Demonstration of spontaneously dividing male fetal cells in maternal blood by negative magnetic cell sorting and fish

We investigated a case of massive feto-maternal bleeding by using negative magnetic cell sorting (MACS) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). A 37-year-old pregnant woman had an uncomplicated amniocentesis for advanced maternal age at 16 weeks' gestation. The fetal karyotype was 46, XY. At 19 weeks' gestation, she had a minor car accident and slight vaginal bleeding. A subsequent Kleihauer-Betke test showed a 140 ml feto-maternal haemorrhage. Serial sonographic examinations indicated a normal fetus and placenta. We performed FISH analysis on maternal peripheral blood at 25 weeks. Anti-CD45 and MACS were used to deplete maternal leucocytes, enriching the proportion of fetal nucleated erythrocytes present. The isolated cells were analysed by using dual-colour FISH with X and Y specific probes. Approximately 65 800 nucleated cells were obtained after MACS depletion. A total of 234 cells were analysed by FISH. The results revealed that 70 of the nucleated cells (30 per cent) were male with one X and one Y signal. Among these cells, six male metaphases were observed in spontaneously dividing cells.     

Application of fluorescent in situ hybridization for ‘de novo’ anomalies in prenatal diagnosis

Fluorescent in situ Hybridization (FISH) was carried out for three cases of abnormal karyotypes in prenatal studies. Two concerned de novo structural anomalies and the third a marker chromosome. The origin of the extra material could be defined in all three cases, which gives a better insight into the relationship between genotype and phenotype and makes more adequate genetic counselling possible.     

Prenatal diagnosis of tetrasomy 12p by in situ hybridization: Varying levels of mosaicism in different fetal tissues

Prenatal diagnosis of tetrasomy 12p is complicated by the discrimination of the 12p isochromosome from the duplication 21q as well as the level of mosaicism demonstrated in the particular tissue sampled. In this disease, a high percentage of chromosomally abnormal cells are generally found in fibroblastic cells, but lymphocyte karyotypes from the same individual may be normal. We report on the pregnancy of a 37-year-old female who presented to our centre at 16 weeks' gestation for genetic amniocentesis. Sonography of the fetus revealed dextrocardia and diaphragmatic hernia. Chromosome analysis of amniocytes demonstrated mosaicism of a 47,XY,+i(12p) line in 80 per cent of cells and a normal male line (20 per cent), consistent with the Pallister-Killian syndrome. Following termination, a 220 g male fetus of 18 weeks was examined. A flattened nose and low-set ears were noted. In situ hybridization with a chromosome 12 centromeric probe in lymphocytes and skin cells unequivocally confirmed the karyotype and showed the presence of a single centromere in the abnormal chromosome, suggesting a true isochromosome. Chromosome analysis of various fetal tissues was performed and the following percentages of abnormal cells were found: skin 100 per cent, chorion 50 per cent, placenta 30 per cent, and blood 80 per cent. The high frequency of tetrasomic cells in fetal blood at this early gestational age is noteworthy, since most reports of this syndrome show a very low percentage of abnormal cells postnatally.     

Enhancement of conservation knowledge through increased access to botanical information

Herbarium specimens are increasingly recognized as an important resource for conservation science and virtual herbaria are making specimens freely available to a wider range of users than ever before. Few virtual herbaria are designed with conservation use as a primary driver. Exceptionally, Brazil's Reflora Virtual Herbarium (RVH) was created to increase knowledge and conservation of the Brazilian flora. The RVH is closely integrated with the Flora of Brazil 2020 platform on which Brazil's new national Flora is under construction. Both resources are accessible via the Reflora home page and thousands of users move seamlessly between these Reflora resources. To understand how the Reflora resources are currently used and their impact on conservation science, we conducted a literature review and an online survey. We searched for publications of studies in which Reflora resources were used and publications resulting from Brazilian researchers who were part of Reflora's research and mobility program. The survey contained multiple choice questions and questions that required a written response. We targeted Reflora webpage visitors with the survey to capture a wider range of Reflora users than the literature review. Reflora resources were used for a variety of conservation-relevant purposes. Half the 806 scientific publications in which Reflora was cited and 81% of the 1069 survey respondents accessing Reflora resources mentioned conservation-relevant research outputs. Most conservation-relevant uses of the Reflora resources in scientific publications were research rather than implementation focused. The survey of Reflora users showed conservation uses and impacts of virtual herbaria were more numerous and diverse than the uses captured in the literature review. Virtual herbaria are vital resources for conservation science, but they must document use and impacts more comprehensively to ensure sustainability.     

Exploring constraints and incentives for the adoption of agroforestry practices on degraded cropland in Uzbekistan

Agroforestry is often an economically viable land-use option for the environmental rehabilitation of salinized cropping areas in irrigated drylands, but afforestation initiative at the farm level is subject to various socio-political constraints. We analyzed the factors that affect farmer decisions with respect to the agroforestry adoption using an ex ante approach through Ethnographic Decision Tree Modeling (EDTM). Constraints on agroforestry adoption were identified via a review of legal documents, focus-group discussions, and a farm survey in northwest Uzbekistan. The findings highlighted the importance of farmer perceptions of risk with respect to decision making surrounding the adoption of alternative land uses. The EDTM analysis allowed determining those policy incentives for afforestation that could directly influence the decision-making process of potential participants. In particular, there is a need for increased land-use flexibility, improved land tenure and tree plantation proprietorship security, increased awareness raising and training in agroforestry practices, and greater institutional support.     

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) requirement for the oxidation of crude oil in contaminated soils by a modified Fenton's reagent

The oxidation of soil organic matter (SOM) and total petroleum hydrocarbon were investigated in two soils at eight different hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentrations to determine the optimal H₂O₂ dosage for the efficient remediation of soils contaminated by crude oil with minimal SOM removal. In our study, H₂O₂ concentrations up to 1100 mM increased the SOM destruction up to 10%–15% in the two soils while no improvement of the crude oil removal efficiencies was observed. The results indicate that the destruction of SOM significantly limits the oxidation of crude oil because SOM might consume H₂O₂ more effectively than crude oil at H₂O₂ concentrations above 1100 mM. In addition, H₂O₂ concentrations higher than 1100 mM were not expected for both soils because of the extremely rapid H₂O₂ decomposition, and low H₂O₂ utilization, of both soils.     

纳米Ag粒子原位杂化PVDF超滤膜的抗污染性能

以AgNO3为前驱体,聚偏氟乙烯(PVDF)为聚合物基体,聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)为分散剂和成孔剂,N,N-二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)为还原剂和溶剂,利用相转化法制备了纳米Ag粒子原位杂化PVDF超滤膜.采用扫描电镜、透射电镜、原子力显微镜及接触角测定仪对杂化膜的结构和性能进行了表征.结果表明:原位形成的纳米Ag粒子均匀地分散在聚合物基体中,纳米Ag粒子的添加改善了PVDF膜的亲水性能.以腐殖酸和牛血清蛋白作为污染物的代表,考察了Ag/PVDF膜的抗有机污染性能.以大肠杆菌、耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌及活性污泥作为微生物的代表,考察了杂化膜的抗生物污染性能.结果证实了与纯PVDF膜相比,Ag/PVDF膜通量衰减较慢,可有效抑制微生物的生长,表面受活性污泥污染程度小,具有显著的抗有机污染和抗生物污染性能.     

Effect of plant harvest on methane emission from two constructed wetlands designed for the treatment of wastewater

The emission of methane from two constructed wetlands [a free water surface flow system (FWS) and a subsurface flow system (SF)], constructed for the treatment of waste water, was evaluated at different sites inhabited by reeds (Phragmites communis), to test the effects of plant harvest. High methane emission was recorded immediately after harvesting in both wetlands. Several days after harvesting, the emission decreased in the FWS but remained high in the SF. The variation was significantly influenced by temperature, with lower emission and higher dissolved CH(4) in water occurring at lower temperatures. Both the emission and concentration of dissolved CH(4) were also influenced significantly by water quality, wetland design, level of stalk butt left above the water level, etc. The methane flux was explained on the basis of rizhospheric methanogenic and methanotrophic microbial populations. FISH analysis indicated the presence of Type A and Type B methanotrophs in both wetlands, and the methane flux was directly influenced by the quantitative variation in methanogenic and methanotrophic bacteria in both wetlands.     

酵母生物转化生产2-苯乙醇的研究进展

主要论述了利用酵母菌生物转化合成天然2苯乙醇的研究进展,从应用微生物学的角度介绍了2苯乙醇生产菌株的筛选,分析了2苯乙醇合成过程中几方面因素的影响和培养条件的选择,并对产物原位转移技术作了简要说明.并从分子生物学的角度出发,对生物转化的重点途径———艾利希途径在基因水平上作了诠释,且例举了利用从头合成途径进行的基因工程育种,旨在为利用微生物生产2苯乙醇的研究开发提供参考.图1参40     

骆马湖泥-水界面磷铁硫原位同步变化特征

利用薄膜梯度扩散（DGT）原位采样装置获取了骆马湖全湖8个典型湖区泥-水界面（SWI）活性磷（P）、铁（Fe）、硫（S）垂向分布信息，据此定量估算三者交换通量.结果表明，骆马湖沉积物剖面P、Fe、S浓度范围分别为0~2.05，0~11.10和0.01~0.63mg/L，并在微小尺度呈高度空间异质性.在水平方向上活性P、Fe主要表现为西北湖区高于东南湖区，而活性S则未表现出明显的分布规律；就垂直剖面而言，活性P、Fe、S自界面向下呈升高趋势，并在60mm深度内出现峰值，且活性P和Fe剖面呈明显的同步变化特征；活性P、Fe在多数点位具有显著的正相关性（r>0.65，P<0.01），且各采样点沉积物中的总铁与总磷比值[w（∑Fe）/w（∑P）]均高于15，这表明Fe的地球化学循环过程对于骆马湖内源磷释放起重要控制作用；8个采样点样品中活性P、Fe、S交换通量分别为0.066~0.698，1.671~5.592和0.007~0.071mg/（m²·d），表明P、Fe、S由沉积物向水体释放.西北湖区表现出较高的P通量和活性P浓度，这可能会增加南水北调过程中水质污染的风险，应予以重视.以上结果支持了P、Fe耦合释放机制，明确了骆马湖SWI的活性P、Fe、S迁移特征.