A genetic algorithm for multiple molecular sequence alignment

MOTIVATION: Multiple molecular sequence alignment is among the most important and most challenging tasks in computational biology. The currently used alignment techniques are characterized by great computational complexity, which prevents their wider use. This research is aimed at developing a new technique for efficient multiple sequence alignment. APPROACH: The new method is based on genetic algorithms. Genetic algorithms are stochastic approaches for efficient and robust searching. By converting biomolecular sequence alignment into a problem of searching for optimal or near-optimal points in an 'alignment space', a genetic algorithm can be used to find good alignments very efficiently. RESULTS: Experiments on real data sets have shown that the average computing time of this technique may be two or three orders lower than that of a technique based on pairwise dynamic programming, while the alignment qualities are very similar. AVAILABILITY: A C program on UNIX has been written to implement the technique. It is available on request from the authors.     

A common precursor to neurotensin and LANT6 and its differential processing in chicken tissues

Antisera towards neurotensin (NT) and the structurally related peptide, LANT6, were used to characterize immunoreactive peptides and proteins in extracts of chicken tissues. A 17 kDa protein was identified by Western blotting as a potential precursor to NT and LANT6. However, the posttranslational processing of this common precursor appeared to be tissue specific, giving rise to disproportionate amounts of NT and LANT6, along with varying expression of a large molecular LANT6 (M(r), 15 kDa). The intestinal cells containing immunoreactive NT, LANT6, and large molecular LANT6 behaved similarly during fractionation by size and density. These activities also banded together in particles resembling vesicles during centrifugation of isotonic homogenates of tissue. These results suggest that chicken NT and LANT6 are biosynthesized as parts of the same precursor, the processing of which can give rise to a variety of products stored within secretory vesicles.     

Haemangiopericytoma of the nasal cavity

Haemangiopericytoma of nose and paranasal sinuses is relatively uncommon tumour. It occurs in adults in sixth and seventh decades of life. In view of paucity of intranasal haemangiopericytoma old in Indian literature and young age of patient, we are reporting one case in 28-year-old female who presented with recurrent, profuse epistaxis.     

Hyponatremia

The serum sodium concentration reflects the osmolality of the extracellular fluid and provides no direct information about total body sodium content. Patients with hyponatremia may have decreased, normal, or increased total body sodium content. The first step in the approach to the patient with hyponatremia is measurement of plasma osmolality. Hyponatremia with normal plasma osmolality results from hyperlipemia or hyperproteinemia, whereas hyponatremia with increased plasma osmolality results from hyperglycemia or mannitol infusion. Patients with hyponatremia and decreased plasma osmolality may be hypovolemic, hypervolemic, or normovolemic. The volume status of the patient is best determined by history, physical examination, and a few ancillary tests (e.g., total plasma protein concentration, hematocrit, blood pressure, central venous pressure). The clinical signs of hyponatremia are related more to the rapidity of onset than to the severity of the associated plasma hypoosmolality and reflect influx of water into the central nervous system. The main goals of treatment in hyponatremia are to diagnose and manage the underlying disease and, if necessary, to increase serum sodium concentration and plasma osmolality.     

Design of optimum signals for the simultaneous estimation of timedelay and Doppler shift

The problem of joint estimation of time delay and Doppler shift is considered from the point of view of the Wigner distribution of the signal. A very efficient method of obtaining the optimum signal with minimum estimation error based on the convexity of the design region is developed. Practical applications, however, require the signal to satisfy other constraints which present complications in acquiring the optimum signal. A design approach based on the method of simulated annealing is suggested to solve for the optimum signal under constraints. The performance of the signals so obtained is evaluated and compared with that of signals obtained by synthesis     

Dye coupling between rat striatal neurons recorded in vivo: compartmental organization and modulation by dopamine

1. The presence of dye coupling between striatal neurons was investigated using in vivo intracellular recording and dye injection in adult rats. In 17% of the cases in which a single striatal neuron was injected with Lucifer yellow, more than one labeled neuron was recovered. In control rats, this dye coupling was observed only between single pairs of medium spiny neurons and only when the neuron injected exhibited the Type II response profile as defined by paired-pulse stimulation of corticostriatal afferents. 2. After intravenous administration of the D1/D2 agonist apomorphine at a behaviorally effective dose (i.e., 0.1-0.3 mg/kg), an increase in the incidence (from 17% to 82% of injected cells) and extent (from 2 cells to 3-7 cells labeled per injection) of dye coupling was observed. This effect was mediated by D2 receptor stimulation because administration of the D2 agonist quinpirole caused similar alterations in the incidence and extent of dye coupling (66% coupled). In contrast, administration of the D1 agonist SKF 38393 or the D1 antagonist SCH 23390 did not result in any significant alteration in dye coupling. 3. In control rats, the entire somatodendritic regions of dye-coupled neurons were found to be localized within single matrix compartments of the striatum. However, after intravenous administration of apomorphine or quinpirole, clusters of dye-coupled neurons were found to extend across the patch/matrix boundary. Moreover, dye coupling was observed after injecting cells exhibiting either the Type I or the Type II response profile. 4. In response to D2 receptor stimulation, both the extent and the pattern of coupling between striatal neurons is altered, resulting in direct coupling between neurons that are otherwise functionally and anatomically segregated in the control animal.     

能消除RGB差分视频传输线上共模噪声的放大器

5类网络电缆由四对双绞线组成,并有耐用的外套,这种电缆能为分量视频信号的传输提供一种通用而有良好性价比的选择。三个线对可以承载RGB视频信号,而第四对线可以承载音频信号、同步信号和其它传输信号。不幸的是,5类电缆缺乏屏蔽,因此容易遭受共模噪声耦合