The effect of fetal gender on second-trimester maternal serum inhibin-A concentration

Second-trimester serum inhibin-A is increasingly used as a fourth marker in addition to the triple test to screen for Down syndrome. We investigated whether fetal gender had an effect on serum inhibin-A concentration. A retrospective analysis was done on 316 normal pregnancies and 48 Down syndrome pregnancies in which maternal serum inhibin-A assays were performed between 15 and 20 weeks of gestation and in which the fetal sex was known. The median inhibin-A MoM (95% CI) for normal pregnancies in the presence of a male fetus was 0.93 (range 0.88–1.03). This was significantly lower than that in the presence of a female fetus (median MoM=1.04). The gender difference was not observed in the Down syndrome pregnancies. The increased inhibin-A concentration would lead to a 2.3-fold higher false-positive rate in the presence of a female fetus (10.6% vs 4.6%; p<0.05, Chi-square test). Because of the small number of cases studied, the results need to be substantiated by a larger series. If the gender effect is confirmed, adjustment for fetal sex may be necessary when inhibin-A is used as a screening marker. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of indicator choice in quantifying the threat of atmospheric ammonia to the ‘Natura 2000’ network

New ‘critical levels’ (CLE) for assessing the effects of atmospheric ammonia on sensitive ecosystems have recently been adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) of 1 and 3 [2–4] μg NH₃ m^?3 of ambient air (including water vapour), for different species sensitivities and their associated habitats. Based on these values, we examined how indicator choice affects estimates of stock-at-risk in the European ‘Natura 2000’ network.We applied an atmospheric model, FRAME, to estimate surface air concentrations of ammonia at 5 km and 1 km resolution for the UK network of Natura sites, optionally including calibration with the National Ammonia Monitoring Network. As a base indicator, we estimated the overall percentage area of the UK Natura network that exceeded critical level thresholds (‘Area Weighted Indicator’, AWI). We compared this with an alternative approach, estimating the percentage number of Natura sites where the critical level was exceeded (‘Designation Weighted Indicator’, DWI), which we consider more relevant under the terms of the Habitats Directive.Using the AWI (with 1 km calibrated ammonia), we estimate that 11.2%, 1.3% and 0.2% area of the UK Natura network exceeds the critical level values of 1, 2 and 3 μg NH₃ m^?3, respectively. By contrast, using the DWI, the equivalent exceedances are 59.1%, 23.6% and 9.8%. The highest regional exceedance (DWI, critical level 1 μg NH₃ m^?3) was calculated for England (91.9% exceeded), and the lowest for Scotland (24.0% exceeded). High resolution maps show that the larger threat estimated by the DWI approach is explained by (i) an anti-correlation between NH₃ concentration and Natura site area and (ii) the fact that exceedance over part of a Natura site is considered to represent a threat to the integrity of the whole site.     

Ultraviolet irradiation induced oxidative stress and response of antioxidant system in an intertidal macroalgae Corallina officinalis L.

The response of the antioxidant defense system of an intertidal macroalgae Corallina officinalis L. to different dosages of UV-B irradiation was investigated. Results showed that superoxide dimutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POX) increased and then maintained at a relatively stable level when subjected to UV-B irradiation. Catalase (CAT) activity under medium dosage of UV-B irradiation (Muv) and high dosage of UV-B irradiation (Huv) treatments were significantly decreased. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity first remained unaltered and then increased in Huv treatment. In addition, the assay on isozymes was carried out using non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The activities of some SOD isoforms were altered by UV-B. Two new bands (POX V and POX Ⅶ) appeared upon exposure to all three UV-B dosages. CAT Ⅲ activity was increased by low dosage of UV-B irradiation (Luv),whereas CAT Ⅲ and CAT Ⅳ disappeared when the alga was exposed to Muv and Huv. Two bands of APX (APX Ⅵ and APX Ⅶ)were increased and a new band (APX X) was observed under Huv exposure. H2O2 and thiobarbituric acid reacting substance (TBARS)increased under Muv and Huv treatments. Overall, UV-B protection mechanisms are partly inducible and to a certain extent sufficient to prevent the accumulation of damage in C officinalis.     

芦苇湿地运行过程中基质主要成分变化研究

在芦苇湿地净化景观水体中试试验中,对芦苇湿地基质中有机质、总磷、总氮含量变化进行跟踪检测分析和研究。结果表明,在芦苇湿地运行处理过程中,基质的厚度会逐渐增加;同时,基质中磷的含量有明显的增加趋势。基质中有机质和氮的含量未随着运行时间有显著性变化,但随着基质厚度的增加,基质沉降和吸附的有机质和氮的总量在逐渐增加。同时还研究了投加生物制剂对湿地运行效果及基质的影响,结果显示,投加生物制剂可以提高系统的处理效果,但对基质中有机质和氮的沉积动态平衡没有显著性影响。     

超声-微电解法预处理焦化废水

采用超声-微电解法预处理焦化废水,结果表明,联用处理效果优于超声波法或铁碳微电解法单独处理效果。当反应条件为超声波声功率180 W、曝气量1.5 L/min、投加铁屑量80 g/L、处理时间90 min时,COD去除率可达24%,NH3-N的去除率达30%,挥发酚的去除率达32%。     

莱州湾地区土壤及底泥中多溴联苯醚水平及其分布

对莱州湾地区十溴联苯醚生产厂家附近土壤及底泥中的多溴联苯醚的含量进行了检测.所采集土壤和河流底泥样品中Σ8 PBDEs(BDE-28、-47、-100、-99、-154、-153、-183、-209) 的含量在58.2～7190.7 ng·g-1(干重)之间, 所有样品中,BDE-209 相对含量最高,其对Σ8PBDEs 的贡献为74.81% ～99.01 %.在8种PBDEs同族体的相关性研究中发现BDE-209与BDE-183、-154、-153、-100、-99呈现显著负相关,相关系数r为-0.842～-0.996(α=0.01).BDE-183、-154、-153、-100、-99之间呈显著正相关,相关系数r为0.805～0.994(α=0.01).产品十溴联苯醚在环境中的降解可能是测定样品中BDE-99、-100、-153、-154、-183的来源之一.     

循环经济实施保障体系研究

为了使循环经济能够顺利实施,并取得良好的效果,促进环境、经济、社会可持续发展,通过分析国内外循环经济实施的成功经验,从法律、科技、经济、文化等方面探讨和分析其在循环经济实施中的作用,并建立了循环经济保障体系,包括相应的法律法规;强大的技术支撑;经济鼓励政策以及宣传教育.     

生命周期评价在企业环境管理中的应用

环境管理对于企业的可持续发展起着决定性的作用,生命周期评价作为面向产品系统的新型环境管理工具越来越多地被企业所采用。文章结合中国企业环境管理实际,对所采用的环境管理工具做了分类,详述了生命周期评价的具体应用以及优势。对生命周期评价在未来企业环境管理中的重要作用做了展望。     

矿业废弃地对环境的扰动及其有效化解的对策选择

作为矿产资源开发活动的直接结果之一,矿业废弃地对环境的压力与污染在相当程度上与矿产资源开发利用的方式及环境直接相关。依据矿业废弃地污染环境的性质与特点,具体治理过程中,将基于生态恢复与生物技术利用以及正式与非正式的制度约束方面的对策措施结合起来,具有相当的必要性与合理性。