Cystic hygroma: Prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling

Six cases of cystic hygromas detected during second trimester ultrasound examination are reported: 4 fetuses (67 per cent) had a 45, X karyotype, 1 fetus had trisomy 18, 1 fetus had a normal karyotype (46,XX) and at autopsy multiple anomalies were observed. In the latter case the family history suggested an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. In order to reach a definite diagnosis and give proper genetic counselling when a fetus is found to have cystic hygroma, a fetal karyotype as well as a family and reproductive history should be obtained.     

喷射成形制造工艺

喷射成形是一种先进的材料制备技术,该技术具有近终形制造的特点,近年来已广泛应用于研究和开发多种高性能快速凝固材料.文中介绍了喷射成形工艺过程、特点,并回顾了喷射成形工艺的发展历程及现在所达到的技术水平.     

一株硝基苯高效降解菌的筛选及其降解特性

自南京化工厂下水道底泥和废水处理系统曝气池活性污泥中驯化分离得到一株能快速降解硝基苯的菌株,初步鉴定其为不动杆菌属菌株。该菌株降解硝基苯的最适宜环境条件为温度25℃～35℃,pH7～8,振荡速率大于120r/m。在适宜环境条件下,该菌株能够在24h内全部降解初始浓度不超过400mg/L的硝基苯,该浓度范围内硝基苯的降解过程符合零级动力学特征;当硝基苯的初始浓度超过400mg/L时,降解菌的生长受到毒害作用,该浓度范围内硝基苯的降解在开始有一个明显的停滞期,降解过程不再符合零级或一级动力学特征。     

Societal Concerns about Pork and Pork Production and Their Relationships to the Production System

Pork producers in Western Europe moreand more encounter a variety of societalconcerns about pork and pork production. Sofar, however, producers predominantly focusedon low consumer prices, therewith addressingjust one concern. This resulted in an intensiveand large-scale production system, decreasinglyrelated to the area of farm land, andaccompanied with increasing concerns aboutsafety and healthiness of pork, animal welfare,environmental pollution, and others.An overview was given of possible concernsabout West-European pork production with theconsumers, citizens, and producers, and thoseconcerns are traced back to the pork productionsystem. The various kinds and qualities ofinformation about the pork production system onwhich possible concerns are based have beenworked out extensively in this paper. Knowledgeabout the aspects of pork production that cangive rise to concerns can be used in two ways.First, the communication about those aspectstowards consumers and citizens can be adjustedor extended to give them better possibilitiesto make food choices or to develop their ownopinions about pork production. Second,producers could change the pork productionsystem such that it better satisfies consumersand citizens. Such adaptations are wellpossible, as three pork quality schemes, whichhave been evaluated, illustrate. However, mostof these adaptations can only be carried out atthe cost of the present low consumer prices andwill not occur spontaneously on a large scale.Therefore, accounting for the type andrelevance of the concerns, legislation isnecessary to address societal concerns in abalanced way such that pork production systemsbecome acceptable for the majority of oursociety.     

工业生态系统及其建设

本文分析了工业生态系统的基本特征及核心内容、阐述了工业生态系统建设的基础，原则及其对策。     

Development of Layered Sediment Structure and its Effects on Pore Water Transport and Hyporheic Exchange

Hyporheic exchange is known to provide an important control on nutrient and contaminant fluxes across the stream-subsurface interface. Similar processes also mediate interfacial transport in other permeable sediments. Recent research has focused on understanding the mechanics of these exchange processes and improving estimation of exchange rates in natural systems. While the structure of sediment beds obviously influences pore water flow rates and patterns, little is known about the interplay of typical sedimentary structures, hyporheic exchange, and other transport processes in fluvial/alluvial sediments. Here we discuss several processes that contribute to local-scale sediment heterogeneity and present results that illustrate the interaction of overlying flow conditions, the development of sediment structure, pore water transport, and stream-subsurface exchange. Layered structures are shown to develop at several scales within sediment beds. Surface sampling is used to analyze the development of an armor layer in a sand-and-gravel bed, while innovative synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography is used to observe patterns of grain sorting within sand bedforms. We show that layered bed structures involving coarsening of the bed surface increase interfacial solute flux but produce an effective anisotropy that favors horizontal pore water transport while limiting vertical penetration.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地沙尘暴特征--以塔中地区为例

塔克拉玛干沙漠是中国油气开发的重要区域，沙尘暴是该区域重要的灾害性天气，但以往相关的研究很少。为了了解塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地沙尘暴的发生规律，利用塔中气象站1997-2002年的气象资料，对塔中地区沙尘暴的强度、过程、类型和时间变化等特征进行了分析。研究结果表明：（1）塔中年平均沙尘暴日数为16．83d，较沙漠北缘的轮台和沙漠南缘的民丰、和田为多，体现出沙尘源对沙尘暴发生的影响；（2）沙尘暴发生之前出现明显的风速突然降低和风向转换；（3）同塔里木盆地其它区域一样，塔中沙尘暴也可分为5种类型，其主导类型为冷空气东灌型；（4）沙尘暴时间变化规律明显，且从20世纪90年代至21世纪初，塔中沙尘暴日数与持时明显下降，同全疆的变化趋势一致。     

The greening of brownfields in American cities

The redevelopment of brownfields has become a central component of government efforts to revitalize many US cities. While the focus of these efforts has concentrated on promoting industrial and commercial redevelopment, some cities have started to also consider converting brownfields into parks and open space as part of a more comprehensive renewal strategy. Based on a survey of 20 case studies, this paper identifies and discusses: (1) the primary issues involved in brownfield greening projects; (2) the benefits of such projects; and (3) the specific planning processes involved. The overall conclusion drawn from the survey is that numerous renewal‐oriented benefits can ensue from greening projects, if there is extensive stakeholder commitment devoted to deal with its financial and development‐oriented challenges.     

Equilibrium and kinetic studies on biosorption of Hg(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions onto microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was used for the biosorption of Hg(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions. The maximum adsorption of Hg(II) and Cd(II) ions on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii biomass was observed at pH 6.0 and the corresponding value for Pb(II) ions was 5.0. The biosorption of Hg(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions by microalgae biomass increased as the initial concentration of Hg(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions increased in the biosorption medium. The maximum biosorption capacities of microalgae for Hg(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions were 72.2+/-0.67, 42.6+/-0.54 and 96.3+/-0.86 mg/g dry biomass, respectively. The affinity order for algal biomass was Pb(II)>Hg(II)>Cd(II). FT-IR analysis of algal biomass revealed the presence of amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, which were responsible for biosorption of metal ions. Biosorption equilibrium was established in about 60 min and the equilibrium was well described by the Freundlich biosorption isotherms. Temperature change in the range of 5-35 degrees C did not affect the biosorption capacity. The microalgae could be regenerated using 0.1 M HCl, with up to 98% recovery, which allowed the reuse of the biomass in six biosorption-desorption cycles without any considerable loss of biosorption capacity.     

Bioproduction of ferric sulfate used during heavy metals removal from sewage sludge

Toxic metals removal from wastewater sewage sludge can be achieved through microbial processes involving Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The oxidation of ferrous ions by A. ferrooxidans, cultured in sewage sludge filtrate, was studied in both batch and continuous flow stirred tank reactors. Sewage sludge filtrate containing natural nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) was recovered as effluent following the dehydration of a primary and secondary sludge mixture. Batch and continuous flow stirred tank reactor tests demonstrated that A. ferrooxidans were able to grow and completely oxidize ferrous iron in a culture medium containing more than 80% (v v(-1)) sewage sludge filtrate with 10 g Fe(II) L(-1) added. Toxic levels were reached when total organic carbon in the sewage sludge filtrate exceeded 250 mg L(-1). The ferric iron solution produced in the sludge filtrate by A. ferrooxidans was used to solubilize heavy metals in primary and secondary sludge. The solubilization of Cu, Cr, and Zn yielded 71, 49, and 80%, respectively. This is comparable with the yield percentages obtained using a FeCl(3) solution. The cost of treating wastewater sewage sludge by bioproducing a ferric ion solution from sewage sludge is three times less expensive than the conventional method requiring a commercial ferric chloride solution.