First-trimester fetal heart block and increased nuchal translucency: an indication for early fetal echocardiography

Prevalence of congenital heart disease increases with nuchal translucency (NT) thickness. First-trimester fetal bradycardia may result from heart block associated with complex congenital heart disease. We report two cases detected in the first trimester of pregnancy, in which both fetuses showed an increased nuchal translucency and bradycardia. Fetal karyotype was normal in both fetuses. First-trimester fetal echocardiography was performed and, in both cases, complex congenital heart disease was diagnosed. We discuss the added role of fetal heart rate in first-trimester ultrasound screening, in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency and normal karyotype. We stress, as well, the importance of echocardiography performed in the first trimester as a potential tool for early diagnosis in selected cases. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

River Habitat Quality from River Velocities Measured Using Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler

Prior research has demonstrated the utility of metrics based on spatial velocity gradients to characterize and describe stream habitat, with higher gradients generally indicative of higher levels of physical heterogeneity and thus habitat quality. However, detailed velocity data needed to compute these metrics are difficult to obtain. Acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) may be used to rapidly collect detailed representations of river velocity fields. Herein we demonstrate use of ADCP to obtain ecologically relevant data and compute associated metrics. Data were collected from four reaches of the Little Tallahatchie River in northern Mississippi. Sampled reaches were selected to observe velocity regimes associated with three distinctly different conditions: downstream from a major flow obstruction (a low weir), downstream from the apices of each of two bends, and within an extremely long, straight reach created by channelization. Three-dimensional velocity data sets from each site were used to compute metrics of habitat quality proposed by others. A habitat metric based on the presence of rotational flow in the vertical plane proved to be the best discriminator among conditions within the sampled reaches. Two of four habitat quality metrics computed from these measured velocities were greatest for the sharpest meander bend. ADCP hold great potential for study of riverine physical aquatic habitats, particularly at the reach scale. Additional work is needed to develop generally applicable field protocols and data reduction tools. Specifically, guidelines for ADCP settings and configuration appropriate for a range of riverine site conditions must be developed. Advances in instrumentation are needed to allow collection of information in closer proximity to the free surface and solid boundaries.     

短时大暴雨的多普勒雷达探测及暴雨预警信号发布

本文通过对环流背景和广州CINRAD-SA多普勒天气雷达资料的详细分析,探讨了发生在广州市的一次短时大暴雨的成因.结果表明：广州市夏季短时大暴雨在低空急流、低层辐合以及高空辐散和抽吸作用的有利环流背景下,多个单体接连穿越同一地区所造成,单体排列方向与单体移动方向一致.弱中气旋特征、逆风区和能量锋对对流的维持和加强起到了十分重要的作用.另外本文还对暴雨预警信号的发布技巧进行了探讨.     

METEOR 360AC型多普勒雷达功能和风场反演UW技术简介

介绍了民航华东空中交通管理局气象中心引进的Gematronik公司多普勒天气雷达的主要产品及功能,并着重介绍了一种实用的单多普勒雷达0风场反演方法－UW（均匀风）技术。     

水下推动器对氧化沟流场特性影响的实验研究

采用声学多普勒测速仪(ADV)对水下推动器运行时氧化沟流场进行分析,结果表明:水下推动器单独运行时氧化沟直道流速分布规律与曝气转盘单独运行时不同,靠近叶轮处流速分布沿水深与沟宽都不同,可看作是一个点射流与典型明渠流动混合的流动,具有明显的三维性。通过一段距离的流速掺混,沟内液流可达到一个准二维流动。水下推动器安装在断面中部时的断面平均流速比安装在底部时大18%左右,动力利用率高,较有效地起到推流作用;安装在断面中部时紊动强度分布稳定时的断面离叶轮迎水面的相对距离比安装在断面底部短。     

“070812”云南元江特大山洪泥石流气象成因分析

利用MICAPS常规资料、加密自动站雨量、FY-2C卫星TBB资料和多普勒雷达探测等资料,分析了云南元江2007年8月12日特大山洪泥石流灾害的气象成因。结果表明:低层冷锋切变在南移过程中受帕布台风低压外围较强东北气流的阻挡和引导,使切变转向后在哀牢山附近形成与山脉平行的西北东南向风向切变是造成本次降雨过程的主要天气系统,切变线附近形成的中尺度系统和多普勒径向速度的逆风区产生的短时大暴雨,是引发元江8.12特大山洪泥石流灾害的直接天气原因。