Scientific management of Mediterranean coastal zone: a hybrid ocean forecasting system for oil spill and search and rescue operations.

The oil spill from Prestige tanker showed the importance of scientifically based protocols to minimize the impacts on the environment. In this work, we describe a new forecasting system to predict oil spill trajectories and their potential impacts on the coastal zone. The system is formed of three main interconnected modules that address different capabilities: (1) an operational circulation sub-system that includes nested models at different scales, data collection with near-real time assimilation, new tools for initialization or assimilation based on genetic algorithms and feature-oriented strategic sampling; (2) an oil spill coastal sub-system that allows simulation of the trajectories and fate of spilled oil together with evaluation of coastal zone vulnerability using environmental sensitivity indexes; (3) a risk management sub-system for decision support based on GIS technology. The system is applied to the Mediterranean Sea where surface currents are highly variable in space and time, and interactions between local, sub-basin and basin scale increase the non-linear interactions effects which need to be adequately resolved at each one of the intervening scales. Besides the Mediterranean Sea is a complex reduced scale ocean representing a real scientific and technological challenge for operational oceanography and particularly for oil spill response and search and rescue operations.

Multiple-trait quantitative trait loci analysis using a large mouse sibship.

Quantitative trait loci influencing several phenotypes were assessed using a genetically heterogeneous mouse population. The 145 individuals were produced by a cross between (BALB/cJ x C57BL/6J)F1 females and (C3H/HeJ x DBA/2J)F1 males. The population is genetically equivalent to full siblings derived from heterozygous parents, with known linkage phase. Each individual in the population represents a unique combination of alleles from the inbred grandparents. Quantitative phenotypes for eight T cell measures were obtained at 8 and 18 mo of age. Single-marker locus, repeated measures analysis of variance identified nine marker-phenotype associations with an experimentwise significance level of P < 0.05. Six of the eight quantitative phenotypes could be associated with at least one locus having experiment-wide significance. Composite interval, repeated measures analysis of variance identified 13 chromosomal regions with comparisonwise (nominal) significance associations of P < 0.001. The heterozygous-parent cross provides a reproducible, general method for identification of loci associated with quantitative trait phenotypes or repeated phenotypic measures.

Autosomal dominant nanophthalmos (NNO1) with high hyperopia and angle-closure glaucoma maps to chromosome 11.

Nanophthalmos is an uncommon developmental ocular disorder characterized by a small eye, as indicated by short axial length, high hyperopia (severe farsightedness), high lens/eye volume ratio, and a high incidence of angle-closure glaucoma. We performed clinical and genetic evaluations of members of a large family in which nanophthalmos is transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner. Ocular examinations of 22 affected family members revealed high hyperopia (range +7.25-+13.00 diopters; mean +9.88 diopters) and short axial length (range 17.55-19.28 mm; mean 18.13 mm). Twelve affected family members had angle-closure glaucoma or occludable anterior-chamber angles. Linkage analysis of a genome scan demonstrated highly significant evidence that nanophthalmos in this family is the result of a defect in a previously unidentified locus (NNO1) on chromosome 11. The gene was localized to a 14.7-cM interval between D11S905 and D11S987, with a maximum LOD score of 5. 92 at a recombination fraction of .00 for marker D11S903 and a multipoint maximum LOD score of 6.31 for marker D11S1313. NNO1 is the first human locus associated with nanophthalmos or with an angle-closure glaucoma phenotype, and the identification of the NNO1 locus is the first step toward the cloning of the gene. A cloned copy of the gene will enable examination of the relationship, if any, between nanophthalmos and less severe forms of hyperopia and between nanophthalmos and other conditions in which angle-closure glaucoma is a feature.

Effects of changes in lighting level on performance with the AcuVision 1000.

BACKGROUND: The AcuVision 1000 Trainer is an instrument designed to assess and train eye-hand coordination in athletes. Variable environmental conditions are encountered when sports-vision screenings are performed. The effect of these factors on scores attained on sports-vision testing equipment is an important consideration when results for different populations are compared. METHODS: This study investigated the effect of different lighting levels on subject performance. Twenty-five subjects performed three trials at each of three lighting levels (day-light, dim room, and dark. The presentation order of lighting level was counterbalanced and subjects were randomly assigned to the various presentation orders. RESULTS: The results indicate a statistically significant difference in performance at the various levels. High lighting levels decreased scores significantly, whereas there was no significant difference between the two lower levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the effect lighting can have on performance, and illustrates the need to properly control environmental factors through well-defined testing protocols for the use of the AcuVision 1000.