Autophagic Turnover of Chloroplasts: Its Roles and Regulatory Mechanisms in Response to Sugar Starvation

Photosynthetic reactions in chloroplasts convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into starch and soluble sugars during the day. Starch, a transient storage form of sugar, is broken down into sugars as a source for respiratory energy production at night. Chloroplasts thus serve as the main sites of sugar production for photoautotrophic plant growth. Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved intracellular process in eukaryotes that degrades organelles and proteins. Numerous studies have shown that autophagy is actively induced in sugar-starved plants. When photosynthetic sugar production is inhibited by environmental cues, chloroplasts themselves may become an attractive alternative energy source to sugars via their degradation. Here, we summarize the process of autophagic turnover of chloroplasts and its roles in plants in response to sugar starvation. We hypothesize that piecemeal-type chloroplast autophagy is specifically activated in plants in response to sugar starvation

PAMS: Platform for Artificial Market Simulations

This paper presents a new artificial market simulation platform, PAMS: Platform for Artificial Market Simulations. PAMS is developed as a Python-based simulator that is easily integrated with deep learning and enabling various simulation that requires easy users' modification. In this paper, we demonstrate PAMS effectiveness through a study using agents predicting future prices by deep learning.Comment: 7page

Large-Scale Model Forced-Vibration Test Comparison of Test Results on Hard and Soft Ground

Forced-Vibration tests were performed on two large-scale same models constructed on soft and hard ground in order to investigate the effect of the hardness and the stratification of the supporting ground on the vibration characteristics of simulated reactor buildings. The soft ground is almost stratification ground, and the hard ground is almost uniform ground. The test models are RC rigid frame structure with shear walls. In the tests, sinusoidal wave excitation was applied by the excitor. The vibration characteristics of the test models, earth pressure at the bottom of the base mat and the vibration characteristics of the surrounding ground were investigated. In the analysis, the soil impedances, the responses of the structure and the surrounding ground were almost simulated by Axisymmetric Finite Element Method

Laboratory Tests on Embedded Reactor Building on Soft Ground

Model tests using shaking table and impulse hummer were performed to confirm analysis tools currently used in Japan for the seismic design of a reactor building embedded in soft ground. The models are made of a silicone rubber ground and an aluminum building. Embedment depths of the foundation are varied. Comparison between test results and analytical results is discussed in terms of impedance functions, foundation input motions and structure responses

Experimental Studies on an Embedded Soil-Structure Interaction in a Case of Hard Supporting Ground

In order to investigate the embedment effects exerted on the vibration behavior of reactor building, a series of tests is being carried out employing the use of a large-scale test model constructed on hard ground. This paper describes the embedment effects obtained from the forced vibration tests for the following items: 1) dynamic characteristics of soil-structure interaction system; 2) dynamic ground impedance; 3) soil pressure and so on

Laboratory Tests on Embedded Reactor Building on Hard Ground

In order to experimentally confirm the dynamic characteristics of embedded reactor building, shaking table tests and hammering tests were carried out, utilizing hard ground model made of hard silicone rubber and structural model made of aluminum which is embedded by soft silicone rubber. From the test results, it was confirmed that embedment increases system frequency of soil- structure interaction system, the ratio of elastic deformation of structure and radiation damping. Using the transient data of impulse responses, impedance function and foundation input motion could be identified in a smooth shape. Simulated results for non-embedded case by wave propagation theory and axi-symmetric FEM showed fairly good agreement with test results

Experimental Studies on an Embedded Structure-Soil Interaction

This paper describes the results of experimental studies performed the evaluation of the embedment effects on the dynamic characteristics of the structure and the correlation anlayses between the test results and the calculated results. The vibration tests of large scale models constructed on actual soil are carried out with the purpose of obtaining the basic data for verification study on analysis codes. In the correlation analyses, the methods used here are the sway-rocking model and the axisymmetric finite element method. These methods are confirmed to be applicable to analyse the response or the embedded structures

Identification of trehalose dimycolate (cord factor) in Mycobacterium leprae

AbstractGlycolipids of Mycobacterium leprae obtained from armadillo tissue nodules infected with the bacteria were analyzed. Mass spectrometric analysis of the glycolipids indicated the presence of trehalose 6,6′-dimycolate (TDM) together with trehalose 6-monomycolate (TMM) and phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I). The analysis showed that M. leprae-derived TDM and TMM possessed both α- and keto-mycolates centering at C78 in the former and at C81 or 83 in the latter subclasses, respectively. For the first time, MALDI-TOF mass analyses showed the presence of TDM in M. leprae