We describe a new access method, the hBΠ-tree, an adaptation of the Lomet and Salzberg hB-tree index to the constraints of their Π-tree . The Π-trees, a generalization of the Blink-trees of Lehman and Yao, provide very high concurrency with recovery, hence permitting highly parallel access to data. The hB-tree is a multi-attribute index which is highly insensitive to dimensionality. The combina...

We review here the selectively infective phage (SIP) technology, a powerful tool for the rapid selection of protein-ligand and peptide-ligand pairs with very high affinities. SIP is highly suitable for discriminating between molecules with subtle stability and folding differences. We discuss the preferred types of applications for this technology and some pitfalls inherent in the in vivo SIP me...

Descriptors based on Molecular Interaction Fields (MIF) are highly suitable for drug discovery, but their size (thousands of variables) often limits their application in practice. Here we describe a simple and fast computational method that extracts from a MIF a handful of highly informative points (hot spots) which summarize the most relevant information. The method was specifically developed ...

Highly sensitized patients (anti-HLA) on the kidney waiting list wait longer for a suitable crossmatch negative organ. At the moment there are two strategies to enhance transplantation of these patients. One approach is the determination of acceptable HLA mismatches and application of this knowledge for the selection of crossmatch negative donors, and the second is the desensitization of patien...

The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), highly prefers to oviposit on yellow rocket, Barbarea vulgaris (R. Br.) (Cruciferae) var. arcuata , despite larvae not being able to survive on it, suggesting it may have potential as a trap crop. In a no-choice greenhouse experiment, P. xylostella laid 28% more eggs on B. vulgaris than on cabbage. Within the B. vulgaris...