NA Digest Sunday, March 11, 1990 Volume 90 : Issue 10 Today's Editor: Cleve Moler Today's Topics: IMACS Boulder Conference Dates Pronunciation of Cholesky, Lanczos and Euler Software for Sparse Eigenvalue Problem Wanted Functions to Modify IEEE Floating Point News Reports from Japan Report from Conference in Nigeria Symposium Parallel Scientific Computing in Amsterdam International Conference on Supercomputing NAG Users Association April Workshop Position at Scientific Computing Associates An Interpreted Matrix Language ------------------------------------------------------- From: Karl Gustafson Date: Tue, 6 Mar 90 13:34:54 MST Subject: IMACS Boulder Conference Dates Conference dates for the IMACS conference in Boulder were inadvertently omitted in last week's NA Net announcement. IMACS 1ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS University of Colorado,Boulder, Colorado 80309-0426 JUNE 11-15, 1990 For full announcement, email to: gustafs@euclid.colorado.edu ------------------------------ From: Joerg Waldvogel Date: Wed, 7 Mar 90 10:14 GMT Subject: Pronunciation of Cholesky, Lanczos and Euler The comments on A.L. Cholesky in the NA Digest 90-7 were very interesting indeed. The only thing missing were hints on the correct pronunciation of the name Cholesky. Here are some (I am using English phonetics in quotes to indicate pronunciations): 1) The approximate original Polish or Russian pronunciation is 'Kholesky', as the name would also be read in German phonetics. Therefore this is an appropriate pronunciation for Slavic and German, perhaps Spanish speaking countries. 2) The guttural sound kh does not occur in French or English. There were (are) two ways to overcome this problem: (a) Best approximation in the set of native sounds. This results in 'Colesky' for both the French and the English language. Emigres sometimes adapt the spelling later on, but apparently the Cholesky family did not do this. (b) Reading the foreign name in native phonetics, using the original spelling. This would result in 'Sholesky' for French, the language spoken by Andre Louis Cholesky. I do not know how Cholesky pronounced his name. 3) In view of this the straight-forward English pronunciation 'Cholesky'= 'T-sholesky' should not be used. Do you know about any other difficult but important names? Here are two: The numerical Analyst C. Lanczos is widely mispronounced. The name is Hungarian and should be read as 'Lantsosh'. On the other hand, it is now- adays well known that Leonhard Euler is pronounced (but not spelled) as 'Oiler', and not as 'You-ler'. Joerg Waldvogel, ETH Zurich WALDVOGEL@CZHETH5A.BITNET ------------------------------ From: Are Magnus Bruaset Date: 5 Mar 90 11:22:20 GMT Subject: Software for Sparse Eigenvalue Problem Wanted As part of a project on PCG methods used on model problems with discontinous or highly varying material coefficients I want to compute the eigenvalue distribution of a sparse matrix. So far I have used MatLab, CLAM and LINPACK but these packages do not take advantage of the sparsity in my problem, thus allowing only small systems to be investigated. I hope someone can guide me to where I can get software that solves A x = lambda B x, utilizing that both A and B are pentadiagonal matrices with real entries. Any ideas will be highly appreciated! Are Magnus Bruaset (arem@ifi.uio.no) University of Oslo, Norway ------------------------------ From: David Bernholdt Date: 5 Mar 90 19:34:55 GMT Subject: Functions to Modify IEEE Floating Point I use Sun systems, which follows the ANSI/IEEE 754-1985 standard for floating point arithmetic. Sun provides a number of functions to manipulate the actions of the system. For example, the Fortran functions ieee_flags ieee_handler sigfpe and the include file They also provide things like gradual_underflow() abrupt_underflow() which can turn on or off the standard IEEE handling of underflows in order to save comuptation time, and ieee_retrospective which can be called anywhere to provide a summary of the IEEE exceptions which have occurred so far. Are these routines available on all machines which follow IEEE floating point? Do they have the same names or just similar functionality? Unfortunately, I don't have access to any other IEEE machines to look at. Any help is appreciated. David Bernholdt bernhold@qtp.ufl.edu Quantum Theory Project bernhold@ufpine.bitnet University of Florida Gainesville, FL 32611 904/392 6365 ------------------------------ From: David Kahaner Date: Mon, 5 Mar 90 09:15:50 +0900 Subject: News Reports from Japan I have a new e-mail address is a new account and it seems to be reliable. Please use kahaner@xroads.cc.u-tokyo.ac.jp to contact me instead of any other you may have. In doing my job here in Tokyo I write reports on the trips that I make and the meetings that I attend. Several of these might be of interest to readers of NA-Digest. (1) Summary of a trip with Prof Gene Golub (Stanford) to Institute of Statistical Mathematics (Tokyo) Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences (Kyoto) IBM Research (Tokyo) University of Tsukuba to see PAX project (Tsukuba) Ryukoku University (2) Summary of the meeting Second International Workshop on Software Quality Improvement (Kyoto) (3) The PAX parallel processing project at University of Tsukuba (report) (4) Summary of visit to Hiroshima University and Ehime University. These reports contains descriptive material, references, and my own reactions. I will be happy to share any or all of these with anyone who sends me a mail message. There are also a number of scientific computing related meetings that will be held in Japan this spring, summer and fall. I can provide some information on these to anyone who writes to me. David Kahaner ------------------------------ From: Uri Ascher Date: 5 Mar 90 12:38 -0800 Subject: Report from Conference in Nigeria The Fourth International Conference on Computational Mathematics was held at the University of Benin (in cooperation also with Ondo State University) in Nigeria, February 19-22, 1990. A workshop on Computers in Education formed part of the program as well. The first three of these conferences took place in 1983, 1986 and 1988. The conference is unique in topic and in character for that part of the world. It also offers visitors from abroad a unique experience for a scientific meeting. The conference was ably directed (and at times it seemed single-handedly managed) by Professor S. O. Fatunla. About 100 participants attended, mostly from Nigeria. The list of foreigners included J. Pryce (Swindon, UK), M. van Veldhuisen (Amsterdam), M. Wulkow (Berlin) and myself (Vancouver). This list is relatively short as compared to that of 1988, undoubtedly because of reduced funding for travel outside Nigeria, which probably reflects the economic slump which this country currently experiences. The impressive opening ceremony was attended by a number of federal and state officials. Short addresses were delivered by a representative of the federal Minister of Education, by the military governor of the state and by the University Vice-Chancellor, ex-Mathematician Dr. Grace Alele Williams. Professor van Veldhuisen added his part for the scientists from afar. This ceremony was followed by a symposium on Computers in Education. Another symposium the following day was devoted to Computers in Library Automation. Panels of experts from various Nigerian universities discussed these important topics in the local context. The discussions were thorough and the dominant tone was informed and realistic: the foreign visitors did not have much to add, just to learn. In the second half of the conference things got down to what was to us more familiar grounds. The presentations by the speakers from abroad, as well as those by a few local scientists, concentrated on various aspects of the numerical solution of differential equations. It has been commented in previous reports on these meetings (SIAM News March 1986, November 1988) that the experience that the visiting participant gains transcends well beyond the usual information gathering in a scientific meeting. The opportunity of meeting our Nigerian colleagues and their eager students and of watching them operate on their own turf brings upon a new perspective in which their efforts and achievements can be appreciated. One is also led to reflect on all the basic advantages, taken for granted, which are part of the work environment in North America and Western Europe. The trip to Nigeria would not be enjoyed by those who must have the Hyatt amenities to feel at home. But the Benin University staff did everything they could to make our stay a comfortable and enjoyable one, including easing the pains of the Lagos International Airport. Friendliness, eagerness to please and to learn and good will by virtually all colleagues and students whom we met more than compensated for tentative schedules and bathroom fixtures. Food was OK, the accomodations spacious and yes, the Nigerian beer is much better than the ordinary American one and costs almost nothing in dollars. Uri Ascher ------------------------------ From: H.J.J. te Riele Date: Wed, 7 Mar 90 16:46:29 +0100 Subject: Symposium Parallel Scientific Computing in Amsterdam CWI-IMACS-SYMPOSIUM ON PARALLEL SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING FRIDAY APRIL 6TH, 1990 PLACE: CWI, ROOM Z011 Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science Kruislaan 413 1098 SJ Amsterdam The Netherlands R.J. van der Pas (Convex Computer b.v.) and S.W. Brok (TU Delft), Generalized Red Black algorithm and its implementation on the parallel processors DPP84, Alliant FX/8 and Convex C240 S.G. Petiton (Yale Univ., New Haven, USA), Parallel Subspace Method for non-Hermitian Eigenproblems on the Connection Machine (CM2) P.J. van der Houwen and B.P. Sommeijer (CWI), Parallel methods for ordinary differential equations W.M. Lioen (CWI), Solving large dense systems of linear equations using systems with hierarchical memory Shun Doi (NEC Corporation, Kawasaki, Japan) and A. Lichnewsky (INRIA, Parijs), On Parallelism and Convergence of Incomplete LU Factorizations The organizing committee, H.J.J. te Riele (CWI, 5924106) Th.J. Dekker (UvA) H.A. van der Vorst (TUD) ------------------------------ From: H.J.J. te Riele Date: Thu, 8 Mar 90 14:28:00 +0100 Subject: International Conference on Supercomputing 1990 ACM International Conference on Supercomputing June, 11-15 Amsterdam CO-CHAIRMEN: Ahmed Sameh (Illinois) & Henk van der Vorst (Delft and CWI) PROGRAM DIRECTOR: John R. Sopka (DEC) INVITED LECTURES: Burton Smith, "The Tera Computer System" Tony Chan, "Parallel Multilevel Algorithms for PDE's" William Wulf, "The Collaboratory: A Larger Context for Support of Computational Science" Wolfgang Fichtner, "Iterative Methods and Supercomputers for VLSI Device Simulation" Toshitsugu Yuba, "Dataflow Computer Development in Japan" Ahmed Noor, "Strategies for Large-Scale Structural Problems on High Performance Computers" Piet van der Houwen, "Parallel ODE Solvers" Anthony Hey, To be announced CONTRIBUTED LECTURES: About 125 papers have been submitted, covering a large number of subjects. In summary the issues for the ICS'90 Conference are quite well in agreement with what we believe to be the current trends and main problems: tools to aid parallel programming as well as parallel execution, the effects of memory hierarchy, programming techniques, visualization, effective use of suitable kernels like the BLAS3, besides the already more classical topics in this rapidly expanding area: parallel algoritms, large scale applications on vector multiprocessors and local memory machines, performance evaluation, and architectures for special applications. No more tham two parallel sessions will be scheduled at the same time. REGISTRATION: More information, including fees and an electronic registration form, can be obtained from Frans Snijders: Mr. Frans Snijders CWI P.O. Box 4079, Kruislaan 413 1009 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands fax.: +31-20-5924199 email: franss@cwi.nl ------------------------------ From: Caroline Foers Date: Tue, 6 Mar 90 16:17 GMT Subject: NAG Users Association April Workshop NAG USERS ASSOCIATION APRIL WORKSHOP "Scientific and Technical Computing Languages" Wednesday 4 April 1990, London In April 1990, NAGUA will be holding its very first one-day workshop. The title of the workshop is "Scientific and Technical Computing Languages". It will be given by senior technical NAG staff. Sessions during the day will focus on key computing languages, to include Fortran, Ada and C. NAG is involved in library work in all of these languages. In Fortran, the release of Mark 14 later this year will expand the library to include around 160 new routines, as well as offering improved documentation and redeveloped test programs. Plans already exist for Mark 15. NAG's Ada Library was developed to exploit all the advantages of the language, and was not simply a translation of the Fortran routines. The recently launched C Header Files allow the C community to have direct access to NAG's Fortran Library and Graphics Library. The provisional programme for the workshop includes Introduction, Steve Hague, Deputy Director Overview of Current Practice in Fortran 77, Richard Brankin Fortran 8x (Fortran 90?), Malcolm Cohen C, Shah Datardina Ada, Graham Hodgson Open Discussion Session The workshop will be held at Imperial College, University of London, on Wednesday 4 April 1990. The registration fee will be #50 for NAGUA members or #80 for non-members, and this will include lunch and tea/coffee. Booking forms are available from the following address: NAG Users Association PO Box 426 OXFORD 0X2 8SD United Kingdom Provisional bookings will be accepted by telephone or email Telephone: 0865 311102 International: +44 865 311102 email: caroline@uk.co.nag.vax ------------------------------ From: Andrew Sherman Date: Mon, 05 Mar 90 10:41:53 -0500 Subject: Position at Scientific Computing Associates Scientific Computing Associates, Inc. has immediate openings on its technical staff for individuals to carry out a variety of tasks related to scientific software and parallel computing. Initial assignments may include research and development for the vector and parallel versions of PCGPAK2, SCIENTIFIC's Fortran subroutine package for iterative solution of sparse linear equations, as well as some amount of technical customer support. In the future, there will be opportunities to move in several directions within the company, depending on interest and ability. A background in numerical analysis and scientific computing equivalent to a master's degree is required, and an additional 3-5 years of work experience with large software packages and vector or parallel computing is highly desirable. SCIENTIFIC is a small company (around 15 employees) that is committed to the development of leading-edge solutions to computational problems arising from scientific and engineering applications. A major technical focus for SCIENTIFIC has been the effective use of vector and parallel computers. The Company has been the recipient of a large number of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants awarded by government agencies to foster the commercial development and application of new research ideas. In addition to PCGPAK2, SCIENTIFIC presently markets three other software products: SMPAK, a set of Fortran subroutines for sparse Gaussian elimination; CLAM, an interactive environment for numerical computation and graphics; and LINDA, a set of extensions to various languages that facilitate portable and efficient programming in diverse parallel computing environments. Most computing at SCIENTIFIC is done on a network of Sun SPARCstation 1 workstations. Also on site are a Decstation 3100 workstation and multi-processor Apollo DN 10000 and Silicon Graphics Personal IRIS computers. Access to numerous other vector and parallel computers is available as needed for research and development work. Salary for these positions will be competitive and will vary depending on the qualifications of the successful applicants. Scientific Computing Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Inquiries regarding these positions should be directed to: Andy Sherman Manager of Mathematical Software Scientific Computing Associate, Inc. 246 Church Street, Suite 307 New Haven, CT 06510 Tel: (203) 777-7442 Fax: (203) 776-4074 email: sherman@cs.yale.edu or yale!sca-sun!sherman. ------------------------------ From: William Alexander Date: Tue, 6 Mar 90 13:30:24 EST Subject: An Interpreted Matrix Language MATRIX MATRIX: An Interpreted Matrix Language MATRIX is a user oriented matrix language interpreter for the entire line of IBM PC's and true compatibles. MATRIX exists as an environment in which commands are processed with the basic unit of data being a matrix. There are over one hundred commands in the command set. These commands may either be given to MATRIX singly in an interactive mode or a set of commands forming a program (macro) may be run from a file. Many statistical, mathematical and engineering techniques can be conveniently and quickly implemented in MATRIX. It is a tool both for teaching and research. Many ``what if'' questions can be investigated without the need to resort to traditional programming languages. MATRIX has the standard matrix operations such as matrix multiplication, element-wise operations, inversion, determinant, Cholesky factorization, (symmetric) eigenvalue, singular value and QR decompositions, generalized inverse, sweep, Kronecker product, trace, and block. It also features a number of statistical commands such as random number generation, pdf, cdf, and quantiles from 23 continuous distributions, kernel regression and density smoothers and fast Fourier transform. MATRIX also has a great many non-mathematical functions. There are convenient ways to create and save overlay graphs. These graphs may be printed on printers using either the Epson graphics or HP Laserjet command set. Data files may be read and written in both ASCII and binary formats. MATRIX supports conditional execution of commands by IF/ELSE and WHILE constructs. There is an extensive on-line help facility and a built-in screen-oriented editor. Macros can be run directly from the editor, reducing development time. Users with an understanding of Microsoft Pascal or C can add their own commands to the MATRIX command set via the EXTERN command. Such commands have access to any defined matrix. Hence, MATRIX can be customized to almost any need. MATRIX is primarily written in Microsoft Pascal. However, many of the routines are written in assembly language to maximize their speed. MATRIX requires at least 384k of RAM to load. More memory will allow the user to define more matrices. A color graphics adapter (CGA) is required. MATRIX will run in the CGA mode on machines equipped with an EGA or VGA. A math coprocessor is recommended, but not required. For more information, including prices, contact: Dr. William P. Alexander Department of Statistics 859 Patterson Office Tower University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506-0027 will@ms.uky.edu 606-257-6903 ------------------------------ End of NA Digest ************************** -------