北海海洋科学数据库由9个专业子库构成。针对数据海量、格式多样等特性,该数据库构建采用了Windows Advance Server 2000+SQL Server 2000。通过SQL Server 2000管理数据,并按数据种类以子库形式分层。应用微软公司开发的.net框架包,编...北海海洋科学数据库由9个专业子库构成。针对数据海量、格式多样等特性,该数据库构建采用了Windows Advance Server 2000+SQL Server 2000。通过SQL Server 2000管理数据,并按数据种类以子库形式分层。应用微软公司开发的.net框架包,编写ASPX程序以实现Web数据库访问模式。开发了各相应子库的应用系统,使得通过观测、探测、调查、试验和实验所获取的海量基础性海洋科学数据的存储、管理与发布得到了有效实现。展开更多
针对传统GSP算法需要多次扫描数据库、I/O开销巨大的缺点,提出了一种基于MapReduce编程框架的序列模式挖掘算法MR-GSP(GSP algorithm based on MapReduce)。MR-GSP算法将原序列数据库划分为多个子序列数据库并分发到多个Map节点,Map函...针对传统GSP算法需要多次扫描数据库、I/O开销巨大的缺点,提出了一种基于MapReduce编程框架的序列模式挖掘算法MR-GSP(GSP algorithm based on MapReduce)。MR-GSP算法将原序列数据库划分为多个子序列数据库并分发到多个Map节点,Map函数扫描存放在Map节点内存中的子序列数据库,产生局部序列模式,Reduce函数对所有局部序列模式合并,扫描原序列数据库,计算局部序列模式的支持度,得到最终的序列模式。相比于传统GSP算法,MR-GSP算法只需扫描两次原始数据库即可得到所有序列模式。实验结果表明,MRGSP算法在对大数据集进行序列模式挖掘时,可充分利用云计算技术的优势,提高挖掘效率。展开更多
AIM: To describe molecules or genes interaction between hepatitis B viruses (HBV) and host, for understanding how virus' and host's genes and molecules are networked to form a biological system and for perceiv...AIM: To describe molecules or genes interaction between hepatitis B viruses (HBV) and host, for understanding how virus' and host's genes and molecules are networked to form a biological system and for perceiving mechanism of HBV infection.METHODS: The knowledge of HBV infection-related reactions was organized into various kinds of pathways with carefully drawn graphs in HBVPathDB. Pathway information is stored with relational database management system (DBMS), which is currently the most efficient way to manage large amounts of data and query is implemented with powerful Structured Query Language (SQL). The search engine is written using Personal Home Page (PHP) with SQL embedded and web retrieval interface is developed for searching with Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).RESULTS: We present the first version of HBVPathDB,which is a HBV infection-related molecular interaction network database composed of 306 pathways with 1050molecules involved. With carefully drawn graphs, pathway information stored in HBVPathDB can be browsed in an intuitive way. We develop an easy-to-use interface for flexible accesses to the details of database. Convenient software is implemented to query and browse the pathway information of HBVPathDB. Four search page layout options-category search, gene search, description search,unitized search-are supported by the search engine ofthe database. The database is freely available at http://www.bio-inf, net/HBVPathDB/HBV/.CONCLUSION: The conventional perspective HBVPathDB have already contained a considerable amount of pathway information with HBV infection related, which is suitable for in-depth analysis of molecular interaction network of virus and host. HBVPathDB integrates pathway data-sets with convenient software for query, browsing,visualization, that provides users more opportunity to identify regulatory key molecules as potential drug targets and to explore the possible mechanism of HBV infection based on gene expression datasets.展开更多
Microsatellite markers have become one kind of the most important molecular tools used in various researches. A large number of microsatellite markers are required for the whole genome survey in the fields of molecula...Microsatellite markers have become one kind of the most important molecular tools used in various researches. A large number of microsatellite markers are required for the whole genome survey in the fields of molecular ecology,quantitative genetics and genomics. Therefore,it is extremely necessary to select several versatile,low-cost,efficient and time-and labor-saving methods to develop a large panel of microsatellite markers. In this study,we used Zhikong scallop(Chlamys farreri) as the target species to compare the efficiency of the five methods derived from three strategies for microsatellite marker development. The results showed that the strategy of constructing small insert genomic DNA library resulted in poor efficiency,while the microsatellite-enriched strategy highly improved the isolation efficiency. Although the mining public database strategy is time-and cost-saving,it is difficult to obtain a large number of microsatellite markers,mainly due to the limited sequence data of non-model species deposited in public databases. Based on the results in this study,we recommend two methods,microsatellite-enriched library construction method and FIASCO-colony hybridization method,for large-scale microsatellite marker development. Both methods were derived from the microsatellite-enriched strategy. The experimental results obtained from Zhikong scallop also provide the reference for microsatellite marker development in other species with large genomes.展开更多
When the Grover' s original algorithm is applied to search an unordered database, the success probability decreases rapidly with the increase of marked items. Aiming at this problem, a general quantum search algorith...When the Grover' s original algorithm is applied to search an unordered database, the success probability decreases rapidly with the increase of marked items. Aiming at this problem, a general quantum search algorithm with small phase rotations is proposed. Several quantum search algorithms can be derived from this algorithm according to different phase rotations. When the size of phase rotations are fixed at 0. 01π, the success probability of at least 99. 99% can be obtained in 0(√N/M) iterations.展开更多
Previous studies found intraspecific diversity in Scrippsiella trochoidea A. R. Loeblich Ill, a widely distributed calcareous cyst-producing dinoflagellate. In this study, three strains (ST-I, ST-D6 and ST-K) of S. ...Previous studies found intraspecific diversity in Scrippsiella trochoidea A. R. Loeblich Ill, a widely distributed calcareous cyst-producing dinoflagellate. In this study, three strains (ST-I, ST-D6 and ST-K) of S. trochoidea isolated from the East Asian waters were studied, together with other geographical strains, to resolve their phylogenetic relationships. For the three East Asian isolates, two highly diverse regions of nuclear-encoded ribosomal DNA (rDNA), the 5.8S rDNA and its flanking internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2, and the 5' portion of the large-subunit rDNA (encompassing the "DI" and "D2" domains) were sequenced. Homologous sequences from other geographical isolates were selected from the GenBank database and the phylogenetic relationships were inferred from the molecular data of these strains. Strains of S. trochoidea were found to cluster into three major clades (STR1, STR2 and STR3), as reported in previous studies. Two of the three strains ST-1 and ST-K, were grouped in clade STR2, the other strain, ST-D6, belonged to clade STR3. The intraspecific diversity ofS. trochoidea in East Asian waters makes it necessary to carry out phylogenetic investigations in combination with data of biogeography, population dynamics, and life cycle on the ecophysiology of a region.展开更多
In the present study, 89 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV) isolates in China during 2007 to 2012 were randomly selected from the GenBank genetic sequence database. Evolutionary characteristics...In the present study, 89 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV) isolates in China during 2007 to 2012 were randomly selected from the GenBank genetic sequence database. Evolutionary characteristics of these isolates were analyzed based on the sequences of non-struc-tural protein 2(Nsp2) and glycoprotein 5(GP5). The genetic variations of the isolates were also compared with six representative strains. The results showed that a high degree of genetic diversity exists among the PRRSV population in China. Highly pathogenic PRRSV isolates, with a discon-tinuous deletion of a 30 amino acid residue in the Nsp2 region, remained the most dominant virus throughout 2007–2012 in China. Owing to the extensive use of representative vaccine strains, natu-ral recombination events occurred between strains. Three isolates – HH08, DY, and YN-2011 – were more closely related to vaccine strains than the other isolates. Both YN-2011 and DY were the evolu-tionary products of recombination events between strains SP and CH-1R. The results of the present study provide useful information for the epidemiology of PRRSV as well as for vaccine development.展开更多
The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was isolated from the caudal fin of Oryzias latipes and PCR was undertaken to determine phylogeny. The nucleotide sequence of the complete cytochrome b gene including the 5' and 3...The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was isolated from the caudal fin of Oryzias latipes and PCR was undertaken to determine phylogeny. The nucleotide sequence of the complete cytochrome b gene including the 5' and 3' ends was 1,143 base pairs (bp) and 1,137 bp encoding 380 and 378 amino acids in the K-11 strain and HS strain, respectively. In addition, higher substitutions both in base and amino acid residues occurred more frequently between the former control (Hd-rR strain) and HS strains than the K-I 1 strain. Approximately similar values in polymorphism, as assessed by restriction endonuclease digestion, were detected when utilizing 20 different enzymes. Therefore, the evolutionary processes were unlikely to involve common ancestors, especially between the K-11 strain and HS strains, in O. latipes populations in Japan. The sequence had been deposited in GenBank Data Base under accession number AB480878 (K-I I strain) and AB480879 (HS strain).展开更多
In Slovenia, children with special needs have been included to primary schools since 1998. Since then, teachers have had a lot of work to be done. Every year they have to prepare an individualized programme for each c...In Slovenia, children with special needs have been included to primary schools since 1998. Since then, teachers have had a lot of work to be done. Every year they have to prepare an individualized programme for each child with special needs. They have to set goals that each child with special needs has to achieve at a particular subject. Pupils have different teachers every year and to make their work easier, the author is considering making a website database with basic information about them. This database would state the goals that the pupil achieved in the past year, which strategy of teaching proved to be the best for him or her and what the areas he or she needs help with are. Teachers would be collecting this data during the primary education, after the final evaluation this database would also be made available to the secondary school of the pupil in concern. This database should be located on the website of Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports. It would be available to primary schools, but protected by a password which would grant the school access to the data of their students only. In secondary schools, teachers could also access to the information, so they would not have to be discovering appropriate teaching strategies that worked for a pupil in the past all over again. This would enable better conditions and a successful education for pupils with special needs.展开更多
Tomato seedlings damping-off is a limiting factor in commercial greenhouse production. To determine the causal agents of disease, sampling and fungal isolation were performed during 2012. Samples were collected from i...Tomato seedlings damping-off is a limiting factor in commercial greenhouse production. To determine the causal agents of disease, sampling and fungal isolation were performed during 2012. Samples were collected from infected seedlings growing in greenhouses in the Syrian coastal region. Isolation of fungi was done in the laboratories of the Agronomical Reaserch Center, in Lattakia and the molecular analyses were done in the Biotechnology Center at Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria, during the years 2012, 2013. Eight isolates ofPythium sp. obtained were purified using hyphal tip method (named P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7 and P8). Isolates were morphologically identified by optical microscope, then molecularly Characterized using genus specific ITS primers. The results of morphological characterization of pathogenic species suggested the detection of Pythium aphanidermatum, P. ultimum. The analysis of DNAs from the different isolates with ITS primers, recognizing the inter transcript spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA proved that the eight, isolates were belonging to the species P. ultimum. The complete sequences of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers regions of selected isolates were determined and submitted to GenBank. The GenBank-BLAST homology search revealed P. ultimum as the most similar sequence (〉 96% identity) with GenBank entry AB355596.展开更多
This paper describes in detail the web data mining technology, analyzes the relationship between the data on the web site to the tourism electronic commerce (including the server log, tourism commodity database, user...This paper describes in detail the web data mining technology, analyzes the relationship between the data on the web site to the tourism electronic commerce (including the server log, tourism commodity database, user database, the shopping cart), access to relevant user preference information for tourism commodity. Based on these models, the paper presents recommended strategies for the site registered users, and has had the corresponding formulas for calculating the current user of certain items recommended values and the corresponding recommendation algorithm, and the system can get a recommendation for user.展开更多
Knowledge of diffusivity is a prerequisite for understanding many scientific and technological disciplines. In this paper, firstly major experimental methods, which are employed to provide various diffusivity data, ar...Knowledge of diffusivity is a prerequisite for understanding many scientific and technological disciplines. In this paper, firstly major experimental methods, which are employed to provide various diffusivity data, are briefly described. Secondly, the fun-damentals of various computational methods, including first-principles method, embedded atomic method/molecular dynamic simulation, semi-empirical approaches, and phenomenological DICTRA technique, are demonstrated. Diffusion models re- cently developed for order/disorder transitions and stoichiometric compounds are also briefly depicted. Thirdly, a newly estab- lished diffusivity database for liquid, fcc_A1, Lie, bcc_A2, bcc_B2, and interrnetallic phases in the multicomponent A1 alloys is presented via a few case studies in binary, ternary and quaternary systems. And the integration of various computational techniques and experimental methods is highlighted. The reliability of this diffusivity database is validated by comparing the calculated and measured concentration profiles, diffusion paths, and Kirkendall shifts in various binary, ternary and quaternary diffusion couples. Next, the established diffusivity databases along with thermodynamic and other thermo-physical properties are utilized to simulate the microstructural evolution for Al alloys during solidification, interdiffusion and precipitation. A spe- cial discussion is presented on the phase-field simulation of interdiffusion microstructures in a series of Ni-Al diffusion couples composed of γ, γ', and β phases under the effects of both coherent strain and external compressive force. Future orientations in the establishment of next generation of diffusivity database are finally addressed.展开更多
文摘北海海洋科学数据库由9个专业子库构成。针对数据海量、格式多样等特性,该数据库构建采用了Windows Advance Server 2000+SQL Server 2000。通过SQL Server 2000管理数据,并按数据种类以子库形式分层。应用微软公司开发的.net框架包,编写ASPX程序以实现Web数据库访问模式。开发了各相应子库的应用系统,使得通过观测、探测、调查、试验和实验所获取的海量基础性海洋科学数据的存储、管理与发布得到了有效实现。
文摘针对传统GSP算法需要多次扫描数据库、I/O开销巨大的缺点,提出了一种基于MapReduce编程框架的序列模式挖掘算法MR-GSP(GSP algorithm based on MapReduce)。MR-GSP算法将原序列数据库划分为多个子序列数据库并分发到多个Map节点,Map函数扫描存放在Map节点内存中的子序列数据库,产生局部序列模式,Reduce函数对所有局部序列模式合并,扫描原序列数据库,计算局部序列模式的支持度,得到最终的序列模式。相比于传统GSP算法,MR-GSP算法只需扫描两次原始数据库即可得到所有序列模式。实验结果表明,MRGSP算法在对大数据集进行序列模式挖掘时,可充分利用云计算技术的优势,提高挖掘效率。
基金Supported by the grant of the National High Technology R and D Program of China No. 2002AA231051the grant of the Science and Technology Program of Zhejiang Province No. 011103001
文摘AIM: To describe molecules or genes interaction between hepatitis B viruses (HBV) and host, for understanding how virus' and host's genes and molecules are networked to form a biological system and for perceiving mechanism of HBV infection.METHODS: The knowledge of HBV infection-related reactions was organized into various kinds of pathways with carefully drawn graphs in HBVPathDB. Pathway information is stored with relational database management system (DBMS), which is currently the most efficient way to manage large amounts of data and query is implemented with powerful Structured Query Language (SQL). The search engine is written using Personal Home Page (PHP) with SQL embedded and web retrieval interface is developed for searching with Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).RESULTS: We present the first version of HBVPathDB,which is a HBV infection-related molecular interaction network database composed of 306 pathways with 1050molecules involved. With carefully drawn graphs, pathway information stored in HBVPathDB can be browsed in an intuitive way. We develop an easy-to-use interface for flexible accesses to the details of database. Convenient software is implemented to query and browse the pathway information of HBVPathDB. Four search page layout options-category search, gene search, description search,unitized search-are supported by the search engine ofthe database. The database is freely available at http://www.bio-inf, net/HBVPathDB/HBV/.CONCLUSION: The conventional perspective HBVPathDB have already contained a considerable amount of pathway information with HBV infection related, which is suitable for in-depth analysis of molecular interaction network of virus and host. HBVPathDB integrates pathway data-sets with convenient software for query, browsing,visualization, that provides users more opportunity to identify regulatory key molecules as potential drug targets and to explore the possible mechanism of HBV infection based on gene expression datasets.
基金supported by ‘863’ Program (2006AA10A408 and 2006AA10A411), NSFC30571417, NYHYZX07-047, 2005DKA30470, 2006BAD09A10 and NCET-06-0594.
文摘Microsatellite markers have become one kind of the most important molecular tools used in various researches. A large number of microsatellite markers are required for the whole genome survey in the fields of molecular ecology,quantitative genetics and genomics. Therefore,it is extremely necessary to select several versatile,low-cost,efficient and time-and labor-saving methods to develop a large panel of microsatellite markers. In this study,we used Zhikong scallop(Chlamys farreri) as the target species to compare the efficiency of the five methods derived from three strategies for microsatellite marker development. The results showed that the strategy of constructing small insert genomic DNA library resulted in poor efficiency,while the microsatellite-enriched strategy highly improved the isolation efficiency. Although the mining public database strategy is time-and cost-saving,it is difficult to obtain a large number of microsatellite markers,mainly due to the limited sequence data of non-model species deposited in public databases. Based on the results in this study,we recommend two methods,microsatellite-enriched library construction method and FIASCO-colony hybridization method,for large-scale microsatellite marker development. Both methods were derived from the microsatellite-enriched strategy. The experimental results obtained from Zhikong scallop also provide the reference for microsatellite marker development in other species with large genomes.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China ( No. 60773065 ).
文摘When the Grover' s original algorithm is applied to search an unordered database, the success probability decreases rapidly with the increase of marked items. Aiming at this problem, a general quantum search algorithm with small phase rotations is proposed. Several quantum search algorithms can be derived from this algorithm according to different phase rotations. When the size of phase rotations are fixed at 0. 01π, the success probability of at least 99. 99% can be obtained in 0(√N/M) iterations.
基金Supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-208) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40676072)
文摘Previous studies found intraspecific diversity in Scrippsiella trochoidea A. R. Loeblich Ill, a widely distributed calcareous cyst-producing dinoflagellate. In this study, three strains (ST-I, ST-D6 and ST-K) of S. trochoidea isolated from the East Asian waters were studied, together with other geographical strains, to resolve their phylogenetic relationships. For the three East Asian isolates, two highly diverse regions of nuclear-encoded ribosomal DNA (rDNA), the 5.8S rDNA and its flanking internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2, and the 5' portion of the large-subunit rDNA (encompassing the "DI" and "D2" domains) were sequenced. Homologous sequences from other geographical isolates were selected from the GenBank database and the phylogenetic relationships were inferred from the molecular data of these strains. Strains of S. trochoidea were found to cluster into three major clades (STR1, STR2 and STR3), as reported in previous studies. Two of the three strains ST-1 and ST-K, were grouped in clade STR2, the other strain, ST-D6, belonged to clade STR3. The intraspecific diversity ofS. trochoidea in East Asian waters makes it necessary to carry out phylogenetic investigations in combination with data of biogeography, population dynamics, and life cycle on the ecophysiology of a region.
基金supported by the Jilin Province Science and Technology Development Project(No.20140101123JC)the Fundamental Research Fund of Jilin Universitythe Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University(No.IRT1248)
文摘In the present study, 89 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV) isolates in China during 2007 to 2012 were randomly selected from the GenBank genetic sequence database. Evolutionary characteristics of these isolates were analyzed based on the sequences of non-struc-tural protein 2(Nsp2) and glycoprotein 5(GP5). The genetic variations of the isolates were also compared with six representative strains. The results showed that a high degree of genetic diversity exists among the PRRSV population in China. Highly pathogenic PRRSV isolates, with a discon-tinuous deletion of a 30 amino acid residue in the Nsp2 region, remained the most dominant virus throughout 2007–2012 in China. Owing to the extensive use of representative vaccine strains, natu-ral recombination events occurred between strains. Three isolates – HH08, DY, and YN-2011 – were more closely related to vaccine strains than the other isolates. Both YN-2011 and DY were the evolu-tionary products of recombination events between strains SP and CH-1R. The results of the present study provide useful information for the epidemiology of PRRSV as well as for vaccine development.
文摘The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was isolated from the caudal fin of Oryzias latipes and PCR was undertaken to determine phylogeny. The nucleotide sequence of the complete cytochrome b gene including the 5' and 3' ends was 1,143 base pairs (bp) and 1,137 bp encoding 380 and 378 amino acids in the K-11 strain and HS strain, respectively. In addition, higher substitutions both in base and amino acid residues occurred more frequently between the former control (Hd-rR strain) and HS strains than the K-I 1 strain. Approximately similar values in polymorphism, as assessed by restriction endonuclease digestion, were detected when utilizing 20 different enzymes. Therefore, the evolutionary processes were unlikely to involve common ancestors, especially between the K-11 strain and HS strains, in O. latipes populations in Japan. The sequence had been deposited in GenBank Data Base under accession number AB480878 (K-I I strain) and AB480879 (HS strain).
文摘In Slovenia, children with special needs have been included to primary schools since 1998. Since then, teachers have had a lot of work to be done. Every year they have to prepare an individualized programme for each child with special needs. They have to set goals that each child with special needs has to achieve at a particular subject. Pupils have different teachers every year and to make their work easier, the author is considering making a website database with basic information about them. This database would state the goals that the pupil achieved in the past year, which strategy of teaching proved to be the best for him or her and what the areas he or she needs help with are. Teachers would be collecting this data during the primary education, after the final evaluation this database would also be made available to the secondary school of the pupil in concern. This database should be located on the website of Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports. It would be available to primary schools, but protected by a password which would grant the school access to the data of their students only. In secondary schools, teachers could also access to the information, so they would not have to be discovering appropriate teaching strategies that worked for a pupil in the past all over again. This would enable better conditions and a successful education for pupils with special needs.
文摘Tomato seedlings damping-off is a limiting factor in commercial greenhouse production. To determine the causal agents of disease, sampling and fungal isolation were performed during 2012. Samples were collected from infected seedlings growing in greenhouses in the Syrian coastal region. Isolation of fungi was done in the laboratories of the Agronomical Reaserch Center, in Lattakia and the molecular analyses were done in the Biotechnology Center at Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria, during the years 2012, 2013. Eight isolates ofPythium sp. obtained were purified using hyphal tip method (named P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7 and P8). Isolates were morphologically identified by optical microscope, then molecularly Characterized using genus specific ITS primers. The results of morphological characterization of pathogenic species suggested the detection of Pythium aphanidermatum, P. ultimum. The analysis of DNAs from the different isolates with ITS primers, recognizing the inter transcript spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA proved that the eight, isolates were belonging to the species P. ultimum. The complete sequences of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers regions of selected isolates were determined and submitted to GenBank. The GenBank-BLAST homology search revealed P. ultimum as the most similar sequence (〉 96% identity) with GenBank entry AB355596.
文摘This paper describes in detail the web data mining technology, analyzes the relationship between the data on the web site to the tourism electronic commerce (including the server log, tourism commodity database, user database, the shopping cart), access to relevant user preference information for tourism commodity. Based on these models, the paper presents recommended strategies for the site registered users, and has had the corresponding formulas for calculating the current user of certain items recommended values and the corresponding recommendation algorithm, and the system can get a recommendation for user.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2011CB610401)the Creative Research Group of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51021063)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50831007)the Science Center for Phase Diagrams & Materials Design and Manu-facture, Central South University
文摘Knowledge of diffusivity is a prerequisite for understanding many scientific and technological disciplines. In this paper, firstly major experimental methods, which are employed to provide various diffusivity data, are briefly described. Secondly, the fun-damentals of various computational methods, including first-principles method, embedded atomic method/molecular dynamic simulation, semi-empirical approaches, and phenomenological DICTRA technique, are demonstrated. Diffusion models re- cently developed for order/disorder transitions and stoichiometric compounds are also briefly depicted. Thirdly, a newly estab- lished diffusivity database for liquid, fcc_A1, Lie, bcc_A2, bcc_B2, and interrnetallic phases in the multicomponent A1 alloys is presented via a few case studies in binary, ternary and quaternary systems. And the integration of various computational techniques and experimental methods is highlighted. The reliability of this diffusivity database is validated by comparing the calculated and measured concentration profiles, diffusion paths, and Kirkendall shifts in various binary, ternary and quaternary diffusion couples. Next, the established diffusivity databases along with thermodynamic and other thermo-physical properties are utilized to simulate the microstructural evolution for Al alloys during solidification, interdiffusion and precipitation. A spe- cial discussion is presented on the phase-field simulation of interdiffusion microstructures in a series of Ni-Al diffusion couples composed of γ, γ', and β phases under the effects of both coherent strain and external compressive force. Future orientations in the establishment of next generation of diffusivity database are finally addressed.