K.A.PATON 411 24 Centromere finding: some shape descriptors for small chromosome outlines.

Both the analytical philosopher and the designer of intelligent software are doing what might be called'mental engineering': constructing precise, formal models of some aspects of intelligent thought or behaviour. There is a wide gap between them, but it is narrowing.

Because of the recent - echnological advances in computer networks and communications, and because of the cost reduction of computer hardware, there has been a great interest in distributed data bases including some attempts at actual implementations. In this paper, we will first define what we mean by a distributed data base. Then we will give some of the reasons why people are so interested in this new field. After classifying the different types of distributed data bases, we will describe the current areas of research. Finally, we will give an annotated bibliography that lists the most important papers in thi:3 area.