Omphalocele—What should we tell the prospective parents?

An omphalocele is a congenital defect in the abdominal wall characterized by absent abdominal muscles, fascia, and skin. The characteristic ultrasound appearance includes a midline defect with herniation of abdominal contents into the base of the umbilical cord. Other anatomic abnormalities are seen in approximately 50% of cases, most notably cardiac defects (19%–32%). Approximately, 50% of cases are associated with genetic and multiple malformation syndromes including trisomy 13/18, pentalogy of Cantrell and Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome. Therefore, a thorough evaluation is recommended, including detailed anatomic survey, fetal echocardiogram, genetic counseling, and prenatal diagnostic testing. Overall prognosis depends on the size of the omphalocele, genetic studies, and associated anomalies. Early prenatal diagnosis remains important in order to provide parental counseling and assist in pregnancy management. Delivery should occur at a tertiary care center. Timing and mode of delivery should be based on standard obstetric indications with cesarean delivery reserved for large omphalocele (>5 cm) or those that involve the fetal liver. Neonatal management involves either primary or staged reduction, both of which can be associated with a prolonged neonatal hospitalization.     

The "unintended pedestrian" on expressways

OBJECTIVE: To explore the epidemiology of pedestrian deaths in Dallas County, Texas, and to compare factors associated with pedestrian deaths on expressways versus those that occurred on other roadways. METHODS: We studied all pedestrian deaths among persons 15 years of age or older in Dallas County, Texas, from 1997 to 2004 by linking data from Medical Examiner's office, the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, and local police records. Univariate and multivariate analysis compared various factors associated with death on an expressway. RESULTS: Among 437 pedestrian deaths who were 15 years of age or older, 197 (45%) occurred on expressways; the proportion that occurred on expressways was highest among 15- to 29-year-olds (65%) and was lower with advancing age group (p < 0.01, chi square for trend). At least 36% of these expressway-related pedestrian deaths were known to have been "unintended pedestrians," who had exited a vehicle after being on the roadway, compared with 11% of pedestrian deaths on surface streets (OR 4.6, 95% CI, 2.7-8.1), and this was also highest among younger age groups. Pedestrian deaths on an expressway, compared with deaths on surface streets, remained strongly associated with having been an "unintended pedestrian" (OR 6.2, 95% CI, 3.1-14.0), after controlling for several other variables, including age, sex, race, nighttime of crash, and alcohol involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Expressways are the predominant site of fatal pedestrian crashes among young adults in this urban area. Since many of these deaths were "unintended pedestrians," procedures for management of occupants of disabled vehicles on expressways could have a large impact on pedestrian deaths in young adults.     

旅游认证体系

研究者们在全世界范围内确定了约 250种自愿性举措用来设立旅游业标准 . 这些举措包括行动 规范、奖励、标准检测、最佳方法和大约 70种提供批准标识或标志的生态标签和认证体系 . 这些体系越来越多地被用来展示在社会和 /或环境方面较好的行业 .     

PRECISE WATER VELOCITY MEASUREMENTS USING PHOTOGRAMMETRIC TECHNIQUES1

ABSTRACT Necessary input parameters for studying mixing zone characteristics of thermal plumes are horizontal surface and subsurface water velocities. Using time lapse aerial photography and analytical photogrammetric techniques, movements of drogues in an effluent plume were traced. From these traces accurate velocity vectors were obtained. Photographic coordinates of drogue images were measured using a glass scale. From the photo coordinates and the results of a ground control survey, an analytical solution was made for positions of drogues in the water at known intervals of time. Drogue positions were mapped for selected exposures thereby providing a visual display of velocity vectors in the study area. A rigorous error analysis was performed to determine the validity of the computed results.     

WATER AND WATER RIGHTS TRANSFERS: A NEW POLICY FOR NEBRASKA1

ABSTRACT: Nebraska has abundant supplies of high quality surface and ground water. The U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1982, declaring ground water to be an article of commerce, is widely perceived as giving neighboring states easier access to Nebraska water. Some neighboring states, particularly Colorado and Wyoming, are in water short situations. Additionally, current legal restrictions on certain types of transfers within the State could be inhibiting the “highest and best use” of Nebraska's water. Thus, in 1987 the Nebraska Legislature called for the development of a new water policy for Nebraska that would promote the economically efficient use of water, yet protect the environment as well as the rights of individuals (for example, third parties) and the public. Through an interagency study employing an extensive public involvement process, a policy to be recommended to the Legislature in 1989 emerged. The policy revises the basic definition of water rights and transfers and eliminates most of the inconsistencies in the water allocation system by treating most types of water resources, most types of water users, and most locations of use similarly in the permitting process. (The principal exception is the individual irrigator using ground water on the overlying land where overlying land is one government surveyed section; such use is not defined to be a transfer nor is a permit required.) An impact assessment would be required of most new water uses except on site uses of ground water. Compensation measures could be specified as a condition of the permit where appropriate. The permit would be issued only if the benefits of the proposed transfer clearly outweigh adverse effects that could not be avoided or effectively compensated. The policy allows for the sale or lease of “salvaged” water. It calls for the State to facilitate transfers by acting as a clearinghouse for potential buyers and sellers, and it allows the State to sponsor water projects. An annual fee to be paid by many water users, in order to provide a fund for compensation and for state sponsored water projects, was proposed. However, it met with extensive opposition. Thus, the policy recommends only that the Legislature examine potential funding programs and equitable user fees.     

Measuring runoff-suspended solids using an improved turbidometer method

Differences in particle size distribution between runoff standards and unknown samples affect the accuracy of estimation of total suspended solids (TSS) concentration using the nephelometric turbidity (NTU) method. The objective was to quantify the effects of a sucrose solution as suspending medium and contrasting particle size distribution on nephelometric turbidity and accuracy of TSS estimation. Nineteen benchmark soils varying in texture and color were divided into particle size distribution of <250 and <2000 microm. Soils from these two aggregate classes were then made into suspension ranging from 0.2 to 15 g L-1 using distilled deionized water. Runoff suspensions ranging from 0.2 to 21 g L-1 were also collected from different watersheds. Turbidity of soil and runoff suspensions was measured in sucrose solution and in distilled deionized water. The sucrose solution density ranged from 1.10 to 1.30 kg L-1. Increasing sucrose solution density decreased turbidity. The TSS concentration was most sensitive to changes in turbidity with the 1.30 kg L-1 sucrose solution. Using the 1.30 kg L-1 sucrose solution, particle size bias and error of TSS estimates were decreased by at least 20% compared to distilled deionized water. Reduction in refraction index differences between the suspended particles and sucrose solution combined with reduced particle settling and reduced Brownian motion resulted in dampening the effects of particle size distribution. We propose a sucrose solution of 1.30 kg L-1 as a better suspending medium to dampen the effect of particle size distribution and thus improve suspension TSS concentration estimation.     

Socioecological influences on the dispersal of female mountain gorillas—evidence of a second folivore paradox

Socioecological models indicate that the group structure and female dispersal patterns of primates are determined primarily by the abundance and distribution of food, predation pressures, and infanticide risks. In response to those influences, females of folivorous primates are considered relatively free to disperse into groups with the optimal size and structure. Yet some folivores live in small groups despite a potentially higher risk of predation, an apparent inconsistency known as the folivore paradox. This paper examines the female dispersal of a folivorous primate, the Virunga mountain gorillas. Mountain gorillas currently have no natural predators, but this species presents a different version of the folivore paradox: why do 50–60% of females reside in smaller one-male groups despite a higher risk of infanticide? In this study, females left one-male groups more frequently than multimale groups, but transfer destinations were not consistently biased toward multimale groups and those groups did not have higher immigration rates. We found no evidence of dispersal to avoid feeding competition within large groups, even as they have become three to five times larger than average. Thus, the lack of a consistent bias toward multimale groups was not because they are typically larger than one-male groups. Instead, the apparent inconsistencies may reflect limited female transfer opportunities, other influences on dispersal, and possibly an evolutionary disequilibrium in which current behavior does not optimize fitness.