The significance of trisomy 7 mosaicism in chorionic villus cultures

Two cases of mosaic trisomy 7 confined to the cultured cells and not found in direct preparation were detected from 200 consecutive first-trimester chorionic villus samples (CVS) analysed. The mosaicism was similar in the two cases, but the pregnancy outcome was different. In both cases, the direct metaphases from the CVS were 46, XY. Culture metaphases were mos46,XY/47,XY, + 7; the trisomy 7 was seen in 34 per cent of cells from case 1 and 53 per cent from case 2. A sonogram at 15¹/₂ weeks revealed fetal death in utero in case 1, and the patient declined amniocentesis. The fetal tissue failed to grow in culture, but the placental cultured cells were 47,XY, + 7 in 28 (100 per cent) cells analysed. In the second case, all the amniotic fluid cells were 46,XY and the pregnancy resulted in a normal male with a 46,XY karyotype in the cord blood and foreskin fibroblast cultures. The term placenta was mosaic with 13/163 (8 per cent) trisomy 7 cells. Extensive cytogenetic studies on the placenta for the first time confirmed trisomy 7 mosaicism confined to the villus cultures.     

Stable chlorine intramolecular kinetic isotope effects from the abiotic dehydrochlorination of DDT

INTENTION, GOAL, SCOPE, BACKGROUND: Identifying different sources and following reaction pathways of chlorinated organic contaminants in the environment can be challenging, especially when only their concentrations are available. Compound-specific stable chlorine measurements of some contaminants have recently been shown to provide additional information and an increased understanding of their biogeochemistry. These studies, however, have been generally limited to volatile molecules. OBJECTIVE: Here, the stable chlorine isotope ratios of the semi-volatile pesticide, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) were investigated. Specifically, the intramolecular stable chlorine isotopic compositions of DDT and the kinetic isotope effect (KIE) for the abiotic dehydrochlorination of DDT to 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethene (DDE) were determined. METHODS: Selective chemical oxidation of DDT to dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP) and analysis of each compound was used to calculate the stable chlorine isotope ratios of the alkyl and aromatic chlorines in DDT. To determine the KIE for dehydrochlorination, DDT was reacted in a basic solution to yield DDE at 52 degrees C, 60 degrees C, and 72 degrees C for 3, 5, and 5 days, respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Significant intramolecular stable chlorine isotopic differences were observed in one sample of DDT where the alkyl and aromatic delta 37Cl values were -5.76 +/- 0.45 and -2.21 +/- 0.24%@1000, respectively. Dehydrochlorination of DDT to DDE in basic solutions at 52, 60, and 70 degrees C resulted in a substantial intramolecular KIE where the alkyl chlorines of DDE shifted by approximately 3%@1000 relative to the alkyl chlorines in DDT. However, no temperature dependence was observed. The KIE, calculated by an iterative program, was 1.009. CONCLUSIONS: Intramolecular differences in the stable chlorine isotope ratios were observed in DDT and this is the first such finding. Dehydrochlorination of DDT yields a measurable and distinct intramolecular stable chlorine KIE. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: The results of this study demonstrate the existence of significant intramolecular differences in chlorinated organic compounds. Many other chlorinated semi-volatile and volatile organic contaminants are synthesized from multiple sources of chlorine, and we recommend that similar studies be performed on many such molecules in order to attain a clear understanding of their intramolecular chlorine isotopic differences. The existence of a measurable KIE for the dehydrochlorination of DDT to DDE shows the potential strength of using isotopic measurements to investigate the biogeochemistry of these important compounds. For example, the isotopically depleted aqueous chloride produced by dehydrochlorination of DDT to DDE may be a useful tracer of these reactions in freshwater environments.     

Variations in bottom sediment nutrient and metal concentrations in the Genesee River watershed,New York

Variations in nutrient and metal concentrations of fluvial sediment may be due to varying combinations of natural and man-made factors: basin geology, surface erosion, riverbank erosion, industrial or other cultural contamination, the presence of minerals rich in trace elements (e.g. chromite), sediment ion-exchange capacity, sediment organic content, and the presence of metallic oxides. The data reported here were obtained in a study in New York State of sediment transport from the Genesee River watershed to Lake Ontario (6,500 km²; 2,400 sq.mi.). One hundred bottom sediment samples collected over a period of a year were chemically analyzed for aluminium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, zinc, total carbon, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and phosphorus. The metal concentrations (arithmetic means ±S.D., in μg/g) were: Al, 6,660±2,620; Cr, 14±9; Cu, 18±7; Fe, 15,060±7,312; Mn, 424±212; Ni, 23±13; Pb, 40±67; and Zn, 69±37. For the major nutrients the results (mean ±1 S.D. in %) were: total carbon, 2.06 ± 1.68; total organic carbon, 1.37 ± 1.28; total nitrogen, 0.105 ± 0.098; and phosphorus, 0.0560 ± 0.014.     

A numerical model for drying of spherical object in an indirect type solar dryer and estimating the drying time at different moisture level and air temperature

A numerical model for simultaneous heat and mass transfer was developed for solar drying of spherical objects and the object considered is green peas. Solar collector outlet temperature is assumed as drying chamber temperature and justified through energy balance equations. Assumptions are imposed on heat and mass transfer governing equations without losing the physics of the problem. Discretization is performed by finite difference method with implicit scheme. To generalize, the governing equation and boundary conditions are non-dimensionalized. The set of finite difference equations was solved by Tridiagonal Matrix Algorithm and a computer code in MATLAB was developed to solve them. The drying curves showed two stages of drying, initial, and secondary drying stage. At all drying temperatures and drying time, the center moisture was maximum and it was minimum at the boundary. A percentage of 85.67 surface moisture content and 25.33% center moisture was eliminated in the first 1 hr at 348 K. The product should be dried up to 7.45, 4.74, and 3.74 hr at air drying temperatures of 318, 333, and 348 K respectively, to maintain 10% of the product’s initial moisture content. The result is compared with the experimental result from literature and they are found to be in good agreement.     

Influence of nanoscale zero-valent iron on hydraulic conductivity of a residual clayey soil and modeling of the filtration parameter

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Contaminated clay soils pose problems to public health and the environment in several parts of the world. Very little is known about the transport of...     

Alterations in Carbohydrate Metabolism in Selected Tissues of Crab,Oziotelphusa Senex Senex (Fabricius) Under Fenvalerate-Induced Stress

Changes in carbohydrate metabolism in hepatopancreas and muscle of the crab, Oziotelphusa senex senex exposed to a sublethal concentration (0.2 ppm) of fenvalerate, a pyrethroid insecticide, were studied. the glycogen and total carbohydrate levels decreased significantly in the tissues of crab exposed to fenvalerate. an increase in phosphorylase ‘a’ and decrease in aldolase activity levels suggested increased glycogenolysis, and decreased glycolysis during fenvalerate toxicity. Krebs cycle enzymes such as NAD-isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase were decreased, suggesting reduced mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was increased significantly, indicating enhanced oxidation of glucose through the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway. Lactate dehydrogenase activity was elevated indicating the development of anaerobic conditions at tissue level in the stressed crab. Cytochrome C oxidase and Mg2+ ATPase activity levels were also decreased, indicating the impaired energy synthesis and prevalence of energy crisis. These results suggest that fenvalerate has a profound effect on the glucose metabolism of crab.     

Soy proteins as environmentally friendly sizing agents to replace poly(vinyl alcohol)

An environmentally friendly and inexpensive substitute to the widely used poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has been developed from soy proteins for textile warp sizing. Textile processing is the major source of industrial water pollution across the world, and sizing and desizing operations account for nearly 30 % of the water consumed in a textile plant. PVA is one of the most common sizing agents used for synthetic fibers and their blends due to PVA’s easy water solubility and ability to provide desired sizing performance. However, PVA does not degrade and is a major contributor to pollution in textile effluent treatment plants. Although considerable efforts have been made to replace PVA with biodegradable sizing materials, the performance properties provided by PVA on synthetic fibers and their blends have been unmatched so far. Soy proteins are inexpensive, biodegradable, and have been widely studied for potential use in food packaging, as resins and adhesives. In this research, the potential of using soy proteins as textile sizing agents to replace PVA was studied. Polyester and polyester/cotton rovings, yarns, and fabrics sized with soy protein showed a considerably better improvement in strength and abrasion resistance compared to commercially available PVA-based size. Soy protein size had a 5-day biochemical oxygen demand /chemical oxygen demand ratio of 0.57 compared to 0.01 for PVA indicating that soy protein sizes were easily biodegradable in activated sludge. The total and ammonia nitrogen released from the proteins also did not adversely impact the biodegradability. Good sizing performance and easy biodegradability demonstrate that soy protein-based sizes have potential to replace PVA-based sizes leading to substantial benefits to the textile industry and the environment.     

Total immobilization of soil heavy metals with nano-Fe/Ca/CaO dispersion mixtures

This report shows that soil heavy metals can be totally immobilized by grinding with nano-Fe/Ca/CaO. Remediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals is a critical issue in Japan. Indeed, contaminated soils are notoriously difficult to remediate using available technologies. Major setbacks in typical immobilization techniques for heavy metals are wet conditions, forming secondary effluents and further treatment for effluents. Solidification with nano-Fe/Ca/CaO dispersion mixture is a promising treatment for the total immobilization of soil heavy metals As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and separation in dry conditions. Here, we studied the heavy metal immobilization by simple grinding with the addition of three mixtures: nano-Fe/CaO, nano-Fe/Ca/CaO, and nano-Fe/Ca/CaO/PO₄. Samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and scanning electron microscopy combined with electron dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). Results show that the addition of nano-Fe/Ca/CaO immobilized 95–99 % of heavy metals, versus 65–80 % by simple grinding. After treatment, 36–45 wt% of magnetic and 64–55 wt% of nonmagnetic fractions of soil were separated. Their condensed heavy metal concentration was 85–95 % and 10–20 %, respectively. Nano-Fe/Ca/CaO treatment reduced the concentration of leachates heavy metals to values lower than the Japan soil elution standard regulatory threshold of 0.01 mg/l for As, Cd, and Pb; and 0.05 mg/l for Cr. This technology can therefore immobilize totally soil heavy metals and reduce heavy metal by separation.     

Laboratory and field evidence of the photonitration of 4-chlorophenol to 2-nitro-4-chlorophenol and of the associated bicarbonate effect

Background, aim and scope  

Photochemical processes can decontaminate the aqueous environment from xenobiotics, but they also produce secondary pollutants. This paper presents field and laboratory evidence of the transformation of 4-chlorophenol (4CP) into 2-nitro-4-chlorophenol (2N4CP).