Study on nitrile-degrading microorganisms

Two strains of bacteria were isolated from nitrile polluted soils, and identified as Corynebacterium boffmanii and Arthrobacter flavescens. Acetonitrile, propionitrile, butyronitrile and acrylonitrile were degraded by these bacteria to yield corresponding amides, carboxylic acids and ammonia. The nitrile-degrading abilities of these strains were investigated. The removal rates for the nitrile were nearly 100%, after these bacteria were grown in medium containing 10000 ppm of aceto-, propio-, or butyronitrile at 28 ℃ for 24h. When the reaction mkture consisting of 5000 ppm of above mentioned nitriles or acrylonitrile and 20g (dry cell) /L resting cells of the two strains in 0.06mol/L phosphate buffer (pH7.5) was incubated separately at 25 ℃ with moderate shaking for 15 or 45 min, the nitrile could be degraded completely. The optimum growth conditions for C.hoffmanii and A.flavescens were studied as well.     

Extraction of DNA from amniotic fluid cells for the early prenatal diagnosis of genetic disease

Ten-ml samples of amniotic fluid were taken from pregnancies being terminated at 8–14 weeks' gestation. DNA was extracted from the amniotic cells by sequential centrifugation and analysed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fifteen samples were analysed for evidence of maternal contamination using Mfd5 oligo-nucleotide primers for repeat polymorphisms. Ten amniotic fluid samples were tested for the Delta-F₅₀₈ deletion characteristic of cystic fibrosis to demonstrate a diagnostic application for the technique. In each case, DNA extracted from fetal tissue from the same pregnancy was included in the controls. In 14 of the 15 cases tested with the Mfd5 primers, both the amniotic fluid DNA and the fetal DNA showed no evidence of contaminating DNA. In one case, neither the amniotic fluid cells nor the fetal cells yielded results. In nine of the ten cases tested with the Delta-F₅₀₈ primers, the amniotic fluid cell DNA provided accurate information about the genetic status of the fetus; in the tenth, the fetal DNA failed to amplify. The results indicate that adequate DNA can be extracted from amniotic fluid from 8 weeks' gestation onward and these samples are suitable for prenatal diagnosis using PCR.     

Prenatal screening and diagnosis of neural tube defects in England and Wales in 1985

A survey was carried out to determine the effect of prenatal screening and therapeutic abortion on births in 1985 with anencephaly and spina bifida in England and Wales. Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein tests were done on 399 288 women (60 per cent of pregnant women): 4 per cent were reported as being screen-positive and 1 per cent had an amniocentesis. An estimated 534 pregnancies associated with anencephaly were terminated and an estimated 445 pregnancies associated with spina bifida (but without anencephaly) were terminated. Most (63 per cent) of the anencephalic pregnancies were first suspected from an ultrasound examination; 57 per cent of the spina bifida pregnancies were first suspected from a positive maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein test, 35 per cent by ultrasound, and the remaining 8 per cent by other means. The birth prevalence of anencephaly declined by 94 per cent between 1964–1972 and 1985, but when the terminations of pregnancy on account of having a fetus with anencephaly are added to the births the decline in prevalence was only 50 per cent. The birth prevalence of spina bifida declined by 68 per cent over the same period but when the terminations were added to the births the decline in prevalence was only 32 per cent. Among births with anencephaly 66 per cent had had no screening or diagnostic tests in early pregnancy, but in those that did nearly all were positive–usually in twin pregnancies where one fetus was affected but not the other. Among births with spina bifida, 48 per cent had no tests and in those that did the results were mainly negative. We conclude that in order to monitor adequately the national screening programme for anencephaly and spina bifida a special neural tube defects register should be formed.     

Prenatal pleural effusion associated with congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia

A pleural effusion associated with congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia was detected in a fetus in utero but was absent at the time of delivery. The pleural effusion was unilateral although the disease involved both lungs. In this case there was an association between polyhydramnios and congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia.     

Evaluation of inorganic pyrophosphate in amniotic fluid as a mode of prenatal diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta

Using a modified procedure by Solomons and Styner (1969), an evaluation of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) was performed on the amniotic fluid of two fetuses at risk for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) at 14½ weeks gestation. The parents of both cases had a previous child with OI, Type II. The normal control group at 14–16 weeks gestation had PPi values ranging from 22.0–59.2 ug/100 ml, with a mean of 38.6±9.51 ug/100 ml. In each at-risk fetus, the amniotic fluid PPi value was within normal range. The first baby was born phenotypically normal at term. Intrauterine radiographic and fetal sonograms were done on the second fetus at approximately 19 weeks gestation. Both showed evidence of OI, Type II. The pregnancy was terminated at 21 weeks. Radiologic studies of the aborted fetus were consistent with OI, Type II. Our results indicate that the evaluation of PPi levels in amniotic fluid is not the method of choice for prenatal diagnosis of IO.     

除尘系统阻力平衡技术措施探讨

分析了除尘系统常用的几种阻力平衡措施的特点和孔板节流装置的工作原理 ,通过比较分析从工程设计、调试、运行效果等方面阐述了孔板节流装置的优点     

太湖梅梁湾水体中可见光的衰减、吸收及散射

对太湖梅梁湾沿岸带和敞水区的水体进行了光学特性研究。结果发现，沿岸带的水下光辐射衰减系数(Kd)值较敞水区小；400nm与500nm向上辐照度比值(Eu440／Eu550),沿岸带在1m左右最小,敞水区在0．5m左右最小;沿岸带的水面下向上辐照度与向下辐照度的比值(R)低于敞水区：440、550、670nm的后向散射与吸收的比值(b／a),在沿岸带的1m处最大,敞水区在0．5m处最大。这些结果说明,相对于敞水区而言,沿岸带的光衰减较弱,无机悬浮颗粒的含量较少,最大叶绿素a分布较深。     

Ecological networks and greenways in Europe: reasoning and concepts

The paper gives an overview of approaches towards ecological networks throughout Europe.It does not intend to present a complete picture,but to highlight comon developments within countries and regions and show common principles and differences between countries and regions that have to be taken into account when developing a joint European intiative,Countries or regions that have not been included can be active in the same way ,but information was not accessible to be authors for different reasons.This overview shows the comparable trends in decline of landscapes and the diversity in approaches to biodiversity conservation and nature conservation planning.Understanding the differences and common issues are of utmost imprtance to generalise common principles and to understand the way neighbours and other European partners approach problems.     

Gamergates in the myrmicine genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metapone</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera:Formicidae)

Gamergates (i.e. mated reproductive workers) are mostly known from ant species within the Ponerinae. We report here the discovery of gamergates in two species of the subfamily Myrmicinae. Until now, mated reproductive females in colonies of myrmicine species have been considered morphologically distinct from the worker caste. However, in two species of the myrmicine Metapone (Metapone madagascarica and a newly discovered, not yet described Metapone species) all workers have six ovarioles and a spermatheca; and some of them are mated. There are no morphological differences between mated and non-mated workers. Field observations and laboratory studies indicate that colonies of the Metapone species can reproduce with gamergates only.     

Pulse cleaning flow models and numerical computation of candle ceramic filters

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