Lafayette Online

Purdue highlights cloud computing tools at supercomputing conference

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:39:50 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Facebook for scientists — but built to facilitate serious research rather than socializing — and an award-winning method for putting idle computers to work on scientific breakthroughs are Purdue-developed technologies in the spotlight at the SC09, the world’s largest high-performance computing conference.

Purdue's DiaGrid team includes, from left, Andy Howard, Phil Cheeseman, John Campbell, David Braun, Preston Smith and Carol Song. The team is posing with images from the scientific research enabled by DiaGrid, projected in a multiwalled virtual environment at ITaP's visualization facility. Campus Technology Magazine selected DiaGrid for a 2009 international Campus Technology Innovators Award. (Purdue University photo/Andrew Hancock)

Purdue is highlighting the HUBzero and DiaGrid technologies at the university’s booth at SC09, which opens today (Monday, Nov. 16) in Portland, Ore.

HUBzero is a soon-to-be open source software platform developed by Purdue for deploying and applying computational research tools, visualizing and analyzing results interactively and publishing them, all through a familiar Web browser. Built-in social networking features akin to Facebook create communities of researchers and educators in science, engineering, medicine and almost any field or subject matter.

DiaGrid works by pooling computers over the Purdue campus network and off campus via the Internet and fast research networks. Whenever machines in the pool are idle, such as at night or when their owners are at lunch, the system sends work to them. Campus Technology Magazine selected DiaGrid for a 2009 international Campus Technology Innovators Award.

Purdue has created an automated system to link the computers of SC09 participants to the pool during the conference. The Purdue booth includes a scoreboard to keep track of whose machines are running the most jobs.

The booth is designed to promote Purdue; Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP), the university’s central information technology organization; and the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing, ITaP’s research and discovery arm. ITaP technologists developed HUBzero and DiaGrid.

“DiaGrid and HUBzero are model technologies for enabling research that Purdue is making available to the world,” says John Campbell, associate vice president in charge of research computing for ITaP, who heads the Rosen Center. “As the premier conference for research computing, SC09 is a prime place to showcase these technologies.”

Purdue’s booth also will provide academic information to potential Purdue students and information to job seekers about positions with Purdue, ITaP and the Rosen Center. Nearly 10,000 people attended the conference in 2008.

Purdue has become a recognized leader in cyberinfrastructure with the development of HUBzero, which powers nanoHUB.org and many other Web-based “hubs” for research collaboration, says Michael McLennan, senior research scientist and hub technology architect at Purdue. NanoHUB is an international resource for nanotechnology theory, simulation and education with tens of thousands of users.

“Like no other platform, HUBzero can host interactive simulation tools. So, users aren’t just reading about research, they can experience it,” McLennan says. “HUBzero allows users to work together as they interact with content.”

Other hubs link researchers transforming laboratory discoveries into new medical treatments, and Purdue is now working in a consortium with Indiana and Clemson universities and the University of Wisconsin to advance the technology even further.

A hub will be at the center of the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES), a $105 Million National Science Foundation program announced in September, which is led by Purdue. Purdue electrical and computer engineering Professor Rudolf Eigenmann, co-principal investigator of NEES, will give a workshop titled “Cyberinfrastructure for Earthquake Engineering” at the Purdue booth.

McLennan will host two workshops on HUBzero and one about nanoHUB during the conference. Purdue scientist Mathieu Luisier will offer a workshop on using massive supercomputers to simulate nanoscale electronic devices for the next generation of electronics, a central focus of nanoHUB.

DiaGrid includes computers in student computer labs, offices, server rooms and supercomputing clusters and is the first multi-campus collaboration of its kind. Purdue’s partners in DiaGrid are IU, Indiana State University, the universities of Notre Dame, Louisville and Wisconsin, Purdue’s Calumet and North Central campuses, and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Together, they now make nearly 30,000 processors available for research jobs ranging from understanding the Solar System’s formation to imaging the structure of viruses at near-atomic resolutions in an effort to develop new ways of battling viral illnesses, from swine flu and the common cold to West Nile virus and AIDS.

“The sheer size and ingenuity of the initiative, as well as the diversity of computing resources represented in the grid, really set the project apart,” Geoffrey Fletcher, editorial director of Campus Technology, said in announcing the Campus Technology Innovators Award for DiaGrid.

Purdue advises students to prepare for winter weather

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:12:33 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — As winter weather approaches, Purdue University is advising students to prepare.

“Many of our students come from areas with a much different climate, so we especially want to urge them to take steps now so they are prepared when winter arrives,” said L. Tony Hawkins, dean of students. Hawkins advises:

Wear several layers of lightweight, warm clothing.
Wear a hat to prevent body heat loss from your head. Scarves and hoods also help.
Use mittens that fit snugly at the wrists. Mittens are warmer than gloves because fingers maintain their warmth better when they are in contact with each other. Reduced surface area reduces heat loss.
Wear boots or shoes that provide good traction. Waterproof/resistant boots are also a good idea. Wet socks/feet lose heat much faster than dry socks/feet.
Take the Purdue tunnels and enclosed walkways.
Ride CityBus.

CityBus is free to everyone with a Purdue student, faculty or staff identification card. Bus stops are located all around campus, and buses run throughout Lafayette and West Lafayette.

The university considers many variables when making decisions about schedule changes due to weather, said Carol Shelby, senior director of environmental management and public safety. For example, in addition to temperature and wind chill, administrators consider the entire forecast for the day, snow cover, anticipated snowfall, icing, the conditions of roads and parking lots, and the ability to heat buildings and remove snow.

Consideration also is given to how far people need to walk outdoors, which is greater for students than for faculty and staff, most of whom park in lots and garages near the campus.

Information about the weather-related status of classes and work at the university, as well as weather information, wind-chill charts, frostbite and maps of the tunnels and CityBus routes, are available from Purdue Home Page, http://www.purdue.edu. Just click on Weather.

Purdue receives 400 doses of H1N1 vaccine

admin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:31:52 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Student Health Center has received 400 doses of H1N1 vaccine through the Tippecanoe County Health Department.

The Health Center also reported that the supply of seasonal flu vaccine has been exhausted and that no additional supplies are expected to be available this year.

H1N1 vaccines will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in Room 43 at the center. Because of the limited supply, only those in established priority groups will be eligible for vaccines. The priority guidelines have been set by the Tippecanoe County Health Department based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those considered top priority include the following:

Pregnant women. 
Caregivers for children younger than 6 months. 
University health-care and emergency medical personnel. 
Individuals with underlying health conditions that put them at risk for complications of flu-related illness.

Individuals considered to be at risk are those who have: cancer, blood disorders, chronic lung disease (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.), diabetes, heart disease, kidney or liver disorders, neurological or neuromuscular disorders, or otherwise weakened immune systems.

Individuals may call the Student Health Center’s Urgent Care Unit at 765-494-1724 to determine if they have a qualifying health condition.

Home Hospital, St. Clare Home Health among top 500 home health providers in 2009

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:34:15 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Home Hospital Home Health and St. Clare Home Health Care – both divisions of St. Elizabeth Regional Health – have been named to 2009 HomeCare Elite’s Top 500 Agency listing, a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States. This annual review identifies the top 500 agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.

“Our staff members have worked incredibly hard over the past few years to accurately collect patient data and to use that data to improve our care models so that we can in turn improve clinical outcomes for our patients,” said Bea Lamb, R.N., MBA, regional director of Home Hospital Home Health Care and St. Clare Home Health Care. “I am proud to see our efforts produce measurable positive results and I thank each and every staff member for their hard work on behalf of our patients.”

The HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. The HomeCare Elite is provided by OCS, Inc., the leading provider of health care informatics and DecisionHealth, publisher of home care’s most respected independent newsletter Home Health Line.

Home Hospital Home Health Care and St. Clare Home Health Care serve Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Warren and White counties and can be reached by calling (765) 449-5046 or (765) 362-5114.

Lafayette Christmas Parade registration ends Nov 16

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:53:46 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The entry deadline for the December 6th Lafayette Christmas Parade is approaching quickly. Monday, November 16th marks the deadline for all entries. The entry fee is $10 for nonprofits and $25 for corporate entries.

To register for the parade, groups and bands must complete the applicable entry form (there is one for groups and a different form for bands) and either drop them off at 337 Columbia Street, Lafayette IN, or mail them to: Greater Lafayette Commerce, P.O. Box 348, Lafayette, IN 47902

Download Entry Forms

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is the 2009 theme and will be lead by co Grand Marshals Jim and Wes Shook of the Shook Agency. Float entries have the opportunity to win prizes in three different categories depending on the quality of the float and how well it applies to the theme. The parade is in its fifth decade of existence and is the largest holiday parade in the state of Indiana.

The Parade will follow a slightly different route this year. In order to incorporate more of the downtown community the Christmas Parade will begin at 10th and Main Streets in Lafayette and will conclude at Tapawingo Drive and Brown Street in West Lafayette. There will be viewing area on the upper block on 11th Street as well. All businesses are welcome to open their doors and entertain parade patrons.

The Christmas Parade is part of the Holiday Weekend which also features Dickens of a Christmas and The Community Light & Sing in Downtown Lafayette-West Lafayette. The weekend is sponsored by Lafayette Savings Bank and hosted by Greater Lafayette Commerce.

Free leadership workshop to be held in Indianapolis

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:21:38 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership will offer a workshop on Nov. 20 in Indianapolis that will focus on leadership.

The workshop, “Leadership Is an Attitude,” is free and open to the public. It will especially benefit business owners, management teams and executives, and CEOs.

The two-hour event will address the importance of management’s attitude and how it relates to the overall performance and effectiveness of an organization. Attendees will learn the communication and management skills needed to direct the performance of individuals and teams. The workshop also will show managers how to transmit a positive attitude to their teams.

Rodney Vandeveer, a professor in Purdue’s organizational leadership and supervision department, will lead the workshop. Vandeveer has more than 30 years of industrial and business management experience and has worked in human resources, training and development, and manufacturing departments.

The workshop will be 9-11 a.m. in the first-floor conference room of Building Ten in Intech Park, located at 6640 Intech Blvd.

Preregistration is required. To register, visit http://www.mep.purdue.edu/events/. For more information, e-mail MEPworkshops@purdue.edu or call 800-877-5182, ext. 620.

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership provides technical skills development and implementation services to manufacturers that want to increase productivity and profitability, enhance customer satisfaction, and advance work force skills. Areas of expertise include advanced manufacturing processes, lean implementation, quality management systems, Six Sigma, green enterprise development and energy efficiency.

Lady Gaga coming to Purdue in January

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:12:39 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Pop superstar Lady Gaga will perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14 in Purdue University’s Elliott Hall of Music. The show (which thankfully will not include Kanye West) also features special guests Kid Cudi and Jason DeRulo.

Tickets are $36.50 for the general public; price includes a facility fee. Tickets go on sale to Purdue and Ivy Tech Lafayette students, and Purdue faculty and staff with a current ID, at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 13 at the Elliott Hall of Music and Stewart Center box offices and at 765-494-3933. Tickets for the general public go on sale at 10a on Nov. 14 all Ticketmaster locations.

Purdue’s Student Concert Committee is presenting the performance.

Lady Gaga says, “The Haus of Gaga had been designing ‘The Monster Ball’ for premiere in 2010 at the O2 Arena in London, but due to diligent work and preparation, ‘The Monster Ball’ will begin on Nov. 27 in Montreal. ‘The Monster Ball’ is a multimedia artistic experience in the style of the first-ever ‘pop electro opera.’”

Lady Gaga will release a repackage of her breakthrough album, “The Fame,” called “The Fame Monster,” earlier that week on Nov. 23. The repackage will include eight new songs, including the club-banging first single “Bad Romance.”

“A message to all my little monsters: “The Fame Monster” will come out four days before the first live show. You have exactly 96 hours to learn all of the lyrics so you can sing along. Dress accordingly,” Lady Gaga says.

Tickets for the general public go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 14 all Ticketmaster locations. Charge tickets by phone at 800-745-3000 or buy online at http://www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets for the general public are also available at campus box offices beginning Monday, Nov. 16, 2009.

Tippecanoe Sheriff asks public to help find credit card thief

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:11:07 +0000

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s detectives are asking the public to help find a woman suspected of using a credit card stolen from a college student to buy gift cards worth $600 from Lafayette area merchants.

Surveillance image from Meijer on September 17, 2009

On September 17th of this year, Cassandra McKeown, a student at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, had her credit card stolen. Det. Pat Williamson of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department is investigating that theft. He contacted the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office when he discovered the credit card had been used at numerous businesses in Lafayette.

The credit card was used at Target to purchase gift cards totaling $200. The suspect also purchased gift cards in the amount of $200 at Shoe Carnival and $200 more in gift cards at Meijer.

Detectives have been unable to identify the suspect seen in the surveillance photos and are turning to the public for their help.

Surveillance image from Shoe Carnival

The black female who used the stolen credit card is seen in the photos wearing a yellow short sleeve shirt and has a child with her. The store clerk said the suspect had a tattoo on her neck that said “Jason.”

If you have any information about this female please contact Detective Nathan Brown at the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, (765) 423-9388. Or, you can contact the We-Tip Hotline anonymously at 1-800 78-Crime.

Purdue administers flu vaccine allotment, awaits next shipment

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:34:16 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Student Health Center administered 347 doses of H1N1 vaccine Wednesday and Thursday (Oct. 27 and 28) and is now awaiting new shipments, which are expected next Wednesday (Nov. 4).

The university is providing vaccinations for students, faculty, staff and spouses of employees. Because of the limited supply, only those in top priority groups were eligible for vaccines this week. The priority guidelines for next week will be set by the Tippecanoe County Health Department based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those who were considered top priority this week included the following:

Pregnant women.
Caregivers for children younger than 6 months.
University health-care and emergency medical personnel.
Individuals with underlying health conditions that put them at risk for complications of flu-related illness.

Full-time students will not be charged for vaccinations. Others will be assessed a $12 administrative fee, which will be reimbursed for individuals covered by a Purdue medical insurance plan.

Individuals may call the Student Health Center’s Urgent Care Unit at 765-494-1724 to determine if they have a qualifying health condition.

Signals to provide early academic intervention at Purdue

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:31:02 +0000

MALVERN, Pa., and WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Signals, an innovative early intervention system that warns students that are at-risk of underperforming in a course and facilitates faculty interventions, will be enhanced and brought to higher education institutions through a joint effort by SunGard Higher Education, Purdue University and the Purdue Research Foundation.

The collaboration is among the first examples of SunGard Higher Education’s new Open Digital Campus strategy in action.

Developed by Purdue, the Signals software monitors students’ behavior patterns and academic performance to determine if they are at risk of earning a low grade and allows faculty to intervene with suggestions on actions they can take to help students improve their grades. An intuitive stoplight provides indications to students if they are underperforming and prompts the students to take action.

Today, campus sources for data about students vary greatly and come from different systems, applications and vendors. The power of Signals’ predictive modeling comes from employing multiple data sources to create a more complete picture of a student’s academic performance. That picture helps identify students at risk in a course so an intervention can happen early enough to actually make a difference – as early as the second week of class.

Officials from Purdue University, the Purdue Research Foundation and SunGard Higher Education signed a memorandum of understanding outlining key points of the parties’ collaboration efforts and have begun work on a definitive agreement. Their planned efforts will bring Purdue’s original design and expertise together with SunGard Higher Education’s development resources. SunGard Higher Education will create and market a new next-generation software product based on Signals that will be architected to work with multiple course management systems and student information systems. The solution also will provide flexibility for institutions so that they can refine and customize it to fit their needs and environment.

“The old idea of weeding out students, of ‘look left, look right, and one of you won’t be here next year,’ is an incredibly wasteful process for both universities and families. No one thanks educators if their kid lasts two years and then drops out,” said Gerry McCartney, Purdue’s vice president for information technology and chief information officer. “Signals helps us keep the students on task and focused, and offers students real opportunities for improvement.”

Signals was piloted in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 academic years. According to Purdue, the pilot involved nearly 2,000 students, where a double-blind study found that 67 percent of students receiving a yellow or red warning improved their effort and grade. For students who received a red light only, 78 percent improved their grade and effort during the mid-term period.

“Our faculty loves Signals because it helps them quickly identify students who need help and reach out to them in an effective and efficient way,” McCartney said. “But the students love it even more, which is both pleasing and a bit of a surprise, honestly.”

“Signals provides educators and leaders in higher education with valuable information to help them meet the individual educational needs of their students,” said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and chief operating officer of the Purdue Research Foundation. “The flexibility of the Signals software is also important, enabling it to fit different needs at different institutions and be modified as new technologies are introduced to the educational environment.”

Through its recently announced Open Digital Campus vision and technology strategy, SunGard Higher Education is giving colleges and universities new flexibility to shape how technology meets their evolving needs. The open strategy helps reduce dependencies and expand an institution’s ability to choose the technologies, delivery models, open source and vendor solutions that fit its needs. In academics, an area in which SunGard Higher Education has strengthened its efforts over the past year, this includes new opportunities for collaboration such as this project with Purdue.

“Through the Open Digital Campus, we are collaborating with our customers and working to deliver more modular and specific components that address precise institution needs, like course success,” said Tom Wagner, vice president at SunGard Higher Education. “We will build on the Purdue team’s outstanding work to offer a flexible solution that helps institutions extend the value of their investments, improve student success and further the core mission of the institution.”

Signals will complement SunGard Higher Education’s existing Banner Enrollment Management Suite by focusing on improving student success within a course, while components within Banner Enrollment Management focus on retaining the student at the institution or within a particular degree program and creating a loyal relationship that lasts beyond graduation. Data from Signals about student risk within courses will feed into Banner Enrollment Management to help create a complete picture of the student’s education experience.

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