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Showing posts from June, 2023

Back No International Yoga Day 2023 Google Doodle for second year running; Internet queries absence

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  International Research Awards on Science, Health and Engineering Online Nomination:  https://x-i.me/veershen For the second consecutive year, Google has not featured a doodle to commemorate  International Yoga Day 2023,  leaving many yoga enthusiasts and internet users surprised. The absence of a dedicated doodle has sparked speculation and discussion among online users. Google, known for its creative and interactive doodles that celebrate various occasions and events, has traditionally featured International Yoga Day in the past. The decision to skip the yoga-themed doodle for two consecutive years has raised questions among users. Taking to Twitter, some users expressed disappointment over the absence of Google Doodle on International Yoga Day, a username Anand Prasad wrote, “It's International Yoga Day today but Google Doodle (at least in India, not sure elsewhere) is not promoting that." 

Snake venom to the rescue

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  International Research Awards on Science, Health and Engineering Online Nomination:  https://x-i.me/veershen However, the researchers point out that drug development from a native toxin of snake venom is tedious. To overcome this problem, Mukherjee and his collaborators developed two novel custom peptides (commercially produced peptides for use in biomedical laboratories) — TNP and HNP, inspired by snake venom neurotrophin, that regulate the development, maintenance, and function of vertebrate nervous systems. These peptides show selective binding to human TrkA receptor of nerve cells and, hence, can improve the selectivity and specificity of drug molecules toward the receptor, thereby enhancing the therapeutic potency of those drug molecules. Mukherjee emphasises that the low molecular weight, structural stability, small size, and target sensitivity of the peptides make them powerful tools for conquering the limitations of using endogenous neurotrophins as therapeutic agent...

Cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP)

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International Research Awards on Science, Health and Engineering, Online Nomination: https:// x-i.me/veershen Cogeneration  or  combined heat and power  ( CHP ) is the use of a  heat engine [1]  or  power station  to  generate electricity  and useful heat at the same time. Cogeneration is a more efficient use of fuel or heat, because otherwise- wasted heat  from electricity generation is put to some productive use. Combined heat and power (CHP) plants recover otherwise wasted  thermal energy  for  heating . This is also called combined heat and power district heating. Small CHP plants are an example of  decentralized energy . [2]  By-product heat at moderate temperatures (100–180 °C, 212–356 °F) can also be used in  absorption refrigerators  for cooling. The supply of high-temperature heat first drives a  gas  or  steam turbine -powered generator. The resulting low-temperature ...

SDGs: A level playing field?

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The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals have become a byword for the key challenges our world faces. But are developing countries facing an additional challenge, by not being recognized equally for the impact their research is having? Simon Linacre looks at a new white paper that shows more can be done to raise up funding and research recognition for the developing world. When the UN adopted the SDGs in 2015 to focus attention on the major challenges facing the world, it did so seeking to recognise all 193 signatory countries equally. It has always been apparent that some of the worst problems facing humanity are felt much more keenly in developing countries, however the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and even out inequalities. However, there has been a nagging doubt, to paraphrase George Orwell, that ‘all countries are equal, but some countries are more equal than others’. This fear has been realized in a la...