2 supercomputers from Pune in world's fastest 100

PUNE: Two of the four supercomputers in the country that feature in the top 100 in the list of 500 fastest supercomputers in the world, are from Pune. While the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) supercomputer stands 36th in the list, ParamYuva II, developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced computing (C-DAC) has bagged the 69th position.

The IITM supercomputer is yet to be installed while the Param Yuva II became operational from February 8 this year.

The list of top 500 supercomputers in the world was announced on Tuesday during the launch of the opening session of the International Supercomputing Conference in Leipzig, Germany.

Rajat Moona, director general, C-DAC said, "This is a major step for the country (for two of its supercomputers) to figure in the top 100 fastest supercomputers in the world. Over the years, India was losing its position in the supercomputer area in the world. In 2008, India had 10 machines in the top 500, but after that there was a bit of a downfall. In contrast, in 2004, China was nowhere on the scene but in the latest list, its supercomputer has taken the top ranking."

Moona said that India has taken a major step in the latest rankings and has more potential to move up as there is a huge demand for supercomputing in the country. He said that the union government is also looking at making an investment of Rs 5,000 crore in this area over the next five years.

Moona said, "There is a so much of high-end work being done in the area of weather forecasting, fluid dynamics, air borne bodies, ship movement, disaster management, design of earthquake prone structures that need massive supercomputing infrastructure. As a result of this need, the supercomputing infrastructure is also improving and has led to an improvement in world rankings for the country."

The Param Yuva II has a capacity of 524 teraflops and within three weeks of launching it was already running with a load of 70% of its capacity. Precise weather forecasting, faster tapping of natural resources in the sea and designing of customised drugs for individuals are some of the applications possible using Param Yuva II. It also promises to be energy efficient with 35% reduction in energy consumption as compared to other supercomputers.

The IITM supercomputer will start functioning in the next two to three months, Suryachandra Rao, chief programme scientist, department of high performance computing, IITM said. Rao said, "The supercomputer, once installed, will boost research in weather and climate forecasting as well as air pollution." Rao said that the process of installing the supercomputer was in progress and within one week of installation, it will be running. All the institutes under the union ministry of earth sciences will be using the IITM supercomputer facility.

Pride of place

Four supercomputers from India make it to fastest 100, of which two are from Pune

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) supercomputer stands 36th

Param Yuva II of Centre for Development of Advanced computing (C-DAC), gets 69th position

In 2008, India had 10 machines in the top 500, but had lost its position over the years

China, which was nowhere until 2004, got the top ranking this year

Mobile clinic for kidney ailments

KOZHIKODE: The mobile clinic launched under the Snehasparsham project of the Kidney Welfare Society of the district panchayat will tour all the schools in the district to detect kidney ailments.

The society decided to conduct school-level check-up considering the growing instances of renal diseases among students.

The society will provide Rs 50,000 per month to conduct check-up at the schools.

In the initial phase, the mobile van will tour all the higher secondary and high schools in its limit.

The project will cover the upper primary and lower primary schools in the second phase.

The doctors from Iqra hospital will conduct check-up among students to detect kidney ailments. The society will bring the students under the Snehasparsham project who are in need of monthly dialysis.

Those who have been detecting with symptoms of renal diseases will be asked to begin early treatment. The mobile van worth Rs 65 lakh was donated by one of the sponsors in the district.

District panchayat president and chairperson of the Kidney Welfare Society K Jameela said, "The growing number of kidney ailments among students forced us to think of conducting a camp for the early detection of renal diseases among them. Experts will check the blood pressure, ECG and renal disease in the schools. A total of 22 children belonging to the age of 12 to 20 years have been receiving benefits of the Snehasparsham Project. We hope to eliminate renal diseases in a phased manner from the district,'' said the chairperson.

Snehasparsham Project launched in the district aims at providing financial aid to beneficiaries to conduct dialysis.

At present, the society has been helping 635 patients to carry out dialysis.

The society is providing Rs 2,500 in cash and Rs 600 worth dialyser to each of the beneficiaries every month.

K Jameela said that the society will set up a dialysis centre at Kuttiyadi soon.

"The new centre will cater to the requirements of patients from Wayanad, Nadappuram, Kunnummal and Perambra. People have been approaching the dialysis centre set up at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital to carry out free dialysis,'' said the chairperson.

Sai Praneeth stuns second seed Yun in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Rising Indian shuttler Sai Praneeth B notched up a stunning straight-game victory over world number four Yun Hu of Hong Kong in the men's singles opening round in the Singapore Super Series on Wednesday.

The world number 61 Indian brushed aside the second seeded shuttler 21-9, 21-10 in a match that lasted 30 minutes at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The 20-year-old from Hyderabad, who had spoilt former world and Olympics champion Taufik Hidayat's farewell in Indonesia, will next take on the winner between RMV Gurusaidutt and Wei Feng Chong in the second round.

Praneeth had lost to Yun in straight games at the Vietnam International Challenge in 2009.

However, all other Indians suffered defeats in the opening round to crash out of the tournament.

Ajay Jayaram went down fighting 19-21, 21-18, 17-21 against fourth seed Kenichi Tago of Japan, while top seed Pengyu Du sent Anand Pawar packing 21-16, 21-13 in another men's singles match.

Another rising shuttler Sourabh Varma was defeated 17-21, 17-21 by Wing Ki Wong in another men's singles opening round match which lasted for 37 minutes.

In women's singles, Arundhati Pantawane lost to world number 26 Bulgarian Petya Nedelcheva 18-21, 18-21, while PC Thulasi put up a gallant fight against world number 14 Indonesian Lindaweni Faetri before going down 23-21, 16-21, 16-21 in an energy-sapping 66-minute match.

In mixed doubles competition, Indian pair of Tarun Kona and Ashwini Ponnappa lost to third seeds Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir 6-21, 10-21, while Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan suffered a 17-21, 21-19, 12-21 loss to Thai combo of Songphon Anugritayawon and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul.

Railways relaxes identity proof norms

Hyderabad: The Ministry of Railways has made some relaxation in the condition of production of original Proof of Identity during train travel, particularly for the passengers belonging to the lower economic classes.

Under this relaxation, attested photocopy of Ration Card with photograph and Nationalised Bank Passbook with photographs shall also be accepted as a prescribed proof of identity only in case of reserved tickets booked through computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, for undertaking journey in Sleeper (SL) and Second Reserved Sitting (2S) classes.

The photocopy of the Ration Card with photograph and Nationalised Bank Passbook with photograph should be attested by a Gazetted Officer or the Chief Reservation Supervisor or Station Manager/Station Master. This relaxation is not on other types of proofs of identity cards where only original proof will be required during journey.

The above provision is not applicable for all classes of e-tickets and Tatkal tickets and tickets issued through PRS counter for travelling in Air-conditioned classes and First Class. Travelling with these categories of tickets shall continue to be governed by existing instructions.

This provision shall be made effective from January 15, the South Central Railway said in a press release 

Special trains to carry stranded passengers

New Delhi: Railways on Wednesday decided to press services of special trains to rescue people stranded due to the flash floods at Haridwar, Rishikesh and other areas.

The recent flash floods have created a havoc affecting thousands of people in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has instructed the Railway Board to do whatever possible to rescue people from the flood affected areas, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

Special trains will be pressed into service from stations like Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar for stranded passengers.

Moradabad division has been asked to arrange trains for the stranded passengers. Special counters will be opened at stations for these passengers, said the official. Passenger profile will be carried out to know their destination and accordingly train services will be launched, the official said. 

I am free from cancer: Manisha Koirala

Actress Manisha Koirala, who has successfully battled ovarian cancer, maintained a vibrant and cheerful demeanour as she stepped out for a public function in New York recently.

The 42-year-old was seen wearing trousers, a white shirt, a casual white coat and a red hat. Manisha covered her head with a tied-up stole, and then further concealed it with the bright red hat. She not only looked elegant, she was also happier and healthier. Even her face and her smile reflected a unique glow as she interacted with several women in a green, open space.

"I am free from cancer," Manisha said at the event, thanking all those who wished her recovery during her tough time, according to Nepalese channel White Himal TV, which operates from New York.

Manisha, who carved her own niche in the Hindi film industry with films like 'Bombay', '1942: A Love Story' and 'Dil Se', was initially admitted to Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital on November 28 last year, after which she flew down to the US for further treatment. She is expected to return to India towards June end, her manager Subroto Ghosh said, adding, "She is now fine, all hale and hearty."

The actor is missing the Mumbai monsoons. She took to her Facebook page to share her thoughts, and posted, "Got to know (about) lovely rains in Mumbai. Can't wait to be on my terrace!"

Contract signed with DMRC for mono rail in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Mono Rail Corporation Limited and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Wednesday signed the contract for the proposed monorail projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.

Both projects would be completed in a time bound manner, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who is also the Chairman of KMRC, said.

DMRC Chief Consultant E Sreedharan, Speaker G Karthikeyan, State PWD Minister V K Ibrahim Kunju were among those present on the occasion.

The agreement will make DMRC

responsible for the design, preparation of the bid document, short-listing and selection of contractors, supervision, and quality certification for the 22.2-km monorail in Thiruvananthapuram and the 14.2-km project in Kozhikode, estimated to cost Rs 5581 crore.

A single agreement will be signed with DMRC for the projects as the general consultant and the executing agency are the same.

DMRC will be the general consultant of the project.

Instructions to take the initial steps have already been given. Tender procedures will be the preliminary process and offices of the monorail corporation will start functioning in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode soon, official sources said.

PTI