Abstract: The present invention provides a computing unit for operating in a parallel computing system, the computing unit comprising a plurality of processing elements and an interface for connecting the computing unit to other components of the computing system wherein each processing element has a nominal maximum processing rate NPR and each processing element includes a respective memory unit such that data can be transferred from the memory unit at a predetermined maximum data rate MBW and the interface provides a maximum data transfer rate CBW, wherein in order to provide a predetermined peak calculation performance for the computing unit PP obtainable by a number n processing elements operating at the nominal maximum processing rate such that PP=n×NPR operations per second, the computing unit includes an integer multiple f times n processing elements wherein f is greater than one and each processing element is limited to operate at a processing rate of NPR/f.

Abstract: A method for controlling the communications of a computer in a computer network or a plurality of single computers in a computer network, in which the computer is connected to other computers and the single computers are connected with each other via a standard network LAN and a high performance network SAN. Each single computer comprises, in an operation system kernel, a protocol unit connected with the standard network LAN for servicing communication protocols and a library, which is connected in front of the operation system kernel, for which applications are sitting at a communication interface. Selection of the communication path between the standard network LAN and the high performance network SAN occurs in a network selection unit integrated with a base library. It is thereby provided that the network selection happens after the communication interface of the library and before access to the operation system kernel.

Abstract: A sorting method is disclosed in which particles suspended in a fluid are conducted in a closed duct and pass a measurement location in which particles to be selected trigger a signal by a sensing device. At a downstream fork, a pressure wave generated in response to the signal diverts the stream containing the particles from one branch to the other. An apparatus for carrying out this method is disclosed and includes a supply duct for the particle stream, a measurement duct, a measurement position in the measurement duct, a fork downstream of the measurement duct leading to a sorting branch duct and waste branch duct, and a pressure wave generator which is disposed in one of the ducts leading away from the fork.