Increased fetal nuchal fold leading to prenatal diagnosis of ring chromosome 15

We report on the prenatal diagnosis of ring chromosome 15 in a fetus with increased nuchal fold and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). A 27-year-old woman gravida 2, para 1 had normal maternal serum screen tests in the early second trimester of the index pregnancy. Fetal nuchal fold thickening up to 8 mm was incidentally found during the routine obstetric ultrasound scan at 20 weeks' gestation. Amniocentesis was undertaken and the fetal karyotype was found to be 46,XY,r(15) on cytogenetic study. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using a telomeric probe of chromosome 15 demonstrated a terminal deletion on the q arm of the ring-shaped chromosome 15. This is the first report of a prenatally diagnosed case of ring chromosome 15. Moreover, nuchal fold thickness in the second trimester may have a role in its prenatal diagnosis. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fetal phenotype of Prader–Willi syndrome due to maternal disomy for chromosome 15

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) results from either paternal deletion of 15q11–q13, or maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) of chromosome 15 or imprinting center mutation. Prenatal diagnosis of PWS is currently indicated for chromosomal parental translocation involving chromosome 15 and for decreased fetal movements during the third trimester of gestation. Here we present the prenatal diagnosis of PWS during the first trimester of gestation and autopsy findings. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was performed for advanced maternal age at 13 weeks' gestation. CVS showed mosaicism including cells with a normal karyotype and cells with trisomy 15. Amniocentesis showed cells with a normal karyotype. Molecular analysis demonstrated that the fetus had a typical PWS abnormal methylation profile and maternal disomy for chromosome 15. Fetal ultrasound examination showed slightly enlarged lateral ventricles and hypoplasic male external genitalia without intra-uterine growth retardation. The autopsy showed a eutrophic male fetus with facial dysmorphy, hypoplasic genitalia, abnormal position of both feet and posterior hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. This report points out that in a karyotypically normal fetus with ambiguous male external genitalia and cerebral anomalies, extensive cytogenetic and molecular biology studies are strongly recommended because of risk of PWS. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transboundary air pollution balance in the new integrated European environment

Ten out of the 12 new EU members, used to belong to the so-called “former eastern block”, with a post WWII environmental policy radically different from the tendencies followed in Western Europe. The lack of conservation regulations has resulted in a rather harmful industrialization, regarding natural resources and environmental quality. While air pollution transfer is a phenomenon of transboundary level, there is a particular interest in examining the contribution of the new EU member states to the environmental pressure faced by the older member states and vice versa. The current study utilises the official data for almost 20 years published by the European Monitoring and Evaluation Program concerning the transboundary transfer of NO_x and SO₂ in order to analyse the situation and discuss the present and future environmental policy regarding air pollution.     

Adsorption performance of CMK-3 and C-FDU-15 in NO removal at low temperature

CMK-3 and C-FDU-15 samples were synthesized using hard-templating and evaporationinduced self-assembly(EISA) methods,respectively.The pore structures of CMK-3 and CFDU-15 as well as commercial activated carbon were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction,field emission scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,and N_2 adsorption–desorption.Adsorption of NO was investigated by means of thermogravimetric analysis,temperature-programmed desorption of NO + O_2,and in situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.The results show that the CMK-3 and C-FDU-15 materials possessed ordered and uniform structures.The coadsorption capacity of NO and O_2 decreased in the sequence CMK-3(88.6 mg/g) C-FDU-15(71.7 mg/g) AC(25.3 mg/g).There were two main adsorption species on CMK-3 and CFDU-15:nitrite and nitrate.Nitrite is converted to nitrate easily.However,the adsorption species were more complex on AC,with nitrite being the main species.Moreover,CMK-3 and C-FDU-15 exhibit excellent regeneration efficiency compared with AC.The excellent NO adsorption performance of CMK-3 and C-FDU-15 was associated with their ordered mesoporous structures and high surface areas.The research provides more options for NO adsorption in the future.     

TA15钛合金与铝合金和结构钢接触腐蚀大气暴露试验研究

讨论了TA15钛合金与铝合金和结构钢接触后,在海南万宁大气试验站大气暴露的试验结果。3年的大气暴露试验显示,在海洋性大气环境下,2B06铝合金、16CrSiN i钢和30CrMnSiA钢无论与TA15钛合金接触与否,腐蚀都很严重,力学性能明显下降;对2B06铝合金进行阳极氧化,对16CrSiN i钢和30CrMnSiA钢进行氯化铵镀镉,可在一定程度上减缓腐蚀,但经过一定时间大气暴露,无论与TA15钛合金接触与否,都产生了严重腐蚀,力学性能明显下降;对2B06铝合金进行阳极氧化,对16CrSiN i钢和30CrMnSiA钢进行氯化铵镀镉,再喷涂1号航空底漆进行防护,可有效防止接触腐蚀。     

Hazard property classification of waste according to the recent propositions of the EC using different methods

Hazard classification of waste is a necessity, but the hazard properties (named “H” and soon “HP”) are still not all defined in a practical and operational manner at EU level. Following discussion of subsequent draft proposals from the Commission there is still no final decision. Methods to implement the proposals have recently been proposed: tests methods for physical risks, test batteries for aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicity, an analytical package for exhaustive determination of organic substances and mineral elements, surrogate methods for the speciation of mineral elements in mineral substances in waste, and calculation methods for human toxicity and ecotoxicity with M factors.In this paper the different proposed methods have been applied to a large assortment of solid and liquid wastes (>1 0 0).Data for 45 wastes – documented with extensive chemical analysis and flammability test – were assessed in terms of the different HP criteria and results were compared to LoW for lack of an independent classification. For most waste streams the classification matches with the designation provided in the LoW. This indicates that the criteria used by LoW are similar to the HP limit values.This data set showed HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic chronic’ is the most discriminating HP. All wastes classified as acute ecotoxic are also chronic ecotoxic and the assessment of acute ecotoxicity separately is therefore not needed. The high number of HP 14 classified wastes is due to the very low limit values when stringent M factors are applied to total concentrations (worst case method). With M factor set to 1 the classification method is not sufficiently discriminating between hazardous and non-hazardous materials. The second most frequent hazard is HP 7 ‘Carcinogenic’. The third most frequent hazard is HP 10 ‘Toxic for reproduction’ and the fourth most frequent hazard is HP 4 “Irritant – skin irritation and eye damage”. In a stepwise approach, it seems relevant to assess HP 14 first, then, if the waste is not classified as hazardous, to assess subsequently HP 7, HP 10 and HP 4, and then if still not classified as hazardous, to assess the remaining properties.The elements triggering the HP 14 classification in order of importance are Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd and Hg. Progress in the speciation of Zn and Cu is essential for HP 14. Organics were quantified by the proposed method (AFNOR XP X30-489) and need no speciation. Organics can contribute significantly to intrinsic toxicity in many waste materials, but they are only of minor importance for the assessment of HP 14 as the metal concentrations are the main HP 14 classifiers. Organic compounds are however responsible for other toxicological characteristics (hormone disturbance, genotoxicity, reprotoxicity…) and shall be taken into account when the waste is not HP 14 classified.     

阿什河水系枯水期氮污染特征与同位素源解析

在阿什河水系设置20个采样点,采用水质监测技术和稳定氮同位素示踪技术,研究了枯水期阿什河氮污染特征和硝酸盐氮污染来源。结果表明:(1)阿什河枯水期大部分采样点氨氮浓度较低,大部分区域达到或优于《地表水环境质量标准》(GB3838—2002)中Ⅲ类。上游河段硝酸盐氮浓度较低,中游河段较高,到下游河段略有降低。总氮浓度较高,最高达19.4mg/L。(2)阿什河水系采样点15 N的丰度(δ15 N)主要处于0.11%~0.21%、0.42%~0.78%、0.83%~0.88%和1.09%~1.26%。稳定15 N同位素示踪解析阿什河硝酸盐氮污染来源表明,阿什河上游污染源主要为大气沉降、土壤有机氮和人工化肥;中游主要受畜禽养殖污水和生活污水污染;下游主要受城镇生活污水和工业废水影响。     

维管束植物桂花树叶片对大气氮沉降的吸收研究

本文通过测定维管束植物桂花树叶片的氮含量和氮同位素组成,分析其对大气氮沉降的截留吸收机制。为期一年(2009.03～2010.03)的监测数据显示,桂花树叶片氮含量为1.33%～3.09%,平均值为2.18%;叶片δ15 N为+0.54‰～+3.78‰,均值为+2.29‰。桂花树叶片N%、δ15 N的季节性变化趋势,总体呈现春、冬高,夏、秋低的规律,这与已有的贵阳市雨水监测数据一致。对比不同树冠厚度的叶片样品,发现叶片N%随树冠厚度增加而降低,顶部叶片N%表现为最高(2.39±0.4%),说明桂花树的树冠层对大气氮沉降有明显的截留吸收作用。桂花树顶部叶片δ15 N最偏负,而上覆树冠层最厚的下方叶片的δ15 N最偏正,反映了树冠层在吸收大气氮沉降过程中存在选择性吸收,引起同位素分馏,即树冠层越厚,穿冠水δ15 N越偏正,且分馏程度与树冠厚度成正比,导致下方叶片δ15 N最高。     

浅析环保企业执行建造合同准则存在的问题及对策

随着国家对环境保护的重视,环保企业近年来迅速发展已成为一个新兴的朝阳产业,如何规范污水处理工程建设中建造合同的会计核算已成为每一个环保企业必须面对的问题。本文对环保企业在执行《企业会计准则第15号―建造合同》中存在的问题进行了细致的分析,并提出了一些解决对策,使环保企业执行建造合同准则能得以顺利实施。