Light-dependent magnetoreception in birds: interaction of at least two different receptors

Passerine migrants require light from the blue-green part of the spectrum for magnetic compass orientation; under yellow light, they are disoriented. European robins tested under a combination of yellow light and blue or green light showed a change in behavior, no longer preferring their seasonally appropriate migratory direction: in spring as well as in autumn, they preferred southerly headings under blue-and-yellow and northerly headings under green-and-yellow light. This clearly shows that yellow light is not neutral and suggests the involvement of at least two types of receptors in obtaining magnetic compass information, with the specific interaction of these receptors being rather complex.     

First trimester diagnosis of β-thalassaemia in a twin pregnancy

This paper reports the results of first trimester prenatal diagnosis in a twin pregnancy at risk for homozygous β°−thalassaemia (β°−39 mutant). Trophoblast samples from both twins were obtained at 10 weeks gestation with a forceps guided by ultrasound. Trophoblast DNA analysis, carried out with the oligonucleotide technique, revealed that one fetus was homozygous and the other heterozygous for the β−39 mutant. This diagnosis was confirmed at 17 weeks gestation by amniocyte DNA analysis. DNA polymorphism analysis within the α-globin gene provided useful genetic markers for twin differentiation.     

First trimester monitoring of a pregnancy at risk for glucose phosphate isomerase deficiency

First trimester prenatal diagnosis was offered to the mother of a child affected by severe haemolytic anaemia due to glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) deficiency. The mutant enzyme was characterized by an increased thermal lability. Both parents had 50 per cent normal red cell GPI activity. We have shown that the homozygous and heterozygous genotypes can be clearly distinguished from each other and controls by combinations of the measurement of enzyme activity and enzyme thermal lability. Examination of trophoblast cells obtained at 9 weeks of gestation led to the diagnosis of a GPI heterozygous fetus. The result was confirmed by analysis on uncultured and cultured amniotic fluid cells sampled at 16 weeks and by red blood cell studies of the healthy newborn. Prenatal diagnosis of GPI deficiency is indicated in families with previous cases resulting in severe haemolysis and mainly with the conservative view of arranging appropriate therapeutic measures for affected fetuses.     

大连湾挥发性有机污染物挥发速率常数估算

本文采用气－液双膜模型和大连湾水文参数，对大连湾检测出的挥发性有机物的挥发速率常数进行估算。结果表明，三氯乙烯等１４种挥发性有机物在大连湾海域中的挥发速率常数在８．０×１０＾－３ｈ－１－１．４×１０＾－２×＾－１之间，挥发半衰期在５０ｈ＝８０ｈ之间。因此，挥发至大气是这些在机物主要归宿。     

两种不同DEM处理方法提取的水系比较

水系不但是重要的自然地理要素,而且对防洪减灾、资源开发等有着重要意义。基于DEM的坡面径流法是最为常用的水系提取方法,其提取精度直接取决于DEM中洼地的处理方法。为了比较不同DEM处理方法对水系提取精度的影响,本文以江西省潦河流域为例,利用基于DEM数据的J&D算法及基于辅助数据的AGREE方法来处理实验区DEM,然后利用坡面径流法提取水系。结果表明,经两种方法后均可以提取出连续的水系,且提取水系的等级、数量及长度相差不大;在提取精度上,在受人类活动影响较小的山地丘陵地区两种方法提取的水系比较吻合,而在平坦地区或受人类活动影响较大的地区提取的水系差异较大,且AGREE方法处理后提取的水系精度较高。     

盘锦地区大气扩散实用模式的优选

用SO2大气环境实测值、污染源排放浓度与大气扩散实用模式和高斯模式分别模拟计算SO2日均浓度及年均浓度，并与实测浓度进行了相关对比分析。结果表明：大气扩散实用模式的模拟结果好于高斯模式。     

Carbon storage versus fossil fuel substitution: a climate change mitigation option for two different land use categories based on short and long rotation forestry in India

Short rotation bioenergy crops for energy production are considered an effective means to mitigate the greenhouse effect, mainly due to their ability to substitute fossil fuels. Alternatively, carbon can be sequestered and stored in the living biomass. This paper compares the two land use categories (forest land and non-forest land) for two management practices (short rotation vs. long rotation) to study mitigation potential of afforestation and fossil fuel substitution as compared to carbon storage. Significant carbon benefit can be obtained in the long run from using lands for growing short rotation energy crops and substituting fossil fuels by the biomass thus produced, as opposed to sequestering carbon in the biomass of the trees. When growth rates are high and harvest is used in a sustainable manner (i.e., replanting after every harvest), the opportunities for net carbon reductions appear to be fossil fuel substitution, rather than storage in ecosystem biomass. Our results suggest that at year 100 a total of 216 Mg C ha⁻¹ is sequestered for afforestation/reforestation using long rotation sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.f) species, as opposed to offset of 412 Mg C ha⁻¹ for carbon storage and fossil fuel substitution for short rotation poplar (Populus Deltoides Marsh) plantations. The bioenergy option results in a continuous stream of about 3 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ of carbon benefits per year on forest land and 4 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ on non-forest land. Earlier studies have shown that in India waste land availability for establishing energy plantations is in the range of 9.6 to 36.5 Mha. Thus, using the 758 Tg biomass per year generated from 9.6 Mha waste land gives a mitigation potential in the range of 227 to 303 Tg C per year for carbon storage and fossil fuel substitution from poplar plantation for substituting coal based power generation. Depending upon the land availability for plantation, the potential for energy generation is in the range of 11,370 PJ, possibly amounting to a bioenergy supply of 43% of the total projected energy consumption in 2015. Further studies are needed to estimate the mitigation potential of other species with different productivities for overall estimation of the economic feasibility and social acceptability in a tropical country like India.     

First trimester diagnosis of Gaucher disease in a fetus with trisomy 21

A 38-year-old lady, who had a previous infant with type 2 Gaucher disease, underwent prenatal diagnosis by chorionic villus sampling at 9 weeks' gestation. Results on the fresh villus revealed a 47,XY,+21 karyotype and a marked deficiency (2 per cent of control) of β-glucosidase activity. Following termination, villus material was cultured which initially revealed only a partial enzyme deficiency and a normal female karyotype, i.e., maternal cells. A subsequent culture contained 47,XY, + 21 cells which were deficient in β-glucosidase activity, thus confirming the diagnosis. The results in this interesting case illustrate the potential dangers of maternal cell contamination in cultured villus cells.     

Simulating dairy liquid waste management options as a nitrogen source for crops

Large scale dairy operations are common. In many cases the manure is deposited on a paved surface and then removed with a flushing system, after which the solids are separated, the liquid stored in ponds, and eventually the liquid applied on adjacent crop land. Management of liquid manure to maximize the fertilizer value and minimize water quality degradation requires knowledge of the interactive effects of mineralization of organic N (ON) to NH₄⁺, crop uptake of mineral N, and leaching of NO₃⁻ on a temporal basis. The purpose of the research was to use the ENVIRO-GRO model to simulate how the amount of applied N, timing of N application, ON mineralization rates, chemical form of N applied, and irrigation uniformity affected (1) yields of corn (Zea mays) in summer and a forage grass in winter in a Mediterranean climate and (2) the amount of NO₃⁻ leached below the root zone. This management practice is typical for dairies in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The simulations were conducted for a 10-year period. Steady state conditions, whereby an equivalent amount of N applied in the organic form will be mineralized in a given year, are achieved more rapidly for materials with high mineralization rates. Both timing and total quantity of N application are important in affecting crop yield and potential N leaching. Major conclusions from the simulations are as follows. Frequent low applications are preferred to less frequent higher applications. Increasing the amount of N application increased both the crop yield and the amount of NO₃⁻ leached. Increasing irrigation uniformity increased crop yields but had variable effects on the amount of NO₃⁻ leached. A winter forage crop following a summer corn crop effectively reduced the leaching of residual soil N following the corn crop.     

Estimation and comparison of night-time OH levels in the UK urban atmosphere using two different analysis methods

Night-time OH levels have been determined for UK urban surface environments using two methods,the decay and steady state approximation methods.Measurement data from the UK National Environmental Technology Centre archive for four urban sites(Bristol,Harwell,London Eltham and Edinburgh) over the time period of 1996 to 2000 have been used in this study.Three reactive alkenes,namely isoprene,1,3-butadiene and trans-2-pentene were chosen for the calculation of OH levels by the decay method.Hourly measurements o...     

Prenatal diagnosis of a double heterozygote for two reciprocal translocations of familial origin

Two balanced reciprocal translocations were found in an amniotic fluid cell culture undertaken because of maternal age. One translocation had been inherited from each parent. Both translocations were traced through three generations of each family. The importance of banding techniques in diagnostic cytogenetics is stressed.     

Reproducibility of personal exposure estimates for nitrogen dioxide over a two year period

Continuous and categorical variables for estimation of exposure to NO₂ were measured twice over a 2-year period in a population of children of 6–12 years old. Children were selected who had not moved, and in whose houses no changes in gas appliances had been reported. The repeatability of the measurement of both the continuous and the categorical variables was excellent.     

城市污水强化一级处理的研究现状

强化一级处理，可以提高城市污水中污染的去除率。本文介绍了国内外对于处理化学法和生物絮凝吸附法及改善反应器性能强化一级处理的研究现状。