S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase in amniotic fluid as markers of abdominal wall and neural tube defects in the fetus

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is increased leakage of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein into amniotic fluid in pregnancies with neural tube defects, since both these proteins are produced by neural tissue, and to compare the value of these substances for detecting such defects with that of the more conventional techniques of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gel electrophoresis. Amniotic samples from 25 mid-pregnancies (15–17 weeks' gestation) with neural tube defects (14 with open spina bifida and 11 with anencephaly) and from seven mid-pregnancies with abdominal wall defects were compared with a control material consisting of 80 amniotic fluid samples from 80 consecutive mid-pregnancy amniocenteses, with normal karyotypes and AFP concentrations. All of the above cases of abnormalities were primarily detected through increased AFP levels in the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid samples from 13 pregnancies with fetuses with autosomal chromosomal abnormalities and seven amniotic fluid samples contaminated with blood were also included in the investigation. It is concluded from the results that the conventional AFP assay combined with AChE gel electrophoresis is the best method for screening amniotic fluid for neural tube defects and defects of the abdominal wall. Neither NSE nor S-100 assay alone proved to be superior for the detection of these cases in mid-trimester amniotic fluid. The S-100 assay, however, could give additional information in cases where AChE gel electrophoresis is not decisive; for example, in samples contaminated with blood.     

Haithabu — Entdeckung neuer Funde durch hochauflösende kleinseismische Messungen

A high-precision seismic reflection method has been developed for investigating archeological objects which are hidden in a mud-layer of the Haddebyer Noor, a lake in front of the old Viking settlement Haithabu near Schleswig. Wooden and metallic objects larger than about 30 cm could be detected and mapped. Some of the mapped objects have been rescued by diving operations. Others, like wooden harbour constructions of unexpectedly large dimensions, and a large (second) shipwrack were left conserved in the mud. All finds provide a new picture of this old Viking settlement showing that its inhabitants had a far higher stage of development than hitherto suspected.     

农场协作以提高可持续发展力

本文表明农场主之间的联合经营体(partnership arrangements)可能是保障农场经济生存能力和提高效益的途径之一.本文讨论了三种不同协作类型的经验分析,并强调了与协作经营关联的环境改善.在第一个案例中,对牛奶场和种植农场的协作进行了分析,结果表明多样化的提高和轮作具有实质的潜在效益,当协作包括机械时,其潜在效益更高.第二个例子论及生猪育崽和精饲管理的外部综合条件.协作利润源于生物因子和技术因子两方面,诸如提高生长率和增加猪舍的利用率等.最后,本文对一组种植农场协作进行了评估,认为效益的增加主要得益于机械费用的减少和/或来自其它因素的收益,如轮作和管理、营销策略等的改善.     

Assessment of the maximum possible liquid superheat during flashing leak flow

During the discharge of flashing liquids through leaks due to abrupt depressurization a transient thermodynamic non-equilibrium in the form of a boiling delay in the superheated liquid flow can occur. As a consequence the actual mass flow quality is smaller than calculated under the assumption of an immediate adjustment of the thermodynamic equilibrium between the phases. For the prediction of the leak mass flow for a given pressure difference the magnitude of this self-adjusting mass flow quality is needed.

Most of the models cited in the literature include only the equilibrium mass quality as limiting quantity and ignore further effects as that of the depressurization velocity or the mean nucleus distance. For the assessment of the maximum possible liquid superheat during flashing only the conduction heat transfer from a stagnant liquid to the bubble surface is used to describe the bubble growth.

The sub-model for the bubble growth due to expansion and mass transfer necessary for the global prediction of the transient thermodynamic non-equilibrium in flashing liquids was validated using bubble radii measured by Hooper et al. [Bubble growth and pressure relationship in the flashing of superheated water. Technical publication 6904, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Toronto, 1969] for the case of a sudden depressurization of initially saturated water. On this basis the calculated time-dependent temperature field, the actual mass quality, the mean liquid temperature and, in comparison to the corresponding values based on the assumption of immediate thermodynamic equilibrium, the maximum possible liquid superheat are predicted.