Pre- and perinatal findings in partial trisomy 7q resulting from balanced parental translocations t(7;21) and t(4;7)

We report on a fetus and a newborn, both with partial trisomy 7q21→qter due to different familial translocations, t(7;21)(q21.2;p12) and t(4;7)(q35;q21.2). Postmortem examination of the 19-week-old female fetus disclosed dysmorphic features, cleft palate, anomalies of the great vessels, intestinal malrotation and uterus bicornis. The newborn girl revealed a pattern of minor anomalies, cleft palate, cerebellar hypoplasia, and anomalies of pancreas, gall bladder and appendix. The clinical findings in three other reported fetuses with partial trisomy 7q described so far are reviewed. A duplication 7q21→qter, as found in the propositi, has only been described in 11 patients who all had a concurrent partial monosomy. Patient 1 is particularly interesting since she is, to our knowledge, the first reported case with pure trisomy 7q21/22→qter. We reviewed the phenotype of the previously described patients, compared it with the propositae, and summarized the clinical features of pure trisomy 7q21/22→qter. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

R&D professionals' views of criteria for intrafirm job mobility: Individual and aggregate analyses of transfer climate perceptions in West German and British Industrial R&D Organizations

Prior research on employees' views of various criteria for obtaining a desirable intrafirm transfer has conceptualized these perceptions on an individual level of analysis (i.e. has examined psychological transfer climates). It is argued that the identification of aggregate transfer climate dimensions on an organizational (subsystem) level of analysis is important for improving the effectiveness of R&D via better transfer policies. Factor analyses of questionnaire data obtained from 729 R&D professionals in 11 FRG industrial firms and 141 R&D professionals in three U.K. industrial firms revealed that both FRG and U.K. subjects perceived three broad means (overall task performance, publication and patent productivity, favouritism) for obtaining a desirable job transfer. Empirically the idea was supported that, for certain transfer criteria (overall task performance, manifest professional output, educational level, luck), individuals' scores can be meaningfully aggregated to obtain organizational transfer climate measures. Remarkable differences in the importance of company tenure and educational level as criteria for transfers in R&D were found between FRG and U.K. organizations. Using the FRG data set differences in the performance responsiveness of organizational transfer climates were shown to be significantly related to work-related outcome variables. Implications are sketched for R&D transfer policies and for explaining U.K./FRG differences in the corporate treatment of R&D activities.     

Über die Phasenprobe und die nächsten Abkömmlinge des Chlorophylls

The Science of Nature -     

Mother’s choice of the oviposition site: balancing risk of egg parasitism and need of food supply for the progeny with an infochemical shelter?

Summary. Oviposition site selection of herbivorous insects depends primarily on host plant presence which is essential for offspring survival. However, parasitoids can exploit host plant cues for host location. In this study, we hypothesised that herbivores can solve this dilemma by ovipositing within high plant diversity. A diverse plant species composition might represent an ‘infochemical shelter’, as a potentially complex volatile blend can negatively affect the host location ability of parasitoids. We examined this exemplarily for the egg-laying response of the generalist leaf beetle, Galeruca tanaceti, in relation to (1) host plant availability and (2) plant species diversity in the field. Further, we investigated the effect of odours from mixed plant species compositions on (3) leaf beetle oviposition site selection and on (4) the orientation of its specialised egg parasitoid, Oomyzus galerucivorus. In the field, egg clutch occurrence was positively related to the presence and quantity of two major host plants, Achillea millefolium (yarrow) and Centaurea jacea, and to the number of herbaceous plant species. In two-choice bioassays, female beetles oviposited more frequently on sites surrounded by an odour blend from a diverse plant species composition (including yarrow) than on sites with a pure grass odour blend. In the presence of yarrow odour and an odour blend from a diverse plant mixture (including yarrow) no difference in the oviposition response was recorded. Experienced parasitoid females were attracted to yarrow odours, but showed no response when yarrow odours were offered simultaneously with odours of a non-host plant. In conclusion, it could be shown in laboratory bioassays that the parasitoid responds only to pure host plant odours but not to complex odour blends. In contrast, the herbivore prefers to oviposit within diverse vegetation in the field and in the laboratory. However, the laboratory results also point to a priority of host plant availability over the selection of a potential ‘infochemical shelter’ for oviposition due to high plant diversity.     

Interdisciplinary studies on the technical and economic feasibility of deep underground coal gasification with CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> storage in bulgaria

This paper presents the outcome of a feasibility study on underground coal gasification (UCG) combined with direct carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and storage (CCS) at a selected site in Bulgaria with deep coal seams (>1,200 m). A series of state-of-the-art geological, geo-mechanical, hydrogeological and computational models supported by experimental tests and techno-economical assessments have been developed for the evaluation of UCG-CCS schemes. Research efforts have been focused on the development of site selection requirements for UCG-CCS, estimation of CO₂ storage volumes, review of the practical engineering requirements for developing a commercial UCG-CCS storage site, consideration of drilling and completion issues, and assessments of economic feasibility and environmental impacts of the scheme. In addition, the risks of subsidence and groundwater contamination have been assessed in order to pave the way for a full-scale trial and commercial applications. The current research confirms that cleaner and cheaper energy with reduced emissions can be achieved and the economics are competitive in the future European energy market. However the current research has established that rigorous design and monitor schemes are essential for productivity and safety and the minimisation of the potential environmental impacts. A platform has been established serving to inform policy-makers and aiding strategies devised to alleviate local and global impacts on climate change, while ensuring that energy resources are optimally harnessed.