Prognosis of fetuses with a cystic hygroma

This paper reports our experience with 55 fetuses identified in utero to have a cystic hygroma. The outcome of fetuses with an isolated cystic hygroma, cystic hygroma with non-immune hydrops, and cystic hygroma with multiple anomalies was evaluated. Approximately two-thirds of karyotypes were aneuploid, and a strong association of septation and aneuploidy existed. Only five cases, four of which had isolated hygromas, came to term and resulted in live births. Two of these involved small non-septated lesions which resolved in utero.     

Assessment of natural components of PM10 at UK urban and rural sites

Proposals from the European Commission have raised the possibility that Member States may be able to subtract the concentrations of natural components of airborne particulate matter from measured concentrations when evaluating compliance with EU Limit Values. By applying the pragmatic mass closure model [Harrison et al., 2003. A pragmatic mass closure model for airborne particulate matter at urban background and roadside sites. Atmospheric Environment 37, 4927–4933] to chemical composition data for PM₁₀, it has been possible to estimate the concentrations of natural sea salt, strongly bound water and secondary organic carbon (which is assumed wholly biogenic) to the measured mass of PM₁₀. Because of the difficulty in distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic crustal dusts, the contribution of natural windblown dust and soil has not been accounted for. When the natural components are estimated for two urban and one rural site in the UK, the long-term mean PM₁₀ concentration is reduced by between 5.2 and 7.3 μg m⁻³. The number of exceedences of the 50 μg m⁻³ 24-h limit value falls dramatically from 54 to 21 (from a total of 291 days) at an urban street canyon site, 7 to 3 (n=292 days) at an urban background site and from 8 to 0 (n=241 days) at a rural site when using gravimetric PM₁₀ concentrations. The calculations have also been performed using PM₁₀ concentrations measured by TEOM increased by a factor of 1.3 as recommended by the European Commission as an interim means of estimating gravimetric equivalency, and the number of exceedences of the 24-h limit value fell from 92 to 47 (from a total of 291 days) at the urban street canyon site, from 11 to 3 (n=292 days) at the urban background site and from 6 to 3 (n=241) at the rural site. Clearly, therefore, application of this proposed measure would make a very major difference to the likelihood of compliance or otherwise with the 24-h limit value for PM₁₀.     

Ultrastructural changes in the respiratory lamellae of the catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis after sublethal exposure to malathion

Transmission electron microscopy study of the gills of Heteropneustes fossilis, exposed to 4 mg/liter of malathion (1/3 of LC50) for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h showed significant changes in its ultrastructures. Exposure to the pesticide after 24 h caused a slightly disarrayed condition in the double layered epithelial structure. Lymphatic spaces became more apparent, and a few chloride cells appeared which protruded toward the peripheral margin of the secondary lamellae. Chloride cells were exposed to the exterior by an apical pit. Pinocytosis was observed with marginal folds (MF) originating from the pillar and epithelial cells. Some vascular constrictions were also seen in the capillaries with erythrocytes. After 48 h exposure, the outer epithelial cells were stretched into a thin boundary wall and lymphatic spaces were engorged with plasma exudate. Chloride cells transversed the whole epithelium of the lamella and came into direct contact with lymphoid space and exterior to epithelial lining. Basement membrane of the capillaries became thicker. After 72 h a distorted lamellar epithelium ruptured in a few places allowing many spheroid bodies and some chloride cells come out. Marginal folds of pillar cells migrated into vascular spaces. Basement membrane of capillaries became thicker and blood channels were constricted causing vascular stasis. No erythrocytes were visible. Blood channels were filled with leukocytes and amoebocytes. After 96 h exposure to malathion narrowing of lymphatic spaces, proliferation of epithelial cells and development of pinocytotic vesicles from marginal folds of pillar cell flanges were observed. Only marginal blood channels maintained normal configuration. Vascular stasis due to thickening of the basal lamina were still evident in centrally located blood channels filled with leukocytes. Vascular stasis would likely cause a decrease in respiratory efficiency. This study has revealed that the gills of H. fossilis were affected by a sublethal dose of malathion. The ultrastructural damages to the gills were observed as early as at 24 h exposure, but the most severe damage occurred at 72 h exposure. However, signs of gill structure regeneration were seen in malathion-exposed fish after 96 h.     

Effects of dimethoate on honey bee foraging

Collection by honey bees of sucrose solutions treated with dimethoate continued uninterrupted until 2.9–3.9 μg/bee had been accumulated. This self-limiting dose was 20–25 times the oral LD₅₀ for honey bees. Therefore a mean of 45 collection trips involving 1 ppm dimethoate or 11 trips involving 5 ppm was possible before foraging ceased. Losses in pollinator effectiveness and adult and larval mortality are likely to result from dimethoate contamination of nectar.     

A proposed model to include a residual NAPL saturation in a hysteretic capillary pressure-saturation relationship

A residual non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) present in the vadose zone can act as a contaminant source for many years as the compounds of concern partition to infiltrating groundwater and air contained in the soil voids. Current pressure-saturation-relative permeability relationships do not include a residual NAPL saturation term in their formulation. This paper presents the results of series of two- and three-phase pressure cell experiments conducted to evaluate the residual NAPL saturation and its impact on the pressure-saturation relationship. A model was proposed to incorporate a residual NAPL saturation term into an existing hysteretic three-phase parametric model developed by Parker and Lenhard [Water Resour. Res. 23(12) (1987) 2187], Lenhard and Parker [Water Resour. Res. 23(12) (1987) 2197] and Lenhard [J. Contam. Hydrol. 9 (1992) 243]. The experimental results indicated that the magnitude of the residual NAPL saturation was a function of the maximum total liquid saturation reached and the water saturation. The proposed model to incorporate a residual NAPL saturation term is similar in form to the entrapment model proposed by Parker and Lenhard, which was based on an expression presented by Land [Soc. Pet. Eng. J. (June 1968) 149].     

Molecular Genetics of Pre-1940 Red Wolves

Conservation of the endangered red wolf (Canis rufus) has become a controversial issue because its genetic and morphological composition has been altered by hybridization with coyotes (C. latrans) and possibly gray wolves (C. lupus) making its evolutionary origins difficult to ascertain. The evolutionary hypothesis based on morphological data is that the red wolf had an Early Pleistocene origin and was the predecessor of both modern coyotes and gray wolves. After 1940 red wolves hybridized with coyotes as the species vanished from the wild. In contrast to this ancient origin-recent introgression hypothesis, molecular data are more consistent with an origin through hybridization between gray wolves and coyotes. Interspecific hybridization may have occurred repeatedly over time prior to European settlement in the southcentral United States or may have been induced recently by anthropogenic changes. We review recent molecular evidence and present new results from the analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers in pre-1940 populations of red wolves. Our results are inconsistent with an ancient origin of the red wolf and support the hybridization model. We discuss possible hybridization scenarios and reasons for the red wolf reintroduction program to be concerned with the effects of genetic introgression from coyotes.     

MODELING OF LEAKAGE THROUGH CRACKED CLAY LINERS -I: STATE OF THE ART1

ABSTRACT: The existence and importance of macro-pores to the containment efficiency of cover clay liners at waste landfills is documented. Macro-pores exist as voids, or cracks, and act to increase the volume and rate of leakage through cover liners. Existing numerical models used to simulate flow through clay liners are shown to neglect the macro-pore aspect of the problem. Current theories of macro-pore flow developed from related areas of research are presented, and applications to the landfill liner problem are considered.     

A PROGRAM TO CALCULATE CHANNEL SCOUR AND FILL1

ABSTRACT: A computer program written in BASIC calculates net changes in stream channel cross-sections. Calculations are based on dividing the channel cross-section into discrete regions of scour and fill. Internal boundaries of these regions (along the x-axis of the cross-section) are determined by the location of vertical depth measurements taken at two distinct times. The right and left boundaries of the cross-section can be specified so that scour or fill can be calculated for any portion of the profile desired.