Manual for starch gel electrophoresis: A method for the detection of genetic variation

The procedure to conduct horizontal starch gel electrophoresis on enzymes is described in detail. Areas covered are (I) collection and storage of specimens, (2) preparation of tissues, (3) preparation of a starch gel, (4) application of enzyme extracts to a gel, (5) setting up a gel for electrophoresis, (6) slicing a gel, and (7) staining a gel. Recipes are also included for 47 enzyme stains and 3 selected gel buffers. (PDF file contains 26 pages.

Cranial vault trauma and selective mortality in medieval to early modern Denmark

Significance Neurocranial fractures and their aftermath took a toll on people in premodern societies, much like today. Archaeological information on skeletal trauma, however, typically consists of mere tallies of injuries, much like other disease-related lesions. We quantify the increased risk of dying for men with healed cranial vault fractures, an approach that can be adapted to any pathological condition. In medieval to early modern Denmark, head-injured men experienced a relative risk of dying about double that of modern people, probably in large part because of differences in medical care and social support. This approach provides a means of measuring the extent, hence consequences, of excess injury and disease-related mortality across the full range of human societies extending into the distant past.</jats:p

Genetic Stock Identification, Annual Report of Research 1986.

The results of the first year's investigation of a 5-year plan to demonstrate and develop a coastwide genetic stock identification (GSI) program are presented. The accomplishments under four specific objectives are outlined below: 1. Improved Efficiency through Direct Entry of Electrophoretic Data into the Computer. A program is described that was developed for direct computer entry o f raw data. This program eliminated the need for key- to-tape processing previously required for estimating compositions of mixed fisheries, and thereby permits immediate use of collected data in estimating compositions of stock mixtures. 2. Expand and Strengthen Oregon Coastal and British Columbia Baseline Data Set. Electrophoretic screening of approximately 105 loci of samples from 22 stocks resulted in complete data sets for 35 polymorphic and 19 monomorphic loci. These new data are part of the baseline information currently used in estimating mixed stock compositions. 3. Conduct a Pilot GSI Study of Mixed Stock Canadian Troll Fisheries off the West Coast of Vancouver Island. A predominance of lower Columbia River (fall run), Canadian, and Puget Sound stocks was observed for both 1984 and 1985 fisheries . Stocks other than Columbia River, Canadian, and Puget Sound contributed an estimated 13 and 5 % respectively, to the 1984 and 1985 fisheries . 4. Validation of GSI for Estimating Mixed Fishery Stock Composition. Baseline data from the Columbia River southward were used to simulate nor them and central California fisheries . These simulations provided estimates of accuracy and precision for mixed sample sizes ranging from 250 to 1,000 individuals. Sacramento River stocks had a heavier weighting in the central (89%) than in the northern (25%) fishery. Accuracy and precision increased for both fisheries as sample sizes increased and also were better for those estimates that were over 5%. Extrapolations from these estimates indicated that sample sizes of 2,320 and 2,869 would be required to fulfill coefficients of variation (SD/estimated contribution) of 20% with respective confidence intervals of 80 and 95% in stock groupings of the northern fishery. Similarly, sample sizes of 2,450 and 3,030 would be required in the central fishery. A concluding section noted that these investigations are part of an effort involving many agencies. The requirements for simulation preceding actual sampling of stock mixtures and for continued monitoring and development of baseline data sets were emphasized

Processes, Roles and Their Interactions

Taking an interaction network oriented perspective in informatics raises the challenge to describe deterministic finite systems which take part in networks of nondeterministic interactions. The traditional approach to describe processes as stepwise executable activities which are not based on the ordinarily nondeterministic interaction shows strong centralization tendencies. As suggested in this article, viewing processes and their interactions as complementary can circumvent these centralization tendencies. The description of both, processes and their interactions is based on the same building blocks, namely finite input output automata (or transducers). Processes are viewed as finite systems that take part in multiple, ordinarily nondeterministic interactions. The interactions between processes are described as protocols. The effects of communication between processes as well as the necessary coordination of different interactions within a processes are both based on the restriction of the transition relation of product automata. The channel based outer coupling represents the causal relation between the output and the input of different systems. The coordination condition based inner coupling represents the causal relation between the input and output of a single system. All steps are illustrated with the example of a network of resource administration processes which is supposed to provide requesting user processes exclusive access to a single resource.Comment: In Proceedings IWIGP 2012, arXiv:1202.422

Employment predictors of exit from work among workers with disabilities: a survival analysis from the household income labour dynamics in Australia survey

OBJECTIVES: Across high-income countries, unemployment rates among workers with disabilities are disproportionately high. The aim of this study was to identify characteristics of employment associated with dropping out of work and assess whether these were different for workers with versus without disabilities. METHODS: Using a longitudinal panel study of working Australians (2001 to 2015), the current study estimated Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard regression models to identify predictors of leaving employment, including psychosocial job quality, employment arrangement, and occupational skill level. Effect modification by disability status of the relationship between employment-related factors and exit from the labour market were assessed by including interaction terms and assessing model fit with a likelihood ratio test. Models were adjusted for a range of socio-demographic and health related factors. RESULTS: Compared to those without disability, those with disability had a greater risk of leaving employment (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.35, p<0.001). Other predictors of exit from work included low-skilled occupation (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.29, p = 0.001), being in a job with low psychosocial job quality (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.19, p = 0.007), and casual, labour hire or fixed-term contract employment (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.48 to 1.69, p<0.001). There was no effect modification by disability status. CONCLUSIONS: More research is needed to understand the experiences of workers with disabilities who stay in and leave employment

A new method for imaging nuclear threats using cosmic ray muons

Muon tomography is a technique that uses cosmic ray muons to generate three dimensional images of volumes using information contained in the Coulomb scattering of the muons. Advantages of this technique are the ability of cosmic rays to penetrate significant overburden and the absence of any additional dose delivered to subjects under study above the natural cosmic ray flux. Disadvantages include the relatively long exposure times and poor position resolution and complex algorithms needed for reconstruction. Here we demonstrate a new method for obtaining improved position resolution and statistical precision for objects with spherical symmetry