Development of Simulation System for the Disaster Evacuation Based on Multi-Agent Model Using

This paper presents a simulation system for the disaster evacuation based on multi-agent model considering geographical information. This system consists of three parts, the modeling for the land and buildings using GIS data, the analysis of disaster evacuation using multi-agent model, and the visualization for the numerical results using the virtual reality technique. By introducing the numerical solver of the natural disaster to the present system, it is possible to evaluate not only the damage of structure but also the damage of human being. Furthermore, it is possible to investigate the appropriate evacuation route by the simulation. The Dijkstra algorithm is used to obtain shortest route to the refuge. In addition, the visualization using virtual reality technique is curried out to understand the feeling of refugee. The present system is applied to the evacuation analysis by the flood flow in urban area and is shown to be a useful tool to investigate the damage by natural disasters.     

Thyrotrophin in the pars tuberalis triggers photoperiodic response

Molecular mechanisms regulating animal seasonal breeding in response to changing photoperiod are not well understood. Rapid induction of gene expression of thyroid-hormone-activating enzyme (type 2 deiodinase, DIO2) in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) of the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is the earliest event yet recorded in the photoperiodic signal transduction pathway. Here we show cascades of gene expression in the quail MBH associated with the initiation of photoinduced secretion of luteinizing hormone. We identified two waves of gene expression. The first was initiated about 14 h after dawn of the first long day and included increased thyrotrophin (TSH) beta-subunit expression in the pars tuberalis; the second occurred approximately 4 h later and included increased expression of DIO2. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of TSH to short-day quail stimulated gonadal growth and expression of DIO2 which was shown to be mediated through a TSH receptor-cyclic AMP (cAMP) signalling pathway. Increased TSH in the pars tuberalis therefore seems to trigger long-day photoinduced seasonal breeding.     

Monosynaptic inhibition of thalamic neurons produced by stimulation of the substantia nigra

Summary Electrical stimulation to the substantia nigra (Pars reticulata) produced a monosynaptic inhibition of the neurons of the ventromedial necleus of the thalamus in anesthetized cats.     

A tripeptide 'anticodon' deciphers stop codons in messenger RNA

The two translational release factors of prokaryotes, RF1 and RF2, catalyse the termination of polypeptide synthesis at UAG/UAA and UGA/UAA stop codons, respectively. However, how these polypeptide release factors read both non-identical and identical stop codons is puzzling. Here we describe the basis of this recognition. Swaps of each of the conserved domains between RF1 and RF2 in an RF1-RF2 hybrid led to the identification of a domain that could switch recognition specificity. A genetic selection among clones encoding random variants of this domain showed that the tripeptides Pro-Ala-Thr and Ser-Pro-Phe determine release-factor specificity in vivo in RF1 and RF2, respectively. An in vitro release study of tripeptide variants indicated that the first and third amino acids independently discriminate the second and third purine bases, respectively. Analysis with stop codons containing base analogues indicated that the C2 amino group of purine may be the primary target of discrimination of G from A. These findings show that the discriminator tripeptide of bacterial release factors is functionally equivalent to that of the anticodon of transfer RNA, irrespective of the difference between protein and RNA.     

Essential role for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate in yeast cell proliferation

The responses of mammalian cells to external signals are commonly mediated by intracellular secondary messengers, among which are the breakdown products of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2): 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) (refs 1-7). Although phosphoinositide turnover in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been shown to be regulated by glucose and sterol, as yet no definitive function has been ascribed to yeast phosphoinositides. We have recently developed a monoclonal antibody specific for PIP2 and reported that it inhibits mitogenesis of mammalian cells stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor and bombesin. We now report that when introduced into yeast cells by electroporation this antibody inhibits their growth. Furthermore, several yeast mutants with temperature-dependent growth defects are altered in their sensitivity to our antibody and are found to have specific alterations in their phosphoinositide metabolism.     

Direct evidence for the contribution of the unique I-ANOD to the development of insulitis in non-obese diabetic mice

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is characterized by the infiltration of lymphocytes into the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas (insulitis) followed by destruction of insulin-secreting beta-cells leading to overt diabetes. The best model for the disease is the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Two unusual features of the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of the NOD mouse are the absence of I-E and the presence of unique I-A molecules (I-ANOD), in which aspartic acid at position 57 of the beta-chain is replaced by serine. This feature is also found in the HLA-DQ chain of many Caucasians with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We have previously reported that the expression of I-E prevents the development of insulitis in NOD mouse. Here we report that the expression of I-Ak (A alpha kA beta k) in transgenic NOD mice can also prevent insulitis, and that this protection is seen not only when the I-A beta-chain has aspartic acid as residue 57, but also when this residue is serine. These results show that the single amino-acid substitution at position 57 of the I-A beta-chain from aspartic acid to serine is not sufficient for the development of the disease.     

A genome-wide association study identifies common variants near LBX1 associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a pediatric spinal deformity affecting 2-3% of school-age children worldwide(1). Genetic factors have been implicated in its etiology(2). Through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and replication study involving a total of 1,376 Japanese females with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and 11,297 female controls, we identified a locus at chromosome 10q24.31 associated with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis susceptibility. The most significant SNP (rs11190870; combined P = 1.24 × 10(-19); odds ratio (OR) = 1.56) is located near LBX1 (encoding ladybird homeobox 1). The identification of this susceptibility locus provides new insights into the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.