Recent results on hydrogen and hydration in biology studied by neutron macromolecular crystallography

Neutron diffraction provides an experimental method of directly locating hydrogen atoms in proteins, a technique complimentary to ultra-high-resolution [1, 2] X-ray diffraction. Three different types of neutron diffractometers for biological macromolecules have been constructed in Japan, France and the United States, and they have been used to determine the crystal structures of proteins up to resolution limits of 1.5-2.5 A. Results relating to hydrogen positions and hydration patterns in proteins have been obtained from these studies. Examples include the geometrical details of hydrogen bonds, H/D exchange in proteins and oligonucleotides, the role of hydrogen atoms in enzymatic activity and thermostability, and the dynamical behavior of hydration structures, all of which have been extracted from these structural results and reviewed. Other techniques, such as the growth of large single crystals, the preparation of fully deuterated proteins, the use of cryogenic techniques, and a data base of hydrogen and hydration in proteins, will be described.     

New Sclerocactus (Cactaceae) from Nevada

Named as new is Sclerocactus schlesseri Heil & Welsh. The taxon is described and its relationships discussed.     

Fbxw7/Cdc4 is a p53-dependent, haploinsufficient tumour suppressor gene

The FBXW7/hCDC4 gene encodes a ubiquitin ligase implicated in the control of chromosome stability. Here we identify the mouse Fbxw7 gene as a p53-dependent tumour suppressor gene by using a mammalian genetic screen for p53-dependent genes involved in tumorigenesis. Radiation-induced lymphomas from p53+/- mice, but not those from p53-/- mice, show frequent loss of heterozygosity and a 10% mutation rate of the Fbxw7 gene. Fbxw7+/- mice have greater susceptibility to radiation-induced tumorigenesis, but most tumours retain and express the wild-type allele, indicating that Fbxw7 is a haploinsufficient tumour suppressor gene. Loss of Fbxw7 alters the spectrum of tumours that develop in p53 deficient mice to include a range of tumours in epithelial tissues such as the lung, liver and ovary. Mouse embryo fibroblasts from Fbxw7-deficient mice, or wild-type mouse cells expressing Fbxw7 small interfering RNA, have higher levels of Aurora-A kinase, c-Jun and Notch4, but not of cyclin E. We propose that p53-dependent loss of Fbxw7 leads to genetic instability by mechanisms that might involve the activation of Aurora-A, providing a rationale for the early occurrence of these mutations in human cancers.     

A possible process of the secondary sterilization: Delayed anovulation syndrome

Zusammenfassung Die Wirkung verschiedener Testosterondosen auf die postpuberale Ovulation von Ratten wurde untersucht, wobei an Ovarien der Nachweis gelang, dass der anovulatorische Zustand nach der Pubertät testosteron-dosisabhängig ist.

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Supported by a research grant from the Ministry of Education of Japan.     

Enatioselective[2 2 2] Cycloaddition as A Synthetic Tool

1 Results Transition metal-catalyzed [2 2 2] cycloaddition is one of the most efficient protocols for the construction of six-membered ring system.Our group has comprehensively studied various types of highly enantioselective [2 2 2] cycloaddition for the synthesis of chiral cycloadducts; we already reported an iridium-catalyzed intermolecular [2 2 2] cycloaddition between α,ω-diynes,having various tethers and substituents on the alkyne termini,and monoalkynes,possessing oxygen or/and nitrogen functiona...     

单足跳跃机器人补能策略

为了实现稳定跳跃步态,单足机器人需要持续补充能量以克服阻尼、碰撞等造成的能耗。该文针对腿部有阻尼的单足机器人,分析不同补能方式和补能时机对单足机器人竖直跳跃阻尼能耗的影响。理论分析和仿真实验结果表明:在支撑相单足机器人躯干上升阶段补能具有更高的补能效率,且补能起始位置越高、距起跳点越近,补能效率越高;在支撑相单足机器人躯干下降阶段补能会影响地面对足端的支持力,导致机器人站立不稳;如果在上升阶段补能,补能起始位置越高,补充相同能量时对驱动器峰值驱动力及峰值驱动功率要求越高。该研究结果为跳跃补能策略选择以及设计高效跳跃机器人控制器提供了参考。     

Calibration of the HSPF model with a new coupled FTABLE generation method

The hydrological simulation program FORTRAN (HSPF) is a comprehensive watershed model designed to simulate water quantity and quality processes.It is used widely throughout the world.Calculating discharge from a stream reach by HSPF is based mainly on function tables (FTABLEs),which describe the relationship between surface area,stream stage,volume,and discharge.The traditional method of FTABLE generation (using general stream cross-sections and the Manning equation or other discharge relationships) can be time-consuming and inaccurate when there are limited calibration stations and survey data.Recent insights into generalized coupled stage/storage and stage/discharge relationships,however,offer the potential to improve both the speed and accuracy of compiling FTABLEs and thus HSPF models.This study tested the application of these insights in generating FTABLEs.The study domain included 18 gauging stations in a coastal plain environment on the Peace River watershed in West-Central Florida.In the calibration of this model,wetlands were treated as reaches in HSPF with storage-attenuation characteristics.Over the simulation period,the modeled daily flow and stage correlated well with observed data at all ganging stations along the Peace River.The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency and correlation coefficient computed using observed and simulated daily flows were 0.90 and 0.91,respectively,at the Peace River outlet.Rigorous testing found that the new system for calibrating the FTABLEs improved the model predictive ability and efficiency.Uncertainty in un-calibrated station performance was also reduced.The model parameters obtained in this study could potentially serve as reference values for model application in similar climatic regions.They may also have particular relevance in disaster management,as the simulation period extended over the hurricane season of 2004,and the model domain was within a high hurricane impact zone.The possible effects of hurricanes on discharge are also briefly discussed.     

Optimal Restoration Scheduling of Damaged Networks Under Uncertain Environment by Using Improved Genetic Algorithm

The purpose of this research is to propose an early restoration for lifeline systems after earthquake disasters. The previous researches show that the optimization of the restoration schedule by using genetic algorithm (GA) is powerful. However, those are not considering the uncertain environment after earthquake disasters. The circumstances of the damage at devastated areas are very changeable due to the aftershock, fire disaster and bad weather. In addition, the restoring works may delay by unexpected accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain the restoration schedule which has robustness, because the actual restoring works could not progress smoothly under the uncertain environment. GA considering uncertainty (GACU) can treat various uncertainties involved, but it is difficult to obtain the robust schedule. In this study, an attempt is made to develop a decision support system of the optimal restoration scheduling by using the improved GACU.