21st Century Simulation: Exploiting High Performance Computing and Data Analysis

This paper identifies, defines, and analyzes the limitations imposed on Modeling and Simulation by outmoded paradigms in computer utilization and data analysis. The authors then discuss two emerging capabilities to overcome these limitations: High Performance Parallel Computing and Advanced Data Analysis. First, parallel computing, in supercomputers and Linux clusters, has proven effective by providing users an advantage in computing power. This has been characterized as a ten-year lead over the use of single-processor computers. Second, advanced data analysis techniques are both necessitated and enabled by this leap in computing power. JFCOM's JESPP project is one of the few simulation initiatives to effectively embrace these concepts. The challenges facing the defense analyst today have grown to include the need to consider operations among non-combatant populations, to focus on impacts to civilian infrastructure, to differentiate combatants from non-combatants, and to understand non-linear, asymmetric warfare. These requirements stretch both current computational techniques and data analysis methodologies. In this paper, documented examples and potential solutions will be advanced. The authors discuss the paths to successful implementation based on their experience. Reviewed technologies include parallel computing, cluster computing, grid computing, data logging, OpsResearch, database advances, data mining, evolutionary computing, genetic algorithms, and Monte Carlo sensitivity analyses. The modeling and simulation community has significant potential to provide more opportunities for training and analysis. Simulations must include increasingly sophisticated environments, better emulations of foes, and more realistic civilian populations. Overcoming the implementation challenges will produce dramatically better insights, for trainees and analysts. High Performance Parallel Computing and Advanced Data Analysis promise increased understanding of future vulnerabilities to help avoid unneeded mission failures and unacceptable personnel losses. The authors set forth road maps for rapid prototyping and adoption of advanced capabilities. They discuss the beneficial impact of embracing these technologies, as well as risk mitigation required to ensure success

High-performance computing enables simulations to transform education

This paper presents the case that education in the 21st Century can only measure up to national needs if technologies developed in the simulation community, further enhanced by the power of high performance computing, are harnessed to supplant traditional didactic instruction. The authors cite their professional experiences in simulation, high performance computing and pedagogical studies to support their thesis that this implementation is not only required, it is feasible, supportable and affordable. Surveying and reporting on work in computer-aided education, this paper will discuss the pedagogical imperatives for group learning, risk management and “hero teacher” surrogates, all being optimally delivered with entity level simulations of varying types. Further, experience and research is adduced to support the thesis that effective implementation of this level of simulation is enabled only by, and is largely dependent upon, high performance computing, especially by the ready utility and acceptable costs of Linux clusters

High-performance computing enables simulations to transform education

This paper presents the case that education in the 21st Century can only measure up to national needs if technologies developed in the simulation community, further enhanced by the power of high performance computing, are harnessed to supplant traditional didactic instruction. The authors cite their professional experiences in simulation, high performance computing and pedagogical studies to support their thesis that this implementation is not only required, it is feasible, supportable and affordable. Surveying and reporting on work in computer-aided education, this paper will discuss the pedagogical imperatives for group learning, risk management and “hero teacher” surrogates, all being optimally delivered with entity level simulations of varying types. Further, experience and research is adduced to support the thesis that effective implementation of this level of simulation is enabled only by, and is largely dependent upon, high performance computing, especially by the ready utility and acceptable costs of Linux clusters

Distributed and Interactive Simulations Operating at Large Scale for Transcontinental Experimentation

This paper addresses the use of emerging technologies to respond to the increasing needs for larger and more sophisticated agent-based simulations of urban areas. The U.S. Joint Forces Command has found it useful to seek out and apply technologies largely developed for academic research in the physical sciences. The use of these techniques in transcontinentally distributed, interactive experimentation has been shown to be effective and stable and the analyses of the data find parallels in the behavioral sciences. The authors relate their decade and a half experience in implementing high performance computing hardware, software and user inter-face architectures. These have enabled heretofore unachievable results. They focus on three advances: the use of general purpose graphics processing units as computing accelerators, the efficiencies derived from implementing interest managed routers in distributed systems, and the benefits of effective data management for the voluminous information

Inaugural Artificial Intelligence for Public Health Practice (AI4PHP) Retreat: Ontario, Canada

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Public Health Practice Retreat was a hybrid event held in October 2022 in London, Ontario to achieve three main goals: 1) Identify both the goals of public health practitioners and the tasks that they undertake as part of their practice to achieve those goals that could be supported by AI, 2) Learn from existing examples and the experience of others about facilitators and barriers to AI for public health, and 3) Support new and strengthen existing connections between public health practitioners and AI researchers. The retreat included a keynote presentation, group brainstorming exercises, breakout group activities, case studies, and interspersed breaks for networking and reflection. There were 38 attendees from across Ontario, and a guest speaker from New York. Major themes that emerged from discussions included the need for greater attention to AI applications in public health given the potential benefits and enthusiasm; rigorous data collection, data quality, and data accessibility as a foundational factor that needs urgent attention; and the need for an equitable systems-thinking approach to AI amidst the breadth of public health functions, interventions, and population-based applications. Attendees expressed a desire for continued engagement and collaboration between public health practice and AI researchers

Detection of vorticity in Bose-Einstein condensed gases by matter-wave interference

A phase-slip in the fringes of an interference pattern is an unmistakable characteristic of vorticity. We show dramatic two-dimensional simulations of interference between expanding condensate clouds with and without vorticity. In this way, vortices may be detected even when the core itself cannot be resolved.Comment: 3 pages, RevTeX, plus 6 PostScript figure

Report on the Third Workshop on Sustainable Software for Science: Practice and Experiences (WSSSPE3)

This report records and discusses the Third Workshop on Sustainable Software for Science: Practice and Experiences (WSSSPE3). The report includes a description of the keynote presentation of the workshop, which served as an overview of sustainable scientific software. It also summarizes a set of lightning talks in which speakers highlighted to-the-point lessons and challenges pertaining to sustaining scientific software. The final and main contribution of the report is a summary of the discussions, future steps, and future organization for a set of self-organized working groups on topics including developing pathways to funding scientific software; constructing useful common metrics for crediting software stakeholders; identifying principles for sustainable software engineering design; reaching out to research software organizations around the world; and building communities for software sustainability. For each group, we include a point of contact and a landing page that can be used by those who want to join that group's future activities. The main challenge left by the workshop is to see if the groups will execute these activities that they have scheduled, and how the WSSSPE community can encourage this to happen

Consolidated health economic evaluation reporting standards (CHEERS) statement

<p>Economic evaluations of health interventions pose a particular challenge for reporting. There is also a need to consolidate and update existing guidelines and promote their use in a user friendly manner. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement is an attempt to consolidate and update previous health economic evaluation guidelines efforts into one current, useful reporting guidance. The primary audiences for the CHEERS statement are researchers reporting economic evaluations and the editors and peer reviewers assessing them for publication.</p> <p>The need for new reporting guidance was identified by a survey of medical editors. A list of possible items based on a systematic review was created. A two round, modified Delphi panel consisting of representatives from academia, clinical practice, industry, government, and the editorial community was conducted. Out of 44 candidate items, 24 items and accompanying recommendations were developed. The recommendations are contained in a user friendly, 24 item checklist. A copy of the statement, accompanying checklist, and this report can be found on the ISPOR Health Economic Evaluations Publication Guidelines Task Force website (www.ispor.org/TaskForces/EconomicPubGuidelines.asp).</p> <p>We hope CHEERS will lead to better reporting, and ultimately, better health decisions. To facilitate dissemination and uptake, the CHEERS statement is being co-published across 10 health economics and medical journals. We encourage other journals and groups, to endorse CHEERS. The author team plans to review the checklist for an update in five years.</p&gt

Panel 1: Pilot Supply & Industry Consequences Update

Update on current “State Of The Industry” in each panelist’s area of expertise. Panelists are asked to provide a brief perspective on current status, trends, and areas of dynamic change. Aviation Academic Status Macchiarella (ERAU) Regional Airlines Greubel (ExpressJet), Haugaard (Horizon Air), Dee (Republic), Lane (Allegiant) Major Airlines Buyer (United), Winter (JetBlue) ALPA Ryder Air Carrier Training Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ACT/ARC) Duncan (FAA) World Pilot Demand, Trends, Forecasts Davis (Boeing) Report From the Hill Bechdolt (RAA