Gene duplication in an African cichlid adaptive radiation

Background Gene duplication is a source of evolutionary innovation and can contribute to the divergence of lineages; however, the relative importance of this process remains to be determined. The explosive divergence of the African cichlid adaptive radiations provides both a model for studying the general role of gene duplication in the divergence of lineages and also an exciting foray into the identification of genomic features that underlie the dramatic phenotypic and ecological diversification in this particular lineage. We present the first genome-wide study of gene duplication in African cichlid fishes, identifying gene duplicates in three species belonging to the Lake Malawi adaptive radiation (Metriaclima estherae, Protomelas similis, Rhamphochromis “chilingali”) and one closely related species from a non-radiated riverine lineage (Astatotilapia tweddlei). Results Using Astatotilapia burtoni as reference, microarray comparative genomic hybridization analysis of 5689 genes reveals 134 duplicated genes among the four cichlid species tested. Between 51 and 55 genes were identified as duplicated in each of the three species from the Lake Malawi radiation, representing a 38%–49% increase in number of duplicated genes relative to the non-radiated lineage (37 genes). Duplicated genes include several that are involved in immune response, ATP metabolism and detoxification. Conclusions These results contribute to our understanding of the abundance and type of gene duplicates present in cichlid fish lineages. The duplicated genes identified in this study provide candidates for the analysis of functional relevance with regard to phenotype and divergence. Comparative sequence analysis of gene duplicates can address the role of positive selection and adaptive evolution by gene duplication, while further study across the phylogenetic range of cichlid radiations (and more generally in other adaptive radiations) will determine whether the patterns of gene duplication seen in this study consistently accompany rapid radiation

Industrial Wastes

This paper presents a summary of experiences with a variety of cyanogenic wastes. The work has attempted to evaluate the interaction of waste bearing waters and the environment in terms of waste disposal design requirements. In this, the approach is somewhat more critical than that commonly taken by fisheries biologists, conservationists, and others who have been concerned with the preventive aspects of waste disposal. The first phases of the work were designed to discover the tolerable limits of certain waste components to fresh water fish. This was undertaken in 1950; in the interval the composition of the wastes has been greatly modified, but the findings on the tolerances to cyanide, to lactonitrile, and to acrylonitrile are still pertinent, especially since these were conducted under controlled conditions that precluded loss of volatiles from the water system, and permitted close observation of the test animals. A brief review of the earlier literature will show that loss of cyanide to the atmosphere has yielded widely divergent tolerance data

Industrial Wastes

This paper presents a summary of experiences with a variety of cyanogenic wastes. The work has attempted to evaluate the interaction of waste bearing waters and the environment in terms of waste disposal design requirements. In this, the approach is somewhat more critical than that commonly taken by fisheries biologists, conservationists, and others who have been concerned with the preventive aspects of waste disposal. The first phases of the work were designed to discover the tolerable limits of certain waste components to fresh water fish. This was undertaken in 1950; in the interval the composition of the wastes has been greatly modified, but the findings on the tolerances to cyanide, to lactonitrile, and to acrylonitrile are still pertinent, especially since these were conducted under controlled conditions that precluded loss of volatiles from the water system, and permitted close observation of the test animals. A brief review of the earlier literature will show that loss of cyanide to the atmosphere has yielded widely divergent tolerance data

Attitudes towards Nuclear Power: A Comparison between Three Nations

The attitudes toward the use of nuclear energy of three student samples of roughly equal size (N=150) from FR Germany, Japan and the Philippines were elicited and compared by means of a questionnaire. Concerning their overall attitudinal positions the Japanese students were predominantly in favour of nuclear energy, the German students were less unanimous while the Philippine students showed the most anti-nuclear resentment. These positions were equally influenced by considerations about benefits and risks; whereas the awareness of risks associated to the use of nuclear energy seems to prevail in all three samples, favourable or unfavourable attitudes are predominantly based on the acceptance or denial of perceived benefits. However, agreement about particular risks or benefits was found to be much stronger within each national level than among proponents and opponents of nuclear energy of the combined sample. In addition, the relevance of the issues presented in the questionnaire for the debate about nuclear energy was demonstrated

Molecules as Sources for Indistinguishable Single Photons

We report on the triggered generation of indistinguishable photons by solid-state single-photon sources in two separate cryogenic laser scanning microscopes. Organic fluorescent molecules were used as emitters and investigated by means of high resolution laser spectroscopy. Continuous-wave photon correlation measurements on individual molecules proved the isolation of single quantum systems. By using frequency selective pulsed excitation of the molecule and efficient spectral filtering of its emission, we produced triggered Fourier-limited single photons. In a further step, local electric fields were applied to match the emission wavelengths of two different molecules via Stark effect. Identical single photons are indispensible for the realization of various quantum information processing schemes proposed. The solid-state approach presented here prepares the way towards the integration of multiple bright sources of single photons on a single chip.Comment: Accepted for publication in J. Mod. Opt. This is the original submitted versio

Realization of two Fourier-limited solid-state single-photon sources

We demonstrate two solid-state sources of indistinguishable single photons. High resolution laser spectroscopy and optical microscopy were combined at T = 1.4 K to identify individual molecules in two independent microscopes. The Stark effect was exploited to shift the transition frequency of a given molecule and thus obtain single photon sources with perfect spectral overlap. Our experimental arrangement sets the ground for the realization of various quantum interference and information processing experiments.Comment: 6 page

Quantum Interference of Tunably Indistinguishable Photons from Remote Organic Molecules

We demonstrate two-photon interference using two remote single molecules as bright solid-state sources of indistinguishable photons. By varying the transition frequency and spectral width of one molecule, we tune and explore the effect of photon distinguishability. We discuss future improvements on the brightness of single-photon beams, their integration by large numbers on chips, and the extension of our experimental scheme to coupling and entanglement of distant molecules

Control and Dynamic Competition of Bright and Dark Lasing States in Active Nanoplasmonic Metamaterials

Active nanoplasmonic metamaterials support bright and dark modes that compete for gain. Using a Maxwell-Bloch approach incorporating Langevin noise we study the lasing dynamics in an active nano-fishnet structure. We report that lasing of the bright negative-index mode is possible if the higher-Q dark mode is discriminated by gain, spatially or spectrally. The nonlinear competition during the transient phase is followed by steady-state emission where bright and dark modes can coexist. We analyze the influence of pump intensity and polarization and explore methods for mode control.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure