Optimizing a Pipelined HPCC Processing Environment for Computational Neuroscience

描述（由申请人提供）：成像技术和计算神经科学领域的创新已经产生了大量关于人脑的图像和统计数据。 这些进步导致了对高性能计算和新的调查范式的需要，以进行有意义的分析。 神经成像实验室一直是采用尖端技术来了解动态变化的领跑者，例如健康和疾病中人类大脑的发育和退化。 我们的团队在开发创新的研究方法、计算算法和高阶数学方法来研究大脑配准、人群之间和人群内的方差分析以及这些数据的可视化方面获得了全世界的认可。 然而，这些技术现在不仅必须适应四个方面，因为LONI和其他地方正在进行的项目产生时变的多维统计领域，而且还必须能够合理地处理越来越复杂的数据。 我们现在经常将这些计算要求高的方法应用于人口研究，以实现对潜在细微差异的敏感性。 为了应对这些计算挑战，一群具有共同兴趣和计算需求的神经科学家，生物医学科学家和计算机科学家聚集在一起，寻求资金，以实现共享，专用高性能计算集群的网络基础设施的现代化。 四维体积计算，复杂的表面提取，非线性翘曲和复杂的等值面与来自不同来源的数据的多模态集成对这个系统的计算需求不断增加，已经清楚地确定了关键的网络瓶颈，显着降低复杂分析的处理性能。 所要求的网络升级将消除拥塞和带宽争用，并使LONI调查人员和合作者能够最佳利用计算资源。 已经制定了一项行政计划，根据该计划可以公平地管理这些设备。 技术和管理人员也是受资助的参与者群体的一部分。 持续的合作和共同的编程要求将使计算机代码、分析程序、计算策略和基础设施能力得以共享。 提供所要求的仪器将提高LONI和精神分裂症、艾滋病毒/艾滋病和阿尔茨海默病等协作地点正在进行的计算神经科学研究的生产力，并促进为所有参与者开发前沿技术和应用程序。 公共卫生相关性：加州大学洛杉矶分校（UCLA）的神经成像实验室（LONI）寻求资金，以增强高性能计算集群的网络基础设施，该集群由广泛而杰出的本地、国家和国际神经科学家组成，他们共同致力于研究健康和疾病中复杂、动态的大脑。 所要求的仪器包将减轻显着的网络拥塞和带宽争用有害的当前和未来的调查需要利用这个共享的计算资源。 如果获得资助，LONI正在进行的神经科学研究以及涉及外部机构的大量合作努力将直接受益。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Innovations in imaging technologies and in the field of computational neuroscience have resulted in the generation of massive amounts of image and statistical data concerning the human brain. These advances have resulted in the need for high performance computing and novel investigative paradigms for the meaningful analysis of the available data. The Laboratory of Neuro Imaging has been a frontrunner in the adoption of cutting-edge technology to understand dynamic changes such as the development and degeneration of the human brain in health and disease. Our group has gained worldwide recognition for the development of innovative research methodologies, computational algorithms and high-order mathematical approaches to the investigation of brain registration, the analysis of variance between and within populations, and the visualization of these data. These techniques, however, now must not only accommodate four dimensions, as ongoing projects at LONI and elsewhere generate time-varying, multidimensional statistical fields but also be able to reasonably process data that are increasingly more complex. We now routinely apply these computationally demanding methods to population studies in order to achieve sensitivity to potentially subtle differences. In response to these computational challenges, a group of neuro-, biomedical and computer scientists with common interests and computational needs have come together to seek funding to modernize the network infrastructure of a shared, dedicated high performance computing cluster. The increasing computational demands placed on this system by four-dimensional volume computation, intricate surface extraction, nonlinear warping and the multi-modal integration of complex isosurfaces with data from disparate sources have clearly identified key network bottlenecks that significantly degrade the processing performance of complex analyses. The requested network upgrade would eliminate congestion and bandwidth contention and allow for the optimal utilization of the computational resource by LONI investigators and collaborators. An administrative plan is already in place by which the equipment can be managed equitably. Technical and management personnel also are part of the funded group of participants. Ongoing collaborations and the common programmatical requirements will enable sharing of computer code, analytic procedures, computational strategies and infrastructural capabilities. The provision of the requested instrument will enhance the productivity of ongoing computational neuroscience research at LONI and collaborating sites in schizophrenia, HIV/AIDS and Alzheimer's disease, among others, and foster the development of leading edge technology and applications for all participants. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) seeks funding to augment the network infrastructure of a high performance computational cluster utilized by an extensive and distinguished group of local, national and international neuroscientists with a common dedication to the study of the complex, dynamic brain in health and disease. The requested instrumentation package will alleviate significant network congestion and bandwidth contention detrimental to current and future investigations requiring the utilization of this shared computational resource. If funded, ongoing neuroscience research at LONI and a compelling number of collaborative efforts involving outside institutions stand to directly benefit.