Algorithms and software tools for ordering clone libraries: application to the mapping of the genome of Schizosaccharomyces pombe

A complete set of software tools to aid the physical mapping of a genome has been developed and successfully applied to the genomic mapping of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Two approaches were used for ordering single-copy hybridisation probes: one was based on the simulated annealing algorithm to order all probes, and another on inferring the minimum-spanning subset of the probes using a heuristic filtering procedure. Both algorithms produced almost identical maps, with minor differences in the order of repetitive probes and those having identical hybridisation patterns. A separate algorithm fitted the clones to the established probe order. Approaches for handling experimental noise and repetitive elements are discussed. In addition to these programs and the database management software, tools for visualizing and editing the data are described. The issues of combining the information from different libraries are addressed. Also, ways of handling multiple-copy probes and non-hybridisation data are discussed.     

Accurate conductor Q-factor of dielectric resonator placed in anMIC environment

The unloaded Q-factor of a dielectric resonator is degraded due to conductor loss when it is placed in an MIC environment. The authors report approximate but quite accurate closed form expressions for the Q-factor due to conductor loss. The results obtained are in good agreement with those of rigorous numerical methods. The effect of geometrical parameters on the useful tuning range of the structure is studied. Finally, an explicit relationship between the resonant frequency sensitivity factors and the conductor Q-factor is derived     

Performance Characteristics of a Drying Heat Pump Using Superheated Steam

A complete mathematicalhumerical model is proposed, in order to simulate the performance characteristics of a novel concept of a drying heat pump based on the theory of minimum energy cyclcs. The drying heat pump involvcs vapour condensation in a Lava1 nozzle. removal of the liquid phase in a supersonic separator as well as compression of the working medium. which is superheared vapour.     

Employment and alcohol: analysis of a clinical casuistic

The relationship between alcohol and work was studied in a group of 537 voluntary patients (393 male and 144 female) admitted to the department of Medicina del Lavoro, Pavia University for alcohol rehabilitation. The highest incidence of alcohol abuse was found in non-working subjects (pensioners, unemployed, housewives) although the start of excessive drinking takes place after beginning a working activity; a cause-effect relationship between these two factors can not be clearly determined, however. It is true that the stress provoked by this new condition (introduction to the work experience) can, in certain subjects, be a contributing factor in alcohol abuse. The increasingly lower age of initiation to alcohol reconfirms the need for prevention and instruction even at scholastic level. We can deduce how no working condition, low age and low education can constitute makers of risk for alcohol abuse.     

Thin layer activation of chromium with deuterons

In view of the recent increased interest in chromium based materials, the thin layer activation of chromium has been studied. This paper considers relative activity as a function of depth for the deuteron induced reaction in natural chromium. The presented results are based on calculations using computer codes and experimental verification using the stacked foil technique and electropolishing of activated bulk samples. A very good agreement of the various methods was obtained. It is shown that using 10 MeV deuterons, a reasonable homogeneous activation over 120 μm can be obtained.     

The Lorentz reciprocity theorem and range-dependent propagationmodeling

Modeling of electromagnetic propagation in the troposphere has been advanced in the last decade to the point where both the vertical and horizontal variation of refractivity can be accommodated readily. A hybrid ray-optics/parabolic equation model is utilized to predict propagation loss for a range-varying refractive structure to demonstrate the model obeys the Sommerfeld-Pfrang statement of the Lorentz reciprocity theorem     

An automated film reader for DNA sequencing based on homomorphicdeconvolution

An automated reader for electrophoresis based DNA sequencing methods is described that provides fast and accurate sequence determination. Digitized sequencing lanes are processed with homomorphic blind deconvolution in preparation for peak detection, interlane alignment, peak refinement and base calling. Initial reads from direct blot sequencing films have error rates of about 1% at the rate of 5 nucleotides/s. Typical read lengths are 500-600 nucleotides. The described reader is a significant improvement over existing readers and could be an essential component in the sequencing efforts of the Human Genome Project