Gadgets
Tear-based screening test soon for childhood blinding condition
By Dinesh C Sharma
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the most common serious eye complications that occurs in premature babies. It can lead to incomplete blood vessel growth in the retina, and eventual loss of vision. A group of researchers in Hyderabad have identified a biomarker that can help in detecting the risk of ROP from just a drop of tear.
Premature babies are administered oxygen to help them survive in incubators. This process, however, has to be monitored carefully as overexposure to oxygen can be highly toxic to blood vessels including those in the retina. Overexposure to oxygen in neonatal care is a major cause of ROP. Low oxygen levels in the retina when the child is out of incubator cause abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina, which in turn causes loss of neurons and vision loss. About 40 to 50% of prematurely born infants develop ROP and of them 10 to 18% progress to develop severe stages of this disease leading to blindness.
Researchers at the LV Prasad Eye Institute, who have been working on genetic or protein-based markers for ROP for many years, have identified a few proteins that cause inflammation in the eye leading to abnormal blood vessel growth. The levels of these inflammatory proteins – Complement component C3 and Matrix metalloproteinases 2 & 9 – were found to be higher in tear samples of preterm babies with ROP. Based on these findings, the group is developing a diagnostic test for ROP.
Researchers have also explained the role of inflammation caused by reduced oxygen levels in the eyes in the development of this condition. During the past few years, a screening programme for ROP has been conducted at all major neonatal intensive care units in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
Researchers at the LV Prasad Eye Institute
“While several risk factors for ROP such as low gestational age, low birth weight, oxygen supplementation, sepsis, multiple births and maternal health during pregnancy were thought to help in predicting the risk of ROP progression in premature infants, but these factors can’t help in predicting the risk of severe ROP,” said Dr Inderjeet Kaur, a scientist at the Kallam Anji Reddy Molecular Genetics lab of LV Prasad Eye Institute, while speaking to India Science Wire. “Besides identification of biomarker for this condition, our team is also working to fill the gap in existing knowledge about underlying molecular pathology of ROP”.
ROP is a ‘self limiting’ condition and it disappears by itself in most premature babies while progressing to severe stage in some. Therefore, early diagnosis can help in identifying at risk. Vision loss in such babies can be prevented through early interventions like laser surgery or drug-based treatments likely to become available in future.
The research team included Sonika Rathi, Subhadra Jalali, Satish Patnaik, Shahna Shahulhameed, Ganeswara R. Musada, Divya Balakrishnan, Padmaja K. Rani, Ramesh Kekunnaya, Preeti Patil Chhablani, Sarpras Swain, Lopamudra Giri, Subhabrata Chakrabarti and Inderjeet Kaur. The research findings were published in journal Frontiers in Immunology.(India Science Wire)
Phones & gadgets
Apple launches iPhone 15 series, India price, features, availability
The iPhone 15 series will be available in India from September 22 but iPhone lovers can also pre-order, starting from September 15 onwards.
Apple launched its most anticipated iPhone 15 series, including the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max during the Wonderlust event globally on September 12 night.
The iPhone 15 series will be available in India from September 22 but iPhone lovers can also pre-order, starting from September 15 onwards.
People can buy a new iPhone 15 or upgrade it to the old one. There are five colours available for the people.
According to reports, Apple has been manufacturing the iPhone 15 series in India and China. Apple has moved 7% of its iPhone production to India. Previously, India was not making the newest models. The Centre’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for smartphones played a part in Apple moving its production to India.
The new iPhone 15 has been launched with the same starting price as its prototype, the iPhone 14. The 128GB variant is priced at Rs 79,900, while the 256GB variant costs Rs 89,900. For people who need more storage, the 512GB variant is available for Rs 1,09,900.
This latest iPhone series puffs a 6.1-inch display and comes in five different colours which are pink, yellow, green, blue, and black. While the design remains the same as the previous models, the iPhone 15 features a dynamic island notch instead of the usual notch, which was highly popular among the iPhone 14 Pro phones.
The camera part of the iPhone series has undergone significant upgrades, the new iPhone 15, with an enhanced 48-megapixel primary sensor replaces the 12-megapixel dual camera system which was available in the previous iPhone 14. This significant improvement promises better low-light photography and portrait shots.
The tech giant announced that the iPhone 15 has an all-day battery life, making it more convenient for users to go about their daily activities without worrying about their phone’s battery.
The iPhone 15 Pro models feature a lighter body and thinner bezels. The new AirPods Pro with USB-C charging case will support Lossless Audio with Apple Vision Pro.
Additionally, the iPhone 15 is powered by Apple’s A16 bionic processor, an upgrade from the A15 bionic chipset used in the previous iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models. The Pro models had the faster and better A16 chip, but now this feature is available in all iPhone 15 models.
The USB-C port on the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus remain limited to lightning speeds up to 480 Mbps. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max support USB 3 speeds up to 10 Gbps. People will need to buy a separate 1-meter Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable for Rs 5,724 or Rs 10,701 for the 1.8-meter cable to support faster speeds.
The dynamic island notch feature, which can adjust its size according to notifications, was widely discussed before the launch of the iPhone 15. This unique feature can now be available in all models of the phone.
Another important feature of the iPhone 15 is the shift to the USB Type C charging port. Apple has abandoned the lightning port in favour of the more commonly used USB Type C charging port. This means, there is no longer a need for a special iPhone charging cable to be carried around everywhere you go.
Gadgets
OnePlus Onam Offers: Discounts, cashbacks, exchange offers, check details
ICICI customers can avail an extra Rs 500 discount through Net Banking on OnePlus 11 5G and OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey purchases from OnePlus.in till August 31, 2023.
OnePlus, one of the leading global technology brands, has announced a captivating lineup of products to celebrate the festive spirit of Onam. According to reports, OnePlus 11 5G and OnePlus 11R 5G come with exclusive savings and exchange bonuses during this festive season.
OnePlus Ensemble Bundle: The technology brand has introduced a curated collection of OnePlus 11 5G, OnePlus Pad and Buds Pro 2. Following an instant discount of Rs 4000 through ICICI Bank and OneCard, prices began at Rs 1,07,997. Furthermore, customers of Axis Bank, Citi, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI Cards, and OneCard can benefit from up to a 24-month No Cost EMI.
OnePlus 11 5G: ICICI customers can avail an extra Rs 500 discount through Net Banking on OnePlus 11 5G and OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey purchases from OnePlus.in till August 31, 2023. Meanwhile, OneCard users can also take an instant Rs 2000 bank discount on the same devices exclusively till August 31. Purchasers also have the opportunity to unlock an additional exchange bonus worth Rs 6000 and Rs 10000 on the OnePlus 11 5G and OnePlus 11 5G Marble Odyssey.
OnePlus Nord 3 and Nord CE 3: ICICI Bank Credit Card, Credit EMI and Debit Card EMI users can get an instant discount of Rs 1000 on purchase of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G. The offer is valid till August 31. Furthermore, OneCard credit card and EMI users can also enjoy an instant discount of Rs 1000 on the purchase of the OnePlus Nord 3 5G.
Moreover, OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G purchase facilitates a Rs 1000 instant discount on Axis Bank and Citi Credit and Debit Cards through EMI transactions and all OneCard transactions. This particular offer will be valid from September 1, 2023. Reportedly, this offer also holds eligibility for No Cost EMI with Axis Bank, Citi, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI cards and OneCard for six months.
vivo V23 Overview
Looking for a new smartphone that blends design with performance and utility? Launched in January 2022, vivo V23 delivers a premium experience, both in terms of hardware and software, while keeping the cost in check. If you want a fast vivo 5G mobile with a professional-quality camera, vivo V23 can be a good choice.
vivo V23 Price and Specifications
The price for the base variant of vivo V23 (Sunshine Gold, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage) is Rs. 29,990 in the Indian market.
1. Performance
vivo V23 has the efficient MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset under the hood. Coupled with 8GB RAM, the processor allows you to breeze through heavy gaming sessions, HD streaming, and multitasking. Since the processor goes through a 6 nm fabrication process, it can deliver a benchmark performance without draining the battery too much. The handset runs on Funtouch OS (based on Android 12) that offers a seamless and intuitive performance.
2. Design
vivo V23 weighs just 179g and is only 7.3mm thick, making it super easy to fit in your pocket. The mineral glass back gives the phone a classy, ergonomic feel, and the phone feels comfortable to operate even after long hours of usage. If you want to flaunt a unique-looking smartphone without paying too much, you should consider vivo V23.
3. Battery
A smartphone is only as good as its battery. vivo V23 seems to have taken this advice to heart – it packs a stunning 4,200 mAh battery that can last all day on a full charge. Additionally, the phone supports 44W quick charging that can charge the battery from 0 to 68% in only 30 minutes. If battery life is your main concern, vivo V23 can offer a promising solution.
4. Connectivity
The vivo V23 supports the latest 5G and 4G bands along with Wi-Fi 5, ensuring blazing-fast internet speeds. You also get Bluetooth 5.2 and a USB Type-C port allowing easy and seamless data transfer between devices. For uninterrupted and accurate navigation, the phone includes GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS. You also get support for a dual nano SIM, so you can use two numbers in a single smartphone.
5. Storage
vivo V23 packs 128GB of in-built storage, allowing you to store all your apps, multimedia, games, documents, etc. on the device. The storage capacity is sufficient even for heavy users who use their handsets as a portable hard drive. vivo V23 5G comes with the support for an OTG flash drive to store more if you run out of space.
6. Camera
vivo V23 offers a triple rear camera with a 64MP primary sensor (f/1.89 aperture), an 8MP Ultra-Wide sensor (f/2.2 aperture), and a 2MP macro lens (f/2.2 aperture). The dual front camera setup comprises a 50MP primary camera (f/2.0 aperture) and an 8MP Ultra-Wide camera (f/2.28 aperture). You also get a dual LED flash (one at the front and one at the back) allowing you to capture unbelievable night shots with the utmost clarity.
7. Display
Passionate gamers and OTT binge-watchers can rejoice over vivo V23’s stunning display. The large 6.44-inch AMOLED screen with HDR 10+ supports life-like colours and brings all your favourite TV shows and movies to life. Impressively, a 91% screen-to-body ratio provides a bezel-free viewing experience. Thanks to its 90Hz refresh rate, the display is also awesome for HD gaming.
With a premium design, amazing performance, and mesmerising display, vivo V23 is a value-for-money device and a mid-range smartphone marvel. If you want a premium handset experience without paying a premium price, you should definitely check out vivo V23 5G. The phone not only offers a smooth performance but also a long battery life on a single charge. So, what are you waiting for? Get your hands on this impressive device from Bajaj Mall online and walk away with the best deals and discounts in India.
