A Cray SuperComputer Comes to the University of To Essays

A Cray SuperComputer Comes to the University of Toronto By Andrew Reeves-Hall The Cray X-MP/22 manufactured by Cray Research Incorporated (CRI) of Minneapolis, Minnesota was delivered and installed at the U of Toronto this September. The Cray is a well respected computer - mainly for its extremely fast rate of mathematical floating-pointcalculation. As the university states in its July/August computer magazine "ComputerNews", the Cray's "level of performance should enable researchers with large computational requirements at the university of Toronto and other Ontario universities to compete effectively against the best in the world in their respective fields." The Cray X-MP/22 has two Central Processing Units (CPUs) - the first '2' in the '22'. The Cray operates at a clock rate of 105 MHz (the regular, run-of-the-mill IBMPC has a clock rate of 4.77 MHz). By quick calculations, you would be led to believe the Cray is only about 20 times faster that the PC. Obviously, this is not the case. The Cray handles data considerably differently than the PC. The Cray's circuits permit an array of data (known as a 'vector') to be processes as a SINGLE entity. So, where the IBMPC may require several clock cycles to multiply two numbers, the Cray performs everything in one clock cycle. This power is measured in Millions of Floating Point Operations Per Second (MFLOPS) - which is to say the rate at which floating-point operations can be performed. The Cray MFLOPS vary as it does many activities, but a rate of up to 210 MFLOPS (per CPU) can be achieved. The second '2' in the X-MP/22 title refers to the two million 64-bit words (16Mb) of shared central memory. This can be expanded to four million words in the future if the need arises. But it doesn't stop there! The Cray can pipe information back and forth between the CPU memory and the Input/Output Subsystem (IOS). The IOS then takes it upon itself the store the information in any of the four storage devices: i) one of the four 1200 Mb disk drives (at a rate of 5.9Mb every second), ii) one of two standard 200ips 6250bpi tape drives, iii) a Solid State Storage Device (SSD) (which is much like a 128Mb RAM Disk!), or iv) through to a front-end computer (the U of T uses both the IBM4381 and a DEC VAX). These computers would be programmed (usually in FORTRAN) and the information passed onto the Cray. The results would then be transfered back to the front end computers. The 4 year old Cray was bought used from the California NASA research centre where it was used in aerodynamic calculations. This means less cost to buy it and the assurance that it has been 'burned in'. In case you wanted one for yourself, the U of T was able to purchase the Cray for the low-low price of $12 million. Over the next five years, the University predicts the total cost will probably be $25 million when maintenance, staff and other costs are taken into consideration. To help out, the Ontario Government put in $10 million. By doing this, all other Ontario University researchers are assured of access at a reduced cost. By the way, to buy time on the system, it'll cost you $2000 per hour. But Ontario researchers only have to pay 7% of that - $140 per hour. Their first commercial customer is OMNIBUS Graphics of Toronto who plan to use the Cray in the graphic videos. If you saw the movie 'The Last Starfighter', you will have already experienced the graphic capabilites of the Cray (remember the some of the space scenes!). The Cray did all of the calculations required for those scenes and let another graphics computer to do the menial task of drawing the lines and filling with the calculated colour. There is so much to talk about when the word 'Cray' pops to mind! If you are seriously interested in this amazing computer and/or you are interested in purchasing time on the system, please contact the people below: The Centre for Large Scale Computation at the U of T Llyod Parker, Director 978-8255 Facilities Manager Dr. Edmund West 978-4085 Supercomputer User's Group (for University Researchers, etc)

Early years in the uk context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Early years in the uk context - Essay Example As a result, most schools in England tend to have more advanced examinations with small class sizes as opposed to the Scotland schools that are generally characterized by large class sizes and less advanced examinations (Gearon, 2002, p.36). Additionally, the average age range for primary schools in Scotland is between 4 and 12 and this is equivalent of the English reception classes. With regard to the curriculum differences, early education in England follows the strict national curriculum that applies to the states of England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The National curriculum requires the compulsory teaching of subjects such as English, Science, Math, ICT, Geography, Design technology, Physical education and the optional modern foreign languages On the other hand, Scotland is currently in the process of implementing its own model of education curriculum for academic excellence. The educational reform in Scotland is particularly aimed at providing a wide education as well as impro ving the flexibility and the range of courses being offered in Scottish schools for early learners especially those of the age below 18 years. Consequently the Scottish CfE programme has focused on improving the capacities of the pupils and helping them become successful, confident responsible and effective contributors to the national development. This paper critically discusses the main policy aspect that has resulted in the curriculum differences in early education between England and Scotland. The National Curriculum and the Early Years Foundation Stage act According to Holt and Donnell, (1999, p.78), one of the policies that have significantly shaped the early education across the United Kingdom is the Early Years Foundation Stage act which was passed in 2006 and became effective in 2008. The act not only stipulates a set of welfare requirements to be observed in the early education systems but also specifies some of the learning and development requirements that should be foll owed by the providers of early education especially to children under the age of compulsory education in the UK. The national learning and development requirements are however applicable to England only and are therefore not observed in the other countries such as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is this policy aspect that has resulted in significant differences in early learning between England and Scotland. England for this case has been able to revise various policies that aim at improving the education sector. Of importance to note is that some of the aspects of the curriculum used in England tend to differ with the ones used in Scotland. Earlier education policies in England such as Early Years Foundation Stage take into consideration an aspect of welfare requirements for the child. In Scotland the polices major on learning and development for children bellow five years that all education institutions have to adhere to as a form of policy to streamline the sector. Learn ing and development requirements have been majorly emphasized in England as compared to Scotland that majorly majors on the welfare aspects of children in the early stages of learning. All early childhood institutions have to register under the childcare act so as to legally operate and comply with

A review in light of the policy concerns Term Paper

A review in light of the policy concerns - Term Paper Example The share of federal budget awarded to each State corresponded with the rise in cases their respective welfare systems had to deal with, leaving no incentive for the States to consider curtailing the number of cases. Thus, amidst growing dissent, Clinton signed the aforementioned Act into effect in August 1996. Nickel and Dimed portrays the deficiencies of this system. While there is an obvious incentive for unskilled but able-bodied idlers to seek work and support their families themselves albeit at minimum wage, such incentive has little to offer as Ehrenreich, as a result of her practical experiments in Florida, Maine and Minnesota proves that wages tend to be minimum while work is all the more labor intensive, resulting in her being unable to save enough at the end of the month and struggle to put forth next month’s rent (Ehrenreich, 2001). In the case of a health emergency, she would find herself in a quagmire of financial difficulties. This can be relaxed by policy measu res at the hands of the government in favor of awarding free health care to those who are honest contributors to society but fall within a relaxed income bracket, while still encouraging them to work. Ehrenreich’s belief regarding her skin color may be warranted by the notion that racism is particularly strong when the individuals dealing with each other both belong to a different class. If an upper class citizen deals with a lower class poverty line worker earning minimum wage, certain precepts come into play that have become part of the moral dilemma within American societies.

Are americans overtaxed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Are americans overtaxed - Essay Example In the book ‘Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues’, the authors George McKenna and Stanley Feingold have adopted a very good approach to dealing with many of the issues that are the subject of frequent political and public debates. After giving a brief explanation, they attach articles and writings from thinkers and essayists about the issues- one taking a ‘pro’ or positive stance and the other taking a ‘con’ or negative view point of the same issue. In this way by reading about the issue from both sides we become more informed not only about the issue at hand but the reasons why some people are in favor of it while others are against it. We begin to understand the whole issue better by looking at its different aspects, their dimensions and its effects. Writing in favor of less taxation, in his piece called ‘Seven Myths About Taxing the Rich’ (McKenna & Feingold, 222), Curtis Dubay says that President Obama wants to raise the upper two tax brackets from 33 and 35 percent to 36 and 39.6 percent respectively, thereby impacting their after tax incomes or returns on investment. Dubay argues that there is a need to lower taxes across the board and do away with special tax benefits that serve the rich. But that is only one aspect of the problem. If we have to spend millions of dollars on the War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, it will continue pushing our expenses and debt levels sky high. So it makes no sense to tax hard working Americans while those in Congress make the wrong decisions about spending. We will need to rein back on needless spending and put in some more austerity measures on a personal level where politicians need to lead by their own example. Writing in favor of taxing the rich more, Steve Brouwer states in ‘If We Decided to Tax the Rich’ (McKenna & Feingold, 228) that over the years, there has been a

Cultural presentation about the jewish customs in the healthcare Research Paper

Cultural presentation about the jewish customs in the healthcare environment - Research Paper Example Suppose a Jewish patient is terminally ill and has no chance of surviving, their spiritual statutes prohibit any active medical intervention meant to hasten death with the intention of reliving pain (Hollins 92). Since, they believe in natural death, whereby at this period any ethical question regarding patient’s final wish at deathbed family sand the medical practical should consult the rabbi. Additionally, Jews do not leave their patients alone while they are about to die, but they ensure there is always somebody to offer any assistance other than medical (Hollins 92). It is the mandate of the Jews to offer their patients the necessary pastoral care. This entails visiting and praying with the patient. The Rabbi with his council selects certain individuals (approximately nine people) who will be undertaking the responsibility besides their family members (Hollins 92). Since, visiting patients is a charity deed advocated by their religion, whereby nurses ought to be ready to accommodate it despite the healthcare facility’s strict rules. In addition, the aspect of fertility among the Jews is by far diverse from numerous global cultures where most of them have embraced contraceptives. Jews normally utilize same family planning method because their beliefs do not advocate contraceptives (Hollins 91). This is because they usually prefer large families where issues regarding contraceptives consult their Rabbis. This is before giving to the medical practitioners’ directives especially in critical conditions where the couple intends to have a reasonable child spacing. After death, Jews do not either touch or move their dead person’s body where they consult their Rabbi for further directives regarding end rites (Hollins 91). Therefore, the nurses ought to leave the matter to the Rabbi. All the fluids and other disposable paraphernalia connected to the patient, the Rabbi proposes be buried immediately with the body. Since, they are part of the body

2000 word outline research proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

2000 word outline research proposal - Essay Example Till 9/11 happened, apparently US didn’t really catch up with the seriousness of the issue. There have been instances like the US embassy bombings in different parts of the world. But such instances were considered mainly as failure of those nations in safeguarding the interests of USA, and nobody actually thought that one day, two US commercial flights full of passengers will collide with its own twin towers and result in killing around 3000 citizens of the world. They were office workers, waiters, police, firemen, moms, dads, friends and neighbors. Thereafter began an era of hunting for the terrorists and their links. It involved gathering info from everywhere with techniques like cyber-snooping. Attention was diverted towards Afghanistan because there was no regime as such. The ruling combine called Taliban did not believe in human rights and controlled the country with terror at gun point. Women were treated like third class citizens, not allowed to attend public functions and schools. One prosperous sheikh from Saudi Arab called Osama Bin Laden was there to help the regime with finances and arms. He had his own set of people ranging from nuclear scientists, engineers, villagers and other trusted lieutenants around him. They had their own ideology of calling the countries like US, UK, India, Israel etc. as the enemies of Muslims. For this very reason they gave calls for Jihad against these countries in particular. Afghanistan has the misfortune of being in news for all the wrong reasons since the late 1970s. It was in 1979 that Soviet troupes from the then USSR invaded Afghanistan and engineered a regime change. These forces remained in Afghanistan for the next 10 years, b ut not before resistance forces were armed with lethal weapons and trained manpower. Thereafter began a bloody era of revenge when the erstwhile President was hanged in broad daylight in the middle of the road. This bloody has not stopped since then. The areas bordering

Person Theory Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Person Theory Paper - Essay Example The counselor emulates Jesus as the ultimate counselor and offers unconditional acceptance of clients no matter what state of brokenness they are in. Clients find enlightenment in their issues from reflections from the bible and grow in an environment filled with positive encouragement. They are expected to do homework outside therapy sessions to help them deal with their problems and to develop a positive outlook and attitude. The multitude of counseling and psychotherapeutic approaches available has become both boon and bane to prospective clients in dire need of healing. The more popular ones founded by prominent figures in the field of Psychology have been dissected by both experts, students and ordinary people in terms of its effectiveness in bringing forth psychological well-being. All theories have had its share of accolade and criticisms, that choosing one which is most advantageous is overwhelming. Ultimately, the chosen counseling approach will depend on the needs, background, philosophy and personality of the client. A promising addition to the growing number of counseling approaches is the Trinity Approach. Like others that precede it, it aims to achieve balance within a person to enable him to function well in his life. It takes into account a person’s cognitive thinking processes, his emotions and his behaviors to contribute to a holistic individual. Therapy ensures the health and balance of his body, mind and spirit. A distinctive aspect of this approach is its strong Christian influence which is evident in the whole therapeutic process. It attributes ultimate healing of a person’s brokenness to developing and nurturing faith and a close relationship to God. From this spiritual foundation grows a person’s hope for living a more fulfilling life. Throughout the therapy process, it becomes clear that there is also a trinity that actively pursues the clients healing: - the client, the counselor