In vitro characteristics of human fetal cells obtained from chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis

In vitro characteristics of human fetal cells have been investigated after chorionic villus sampling at the first trimester and amniocentesis at the second trimester of pregnancy. Light microscopy revealed heterogeneous morphology of cell types in both the chorionic villus culture and the amniotic fluid cultures. Based on the experiments performed, chorionic villus cells are more sensitive to pronase, trypsin, and versene during subculture and have a higher DNA content per single cell and release more [¹²⁵I]-Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin into culture medium than those found in amniotic fluid cells. The practical applications of this study are discussed.     

Human exposure to a mixture of endocrine disruptors and serum levels of thyroid hormones: A cross-sectional study

Exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDCs) could disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis. However, human epidemiological studies reported inconsistent observations, and scarce information on the effect of a mixture of chemicals. The aim of the present study was to examine the associations of multiple chemicals with thyroid hormones among adults from China. We measured serum levels of thyroid hormones and urinary levels of 11 EDCs, including six phthalate metabolites, bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), perchlorate, and thiocyanate among 177 healthy adults without occupational exposure. Associations of multiple urinary analytes with serum thyroid hormones were examined by performing general linear regression analysis and bayesian kernal machine regression analysis. These EDCs were detected in almost all samples. After adjusting for various covariates, we observed only BPF significantly associated with total thyroxin (TT4) (β=-0.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-0.41, -0.14]), total triiodothyronine (TT3) (β=-0.02 95% CI [-0.03, -0.01]), free T4 (fT4) (β=-0.02, 95% CI [-0.03, -0.01]), and free T3 (fT3) (β=-0.04, 95% CI [-0.07, -0.01]), and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and monoethyl phthalate (MEP) positively associated with TT4 (β=0.24, 95% CI [0.01, 0.48]) and fT4 (β=0.02, 95% CI [0.01, 0.04]), respectively. Moreover, we observed significant dose-response relationships between TT4 and the mixture of 11 EDCs, and BPF was the main contributor to the mixture effect, suggesting the priority of potential effect of BPF on disrupting thyroid function under a real scenario of human exposure to multiple EDCs. Our findings supported the hypothesis that human exposure to low levels of EDCs could alter thyroid hormones homeostasis among non-occupational healthy adults.     

脉冲等离子法烟气脱硫的放大实验

锅炉烟气进行脉冲等离子法脱硫的扩大实验，得到与模拟烟气实验相近的结果。研究表明，脉冲等离子法对锅炉烟气中的ＳＯ２去除率可达９５％以上，烟气在反应器内的停留时间（ｔｓ）、脉冲电源的放电功率（Ｐ）和添加ＮＨ３等条件，对脱硫效率９η）有较大影响。ｔｓ、Ｐ越大、η越高。处理烟气量（Ｑ）、能耗（Ｐ）与η存在函数关系：η＝１１８．０（Ｐ／Ｑ）＾０．１１１１。烟气中加入适量ＮＨ３，对脱硫效率有显著提高，以ＮＨ３     

Human appropriation of net primary production as determinant of avifauna diversity in Austria

The relationship between land-use induced changes in production ecology and avifauna diversity was analysed using a GIS land cover dataset on a 0.25 km × 0.25 km grid covering Austria's national territory. Considering only aboveground processes, the “human appropriation of net primary production” (HANPP = potential NPP − NPP_t), actual NPP (NPP_act), harvest (NPP_h) and NPP_t (= NPP_act − harvest) were recalculated based on existing datasets. Elevation as well as indicators of land cover heterogeneity and landscape heterogeneity were also considered. Correlation analyses were performed between these potential determinants of avifauna diversity and breeding bird species richness data as well as the percentage of endangered breeding birds included in the Austrian red list. Four spatial scales—0.25 km × 0.25 km, 1 km × 1 km, 4 km × 4 km and 16 × 16 km, were analysed. It was shown that breeding bird species richness was more strongly correlated with production ecological indicators and elevation than with heterogeneity indicators. A residual analysis in which the effect of elevation (a proxy for climate) on species richness and its potential determinants was removed confirmed the importance of the availability of trophic energy (NPP) for bird diversity patterns. The results support the species-energy hypothesis, thus confirming the notion that HANPP could be a useful pressure indicator for biodiversity loss.     

等离子体技术处理环境污染物进展

概述了等离子体的概念、分类，介绍了冷等离子体在废气、废水、固体废弃物处理等方面的应用，讨论了存在的一些问题。等离子体技术在环保领域具有良好的发展前景。     

Serum PAPP-A levels are depressed in women with fetal Down syndrome in early pregnancy

The value of maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein (PAPP)-A in screening for Down syndrome in early pregnancy was assessed using stored samples. Seventeen cases of Down syndrome and 66 unaffected control pregnancies were studied. The median PAPP-A level in the cases was 0.42 multiples of the expected value in controls (p <0.0001). Eleven cases (65 per cent) had levels less than half the expected value compared with only six controls (9 per cent). A commercial assay kit is now needed so that prospective screening with this marker can begin.     

Decomposition of CF3CI by corona discharge

In this paper pulsed corona discharge is shown to be effective for the decomposition of CF₃Cl(Freon-13).The pressure of CF₃Cl was 2.67×10³Pa,after discharged for 2 min,39.5% of CF₃Cl was decomposed.The products were mainly CF₄,Cl₂ and CF₂Cl₂.The yield increased by adding O₂ or air.Under the same conditions,more than 94% decomposition yield was obtained if 5.32×10³Pa O₂ or air was added.The composition of products became CF₂O,Cl₂ and CF₄.While the partial pressure of O₂ or air reached 1 arm,the decomposition yield decreased to 54.5% and 48. 5% respectively.     

难降解有机废水处理新技术

介绍了光氧化法、超临界氧化和低温等离子体化学三种废水处理新技术的原理,国内外研究的现状和未来的发展前景,分析了这些新技术在优化污染物废水处理方面得到工业应用所必须解决的主要技术问题.     

等离子体技术在固体废弃物处理中的应用

简要介绍了等离子体的相关概念及其处理污染物的工作原理，阐述了等离子体技术在固体废弃物治理方面的应用研究概况，并对等离子体在固体废弃物治理中的应用作了市场前景分析，说明了该技术在固体废弃物治理中具有一定的应用前景。     

Landscape Structure and Historical Processes Along Diked European Valleys: A Case Study of the Arc/Isère Confluence (Savoie, France)

/ The valleys of European piedmonts constitute changing narrow corridors within which water, matter, nutrients, energy, and species flow. The dispersion patterns of these flows have been significantly disturbed since the end of the 18th century. Thus, western European valleys have been changed into complex mosaics by implementation of socioeconomical programs. In order to define future actions allowing the preservation of this "ecocomplex" (Blandin and Lamotte 1988), it is necessary to gather precise information of the landscape dynamics. Hence, the study of the European river valleys must be based upon two major steps: (1)the analysis of the present landscape with suitable remote sensing techniques, allowing us to map the complex mosaic of narrow corridors; and (2) the analysis of temporal landscape development patterns since the first engineering works that have transformed the braided channel system. In this paper, the efficiency of the addition of two techniques is highlighted: (1) the "wavelet merging method" from multispectral and panchromatic SPOT images for the floodplain land-cover mapping, and (2) the historical reconstruction techniques from old maps and archive documents in order to analyze the cumulative impacts of engineering works on landscape diversity. To illustrate the method, a particularly complex case study is chosen: the Arc/Isere confluence (downstream from Albertville, Savoie, France). Remote sensing, field survey, and historical reconstruction allowed us to distinguish two types of spatial units: (1) the "functional sets" characterized by independent state factors (edaphic, hydrological, and topographic) and supporting a limited number of vegetation types (spontaneous or cultivated), and (2) the functional unit (= ecotope), which corresponds to a unique combination of vegetation type/functional set.KEY WORDS: Landscape ecology; Floodplains; Vegetation; Land use; Remote sensing; Historical reconstruction; Mapping; Merging methods; Human impacts; Alps; Isere river; France