Assam’s young entrepreneur spinning out silk faster

Guwahati, May 21 (ANI):A young entrepreneur from Assam has been trying to change the conventional method of weaving silk.

Dipak Bharali has come up with a new weaving device to boost productivity and incomes in the weaving sector.

Sualkuchi is the richest silk pocket in Kamrup district of lower Assam.

For years, weaving here has followed conventional methods.

Now, Bharali, a science graduate who started his own weaving venture in 1998, has developed a device called “Extra Weft Insertion in Handloom for Frugal Handloom Design”.

It will help to increase the output of conventional looms three-folds. And, for this achievement he got the prestigious President’s State Award in 2009.

“When this machine will be available in the market then income of weavers will be three times which is near about Rs.6000. So, I believe the unemployed can reap benefit out of this industry,” said Bharali.

Conventionally, the task of insertion of weft threads to make a variety of designs is done manually by tying knots.

This is tedious and cumbersome.

Dipak’s device reduces the insertion time to one-third the time required in a traditional loom.

“I would like to fulfill the requirement of my village. I want to spread this work in all over the country. So that other people can also reap profit out of this, which leads to increase in the economy of the country as a whole,” he added.

Dipak used the new device in his looms on an experimental basis and got wonderful results with the productivity of his looms going up by three times.

Sualkuchi has around 8,000 handlooms and Dipak is confident that his device will boost productivity that in turn will generate better incomes for the weavers. (ANI)

Lady Gaga’s wacky VMA outfit turns heads

Washington, September 14 (ANI): Pop sensation Lady Gaga grabbed eyeballs at 2009 MTV Video Music Awards by appearing in a unique outfit.

The ‘Poker Face’ hitmaker wore a black lace Jean Paul Gaultier dress with Dragon print silk underlay from Gaultier’s fall/winter ready to wear collection.

Her fashion accessory included Keko Hainswheeler neck brace and Kiko jewelry.

The 24-year-old walked the carpet with Kermit the Frog.

“I’m just happy to be here, and I’m excited for everyone to win,” Us magazine quoted her as saying. (ANI)

Silk made by common Australian green lacewing toughest: Study

Melbourne, September 10 (ANI): A new research has found that Australian lacewings build tougher silk than silkworms.

Scientists at CSIRO Entomology have learnt that silk made by the common Australian green lacewing can be stretched up to six times further than silkworm silk.

Moreover, its unusual structure makes it potentially much easier to manufacture artificially.

The common Australian green lacewing (Mallada signata) produces silk to create tiny stiff stalks to hold each of its eggs on.

The insect pushes out a liquid drop of silk dope before stretching it out to the point at which it stiffens and then placing the egg safely on top.

Researchers found that the lacewing silk was different from the silk created by other insects and had had its own evolutionary pathway.

Unlike the plank-like structure of other silks from spiders or silkworms, lacewing silk contains two fibrous proteins structured like a concertina door, giving it extra toughness and elasticity.

According to Dr Tara Sutherland, who was part research team, the lacewing silk protein is also shorter and less repetitive, making it easier to reproduce artificially by fermentation in bacteria.

“Silks are made under benign conditions. They’re made at room temperature, from an aqueous system and from readily replaced building blocks, so it’s a very environmentally friendly process, in contrast to the synthetic equivalents,” ABC Science quoted Sutherland as saying.

She added: “The material has a lot of strength and it’s very, very light so it’s quite remarkable. It’s also very tough.”

Apart from the traditional textile uses, the biocompatibility of the natural fibre allows this kind of silk to be used in high-tech medical applications such as providing the scaffolding for growing new human cells on.

The research will be published in the Journal of Structural Biology. (ANI)

55th National Awards announced: Gandhi, My Father wins two

New Delhi, Sep.7 (ANI): The Anil Kapoor produced film ‘Gandhi, My Father’ has won two National Awards while the Shahrukh-starrer ‘Om Shanti Om’ has won in the Best Art Direction category, and Shahid Kapur-starrer ‘Jab We Met’ won the award in Best Choreography category in the 55th National Awards that were announced on Monday.

Gandhi, My Father was pitted against commercial successes like Taare Zameen Par and Chak De.

Feroz Abbas Khan, the director of the Gandhi, My Father won the National Award for Best Screenplay and Darshan Zariwala bagged theaward for the Best Supporting actor for portraying Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation who strives hard to have a normal relationship with his son in the film.

Meanwhile, actor Prakash Raj has won the Best Actor award in the 55th National Awards for his sterling performance as a silk weaver in Priyadarshan’s Tamil film Kanchivaram, which has been adjudged as the Best Film of 2007.

“It’s a very human story of pre-partition time about Kanjivaram. The film’s script was written so well that I didn’t require any homework. It is

It is Prakash Raj’s second National award. The previous one was in the Best Supporting Actor category for Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar in 1998 and a special jury award in 2003.

Directed by Priyadarshan, the film depicts the lives and times of silk-weavers of Kancheepuram in pre-Independent India.

Actor Umashree has won the Best Actress award for her performance for her lead role ‘Gulabi’ in Girish Kasaravalli’s Kannada film “Gulabi Talkies”.

The Gulabi Talkies, which was made in the coastal dialect of Kannada is based on the communal tension in Karnataka.

The best child actor award has gone to Sharad Goyekar for his role in the Marathi film “Tingya”.

Darshan Zariwala has got the best supporting actor award for his role in Feroz Abbas Khan’s film “Gandhi My Father”.

There is also a special jury award for this film, which explores the troubled relationship between Harilal Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi.

“Chak De” has got the award in the wholesome entertainment category and “Taare Zameen Par” in the family welfare category.

Playback singer Shankar Mahadevan has won the award for the song “Meri Maa” from the film “Taare Zameen Par”.

The jury members for the National Awards headed by Sai Paranjpe included Ashok Viswanathan and Namita Gokhale. About 102 films and 106 non-feature films were considered.

The list had been finalized last week but because of the death of Andhra Pradesh chief minister YSR Reddy, the announcement was postponed. (ANI)

Anita Dongre shoots for her upcoming collection in Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 29(ANI): Fashion Designer Anita Dongre shot for her upcoming collection of Indo-western apparel personifying the best of both in Mumbai on Saturday.

The collection impeccably blends, cuts, colors, embellishments and the vibrancy of the Indian fabrics and consists of funky T-shirts with Indian motifs, block printed kurtas to colourful bags and jewellery.

Interacting with the media Dongre, said: “Every season we come out with a new collection so this is my collection for the coming season but the collections first rule is that it’s full of colour, it’s young and it’s fun.”

“We have prints from Jaipur, we have prints which graphic designers from Bombay have designed, we have got very India centric motifs, we have got peacocks, elephants and we have got everything India is all about,” she added.

Dongre has used fabrics like cottons, georgettes and crushed cotton silk in her collection. (ANI)

Michael Gambon had special pocket sewn into his Harry Potter costume for ciggies

London, July 12 (ANI): Actor Michael Gambon has revealed that he had a special pocket sewn into his Harry Potter costume so that he could carry his cigarettes while shooting for the film.

The actor, who plays the role of Albus Dumbledore, was so tired of having to dash off the set for a quick smoke in between takes that he got a special pocket to carry cigarettes.

“I got the wardrobe to put a little pocket inside for them,” the Daily Star quoted him as saying.

Director David Yates also admitted: “Michael cleverly conceals a packet of fags below the lower part of the gown.”

Gambon said that he would miss wearing the costume once the wizard series ends.

He added: “It is made of silk, its very fine and so easy to wear. I will miss that.”

Michael was given to play the role after Richard Harris’ death who earlier performed the part. (ANI)

Recession-hit UK couples helping boost lingerie sales

London, July 6 (ANI): Recession-hit UK couples are increasingly heading towards lingerie shops, and have boosted the sales of racy underwear by almost 50 per cent ever since the economy has slumped.

New figures have revealed that fishnet stockings, suspenders, basques, and cleavage-boosting bras are all selling at a “record rate”.

Department store Debenhams, which conducted the survey, has said that with the increased unemployment rates, thousands of British couples are now rediscovering the benefits of nights in. Losing a job is never good news, but our lingerie sales suggest that many people are using the opportunity to become fully employed at home,” the Telegraph quoted Annette Warburton, the store’s head of lingerie buying, as saying.

Traditionally Christmas happens to be the peak season for sales of sexy underwear, with men being the biggest buyers as they choose risque clothing, which their partners may not think to buy for themselves.

However, for the first time, figures have shown that the Christmas peak has continued till May.

In fact, initial figures for June have indicated that the upward trend is still on.

Sales of fishnet stockings are up 83 per cent, suspenders by 50 per cent, and basques by 45 per cent.

Garters are also up by 71 per cent and cleavage-boosting bras up 61 per cent.

Silk, satin, black lace and animal print are the most popular materials. (ANI)

Truth about Jacko’s bizarre sex life revealed

Melbourne, June 30 (ANI): Michael Jackson’s friend of 40 years and biographer J Randy Taraborrelli has opened up about the King of Pop’s bizarre sex life after the legend suddenly died of a suspected cardiac arrest last week.

Taraborrelli told London’s Daily Mail that Jackson’s sexual proclivities had been a matter of speculation since he was a teenager. Even his mother worried that he rarely went out with girls, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Later, when he romanced a number of Hollywood stars, Taraborrelli said: “No one believed he’d had romances with girls such as Tatum O’Neal or Brooke Shields, no matter how much he insisted he had.

Tatum told a friend: “How can any girl have a relationship with him? When we’re together, he’s so shy he hardly says two words. I know he’s a virgin. I wonder if he’s afraid to have sex. He doesn’t seem very interested.”

What he was interested in, however, and was absolutely open about, was his love of children. He made no secret of his feelings.

He said on a number of occasions that he loved children and that he even had kids sleeping in his bed.

However, these claims took on a much more sinister tone when Jackson was charged and his house searched by police after one child, Jordie Chandler, said that the singer had touched his penis.

After Jackson’s court case of the child sex claims came to an end – he was never charged – the star met his soul mate, Elvis Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie.

They were married at a secret ceremony in the Dominican Republic in May 1994, with no family or friends present.

Taraborrelli claims that the two appeared to have had an active sex life.

She told a friend that he was ‘hot stuff in bed’ and ‘amazing’ – and she should know, the friend added, because ‘she’s been around’.

However, some of his habits were a little odd.

“The first time, she went to turn on the lights afterwards, and he leapt out of bed and ran into the bathroom so she wouldn’t see his body. He emerged 20 minutes later, in full make-up and wearing a silk robe. Then they went at it again,” Taraborrelli said.

“He liked her to wear jewellery in bed. They were into role-playing games, although Lisa would never say who was playing what kind of role,” Taraborrelli added.

Their relationship ended after Jackson asked Lisa to have his baby and she turned him down.

Lisa-Marie said: ‘I think we have to have sex in order for me to get pregnant,’ she told him, ‘and I ain’t doin’ it.’

The one day over breakfast, he told Lisa: ‘My friend Debbie said she will have my baby. If you won’t do it, then she will.’ (ANI)

Karnataka silk weavers fret over falling profits due to globalisation

Doddaballapura (Karnataka), June 27 (ANI): Silk weavers in Karnataka lament over falling profits due to globalization and liberalisation policies.

It has affected silk weavers in Doddaballapura, 90 kilometres from the state capital Karnataka. The silk produced here is considered as one of the best in the country.

The city is credited with producing pure silk, art silk, china silk, soft silk, handloom silk and many more.

But, once flourishing silk business is severely affected now. Many loom owners complain that they are not fetching profits due to combined effect of liberalisation and globalisation policies.

“This industry was in a good condition a decade ago. This industry was forced into trouble due to the globalisation and liberalisation policy. Because of the policies of LPG (liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation), the home industries and small scale industries, which include weaving as well, could not compete with the big and large scale Industries,” said Hemanth Raju, Weavers Association President.

Earlier, there were 25-30 thousand handloom units in Doddaballapura alone but now they have been reduced to 8-10 thousand.

The other reason causing worry to the weavers is low demand of genuine silk in the market due to its high cost price.

India’s 40 per cent of silk is supplied from Doddaballapura alone and more than one lakh people are dependent on the silk industry. The city produces one lakh sarees every week and these are supplied to almost every part of the country. By Shweta(ANI)

One more tests positive for swine flu in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, June 26 (ANI): A foreign national was tested positive for swine flu on Thursday in Hyderabad taking the number of swine flu cases to 17 in Andhra Pradesh.

The fifteen-year-old girl who tested positive for swine flu arrived on June 19 from Hong Kong by Silk Airways. She showed symptoms of swine flu on June 22 and her sample was sent to National Institution of Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Delhi.

After she was found positive for swine flu, nine other passengers who had accompanied her were also quarantined.

“On 22nd the report was sent on the same day. It was tested positive yesterday night from NICD Delhi. So I have isolated the other nine who accompanied her. We have sent the samples to NICD Delhi. This is the first foreign national tested positive in India,” said Dr. K Sudhakar, Physician, Government Chest Hospital, Hyderabad.

Out of the 17 cases reported in Andhra Pradesh, 14 have been treated and discharged, while three are still undergoing treatment. Ten other patients presently under observation are awaiting reports.

Another 45-year-old man who had travelled from Doha has also been admitted in the hospital for suspected HINI infection, after the initial screening at Hyderabad airport showed signs of the flu affliction in him.

So far, a total of 60 persons have been found positive for swine flu across India, out of which 32 patients have been treated as inpatients in isolation wards and discharged.

Out of the total 60 patients, 54 came from abroad while six contracted the disease within the country. In all, 413 suspected cases were quarantined.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) elevated the H1N1 strain to pandemic status earlier this month.

The WHO, in an update on the spread of the new flu strain on Saturday (June 20) had observed that the number of worldwide cases had risen to 44,287, with 180 deaths.

Mexico, United States and Canada have borne the brunt of the illness while research work is still on to formulate an effective vaccine to counter the pandemic. (ANI)

Light touch does depend on Merkel cells, confirms study

Washington, June 19 (ANI): An American study has confirmed that light touch-the sense that lets musicians find the right notes on a keyboard, a seamstress revel in the feel of cool silk, the artisan feel a curve in material and the blind read Braille-depends upon the activity of Merkel cells, which are found in the crescent-shaped clusters in the skin.

“Human, primates and any animal that relies on hands for dexterity use their Merkel cells to feel texture and shape. Merkel cells are not like pain fibres.

They exist in special areas of the skin to feel light touch. We have a lot of them on our fingertips and also on our lips,” said Dr. Ellen Lumpkin, assistant professor of neuroscience, molecular physiology and biophysics and molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM).

Even though many scientists thought Merkel cells to be key elements of light touch, none of them could ever directly prove the link.

The topic has been debated for more than 100 years, since the cell were first described in 1875 by German scientist Friedrich Sigmund Merkel, after whom such cells were named.

Lumpkin’s team generated mice that lacked a gene called Atoh1 in some areas of the body and, as a result, had no Merkel cells in skin located below the head.

The researchers say that experiments on these mice directly showed that link between Merkel cells and touch in way that can be seen and heard.

They plan to continue working with the cells, determining the progenitor cells from which they arise and determining how they relate to human disease.

A research article describing the study has been published in the journal Science. (ANI)

Designers unveil summer 2009 collection in Bangalore

Bangalore, May 15 (ANI): Various fashion designers showcased their summer 2009 collections in Bangalore, which included both Indian and western clothes.

The participants were- Ramesh Dembla, designer duo Anu Nagappa and Susan Fernandes from Astara and Michelle Salins.

Dembla’s collection was displayed in two sequences. First called ‘angel’s fantasy’ with dresses and gowns in white, and the second called ‘ethnic saris’ featuring saris in various colors and embellishments.

“Tonight I showed a collection of mine called ‘Angel’s Fantasy’ that was all gowns in white with very minimalist embellishments but very beautiful cuts and (they are) very nice clothes to wear. he second sequence is called ‘ethnic saris’, which we did for he finale,” he said

The showstopper for Dembla’s show was Bollywood actress Aarti Chabaria, who sashayed down the ramp in a pristine white sari.

“Actually I did get a glimpse (of the show). I think the colors were beautiful, very vibrant and very well put together and very-very classic,” she said.

Nagappa and Fernandes presented a vintage collection in white, with silhouettes from the 60s, but with a very contemporary edge. Lace detailing on pure cotton, khaki, silk, chiffons and georgettes in whites had also been used.

Meanwhile, Salins collection was titled ‘The Butterfly’. As the name suggests, the designs were playful, energetic, cheerful, vibrant, bright and sensuous.

The collection featured hot pants, bubble dresses and skirts in pure silk, satin and brocades teamed with interesting accessories.

To suit the Indian summers, designers smartly put a wide variety of color and fabrics into use. (ANI)

Nathu La trade draws low response in its fourth season

Nathula (Sikkim), May 9 (ANI): The fourth season of trade between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) through the Nathu La Pass of Sikkim has reflected disappointment among Indian traders who still haven’t received travel passes since border trade was opened on May 4.

The travel passes of around 62 Sikkimese traders are still pending with the East district administration which is the prime agency to issue all such passes for the border trade causing a major disappointment.

Anil Gupta, General Secretary of Indo-China Border trade association of Sikkim said, ” the low-key inauguration ceremony of May 4 and the delay of travel passes will create a unharmonious situation between the two countries and will refrain Indian traders from visiting the Tibetian side from next year.
“With the delay of travel passes a bitter international relation will be created affecting the trade. The identity of Sikkim will also be spoiled in the national scenario. The travel passes shouldn’t have been delayed as it was declared officially that the international border trade would begin and every thing should have been well organized. Now because our traders can’t go there creating a lot of disappointment on their side,” he added.

Border trade between the two countries is also sluggish due to restrictions in tradable items. India can import 15 items from China including silk, yak pelts and horses, and export 29 goods that include textiles, tea, rice, vegetables and herbs.

Business people from both sides of the border are seeking a broadening of the list of items traded through the pass.

Kesang Diki, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) commerce official was unsatisfied with the facilities given to them on the Indian side and with the unfavourable weather causing further threat to their goods.

“When the fellow Indian traders come to our place to trade we provide all the basic necessities like carrying the good and picking from the bus stand and keeping inside the stall. We don’t let them face problems but out here we face the trouble of carrying our own good to the mart. I also feel that a revamped list of items should be of prior concern if you want a good trade between India and China,” she said.

In July 2006, the two Asian giants, re-opened trade across the Nathu La Pass as part of a broader rapprochement. The move marked the first direct trade link between the nuclear-armed neighbours since a bitter border war in 1962.

Under the agreement, trade takes place four days a week – Monday to Thursday – beginning May each year and lasting until November 30 when snow makes the area impassable.

Although two-way trade was slow in the first three seasons, about 1,900 Chinese traders crossed the border separated by a rusty barbed wire marker to the bazaar of Sherathang, five kilometers below the pass on the Indian side. About 1,200 Indian traders headed to the Rinchengang interim market in Tibet on the Chinese side, 16 km from the border, during the first three seasons. (ANI)

Assam self-help group generates employment for rural women

Sodial (Jorhat), Apr 28 (ANI): A self-help group (SHG) that mooted a weaving unit in Assam has facilitated a large number of women economically self sufficient by generating employment for them.his self-help group named ‘Bhogdoi’ and based at Sodial village in Jorhat region was the brainchild of Arunima Kachari in 2001.

Ever since its inception, Arunima and her other nine associates have nurtured ‘Bhogdoi’ with utmost dedication.

They started their business with just ten workers by installing only ten looms, but within a period of five years, the number of looms has increased to 45. Now after eight years, they have more than 100 weavers working wonders on 85 looms.

Hundreds of women from this village have benefited from ‘Bhogdoi’.

“I took the initiative of setting up a weaving centre for the womenfolk of my village. Then I started imparting training in weaving to unemployed women of my village. Later, we formed the ‘Bhogdoi’ self-help group. Many have benefited from this weaving business,” Kachari.

“We hardly asked for any assistance from the government. We collected money on our own and started the unit. I never thought we would reach this far. Later, in 2002, we started exhibiting our products. At these exhibitions, we sell our traditional attires like Tongali (waist cloth), Muga (handloom silk), Mekhela Sador (bridal trousseau), gamocha (towel also used to tie around the head),” Kachari added.

The enterprising Arunima motivated scores of girls and even housewives to be a part of the Bhogdoi where she taught them the rudiments of spinning and weaving.

“I am a regular worker in this self-help group. I joined the training after which I was also given a job in this unit. Now, I can send my children to a good school and can provide them good food,” said Dipali Saikia, member-worker.

Since, the products made by this SHG are of high quality and fine finishing, the demand is very high within the district and adjoining areas.

Right from day-one, ‘Bhogdoi ‘has relied only on traditional modes. The spinning wheels are made of bicycle wheel while the looms are bamboo or cane and wood-based.

‘Bhogdoi’ SHG has participated in various handloom exhibitions across the country and bagged a couple of awards conferred by the Government of Assam and also the Central Government.

There are more than 85,000 SHGs functioning in Assam, playing the role of a vital catalyst in the overall socio-economic scenario.

The main spheres in which these SHGs are active happen to be agriculture, handloom, poultry and dairy farming, food processing units in the cottage industry sector, bee keeping, cane and bamboo craft among others.

Jorhat district itself boasts of at least 7000 SHGs.

Interestingly, there are quite a few number of high school students who are members of Bhogdoi and they have experienced ‘earn while you learn’. By Apem (ANI)

Nainital Research Centre achieves world record in breeding silkworm eggs

Nainital, Apr 18 (ANI): Nainital-based Regional Oak Tasar Research Centre has created a world record in the field of silkworm egg laying.

The scientists and other staff members of the research centre are very pleased by the way the project has shaped up.

The average eggs per moth at the research centre are in the range of 240 to 260 as compared to China’s 160 to 200 eggs.

The number of eggs per gram in the research centre is 108-110 in comparison with China’s 120 eggs per gram. These yardsticks signify that the eggs of Oak Tasar Research Centre are healthy.

The main reason for the success can be attributed to the innovative measures taken by the scientists at the centre.

“We provide good feed to the silk worms due to which the silk worm gains more weight. When it converts into pupa, it becomes big in size because of which the moth is also big in size and when the moth is big, it will certainly give more number of eggs,” said Dr. R. S. Yadav, a scientist of Regional Oak Tasar Reserch Center.

The institute has also been taking special care to minimise the egg losses.

“Earlier the eggs were kept in wooden baskets, now they are kept in plastic baskets. They have been kept in an aerated environment because of which the scrapping is also good and the recovery of eggs is more,” said Dr. Somesh Paliwal, In-charge of Regional Oak Tasar Research Centre.

The Appropriate Technology India (ATI), the biggest silk research organisation in the country, has given an award to the Regional Oak Tasar Research Centre in recognition of its immense contribution in the field of Oak Tasar development.

Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir are the main oak tasar producing states in India.

India is the second largest producer of silk after China and the largest consumer of silk in the world. (ANI)

Nainital Research Centre achieves world record in breeding silkworm eggs

Nainital, Apr 18 (ANI): Nainital-based Regional Oak Tasar Research Centre has created a world record in the field of silkworm egg laying.

The scientists and other staff members of the research centre are very pleased by the way the project has shaped up.

The average eggs per moth at the research centre are in the range of 240 to 260 as compared to China’s 160 to 200 eggs.

The number of eggs per gram in the research centre is 108-110 in comparison with China’s 120 eggs per gram. These yardsticks signify that the eggs of Oak Tasar Research Centre are healthy.

The main reason for the success can be attributed to the innovative measures taken by the scientists at the centre.

“We provide good feed to the silk worms due to which the silk worm gains more weight. When it converts into pupa, it becomes big in size because of which the moth is also big in size and when the moth is big, it will certainly give more number of eggs,” said Dr. R. S. Yadav, a scientist of Regional Oak Tasar Reserch Center.

The institute has also been taking special care to minimise the egg losses.

“Earlier the eggs were kept in wooden baskets, now they are kept in plastic baskets. They have been kept in an aerated environment because of which the scrapping is also good and the recovery of eggs is more,” said Dr. Somesh Paliwal, In-charge of Regional Oak Tasar Research Centre.

The Appropriate Technology India (ATI), the biggest silk research organisation in the country, has given an award to the Regional Oak Tasar Research Centre in recognition of its immense contribution in the field of Oak Tasar development.

Manipur, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu and Kashmir are the main oak tasar producing states in India.

India is the second largest producer of silk after China and the largest consumer of silk in the world. (ANI)

Eco-friendly knickers are flying off British stores shelves

London, April 17 (ANI): Knickers, made from planet friendly fabrics, have been fast disappearing from the British shelves.

The idea of fair trade organic knickers came to Sarah Lucy Smith for her final project while studying the Eco Design course at Goldsmiths University.
She later joined forces with school friend Rose Cleary-Southwood and thus GreenKnickers came about.

And now the zero carbon pants are so popular that they have been flying off the shelves and a new wedding range is planned next in line.

“We started GreenKnickers to prove that ethical can be funny, beautiful and sexy. The fabrics are so gorgeous, and super-duper green,” Sky News quoted Sarah as saying.

“They’re selling extremely well. Some customers say they’re the comfiest knickers they’ve ever worn,” she added.

The global warming undergarments, made from fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp and silk, reaches in a box made from recycled paper.

A pair, costing up to 25 pounds, plus 3 pounds for postage and packaging, even changes its colour as it warms up due to thermo-chromic inks. (ANI)

New test can help assess efficacy of Alzheimer’s drugs

Washington, Apr 10 (ANI): Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a new test that can assess whether an Alzheimer’s drug could really reduce the production of amyloid beta (A-beta)- one of the possible underlying causes of Alzheimer’s disease in humans.

With the test, called stable isotope-linked kinetics (SILK), the researchers showed that an Alzheimer’s drug given to healthy volunteers reduced A-beta production

The test could speed up the development of new treatments for the disease.

In the clinical trials by Eli Lilly and Company, the scientists are studying the drug candidate, LY450139, which is also known as semagacestat.

Ongoing clinical trials are studying the effect that semagacestat may have on cognitive function and biochemical and brain imaging biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers said that they wanted to see if SILK could detect the drug’s impact on A-beta synthesis in healthy volunteers.

“Bringing an Alzheimer’s disease drug into clinical trials from tests in animal models has always been challenging. We haven’t had a way to quickly and accurately assess a drug’s effects, and that meant there always had to be some degree of educated guesswork when it came to setting the optimal dosage for humans. SILK may help to eliminate much of that guesswork,” said study director Randall Bateman.

The researchers are currently using SILK to know if increased A-beta production, reduced clearance or a combination of the two lead to the A-beta buildup in the brain- a process believed to trigger Alzheimer’s disease.

Until SILK, there has not been a way to directly measure the production or clearance of A-beta.

Scientists have assessed the efficacy of potential new Alzheimer’s drug candidates by monitoring the cognitive functions of patients with the disease for extended periods of time, which require large, lengthy and expensive studies.

In the new study, the scientists reported a dose-dependent drop in A-beta production, and measured an 84 percent reduction in A-beta production with the highest study drug dose.

The SILK procedure takes 36 hours, but provides scientists a more detailed assessment of amyloid beta production and clearance levels than they can obtain through conventional methods.

“You could use a spinal tap to look directly at the amount of A-beta present in the cerebrospinal fluid, but we’ve shown that natural processes cause A-beta levels to change dynamically. Such changes make it more difficult to assess the effects of a drug in that fashion,” said Bateman.

The results have been published in Annals of Neurology. (ANI)

Designer Anjana Bhargava showcases her ensemble in Kolkata

Kolkata, Apr.4 (ANI): A saturday afternoon crowd at the KOlkata Fashion Week was treated to a stunning collection from designer Anjana Bhargava.

Bhargava presented modern clothes, immensely wearable, in silk, pashmina, chiffon and wool. Mainly in molten brown, the collection won great appreciation from the audience.

The glamour quotient was added by video jockey Anoushka, who was Bhargava’s show stopper for the collection.

Actress Moon Moon Sen, who has been a regular at the fashion week, said it was great that Kolkata finally had its own fashion show.

She said the collections seen so far were absoulutely fantastic. Her daughters Riya and Raima Sen have already walked the ramp for different designers during the show.

More collections and celebrities are sheduled to appear this evening to stun Kolkata audiences and buyers. By Ajitha Menon (ANI)