Simulating dynamical features of escape panic

One of the most disastrous forms of collective human behaviour is the kind of crowd stampede induced by panic, often leading to fatalities as people are crushed or trampled. Sometimes this behaviour is triggered in life-threatening situations such as fires in crowded buildings; at other times, stampedes can arise during the rush for seats or seemingly without cause. Although engineers are finding ways to alleviate the scale of such disasters, their frequency seems to be increasing with the number and size of mass events. But systematic studies of panic behaviour and quantitative theories capable of predicting such crowd dynamics are rare. Here we use a model of pedestrian behaviour to investigate the mechanisms of (and preconditions for) panic and jamming by uncoordinated motion in crowds. Our simulations suggest practical ways to prevent dangerous crowd pressures. Moreover, we find an optimal strategy for escape from a smoke-filled room, involving a mixture of individualistic behaviour and collective 'herding' instinct.     

Genetic background of phenotypic variation

A noteworthy feature of the living world is its bewildering variability. A key issue in several biological disciplines is the achievement of an understanding of the hereditary basis of this variability. Two opposing, but not necessarily irreconcilable conceptions attempt to explain the underlying mechanism. The gene function paradigm postulates that phenotypic variance is generated by the polymorphism in the coding sequences of genes. However, comparisons of a great number of homologous gene and protein sequences have revealed that they predominantly remained functionally conserved even across distantly related phylogenic taxa. Alternatively, the gene regulation paradigm assumes that differences in the cis-regulatory region of genes do account for phenotype variation within species. An extension of this latter concept is that phenotypic variability is generated by the polymorphism in the overall gene expression profiles of gene networks. In other words, the activity of a particular gene is a system property determined both by the cis-regulatory sequences of the given genes and by the other genes of a gene network, whose expressions vary among individuals, too. Novel proponents of gene function paradigm claim that functional genetic variance within the coding sequences of regulatory genes is critical for the generation of morphological polymorphism. Note, however, that these developmental genes play direct regulatory roles in the control of gene expression.     

Alteration of enzyme activities in detached leaves and their counteraction by kinetin

Zusammenfassung In abgetrennten Blättern werden verschiedene Enzyme, besonders aber die Pentosephosphatcyclus-Dehydrogenasen aktiviert. Gleichzeitig steigt die Atmungsintensität an. Die Malonatsensitivität der O₂-Aufnahme nimmt ab. Die Ausbildung der obigen Stoffwechsellage kann durch Kinetin gehemmt werden.     

A new aspect of the anti-stress effect of kinetin

Zusammenfassung Die mechanische Schädigung von Blattgeweben (das Abreiben der Blattoberfläche mit Karborundum oder eine rapide Infiltration der Gewebe mit H₂O) führt zu einer Steigerung der Ribonukleaseaktivität. Die Behandlung der Gewebe mit Kinetin, nicht aber die mit anderen Wachstumsregulatoren antagonisiert die Wirkung der mechanischen Verletzung (Stress) auf die Ribonukleaseaktivität.     

The cortisol metabolism of human pulmonary tumour tissue

Zusammenfassung Bösartige Lungengeschwulstgewebe verschiedener Zelltypen wurden mit Hydrocortison 1³H, 2³H inkubiert. Die freien, markierten Steroide wurden extrahiert, chromatographisch getrennt und identifiziert.

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The steroids obtained fromN. V. Organon, OSS are gratefully acknowledged. The authors also acknowledge with gratitude the technical assistance of MissMaria Borbás.     

Visualization of an unstable coiled coil from the scallop myosin rod

Alpha-helical coiled coils in muscle exemplify simplicity and economy of protein design: small variations in sequence lead to remarkable diversity in cellular functions. Myosin II is the key protein in muscle contraction, and the molecule's two-chain alpha-helical coiled-coil rod region--towards the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain--has unusual structural and dynamic features. The amino-terminal subfragment-2 (S2) domains of the rods can swing out from the thick filament backbone at a hinge in the coiled coil, allowing the two myosin 'heads' and their motor domains to interact with actin and generate tension. Most of the S2 rod appears to be a flexible coiled coil, but studies suggest that the structure at the N-terminal region is unstable, and unwinding or bending of the alpha-helices near the head-rod junction seems necessary for many of myosin's functional properties. Here we show the physical basis of a particularly weak coiled-coil segment by determining the 2.5-A-resolution crystal structure of a leucine-zipper-stabilized fragment of the scallop striated-muscle myosin rod adjacent to the head-rod junction. The N-terminal 14 residues are poorly ordered; the rest of the S2 segment forms a flexible coiled coil with poorly packed core residues. The unusual absence of interhelical salt bridges here exposes apolar core atoms to solvent.     

Identification of an oviposition-regulating pheromone in the European grapevine moth,Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The oviposition of the European grapevine moth (EGVM)Lobesia botrana can be deterred by an extract of conspecific eggs corresponding to 20 egg equivalents. The reduction of the oviposition behavior is dose-dependent. Nine chemicals have been extracted from the eggs and identified as straight chain fatty acids and esters of fatty acids. A mixture of these rather simple molecules induces the same levels of deterrence as the total extract. It might be possible to use oviposition regulating pheromone in the future for the control of EGVM populations.     

The early effects of low DDT doses on the nervous system in animal experiments

Zusammenfassung Es wurde bei Verabreichung eines mit 40-0,5 mg DDT/kg Körpergewicht vermischten Futters an Ratten festgestellt, dass 40 und 20 mg DDT die Frequenz und Amplitude, 10 mg nur die Amplitude des spontanen EEG erhöht. Bei Verabreichung von 5 mg waren, bei stroboskoper Belastung, die Veränderungen noch sichtbar. Dosen zwischen 20 und 2,5 mg verminderten die Dauer und Tiefe der auf den Gehirnstamm als Angriffspunkt wirkenden Nembutalnarkose. Dosen von 2 bis 0,5 mg blieben wirkungslos. Die Vermutung wird ausgesprochen, dass sich durch DDT im Gehirnstamm ein Irritationsherd im Zusammenhang mit der Anhäufung von Acetylcholin bildet.     

Incorporation of H3-progesterone activity into 18-OH-corticosterone and 18-OH-11-desoxycorticosterone,aldosterone and corticosterone following treatment of formaldehyde and hydrocortisone,in pregnant and new-born rats and immediatelypost partum

Zusammenfassung Der Einbau von H³-Progesteron-Radioaktivität in verschiedenen Corticosteroiden wurde bei mit Formalin und Hydrocortison behandelten, trächtigen und neugeborenen Ratten mit Hilfe vonin vitro überlebenden Nebennierenschnittenpost partum untersucht. Die 18-OH-Corticosteronaktivität steigt nach Formalinbehandlung an; die Aktivitätpost partum gebildeter Corticosteroide vermindert sich im allgemeinen; bei neugeborenen Ratten ist die Aktivität des Corticosterons vermindert.