The early diagnosis of neural tube defects

The sonographic diagnosis of fetal neural tube defects (NTDs) has been enhanced by the recognition of associated brain and skull anomalies. Previous reports have found these anomalies to be accurate in predicting spina bifida after 16 weeks' gestation, and an inverse correlation was suggested between the presence of these sonographic markers and gestational age. Therefore, we assumed that early second-trimester sonography would be at least as accurate as that performed after 16 weeks' gestation. To examine this hypothesis, we looked for the presence of these cranial sonographic markers suggestive of open NTDs in 8011 low-risk cases, using transvaginal sonography (TVS), between the 12th and 17th week of gestation (menstrual age). Fetal NTDs were identified in ten cases (l.25%o). The NTDs were cervico-cranial in three, lumbo-sacral in six, and thoracal in one of the ten cases. None of the seven cases examined was dyskaryotic. Cerebellar dysmorphism, ‘banana’ sign, cerebellar absence, and hypoplasia were detected in all the low NTDs, usually before the detection of the spinal lesion. All the sonographically diagnosed malformations were confirmed by post-abortal examination except in one case, where the patient decided to continue the pregnancy and refused follow-up. We therefore conclude that transvaginal sonographic examination of the fetal skull before the 17th week of gestation is an accurate method for the detection of low NTDs.     

Adverse perinatal outcome in patients screen-positive for neural tube defects and fetal down syndrome

An association between various abnormal mid-trimester maternal serum analyte values and adverse perinatal outcome has been reported. From an original sample of 14 857 women, we observed five women who were ‘screen-positive’ for both neural tube defects [maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) ≥2·5 multiples of the median] and Down syndrome [risk ≥1/274 using MSAFP, maternal serum unconjugated oestriol (MSuE3), maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (MShCG), and maternal age]. The four patients who elected to undergo amniocentesis all demonstrated both normal karyotype and normal amniotic fluid AFP levels. All five cases were associated with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and abnormal pregnancy outcomes. Two cases exhibiting severe IUGR on ultrasound examination were terminated at 19·1 and 21·2 weeks, respectively; the former also exhibited fetal calcifications and positive maternal serology for toxoplasmosis. In another case, fetal demise occurred at 36 weeks' gestation in a patient who had been treated for syphilis in the second trimester. Neither infection was confirmed in fetal tissue studies. Though resulting in live births, the remaining two cases required operative deliveries; emergency Caesarean sections for fetal distress were performed at 38 and 32 weeks, respectively, the latter case being associated with severe pre-eclampsia. We conclude that elevated mid-trimester MSAFP levels concurrent with maternal serum analyte values associated with increased risk for fetal Down syndrome may presage a poor perinatal outcome, particularly IUGR and possibly congenital infection.     

BiVO4表面氧缺陷调控及其光催化氧化三价砷

以乙二醇为溶剂,采用溶剂热-煅烧法制备缺陷型BiVO₄光催化剂,通过控制溶剂热反应时间调控BiVO₄表面氧缺陷以增强对As （III）的光催化氧化性能.同时,借助各种表征手段如XRD、SEM和XPS等分析样品的晶型结构、形貌特征及化学组成等性质,考察其在可见光下对As（III）的光催化氧化性能,并研究其氧化机理.结果表明,溶剂热反应时间对BiVO₄的晶粒尺寸和光吸收性能没有影响,但能通过影响比表面积调控BiVO₄的表面氧缺陷浓度.经优化得到,反应时间为14 h时制备的BiVO₄光催化剂（BiVO-14）对As（III）（6 mg·L^-1）的氧化效率高达95.7%,并具有良好的光催化稳定性.BiVO₄氧化As （III）的主要途径是光生空穴（h⁺）的直接氧化作用.表面氧缺陷能增强导电性能,促进电荷分离和迁移,强化h⁺的氧化作用,从而提高BiVO₄的光催化氧化性能.BiVO-14能有效促使As（III）转化为低毒的As（V）,在饮用水源As污染去除方面具有广阔应用前景.     

环境公益诉讼原告的立法缺陷与完善

我国的经济的迅速发展,导致了许多侵害公众环境权益的事件的发生,有些甚至造成了很大的社会影响和国际影响,迫切需要建立环境公益诉讼制度。但我国现在在环境公益诉讼的原告的立法规定上存在缺陷,限制了环境公益诉讼的提起。应该赋予环境保护行政监督主管部门、检察机关、公民、环保社团的环境公益诉讼的原告资格,通过环境公益诉讼的原告资格的扩展,来维护我们公众的环境权益。     

全绝缘管型母线振荡波检测技术试验研究

绝缘管母易因绝缘击穿引发停电事故,造成较大经济损失。针对10 kV绝缘管母故障特点,制作了6类绝缘管母典型绝缘缺陷故障模型,采用振荡波技术开展绝缘管母局部放电检测。结果表明:正常绝缘管母的起始放电电压远高于有缺陷的绝缘管母,正常绝缘管母在1.7 U₀即14.79 kV时开始出现局部放电信号,而有缺陷的绝缘管母起始放电电压皆小于等于1.3 U₀即11.3 kV;得到使用振荡波法识别绝缘管母缺陷的方法,对1.5 U₀即13.05 kV电压下的局部放电量进行分析,当局部放电量超过200 pC时,可以认为绝缘管母存在绝缘缺陷。