The web-based World Housing Encyclopedia: Housing Constrction in high seismic risk areas of the world

Recent devastating losses in earthquakes to housing around the world highlight the need to share information on building construction practices and strengthening technologies. The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and the International Association for Earthquake Engineering have an ongoing Internet-based project called World Housing Encyclopedia (WHE) that provides a framework for sharing such information globally (www.world-housing.net). The purpose of the WHE is to develop a comprehensive global categorization of characteristic housing construction types presented using a standardized format. The encyclopedia provides basic information on the seismic vulnerability and strengths of various structural systems and materials, useful to local, national and international public and private organizations and individuals concerned with improving the seismic resistance of a region’s housing stock. Initially inaugurated at the 2000 World Conference on Earthquake Engineering in Auckland, New Zealand, this web-based project is now in its fourth year. This paper describes the scope of the encyclopedia and provides the examples of its application

A Challenge to Earthquake Engineering Professionals

Recent earthquakes have caused unacceptably high death tolls. We, the editors of theWorld Housing Encyclopedia, believe that reducing such an un- acceptably high loss of life from earthquakes is the most important challenge facing the global earthquake engineering community. This paper acknowl- edges the continuing disparity between life loss from earthquakes in devel- oping and developed countries, and the increasing vulnerability in developing countries. A sampling of current efforts to improve construction practices in- cludes the publication of earthquake tips in India, construction manuals in Colombia, and the formation of various international networks to promote collaboration and information sharing. Future possibilities include more re- wards for research into inadequately engineered construction, greater empha- sis on small-scale, local efforts, and a stronger emphasis on advocacy.We be- lieve that all of us, as earthquake professionals, have a responsibility to make the built environment safer worldwide

Systematic analysis of human protein complexes identifies chromosome segregation proteins.

Chromosome segregation and cell division are essential, highly ordered processes that depend on numerous protein complexes. Results from recent RNA interference screens indicate that the identity and composition of these protein complexes is incompletely understood. Using gene tagging on bacterial artificial chromosomes, protein localization, and tandem-affinity purification-mass spectrometry, the MitoCheck consortium has analyzed about 100 human protein complexes, many of which had not or had only incompletely been characterized. This work has led to the discovery of previously unknown, evolutionarily conserved subunits of the anaphase-promoting complex and the gamma-tubulin ring complex--large complexes that are essential for spindle assembly and chromosome segregation. The approaches we describe here are generally applicable to high-throughput follow-up analyses of phenotypic screens in mammalian cells

Systematic analysis of human protein complexes identifies chromosome segregation proteins.

Chromosome segregation and cell division are essential, highly ordered processes that depend on numerous protein complexes. Results from recent RNA interference screens indicate that the identity and composition of these protein complexes is incompletely understood. Using gene tagging on bacterial artificial chromosomes, protein localization, and tandem-affinity purification-mass spectrometry, the MitoCheck consortium has analyzed about 100 human protein complexes, many of which had not or had only incompletely been characterized. This work has led to the discovery of previously unknown, evolutionarily conserved subunits of the anaphase-promoting complex and the gamma-tubulin ring complex--large complexes that are essential for spindle assembly and chromosome segregation. The approaches we describe here are generally applicable to high-throughput follow-up analyses of phenotypic screens in mammalian cells

Direct binding of CEP85 to STIL ensures robust PLK4 activation and efficient centriole assembly.

Centrosomes are required for faithful chromosome segregation during mitosis. They are composed of a centriole pair that recruits and organizes the microtubule-nucleating pericentriolar material. Centriole duplication is tightly controlled in vivo and aberrations in this process are associated with several human diseases, including cancer and microcephaly. Although factors essential for centriole assembly, such as STIL and PLK4, have been identified, the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive this process are incompletely understood. Combining protein proximity mapping with high-resolution structural methods, we identify CEP85 as a centriole duplication factor that directly interacts with STIL through a highly conserved interaction interface involving a previously uncharacterised domain of STIL. Structure-guided mutational analyses in vivo demonstrate that this interaction is essential for efficient centriolar targeting of STIL, PLK4 activation and faithful daughter centriole assembly. Taken together, our results illuminate a molecular mechanism underpinning the spatiotemporal regulation of the early stages of centriole duplication