Large three-photon absorption cross-section in a novel class of bis-(N-carbazolyl) fluorene derivatives

Two novel symmetrical charge transfer fluorene derivatives (abbreviated as BCZF and BVCZF) with carbazole end-group as the donor moieties have been synthesized. Three-photon absorption cross-sections of these two compounds have been determined by using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pumped with 38 ps pulses at 1064 nm in DMF. The measured 3PA cross-sections are 140 x 10(-78) and 400 x 10(-78) cm(6) s(2) for BCZF and BVCZF, respectively. The geometries, electronic structures and electronic spectra of these two compounds are systematically studied by AM1 and ZINDO/S methods. On the basis of correct UV-vis spectra, the influence of different molecular structure on three-photon absorption cross-sections is discussed micromechanically. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Advantages and Versatility of Fluorescence-Based Methodology to Characterize the Functionality of LDLR and Class Mutation Assignment

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal codominant disease with a frequency of 1:500 individuals in its heterozygous form. The genetic basis of FH is most commonly mutations within the LDLR gene. Assessing the pathogenicity of LDLR variants is particularly important to give a patient a definitive diagnosis of FH. Current studies of LDLR activity ex vivo are based on the analysis of I-125-labeled lipoproteins (reference method) or fluorescent-labelled LDL. The main purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of these two methods to assess LDLR functionality in order to validate a functional assay to analyse LDLR mutations. LDLR activity of different variants has been studied by flow cytometry using FITC-labelled LDL and compared with studies performed previously with I-125-labeled lipoproteins. Flow cytometry results are in full agreement with the data obtained by the I-125 methodology. Additionally confocal microscopy allowed the assignment of different class mutation to the variants assayed. Use of fluorescence yielded similar results than I-125-labeled lipoproteins concerning LDLR activity determination, and also allows class mutation classification. The use of FITC-labelled LDL is easier in handling and disposal, cheaper than radioactivity and can be routinely performed by any group doing LDLR functional validations.

Os negros ascendentes na região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro: trajetórias e perspectivas

O presente trabalho tem como objeto de estudo homens e mulheres negros que estavam inseridos nos estratos médio e alto da sociedade fluminense. O interesse que fundamenta a pesquisa é compreender a trajetória social destas pessoas. Entender os caminhos que possibilitaram que elas estivessem presentes em níveis sociais pouco acessíveis para a população brasileira em geral, e para a população preta e parda, em especial, é um dos elementos centrais na perspectiva de mapear esta população e os mecanismos sociais que possibilitaram romper com a histórica sobreposição entre cor e estrato social, característica duradoura que as transformações sociais e econômicas não foram capazes de alterar plenamente. Focado na compreensão das trajetórias neste grupo, compreendendo a origem de sua família e o percurso feito para a inserção em uma posição de classe privilegiada ou reprodução desta posição herdada, o presente trabalho reconstrói, através de entrevistas, a trajetória dessas pessoas, dá acesso também ao conjunto das limitações que, eventualmente, possam ter se colocado frente a eles. Ou, quando possível, destaca os elementos importantes de uma configuração social que possibilitou esta inserção privilegiada.

Mapping the shallow-water coral ecosystems of the Freely Associated States: an implementation plan

This Freely Associated States Shallow-water Coral Ecosystem Mapping Implementation Plan (FAS MIP) presents a framework for the development of shallow-water (~0–40 m; 0–22 fm) benthic habitat and possibly bathymetric maps of critical areas of the Freely Associated States (FAS). The FAS is made up of three self-governing groups of islands and atolls—the Republic of Palau (Palau), the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)—that are affiliated with the United States through Compacts of Free Association. This MIP was developed with extensive input from colleges, national and state regulatory and management agencies, federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and individuals involved in or supporting the conservation and management of the FAS’s coral ecosystems. A list of organizations and individuals that provided input to the development of this MIP is provided in Appendix 1. This MIP has been developed to complement the Coral Reef Mapping Implementation Plan (2nd Draft) released in 1999 by the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force’s Mapping and Information Synthesis Working Group. That plan focused on mapping United States and FAS shallow-water (then defined as <30 m) coral reefs by 2009, based on available funding and geographic priorities, using primarily visual interpretation of aerial photography and satellite imagery. This MIP focuses on mapping the shallow-water (now defined as 0–40 m, rather than 0–30 m) coral ecosystems of the FAS using a suite of technologies and map development procedures. Both this FAS MIP and the 1999 Coral Reef Mapping Implementation Plan (2nd Draft) support to goals of the National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs (U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, 2000). This FAS MIP presents a framework for mapping the coral ecosystems of the FAS and should be considered an evolving document. As priorities change, funding opportunities arise, new data are collected, and new technologies become available, the information presented herein will change.

Analyzing and mapping fish assemblages off central California, USA

This study describes fish assemblages and their spatial patterns off the coast of California from Point Arena to Point Sal, by combining the results of the multivariate analyses of several fisheries datasets with a geographic information system. In order to provide comprehensive spatial coverage for the areas of inshore, continental shelf, and continental slope, three fisheries datasets were analyzed: 1) Inshore: the California Department of Fish and Game dataset of fishery-dependent commercial passenger fishing vessel trips that targeted rockfish; 2) Continental Shelf: the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) fishery-independent bottom trawls; and 3) Continental Slope: the NMFS fishery-independent bottom trawls on the continental slope. One-hundred seven species were analyzed. These species represented those captured in at least 5% of the fishing trips or trawls in at least one of the three data sets. We analyzed each of the three datasets separately, and the three sets of results were combined to define 28 species assemblages and 23 site groups. A species assemblage consisted of species caught together, whereas a site group consisted of fishing trips or trawl locations that tended to have the same species assemblages. At the scale of these datasets, 97% of all site groups were significantly segregated by depth.

Major histocompatibility complex class I involvement in the rejection of allogeneic erythrocytes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Major histocompatibility complex genes are thought to be involved in allogeneic graft rejection but not many reports are available on their functional analysis in fish. Analysis of available sequences of MHC genes suggests functions in antigen presentation similar to those found in higher vertebrates. In mammals, the MHC class I and class II molecules are major determinants of allogeneic graft rejection due to their polymorphism in conjunction with their antigen presenting function. In fish, MHC class H molecules are found to be involved in rejection of allogeneic scale grafts. The present study was designed to investigate the involvement of MHC class I molecules in allograft rejection. Erythrocytes were collected from donors of rainbow trout expressed different class MHC class I alleles, stained with two dyes, mixed and grafted to the recipients that were of the same sibling group as the donors. The grafts were rejected by allogeneic recipients and the MHC class I linkage group was the major determinant for the rejection.

Semantic Discriminant mapping for classification and browsing of remote sensing textures and objects

We present a new approach based on Discriminant Analysis to map a high dimensional image feature space onto a subspace which has the following advantages: 1. each dimension corresponds to a semantic likelihood, 2. an efficient and simple multiclass classifier is proposed and 3. it is low dimensional. This mapping is learnt from a given set of labeled images with a class groundtruth. In the new space a classifier is naturally derived which performs as well as a linear SVM. We will show that projecting images in this new space provides a database browsing tool which is meaningful to the user. Results are presented on a remote sensing database with eight classes, made available online. The output semantic space is a low dimensional feature space which opens perspectives for other recognition tasks. © 2005 IEEE.

A value mapping tool for sustainable business modelling

Purpose: Although business models that deliver sustainability are increasingly popular in the literature, few tools that assist in sustainable business modelling have been identified. This paper investigates how businesses might create balanced social, environmental and economic value through integrating sustainability more fully into the core of their business. A value mapping tool is developed to help firms create value propositions better suited for sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: In addition to a literature review, six sustainable companies were interviewed to understand their approaches to business modelling, using a case study approach. Building on the literature and practice, a tool was developed which was pilot tested through use in a workshop. The resulting improved tool and process was subsequently refined through use in 13 workshops. Findings: A novel value mapping tool was developed to support sustainable business modelling, which introduces three forms of value (value captured, missed/destroyed or wasted, and opportunity) and four major stakeholder groups (environment, society, customer, and network actors). Practical implications: This tool intends to support business modelling for sustainability by assisting firms in better understanding their overall value proposition, both positive and negative, for all relevant stakeholders in the value network. Originality/value: The tool adopts a multiple stakeholder view of value, a network rather than firm centric perspective, and introduces a novel way of conceptualising value that specifically introduces value destroyed or wasted/ missed, in addition to the current value proposition and new opportunities for value creation. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Is there a preferred classifier for operational thematic mapping?

The importance of properly exploiting a classifier's inherent geometric characteristics when developing a classification methodology is emphasized as a prerequisite to achieving near optimal performance when carrying out thematic mapping. When used properly, it is argued that the long-standing maximum likelihood approach and the more recent support vector machine can perform comparably. Both contain the flexibility to segment the spectral domain in such a manner as to match inherent class separations in the data, as do most reasonable classifiers. The choice of which classifier to use in practice is determined largely by preference and related considerations, such as ease of training, multiclass capabilities, and classification cost. © 1980-2012 IEEE.

The study on automorphism group of ESESOC

It is necessary to generate the automorphism group of a chemical graph in computer-aided structure elucidation. In this paper, an algorithm was developed by the all-paths topological symmetry algorithm to build the automorphism group of a chemical graph. A comparison of several topological symmetry algorithms reveals that the all-paths algorithm (APA) could yield the correct class of a chemical graph. It lays a foundation for the ESESOC system in computer-aided structure elucidation.

Automorphism group algorithm in computer-aided structure elucidation

It is necessary to generate automorphism group of chemical graph in computer-aided structure eluciation. In this paper, an algorithm is developed by all-path topological symmetry algorithm to build automorphism group of chemical graph. A comparison of several topological symmetry algorithm reveals that all-path algorthm can yield correct of class of chemical graph. It lays a foundation for ESESOC system for computer-aided structure elucidation.

GENETIC MAPPING OF THE LAMINARIA JAPONICA (LAMINARALES, PHAEOPHYTA) USING AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM MARKERS

To establish a molecular-marker-assisted system of breeding and genetic study for Laminaria japonica Aresch., amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to construct a genetic linkage map of L. japonica featuring 230 progeny of F-2 cross population. Eighteen primer combinations produced 370 polymorphic loci and 215 polymorphic loci segregated in a 3:1 Mendelian segregation ratio (P <= 0.05). Of the 215 segregated loci, 142 were ordered into 27 linkage groups. The length of the linkage groups ranged from 6.7 to 90.3 centimorgans (cM) with an average length of 49.6 cM, and the total length was 1,085.8 cM, which covered 68.4% of the estimated 1,586.9 cM genome. The number of mapped markers on each linkage group ranged from 2 to 12, averaging 5.3 markers per group. The average density of the markers was 1 per 9.4 cM. Based on the marker density and the resolution of the map, the constructed linkage map can satisfy the need for quantitative trait locus (QTL) location and molecular-marker-assisted breeding for Laminaria.

Characterization and mapping of expressed sequence tags isolated from a subtracted cDNA library of Litopenaeus vannamei injected with white spot syndrome virus

A large number of polymorphic simple sequence repeats (SSRs) or microsatellites are needed to develop a genetic map for shrimp. However, developing an SSR map is very time-consuming, expensive, and most SSRs are not specifically linked to gene loci of immediate interest. We report here on our strategy to develop polymorphic markers using expressed sequence tags (ESTs) by designing primers flanking single or multiple SSRs with three or more repeats. A subtracted cDNA library was prepared using RNA from specific pathogen-free (SPF) Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles (similar to 1 g) collected before (0) and after (48 h) inoculation with the China isolate of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). A total of 224 clones were sequenced, 194 of which were useful for homology comparisons against annotated genes in NCBI nonredundant (nr) and protein databases, providing 179 sequences encoded by nuclear DNA, 4 mitochondrial DNA, and 11 were similar to portions of WSSV genome. The nuclear sequences clustered in 43 groups, 11 of which were homologous to various ESTs of unknown function, 4 had no homology to any sequence, and 28 showed similarities to known genes of invertebrates and vertebrates, representatives of cellular metabolic processes such as calcium ion balance, cytoskeleton mRNAs, and protein synthesis. A few sequences were homologous to immune system-related (allergens) genes and two were similar to motifs of the sex-lethal gene of Drosophila. A large number of EST sequences were similar to domains of the EF-hand superfamily (Ca2+ binding motif and FRQ protein domain of myosin light chains). Single or multiple SSRs with three or more repeats were found in approximately 61 % of the 179 nuclear sequences. Primer sets were designed from 28 sequences representing 19 known or putative genes and tested for polymorphism (EST-SSR marker) in a small test panel containing 16 individuals. Ten (53%) of the 19 putative or unknown function genes were polymorphic, 4 monomorphic, and 3 either failed to satisfactorily amplify genomic DNA or the allele amplification conditions need to be further optimized. Five polymorphic ESTs were genotyped with the entire reference mapping family, two of them (actin, accession #CX535973 and shrimp allergen arginine kinase, accession #CX535999) did not amplify with all offspring of the IRMF panel suggesting presence of null alleles, and three of them amplified in most of the IRM F offspring and were used for linkage analysis. EF-hand motif of myosin light chain (accession #CX535935) was placed in ShrimpMap's linkage group 7, whereas ribosomal protein S5 (accession #CX535957) and troponin I (accession #CX535976) remained unassigned. Results indicate that (a) a large number of ESTs isolated from this cDNA library are similar to cytoskeleton mRNAs and may reflect a normal pathway of the cellular response after im infection with WSSV, and (b) primers flanking single or multiple SSRs with three or more repeats from shrimp ESTs could be an efficient approach to develop polymorphic markers useful for linkage mapping. Work is underway to map additional SSR-containing ESTs from this and other cDNA libraries as a plausible strategy to increase marker density in ShrimpMap.

Genetic mapping of laminaria japonica and l. longissima using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers in a "two-way pseudo-testcross" strategy

With a "two-way pseudo-testcross" mapping strategy, we applied the amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers to construct two moderate density genetic linkage maps for Laminaria. The linkage maps were generated from the 60 progenies of the F, cross family (Laminaria longissima Aresch. x L. japonica Miyabe) with twenty pairs of primer combinations. Of the 333 polymorphic loci scored in 60 progenies, 173 segregated in a 1:1 ratio, corresponding to DNA polymorphisms heterozygous in a single parent, and the other 58 loci existing in both parents followed a 3:1 Mendelian segregation ratio. Among the loci with 1:1 segregating ratios, 79 loci were ordered in 14 linkage groups (648.6 cM) of the paternal map, and 72 loci were ordered in 14 linkage groups (601.9 cM) of the maternal map. The average density of loci was approximately 1 per 8 cM. To investigate the homologies between two parental maps, we used 58 loci segregated 3:1 for further analysis, and deduced one homologous linkage group. The linkage data developed in these maps will be useful for detecting loci-controlling commercially important traits for Laminaria.

Genetic mapping of size-related quantitative trait loci (QTL) in the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) using AFLP and microsatellite markers

We constructed genetic linkage maps for the bay scallop Argopecten irradians using AFLP and microsatellite markers and conducted composite interval mapping (CIM) of body-size-related traits. Three hundred seventeen AFLP and 10 microsatellite markers were used for map construction. The female parent map contained 120 markers in 15 linkage groups, spanning 479.6 cM with an average interval of 7.0 cM. The male parent map had 190 markers in 17 linkage groups, covering 883.8 cM at 7.2 cM per marker. The observed coverage was 70.4% for the female and 81.1% for the male map. Markers that were distorted toward the same direction were closely linked to each other on the genetic maps, suggesting the presence of genes important for survival. Six size-related traits, shell length, shell height, shell width, total weight, soft tissue weight, and shell weight, were measured for QTL mapping. The size data were significantly correlated with each other. We subjected the data, log transformed firstly, to a principle component analysis and use the first principle component for QTL mapping. CIM analysis revealed one significant QTL (LOD=2.69, 1000 permutation, P<0.05) in linkage group 3 on the female parent map. The mapping of size-related QTL in this study raises the possibility of improving the growth of bay scallops through marker-assisted selection. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.