Motivation: Deep metagenomic sequencing of biological samples has the potential to recover otherwise difficult-to-detect microorganisms and accurately characterize biological samples with limited prior knowledge of sample contents. Existing metagenomic taxonomic classification algorithms, however, do not scale well to analyze large metagenomic datasets, and balancing classification accuracy with computational efficiency presents a fundamental challenge.Results: A method is presented to shift computational costs to an off-line computation by creating a taxonomy/genome index that supports scalable metagenomic classification. Scalable performance is demonstrated on real and simulated data to show accurate classification in the presence of novel organisms on samples that include viruses, prokaryotes, fungi and protists. Taxonomic classification of the previously published 150 giga-base Tyrolean Iceman dataset was found to take <20 h on a single node 40 core large memory machine and provide new insights on the metagenomic contents of the sample.Availability: Software was implemented in C++ and is freely available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/lmatContact: allen99@llnl.govSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

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The increasing interest in the potential use of scal incentives as a mechanism for stimulating urban renewal has been highlighted by a number of in uential policy sources. This paper assesses the application and outcomes of tax-based incentives in urban regeneration, with particular focus upon the differing models represented by Dublin (Ireland) and Chicago (USA). Issues considered include utilisation of tax incentives, drawing-down of bene ts, role of actor groups, ability to lever private-sector nance, impact on property market performance and wider economic in uences. Conclusions advance the case for tax-based mechanisms as an instrument in the delivery of urban regeneration but stress the need for complementary structures to exploit fully the scal incentives.

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During the past twenty years a major change has occurred in the structure, style, and content of regional planning and development in the United Kingdom, and especially in England. Whereas the pre-1979 model was dictated by central government and promoted a hierarchical ‘family of plans’, within which comprehensive regional plans were prepared in some regions, the present system has moved towards the adoption of a greater degree of partnership. Although the regional plans produced under the present system are frequently rudimentary, a foundation now exists for future development. Associated with the regional (land-use) plans are regional initiatives related to European Union Structural Funds programmes, competitiveness, transport, and housing. In moving forward to develop a more integrated and comprehensive approach to regional planning, it is important to address some of the surviving causes of the failure of regional planning in previous eras. The chief cause of failure is the absence of a settled system of regional governance and accountability.

Prior to devolution, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each had their own autonomous development organisations to undertake and promote regional economic planning and development within their respective territories. These operated within a national UK regional policy framework. An expectation of devolution was that the development organisations would continue to evolve in different ways according to the prevailing and anticipated economic conditions and differentiated needs and priorities of the regional economies. Indeed, the model was further extended. In England, for example, regional development agencies were established as an integral part of the new intended Regional Assembly infrastructureöproviding important economic development delivery functions to the new political bodies. In general terms, a more effective integration of planning, infrastructure provision, business development and investment, and economic development was anticipated at the regional level. This was held as an effective means of contributing to national economic growth and competitiveness objectives: themselves key and pivotal rationales for political devolution. On the basis of benchmarking exercises and academic and policy literature we review and analyse the significant changes that have taken place in the institutions which have been generated across the UK since the late 1990s, presenting and contrasting each nation's and region's experiences with an appreciation of their specific powers and resources.

The theme of this paper is the current practice of vision and visioning in land use planning in Scotland. The recent allocation of £90 million as part of the Building Better Cities Growth Fund required Scotland's six principal cities to prepare a city-vision. This was based on the perceived necessity of shared visions in providing a clear framework to guide development. The paper examines the contested concepts of visions and visioning and asks whether the prescriptive approach to the city-visions provides for inspirational or aspirational visions.