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Background SNP panels that uniquely identify an individual are useful for genetic and forensic research. Previously recommended SNP panels are based on DNA profiles and mostly contain intragenic SNPs. With the increasing interest in RNA expression profiles, we aimed for establishing a SNP panel for both DNA and RNA-based genotyping. Results To determine a small set of SNPs with maximally discriminative power, genotype calls were obtained from DNA and blood-derived RNA sequencing data belonging to healthy, geographically dispersed, Dutch individuals. SNPs were selected based on different criteria like genotype call rate, minor allele frequency, Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and linkage disequilibrium. A panel of 50 SNPs was sufficient to identify an individual uniquely: the probability of identity was 6.9 × 10− 20 when assuming no family relations and 1.2 × 10− 10 when accounting for the presence of full sibs. The ability of the SNP panel to uniquely identify individuals on DNA and RNA level was validated in an independent population dataset. The panel is applicable to individuals from European descent, with slightly lower power in non-Europeans. Whereas most of the genes containing the 50 SNPs are expressed in various tissues, our SNP panel needs optimization for other tissues than blood. Conclusions This first DNA/RNA SNP panel will be useful to identify sample mix-ups in biomedical research and for assigning DNA and RNA stains in crime scenes to unique individuals. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4482-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Structural variation (SV) represents a major source of differences between individual human genomes and has been linked to disease phenotypes. However, current studies on SVs have failed to provide a global view of the full spectrum of SVs and to integrate them into reference panels of genetic variation. Here, we analyzed 769 individuals from 250 Dutch families, whole genome sequenced at an average coverage of 14.5x, and provide a haplotype-resolved map of 1.9 million genome variants across 9 different variant classes, including novel forms of complex indels and retrotransposition-mediated insertions of mobile elements and processed RNAs. A large proportion of the structural variants (36%) were discovered in the size range of 21 to 100bp, a size range which remains under reported in many studies. Furthermore, we detected 4 megabases of novel sequence, extending the human pangenome with 11 new active transcripts. Finally, we show 191 known, trait-associated SNPs to be in strong linkage disequilibrium with a structural variant and demonstrate that our panel facilitates accurate imputation of SVs into unrelated individuals, which is essential for future genome-wide association studies.

The performance of new three-section master oscillator power amplifiers emitting at around 1.5 ?m has been analyzed in regard with their application as laser sources for a differential absorption lidar. The devices incorporate a modulation section that can be separately driven thus allowing the required random modulation of the laser emission. The bent design of this section together with the tilting of the output facet ensures a stable single-mode emission in the entire range of driving conditions. At the required modulation frequency (12.5 MHz) a square wave emission profile with high optical modulation amplitude and 22 dB extinction ratio is obtained.

We theoretically investigate a dynamical regime, experimentally observed in monolithically integrated master oscillator power amplifiers emitting at 1.5 7 μm, consisting in large emission wavelength jumps of the device from the Bragg wavelength to that of the gain peak. Our analysis is based on numerical simulations by means of a travelling wave model that incorporates spatial effects such as spatial hole burning and coupled-cavity effects. Thermal effects are included by considering the optical response of the quantum well active medium within the quasi-equilibrium approximation at finite temperature, with a phenomenological description of the redshift of the gain peak and the changes in the background material refractive index by means of self- and cross-heating coefficients for both sections. We find that whereas the thermally-induced index changes are the responsible of the modal jumps between consecutive modes, the carrier-induced refractive index changes are the responsible of the jumps occurring between the Bragg wavelength and the gain peak.

High power (> 0.5 W) single-mode frequency laser at 1.55 μm are nowadays key components for a large number of applications such as lidar systems, telemetry or free-space communications. For this level of power, the most suitable and available sources are solid-state lasers and fiber lasers. Semiconductor devices, which are more compact and more efficient, have still to demonstrate very high power operation to be a credible competitor. In order to obtain these levels of power with semiconductor devices, the more suitable device seems to be the Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA). Single-mode emission is generated by a Distributed Feedback laser (DFB) and the signal is then amplified with a Power Amplifier (PA). To avoid complex optical coupling and to simplify the packaging, it is possible to integrate on the same chip the laser and the amplifier. The main challenges are the fabrication of the multi-section device (at least 2 sections: one for the laser and one for the amplifier) and the reduction of the reflections. Indeed the facet and the internal reflections can create multiple cavities behavior and disturb the laser single-mode emission. In this contribution, we report the realization of a 3-section monolithic MOPA on InP.

High brightness semiconductor lasers are potential transmitters for future space lidar systems. In the framework of the European Project BRITESPACE, we propose an all-semiconductor laser source for an Integrated Path Differential Absorption lidar system for column-averaged measurements of atmospheric CO2 in future satellite missions. The complete system architecture has to be adapted to the particular emission properties of these devices using a Random Modulated Continuous Wave approach. We present the initial experimental results of the InGaAsP/InP monolithic Master Oscillator Power Amplifiers, providing the ON and OFF wavelengths close to the selected absorption line around 1572 nm.

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In criminal cases the task of the judge is to transform the uncertainty of the facts into the certainty of the verdict. In this experiment we examine the relationship between evidence of which the strength is known, subjective probability of guilt and verdict for abstract cases. We look at two situations: (1) all evidence is given and (2) evidence can be acquired. Roughly half of the participants do not base their decision on a subjective belief of the probability of guilt. The others underestimate in general the probability of guilt, but this is more than compensated by a tendency to convict at too low probability of guilt. In the situation where evidence can be acquired, participants do not acquire enough evidence.