Parametric multiple sequence alignment and phylogeny construction

Bounds are given on the size of the parameter-space decomposition induced by multiple sequence alignment problems where phylogenetic information may be given or inferred. It is shown that many of the usual formulations of these problems fall within the same integer parametric framework, implying that the number of distinct optima obtained as the parameters are varied across their ranges is polynomially bounded in the length and number of sequences.     

Stark's conjecture over complex cubic number fields

Systematic computation of Stark units over nontotally real base fields is carried out for the first time. Since the information provided by Stark's conjecture is significantly less in this situation than the information provided over totally real base fields, new techniques are required. Precomputing Stark units in relative quadratic extensions (where the conjecture is already known to hold) and coupling this information with the Fincke-Pohst algorithm applied to certain quadratic forms leads to a significant reduction in search time for finding Stark units in larger extensions (where the conjecture is still unproven). Stark's conjecture is verified in each case for these Stark units in larger extensions and explicit generating polynomials for abelian extensions over complex cubic base fields, including Hilbert class fields, are obtained from the minimal polynomials of these new Stark units.

     

An optical fibre pH sensor based on dye doped mesostructured silica

This paper describes the synthesis and optical pH sensing properties of a pH indicator dye activated mesostructured silica coated optical fibre. The pH-sensitive dye bromothymol blue was incorporated into the mesostructure sol precursor and thin films/coatings were used for pH-sensing applications without prior removal of the surfactant. The pH sensitivity range and operating wavelength were analysed by absorption measurements on layer dip-coated on glass slides. The pH sensing properties of coated optical fibre were tested by evanescent wave method. Experiments were carried out by using a series of solutions of known pH. No leaching was observed (except at very high pH) and an excellent reversibility was obtained between pH=2 and 5.     

An experimental investigation of Curle's theory of aerodynamic noise generation by a stationary body in a turbulent air stream

Bies et al. (J. Sound Vib. 204(4) (1997) 631) investigated Curle's theory (Proc. R. Soc. Ser. A 231 (1955) 505) published in 1955 over a wide range of flow speeds from about 50-200 m/s and found only partial agreement with the experimental data. Here the experimental investigation has been repeated allowing the data to be recorded in a format amenable to analysis, which was not previously possible.Reintroduction of a term neglected by Curle has been found necessary as Curle's compact source condition ensures so low a radiation impedance that the effect cannot be detected in the jet background noise. The reintroduction of the term, which has been neglected, allows his analysis to include radiation from sources not compact but less than half a wavelength in characteristic dimension. It is shown that the power ratio defined as the measured sound power divided by Curle's amended prediction converges to about 3 whereas Curle predicts that the power ratio should converge to 1 as the wave number converges to zero. The introduction of the empirically determined constant 3 into Curle's prediction brings the measurements into very good agreement with prediction over the entire range of the non-dimensional wave numbers from about 0.4 to 3.2.     

Optimized Pump Power Ratio on 2nd Order Pumping Discrete Raman Amplifier

By optimizing pump power ratio between 1st order backward pump and 2nd order forward pump on discrete Raman amplifier, we demonstrated over 2dB noise figure improvement without excessive non-linearity degradation.     

5-Spirocyclopropane Isoxazolidines as Versatile Intermediates in Organic Synthesis

The review outlines the various different azaheterocycles available from 5-spirocyclopropane isoxazolidines. These compounds can be regarded as versatile direct precursors of tetrahydro-, dihydropyridone and azetidinone derivatives. The current scope and limitations, and the selectivity aspects of the different processes are discussed therein.     

A cusp singularity with no Galois cover by a complete intersection

With an explicit example, we confirm a conjecture by Neumann and Wahl that there exist cusps with no Galois cover by a complete intersection. Some computational techniques are reviewed, and a method for deciding whether a given cusp has a complete intersection Galois cover is developed.

     

Restructuring ordered binary trees

We consider the problem of restructuring an ordered binary tree T, preserving the in-order sequence of its nodes, so as to reduce its height to some target value h. Such a restructuring necessarily involves the downward displacement of some of the nodes of T. Our results, focusing both on the maximum displacement over all nodes and on the maximum displacement over leaves only, provide (i) an explicit tradeoff between the worst-case displacement and the height restriction (including a family of trees that exhibit the worst-case displacements) and (ii) efficient algorithms to achieve height-restricted restructuring while minimizing the maximum node displacement.     

Block transitive Steiner systems with more than one point orbit

For all ‘reasonable’ finite t, k, and s, we construct a t‐(?₀, k, 1) design and a group of automorphisms which is transitive on blocks and has s orbits on points. In particular, there is a 2‐(?0, 4, 1) design with a block‐transitive group of automorphisms having two point orbits. This answers a question of P. J. Cameron and C. E. Praeger. The construction is presented in a purely combinatorial way, but is a by‐product of a new way of looking at a model‐theoretic construction of E. Hrushovski. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Letter: Causality Violating Geodesics in Bonnor's Rotating Dust Metric

We exhibit timelike geodesic paths for a metric, introduced by Bonnor [11] and considered also by Steadman [13], and show that coordinate time runs backward along a portion of these geodesics.