu Police Officer
2009 Kasko Telugu JP
2010 Seeta Ramula Kalyanam Lankalo Telugu Veera Pratap’s father
2010 Prasthanam Telugu Bangaru Raju
2010 Uthama Puthiran Tamil Chinnamuthu Goundar, Also dubbed his own voice for his character in Tamil
2010 Namo Venkatesa Telugu Bhadrappa’s grandfather
2010 Bindaas Telugu Seshadri Naidu
2011 Madatha Kaja Telugu JP
2011 Oosaravelli Telugu Sarkar
2011 Seema Tapakai Telugu Venkatappa
2011 Kandireega Telugu Rajanna
2012 Betting Bangaraju Telugu Police Officer
2012 Gabbar Singh Telugu Police Commissioner
2013 Naayak Telugu Babji’s Paternal Uncle
2013 Baadshah Telugu Aadhi’s father
2013 Shadow Telugu Home Minister Naidu
2013 Adda Telugu Cameo appearance
2013 Masala Telugu Eddulodu
2014 Legend Telugu MP
2014 Race Gurram Telugu IG J.P.
2014 Manam Telugu Home Minister J.P.
2014 Jump Jilani Telugu Veera Puli Reddy
2014 Rabhasa Telugu Peddi Reddy alias Pedayya
2014 Autonagar Surya Telugu Corporater Indra
2015 Pataas Telugu Central Minister JP
2015 Akhil Telugu Kishore’s father
2015 Temper Telugu Home Minister of A.P.
2015 LOL Telugu Somyayajulu
2015 Mosagallaku Mosagadu Telugu Kaushik
2015 Shivam Telugu Bhoji Reddy’s brother-in-law
2015 Bruce Lee – The Fighter Telugu Fight Master Dangerous David & Police Inspector G. Ramji Dual Role
2015 Tripura Telugu
2016 Sarrainodu Telugu Bhoopathi
2016 Supreme Telugu M.L.A.
2016 Hyper Telugu Party President
2016 Meelo Evaru Koteeswarudu[8] Telugu
2017 Khaidi No. 150 Telugu Commissioner Krishna Murthy
2017 Radha Telugu Acharya Deva
2017 Nene Raju Nene Mantri Telugu Jailor
2017 Jai Lava Kusa Telugu Sravani’s father
2017 Raja the Great Telugu Devaraj’s henchmen
2018 Inttelligent Telugu Sathya Murthy
2018 Jai Simha Telugu Central Minister JP
2018 Jamba Lakidi Pamba
2018 MLA Telugu Indu’s father
2018 Chethilo Cheyyesi Cheppu Baava Telugu
2018 Pantham Telugu Health Minister
2018 Nela Ticket Telugu C.P. Ranjith Kumar
2018 Lover Telugu Goon
2018 Silly Fellows Telugu Jacket Janakiram
2018 Amar Akbar Anthony Telugu WATA chairman
2019 Crazy Crazy Feeling Telugu Dream father
2020 Sarileru Neekevvaru Telugu Nagendra’s Father

 

Africa declared free from wild polio; Will South Asia be Next?

Posted on by
Reply

The World Health Organization has declared Africa free of wild polio as no new cases of wild poliovirus have been recorded on the continent since 2016, but other types of the virus persist

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan administering the polio vaccine drops to children under-five years to mark the World Polio Day, in New Delhi on October 24, 2014. (PIB)

The continent’s last case of wild polio was recorded four years ago in northeast Nigeria. There are now just just two countries on Earth where the virus remains endemic — Afghanistan and Pakistan, both part of South Asia.

However, Africa’s fight against polio isn’t over as in rare cases, infections can be caused by the oral polio vaccine. These vaccine-derived polio strains can spread in areas where many children have not been immunized, so vaccination must continue.

The Africa Regional Certification Commission, an independent body overseeing the eradication of polio, has certified that all 47 countries in the WHO’s Africa Region have eradicated the virus after a long program of vaccination and surveillance.

Since there is no cure for the disease, which can cause irreversible paralysis and can be fatal if breathing muscles are affected, but vaccination can protect people for life. The certification is a “historic” achievement, says Pascal Mkanda, coordinator of the polio-eradication program at the WHO Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

A region is certified as free of wild polio after three years have passed without the virus being detected in any of its countries. Africa’s last case of wild polio was recorded four years ago in northeast Nigeria. As recently as 2012, the country accounted for more than half of all polio cases worldwide.

Chima Ohuabunwo, an epidemiologist at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, who coordinated a project to support polio eradication in Nigeria, says that engaging with traditional and religious leaders was crucial in the effort to persuade parents to vaccinate their children.

Infographic: Polio today: Map showing worldwide polio cases recorded between August 2010 and 2020.
Source: WHO

Despite the eradication of wild poliovirus, Africa’s fight against polio isn’t over. In many countries, vaccination is done with oral drops containing a weakened form of the poliovirus, which sometimes mutates into a strain that can spread in under-immunized communities and cause paralysis.

Vaccine-Derived Polio Cases

Since August 2019, more than 20 countries worldwide have reported cases of vaccine-derived polio (see ‘Polio today’). Because these outbreaks can usually be brought under control with further immunization, countries should continue to vaccinate as many people as possible, Ohuabunwo says.

Wild polio cases have decreased globally by more than 99% since 1988, but the virus is still endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have reported dozens of cases annually. Unless the two neighbours in South Asia focus on peace-building, reducing vaccine hesitancy, and boosting basic medical services and routine immunizations, it will be difficult to eradicate it here, said Zulfiqar Bhutta, a public-health researcher at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan.  “Polio anywhere is polio everywhere,” he reminded.