A Study of the Performance of the Topological Clustering and Anti-kT Algorithms Using Graphical Processing Units

The advent and proliferation of modern graphical processing units (GPUs) containing hundreds to thousands of cores opens up the new possibility of rewriting programs to execute on GPUs and acheive significant gains in speed over the original implementation. We examine two algorithms taken from high-energy physics: topological clustering, and the anti-k_{T} jet finding algorithm. While no performance gains were attained for topological clustering, the execution time of the anti-k_{T} algorithm is nearly halved

An Investigation into Possible Problems Arising from Repeal of the Personal Property Tax in South Dakota

There is considerable pressure in South Dakota, as in many states at the present time, for tax relief or tax reform. Much of this concern is directed toward the type of taxes that most local governments and school districts rely on for the major portion of their operating funds. In South Dakota property taxes account for about 69 percent of local government revenue compared to a national average of 45 percent(1). As costs of government continue to rise, the burden on property owners becomes more onerous. The search for means of relief for the property owner continues. One method that has gathered considerable support is the exemption of personal property from taxation. Several prestigious groups or persons have gone on record favoring the repeal of the personal property tax. Shortly after his election in November 1970, Governor Richard Kneip appointed a Council for Tax Decision which consisted of bipartisan representatives of a cross-section of South Dakota\u27s population. The Council, composed of farmers, ranchers, businessmen, workers, and professional people, was charged with studying the tax system of South Dakota and making recommendations for reform to the Governor who would study these recommendations and submit them at will to the Legislature. Although repeal of the personal property tax was not one of the formal recommendations agreed upon by the Council, the subject was considered by its members

A Citizen\u27s Handbook: South Dakota Governmental Finance and Employment

This publication can assist South Dakotans to obtain a better understanding of, and to engage in more active participation in their state and local governments. This understanding and participation require data and a certain amount of interpretative information on the operations of state and local governments in South Dakota. This publication will not answer all questions. Yet, it will answer many questions and provide the basis for further exploration of the operations of state and local governments in South Dakota

Direct Evidence for Fluid Pressure, Dilatancy, and Compaction Affecting Slip in Isolated Faults

Earthquake instability occurs as a result of strength loss during sliding on a fault. It has been known for over 50 years that fault compaction or dilatancy may cause significant weakening or strengthening by dramatically changing the fluid pressure trapped in faults. Despite this fundamental importance, we have no real understanding of the exact conditions that lead to compaction or dilation during nucleation or rupture. To date, no direct measurements of pore pressure changes during slip in hydraulically isolated faults have been reported. We show direct examples of fluid pressure variations during nucleation and rupture using a miniature pressure transducer embedded in an experimental fault. We demonstrate that fluids not only are significant in controlling fault behavior but can provide the dominant mechanism controlling fault stability. The effect of fluid pressure changes can exceed frictional variations predicted by rate‐ and state‐dependent friction laws, exerting fundamental controls on earthquake rupture initiation

Modeling of brittle failure and comparisons to laboratory experiments

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1990.Vita.Includes bibliographical references.by David Avery Lockner.Ph.D