Archive: January 2, 2023

Education

University of Essex launches GREAT Scholarships 2023-24 for Indian students

Jan 2, 2023 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments

New Delhi, 2nd January 2023: UK based University of Essex today announced its GREAT Scholarships for Indian students. These scholarships worth GBP 10,000 are aimed at master’s students with strong academic backgrounds who have work experience or have demonstrated interest in their chosen subject area. The funding must be used towards the cost of tuition fees for any one-year taught Masters (MA, MSc or LLM).

Scholars will be expected to engage fully with extra-curricular activities alongside their lectures and tutorials. It is hoped they will also be a spokesperson for their subject area and contribute to future capacity building – particularly around socioeconomic advancement and meeting the challenges of climate change.

Head of Operations (Regional International Office network) at the University of Essex, Sandeep Sharma, said: “The Great Scholarships offer talented Indian students wonderful opportunities to study at a leading UK university, to be an ambassador for higher education and become a leader in their chosen field.”

These scholarships are open to anyone with a valid Indian passport, who is classified as an overseas student, is fully self-funded and holds an offer (conditional or unconditional) to start a one-year full time master’s degree in the relevant subject in October 2023.
Scholarship awards are limited to one per student and cannot be combined with other University of Essex awards.

Some students may not be eligible for these scholarships regardless of whether they meet the above criteria. Students enrolling at East 15 Acting School, sponsored in whole or in part, deferred admissions, and students who are not classified as paying overseas fees, are some of the cases.

To get assistance on the application process or any further information on any of the processes involved, students from India and Bangladesh can get in touch directly with the University of Essex India Regional Office team at india@essex.ac.uk. To apply, the application form needs to be completed and submitted to greatscholarships@essex.ac.uk.

We encourage the students to reach out to us because in addition to the GREAT Scholarships, there are many other scholarships provided by the University of Essex at UG and PG levels that a student can be eligible for.

Health

Neolacta mother’s milk fortifier saves many critical infant lives

Jan 2, 2023 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments

Rio, Nayra, Anaya, and Tejas (name changed) all have one thing in common – they all owe a healthy catchup growth with reduced complication arising due to prematurity to a unique, one-of-a-kind product – Mother’s Milk fortifier (MMF). Unlike other fortifiers available in the market which are derived from Bovine milk, the fortifier which benefitted their growth and helped them gain weight was derived from Human Milk. The result was – an all-important weight gain from as little as 750 gms when the administration started to a respectable and stable level when they were discharged from the hospital. This unique product is currently produced by only one firm in Asia which is an Indian Startup based out of Bangalore – Neolacta Life Sciences.

It might sound unheard of but yes Human Milk-based Fortifier is one of the most potent lines of treatment when it comes to Low Birth Weight and Very Low Birth Weight Infants as endorsed by WHO (2017 guidelines), especially those who are born prematurely.

Speaking on the success of their Mother’s Milk Fortifiers, Country General Manager Sunil Kumar, Neolacta Lifesciences said “It is highly gratifying that our human milk-based products developed by our proprietary patented technology are instrumental in reducing complications of prematurity & creating impact to thousands of babies till date. We are constantly endeavoring to further create awareness about the benefits of MMF (Mother Milk Fortifier) in the country so that every possible premature infant’s life is saved, and the aspiration of parents get a new hope.”

When the birth weight of the infant is hardly a kilogram, the infant is susceptible to infections and many times fraught with it also. Regular treatment of antibiotics is necessary to heal the infections and needs to be administered for a longer period resulting in increased hospital stays. Even infant formula milk is not well tolerated in some cases, and infants develop allergies to it like in this unique case reported by Dr. Anice Joy. The baby had developed Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy to Bovine Milk Based Fortifiers involving severe feed intolerance episodes and poor weight gain (5 g/day) then the baby was switched to MMF and there was reduced intolerance and an effective weight gain (30 g/day). After using MMF adverse symptoms were reduced, and the baby was discharged with good weight gain.

In Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Hyderabad, 14 extremely premature & LBW babies were rescued using MMF+. Rescue therapy was used for newborns with feed intolerance, systemic symptoms, or thrombocytosis occurring from Cow’s milk-based fortifiers as published in an Indian Journal of Pediatrics by Dr. Bharadwaj, et al. In a different branch of the same hospital chain, a baby born at 27 weeks of gestational age with a birth weight of just 550 grams was admitted into NICU with respiratory failure at birth. The baby had experienced severe feed intolerance and abdominal distention due to NEC and BPD on day 10th of life. After starting MMF+ baby recovered and was discharged as reported by Dr. Tejas

The company has propriety technology in which [SN1] [SN2] NeoLacta manufactures the world’s first Mother’s milk-derived fortifiers in powder form which supplements additional Protein, immunoglobulins & HMOs to pack a punch in the small sips that the baby can take. The product due to its powdered form can also be transported across distances at room temperature making it easy to administer and ensure compliance.

“The company also provides MMF for critical & unaffordable babies through their CSR initiative “AMRUT”, which has benefited more than 200 babies this year”

Neolacta partners with credible third-party NGOs, hospitals & digital channels for the collection of milk contributed by nursing mothers. The entire process is fair, transparent, and strictly SOP-driven to eliminate concerns about donor health, milk contamination, and expiry.

Business

TECNO PHANTOM X2 launched in India with the World’s first 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 9000 5G chipset

Jan 2, 2023 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments

PHANTOM X2 product shot

Bangalore, Jan 2, 2023 — TECNO, an innovative technology brand with operations in over 70 global markets, today launched PHANTOM X2 in India, which marks its entry into the premium smartphone category. Last month, the global launch of the PHANTOM X2 series with the theme ‘Beyond the Extraordinary’ took place in Dubai, UAE. Priced at INR 39,999, TECNO PHANTOM X2 will be available on both Amazon as well as offline retail touchpoints. Pre-booking of the new PHANTOM smartphone starts today, 2nd Jan, and will be on sale from 09 January 2023. Lucky 100 pre-booking orders on Amazon and 200 on retail touchpoints will receive a free upgrade to PHANTOM X3 when the phone is slated to launch in India.

PHANTOM X2 is crafted for the millennials who are keen to possess a smartphone that compounds aesthetically appealing designs with top-notch technology, supreme user experience, and faster processing. The smartphone comes in two splendid colors – Stardust Grey and Moonlight Silver. The smartphone was recently awarded the globally revered LOOP Design Award, which is a prestigious Architecture and Interior Design award.

The new PHANTOM X2 Series is a state-of-the-art premium smartphone series that brings TECNO’s latest technological breakthroughs to fruition. The premium smartphone pioneers the amalgamation of advanced technology and uniquely crafted design by introducing unprecedented features to the country. TECNO PHANTOM X2 brings the highly progressive and best-in-class double-curved AMOLED and a segment-leading 64MP RGBW(G+P) OIS rear camera for a polished photography escapade.

Sharing details about the newly launched Phantom X2, Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TECNO MOBILE India, said, “As the demand for premium experiences grow, even we grow. We continue to challenge the status quo of the industry, with the aim of redefining the high-end experience in an ambitious yet accessible way. TECNO PHANTOM X2 is powered by the outstanding MediaTek Dimensity 9000 5G chipset, which is built on 4nm fabrication and runs at 3.05GHz. The smartphone sets new benchmarks in terms of power, performance, and energy efficiency. The MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor also has a host of innovations in camera and graphics to help make the PHANTOM X2 a superior gaming and multitasking smartphone with immersive experiences for TECNO customers.”

Key USPs of TECNO PHANTOM X2

· The world’s first 4nm Dimensity 9000 Processor

Dimensity 9000 means superior 5G speeds and next-gen multitasking ranging from brilliant gaming technology, professional-grade imaging, and videography to advanced AI and computing architecture. 4nm super-power efficient Dimensity 9000 has all the features, speeds, and feeds to satisfy the most discerning tech enthusiast. D9000 has the world’s first ultra-Core Arm Cortex-X2 at 3.05GHz for immediate responsiveness in any app. Its HyperEngine 5.0 gaming technologies ensure users smooth gameplay without suffering connection drops, FPS jitter, input misses or gameplay hiccups. With 3GPP Release-16 standard 5G Modem technology, 3CC Carrier Aggregation (300MHz), 11 5G bands, and Dual Sim Dual active multimode for interruption-free connectivity and other enhancements that give users a more personalized connected experience based on their usage patterns.

· Segment-leading extraordinary 64MP RGBW(G+P) OIS Ultra Clear Night Camera

Experience exemplary low light photography with Phantom X2 by the extraordinary 64MP RGBW+ (G+P) sensor, which allows 200% more light to the sensor for bright photos. Optical image stabilization ensures stable photos/videos even with shaking hands. Wide P3 colour Gamut, 3D-Lut and 7th Gen IMAGIQ 790 ISP produce brilliant photos on each click. Redefines the video shoot expertise with Super Hybrid Image Stabilization, Dual Video, Video Filters, Video HDR, Video Bokeh, 4K Time-lapse, 960FPS Slow Motion and more. Its 32MP HDR Selfie Camera outperforms in every selfie with many user-attractive modes.

· Extraordinary curved AMOLED display for truly brilliant vision

6.8” FHD+ Flexible AMOLED with 8+2bit display produces numerous accurate colours and with P3 wide colour gamut, it provides vivid viewing experiences. 120Hz Refresh rate and 360Hz Touch Sampling rate provide a buttery smooth experience. Certified by TUV SUD A rating for 36-month display fluency to maintain the smoothness for three years as it was on day one. This beautiful beast is protected by segment-leading Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for unparalleled safety.

· Extraordinary Uni-body Double Curved Symmetric Design

Phantom X2 has the best-in-class 3.5D Moon Crater Inspired Design for a slimmer Camera module. The design follows the dazzling stained glass process for a super-premium look and has AF Nano coating with CNC Metal middle frame for a sleek and intriguing look. Its 71° ergonomic golden grip angle design makes it easy to hold for longer durations.

· Segment best 5160mAh High Capacity battery for mammoth usage

Phantom X2 provides an exceptional power backup of 25 days of standby time and 23 hours of video playback time. Charge rapidly with the in-box 45W Charger of Phantom X2 and in approximately 20 minutes of charging time one has a 50% battery charge.

Business

Experience A Journey Of Flavors With One8 Commune’s New Menu

Jan 2, 2023 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments

ONE8 COMMUNE’S

New Delhi, January ‘23: New year, new memories, and new adventures. Every day is a new chapter waiting to unfold – places, people, food, and everything in the middle forming a page in our lives. Bringing the lot together this new year, one8 Commune launches a brand new menu with sweet, spice, and everything nice. This curated menu by Chef Pawan Bisht is set to take people on a sensory journey letting them explore new horizons of the gastronomical world!

The new assortments are for people who are experimental yet want the comfort of the roots is something one can look forward to in this evolved a-la-carte menu. One of the main highlights is the accessibility of vegetarian choices which focuses on health without compromising on the flavors. Chef Pawan Bisht’s curations see the use of millet, grains, and superfoods, while also introducing options for vegan lovers. The modern touch to the regional cuisines has also been introduced in dishes like Cauliflower 65 Gravy, Signature Black Chicken, and Truffle Flavoured Broken Wheat Haleem amongst others.

Expanding on our bestsellers, fans can satiate on Virat Kohli’s new favorite Tartar Topped on Avocado. New additions see salads like Baby Bocincinni, Arugula & California Grapes and Oriental Meal Bowls offer a variety of Silken Tofu, Mushroom, Chicken Katsu, and Salmon for a healthy yet hearty meal.

Other offerings like Burrata Board, Jamaican Jerk Cauliflower, and Spanish Paprika Marinate Chicken amongst other delectable delicacies are part of the small plates, whereas, for a larger meal, one can opt for Pan Seared Fish Steak, Middle Eastern Pilaf Rice, or Coastal Chicken Curry and much more.

Speaking on the launch of the new menu, Chef Pawan Bisht says, “A considerable consumer focus has been observed towards vegan and vegetarian food options, which gave us the prospect to begin the new year with a new menu”. He furthermore added, “We also wanted to impel on the use of local and organic produce which can be seen throughout our menu.”

To diversify the offerings, the new menu also highlights a range of Bao, Dim Sums, Sushi, Flatbreads, and Desserts. This exuberant a-la-carte menu is everything that speaks of fresh, flavorsome, and soulfulness.

Business

Searches For ‘Falling Dream Meaning’ on The Rise by 179% in The United States of America

Jan 2, 2023 by Sujata Muguda 0 Comments

Falling_Dreams_Stats_-_US

The United States of America, December 2022: Falling dreams are often listed as one of the common dreams. Therefore, a recent analysis conducted by ThePleasantDream observed a surge of 179% in “falling dream meaning” in the United States of America.
The search volume was 2900 in November 2021 and has skyrocketed to 8100. Not just this, variations in falling dreams like “tooth falling”, and “hair falling?” have also witnessed an upward graph in the Google Data Search in November 2022 compared to November 2021 in the United States of America.

Searches For ‘Falling Dreams’ See an Exponential Growth

The Google Search Data analysis undertaken by ThePleasantDream reveals that searches for various ‘falling dreams’ exploded in November 2022 compared to November 2021. The team gathered the insights through Google Keywords Planner, Google Trends, and Keywords Everywhere.

What Are the Prominent Searches?

The most searched query in falling dreams is “hair falling out of a dream.” The volume of this query was 5400 in November 2021. However, it witnessed a leap by reaching 6600 in November 2022, which is a hike of 22%.
After comes the query which is the most daunting for an individual – “teeth falling out of a dream.” The question has definitely seen a dip, but it is still most searched under “falling dreams.” The search volume of this query was 90500 in November 2021, but now it was 74000 in November 2022.
Blame it on the winters, but the “dreaming of snow falling” also witnessed a hike of 185%. The search volume was 170 in November 2021, but by November 2022, it had escalated to 320 by November 2022.

Following this search query is “dreams of falling from the sky,” with a 28% hike. The query, which started with a 70 search volume, now has 90 by November 2022.
Next in line is probably the lovebirds who might foresee “falling in love in a dream.” This query, too, witnessed a hike of 23%, wherein the volume search surged from 390 to 480.
Many people also searched for “dream about someone else losing limbs,” which witnessed a hike of 175% in search volume, going up from 40-110 in the US, and in the worldwide stats, it saw a 357% hike with search volume increasing from 70 to 320.

The query “dreams of falling off a building” also saw quite a leap of 27%, where the volume went up from 110 to 140 by November 2022.
Falling dreams related to nature have also skyrocketed. The first on the list is “dreaming of rain falling on you,” which has a 125% hike with search volume going from 40 to 90. The second in line is “dream about trees falling,” which saw a jump of 21%, with search volume going from 320 to 390.

Dreams That Witnessed a Dip in Searches

Most importantly, some falling dreams did witness a dip in their search volumes. The first is “falling elevator dream” which went down by 28%, where the search volume was 1000 in November 2021 but now stands at 720.

“Falling off a cliff dream” also sunk by 23%, where the volume once was 1300, but it is now 1000. Furthermore, this query was followed by “dream of someone falling in a hole,” which dipped by 28%, where the search volume went down from 70 to 50.
Last but not least, “falling down stairs dream” and “dream of the house falling apart” did not see any noticeable change, yet people searched them.

Experts Opinion

Dr. Nereida Gonzalez-Berrios, MD, reviewer and certified psychiatrist of ThePleasantDream commented, “Every dream we see has a symbolic meaning that aligns with our current events of the waking life, and falling dreams are no exception. Dreams about falling are common and reflect feelings of insufficiency, weakness, and insecurity.”
She further adds, “falling dreams may highlight your loss of control over certain situations. It also denotes missing something in life, further causing emotional distress and suffering. Your dream means that you are in a state of terror and anxiety. So, this dream could remind you to wake up, work hard, and resolve the repressed issues of your waking life & regain the lost control.”
The study was conducted by ThePleasantDream, one of the leading websites on dream interpretation. The team undertook the evaluation to monitor what people dream about when it comes to “falling dreams,” as it is one of the most common dreams.

Health

Overview of Esophageal (Food Pipe) Cancer

Jan 2, 2023 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments

by Dr. Jaykumar Patel, Consultant – Medical Oncologist, HCG Cancer Centre Vadodara.

Many health problems like heart diseases, diabetes, cancers can occur due to unhealthy lifestyle. Poor lifestyle choices in today’s times are considered one of the leading causes of many types of cancer. Habits that typically attract health issues are poor dietary practices, stress, lack of physical activity, inadequate sleep, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking. Smoking and alcohol consumption are the reason for the development of lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, colon, and rectum cancer.

Esophageal cancer is a tumour that develops in the esophagus (Food Pipe), the long hollow tube that runs from the throat to the stomach. The esophagus functions to carry the food swallowed from the throat to the stomach for digestion. Esophageal cancer typically originates in the cells lining the esophagus and can develop anywhere along the complete length of esophagus. It mainly affects elderly people and is more common in men than women. Esophageal considered the sixth most common cause of cancer mortality globally. A higher prevalence of esophageal cancer is attributed to unhealthy lifestyle habits including tobacco, alcohol use, obesity, and poor eating practices.

Symptoms

Some of the common signs and symptoms of esophageal cancer include:

· Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)

· Continuous weight loss

· Chest pain, or burning

· Indigestion

· Heartburn

· Coughing

· Hoarseness of voice

Esophageal cancer in the early stage does not show any signs or symptoms.

Types of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is categorized according to the type of cells that are involved, which include:

Adenocarcinoma: This type originates in the cells of mucus-secreting glands in the esophagus, and usually develops in the lower part of the esophagus.

Squamous cell carcinoma: The squamous cells are flat, thin cells lining the surface of the esophagus. This type mostly develops in the upper and middle parts of the esophagus.

A few rare forms of esophageal cancer include small-cell carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, melanoma, and choriocarcinoma.

Risks Factors For Esophageal Cancer

Chronic irritation of the esophagus may contribute to the changes in the lining of the esophagus that result in the development of esophageal cancer. Several unhealthy habits can increase a person’s risk of developing esophageal cancer. However, having a risk factor or even several does not really mean that you will get esophagus cancer.

Tobacco

The use of various tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco is one of the primary risk factors for esophageal cancer. The chemicals in tobacco products cause damage to the DNA lining esophagus cells and hinder the healing process. Also, tobacco weakens the esophageal sphincter muscles that maintain fluids in the stomach and safeguards the esophagus.

Alcohol

Consuming excess amounts of alcohol increases the risk of getting esophageal cancer, which mainly increase the risk of squamous cell carcinoma more than adenocarcinoma.

Obesity and Lack of Physical Activity

Poor eating habits and lack of physical activity is the root cause of obesity. A person who is obese or overweight has a higher risk of getting adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. As obese people are more likely to have gastroesophageal reflux.

Dietary Habits

A diet abundant in processed meat and animal products may increase the chance of getting esophageal cancer. Also, a diet poor in vitamins, minerals, and fiberincreases the risk of esophageal cancer.

Treatment

Your healthcare provider decides the right treatment options based on the type of cells affected by cancer, the stage, and the overall health status of the patient.

Surgery: Surgery to remove the tumour is done alone or in combination with other treatments. An endoscopic surgical procedure is done to remove small tumours where the surgeon removes the cancer cells and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding them. Esophagectomy is done to remove the parts of the esophagus that contains cancer, together with a part of the upper area of the stomach and adjacent lymph nodes. The remaining esophagus is reconnected to the stomach.

Chemotherapy: In chemotherapy treatment, medicine are administered in body to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy can also be combined with surgery and/or radiation therapy. In very advanced stage of esophagus cancer, chemotherapy may be used alone to ease the signs and symptoms of the cancer

Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy treatments focus on the specific weakness(targetable mutations) present within cancer cells and drugs can cause cancer cells to die.

Immunotherapy: lmmunotherapy is used in treating advanced stages of esophageal cancer where drugs help the immune system combat cancer

Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy like X-rays and protons to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is mostly combined with chemotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer and is usually given before surgery or rarely after surgery

Prevention

These effective steps can help a person reduce their risk of esophageal cancer

Eat a wholesome and balanced diet, packed with a rich array of colourful fruits and vegetables that offers you essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can fight cancer.

Quitting smoking can lower the risk of esophageal cancer. Though it can be hard to quit smoking, talk with your healthcare provider for help. If you haven’t used tobacco, then don’ start.

Drinking alcohol in moderation, if at all. For healthy adults, one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.

Maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight or obese, consult your nutritionist for a healthy diet regimen that would help you to lose weight. Get about 30 minutes of moderate-intensity workouts daily. And always aim for slow and sustainable weight loss.

Consult your medical professional if you have any persistent signs and symptoms that bother you. Regular screening may be an option for people with Barrett’s esophagus, as it is a precancerous condition caused by chronic acid reflux and can increase your risk of esophageal cancer.

Health

Ringing sound in the ears can be a reason behind tumors

Jan 2, 2023 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments

Acoustic neuromas can now be easily treated with Advanced Cyberknife Radiation therapy

– Dr Aditya Gupta, Director, Neurosurgery and Cyberknife Centre, Artemis Hospital

Acoustic Neuroma which is also known as vestibular schwannoma, is a benign tumour which is non cancerous and usually grows slow. It develops on the hearing nerve that leads from inner ear to brain. The branches of this nerve influence the balance, hearing and the pressure from an acoustic neuroma that can cause hearing loss, ringing in your ear and unsteadiness.

Identify the early symptoms!

The symptom starts with the gradual loss of hearing in one ear and the problem is accompanied by the ringing in the ear also with the feeling of fullness in the ear. The acoustic neuromas can cause the sudden hearing loss. The symptoms that occur over time includes:

Vertigo
Facial numbness and tingling
Problem with balance
Facial weakness
Change in taste
Difficulty in swallowing
Headaches
Clumsiness
Mental confusion

Cyberknife radiosurgery has revolutionized the treatment of acoustic neuroma

What Causes Acoustic Neuroma?

The cause of the development of acoustic neuroma is unknown. A rare hereditary disease “Neurofibromatosis” is associated with some cases of acoustic neuroma.

Acoustic Neuroma can also be caused by:

Continuous exposure to loud noise
Radiation on face and neck can lead to acoustic neuroma many years later.

In 1 out of 10 people, an acoustic neuroma is caused by neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). NF2 can run in further generations also. Person suffering from NF2 can develop benign tumours on the spinal cord and the coverings of the brain.

Acoustic neuromas is formed through type of cells called a Schwann cell. These cells cover the nerve cells of the body. That is why this tumour is also called vestibular schwannoma. Acoustic tumour grows with the nerve in the brain. This nerve is called cranial nerves or the acoustic or vestibulocochlear nerve. This nerve is responsible to control the sense of hearing and also the balance of the body. Acoustic tumour is rare and in between1 and 20 people in every million worldwide are diagnosed each year with an acoustic neuroma. And it’s more common in women than men.

Acoustic Neuroma Treated With Cyberknife

According to the survey published in the international journal ‘Sage Journal’ two out of 100,000 people aged 30 to 60 develop acoustic neuroma, which makes this condition incredibly rare.

The Acoustic Neuroma treatment depends on the size of the tumour. If the tumour is large, there will be more medical problems. The small size of the tumour is less than 1.5 cm, medium is between 1.5 cm and 2.5 cm and large is 2.5 cm or larger. Small tumours require cyberknife due to their size while the larger tumours typically require surgery.

The newest radiation therapy option for acoustic neuroma is a form of radio surgery that requires absolutely no incisions using new technology called CyberKnife. Patients treated with this new non-invasive experience minimal to no side effects.

Radio surgery techniques can stop tumours from growing by using high-dose exact precision radiation treatment. Patients treated by CyberKnife® technology experience minimal to no side effects, and receive treatment on an out-patient basis. After patients undergo radio surgery, the acoustic neuroma is closely monitored to confirm the growth has stopped or that the tumour has begun to shrink.

The surgery includes advanced robotics, tumour tracking and imaging capabilities. The patients with particular symptoms like pressure symptoms, tinnitus, or imbalance may be best treated with surgery because surgery will relieve the symptoms more rapidly. Also, the large tumours mean the size greater than 3.0 cm are best treated with surgery because these tumours can sometimes swell and cause obstruction in the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.

Treatment starts with the CT scan. The CT scan image is then imported to the CyberKnife Treatment Planning System. The oncologist team make a plan to treat the tumour while avoiding surrounding important sensitive structures.

The process involves typically 1 or 3 sittings and per sitting lasts for maximum 40 minutes. The treatment does not require any sedation and is painless.

The chances of side effect are next to negligible. Hearing is preserved and achieved in 50-75% of the time. Temporary numbness of one side of face is 2-3%. After the CyberKnife surgery tumours stabilize in size then shrink with time slowly.

Business

PTC India concludes 23rd Annual General Meeting, adopts resolutions with shareholders confidence

Jan 2, 2023 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

New Delhi, 2 January 2023: PTC India Limited, the leading provider of power trading solutions in India, has successfully completed its 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) and adopted all the five resolutions listed in the agenda of the AGM with a majority-vote on 30 December, 2022.

All the five resolutions proposed by the company regarding Approval of the standalone / consolidated results, final dividend of INR 5.80 / equity share, re-appointment of Directors and appointment of nominee director of Ministry of Power were approved by the shareholders with an overwhelming majority.

The company also informed the shareholders about its performance during the financial year 2021-22. The company had declared its consolidated Annual Results for year ending March, 2022 on
24 November 2022. The consolidated profits for the year grew by 21%. The Consolidated PAT increased to INR 552 Crores for FY22 compared to INR 458 Crores in FY21. The company also reported record volumes of 87.5 BU during the financial year 2021-22, a growth of 9.3%.

The shareholders during the AGM approved final dividend of INR 5.80 per equity share for FY22, which is in addition to the interim dividend of INR 2 per equity share declared by the company earlier making it the highest ever dividend declared by the company.

Commenting on the occasion, Dr. Rajib K Mishra, CMD (addl. charge), PTC India Limited, said:

“Shareholders have a very significant role in a company, their perception and assessment is an essential yardstick to gauge the performance of any company. In this 23rd AGM, shareholders of PTC India have voted in favor of all the resolutions with an overwhelming majority.

We would like to thank all our shareholders for re-emphasizing their trust in the company. Going forward, PTC intends to consolidate its core trading business and include newer business models especially in new and renewable energy. We are also exploring opportunities to leverage market and credit risks based on our domain expertise developed over two decades.

We are also looking forward to expand our value added services as an integrated energy solutions provider. Energy portfolio management services, trading & advisory services related business opportunity towards services/solutions in renewable energy space and operations and maintenance (O&M) services for SEZs/ Industrial Zones/ distribution utilities continue to remain our thrust areas. We are also exploring opportunities in emerging areas of Green Hydrogen, Battery Energy Storage Systems through collaborations with global technology companies.

Further, as a responsible corporate citizen with pan India trading operations, the company is also committed to ensure its contribution to welfare of the communities at various locations in the country. We are undertaking various CSR initiatives through our Trust – “PTC Foundation” which is focusing on social welfare activities in the field of Health, Women Empowerment, Education, Distributed Solar Energy Generation, Rural Development and Environment.

We have also decided to adopt the ESG initiatives and have also identified the KPIs for ESG implementation. The road map for ESG implementation would be ratified by the board in the ensuing board meetings of the company”

 

Entertainment

Colors Tamil to telecast the World Television Premiere of Bhamakalapam this New Year…

Jan 2, 2023 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments

Mumbai, 2nd January, 2023: Adding to the festivities of New Year, and starting 2023 on a grand scale, Colors Tamil, Viacom18’s Tamil Entertainment channel will bring to screens the World Television Premiere of Bhamakalapam, this Sunday, January 1st, 2023. Featuring Actor Priyamani in the lead, the riveting comedy crime thriller will bring a mix of hilarity and thrill for viewers to enjoy their weekend. With special partners Sree Kumaran Thanga Maligaiyin Bangle Mela, Bhamakalapam will telecast this Sunday, January 1st, 2023 at 2:00 pm. Tune into Colors Tamil, to witness the life of a young woman getting entangled in a world of crime.

Written and directed by Abhimanyu Tadimeti, the film features Actor John Vijay, Actor Shanthi Rao, Actor Sharanya Pradeep and Actor Kishore as the supporting cast.

Commencing with a heist of an ancient Faberge Egg, the film pans to the life of Anupama Mohan (Actor Priyamani), a nosy housewife who is a chatterbox, loves to gossip and spends her day shooting cooking videos on YouTube. She soon stumbles upon a dead body and gets trapped in a world of smuggling and murders by an underworld don, Nayar (Actor John Vijay). She becomes a suspect in the murder and is ordered by Nayar to fetch the stolen Faberge Egg. With Nayar and the cops behind her back, how will Anupama escape from their clutches and prove her innocence to the police forms the rest of the plot.

Commenting on the occasion, Director Abhimanyu Tadimeti said, “The film Bhamakalapam is inspired by a traditional dance form of Andhra Pradesh by the same name, and is further based on Goddess Sathyabhama killing the demon Narakasura, which is also the notion of the film. Drawing the similarity, we designed Priyamani’s character- Anupama to be a headstrong woman who will go to any length to save herself and her family. The ultimate message that we strived to showcase was the triumph of good over evil and I am glad that messaging came off really well. With the World Television Premiere on Colors Tamil, we are confident that the film will appeal to more masses and be appreciated by all.”

Adding to this Actor Priyamani said, “The shooting for the film was undertaken during COVID in Hyderabad and we completed the entire shoot in a span of only 25 days. It was a challenge I had faced for the first time but was an exciting experience altogether. Furthermore, a character like Anupama who is loud and nosy is completely opposite to what I am in reality. With its World Television Premiere in Colors Tamil, I am confident that more of the viewers will get to see me in new light, and will have a great weekend watch.

Grab a tub of popcorn and get seated with your families to watch the World Television Premiere of Bhamakalapam, this New Year, January 1st, Sunday at 2:00 pm only on Colors Tamil.

Business

Vastu Housing Finance’s rating has been upgraded to AA-/Stable from A+/Positive by CARE Ratings

Jan 2, 2023 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments

National, January 02, 2023: Vastu Housing Finance Corporation Limited and its 100% owned subsidiary Vastu Finserve India Private Limited (Vastu) are amongst country’s leading digitally enabled housing finance focused lenders. Care Ratings Ltd (Care) has upgraded the long-term ratings of both Vastu Housing Finance and Vastu Finserve to “CARE AA-, (double A minus) Outlook: Stable” from “CARE A+, (A plus) Outlook: Positive”.

Excerpts from CARE Ratings rationale – The rating upgrade factors in the improvement in scale up of operation with significant increase in Asset Under Management (consolidated) from Rs.4,412 crore as on September 30, 2022 to around Rs.5,000 crore at the end of December 2022. The ratings also factor in strong profitability, comfortable liquidity profile, experience of the management, strong technology driven processes and risk management systems and well diversified resource profile and profitable operations of the company. The Company has been raising equity capital at regular intervals and well in advance to fund its loan book growth. Its Assets Under Management (AUM) is funded through equity in the initial stages of operations i.e. from FY16 (refers to period from April 01 to March 31) onwards and has low leverage and comfortable capitalization levels. The company had sizeable equity infusion of Rs.925 crore during FY22 which has nearly doubled the tangible net worth of the company. Strong capitalization levels provide the company sufficient room to grow its loan book in the medium term as well as improves the ability to absorb any unforeseen stress in asset quality in the near term.

Commenting on the upgrade, Sandeep Menon – Founder, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Vastu Housing Finance and Vastu Finserve said, “The upgrade in the ratings reflects our consistent all-round performance with a superior profitability track record, strong and consistent asset quality, operational excellence, robust liquidity position and risk management capabilities even through the difficult times. The upgrade will help Vastu, continue with its growth momentum while being future ready and fit for growth. Going forward, we will continue to invest ahead of time in our people, processes, delivery models and technological capabilities to provide seamless and secure experience to all our customers”