The Centre of Excellence, established under the Industrial Infrastructure Development Scheme (IIDS) of the Ministry of Commerce, Govt of India, proves state-of-the-art testing facilities and research services to the numerous small and medium scale chemical manufacturing units at Vapi, Gujarat. The Centre renders its services for constant upgradation of processes and for developing new products. It provides necessary assistance to the member industries to help them raise their product standards to global levels. It is also involved in arranging training to technical staff and providing IT trained human resource to the industry.

With financial help from the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, the Centre has set up facilities like analytical laboratory, pilot plant and R&D centre, convention centre, video conferencing facility, and a digital library. The Centre is in the process of setting up a packaging testing facility and testing facility for textile industries. It is also contemplating imparting postgraduate certification course in packaging science & technology.

Beyond its role as an R&D facility, Centre of Excellence also perceives to function as a world class attesting lab.

Scientists in Germany have found that survivin, a protein molecule, prevents cancer cells from dying allowing tumour growth. Rajarshi Kar, from the Department of Biochemistry at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, is also working on the protein molecule. He found that survivin reduces the action of Paclitaxel, a prominent anti-cancer drug. Paclitaxel acts by arresting cell development, eventually triggering cell death. Survivin does the opposite, rendering Paclitaxel ineffective. Kar noted that inhibiting surviving in cancerous cells resulted in 30 percent cell death. This increased the efficiency of Paclitaxel. Kar also discovered that curcumin, a principal component of turmeric, reduces surviving levels. His research includes testing the effect of curcumin, with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin, a drug that inflicts DNA damage on cancer cell death.

Though further assessment is required, a step closer to victory could entail regulating the protection of surviving.

Haploid breeding technology developed by Central Rice Research Institute, has reduced the time gap for breeding new rice varieties. The haploid breeding technique shortens the time required for breeding a new variety from the usual 10 years to 6 years, thus saving on time, labour and financial resource. According to GJN Rao, head plant improvement at Cuttack-based Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI), in a conventional method two varieties, each having some of the desired characters are crossed and plants derived from the hybrid are followed scientifically for 6-7 generations for identification of the right plant, while in the case of the haploid breeding method, the male gametes collected from the hybrid plants are cultured and plants are generated.

ICAR has been working on technologies on a system mode of operation for direct-seeded rice, mechanical transplantation of rice crops and experimenting on cultivating rice on rice beds under the All-India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project (AICRIP).

The double haploid method launched under the AICRIP has performed well in the multi-location trials conducted across India.

ICAR and Philipines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) have entered into an agreement to support and facilitate the country’s rice research over the next three years aimed at boosting to rice production. Meanwhile, IRRI and ICAR have announced the details of the new ICAR work-plan agreement (2009-2012), which would ensure India’s continued access to advanced rice research from around the globe and the technologies subsequently developed.

Curing prostate cancer may no longer require surgery. Also it could just take 1-4 hours time, with patients walking out of hospital in two days flat. Urologists in India are trying out the High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), a new technology that does not require the removal of the entire prostate gland. Instead, it “cooks the prostate tissue” with ultrasound beams, passed by a robotic arm though the patient’s rectum, destroying and evaporating all the cancerous cells.

HIFU is a one-time procedure performed under regional anesthesia and can completely cure prostate as large as 40 grams. Dr Gupta, who is also head of urology at AIIMS, said HIFU is best suited for small sized prostrates. “The normal volume of a prostate is 20 grams. HIFU is highly effective in prostates as big as 40 grams. Even though HIFU seems to be the technique of the future, at present, it’s under clinical trail.

Explaining HIFU, experts said it is non-invasive. A small probe inserted into the rectum emits ultrasound waves directly to the prostatic tissue. Ultrasound energy is focused at a specific location which kills the cancer cells. In the focal zone, the temperature is rapidly elevated to 90 degrees celsius in a matter of seconds which causes tissue destruction. During HIFU, the entire prostate is treated or ablated. The treatment is pain free. People can return to a normal lifestyle within a couple of days. “During the procedure, the probe constantly delivers real-time images of the prostate and the surrounding area, giving the physician immediate and detailed information,” he added. Dr Ramayya, who has till now successfully cured three prostate cancer patients with HIFU, will demonstrate the technique at international symposium on diseases of the prostate gland at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. According to Dr. Gupta, the disease of the prostate gland is a global problem with the increase in aged population. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system. It lies just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. Prostate cancer is usually very slow growing and is most common among men between ages 60 and 80.

Solar power projects, which have so far been in the fringes of the energy portfolio on account of viability issues, could finally see some scaling up. New solar thermal and grid-interactive solar photovoltaic (PV) projects on the anvil include NTPC Ltd’s plans for a 10-MW solar field at its Anta power project site in Baran, Rajasthan. Another 10-MW demonstration project, proposed by Gurgaon-based, Acme Tele Power, is likely to come up near Nagpur in Maharashtra, while the Clinton Foundation is exploring the possibility of setting up an “integrated Solar City” in Kutch (Gujarat).

The largest solar PV plan in India has a capacity of around 200-kW, a fraction of the size that some of these new projects are targeting, in order to achieve economies of scale. Indicative tariffs from some of these projects are around Rs. 10 a unit, as against tariff of over Rs. 15 a unit in case of current projects. NTPC – the country’s largest power generator – has installed a 10.5 kW silicon PV module at Jaraha Chetwa near its Rihand power station in Uttar- Pradesh, while more PV systems are planned.

Eco-friendly zero discharge toilets are all set to be introduced in trains across the country. The toilets jointly developed by IIT Kanpur, Research Designs and Standards Organization, Lucknow and a private agency in Chennai, ensure that all liquid discharges are converted into “pure water” which can be used as re-cycled water to flush and clean toilets and sanitary fittings. The solid waste is converted into odour free paste by certain bio-chemicals or additives applied at the departing terminal. This can be stored for 15 days in a tank and can easily be emptied at the destination point through pressurised evacuation.

The odourless solid waste could yield revenue since the paste would form an excellenct manure after being dried in the sun. After some more trial runs and studies the scheme would be a permanent feature in Indian Railways.

Presently, the system has been installed in trains running between Chennai and Jammu Tawi and Chennai-Lucknow.