Morphological and cytogenetic analysis of intact oocytes and blocked zygotes

We examined cytological and cytogenetic parameters of 1076 oocytes and 385 zygotes that failed to develop post in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Out of 1076 oocytes, 894 (83%) arrested oocytes showed a first polar body and were thus assumed arrested at metaphase II while the remainder showed no polar body. In the group of oocytes with a polar body, 20.5% had an abnormal karyotype. Cytologically, premature sperm chromosome condensation was noted in 28.3% of uncleaved oocytes. This high PCC can be explained by the different grades of oocyte maturity from one center to another. Oocytes from older women showed no increased aneuploidy but did show increased premature chromosome condensation. Analysis by classical technique of 220 uncleaved zygotes showed 91 with highly condensed chromosomes, 53 with asynchrony of condensation, 31 with pulverized chromosomes, and 45 arrested at the first somatic metaphase. Out of 385 arrested zygotes, 165 were explored by in situ hybridization. FISH using a set of 7 chromosome-specific probes showed aneuploidy in the chromosomes analyzed (13, 16, 18, 21, 22, X, Y) in 21.8% of blocked zygotes (19–25% depending on morphology). Extrapolating to other chromosomes, we expect that a vast majority of blocked zygotes and oocytes probably carry chromosome abnormalities. These data demonstrate the contributions of chromosome disorder in early embryo development blocking and implantation failure. Certainly, the issue of cytoplasm and nuclear immaturity and their relation to each other and to chromosome abnormalities provides a fertile area for future investigation in ART. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prenatal diagnosis and psychological distress: Amniocentesis or chorionic villus biopsy?

The psychological reactions of 211 women undergoing prenatal diagnosis (PND) with amniocentesis (group A, n = 122) or chorionic villus biopsy (group V, n = 90) were exmained by questionnaires and interviews. The distress experienced while waiting for the test, during the test procedure, and while waiting for the result was reported by the women, both in questionnaires and in interviews. In the questionnaires, no difference between the two diagnostic methods was observed. In the interviews, however, the women undergoing amniocentesis appeared significantly more distressed by the procedure. In group A 97 per cent and in group V 100 per cent wished a method which, like chorionic villus biopsy, could be used in the first weeks of pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage was, as described in other studies, regarded as a serious threat by the pregnant women.     

袋式除尘器在立窑烟气除尘中的应用

对立窑烟尘排放特点与立窑除尘工艺中的问题及对策进行了讨论。分析了立窑烟尘排放特征,对几种常见的立窑除尘的设备和工艺进行了比较,指出袋式除尘器可成功地用于立窑烟气除尘。并且从滤料选择、清灰方式、烟温控制、灰斗的气密性等方面详细地完善了袋式除尘器在立窑烟气除尘中的应用。     

Determination of in situ metal partitioning between particulate matter and ground water

This research was supported by a grant from the National Council for Research and Development, Israel, and the KFK, Karlsruhe, Germany.     

重庆市环境污染与经济增长关系的实证研究

基于环境库兹尼茨理论(EKC),选取1995年-2012年重庆市工业“三废”的排放数据和对应年的经济数据,对两者关系进行回归模拟.研究结果表明,三项环境污染指标(工业废水、工业废气、工业固废的排放量)均与人均GDP之间存在着N型的三次曲线关系,其中工业废水和固废呈倒N型,废气的变化总趋势呈正N型.根据模拟结果,结合重庆市的实际情况,进一步分析了三条曲线的特征,并对曲线变化做出了相关解释,为重庆市的环境保护与生态经济建设提供了有利的科学依据.     

Carbon and nitrogen mineralization in Vertisol as mediated by type and placement method of residue

Selection of appropriate residue application method is essential for better use of biomass for soil and environmental health improvement. A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted for 75 days to investigate C and N mineralization of residues of soybean (Glycine max L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), maize (Zea mays L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) placed on the soil surface and incorporated into the soil. The residue of soybean and chickpea had a greater decomposition rate than that of maize and wheat, despite of their placements. Higher rate of decomposition of the residue of soybean and chickpea was recorded when it was kept on the soil surface while soil incorporation of residue of wheat and maize resulted in faster decomposition. Therefore, these findings could be used as guidelines for management of crop residue application in farmland to improve soil and environmental quality.