Hypomandibular faciocranial dysostosis in consanguineous parents revealed by ultrasound prenatal diagnosis

We report here the fourth case of hypomandibular faciocranial dysostosis (HFD). The diagnosis was made at birth on the association of severe retrognathia, microstomia, severe hypoglossia with glossoptosis, persistent buccopharyngeal membrane, median cleft palate, bifid uvula, down-slanting palpebral fissures, short nose with anteverted nares, laryngeal hypoplasia, and low-set ears. A severe microstomia and micrognathia were detected by ultrasound at 31 weeks of gestation. Interestingly, even though the present case exhibits many facial dysmorphic features characteristic of HFD, craniosynostosis was absent. This report suggests that craniosynostosis is not mandatory for the diagnosis of this condition. Furthermore, we present a new argument for an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance for HFD. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Infiltration of acetochlor and two of its metabolites in two contrasting soils

To obtain data concerning the risk of leaching of acetochlor (2-chloro-2'-methyl-6'-ethyl-N-ethoxymethyl-acetanilide) and its major metabolites, ethanesulfonic acid (ESA) and oxanilic acid (OA), to ground water, we studied the fate of these products in two different soil types (luvisol and calcisol) under the same weather conditions. The metabolites were detected in the soils as early as 7 d after application, indicating a rapid onset of acetochlor degradation. Ethanesulfonic acid was predominant over OA in the calcisol, regardless of time or depth, whereas the ESA to OA ratio varied with both time and depth in the luvisol. The maximum depths at which they were detected were 60 to 70 and 10 to 20 cm for ESA and OA, respectively, in the luvisol, and 60 to 70 cm (maximum depth sampled) and 30 to 40 cm for ESA and OA, respectively, in the calcisol. Acetochlor was still detected in the surface layer of the two soils 344 d after its application, although the molecule was partially leached. The maximum depths at which acetochlor was detected (60-70 cm in the luvisol and 50-60 cm [maximum depth sampled] in the calcisol) were recorded during the first sampling 7 d after application. Acetochlor was not detected on later dates below the 30- to 40-cm layer in the calcisol or the 5- to 10-cm layer in the luvisol. The greater preferential flow in the luvisol, which would have favored leaching, might partially explain why the mass balances done 7 d after application were lower in the luvisol (approximately 26%) than in the calcisol (approximately 45%).     

Microanatomy and life history in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Palaeopleurosaurus</Emphasis> (Rhynchocephalia: Pleurosauridae) from the Early Jurassic of Germany

The tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) from New Zealand is often—erroneously—identified as a ‘living fossil’, although it is the lone survivor of a large, successful radiation of Rhynchocephalia, sister taxon to squamates (lizards and snakes), that thrived through the Mesozoic and Cenozoic and experienced an intricate evolution of life histories and feeding habits. Within Rhynchocephalia, only Pleurosauridae are thought to be marine and piscivorous. Here, we present bone histological data of the Jurassic pleurosaurid Palaeopleurosaurus, showing osteosclerosis (i.e. bone mass increase) in its gastralia, and some osteosclerosis in its rib but no increase in bone mass in the femur, supporting a gradual skeletal specialization for an aquatic way of life. Similar to Sphenodon, the bone tissue deposited in Palaeopleurosaurus is lamellar zonal bone. The femoral growth pattern in Palaeopleurosaurus differs from that of terrestrial Sphenodon in a more irregular spacing of growth marks and deposition of non-annual (i.e. non-continuous) rest lines, indicating strong dependency on exogenous factors. The annual growth mark count in adult but not yet fully grown Palaeopleurosaurus is much lower when compared to adult individuals of Sphenodon, which could indicate a lower lifespan for Palaeopleurosaurus. Whereas the gastral ribs of Palaeopleurosaurus and Sphenodon are similar in composition, the ribs of Sphenodon differ profoundly in being separated into a proximal tubular rib part with a thick cortex, and an elliptical, flared ventral part characterised by extremely thin cortical bone. The latter argues against a previously inferred protective function of the ventral rib parts for the vulnerable viscera in Sphenodon.     

Dominance of the odometer over serial landmark learning in honeybee navigation

Honeybees use their visual flow field to measure flight distance. It has been suggested that the experience of serial landmarks encountered on the flight toward a feeding place contributes to distance estimation. Here, we address this question by tracing the flight paths of individual bees with a harmonic radar system. Bees were trained along an array of three landmarks (tents), and the distance between these landmarks was either increased or decreased under two test conditions. We find that absolute distance estimation dominates the search for the feeding place, but serial position effects are also found. In the latter case, bees search only or additionally at locations determined by serial experience of the landmarks.     

Ozone and grosswetterlagen

Meteorological conditions have a decisive impact on surface ozone concentrations. In this study, an empirical model is used to explain the interdependence of ozone and grosswetterlagen. Different meteorological parameters such as air temperature, global solar radiation, relative humidity, wind direction and wind speed are used. Additional nitric oxide (NO) was taken as a representative for the emission situation and ozone maximum of the preceding day in order to evaluate the development of the photochemical situation. The dataset includes data collected over a period of three years (1992–1994) from three stations outside of Munich and one in the center of Munich. All values become variables by calculating means, sums or maxima of the basic dataset consisting of half-hour means. Seasonal periodicity of data is detected with Fourier analysis and eliminated by a division method after computing a seasonal index. The dataset is divided into three different grosswetterlagen groups, depending on main wind direction. One mostly cyclonic (westerly winds), one mixed (alternating winds) and one only anticyclonic (easterly winds). The last is completed with one summertime group including values from April to August. Factor analysis is performed for each group to obtain independent linear variable combinations. Overall, relative humidity is the dominant parameter, a typical value indicating meteorological conditions during a grosswetterlage. Linear multiple regression analysis is performed using the factors obtained to reveal how the ozone concentrations are explained in terms of meteorological parameters and NO. The results improve from cyclonic to anticyclonic grosswetterlagen in conformance with the increasing significance of photochemistry, indicated by the high solar radiation and high temperature, and the low relative humidity and low wind speed. The explained variance r² reaches its maximum with more than 50 % of the time in Munich center. This empirical model is applicable to the forecasting of local ozone maximum concentrations with a total standard error deviation of 8.5 to 12.8 % and, if ozone concentrations exceed 80 ppb, with a standard error deviation of 5.4 to 9.5 %.