'Size leap' algorithm: an efficient extraction of the longest common motifs from a molecular sequence set. Application to the DNA sequence reconstruction.

We propose a new method, called 'size leap' algorithm, of search for motifs of maximum size and common to two fragments at least. It allows the creation of a reduced database of motifs from a set of sequences whose size obeys the series of Fibonacci numbers. The convenience lies in the efficiency of the motif extraction. It can be applied in the establishment of overlap regions for DNA sequence reconstruction and multiple alignment of biological sequences. The method of complete DNA sequence reconstruction by extraction of the longest motifs ('anchor motifs') is presented as an application of the size leap algorithm. The details of a reconstruction from three sequenced fragments are given as an example.     

Cognitive impenetrability of memory for orientation.

This research produced evidence that an aspect of visual long-term memory—memory for lateral orientation of pictures—is constrained by a viewer-centered or egocentric reference frame. Subjects in Experiment 1 verbally encoded and then verbally recalled the locations of objects within scenic pictures. Recall of locations in terms of left-right directions (using a viewer-centered frame) exceeded recall of locations in terms of relative proximities to features of the room (using an environmental frame), even if the relative proximities had been verbalized at input. Subjects in Experiment 2 viewed half of a list of pictures directly and the remainder, reflected in a mirror. They then took a test in which they classified old pictures—all viewed directly— as "same-orientation" or "reversed." Performance was much better with a viewer-centered definition of same orientation (Does the picture appear the same way around?) than with an environmental definition (Is the picture the same way around on the screen?), even with forewarning of an environmental orientation test. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The nature and role of incoherent interphase interfaces in diffusional solid-solid phase transformations

In this article, some views on the nature of incoherent interphase interfaces, and their role in the nucleation and growth processes governing the evolution of microstructure in solid-state diffusional transformations (reconstructive transformations), are explored. It is argued that essentially incoherent interfaces can be involved in the initiation and propagation of polymorphic transformations and massive transformations as well as in various precipitation phenomena in metallic and ceramic systems. Similar views have already been advanced earlier in connection with studies of massive transformations. Faceting along the interphase interface during nucleation and growth can derive from thermodynamic, kinetic, and crystallographic factors independent of the bicrystallography of the conjugate phases. This idiomorphic behavior can be relevant to both intergranular and intragranular phase formation. The concept of one-dimensional (1-D) commensuration of phases through plane edge-to-edge/row matching is an interesting extension of the classic ideas of coherency and bicrystallography and potentially important in characterizing the behavior of certain types of boundaries. However, the general importance of these geometrical relations in real and reciprocal space will depend on the depth of the energy wells in orientation space associated with these special boundaries. This article is based on a presentation made in the “Hume-Rothery Symposium on Structure and Diffusional Growth Mechanisms of Irrational Interphase Boundaries,” which occurred during the TMS Winter meeting, March 15–17, 2004, in Charlotte, NC, under the auspices of the TMS Alloy Phases Committee and the co-sponsorship of the TMS-ASM Phase Transformations Committee.     

Computers and translation: integrating IT into undergraduate foreign language learning

Abstract There are still many institutions of higher education in the UK, both universities and polytechnics, that have not taken on board the application of information technology to foreign language learning. Apart from considerations of cost, there is also the problem of time—deciding how best to use the limited time at one's disposal for exploring computer applications to foreign language learning. Both problems may be compounded by the mistaken belief that effective use of this 'new' technology necessarily involves learning one or more programming languages. This paper endeavours to show that recent advances in both software and hardware have produced computing tools of particular interest to translation and the translator, and that, since translation is a reality for large numbers of undergraduates in the UK, such tools represent an obvious starting point for the introduction of IT into the undergraduate curriculum.     

Edge-to-edge matching in thin films

A peculiar type of preferential orientation was recently observed in polycrystalline films that are formed by a solid-state reaction on a single crystal substrate. This texture, for which the term axiotaxy was proposed, is characterized by the preferred alignment of a low-index plane in the film to a low-index plane with the same d-spacing in the substrate. The alignment of lattice planes with nearly identical d-spacings across the interface results in a periodic structure along one direction in the plane of the interface. As a consequence of the constraint that a set of planes in the film is preferentially parallel to a set of planes in the substrate, the texture manifests itself as an off-normal fiber texture. This article is based on a presentation made in the “Hume-Rothery Symposium on Structure and Diffusional Grwoth Mechanisms of Irrational Interphase Boundaries,” which occurred during the TMS Winter meeting, March 15–17, 2004, in Charlotte, NC, under the auspices of the TMS Alloy Phases Committee and the co-sponsorship of the TMS-ASM Phase Transformations Committee.     

A self-resonant frequency-modulated micromachined passive pressure transensor

In this paper, we report on the design, fabrication, and test of a passive pressure transensor. The sensor uses the self-resonant frequency modulation of an integrated coil to detect the pressure variations. This modulation is generated by the relative displacement of a ferrite core attached to a silicone rubber membrane. This scheme simplifies the packaging of the passive transensor by removing the requirement for a separate capacitor to form the resonator. A 30-turn 1.7-/spl mu/H coil having dimensions of 3/spl times/3 mm/sup 2/ is used in a prototype design yielding a sensitivity of 9.6 kHz/kPa with a cylindrical ferrite core of 0.95-mm diameter and 0.5-mm height. We also present a theoretical model of the sensor that shows good agreement with the experimental data. This model can be a useful tool for further optimization of the senors.     

Boundary knot method for 2D and 3D Helmholtz and convection–diffusion problems under complicated geometry

The boundary knot method (BKM) of very recent origin is an inherently meshless, integration‐free, boundary‐type, radial basis function collocation technique for the numerical discretization of general partial differential equation systems. Unlike the method of fundamental solutions, the use of non‐singular general solution in the BKM avoids the unnecessary requirement of constructing a controversial artificial boundary outside the physical domain. The purpose of this paper is to extend the BKM to solve 2D Helmholtz and convection–diffusion problems under rather complicated irregular geometry. The method is also first applied to 3D problems. Numerical experiments validate that the BKM can produce highly accurate solutions using a relatively small number of knots. For inhomogeneous cases, some inner knots are found necessary to guarantee accuracy and stability. The stability and convergence of the BKM are numerically illustrated and the completeness issue is also discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.