Prenatal diagnosis of partial monosomy 18p(18p11.2→pter) and trisomy 21q(21q22.3→qter) with alobar holoprosencephaly and premaxillary agenesis

A prenatal diagnosis of partial monosomy 18p(18p11.2→pter) and trisomy 21q(21q22.3→qter) in a fetus with alobar holoprosencephaly (HPE) and premaxillary agenesis (PMA) but without the classical Down syndrome phenotype is reported. A 27-year-old primigravida woman was referred for genetic counselling at 21 weeks' gestation due to sonographic findings of craniofacial abnormalities. Level II ultrasonograms manifested alobar HPE and median orofacial cleft. Cytogenetic analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on cells obtained from amniocentesis revealed partial monosomy 18p and a cryptic duplication of 21q,46,XY,der(18)t(18;21)(p11.2;q22.3), resulting from a maternal t(18;21) reciprocal translocation. The breakpoints were ascertained by molecular genetic analysis. The pregnancy was terminated. Autopsy showed alobar HPE with PMA, pituitary dysplasia, clinodactyly and classical 18p deletion phenotype but without the presence of major typical phenotypic features of Down syndrome. The phenotype of this antenatally diagnosed case is compared with those observed in six previously reported cases with monosomy 18p due to 18;21 translocation. The present study is the first report of concomitant deletion of HPE critical region of chromosome 18p11.3 and cryptic duplication of a small segment of distal chromosome 21q22.3 outside Down syndrome critical region. The present study shows that cytogenetic analyses are important in detecting chromosomal aberrations in pregnancies with prenatally detected craniofacial abnormalities, and adjunctive molecular investigations are useful in elucidating the genetic pathogenesis of dysmorphism. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SUSTAINABILITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL: MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND MUNICIPAL TAX INCENTIVE MODEL

The implementation of sustainable development may seem a simple concept when written on paper. However to carry-out long term actions put forward by the Agenda 21 (AG21) at the local level represents one of the main challenges as municipal governments in general do not have the capacity to effectively implement the process. Regional environmental assessment (REA) has shown to be effective in supporting decision-making not only to correct environmental problems due to past unsustainable social-economic developments but also help local governments to implement sustainable actions. However this requires long-term investments of AG21 plans and projects. The allocation of regular and consistent financial resources is one of the main ingredients for the sustainable development process. But traditional plans and projects financed by national and/or international funds may not be sustainable in the long-term because they become dependent on external funding. Research demonstrate that innovative economic instruments such as ecotaxes represent a feasible alternative to sponsor local sustainability because taxes are collected permanently by the government and could be invested in continuous actions. Ecotaxes experiences have provided important reference to structure a municipal incentive model (MIM) to sponsor AG21’s environmental plans and projects on a long-term (permanent) basis. However sustainable development cannot be solely through economic investments. A comprehensive municipal environmental management scheme (MEMS) has been established to support the incentive model. The scheme seeks not only to improve local institutional framework but also incentive continuous participation of local stakeholders at all levels of society. Participatory events and the provision of incentives (educational and financial) are key to motivate society to protect the environment and support actively the sustainable development process as emphasised in the RIO-92 Conference.     

近10年中国三大经济区太阳总辐射特征及其与O3、PM2.5的关系

采用中国地面气象观测站网2007~2016年的辐射日值数据集和中国空气质量在线监测平台2014~2016年逐日观测数据,分析了京津冀、长三角和珠三角近10a太阳总辐射年际和季节变化,近3a臭氧日最大8h平均（O_{3_8h_max}）和细颗粒物（PM_2.5）的污染过程频次变化,通过不同因子及其不同强度等级的分型统计,探讨PM_2.5、O_{3_8h_max}与太阳总辐射的关系.结果表明：京津冀近10a太阳总辐射显著上升,京津冀春季和珠三角夏季太阳总辐射显著上升.三大经济区PM_2.5污染过程年频次均呈现逐年递减,且从北到南递减;O₃污染过程年频次时间上呈现先减后增,空间上京津冀多于长三角和珠三角.三大经济区O_{3_8h_max}与太阳总辐射相关系数均在0.71以上,有较强的正相关;而PM_2.5与太阳总辐射的相关性具有区域差异性.三大经济区不同季节不同太阳总辐射下O_{3_8h_max}与PM_2.5的相关关系差异显著,其中京津冀春夏秋三季O_{3_8h_max}与PM_2.5在强太阳总辐射下有较好的正相关,冬季则存在一定的负相关;长三角四季两者相关性均较弱;珠三角夏季两者正相关最为显著;不同PM_2.5浓度下O_{3_8h_max}与太阳总辐射的线性拟合效果较好,体现出较强的正相关关系,各经济区拟合曲线的倾向率均随PM_2.5升高而增大.PM_2.5>75μg/m³时拟合优度均达到最大.     

英国的地方可持续发展战略

对英国可持续发展进程，国家及地方的可持续发展指标体系，以及地方21世纪议程编制的内容及特点进行了分析。     

环保产业——上海21世纪新的经济增长点

环境与经济协调发展已成为世界性主题,环境保护、绿色浪潮的呼声越来越高,许多国家都在瞄准这一全球性的环保大市场。尽管目前上海的环保产业还比较弱,但应当看到其发展的广阔前景和良好条件,只要方方面面重视环保产业的发展,环保产业必将成为上海21世纪新的经济增长点。该文从环保产业在经济发展中的作用谈起,展望了环保产业发展的市场前景,并就上海环保产业发展的主要方向作了较详细的阐述。     

Prenatal diagnosis of mosaic 4p – in a fetus with trisomy 21

Mosaicism for the Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, del(4)(p16), is extremely rare and has not been reported in association with a numerical chromosome abnormality. We report the prenatal diagnosis of mosaic del(4)(p16) and non-mosaic trisomy 21 in a 16-week female fetus. The pregnancy ended in spontaneous abortion at 34 weeks secondary to fetal demise. The fetus had features of both 4p – and trisomy 21.