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Detecting clusters of galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. I. Monte Carlo comparison of cluster detection algorithms

Summary

We present a comparison of three cluster-finding algorithms from imaging data using Monte Carlo simulations of clusters embedded in a 25 deg(2) region of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) imaging data: the matched filter (MF), the adaptive matched filter (AMF), and a color-magnitude filtered Voronoi tessellation technique (VTT). Among the two matched filters, we find that the MF is more efficient in detecting faint clusters, whereas the AMF evaluates the redshifts and richnesses more accurately, therefore suggesting a hybrid method (HMF) that combines the two. The HMF outperforms the VTT when using a background that is uniform, but it is more sensitive to the presence of a nonuniform galaxy background than is the VTT; this is due to the assumption of a uniform background in the HMF model. We thus find that for the detection thresholds we determine to be appropriate for the SDSS data, the performance of both algorithms are similar; we present the selection function for each method evaluated with these thresholds as a function of redshift and richness. For simulated clusters generated with a Schechter luminosity function (M(*r) = -21.5 and (a = -1.1), both algorithms are complete for Abell richness >~ clusters up to z ~0.4 for a sample magnitude limited to r = 21. While the cluster parameter evaluation shows a mild correlation with the local background density, the detection efficiency is not significantly affected by the background fluctuations, unlike previous shallower surveys.
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Summary

We present a comparison of three cluster-finding algorithms from imaging data using Monte Carlo simulations of clusters embedded in a 25 deg(2) region of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) imaging data: the matched filter (MF), the adaptive matched filter (AMF), and a color-magnitude filtered Voronoi tessellation technique (VTT). Among the...

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Discrete optimization using decision-directed learning for distributed networked computing

Summary

Decision-directed learning (DDL) is an iterative discrete approach to finding a feasible solution for large-scale combinatorial optimization problems. DDL is capable of efficiently formulating a solution to network scheduling problems that involve load limiting device utilization, selecting parallel configurations for software applications and host hardware using a minimum set of resources, and meeting time-to-result performance requirements in a dynamic network environment. This paper quantifies the algorithms that constitute DDL and compares its performance to other popular combinatorial self-directed real-time networked resource configuration for dynamically building a mission specific signal-processor for real-time distributed and parallel applications.
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Summary

Decision-directed learning (DDL) is an iterative discrete approach to finding a feasible solution for large-scale combinatorial optimization problems. DDL is capable of efficiently formulating a solution to network scheduling problems that involve load limiting device utilization, selecting parallel configurations for software applications and host hardware using a minimum set of...

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The effect of personality type on the usage of a multimedia engineering education system

Author:
Published in:
32nd Annual ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conf., 6-9 November 2002, pp. T3A-7 - T3A-12.

Summary

Multimedia education has quickly entered our classrooms and offices providing tutorials and lessons on many different topics. The assumption that most people interact with these multimedia systems in similar ways can easily be made, but are these assumptions valid? What factors determine whether students will embrace computer-based multimedia-augmented learning? One factor may be the student's personality type. This paper explores the reasons why some students may enjoy learning using computer-based educational delivery systems while others may have absolutely no enthusiasm for this type of learning and how that enthusiasm may relate to the students' personality types.
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Summary

Multimedia education has quickly entered our classrooms and offices providing tutorials and lessons on many different topics. The assumption that most people interact with these multimedia systems in similar ways can easily be made, but are these assumptions valid? What factors determine whether students will embrace computer-based multimedia-augmented learning? One...

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PVL: An Object Oriented Software Library for Parallel Signal Processing (Abstract)

Published in:
CLUSTER '01, 2001 IEEE Int. Conf. on Cluster Computing, 8-11 October 2001, p. 74.

Summary

Real-time signal processing consumes the majority of the world's computing power Increasingly, programmable parallel microprocessors are used to address a wide variety of signal processing applications (e.g. scientific, video, wireless, medical, communication, encoding, radar, sonar and imaging). In programmable systems the major challenge is no longer hardware but software. Specifically, the key technical hurdle lies in mapping (i.e., placement and routing) of an algorithm onto a parallel computer in a general manner that preserves software portability. We have developed the Parallel Vector Library (PVL) to allow signal processing algorithms to be written using high level Matlab like constructs that are independent of the underlying parallel mapping. Programs written using PVL can be ported to a wide range of parallel computers without sacrificing performance. Furthermore, the mapping concepts in PVL provide the infrastructure for enabling new capabilities such as fault tolerance, dynamic scheduling and self-optimization. This presentation discusses PVL with particular emphasis on quantitative comparisons with standard parallel signal programming practices.
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Summary

Real-time signal processing consumes the majority of the world's computing power Increasingly, programmable parallel microprocessors are used to address a wide variety of signal processing applications (e.g. scientific, video, wireless, medical, communication, encoding, radar, sonar and imaging). In programmable systems the major challenge is no longer hardware but software. Specifically...

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Parallel programming with MatlabMPI

Author:
Published in:
https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0107406

Summary

MatlabMPI is a Matlab implementation of the Message Passing Interface (MPI) standard and allows any Matlab program to exploit multiple processors. MatlabMPI currently implements the basic six functions that are the core of the MPI point-to-point communications standard. The key technical innovation of MatlabMPI is that it implements the widely used MPI "look and feel" on top of standard Matlab file I/O, resulting in an extremely compact (~100 lines) and "pure" implementation which runs anywhere Matlab runs. The performance has been tested on both shared and distributed memory parallel computers. MatlabMPI can match the bandwidth of C based MPI at large message sizes. A test image filtering application using MatlabMPI achieved a speedup of ~70 on a parallel computer.
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Summary

MatlabMPI is a Matlab implementation of the Message Passing Interface (MPI) standard and allows any Matlab program to exploit multiple processors. MatlabMPI currently implements the basic six functions that are the core of the MPI point-to-point communications standard. The key technical innovation of MatlabMPI is that it implements the widely...

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High Speed Interconnects and Parallel Software Libraries: Enabling Technologies for NVO

Author:
Published in:
Proc. of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conf. Series, Vol. 225, 2001, Virtual Observations of the Future, 13-16 June 2000, pp. 297-301.

Summary

The National Virtual Observatory (NVO) will directly or indirectly touch upon all steps in the process of transforming raw observational data into "meaningful" results. These steps include: (1) Acquisition and storage of raw data. (2) Data reduction (i.e. translating raw data into source detections). (3) Aquisition and storage of detected sources. (4) Multi-sensor/multi-temporal data mining of the products of steps (1), (2) and (3). (Not complete.)
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Summary

The National Virtual Observatory (NVO) will directly or indirectly touch upon all steps in the process of transforming raw observational data into "meaningful" results. These steps include: (1) Acquisition and storage of raw data. (2) Data reduction (i.e. translating raw data into source detections). (3) Aquisition and storage of detected...

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Exploiting VSIPL and OpenMP for Parallel Image Processing

Author:
Published in:
ADASS 2000, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems X, 12-14 November 2000, pp. 209-212.

Summary

VSIPL and OpenMP are two open standards for portable high performance computing. VSIPL delivers optimized single processor performance while OpenMP provides a low overhead mechanism for executing thread based parallelism on shared memory systems. Image processing is one of the main areas where VSIPL and OpenMP can have a large impact. Currently, a large fraction of image processing applications are written in the Interpreted Data Language (IDL) environment. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that the performance benefits of these new standards can be brought to image processing community in a high level manner that is transparent to users. To this end, this talk presents a fast, FFT based algorithm for performing image convolutions. This algorithm has been implemented within the IDL environment using VSIPL (for optimized single processor performance) with added OpenMP directives (for parallelism). This work demonstrates that good parallel speedups are attainable using standards and can be integrated seamlessly into existing user environments.
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Summary

VSIPL and OpenMP are two open standards for portable high performance computing. VSIPL delivers optimized single processor performance while OpenMP provides a low overhead mechanism for executing thread based parallelism on shared memory systems. Image processing is one of the main areas where VSIPL and OpenMP can have a large...

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ITWS microburst prediction algorithm performance, capabilities, and limitations

Summary

Lincoln Laboratory, under funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Doppler Weather Radar program, has developed algorithms for automatically detecting microbursts. While microburst detection algorithms provide highly reliable warnings of microbursts. there still remains a period of time between microburst onset and pilot reaction during which aircraft are at risk. This latency is due to the time needed for the automated algorithms to operate on the radar data, for air traffic controllers to relay any warnings and for pilots to react to the warnings. Lincoln Laboratory research and development has yielded an algorithm for accurately predicting when microburst outflows will occur. The Microburst Prediction Algorithm is part of a suite of weather detection algorithms within the Integrated Terminal Weather System. This paper details the performance of the Microburst Prediction Algorithm over a wide range of geographical and climatological environments. The paper also discusses the full range of the Microburst Prediction Algorithm's capabilities and limitations in varied weather environments. This paper does not discuss the overall rationale for a prediction algorithm or the detailed methodology used to generate predictions.
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Summary

Lincoln Laboratory, under funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Doppler Weather Radar program, has developed algorithms for automatically detecting microbursts. While microburst detection algorithms provide highly reliable warnings of microbursts. there still remains a period of time between microburst onset and pilot reaction during which aircraft are at...

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Automated storm tracking for terminal air traffic control

Published in:
Lincoln Laboratory Journal, Vol. 7, No. 2, Fall 1994, pp. 427-448.

Summary

Good estimates of storm motion are essential to improved air traffic control operations during times of inclement weather. Automating such a service is a challenge, however, because meteorological phenomena exist as complex distributed systems that exhibit motion across a wide spectrum of scales. Even when viewed from a fixed perspective, these evolving dynamic systems can test the extent of our definition of motion, as well as any attempt at automated tracking of this motion. Image-based motion detection and processing appear to provide the best route toward robust performance of an automated tracking system.
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Summary

Good estimates of storm motion are essential to improved air traffic control operations during times of inclement weather. Automating such a service is a challenge, however, because meteorological phenomena exist as complex distributed systems that exhibit motion across a wide spectrum of scales. Even when viewed from a fixed perspective...

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Phased array calibrations using measured element patterns

Published in:
1995 IEEE Int. Symp. Digest, Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 2, 18-23 June 1995, pp. 918-921.

Summary

A technique to compensate for differences in phased array element patterns is presented. Each measured element pattern is approximated by a virtual array whose excitation function is determined by the Woodward-Lawson synthesis technique. By extending the virtual array beyond the physical array dimensions, mutual coupling and edge diffraction effects can be separated. An example is given where calibration by coupling matrix inversion resulted in significantly reduced array pattern sidelobes.
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Summary

A technique to compensate for differences in phased array element patterns is presented. Each measured element pattern is approximated by a virtual array whose excitation function is determined by the Woodward-Lawson synthesis technique. By extending the virtual array beyond the physical array dimensions, mutual coupling and edge diffraction effects can...

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