IAF All Women Cycling Expedition Team “Kshitij-Se-Pare” Flagged in Today
25082014
Air Marshal HB Rajaram, Air Officer-in-charge Administration, Air HQs today flagged in the ‘all women cycle expedition’ team on their successful completion of the mission ‘Kshitij-Se-Pare’.
The expedition consisting of nine women officers from the Indian Air Force team was led by Wing Commander Bhavna Mehra. This expedition started from Pathankot on 13 July 2014. The team covered a total distance of 1500 kms through one of the most treacherous terrain, at altitudes above 12000 ft with temperatures falling below freezing point and faced unpredictable weather conditions, reaching their destination Leh on 13 Aug 2014. This expedition has provided an opportunity for these women officers to nurture a spirit of adventure and camaraderie. The expedition took 32 days to complete. It was divided into three segments, were the first two segments were for acclimatisation and the third segment involved a high altitude cycling climb.
‘Kshitij-Se-Pare’ expedition has brought out the passion for adventure, will, strength and is a tribute to the very essence of indomitable Air Force spirit.
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Categories : Uncategorized
Indo Russian Air Force Exercise (Avia Indra-2014) Commences at Astrakhan
25082014
With the aim to bolster ties between the Indian Air Force and Russian Federation Air Force (RFAF), Ex Avia Indra-2014 commenced today at Astrakhan region, near the Caspian Sea in Russia. The Exercise which has begun today will go on till 05 September 2014.
Ex Avia Indra-2014 which has commenced today is the first exercise of its kind between the two Air Forces and is seen as a major mile stone in military relations. This involves participation of fighter pilots, helicopter pilots, missile combat crew, as well as engineers from the Indian Air Force (IAF) along with their counterparts of the RFAF. During the exercise, fighter and helicopter pilots of Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in missions alongside Russian pilots in aircraft of the Russian Federation Air Force (Su-30SM fighter aircraft, Mi-17 and Mi-35 helicopters), while missile combat crew will interact with their counterparts from the Russian Air Force and participate in Air Defence exercises. It will also provide an opportunity to both the forces for exchange of best practices and will cement the foundation for a more professional interaction and growth in the future.
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Categories : CSR, Pact, Politics, world News
Protest outside Harsh Vardhan’s residence to demand his resignation
25082014
From: AAP Media Cell
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Show full Headers
Monday, August 25
Please find enclosed the photographs of the protest by the residents and volunteers of the Aam Aadmi Party’s Krishnanagar Vidhan Sabha assembly segment, outside union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan’s residence.
The protest was organised against the health minister’s direct compromise with corruption by shunting out whistleblower officer, Mr Sanjeev Chaturvedi from the post of Chief Vigilance Officer of AIIMS.
The protestors displayed placards and posters demanding the health minister';s resignation for victimising an honest officer at the behest of BJP leaders, who were angry with Chaturvedi for exposing corruption at AIIMS.
The health minister is changing his stand everyday and is making false statements in a desperate bid to wriggle out of his unjustified and untenable decision to compromise with corruption by having shunted out a honest officer on the instructions of BJP leadership.
The health minister had tweeted on Friday (August 22) that Chaturvedi had been twice rejected by the CVC and that his continuation as CVO of AIIMS was “irregular and indefensible”.
The minister on Saturday changed his stand from rejection to opposition by the CVC in 2012 and 2013. The AAP dares the health minister to put in public domain any document which has support his claim.
The fact is that the CVC did not either reject or oppose Chaturvedi’s appointment as the CVO of AIIMS, a clarification sought by the commission is being twisted and wrongly presented by the health minister to mislead the country in a desperate bid to divert attention since his direct compromise with corruption now stands fully exposed.
Regards.
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Categories : Business, CSR, culture
City all set for the third edition of Hriday Manch,
25082014
City all set for the third edition of Hriday Manch, a four-day annual theatre festival by Sparsh Natya Rang starting 28th August’14
New Delhi, August 25, 2014: A treat to theatre loversis up next as SparshNatya Rang, a Delhi based theatre group formed in the year 2005 that has been associated with a number of eminent actors, directors, writers etc.is all set to present its third annual theatre festival – “HridayManch” at Sri Ram Centre, Mandi House at 7pm from 28th to 31stAugust’14 that will have have showcasing of plays by different groups. Not only has itprovided a platform for theatre in Delhi but has also for different theatre groups, folk dancers and musicians in various states. Since inception, Sparsh has also been associated with special initiatives for underprivileged children.
HridayManch is a step ahead, providing a unique platform for theatre groups in and outside Delhi to come forward and stage plays as also for theatre enthusiasts who get to view them.
This will have four plays, one performed on each day- Neem Hakeem Khatra-E-Jaan, Sakharam Binder, Bobby Breaker and AadhiSadi. Each promising to entertain its audience thoroughly with generous doses of comedy, drama and romance, it won’t be unwise to make time to watch these.
HridayManch is a step ahead, providing a unique platform for theatre groups in and outside Delhi to come forward and stage plays as also for theatre enthusiasts who get to view them.
This will have four plays, one performed on each day- Neem Hakeem Khatra-E-Jaan, Sakharam Binder, Bobby Breaker and AadhiSadi. Each promising to entertain its audience thoroughly with generous doses of comedy, drama and romance, it won’t be unwise to make time to watch these.
Setting the motion would be the play Neem Hakeem Khatra-e- Jaanwritten by Moliereon Day 1 which is Sparsh Natya Rang’s own production. The play that has its adaptation by V K Sharma, Amitabh Srivastava and music and direction by Ajit Chowdhury will surely leave you in splits with its comic plot about a wife seeking revenge on her drunkard husband as he’s forced from being a woodcutter to an accidental doctor.
Sakharam Binder, written by Vijay Tendulkar will be staged on Day 2. It will be presented by Himachal Culture Research forum Theatre Repertory and directed by Suresh Sharma. Be ready for some high intensity drama as the book binder- Sakharam openly contests the hypocrisy of the marriage system and denounces societal rules while drawing up his own.
Sakharam Binder, written by Vijay Tendulkar will be staged on Day 2. It will be presented by Himachal Culture Research forum Theatre Repertory and directed by Suresh Sharma. Be ready for some high intensity drama as the book binder- Sakharam openly contests the hypocrisy of the marriage system and denounces societal rules while drawing up his own.
30th August will witness Bobby Breaker, a play about the young Bobby who struggles with his stammering problem while the society mocking calls him “ Bobby Breaker”. But, Bobby is resolved to overcome all, come what may for the love of his life, Ms. Choudhary.
Fourth and the last day will have the play “AadhiSadi” staged by SambhavArt group that is written by Chandradhar Sharma Guleri, Jainendra Kumar, Yashpal and BishmSahni and directed by Devendra raj Ankur. This production is an enactment of four short stories – Ussne Kaha Tha , Pazeb, Parda and Chief kiDawat, set in different time zones and locales. They depict the first 50 years of modern Hindi literature and all are bound by the common thread – LOVE.
“Hriday Manch” is definitely your chance at taking that theatre leap!
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Categories : culture, Education
Scientists discover how Tibetan people can live at high altitudes:
25082014
August 25, 2014
•Researchers say Tibetans have a genetic variation that enables them to survive in high
altitude, low oxygen environments
• This could explain how they can survive at heights of 14,800 feet (4,510m)
• The mutation is believed to have originated 8,000 years ago
• It gives them a selective advantage in their environment over other humans
• Finding could lead to novel solutions for diseases such as cancer
• Tibet is a high-altitude plateau region north-east of the Himalayas in China
altitude, low oxygen environments
• This could explain how they can survive at heights of 14,800 feet (4,510m)
• The mutation is believed to have originated 8,000 years ago
• It gives them a selective advantage in their environment over other humans
• Finding could lead to novel solutions for diseases such as cancer
• Tibet is a high-altitude plateau region north-east of the Himalayas in China
Sure, Wolverine’s claws were impressive, but how would one of the most famous X-Men have coped if he’d tried to survive at a height of over 14,000ft (4,270 metres)?
The answer would most likely be ‘not well’, but while off-limits to some, it turns out that people such as Tibetans can thrive in the thin air of high-altitude areas thanks to an 8,000 year-old mutation.
Researchers say they’ve successfully identified this genetic variation for the first time, and it could explain how some people can survive in these extreme environments.
The answer would most likely be ‘not well’, but while off-limits to some, it turns out that people such as Tibetans can thrive in the thin air of high-altitude areas thanks to an 8,000 year-old mutation.
Researchers say they’ve successfully identified this genetic variation for the first time, and it could explain how some people can survive in these extreme environments.
Researchers say Tibetans (pictured) have a genetic variation that enables them to survive in high altitude, low oxygen environments. This could explain how they can survive at heights of 14,800 feet (4,510m)
The research from the University of Utah appears in the journal Nature Genetics and looked at areas such as the Tibetan Plateau.
‘These findings help us understand the unique aspects of Tibetan adaptation to high altitudes, and to better understand human evolution,’ said Dr Josef Prchal, senior author and University of Utah professor of internal medicine.
In 2010 Prchal’s group was the first to establish that there was a genetic basis to Tibetan high altitude adaptation.
‘These findings help us understand the unique aspects of Tibetan adaptation to high altitudes, and to better understand human evolution,’ said Dr Josef Prchal, senior author and University of Utah professor of internal medicine.
In 2010 Prchal’s group was the first to establish that there was a genetic basis to Tibetan high altitude adaptation.
Since then, together with Dr Felipe Lorenzo, the team have proved that the DNA of Tibetans has a slight variation that prevents their body struggling with a lack of oxygen.
Instead, 88 per cent of Tibetans have the mutation that enables their bodies to thrive in low-oxygen environments, something that is virtually absent from closely related lowland Asians.
It is believed the change began 8,000 years ago, when the gene EGLN1 changed by a single DNA base pair.
The findings indicate the tiny genetic change endows its carriers with a selective advantage.
The findings indicate the tiny genetic change endows its carriers with a selective advantage.
HOW THE RESEARCHERS OVERCAME THE RECLUSIVE NATURE OF TIBETANS
For his research, Dr Prchal needed Tibetans to donate blood, from which he could extract their DNA, a task that turned out to be more difficult than he ever imagined.
For his research, Dr Prchal needed Tibetans to donate blood, from which he could extract their DNA, a task that turned out to be more difficult than he ever imagined.
It took several trips to Asia, meeting with Chinese officials and representatives of exiled Tibetans in India, to get the necessary permissions to recruit subjects for the study.
But he quickly learned that official documents would not be enough.
Wary of foreigners, the Tibetans refused to participate.
To earn the Tibetans’ trust, Dr Prchal obtained a letter of support from the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
‘The Dalai Lama felt that a better understanding of the adaptation would be helpful not only to the Tibetan community but also to humanity at large,’ said Dr Prchal.
He also enlisted the help of native Dr Tibetan Tsewang Tashi, an author and clinical fellow at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah.
More than 90 Tibetans, both from the US and abroad, ultimately volunteered for the study.
More than 90 Tibetans, both from the US and abroad, ultimately volunteered for the study.
When traveling with Dr Tashi in Asia, Dr Prchal was surprised at how he got Tibetans to grasp the research they were being asked to take part in.
Dr Tashi simply helped them realise that their ability to adapt to life at high altitude was unique.
‘They usually responded by a little initial surprise quickly followed by agreement,’ said Dr Tashi.
‘It was as if I made them realise something new, which only then became obvious.’
The mutation, believed to have originated 8,000 years ago, gives Tibetans a selective advantage in their environment over other humans. The finding could lead to novel solutions for diseases such as cancer. Tibet is a high-altitude plateau region north-east of the Himalayas in China (shown)
For his research, Dr Prchal (shown) needed Tibetans to donate blood, from which he could extract their DNA, a task that turned out to be more difficult than he ever imagined. It took several trips to Asia, meeting with Chinese officials and representatives of exiled Tibetans in India, to get the necessary
Dr Prchal collaborated with experts throughout the world, including co-senior author Dr Peppi Koivunen from Biocenter Oulu in Finland, to determine that the newly identified genetic variation protects Tibetans by decreasing an aversive over-response to low oxygen.
In those without the adaptation, the thin air causes their blood to become thick with oxygen-carrying red blood cells, often causing long-term complications such as heart failure.
The EGLN1 variation however, together with other unidentified genetic changes, collectively supports life at high altitudes.
Dr Prchal says the research also has broader implications.
Because oxygen plays a central role in human physiology and disease, a deep understanding of how high altitude adaptations work may lead to novel treatments for various conditions, including cancer.
‘There is much more that needs to be done, and this is just the beginning,’ he said.
‘There is much more that needs to be done, and this is just the beginning,’ he said.
Scientists discover how Tibetan people can live at high altitudes: 8,000 year-old genetic mutation enables them to survive with less oxygen By Jonathan O’Callaghan for MailOnline |
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