Is maternal alpha-fetoprotein screening still of value in a low-risk area for neural tube defects?

Estimation of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was used as a screening method for the detection of neural tube defects (NTDs) in 6344 women over three years. Of 88 (1.4 per cent) who had one or more serum AFP levels equal to, or greater than, 2.5 multiples of the median (MoM) for the relevant gestational age, 43 (0.68 per cent) underwent amniocentesis. There were eight NTDs. Four of these were screened by serum AFP, and all cases of spina bifida had serum AFP levels greater than 3.0 MoM, including one small open defect which was not seen on ultrasound. The other four cases of NTD, which were not screened, were identified by ultrasound. Of 64 singleton pregnancies 32 (50 per cent) had serum AFP levels between 2.5 and 3.0 MoM, and low birthweight (⪕2500 g) occurred in 29 per cent. Because of improvements in ultrasound techniques and the apparent falling incidence of NTD, the role of serum AFP as the primary screening procedure should be regularly reviewed. Effective screening is dependent on mothers booking early.     

Recurrence risk of neural tube defects following a miscarriage

Data from 280 sibships in three published series were used to see if the increased risk of neural tube defect (NTD) associated with having had a miscarriage in the immediately preceding pregnancy was also found in women with a previous affected pregnancy. A statistically significant relative risk of 4.0 (2-tail P=0.0111, Fisher exact test) was found among such women, and this could not be accounted for by the effect of parity or of a history of miscarriage in general. The finding may be useful when counselling patients.     

废旧家电产品回收性能评价指标体系的建立

针对家电产品回收工艺流程决策评价的多阶段、多目标的特点,以及不同类型家电产品和不同回收工艺过程的动态特性,采用层次分类方法建立了以经济指标和环境指标为主要内容的回收工艺流程评价指标体系,对指标体系的组成进行了较为详细的分析,讨论了应该考虑的因素及有关计算方法。以电冰箱为例,用改进的模糊层次分析法与遗传算法相结合,介绍了回收工艺流程的优化决策方法。建立的指标体系不仅可以根据评价对象进行动态修改,而且具有较强的可操作性。     

污染生态学的新发展—污染进化生态学

污染胁迫的最显著效应是消除敏感物种或个体，导致植物居群进化。突变是进化的原料，选择是进化的手段，隔离是进化的条件，控制抗性性状的基因因物种及污染物的种类不同而异，但也会出现植物同时具有对某两种或几种污染物的抗性，即所谓协同抗性；污染除使植物衰退外，还可能导致一些遗传信息丧失，使抗性种群内物种单一，降低其适合度，对其它环境胁迫因素的抵抗力下降，即所谓适应代价。     

用MnSO_4作催化剂开管测定废水COD

本研究介绍了用硫酸锰代替硫酸银作催化剂快速开管测定废水中COD的方法。该方法降低了分析成本 ,且使样品的回流时间缩短到 12min ,而准确度和精密度同标准法基本相同。此法取样量少 ,消解速率快 ,适用于大批量水样的测定。     

新排污收费制度

排污收费制度是环境保护的一项有效的经济手段,2003年7月1日,我国开始实施新的排污收费制度。本文对新排污收费制度在排污费收费标准、排污费征收管理和排污费使用管理三方面的改革进行了较为深入的分析。     

关于污水处理厂质量监理工作的探讨

污水处理已引起我国政府的高度重视。以此为契机，通过对阳江市第一净水厂工程监理工作的回顾，初步探讨了污水处理厂质量监理工作。     

小径薄壁管射线透照布置方法

小径薄壁管广泛用于工艺管道中，在对其进行无损探伤时，一般采用双壁双影椭圆成像法和双壁重叠成像法，针对小径薄壁管对接焊缝透照成像的特殊要求，具体介绍双壁双影椭圆成像法的透照布置方法。     

炼铁厂高炉原料仓料位计的选择与应用

高炉料仓环境条件恶劣，而高炉生产又要掌握料位情况。比较了2种料位计，最终选择了SA—2型料位计。     

锅壳锅炉后管板孔桥裂纹事故的分析及处理

分析了锅壳锅炉后管板裂纹产生的原因，阐述了事故发生的机理和处理方法。