Statistical analysis of video microscope 

 images provides improved precision in 

 determining optical fiber geometry. 



Performance Measurement 



NIST developed the MultiKron chip to achieve low-per- 

 turbation data capture while assessing the performance 

 of scalable high performance computer systems. This 

 technology was transferred to Intel Corporation for appli- 

 cation in its Paragon systems. NIST also devised a soft- 

 ware-based technique for portable sensitivity measure- 

 ments of parallel programs. The new method is based 

 upon statistical experimental design principles and 

 applies to any MIMD system. A low-cost setup 

 approach makes the technique practical, and promising 

 preliminary results on shared-memory and distributed 

 memory systems have been obtained. 



In FY 1994, NIST will extend its hardware and software 

 tools for system performance monitoring through the 

 acquisition of a MultiKron instrumented scalable system. 

 Evaluation activities will focus on the performance char- 

 acterization of application programs running on this sys- 

 tem and on other scalable systems. 



Software Development, Distribution, and Reuse 



The NIST Guide to Available Mathematical Software 

 (GAMS) project develops techniques and tools to help 

 scientists and engineers locate and use computer soft- 

 ware to solve mathematical and statistical problems. 

 The GAMS system has been incorporated in the 

 Software Exchange Experiment coordinated by the 

 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The status of 

 GAMS and future plans are described on pages 148-149 

 in Case Studies section. 



In FY 1994, NIST algorithm and software development 

 activities will address needs for improved computational 

 performance and visualization capability in application 

 areas drawn from biotechnology and from chemical and 

 materials process design and simulation. 



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