Abstract: A melting furnace feedstock charger includes a charger conduit including an inlet to receive feedstock and an outlet at an outlet portion of the charger conduit to transmit feedstock, and an auger or other feedstock mover coupled to the charger conduit to convey feedstock in a direction from the inlet toward the outlet. A gate may be detachably coupled to the outlet portion of the charger conduit and configured to be coupled directly to a wall of a melting vessel. The auger may have a helical flight with an outer diameter of varying size. A stripper may be movably carried by the charger conduit and may include a stripping tool moved by an actuator with respect to the charger conduit to facilitate transmission of feedstock and/or to strip away clogged feedstock and/or molten material.

Abstract: A method of determining predisposition to melanoma is provided in the form of a molecular diagnostic method that detects the presence of a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A mutant allele and/or a melanocortin-1 receptor variant allele. The presence of a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A mutant allele increases the probability that an individual carrying a melanocortin-1 receptor variant allele will develop melanoma. Similarly, the presence of a melanocortin-1 receptor variant allele increases the probability that an individual carrying a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A mutant allele will develop melanoma.