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InfoWatch Jul-Aug 2005
by M.R Lalitha 25 Aug '05

25 Aug '05

Dear LIS-Forum member, The July-August 2005 combined issue of InfoWatch is now online, bringing you the details of new Internet sites related to Science and Engineering. You can access the complete issue on the NCSI Web server at the URL : http://www.ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/infowatch/iw.php You will also find earlier issues of InfoWatch here. For your convenience, the table of contents is given below. If you wish to be on the mailing list of InfoWatch to receive the complete issue by e-mail, let us know. Also mention your format preference - html or text. Regards -Lalitha M.R (lalitha(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ InfoWatch Tracking Networked Scientific Information Sources and Services (An electronic update service brought to you by NCSI) Jul-Aug 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In This Issue: 1. BioCyc - A collection of pathway/genome databases 2. Corrosion Doctors' Web site [Educational information modules in corrosion science and engineering] 3. ElectronicsInfoline - Free electronics schematics from around the world 4. Encyclopedia of Life classification (EOL) [Proteome database, analysis and visualization tools, genomics and sequence analysis] 5. Encyclopedia of sustainable development 6. Freewares in chemistry from Advanced Chemistry Development Lab 7. Gene Map Annotator and Pathway Profiler - GenMAPP [A tool for bioinformatics community] 8. i-mass.com - International Mass spcetrometry web resource 9. itmWEB - information technology management WEB 10. KurzweilAI.Net [A source for artificial intelligence research based on man-machine merger] 11. Legacy Archive for Microwave Background Data Analysis (LAMBDA) - NASA's data center for Cosmic Microwave Background research 12. MEMS and nanotechnology clearinghouse - A information resource for the MEMS and Nanotechnology development community 13. OpenCores.org - Free open source IP codes and chip design 14. OSdata.com - Server Operating System technical comparison 15. Pauling File- Basic database for crystal structures 16. Pioneering EE patents 17. Plate motion calculator [Program to calculate the tectonic plate motion at any location on Earth] 18. ResearchChannel - A consortium of research universities and corporate research divisions 19. Reshaping scholarly communication [Alternatives for cost effective publishing] 20. WindowsNetworking.com - World of windows networking ------------------------------------------------------------------------ About InfoWatch : InfoWatch is a monthly electronic newsletter, brought out by the National Centre for Science Information (NCSI) Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore - 560 012, INDIA. Information in the newsletter is collected and verified by NCSI staff.The newsletter aims to raise awareness of new sources of information on the Internet, particularly those which are relevant for higher education and research. Some items may be of relevance only to the IISc community.Resources reported here have been taken from various discussion lists and other network tools and no special claims are made for accuracy or originality. Most of the sources cited in the newsletter were checked at the time of publication, however it is possible that some of the resources are no longer available. We welcome comments about the newsletter and suggestions for resources to be featured. Please e-mail your comments to Infowatch editors: Ms. K. Thulasi (thulasi(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in) & Ms. M. R. Lalitha (lalitha(a)ncsi.iisc.ernet.in) ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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apprentice-training programme in Special Library at bangalore
by Mailing List Manager 25 Aug '05

25 Aug '05

Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 05:31:46 -0700 (PDT) From: alex arun <antony_alex2k(a)yahoo.com> Dear Friends, There is an apprentice-training programme in Special Library at bangalore. Those who interested please go through following message Alex Christ College Greetings from DVK Central Library, Bangalore! Let me introduce my institution and myself. I am Fr. John Neelankavil, working as the librarian here in Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram Central Library, Bangalore. We have a library with around 45,000 Square Feet area with almost all the modern facilities. We have a plan to start training cum apprenticeship programme to the graduates and postgraduates of Library and Information Science. The calculated duration will be of one year and we will able to support the students with an attractive stipend. For more details:E-Mail: dvklibrary(a)yahoo.com Yours truly, Fr. John Neelankavil, CMI Library Director

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Google starts online talk service
by ++ Mukesh Anand ++ 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Google starts online talk service Google, the world's most used search engine, is set to take on online voice and instant messaging service providers such as Skype, Microsoft and Yahoo. The firm has released a free service called Google Talk, which lets e-mail account holders talk to each other via a PC, microphone and speakers. Google Talk will be based on open software, meaning the firm will allow its technology to be integrated into other websites and applications. A trial version of Google Talk can be found at: http://www.google.com/talk/ ++ Mukesh ++ Google starts online talk service Google, the world's most used search engine, is set to take on online voice and instant messaging service providers such as Skype, Microsoft and Yahoo. The firm has released a free service called Google Talk, which lets e-mail account holders talk to each other via a PC, microphone and speakers. Google Talk will be based on open software, meaning the firm will allow its technology to be integrated into other websites and applications. A trial version of Google Talk can be found at: http://www.google.com/talk/ ++ Mukesh ++

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Google's new search tool
by Mailing List Manager 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2005 11:41:19 +0300 From: Jayadev P Hiremath <jayadevph(a)gmail.com> San Francisco, reuters: Google Inc, on Monday, unveiled a new computer and Web search tool using self-updating navigation and personal information software that puts it in more direct competition with Yahoo, Microsoft and AOL. The creator of the world's most popular Web search system said it was branching out beyond pure search to help users manage e-mail, instant messages, news headlines and music. Google Desktop 2, as the new search software is known, helps users locate information stored on their own hard disk, on office network drives they may use and on the Web.

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request for an article
by Mailing List Manager 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 23:23:23 -0700 (PDT) From: vijaya kumara <vijayakumar71(a)yahoo.co.in> Dear Professionals One of our research scholar urgently needs the folowing review article, if any one of you find the same, kindly provide us or let me know where we can get it. Amylolytic enzymes: molecular aspects of their properties. 2001 Mar;20(1):7-32. Review. PMID: 11508823 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Authors :Horvathova V, Janecek S, Sturdik E. With warm regards Dr. Vijayakumar M Vijayakumar M, HOD - Library, MVJ College of Engineering (an ISO Certified Institution) Channasandra, Bangalore - 560 067, Karnataka, India Tel:+91-80-28452324 Ext. 234 library(a)mvjeducation.com or coolvg(a)gmail.com --------------------------------- Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page --0-829267109-1124519003=:36915 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; name="NCSI-Attachment-Warning.txt" Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="NCSI-Attachment-Warning.txt" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable This is a message from the MailScanner E-Mail Virus Protection Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The original e-mail message contained potentially dangerous content, which has been removed for your safety. The content is dangerous as it is often used to spread viruses or to gain personal or confidential information from you, such as passwords or credit card numbers. If you wish to receive a copy of the original email, please e-mail helpdesk and include the whole of this message in your request. Alternatively, you can call them, with the contents of this message to hand when you call. At Sat Aug 20 12:35:41 2005 the content filters said: MailScanner: Found a script in HTML message Note to Help Desk: Look on the NCSI MailScanner in /var/spool/MailScanner/q= uarantine/20050820 (message j7K75YZV022790). --=20 Postmaster MailScanner thanks transtec Computers for their support --0-829267109-1124519003=:36915--

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IATLIS ^V Motiwale LIS Teacher Award 2005- call for nominations
by Mailing List Manager 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 10:33:43 +0100 (BST) From: Prof. N. Laxman Rao. <naglaxman(a)yahoo.com> Nominations are invited form the teachers of Library & Information Science for the award of IATLIS � Motiwale Best LIS Teacher Award 2005. Executive Council Members of IATLIS are not eligible for being nominated for the award. The nominee should have at least 10 years of teaching experience at the post-graduate level and should be presently in service. A person can receive the award only once and one person can nominate only one LIS Teacher at a time. The nominations have to be accompanied by Bio-Data, list of publications, details of professional activities, achievements / contribution to LIS Profession including contribution to the IATLIS. An Award Committee will consider the nominations. The award will not be given in case majority of the Committee Members feel that the nominations are not worth considering. Nomination in quadruplicate with all the required documents should reach Dr. S. Sudarshan Rao, Dept. of Library and Information Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500 007 on or before 17th October, 2005. Prof.N.LAXMAN RAO, Dept.of Library & Information Science, Osmania University, HYDERABAD- 500 007 (INDIA) President, Indian Association of Teachers in Library and Information Science (IATLIS). Ph:+91-40-27171565 (res): +91-40- 27682290 (off) 9246547599 (Mobile) e:mail-- naglaxman(a)yahoo.com OR naglaxman(a)indiatimes.com ---------------------------------

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"KM Cyberary" - a gateway to Knowledge Resources by Bhojaraju
by Mailing List Manager 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 13:13:11 +0530 From: Bhojaraju G <bhojaraju.g(a)gmail.com> *Apologies for Cross-Postings* Dear Colleagues, ** This is to seek your feedback on my work which i started 2 years back. Its an accumulation of e-resources on KM & other subjects. This give links to various useful e-resources on Knowledge Management, Librarianship, Philosophy, Health, Technology, ITES/BPO/ ITIL, Call Centers, Business Information etc. *"KM Cyberary" - a gateway to Knowledge Resources by Bhojaraju* URL : http://www.bhojarajug.freeservers.com/cyberary.html Blog : http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/bhojarajug I hope this may be of some help for your information searching. If possible try to add in your websites and also ask ur colleagues/friends to make use of this "KM Cyberary". Pl dont forget to put your feedback on the same under Guest Book of my site. Awaiting for your kind feedback. Pl let me know if need any changes on this. Thanks & Regards Bhojaraju G, Librarian � Knowledge Management, (Sharepoint Administrator) Homepage: http://www.bhojarajug.freeservers.com KM-Forum Moderator : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KM-Forum/ ************************************************************************************************ ICICI OneSource Ltd. 148 Bhaskara Plaza, RV Road, VV Puram, Bangalore-560004, INDIA. Cell:+91-944 836 9905 E-mail: Bhojaraju.G(a)gmail.com, bhojarajug(a)yahoo.com ************************************************************************************************

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For Conversion Rates
by shridhar Mayannavar 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Dear sir, I am working in Government Orgnaization as Assi. Librarian There is any source for "CONVERSION RATE FOR BOOKS AND JOURNALS" other than GOOD Office Committee.In the good office committe they not giving Conversion Rate list for Past months. If there is any sites which are providing past conversion rates, please send this information. thanking you, Shridhar. B.M. Dear sir, I am working in Government Orgnaization as Assi. Librarian There is any source for "CONVERSION RATE FOR BOOKS AND JOURNALS" other than GOOD Office Committee.In the good office committe they not giving Conversion Rate list for Past months. If there is any sites which are providing past conversion rates, please send this information. thanking you, Shridhar. B.M. http://adworks.rediff.com/cgi-bin/AdWorks/sigclick.cgi/www.rediff.com/signa… http://adworks.rediff.com/cgi-bin/AdWorks/sigimpress.cgi/www.rediff.com/sig…

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details about funding agency
by Mailing List Manager 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Date: 19 Aug 2005 07:15:25 -0000 From: bedarata dash <vedadash(a)rediffmail.com> sir, our engineering college is seven years old college and our library have a collection of 22,000no. of engineering books.But our library is not so developed for that reason i need some help that is there any funding agency where we can get any financial help that Ican make my library as E-Library.Please kindly suggest me something in this matter. Bedarata Dash Librarian SIET,Cuttack, Orissa vedadash(a)indiatimes.com

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Nothing great about Google
by kss 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

I wish to draw the attention of the forum members to the reply we have received from the Google team: "----Original Message----- From: help(a)google.com [mailto:help@google.com] Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 6:59 AM To: guhamba Subject: Re: [#31137165] Discrepancy in the no. of search results indicated and present for "www.reporter.org" Thank you for your note. Google provides only the 1000 most relevant search results for a query, even when there are more than 1000 matches. (Due to variations in our estimates of results, we may occasionally display slightly fewer than 1000.) We try to make your search experience so efficient that it's not necessary to scroll past the first ten listings. We understand that some individuals would like to see more than 1000 results, but this isn't common, and it would heavily tax our system to provide these results for everyone. Regards, The Google Team" >From the above reply, it is very clear that we can access only the first 1000 or less than 1000 hits in any Google search even though the number of hits indicated may be as high as 50,000+. If that be the case, if Yahoo indexing is better than Google, the first 1000 results of Yahoo would be better than that of Google. In other words, if we wish to carry out effective Internet search, we should carry out searches using couple of well known searches rather than Google only. K S Subba Rao Director Informatics International Projects Division Informatics India Ltd 337 Karuna Complex Sampige Road Malleshwaram Bangalore 560 003 India Tel: +91-80-23464878 Fax: +91-80-23344598 www.informindia.co.in

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Discussion on problems faced by the Govt. & Aided College Librarians - organised by SALIS
by Arunachalam Hariharan 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Dear friends, SALIS Tiruchi Chapter is organising a one day programme to discuss various issues/problems of Govt. & Aided College Librarians. You are invited to participate in the discussion. Details are given below: Topic ' Discussion on problems faced by the Govt. & Aided College Librarians' such as loss of book/stock verification, filling-up posts, etc Date 3.9.2005 Venue Bishop Heber College Library, Tiruchi17 Time 10.30 AM. Lunch: 1.00.PM. Registration: Free Co-ordinators: To participate in the programme, please contact Mr. Jesudas Manalan, Librarian, BHC & Secretary, SALIS Tiruchi Chapter (Res: 0431-2774924 ) or Mr S.Swaminathan (Cell: 9842993535). Or send E-mail to salis_info(a)yahoo.co.in All are welcome -------------------------------------------- A.Hariharan SALIS __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail for Mobile Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Check email on your mobile phone. http://mobile.yahoo.com/learn/mail

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Report of the SALIS Vellore Chapter inauguration
by Arunachalam Hariharan 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Proceeding of the SALIS Inaugural Function at Vellore held on 7th August 2005 The meeting of the SALIS under the chairmanship of Mr.Hariharan, President, SALIS was organized at Millennium Plaza, Gandhi Nagar, Vellore at 10.30 am. Sunday 7th August 2005. The following members were present. Mr. A. Hariharan, S.E.R.C, Chennai Mr. V. Newton CMC, Vellore Mr. G.G. Sivakumar, R.M.K. Engineering College,Chennai Mrs. Vasantha Vivekanandan, CMC, Vellore Mr. R.G. Solomon, CMC, Vellore Ms. Regina Antony, CMC, Vellore Mr. P. Manuelraj, CMC, Vellore Mr. Karunai Raghavan, St. Peter's Engineering College, Avadi Mr. I. Azariah Jebakumar, CMC, Vellore Mr. Joyson Soundrarajan, CMC,Vellore Mr. Hemaanandan, TPGIT, Vellore Ms. D. Chithra, MK Jain College, Vaniyambadi Ms. A. Arockia Mary, DKM College, Vellore Ms. K. Jacqulin, DKM College, Vellore Ms. Aariefa Basheer, Islamiah Womens Arts and Science College, Vaniyambadi Mr. D.P. Dhinakaran, Priyadharshini Engr. College, Vaniyambadi Ms. P. Vijayalakshmi, Auxilium College, Vellore Ms. K. Kalaichelvi, VIT, Vellore Mrs. Rachel Charles, SLRTC Karigiri, Vellore Mr. R. Manikandan, College of Education, Katpadi Mrs. Esther Aaron, College of Nursing, CMC, Vellore Mr. A. Vijayakumar, RUHSA Library, CMC, Vellore Ms. Nirmala, RUHSA Library, CMC, Vellore Mr. L. Amarsanth, VIT, Vellore Mrs. Kalpana Parthiban, VIT, Vellore Mr. J. Varadharajalu, VIT, Vellore Mrs. Y. Meega Ebenezer, CMC, Vellore Mrs. Manimala Ravi, CMC, Vellore Mr. Damodaran. S, CHTC, CMC, Vellore Mr. D. Samuel Raja , CMC, Vellore Mrs. Jerylene Mary Vanathi, , College of Nursing, CMC, Vellore Mr. K. Nelson NIthiakumar, CMC, Vellore Mrs. Victoria Thomas, CMC, Vellore Mrs. J. Premila, CMC, Vellore Mr. K.P. Chakkaravarthy, CMC, Vellore Mr. A. Daniel Rajkumar, College of Nursing, CMC, Vellore Mr. S. Elumalai, VIT, Vellore Ms. V. Beulah Nirmaline, Kings Matriculation School, Kasam, Vellore Mr. D. Asadullah, Islamiah College, Ambur Mrs. Vimala Jayakaran, , College of Nursing, CMC, Vellore The Vice-President Mr. Sivakumar, welcomed the gathering Mr. Hariharan Chairman explained the objectives and the activities of the society. Then the thrust need of the society was explained to the members. Mr. Srikanth, President, Vellore Online Pvt. Ltd. gave a Power Point Presentation on the Impact of IT in Libraries Services. He explained various new Technology which can be introduce in the day-today routines of the library. Mr. Hariharan explained the regulations of the society and then there was a open discussion on the formation of the Vellore Chapter and its future activities. The members from Vellore Institute of Technology encouraged the members by promise to provide all Infra structure to conduct meeting/workshop. The members from Christian Medical College, Vellore were willing to co-ordinate the activities for updating the knowledge in I.T. for the improvement of library services in their own working places. Formation of Committee: The chairman requested Mr .V. Newton, Senior Librarian to be the Chair-Person of Vellore Chapter. After discussion with Mr. V. Newton and other Senior Professional Colleagues the following members were nominated as office bearers and committee members. Chairman: Mr. V. Newton, CMC Vellore Vice-Chairman: Mr. A. G. Hemaanandan, TPGIT, Vellore Mr. Dhinakaran D.P., Priyadharshini Engr. College, Vaniyambadi Mrs. Vijayalakshmi P. Auxilium College, Vellore. Secretary: Mr. Varatharajalu, VIT, Vellore Joint Secretary Mrs. Vasantha Vivekanandan, CMC Vellore Treasurer Mr. R. Manikantan, Govt. College of Education, Katpadi Joint Treasurer Mr. R. Gnanaraj Solomon, CMC Vellore Executive Committee Members: Mrs. Kalpana Parthiban, VIT, Vellore Mrs. Aarifa Basheer, Islamiah Womens Arts and Science College, Vaniyambadi Mr. Vijayakumar, RUHSA Library, Vellore Ms. Regina Anatony, CMC, Vellore Ms. Vimala Jeyakaran, College of Nursing, CMC Vellore Ms. Chitra D, MK Jain College, Vaniyambadi Ms. Rachel Charles, SLRTC Karigiri, Vellore Programme Action Group: Mr. Joyson Soundrarajan D. [Co-ordinator] CMC Vellore Mr. Manuelraj P.CMC Vellore Mr. Amarchanth, VIT, Vellore PRO: Mr. Senthil, Librarian, Ida Scudder School, Vellore Professional Advisors: Mr. A. Hariharan, Chairman, SALIS Mrs. K. Kalaichelvi, VIT Vellore Mr. V. Newton, the Co-ordinator and the Vice-President of SALIS, proposed the Vote of thanks. The meeting was concluded with a Fellowship Lunch. ____________________________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Innovative library in B'desh wins award
by Subbiah Arunachalam 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Friends: Hearty congratulations to our friends in B'desh for their innovative project and for the award they have won. Friends in C3net, one of you should win this awrd next year! Arun 8.16.05 Bangladeshi Organization Receives Award for Using Traditional Boats and River Networks to Deliver Access to Information Technology 2005 Access to Learning Award recognizes Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha's outreach to impoverished, remote communities OSLO-The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today presented its 2005 Access to Learning Award of US $1 million to Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a nongovernmental organization in Bangladesh, for its pioneering approach to bridging the digital divide and its commitment to providing free public access to computers and the Internet. Through the use of indigenous boats converted into mobile libraries, schools, and the Mobile Internet Educational Units on Boats program, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha provides educational services, access to technology, and computer training to poor communities in a Northern Bangladesh watershed. The boats, which anchor at remote villages, rely on generators or solar energy and mobile phones for Internet access. "All our program activities are concentrated in and around the rivers using a familiar vehicle for people to approach technology. Our boat libraries are crucial to the progress of the villages along the river basins," said Abul Hasanat Mohammed Rezwan, executive director of Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha and founder of the boat project. Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha is dedicated to alleviating poverty among the poorest people in the Nandakuja-Atrai-Boral Watershed, serving 86,500 families and an area covering over 240 kilometers crossed by thousands of rivers, tributaries and streams. The Access to Learning Award will enable the organization to sustain its services and expand programs to meet an increasing demand. "Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha is bringing technology to people most in need," said Martha Choe, director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Global Libraries Program. "This organization's perseverance and ingenuity is a testament to the value of and demand for public access computing throughout the world. Its efforts will have long-lasting impact for generations to come." Relying on skilled volunteers, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha educates men, women, and children on issues ranging from agricultural practices and to micro enterprise and literacy. Farmers learn about strategies for productive and sustainable farming and the ecological hazards of pesticides. Throughout the year, they are able to connect with educators via onboard e-mail and check current farm prices online to remain competitive in the local market. "Seeing a computer, let alone touching it, was beyond our wildest imagination," said Abdul Azad, a farmer who travels an hour to the docked boat library from the remote village of Kalinagar. Students who would otherwise be unable to attend school during the monsoon season continue their education through the year using the libraries' onboard field staff. With literacy rates in Bangladesh at only 42 percent, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha is making a significant impact on educating young people, especially girls. In fact, over 70 percent of the program's beneficiaries are women. In a highly competitive job market coupled with pervasive poverty, student participants are eager to learn technological skills they hope will translate to a career later on. Although Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha manages to keep operational costs low, the program - which does not receive government funds - must continually seek outside funding to cover the costs and the increasing demands for the program. Over the next five years, the program hopes to double its capacity. The annual Access to Learning Award, now in its sixth year, recognizes the innovative efforts of libraries, organizations or library agencies outside the United States in providing no-cost public access to this technology. Last year's award was granted to China Evergreen Rural Library Service Center and Aarhus Public Libraries in Denmark. Past recipients include the Smart Cape Access Project of Cape Town, South Africa (2003), the BibloRed library network of Bogotá, Colombia (2002), the Proyecto Bibliotecas Guatemala (Probigua) and the Biblioteca del Congreso de la Nación Argentina (both in 2001) and the Helsinki City Library of Finland (2000). The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) administers the Access to Learning Award. An international advisory committee of librarians and information technology experts evaluated the applicants' efforts to make technology freely accessible to the public, train the public in using technology, educate staff on technology use and reach out to underserved communities. # # # The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (www.gatesfoundation.org) works to promote greater equity in four areas: global health, education, public libraries and support for at-risk families in Washington State and Oregon. The Seattle-based foundation joins local, national and international partners to ensure that advances in these areas reach those who need them most. The foundation is led by Bill Gates' father, William H. Gates, Sr., and Patty Stonesifer. The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to expand access to information, however recorded and preserved, as a public good. In partnership with other organizations, CLIR helps create services that expand the concept of "library," and supports the providers and preservers of information. Through projects, programs and publications, CLIR works to maintain and improve access to information for generations to come both in the United States and around the world. On the Internet: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: www.gatesfoundation.org Council on Library and Information Resources: www.clir.org Friends: Hearty congratulations to our friends in B'desh for their innovative project and for the award they have won. Friends in C3net, one of you should win this awrd next year! Arun 8.16.05 Bangladeshi Organization Receives Award for Using Traditional Boats and River Networks to Deliver Access to Information Technology 2005 Access to Learning Award recognizes Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangsthas outreach to impoverished, remote communities OSLOThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today presented its 2005 Access to Learning Award of US $1 million to Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a nongovernmental organization in Bangladesh, for its pioneering approach to bridging the digital divide and its commitment to providing free public access to computers and the Internet. Through the use of indigenous boats converted into mobile libraries, schools, and the Mobile Internet Educational Units on Boats program, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha provides educational services, access to technology, and computer training to poor communities in a Northern Bangladesh watershed. The boats, which anchor at remote villages, rely on generators or solar energy and mobile phones for Internet access. All our program activities are concentrated in and around the rivers using a familiar vehicle for people to approach technology. Our boat libraries are crucial to the progress of the villages along the river basins, said Abul Hasanat Mohammed Rezwan, executive director of Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha and founder of the boat project. Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha is dedicated to alleviating poverty among the poorest people in the Nandakuja-Atrai-Boral Watershed, serving 86,500 families and an area covering over 240 kilometers crossed by thousands of rivers, tributaries and streams. The Access to Learning Award will enable the organization to sustain its services and expand programs to meet an increasing demand. Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha is bringing technology to people most in need, said Martha Choe, director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations Global Libraries Program. This organizations perseverance and ingenuity is a testament to the value of and demand for public access computing throughout the world. Its efforts will have long-lasting impact for generations to come. Relying on skilled volunteers, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha educates men, women, and children on issues ranging from agricultural practices and to micro enterprise and literacy. Farmers learn about strategies for productive and sustainable farming and the ecological hazards of pesticides. Throughout the year, they are able to connect with educators via onboard e-mail and check current farm prices online to remain competitive in the local market. Seeing a computer, let alone touching it, was beyond our wildest imagination, said Abdul Azad, a farmer who travels an hour to the docked boat library from the remote village of Kalinagar. Students who would otherwise be unable to attend school during the monsoon season continue their education through the year using the libraries onboard field staff. With literacy rates in Bangladesh at only 42 percent, Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha is making a significant impact on educating young people, especially girls. In fact, over 70 percent of the programs beneficiaries are women. In a highly competitive job market coupled with pervasive poverty, student participants are eager to learn technological skills they hope will translate to a career later on. Although Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha manages to keep operational costs low, the program which does not receive government funds must continually seek outside funding to cover the costs and the increasing demands for the program. Over the next five years, the program hopes to double its capacity. The annual Access to Learning Award, now in its sixth year, recognizes the innovative efforts of libraries, organizations or library agencies outside the United States in providing no-cost public access to this technology. Last years award was granted to China Evergreen Rural Library Service Center and Aarhus Public Libraries in Denmark. Past recipients include the Smart Cape Access Project of Cape Town, South Africa (2003), the BibloRed library network of Bogotá, Colombia (2002), the Proyecto Bibliotecas Guatemala (Probigua) and the Biblioteca del Congreso de la Nación Argentina (both in 2001) and the Helsinki City Library of Finland (2000). The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) administers the Access to Learning Award. An international advisory committee of librarians and information technology experts evaluated the applicants efforts to make technology freely accessible to the public, train the public in using technology, educate staff on technology use and reach out to underserved communities. # # # The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ( http://www.gatesfoundation.org www.gatesfoundation.org ) works to promote greater equity in four areas: global health, education, public libraries and support for at-risk families in Washington State and Oregon. The Seattle-based foundation joins local, national and international partners to ensure that advances in these areas reach those who need them most. The foundation is led by Bill Gates' father, William H. Gates, Sr., and Patty Stonesifer. The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to expand access to information, however recorded and preserved, as a public good. In partnership with other organizations, CLIR helps create services that expand the concept of library, and supports the providers and preservers of information. Through projects, programs and publications, CLIR works to maintain and improve access to information for generations to come both in the United States and around the world. On the Internet: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: http://www.gatesfoundation.org www.gatesfoundation.org Council on Library and Information Resources: http://www.clir.org www.clir.org

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Richard Gere--Contact details
by T.V. Prafulla Chandra 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

<color><param>0100,0100,0100</param>Dear All, I am looking for contact details (postal address, email ID, official website, phone and fax number) of Richard Gere, the well known American film hero. You may wish to wish to visit the website of Gere Foundation: www.gerefoundation.org Here's a profound quote from their homepage: All the suffering in the world arises out of wanting happiness for self. All happiness in the world arises out of wanting happiness for others. -- Shantidev<FontFamily><param>Times New Roman</param><smaller> <FontFamily><param>Arial</param><bigger>Thank you in advance for your help. Sincerely T.V. Prafulla Chandra Senior Editor <nofill> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NISC Export Services Pvt. Ltd. (an affiliate of NISC International, Inc. USA) S-1 Ballad Estates, St.Ann's School Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad 500 017 Andhra Pradesh, India - Tel:+91 40 27001517 Tel/Fax:+91 40 27002538 WWW.NISC.COM A company in service to NISC worldwide. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Regading Conversion Rate
by PRASHANTA KUMAR 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Dear Shridhar & all LIS Professionals, The RBI (Reserve Bank of India ) site is proving a conversion rate the terminology used as RBI REFERENCE RATE and also archives. The site address as below http://www.rbi.org.in/home.aspx , Thanks & Regards, Prashanta ********* IHBT, (CSIR), Govt. of India Library , Palampur, HP, Pin 176061 Mobile- 94181 84421 --------------------------------- Check out Yahoo! India Rakhi Special for Rakhi shopping, contests and lots more. http://in.promos.yahoo.com/rakhi/index.html Dear Shridhar & all LIS Professionals, The RBI (Reserve Bank of India ) site is proving a conversion rate the terminology used as RBI REFERENCE RATE and also archives. The site address as below http://www.rbi.org.in/home.aspx http://www.rbi.org.in/home.aspx , Thanks & Regards, Prashanta ********* IHBT, (CSIR), Govt. of India Library , Palampur, HP, Pin 176061 Mobile- 94181 84421 Check out Yahoo! India Rakhi Special for Rakhi shopping, contests and lots more. http://in.promos.yahoo.com/rakhi/index.html

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InfoVision-early bird closes on 25th August Register online - avail early bird offer
by Shalini R Urs 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

Attention all fellow information professionals! The early bird offer for InfoVision 2005 closes on 25th August. We have been receiving enquires in this regard- please register online before 25th 5.30 Pm to avail the early bird offer. Payments may be sent later. Do not miss the opportunity to listen to and interact with a galaxy of experts across the information domain including digital library and e publishing. International and national. Experts include: 1. Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Director General, CSIR. 2. Prof. Ronald Larsen, Dean, School of Information Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, USA, well known expert in digital libraries and cross lingual information retrieval 3. Prof. Jean Claude Guedon, University of Montreal, Open access advocate 4. Prof. Nick Moore, Acumen consulting, UK, author, UNESCO consultant and ICT and information Society expert 5. Prof. Andrew Large, McGill University, Canada- author of books on digital libraries and UNESCO consultant. 6. Prof. Ingeborg Soveberg, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, digital libraries and information retrieval expert 7. Dr. P. Anandan, MD, Microsoft Research India, Video motion analysis expert 8. Prof. Prabhuddha Ganguli, Advisor - Vision IPR 9. Dr. Eric Van De Velde, Director, Library Information Technology, CALTECH, USA, the Open URL expert 10. Dr. Sugata Mitra, NIIT, New Delhi, The E-Learning expert - well known for the his Hole in the Wall experiments Visit the website www.infovision2005.org -- Prof. Shalini Urs Coordinator- InfoVision 2005

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Re: [LIS-Forum] For Conversion Rates
by vijaya kumara 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

Hi Sridhar, You can use the following URL/ web pages to convert one currency to another Currency calculator: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html Ten year currency converter: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/exchform.html Currency converter: http://www.x-rates.com/ The Universal Currency converter: http://www.xe.com/ucc/ 164 Currency Converter : http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic Regards Dr. Vijayakumar M \ \ | / / \ \ ~ ~ / / | @ @ | ---------------oooo------ (_)-------------oooo------------------ Vijayakumar M, HOD - Library, MVJ College of Engineering (an ISO Certified Institution) Channasandra, Bangalore - 560 067, Karnataka, India Tel:+91-80-28452324 Ext. 234 library(a)mvjeducation.com or coolvg(a)gmail.com --------------------------------- Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page Hi Sridhar, You can use the following URL/ web pages to convert one currency to another Currency calculator: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html http://www.x-rates.com/calculator.html Ten year currency converter: http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/exchform.html http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/exchform.html Currency converter: http://www.x-rates.com/ http://www.x-rates.com/ The Universal Currency converter: http://www.xe.com/ucc/ http://www.xe.com/ucc/ 164 Currency Converter : http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic Regards Dr. Vijayakumar M \ \ | / / \ \ ~ ~ / / | @ @ | ---------------oooo------ (_)-------------oooo------------------ Vijayakumar M, HOD - Library, MVJ College of Engineering (an ISO Certified Institution) Channasandra, Bangalore - 560 067, Karnataka, India Tel:+91-80-28452324 Ext. 234 mailto:library@mvjeducation.com library(a)mvjeducation.com or mailto:coolvg@gmail.com coolvg(a)gmail.com http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=34442/*http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

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Information about Free library software
by meh jab 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Can anybody provide information or Websites related to free Library Software. Thanks in advance. Mehjabeen Khan (Librarian) Aishabai college of education Mumbai --------------------------------- Check out Yahoo! India Rakhi Special for Rakhi shopping, contests and lots more. http://in.promos.yahoo.com/rakhi/index.html Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Can anybody provide information or Websites related to free Library Software. Thanks in advance. Mehjabeen Khan (Librarian) Aishabai college of education Mumbai Check out Yahoo! India Rakhi Special for Rakhi shopping, contests and lots more. http://in.promos.yahoo.com/rakhi/index.html

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IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellows for 2006 - Announced
by Rajesh Chandrakar 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

I am affraid, no one from India. It seems that European and American Communities, not taking more from India. However, India list under Developing Countries. I have observations. Lets have a look: Compare with the selection of the IFLA Travel Grants, where only one from India but more than one from other countries. You can also look at the ASIST International Paper Contest, where so far no one held first place where the money involves. But, I appreaciate that more than two papers from India are being selected for best paper every year. Fullbright for Indian professionals in Library and Information Science has closed now. For Commonwealth Fellowship compare to other countries, India has got less number of fellowships. What do you want to say about this? 2006 class of Fellows named at IFLA annual conference OCLC, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the American Theological Library Association named the IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellows for 2006 in Oslo, Norway during the World Library and Information Congress: 71st IFLA General Conference and Council. They are: a.. Ms. Maria Cherrie, Librarian, Trinidad & Tobago National Library and Information System Authority, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago b.. Mrs. Janete Estevão, Head Librarian, O Boticário Franchising S/A, São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil c.. Mr. Festus Ngetich, College Librarian, Kenya Highlands Bible College, Kericho, Kenya d.. Mr. Roman Purici, Director, Information Resource Center, U.S. Embassy, Chisinau, Moldova e.. Mr. Salmubi, Head of Library, The State Polytechnic of Ujung Pandang, Makassar, Indonesia View news release ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rajesh Chandrakar, Commonwealth Professional Fellow Scientific & Technical Officer INFLIBNET (INFormation and LIBrary NETwork) Centre An IUC of University Grants Commission Near Gujarat University Guest House, PB No. 4116, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad - 380 009, India Tel. +91-(0)79-26305971/ 8528/ 4695(O), 26873805(R) Mobile: +91-9898087422 Fax: +91-(0)79-26300990, 263007816 E-mail: rajesh(a)inflibnet.ac.in; rchandrakar(a)gmail.com Website: http://www.inflibnet.ac.in ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am affraid, no one from India. It seems that European and American Communities, not taking more from India. However, India list under Developing Countries. I have observations. Lets have a look: Compare with the selection of the IFLA Travel Grants, where only one from India but more than one from other countries. You can also look at the ASIST International Paper Contest, where so far no one held first place where the money involves. But, I appreaciate that more than two papers from India are being selected for best paper every year. Fullbright for Indian professionals in Library and Information Science has closed now. For Commonwealth Fellowship compare to other countries, India has got less number of fellowships. What do you want to say about this? 2006 class of Fellows named at IFLA annual conference http://www.ifla.org/ http://www5.oclc.org/downloads/design/abstracts/08222005/ifla.jpg http://www.atla.com/atlahome.html http://www5.oclc.org/downloads/design/abstracts/08222005/atla.jpg OCLC, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the American Theological Library Association named the IFLA/OCLC Early Career Development Fellows for 2006 in Oslo, Norway during the World Library and Information Congress: 71st IFLA General Conference and Council. They are: Ms. Maria Cherrie, Librarian, Trinidad & Tobago National Library and Information System Authority, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad & Tobago Mrs. Janete Estevão, Head Librarian, O Boticário Franchising S/A, São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil Mr. Festus Ngetich, College Librarian, Kenya Highlands Bible College, Kericho, Kenya Mr. Roman Purici, Director, Information Resource Center, U.S. Embassy, Chisinau, Moldova Mr. Salmubi, Head of Library, The State Polytechnic of Ujung Pandang, Makassar, Indonesia http://www.oclc.org/news/releases/200518.htm View news release ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rajesh Chandrakar, Commonwealth Professional Fellow Scientific & Technical Officer INFLIBNET (INFormation and LIBrary NETwork) Centre An IUC of University Grants Commission Near Gujarat University Guest House, PB No. 4116, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad - 380 009, India Tel. +91-(0)79-26305971/ 8528/ 4695(O), 26873805(R) Mobile: +91-9898087422 Fax: +91-(0)79-26300990, 263007816 E-mail: mailto:rajesh@inflibnet.ac.in rajesh(a)inflibnet.ac.in ; mailto:rchandrakar@gmail.com rchandrakar(a)gmail.com Website: http://www.inflibnet.ac.in http://www.inflibnet.ac.in -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Award for Public Libraries Outside the United States (fwd)
by Shyam Prasad pujar 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 09:05:55 -0400 From: Barbara Kountouzi <varvarak(a)mail.med.upenn.edu> To: ifla-l(a)infoserv.inist.fr Subject: [IFLA-L] award for Public Libraries Outside the United States Public Libraries Outside the United States Invited to Apply for Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award Deadline: February 28, 2006 The Council on Library and Information Resources ( http://www.clir.org/ ) welcomes applications for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation ( http://www.gatesfoundation.org/ ) Access to Learning Award for 2006. Each year, the program presents an award of up to $1 million to a public library or similar organization outside the United States that has an innovative program offering the public free access to information technology. Preference will be given to institutions that the Gates Foundation has not funded in the past. U.S. libraries are not eligible to apply. A library offers free public access if it allows all members of the public, including children and young adults, to use its facilities free of charge (without membership or Internet fees). Organizations should show how they make information technology available to the public free of charge and what kinds of technology training they offer to the public and staff. Preference will be given to organizations that reach out to underserved populations, such as poor or disabled patrons, or those from minority groups. A library's programs are considered innovative if they provide access to information technology and services that were previously unavailable to the community. The programs could be relatively new, small ones or long-term, larger initiatives. Program guidelines, an application form, and a list of previous recipients are available at the CLIR Web site. RFP Link: http://fconline.fdncenter.org/pnd/3902/clir For additional RFPs in Science/Technology, visit, http://fdncenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_science.jhtml

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New eGroup for Medical Librarians
by Sukhdev Singh 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

Dear Friends, Here is a new eGroup for Medical Librarians. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/medlib/ "Place for Medical Librarians and Information Scientist to discuss professional issues. However, it will avoid carrying purely Interlibrary Loan Requests" To Subscribe one may either visit the following link: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/medlib/ or send an email to medlib-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.com --Sukhdev Singh. NIC, http://openmed.nic.in

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1GB File Transfer...!
by Thapar, Amit 22 Aug '05

22 Aug '05

Dear All, it seems to be useful..we can send what ever files we want through this.. you find a file too big to send by email try YouSendIt, a free service that lets you send a file up to 1GB to another PC or person. Just type in the recipient's email id and upload the file. The recipient is then notified by email and has upto 7 days to download the file. No passwords, no software to install, no accounts to create, and normal/secure transfers. This free service can even provide Data Security Encrypted HTTPS session (SSL/TLS) to make sure you data is secure. This useful service is provided free at http://s2.yousendit.com/ Regards, Amit Thapar Library & Information Centre National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER) Sector-67, Phase-10 S.A.S.Nagar-160062, Punjab, INDIA Phone: 0172-2214682-87 Ext. 2073 Cell: 09417419457 e-mail: amitt(a)niper.ac.in URL: http://www.niper.ac.in/ "All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism." "Rain drop falling from the sky has nothing in mind except to hit the earth. No matter how tough the drop is, it still reaches its destiny! Be positive always, best of luck... " Dear All , it seems to be useful..we can send what ever files we want through this.. you find a file too big to send by email try YouSendIt, a free service that lets you send a file up to 1GB to another PC or person. Just type in the recipient's email id and upload the file. The recipient is then notified by email and has upto 7 days to download the file. No passwords, no software to install, no accounts to create, and normal/secure transfers. This free service can even provide Data Security Encrypted HTTPS session (SSL/TLS) to make sure you data is secure. This useful service is provided free at http://s2.yousendit.com/ http://s2.yousendit.com/ Regards, mailto:amitt@niper.ac.inURL: http://www.niper.ac.in/ Amit Thapar Library & Information Centre National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research (NIPER) Sector-67, Phase-10 S.A.S.Nagar-160062, Punjab, INDIA Phone: 0172-2214682-87 Ext. 2073 Cell: 09417419457 e-mail: amitt(a)niper.ac.in URL: http://www.niper.ac.in/ "All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism." "Rain drop falling from the sky has nothing in mind except to hit the earth. No matter how tough the drop is, it still reaches its destiny! Be positive always, best of luck... "

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Open Access to Maps and Public Geo-Data
by Shekhar Krishnan 22 Aug '05

22 Aug '05

Dear All: :: apologies for cross-posting :: In the wake of the massive floods since 26 July in Mumbai and Maharashtra, a crisis of civic infrastructure and public health has emerged in the city and state, in which the right of citizens to information about their environments is of crucial public importance. Very few citizens of India enjoy open access to maps, satellite imagery, and other geographic information. Collected and brokered by national mapping and space imaging agencies, this geo-data is an essential for understanding civic issues such as planning, housing, infrastructure. Open access to this information can provide a platform for public action, reducing costs and promoting innovation by facilitating citizens' engagement with their local environments and authorities. The Open Knowledge Foundation is hosting a forum at http://okfn.org/ geo/manifesto.php about Open Access to State-Collected Geo-Spatial Data. * All government-collected maps, geographic information and spatial data are public property, and should be open; that is, available for free distribution and re-use under a share-alike license. * Online mapping projects creating freely re-usable geo-data should offer a compatible open license. * Common, standard formats for describing and exchanging geo-data should be adopted internationally. * Ultimately, all state-collected information should be freely available in the public domain, in a structured machine-readable format and in an open standard. Please read the manifesto and, if you agree with the statements it contains, sign up to support it at http://okfn.org/geo/ manifesto.php#signup For more information on the changing policies on maps and geo-data in India, see the 19 May 2005 release of the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India on http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp? relid=9388 _____ CRIT (Collective Research Initiatives Trust) B-43, Shravasti Goregaon-Malad Link Road Malad (West), Mumbai 400064 India http://www.crit.org.in http://www.freemap.in http://www.mappinghacks.com

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Urine-Powered Micro Battery
by Prof. N. Laxman Rao. 22 Aug '05

22 Aug '05

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/mech-tech/dn7850 Pee-powered battery smaller than a credit card 18:10 15 August 2005 NewScientist.com news service Shaoni Bhattacharya The first urine-powered paper battery has been created by physicists in Singapore. The credit-card sized unit could be a useful power source for cheap healthcare test kits for diseases like diabetes, and could even be used in emergency situations to power a cellphone, they say. Testing urine can reveal the identity of illnesses, and the new paper battery could allow the sample being tested to also power the diagnostic device. We are striving to develop cheap, disposable credit-card sized biochips for disease detection, says Ki Bang Lee, at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore. Our battery can be easily integrated into such devices, supplying electricity on contact with biofluids such as urine or blood. Current biochips need an external reader such as a laser scanner or an external source of power, such as conventional batteries, to perform diagnostic tests. Lees technology houses both the sensors and the battery on one plastic chip. One more drop This design circumvents many of the problems encountered by researchers attempting to shrink down more conventional battery systems for use with bioMEMS devices utilising bio-microelectromechanical systems. Many researchers have tried to design power sources or batteries for systems or bioMEMS devices. However, they have done this by reducing the size of conventional, bulky power systems or batteries, explains Lee. They faced a lot of problems, including difficulties in getting sufficient electrical energy, he adds. The urine-powered battery was able to generate a voltage of about 1.5 volts with a corresponding power of 1.5 micro-watts using just 0.2 millilitres of urine, says Lee. And if a second droplet of urine was added 15 hours after the battery was first activated, the replenished urine could generate still more electricity. The battery is currently suited for use with disposable devices it is not yet ready to power laptops or iPods. "But if, for example, we place a small cellular phone or transmitter on a plastic card, the chip will work as a disposable biofluid-activated means of communication in an emergency, Lee told New Scientist. In this case, the size will be less than that of a credit card. Wrapped sandwich The battery is made of a layer of filter paper steeped in copper chloride, sandwiched between strips of magnesium and copper. This sandwich is then laminated in plastic to hold the whole package together. The resulting battery is just 1 millimetre thick and 60 by 30 mm across slightly smaller than a credit card. To activate the battery, a drop of urine is added and soaks through the sandwiched filter paper. The chemicals dissolve and react to produce electricity. The magnesium layer acts as the anode, losing its electrons. And the copper chloride acts as the cathode, mopping up the electrons. But Lee adds that the voltage, current and capacity of the battery could be improved by different designs or by switching the electrode or electrolyte materials used. He believes the system could be used in home-based health test kits. The long-term goal is for people to be able to buy disposable biochips for a disease test from any pharmacy, he says. Journal reference: Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering (DOI: 10.1088/0960-1317/15/9/S06) Prof.N.LAXMAN RAO, Dept.of Library & Information Science, Osmania University, HYDERABAD- 500 007 (INDIA) President, Indian Association of Teachers in Library and Information Science (IATLIS). Ph:+91-40-27171565 (res): +91-40- 27682290 (off) 9246547599 (Mobile) e:mail-- naglaxman(a)yahoo.com OR naglaxman(a)indiatimes.com --------------------------------- To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/mech-tech/dn7850 http://www.newscientist.com/channel/mech-tech/dn7850 Pee-powered battery smaller than a credit card 18:10 15 August 2005 NewScientist.com news service Shaoni Bhattacharya The first urine-powered paper battery has been created by physicists in Singapore. The credit-card sized unit could be a useful power source for cheap healthcare test kits for diseases like diabetes, and could even be used in emergency situations to power a cellphone, they say. Testing urine can reveal the identity of illnesses, and the new paper battery could allow the sample being tested to also power the diagnostic device. We are striving to develop cheap, disposable credit-card sized biochips for disease detection, says Ki Bang Lee, at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore. Our battery can be easily integrated into such devices, supplying electricity on contact with biofluids such as urine or blood. Current biochips need an external reader such as a laser scanner or an external source of power, such as conventional batteries, to perform diagnostic tests. Lees technology houses both the sensors and the battery on one plastic chip. One more drop This design circumvents many of the problems encountered by researchers attempting to shrink down more conventional battery systems for use with bioMEMS devices utilising bio-microelectromechanical systems. Many researchers have tried to design power sources or batteries for systems or bioMEMS devices. However, they have done this by reducing the size of conventional, bulky power systems or batteries, explains Lee. They faced a lot of problems, including difficulties in getting sufficient electrical energy, he adds. The urine-powered battery was able to generate a voltage of about 1.5 volts with a corresponding power of 1.5 micro-watts using just 0.2 millilitres of urine, says Lee. And if a second droplet of urine was added 15 hours after the battery was first activated, the replenished urine could generate still more electricity. The battery is currently suited for use with disposable devices it is not yet ready to power laptops or iPods. "But if, for example, we place a small cellular phone or transmitter on a plastic card, the chip will work as a disposable biofluid-activated means of communication in an emergency, Lee told New Scientist . In this case, the size will be less than that of a credit card. Wrapped sandwich The battery is made of a layer of filter paper steeped in copper chloride, sandwiched between strips of magnesium and copper. This sandwich is then laminated in plastic to hold the whole package together. The resulting battery is just 1 millimetre thick and 60 by 30 mm across slightly smaller than a credit card. To activate the battery, a drop of urine is added and soaks through the sandwiched filter paper. The chemicals dissolve and react to produce electricity. The magnesium layer acts as the anode, losing its electrons. And the copper chloride acts as the cathode, mopping up the electrons. But Lee adds that the voltage, current and capacity of the battery could be improved by different designs or by switching the electrode or electrolyte materials used. He believes the system could be used in home-based health test kits. The long-term goal is for people to be able to buy disposable biochips for a disease test from any pharmacy, he says. Journal reference: Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering (DOI: 10.1088/0960-1317/15/9/S06) Prof.N.LAXMAN RAO, Dept.of Library & Information Science, Osmania University, HYDERABAD- 500 007 (INDIA) President, Indian Association of Teachers in Library and Information Science (IATLIS). Ph:+91-40-27171565 (res): +91-40- 27682290 (off) 9246547599 (Mobile) e:mail-- naglaxman(a)yahoo.com OR naglaxman(a)indiatimes.com To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail/uk/taglines/default/security_centre/*http://uk.… Yahoo! Security Centre .

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Alexandria library gets Indian touch
by Prof. N. Laxman Rao. 22 Aug '05

22 Aug '05

hi we are proud to know about Dr Swaminathan's nomination to Alexandria library Alexandria library gets Indian touch Chennai, Aug. 21: Egypt has enlisted the services of a renowned Indian scientist to help re-create the great ancient library of Alexandria and to guide its evolution as a world-class referral and res-earch institution on par with the Library of Congress in Washington. Dr M.S. Swaminathan, the father of the Indian Green Revolution, is the only Asian to become a member of the elite board of trustees putting together the Bibliotheca Alexandria, inaugurated in October 2002 at the very spot where Ptolemy I (Soter) had built the ancient library of Alexandria in 288 BC. The $220-million project envisaged putting up a 10-storey concrete cylinder, a third part of which is below the sea level, inclined at an angle of eight degrees a structural masterpiece and an awesome knowledge pool much like its predecessor that was one of the greatest wonders of ancient world. When Suzanne Mubarak, wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who is the driving force behind the Bibliotheca Alexandria project, asked me to be part of its board, I readily agreed as it was a very challenging task and I felt I could contribute to make this huge institution user-friendly. I had suggested a braille section for the blind and it was done, Dr Swaminathan told this newspaper. http://www.deccan.com/Nation/NationalNews.asp#Alexandria%20library%20gets%2… Prof.N.LAXMAN RAO, Dept.of Library & Information Science, Osmania University, HYDERABAD- 500 007 (INDIA) President, Indian Association of Teachers in Library and Information Science (IATLIS). Ph:+91-40-27171565 (res): +91-40- 27682290 (off) 9246547599 (Mobile) e:mail-- naglaxman(a)yahoo.com OR naglaxman(a)indiatimes.com --------------------------------- How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos. Get Yahoo! Photos hi we are proud to know about Dr Swaminathan's nomination to Alexandria library [A] Alexandria library gets Indian touch Chennai, Aug. 21: Egypt has enlisted the services of a renowned Indian scientist to help re-create the great ancient library of Alexandria and to guide its evolution as a world-class referral and res-earch institution on par with the Library of Congress in Washington. Dr M.S. Swaminathan, the father of the Indian Green Revolution, is the only Asian to become a member of the elite board of trustees putting together the Bibliotheca Alexandria, inaugurated in October 2002 at the very spot where Ptolemy I (Soter) had built the ancient library of Alexandria in 288 BC. The $220-million project envisaged putting up a 10-storey concrete cylinder, a third part of which is below the sea level, inclined at an angle of eight degrees a structural masterpiece and an awesome knowledge pool much like its predecessor that was one of the greatest wonders of ancient world. When Suzanne Mubarak, wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who is the driving force behind the Bibliotheca Alexandria project, asked me to be part of its board, I readily agreed as it was a very challenging task and I felt I could contribute to make this huge institution user-friendly. I had suggested a braille section for the blind and it was done, Dr Swaminathan told this newspaper. http://www.deccan.com/Nation/NationalNews.asp#Alexandria%20library%20gets%2… http://www.deccan.com/Nation/NationalNews.asp#Alexandria%20library%20gets%2… Prof.N.LAXMAN RAO, Dept.of Library & Information Science, Osmania University, HYDERABAD- 500 007 (INDIA) President, Indian Association of Teachers in Library and Information Science (IATLIS). Ph:+91-40-27171565 (res): +91-40- 27682290 (off) 9246547599 (Mobile) e:mail-- naglaxman(a)yahoo.com OR naglaxman(a)indiatimes.com How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail/uk/taglines/default/photos/*http://uk.photos.ya… Get Yahoo! Photos

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