Category Archives: Records, All

IIIT-Hyderbad team develops software to detect fake news

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Ramachandran and his team aim to monetise the software in the future and equip media houses with the software so that fake news can be easily identified.

Hyderabad :

So, how do we combat fake news? In what seems to be a novel solution, the IIIT-Hyderabad has developed an artificial intelligence-based laboratory that is equipped to identify fake news by a single tap of the keyboard. Called the Fake-O-Metre, the software can determine whether the headline of an article,its link or content is fake within seconds.

“It uses a range of options to tell you how much of the content is fake,” says Vijayasaradhi, an MS student involved in development of the software. “You can enter multiple headlines at the same time and derive results at one go.” During a demo presentation, the software analysed a bunch of headlines and gave varying range of colour-coded answers.

For instance, for the headline “The State is going to polls on December 7” it will give a green bar with a value below 30 per cent. “If it’s below 30 per cent, it means that the content is true. Similarly, if the value is above 60 per cent and the bar is red then it means that it is a fake content.” But how does the AI work? Vijayasaradhi added: “We collected around 10,000 potential fake news statements and fed it to the machine. This is like teaching by example. Now the AI will try to find a pattern from the 10,000 and try to determine whether the input that is being fed is fake or not.”

J Ramachandran, CEO of Gramener technologies and the industry expert for the AI lab at IIIT, said: “We are aiming to make this technology available in regional languages. For that we have introduced similar Fake-O-Metre in Spanish and Chinese on an experimental basis. “One of the most important requirement in doing a vernacular-specific fake news buster is that you need data. Since it is artificial intelligence, data has to be fed to churn out results. The software has to learn from the fed data as to what constitutes, or what words usually frame fake news in regional languages.”

For collecting this data Ramachandran is looking towards Facebook, Twitter and other social media. “Hate speech is prevalent on Twitter. So one can find specific hate speech by using that hashtag, which can later be culled to form data,” added Vijayasaradhi. Ramachandran and his team aim to monetise the software in the future and equip media houses with the software so that fake news can be easily identified.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Aihik Sur / Express News Service / November 13th, 2018

Aurobindo Pharma to acquire R&D assets of Australian firm

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Aurobindo Pharma on Monday said it is acquiring a product under development and related research and development (R&D) assets from Advent Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd of Australia.

The $12.5 million acquisition will lead to enhancement of R&D capabilities in complex speciality generics, the company said in a regulatory filing.

The acquisition, providing an opportunity to acquire assets that would be used for speciality generics business, is to be undertaken through AuroScience Pty Ltd, Melbourne, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc.

Advent Pharmaceuticals is into the business of R&D in complex speciality generics. According to the Australian firm’s website, the company was founded in 2001 with the aim of developing generic inhalation products for global markets.

With regard to turnover of the target entity, Aurobindo Pharma said certain R&D assets were being acquired and “no revenues [were] generated during the 12 months ended September since it is engaged in R&D activity.” No sales were expected in the first 12 months of the acquisition, the filing said.

The transaction is expected to be completed by January 2019.

Besides the acquisition, Aurobindo Pharma also announced results for the quarter ended September, a period that saw it clocking a consolidated net profit of ₹.611.44 crore. This was a decline of 21.70% compared to the ₹780.97 crore registered during the year earlier period.

Total income of the company increased by 7.45% to ₹4,777.66 crore (₹4,446.16 crore). Total expenditure was ₹3,964.20 crore (₹3,468.36 crore). The Board of Directors also approved an interim dividend of 125% or ₹1.25 per equity share (of ₹ 1 each), the company said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 13th, 2018

Saving an ancient art form from extinction

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Senior artistes and State government come together to train youth to save Oggudolu and Oggukatha

In order to preserve the ancient art of Oggukatha and Oggudolu, a traditional folk form of singing and dancing with drums, the Telangana State Language and Culture Department, in association with the district Oggubeerla Artists’ Welfare Association, has embarked upon an ambitious task of teaching the Oggudolu art to the younger generation.

With senior Oggudolu artistes unable to perform due to old age and the younger generation not keen on pursuing it, the government and the district Oggudolu artistes have launched a 19-day training programme for youngsters to preserve the age-old folk music form to entertain people. Training is being imparted at the Sri Beerappa temple on the outskirts of the town amid serene atmosphere.

Ancient art form
Oggudolu training is being provided by Erla Mahipal, an Oggudolu artiste and native of Tadijerri village of Gangadhara mandal. An MBA graduate, he had left his call centre job to take up the art as his profession and teach the art form to the younger generation in the district.

Earlier, Oggudolu artistes confined themselves to storytelling about the Hindu gods Mallanna, Yellamma and Beerappa etc. Now, they have changed the format, adding dance performance for entertainment of the audience, says Mr. Mahipal. “We have added adugulu and dharuvulu (steps and beats) to traditional drum beats and performing 32 varieties of drum beats and dance forms including acrobatics, sivathandavam, teenmaar, paanchpataka, omkaram, kolatam, etc,” he said.

New elements
During the training, the drum beaters are being trained in rhythmic beating and dancing to attract the audience, he said and added that they were also training the students on formation of pyramids and beating drums. Further, tips are given to the trainees on the importance of storytelling to captivate the audience.

Oggukatha is still popular in rural areas. Mr. Mahipal says they were invited to perform in functions and during a death in the villages. Moreover, with elections round the corner, Oggudolu artistes are in much demand. “Politicians hire us for taking out rallies and during the electioneering, to add glam to the campaigning,” he said.

The executive-turned artiste said he would continue training the younger generation on a regular basis to protect the ancient art from extinction.

Response from the younger lot, including school and college students, is encouraging as they are showing interest in learning Oggudolu performance. Mahesh, a trainee, said it is helpful as they are learning different forms of drum beats and dance to entertain people.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by K.M. Dayashankar / Karimnagar – November 12th, 2018

A perfect place to tinker, innovate

Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
A model on display at the Hyderabad edition of Maker Faire, at Hitex on Friday.

Three-day Maker Faire begins at Hitex

Hyderabad got its first taste of Maker Faire on Friday as dozens of innovators trooped into a hangar at Hitex to showcase their effort. The three-day event aims at helping create an environment of innovation, tinkering, hacking and creating.

“Curiosity and innovation are innate part of childhood when children take apart toys and dolls. But somehow, it gets lost in the chase for marks, exams and competition. Only now we are realising the importance of innovation,” said Jayesh Ranjan, IT Secretary, Government of Telangana, in his keynote address.

“The last decade and a half has seen transformative ideas. We need to create an ecosystem of innovation. We have lot of problems and we need a pool of brilliant solutions,” said Mr. Ranjan.

On the first day, one section of the event resembled a science fair put up by students. “This is a device that can be used by visually-impaired. The frequency of vibration changes when the object gets closer,” said Soumyadeep Sahu, who promised adding more features to his device once his 12th class exams get over.

There were a number of such innovative ideas using proximity sensors, light sensor, movement detectors and even weather monitors. Unfortunately, most of the sensors, IOT devices and chips were off-the-shelf imported stuff. “Our education system with its focus on marks stamps out any leaning towards innovation. We need problem-solving mindset. We now have 5,400 tinkering labs and hopefully, they will bring about a change in the mindset of people,” said Ramanan Ramanathan, the mission director of Atal Innovation Mission.

The event is a brainchild of Sujai Karampuri of T-Works. “In 2014 at San Mateo in the U.S., I attended a Maker Faire and thought why not in Hyderabad. Here it is. We want to create a one-stop prototyping facility at T-Works,” said Mr. Karampuri. The event would go on till Sunday, 8 p.m. and entry is free.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – November 09th, 2018

Legendary Telugu wordsmith Kapilavai Lingamurthy passes away

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Kapilavai Lingamurthy, Telangana literary giant of our times, passed away due to illness here on Tuesday.

Hyderabad :

Kapilavai Lingamurthy, Telangana literary giant of our times, passed away due to illness here on Tuesday. He was 90. A renowned poet, prosaist, astrologer, historian and teacher—all moulded into one— Lingamurthy was a gifted man hailing from a rather backward Palamuru district.

He was born on March 31, 1928, in Jinukunta in Balmuru mandal in the then Achampet Taluk of Mahbubnagar district. Lingamurthy joined as a Telugu pandit in a school in Nagarkurnool and later joined as history lecturer in Sri Venkateswara Oriental College in Palem before retiring in 1983.

While continuing in the government service, he exhibited many talents in various literary aspects including Satakams, Dwipada Natakams, legends associated with prominent places and children’s literature. He also commented on the old literature written on the ancient palmyra leaves. An expert in the toughest literary methods of Telugu like­—chita padi, chitra bandhamu—several of his works were published by Telugu University and TTD. At least 25 of his written works still remain unpublished.

Interestingly, as many as six persons got honorary doctorates from various university for researching on Lingamurthy’s works. Lingamurthy was a prominent writer and researcher in Telugu and his services continued to be in demand three decades after his retirement. He got various awards and was felicitated by Chief Ministers NT Rama Rao and YS Rajasekhara Reddy as well.

Lingamurthy graduated from Osmania University-Hyderabad with a Master of Arts in Telugu literature. Well-versed in both Telugu poetry and prose he has written more than 100 books in the Telugu language.
Among his books, the most popular are: Arya Satakam, Srimath Pratapagiri Khandam, Someswara Kshetra Mahatyam, Padya Katha Parimalamu, Palamoor zilla Devalayalu, Salagrama Sastram, Sri Rudradhyayamu and many more. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao condoled the death of Lingamurthy. The literary world lost a towering personality, he said in a message.

KAPILAVAI LINGAMURTHY’S WORKS
Satakamulu – 8
Dwipada Kavyalu – 6
Samkeerthanalu – 3
Charitralu – 6
Kshetra Aavirbhava
Charitralu – 8
Udaharanalu – 4
Sampaaditaalu and Parishkrutaalu – 18
Unpublished – 28

The master and his works
An expert in the toughest literary methods of Telugu like­—chita padi, chitra bandhamu—several of his works were published by Telugu University and TTD, 25 of his written works still remain unpublished.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / Hyderabad – November 07th, 2018

Startoon Labs first from WE Hub to raise equity funding

Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technology

The startup is into product development, designing and developing industrial-grade IoT products and smart electronics systems from the fields of embedded systems and robotics.

Hyderabad :

Hyderabad based early-stage startup, Startoon Labs has become the first startup incubated at the WE Hub, incubator of Telangana government for women entrepreneurs, to raise first round of equity funding.

The startup is into product development, designing and developing industrial-grade IoT products and smart electronics systems from the fields of embedded systems and robotics.The money raised through equity funding will be used by Startoon Labs to build their product – Pheezee, a smart physiotherapy toolkit. The device is designed to monitor and report on patient rehabilitation and recovery by tracking their mobility and muscle strength.

The startup is led by Mythreyi Kondapi alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad and her husband Susurla VS Suresh, alumnus of IIM Kolkata, was established in November 2017. Kondapi is part of the first cohort of 26 women-led startups selected for incubation at WE Hub.

“My team and I are really excited that a hardware product company from Hyderabad is the first of the WE Hub startups to raise equity funding. We are working towards building on Startoon Labs’ momentum by creating a robust, outcome-oriented roadmap for growth”, said Deepthi Ravula, CEO of WE Hub.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / November 04th, 2018

Indian student’s algorithm helps in leading driver directly to empty parking spot

Education, Nri's / PIO's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Sai Nikhil Reddy Mettupally at The University of Alabama in Huntsville has also won second prize at the 2018 Science and Technology Open House competition

An Indian student in the U.S. has created a space-detecting algorithm that can help tackle the problem of finding a parking spot by using big data analytics and save a person’s time and money.

Sai Nikhil Reddy Mettupally, a student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, has also won second prize at the 2018 Science and Technology Open House competition for his creation.

According to a university presser, Mr. Sai’s creation relies on big data analytics and deep-learning techniques to lead drivers directly to an empty parking spot.

Big data analytics is a complex process of examining large and varied data sets to uncover information including hidden patterns, unknown correlations, market trends and customer preferences.

Mr. Sai conceived the idea shortly after the university transitioned to zone parking last fall.

“Finding a parking spot as soon as a person enters the parking lot is essential.”

What he needed was to find a way to identify empty spaces and then direct the driver to the location. But unlike other parking apps in the market, he wanted to develop one that didn’t rely on the purchase, installation, and maintenance of expensive in-ground sensors.

To help put his plan in action, Mr. Sai turned to Vineetha Menon, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science.

As the director of UAH’s Big Data Analytics Lab, Mr. Menon also had access to the high-performance computing power that Mr. Sai needed to create and train his machine-learning model, which relies on a robust parking-lot data set provided by the Federal University of Parana in Brazil.

Mr. Sai, who graduated in electronics and communications engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, hopes to develop a parking-support mobile app—dubbed InstaPark—that can display the real-time grid layout of empty and occupied parking spots using the phone’s GPS.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sci-Tech> Technology / by PTI / Houston – October 31st, 2018

For producing dry fish of impeccable quality

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Education, Records, All, Science & Technology
An NIRDPR team demonstrating the working of solar-powered hybrid dehydrators to fisherwomen from Telangana at a workshop held on its campus in Hyderabad recently.

NIRDPR’s Rural Technology Park develops solar-powered dehydrators

The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR)’s Rural Technology Park has developed solar-powered hybrid dehydrators to produce dry quality fish under hygienic conditions. This technology would help pack and seal fish in pouches, which is likely to fetch a better price for fishermen.

The institute and its technology partner have decided to train 4,000 fishermen from across the country in adopting modern technologies to improve catch and reduce wastage in collaboration with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).

“We have also developed a fish bone separator keeping in view the demand for higher quantity of fish, which will increase productivity among fishermen community,” said NIRDPR Deputy Director Radhika Rastogi and NFDB Chief Executive I. Rani Kumudini on Friday.

About 150 fisherwomen from Telangana were trained during a one-day workshop-cum-demonstration held at the institute last week as part of ‘Rastriya Mahila Kisan Diwas’, supported by Commissioner of Fisheries C. Suvarna, they said.

RTP Project Director Ramesh Sakthivel urged the Fisheries Departments of all the States to take advantage of the training facilities available at the institute. The institute was also exploring options to conduct such trainings at different places to reach out to more people.

Technologies such as solar hybrid dehydrators, designed chilling chambers, freezers, mobile moped-mounted freezers and ice machines that are user-friendly, compact with high quality materials, and of low maintenance, have been developed at the RTP.

Leftover catch fish after selling can be stored in chilled chambers to avoid spoilage of fish, and can be transported to various destinations through moped mounted freezer.

Fisherwomen, who took part in the training programme, expressed keen interest in the newly-developed technologies and some fishermen societies have even agreed to install chilling chambers for preservation of fish, he claimed.

The RTP has, in fact, developed several new approaches for promoting hygienic ways of handling, preserving and drying fish, he added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – October 26th, 2018

L.B. Nagar sets the new benchmark

Business & Economy, Records, All, Travel

The recently opened Corridor One of the metro is carrying up to 1.25 lakh passengers a day

Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited & L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad have announced on Tuesday that the L.B. Nagar terminal station on Corridor One – Miyapur to L.B. Nagar has crossed the Ameerpet interchange station in having the highest passenger footfall with both entry and exit being 30,000 a day.

Top stations used by passengers are: LB Nagar — entry – 14,145, Ameerpet — 13,974, Miyapur — 10,603, Uppal — 9,719, KPHB — 9,269 and JNTU — 8,493 as on Monday when the total number of passengers on all the trains have been 1. 90 lakh of which 1.77 lakh are paid passengers.

Corridor One has became operational last month and it is carrying upto 1.25 lakh passengers a day with trains being run at 3.5 minutes frequency during the peak hours, 6.5 minutes when the rush is slightly less and eight minutes during the non-peak hours in this section, according to HMR MD N.V.S. Reddy. L&TMRH MD & CEO K.V.B. Reddy informed that every day 248 trips are being run on Corrdior One while it is 266 trains on the partially opened Corridor Three – Nagole to Ameerpet.

Altogether 550 trips are being undertaken by the metro trains in the twin directions and the number of passengers on Corridor Three is about 50,000 now. Metro rail authorities are running 21 three coach trains between L.B.Nagar (29 km) and Miyapur and 12 three-coach trains between Nagole to Ameerpet (17 km) everyday thereby running 33 trains in total.

The duo along with other senior metro rail officials, including Chief Operating Officer Anil Kumar Saini and others participated in a coordination meeting held at HMR Bhavan. The officials discussed the passenger rush, amenities and other issues of the transport system. They were of the opinion that barring a few complaints, the passengers have been having a good run in the metro trains in the 46-km. made operational and appealed to the citizens to make use of the services extensively.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – October 24th, 2018

The ‘padwomen’ of Telangana

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
Successful venture: Adivasi women working at the sanitary napkin unit in Bhadrachalam, Telangana

Sanitary napkins made by adivasi women of the State are in great demand.

In Telangana’s tribal belt, since February this year, adivasi women have been running four small units that produce sanitary napkins for free distribution to students in the tribal welfare hostels and ashram schools. Now, the region is set to get four more sanitary napkin production units, thanks to the demand for pads among young women in the adivasi community.

While the State has four such units currently running in Bhadrachalam, Utnoor, Mannanur and Eturnagaram, with a collective production capacity of 6,000 to 7,000 pads per month, the facilities in the pipeline are expected to increase the total production of napkins to 40,000 per quarter.

All the existing units were commissioned under the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA). Christina Z. Chongthu, Commissioner, Tribal Welfare, has already consulted with the ITDA to support the proposed units. As per the Commissionerate of Tribal Welfare in Hyderabad, talks are on with NGOs and commercial sanitary napkin units to support adivasi youth in sanitary napkin production in districts where tribal population is high.

Expansion plans
Speaking to The Hindu, N. Vijaykumar, deputy general secretary of the Girijan Cooperative Corporation, which distributes the pads among the adivasi students, said, “With the new units, we will be able to produce 40,000 sanitary napkins per quarter.” The napkins will then be supplied to women in the adivasi community who live in the tribal pockets near each manufacturing unit.

As per the 2018 report of the National Family Health Survey, 62% of women use cloth instead of sanitary pads. In most of the adivasi villages in Telangana, women were found to be using cloth or ash for menstrual protection. The pad-making units were set up primarily to support adolescent girls and young women enrolled in schools.

The decision to start more units came after demand for the pads increased, officials said. Once funds are sanctioned for starting the units, the four existing units will also undergo a technological upgrade. While the units in operation do not make the extra safe winged variety of pads, the new technology that is set to be introduced will make it possible.

The units have provided jobs to around 30 women in each unit, with altogether 120 adivasi women employed in the four facilities.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Nikhila Henry / Hyderabad – October 15th, 2018