昨天/明天: 意大利城市保护与发展50年

本文记录了意大利城市保护的理论和文化信息,更重要的是,它展示了由城市和区域部门执行的具体保护案例,并展示了大学研究中心在保护技术和方法上的进步。主要分为4个部分：历史、城市议题、景观议题、培训和国际合作。从城市设计的理念和技术的角度,向世人解析意大利古罗马建筑如何在现代化城市进程中愈加焕发时尚气息的领先技术。中国现阶段正经历着经济快速发展所带来的种种迷惑,或许能从分享中找到答案。     

Yeast diversity in crop-growing environments in Cameroon

In the present study, we have investigated the occurrence of yeast flora on several agricultural products coming from crop-growing environments in Cameroon, to provide better knowledge of the biodiversity of yeast flora, and to thus define the impact of this biodiversity on food products. The yeast biodiversity was investigated using traditional culture-dependent methods, along with culture-independent methods. The culture-dependent approach was carried out using both direct and enrichment procedures, to detect the broadest possible presence of yeast species. A total of 151 strains belonging to 26 different yeast species were isolated and identified using restriction pattern analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region 5.8S-ITS and sequence analysis of D1/D2 domain of 26S rRNA gene. The enrichment isolation procedures carried out in high-sugar media allowed the recognition of fermentative species such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Torulaspora delbrueckii, which have previously not been detected using direct isolation methodology. The results of culture-independent method using DGGE patterns and sequencing of the DNA bands revealed a lower number of yeast species when compared with the culture-dependent methodology even if the identification of several yeast species not detected by traditional microbiological procedures such as Candida tropicalis and Hanseniaspora uvarum is allowed. Thus, these multiphasic approaches to study yeast biodiversity (culture-dependent and -independent methods) have allowed us to get a more complete picture of the microbial diversity in these natural environments.     

Determination of hemin-binding characteristics of proteins by a combinatorial peptide library approach

Studies of the binding of heme/hemin to proteins or peptides have recently intensified as it became evident that heme serves not only as a prosthetic group, but also as a regulator and effector molecule interacting with transmembrane and cytoplasmic proteins. The iron‐ion‐containing heme group can associate with these proteins in different ways, with the amino acids Cys, His, and Tyr allowing individual modes of binding. Strong coordinate‐covalent binding, such as in cytochrome c, is known, and reversible attachment is also discussed. Ligands for both types of binding have been reported independently, though sometimes with different affinities for similar sequences. We applied a combinatorial approach using the library (X)₄(C/H/Y)(X)₄ to characterize peptide ligands with considerable hemin binding capacities. Some of the library‐selected peptides were comparable in terms of hemin association independently of whether or not a cysteine residue was present in the sequence. Indeed, a preference for His‐based (≈39 %) and Tyr‐based (≈40 %) sequences over Cys‐based ones (≈21 %) was detected. The binding affinities for the library‐selected peptides, as determined by UV/Vis spectroscopy, were in the nanomolar range. Moreover, selected representatives efficiently competed for hemin binding with the human BK channel hSlo1, which is known to be regulated by heme through binding to its heme‐binding domain.     

Structure, dynamics and interactions of complex sol-gel hybrid materials through SSNMR and DSC: Part II, ternary systems based on PE-PEG block copolymer, PHS and silica

This work is the second part of a study aimed at understanding in more depth structure, dynamics, interactions and correlations between morphology and barrier properties against oxygen diffusion of complex PE-PEG/PHS/SiO₂ hybrids prepared through a sol-gel process. Using a combined DSC and solid-state NMR approach, including ¹³C and ²⁹Si experiments and ¹H ultra-fast MAS spectra, the structural, phase and interaction properties of three PE-PEG/PHS/SiO₂ samples with different compositions, exhibiting different barrier performances, have been investigated, also taking into account the results obtained for the simpler one- and two-component systems (Part I). While the structure of the silica domains has been found to be not affected by composition, many differences have been observed concerning the phase and dynamic properties of the organic components (PE and PEG crystallinity and mobility of their amorphous domains) and the inter-component interactions (strength of the hydrogen bonds between PHS and both silica and PEG and PHS/PEG miscibility). In particular peculiar phase and interaction properties of the sample exhibiting the best barrier properties have been identified and characterized.     

EPA or DHA Supplementation Increases Triacylglycerol,but not Phospholipid,Levels in Isolated Rat Cardiomyocytes

It is well recognized that a high dietary intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) has profound benefits on health and prevention of chronic diseases. In particular, in recent years there has been a dramatic surge of interest in the health effects of n-3 LC-PUFA derived from fish, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids. Notwithstanding, the metabolic fate and the effects of these fatty acids once inside the cell has seldom been comprehensively investigated. Using cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes as model system we have investigated for the first time, by means of high-resolution magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HR-MAS NMR) spectroscopy in combination with gas chromatography (GC), the modification occurring in the cell lipid environment after EPA and DHA supplementation. The most important difference between control and n-3 LC-PUFA-supplemented cardiomyocytes highlighted by HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy is the increase of signals from mobile lipids, identified as triacylglycerols (TAG). The observed increase of mobile TAG is a metabolic response to n-3 LC-PUFA supplementation, which leads to an increased lipid storage. The sequestration of mobile lipids in lipid bodies provides a deposit of stored energy that can be accessed in a regulated fashion according to metabolic need. Interestingly, while n-3 LC-PUFA supplementation to neonatal rat cardiomyocytes causes a huge variation in the cell lipid environment, it does not induce detectable modifications in water-soluble metabolites, suggesting negligible interference with normal metabolic processes.     

Catalytic Oxidation of Dichloromethane and Perchloroethylene: Laboratory and Industrial Scale Studies

Development of a reliable laboratory scale test for the design of industrial catalysts is crucial. In this article, different laboratory-scale tests were compared with an industrial scale CVOCs treatment. With dichloromethane (DCM) the laboratory scale test results corresponded well to the industrial scale oxidation results. However, the perchloroethylene (PCE) conversions measured in industry were always higher than what was achieved in the laboratory scale indicating that the industrial scale catalytic incinerator operating in transient conditions is highly beneficial in PCE oxidation. It was clearly shown that in order to design high-quality laboratory scale experiments, information on complete composition and total concentration of the emission is needed but also different types of catalytic tests need to be used depending on the industrial reactor. In addition, the catalysts’ performance in an industrial VOC abatement unit was examined as the oxidation efficiencies of DCM, PCE and other hydrocarbons (OHC) were compared after 3, 10 and 23 months of operation. After 23 months and 13,065 operating hours, no significant decrease in the activity of the catalysts was observed showing that the used noble metal catalysts are highly resistant towards these demanding conditions.     

The Iridium‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Symmetrically and Unsymmetrically Alkylated Diamines under Mild Reaction Conditions

An iridium catalyst – stabilized by an anionic P,N ligand – was used for the symmetrical and unsymmetrical monoalkylation of para‐, meta‐, and ortho‐benzenediamines. Benzyl and aliphatic alcohols were used as alkylating reagents. 28 derivatives were synthesized. 14 of them are new compounds. Furthermore, the alkylation of the pharmacological important diamine Dapson^® (dapsone) is described. 14 dapsone derivatives were synthesized among them 9 new compounds.     

Experimental Phase Diagram Determination and Thermodynamic Assessment of the CeO2‐Gd2O3‐CoO System

New phase diagram data and a thermodynamic assessment of the CeO‐Gd₂O₃‐CoO system using the CALPHAD approach are presented. This information is needed to understand the surprisingly low sintering temperature (950°C–1050°C) of CeO₂‐based materials doped with small amounts of transition metal oxide (e.g., CoO). Experimental phase equilibria between 1100°C and 1300°C are reported based on the analysis of annealed and molten samples. No isolated compound exists in the ternary. At 1300°C the Co solubility in the ternary compounds Ce_1?x?yGd_xCo_yO_2?x/2?y (fluorite) is 2.7 mol% and is less than 1 mol% in the Gd_2?xCe_xO_3+x/2 (bixbyite). The Ce solubility in the perovskite GdCoO_3?δ was found to be 1 mol%. The lowest temperature eutectic melt in the ternary has a composition of 57.2 mol% Co and 41.1 mol% Gd melting at an onset temperature of 1303 ± 5°C, which is close to the binary eutectic in the Gd₂O₃‐CoO system at 60 ± 2 mol% Co and 1348 ± 1°C.