Del(18p) syndrome with increased nuchal translucency in prenatal diagnosis

We report a de novo translocation between chromosome 15 and 18 resulting in monosomy 18p in prenatal diagnosis. The patient was referred for amniocentesis due to increased nuchal translucency (INT) (5 mm) at 13.6 weeks of gestation. Karyotype of the fetus revealed 45,XX,der(15;18)(q10;q10) in all metaphases. The targeted fetal ultrasound at 20 weeks of gestation did not show any special physical abnormalities other than 6.4 mm of nuchal fold thickness. Molecular cytogenetic findings using CGH and FISH confirmed the del(18p) with dicentromeres from both chromosome 15 and 18. The present study shows that the INT at first trimester was the only prenatal finding for the fetus with del(18p) syndrome and that molecular cytogenetic methods are useful for detecting chromosomal aberrations precisely. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction of polychlorinated dibenzofuran congener distribution from gas-phase phenol condensation pathways

A model for predicting the distribution of dibenzofuran and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) congeners from a distribution of phenols was developed. The model is based on a simplified chemical mechanism. Relative rate constants and reaction order with respect to phenol precursors were derived from experimental results using single phenols and equal molar mixtures of up to four phenols. For validation, experiments were performed at three temperatures using a distribution of phenol and 19 chlorinated phenols as measured in municipal waste incinerator exhaust gas. Comparison of experimental measurements and model predictions for PCDF isomer distributions and homologue pattern shows agreement within measurement uncertainty. The R-squared correlation coefficient exceeds 0.9 for all PCDF isomer distributions and the distribution of PCDF homologues. These results demonstrate that the distribution of dibenzofuran and the 135 PCDF congeners from gas-phase condensation of phenol and chlorinated phenols can be predicted from measurement of the distribution of phenol and the 19 chlorinated phenol congeners.     

Chemical composition of post-harvest biomass burning aerosols in Gwangju, Korea

The main objective of this study was to investigate the chemical characteristics of post-harvest biomass burning aerosols from field burning of barley straw in late spring and rice straw in late fall in rural areas of Korea. A 12-hr integrated intensive sampling of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 microm (PM10) and PM with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 microm (PM2.5) biomass burning aerosols had been conducted continuously in Gwangju, Korea, during two biomass burning periods: June 4--15, 2001, and October 8--November 14, 2002. The fine and coarse particles of biomass burning aerosols were analyzed for mass and ionic, elemental, and carbonaceous species. The average fine and coarse mass concentrations of biomass burning aerosols were, respectively, 129.6 and 24.2 microg/m3 in June 2001 and 47.1 and 33.2 microg/m3 in October--November 2002. An exceptionally high PM2.5 concentration of 157.8 microg/m3 was observed during biomass burning events under stagnant atmospheric conditions. In the fine mode, chlorine and potassium were unusually rich because of the high content of semi-arid vegetation. Both organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon increased during the biomass burning periods, with the former exhibiting a higher abundance. PM from the open field burning of agricultural waste has an adverse impact on local air quality and regional climate.     

Chlorination of dibenzofuran and dibenzo-p-dioxin vapor by copper (II) chloride

Dibenzofuran (DF) is formed from phenol and benzene in combustion gas exhaust streams prior to particle collection equipment. Subsequent chlorination at lower temperatures on particle surfaces is a potential source of chlorinated dibenzofuran (CDF). Gas streams containing 8% O₂ and approximately 0.1% DF vapor were passed through particle beds containing copper (II) chloride (0.5% Cu, mass) at temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 °C to investigate the potential for CDF formation during particle collection. Experiment duration was sufficient to provide an excess amount of DF (DF/Cu=3). The efficiency of DF chlorination by CuCl₂ and the distribution of CDF products were measured, with effects of temperature, gas velocity, and experiment duration assessed. Results of a more limited investigation of dibenzo-p-dioxin (DD) chlorination by CuCl₂ to form chlorinated DD (CDD) products are also presented.

The efficiency of DF/DD chlorination by CuCl₂ was high, both in terms of CuCl₂ utilization and DF/DD conversion. Total yields of Cl on CDF/CDD products of up to 0.5 mole Cl per mole CuCl₂ were observed between 200 and 300 °C; this suggests that nearly 100% CuCl₂ was utilized, assuming a conversion of two moles of CuCl₂ to CuCl per mole Cl added to DD/DF. In a short duration experiment (DF/Cu=0.3), nearly 100% DF adsorption and conversion to CDF was achieved. The degree of CDF chlorination was strongly dependent on gas velocity. At high gas velocity, corresponding to a gas–particle contact time of 0.3 s, mono-CDF (MCDF) yield was largest, with yields decreasing with increasing CDF chlorination. At low gas velocity, corresponding to a gas–particle contact time of 5 s, octa-CDF yield was largest. DF/DD chlorination was strongly favored at lateral sites, with the predominant CDF/CDD isomers within each homologue group those containing Cl substituents at only the 2,3,7,8 positions. At the higher temperatures and lower gas velocities studied, however, broader isomer distributions, particularly of the less CDD/CDF products, were observed, likely due to preferential destruction of the 2,3,7,8 congeners.     

Modeling Hydrological and Environmental Consequences of Climate Change and Urbanization in the Boise River Watershed,Idaho

The potential impacts driven by climate variability and urbanization in the Boise River Watershed (BRW), located in southwestern Idaho, are evaluated. The outcomes from Global Circulation Models (GCMs) and land use and land cover (LULC) analysis have been incorporated into a hydrological and environmental modeling framework to characterize how climate variability and urbanization can affect the local hydrology and environment at the BRW. The combined impacts of future climate and LULC change are also evaluated relative to the historical baseline conditions. For modeling exercises, Hydrological Simulation Program‐Fortran (HSPF) is used in parallel computing and statistical techniques, including spatial downscaling and bias correlation, are employed to evaluate climate consequences derived from GCMs as well. The implications of climate variability and land use change driven by urbanization are then observed to evaluate how these overall global challenges can affect water quantity and quality conditions at the BRW. The results show the combined impacts of both climate change and urbanization can lead to more seasonal variability of streamflow (from ?27.5% to 12.5%) and water quality, including sediment (from ?36.5% to 49.3%), nitrogen (from ?24% to 124.2%), and phosphorus (from ?13.3% to 21.2%) during summer and early fall over the next several decades.     

Comparative studies on toluene removal and pressure drop in biofilters using different packing materials

To select the best available packing material for malodorous organic gases such as toluene and benzene, biofilter performance was compared in biofilters employed different packing materials including porous ceramic (celite), Jeju scoria (lava), a mixture of granular activated carbon (GAC) and celite (GAC/celite), and cubic polyurethane foam (PU). A toluene-degrading bacterium, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia T3-c, was used as the inoculum. The maximum elimination capacities in the celite, lava, and GAC/celite biofilters were 100, 130, and 110 gm(-3) hr(-1), respectively. The elimination capacity for the PU biofilter was approximately 350 g m(-3) hr(-1) at an inlet loading of approximately 430 g m(-3) hr(-1), which was 2 to 3.5 times higher than for the other biofilters. The pressure drop gradually increased in the GAC/ celite, celite and lava biofilters after 23 day due to bacterial over-growth, and the toluene removal efficiency remarkably decreased with increasing pressure drop. Backwashing method was not effective for the control of biomass in these biofilters. In the PU biofilter however, backwashing allowed maintenance of a pressure drop of 1 to 3 mm H2O m(-1) and a removal efficiency of > 80%, indicating that the PU was the best packing material for toluene removal among the packing materials tested.     

Effects of Stock Use and Backpackers on Water Quality in Wilderness in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, USA

During 2010–2011, a study was conducted in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI) to evaluate the influence of pack animals (stock) and backpackers on water quality in wilderness lakes and streams. The study had three main components: (1) a synoptic survey of water quality in wilderness areas of the parks, (2) paired water quality sampling above and below several areas with differing types and amounts of visitor use, and (3) intensive monitoring at six sites to document temporal variations in water quality. Data from the synoptic water quality survey indicated that wilderness lakes and streams are dilute and have low nutrient and Escherichia coli concentrations. The synoptic survey sites were categorized as minimal use, backpacker-use, or mixed use (stock and backpackers), depending on the most prevalent type of use upstream from the sampling locations. Sites with mixed use tended to have higher concentrations of most constituents (including E. coli) than those categorized as minimal-use (P ≤ 0.05); concentrations at backpacker-use sites were intermediate. Data from paired-site sampling indicated that E. coli, total coliform, and particulate phosphorus concentrations were greater in streams downstream from mixed-use areas than upstream from those areas (P ≤ 0.05). Paired-site data also indicated few statistically significant differences in nutrient, E. coli, or total coliform concentrations in streams upstream and downstream from backpacker-use areas. The intensive-monitoring data indicated that nutrient and E. coli concentrations normally were low, except during storms, when notable increases in concentrations of E. coli, nutrients, dissolved organic carbon, and turbidity occurred. In summary, results from this study indicate that water quality in SEKI wilderness generally is good, except during storms; and visitor use appears to have a small, but statistically significant influence on stream water quality.     

A resilience-based approach for comparing expert preferences across two large-scale coastal management programs

This report proposes a method for assessing resilience-building components in coastal social–ecological systems. Using the proposed model, the preferences of experts in Masan Bay (South Korea) and Puget Sound (USA) are compared. A total of 30 management objectives were determined and used to build a hierarchic tree designed using the principles of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Surveys were performed with 35 Puget Sound experts using face-to-face interviews and with 28 Masan Bay experts by mail. The results demonstrate that the legal objective, which enables legislation, was the highest preferred component in both regions. The knowledge translation variable was also given a high preference score in both regions. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the Puget Sound experts significantly favored attention to education, habitat restoration and species protection objectives in comparison to the Masan Bay experts. The Masan Bay experts placed greater emphasis on legislation and the type of institutional design than did the Puget Sound experts. Using cluster analysis, four distinct groups of respondents were independently identified in Puget Sound and three groups were identified in Masan Bay. One unique subgroup in the Puget Sound experts group, which was characterized by its high preferences for habitat restoration and species protection, was not observed in Masan Bay. Demographic variables (length of career and role in coastal issue) failed to account for the differences in groupings and preferences in either region, except for the variable ‘favoring information source’ in the Puget Sound group. This finding implies that the demographic information was not related to differences in group opinions in both regions. The analysis framework presented here was effective in identifying expert preferences regarding the overall structure and emphasis in coastal management programs. Thus, this framework can be applied towards coastal policy development.