Based on amber artifacts from excavated sites as well as museums and private collections, this thesis focuses on the art of amber in the Liao Dynasty, and though comparing with the use of amber in ancient Europe and other periods in China to reveal the significance of amber in the Liao Dynasty founded by the Qidan, a semi-nomadic people who lived in China's northeast. Through the comparative study of materials, techniques, usage, decorative themes, cultural and artistic meanings, this thesis concludes that: (1) amber artifacts in China flourished during the Liao Dynasty (907--1125A.D.), although there is no textual evidence on record; (2) amber artifacts from Liao tombs and Buddhist pagodas are comparable to other material arts in terms of quality, quantity and artistry; (3) the Qidans, founders of the Liao dynasty, used amber widely as personal ornaments, religious items, and funeral objects; (4) like jade, gold and silver, amber was a symbol of rank and power; it was also used by the Qidan elite to emphasize their ethnic identity. This phenomenon is unique and unprecedented in Chinese history; nothing like it came before or after. Qidan amber has greater political and cultural meaning than jade, gold and silver; (5) Baltic amber is the likely source of Qidan amber, finding its way from Baltic to Qidan territory through "the fur route" across Southern Siberian and "the silk route" across Central Asia, with Uyghur merchants playing important roles as intermediaries. / 許晓東. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2005. / 參考文獻(p. 165-183). / Adviser: Jenny F. So. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-01, Section: A, page: 0006. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in English. / School code: 1307. / Lun wen (Zhe xue bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2005. / Can kao wen xian (p. 165-183). / Xu Xiaodong.

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Le cadre général de cette thèse est une étude théorique par chimie quantique et dynamique moléculaire de la relation entre la structure et la fluorescence des protéines fluorescentes, en particulier, de la protéine fluorescente jaune (YFP). Dans cette protéine l'énergie de transition électronique est réduite par rapport à celle de la protéine fluorescente verte (GFP) en raison de l'empilement π entre le chromophore (la partie qui peut absorber et émetre de la lumiere visible au cœur de la protéine) et une tyrosine. Cet effet constitue la base de son utilité au laboratoire (transfert d'énergie par résonance «FRET» avec d’autres protéines). Ce travail comporte deux parties. D’une part, nous avons cherché à déterminer si un champ de force classique (ff99 de la suite AMBER) permet de représenter l’effet de π -stacking sur la dynamique à l’état excité. Pour cela nous avons effectué une série de calculs CASPT2 sur une grille de points. La conclusion est que la différence entre les surfaces d’énergie d’interaction résultant du champ de force et des calculs de chimie quantique CASPT2 ne semblent pas déterminante pour les propriétés de fluorescences.D’autre part, nous avons utilisé un modèle développé dans le groupe ThéoSim pour décrire le déclin à partir d’une série de dynamique (300ns) utilisant un champ de force classique. Cette méthode conduit à déterminer des paramètres en principe transférables d’une protéine fluorescente à une autre. Nous avons comparé la GFP et l’YFP. Cette approche ouvre la voie à une méthode rapide pour des propriétés de fluorescences pour de nouvelles protéines fluorescentes. Une prochaine étape serait d'améliorée la description du déclin radiatif utilisée dans ce modèle. / The general framework of this PhD is a theoretical study by quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics of the relationship between the structure and the fluorescence properties of fluorescent proteins, particulary, of the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). In this protein, the electron transition energy is reduced with respect to that of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a result of a π stacking between the chromophore (the part that absorbs and emits visible light in the protein) and a tyrosine . This effect is the basis of the usefulness of YFP in the laboratory (resonance energy transfer "FRET" with other proteins).This study has two parts. First, we have tried to determine if a classical force field (ff99 of the AMBER suite) can represent the effect of π stacking on the dynamics in the excited state. For this goal, we performed a series of CASPT2 calculations on a grid of points. The conclusion is that the difference between the interaction energy surfaces resulting from the force field and the CASPT2 calculations does not seem decisive for the fluorescence properties. Second, we used a model developed in the ThéoSim group to extract the fluorescence decay time from a series of dynamics (300ns) using a classical force field. This method leads to the determination of parameters in principle transferable across fluorescent protein. We compared GFP and YFP. This approach opens the way to a fast method for determining fluorescence properties for new fluorescent proteins. A next step would be to improve the description of radiative decay used in this model.

Thesis (doctoral)--Université de Rennes, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Amber in Bohemia in the Bronze Age - Abstract Amber found in archeaological contexts like any sensitive instrument can show the total span of meanings of different historic, economic, cultural, cult, and social traditions and systems of values in the prehistoric Europe. The work synthetically analyzes and evaluates the presence of amber finds in Bohemia during the Bronze Age. Attention is devoted relations to sites and amber artefacts demonstrating the probable course of "amber route". On the path leading from the Baltic coast to the Balkans and Italy and further into the eastern Mediterranean seen as a string, or rather a network of relations, most malleable and flexible, distributed among communities, which is also subject while reflecting internal and external influences, changes and developments. It reflects new amber artefacts and new results of IR spectroscopy. Its results shows, that amber did not came to Bohemia only from the north - from Baltic region; its results proved also rumanit amber. Work is a comprehensive evaluation and interpretation of participation Bohemia in the distribution network of leading amber in the wider European area. Study of the amber and its distribution gives evidence, that there existed vivid exchange, based on variety of connections with distant region sof northern...

Pasaulyje yra žinoma apie 150 fosilinių sakų rūšių. Didžioji jų dalis randama Šiaurės pusrutulyje, Europoje ir Amerikoje. Be to, vis daugiau fosilinių sakų aptinkama Azijoje, Afrikoje, Pietų Amerikoje.Vienas labiausiai paplitusių fosilinių sakų – Baltijos gintaras – nuo seno naudojamas papuošalų, buitinių ir liturginių reikmenų, smulkiosios plastikos gamybai, medžio, kaulo ir kitų dirbinių dekoravimui. Nuo XIX a. pradžios mėginta analizuoti gintarą, nesuardant jo pirminės medžiagos, tačiau nesėkmingai. Tik išaiškinta, kad gintarą sudaro alkoholyje tirpi dalis ir jokiame tirpiklyje netirpstantis likutis, pavadintas sukcinitu. Dabar gintaro chemijos tyrimams pasitelkiami nauji cheminės ir fizikinės analizės metodai: chromatografija, IR spektroskopija, branduolinis magnetinis rezonansas, masių spektroskopija ir kiti. Šio darbo tikslas buvo infraraudonosios spektroskopijos analizės metodu ištirti ir palyginti tarpusavyje kelių rūšių fosilinių sakų pavyzdžius iš skirtingų šalių archeologinių radimviečių: Baltijos pajūrio (Lietuva) „šiuolaikinį“ skaidrųjį gintarą, Benaičių ir Turlojiškių archeologiniuose kompleksuose (Lietuva) rastus archeologinio gintaro pavyzdžius, tamsųjį archeologinį Japonijos gintarą, fosilinius sakus iš Centrinio Libano archeologinės radimvietės ir fosilinius sakus iš Šiaurės Paryžiaus Orsi kvartalo archeologinės radimvietės. Nustatyta, kad fosiliniai sakai iš Japonijos, Centrinio Libano ir Paryžiaus archeologinių radimviečių tikrai nėra Baltijos regiono... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Amber is a fossilized form of terpenoid resins. Unlike other fossil, amber is completely organic in nature, and its chemical composition remains almost constant over millions of years. Chemical characteristics of amber are a consequence of both biological origins and geological enviroment. Have been proposed different characterization techniques such as IR spectroscopy, NMR and other. By these methods chemical structure can be derived. However, these techniques do not allow totally exclusive distinction, because spectral differences cannot be universally established for all the samples. The main aim of this work was to characterize some samples of fossil resins from different countries. Six fossil resins were campared: ,,contemporary” Baltic transparent amber (Lithuania), archeological amber from Benaičiai and Turlojiškės (Lithuania), archeological amber from Japan, fossil resin from Central Lebanon and fossil resin from North Paris. These fossil resin were analyzed using IR spectroscopy method. IR spectra of fossil resin showed a presence of these groups: O─H (in polymers), ─CH3 and ─CH2─, ―Si─O─Si― or ―Si─O─C―. Come to a conclusion, the chemical structure and features of all analyzed fossil resin are similar. But they have the differences too. Fossil resins from Lithuania (Baltic transparent amber and archeological amber from Benaičiai and Turlojiškės) spectra have an absorption band at wavelength 1250-1175 cm-1, which is called ,,Baltic shoulder” by Beck. Fossil resins... [to full text]

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Interactions between single and double stranded oligonucleotides with SiO2 surfaces and the interactions between oligonucleotides and immobilized oligomers have been studied computationally. The oligonucleotide is the 18-base-pair sequence for the survival motor neuron gene SMN1. The oligomer consisted of a 50 unit 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) molecule. A linker used to tether the oligonucleotide was either a 10 Å or a 30 Å long succinimdyl 4-[N-maleimidomethyl]cyclohexane-1-caroxylate (sulfo-SMCC-Cn). The surface consisted of a SiO2 crystal that was 50 Å long and 50 Å wide, one unit thick and covered with modified-(3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (m-APTMS) molecules. It was determined that explicit water, sodium counterions and excess salt were necessary to produce computationally stable oligonucleotide structures on surfaces. Artificial partial charges were introduced to the surface, and linkers, oligomers and oligonucleotides were immobilized and studied. The linkers collapsed onto a positive but not onto a negative surface. Oligomers moved closer to the SiO2 surface regardless of the surface charge. Immobilized oligonucleotides tilted significantly from an initial upright position but did not collapse completely onto the surfaces. The interactions between immobilized oligonucleotides and oligomers were examined. The number of oligomers surrounding the oligonucleotide was varied between two and four. Single stranded oligonucleotides were prevented from interacting with the surface as they were inhibited by the presence of oligomers. Double stranded oligonucleotides collapsed onto the surface when only two oligomers were present but remained upright when four oligomers were present. This was due to the four oligomers interacting with one another and effectively shielding the surface. The oligomers interacted with the bases in the single stranded oligonucleotides, making them energetically accessible. Presence of a high density of oligomers prevented the dsDNA from collapsing onto the surface. These results suggest design criteria for preparation of mixed oligonucleotide and oligomer films for use in biosensors.

The main subject of this thesis is a detailed analysis of pre-oppid coin types represented in the monitored region and their interpretation. The thesis also includes a chronological concept of the earliest stages of Celtic coinage (3rd-2nd cent. BC.) and its relationship to the archaeological chronology of the middle of La Tene period. In the first part I describe various pre-oppid types known from Moravia. Subsequently, the thesis deals with production-trading centers (Němčice nad Hanou, Roseldorf, Nowa Cerekwia) in the corridor of the Amber Route. However, the most important part is typological - a chronological overview of coins from the production- trading center Němčice nad Hanou, which is mostly based on catalog of coin findings from newly compiled by E. Kolníková. Keywords: Celts - Coinage - Amber Road - pre-oppid coins - LT C1 - C2 - Moravia