In situ measurements of the sub-surface gamma dose from Chernobyl fallout

Methods of estimating external radiation exposure of soil-dwelling organisms are currently of much research and regulatory interest. In this paper, we report the first in situ measurements of the sub-surface gamma dose rate for 137Cs contaminated land that quantify variation in dose rate with depth. Two contrasting sites have been investigated. The first site comprised a mineral type soil with a low percentage of organic matter and the second site chosen was in a peat-bog. The different soil compositions afford different 137Cs mobility and this results in variations in the measured gamma dose-rate with soil depth. For each site the paper reports the measured dose rates, the 137Cs activity depth profile, the 137Cs inventory and a description of the soil-characteristics. It is suggested that these data can be used to produce estimates of the sub-surface gamma dose rate in other sites of 137Cs contamination.

Development of an integrated laboratory information management system for the maize mapping project

MOTIVATION

The development of an integrated genetic and physical map for the maize genome involves the generation of an enormous amount of data. Managing this data requires a system to aid in genotype scoring for different types of markers coming from both local and remote users. In addition, researchers need an efficient way to interact with genetic mapping software and with data files from automated DNA sequencing. They also need ways to manage primer data for mapping and sequencing and provide views of the integrated physical and genetic map and views of genetic map comparisons.

RESULTS

The MMP-LIMS system has been used successfully in a high-throughput mapping environment. The genotypes from 957 SSR, 1023 RFLP, 189 SNP, and 177 InDel markers have been entered and verified via MMP-LIMS. The system is flexible, and can be easily modified to manage data for other species. The software is freely available.

AVAILABILITY

To receive a copy of the iMap or cMap software, please fill out the form on our website. The other MMP-LIMS software is freely available at http://www.maizemap.org/bioinformatics.htm.

iMap: a database-driven utility to integrate and access the genetic and physical maps of maize

MOTIVATION

Because of the unique biological features, a bioinformatic platform for the integrated genetic and physical map of maize is required for storing, integrating, accessing and visualizing the underlying data.

RESULTS

The goal of the Maize Mapping Project is to develop a fully integrated genetic and physical map for maize. To display this integrated map, we have developed iMap. iMap has three main components: a relational database (iMapDB), a map graphic browser (iMap Viewer) and a search utility (iMap Search). iMapDB is populated with current genetic and physical map data, describing relationships among genetic loci, molecular markers and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) contigs. The database also contains integrated information produced by applying a set of anchoring rules to assign BAC contigs to specific locations on the genetic map. The iMap Viewer and iMap Search functions are combined in the user interface to allow viewing and retrieving many types of genetic and physical map data. The iMap Viewer features side-by-side chromosome-based displays of the genetic map and associated BAC contigs. For each genetic locus, information about marker type or contig can be viewed via pop-up windows that feature links to external data resources. Searches can be conducted for genetic locus, probe or sequence accession number; search results include relevant map positions, anchored BAC contigs and links to the graphical display of relevant chromosomes. iMap can be accessed at http://www.maizemap.org

AVAILABILITY

The iMap utility package is available for non-commercial use upon request from the authors.

cMap: the comparative genetic map viewer

cMap, a www comparative genetic map graphical utility, has a search capability and provides comparison of two genetic maps within or between species with dynamic links to data resources and text lists of the shared loci, running in a relational database environment. Currently, maps from three species (maize 'Zea mays L.', rice 'Oryza sativa L.', and sorghum 'Sorghum bicolor L.'), representing over 13,800 distinct loci, are available for comparison at http://www.agron.missouri.edu/cMapDB/cMap.html.

AVAILABILITY

cMap source code is available without cost on request for non-commercial use.

Postoperative fibrin formation and visual outcome after pars plana vitrectomy

PURPOSE

To determine whether postvitrectomy fibrin formation was associated with visual outcome, a prospective study of patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy was performed.

METHODS

In 121 patients undergoing vitrectomy at the Medical College of Wisconsin between July 1986 and April 1989, the association of fibrin formation and other perioperative factors with visual outcome was evaluated by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Poor visual outcome was defined as visual acuity worse than 5/200.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up period of 23 months (range 6 to 51 months), patients with severe fibrin formation experienced a higher rate of poor visual outcome (19 of 26 patients, 73%) than patients with little or no fibrin formation (23 of 95 patients, 24%; P < 0.0001, univariate analysis). After adjusting for a variety of factors with multivariate regression analysis, fibrin formation was not significantly predictive of final visual outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors associated with postvitrectomy fibrin formation may affect visual outcome more than fibrin formation itself.