New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) The government’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) on Tuesday introduced an interoperable QR code that is set to transform the e-commerce landscape and empower every seller — from local artisans to neighbourhood shopkeepers.

Sellers have been limited by platform constraints, struggling to make their products visible to a wider audience.

The interoperable QR code, currently in its alpha phase, allows sellers to generate a unique QR code that customers can scan using an ONDC-registered buyer app, starting with magicpin and Paytm, and soon expanding across the entire network after initial testing.

“ONDC’s interoperable QR code breaks down the barriers that have held small businesses back. Now, every seller has the power to reach customers digitally, just like the e-commerce giants. It’s a massive leap towards an open, inclusive, and democratised digital marketplace,” said T Koshy, MD and CEO, ONDC.

With this, sellers can display their QR codes anywhere — on storefronts, products, marketing materials, or social media — instantly connecting with customers both offline and online, said the open network launched by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

Last month, in a bid to empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the government announced an initiative to onboard five lakh MSMEs to the ONDC.

“Think of the local shopkeeper, the street vendor, the artisan — they can now be discovered and patronised by anyone, anywhere,” Koshy said.

“This isn’t just a new feature; it’s a catalyst for economic growth and digital inclusion. Millions of businesses will come online, creating new opportunities and driving India’s digital economy forward,” he added.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Young scientists, who engage in interdisciplinary research in biomedicine, face significant career impediments compared to their peers who focus solely on their discipline.

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that the research, led by Professor Bruce Weinberg from The Ohio State University, analysed data on 154,021 biomedical PhD graduates and over 2.6 million research papers.

The study found that young interdisciplinary researchers tend to stop publishing earlier in their careers, with half of the most interdisciplinary (top 1 per cent) ceasing publication by the eighth year, compared to over 20 years for moderately interdisciplinary researchers (10-75 per cent range).

“As an economist, you would think that the most interdisciplinary young researchers would get the most rewards because that is the type of research that is seen as most valuable. But that doesn’t appear to be the case,” said Weinberg.

The study highlighted the importance of integrating knowledge across various disciplines, including biology, physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering, and social science, to address complex biomedical challenges such as food sustainability, ageing, and disease treatment.

However, despite universities encouraging interdisciplinarity, long-standing academic structures focused on individual disciplines may hinder early-career researchers with broad interests.

Interestingly, the study noted that while young researchers initially decrease their interdisciplinary work over time, interdisciplinarity increases as researchers’ careers progress. This suggests that established scientists may have more freedom to explore diverse fields.

“We are missing an opportunity by not encouraging the bright young minds who are already interested in working with scientists in other fields to solve society’s most difficult problems,” Weinberg emphasised.

The study calls for academic institutions to reconsider how they support interdisciplinary research, particularly for emerging scientists.

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) Electric bus (e-bus) sales in India will rise by 75 to 80 per cent on a year-on-year basis due to policy push by government authorities, a report said on Tuesday.

Research firm Crisil Ratings said, “The supply of electric buses (e-buses) in India will surge 75-80 per cent to 6,000-6,500 this fiscal, spurred by increasing deployment via tenders awarded under various schemes for procurement by state transport undertakings (STUs) through the gross cost contract (GCC) model.”

These schemes include Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles (FAME) (1 and 2), National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP) under Convergence Energy Service Ltd (CESL) (1 and 2), and PM-eBus Sewa Scheme.

The report further said that the government’s push to lower carbon emissions in public transport will drive e-bus adoption.

Gautam Shahi, Director, CRISIL Ratings, said, “E-bus adoption is truly in a sweet spot because the interests of STUs and bus operators are being taken care of under the GCC model, with optimal distribution of risk among stakeholders.”

According to the report, “The surge in e-bus orders will generate economies of scale in production and declining battery costs will lower the purchase price of an e-bus. The benefits of the potential decline in e-bus prices may be passed on to STUs by bus operators, in terms of rentals per km, thus further aiding adoption.”

Pallavi Singh, Associate Director, CRISIL Ratings, said, “Existing strong e-bus orderbook, along with the remaining orders of 7,800 buses to be awarded under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme 4 will give a fillip to the sector.

“The government is expected to further augment this scheme, which will continue to support growth of e-bus sales over this and next fiscal.”

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Klerman and Freedman Prizes, recognising outstanding clinical and basic research in mental illness. These prestigious awards honour the work of scientists supported by the Foundation’s Young Investigator Grants Program.

The 2024 Klerman and Freedman prize winners are being recognised for their significant findings related to suicide prevention, PTSD, substance-use disorders, autism, brain biology, and therapeutic drug development,” said Dr Jeffrey Borenstein, President and CEO of the BBRF. He highlighted that their work advances diagnostic tools, identifies effective treatments, and aids in the prevention of mental illness.

The prize winners were selected by the BBRF Scientific Council, comprising 192 leading mental health researchers. Since 1987, the Foundation has awarded over $450 million to more than 5,400 scientists globally. The awards are named after Gerald Klerman, MD, and Daniel Freedman, MD — legendary figures in neuropsychiatry.

Juliet Beni Edgcomb, MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles, has been selected for the 2024 Klerman Prize for Exceptional Clinical Research.

Dr Edgcomb is developing methodologies to identify children and adolescents with suicide-related symptoms from electronic health record (EHR) data. Her research aims to establish predictive variables to better recognise suicide-related phenotypes, potentially improving early intervention strategies.

Christina K. Kim, PhD, University of California, is the recipient of the 2024 Freedman Prize for Exceptional Basic Research.

Dr Kim’s work focuses on new methods to record and alter neuronal activity, specifically targeting neurons and molecular biomarkers affected by therapeutic drugs for depression and anxiety. This research could lead to the development of more specific and effective treatments with fewer side effects.

Elizabeth V. Goldfarb, PhD, Yale University, has been chosen for the 2024 Klerman Prize Honorable Mention.

Dr Goldfarb’s lab explores how stress influences memory and subsequent behaviours. Her research integrates cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging to identify memory markers that could inform therapeutic interventions.

Erin Gibson, PhD, Stanford University, has been selected for the 2024 Freedman Prize Honorable Mention.

Dr Gibson studies the circadian system’s role in neuroendocrine and immune regulation, focusing on the impact of glial cells on neural circuits and their connection to disorders such as autism and Alzheimer’s disease.

Hugo A. Tejeda, PhD, National Institute of Mental Health, is the recipient of the 2024 Freedman Prize Honorable Mention.

Dr Tejeda investigates neuromodulation in limbic neural circuits, examining the role of neuropeptides and dopamine in threat appraisal and motivation, with implications for understanding psychiatric disorders.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Aerospace industry leaders Thales and Garuda Aerospace on Tuesday announced a collaboration to promote the development of the drone ecosystem in India.

As part of the agreement, Thales will provide expertise in the field of unmanned traffic management (UTM) solutions, UAV detection and system integration, while Garuda will bring its skills in the manufacture and use of UAVs, as well as its expertise in the Indian market.

Established in 2015, Garuda Aerospace has a vast fleet of over 2,500 drones and 4,000 pilots across 400 districts.

This collaboration, said the companies, aims to foster innovation and advance the development of technological solutions that can enable safe and secure drone operations and help the growth of drone-based applications in the country.

The government is providing a robust foundation for the drone ecosystem, fostering opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and growth.

“This collaboration aligns well with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision, and seeks to support the country in realising its ambition to become a major global hub for drones by 2030,” said Ashish Saraf, VP and Country Director, Thales in India.

Thales has built end-to-end solutions for drone integration and the development of advanced UTM systems.

The company works closely with civil aviation authorities and air navigation service providers to deliver strategic UTM capabilities, including registration, authorisation and geo-awareness.

Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, said that ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 100 Garuda drones in 100 villages, they cemented market dominance in the precision agri-drone segment, where 50 per cent of agri drones are from Garuda.

“Equipped with the largest fleet in India coupled with Thales’ UTM technology and their worldwide experience, Garuda Aerospace will aim to revolutionise the drone sector and play a key role in the transformation of India into a global drone powerhouse,” said Jayaprakash.

Present in India since 1953, Thales has over 2,200 employees in the country.

Founded in 2015 with a team of five, Garuda has scaled to a more than 200-member team. It manufactures 30 types of drones and offers 50 types of services.

–IANS

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