Biotechnology in Japan and other Asian countries

By combining information about Biotechnology in Japan manually retrieved from Chemical Abstracts (Biochemical Section) with information obtained from Japanese sources, Japanese scientific meetings and from appropriate magazines such as Nikkei Biotech, a basis was formed for a better understanding of the status and perspectives of this field. Through the development of a "biotechnology abstract analyzer" program, these data were further refined and prepared for continuous up-date. Thus, assessment of changes in institute structures and trends in research goals became possible. It is evident that similar procedures can be applied to any field of science in other geographic areas.     

THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA EXPERIENCE IN RESOLVING DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT CONFLICTS1

ABSTRACT: Land development projects that are presumed to have regional impact according to the Florida Land and Water Management Act of 1972 are forced to minimize adverse environmental impact through a detailed procedure called Application for Development Approval (ADA). In Southeast Florida, as part of this review process, the water-supply and flooding conflicts must be resolved with the regional water management agency, Central and South Florida Flood Control District (FCD). This paper discusses the efforts to resolve these two conflicts for a large proposed residential development in Broward County, Florida. The project, as envisioned by Leadership Housing, Inc., places 25,000 dwelling units on the 3,960-acre site. The project is located in a flood prone area of the Hillsboro Canal Basin and is at the northwest edge of the Biscayne Aquifer. Significant land modification is required to flood-proof the project. The water-supply conflict was resolved only when the FCD was assured that the ultimate water demand for the project was balanced by the natural recharge to the site. Significant water-resources studies were required to produce these conflict resolutions.     

Angiogenesis factors in gliomas: a new key to tumour therapy?

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is required for the growth and expansion of tumours. Gliomas, the most common brain tumours, are particularly highly vascularized and, therefore, serve as a model to elucidate the process of tumour angiogenesis and to investigate new anti-angiogenic therapies. This review describes the role of angiogenic factors in glioma angiogenesis and new strategies to inhibit glioma growth by application of anti-angiogenic substances. We focus on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but also examine the role of angiopoietin and pleiotropic factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), pleiotrophin and transforming growth factor- (TFG-). Strategies to inhibit glioma growth by reducing the action of angiogenic factors, by the application of anti-angiogenic substances such as angiostatin or endostatin, or inactivation of endothelial cells, are discussed. These new anti-angiogenic therapies appear to have a high potential not only for the treatment of gliomas, but also of other tumours.     

UN/ECE ICP Materials Dose-response Functions for the Multi-pollutant Situation

A “multi-pollutant exposure programme” reflecting the new pollution situation where SO₂ is no longer the dominating pollutant has been performed by the International Co-operative Programme on Effects on Materials, including Historic and Cultural Monuments (ICP Materials) within the activities of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The main results obtained in the period 1997–2003 are summarised. Dose-response functions are presented for carbon steel, zinc, copper, bronze and limestone. Parameters involved in the functions include besides SO₂ and pH, which were included in the previously developed functions from ICP Materials, also the effect of particulate matter and HNO₃.     

Geothermische Energie

Geothermal energy, produced by the decay of long-lived radioactive elements in the earth's crust and inherited by the earth's formation, appears in a concentrated and exploitable form at several places in the upper 1 to 3 km of the earth's crust. The hotter the rock-water system is, the more use can be made of generation of electricity. District heating, on the other hand, can be performed by rather moderate temperatures of circulating waters in permeable sediments, a situation which is often encountered in the large sediment basins of West and Central Europe.     

Efficient algorithms for statistical estimation in compartmental analysis: Modelling 60Co kinetics in an aquatic microcosm

A mathematical model of radionuclide kinetics in a laboratory microcosm was built by systems identification techniques. Insight into the functioning of the system was obtained from analysis of the model. Methods employed have allowed movements of radioisotopes not directly observable in the experimental system to be distinguished. Results are generalized to whole ecosystems.     

Berichtigung

The Science of Nature -     

Two stage biological treatment of a diazo reactive textile dye and the fate of the dye metabolites

A two stage anaerobic/aerobic bacterial process was used to decolorize and partially mineralize a reactive vinyl sulfone diazo dye C.I. Reactive Black 5 (RB5) in a synthetic wastewater. Since the anchor group of reactive dyes reacts during the dyeing process, the effect the degree of hydrolysis of the vinyl sulfone dye had on decolorization, mineralization and toxicity in each stage was investigated. An overall color removal of approximately 65% was found for both the fully and partially hydrolyzed dye. Partial mineralization of the fully hydrolyzed RB5 was achieved in the two stage rotating disc reactors. While the anchor group metabolite p-aminobenzene-2-hydroxyethylsulfonic acid (p-ABHES) was mineralized, an oxidized form of the center metabolite (1,2-ketimino-7-amino-8-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid) remained in the aerobic stage effluent, causing the effluent to be colored although no RB5 was present. Partially hydrolyzed dye in the influent with vinyl forms of the anchor group caused cessation of biogas production and a reduction in decolorization efficiency in the anaerobic stage. No evidence for mineralization of the partially hydrolyzed dye or its metabolites was found. A method for evaluating dye mineralization using lumped parameters is presented.