World’s First – Bengaluru City NCBS Neuroscientists determine how PTSD occurs : December 2014

National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) , Bengaluru (Bangalore)

December 01st, 2014. In a world first , Bengaluru based city Neuroscientists determine how the debilitating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs. Pave the way for Drugs leading to a potential cure

For the first time in the history of neuroscience – two scientists from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in Bengaluru have conducted a detailed study on why and how one suffers from PTSD

The research published online on Nature Neuroscience website on December 01st, 2014 have paved the way for scientists all over the world to study ways to reverse PTSD or even develop medical aids to cure the condition

Professor Sumantra Chatterji, NCBS neuroscientist and also Director of the newly founded ‘Centre for Brain Development & Repair (CBDR) and Supriya Ghosh his student researched and engaged in the amygdala neuron research

They discovered that PTSD sets in when individual neurons in the amygdala lose their capability to discriminate between dangerous and safe stimuli

The team also identified the precise biochemical signalling mechanism inside the amygdala neurons which cause fear and PTSD

This potentially serves as a target for designing new treatments against PTSD

India’s First Tile Factory in Mangalore : 1860

The Basel Mission Tile Factory, Mangaluru (Mangalore)

India’s first tile factory was established in Mangalore in 1860 . The tiles were first introduced in India by a German Missionary – Plebot

Located on the banks of the river Nethravathi at Morgan’s Gate, close to the Ullal bridge in the Western Coast of India

This venture gave the now world famous ‘ Mangalore Tiles’. The British preferred these tiles for their Government buildings

The famous Architect Fredrick William Stevens used Mangalore tiles in constructing the Chhatrapati Sivaji Terminus, Mumbai(Bombay)

Some of the other heritage buildings in Mangalore that showcases these classic tiles are : (1) Office of the Deputy Commissioner (2) Government University College (Hampankatta) (3) St. Aloysius College (4) Rosario Church etc..

Karnataka State Law University’s (KSLU) First Convocation : November 2014

Karnataka State Law University (KSLU), Navanagar, Hubballi

Saturday – November 22nd, 2014. Governor and Chancellor of Universities – Vajubhai Vala conferred Honorary Doctorates at KSLU’s First Convocation held at D Veerendra Heggade Kalakshetra at Suttur near Dharwad

The convocation address was delivered by former Attorney General of India and Rajya Sabha member K. Parasaran

Honorary Doctorates were awarded to former Chief Justices of India – Justice S Rajendra Babu and Professor Emeritus Prof. G.V. Ajjappa. Former Chief Justice of India – Justice M. Venkatachalaiah was also awarded Honorary Doctorate in absentia

Degrees were awarded to the First batch of the 5-year B.A, LLB and BBA, LLB and Honours courses. Gold medals were presented to the first rank holders of the LLM courses and PG Diplomas.

Also present at the event were Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra, KSLU Vice-Chancellor T.R. Subramanya, Registrar T.V. Manjunatha and Registrar (Evaluation) B.S.Reddy and others.

First Karnataka Player to Win ‘National B Chess’ Title : 2013

M.S. Thej Kumar , International Master (IM), Mysuru

The only player from Karnataka who has achieved the 3 Grand Master norms . Thej Kumar is the highest ranked player in Karnataka

2013. Triple Grand Master Norm holder and seeded 20th in the tournament, Thej’s 8th move draw with GM Deepan Chakravarthy, gave him his maiden National B Chess Title. Consequently he lifted the coveted Trophy at Bhopan with 10.5 points from 13 rounds

With this win, Thej also qualified for the National A Championships scheduled at Jalgaon, Maharashtra

Awarded the IM title by FIDE in 2009

Thej Kumar a post graduate from Mysore is an employee of South Western Railways, Mysore. The soft spoken Chess Champ lives with his wife M K Jayashree. He also coaches upcoming players at the Mysore Professional Chess Academy

Karnataka – First State in India to introduce ‘Remote Expert Government Services’ (REGS) : November 2014

Remote Expert Government Services (REGS), Mantri Square Mall, Malleswaram, Bengaluru

Friday – November 14th, 2014.  Now file an FIR from a Kiosk in a Shopping Mall ,without having to enter a police station.

A citizen can now lodge complaints via Remote FIR Centre. The complainant can sign, print and scan documents virtually as a part of the experience

The first REGS Kiosk was inaugrated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The event was attended by Home Minister K.J.George, DG & IGP Lalrokhuma Pachau and City Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi

The kiosk is accessible 24×7 and will now serve as a central location for FIR’s related to 105 law & order police stations as well as 42 traffic police stations

The Karnataka Government has set up the kiosk as a pilot project. The kiosk has been set up with the company that developed the technology for the project – Cisco, incorporating Cisco TelePresence system

On successful feedback and implementation, the facility would be extended across the entire state

The initiative is also to enable in building a strong and sustainable police-citizen relations

First Complaint :

The first complaint was filed at the kiosk centre by Yatish Kumar, about a 2-wheeler vehicle theft

First State University in Karnataka to Launch ‘Global Document Verification System’ : November 2014

Mangalore University, Mangaluru

November 12th, 2014 – Wednesday.   Mangalore University has launched the Global Document Verification System for Certificates and Mark List. Consequently making it the First State University to implement this in Karnataka

Advantages to Students and Global Alumni :

Faster verification, cost effective, transparent and efficient and prevents document frauds

Verification :

www.mangaloreuniversity.directverify.in . To verify any of the documents, the user only needs to upload the said documents to the portal above and make an online payment for processing. Replies will be sent using appropriate security measures

e-Governance :

Paperless verification of degrees/mark sheets online. This e-governance initiative will reduce the use of paper and exchange of couriers. Savings on paper usage, savings on time and savings on courier services.

CeBIT’s First India Show in Bengaluru : November 2014

CeBIT India, Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru

November 12-14, 2014. For the First Time CeBIT is holding its first India edition in Bengaluru – CeBIT India. The theme for the current event is “New Perspectives in IT Business”

CeBIT – the World’s leading Business IT event. CeBIT India offers a unique combination of services and benefits to leverage the strengths of Indian IT and ITE’s market

CeBIT (Centre for Business IT) is the world’s largest and most International computer expo organised by Germany’s Deutsche Messe

www.cebit-india.com

Bangalore City – First City in India to introduce Volvo Buses : 2005

Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, BMTC – Bangalore City Bus Operator

Karnataka became the first State in India and Bengaluru became the first City in India to place an order for Volvo Buses.

The first order for 25 buses was from BMTC, the city’s bus operator,

The chasis was the Volvo BTRLE assembled at Volvo’s factory in Bangalore. The body was built on the same design as Volvo 8700, used in Europe with a 7-litre engine that meets the Euro 3 emission regulations

India’s First ‘Indian Idol Junior’ Title Won by Bengaluru Girl : September 2013

Anjana Padmanabhan, Bangalore

Sunday-September 01st, 2013. 10-year old Bangalore-based girl Anjana Padmanabhan won the audiences’ heart and created history by winning India’s first ‘Indian Idol Junior’ title

This was at the star-studded gala finale of the singing reality show hosted by Sony Entertainment Television. Anjana received the Winning trophy from the megastar Amitabh Bachchan

Anjana competed with 3 other finalists – Nirvesh Sudhanshubhai Dave, Debanjana Karmakar and Anmol Jaswal

The show was Judged by Singer Shreya Ghoshal,and the Music Composer Duo Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjian

The ‘Indian Idol Junior’ winner went back home with the Winning Trophy, a cash prize of Rs.25 lakh, a Nissan Micra Car. She was also gifted cheques of Rs.500,000 from Kotak Mahindra and Rs.200,000 from Horlicks