Transillumination imaging through scattering media by use of photorefractive polymers

We demonstrate the use of a near-infrared-sensitive photorefractive polymer with high efficiency for imaging through scattering media, using an all-optical holographic time gate. Imaging through nine scattering mean free paths is performed at 800 nm with a mode-locked continuous-wave Ti:sapphire laser

SCREENING TEST FOR THE POTENTIAL RISK OF ACL RUPTURE OF FEMALE AND MALE SOCCER PLAYERS

ACL rupture is a devastating injury. An analysis of risk factors and a consecutive preven-tion program might help to reduce the risk of injury. However there exists no screening test to identify the individual ACL-injury risk. The purpose of this study was to develop a screening test by which the potential risk of ACL rupture for female and male soccer players can be estimated. Testing procedure focussed on dynamical knee valgus in fron-tal plane during landing of a drop jump in normal and fatigued state. The results were ob-tained by 2D video analysis. Results show a wide range of dynamical knee valgus in both sexes with a 5.4 cm greater dynamical valgus of women emphasizing the distinctly higher risk potential for ACL injury of women. Screening tests seem to be suitable to achieve an estimation of the individual risk for ACL injuries without large expenditure

A 'Regent' pedigree update: ancestors, offspring and their confirmed resistance loci

'Regent' is the fungal resistant grapevine cultivar with the highest acreage in Germany and an important resistance donor in international breeding programs. It carries the resistance loci Rpv3.1 as well as Ren3 and Ren9 against downy and powdery mildew, respectively. As the parents of 'Chambourcin', the resistant paternal ancestor of 'Regent', did not coincide with the breeder's information, the germplasm repository of JKI Geilweilerhof was screened to find the missing ancestors. SSR marker analysis revealed that 'Joannes Seyve 11369' and 'Plantet' are the true parents of 'Chambourcin' and not 'Seyve Villard 12-417' and 'Chancellor'. Furthermore, the origin of the resistance loci Ren3 and Ren9 could be traced back to the genotypes 'Seibel 4614' and 'Munson'. Since the breeder Hermann Jaeger mentioned 'Munson' as a direct descendant of Vitis aestivalis Michx. var. linsecomii (Buckley) L. H. Bailey and Vitis rupestris Scheele, one of these wild species might have been the donor of the loci

A population genetic study of Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris Gmelin based on 3.000 individuals from 20 countries

Trabajo presentado en el 45th World Congress of Vine and Wine, celebrado en Dijon (Francia), del 14 al 18 de octubre de 2024Until the 19th century, the wild form of cultivated grapevines (vitis vinifera L. Subsp. Sylvestris gmelin, v. Sylvestris) was ubiquitous in many european and west asian regions. However, many factors like deforestation, the intensification of agriculture, or the introduction of several pests and pathogens decimated its presence in these growing sites, and natural populations are now mostly restricted to river-bank forests and creeks with specific soil and climate conditions. In fact, v. Sylvestris is now considered an endangered subspecies that is protected by law in many european countries to prevent its loss. In the past, there diversity was great and the different populations have adapted optimally to a variety of natural habitats. In view of the current and future climatic challenges, this diversity could prove to be the key to climate-resilient adaptation in breeding programs. Therefore, the protection and study of the remaining wild individuals is one key element for the preservation of our viticultural landscapes. In this study, we collected publicly available ssr data of v. Sylvestris genetic resources from 14 scientific publications, which was merged with the information obtained after the genetic characterization of 1460 new samples. As a result, we compiled the largest dataset for v. Sylvestris available to date, with approximately 3,000 unique genetic profiles collected from 20 countries of the natural growing range of this subspecies. After data curation and alleles¿ sizes standardisation according to reference varieties and allelic frequencies distribution patterns, this dataset was used to explore the genetic diversity and population structure of v. Sylvestris in a broad context. Preliminary results identified a series of clusters of genetically related samples, which mirrored their region of origin and reflected a major geographic substructuring within the explored sites. Additionally, we designed a core collection of v. Sylvestris genetic resources for targeted preservation across national borders. Altogether, this work provided a global update of the current status of this endangered subspecies, and provides relevant data for its proper management and conservation

Ecological Release and Venom Evolution of a Predatory Marine Snail at Easter Island

BACKGROUND:Ecological release is coupled with adaptive radiation and ecological diversification yet little is known about the molecular basis of phenotypic changes associated with this phenomenon. The venomous, predatory marine gastropod Conus miliaris has undergone ecological release and exhibits increased dietary breadth at Easter Island. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We examined the extent of genetic differentiation of two genes expressed in the venom of C. miliaris among samples from Easter Island, American Samoa and Guam. The population from Easter Island exhibits unique frequencies of alleles that encode distinct peptides at both loci. Levels of divergence at these loci exceed observed levels of divergence observed at a mitochondrial gene region at Easter Island. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:Patterns of genetic variation at two genes expressed in the venom of this C. miliaris suggest that selection has operated at these genes and contributed to the divergence of venom composition at Easter Island. These results show that ecological release is associated with strong selection pressures that promote the evolution of new phenotypes

Three-dimensional microfabrication using two-photon-activated chemistry

Photochemical reactions which can be activated by the simultaneous absorption of two photons provide a means for single-step fabrication of complex 3D microstructures. These types of structures are needed for a wide range of applications, including microfluidics, electrooptics, and micro-electromechanical systems. We have shown that chromophores can be engineered to have both large two-photon absorptivities as well as an efficient means for activating chemical processes, such as radical polymerization, subsequent to the photoexcitation. Chromophores designed following this strategy two-photon-activate the radical polymerization of acrylates at lower incident laser powers than conventional UV initiators. Efficient two-photon photopolymer resins based on these chromophores were used in the fabrication of complex microarchitectures, such as photonic bandgap structures and tapered waveguides. We have devised a strategy which allows this approach to be extended to other chemical systems

Characterization of the Conus bullatus genome and its venom-duct transcriptome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The venomous marine gastropods, cone snails (genus <it>Conus</it>), inject prey with a lethal cocktail of conopeptides, small cysteine-rich peptides, each with a high affinity for its molecular target, generally an ion channel, receptor or transporter. Over the last decade, conopeptides have proven indispensable reagents for the study of vertebrate neurotransmission. <it>Conus bullatus </it>belongs to a clade of <it>Conus </it>species called <it>Textilia</it>, whose pharmacology is still poorly characterized. Thus the genomics analyses presented here provide the first step toward a better understanding the enigmatic <it>Textilia </it>clade.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have carried out a sequencing survey of the <it>Conus bullatus </it>genome and venom-duct transcriptome. We find that conopeptides are highly expressed within the venom-duct, and describe an <it>in silico </it>pipeline for their discovery and characterization using RNA-seq data. We have also carried out low-coverage shotgun sequencing of the genome, and have used these data to determine its size, genome-wide base composition, simple repeat, and mobile element densities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results provide the first global view of venom-duct transcription in any cone snail. A notable feature of <it>Conus bullatus </it>venoms is the breadth of A-superfamily peptides expressed in the venom duct, which are unprecedented in their structural diversity. We also find SNP rates within conopeptides are higher compared to the remainder of <it>C. bullatus </it>transcriptome, consistent with the hypothesis that conopeptides are under diversifying selection.</p