A generic applications subroutine library for the MPP

A new methodology to increase the utility of the Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) was developed, and is presented as an addition to the current methods of using the MPP. This methodology provides for the development of an MPP side abstraction layer that is callable from any host side high level language. Routines in the abstraction layer have the option of using a powerful software tool for accessing the stager as virtual memory. An additional abstraction layer that allows for remote access to the MPP via DECnet is discussed. This integrated approach to programming the MPP is a valuable tool for the implementation of interactive user driver systems that require the computational capabilities of the MPP as well as a controlled user view. It is expected that this methodology will be used to integrate the MPP into many such systems, and thus promote greater use of the MPP by scientific researchers who are accustomed to user friendly environments

Comparative Performance Obtained with XF7C-1 Airplane Using Several Different Engine Cowlings

Discussed here are problems with the use of cowlings with radial air cooled engines. An XF7C-1 airplane, equipped with service cowling and with narrow ring, wide ring, and exhaust collector ring cowlings over the service cowling, was used. For these four cowling conditions, the rate of climb and high speed performance were determined, the cylinder conditions were measured, and pictures to show visibility were taken. The level flight performance obtained with an engine speed of 1900 r.p.m. for the service type, the narrow ring, the wide ring, and the exhaust collector ring was 144.4, 146.6, 152.8, and 155 mph, respectively. The rate of climb was practically the same for each type tested. The visibility was not materially impaired by the use of the wide or the narrow cowlings. With the narrow ring and exhaust collector ring cowlings there was an increase in cylinder temperature. However, this increase was not enough to affect the performance of the engine. The use of an exhaust collector ring incorporated into the cowling is practical where the problem of visibility does not enter

Animated computer graphics models of space and earth sciences data generated via the massively parallel processor

The capability was developed of rapidly producing visual representations of large, complex, multi-dimensional space and earth sciences data sets via the implementation of computer graphics modeling techniques on the Massively Parallel Processor (MPP) by employing techniques recently developed for typically non-scientific applications. Such capabilities can provide a new and valuable tool for the understanding of complex scientific data, and a new application of parallel computing via the MPP. A prototype system with such capabilities was developed and integrated into the National Space Science Data Center's (NSSDC) Pilot Climate Data System (PCDS) data-independent environment for computer graphics data display to provide easy access to users. While developing these capabilities, several problems had to be solved independently of the actual use of the MPP, all of which are outlined

Review of meteoroid-bumper interaction studies at McGill University

Experimental investigation of meteoroid-bumper impact, debris cloud expansion, and second surface pressure loadin

Deep Ecology as a framework for student eco-philosophical thinking

Deep ecology is an ecological philosophy that promotes an ecocentric lifestyle to remedy the problems of depleting resources and planetary degradation. An integral part of this ecosophy is the process of forming a metaphysical connection to the earth, referred to as self-realisation; an unfolding of the self out into nature to attain a transcendental, non-egoic state. Findings from our research indicate that secondary school students in environment clubs align with the principles of deep ecology, and show a capacity to become student eco-philosophers, and they report empathy for becoming ecocentric beings. This study explores the capacity for students to engage in environmental philosophy

Helioseismic detection of deep meridional flow

Steady meridional flow makes no first-order perturbation to the frequencies of helioseismic normal modes. It does, however, Doppler shift the local wavenumber, thereby distorting the eigenfunctions. For high-degree modes, whose peaks in a power spectrum are blended into continuous ridges, the effect of the distortion is to shift the locations of those ridges. From this blended superposition of modes, one can isolate oppositely directed wave components with the same local horizontal wavenumber and measure a frequency difference which can be safely used to infer the subsurface background flow. But such a procedure fails for the components of the more-deeply-penetrating low-degree modes that are not blended into ridges. Instead, one must analyze the spatial distortions explicitly. With a simple toy model, we illustrate one method by which that might be accomplished by measuring the spatial variation of the oscillation phase. We estimate that by this procedure it might be possible to infer meridional flow deep in the solar convection zone.Comment: 23 pages, 9 color figures, submitted to the Astrophysical Journa

The magnetic field generated by an electron bound in angular-momentum eigenstates

The magnetic field generated by an electron bound in a spherically symmetric potential is calculated for eigenstates of the orbital and total angular momentum. General expressions are presented for the current density in such states and the magnetic field is calculated through the vector potential, which is obtained from the current density by direct integration. The method is applied to the hydrogen atom, for which we reproduce and extend known results.Comment: This article is a long version of our article which will appear in Eur. J.phys.20. It contains 22 pages 3 figure

Can environment students in secondary schools embrace a deep ecology philosophy?

This study investigates ecocentrism in secondary schools and challenges the anthropocentric view of conserving natural resources for future humans. It aims to reveal whether sustainability education in schools is driven by a narrow science focus or whether there are deep ecology perspectives also operating to solve environmental problems. This study also seeks to determine the collective thought of the school communities studied regarding the more philosophical aspects of sustainability, as seen through the lens of deep ecology. The study drew upon aspects of grounded theory to organize the data into themes. Strategic coding of the themes led to a coherent model for the socio-cultural responses to the research questions. A deep ecology scale (DES) was devised and used to measure ecocentric inclinations of the respondents. The data showed that students were more aligned to an ecocentric philosophy than the anthropocentric lifestyle

Social forces around a sustainability-focused family: School/home milieu

This study explores the social forces operating within the school-family sustainability milieu, in the context of a family that lives sustainably, and participates in school sustainability projects. We conducted open-ended interviews with two students who attend a state secondary school, their parents, the sustainability coordinator, and the principal of the school. We have created an ontological model from our data that shows the forces and relationships between the individuals, and allows us to offer explanations for the success and limitations of the sustainability community at the school. We also investigate the social relationships surrounding the children, including those with their peers in the environment club (enviroclub), with students outside the enviroclub, their parents, and the sustainability coordinator. Our analysis reveals an intergenerational or reverse vector of influence from child to parent. It also shows the importance of a highly motivated sustainability coordinator to galvanising the parents into becoming a sustainability-focused family