Decoding of Superimposed Traces Produced by Direct Sequencing of Heterozygous Indels

Direct Sanger sequencing of a diploid template containing a heterozygous insertion or deletion results in a difficult-to-interpret mixed trace formed by two allelic traces superimposed onto each other. Existing computational methods for deconvolution of such traces require knowledge of a reference sequence or the availability of both direct and reverse mixed sequences of the same template. We describe a simple yet accurate method, which uses dynamic programming optimization to predict superimposed allelic sequences solely from a string of letters representing peaks within an individual mixed trace. We used the method to decode 104 human traces (mean length 294 bp) containing heterozygous indels 5 to 30 bp with a mean of 99.1% bases per allelic sequence reconstructed correctly and unambiguously. Simulations with artificial sequences have demonstrated that the method yields accurate reconstructions when (1) the allelic sequences forming the mixed trace are sufficiently similar, (2) the analyzed fragment is significantly longer than the indel, and (3) multiple indels, if present, are well-spaced. Because these conditions occur in most encountered DNA sequences, the method is widely applicable. It is available as a free Web application Indelligent at http://ctap.inhs.uiuc.edu/dmitriev/indel.asp

It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature: Functional Materials in Insects

Over the course of their wildly successful proliferation across the earth, the insects as a taxon have evolved enviable adaptations to their diverse habitats, which include adhesives, locomotor systems, hydrophobic surfaces, and sensors and actuators that transduce mechanical, acoustic, optical, thermal, and chemical signals. Insect‐inspired designs currently appear in a range of contexts, including antireflective coatings, optical displays, and computing algorithms. However, as over one million distinct and highly specialized species of insects have colonized nearly all habitable regions on the planet, they still provide a largely untapped pool of unique problem‐solving strategies. With the intent of providing materials scientists and engineers with a muse for the next generation of bioinspired materials, here, a selection of some of the most spectacular adaptations that insects have evolved is assembled and organized by function. The insects presented display dazzling optical properties as a result of natural photonic crystals, precise hierarchical patterns that span length scales from nanometers to millimeters, and formidable defense mechanisms that deploy an arsenal of chemical weaponry. Successful mimicry of these adaptations may facilitate technological solutions to as wide a range of problems as they solve in the insects that originated them.Insects have evolved manifold optimized solutions to everyday problems. The diversity and precision of their hierarchical material adaptations often outsmart and outperform current man‐made approaches. These materials hence provide an excellent basis for the inspiration of new technological approaches by taking design cues from nature’s solutions.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143760/1/adma201705322.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143760/2/adma201705322_am.pd

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION AND HIGHER SCHOOL

There is a widely spread opinion, that contemporary higher education experiences a severe crisis, because its educational methods, programs and standards do not correspond to the modern social demands. The structure of developed and developing countries has been changing rapidly under the influence of scientific progress, but the educational standards and programs don’t keep up with these changes. To explore the situation and to ground the future changes is the task of philosophy of education. It is necessary to state first of all that the modern society may be called multiple-elite. But all of the elites are grounded on intellectual achievements, which are also multitude. Hence a new task for the modern higher school can be formulated. It should provide this new society of multiple elites with high-skilled and competent specialists. So, the intellectual component of higher education increases significantly. Hence the pressing demand for the penetration in the epistemological structure of higher education

Higher Education and Artificial Intelligence: euphoria and Alarmism

Developed and developing countries have already entered the period which is commonly referred to as “knowledge society” or “information society”. In fact, these are the synonyms, because they point two linked circumstances. The first one is that modern science, technological and socio-political knowledge influence on all aspects of everyday life. The second is that in creation and production of all the knowledge the role of AI increases. Software and hardware of universal human intellect and artificial superintellect are being created with highest intensity. There creators dream that their systems can solve tasks on the level of human intellect. That is why the use of such systems in higher education has numerous evident advantages because makes it accessible, universal, capable of transmitting modern scientific knowledge into educational process. Through training of specialists higher education can influence on all the fields of social life. But many researchers see the negative effects of AI systems implementation too, and the most dangerous among them is the replacement of human intellect by artificial. In the extreme case this poses the serious danger for the whole mankind. That is why the accelerative appliance of AI demands further careful investigations. Neither euphoria nor alarmism are admissible in this sphere, especially when it concerns decision-making in educational policy. The implementation of AI systems in higher education requires a particular degree of discretion and precaution

Seismogeological section of the Earth's crust of North Karelia along the profile of Kandalaksha - Kem

CDP, DSS and seismotomographic section along the North Karelian portion of geotraverse 1-ЕВ (Kandalaksha - Kem) have made it possible for the first time to study in detail the earth crust under the Belomorian province within the limits of the Phenno-Scandian Shield. Correlation and integrated interpretation of CDP time sections, DSS multi-wave sections and geological data show that the results obtained by the seismic methods differ markedly, but the data obtained by both methods are important for geological interpretation because they emphasize different environmental characteristics. Tectonic dislocation zones, extending to M-discontinu-ity, were delineated and traced downwards. The crystalline crust of the Belomorian province was shown to have a nappe tectonics. Horizontal variation in velocity correlates with heterogeneities in crustal section responsible for its blocky geological structure. The heterogeneity pattern of the crust seems to reflect collision tectonics, and as a result tectonic slits of different composition were superposed