MaryPODS revisited: updated crash analysis and implications for screening program implementation

PROBLEM: Due to the relative scarcity of crashes, there has consistently been a problem with analyses that use crashes as a criterion measure in their analyses. METHOD: Previous analyses of the relationships between functional capacity measures and at-fault crash involvement for older drivers as reported in the NHTSA Model Driver Screening and Evaluation Program Final Technical Report have been updated to include one additional year of driving experience. Eighteen new at-fault crashes involving drivers who previously had no crash involvement were recorded for the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) test sample during this interval. The method of odds ratio (OR) calculation was used to examine the relationships between functional status predictors and the most salient among the safety outcome measures identified in the Maryland research. Peak valid OR values for the prior and current analyses were contrasted, and the stability of candidate pass-fail cut-points for each predictor relative to values identified in the Final Technical Report was examined. RESULTS: Results indicate that the predictive value of functional tests appears to decrease over time, particularly for the perceptual-cognitive measures. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: The impact of these findings on programs and policies is to underscore a need for periodic reevaluation, spaced at the shortest practical intervals but not more than 2 years apart, in order for functional capacity screening to be applied effectively by licensing authorities, health care professionals, and others to reduce personal risk and enhance public safety.     

武汉阳逻化石木及砾石层研究进展

阳逻砾石层及所含的大量的化石木,在古植物学、长江中游的古环境和古长江的形成与演化研究中具有重要意义。随着1984年阳逻被子化石木的发现,武汉阳逻化石木和阳逻砾石层就一直为学者们所关注。先后发现的硅化木化石已达200余件。在阳逻化石木鉴定、植物分类、植物生态学和古环境研究方面,在阳逻砾石层的时代及年龄、成因和物源等方面,做了大量的研究,发表了许多重要成果。然而,在一些基础问题研究上还存在着明显的分歧。建议:(1)在化石木的来源和砾石层物源分析方面,开展系统的沉积学、岩石学、矿物学以及地球化学的综合研究;(2)通过综合地层学研究,即生物地层(植物化石组合)、岩石地层(长江中游岩石地层对比)、地貌地层(长江中游地貌对比)和年代地层的综合对比,重点尝试宇生核元素、化石自旋共振(ESR)等测年技术的应用,以查明化石木和砾石层的形成时代;(3)加强化石木和砂砾层环境信息深入挖掘和综合对比分析。在查明化石木植物树种的组合全貌的基础上,通过古植被类型的恢复,特别是应加强化石木的显微结构分析,通过观察其构造特征和生长轮(木轮、年轮)的宽窄等信息,分析其古气候环境。     

试论浙江建德群和磨石山群时代

根据 8 0年代以来对浙江中生代晚期火山岩同位素年代学的研究资料 ,浙江省建德群和磨石山群火山岩年龄在 135～ 117Ma之间 ,永康群、天台群和衢江群火山岩年龄在 111～90Ma。结合近年来中国东部侏罗—白垩系界线研究的新成果 ,提出浙江建德群和磨石山群时代应为早白垩世     

Temporal changes in Ohio amniocentesis utilization during the first twelve years (1972–1983), and frequency of chromosome abnormalities observed

The history of amniocentesis utilization in the seventh largest state of the United States is documented from its inception in 1972 through the first half of 1984. Amniocentesis utilization ratios for Ohio residents aged ⩾35 have increased from 0.21 per cent (19/9091) in 1972 to 23.4 per cent (1655/7531) in 1983, representing an average annual growth rate of 43.1 per cent. Of the amniocenteses performed from January 1, 1978–July 1, 1984, 71 per cent were referred for advanced maternal age (⩾35), 15 per cent for maternal anxiety (30–34), 10 per cent for family history or previous child with a genetic defect, and 4 per cent for other reasons. Between 1978-1983 utilization by women 45 years of age was only 20 per cent higher than women 35 even though their risk of giving birth to a Down syndrome child was about one order of magnitude higher. In addition, various factors were tested as to whether they affected utilization of amniocentesis by women ⩾35 during 1978 1983. A strong correlation of +0.89 existed between county population size and utilization ratios. No difference in utilization was found between whites and nonwhites, regardless of county population size. When utilization ratios were compared separately between Protestants, Catholics and other religions in Ohio's most populated county, no statistical differences were found. From 1978–July 1, 1984, the frequency of all cytogenetically abnormal chromosome results observed in Ohio amniocenteses to women ⩾35 was 2.48 per cent (187/7536). Of these, 2.15 per cent (162/7536) had unbalanced karyotypes. Future maximum amniocentesis utilization for women ⩾35 is estimated at 60–70 per cent.     

赣东北岩浆混合杂岩体的锆石U-Pb年龄

赣东北横峰县港边岩浆混合杂岩体组成极为复杂,具有明显的岩浆混合特点,偏酸性岩浆端员、基性岩浆端员、岩浆混合单位等在野外均能见及。该岩浆混合杂岩体中偏酸性端员肉红色角闪石石英正长岩中颗粒级锆石U Pb定年结果表明,其形成时代为445±4Ma,反映为加里东期产物;同时获得的残留锆石U Pb年龄值2958±62Ma,说明该岩浆混合杂岩体中存在中太古代残留锆石,该年龄值也是目前已知的江西省境内最老的残留锆石U Pb年龄值。     

金矿床测年方法的某些进展

本文系统地阐述了国内外有关金矿床同位素定年方面的最新进展和古地磁法、天然裂变径迹法的基本原理 ,并对常用同位素定年法的适用性和局限性进行了评述     

不同年龄夜鹭卵中有机氯农药污染的生物指示

通过对太湖鼋头渚 2 0 0 0年采集的二龄、三龄和四龄夜鹭卵以及相应年龄组夜鹭的捕食物中有机氯残留的检测 ,发现捕食物中HCH和DDT的平均残留量随年龄增加而增加 .除γ HCH外 ,其它 15种有机氯农药在卵样中均有检出 ,残留水平最高的为p ,p′ DDE ,占有机氯农药残留总量的 85 %以上 .β HCH是六六六类中持留性最强的组分 ,其残留量仅次于p ,p′ DDE .研究发现 ,p ,p DDT和 β HCH检出率为 10 0 % ,而其它类型农药只有很低的检出率 ,这与我国有机氯农药使用的历史情况相吻合 .随着亲鸟年龄增加 ,卵中 β HCH残留量有所提高 ,p ,p′ DDE残留量似有先升后稍降的趋势 .统计结果表明 :各年龄组有机氯残留量差异不明显 ,因此在用夜鹭卵作有机氯污染的生物指示时可以不考虑年龄差异所带来的影响 .     

Transabdominal chorionic villus sampling: Fetal loss rate in relation to maternal and gestational age

In this paper we report the fetal loss rate in relation to both maternal and gestational age in 1764 pregnant women who underwent transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (TA-CVS) between January 1986 and August 1990. The fetal loss rate, considered as a proportion of continuing pregnancies, decreased with advancing gestational age at sampling from 4.3 per cent before 9 weeks to 0.4 per cent at or after 13 weeks, the difference being statistically significant (p <0.025). The fetal loss rate increased from 1.6 per cent in women under 30 to 2.4 per cent in women of 40 years or over, but the difference was not statistically significant. Considering that the total fetal loss rate before 28 weeks' gestation was on average 1.91 percent (1.3 per cent under 35 years and 2.8 per cent in women of 35 or over), we believe that TA-CVS is a safe and effective technique for prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases.     

Transabdominal villus sampling in early second trimester: A safe sampling method for women of advanced age

Transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (TA-CVS) was performed in 707 viable singleton pregnancies to exclude chromosomal abnormalities. Maternal age ranged between 36 and 49 years (mean 37·9 years); gestational age varied between 10·2 and 18·3 weeks (mean 13·3 weeks). In 639 women (90·4 per cent), a sufficient amount of chorionic tissue (⩾ 10 mg) was obtained after one needle insertion; in 66 women (9·3 per cent) two insertions were needed. An abnormal chromosome pattern was established in 19 cases (2·9 per cent). Vaginal bleeding or spotting within 28 days after TA-CVS occurred in 11 cases (1·5 per cent). The completed follow-up of 678 chromosomally normal pregnancies showed an overall fetal loss rate of 2·6 per cent before 28 weeks. The overall perinatal mortality was 0·9 per cent. When relating fetal loss to gestational age at TA-CVS, this was 6·6 per cent in women sampled before 12 weeks against only 1·8 per cent after 12 weeks. At the same time, the percentage of fetal loss occurring within 2 weeks following the procedure was 75 and 30 per cent, respectively. It is suggested that these data reflect the decline in spontaneous abortion rate during this particular period of pregnancy. It is concluded that TA-CVS is an effective procedure which, when performed after the natural decrease of fetal loss, appears to be a safe option for women of advanced maternal age.     

The influence of serum screening on the amniocentesis rate in women of advanced maternal age

We investigated the effect of maternal serum screening on the amniocentesis (AC) rate in women of advanced maternal age. The AC rate after maternal serum screening was compared in two groups of women with a singleton pregnancy, 855 women of 30–35 years and 98 of 36 years and older. In our population, 34·1 per cent of the women of 36 years or older were ‘screen-positive’ for Down syndrome. Only 41·2 per cent of these women chose to undergo AC as opposed to 88·2 per cent in the younger age group. Within the older age group, the tendency to avoid AC increased with increasing age. Maternal serum screening led to a significant decrease in the AC rate in the older women. In this group, a comparison between the ‘a priori’ and the calculated risk might have had more influence on the decision to undergo AC than being screen-positive or screen-negative as such. We conclude that maternal serum screening had a major effect on the AC rate in women of advanced maternal age. This is of importance in a society in which the average maternal age is steadily increasing.