Body condition and immune response in wild zebra finches: effects of capture, confinement and captive-rearing

Behavioural ecologists attempt to predict fitness in birds from estimates of body condition and immune capacity. We investigated how the stresses associated with capture, confinement and captive-rearing of wild zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) affected different elements of the immune system and body condition. Wild birds had higher heterophil:lymphocyte ratios and total leucocyte counts than aviary birds, presumably an outcome of mounting specific resistance to pathogens, but this response diminished significantly within 10 days of confinement. Wild birds had lower phytohaemagglutinin-A (PHA) responses than their aviary-bred counterparts possibly because energetic costs limited a general resistance response. Wild birds were heavier and had higher haematocrits than their aviary counterparts, but had less fat, although just 10 days of captivity significantly increased fat levels. Measures of body condition were of limited use for predicting immune responsiveness. We conclude that the different elements of the immune system and body condition respond independently, and often unpredictably, to many ecological and behavioural stressors.     

温压工艺中聚合物添加剂的加入方式

采用温压技术制备铁基粉末冶金材料,研究了干混和湿混两种聚合物添加剂加入方式及压制温度对生坯和烧结体性能的影响,并对其作用机理进行了探讨.试验结果表明,干混混合粉生坯及烧结体的性能略高于湿混混合粉生坯及烧结体的性能,但前者的最佳压制温度范围略高.     

绿色消费搏击大市场

日前，一则关于广州蔬菜水果农药残留超标的新闻闹得满城风雨。起因是绿色和平组织披露了对广州三家连锁超市的蔬菜和水果抽样检验结果，发现有14%的样本农药残留超出国家标准。一右激起千层浪，相关职能部门纷纷发声自证清白，超市也挂出质量认证书表示无辜。接着，各方又一致怀疑绿色和平组织检验结果的公正性。更有媒体先扬后抑，很刻薄地称绿色和平此举是为哗众取宠。     

区域水环境生物学评价浅析

本文论述了辽河三角洲区域地面水系浮游植物的种类分布，根据调查获得的生态学资料，探讨了其群落结构特征及其与水体环境质量的关系，运用“Ｓｈａｎｎｏｎ—Ｗｅａｖｅｒ多样性指数法”对区域水体质量进行了分类评价，并研究了浮游植物的多样性指数与水质理化污染指标之间的关系．     

地铁环境振动预测方法浅析

简要介绍了国内外关于地铁环境振动预测方法的研究概况,在作者研究分析地铁振动传播途径和主要影响参数基础上,给出了简单定量预测地铁环境振动程度之方法,应用该方法所得到的预测值,与现场实测值误差在±2dB范围内.     

可转让排污许可证制度立法研究

在市场经济条件下,对符合法定条件的排污许可证应当允许其有偿转让。可转让的排污许可证必须以污染物申报登记为基础,以污染物总量控制为前提,以环境标准为依据,转让活动应当在政府严格监督下进行。可转让排污许可证制度通过市场机制和价值规律必将有效地促进污染防治。     

Fetal cholecystomegaly: A prenatal marker of aneuploidy

The fetal gall bladder can now be easily identified during the second and third trimesters using high-resolution ultrasonography. In this report we present eight fetuses with an enlarged gall bladder detected on prenatal ultrasonography at a mean gestational age of 24.6 weeks (range 19–31 weeks). Additional ultrasonographic findings were present in four cases: fetal anomalies and intrauterine growth retardation in three and polyhydramnios in one. Of those cases associated with fetal anomalies, one woman underwent amniocentesis at 21 weeks revealing trisomy 18. The other two declined prenatal karyotyping; neonatal karyotyping revealed trisomy 13 in one and trisomy 18 in the other. Although an enlarged fetal gall bladder can be a normal variant in the second and third trimesters, the prenatal detection of cholecystomegaly should prompt a search for associated anomalies and other markers of aneuploidy. If found, prenatal karyotyping should be considered.     

Prenatal diagnosis of mosaic 4p – in a fetus with trisomy 21

Mosaicism for the Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, del(4)(p16), is extremely rare and has not been reported in association with a numerical chromosome abnormality. We report the prenatal diagnosis of mosaic del(4)(p16) and non-mosaic trisomy 21 in a 16-week female fetus. The pregnancy ended in spontaneous abortion at 34 weeks secondary to fetal demise. The fetus had features of both 4p – and trisomy 21.     

Detecting neural tube defects by amniocentesis between 11 and 15 weeks' gestation

Forty-two open neural tube defects (NTDs) were identified in our series of 7440 amniocenteses tested between 11 and 15 weeks of gestation. Using a cut-off of ≥2.0 MOM, the detection rate for open NTDs was 95 per cent; 100 per cent each for anencephaly and spina bifida; and 78 per cent for encephalocele. Two encephaloceles had AFP levels less than 2.0 MOM and negative AChEs. Thirty-four (81 per cent) of these NTDs were tested between 13 and 15 weeks and 8 (19 per cent) before 13 weeks. There were 0.6 per cent false positives by AFP (excluding serious abnormalities and fetal death) and 0.1 per cent after AChE. The likelihood of an open NTD after an elevated AFP (≥2.0 MOM) was 24 and 77 per cent for any serious abnormality. These results, when combined with an earlier study, indicate that amniotic fluid AFP appears to be as sensitive a test for open NTDs between 13 and 15 weeks as between 16 and 20 weeks. Additional experience is necessary to determine this before 13 weeks.