This package contains version 0.2.0 of 'block' and 'theta'.  The programs
are available free of charge for non-commercial use.  In all other cases
please contact the author.  Please read this file before doing anything.

block : performs pedigree and linkage analysis in very large pedigrees
  with many inbreeding loops.

theta : takes the output of a 'block' linkage analysis and calculates
  lod scores.

Both the programs have high requirements for computer specifications,
in particular, much RAM is necessary.  With 16MB of RAM you will be
able to run only smaller examples.  With more RAM or by using virtual
memory, you will be able to run much larger examples.

NB : convergence is guaranteed for pedigree and linkage analysis
in only the case where all loci have two alleles.  More alleles
can be handled but this requires the explicit specification of
blocks by the user.  Read more about this in 'block.man'.

The newest version of the programs can always be obtained from
ftp://ftp.iesd.auc.dk/...  There is also a homepage associated
with the programs at http://www.iesd.auc.dk/~claus/block.html.

The programs are currently given out as executable only, and they
are available in versions for Solaris, SunOS, Linux, FreeBSD, IRIX,
and MS-DOS.  The documentation is still very sparse, but reading
'block.man' and 'theta.man' would be a good start.  The directory
'peds' contains a few example pedigrees to test the programs on.

The programs are Copyright (C) 1996  Claus Skaanning Jensen.
If these programs are used in scientific work that results in
the publication of a paper, the following paper should be cited :

Jensen, C.S., Kong, A. & Kjaerulff, U. (1995).  "Blocking-Gibbs
Sampling in Very Large Probabilistic Expert Systems".  International
Journal of Human-Computer Studies.  42: 647-666.


Disclaimer
----------

The programs distributed in this package are experimental.  They
have not been extensively tested.  The author, the University of
Aalborg and any other part assisting the author in distributing
the programs take no responsibility for losses or damages resulting
directly or indirectly from the use of this program.

As the programs are relatively new and have never been widely
used, except by myself, I very much welcome any input of the forms :

 - Bugs, problems, errors, etc.
 - Changes that you would like
 - Additions to the programs that you would like

If there are new features that many people want, I will try to
implement them.


Claus Skaanning Jensen
Department of Computer Science
Aalborg University
Fredrik Bajers Vej 7
DK-9220 Aalborg
DENMARK

Fax:    +45 98159889
Phone:  +45 98158522      (switch board)
        +45 98154211 5023 (direct call)

Email:  claus@iesd.auc.dk