Student Abstracts: Computer Science at ANL

Tools for Automatic Differentiation. MARK FASHING (College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185) PAUL HOVLAND (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439) .
Computer code can be considered as a mathematical function. This means that it is possible to perform mathematical operations like differentiation on portions of computer code. The field of automatic differentiation is concerned with the development of algorithms to find the derivatives of fragments of computer code. ADIC is a tool for automatic differentiation developed in the MCS division at ANL. I have been working to improve ADIC and to integrate it with NEOS, a server which allows users to submit code for optimization over the internet.

Development of collaborative software tools, to be used in conjunction with current software on the Access Grid. . NEIL GAEDE (Kenai Peninsula College, UAA, Soldotna, AK 99669) BOB OLSON (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439) .
The Access Grid is a relatively new concept and is still under development at the Argonne National Laboratory. Exploration is underway to determine the set of software tools that best matches the Access Grid environment. Hardware platforms are also a factor when evaluating new software tools. Microsoft PowerPoint has proven to be a simple and effective way of conducting presentations in a non-distributed environment. Conducting presentations over the access grid is another matter entirely. The Java Shared Data Toolkit, and the Java Software Development Kit were chosen to provide a solution to this challenge. Developing software applications can be done in several ways, especially on Windows systems. The objective of a code- once, run-anywhere program is easier said than done. Microsoft Visual J++ 6.0 was chosen as an IDE for the Windows portion of the project. Emacs was chosen as the "IDE" for the UNIX portion of the project. Many hours and revisions later, several applications were in operation that proved that the JDK and JSDT were indeed capable of providing an adequate solution to the problem.

Database Programming. JASON KILSDONK (The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637) DR. THOMAS FANNING (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439) .
Radionuclide release modeling for Argonne National Laboratory's Ceramic Waste Form radionuclide release modeling is being performed so that this waste form can be evaluated for acceptance into the proposed Yucca Mountain repository. In order to analyze the experimental data in a more effective manner, it is being compiled into a database. This makes comparison of tests performed under similar test conditions much easier, and values that are calculated or derived from experimental data would no longer have to be updated every time a new set of data was obtained. With an Oracle database and the SQL database language, queries on the database are made very simple. Only the necessary data is entered in the database, thus taking up the smallest amount of computer storage space possible. However, with virtual tables called views, automated calculations can be performed on the information in the database provided that it matches the programmed constraints. With the PERL DBI programming interface, information from the database can be passed to web pages so that authorized personnel can query the database and easily compare test information. Although the online database is not yet finalized, it will be very cohesive, with standard links on each page so that one can easily navigate and compare information for the same grouping of tests.

Improve Assessing Chemical Inventory Hazards. MARIA MARTINEZ (Richard J. Daley, Chicago, IL 60629) ART WRIGHT (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439) .

Network-Enabled Automatic Differentiation. SHANNON MELFI (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801) BOYANA NORRIS (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439) .
Computer code can often be effectively thought of as a mathematical function. And, like any mathematical function, computer code can be differentiated. ADIC, a system developed in the MCS division at Argonne National Laboratory, automatically generates derivative codes for computing the first and second derivatives. The creation of the ADIC Application Server provides access to the benefits of automatic differentiation through the World Wide Web. Users of the server can upload ANSI-C code, manage files remotely, apply ADIC to selected functions, make use of advanced options using control scripts generated with user specifications, and download derivative codes. Soon, users will also be able to save time by using an automated driver generator instead of writing their own.

Modeling the Escherichia coli Bacteria cell in a virtual interactive environment. . ALYSSA MIGRALA (Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL 60106) MIKE PAPKA (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439) .
Rendering the e.coli cell in a virtual environment where one can interact with it for scientific study is critical to understanding the impact of this bacterium and can only aid in finding its complete prevention and cure as well as more of an understanding of bacteria in general. Detailed and attentive modeling requires a comprehensive knowledge of the anatomy of the cell and the various components that contribute to its growth and reproduction. Once a full understanding of the biology is obtained, a graphics program with sufficient memory is required to hold the textures and mapping that is required of a biological specimen. Detail of vast proportions outweighs any attempt at reducing memory space because of the experimentation that may be required of it and the advantage of realistic models. Transport of cell model into the virtual environment poses problems of an interesting kind. To get accuracy in the portrayal, we must add to our cell incredible detail and information. This than is interpreted in its literal form in the virtual environment, which means that all polygonal "extras" are inferred in that environment as literals which ends up looking jagged and course. After some analysis the author is impressed with results from various mathematical algorithms that present themselves to be more in sync with nature itself.

Computer And Network Systems Security. CRAIG MILLER (Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, TN 38941) PAUL DOMAGAL (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439) .
My overall goal of research was to learn as much about the work of a Systems Administrator as possible. I worked with Paul Domagala, Computer Systems Administrator for both the Energy Technology and Material Science Divisions. I also worked with Maritess Leyson, Associate Computer Systems Administrator. Much of the work involved troubleshooting and technical help for the scientists at Argonne. The main area of work was in the computer. The range was from loading Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional to editing the system's registry files. When editing the registry files, a program called Internet Security Scanner would generate instructions on how to change the files based on security detections.

Interactive Volume Rendering on Standard PC Graphics Hardware using Multi-Textures and Multi-Stage Rasterization on Linux. TETSUYA SAKASHITA (University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Urbana Champaign, IL 601820) MIKE PAPKA (Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439) .
The work done in this paper is largely due to the work of C. Rezk-Salama, K. Engel, M. Bauer, G. Greiner and T. Ertl. Their paper Interactive Volume Rendering on Standard PC Graphics Hardware using Multi-Texturing and Multi-Stage Rasterization was the basis for this work. We will elaborate their algorithm in detail and methods for interactive volume rendering. Their algorithm exploits NVidia's Geforce graphics processors and the performance is comparable to high-end graphics workstations. The Linux version of the volume render was created for its use in the Active Mural, which is a high resolution tile display.