New improved hourglass control for bilinear and trilinear elements in anisotropic linear elasticity

One-point reduced integration method is studied for 4-node quadrilateral and 8-node brick elements together wih correction terms of the numerical integration rule for selective and directional reduced integration schemes for anisotropic linear elasticity. These correction terms were previously called hourglass control to the reduced integration method by Belytschko and others. In the present work the idea of existing hourglass control is carefully examined for its convergence and accuracy, and is extended to include both selective and directional reduced integration methods.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26506/1/0000043.pd

Bayesian experts in exploring reaction kinetics of transcription circuits

Motivation Biochemical reactions in cells are made of several types of biological circuits. In current systems biology, making differential equation (DE) models simulatable in silico has been an appealing, general approach to uncover a complex world of biochemical reaction dynamics. Despite of a need for simulation-aided studies, our research field has yet provided no clear answers: how to specify kinetic values in models that are difficult to measure from experimental/theoretical analyses on biochemical kinetics

オキナワケン セイショク パインアップル ノウカ ノ セイサン キボ カクダイ エノ ホウコウセイ オキナワケン クニガミグン ヒガシソン オヨビ ヤエヤマ チホウ ニオケル ノウカ アンケート カラノ セッキン

本稿では、沖縄県生食パインアップル農家の生産規模拡大への方向性について検討を行った。数量化理論II類分析の結果、下記の諸点が明らかにされた。第1に、生産者属性に関しては、(1) 農業従事日数が200日以上と農業従事日数が長い勤労意欲の高い生産者、(2) 収量が25t以上と収量が多い生産者、(3) 農業粗収益が200万円以上と農業粗収益が高い生産者、(4) 農業従事年数が24年未満の生産者、(5) 農業従事者数が1人の個人経営者、(6) 年齢が65歳以上の高齢者、等に拡大傾向がみられた。第2に、評価項目に関しては、(1) 生食苗の確保してほしい生産者、(2) 農地借り入れの簡易化してほしい生産者、(3) TQ制度の廃止してほしい生産者は拡大傾向を示した。また、(4) 生食生産を拡大しようとする生産者は新品種を望むこと、(5) 行政は農地借入対策を立案する必要性があること、(6) TQ制度を継続したい生産者は現状維持・縮小傾向にあること、等が明らかにされた。This paper concerns the expansion of fresh-pineapple production in Okinawa, and the following has been concluded. First, on attribute of farmers, there was a tendency that the expansion of fresh-pineapple production was identified by the farmers: (1) working more than 200 days a year. (2) producing more than 25 tons of pineapples a year. (3) whose gross agricultural income is more than 2 million yen. (4) having engaged in the pine. Second, on evaluation of production, the expansion was seen by the farmers: (1) wanting to keep the seedlings of pineapples. (2) hoping to simplify the system of renting lands. (3) hoping to abolish the TQ System. Furthermore, the following tendency was identified. (4) The farmers keen to expand fresh pineapples prefer new varieties of pineapples. (5) Administration is required to plan the legislation of renting lands. The farmers hoping to continue the TQ System tend to maintain or reduce their production

Large-scale analysis of full-length cDNAs from the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivar Micro-Tom, a reference system for the Solanaceae genomics

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Solanaceae family includes several economically important vegetable crops. The tomato (<it>Solanum lycopersicum</it>) is regarded as a model plant of the Solanaceae family. Recently, a number of tomato resources have been developed in parallel with the ongoing tomato genome sequencing project. In particular, a miniature cultivar, Micro-Tom, is regarded as a model system in tomato genomics, and a number of genomics resources in the Micro-Tom-background, such as ESTs and mutagenized lines, have been established by an international alliance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To accelerate the progress in tomato genomics, we developed a collection of fully-sequenced 13,227 Micro-Tom full-length cDNAs. By checking redundant sequences, coding sequences, and chimeric sequences, a set of 11,502 non-redundant full-length cDNAs (nrFLcDNAs) was generated. Analysis of untranslated regions demonstrated that tomato has longer 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions than most other plants but rice. Classification of functions of proteins predicted from the coding sequences demonstrated that nrFLcDNAs covered a broad range of functions. A comparison of nrFLcDNAs with genes of sixteen plants facilitated the identification of tomato genes that are not found in other plants, most of which did not have known protein domains. Mapping of the nrFLcDNAs onto currently available tomato genome sequences facilitated prediction of exon-intron structure. Introns of tomato genes were longer than those of Arabidopsis and rice. According to a comparison of exon sequences between the nrFLcDNAs and the tomato genome sequences, the frequency of nucleotide mismatch in exons between Micro-Tom and the genome-sequencing cultivar (Heinz 1706) was estimated to be 0.061%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The collection of Micro-Tom nrFLcDNAs generated in this study will serve as a valuable genomic tool for plant biologists to bridge the gap between basic and applied studies. The nrFLcDNA sequences will help annotation of the tomato whole-genome sequence and aid in tomato functional genomics and molecular breeding. Full-length cDNA sequences and their annotations are provided in the database KaFTom <url>http://www.pgb.kazusa.or.jp/kaftom/</url> via the website of the National Bioresource Project Tomato <url>http://tomato.nbrp.jp</url>.</p

The role of RelA (p65) threonine 505 phosphorylation in the regulation of cell growth, survival, and migration

The NF-κB family of transcription factors is a well-established regulator of the immune and inflammatory responses and also plays a key role in other cellular processes, including cell death, proliferation, and migration. Conserved residues in the trans-activation domain of RelA, which can be posttranslationally modified, regulate divergent NF-κB functions in response to different cellular stimuli. Using rela(−/−) mouse embryonic fibroblasts reconstituted with RelA, we find that mutation of the threonine 505 (T505) phospho site to alanine has wide-ranging effects on NF-κB function. These include previously described effects on chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis, as well as new roles for this modification in autophagy, cell proliferation, and migration. This last effect was associated with alterations in the actin cytoskeleton and expression of cellular migration–associated genes such as WAVE3 and α-actinin 4. We also define a new component of cisplatin-induced, RelA T505–dependent apoptosis, involving induction of NOXA gene expression, an effect explained at least in part through induction of the p53 homologue, p73. Therefore, in contrast to other RelA phosphorylation events, which positively regulate NF-κB function, we identified RelA T505 phosphorylation as a negative regulator of its ability to induce diverse cellular processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation, and migration

Comparative molecular biological analysis of membrane transport genes in organisms

Comparative analyses of membrane transport genes revealed many differences in the features of transport homeostasis in eight diverse organisms, ranging from bacteria to animals and plants. In bacteria, membrane-transport systems depend mainly on single genes encoding proteins involved in an ATP-dependent pump and secondary transport proteins that use H+ as a co-transport molecule. Animals are especially divergent in their channel genes, and plants have larger numbers of P-type ATPase and secondary active transporters than do other organisms. The secondary transporter genes have diverged evolutionarily in both animals and plants for different co-transporter molecules. Animals use Na+ ions for the formation of concentration gradients across plasma membranes, dependent on secondary active transporters and on membrane voltages that in turn are dependent on ion transport regulation systems. Plants use H+ ions pooled in vacuoles and the apoplast to transport various substances; these proton gradients are also dependent on secondary active transporters. We also compared the numbers of membrane transporter genes in Arabidopsis and rice. Although many transporter genes are similar in these plants, Arabidopsis has a more diverse array of genes for multi-efflux transport and for response to stress signals, and rice has more secondary transporter genes for carbohydrate and nutrient transport

Engineering biomolecular microenvironments for cell instructive biomaterials

Engineered cell instructive microenvironments with the ability to stimulate specific cellular responses is a topic of high interest in the fabrication and development of biomaterials for application in tissue engineering. Cells are inherently sensitive to the in vivo microenvironment that is often designed as the cell “niche”. The cell “niche” comprising the extracellular matrix and adjacent cells, influences not only cell architecture and mechanics, but also cell polarity and function. Extensive research has been performed to establish new tools to fabricate biomimetic advanced materials for tissue engineering that incorporate structural, mechanical and biochemical signals that interact with cells in a controlled manner and to recapitulate the in vivo dynamic microenvironment. Bioactive tunable microenvironments using micro and nanofabrication have been successfully developed and proven to be extremely powerful to control intracellular signaling and cell function. This review is focused in the assortment of biochemical signals that have been explored to fabricate bioactive cell microenvironments and the main technologies and chemical strategies to encode them in engineered biomaterials with biological information.The authors thank Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia for C.A.C.'s PhD grant (SFRH/BD/61390/2009). This work was carried out under the scope of the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no REGPOT-CT2012-316331-POLARIS

Imaging tumour hypoxia with positron emission tomography.

Hypoxia, a hallmark of most solid tumours, is a negative prognostic factor due to its association with an aggressive tumour phenotype and therapeutic resistance. Given its prominent role in oncology, accurate detection of hypoxia is important, as it impacts on prognosis and could influence treatment planning. A variety of approaches have been explored over the years for detecting and monitoring changes in hypoxia in tumours, including biological markers and noninvasive imaging techniques. Positron emission tomography (PET) is the preferred method for imaging tumour hypoxia due to its high specificity and sensitivity to probe physiological processes in vivo, as well as the ability to provide information about intracellular oxygenation levels. This review provides an overview of imaging hypoxia with PET, with an emphasis on the advantages and limitations of the currently available hypoxia radiotracers.Cancer Research UK (CRUK) funded the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) PET Research Working party to organise a meeting to discuss imaging cancer with hypoxia tracers and Positron Emission Tomography. IF was funded by CRUK and is also supported by the Chief Scientific Office. ALH is supported by CRUK and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. RM is funded by NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre.This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Nature Publishing at http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/bjc2014610a.html

Identification of novel schizophrenia loci by homozygosity mapping using DNA microarray analysis.

The recent development of high-resolution DNA microarrays, in which hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are genotyped, enables the rapid identification of susceptibility genes for complex diseases. Clusters of these SNPs may show runs of homozygosity (ROHs) that can be analyzed for association with disease. An analysis of patients whose parents were first cousins enables the search for autozygous segments in their offspring. Here, using the Affymetrix® Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 5.0 to determine ROHs, we genotyped 9 individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ) whose parents were first cousins. We identified overlapping ROHs on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, and 21 in at least 3 individuals. Only the locus on chromosome 5 has been reported previously. The ROHs on chromosome 5q23.3-q31.1 include the candidate genes histidine triad nucleotide binding protein 1 (HINT1) and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 6 (ACSL6). Other overlapping ROHs may contain novel rare recessive variants that affect SCZ specifically in our samples, given the highly heterozygous nature of SCZ. Analysis of patients whose parents are first cousins may provide new insights for the genetic analysis of psychiatric diseases