UASIS: Universal Automatic SNP Identification System

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism), the most common genetic variations between human beings, is believed to be a promising way towards personalized medicine. As more and more research on SNPs are being conducted, non-standard nomenclatures may generate potential problems. The most serious issue is that researchers cannot perform cross referencing among different SNP databases. This will result in more resources and time required to track SNPs. It could be detrimental to the entire academic community.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>UASIS (Universal Automated SNP Identification System) is a web-based server for SNP nomenclature standardization and translation at DNA level. Three utilities are available. They are UASIS Aligner, Universal SNP Name Generator and SNP Name Mapper. UASIS maps SNPs from different databases, including dbSNP, GWAS, HapMap and JSNP etc., into an uniform view efficiently using a proposed universal nomenclature and state-of-art alignment algorithms. UASIS is freely available at <url>http://www.uasis.tk</url> with no requirement of log-in.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>UASIS is a helpful platform for SNP cross referencing and tracking. By providing an informative, unique and unambiguous nomenclature, which utilizes unique position of a SNP, we aim to resolve the ambiguity of SNP nomenclatures currently practised. Our universal nomenclature is a good complement to mainstream SNP notations such as rs# and HGVS guidelines. UASIS acts as a bridge to connect heterogeneous representations of SNPs.</p

Design of a pulse power supply unit for micro-ECM

Electrochemical micro-machining (μECM) requires a particular pulse power supply unit (PSU) to be developed in order to achieve desired machining performance. This paper summarises the development of a pulse PSU meeting the requirements of μECM. The pulse power supply provides tens of nanosecond pulse duration, positive and negative bias voltages and a polarity switching functionality. It fulfils the needs for tool preparation with reversed pulsed ECM on the machine. Moreover, the PSU is equipped with an ultrafast overcurrent protection which prevents the tool electrode from being damaged in case of short circuits. The developed pulse PSU was used to fabricate micro-tools out of 170 μm WC-Co alloy shafts via micro-electrochemical turning and drill deep holes via μECM in a disk made of 18NiCr6. The electrolyte used for both processes was a mixture of sulphuric acid and NaNO3 aqueous solutions.The research reported in this paper is supported by the European Commission within the project “Minimizing Defects in Micro-Manufacturing Applications (MIDEMMA)” (FP7-2011-NMP-ICT-FoF-285614

The views of older women towards mammographic screening: a qualitative and quantitative study

Purpose: Mammographic screening has improved breast cancer survival in the screened age group. This improved survival has not been seen in older women (>70 years) where screening uptake is low. This study explores the views, knowledge and attitudes of older women towards screening. Methods: Women (>70) were interviewed about breast screening. Interview findings informed the development of a questionnaire which was sent to 1000 women (>70) to quantify their views regarding screening. Results: Twenty-six women were interviewed and a questionnaire designed. The questionnaire response rate was 48.3% (479/992). Over half (52.9%, 241/456) of respondents were unaware they could request mammography by voluntary self-referral and were unaware of how to arrange this. Most (81.5% 383/470) had not attended breast screening since turning 70. Most (75.6%, 343/454) felt screening was beneficial and would attend if invited. Most, (90.1%, 412/457) felt screening should be offered to all women regardless of age or health. Conclusions: There is a lack of knowledge about screening in older women. The majority felt that invitation to screening should be extended to the older age group regardless of age or health. The current under-utilised system of voluntary self referral is not supported by older women

Single donor ionization energies in a nanoscale CMOS channel

One consequence of the continued downwards scaling of transistors is the reliance on only a few discrete atoms to dope the channel, and random fluctuations of the number of these dopants is already a major issue in the microelectonics industry. While single-dopant signatures have been observed at low temperature, studying the impact of only one dopant up to room temperature requires extremely small lengths. Here, we show that a single arsenic dopant dramatically affects the off-state behavior of an advanced microelectronics field effect transistor (FET) at room temperature. Furthermore, the ionization energy of this dopant should be profoundly modified by the close proximity of materials with a different dielectric constant than the host semiconductor. We measure a strong enhancement, from 54meV to 108meV, of the ionization energy of an arsenic atom located near the buried oxide. This enhancement is responsible for the large current below threshold at room temperature and therefore explains the large variability in these ultra-scaled transistors. The results also suggest a path to incorporating quantum functionalities into silicon CMOS devices through manipulation of single donor orbitals

Design of an electrochemical micromachining machine

Electrochemical micromachining (μECM) is a non-conventional machining process based on the phenomenon of electrolysis. μECM became an attractive area of research due to the fact that this process does not create any defective layer after machining and that there is a growing demand for better surface integrity on different micro applications including microfluidics systems, stress-free drilled holes in automotive and aerospace manufacturing with complex shapes, etc. This work presents the design of a next generation μECM machine for the automotive, aerospace, medical and metrology sectors. It has three axes of motion (X, Y, Z) and a spindle allowing the tool-electrode to rotate during machining. The linear slides for each axis use air bearings with linear DC brushless motors and 2-nm resolution encoders for ultra precise motion. The control system is based on the Power PMAC motion controller from Delta Tau. The electrolyte tank is located at the rear of the machine and allows the electrolyte to be changed quickly. This machine features two process control algorithms: fuzzy logic control and adaptive feed rate. A self-developed pulse generator has been mounted and interfaced with the machine and a wire ECM grinding device has been added. The pulse generator has the possibility to reverse the pulse polarity for on-line tool fabrication.The research reported in this paper is supported by the European Commission within the project “Minimizing Defects in Micro-Manufacturing Applications (MIDEMMA)” (FP7-2011-NMPICT- FoF-285614)

A Technique for Tensile Fatigue and Creep Testing of Fiber-Reinforced Ceramics

An experimental technique for the elevated temperature tensile fatigue and creep testing of fiber-reinforced ceramics is discussed. The experimental approach utilizes edge-loaded specimens with rectangular gage-sections. Novel furnace and grip designs which allow testing in air to 1500°C are provided. The specimen, furnace and grip designs discussed in the paper have been successfully used to test unidirectional and cross-ply SiCf/Si3N 4, SiCf/SiC, Cf/SiC and SiCf/calcium-aluminosilicate composites.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66679/2/10.1177_002199839202600608.pd

Віктор Петров: неопубліковані матеріали експедиції етнографічної комісії ВУАН по дослідженню дніпровського лоцманства (1927-1928)

У статті розглянуто діяльність Віктора Платоновича Петрова як організатора досліджень професійних об’єднань в Україні, його роль у роботі Експедиції Етнографічної комісії ВУАН по дослідженню дніпровського лоцманства. Автором розглянуто результати досліджень експедиції, що втілилися у, маловідомому сучасним науковцям, цінному виданні – «Матеріали до вивчення виробничих об’єднань. Дніпровські лоцмани» (К., 1929). Поставлено питання про актуалізацію та перевидання «Матеріалів». Утім, основну увагу приділено неопублікованим записам та нотаткам В. Петрова, що зберігаються у Наукових архівних фондах рукописів та фонозаписів Інституту мистецтвознавства, фольклористики та етнології ім. М. Рильського НАН України (Ф. 1-5. Од. зб. 475. 25 арк.).В статье рассмотрена деятельность Виктора Платоновича Петрова как организатора исследований профессиональных объединений на Украине, его роль в работе Экспедиции Этнографической комиссии ВУАН по изучению днепровского лоцманства. Автор рассмотрел результаты проведенных экспедицией исследований, которые были опубликованы в малоизвестном современным ученым, но ценном издании – «Материалы к изучению производственных объединений. Днепровские лоцманы» (К., 1929). Поставлен вопрос об актуализации и переиздании «Материалов». Однако основное внимание было уделено неопубликованным записям и заметкам В. Петрова, которые хранятся в Научных архивных фондах рукописей и фонозаписей Института искусствоведения, фольклористики и этнологии им. М. Рыльского НАН Украины (Ф. 1-5. Ед. хр. 475. 25 лист.).The article discusses the activities of Victor Platonovich Petrov as an organizer of studies of professional associations in Ukraine, his role in the Ethnographic Expedition Commission for the Study of the Dnieper AUAS piloting. The author has considered the results of the expedition of research that were published in an obscure to modern scientists, but valuable publication - "Materials for the Study of industrial associations. Dnipro pilots "(К., 1929). There was raised the question of updating and reprinting the "Materials". However, the main attention was given to unpublished notes and records of Petrov, which are stored in archival collections of manuscripts of Scientific and Audiotape Institute of Art, Folklore and Ethnology named by Maxim Rylslkiy of NAS- (F. 1-5. S. u. 475. 25 sheets.)

Higher Dimensional Cylindrical or Kasner Type Electrovacuum Solutions

We consider a D dimensional Kasner type diagonal spacetime where metric functions depend only on a single coordinate and electromagnetic field shares the symmetries of spacetime. These solutions can describe static cylindrical or cosmological Einstein-Maxwell vacuum spacetimes. We mainly focus on electrovacuum solutions and four different types of solutions are obtained in which one of them has no four dimensional counterpart. We also consider the properties of the general solution corresponding to the exterior field of a charged line mass and discuss its several properties. Although it resembles the same form with four dimensional one, there is a difference on the range of the solutions for fixed signs of the parameters. General magnetic field vacuum solution are also briefly discussed, which reduces to Bonnor-Melvin magnetic universe for a special choice of the parameters. The Kasner forms of the general solution are also presented for the cylindrical or cosmological cases.Comment: 16 pages, Revtex. Text and references are extended, Published versio