We consider the problem of multiple sequence alignment: given k sequences of length at most n and a certain scoring function, find an alignment that minimizes the corresponding “sum of pairs” distance score. We generalize the divide-and-conquer technique described in [1,2], and present new ideas on how to use efficient search strategies for saving computer memory and accelerating the procedure ...

Dark energy constraints have forced viable alternatives that differ substantially from a cosmological constant Λ to have an equation of state w that evolves across the phantom divide set by Λ. Naively, crossing this divide makes the dark energy gravitationally unstable, a problem that is typically finessed by unphysically ignoring the perturbations. While this procedure does not affect constrai...

Past breakthroughs in communication technology—the invention of the printing press and the telegraph—led to major economic upheavals. What are the implications of the more recent information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the developing world? Optimists believe that modern ICTs will allow developing countries to catch up with the developed world, while pessimists claim that the growi...

In experimental partnership dissolution problems with complete information, the divide-and-choose mechanism is significantly superior to the winner’s-bid auction. The performance of divide-and-choose is mainly affected by reciprocity issues and not by bounded rationality. The performance of the winner’s-bid auction is significantly affected by bounded rationality. Contrary to theoretical predic...

This paper examines the developmental divide manifested in the digital divide between the North and the South and indeed within regions and countries. We suggest that the most fundamental problem preventing a reversal of the divide is access, exacerbated by the widespread low levels of skills and knowledge in poor countries. In addition, industry stands to lose considerable benefit from the poo...

The `̀ widening digital divide’’ has the status of fact in most discussions of the global distribution of information and communications technologies (ICTs), and that this divide is a problem is widely accepted. This paper challenges both assumptions. First, looking at various measures of the digital divide, there is a divide in per-capita access to ICTs but developing countries show faster rate...

Interactive Digital Television is mostly a matter of entertainment for developed countries, but bears great potential to narrow the digital divide in developing countries. The television’s return channel might become the family’s gate to the Information Society. For this to come true, however, digital receivers and return channel technologies must reach cost levels that enable mass penetration....

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions (e.g. e-health, telemedicine, e-education) are often viewed as vehicles to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban healthcare centres and to resolve shortcomings in the rural health sector. This study focused on factors perceived to influence the uptake and use of ICTs as e-health solutions in selected rural Eastern Cape healthc...

We improve on the results of [Vel] and give some examples. In [Jech], a number of infinite games on (complete) Boolean algebras were defined. Among them was the following Prikry-style “cut and choose” game Gc&c : I p, b0 b1 . . . . . . . . . bi . . . . . . . . . . i < ω II r0 r1 . . . . . . . . . ri . . . . . . . . . . where p, bi’s are elements of the Boolean algebra B in question and ri ∈ 2 f...