Noninvasive fetal genome sequencing: a primer

We recently demonstrated whole genome sequencing of a human fetus using only parental DNA samples and plasma from the pregnant mother. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated how samples obtained noninvasively in the first or second trimester can be analyzed to yield a highly accurate and substantially complete genetic profile of the fetus, including both inherited and de novo variation. Here, we revisit our original study from a clinical standpoint, provide an overview of the scientific approach, and describe opportunities and challenges along the path toward clinical adoption of noninvasive fetal whole genome sequencing. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal Variation of Inorganic Nutrient Uptake by Heterotrophic Bacterioplankton in Jiaozhou Bay,North China

The distribution patterns and factors affecting uptake rates and turnover times of dissolved inorganic nutrients by heterotrophic bacterioplankton (HB) in Jiaozhou Bay were studied based on in situ surveys and laboratory culturing. The uptake rates of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) by HB are limited by the temperature of the water and the concentration of dissolved organic carbon. The turnover times of DIP and DIN by HB are regulated by the concentrations of the nutrients and the numbers of HB, which show significant spatiotemporal variability in Jiaozhou Bay. HB may aggravate the P-limitation of phytoplankton by competing for phosphorus in summer in Jiaozhou Bay. HB play an important role in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and may increase the N:P ratio and the accumulation of DIN, thereby accelerating the imbalance of the N:P ratio in Jiaozhou Bay.     

Movement of lagoon-liquor constituents below four animal-waste lagoons

Movement of liquor constituents from animal-waste lagoons has the potential to degrade ground water quality. The depth of movement and concentrations of lagoon-liquor constituents in the soil underlying three cattle (Bos taurus)-waste retention lagoons and one swine (Sus scrofa)-waste lagoon were determined. Samples were taken by using a direct-push coring machine, dissected by depth, and analyzed for total N, organic C, CaCO3, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), texture, and extractable NO3, NH(4), P, Cl, Ca, Mg, K, and Na. Ammonium N concentrations were greatest in the upper 0.5 m of soil under all four lagoons with concentrations ranging from 94 to 1139 mg kg(-1). Organic N was determined to make up between 39 and 74% of the total N beneath all lagoons. The swine lagoon had 2.4 kg N m(-2) in the underlying soil whereas the cattle lagoon with highest quantity of N had 1.2 kg N m(-2) in the underlying soil. Although N concentrations decreased with depth, N was greater than expected background levels at the bottom of some cores, indicating that the sampling efforts did not reach the bottom of the N plume. Nitrate N concentrations were generally less than 5 mg kg(-1) immediately below the lagoon floor. In the uppermost 0.5 m of soil underlying the swine and three cattle lagoons, NH4+ occupied 44% and between 1 and 22% of the soil cation exchange sites, respectively. The depth of movement of N under these lagoons, as much as 4 m, may pose remediation difficulties at lagoon closure.     

胜利油田利用生化法处理含油泥砂研究

胜利油田含油泥砂中含油量较高,直接进行生物降解处理的难度较大,操作周期长,费用高。先采用化学方法处理再进行生物处理,这样既可实现原油的资源化,又可降低费用,提高处理速度及处理效果。实验结果表明:化学处理方法能够将含油泥沙的含油量由51.1%降低至3.1%,原油回收率达到94%以上;再经过48h的生物处理,其含油量降到0.18%,达到了国家规定的无害化排放标准(<0.3%)。     

城市“屋顶花园”对城市气候影响方法研究

:随着社会经济的迅猛发展 ,我国城市数量不断增多 ,城市规模不断扩大 ,随之带来的是城市环境不断恶化。如何改变这种状况 ,使城市规模和环境协调发展 ,是摆在科技工作者面前的紧迫任务。理论分析和实际观测资料表明 ,城市平顶屋面绿化是改善城市气候的最有效的途径之一 ,它对由于城市而产生的“五岛”效应均有不同程度的消弱或改善作用。通过关于城市屋面绿化对城市气候影响过程的分析 ,阐明了城市屋面绿化对城市气候影响的特征 ,并从理论上着重提出用移植法和数值模拟法来研究其影响的程度 ,最后提出了理想城市环境应具有的特征 ,并呼吁城市建设部门成立专门的机构以全面负责平顶屋面的绿化     

Sourcing sediment using multiple tracers in the catchment of Lake Argyle,Northwestern Australia

Control of sedimentation in large reservoirs requires soil conservation at the catchment scale. In large, heterogeneous catchments, soil conservation planning needs to be based on sound information, and set within the framework of a sediment budget to ensure that all of the potentially significant sources and sinks are considered. The major sources of sediment reaching the reservoir, Lake Argyle, in tropical northwestern Australia, have been determined by combining measured sediment fluxes in rivers with spatial tracer-based estimates of proportional contributions from tributaries of the main stream entering the lake, the Ord River. The spatial tracers used are mineral particle magnetics, the strontium isotopic ratio, and the neodymium isotopic ratio. Fallout of ¹³⁷Cs has been used to estimate the proportion of the sediment in Lake Argyle eroded from surface soils by sheet and rill erosion, and, by difference, the proportion eroded from subsurface soils by gully and channel erosion. About 96% of the sediment in the reservoir has come from less than 10% of the catchment, in the area of highly erodible soils formed on Cambrian-age sedimentary rocks. About 80% of the sediment in the reservoir has come from gully and channel erosion. A major catchment revegetation program, designed to slow sedimentation in the reservoir, appears to have had little effect because it did not target gullies, the major source of sediment. Had knowledge of the sediment budget been available before the revegetation program was designed, an entirely different approach would have been taken.     

石油烃在水面上蒸发过程的研究

原油溢流到水体后对水体造成污染。研究油污的转化规律对于污染事故评价、污染治理方面有着非常重要的意义。通过对三种不同性质的原油进行的风化和蒸发实验 ,证明三种原油低组分具有很快的蒸发速度 ,4天时间就可蒸发掉90 %以上的原油 ,同时得出了不同原油的蒸发规律。     

SIZING OF SURFACE WATER RUNOFF DETENTION PONDS FOR WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT1

ABSTRACT: Historically, storm water management programs and criteria have focused on quantity issues related to flooding and drainage system design. Traditional designs were based on large rainfall‐runoff events such as those having two‐year to 100‐year return periods. While these are key criteria for management and control of peak flows, detention basin designs based on these criteria may not provide optimal quality treatment of storm runoff. As evidenced by studies performed by numerous public and private organizations, the water quality impacts of storm water runoff are primarily a function of more frequent rainfall‐runoff events rather than the less frequent events that cause peak flooding. Prior to this study there had been no detailed investigations to characterize the variability of the more frequent rainfall events on Guam. Also, there was a need to develop some criteria that could be applied by designers, developers, and agency officials in order to reduce the impact of storm water runoff on the receiving bodies. The objectives of this paper were three‐fold: (1) characterize the hourly rainfall events with respect to volume, frequency, duration, and the time between storm events; (2) evaluate the rainfall‐runoff characteristics with respect to capture volume for water quality treatment; and (3) prepare criteria for sizing and designing of storm water quality management facilities. The rainfall characterization studies have provided insight into the characteristics of rainstorms that are likely to produce non‐point source pollution in storm water runoff. By far the most significant fmdings are the development of a series of design curves that can be used in the actual sizing of storm water detention and treatment facilities. If applied correctly, these design curves could lead to a reduction of non‐point source pollution to Guam's streams, estuaries, and coastal environments.