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Background: Detecting very minor (< 1%) subpopulations using next-generation sequencing is a critical need for multiple applications, including the detection of drug resistant pathogens and somatic variant detection in oncology. A recently available sequencing approach termed 'sequencing by binding (SBB)' claims to have higher base calling accuracy data "out of the box." This paper evaluates the utility of using SBB for the detection of ultra-rare drug resistant subpopulations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) using a targeted amplicon assay and compares the performance of SBB to single molecule overlapping reads (SMOR) error corrected sequencing by synthesis (SBS) data. Results: SBS displayed an elevated error rate when compared to SMOR error-corrected SBS and SBB techniques. SMOR error-corrected SBS and SBB technologies performed similarly within the linear range studies and error rate studies. Conclusions: With lower sequencing error rates within SBB sequencing, this technique looks promising for both targeted and unbiased whole genome sequencing, leading to the identification of minor (< 1%) subpopulations without the need for error correction methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal vents, known as ‘fumaroles’, are ubiquitous features of geothermal areas. Although their geology has been extensively characterized, little is known about the subsurface microbial ecology of fumaroles largely because of the difficulty in collecting sufficient numbers of cells from boiling steam water for DNA extraction and culture isolation. Here we describe the first collection, molecular analysis and isolation of microbes from fumarole steam waters in Russia (Kamchatka) and the USA (Hawaii, New Mexico, California and Wyoming). Surprisingly, the steam vent waters from all the fumaroles contained halophilic Archaea closely related to the Haloarcula spp. found in non-geothermal salt mats, saline soils, brine pools and salt lakes around the world. Microscopic cell counting estimated the cell dispersal rate at approximately 1.6 × 109 cells year−1 from a single fumarole. We also managed to enrich microbes in high-salt media from every vent sample, and to isolate Haloarcula from a Yellowstone vent in a 20% salt medium after a month-long incubation, demonstrating both salt tolerance and viability of cells collected from high-temperature steam. Laboratory tests determined that microbes enriched in salt media survived temperatures greater than 75°C for between 5 and 30 min during the collection process. Hawaiian fumaroles proved to contain the greatest diversity of halophilic Archaea with four new lineages that may belong to uncultured haloarchaeal genera. This high diversity may have resulted from the leaching of salts and minerals through the highly porous volcanic rock, creating a chemically complex saline subsurface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides a comprehensive classification of the utilities which are created by marketing. Utilities from physical manipulation of the product; Utilities involving customer attitude modification; Utilities involving post purchase activities.

The importance of one's speech as an indicator of social status has received little attention in America. Several writers of books on social stratification have even suggested that the speech differences between members of upper and lower classes are very subtle and inconsequential. This article presents research evidence to the contrary, based primarily on three research projects conducted by the present author and two by other researchers. The findings suggest that persons' social status is revealed by their voice-even when content-free speech is used, e.g., counting from one to 20. Persons speaking one regional dialect of American English can identify the social status of persons speaking different dialects. The research also attempts to isolate the various speech qualities which reveal one's social status and to investigate the ability of speakers to disguise these qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which developed a paper-and-pencil, machine scorable, college placement test in the area of public address. Description of the pilot study; Analysis of the items in the experimental form of the test; Development of a scoring key; Validation of the test.