Prenatal diagnosis of two rare de novo structural aberrations of the Y chromosome: cytogenetic and molecular analysis

Two rare de novo structural aberrations of the Y chromosome were detected during routine prenatal diagnosis: a satellited non-fluorescent Y chromosome (Yqs), the first de novo Yqs to be reported in a fetus, and a terminal deletion of the Y chromosome long arm del(Y)(q11). In both cases detailed cytogenetic and molecular analyses were undertaken. In the case of the Yqs it was demonstrated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) that the satellites were derived from chromosome 15. In the case of the del(Yq), it was shown with molecular analysis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of sequence-tagged sites (STS-PCR) that the deleted portion of the long arm of chromosome Y included the azoospermia factor loci, AZFb and AZFc. The clinical significance of these findings is discussed. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dissolution and transport of TNT, RDX, and composition B in saturated soil columns

Low-order detonations and blow-in-place procedures on military training ranges can result in residual solid explosive formulations to serve as distributed point sources for ground water contamination. This study was conducted to determine if distribution coefficients from batch studies and transport parameters of pure compounds in solution adequately describe explosive transport where compounds are present as solid particles in formulations. Saturated column transport experiments were conducted with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and the explosive formulation, Composition B (Comp B) (59.5 +/- 2.0% RDX, 39.5 +/- 2.3% TNT, and 1% wax) in solid and dissolved forms. The two soils used were Plymouth loamy sand (mesic, coated Typic Quartzipsamments) from Camp Edwards, MA and Adler silt loam (coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, thermic Fluvaquentic Eutrudepts) from Vicksburg, MS. Interrupted flow experiments were used to determine if explosives were at equilibrium distribution between soil and solution phases. The HYDRUS-1D code was used to determine fate and transport parameters. Results indicated that sorption of high explosives was rate limited. The behavior of dissolved Comp B was similar to the behavior of pure TNT and RDX. Behavior of solid Comp B was controlled by dissolution that depended on physical properties of the Comp B sample. Adsorption coefficients determined by HYDRUS-1D were different from those determined in batch tests for the same soils. Use of parameters specific to formulations will improve fate and transport predictions.     

Assessment of instream foam formation and quantification of foam in effluents

Although the foam formation on surface waters nowadays is not comparable with the foam “mountains” in the 1970s, it still is an issue of water quality concern. A drawback in the discussion is the lack of methods to assess instream foam formation and foam emitted by point sources. Foam formation on a transboundary river in Austria led to an intensive study resulting in two parameters to quantify instream and emitted foam. Foam potential is introduced as emission parameter that is defined as flow rate of river water, which can foam due to an effluent’s discharge. The foam index (FI) represents a parameter to assess the foam on the river and allows a semi-quantitative differentiation between the varying foaming conditions. This publication will present the developed methods and show some results to prove their accuracy and applicability.     

Characterization,heavy metal content and health risk assessment of urban road dusts from the historic center of the city of Thessaloniki,Greece

In the present study, an investigation of the mineralogy and morphology, the heavy metal content and the health risk of urban road dusts from the second largest city of Greece was conducted. For this reason road dust samples from selected sites within the city core area were collected. No differences were observed in the mineralogy of road dusts coming from different sampling sites, and they were mainly consisted of quartz and calcite, while an elevated amorphous content was detected. Morphologically road dusts presented Ca-rich, Fe-rich and silicates particles with various shapes and sizes. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in road dust were 1.76, 104.9, 662.3, 336.4, 89.43, 209 and 452.8 μg g^?1, respectively. A series of spatial distribution patterns revealed that the hotspot areas were tended to associate with major road junctions and regions with high traffic. Combination of pollution indexes and statistical analyses (correlation analysis, cluster analysis and principal component analysis) revealed that road dusts have a severe influence by anthropogenic activities. In attempt to identify the source of metals through geostatistical and multivariate statistical analyses, it was concluded as follows: Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn mainly originated from tire/break wear and vehicle abrasions, while Cd, Mn and Pb were mainly related to fuel/oil leakage from automobiles along with oil lubricants and vehicle abrasion. Hazard quotient values for children based on total metal concentrations for the road dust ingestion route were lower than safe level (=1). However, the fact that the Hazard Index value for Pb (0.459) which is a particularly toxic metal, was close to safe level, renders essential further investigation in order to provide more reliable characterizations of potential health risks.     

Quantitative structure-activity relationships for toxicity and genotoxicity of halogenated aliphatic compounds: wing spot test of Drosophila melanogaster

Halogenated aliphatic compounds were evaluated for toxic and genotoxic effects in the somatic mutation and recombination test employing Drosophila melanogaster. The tested chemicals included chlorinated, brominated and iodinated; mono-, di- and tri-substituted; saturated and unsaturated alkanes: 1,2-dibromoethane, 1-bromo-2-chloroethane, 1-iodopropane, 2,3-dichloropropene, 3-bromo-1-propene, epibromohydrin, 2-iodobutane, 3-chloro-2-methylpropene, 1,2,3-trichloropropane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichlorobutane, 1-chloro-2-methylpropane, 1,3-dichloropropane, 1,2-dichloropropane, 2-chloroethymethylether, 1-bromo-2-methylpropane and 1-chloropentane. N-methyl-N-nitrosourea served as the positive and distilled water as the negative control. The set of chemicals for the toxicological testing was selected by the use of statistical experiment design. Group of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons were generally more toxic than saturated analogues. The genotoxic effect was observed with 14 compounds in the wing spot test, while 3 substances did not show any genotoxicity by using the wing spot test at 50% lethal concentration. The highest number of wing spots was observed in genotoxicity assay with 1-bromo-2-chloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dibromoethane and 1-iodopropane. Nucleophilic superdelocalizability calculated by quantum mechanics appears to be a good parameter for prediction of both toxicity and genotoxicity effects of halogenated aliphatic compounds.     

Relating fruit and vegetable consumption in households with residue generation and utilization in the city of Heraklion,Crete, Greece

Questionnaires regarding the amount of nine kinds of fruit and ten kinds of vegetable (including potatoes) consumed on a weekly basis were distributed to 82 different households in the city of Heraklion (population approximately 200,000), capital of the island of Crete, at the southernmost point of Greece. The city is the fourth largest in the country, in which, according to the answers collected through the questionnaires, the educational level of parents was 24.4%, 50.0% and 25.6% with primary, secondary and higher education, respectively. Families with higher parental education consume more fruit (283 g/person day^?1) than families having a secondary and primary parental educational level (265 and 195 g/person day^?1, respectively). As far as vegetables (excluding potatoes) are concerned, families with secondary and higher parental education consume more (357 and 311 g/person day^?1, respectively) than primary educated parents and their family members, who, however, consume larger quantities of potatoes (206 g/person day^?1) than the other two groups. While these values are higher than the minimum amount of fruit and vegetables suggested by the World Health Organization, they are lower than the amounts suggested as optimum for a healthy diet. The mean residues produced from these foods per person participating in the survey were estimated at 202 g/day. Based on this value, a city of the size of Heraklion produces a total of more than 40,000 kg/day of waste derived from fruit and vegetables. An integrated educational and environmental programme aiming to improve people's dietary habits as well as promote waste source separation schemes, would result in increasing both the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed as well as the amount of similar 'green kitchen residues' that would be recycled through composting instead of being lost as land-fill. It is estimated that the high-quality compost which could be produced through a complete implementation of such a programme would allow the production of more than 3500 ton of high-quality compost annually.     

The Use of Local Sustainability Indicators: case studies in two Swedish municipalities1

This article contributes to the debate on the role of local sustainability indicators in ongoing democratisation efforts. We examine the extent to which five different systems of local sustainability indicators within two Swedish municipalities—Stockholm and Sundsvall—are either expert or citizen oriented, and relate these findings to the indicator systems' profile, function and political/ administrative context. Even though three of the indicator systems can be classified as citizen oriented, there are few signs of true engagement and dialogue with the citizens over a longer period of time. The remaining two indicator systems are expert oriented with an environmental focus. Hence, we conclude that the systems in use are largely symbolic responses to the demands for democracy within the agenda for sustainable development albeit attempts to include environmental, economic, social and democratic perspectives of sustainability. Despite the fact that Stockholm and Sundsvall show differences in governing styles in their approaches to sustainability indicators it seems difficult for both municipalities to put sustainable development into practice in terms of citizen participation.     

Bacteria Degrading PCBs and CBs Isolated from Long-Term PCB Contaminated Soil

Bacteria able to degrade polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorobenzoic acids (CBs) were isolated from soil that had been contaminated with PCBs for 15–30 years. Contaminated soil in which PCB content ranged between 10–470 mg/kg was naturally vegetated with different plants including ash (Fraxinus excelsior), birch (Betula pendula), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) and goat willow (Salix caprea) trees as well as a variety of grasses and forbs. Bacteria able to use biphenyl as a sole source of carbon and energy were found in the root zone of all plants, but occurred in the largest numbers beneath pine and black locust. Bacteria able to degrade chlorobenzoic acids were isolated from the same location contaminated with PCBs. Strains that were taxonomically identified by 16S rDNA as Pandoraea were able to use 2-CB, 3-CB, 2,3-CB, 2,5-CB as sole carbon sources, and the strain Arthrobacter utilised 4-CB.