Pseudomosaicism for trisomy 13: Three case reports

Pseudomosaicism is of particular concern in prenatal diagnosis when it involves mosaicism for a cytogenetic abnormality associated with a clinical syndrome which is compatible with postnatal life, such as trisomies for chromosomes 13, 18, and 21. The lack of data regarding the outcome of pregnancies involving these specific kinds of pseudomosaicism makes genetic counselling difficult. Three cases of prenatal diagnosis of pseudomosaicism for trisomy 13, each of which had a normal outcome, will be presented (Tables 1 and 2). The three main areas for consideration are: (1) the genetic counselling issues, (2) the additional prenatal diagnostic options available to evaluate the status of the fetus in an attempt to identify some of the clinical features of trisomy 13, and (3) the outcome of the pregnancies.     

加速遗传算法及其在环境模型参数估计中的应用

提出了遗传算法的一种改进方法－－加速遗传算法，分析了该算法控制参数的优化特性，总结了这些参数的简便设置技术，并给出了它在环境模型参数估计中的几个应用实例。     

关于老虎洞白云岩及其上“粗晶灰岩”的形成机制

下扬子区石炭系老虎洞白云岩的形成认为是被蒸发泵吸作用稍加改变的浅淡含水层与海水混合白云岩化的结果,并特别强调准同生期灰泥潮坪受蒸发泵吸作用形成的白云石籽晶在混合白云岩化中的动力学作用;其上“粗晶灰岩”的形成则是经历了白云化——溶解——菱面体孔隙形成及其相互连接——地下缝洞层的形成——粗晶方解石在缝洞空间自由生长——垮塌——再胶结的复杂过程。     

地下水水质评价的逻辑斯谛曲线模型

为检验已订的地下水水质评价标准的合理性，解决各单项水质指标的评估结果的不相容性问题，提高水质等级模型的分辨率，提出了一种新的水质评价模型－逻辑斯谛曲线模型，它的水质等级是连续的实数值。根据LOG模型的参数值可以分析各水质指标值对水质等级的影响程度，据此检验原订水质等级标准的合理性。并给出了基于实码遗传算法的LOG建模的实施方案。实例研究的结果说明，该方案是可行、有效且通用的，在环境质量综合评价中具有广泛的应用价值。     

水质模型参数识别的遗传算法

Ｏ’ｃｏｎｎｏｒ模型是一个比广泛应用的Ｓｔｒｅｅｔｅｒ－Ｐｈｉｌｉｐｓ模型更精确的水质模型,由于该模型参数率定的困难性,限制它在实际中应用。     

Ecology of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Leptothorax</Emphasis> ants: impact of food,nest sites,and social parasites

In a long-term field manipulation, we demonstrate strong reactions of Leptothorax longispinosus ant colonies to food- and nest-site supplementation. Demographic and genetic responses varied over small geographic scales, and the two ecological factors interacted with the presence of the social parasite Protomognathus americanus. We conducted a 2×2 experiment in three blocks and found that the blocks, which were less than 100 m apart, reacted very differently to the treatments. Blocks differed in degree of polygyny, intranest relatedness, colony size, productivity, and sexual investment. Furthermore, these differences were associated with the presence of slave-making ants and the local availability of nest sites. Nest-site supplementation had a strong effect only in the site with the highest prevalence of social parasites, influencing there the density and investment patterns of colonies. L. longispinosus ants in the least parasitized area were strongly affected by both food- and nest-site supplementation. There, food supplementation led to a decrease in the number of queens per colony and consequently to an increase in intranest relatedness, while colonies in nest-site-supplemented areas invested fewer resources in males and produced a female-biased allocation ratio. By contrast, in a third block with a very low intracolonial relatedness, food supplementation induced an absolute and relative higher investment in males. We conclude that ecological factors influencing social organization in insect societies cannot be studied in isolation, because the interactions among factors produce far richer responses than any one variable.Communicated by L. Sundström     

基于遗传算法的洪水灾情评估神经网络模型探讨

洪水灾情评估实际上是一种模式识别问题,而人工神经网络模型具有逼近有界闭子集上任意非线性映射的特性,且模型更新方便。本文邮基于遗传算法的洪水灾情评估神经网络模型,阐述了其基本原理和算法,实例研究表明其实用性、客观性和通用性。     

灾民撤退网络流模型及其GIS模拟技术

灾民撤退问题实质上是一个多源点、多收点的网络流问题。本文建立了用于灾民撤退的网络流分析模型,介绍了基于地理信息系统网络分析的灾民撤退模拟技术。通过对某蓄洪区的实例分析表明,网络分析是模拟灾民撤退的有效方法,地理信息系统技术是辅助制定灾民撤退方案的崭新途径。     

Kin associations and direct vs indirect fitness benefits in colonial cooperatively breeding sociable weavers Philetairus socius

Indirect fitness benefits are believed to be an important force behind the evolution of cooperative breeding. However, helpers may associate with their relatives as a result of delayed dispersal, hence, kin associations might be a consequence of demographic viscosity rather than active choice. In addition, recent studies showed that helpers may have access to reproduction therefore direct benefits might also play an important role. Here, we investigate the possible roles of direct genetic benefits and kin associations on helping behavior in the sociable weaver Philetairus socius, a colonial and cooperatively breeding passerine. We used a microsatellite-based genotyping method to describe the genetic structure within nests and colonies. Within a colony, we found considerable genetic structure between males but not females. Sociable weaver colonies have several nests that are simultaneously active, giving individuals a choice of associating with a range of first-order kin to unrelated individuals. Helpers were significantly more related to the young in the helped nests than in other nests of the colony, suggesting an active choice for associating with kin. The helpers were generally offspring or first-order relatives of one (50%) or both (43%) breeders, although more infrequently, seemingly unrelated individuals also helped (7%). We found no supporting evidence of extrapair parentage and hence no direct genetic gains from helping in our population. This strong reproductive skew is contrary to theoretical models predicting conflicts over reproduction in stepfamilies. We discuss whether female decisions and/or other direct benefits of remaining in kin associations or helping might explain the high skew observed.     

Kin-related spatial structure in brown bears Ursus arctos

Kin-related social structure may influence reproductive success and survival and, hence, the dynamics of populations. It has been documented in many gregarious animal populations, but few solitary species. Using molecular methods and field data we tested: (1) whether kin-related spatial structure exists in the brown bear (Ursus arctos), which is a solitary carnivore, (2) whether home ranges of adult female kin overlap more than those of nonkin, and (3) whether multigenerational matrilinear assemblages, i.e., aggregated related females, are formed. Pairwise genetic relatedness between adult (5 years and older) female dyads declined significantly with geographic distance, whereas this was not the case for male–male dyads or opposite sex dyads. The amount of overlap of multiannual home ranges was positively associated with relatedness among adult females. This structure within matrilines is probably due to kin recognition. Plotting of multiannual home-range centers of adult females revealed formation of two types of matrilines, matrilinear assemblages exclusively using an area and dispersed matrilines spread over larger geographic areas. The variation in matrilinear structure might be due to differences in competitive abilities among females and habitat limitations. The influence of kin-related spatial structure on inclusive fitness needs to be clarified in solitary mammals.