Heterodimerization of Group I Ribozymes Enabling Exon Recombination through Pairs of Cooperative trans‐Splicing Reactions

Group I (GI) self‐splicing ribozymes are attractive tools for biotechnology and synthetic biology. Several trans‐splicing and related reactions based on GI ribozymes have been developed for the purpose of recombining their target mRNA sequences. By combining trans‐splicing systems with rational modular engineering of GI ribozymes it was possible to achieve more complex editing of target RNA sequences. In this study we have developed a cooperative trans‐splicing system through rational modular engineering with use of dimeric GI ribozymes derived from the Tetrahymena group I intron ribozyme. The resulting pairs of ribozymes exhibited catalytic activity depending on their selective dimerization. Rational modular redesign as performed in this study would facilitate the development of sophisticated regulation of double or multiple trans‐splicing reactions in a cooperative manner.     

One-year monthly monitoring of Torque teno virus (TTV) in wastewater treatment plants in Japan

Torque teno virus (TTV) is a novel hepatitis virus which is considered to be transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Wastewater samples were collected monthly from eight wastewater treatment plants in Japan for 1 year, from July 2003 to June 2004, and tested for the presence of TTV by TaqMan PCR. TTV was detected in 97% (93/96) of influent samples, implying that TTV is epidemic in Japan. TTV was also isolated in 18% (17/96) of secondary effluent samples before chlorination and in 24% (23/95) of final effluent samples after chlorination. There was no significant difference between the concentration of total coliform in TTV-positive final effluents and that in TTV-negative final effluents, which indicates that total coliform cannot be used as an indicator of TTV. No TTV was detected in 24 effluents for reuse from two wastewater treatment plants using sand filtration and ozonation.     

The long-term evolutions and the regional characteristics of atmospheric methane concentrations in Nagoya, 1983-1997

This study provides information on the long-term evolutions of the atmospheric methane (CH4) concentrations in Nagoya City, Japan, which were analyzed by using the continuous monitoring data observed at the eight observatory stations for 1983-1997. The 15-year records of the atmospheric CH4 concentrations were examined by means of a time-series analysis using a fast Fourier transform with a low-pass filter to elucidate the seasonal cycles and the long-term trends. The annual averages of the CH4 concentrations in Nagoya were 1.85 ppmv (parts per million by volume), 1.91 ppmv, and 1.90 ppmv in 1988, 1995 and 1997, respectively. Moreover, the annual average growth rate showed a drastic decrease from 17 ppbv (parts per billion by volume) year(-1) in 1992 to 2 ppbv year(-1) in 1993, and further down to 7 ppbv year(-1) in 1997. Comparison of the atmospheric CH4 records in Nagoya with those in global air of the northern hemisphere observed at Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii, USA, allows us to estimate the excess concentration of CH4 in the urban atmosphere of Nagoya, which was 0.17 ppmv in 1988 and 0.15 ppmv in 1997. On a local scale, the atmospheric CH4 concentrations in the northern part of Nagoya City increased until 1992 and then gradually decreased from 1993 to 1997, although those in the south-western urban areas constantly increased at the averaged growth rate of 13 ppbv year(-1) for 1988-1997. The variation of the long-term trends of the CH4 concentrations in Nagoya may be ascribed to the emission changes from the CH4 sources due to the human activities such as waste dumping and landfills.     

日本国保桥本市民医院工程简介

本文对日本国保桥本市民医院工程做一概述。     

Preliminary results of simultaneous radon and thoron tests in Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. In the previous crossCanada radon survey, Ottawa was not included. There is greatinterest to know radon level as well as thoron concentrationin Ottawa homes. Therefore, radon/thoron discrimination detectorsdeveloped at the National Institute of Radiological Sciencesin Japan were deployed in 93 houses for a period of 3 months.As expected, thoron is present in Ottawa homes. Radon concentrationsranged from 8 to 1525 Bq m^–3 while thoron concentrationsvaried from 5 to 924 Bq m^–3. The arithmetic mean of radonand thoron concentrations were found to be 110 ± 168and 56 ± 123 Bq m^–3, respectively.     

New superconducting lead cuprate with 1201 structure, (Pb0.5B0.5) (SrLa)CuOz

New Pb-based superconducting cuprate with the 1201 structure has been synthesized in the (Pb_1 − yB_y)(Sr_2 − xLa_x)CuO_z system. From X-ray powder diffraction study, the almost-single 1201 phase sample is found to be obtained at x = 1.0 and y = 0.5 for the nominal composition of (Pb_1 − yB_y)(Sr_2 − xLa_x)CuO_z. The crystal structure has a tetragonal symmetry with the lattice parameters of a = 0.3779 nm and c = 0.8654 nm. The sample shows an onset of superconductivity at about 32 K as measured by the temperature dependence of the DC magnetic susceptibility.     

Rotating fullerene chains in carbon nanopeapods

The rotation of fullerene chains in SWNT peapods is studied using low-voltage high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Anisotropic fullerene chain structures (i.e., C300) are formed in situ in carbon nanopeapods via electron beam induced coalescence of individual fullerenes (i.e., C60). A low electron accelerating voltage of 80 kV is used to prevent damage to the SWNT. The large asymmetric C300 fullerene structure exhibits translational motion inside the SWNT and unique corkscrew like rotation motion. Another asymmetric fullerene chain containing mixed fullerene species is prepared by fusing smaller C60 fullerenes to a larger Sc@C82 fullerene, and this also exhibits corkscrew rotational motion. Chains of Sc3C2@C80 in SWNT peapods adopt a zigzag packing structure, and the entire zigzag chain rotates inside the SWNT to induce structural modifications to the SWNT diameter and cross-sectional shape of the SWNT. The expansion and contraction of the diameter of the SWNT is measured as 17%, demonstrating nanoactuation behavior in carbon nanopeapods.     

Influence of clay incorporation on the physical properties of polyethylene/Brazilian clay nanocomposites

High density polyethylene/Brazilian clay nanocomposites were prepared by the melt intercalation technique. A montmorillonite sample from Boa Vista/PB, Northeast of Brazil, was organically modified with esthearildimethylammonium chloride (Praepagen WB) quaternary ammonium salt. The unmodified and modified clays with the quaternary ammonium salt were introduced in 1, 2, 3 and 5 wt% in a PE polymer matrix. The dispersion analysis and the interlayer distance of the clay particles were obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mechanical properties of tensile and the flammability of the nanocomposites were studied. In general, the mechanical properties of the systems presented superior values compared to the matrix. The systems showed a reduction on the burning rate, indicating that the flammability resistance of nanocomposites was improved.     

Imaging the passage of a single hydrocarbon chain through a nanopore

Molecular transport through nanoscale pores in films, membranes and wall structures is of fundamental importance in a number of physical, chemical and biological processes. However, there is a lack of experimental methods that can obtain information on the structure and orientation of the molecules as they pass through the pore, and their interactions with the pore during passage. Imaging with a transmission electron microscope is a powerful method for studying structural changes in single molecules as they move and for imaging molecules confined inside carbon nanotubes. Here, we report that such imaging can be used to observe the structure and orientation of a hydrocarbon chain as it passes through nanoscale defects in the walls of a single-walled carbon nanotube to the vacuum outside, and also to study the interactions between the chain and the nanopore. Based on experiments at 293 K and 4 K we conclude that the major energy source for the molecular motions observed at 4 K is the electron beam used for the imaging.