Complete karyotype discrepancy between placental and fetal cells in a case of ring chromosome 18

A case of complete karyotype discrepancy between cultured chorionic villi and amniotic in addition to fetal cells is reported. Ring chromosome 18 and monosomy 18 mosaicism was detected after amniocentesis. The pregnancy was terminated in the 23rd gestational week. Cytogenetic analysis of cultured umbilical cord tissue after termination confirmed the finding of ring chromosome 18/monosomy 18 mosaicism. In cultured umbilical blood lymphocytes monosomic cells 45,-18 were not detected and the karyotype was 46,XY,r(18). In contrast, short-term and long-term cultured chorionic villi showed a normal male karyotype of 46,XY. Ultrasonographic examination revealed amniotic band syndrome and scoliosis in the caudal region of the spine. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

水力负荷与气水比对人工湿地净水效果的影响

以某高海拔地区污水处理厂的二级生化处理水为研究对象,通过对人工湿地进出水中COD、NH+4-N、TP浓度的变化,研究了水力负荷、气水比两个参数对人工湿地净水效果的影响。结果表明:人工湿地去除生活污水中COD、NH4+-N、TP的最佳水力负荷为0.33 m3/(m2·d)、气水比为3:1,在此最佳试验条件下,COD、NH4+-N、TP的去除率分别可达84%、69%、68%,出水水质满足《地表水环境质量标准》Ⅲ类水质标准。     

Simulating the fate of indigenous antibiotic resistant bacteria in a mild slope wastewater polluted stream

The fate of indigenous surface-water and wastewater antibiotic resistant bacteria in a mild slope stream simulated through a hydraulic channel was investigated in outdoor experiments.The effect of(i) natural(dark) decay,(ii) sunlight,(iii) cloudy cover,(iv) adsorption to the sediment,(v) hydraulic conditions,(vi) discharge of urban wastewater treatment plant(UWTP)effluent and(vii) bacterial species(presumptive Escherichia coli and enterococci) was evaluated.Half-life time(T1/2) of E. coli under sunlight was in the range 6.48–27.7 min(initial bacterial concentration of 10~5 CFU/mL) depending on hydraulic and sunlight conditions. E. coli inactivation was quite similar in sunny and cloudy day experiments in the early 2 hr, despite of the light intensity gradient was in the range of 15–59 W/m~2; but subsequently the inactivation rate decreased in the cloudy day experiment(T1/2= 23.0 min) compared to sunny day(T_(1/2)= 17.4 min). The adsorption of bacterial cells to the sediment(biofilm) increased in the first hour and then was quite stable for the remaining experimental time. Finally, when the discharge of an UWTP effluent in the stream was simulated, the proportion of indigenous antibiotic resistant E. coli and enterococci was found to increase as the exposure time increased, thus showing a higher resistance to solar inactivation compared to the respective total populations.     

基于不同树干高度树轮宽度的历史气候重建潜力研究

本研究利用新疆伊犁地区雪岭云杉不同树干高度树轮样本建立树轮宽度年表,并尝试使用该年表进行历史气候重建。相关分析表明,10 m树干高度树轮年表与当年6—7月平均最低气温相关显著,相关系数可达0.585（P＜0.001）。利用10 m树干高度树轮标准化年表建立了研究区1841—2014年当年6—7月平均最低气温,重建方程稳定可靠。分析表明,重建序列出现了5个偏冷阶段和4个偏暖阶段。其中,1938—1965年和1866—1912年分别是持续时间最长的偏冷和偏暖阶段。重建序列存在2.11 a、2.99—3.10 a、5.09 a、5.47 a、8.08 a、68.03 a的显著周期（P＜0.05）。该重建序列的建立进一步证明了利用不同树干高度树轮年表开展气候重建的可能性。在野外采样环境允许的情况下,可以将树干更高处树轮样本纳入采样范围。     

人为气溶胶排放导致最近80年东亚夏季风在过去四个世纪以来空前减弱

亚洲夏季风(Asian Summer Monsoon,ASM)对亚洲数十亿人口的生存、亚洲生态系统和生物多样性的分布、以及农业生产(粮食安全)和工业活动影响严重。因此了解ASM过去时空变化及其动力学过程对陆地生态系统、水资源、森林和景观研究至关重要。近几十年,器测记录显示以降水量为代表的ASM强度一直在减弱,但这一减弱趋势的起始时间和动力学过程尚不清楚。为此,第一次集成了ASM西部-中部边缘带10个对降水敏感的树木年轮宽度年表,重建了公元1566年以来反映ASM强度变化的降水序列。重建结果不仅捕捉到了ASM过去4个世纪以来强弱变化历史,也反映出历史上蝗灾与弱季风的关联。特别是发现了最近80年具有过去448年中前所未有的、最为强烈的、显著且持续时间最长的ASM强度减弱趋势。这一减弱趋势与在温室效应影响下ASM本该增强的预期大相庭径。耦合气候模型实验表明,北半球人为硫酸盐气溶胶排放的逐渐增加,对ASM减弱起了决定性作用。     

Hydraulic modeling of mussel habitat at a bridge-replacement site, Allegheny River, Pennsylvania, USA

The Allegheny River in Pennsylvania supports a large and diverse freshwater-mussel community, including two federally listed endangered species, Pleurobema clava (Clubshell) and Epioblasma torulosa rangiana (Northern Riffleshell). It is recognized that river hydraulics and morphology play important roles in mussel distribution. To assess the hydraulic influences of bridge replacement on mussel habitat, metrics such as depth, velocity, and their derivatives (shear stress, Froude number) were collected or computed.The objectives of the project were to evaluate mussel and hydraulic data at a reference site and to compare those findings to a bridge-replacement site. The findings were used to support a statistical analysis, which establishes correlations between mussel count and hydraulics, and a numerical model to forecast habitat based on the statistics.ArcGIS was selected to manage the data and generate a grid to compute area statistics for 3319, 4.9-m × 4.9-m cells (cell) for total mussel count, depth, velocity, shear stress, and Froude number. The Wilcoxon Rank Sum test indicated no statistical significance between the total mussel count and the hydraulic variables; however, trellis graphs were used to account for the spatial variability in the data set. For the flow conditions measured, the total mussel count per cell is greatest at sections where (1) velocities range from 0.061 to 0.21 m/s, (2) shear stresses range from 0.48 to 3.8 dyne/cm², and (3) Froude numbers range from 0.006 to 0.04.Based on the statistical targets established, the hydraulic model results suggest that an additional 2428 m² or a 30-percent increase in suitable mussel habitat could be generated at the replacement-bridge site when compared to the baseline condition associated with the existing bridge at that same location. The study did not address the influences of substrate, acid mine drainage, sediment loads from tributaries, and surface-water/ground-water exchange on mussel habitat. Future studies could include methods for quantifying (1) channel-substrate composition and distribution using tools such as hydroacoustic echosounders specifically designed and calibrated to identify bed composition and mussel populations, (2) surface-water and ground-water interactions, and (3) a high-streamflow event.     

Modeling flooding extent from Hurricane Floyd in the coastal plains of North Carolina

Abstract

In this article two modeling approaches were developed based on the use of US Geological Survey digital elevation model (DEM) data. These models were utilized to delineate the extent of flooding induced by precipitation from Hurricane Floyd in a portion of Pitt County, North Carolina. The patterns of flood extent derived from the two models were compared to the extent of flooding indicated on a digital aerial photograph taken two days after peak flood levels had been reached. In addition, floodplain boundaries based on Federal Emergency Management Agency Q3 maps were compared to the extent of flooding on the aerial photo. Actual emergency response operations undertaken through the Pitt County Emergency Operations Center during the flood event are described, and are used to provide a context for evaluating the potential utility of these models. The flood extents produced by the modeling methods performed well at representing the actual extent of the flooding.     

Valuation of expectations: A hedonic study of shale gas development and New York’s moratorium

This paper examines the local impacts of shale gas development (SGD). We use a hedonic framework and exploit a discrete change in expectations about SGD caused by the New York State moratorium on hydraulic fracturing. Our research design combines difference-in-differences and border discontinuity, as well as underlying shale geology, on properties in Pennsylvania and New York. Results suggest that New York properties that were most likely to experience both the financial benefits and environmental consequences of SGD dropped in value 23% as a result of the moratorium, which under certain assumptions indicates a large and positive net valuation of SGD.     

A Model of Navigation-Induced Currents in Inland Waterways and Implications for Juvenile Fish Displacement

The likely extension of commercial inland navigation in the future could increase hazards directly impacting on the nurseries of freshwater fish, especially for smaller individuals with limited swimming abilities. One limitation of the evaluation of inland navigation on fish assemblages is the lack of suitable hydraulic models. This article presents a hydraulic model to assess the increase of navigation-induced physical forces due to higher vessel speed, length, and drought in a low-flowing waterway related to maximum swimming performance of fish to (1) foresee hazards of enhancement of inland navigation, (2) derive construction measures to minimize the hydraulic impact on small fish, and (3) improve fish recruitment in waterways.The derived model computed current velocities induced by passing commercial vessels in inland waterways experimentally verified and parameterized in a German lowland waterway. Results were linked with a model of maximum fish swimming performance to elucidate consequences for freshwater fish populations. The absolute magnitude of navigation-induced current limits the availability of littoral habitats for small fish. Typical navigation-induced current velocities of 0.7–1 m/s in the straight reaches of waterways will be maintained by fish longer than 42 mm only. Smaller juveniles unable to withstand those currents could become washed out, injured, or displaced. In contrast, in small local bays, the navigation-induced current declined significantly. According to our model, in a 20-m extended bay, the return current drops below 0.11 m/s, corresponding to the maximum swimming speed of a 9-mm-long fish. Thus, enhancing shoreline development by connecting oxbows, tributaries, and especially by purpose-built bays limits the impact on fish recruitment without restricting navigation resulting in more precautionary and sustainable inland navigation.