Prenatal diagnosis of primary anophthalmia with a 3q27 interstitial deletion involving SOX2

We report an interstitial deletion of chromosome 3q26-q28 in a fetus in which anophthalmia had been detected prenatally. FISH analysis, using BAC clones encompassing the SOX2 locus, showed that SOX2 gene was involved in the chromosomal breakpoint of the deletion. This case confirms that haploinsufficiency for SOX2 plays a crucial role in human eye development and emphasizes the necessity of careful chromosomal analysis, including FISH analysis of the 3q region, in case of prenatal discovery of anophthalmia. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Visual prey detection by near-infrared cues in a fish

Many animal species are able to perceive light wavelengths beyond those visible to humans. While numerous species are additionally sensitive to short wavelengths (UV), long wavelengths such as the near-infrared spectrum (NIR) are supposed to be unsuitable for visual perception. Here, we experimentally show that under exclusive NIR illumination, the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus displays a clear foraging response towards NIR reflecting prey. Additional control experiments without prey indicate that the observed behavior is not a mere response to the NIR environment. These results give first evidence for NIR visual sensitivity in a functional context and thus challenge the current view about NIR perception.     

城市再生水景观利用水华识别和预警方法探讨

城市再生水景观回用的主要问题是水体富营养化导致水华的暴发。为了抑制藻类的大规模生长,需要提前采取预防措施,以便将有可能爆发水华的藻类及时杀死或除去。目前,人们已经对景观水体中常见藻类的生长规律做了深入的研究,发现水体中藻数量(藻密度)的多少与水体的pH值和DO值的变化有密切而相对稳定的关系。通过在线实时监控pH值和DO值,找到△pH、△DO与藻类生长之间的关系,并结合pH、DO、温度、正磷酸盐和总氮等指标,实现实时识别和预测水华爆发的目的。     

农村生活污水处理设施优先控制区域识别与监管策略

选取嘉兴市秀洲区和海宁市为研究对象,以乡镇区划为研究单元,采用综合源强估算法和GIS软件,对处理设施的氨氮（NH₃-N）、总磷（TP）、化学需氧量（COD）排放强度进行定量估算和空间分析.结果表明,秀洲区处理设施的NH₃-N和COD排放强度高于海宁市,而TP排放强度与海宁市差不多.秀洲区内,洪合镇各污染物的排放强度均最高;海宁市内,盐官镇NH₃-N排放强度最高,许村镇TP和COD排放强度最高.采用因子分析法和加权指数法计算排污权重,再结合生态敏感性评价和环境功能区划,筛选出运维和监管优先控制区.秀洲区内,洪合镇、王江泾镇、油车港镇被划分为优先控制区,该优先控制区内处理设施数量占比27.87%,排污权重占比72.42%,通过重点监管17.66%的设施,可监管秀洲区59.98%的污染物排放.海宁市内,长安镇、许村镇、海洲街道、盐官镇、袁花镇被划分为优先控制区,该优先控制区内设施数量占比69.10%,排污权重占比71.23%,通过重点监管16.85%的设施,可监管海宁市43.54%的污染物排放.研究结果可为提高设施的运维监管效率提供技术支撑.     

Maßnahmen zur Dioxinminderung an Müllverbrennungsanlagen

The 17th BlmSchV fixed the emission limit of 0.1 ng TE/m_n ³ for PCDD/F’s produced as a result of waste- and special waste incinerators. This article introduces the different measures implemented to uphold this limit, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. Methods of optimising the incineration conditions are among the primary measures. Different geometry’s for conventional oven incineration rooms were discussed, and an effective modernisation method was introduced (Temelli nozzles). The chemical and technical basis of an often discussed gasification method, as well as the characteristics of three specialised techniques (Coke Burn technique, Thermo-Select technique and Noell-DBI technique) are explained in this article. Alongside the secondary measures of hot-dust filtration and inhibition being added to the washers in an attempt to achieve PCDD/F adsorption. The most important tertiary measures, namely the SCR technique, along with a variety of coke adsorption techniques are introduced, with their advantages and disadvantages. New techniques such as DeDioxin and Medisorbon are also addressed.     

Biomonitoring verkehrsbedingter Platin-Immissionen

Traffic related platinum deposits on, or near to, the roads. Platinum accumulation was studied using the method of standardised culture of grass (Lolium multiflorum) at locations with different traffic exposure in the region of Munich. Grass cultures from 6 locations with high traffic exposure, and 3 reference locations far away from traffic emissions, were analysed in 1992 and 1993. The results show a good indication of the platinum emissions byLolium multiflorum. The platinum concentrations rose with the increasing traffic. They diminished with growing distance from the verge of the road. The highest average platinum concentrations were measured at locations close to highly frequented urban roads, in the range 0.8 to 2.9 μg/kg dm. The average platinum concentration at locations far from emissions was found in the range of 0.17 to 0.51 μg/kg dm in 1992 and 1993. The good correlation between the platinum concentrations in grass cultures and the concentrations of other traffic-related elements, like antimony, chromium and lead, verifies the dependence of platinum accumulation from traffic.     

Rural women and agrotourism in the context of sustainable rural development: A case study from Turkey

As in many developing countries also in Turkey, agriculture is on the center of rural development and rural women are on the center of agriculture. Although they are main part as a major labor force at every stage of agricultural activity and undertake responsibilities such as domestic task and childcare, women do not profit from social and economic benefits proportionate to the responsibilities they have undertaken. Agrotourism is an alternative activity in the rural development process, which combines agriculture and tourism, improves natural resources, contributes the rural area socially and economically. The aim of this study is to examine the participation conditions of rural women to the agrotourism activities, which is considered as an option in the context of sustainable rural development, and to identify the possible social and economic implications of agrotourism on the rural women’s life, after determining the situation and importance of rural women in the agricultural activity. This research was carried out in three villages of Kalecik district of Ankara and data gathered from group meetings and surveys.     

Trinkwasserschutzgebiete

Conflict are frequently observed when drinking water protection areas are to be defined and when many variants of how to protect these area are to be found. Using ten potential scenarios, a method is presented here which shows how such conflicts concerning these variants may be handled in a systematic manner. The technique is derived from the use of partially ordered sets and their visualization by Hasse diagrams. The first step is to define rankings of different variants according to each aim of protection. A further step is to define an appropriate relationship of order. It is then possible to visualize the extent of consensus and of dissension through the use of a Hasse diagram. The final step is to quantify the importance of each protection aim and the initialization of an iteration. Should a complete consensus be found, this would result in a chain of (connected) variants. Should a complete dissension be found on the other hand, an antichain would then result (i.e. where all variants are isolated).