Amniotic fluid disaccharidases in the prenatal detection of cystic fibrosis

Intestinal disaccharidases in amniotic fluid were studied in 41 pregnancies with a recurrence risk for cystic fibrosis (CF). In 11 out of 13 pregnancies with CF fetuses the maltase and sucrase activities were either below the control range (8 cases) or below the 10th percentile of control values (3 cases). Trehalase and lactase were slightly less informative indicators of CF. Of the other 28 pregnancies 3 had low amniotic fluid activities of several intestinal enzymes and were terminated, 12 resulted in the birth of a healthy child and 13 are continuing. The findings in fetal CF suggest an impairment of the defaecation of intestinal contents into the amniotic fluid. Reduced or low amniotic fluid disaccharidase activities were also found in other fetal disorders with demonstrated or presumed intestinal anomalies: e.g. anal atresia (2 cases), anencephaly (3 our of the 7 cases), trisomy 13 (5 cases), trisomy 18 (3 of the 5 cases) and trisomy 21 (19 of the 22 cases). Reduced amniotic fluid disaccharidase activities, although not specific for CF, are highly informative in pregnancies at high risk for CF. Using the 10th percentile of the normal range for amniotic fluid disaccharidase activities as an action line, the sensitivity of CF detection is estimated at 80 to 90 per cent, which could in high risk pregnancies reduce the risk of having another affected child from 1 in 4 to 1 in 20.     

In utero diagnosis and treatment of fetal goitrous hypothyroidism,caused by maternal use of propylthiouracil

A fetal goitre is a potentially dangerous phenomenon because of mechanical obstruction and possible fetal thyroid function disorders. In this report we describe a patient with Graves' disease diagnosed in early pregnancy and treated with propylthiouracil, which resulted in a large fetal goitre and fetal hypothyroidism. The diagnostic problems are discussed and we focus on the need for fetal thyroid hormone serum evaluation. The only reliable way to obtain information about the fetal thyroid status is percutaneous fetal umbilical cord blood sampling, since amniotic fluid levels do not properly represent the fetal thyroid function. Fetal hypothyroidism can thus be diagnosed in utero and treated with intra-amniotic injections of thyroxine. The recommended dose and frequency of injections are only based on a few case reports and for that reason we performed a second fetal blood sampling 1 week later to evaluate our therapy. Weekly intra-amniotic injections of 250 μg of thyroxine seem to be sufficient to reduce a fetal goitre and give a normal thyroid hormone level.     

Prenatal analyses in a pregnancy at risk for β-mannosidosis

Prenatal analyses were performed in the pregnancy of the mother of a patient with β-mannosidase deficiency. Partial deficiency of β-mannosidase activity in the chorionic villi indicated a heterozygous fetus and this first-trimester diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by amniocentesis.     

The citrus pyslla, Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio) (hemiptera: Triozidae): A review

The literature on the citrus psylla, Trioza erytreae, published since 1897, is reviewed. The citrus psylla is an important vector of the greening disease of citrus. The stages of development and life history are discussed. Of the factors that influence population size, flushing of the host plants and high saturation deficits are the most important. Methods of population monitoring and control are summarised. The main means of reducing vector numbers and therefore the spread of greening disease, are resistance of citrus trees to greening disease, restricting citrus growing to hot, low-lying regions of the country, and strict vector control in nurseries. Requirements for further research, are discussed.     

The relationship between dewlap size and performance changes with age and sex in a Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) lizard population

Ornaments are believed to signal an individual's ability to reproduce successfully and/or survive. Since an individual's fitness is often influenced by multiple traits (e.g. number of copulations, ability to acquire nest sites or to escape predators), which are difficult to quantify simultaneously, we examine performance traits (bite force, jumping performance) believed to be relevant to an individual's fitness. Specifically, we ask whether variation in dewlap size is related to variation in body size, bite force and jumping ability in the lizard Anolis carolinensis. Our results show that dewlap size is correlated with jumping capacity across all individuals, whereas the relationships between dewlap size, body size and bite force differ depending on sex/age class. We argue that selection against relatively large dewlaps at the transition between small mature and large mature males might be responsible for the lack of a relationship within large males. The absence or presence of a correlation between dewlap size and bite force, on the other hand, might be explained by differences in behaviour, such as territory establishment, anti-predator tactics, and/or mate choice. Our work thus suggests that selective forces influencing the evolution of ornaments may operate differently on different sexes and life-history stages.     

Ecologically based management of rodents in the real world: applied to a mixed agroecosystem in Vietnam.

Rodents cause significant damage to lowland irrigated rice crops in the Red River Delta of Vietnam. A four-year study was conducted in 1999-2002 to examine the effectiveness of applying rodent control practices using the principles of ecologically based pest management. Four 100-150 ha study sites adjacent to villages were selected and farmers on two treated sites were asked to follow a set of rodent management practices, while farmers on the untreated sites were asked not to change their typical practices. Farmers on the treated sites were encouraged to use trap-barrier systems (TBS's; 0.065-ha early planted crop surrounded by a plastic fence with multiple capture traps; one TBS for every 10-15 ha), to work together over large areas by destroying burrows in refuge habitats soon after planting (before the rats reestablish in the fields and before the onset of breeding), synchronizing planting and harvesting of the their rice crops, cleaning up weeds and piles of straw, and keeping bund (embankment) size small (<30 cm) to prevent burrowing. A 75% reduction in the use of rodenticides and plastic barrier fences (without traps or an early crop) was achieved on treated sites. The abundance of rodents was low after implementation of the management practices across all sites. There was no evidence for an effect of treatment on the abundance of rodents captured each month using live-capture traps, and no difference in damage between treatments or in yields obtained from the rice crops. Therefore, ecologically based rodent management was equally effective as typical practices for rodent management. Farmers on the treated sites spent considerably less money applying rodent control practices, which was reflected in the comparative increase in the partial benefit:cost of applying ecologically based rodent management from 3:1 on treated sites and untreated sites prior to the implementation of treatments to 17:1 on treated sites in the final year of the project.     

Generations as social categories: An exploratory cognitive study of generational identity and generational stereotypes in a multigenerational workforce

Even though the academic press recognizes generational diversity and its consequences, the related findings are fractured, and research is incomplete regarding methodology and theoretical background. In adopting a social identity perspective concerning groups and self‐conception, we argue that the social identity perspective is in line with generational identity theory. Employing a cognitive mapping method (repertory grid technique, mixed methods), the present study taps into three generations (Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y) of Belgian managers' minds and demonstrates how they perceive their own and the two other generations. Our research reveals that perceptions of their own and other generations may direct social categorization and generational stereotypes of the in‐group and out‐group(s), that some of these stereotypes can be enacted, and that generational stereotypes do not necessarily coincide with age‐based stereotypes. Several metapatterns in the stereotypes are revealed as well. Hence, we contribute to the emerging field of research that calls for an identity‐based approach rather than a cohort‐based approach to generations and that validates the argument that generations as a workplace phenomenon must be considered a legitimate phenomenon. Insights into generations as social categories give a richer view of the interrelationships between generations in multigenerational situations at work.     

THE STABILITY IN WATER OF A NEW CHLORAMINE DISINFECTANT1

ABSTRACT: The stability in water of a novel new chloramine agent, 3-chloro-4, 4-dimethyl-2-oxazolidinone (agent I), which is an excellent water disinfectant, has been compared to the stabilities of several other water disinfectants. The agents tested in addition to agent I included N-chlorosuccinimide, 2, 4-dichloro-5, 5-dimethylhydantoin, tichloroisocyanuric acid, calcium hypochlorite, commercial grade HTH, and household bleach. The total chlorine content of a water solution of agent I in a demand free environment remains constant over a period of at least eight weeks, while that for all of the other agents declines markedly over that time period. An explanation for these observations will be offered. Prior work in these laboratories concerning use of agent I as a disinfectant for lake water in a laboratory scale treatment plant had shown that agent I has considerable potential for use as an alternative to chlorine gas for water disinfection.