Modeling and Characterization of Protein Energy Landscape at Low Temperature using Spectral Hole Burning Spectroscopy

Modeling and Characterization of Protein Energy Landscape at Low Temperature using Spectral Hole Burning Spectroscopy Seyed Mahdi Najafi Shooshtari, PhD. Concordia University, 2013. Proteins play various important roles in living organisms. Understanding the way they can perform different tasks is a demanding goal for scientists. Since their structures are changing to certain extent in the process, and some flexibility is essential for proper functioning, knowledge about their static structures is not enough to understand the way they work. One of the tools for studying proteins is optical spectroscopy. However, proteins are almost incapable of light absorption in the visible range which makes them non reachable for direct measurements; therefore, indirect methods must be applied. Pigment embedded into (amorphous) solid can serve as a local reporter on static and dynamic properties of its environment. Using proteins with pigments embedded into them by Nature offers a good alternative to introducing local reporters by chemical or genetic manipulations. In our study we focus on pigment-protein complexes involved in photosynthesis, Thus, the results of this thesis can be used not only for understanding proteins in general (e.g. folding processes), but also have implications in the renewable energy field, ultimately helping us to produce more efficient solar cells. In the course of this thesis spectral hole burning is applied for studying the properties of protein energy landscapes at cryogenic temperatures. This technique is very useful for (partially) removing the ensemble averaging by exciting specified systems selectively. We demonstrate that tunneling and not barrier hopping is most likely responsible for spectral diffusion-related phenomena (including hole burning) observed at low temperatures, that barrier heights most likely obey Gaussian and not square root of V^-1 distribution proposed for other amorphous solids, and discuss which structural elements might participate in small conformational changes. In addition to our experimental studies, we are developing a model that more adequately reflects the multi-well protein energy landscapes than two-level system-based approaches used so far. The results are in reasonable agreement with experiment. Importantly, we demonstrate that protein systems in typical optical low-temperature experiments (hole burning or single molecule / complex spectroscopy) are far from thermodynamic equilibrium. This has to be kept in mind when interpreting the results of any optical experiments

The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE): a national data linkage initiative

Introduction Health and environmental exposure databases are generally siloed in different research institutions across Canada and integrating them for environmental health research is a considerable challenge. Facilitating the linkage of these databases is essential to provide new analytical opportunities and help create efficiencies for research on environmental determinants of health. Objectives and Approach CANUE is a Canadian Institutes of Health Research-funded platform for supporting environmental health research. CANUE collates and generates standardized environmental data on air and noise pollution, land use, green/natural spaces, climate change/extreme weather, and socioeconomic conditions for every postal code in Canada and makes them freely available to researchers. Systems and procedures are being developed by CANUE to facilitate the sharing and integration of these extensive geospatial exposures with existing observational cohorts and administrative health databases across Canada. This linkage will enable investigators to test hypotheses on the interdependent associations of environmental features with health impacts or benefits. Results CANUE now hosts a dozen national exposure databases and related metadata files, and actively adds new regional and national datasets. Streamlined processes for data sharing have been developed to facilitate easy merging with health data. Substantial consultation has also taken place with a wide range of health data holders to establish appropriate processes for receiving and managing environmental data, with particular focus on addressing challenges presented by differing ethics, consent and confidentiality requirements. These processes help accelerate the research process by making analysis-ready data available to investigators, create opportunities to study how multiple environmental factors are linked to a wide range of health outcomes, and generally increase the use of health and population databases for environmental health research. Conclusion/Implications The CANUE collaborative model illustrates how the production of policy-relevant evidence can be advanced through better coordination among environmental health researchers and linkage with health databases. CANUE is improving the scientific potential and cost-effectiveness of research in environmental epidemiology through streamlining linkage and access to standardized exposure datasets

The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium - A protocol for building a national environmental exposure data platform for integrated analyses of urban form and health

Background: Multiple external environmental exposures related to residential location and urban form including, air pollutants, noise, greenness, and walkability have been linked to health impacts or benefits. The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE) was established to facilitate the linkage of extensive geospatial exposure data to existing Canadian cohorts and administrative health data holdings. We hypothesize that this linkage will enable investigators to test a variety of their own hypotheses related to the interdependent associations of built environment features with diverse health outcomes encompassed by the cohorts and administrative data. Methods: We developed a protocol for compiling measures of built environment features that quantify exposure; vary spatially on the urban and suburban scale; and can be modified through changes in policy or individual behaviour to benefit health. These measures fall into six domains: air quality, noise, greenness, weather/climate, and transportation and neighbourhood factors; and will be indexed to six-digit postal codes to facilitate merging with health databases. Initial efforts focus on existing data and include estimates of air pollutants, greenness, temperature extremes, and neighbourhood walkability and socioeconomic characteristics. Key gaps will be addressed for noise exposure, with a new national model being developed, and for transportation-related exposures, with detailed estimates of truck volumes and diesel emissions now underway in selected cities. Improvements to existing exposure estimates are planned, primarily by increasing temporal and/or spatial resolution given new satellite-based sensors and more detailed national air quality modelling. Novel metrics are also planned for walkability and food environments, green space access and function and life-long climate-related exposures based on local climate zones. Critical challenges exist, for example, the quantity and quality of input data to many of the models and metrics has changed over time, making it difficult to develop and validate historical exposures. Discussion: CANUE represents a unique effort to coordinate and leverage substantial research investments and will enable a more focused effort on filling gaps in exposure information, improving the range of exposures quantified, their precision and mechanistic relevance to health. Epidemiological studies may be better able to explore the common theme of urban form and health in an integrated manner, ultimately contributing new knowledge informing policies that enhance healthy urban living

Designing a Business Intelligence Model Using Grounded Theory Approach

Organizations face different problems in the optimal use of data. Business intelligence helps organizations achieve that. This article is based on the qualitative research, using Grounded Theory approach, and it aims to design a business intelligence modelin petrochemical companies located in Mahshahr Special Economic Zone. In this study, 13 executives/experts were interviewed as a sample using semi-structured method and the collected data were analyzed with the open coding, axial and selective stages. and the model was tested and confirmed by the interviewers using the Delphi method. The results of this research provide a model the petrochemical companies, the motivations and the factors affecting successful implementation of Business Intelligence, transition into an intelligent enterprise, and optimized decision-making in all areas

The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium – a protocol for building a national environmental exposure data platform for integrated analyses of urban form and health

Abstract Background Multiple external environmental exposures related to residential location and urban form including, air pollutants, noise, greenness, and walkability have been linked to health impacts or benefits. The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE) was established to facilitate the linkage of extensive geospatial exposure data to existing Canadian cohorts and administrative health data holdings. We hypothesize that this linkage will enable investigators to test a variety of their own hypotheses related to the interdependent associations of built environment features with diverse health outcomes encompassed by the cohorts and administrative data. Methods We developed a protocol for compiling measures of built environment features that quantify exposure; vary spatially on the urban and suburban scale; and can be modified through changes in policy or individual behaviour to benefit health. These measures fall into six domains: air quality, noise, greenness, weather/climate, and transportation and neighbourhood factors; and will be indexed to six-digit postal codes to facilitate merging with health databases. Initial efforts focus on existing data and include estimates of air pollutants, greenness, temperature extremes, and neighbourhood walkability and socioeconomic characteristics. Key gaps will be addressed for noise exposure, with a new national model being developed, and for transportation-related exposures, with detailed estimates of truck volumes and diesel emissions now underway in selected cities. Improvements to existing exposure estimates are planned, primarily by increasing temporal and/or spatial resolution given new satellite-based sensors and more detailed national air quality modelling. Novel metrics are also planned for walkability and food environments, green space access and function and life-long climate-related exposures based on local climate zones. Critical challenges exist, for example, the quantity and quality of input data to many of the models and metrics has changed over time, making it difficult to develop and validate historical exposures. Discussion CANUE represents a unique effort to coordinate and leverage substantial research investments and will enable a more focused effort on filling gaps in exposure information, improving the range of exposures quantified, their precision and mechanistic relevance to health. Epidemiological studies may be better able to explore the common theme of urban form and health in an integrated manner, ultimately contributing new knowledge informing policies that enhance healthy urban living

The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium – a protocol for building a national environmental exposure data platform for integrated analyses of urban form and health

Abstract Background Multiple external environmental exposures related to residential location and urban form including, air pollutants, noise, greenness, and walkability have been linked to health impacts or benefits. The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE) was established to facilitate the linkage of extensive geospatial exposure data to existing Canadian cohorts and administrative health data holdings. We hypothesize that this linkage will enable investigators to test a variety of their own hypotheses related to the interdependent associations of built environment features with diverse health outcomes encompassed by the cohorts and administrative data. Methods We developed a protocol for compiling measures of built environment features that quantify exposure; vary spatially on the urban and suburban scale; and can be modified through changes in policy or individual behaviour to benefit health. These measures fall into six domains: air quality, noise, greenness, weather/climate, and transportation and neighbourhood factors; and will be indexed to six-digit postal codes to facilitate merging with health databases. Initial efforts focus on existing data and include estimates of air pollutants, greenness, temperature extremes, and neighbourhood walkability and socioeconomic characteristics. Key gaps will be addressed for noise exposure, with a new national model being developed, and for transportation-related exposures, with detailed estimates of truck volumes and diesel emissions now underway in selected cities. Improvements to existing exposure estimates are planned, primarily by increasing temporal and/or spatial resolution given new satellite-based sensors and more detailed national air quality modelling. Novel metrics are also planned for walkability and food environments, green space access and function and life-long climate-related exposures based on local climate zones. Critical challenges exist, for example, the quantity and quality of input data to many of the models and metrics has changed over time, making it difficult to develop and validate historical exposures. Discussion CANUE represents a unique effort to coordinate and leverage substantial research investments and will enable a more focused effort on filling gaps in exposure information, improving the range of exposures quantified, their precision and mechanistic relevance to health. Epidemiological studies may be better able to explore the common theme of urban form and health in an integrated manner, ultimately contributing new knowledge informing policies that enhance healthy urban living

Sistemas de transferencias subnacionales: lecciones para una reforma en Colombia

América Latina adoptó profundos procesos de descentralización que se iniciaron en las décadas de los ochenta y noventa. Estos se dieron con mayor intensidad en los gastos que en los ingresos, dando como resultado desbalances fiscales verticales, que ocurren cuando se presenta un desequilibrio entre los ingresos y los gastos en diferentes niveles de gobierno. En América Latina esos desequilibrios en los gobiernos subnacionales son más elevados que en otras regiones del mundo, lo que se debe a dos causas principales: los mayores gastos descentralizados y la baja recaudación tributaria subnacional.- Prólogo. Por: Rafael de la Cruz y Ramiro López Ghio. Pág. 9. - Introducción. Por: Jaime Bonet y Luis Armando Galvis. Pág. 13. - Primera parte: Visión internacional de la teoría y la práctica en los sistemas de transferencias subnacionales. - Teoría y práctica internacional en las transferencias intergubernamentales. Por: Teresa Ter-Minassian. Pág. 21. - Reformas recientes al sistema mexicano de transferencias. Por: Emilio Pineda. Pág. 37 - Transferencias intergubernamentales en Brasil. Por: Luiz Villela, José Roberto Afonso, Ana Calvo. Pág. 55. - Segunda parte: La experiencia colombiana - ¿Cómo va el sistema general de participaciones? Por: Jorge Toro. Pág. 73. - Contexto histórico y evolución del SGP en Colombia. Por: Jaime Bonet, Gerson Javier Pérez, Jhorland Ayala. Pág. 81. - Una reflexión para mejorar la eficiencia en la asignación de las transferencias intergubernamentales en Colombia. Por: Juan Gonzalo Zapata y Tomás Concha. Pág. 129. - Eficiencia en el uso de los recursos del SGP: los casos de la salud y la educación. Por: Luis Armando Galvis. Pág. 161. - A manera de conclusión. Por: Antonio Hernández Gamarra. Pág. 193. - Acerca de los autores. Pág. 199