The examination of baseline noise and the impact on the interpretation of low-template DNA samples

It is common practice for DNA STR profiles to be analyzed using an analytical threshold (AT), but as more low template DNA (LT-DNA) samples are tested it has become evident that these thresholds do not adequately separate signal from noise. In order to confidently examine LT-DNA samples, the behavior and characteristics of the background noise of STR profiles must be better understood. Thus, the background noise of single source LT-DNA STR profiles were examined to characterize the noise distribution and determine how it changes with DNA template mass and injection time. Current noise models typically assume the noise is independent of fragment size but, given the tendency of the baseline noise to increase with template amount, it is important to establish whether the baseline noise is randomly found throughout the capillary electrophoresis (CE) run or whether it is situated in specific regions of the electropherogram. While it has been shown that the baseline noise of negative samples does not behave similarly to the baseline noise of profiles generated using optimal levels of DNA, the ATs determined using negative samples have shown to be similar to those developed with near-zero, low template mass samples. The distinction between low-template samples, where the noise is consistent regardless of target mass, and standard samples could be made at approximately 0.063 ng for samples amplified using the Identifiler^TM Plus amplification kit (29 cycle protocol), and injected for 5 and 10 seconds. At amplification target masses greater than 0.063 ng, the average noise peak height increased and began to plateau between 0.5 and 1.0 ng for samples injected for 5 and 10 seconds. To examine the time dependent nature of the baseline noise, the baselines of over 400 profiles were combined onto one axis for each target mass and each injection time. Areas of reproducibly higher noise peak heights were identified as areas of potential non-specific amplified product. When the samples were injected for five seconds, the baseline noise did not appear to be time dependent. However, when the samples were injected for either 10 or 20 seconds, there were three areas that exhibited an increase in noise; these areas were identified at 118 bases in green, 231 bases in yellow, and 106 bases in red. If a probabilistic analysis or AT is to be employed for DNA interpretation, consideration must be given as to how the validation or calibration samples are prepared. Ideally the validation data should include all the variation seen within typical samples. To this end, a study was performed to examine possible sources of variation in the baseline noise within the electropherogram. Specifically, three samples were prepared at seven target masses using four different kit lots, four capillary lots, in four amplification batches or four injection batches. The distribution of the noise peak heights in the blue and green channels for samples with variable capillary lots, amplifications, and injections were similar, but the distribution of the noise heights for samples with variable kit lots was shifted. This shift in the distribution of the samples with variable kit lots was due to the average peak height of the individual kit lots varying by approximately two. The yellow and red channels showed a general agreement between the distributions of the samples run with variable kit lots, amplifications, and injections, but the samples run with various capillary lots had a distribution shifted to the left. When the distribution of the noise height for each capillary was examined, the average peak height variation was less than two RFU between capillary lots. Use of a probabilistic method requires an accurate description of the distribution of the baseline noise. Three distributions were tested: Gaussian, log-normal, and Poisson. The Poisson distribution did not approximate the noise distributions well. The log-normal distribution was a better approximation than the Gaussian resulting in a smaller sum of the residuals squared. It was also shown that the distributions impacted the probability that a peak was noise; though how significant of an impact this difference makes on the final probability of an entire STR profile was not determined and may be of interest for future studies

On estimating scale invariance in stratocumulus cloud fields

Examination of cloud radiance fields derived from satellite observations sometimes indicates the existence of a range of scales over which the statistics of the field are scale invariant. Many methods were developed to quantify this scaling behavior in geophysics. The usefulness of such techniques depends both on the physics of the process being robust over a wide range of scales and on the availability of high resolution, low noise observations over these scales. These techniques (area perimeter relation, distribution of areas, estimation of the capacity, d0, through box counting, correlation exponent) are applied to the high resolution satellite data taken during the FIRE experiment and provides initial estimates of the quality of data required by analyzing simple sets. The results of the observed fields are contrasted with those of images of objects with known characteristics (e.g., dimension) where the details of the constructed image simulate current observational limits. Throughout when cloud elements and cloud boundaries are mentioned; it should be clearly understood that by this structures in the radiance field are meant: all the boundaries considered are defined by simple threshold arguments

Obstacles to measuring global output gaps

Monetary policymakers pay close attention to levels of resource use. In the past, the focus was largely on domestic slack. Now, some analysts contend the ongoing process of globalization requires policymakers to look at global slack as well.

Examining Disequilibrium in an Immersion Experience

This study examines the disequilibrium raised by a cultural immersion experience, using the structure of White racial identity development, in an effort to better scaffold the immersion experience in the future. Thirty-two students participated in an immersion experience in Quito, Ecuador. The study follows their experience as they strive to make sense of their experience and begin to understand and unpack their own sense of privilege. The six stages of racial identity development are used as a grid through which to view and consider the experiences of teacher candidates in a cultural immersion experience. Two predominant themes included schools/classroom management, and language/culture/race

Digital Heritage: Digitization of Museum and Archival Collections

The purpose of this paper is to trace the utilization of computer technology within museums and archival institutions, and relate how they have adapted to survive in today’s society that is obsessed with technological advancement. Beginning in the 1960s, computer technology started to integrate into the federal government and professional business sectors. Because of its success in these sectors, museums and archival institutions, began to gradually recognize the use of computers and associated technologies as a means to not only increase administrative productivity, but as a way to enable staff to delve deeper into their available collections through the automation of cultural heritage. This automation changed the way professionals accessed, interpreted and managed collections, and eventually led to technology’s use as a method to connect with other institutions and the public. It is crucial to understand the transformations that took place with the incorporation of technology into museums and archival institutions through the adoption of best practices through a formalized guide. A model of this type of guide is included in the paper and covers a range of essential procedures and information utilized within a digitization project. However, one has to also understand the issues that have arisen because of technology’s use and how they have been and can be resolved in cultural heritage institutions

Shall I Take Orders?

Genevieve A. Callahan, editor of Sunset Magazine, San Francisco, Calif., and an Iowa State home economics graduate, recently compiled a booklet, Preparation for the Business Field of Home Economics. This is the first of a series of reprints from the booklet. It is published by the Home Economics in Business Group of the San Francisco Bay Region and may be obtained from Sunset Magazine or from Miss Alice Edwards, American Home Economics Association, Mills Building, Washington, D. C. Price Joe

Run a Tea Room Perhaps?

Genevieve A. Callahan, editor of Sunset Magazine, San Francisco, Calif., and an Iowa State home economics graduate, recently compiled a booklet, Preparation for the Business Field of Home Economics. This is the second in series of reprints from the booklet. It is published by the Home Economics in Business Group of the San Francisco Bay Region and may be obtained from Sunset Magazine or from Miss Alice Edwards, American Home Economics Association, Mills Building, Washington, D. C. Price 10c

Hecs Have Double Job

Genevieve A. Callahan, editor of Sunset Magazine, San Francisco, Calif., and an Iowa State home economics graduate, recently compiled a booklet, Preparation for the Business Field of Home Economics. This is the first of a series of reprints from the booklet. It is published by the Home Economics in Business Group of the San Francisco Bay Region and may be obtained from Sunset Magazine or from Miss Alice Edwards, American Home Economics Association, Mills Building, Washington, D. C. Price 10c

The Influence of Parenting and Acculturative Stress on Parental Feeding Style and Pediatric Obesity for Latino Families

Title from PDF of title page, viewed on June 29, 2015Dissertation advisor: Chris BrownVitaIncludes bibliographic references (pages 126-143)Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Education. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2015Pediatric obesity has become an epidemic in the United States. Previous research has shown that parenting factors related to stress and parental feeding style impact child BMI, and that Latino families are especially at risk for pediatric obesity and stress. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the effects of parenting and acculturative stress on the parental feeding styles of Latino parents. Parental feeding styles were then examined in relation to child BMI. Latino parents of children between the ages of 2 and 8 (N = 124) completed a survey on parenting stress, parental feeding styles, parent BMI, and demographics. Child BMI scores were collected as outcome variables. Children were predominantly male (52.4%), about 6 years old (M age in months = 59.02, SD = 23.82), and had an average BMI z-score of 0.77 (SD = 1.14). There were several important significant results found by the current study. A demanding parental feeding style was associated with lower child BMI zscores, r = -.179, p < .05. There was a trend finding that parents with an authoritative feeding style endorsed less parenting stress than parents who endorsed other feeding styles, F(3, 120) = 2.21, p = .09. Parents with uninvolved feeding style had significantly higher BMIs than parents with authoritarian feeding style, F(3, 69) = 3.38, p < .05. Parent BMI was positively associated with child BMI z-score, r = .273, p < .05. Finally, parents who did not think weight was a health concern for their children actually had children who were more overweight, F(2,111) = 3.18, p < .05. Findings from the current study can be used to inform healthcare practitioners of the need to use culturally sensitive interventions that consider parents’ stress and health experiences. Future research is warranted in the area of ethnic variations and cultural misperceptions about obesity and how it is a health epidemic.Introduction -- Review of literature -- Methodology -- Results -- Discussion -- Appendix A. Measures used in current stud