krj@na.toronto.edu (Ken Jackson) (05/08/89)
NA Digest Sunday, May 7, 1989 Volume 89 : Issue 18 Today's Editor: Cleve Moler Today's Topics: Fifth Parallel Circus Public Domain Software for Karmarkar Algorithm C Simplex Source Sought SIAM Conference on Applied Probability Public Domain IMSL? Sparse Matrix Symposium -- Driving to Salishan Positions at CERFACS Positions at University of Lancaster ------------------------------------------------------- From: Izzy Nelken <israel@paul.rutgers.edu> Date: Sun, 30 Apr 89 20:32:41 EDT Subject: Fifth Parallel Circus Review of the Fifth Parallel Circus by Izzy Nelken, Department of Computer Science, Rutgers University The fifth Parallel Circus was held at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Friday and Saturday, April 28th. and 29th. RPI is located in Troy, NY, overlooking the Hudson river in beautiful Rensselaer county. The Parallel Circus is an informal forum for presentations of up to date research related to parallel computing. The Circus usually takes place twice a year, each time at a different location. The first circus was hosted by Martin Schultz at Yale University, the second took place at Cornell University and was organized by Charles Van Loan. The third and fourth meetings were held at IBM Kingston and at Rutgers University and were organized by Vijay Sonnad and Apostolos Gerasoulis respectively. This meeting was chaired by Joseph Flaherty and Bolek Szymansky of RPI and Gene Golub of Stanford University. There were some forty attendees and more than twenty talks. The atmosphere was informal and participants were encouraged to ask questions and make comments which sometimes led to lively discussions. The talks were wide ranging in their subject matters. People spoke about hardware considerations, implementations of various algorithms, theory of parallel computation and compiling and scheduling issues. P. Procacci, D. Frye and D. Schneider of IBM described implementations of Chemistry and Physics applications. F. Saied of Yale University talked about parallelizing the solution of the Schrodinger equation via variants of the ADI method. Interesting issues related to compiling were covered by J. Bruno from RPI and J. Li and R. Mirchandaney from Yale University. W. Miranker of IBM gave a talk about the solution of differential equations using an associative memory computing paradigm. M. Johnson of Bennet Laboratories showed video tapes of simulations of the visual process in the brain. There were several presentations of work done at RPI. E. Kaltofen, T. Spencer and M. Goldberg gave theoretical talks about the computations of matrix functions, time work tradeoffs and the construction of an independent set of a graph. W.R. Franklin described geometric algorithms used in determining line intersections and P. Baehmann spoke about Transputers and Quadtrees. S. Hammond compared static and dynamic scheduling techniques for the ICCG algorithm, G. Shroff talked about the eigenproblem for a general complex matrix and C. Norton described several neural network models. A. Elster from Cornell University talked about fault tolerance issues and I. Nelken of Rutgers University described several results concerning the Gaussian elimination and Gauss Jordan algorithms. S. Foresti of IBM spoke of multilevel finite elements. Last but not least on this list is A. Greenbaum of the Courant Institute at New York University who has graciously volunteered to host the next parallel circus. She described her Ultracomputer implementation of a multipole method which is related to the Trummer problem. Trummer's problem was posed by Gene Golub and solved by Apostolos Gerasoulis. The more social activities included a dinner at one of the best local restaurants and a guided tour of the beautiful RPI campus. We were shown the computer facilities which are located in the renovated Voorhees Chapel. Apparently, the local sentiment was against the destruction of the Chapel to make way for a computer center so a compromise was found. One can walk into the Chapel, sit down and work on a computer terminal. Most of the participants were happy with the meeting and enjoyed the talks. There were a few ideas about extending the Circus and meeting also in the west coast. The conferences give exposure to students and provide a meeting place for scientists interested in parallel computing. ------------------------------ From: Walter Gander <gander@inf.ethz.ch> Date: 28 Apr 89 09:26:38+0200 Subject: Public Domain Software for Karmarkar Algorithm Niklaus Wirth received the following letter, in which a PC implementation of Karmarkar's Algorithm is sought. Since this company wants to develop public domain software it seems to me that we should help them and put their request in the na-digest. -- Walter Gander PC Implementation of Karmarkar's Algorithm We are preparing to develop an implementation of Karmarkar's algorithm on the IBM AT platform, to solve a specific formulation of large but sparse LP problems. We are hoping to locate someone who already has suitable pseudo or source code which we could interface with an existing matrix generator and report writer system. Presently this system interfaces with a Simplex LP solution, but it is far too inefficient for the size of problem we are dealing with. The maximum problem size we would like to address is 1000 rows by 8000 columns, with a non-zero element density of about 3%. Shadow-price information is not important for this application. The software we will develop will be available in source form in the public domain. We will fully credit the sources of code we may incorporate, and will provide full details of solution strategies and algorithms to anyone who has provided us with source code. We would very much appreciate any contacts you may provide us in this regard. FAX transmission may be sent to us by telephoning first at (604)-361-9306. Otherwise please reply by express mail. Yours truly David Ormerod, Manager SYLVAMETRICS Consulting 303-535 Yates Street Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 1K7 (604) 361-3290/9306 ------------------------------ From: Martin Steenhuis <mcvax!hp4nl!tnoibbc!ms@uunet.uu.net> Date: 2 May 89 16:18:36 GMT Subject: C Simplex Source Sought Hi, Does anyone have the C-source to an implementation of a large-scale simplex- routine based on the Bartels/Golub algoritm? Any help is appreciated. Please reply by mail. Thanks in advance. Martin Steenhuis Martin Steenhuis : TNO - IBBC USENET : ms@tnoibbc Expert System Group : PO-box 49 UUCP : ..!hp4nl!tnoibbc!ms : 2600 AA Delft : the Netherlands VOICE : +31 15 606293 ------------------------------ From: Michelle Jones <SIAM@wharton.upenn.edu> Date: Wed, 3 May 89 11:49 EDT Subject: SIAM Conference on Applied Probability CALL FOR PAPERS CONFERENCE DATE: March 5-7, 1990 TITLE: SIAM Conference on Applied Probability in Science and Engineering Cosponsored by the ORSA/TIMS Applied Probability Group ORGANIZERS: Bernard Matkowsky, Northwestern University James McKenna, Bellcore George Shanthikumar, University of California, Berkeley ABSTRACT DEADLINE: September 27, 1989 CONTACT: SIAM Conference Coordinator 117 S. 17th Street, 14th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103-5052 (215) 564-2929 (FAX) (215) 564-4174 E-Mail: siam@wharton.upenn.edu PLACE: New Orleans, LA TOPICS: Probabilistic Analysis of Algorithms; Applications of Probability in Biology; Applications of Probability in Physics; Queueing Theory; Stochastic Optimization; Probability Theory and Classical Applied Mathematics; Stochastic Scheduling; Applied Probability; Stochastic Models in Manufacturing SPEAKERS: David Aldous, University of California, Berkeley Robert Eisenberg, Rush Medical College, Chicago Richard Karp, University of California, Berkeley Thomas Liggett, University of California, Berkeley Bernard Matkowsky, Northwestern University Richard Weber, Combridge University George Weiss, National Institute of Health Ward Whitt, AT&T Bell Labs. ------------------------------ From: Bob Chojnacki <CHOJNACKI@vaxmfg.tech.nwu.edu> Date: Wed, 3 May 89 08:22 CST Subject: Public Domain IMSL? I recently saw a posting on a different email list that requested a public domain version of IMSL. Any of you who have IMSL or looked into in "renting" it know the price of IMSL. Is there such a beast (public domain IMSL). Another question, (since we will probably be getting a numeric library of one sort or another), is how does IMSL compare to NAG? I realize libraries of this calibre cost a bit and perhaps justifiably so. However, it is part of my job to look into alternatives. Bob Chojnacki chojnacki@vaxmfg.tech.nwu.edu Center for Manufacturing Engineering/Department of Mechanical Engineering Northwestern University Evanston, IL 60208 USA ------------------------------ From: John Lewis <@atc.boeing.com:jglewis@priapus> Date: Thu, 4 May 89 08:39:34 PDT Subject: Sparse Matrix Symposium -- Driving to Salishan The following information was accidentally omitted from the final mailing to participants. For those who choose not to drive themselves, the SIAM buses are scheduled to leave the Portland airport at 3:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:30pm and 9:30pm on Sunday, May 21. COMMENTS ON DRIVING TO SALISHAN: The instructions given on the map supplied by Salishan Lodge describe two routes, one using Highway 99W through Tigard, the alternative using Highway 22 near Salem. The first of these is apparently more scenic, offering a tour through the wine country of Oregon (and a chance to stop and sample). From the map and the resort's description, the second route appears to be distinctly a second choice -- longer, with more freeway driving. In fact, the first route is 112 miles long and takes about 2.5 hours while the second is around 95 miles and takes about 2 hours. I was only able to drive the first route, but some of my comments apply to the second route as well. Note at the beginning that the large scale map has the Portland Airport in the wrong location! As indicated in the more detailed map, it is accessed from I(nterstate) 205, not I5. The drive from the airport to the junction of I205 with I5 is about 23 miles. At this point follow the Tigard exit (I5 North) for the first route, the Salem exit (I5 South) for the second. For the first route, go north on I5 just under 3 miles to Exit 292 (marked variously Sunset Highway, Ocean Beaches, Tigard and Beaverton, and Highway 217W). After two miles on this road, take the exit for Tigard/McMinnville. A left turn at the end of the exit ramp takes you in the correct direction, with about four miles of urban driving before you enter the countryside. The mileages in the table below are total distances from the airport. Tigard/McMinnville exit (99W): 28.0 Newberg: 41.1 Dundee 45.0 Highway 18 (McMinnville bypass) 49.3 Sheridan 67.7 Valley Junction (Highway 22) 78.5 Highway 101 (South to Lincoln City) 101.5 enter Lincoln City 103.1 Highway 101 passes through Lincoln City for about six miles. Salishan Lodge is about three miles further south, 112 miles from the airport. The entrance to the resort is easy to find: A left turn at an isolated traffic light, well marked by several quite large and lighted signs on the left side of the highway. ------------------------------ From: Iain Duff <duff@antares.mcs.anl.gov> Date: Fri, 5 May 89 05:01:13 CDT Subject: Positions at CERFACS CERFACS Recruitment of PhDs and post-docs. CALL FOR CANDIDATES ... TO COMMENCE OCTOBER 1989. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS 15 JUNE 1989 The European Centre for Research and Advanced Training in Scientific Computation (CERFACS) in Toulouse, France is continuing to expand. A call for candidates to join CERFACS at or around October 1989 at either the post-doctorate or post-graduate level has just been made. The PhD grant (initially for two years) is 10590 FFr per month, and the post-doctorate grant (annually renewable) is for 14290 FFr per month. The cost of living in the Toulouse region is fairly low and, depending on one's tastes, it should be possible to live fairly well on these salaries. It is planned to award up to ten grants. There are presently around forty research workers at the Centre. There is no set application form. Applications should be made to CERFACS, 42 Ave G Coriolis, 31057 Toulouse Cedex, France. (Tel +33-61-07-96-96, FAX +33-61-07-96-13, email cros@frtls12.bitnet) by June 15th 1989, preferably including a CV and an indication of the main interests of the candidate. e-mail can also be sent to me (at na.duff@na-net.stanford.edu) although I would prefer if you simultaneously sent the same communication directly to CERFACS. I am happy to send further information on CERFACS to any interested parties. There are four teams at CERFACS, in parallel algorithm development and numerical computation, instability and turbulence, aerodynamic flows, and visualization methods for computational fluid mechanics. Currently the main machines in the Centre are an ETA-10P and two Alliant FX/80s, an Encore Multimax, a Gould NP1, and an IBM 9370. There is good access to an IBM 3090/VF (currently 4 processor .. to be upgraded to six), a 4-processor CRAY-2, and a CRAY X-MP. It is planned to install a more massively parallel machine in the near future. The working environment is based on workstations (mostly Suns). There are also possibilities of funding visits from more senior researchers. It is easiest if interested parties contact me directly. Iain Duff Harwell and CERFACS ------------------------------ From: W. A. Light <maa007%central1.lancaster.ac.uk@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk> Date: Fri, 5 May 89 14:07:39 -0100 Subject: Positions at University of Lancaster Applicants should have research interests in some area of numerical analysis. The department has recently become part of a new school of Computing, Engineering and Matheamtical Sciences and will particularly welcome applications from candidates with interests in an area relevant to the other departments in the School. Applicants should possess a strong research record in numerical analysis, and should also have ability in teaching. Closing date.....21st June 1989. E-mail W. A. Light or write Department of Mathematics, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, La1 4FY, England for further information about the post and the department. ------------------------------ End of NA Digest ************************** ------- Reposted by -- Kenneth R. Jackson, krj@na.toronto.edu (on Internet, CSNet, Computer Science Dept., ARPAnet, BITNET) University of Toronto, krj@na.utoronto.ca (CDNnet and other Toronto, Canada M5S 1A4 X.400 nets (Europe)) (Phone: 416-978-7075) ...!{uunet,pyramid,watmath,ubc-cs}!utai!krj