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At least 1,315 records · Page 73

Report from the MPP Working Group to the NASA Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications

NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications (OSSA) gave a select group of scientists the opportunity to test and implement their computational algorithms on the Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) located at Goddard Space Flight Center, beginning in late 1985. One year later, the Working Group presented its report, which addressed the following: algorithms, programming languages, architecture, programming environments, the way theory relates, and performance measured. The findings point to a number of demonstrated computational techniques for which the MPP architecture is ideally suited. For example, besides executing much faster on the MPP than on conventional computers, systolic VLSI simulation (where distances are short), lattice simulation, neural network simulation, and image problems were found to be easier to program on the MPP's architecture than on a CYBER 205 or even a VAX. The report also makes technical recommendations covering all aspects of MPP use, and recommendations concerning the future of the MPP and machines based on similar architectures, expansion of the Working Group, and study of the role of future parallel processors for space station, EOS, and the Great Observatories era.

Fischer, James R.↗

Computer aided mechanogenesis of skeletal muscle organs from single cells in vitro

Complex mechanical forces generated in the growing embryo play an important role in organogenesis. Computerized application of similar forces to differentiating skeletal muscle myoblasts in vitro generate three dimensional artificial muscle organs. These organs contain parallel networks of long unbranched myofibers organized into fascicle-like structures. Tendon development is initiated and the muscles are capable of performing directed, functional work. Kinetically engineered organs provide a new method for studying the growth and development of normal and diseased skeletal muscle.

Vandenburgh, Herman H.↗

Advanced computing

Advanced concepts in hardware, software and algorithms are being pursued for application in next generation space computers and for ground based analysis of space data. The research program focuses on massively parallel computation and neural networks, as well as optical processing and optical networking which are discussed under photonics. Also included are theoretical programs in neural and nonlinear science, and device development for magnetic and ferroelectric memories.

Source record↗

Computer-aided mechanogenesis of skeletal muscle organs from single cells in vitro

Complex mechanical forces generated in the growing embryo play an important role in organogenesis. Computerized application of similar forces to differentiating skeletal muscle myoblasts in vitro generate three dimensional artificial muscle organs. These organs contain parallel networks of long unbranched myofibers organized into fascicle-like structures. Tendon development is initiated and the muscles are capable of performing directed, functional work. Kinetically engineered organs provide a new method for studying the growth and development of normal and diseased skeletal muscle.

Vanderburgh, Herman H.↗

Highly-Parallel, Highly-Compact Computing Structures Implemented in Nanotechnology

In this paper, we describe work in which we are evaluating how the evolving properties of nano-electronic devices could best be utilized in highly parallel computing structures. Because of their combination of high performance, low power, and extreme compactness, such structures would have obvious applications in spaceborne environments, both for general mission control and for on-board data analysis. However, the anticipated properties of nano-devices mean that the optimum architecture for such systems is by no means certain. Candidates include single instruction multiple datastream (SIMD) arrays, neural networks, and multiple instruction multiple datastream (MIMD) assemblies.

Crawley, D. G.↗

Applying Parallel Processing Techniques to Tether Dynamics Simulation

The focus of this research has been to determine the effectiveness of applying parallel processing techniques to a sizable real-world problem, the simulation of the dynamics associated with a tether which connects two objects in low earth orbit, and to explore the degree to which the parallelization process can be automated through the creation of new software tools. The goal has been to utilize this specific application problem as a base to develop more generally applicable techniques.

Wells, B. Earl↗

ELIPS: Toward a Sensor Fusion Processor on a Chip

The paper presents the concept and initial tests from the hardware implementation of a low-power, high-speed reconfigurable sensor fusion processor. The Extended Logic Intelligent Processing System (ELIPS) processor is developed to seamlessly combine rule-based systems, fuzzy logic, and neural networks to achieve parallel fusion of sensor in compact low power VLSI. The first demonstration of the ELIPS concept targets interceptor functionality; other applications, mainly in robotics and autonomous systems are considered for the future. The main assumption behind ELIPS is that fuzzy, rule-based and neural forms of computation can serve as the main primitives of an "intelligent" processor. Thus, in the same way classic processors are designed to optimize the hardware implementation of a set of fundamental operations, ELIPS is developed as an efficient implementation of computational intelligence primitives, and relies on a set of fuzzy set, fuzzy inference and neural modules, built in programmable analog hardware. The hardware programmability allows the processor to reconfigure into different machines, taking the most efficient hardware implementation during each phase of information processing. Following software demonstrations on several interceptor data, three important ELIPS building blocks (a fuzzy set preprocessor, a rule-based fuzzy system and a neural network) have been fabricated in analog VLSI hardware and demonstrated microsecond-processing times.

Daud, Taher↗

Dynamic Load Balancing For Grid Partitioning on a SP-2 Multiprocessor: A Framework

Computational requirements of full scale computational fluid dynamics change as computation progresses on a parallel machine. The change in computational intensity causes workload imbalance of processors, which in turn requires a large amount of data movement at runtime. If parallel CFD is to be successful on a parallel or massively parallel machine, balancing of the runtime load is indispensable. Here a framework is presented for dynamic load balancing for CFD applications, called Jove. One processor is designated as a decision maker Jove while others are assigned to computational fluid dynamics. Processors running CFD send flags to Jove in a predetermined number of iterations to initiate load balancing. Jove starts working on load balancing while other processors continue working with the current data and load distribution. Jove goes through several steps to decide if the new data should be taken, including preliminary evaluate, partition, processor reassignment, cost evaluation, and decision. Jove running on a single IBM SP2 node has been completely implemented. Preliminary experimental results show that the Jove approach to dynamic load balancing can be effective for full scale grid partitioning on the target machine IBM SP2.

Sohn, Andrew↗

Dynamic Load Balancing for Grid Partitioning on a SP-2 Multiprocessor: A Framework

Computational requirements of full scale computational fluid dynamics change as computation progresses on a parallel machine. The change in computational intensity causes workload imbalance of processors, which in turn requires a large amount of data movement at runtime. If parallel CFD is to be successful on a parallel or massively parallel machine, balancing of the runtime load is indispensable. Here a framework is presented for dynamic load balancing for CFD applications, called Jove. One processor is designated as a decision maker Jove while others are assigned to computational fluid dynamics. Processors running CFD send flags to Jove in a predetermined number of iterations to initiate load balancing. Jove starts working on load balancing while other processors continue working with the current data and load distribution. Jove goes through several steps to decide if the new data should be taken, including preliminary evaluate, partition, processor reassignment, cost evaluation, and decision. Jove running on a single EBM SP2 node has been completely implemented. Preliminary experimental results show that the Jove approach to dynamic load balancing can be effective for full scale grid partitioning on the target machine IBM SP2.

Sohn, Andrew↗

Delta-Doped Back-Illuminated CMOS Imaging Arrays: Progress and Prospects

In this paper, we report the latest results on our development of delta-doped, thinned, back-illuminated CMOS imaging arrays. As with charge-coupled devices, thinning and back-illumination are essential to the development of high performance CMOS imaging arrays. Problems with back surface passivation have emerged as critical to the prospects for incorporating CMOS imaging arrays into high performance scientific instruments, just as they did for CCDs over twenty years ago. In the early 1990's, JPL developed delta-doped CCDs, in which low temperature molecular beam epitaxy was used to form an ideal passivation layer on the silicon back surface. Comprising only a few nanometers of highly-doped epitaxial silicon, delta-doping achieves the stability and uniformity that are essential for high performance imaging and spectroscopy. Delta-doped CCDs were shown to have high, stable, and uniform quantum efficiency across the entire spectral range from the extreme ultraviolet through the near infrared. JPL has recently bump-bonded thinned, delta-doped CMOS imaging arrays to a CMOS readout, and demonstrated imaging. Delta-doped CMOS devices exhibit the high quantum efficiency that has become the standard for scientific-grade CCDs. Together with new circuit designs for low-noise readout currently under development, delta-doping expands the potential scientific applications of CMOS imaging arrays, and brings within reach important new capabilities, such as fast, high-sensitivity imaging with parallel readout and real-time signal processing. It remains to demonstrate manufacturability of delta-doped CMOS imaging arrays. To that end, JPL has acquired a new silicon MBE and ancillary equipment for delta-doping wafers up to 200mm in diameter, and is now developing processes for high-throughput, high yield delta-doping of fully-processed wafers with CCD and CMOS imaging devices.

imagers↗

Metadata compression

A computer-executable method, system, and computer program product for managing a Parallel-Logged File System (PLFS) on a data storage system, wherein the data storage system is in communication with an application that updates the data storage system with checkpoint data, the computer-executable method, system, and computer program product comprising receiving a first checkpoint including data from the application; analyzing the data in the first checkpoint to determine whether a pattern exists in the checkpoint data; and upon a positive determination, adding the pattern into PLFS.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Uncovering Access, Reuse, and Sharing Characteristics of I/O-Intensive Files on Large-Scale Production HPC Systems

Large-scale high-performance computing (HPC) applications running on supercomputers produce large amounts of data routinely and store it in files on multi-PB shared parallel storage systems. Unfortunately, storage community has a limited understanding of the access and reuse patterns of these files. This paper investigates the access and reuse patterns of I/O-intensive files on a production-scale supercomputer.

Patel, Tirthak↗

NPSS on NASA's Information Power Grid: Using CORBA and Globus to Coordinate Multidisciplinary Aeroscience Applications

This paper describes a project to evaluate the feasibility of combining Grid and Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) technologies, with a view to leveraging the numerous advantages of commodity technologies in a high-performance Grid environment. A team from the NASA Glenn Research Center and Argonne National Laboratory has been studying three problems: a desktop-controlled parameter study using Excel (Microsoft Corporation); a multicomponent application using ADPAC, NPSS, and a controller program-, and an aviation safety application running about 100 jobs in near real time. The team has successfully demonstrated (1) a Common-Object- Request-Broker-Architecture- (CORBA-) to-Globus resource manager gateway that allows CORBA remote procedure calls to be used to control the submission and execution of programs on workstations and massively parallel computers, (2) a gateway from the CORBA Trader service to the Grid information service, and (3) a preliminary integration of CORBA and Grid security mechanisms. We have applied these technologies to two applications related to NPSS, namely a parameter study and a multicomponent simulation.

Lopez, Isaac↗

Rapid Targeted Quantitation of Protein Overexpression with Direct Infusion Shotgun Proteome Analysis (DISPA-PRM)

While much effort has been placed on comprehensive quantitative proteome analysis, certain applications demand measurement of only a few target proteins from complex systems. Traditional approaches to targeted proteomics rely on nano-liquid chromatography (nLC) and targeted mass spectrometry (MS) methods, e.g., parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). However, the time requirement for nLC can limit throughput of targeted proteomics. To achieve rapid and high-throughput targeted methods, here we show that nLC separations can be eliminated and replaced with direct infusion shotgun proteome analysis (DISPA) using high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) with PRM. We demonstrate application of DISPA-PRM for rapid targeted quantification of bacterial enzymes utilized in the production of biofuels by monitoring temporal expression in 72 metabolically engineered bacterial cultures in under 2.5 hours, with a measured dynamic range >1200-fold. Here, we conclude that DISPA-PRM presents a valuable innovative tool with results comparable to nLC-MS/MS, enabling fast and rapid detection of targeted proteins in complex mixtures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A new method for recognizing quadric surfaces from range data and its application to telerobotics and automation

A feature set of two dimensional curves is obtained after intersecting symmetric objects like spheres, cones, cylinders, ellipsoids, paraboloids, and parallelepipeds with two planes. After determining the location and orientation of the objects in space, these objects are aligned so as to lie on a plane parallel to a suitable coordinate system. These objects are then intersected with a horizontal and a vertical plane. Experiments were carried out with range images of sphere and cylinder. The 3-D discriminant approach was used to recognize quadric surfaces made up of simulated data. Its application to real data was also studied.

Alvertos, Nicolas↗

Applicability of the Delplot method for the determination of catalytic reaction sequences: Hydrodeoxygenation of $\gamma$-valerolactone on Ni 2 P/MCM-41

Contact-time measurements based on sites are used to investigate the reaction sequence of the hydrodeoxygenation of γ-valerolactone (GVL) on Ni 2 P/MCM-41. Here the study is carried out at 300 °C and 0.5 MPa with site times of 0.29–6.1 s. A reaction network is proposed in which pentanoic acid and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MTHF) are formed in parallel initially and pentanal, butane and pentane are formed subsequently. A first-rank Delplot analysis (selectivity) gives a good fit, but higher-rank Delplots do not. The lack of applicability is explained by the magnitude of the rate constants, in which the rate constant for one of the later steps (the consumption of pentanal) is substantially larger than those for the preceding steps. For this reason, pentanal demonstrated the characteristics of a primary product and consequently affected the discrimination of higher rank products. A simulation of a model sequence with assumed rate constants confirms the reason why the Delplot method does not work for this reaction. Since the rate constants cannot be determined a priori to be of close magnitude, the Delplot method cannot be generally used to ascertain reaction sequences.

42 ENGINEERING↗

MAC Europe 1991: Evaluation of AVIRIS, GER imaging spectrometry data for the land application testsite Oberpfaffenhofen

During the MAC Europe 91 Campaign, the area of Oberpfaffenhofen including the land application testsite Oberpfaffenhofen was flown by the AVIRIS imaging spectrometer, the GER 2 imaging spectrometer (63 band scanner), and two SAR systems (NASA/JPL AIRSAR and DLR E-SAR). In parallel to the overflights ground spectrometry (ASD, IRIS M IV) and atmospheric measurements were carried out in order to provide data for optical sensor calibration. Ground spectrometry measurements were carried out in the runway area of the DLR research center Oberpfaffenhofen. This area was used as well during the GER 2 European flight campaign EISAC 89 as a calibration target. The land application testsite Oberpfaffenhofen is located 3 km north of the DLR research center. During the MAC Europe 91 Campaign a ground survey was carried out for documentation in the ground information data base (vegetation type, vegetation geometry, soil type, and soil mixture). Crop stands analyzed were corn, barley and rape. The DLR runway area and the land application testsite Oberpfaffenhofen were flown with the AVIRIS on 29 July and with the GER 2 on 12 and 23 July and 3 Sep. AVIRIS and GER 2 scenes were processed and atmospherically corrected for optical data analysis of optical and radar data. For the AVIRIS and the GER 2 scenes, signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) estimates were calculated. An example of the reflectance of 6 calibration targets inside a GER 2 scene of Oberpfaffenhofen is given. SNR values for the GER 2 for a medium albedo target are given. The integrated analysis for the optical and radar data was carried out in cooperation with the DLR Institute for Microwave Technologies.

Lehmann, F.↗

Modeling supercritical CO 2 flow and mineralization in reactive host rocks with PFLOTRAN v7.0

Understanding the flow and reactivity of CO 2 injected into geological reservoirs is important for many subsurface applications including secure geologic carbon storage (GCS), critical mineral extraction, enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), and enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Traditionally, subsurface CO 2 injection for GCS applications has focused on geologic formations with favorable subsurface configurations for CO 2 migration and trapping through non-reactive mechanisms such as structural, solubility, and petrophysical trapping. Recently, CO 2 -reactive rocks such as mafic and ultramafic basalts have been investigated for their potential to react with injected CO 2 in situ to simultaneously dissolve host rock minerals and mineralize CO 2 as carbonates. Engineering rapid CO 2 mineralization in the subsurface is attractive because of the increased density of stored CO 2 , the additional safety factors associated with solidification, and the potential to extract valuable critical minerals. Here we present recent developments in the parallel flow and reactive transport simulator PFLOTRAN to model coupled CO 2 -brine flow and reactive transport for a wide range of injection and production applications involving reactive CO 2 -brine systems. These developments are based on the well established and trusted CO 2 flow capabilities in the STOMP-CO 2 simulator. New capabilities added to PFLOTRAN include new CO 2 -brine equations of state with optional thermal coupling, several new constitutive relationships like capillary pressure smoothing and scanning path hysteresis, a fully implicit well model, and native linkage with PFLOTRAN's well-established reactive transport libraries. A series of benchmarks between PFLOTRAN and STOMP-CO 2 verify the newly developed CO 2 -brine flow capabilities. Demonstrations of coupled CO 2 -brine flow modeling and reactive transport show how CO 2 mineralization can be engineered in reactive host rocks. Finally, an example use case involving copper leaching by CO 2 and critical mineral extraction is presented to showcase the strengths of this new implementation. Several limitations still remain, including limited availability of field data to parameterize models. Future work should constrain the evolution of mineral surface area during mineralization and the temperature and/or pH dependence of geochemical reactions for specific systems of interest.

Critical Minerals↗