October, 2024 -

14Oct, 2024

KMC Manipal Welcomes New MBBS Students at MedOrient 2024 Inaugural Ceremony

Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal, part of the prestigious Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), hosted a grand inaugural event on October 14, 2024, to welcome the new MBBS Batch of 2024-25. Held at the Dr. TMA Pai Auditorium, the event marked the beginning of an important academic journey for the students who attended the ceremony with their families, faculty members, and dignitaries in celebration of this milestone.

Chief Guests of the ceremony were Dr. Sharath K. Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences) of MAHE, with Dr. Raviraja N.S., Chief Operating Officer of MAHE Manipal, attending as the Guest of Honour, and Dr. Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital Manipal, serving as the Chief Guest.

Dr. Padmaraj Hegde, Dean of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, delivered the welcome address and provided an overview of what the students could expect in the coming years. He warmly welcomed the new batch of students, emphasizing KMC’s commitment to shaping not only competent doctors but also compassionate human beings. He highlighted the importance of balancing academic excellence with empathy, urging students to take advantage of every opportunity provided by the institution and to remain committed to the core values of the medical profession—compassion, empathy, and service.

The event began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by a tribute to Dr. TMA Pai, the visionary founder of MAHE. The highlight of the event was the White Coat Ceremony, Conducted by Dr Anil K. Bhat, Associate Dean, KMC, Manipal a symbolic rite of passage into the medical profession. The new students donned their white coats and took the Charaka Shapath, pledging to adhere to the ethical principles of medicine throughout their careers.

In his keynote address, Dr. Sharath K. Rao emphasized the responsibility that comes with entering the medical profession. “Today marks the start of a journey where knowledge meets compassion. As future doctors, you will be the source of hope and healing for your patients. Remember that while your academic excellence is crucial, your empathy and integrity will define your career,” he said, encouraging the students to remain committed to both learning and service.

Dr. Raviraja N.S., in his address as the Guest of Honour, highlighted KMC’s legacy of academic excellence and urged the students to embrace the challenges ahead. “Medical education requires perseverance, dedication, and a continuous thirst for knowledge. At Kasturba Medical College, we will provide you with every opportunity to grow and succeed, but it is your passion and hard work that will truly determine your future,” he remarked, motivating the students to strive for success both academically and personally.

The event also featured a special address by Dr. Avinash Shetty, who officially welcomed the batch by releasing the Student Handbook and handing over the white coats. “The white coat you wear today is a symbol of trust, responsibility, and service. Embrace it with integrity, and always strive to serve the community with the highest ethical standards,” he said.

Students and their parents also had the opportunity to participate in exhibitions organized by faculty members and students of KMC, which showcased the rich history, academic achievements, and research contributions of the institution. These exhibitions provided a glimpse into the wide range of opportunities available to students at KMC, from cutting-edge research to cultural and co-curricular activities, fostering a deeper connection between the students, their families, and the institution.

Throughout the day, students attended several informative and engaging sessions designed to help them transition into medical school life. These sessions focused on peer mentoring, the importance of research, and the value of co-curricular and cultural activities, ensuring that students are well-prepared to thrive both academically and socially. A panel discussion titled “What I Wish I Knew When I Entered Medical School” provided valuable insights from senior students and faculty, offering practical advice to help the new students navigate the challenges ahead.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Kanthilatha Pai. To symbolize the beginning of their new journey at KMC, students participated in a sapling planting ceremony at Endpoint, marking the start of their academic careers and their connection to the institution. The successful inauguration ceremony left students and their families excited and motivated for the journey ahead, as Kasturba Medical College reaffirmed its commitment to excellence in medical education and its role in shaping the future of healthcare.

10Oct, 2024

Team ’24 Europe: Atlassian Rovo now generally available, new AI capabilities, and a glowup for Jira

Team '24 Europe: Atlassian Rovo now generally available, new AI capabilities, and a glowup for Jira

During its Team ’24 Europe conference, Atlassian, a leading provider of team collaboration and productivity software, announced the general availability of Rovo, an AI-powered tool that enables teams to unlock organizational knowledge at scale, less than six months after its introduction.

It was announced alongside a host of new AI capabilities across its product suite, empowering teams to unlock greater levels of productivity and collaboration. Atlassian also unveiled new features and a new look for its flagship product Jira that make it easier, more flexible, and powerful for all types of work.

Mike Cannon-Brookes, CEO and co-founder, Atlassian said, “Rovo is one of the most ambitious and important products we’ve ever built. I’m thrilled we can get it into our customers’ hands just five months after we first announced it in Las Vegas.

“Whether you’re a dev team building the next big thing, a marketing team creating your next big campaign, or a service agent helping your customers solve a really big problem, AI is going to transform the way your work gets done. It’s a huge opportunity for us, and most importantly, for our customers.”

Rovo: Unlocking organizational knowledge at scale

Powered by generative AI and the teamwork graph, Rovo seamlessly integrates into the Atlassian platform, and helps speed up work by making it easier to access the information teams need. Teams are already saving 1-2 hours of time per week on average, with 75% of beta users saying Rovo helps them get work done faster and 80% say Rovo helps them find the right information at the right time.

With the newly announced Rovo Search Connectors, Rovo Data Center Connectors, and the Rovo Browser Extension, these teamwork graphs become even richer as they get access to more sources. The search connectors also provide more knowledge to Rovo Chat, helping teams get the answers they need without switching tabs. Teams globally are pulling Rovo Agents into workflows to get better outcomes, while simultaneously saving hours or even days.

AI-powered innovation across the Atlassian suite

To improve collaboration and empower teams, Atlassian infused AI into all its products under the Atlassian Intelligence umbrella. The newest in-product AI features help customers reduce friction for developers, promote better collaboration across all teams, and accelerate service delivery and incident management. The key highlights include:

Jira: The new AI capabilities automatically break down work items, generate tickets, and streamline project management.
Jira Service Management: The AI-powered agents now assist with incident management, resource allocation, and post-incident reviews.
Development Tools: AI assists developers with code generation, analysis, and pull request reviews, boosting velocity and code quality.

A refreshed Jira for all teams

Earlier this year, Atlassian announced the next evolution of Jira – a shared place for every team to align on goals and priorities, track and collaborate on work, and get the insights they need to build something incredible, together.

Today at Team 24 Europe, Atlassian shared a refreshed and improved Jira experience to empower all teams to collaborate effectively and achieve ambitious goals. Now, Jira is bringing more flexibility to support any team’s work style, through a new customizable sidebar that simplifies navigation and brings AI-powered search front and center. There are also new background colors, images, and card covers to take personalization even further.

To better reflect Jira’s expanded user base to all teams, issues will no longer be the default name in Jira and teams can choose what to call their work (whether it’s “task” or “launch” or “issue”). Teams can also create custom project templates with pre-configured workflows, automations, permissions, and more, to scale their ways of working while remaining consistent.

10Oct, 2024

Ratan Naval Tata, Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons passed away

Ratan Tata, Tata Sons’ Chairman Emeritus, died at the Breach Candy Hospital from age-related health issues. He was 86. Tata was brought to the hospital on Monday, prompting widespread speculation about his health in corporate, political, and public circles.

Later, he stated that he was undergoing standard medical tests for age-related health concerns. He was then reportedly put on life support, though Tata Group executives declined to confirm or refute this.

N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, stated that it is with profound sadness that we bid farewell to Mr. Ratan Naval Tata, a genuinely exceptional leader whose incalculable contributions have impacted not only the Tata Group but also the very fabric of our nation.

“For the Tata Group, Mr. Tata was more than just a chairman. For me, he was a mentor, guide, and friend. He led by example. Under his leadership, the Tata Group extended its global footprint while maintaining committed to its moral compass.

“Mr. Tata’s commitment to philanthropy and social development has had an impact on millions of people. From education to healthcare, his initiatives have left a lasting impact that will benefit future generations. Tata’s genuine humility in every individual interaction served to reinforce all of this work.

“On behalf of the whole Tata family, I send our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones. His legacy will continue to inspire us as we try to maintain the principles he so passionately championed.”

Tata, known for his genteel demeanor hiding a stern and keen commercial acumen, was the all-powerful Chairman of Tata Sons, the Tata Group’s holding company, from 1991 until his retirement on December 28, 2012.

Under his leadership, the group’s revenues increased dramatically, reaching more than $100 billion (in 2011-12).
Tata has previously served as Chairman of important Tata firms such as Tata Motors, Tata Steel, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Power, Tata Global Beverages, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels, and Tata Teleservices.
He was also involved with several groups in India and overseas, serving on the international advisory boards of Mitsubishi Corporation and JP Morgan Chase.

Tata was also Chairman of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research’s Council of Management, as well as a member of the Cornell University and University of Southern California Boards of Trustees.

The Mumbai-born and educated Tata, born on December 28, 1937, joined the Tata group as a young executive in 1962, after earning a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University that year.

He temporarily worked with Jones and Emmons in Los Angeles before moving to India at the end of 1962 and working on Tata Steel’s shop floor.

After working for several organizations, he was appointed Director-in-Charge of the National Radio and Electronics Company in 1971, and he later attended an Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School in 1975.

In 1981, he was appointed Chairman of Tata Industries, the firm’s other holding company, where he was in charge of developing it into a group strategic think tank and supporter of new ventures in high-technology enterprises.

After retirement, Tata was given the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, Tata Industries, Tata Motors, Tata Steel, and Tata Chemicals.

Tata was the current chairman of the Tata Trusts, which included the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and Allied Trusts, as well as the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Allied Trusts.

Under his guidance and leadership, these Trusts grew from reactive charities to India’s leading philanthropic foundations, working to improve the lives of millions of people through meaningful partnerships with like-minded non-profit organizations, communities, governments, corporations, and foreign funding organizations.

In 2008, the Indian government presented Tata with the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award. He has also earned numerous prizes, honours, and honorary doctorates from various Indian and international universities, among other distinctions.

He is survived by his brothers and sisters, including Simone Tata, Jimmy Tata, Noel Tata, Aloo Tata, Shireen Jejeebhoy, Deanne Jejeebhoy, Leah Tata, Maya Tata, Neville Tata, Manasi Tata, Jamset Tata, Tiana Tata, and others, according to a family statement.

8Oct, 2024

Green technology goods to assist India in achieving its climate targets

Industry experts stated on Monday that while enterprises are aligning with the government’s ambition to produce sustainable solutions and products, India is also striving to meet its climate action goals by moving towards a green future.

The government is stepping up efforts to achieve its aim of having no net carbon emissions by 2070, encompassing everything from electronics to non-fossil energy sources and green data centers.

Data center capacity in the nation is expected to double, reaching 2000 MW by 2026, as the nation moves toward a developed market economy and “green energy” solutions become more popular. In India, green data centers are the next big thing in environmentally friendly digital infrastructure.

Hardware that uses less energy and produces less heat is being used in modern data centers. In an effort to lessen their influence on the environment, many data centers are implementing green initiatives.

The nation may add an additional 500 MW of data center capacity over the course of the next four years, which is why the green strategy is being implemented. With the data center industry doubling from 540 MW in 2019 to 1,011 MW in 2023, India is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

The next wave of real estate and artificial intelligence investments will be made possible by the growth of India’s data center sector, which will unlock enormous stakeholder value, according to Prateek Jhawar, Managing Director and Head of Avendus Capital’s infrastructure and real assets investment banking.

Under its new ‘Ecoverse’ program, telecom gear manufacturer GX Group has become the first company to introduce wi-fi routers constructed from recyclable and biodegradable materials.

With 110 million active fiber connections, India is expected to become the second-largest fiber broadband market in the world by 2030. However, regulating the environmental impact of telecom infrastructure is becoming more and more difficult.

The networking infrastructure company’s CEO, Paritosh Prajapati, stated that the company’s use of recycled and biodegradable materials promotes the Swachh Bharat initiative as well as India’s climate goals.

India’s wired broadband market is expected to grow to be worth more than $1.8 billion by FY 2030–31, therefore GPON optical network termination (ONTs) and sustainable routers are the way of the future.

6Oct, 2024

Microsoft and Infosys increase their cooperation to support the global deployment of GenAI

Microsoft and Infosys, two key players in technology, said on Wednesday that they will be expanding their partnership to support the global customer adoption of Microsoft Azure and generative AI.

The goal of the action is to assist Microsoft and Infosys’ joint clients in realizing the return on their technology investments and achieving game-changing results.

Infosys started using GitHub Copilot early on. More than 18,000 developers have created and utilized more than 7 million lines of code from Copilot as of right now.

“This collaboration addresses various business problems by delivering heightened value to clients through a customer-centric approach, providing scalability, agility, and cost-efficiency across key sectors like finance, healthcare, supply chain and telecommunications,” said Anand Swaminathan, EVP and Global Industry Leader – Communications, Media and Technology, Infosys.

Infosys just opened the first-ever GitHub Center of Excellence (CoE) in the industry.

The company stated that the partnership will help improve customer experiences and accelerate the global adoption of enterprise AI in conjunction with Microsoft’s technology and its own industry-leading AI and Cloud suite of offerings, Infosys Topaz and Infosys Cobalt, as well as its AI-powered marketing suite Infosys Aster.

Numerous of these solutions will be made available on the Azure Marketplace, enabling users to make use of their Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) and generating a market opportunity that benefits both parties.

The increased partnership between Microsoft and Infosys, according to Nicole Dezen, Chief Partner Officer, will change sectors, improve corporate operations, improve employee experiences, and provide new value for clients.

“Collaboratively, we will leverage the potential of generative AI to provide inventive solutions, promote AI adoption, and facilitate unparalleled innovation for our clientele,” stated Dezen.

By 2030, the productivity gains of AI developers might increase the world GDP by more than $1.5 trillion.

According to a recent GitHub research, after the first year of the product’s release, users accepted about 30% of the code recommendations from GitHub Copilot and reported higher productivity as a result.

More than 20,000 organizations and over a million developers have embraced GitHub Copilot.

5Oct, 2024

Why grilled, baked, and deep-fried foods are the main cause of diabetes in India

Experts on Sunday concluded that the ultra-processed foods that are ubiquitous throughout India and have become a mainstay in most homes in recent years—deep-fried, baked, and grilled—are directly to blame for the nation’s steadily rising diabetes rates.

There are an astounding 101 million diabetics living in India. Over ten percent of children aged 5 to 19 have pre-diabetes, according to the most recent ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are produced when ultra-processed meals are deep-fried, baked, or grilled. These AGEs cause inflammation and are linked to a number of disorders, including diabetes, according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition.

“When we fry or grill foods it leads to oxidative stress which is a promoter of inflammation. Chronic inflammation in the body is linked to diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and even some forms of cancer. Ultra-processed foods and those foods which are high in trans fats are harmful to health,” said diabetologist Dr. V Mohan from Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) in Chennai.

Red meat, fried foods, french fries, fried chicken, bacon, biscuits, baked goods, butter, margarine, and sugary foods are all considered to be AGE-rich foods, according to the study. Conversely, low-age foods include fruits and vegetables, broccoli, legumes, oats, dairy, eggs, fish, and tree nuts like cashews, walnuts, and almonds.

Our investigation revealed a connection between type 2 diabetes and inflammation and foods high in dietary ages. Foods low in AGEs were protective against diabetes, according to Mohan.

Glycation is a non-enzymatic process that forms AGEs when sugar molecules attach themselves to lipids or proteins.

Compounds that are damaging to the body, especially inflammation, can be formed as a result of this process.

“Fried food means that we are having excess saturated fat and calories, so it will naturally not be good for us,” Dr. Ambrish Mithal, Chairman & Head – Endocrinology & Diabetes, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, who was not part of the study.

“Much of the food in India that is deep fried, especially street food, is of reheated oil. Reheated oil is very rich in trans fats — a big factor for increasing the risk of heart disease, some types of cancers,” he added.

What about baked or grilled foods, then?

According to Mithal, although it makes sense intuitively, grilled food is not inherently healthful. While acknowledging that baked food is typically heavy in carbohydrates, the doctor added, “Even though it isn’t fried, it exposes food to high temperatures which gives rise to the production of certain toxic aromatic carbons in the food, which can be carcinogenic.”

According to Mohan, who is calling on the government to support healthy eating practices, these foods are one of the main contributors to the nation’s high rate of obesity and diabetes.

According to Mohan, “excess carbohydrate intake in the form of white rice or refined wheat is a direct driver of the diabetes epidemic,” as demonstrated by the MDRF study.

In addition, air pollution, stress, and sleep deprivation are major causes.

The doctor stated, “Government policy should therefore be directed towards encouraging the cultivation and promotion of foods which are low with dietary AGEs, especially green leafy vegetables and low-glycemic index fruits.”

4Oct, 2024

IMDb Celebrates Top 250 Indian Movies of All Time

IMDb (www.imdb.com), the world’s most popular and authoritative source for information on movies, TV shows, and celebrities, has reached 250,000 followers on its India Instagram handle, launched in October 2022. Entertainment fans across the country rely on the IMDb India social media handles to learn who and what is trending, discover new content, and decide what and where to watch. To celebrate this milestone, IMDb has designed a limited edition collectible poster of the Top 250 Highest Rated Indian Movies of all time, which will be presented as a gift to select entertainment industry leaders. Additionally, IMDb India will host a contest on Instagram, giving select fans the opportunity to win this coveted poster. Head to the IMDb India Instagram to learn more about the contest.

The IMDb Top 250 Highest Rated Indian Movies list is a collection of the highest-rated Indian films, which allows fans to celebrate and discover groundbreaking new films, as well as classics from all decades, genres, and regions. Titles on this dynamic list are determined by ratings from IMDb users who regularly vote on IMDb.

Notably, the current No. 1 movie on the list is 2023’s critically-acclaimed 12th Fail. Alongside contemporary hits like Maharaja, Kantara, and Laapataa Ladies, the list also features classics such as Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Pariyerum Perumal, and Pather Panchali, showcasing the diversity of Indian cinema. Together, the 250 movies on the list have received more than 8.5 million votes on IMDb.

Here are the top 20 titles from the list, as of September 22, 2024:

It is noteworthy that five titles from 2024, including Maharaja, Maidaan, The Goat Life, Laapataa Ladies, and Manjummel Boys, are on the list. The earliest movie on the list is Satyajit Ray‘s classic Pather Panchali, released in 1955.

With seven titles, director Mani Ratnam has the highest number of movies on the list, followed by Anurag Kashyap with six titles.

Interestingly, the list also includes six movies along with their sequels: Drishyam (Malayalam) and Drishyam 2 (Malayalam), Drishyam (Hindi) and Drishyam 2 (Hindi), Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. and Lage Raho Munna Bhai , Jigarthanda and Jigarthanda DoubleX , K.G.F: Chapter 1 and K.G.F: Chapter 2 and Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion .

Sharing his excitement about 12th Fail topping the list, Vikrant Massey reflected on the most touching scene from the film. He said, “The scene I want to highlight is the champi sequence between Manoj and his mother, which was a pivotal moment in the film when Manoj comes to the realization that his grandmother has passed. What makes it special is the amount of planning and production that goes into shooting even a single shot. In this scene, in the background, there’s a door with magic light—the brief period when day meets night, lasting only 5 to 7 minutes. Vidhu Vinod Chopra sir and DOP Rangarajan Ramabadran designed this master shot months in advance. On set, we actors had to be precise, as we had only those few minutes to capture it. Geeta ji and I chose not to use glycerin for this emotionally taxing scene, opting instead to feel as close to the moment as possible. It was a scene where we were required not to cry, but weep. So, it was a big challenge. It took several rehearsals, but we managed to pull it off.“

1Oct, 2024

Tally Solutions signs MoU with AIC – Pondicherry Engineering College Foundation to support the start-up ecosystem

Tally Solutions signs MoU with AIC - Pondicherry Engineering College Foundation to support the start-up ecosystem

Tally Solutions signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today and announced its strategic partnership with the Atal Incubation Centre – Pondicherry Engineering College Foundation (AIC-PECF), a premier incubation center supported by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Niti Aayog, Government of India. The key focus of the collaboration will be to drive entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic growth in India by providing critical mentorship, financial aid, and technological support to budding startups.

Under this partnership, AIC-PECF will focus on mentoring and guiding young entrepreneurs, particularly at the initial stages of their ventures, while Tally Solutions will provide technological and business support to help these enterprises scale and succeed in the later stages.

Commenting about this partnership Jayati Singh, Chief Marketing Officer, Tally Solutions, said, “We are excited to collaborate with AIC-PECF and our association is aligned with Tally’s vision to nurture the entrepreneurs’ ecosystem in India. While AIC-PECF takes the lead in the initial phases, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to evolve their ideas into sustainable business models. We will be strategically involved in the incubation and post-incubation stages, connecting entrepreneurs with the right avenues for credit access and investments. Additionally, we will also extend need-based technology training, which will be instrumental in addressing persistent skill gaps in the industry. We are committed to empowering the next generation of business leaders and look forward to the success stories that will emerge from this partnership.”

Mr. Vishnu Varadan, CEO of AIC-PECF, said, “We are excited to announce our collaboration with Tally to empower early-stage startups in Puducherry by providing advanced financial tools and training on TallyPrime. Our experience with first-generation entrepreneurs from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities has shown that financial management is a significant challenge for these startups. This partnership will equip them with the necessary tools and guidance to establish sound financial practices, contributing to the development of resilient and sustainable businesses in the Puducherry startup ecosystem. Additionally, this initiative aligns with AIC-PEC Foundation’s mission to foster innovation and entrepreneurship through mentorship, training, and essential resources, ultimately helping entrepreneurs and young innovators effectively manage their finances and scale their operations.”

The partnership between Tally Solutions and AIC-PECF is expected to impact companies across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, clean energy and sustainable technologies, education, housing, transportation, Cyber security, IOT, Robotics and AI, water and sanitation, etc. Both organizations will be committed to fostering an enhanced entrepreneurial culture through workshops, seminars, and networking events, further cementing their dedication to innovation and the growth of India’s startup ecosystem.

Tally Solutions is optimistic that through this joint effort, many startups and aspiring entrepreneurs will benefit from access to mentorship, resources, and technology, positioning them for success in the competitive business landscape.

Page 2 of 2

« Previous 1 2

Monthly Archives: October 2024