A topical evaluation and discussion of data movement technologies for data-intensive scientific applications

Transferring large volumes of information from one location to potentially many others that are geographically distributed and across varying networks is still prevalent in modern scientific data systems. This is despite the movement to push computation to the data and to reduce data movement needed to compute answers to challenging scientific problems, to disseminate information to the scientific community, and to acquire data for curation and enrichment. Because of this, it is imperative that decisions made regarding data movement systems and architectures be backed by both analytical rigor, and also by empirical evidence and measurement. The purpose of this study is to expand on the work performed by our research team over the last decade and to take a fresh look at the evaluation of multiple topical data transfer technologies in use cases derived from data-intensive scientific systems and applications in the areas of Earth science. We report on the evaluation of a set of data movement technologies against a set of empirically derived comparison dimensions. Based on this evaluation, we make recommendations towards the selection of appropriate data movement technologies in scientific applications and scenarios.     

Microorganisms and the natural environment

Microorganisms are potentially capable of carrying out chemical transformations of organic and inorganic materials on a large scale. Their activity involves many reactions which may participate in geobiological formations. The microorganisms are affected by the environment and the environment has an influence on the microbial population. The presence or absence of certain compounds is critical for microbiological growth. As no pure strain of organisms exists in nature in complete isolation, it is necessary to consider the effect of individual biological systems on each other. Microorganisms are known for their ability to adjust themself to changes in the environment. This adjustment can demonstrate in reversible non-heriditary adaptive processes or more permanent heriditary forms, mutation.

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Zusammenfassung Mikroorganismen sind in der Lage, organische und anorganische Verbindungen in großem Maßstab umzuformen. Ihre Teilnahme an geologischen Prozessen spielt möglicherweise eine große Rolle. Mikroorganismen werden durch ihre Umwelt beeinflußt und wirken ihrerseits wieder zurück auf diese. Die An- oder Abwesenheit bestimmter Verbindungen wirkt entscheidend auf das mikrobiologische Wachstum. Da einzelne Organismen in der Natur nicht isoliert existieren können, müssen die Wechselwirkungen biologischer Systeme betrachtet werden. Die Fähigkeit sich an Veränderungen der Umwelt anzupassen, ist eine bekannte Fähigkeit der Mikroorganismen. Diese Anpassungsfähigkeit kann in reversiblen oder in nichtreversiblen erblichen Veränderungen (Mutationen) zum Ausdruck kommen.

     

Some observations on migration within and from the former USSR in the 1990s

"Patterns of population distribution revealed from 1989 census data are used to assess how future population movements could be affected by current political, social, and economic changes. Much migration in the USSR has reflected central planning decisions as much as the spontaneous decisions of individuals. To the extent that the influence of the command economy diminishes and a market economy emerges, major new directions of migration flows can be expected. The return of ethnic 'expatriates' to home republics can be expected to increase, as can economic migration to areas with favorably perceived economic prospects, and migration to Central and Western Europe."     

Benthos of a perennially-astatic, saline, soda lake in Mexico

The effects of multiple stressors on the benthic macroinvertebrate community were monitored in Tecuitlapa Norte, a shallow, perennially-astatic, warm, mesosaline, sodaalkaline lake in Mexico. Physico-chemical and biological variables were determined monthly for one year. Tecuitlapa Norte displayed a clear seasonal environmental pattern (dry and rainy seasons). The benthic macroinvertebrate community consisted of five species:Culicoides occidentalis sonorensis Jorgensen,Ephydra hians Say,Stratiomys sp.,Eristalis sp., andLimnophora sp. of which the first two were dominant and the rest scarce.C. occidentalis was the most important species numerically (76 percent of the total), whileE. hians dominated the biomass (73 percent of the total). Primarily salinity and secondarily pH appear to be the most important environmental factors controlling dominance of benthic organisms in Tecuitlapa Norte. Seasonal abundance dynamics of the dominant organisms was associated with phases in their reproductive cycles: environmentally-triggered (i.e., temperature rise, water-level descent) pupation and emergence periods. We concluded that whereas physical and chemical factors (i.e., salinity, pH) exerted the primary control on benthic macroinvertebrate community composition in Tecuitlapa Norte, another assembly of variables (e.g., water-level, temperature) influenced species distribution and abundance.     

The Younger Dryas in the English Lake District: reconciling geomorphological evidence with numerical model outputs

The geomorphology of the south‐western and central Lake District, England is used to reconstruct the mountain palaeoglaciology pertaining to the Lateglacial and Younger Dryas. Limitations to previous ice‐mass reconstructions and consequent palaeoclimatic inferences include: (i) the use of static (steady‐state) glacier reconstructions, (ii) the assumption of a single‐stage Younger Dryas advance, (iii) greatly varying ice‐volume estimates, (iv) inexplicable spatial variations in ELA (Equilibrium Line Altitude), and (v) a lack of robust extent chronology. Here we present geomorphological mapping based on aerial photography and the NextMap Britain Digital Elevation Model, checked by ground survey. Former glacier extents were inferred and ELAs were calculated using the Balance Ratio method of Osmaston. Independently, a time‐dependant 2‐D ice‐flow model was forced by a regional ELA history that was scaled to the GRIP record. This provided a dynamic reconstruction of a mountain ice field that allowed for non‐steady‐state glacier evolution. Fluctuations in climate during the Younger Dryas resulted in multiple glacial advance positions that show agreement with the location of mapped moraines, and may further explain some of the ELA variations found in previous local and static reconstructions. Modelling based on the GRIP record predicts three phases: an initial maximum extent, a middle minor advance or stillstand, and a pronounced but less extensive final advance. The comparisons find that the reconstructions derived from geomorphological evidence are effective representations of steady‐state glacier geometries, but we do propose different extents for some glaciers and, in particular, a large former glacier in Upper Eskdale.     

Activity-composition relations in the system CaCO3-MgCO3 predicted from static structure energy calculations and Monte Carlo simulations

Thermodynamic mixing properties and subsolidus phase relations of the rhombohedral carbonate system, (1 − x) · CaCO₃ − x · MgCO₃, were modelled in the temperature range of 623-2023 K with static structure energy calculations based on well-parameterised empirical interatomic potentials. Relaxed static structure energies of a large set of randomly varied structures in a 4 × 4 × 1 supercell of calcite (a = 19.952 Å, c = 17.061 Å) were calculated with the General Utility Lattice Program (GULP). These energies were cluster expanded in a basis set of 12 pair-wise effective interactions. Temperature-dependent enthalpies of mixing were calculated by the Monte Carlo method. Free energies of mixing were obtained by thermodynamic integration of the Monte Carlo results. The calculated phase diagram is in good agreement with experimental phase boundaries.     

The Earth’s tungsten budget during mantle melting and crust formation

During silicate melting on Earth, W is one of the most incompatible trace elements, similar to Th, Ba or U. As W is also moderately siderophile during metal segregation, ratios of W and the lithophile Th and U in silicate rocks have therefore been used to constrain the W abundance of the Earth’s mantle and the Hf-W age of core formation. This study presents high-precision W concentration data obtained by isotope dilution for samples covering important silicate reservoirs on Earth. The data reveal significant fractionations of W from other highly incompatible lithophile elements such as Th, U, and Ta. Many arc lavas exhibit a selective enrichment of W relative to Th, U, and Nb-Ta, reflecting W enrichment in the sub-arc mantle via fluid-like components derived from subducting plates. In contrast, during enrichment by melt-like subduction components, W is generally slightly depleted relative to Th and U, but is still enriched relative to Ta. Hence, all arc rocks and the continental crust exhibit uniformly low Ta/W (ca. 1), whereas W/Th and W/U may show opposite fractionation trends, depending on the role of fluid- and melt-like subduction components. Further high-precision W data for OIBs and MORBs reveal a systematic depletion of W in both rock types relative to other HFSE, resulting in high Ta/W that are complementary to the low Ta/W observed in arc rocks and the continental crust. Similar to previous interpretations based on Nb/U and Ce/Pb systematics, our Ta/W data confirm a depletion of the depleted upper mantle (DM) in fluid mobile elements relative to the primitive mantle (PRIMA). The abundance of W in the depleted upper mantle relative to other immobile and highly incompatible elements such as Nb and Ta is therefore not representative of the bulk silicate Earth. Based on mass balance calculations using Ta-W systematics in the major silicate reservoirs, the W abundance of the Earth’s primitive mantle can be constrained to 12 ppb, resulting in revised ratios of W-U and W-Th of 0.53 and 0.14, respectively. The newly constrained Hf-W ratio of the silicate Earth is 25.8, significantly higher than previously estimated (18.7) and overlaps within error the Hf-W ratio proposed for the Moon (ca. 24.9). The ¹⁸²Hf-¹⁸²W model age for the formation of the Earth’s core that is inferred from the ¹⁸²W abundance and the Hf/W of the silicate Earth is therefore younger than previously calculated, by up to 5 Myrs after solar system formation depending on the accretion models used. The similar Hf/W ratios and ¹⁸²W compositions of the Earth and the silicate Moon suggest a strong link between the Moon forming giant impact and final metal-silicate equilibration on the Earth.     

The effects of annealing and concentration on the hysteresis properties of magnetite around the PSD-MD transition

Hysteresis parameters H_cr, H_c, J_rs, J_s, and their ratios H_cr/H_c, J_rs/J_s have been measured for a large number of accurately prepared grain size fractions of magnetite in the range between 5 and 150 μm. For several grain size fractions three different concentrations of magnetite are used: 100, 0.1, and 0.002 vol.%. Most of the measurements were repeated after annealing the specimens to 600°C. For some specimens in the pseudo-single (PSD) and multidomain (MD) range H_c and H_cr have been measured as functions of temperature. Plots of the results from H_c, H_cr/H_c and J_rs/J_s versus the grain size reveal curves with a convex and a concave part. Concentration and annealing affects the values of the hysteresis parameters, especially for grains coarser than 25 μm but the shape of the curves remains the same. The inflection point from convex to concave for all curves occurs at 25 μm and it appears to be independent of concentration and annealing. It is therefore proposed to define the transition from PSD to MD as the inflection point of these curves.     

黄陵穹隆周缘岩溶水流系统特征及成因

岩溶水流系统特征研究有助于地下水资源的合理评价和开发利用。借鉴水文学的研究方法,统计并量化了典型岩溶水流系统的空间特征以及其水文动态响应、温度场和电导率特征。划分了扇状、树枝状、平行状、梳状4种地下水系来综合反映岩溶水流系统的地表-地下岩溶特征,前两者主管道垂直于地层走向,构造裂隙起汇水作用,后两者主管道平行于地层走向,层面裂隙起汇水作用。黄陵穹隆西北翼、西翼和南翼以平行状和树枝状为主,东翼和北翼则以扇状水系和平行状水系为主。不同地下水系结构的形成及区域差异与含水系统和水系的空间关系和级次性密切相关,并表现出不同的动态特征。扇状和平行状岩溶水流系统对降雨响应最为敏感,而梳状水系岩溶水流系统响应和衰减过程最慢;基于岩溶地下水温度与出露高程和循环深度显著相关的关系建立了鄂西山区地下水温度线。这一基础性研究可为岩溶地下水流系统研究和当地工程实践提供一定的理论支持。