First-trimester screening for Down syndrome; the role of nasal bone assessment in the Korean population

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of nasal bone assessment in first-trimester screening for Down syndrome (DS) in the Korean population. Methods From July 2004 to March 2006, we prospectively evaluated the fetal nasal bones at 11–14 weeks' gestation in the Korean population. Results A successful evaluation was possible in 6490 of 6787 fetuses (95.6%). Absent, hypoechoic, and short nasal bones were seen in 4 (26.7%), 4 (26.7%), and 1 (6.7%) of 15 fetuses with DS, respectively, whereas in 5 (0.1%), 11 (0.2%), and 246 (3.8%) of 6456 normal fetuses. The incidence of absent and hypoechoic nasal bone showed significant differences between normal fetuses and fetuses with DS (P < 0.0005, both). Screening for DS using an absent or hypoechoic nasal bone resulted in a sensitivity of 53.3%, a specificity of 99.8%, a positive likelihood ratio of 215.2, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.5. Conclusion Our study showed that nasal bone abnormality at 11–14 weeks of gestation had a high association with DS in the Korean population. This suggests that nasal bone assessment can be used to supplement the current first-trimester screening for DS in the Korean population. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Survival of first instar larvae ofDanaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Danainae) in relation to cardiac glycoside and latex content ofAsclepias humistrata (Asclepiadaceae)

Summary Our paper addresses field survivorship of first instar monarch butterfly larvae (Danaus plexippus L., Lep.: Danainae) in relation to the dual cardenolide and latex chemical defenses of the sand hill milkweed plant,Asclepias humistrata (Asclepiadaceae) growing naturally in north central Florida. Survival of first instar larvae in the field was 11.5% in the first experiment (15–20 April 1990), and dropped to 3.4% in the second experiment (20–30 April). About 30% of the larvae were found glued to the leaf surface by the milkweed latex. Predator exclusion of non-flying inverte-brates by applying tanglefoot to the plant stems suggested that the balance of the mortality was due to volant inverte-brates, or to falling and/or moving off the plants. Regression analyses to isolate some of the other variables affecting survivorship indicated that first instar mortality was correlated with (1) increasing cardiac glycoside concentration of the leaves, (2) increasing age of the plants, and (3) the temporal increase in concentration of cardiac glycosides in the leaves. The study also provided confirmatory data of previous studies that wild monarch females tend to oviposit onA. humistrata plants containing intermediate concentrations of cardiac glycosides. Cardiac glycoside concentration in the leaves was not correlated with that in the latex. The concentration of cardenolide in the latex is extremely high, constituting an average of 1.2 and 9.5% of the mass of the wet and dry latex, respectively. The data suggest that an increase in water content of the latex is compensated for by an influx of cardenolide with the result that the cardenolide concentration remains constant in the latex systems of plants that are growing naturally. We also observed first instar larvae taking their first bite of milkweed leaves in the field. In addition to confirming other workers findings that monarch larvae possess elaborate sabotaging behaviour of the milkweed's latex system, we discovered that several larvae on their first bite involuntarily imbided a small globule of latex and instantly became cataleptic. This catalepsis, lasting up to 10 min, may have been in response to the high concentration of cardenolide present in the latex ofA. humistrata, more than 10 times that in the leaves. The results of the present study suggest that more attention should be directed to plant chemical defenses upon initial attack by first instar insect larvae, rather than attempting correlations of plant chemistry with older larvae that have already passed the early instar gauntlet. The first bite of neonate insects may be the most critical moment for coping with the chemical defenses of many plants and may play a much more important role in the evolution of insect herbivory than has previously been recognized.     

First-trimester diagnosis of Meckel–Gruber syndrome by transabdominal sonography in a low-risk case

Meckel–Gruber syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder often resulting in neonatal death within a few hours of life. The condition is usually diagnosed ultrasonographically in the second trimester and earlier diagnosis has been mainly confined to high recurrence risk pregnancies. We describe the earliest non-invasive diagnosis of this condition at 12⁺² weeks' gestation in a patient with no previous history using transabdominal ultrasound. Pregnancy termination was declined. Subsequent development of anhydramnios in the mid-trimester resulted in poor fetal visualization. We propose that first-trimester diagnosis of this condition is not only possible but preferable, as normal liquor volume facilitates visualization of fetal anatomy.     

合流制排水系统降雨径流污染物特征及初期冲刷效应

合流制排水系统降雨期间高污染溢流污水直接排入水体对水体质量有明显影响,其径流污染物输出特征和初期冲刷效应受排水区类型、面积、降雨特性等多种因素影响。为此,选取昆明市典型合流制排水系统明通河流域不同类型集水区进行降雨径流监测,研究合流制排水系统降雨径流污染物输出特征及初期冲刷效应。结果表明:合流制排水系统初期合流污水污染物质量浓度明显高于后期,不同污染物输出特征、形态差别较大,溶解态氮是N污染物的主要赋存形态,而P污染物主要以颗粒态形态存在。管道沉积物是合流污水重要的污染来源。年内次降雨污染物平均质量浓度以雨季初期降雨最高,中期降雨质量浓度最低,雨季后期质量浓度较中期略有上升。不同类型集水区N、P质量浓度排序为:居民区>城市综合型>综合型>城郊结合型。降雨量是影响初期冲刷效应的关键因素,雨量大的降雨初期冲刷效应明显。     

洋山深水港区一期工程施工期环境保护与环境监理

介绍洋山深水港区一期工程监理工作的情况，包括环境监理的组织机构、工作内容、工作方式以及阶段性成果。     

混凝、水解酸化、活性污泥工艺处理啤酒生产废水工程实例

以化学混凝沉淀、水解酸化、传统活性污泥法处理啤酒生产污水,COD从2400mg/l降至100mg/l,BOD5从1599mg/l降至30mg/l,达到一级排放标准,采用集散式计算机控制系统,操作简单,管理方便.     

雨水口流域径流水质水量动态模拟

雨水口水质水量过程线的推求是建立城市雨水径流水质水量动态模型的关键,文章将产污机理应用于雨水口流域,建立了雨水口流域径流水质、水量动态模型,并根据三场降雨资料对雨水口流域水质、水量入流过程以及初冲效应做了动态模拟,所得过程线与实测值比较接近,验证了模型的有效性。     

中石化江苏成品油一次配送空间格局与优化

基于详实准确的政府及企业调研数据,以中石化江苏成品油一次配送为例,从配置效益和空间结构视角出发,借助运用地理网络分析和线性优化模型等方法,通过单位输油成本计算、优化情景构建计算和成品油配送格局比较分析,系统解析成品油一次配送空间格局与优化配置情况,从理论上尝试探讨其地理网络结构。研究发现：优化情境下的成本较2017年实际状况减少了30%左右,表明中石化江苏成品油一次配送效益不够优化;理论上,根据成品油“就近配置”原则,不同炼油企业各自在其优化情景区界内,配送单位输油成本较低的成品油;实际上,由于炼油企业的炼油能力差异、成品油输油通道不完善和分销中心油库设置差异等原因,不同炼油企业之间存在着相较优化情景区界或大或小的实际输油区界,且存在着某些分销中心油库同时接纳不同炼油企业成品油的现象,即存在混合输油区域。     

基于QAR数据的飞机全航段黑碳排放量计算与分析

黑碳气溶胶是航空发动机运行过程中产生的一种主要颗粒污染物.为评估飞机全航段的黑碳排放特性,在一阶近似方法（FOA）的基础上,提出一种基于黑碳形成和氧化过程的形成氧化法（FOX）.使用GE90-115B型发动机历史QAR数据进行实例分析,结合QAR数据中燃油流量、空气燃料比、燃烧室入口温度、主燃区火焰温度等热力学参数,计算某次飞行全航段的黑碳排放量.结果表明,形成氧化法的计算结果高于一阶近似方法,巡航阶段的总排放量高于起飞着陆循环.分析表明,结合实际飞行数据的形成氧化法,考虑了发动机的性能差异、燃烧品质及外界环境条件对排放特性的影响,能够更加真实有效地评估飞机全航段的黑碳排放量,为飞机排放监测及排放的适航符合性验证等效替代提供更加准确的依据.     

CuNiIn 微动磨损涂层失效机理研究

目的系统研究CuNiIn和CuInO_2的晶体结构、体模量、剪切模量、杨氏模量、泊松系数、韧性、热膨胀系数、残余应力等物理参量,阐明CuNiIn涂层中生成的其他复合化合物—CuInO_2对CuNiIn机械性能的影响作用机制。方法采用基于密度泛函理论的第一原理,弹性常数采用应力-应变方案,体模量、剪切模量、杨氏模量采用Voigt-Reuss-Hill方法计算。结果CuNiIn和CuInO_2均为机械稳定结构,CuNiIn和CuInO_2的体模量、剪切模量、杨氏模量、泊松系数分别为118.2GPa,13.7GPa,39.6GPa,0.44和119.0GPa,36.8GPa,100.1GPa,0.36。化合物CuInO_2的机械模量较CuNiIn高,韧性较差,热膨胀系数较低,涂层的残余应力较高。结论喷涂工艺不适,或CuNiIn涂层服役过程中生成的CuInO_2对微动磨损CuNiIn涂层服役性能有不利影响。