Job Management and Task Bundling

High Performance Computing is often performed on scarce and shared computing resources. To ensure computers are used to their full capacity, administrators often incentivize large workloads that are not possible on smaller systems. Measurements in Lattice QCD frequently do not scale to machine-size workloads. By bundling tasks together we can create large jobs suitable for gigantic partitions. We discuss METAQ and mpi_jm, software developed to dynamically group computational tasks together, that can intelligently backfill to consume idle time without substantial changes to users' current workflows or executables.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, LATTICE 2017 proceeding

Growth and Production of the Dwarf Surf Clam Mulinia lateralis (Say 1822) in a Georgia Estuary

The bivalve Mulinia lateralis is a dominant member of estuarine benthos, but its presence and abundance in Georgia estuarine waters is sporadic over time. Recruitment and production was monitored from 1977 through 1981 at three inner and one outer more saline ( \u3e 18 ppt) areas of Wassaw Sound. Until the winter of 1981, Mulinia lateralis was absent or at very low densities. Significant settlement occurred in January 1981 when densities in the outer sound reached as high as 63,000 individuals • m-2). The clam was more abundant in sandy mud (x̄ = 10,161 • m-2) than mud (x̄=277 • m-2) or sand (x̄=263 • m-2).Cohort production varied from 0.3 g dry wt • m-2 • 4 months-1 in the inner sound to 325 g dry wt • m-2 • 7 months-1 in the outer Sound, with the mean biomass ranging from 0.6 to 513 g dry wt • m-2, respectively. When present, Mulinia lateralis contributes significantly to benthic production available to commercially valuable fish and crabs. That this food resource is annually and seasonally episodic could contribute to year-to-year fluctuations in production of species preying on benthos

A Disk Shadow Around the Young Star ASR 41 in NGC 1333

We present images of the young stellar object ASR 41 in the NGC 1333 star forming region at the wavelengths of H_alpha and [SII] and in the I, J, H, and K-bands. ASR 41 has the near-infrared morphology of an edge-on disk object, but appears an order of magnitude larger than typical systems of this kind. We also present detailed models of the scattering and radiative transfer in systems consisting of a young star surrounded by a proto-planetary disk, and the whole system being embedded in either an infalling envelope or a uniform molecular cloud. The best fit to the observed morphology can be achieved with a disk of approx. 200 AU diameter, immersed in a low density cloud. The low cloud density is necessary to stay below the sub-mm flux upper limits and to preserve the shadow cast by the disk via single scattering. The results demonstrate that ASR 41 is probably not inherently different from typical edge-on disk objects, and that its large apparent size is due to the shadow of a much smaller disk being projected into the surrounding dusty molecular material

Simulation-Based Learning to Improve Athletic Trainers’ Knowledge of Exertional Sudden Death Conditions: A Pilot Study

Purpose: Continuing education for the practicing clinician typically involves reading peer-reviewed journals and attending professional conferences. These mechanisms do not allow for practice and real-time evaluation of healthcare skills. Simulation-based learning has been widely used in professional education yet is not common in the continued development of the clinician in their lifespan. Method: We used a cross-sectional, repeated measures pilot study. The participants included 11 athletic trainers (age=40±14 years; certified experience=17±14 years) that engaged in a multi-modal continuing professional development session that included a lecture, large-scale simulated learning experience, and debriefing session at a healthcare conference. The outcome measures included 1) a 6-item effectiveness tool to assess the overall program, 2) pre, post, and 6-month follow-up knowledge assessments, and 3) a 6-month follow-up qualitative viewpoint statement. Results: The participants rated the program as effective and useful. On the knowledge assessment, the participants scored an average of 74% on the pre-test and 87% on the post-test with an average change score of a 20.5% increase following the educational session. We identified a significant improvement (P=0.002) in the participants from pre-test to post-test, however a decay in the knowledge improvements from post-test to follow-up at six months (P=0.188) was noted. Conclusion: A multi-modal educational intervention was effective at improving knowledge immediately following the session. This study offers promise that continuing education through simulation may improve knowledge acquisition while serving as a catalyst for clinical practice behavior change

Nondestructive Evaluation of Additive Manufacturing State-of-the-Discipline Report

This report summarizes the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) state of the art of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) for additive manufacturing (AM), or "3-D printed", hardware. NASA's unique need for highly customized spacecraft and instrumentation is suited for AM, which offers a compelling alternative to traditional subtractive manufacturing approaches. The Agency has an opportunity to push the envelope on how this technology is used in zero gravity, an enable in-space manufacturing of flight spares and replacement hardware crucial for long-duration, manned missions to Mars. The Agency is leveraging AM technology developed internally and by industry, academia, and other government agencies for its unique needs. Recent technical interchange meetings and workshops attended by NASA have identified NDE as a universal need for all aspects of additive manufacturing. The impact of NDE on AM is cross cutting and spans materials, processing quality assurance, testing and modeling disciplines. Appropriate NDE methods are needed before, during, and after the AM production process

The Northeast Water polynya as an atmospheric CO2 sink: a seasonal rectification hypothesis

During the multidisciplinary ‘NEW92’ cruise of the United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Polar Sea to the recurrent Northeast Water (NEW) Polynya (77–81°N, 6–17°W; July–August 1992), total dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity in the water column were measured with high precision to determine the quantitative impact of biological processes on the regional air-sea flux of carbon. Biological processes depleted the total inorganic carbon of summer surface waters by up to 2 mol C m−2 or about 3%. On a regional basis this depletion correlated with depth-integrated values of chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon, and the inorganic nitrogen deficit. Replacement of this carbon through exchange with the atmosphere was stalled owing to the low wind speeds during the month of the cruise, although model calculations indicate that the depletion could be replenished by a few weeks of strong winds before ice forms in the autumn. These measurements and observations allowed formulation of a new hypothesis whereby seasonally ice-covered regions like the NEW Polynya promote a unique biologically and physically mediated “rectification” of the typical (ice free, low latitude) seasonal cycle of air-sea CO2 flux. The resulting carbon sink is consistent with other productivity estimates and represents an export of biologically cycled carbon either to local sediments or offshore. If this scenario is representative of seasonally ice-covered Arctic shelves, then the rectification process could provide a small, negative feedback to excess atmospheric CO2

Metformin increases cortisol regeneration by 11βHSD1 in obese men with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus

CONTEXT:The mechanism of action of metformin remains unclear. Given the regulation of the cortisol-regenerating enzyme 11βhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11βHSD1) by insulin and the limited efficacy of selective 11βHSD1 inhibitors to lower blood glucose when co-prescribed with metformin, we hypothesized that metformin reduces 11βHSD1 activity.OBJECTIVE:To determine whether metformin regulates 11βHSD1 activity in vivo in obese men with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.DESIGN:Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study.SETTING:A hospital clinical research facility.PARTICIPANTS:Eight obese nondiabetic (OND) men and eight obese men with type 2 diabetes (ODM).INTERVENTION:Participants received 28 days of metformin (1 g twice daily), placebo, or (in the ODM group) gliclazide (80 mg twice daily) in random order. A deuterated cortisol infusion at the end of each phase measured cortisol regeneration by 11βHSD1. Oral cortisone was given to measure hepatic 11βHSD1 activity in the ODM group. The effect of metformin on 11βHSD1 was also assessed in human hepatocytes and Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome adipocytes.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The effect of metformin on whole-body and hepatic 11βHSD1 activity.RESULTS:Whole-body 11βHSD1 activity was approximately 25% higher in the ODM group than the OND group. Metformin increased whole-body cortisol regeneration by 11βHSD1 in both groups compared with placebo and gliclazide and tended to increase hepatic 11βHSD1 activity. In vitro, metformin did not increase 11βHSD1 activity in hepatocytes or adipocytes.CONCLUSIONS:Metformin increases whole-body cortisol generation by 11βHSD1 probably through an indirect mechanism, potentially offsetting other metabolic benefits of metformin. Co-prescription with metformin should provide a greater target for selective 11βHSD1 inhibitors