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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 127 records · Page 7

Synchronizing computer clocks using a local area network

Researchers completed the first tests of a method to synchronize the clocks of networked computers to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) time scale. The method uses a server computer to disseminate the time to other clients on the same local-area network. The server is synchronized to NIST using the ACTS protocol over a dial-up telephone line. The software in both the server and the parameters of this model are used to adjust the time of the local clock and the interval between calibration requests in a statistically optimum way. The algorithm maximizes the time between calibrations while at the same time keeping the time of the local clock correct within a specific tolerance. The method can be extended to synchronize computers linked over wide-area networks, and an experiment to test the performance of the algorithms over such networks is being planned.

Levine, Judah↗

3-D components of a biological neural network visualized in computer generated imagery. II - Macular neural network organization

Computer-assisted reconstructions of small parts of the macular neural network show how the nerve terminals and receptive fields are organized in 3-dimensional space. This biological neural network is anatomically organized for parallel distributed processing of information. Processing appears to be more complex than in computer-based neural network, because spatiotemporal factors figure into synaptic weighting. Serial reconstruction data show anatomical arrangements which suggest that (1) assemblies of cells analyze and distribute information with inbuilt redundancy, to improve reliability; (2) feedforward/feedback loops provide the capacity for presynaptic modulation of output during processing; (3) constrained randomness in connectivities contributes to adaptability; and (4) local variations in network complexity permit differing analyses of incoming signals to take place simultaneously. The last inference suggests that there may be segregation of information flow to central stations subserving particular functions.

Ross, Muriel D.↗

Position Papers for the ASCR Workshop on Basic Research Needs in Quantum Computing and Networking

We invite community input in the form of two-page position papers that identify and discuss key challenges and opportunities in quantum computing and networking. In addition to providing an avenue for identifying workshop participants, these position papers will be used to shape the workshop agenda, identify panelists, and contribute to the workshop report. Position papers should not describe the authors’ current or planned research, contain material that should not be disclosed to the public, nor should they recommend specific solutions or discuss narrowly focused research topics. Rather, they should aim to improve the community’s shared understanding of the problem space, identify challenging research directions, and help to stimulate discussion.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Serial Network Flow Monitor

Using a commercial software CD and minimal up-mass, SNFM monitors the Payload local area network (LAN) to analyze and troubleshoot LAN data traffic. Validating LAN traffic models may allow for faster and more reliable computer networks to sustain systems and science on future space missions. Research Summary: This experiment studies the function of the computer network onboard the ISS. On-orbit packet statistics are captured and used to validate ground based medium rate data link models and enhance the way that the local area network (LAN) is monitored. This information will allow monitoring and improvement in the data transfer capabilities of on-orbit computer networks. The Serial Network Flow Monitor (SNFM) experiment attempts to characterize the network equivalent of traffic jams on board ISS. The SNFM team is able to specifically target historical problem areas including the SAMS (Space Acceleration Measurement System) communication issues, data transmissions from the ISS to the ground teams, and multiple users on the network at the same time. By looking at how various users interact with each other on the network, conflicts can be identified and work can begin on solutions. SNFM is comprised of a commercial off the shelf software package that monitors packet traffic through the payload Ethernet LANs (local area networks) on board ISS.

Robinson, Julie A.↗

Identification of aerodynamic coefficients using computational neural networks

Precise, smooth aerodynamic models are required for implementing adaptive, nonlinear control strategies. Accurate representations of aerodynamic coefficients can be generated for the complete flight envelope by combining computational neural network models with an Estimation-Before-Modeling paradigm for on-line training information. A novel method of incorporating first-partial-derivative information is employed to estimate the weights in individual feedforward neural networks for each aerodynamic coefficient. The method is demonstrated by generating a model of the normal force coefficient of a twin-jet transport aircraft from simulated flight data, and promising results are obtained.

Linse, Dennis J.↗

Efficiently modeling neural networks on massively parallel computers

Neural networks are a very useful tool for analyzing and modeling complex real world systems. Applying neural network simulations to real world problems generally involves large amounts of data and massive amounts of computation. To efficiently handle the computational requirements of large problems, we have implemented at Los Alamos a highly efficient neural network compiler for serial computers, vector computers, vector parallel computers, and fine grain SIMD computers such as the CM-2 connection machine. This paper describes the mapping used by the compiler to implement feed-forward backpropagation neural networks for a SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) architecture parallel computer. Thinking Machines Corporation has benchmarked our code at 1.3 billion interconnects per second (approximately 3 gigaflops) on a 64,000 processor CM-2 connection machine (Singer 1990). This mapping is applicable to other SIMD computers and can be implemented on MIMD computers such as the CM-5 connection machine. Our mapping has virtually no communications overhead with the exception of the communications required for a global summation across the processors (which has a sub-linear runtime growth on the order of O(log(number of processors)). We can efficiently model very large neural networks which have many neurons and interconnects and our mapping can extend to arbitrarily large networks (within memory limitations) by merging the memory space of separate processors with fast adjacent processor interprocessor communications. This paper will consider the simulation of only feed forward neural network although this method is extendable to recurrent networks.

Farber, Robert M.↗

Design-to-Deployment Continuum Platform for Microscopes and Computing Ecosystems

Science ecosystems with networked computing systems and physical instruments are increasingly being deployed with a goal to achieve the productivity promised by AI-supported remote automation. In support of these efforts, the virtual infrastructure twins (VITs) have been successfully utilized to develop the orchestration codes for these ecosystems without requiring physical access to expensive instruments, such as electron microscopes. Currently, the utility of such a VIT is severely limited by the computing capacity and capability of the computing system used as its host. Furthermore, codes developed on the VIT typically need to be transferred and refactored for production use, particularly, on high-performance systems with accelerators. In response, we develop a design-to-deployment continuum platform wherein a VIT runs natively on the ecosystem's own computing system, and thereby facilitates the continual in-situ testing and transition of codes for production use. Here, we describe the development and testing of software for remote microscope steering and GPU-based image reconstruction using this platform on a multi-GPU computing system networked to Nion microscopes. We demonstrate a continual transition of steering and reconstruction codes developed under VIT platform to production ecosystem deployment.

Al-Najjar, Anees [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (O↗

Method for securing a network using cyber economic network transaction security (CENTS)

A method and system for administering an interactive computer network and more particularly to performing security in a network of interactive electronic components, such as a computer network using a currency-based transactional economy model where scarcity serves as a limiting factor to accessing and engaging in various activities within the system.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Adaptive time scaling for accelerating explicit finite element analysis

A method for accelerating an explicit finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of a modeled system or process includes performing an initial iteration of the FEA simulation according to a baseline time interval via an FEA computing network, and calculating a criteria ratio of a predetermined set of scaling criteria for the modeled system or process. The method includes determining a time-scaling factor using the criteria ratio via the FEA computing network as a function of the criteria ratio, and then applying the time-scaling factor to the baseline time interval to generate a scaled time interval. The scaled time interval accelerates simulation time of the FEA simulation. The method includes performing a subsequent iteration of the explicit FEA simulation at the scaled time interval using the FEA computing network. The process continues for subsequent iterations, with the time-scaling factor adapting with each iteration.

Chen, Jian↗

Optical Interconnection Via Computer-Generated Holograms

Method of free-space optical interconnection developed for data-processing applications like parallel optical computing, neural-network computing, and switching in optical communication networks. In method, multiple optical connections between multiple sources of light in one array and multiple photodetectors in another array made via computer-generated holograms in electrically addressed spatial light modulators (ESLMs). Offers potential advantages of massive parallelism, high space-bandwidth product, high time-bandwidth product, low power consumption, low cross talk, and low time skew. Also offers advantage of programmability with flexibility of reconfiguration, including variation of strengths of optical connections in real time.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗

Exploiting parallel computing with limited program changes using a network of microcomputers

Network computing and multiprocessor computers are two discernible trends in parallel processing. The computational behavior of an iterative distributed process in which some subtasks are completed later than others because of an imbalance in computational requirements is of significant interest. The effects of asynchronus processing was studied. A small existing program was converted to perform finite element analysis by distributing substructure analysis over a network of four Apple IIe microcomputers connected to a shared disk, simulating a parallel computer. The substructure analysis uses an iterative, fully stressed, structural resizing procedure. A framework of beams divided into three substructures is used as the finite element model. The effects of asynchronous processing on the convergence of the design variables are determined by not resizing particular substructures on various iterations.

Rogers, J. L., Jr.↗

Some queuing network models of computer systems

Queuing network models of a computer system operating with a single workload type are presented. Program algorithms are adapted for use on the Texas Instruments SR-52 programmable calculator. By slightly altering the algorithm to process the G and H matrices row by row instead of column by column, six devices and an unlimited job/terminal population could be handled on the SR-52. Techniques are also introduced for handling a simple load dependent server and for studying interactive systems with fixed multiprogramming limits.

Herndon, E. S.↗

Simulated annealing in networks for computing possible arrangements for red and green cones

Attention is given to network models in which each of the cones of the retina is given a provisional color at random, and then the cones are allowed to determine the colors of their neighbors through an iterative process. A symmetric-structure spin-glass model has allowed arrays to be generated from completely random arrangements of red and green to arrays with approximately as much disorder as the parafoveal cones. Simulated annealing has also been added to the process in an attempt to generate color arrangements with greater regularity and hence more revealing moirepatterns than than the arrangements yielded by quenched spin-glass processes. Attention is given to the perceptual implications of these results.

Ahumada, Albert J., Jr.↗

Physics Informed Neural Networks as Computational Physics Emulators

This report is a brief overview and evaluation of Physics Informed Neural Networks (PINNs). Karniadakis and co-workers, e.g., Karniadakis et al. (2021) assert that the PINNs approach integrates seamlessly both data and mathematical physics models, even in partially understood, uncertain and high-dimensional contexts. They further claim that PINNs are effective and efficient for ill-posed and inverse problems, and when combined with domain decomposition, are scalable to large problems and a tool to discover hidden physics. While they demonstrate the capabilities in specific academic instances, their overarching claims about PINNs seem to be an overstatement, at least at the current time. We have briefly considered a few of the limitations of PINNs in this investigation. It is not clear to us if the PINNs approach can ever be competitive with approaches that use specialized algorithms to achieve high-accuracy solutions of governing equations and other techniques that can combine observational data with such solutions. As an example of the latter, consistent with the principles of Bayesian inference, data assimilation, or more generally data-model fusion, is a process that fuses observational data typically with a computational model that respects certain constraints such as conservation laws. For example, improvements in observational network combined with data assimilation have been key in improving weather predictions over the past four decades Kalnay (2003).

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Self-Supervised and Interpretable Anomaly Detection Using Network Transformers

Machine learning and deep neural networks (DNNs) have been proposed as a tool to identify anomalies in computer network communications. However, due the obfuscated nature of off-the-shelf machine learning models, their output often does not provide enough information to isolate the source of the anomaly to take corrective measures. In this article, we introduce the network transformer (NeT), a DNN model for anomaly detection that incorporates the graph structure of the communication network in order to improve interpretability. Further, the presented approach has the following advantages: first, enhanced interpretability by incorporating the graph structure of computer networks; second, provides a hierarchical set of features that enables analysis at different levels of granularity; second, self-supervised training that does not require labeled data. The NeT model was evaluated on a set of anomalous scenarios executed in a real industrial control system. The presented approach successfully identified the anomalies, the devices affected, and the specific connections causing the anomalies, providing a data-driven hierarchical approach to analyze the behavior of a cyber network.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗