Principles and methods of occupational psychophysiological selection of deep-water divers]

A complex of methods is suggested for professional psychophysiological selection of deep divers: the count of signals under time deficit conditions, simple and complex coordination of analyzers function, tepping test, the study of attention concentration using the Ivanov-Smolensky tables and finding of numbers with switching. This complex together with assessment of number range by deviation method allows making correct prediction during selection of specialists with high probability equal to 0.9. The efficiency of professional selection increases due to the reliable correlation between the results of psychophysiological research and predisposition to development of decompressive disease.     

Identification and functional characterization of new missense SNPs in the coding region of the TP53 gene

Infrequent and rare genetic variants in the human population vastly outnumber common ones. Although they may contribute significantly to the genetic basis of a disease, these seldom-encountered variants may also be miss-identified as pathogenic if no correct references are available. Somatic and germline TP53 variants are associated with multiple neoplastic diseases, and thus have come to serve as a paradigm for genetic analyses in this setting. We searched 14 independent, globally distributed datasets and recovered TP53 SNPs from 202,767 cancer-free individuals. In our analyses, 19 new missense TP53 SNPs, including five novel variants specific to the Asian population, were recurrently identified in multiple datasets. Using a combination of in silico, functional, structural, and genetic approaches, we showed that none of these variants displayed loss of function compared to the normal TP53 gene. In addition, classification using ACMG criteria suggested that they are all benign. Considered together, our data reveal that the TP53 coding region shows far more polymorphism than previously thought and present high ethnic diversity. They furthermore underline the importance of correctly assessing novel variants in all variant-calling pipelines associated with genetic diagnoses for cancer.Subject terms: Tumour-suppressor proteins, Genetics research     

The use of the latex agglutination reaction for the diagnosis of a Brucella infection

The authors have developed the optimum conditions for the preparation of antigenic diagnosticum based on latex manufactured in the USSR. To sensitize latex with the diameter of microspheres equal to 0.83 microns, Brucella polysaccharide was used in a dose of 100 micrograms/ml. As stabilizer, polyvinylpyrrolidone at a concentration of 0.1% was used. The specificity and sensitivity of the diagnosticum were studied in analysis of serum samples taken from 102 healthy donors and patients with infectious diseases of nonbrucellar etiology and from 120 patients with different forms of brucellosis. The specificity of the diagnosticum was found to be 94.1% and its sensitivity, 77.5%. Comparative study of the latex agglutination test with other serological tests showed that the former test is highly effective both in acute and chronic forms of the disease. A high degree of correlation between the agglutination test, Coombs' test, the passive hemagglutination test and the latex agglutination test was established (r = 0.83, 0.72 and 0.62, respectively).     

Evolutionary history and genetic connectivity across highly fragmented populations of an endangered daisy

Conservation management can be aided by knowledge of genetic diversity and evolutionary history, so that ecological and evolutionary processes can be preserved. The Button Wrinklewort daisy (Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides) was a common component of grassy ecosystems in south-eastern Australia. It is now endangered due to extensive habitat loss and the impacts of livestock grazing, and is currently restricted to a few small populations in two regions >500 km apart, one in Victoria, the other in the Australian Capital Territory and nearby New South Wales (ACT/NSW). Using a genome-wide SNP dataset, we assessed patterns of genetic structure and genetic differentiation of 12 natural diploid populations. We estimated intrapopulation genetic diversity to scope sources for genetic management. Bayesian clustering and principal coordinate analyses showed strong population genetic differentiation between the two regions, and substantial substructure within ACT/NSW. A coalescent tree-building approach implemented in SNAPP indicated evolutionary divergence between the two distant regions. Among the populations screened, the last two known remaining Victorian populations had the highest genetic diversity, despite having among the lowest recent census sizes. A maximum likelihood population tree method implemented in TreeMix suggested little or no recent gene flow except potentially between very close neighbours. Populations that were more genetically distinctive had lower genetic diversity, suggesting that drift in isolation is likely driving population differentiation though loss of diversity, hence re-establishing gene flow among them is desirable. These results provide background knowledge for evidence-based conservation and support genetic rescue within and between regions to elevate genetic diversity and alleviate inbreeding.Subject terms: Ecological genetics, Population genetics     

Genomes of Pleistocene Siberian Wolves Uncover Multiple Extinct Wolf Lineages

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