Category Archives: News

Breaking Down Spinal Cord Injuries: A Comprehensive Guide

By-Dr. Umesh Srikantha, Sr. Consultant – Neurosurgery, Head of Spine Services, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore

 Spinal cord injury (SCI) refers to damage to the spinal cord resulting from trauma or disease, which can lead to permanent changes in strength, sensation, and other bodily functions below the site of injury. This condition can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

 How Common is This Injury?
Spinal cord injuries are relatively common, with an estimated 20,000 new cases occurring in the India each year. The incidence is highest among young adults aged 16 to 30, primarily due to vehicular accidents, falls, and sports-related injuries.

 Symptoms
Symptoms of spinal cord injury can vary widely depending on the severity and location of the injury. Common symptoms include:
• Loss of movement or sensation in limbs.
• Difficulty breathing or coughing.
• Loss of bladder or bowel control.
• Pain or tingling sensations.
• Changes in sexual function.

The causes of spinal cord injuries can be categorized into traumatic and non-traumatic.

Traumatic causes include:
• Motor vehicle accidents.
• Falls.
• Sports injuries.
• Violent acts (e.g., gunshot wounds).
Non-traumatic causes include:
• Diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis, spina bifida).
• Infections.
• Tumors.

Prevention
Preventing spinal cord injuries involves various strategies aimed at reducing risk factors.
Key prevention measures include:
• Wearing seat belts and helmets during activities like driving or biking.
• Implementing safety measures in the workplace and at home to prevent falls.
• Participating in safe sports practices and using appropriate protective gear.
• Educating individuals about the dangers of risky behaviors, particularly among young adults.

Diagnosis or Tests
Diagnosing a spinal cord injury typically involves a thorough medical history and physical examination, followed by imaging tests.
Common diagnostic tools include:
• X-rays: To check for fractures or dislocations.
• CT scans: To provide detailed images of the spine.
• MRI scans: To assess soft tissue damage and spinal cord condition.
• Neurological examinations: To evaluate sensory and motor function.

Complications
Spinal cord injuries can lead to a range of complications that can further impact health and quality of life, including:
• Pressure sores.
• Respiratory complications.
• Urinary tract infections.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Psychological issues, such as depression and anxiety.

Treatments
Treatment for spinal cord injury is multifaceted and may involve immediate care as well as long-term rehabilitation. Initial treatment aims to stabilize the injury and may include:
• Medication (e.g., corticosteroids) to reduce inflammation.
• Surgery to decompress the spinal cord or stabilize the spine.

Rehabilitation often includes:
• Physical therapy to improve mobility and strength
• Occupational therapy to assist with daily activities
• Psychological support to address emotional well-being
• Use of assistive devices to enhance independence

Spinal cord injuries represent a significant health challenge that affects individuals, families, and communities. While the impact can be devastating, advancements in medical research, rehabilitation, and assistive technologies continue to improve outcomes for those affected. Awareness, prevention, and timely intervention remain crucial in addressing the complexities of spinal cord injuries, paving the way for better management and enhanced quality of life for individuals living with this condition.

Koffeetech Communications Restructures into Six Verticals for Growth and Expansion

Mumbai, Maharashtra – October 16 ,2024 – Koffeetech Communications, a forward-thinking digital marketing agency, has announced a strategic restructuring to drive more significant impact and growth across industries. As part of its expansion plan, Koffeetech has consolidated its operations into six specialised verticals: Communications, Labs, Media Works, Boosters, Studios, and Motion Pictures, positioning the agency as a digital marketing conglomerate. This transformative move also coincides with opening of new offices in Pune and Bangalore, marking the agency’s deepening presence in key markets.

 Under the guiding principle “We Are KAAFI For You,” Koffeetech has become a trusted brand partner, offering digital solutions that blend creativity, strategy, and technology. With niche expertise in real estate, e-commerce, education, and more, Koffeetech is focused on delivering services that meet the evolving demands of today’s market and evolving industries. “Our vision has always been to provide specialised, innovative solutions that drive meaningful growth for our clients,” said Jay Rathod, Founder & CEO of Koffeetech Communications. “This restructuring into six verticals allows us to offer even more focused expertise while scaling our operations to meet the needs of clients across India and globally.”

Koffeetech Communications’ Six Vertical Powerhouses:
Communications: Focused on digital marketing, Communications manages SEO, social media strategies, and digital brand building.

Labs: The technology arm specialises in website development, app development, and digital transformation.

Media Works: The Public Relations vertical Specializes in media buying and reputation management. It helps brands communicate their stories effectively across multiple channels while managing event planning and crisis management.

Boosters: Boosters is designed to accelerate business results across all platforms by driving digital growth through data-driven performance marketing, paid search, social media advertising, influencer collaborations, and mobile marketing.

Studios: To create a strong foundation for any brand, innovative branding and design solutions are essential. By crafting standout visuals that capture attention and launching high-impact ad campaigns that drive engagement, brand identity can be enhanced and overall market presence elevated.

Motion Pictures: Motion Pictures specialises in high-quality video production, creating compelling corporate films, product showcases, and ad films. The team focuses on storytelling for brands for a lasting impact.

Our geographical footprints have expanded in the last few months since the beginning of this year. This is an approach to positioning ourselves and smoothly serving clients across India’s major business hubs. It is not just about clients but also about tapping into a broader talent pool and giving us more bandwidth to work with not just our real estate clients but also the e-commerce, education, and healthcare sectors alongside other major sectors.

“Our expansion into Pune and Bangalore reflects our commitment to growth, both in terms of team size and client reach,” Rathod continued. “We know the growing market in various industries in these cities. And there is more to come.”

Koffeetech has cultivated long-term partnerships with brands across India, helping them navigate the complexities of the digital landscape. The agency’s growing team now numbers over 75 skilled professionals, and this number is still increasing because we focus on specialised talent for each vertical, we have launched.

 Koffeetech has solidified its niche expertise in real estate, where its digital marketing solutions have helped developers increase lead generation, brand awareness, and sales. A Morgan Stanley report predicts that India’s e-commerce market will reach $200 billion by 2026, with a 30% compound annual growth rate. And Koffetech is all set to be the force that helps drive it.

We all know India has seen a surge in foreign direct investments in education, amounting to USD 9.51 billion between 2000 and 2024, boosting both higher education and EdTech sectors. In the education sector, Koffeetech is recognised for delivering results that drive student enrolment through targeted campaigns across digital platforms, and we are committed towards it.“Whether we’re working with real estate developers, educational institutions, or e-commerce brands, our goal is to provide them with strategic, impactful services that drive real results,” added Rathod.

Indulge in Fresh Flavours at Cafe Delhi Heights’ PASTA LA VISTA PASTA FRESCA Festival

Cafe Delhi Heights is excited to announce its month-long pasta festival, PASTA LA VISTA PASTA FRESCA, from 15th October to 15th November 2024. This festival brings the finest handmade, fresh pasta to food lovers, offering a range of authentic Italian dishes that can be customised to your preference.

 Guests can indulge in various pasta options, including fettuccine, spinach and goat cheese ravioli, linguine, cannelloni, and lasagna, each made fresh for the festival. To complement the pasta, the menu features a wide selection of sauces, from the spicy kick of Arrabiata to the creamy richness of Carbonara. Whether you choose a light Pomodoro sauce, the earthy notes of truffle with mushrooms, or a tangy Frutti di Mare with seafood, every dish is crafted to deliver bold, unforgettable flavours.

 Speaking of the festival, Vikrant Batra, Co-Founder of Cafe Delhi Heights, says, “At Cafe Delhi Heights, we’ve always celebrated diverse cuisines, and with the Pasta Fresca festival, we wanted to bring the true essence of Italian flavours to our guests. From handcrafted pasta to rich sauces, every dish reflects the love and care that goes into making authentic Italian food. We are confident this festival will create lasting memories for our patrons.”

 For meat lovers, there are tempting add-ons like grilled chicken, minced lamb, bacon, and smoked chicken, which can be paired with your choice of pasta and sauce. The options are endless, ensuring every visit to Cafe Delhi Heights during this festival is a new experience for the palate.

 This limited-time festival promises to be a pasta lover’s dream, blending rich ingredients, traditional Italian cooking, and modern culinary innovation. Be sure to visit any Cafe Delhi Heights outlet to savor these delectable creations.

Godrej Enterprises Group leads the way to a more responsible and sustainable future with Conscious Collective 2024

India, October 2024: Godrej Design Lab, part of the Godrej Enterprises Group, is back with the second edition of Conscious Collective, to be hosted from 13th to 15th December 2024, in Mumbai. Conscious Collective 2024 will gather thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers for a weekend filled with thought-provoking conversations, interactive workshops, immersive experiences, inspiring book reading sessions, retail and a reflective film screening segment, aimed at addressing some of the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.

This year’s theme, “Bridging Horizons for a Sustainable Future,” emphasizes the importance of fostering connections across diverse communities, disciplines, and perspectives. Godrej Design Lab, in collaboration with the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW), has undertaken a study on the critical role of sustainability in the built environment and the impact of urban surroundings on our everyday experiences in cities. The various segments of the platform will reflect this study, encouraging guests to rethink their lifestyle choices, particularly in relation to urban living. Conscious Collective will host over 20 unique installations curated by architects, designers and students from the creative field.

Conscious Collective 2024 will feature prominent thought leaders from around the globe, including Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Sanjay Puri, Veerendra Wakhaloo, Chithra Viswanath, Ayaz Basrai, and many others, who will share their expertise and inspiring innovative design approaches to real-world issues. Media veterans, Pramiti Madhavji and Sonia Bajaj have curated the conversation segment at Conscious Collective. To register for the showcase and conversations, visit consciouscollective.in

Committed to build a collective force towards a greener and more inclusive future, Conscious Collective has partnered with various other like-minded organizations like Raw Collaborative, India Climate Collaborative, India Climate Collective, Charles Correa Foundation among others to curate this experience. The platform has also collaborated with renowned creative minds and environment experts to curate the workshop and book reading segments. Tickets to workshops will be available on Insider.

The inaugural edition of Conscious Collective attracted close to 4000 visitors and featured several installations, interactive workshops, and collaborations with leading brands. With Conscious Collective 2024, Godrej Enterprises Group looks forward to pushing the boundaries of innovation that will shape a future where progress leaves a lasting and positive impact on people and the planet.

AVEVA unveils its connected roadmap for the future of industrial intelligence at AVEVA World Paris

India, October 16, 2024 – AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, is enabling new levels of innovation through the continued evolution of CONNECT, and three major product developments that drive the next step in digital transformation for its customers and partners.

At this year’s AVEVA World 2024 in Paris, AVEVA is showcasing its solutions and vision for how AI and digitally connected communities can accelerate efficiency, agility and sustainability by building connected information ecosystems. With more than 3,500 industry executives and experts in attendance, guests are being given the opportunity to see AVEVA’s latest innovations, attend keynote sessions with Michelin and Databricks, and explore an immersive expo.

During the event, Chief Product Officer, Rob McGreevy will share how AVEVA is continuing to deliver new software innovation, strengthened integration within its existing product suite, and further expand the CONNECT platform in support of its extensive partner ecosystem. Noteworthy announcements include the Industrial AI Assistant, AVEVA Unified Engineering, AVEVA Operations Control, and AVEVA PI Data Infrastructure which extend customers’ existing investments and enables a broad range of new use cases such as data sharing, digital twin visualization and AI and Analytics. This provides new levels of engineering efficiency, operational performance, and improved decision making.

For AVEVA Unified Engineering, the new enhancements will bring together global, multi-discipline, multi-organisation teams and allow them to work from the same up-to-date project data in a common environment. Whether working in 1D, 2D or 3D, AVEVA Unified Engineering takes teams from working in siloed applications with document-based workflows to an agile, intelligent, collaborative digital environment. It further helps businesses to deliver optimized plant designs by enabling collaborative, transparent data-centric decision-making processes, ultimately enabling companies to deliver projects on-time and on-budget.

“At AVEVA, we are constantly improving and streamlining our products to ensure the best results for our customers. AVEVA Unified Engineering brings together multidisciplinary design tools in a single, quick-to-deploy platform. Teams can now move from sequential workflows to real-time collaboration and community data sharing via CONNECT, reducing discrepancies and accelerating innovation,” comments Rob McGreevy, chief product officer, AVEVA.

AVEVA Operations Control is a complete operations offer with zero tag, IO, and server limitations; providing complete architectural flexibility from process to plant to enterprise. It offers unlimited access to HMI/SCADA visualization, historian, reporting and team collaboration capabilities. Data management capabilities will enable a new ecosystem and use cases including AI-powered analytics for quality and production optimization. As part of its update, AVEVA is including key CONNECT capabilities with every AVEVA Operations Control subscription. The combination benefits users with new insights from the industrial AI assistant that queries both process and MES data. Customers can take advantage of pre-defined and self-service editable dashboards and animations, to holistically visualize complex interactions. The combination of AI and visualization allows customers to investigate issues, solve problems, and gain actionable insights for optimizing production and the business.

McGreevy adds, “By pairing AVEVA Operations Control with the CONNECT platform, users have access to purpose-built AI capabilities for optimizing production throughput, quality and sustainability metrics.”

AVEVA also announced the continued evolution of AVEVA PI System portfolio with new and expanded capabilities for its AVEVA PI Data Infrastructure offering. New write-back capabilities from CONNECT to AVEVA PI Server enable real-time collaboration between operations experts and other stakeholders such as analysts and data scientists, allowing operators to incorporate advanced analytics within trusted tools and existing workflows. In addition, new performance enhancements will increase users’ ability to move, manage, and manipulate data to meet business demands. Customers are already achieving breakthrough results in productivity, quality, uptime and cost savings when they integrate their industrial data from the edge, the plant and the cloud using CONNECT.

“The latest AVEVA PI Data Infrastructure enhancements let customers leverage real-time operations data in a wider array of use cases and support data users in more functions, both inside and outside the enterprise. Our hybrid solution also enables industrial companies to see new levels of agility, scale and return from their expanded data infrastructure. We’re delighted to see the additional benefits our customers will achieve in the year ahead” states Rob McGreevy.

Beyond these flagship releases, a host of other capabilities enabled through CONNECT and our partner ecosystem will also be featured – including generative engineering design, enhanced planning, improved production operations (MES), performance, and simulation and optimization.

STEMROBO aims to train 20,000+ educators nationwide with Its Educator Training Program

Noida, 16 October, 24 – STEMROBO Technologies, a leading Edtech company in India, providing end-to-end solutions for K-12 schools education, has set a goal to train more 20,000 educators across India in the next three years through its Educator Training Program. Having already trained more than 30,000 educators worldwide through various training programs, this program is now focused on equipping teachers, career changers, and career enhancers with essential technology skills to better prepare students for the future.

The Educator Training Program offers accessible, online training across in-demand subjects such as coding, robotics, IoT, 3D design, Python programming, and AI/ML. Divided into three progressive levels, the program begins with foundational topics like game and app development, then moves to more advanced subjects, including IoT, robotics, and AI. By following the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) and earning endorsements from the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) and Skill India, the program provides industry-recognized certifications that help educators stay relevant in today’s evolving job market.

According to Anurag Gupta, Co-founder of STEMROBO Technologies, “Our Educator Training Program is a major step toward transforming education. With the aim to train 50,000+ educators nationwide over the next three years, we believe that empowering teachers with the right skills and tools is the key to shaping the future of learning. By training teachers with cutting-edge knowledge and certification, we are not only enhancing the quality of education but also creating new job opportunities. We are excited to be at the forefront of this transformation in the edtech industry, contributing to a more technologically advanced and prepared society”

The program offers several key features, including global access to Tinker & Innovation Labs for hands-on experience, lifetime access to a Learning Management System (LMS) for continuous learning, and placement assistance for educators, particularly those entering or transitioning into teaching roles. These elements ensure that participants not only gain new skills but also have the resources to apply them effectively in their careers.

STEMROBO’s mission to integrate advanced technology into K-12 education aligns with the goals of NEP 2020 (National Education Policy). By bridging the gap between traditional teaching methods and modern technologies, the program aims to empower educators with the skills to teach cutting-edge subjects like robotics, AI, and IoT, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in students. Through its commitment to developing tech-savvy educators, STEMROBO is shaping the future of education in India and preparing the next generation for a technology-driven world.

UiPath Joins Forces with SAP on an Integrated Offering to Accelerate Enterprise Automation for SAP Customers

Mumbai, India – October 16, 2024– UiPath, a leading enterprise automation and AI software company, announced the UiPath Platform will be integrated with the SAP Build Process Automation solution and sold as one of the SAP Solution Extensions. The offering is integrated with SAP Build Process Automation and will help to enable true enterprise-wide transformation by allowing customers to embrace a holistic view of automation across heterogeneous environments that span both SAP and non-SAP systems.

The UiPath addition to SAP Solution Extensions can help customers easily automate business processes and operate at enterprise scale. The integrated offering can unlock the full potential of enterprise automation for customers looking to save costs and quickly deploy enterprise-wide automations. With the solution extension, SAP customers can accelerate business transformation, migrate critical business systems to the cloud, and streamline business processes that traverse enterprise systems and applications.

Customers can also experience significant benefits from a comprehensive approach to automating end-to-end processes through:

• SAP’s portfolio of enterprise automation solutions: with iPaaS, process mining and RPA, to continually optimize the business processes to outperform with agility and transparency in real time.
• Simplifying and accelerating the migration to SAP S/4HANA Cloud: customers can expedite their journey to SAP S/4HANA Cloud by leveraging automation and proven migration content to prepare, clean, and synchronize the data between source and target systems, speed up the migration process, reduce the potential risks for go-live, and leverage automation as a key pillar in a clean core strategy.
• Enhancing rapid, sustained innovation: customers can unlock the full promise of enterprise automation by building industry-compliant best practices and end-to-end processes (such as Lead to Cash, Source to Pay, Recruit to Retire, Design to Operate) across SAP and other applications. This helps to create the digital thread that connects all enterprise applications, productivity tools, and legacy systems.

 “Customers are keen on a holistic approach to automating end-to-end processes that accelerates their business. We’re excited to welcome the market-leading capabilities of UiPath into the SAP Build Process Automation solution. As an SAP solution extension, we can provide customers with the critical ability to scale and deploy enterprise automation across their entire organization,” said Michael Ameling, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, SAP Business Technology Platform, SAP SE.

“Our combined offering is unique in the market. UiPath Platform within the SAP Build Process Automation solution delivers a seamless experience for SAP users to create, execute, and monitor automations from a single platform. This allows them to achieve transformative business outcomes, accelerate their automation journey, and gain added trust and compliance within their automation programs,” said Graham Sheldon, Chief Product Officer at UiPath.

The integrated solution will be available in October 2024 and aims to provide:

• True end-to-end automation across diverse IT landscapes
• Improved efficiency and productivity across SAP and non-SAP workloads
• Reduced long-term total cost of ownership within a supportable, governable approach that moves custom code to the ‘automation layer’
• Faster implementations by leveraging prebuilt solution accelerators

House Of Makeup, a premium beauty brand, launches 3 nude shades in their DAWN TO DAWN super-stay liquid lipstick collection

India, 2024:

House Of Makeup, a premium beauty brand known for its clean formulations, launches three new nude shades in its DAWN TO DAWN Super-Stay Liquid Lipstick collection. The new shades—Candy Frost, Glazed Nut, and Honey Coral are designed to complement all Indian skin tones and are perfect for the festive and wedding season.

These lightweight lipsticks are comfortable, hydrating and provide long-lasting wear without peeling or cracking. They settle into a matte finish and are made with 100% clean ingredients as directed by the EU Cosmetic Directive, including hyaluronic acid, a blend of five nourishing oils, and vitamin E. The collection features 13 full-size shades and 6 mini options to suit a wide range of skin tones

House Of Makeup’s DAWN TO DAWN collection has quickly gained popularity with the shades Ginger Snap—a lovely brown nude lipstick—and Cinnamon Blush—a reddish-brown shade, selling out in three days after being featured by celebrity beauty influencers. These new shades have been carefully formulated to complement Indian skin tones while adding a soft, versatile touch of color. Whether it’s for weddings, special events, or everyday wear, these shades offer variation and style.