Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Rihan, a senior faculty member of AMU, has been appointed Chairperson of BIS Solar Energy Panel
Aligarh:
In a significant development for India’s renewable energy sector, Prof. (Dr.) Mohammad Rihan, a senior faculty member of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems Sectional Committee (ETD 28) under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Prof. Rihan, who previously served as the Member In-charge of Electricity at AMU, is currently on deputation as the Director General of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous body under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. His appointment is expected to bolster India’s efforts in standardising and advancing solar energy technologies.
The ETD 28 Committee, operating under the Electrotechnical Division Council of BIS, is tasked with developing national standards for photovoltaic systems, encompassing everything from solar energy conversion to electrical system integration. Prof. Rihan’s leadership is anticipated to play a pivotal role in ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of India’s solar energy initiatives.
Prof. Rihan’s distinguished career includes roles as Vice Chairperson of the ExCom IEEE UP Section and the IET Delhi Local Network. He has also contributed as a Visiting Scientist at NISE. With his expertise, Prof. Rihan is expected to drive innovation and accelerate India’s transition towards a renewable energy future.
This appointment highlights the growing recognition of academic contributions to India’s renewable energy mission and reinforces AMU’s reputation as a hub of academic excellence in science and technology.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Education> Focus> Science & Technology / by Radiance News Bureau / December 07th, 2024
Jamia Millia Islamia’s Professor Mohammad Zahid Ashraf has been honoured with prestigious Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) award for research on oxygen regulation.
Prof. Mohammad Zahid Ashraf receives Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize, an award instituted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Mohammad Zahid Ashraf, professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia(JMI) has been awarded the prestigious Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize, an award instituted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The prize was given by Union Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan yesterday in recognition of Prof. Ashraf’s research excellence.
Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize is one of the earliest instituted awards of the ICMR in the year 1953 for the significant research contributions in the field of biomedical sciences.
What was Prof Ashraf’s research famous for?
Prof. Ashraf’s lab has been instrumental in understanding the role of low oxygen due to high altitude in the development of cardiovascular disorders including blood clotting.
The significance of research of cellular reactions in response to low oxygen could be analyzed from the fact that this year’s Nobel Prize committee for physiology or medicine recognized the potential of the discovery of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability and jointly awarded the three scientists for their landmark discoveries in this field. Oxygen is required for the process of oxidation that produces energy. Therefore, its short supply might result in lung damage, brain dysfunction, heart problems and many more.
” Prof. Ashraf’s research has provided an insight into the role of oxygen-regulated mechanisms behind blood clotting disorders and demonstrated the detrimental effects of low oxygen availability at high altitude.
About Mohammad Zahid Ashraf
Dr Ashraf is Fellow of both National Academy of Sciences and the Indian Academy of Sciences. He is also the recipient of prestigious DBT’s S Ramachandran-National Biosciences Award 2018. He is currently holding the position of Director (Academics) in the university.
Prior to his joining at JMI, he was Head of Genomics Division at Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Delhi.
source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> News> Education> Today> News / by India Today Web Desk / October 17th, 2019
Under the auspices of Media Study Centre and with the cooperation of Vistara TV and Basaveshwara Parishad, Dr. Mohammed Farooq Pasha, Asst. Prof. Department of Commerce and Management Kengeri and Dr. Fazilath Uzma from Microbiology and Food Technology Department of Bangalore University were awarded with Acharya Shri 2024 in recognition of their services in their respective fields.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Bengaluru South Shiv Prakash Devraju, renowned cardiologist Mahantesh R Chantimath, President of Basava Parishad Uma Devi, former MP Prof. I.G. Sanadi and others were present on the occasion.
Dr. Farooq has authored more 50 books for pre-university and degree courses in Commerce. Dr. Fazilath is a senior research fellow at Bangalore University and has written 11 books on the subject.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Latest News / by Mohammed Atherulla Shariff, (headline edited) , Radiance News Bureau / October 28th, 2024
President Droupadi Murmu confers the Vigyan Shri Award on Professor Syed Wajih Ahmad Naqvi in Earth Sciences during the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar-2024, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Thursday August 22nd, 2024 .
Prof. Syed Wajih Ahmad Naqv from CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow receives Vigyan Shri award in Earth Science from President Droupadi Murmu / pix: x.com/DDNewslive
New Delhi :
President Droupadi Murmu confers the Vigyan Shri Award on Professor Syed Wajih Ahmad Naqvi in Earth Sciences during the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar-2024, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Thursday August 22nd, 2024 .
Prof Asad U Khan, from the Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit at Aligarh Muslim University, has achieved a significant milestone in the realm of Microbiology, securing the 39th position globally, according to ScholarGPS, the world’s foremost scholarly analytics platform. This platform utilizes advanced computational techniques such as data mining, artificial intelligence, and statistical analysis to evaluate scholarly impact comprehensively.
Named as an “Inaugural Highly Ranked Scholar,” Prof Khan joins an elite group of scholars, with only three Indian researchers ranking in the top 0.05% globally in Microbiology. His recognition among 67 scholars worldwide underscores his exceptional contributions to the field.
Expressing his elation, Prof Khan shared, “I was truly thrilled to discover my global standing. Being passionate about research and dedicating two decades to antimicrobial studies, this recognition surpasses my expectations.” He expressed gratitude to his family, mentors, and supporters for their encouragement throughout his journey.
Highly Ranked Scholars like Prof Khan are distinguished by both productivity (number of publications) and impact (citations), as well as the quality of their work (h-index). ScholarGPS’s extensive database, comprising over 30 million scholar profiles and 200 million scholarly publications, enables precise identification of scholars within specific specialties, disciplines, and fields.
Prof Khan’s accolades extend beyond this recent recognition, with previous honors from national and international scientific bodies, including the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, acknowledging his outstanding contributions to combating Antimicrobial Resistance.
In summary, Prof Asad U Khan’s global ranking in Microbiology signifies not only his individual achievement but also highlights the excellence of research conducted at Aligarh Muslim University, reaffirming India’s presence on the global scientific stage.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Markers of Excellence / by Radiance News Bureau / May 09th, 2024
Izaan Ali, a 12-year old from the city, has made an entry into India Book of Records by making the smallest functional model of hovercraft measuring 10 inches x 6 inches.
Izaan’s hovercraft is remotely controlled and is connected to a GPS system. It uses four brushless motors and 3D printed components to run. This initiative that leverages smart technologies to revolutionise healthcare services was approved by the India Book of Records.
Currently studying in Class 7 at a private school in Ludhiana, Izaan thought of the idea years ago when he lost his grandfather to cardiac arrest. He said the family could not get urgent medical aid during the golden hour.
The hovercraft has been envisioned to seamlessly fill in the current lags in access to essential supplies which are currently restricted by operational constraints like working hours of delivery platforms, thus saving precious lives. An official launch and commercialisation are awaited.
Izaan’s parents are committed to his ambitions. While his father, Imtiaz Ali is an educational consultant, his mother Seher Imtiaz, is a rehabilitation psychologist. Residents of Dugri phase III, his parents shared that Izaan worked on this idea for around six-eight months and burnt the midnight oil (even during) his exams to achieve his goal.
Sharing details, Izaan Ali told TOI, “This hovercraft operates by creating a cushion of air underneath itself, allowing it to float above a surface. The main propulsion and lift for this hovercraft are provided by four brushless motors. The structure was enhanced using 3D printed components, making it customisable and relatively easy to repair or modify.”
His parents said the project is a demonstration of his commitment to renewable and sustainable technology and their importance in modern engineering. The project’s use of four brushless motors for propulsion and lift showcases its commitment to efficiency and performance. This design allows the hovercraft to glide smoothly over various terrains, opening up new possibilities for transportation in diverse environments.
“Furthermore, the project’s approach not only makes the hovercraft more adaptable to different needs but also emphasizes the importance of eco-friendly manufacturing practices.” Izaan added. Aiming to become an automobile engineer, he said, “ It me took around 6-8 months of time and around Rs 20,000 to create the prototype.”
Dimple Verma, Izaan’s mentor said, “This is a 4th generation mode of transport which reduces friction by 20-30% and can be beneficial for medical deliveries to rescue people who do not have connectivity, or are disadvantaged and die in challenging terrain.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Ludhiana News / April 04th, 2024
Purdadtoor Town (Kadapa District), ANDHRA PRADESH:
Dr Khadar Vali, the Millet man of India
Coarse grains or millets are ancient foods which contain key nutrients like vitamins, zinc, beta-carotene, and magnesium. These foods keep blood sugar under control and reduce obesity. If one eats healthy food one can simply avoid disease and medicines.
This is the message from India’s leading agronomist Dr. Khadar Vali, who is also called the Millet man of India.
Dr. Vali is an independent scientist and food expert. He has brought back five species of millet that had disappeared from the world. Today, at 66 years of age, Vali is one of the leading proponents of millet cultivation in the world. He has made world realize the importance of grains.
Millets are available not only in India but everywhere in the world. These are known by different names in each country. To date, people around the world have eaten 200 different types of whole grains.
It’s important to note that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets at the insistence of India.
Khadar Vali says that the cultivation of millets can solve problems of soil erosion and irrigation also. The food we eat creates an imbalance in blood glucose levels. It makes people sick. But all this can be avoided if we use coarse grains. If you eat millet, you never need medicine.
He says it’s a misconception that coarse grains are food for animals and birds. He says these are super foods that can prevent disease as these contain fiber that cleanses the body. These grains protect the human race and other species. Millets are food for the whole planet.
Fox millet or Bajra
Dr Khadar Vali hails from Purdadtoor town in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. He has been working for 20 years to revive Sridhanialu, an Indian concept about food habits that are in sync with the nature and the human body.
Earlier, he worked in a good position in the USA. Dr Vali is a post-graduate from the Regional Institute of Education, Mysore, and did his PhD on Steroids from the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru.
Vali did his postdoctoral research on a fellowship in Environmental Science from the United States. His research focused on the inactivation of deadly chemicals such as Agent Orange and dioxins. His research came at a time when food was becoming increasingly commercialized.
Around 1986-87, Dr. Khadar Vali raised the issue of food-related consequences in society when he came across a case of a girl who started menstruating at the age of 6. He decided to return to his country.
He returned to India in 1997 and worked hard to revive five different varieties of millets in Mysore that were rapidly disappearing. More than two decades later, India’s ‘Milletman’ Dr. Khadar Vali was awarded the Padma Shri on the occasion of the 74th Republic Day celebrations.
Dr. Khadar Vali says that millet has long been part of the mainstream diet but over the past 75 years, corporations marketing rice and wheat have Institutions subjected them to “systematic destruction”.
He has told the world about the benefits of coarse grains along with the negative effects of other grains from his long research on millet. Some points of his research are as follows. His research on food grains has led him to categorized them as negative, neutral, and positive.
Negative: These Grains cause diseases and include paddy rice and wheat. The fiber content of these grains is below 2 percent.
Neutral: Grains don’t cause new diseases, however, can’t help to cure health disorders and diseases. These are jawar, bajra, finger millet, proso millet, etc which carry fiber content from 3 to 6 percent.
Positive: Grains, which help to cure health diseases and disorders. These are Foxtail millets, Barnyard millets, Browntop millets, Little millets, and Kodo millets; which have fiber content from 8 to 12 percent. He named these millets Siri Dhanyaalu. Siri means wealth, which is indirectly health. .
Based on Dr. Khadar Vali’s research and findings, below are the diseases and disorders cured by the positive millets (Siri Dhanyaalu)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the name Shree Anna to coarse grains.
The year 2023 was declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Coarse Grains, after which the Grammy Award-winning Indian-American singer Fallo prepared a song, saluting the efforts of Prime Minister Modi.
In one of his tweets, Fallow mentioned the Prime Minister’s support in producing the song. This song has been prepared with the aim of promoting coarse grains and helping farmers to cultivate them and encouraging efforts to eradicate hunger from the world.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Story / by Mansooruddin Faridi / October 07th, 2023
Muzaffarnagar and Adilabad, two districts in India, are celebrating the remarkable achievement of their Muslim scientists who contributed significantly to the success of the Chandrayaan 3 mission. The successful landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the Moon’s south pole has ignited a sense of festivity and pride in both regions.
Areeb Ahmed, an ISRO scientist hailing from Khatoli, Muzaffarnagar, emerged as a central figure in this achievement. As a key member of the Chandrayaan-3 team, Areeb Ahmad played an instrumental role from the mission’s launch to its successful landing. The celebrations in Muzaffarnagar included fireworks and heartfelt congratulations to the Areeb family.
The success story extends to Adilabad, where scientist Sheikh Muzammil Ali, originally from Kaghaz Nagar, shone as a valuable contributor to the Chandrayaan 3 mission. His involvement in the ISRO team that achieved the lunar landing brought immense pride to the Muslims of Telangana. Sheikh Makhdoom Ali, Sheikh Muzammil Ali’s father, expressed his joy and gratitude for his son’s accomplishment, viewing it as a divine blessing and a moment of national pride.
Sheikh Muzammil Ali’s educational journey showcased dedication and determination. After completing his education from various esteemed institutions, he cleared the ISRO exam in 2016, leading to his appointment as a “Scientist Group Gazetted Officer” in 2017. His father’s unwavering support, despite a modest salary, served as an example of the importance of higher education for Muslim parents aspiring to empower their children.
The accomplishments of Areeb Ahmed and Sheikh Muzammil Ali underscore the significance of providing quality education to young Muslims and encouraging them to pursue careers in cutting-edge fields. Their contributions not only contribute to India’s scientific progress but also inspire others to strive for excellence irrespective of adversity.
source: http://www.munsifdaily.com / The Munsif Daily / Home> News> Regional> Telangana / posted by Rasia Hashmi / August 24th, 2023
A minor planet in the solar system, which earlier bore just the number 5718 CD4, has now been named after Kollam based scientist, Dr Sainudeen Pattazhy, reports Ramesh Babu.
Pattazhy was surprised when a representative of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, run by the space agency NASA, telephoned him on Wednesday evening. “I’m not a space scientist and initially thought someone was pulling my leg,” he told Hindustan Times. “But the official explained that my name was chosen after going through my research papers.”
Pattazhy, who teaches zoology at a local college, has carried out pioneering research on many environment related issues such as the phenomenon of ‘red rain’ —which occurred in Kerala in 2001—the control of mosquitoes, the eco biology of ‘sacred groves’, and the health hazards posed by mobile phone towers.
Pattazhy’s suggestions on the health hazards posed by mobile towers are still pending with the Union Ministry of Environment. According to him, the radiation would affect people residing within 300 metres of the towers.
The minor planet — to be henceforth known as ‘5718 Pattazhy’ — was discovered by US-based space scientist Dr R Rajmohan in 1989. There are around 400,000 ‘minor planets’ or asteroids in the solar system, of which 185,685 have well defined orbits and have been allotted numbers by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Around 14,000 of them have been given names.
“It seems the discoverer of the planet forwarded my name after going through my work,” said Pattazhy, adding that he had no idea why he was chosen.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> India News / by Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram (headline edited) / May 02nd, 2008
In a big breakthrough in the field of cancer prevention, Dr Hifzur Rahman Siddique, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, in coordination with Dr. Keigo Machida, University of South California, USA, has discovered a common mechanism that activates disruption of a single RNA binding protein, MSI-2 binding to mRNAs of the cancer-causing proteins and significantly reduces the synthesis and accumulation of these proteins, reducing HCV infection and proliferation. The single RNA binding protein (named MSI-2) helps to accumulate multiple cancer-causing proteins in patients and helps to proliferate Hepatitis C Virus to promote liver cancer.
Dr. Siddique and the team who have identified this protein by analyzing the liver tissues of 374 liver cancer patients, said, “As we know, alcohol and cholesterol-rich high-fat diet and hepatitis infection promotes cancer initiation, but the exact molecular mechanism is unknown. In this research work, we have discovered that MSI-2 protein helps to accumulate multiple cancer-causing proteins and supports HCV proliferation to aggravate the disease.”
Dr Siddique said that Liver hyperplasia is also reduced in the animal model predisposed to viral infection fed with alcohol mixed cholesterol-rich high-fat diet. This is a very exciting discovery and could serve as a potential therapeutic target for the drug design and give direction to the management strategy for this deadly disease.
“The study has been recently published in Cell Death Discovery (April 2023, available at www.nature.com/cddiscovery),” he added.
Dr Siddique and his team had earlier discovered the molecular pathway that promotes the abnormal division of Cancer Stem Cells that are responsible for cancer therapy failure and Cancer reappearance/recurrence. Their study was then published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications 11 (2020) and found a place in different national and international dailies.
He said that the liver is considered the powerhouse of the body and due to the change in lifestyle, chronic alcohol consumption, high-fat diet, and hepatitis virus infection, the incidence of liver cancer is increasing fast. More than 350 million people are currently infected with hepatitis viruses, out of which 70 million are infected with Hepatitis C. It is estimated that approximately 40 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis B and 6-12 million people with Hepatitis C. The situation worsens when Hepatitis infection occurs in an alcoholic person.
He said that the discovery is significant in the treatment of liver cancer as blocking the identified protein has an immense effect on liver cancer in the animal model and also stops the accumulation of the number of human cancer-causing proteins, the proliferation of hepatitis viruses and improving recovery.
Dr Siddique has been working on Cancer Stem Cells for a decade and has established a dedicated lab to initiate pioneer research on Cancer Stem Cells at AMU with a team of 10 researchers and collaborators from the USA, Russia, China, the UK, India, etc.
Recently, he got a Patent for his herbal formulation to prevent liver cancer and expecting some extramural grant from the Government of India for further clinical research.
source: http://www.amu.ac.in / Aligarh Muslim University – AMU / Home> AMU News / by Public Relations Office / May 01st, 2023
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