Stabilization of Telomeric I‐Motif Structures by (2′S)‐2′‐Deoxy‐2′‐C‐Methylcytidine Residues

G‐quadruplexes and i‐motifs are tetraplex structures present in telomeres and the promoter regions of oncogenes. The possibility of producing nanodevices with pH‐sensitive functions has triggered interest in modified oligonucleotides with improved structural properties. We synthesized C‐rich oligonucleotides carrying conformationally restricted (2′S)‐2′‐deoxy‐2′‐C‐methyl‐cytidine units. The effect of this modified nucleoside on the stability of intramolecular i‐motifs from the vertebrate telomere was investigated by UV, CD, and NMR spectroscopy. The replacement of selected positions of the C‐core with C‐modified residues induced the formation of stable intercalated tetraplexes at near‐neutral pH. This study demonstrates the possibility of enhancing the stability of the i‐motif by chemical modification.     

Bacterial pathogen incidences in sludge from Swedish sewage treatment plants

This study surveyed the presence of bacterial pathogens in eight Swedish sewage treatment plants (STPs), with four different treatment methods, focusing on detection of zoonotic bacteria in raw and treated sludge. Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter coli and jejuni, Escherichia coli O157 and indicator bacteria were investigated. Samplings were performed from July 2000 to June 2002, resulting in 64 raw sludge samples and 69 treated sludge samples. The samples from raw sludge (67%) and treated sludge (55%) were positive for Salmonella; 49 different serotypes were detected. Restriction enzyme analysis and pulsed field gel electrophoresis of Salmonella serotypes indicated that Salmonella persists in STPs and that there is a continuous supply of new strains. There are differences in treatment methods concerning the reduction of pathogens and indicator bacteria. If spread on arable land, sludge increases the environmental load of pathogens; this increases the risk for spreading diseases to people and animals.     

英国谢菲尔德大学景观系风景园林硕士设计课程简述

本文对谢菲尔德大学景观系风景园林硕士的教学工作、教学理念进行了综合介绍。主要侧重讲授式硕士课程(TaughtMastersProgrammes),尤其是两年制风景园林硕士(2YearMAinLandscapeArchitecture)和一年制风景园林硕士(1YearMAinLandscapeStudies)课程。介绍了教学计划中的四个课程单元,即生态设计与管理、综合景观设计、城市景观规划、城市设计,并相应附有各课程单元最近的优秀学生作业。     

The effect of copper and protein on iron metabolism in rats fed a cereal diet

Weanling male white rats were fed a diet containing a commercially available breakfast cereal. In 28 days they developed a mild anemia coupled with an increased amount of iron in the liver. In parallel work, this same diet was supplemented in a factorial fashion with casein, iron, copper and zinc. The zinc had no effect. Copper supplementation increased the hemoglobin level. Casein decreased liver iron. The copper and casein, when fed together, produced results approaching normal control levels. Supplementation of the diet with additional iron did not increase the hemoglobin or hematocrit but it did further increase iron storage in the liver. It is suggested that cereal enrichment programs might do well to consider copper and protein rather than focus total attention on additional iron and zinc.     

面板堆石坝变形监测研究(英文)

面板堆石坝的安全依赖于良好的设计、施工和在大坝施工及运行期的实时监测,土工监测技术和测绘技术可以用来监测大坝位移,并对大坝的非正常变形提供预警。面板堆石坝一般在施工期和蓄水期会发生较大变形:在施工期,堆石体和上游面板会因为自重而相互积压发生变形;在蓄水期,堆石体和上游面板会在水压力的作用下发生变形。为了保证面板的整体性和大坝安全,特别要防止面板的变形超过其最大允许变形。由于对筑坝材料参数的不完全可知性和计算理论的不完善,必须对大坝及其周边变形进行严密监测以预防大坝发生较大变形。应用有限元方法对中国某面板堆石坝位移变化进行研究。     

Book reviews

Housing in Scotland. Hector Currie & Alan Murie (Eds). Chartered Institute of Housing. Policy and Practice Series, £15.00 paperback. ISBN 0 901607 91 6.

The Home: Words, Interpretations, Meanings and Environments. D. Benjamin (Ed.). Avebury, Aldershot 1995, £37.00 hardback. ISBN 1 856628 8889.

Rethinking Local Democracy. Desmond King & Gerry Stoker (Eds). Macmillan, London, 1996, 233 pp, £13.95, paperback. ISBN 8039 8864 8.

An Introduction to Social Housing. Paul Reeves. Arnold, London, 1996, 273 pp, £13.99, paperback. ISBN 0 340 661976.

Representing the City: Ethnicity, Capital and Culture in the Twenty‐First Century Metropolis. Anthony D. King (Ed.). Macmillan Press, London, 1996, £13.99, paperback. ISBN 0 333601920.

Homeless. Gerald Daly. Routledge, London, 1996, 293 pp., £14.95. ISBN 0415 12029 2.

The Environmental Impact of Land and Property Management. Yvonne Rydin (Ed.). Wiley, Chichester, 1996, 196 pp., £45.00 hardback. ISBN 0 471966126.

Conservation and the City. Peter Larkham. Routledge, London, 1996, 329 pp., £17.99 paperback. ISBN 0 415 079478.     

Immobilization of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd, Mn) in the mineral additions containing concrete composites

The presented work determines the level of heavy metals (Pb+2, Cu+2, Zn+2, Cr+6, Cd+2, Mn+2) immobilization in the composites produced using Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) as well as of binders containing large amount of mineral additives in its composition-siliceous fly ash (FA), fluidized bed combustion ash (FFA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). Heavy metals were introduced to cementitious materials in the form of soluble salts as well as components of hazardous wastes (medical ash, metallurgical dust). It has been stated, that the level of heavy metals immobilization is combined with composites composition. Majority of analyzed heavy metals, added to binders' composition in the form of heavy metal salts achieves high level of immobilization, in mortar based on binder with 85% GGBFS and 15% OPC. The lowest immobilization level was reached for chromium Cr+6 added to hardening mortars as Na2Cr2O72H2O. The level ranges from 85.97% in mortars made on blended binder (20% OPC, 30% FFA and 50% GGBFS) to 93.33% in mortar produced on OPC. The increase of the so-called immobilization degree with time of hardened material maturing was found. This should be attributed to the pozzolanic or pozzolanic/hydraulic properties of components used; their effect on microstructure of hardened material is also important. Mineral additions enter the hydration reactions in the mixtures and favor the formation of specific microstructure promoting the immobilization of hazardous elements.     

Reproducible comet assay of amorphous silica nanoparticles detects no genotoxicity

Genotoxicity of commercial colloidal and laboratory-synthesized silica nanoparticles was tested using the single cell gel electrophoresis or Comet assay. By using a carefully developed protocol and careful characterization of the nanoparticle dispersions, Comet assays were performed on 3T3-L1 fibroblasts with 3, 6, and 24 h incubations and 4 or 40 microg/ml of silica nanoparticles. No significant genotoxicity was observed for the nanoparticles tested under the conditions described, and results were independently validated in two separate laboratories, showing that in vitro toxicity testing can be quantitatively reproducible.