Prenatal diagnosis of a mosaic supernumerary marker iso (8p) (tetrasomy 8p): discordance between chorionic villi culture and amniotic fluid karyotypes

We describe the first case of mosaic supernumerary marker iso (8p) displaying a karyotype discordance between chorionic villi (CV) and amniotic fluid (AF) cultures during prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis. In the first trimester, cytogenetic analysis after chorionic villi sampling (CVS) was normal in all metaphases in the short-term cytotrophoblast cell culture, but an undefined supernumerary marker was detected in 60% of mesenchymal cells in the long-term CV culture. Informed of the mosaicism, the couple selected amniotic fluid sampling as a second-trimester confirmatory diagnostic procedure. The supernumerary marker was absent in all of the 25 available AF cells metaphases. The prospective parents received genetic counselling and were informed that the discordance could be interpreted as a placental confined mosaicism or as a true foetal mosaicism with low percentage of affected cells. The couple opted to continue the pregnancy. In the second month of life, the child had abnormal development with severe psychomotor delay and frequent episodes of epilepsy. Postnatal cytogenetic extensive re-evaluation discovered that the previously detected supernumerary marker was indeed an isochromosome (8p) rearrangement present at low frequency in 5% of the blood lymphocytes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

WATER RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS IN WEST CENTRAL IRAN USING LANDSAT DATA1

ABSTRACT: Extensive investigations have been undertaken to determine the utility of Landsat data for detecting and analyzing hydrologic characteristics of an interior watershed of Iran that drains to Daryachehye-Namak (salt lake). This interior playa serves as the terminus for surface water discharging to it from the Karaj, Shur, Saveh, and Ghom Rivers and ground water from their underlying aquifers. These drainage systems encompass heavily populated and industrial sectors of west central Iran, including Tehran. The result of this investigation demonstrates the applicability of Landsat data for mapping and monitoring water regimen as an aid in interpreting hydrologic conditions throughout this arid region. Fluctuation of water area in a playa lake, occupying the lowest part of this closed basin, was monitored on repetitive Landsat coverage. As the result of field investigations combined with optical and digital analyses of the Landsat data, fluctuating water depths were determined in order to estimate the volume of water present in this lake during various seasons. A comparison between stream discharge rates and the estimated volume of standing water make it possible to quantitatively evaluate the hydrologic regimen and to detect the significance of ground water discharge.     

A COMPUTERIZED DATA BASE FOR FLOOD PREDICTION MODELING1

ABSTRACT: A computerized geographic information system (GIS) was created in support of data requirements by a hydrologic model designed to predict the runoff hydrograph from ungaged basins. Some geomorphologic characteristics (i.e., channel lengths) were manually measured from topographic maps, while other parameters such as drainage area and number of channels of a specified order, land use, and soil type were digitized and manipulated through use of the GIS. The model required the generation of an integrated Soil Conservation Service (SCS) curve number for the entire basin. To this end, soil associations and land use (generated from analysis of Landsat satellite data) were merged in the GIS to acquire a map representing SCS runoff curve numbers. The volume of runoff obtained from the Watershed Hydrology Simulation (WAHS) Model using this map was compared to the volume computed by hydrograph separation and found to be accurate within 19 percent error. To quantify the effect of changing land use on basin hydrology, the GIS was used to vary percentages from the drainage area from forest to bare soil. By changing the basin runoff curve numbers, significant changes in peak discharge were noted; however, the time to peak discharge remained essentially independent of change in area of land use. The GIS capability eliminated many of the more traditional manual phases of data input arid manipulation, thereby allowing researchers to concentrate on the development and calibration of the model and the interpretation of presumably more accurate results.     

Wetlands and forest with a flora and fauna of international importance in Northeastern Greece

Due to Mediterranean, continental and oceanic influences we find in Northeastern Greece an exceptionally rich flora and fauna. Distributed over a distance of only 60–70 km from sea level northward to the Rhodopi mountains (with very cold and snowy winters at a height of 1000 m to 1600 m near the Bulgarian border) emerges a complex sequence of biozones unparalleled in a comparably small area in Europe. The low population density and the poor development of industry has allowed some natural landscapes to remain relatively undisturbed. The wetlands, including lake Kerkini and lake Vistonis as well as the deltas of the rivers Nestos and Evros, are a home or hibernating place for a large avifauna that includes vanishing bird species. In the oak‐ and beech‐forests of Rhodopi mountains, unusually rich in flowers, e.g. orchids, most of the large European mammals, including bear, wolf and wild boar, as well as birds of prey still find a basis for living. Pollution and damming of waters, erosion, cutting of riparian forests and overgrazing by domesticated animals are among other serious threats to the whole area. Problems, tasks and possibilities for protecting these zones of extraordinary quality are to be discussed along with an ecodevelopment concept for the whole region.     

Genotoxic fungicide methyl thiophanate as an oxidative stressor inducing 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′ -deoxyguanosine adducts in DNA and mutagenesis

Dimethyl 4,4′ -(O-phenylene)bis(3-thioallophanate), commonly known as methyl thiophanate (MT), is a systemic fungicide and suspected carcinogen to humans. In this study, the oxidative potential of this category-III acute toxicant has been ascertained based on its capacity of inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promutagenic 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′ -deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) adducts in DNA. The discernible MT dose-dependent reduction in fluorescence intensity of a cationic dye rhodamine (Rh-123) in human lymphocytes and increased fluorescence intensity of 2′,7′-Dichlorodihydro fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) treated cells signifies decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ Ψ m) due to intracellular ROS generation. The ³²P-post-labeling assay demonstrated the MT-induced 8-oxodG adduct formation in calf thymus DNA. Thus, it is concluded that MT, as a potent oxidative stressor, produces ROS leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative DNA damage and mutagenesis.     

不同土地利用类型的地表特征参量的遥感反演研究——以猫跳河流域为例

利用2007年5月Lansat5 TM数据,运用单通道算法,基于全国遥感监测土地利用/覆盖分类体系,对贵州省猫跳河流域的地表特征参量进行了反演,得到不同土地利用类型下的典型地表特征参数值。在3种主要的土地利用类型中,林地的植被指数最高、地表温度最低,农田的植被指数最低而地表温度最高,草地介乎林地和农田之间。城镇建设用地主要表现为热岛效应,而水域则主要表现为地表温度（LST）和归一化植被指数（NDVI）的双低特征。进一步对二级土地利用类型的分析表明,由于结构、功能的不同,土地利用二级类在地表特征参量方面也表现出了有规律地变化。有助于深入认识不同土地利用类型的物理特征,可以丰富主要土地利用类型的影像分类的先验知识,有望将不同土地利用方式的生态环境效应研究推进一步     

Rapid Mapping and Prioritisation of Wetland Sites in the Manawatu–Wanganui Region,New Zealand

The extent of wetland in New Zealand has decreased by approximately 90% since European settlement began in 1840. Remaining wetlands continue to be threatened by drainage, weeds, and pest invasion. This article presents a rapid method for broad-scale mapping and prioritising palustrine and estuarine wetlands for conservation. Classes of wetland (lacustrine, estuarine, riverine, marine, and palustrine) were mapped using Landsat ETM+ imagery and centre-points of palustrine and estuarine sites as ancillary data. The results shown are for the Manawatu–Wanganui region, which was found to have 3060 ha of palustrine and 250 ha of estuarine wetlands. To set conservation priorities, landscape indicators were computed from a land-cover map and a digital terrain model. Four global indicators were used (representativeness, area, surrounding naturalness, and connectivity), and each was assigned a value to score wetland sites in the region. The final score is an additive function that weights the relative importance of each indicator (i.e., multicriteria decision analysis). The whole process of mapping and ranking wetlands in the Manawatu–Wanganui region took only 6 weeks. The rapid methodology means that consistent wetland inventories and ranking can now actually be produced at reasonable cost, and conservation resources may therefore be better targeted. With complete inventories and priority lists of wetlands, managers will be able to plan for conservation without having to wait for the collection of detailed biologic information, which may now also be prioritised.     

基于DEM的地形指数提取方法及应用

在水文模拟中,地形指数ln(α/tan β) 作为反映地形信息的物理指标具有很高的应用价值。应用基于DEM的River Tools软件和GRIDATB程序,对红壤丘陵区地形起伏平缓的小流域进行地形指数的提取。 River Tools软件和GRIDATB程序分别使用目前常用的D8方法（单流向法）和多流向法。结果表明：与多流向法相比,D8方法的计算值较为离散,分布曲线较粗糙,平均值略高,方差和偏态系数也较大;但是,两种方法计算的ln(α/tan β) 的分布曲线大致相似。对于仅需要ln(α/tan β) 频率分布的水文模型（如TOPMODEL）来说,可以用单流向法取代多流向法来计算ln(α/tan β) 的频率分布。     

Measuring Suspended‐Sediment Concentration and Turbidity in the Middle Mississippi and Lower Missouri Rivers Using Landsat Data

The Middle Mississippi River (MMR) and lower Missouri River (MOR) provide critical navigation waterways, ecological habitat, and flood conveyance. They are also directly linked to processes affecting geomorphic and ecological conditions in the lower MR and Delta. For this study, a method was developed to measure suspended‐sediment concentration (SSC) and turbidity along the MMR and the lower MOR using Landsat imagery. Data from nine United States Geological Survey water‐quality monitoring stations were used to create a model‐development dataset and a model‐validation dataset. Concurrent gaging data were identified for available Landsat images to generate the datasets. Surface‐reflectance filters were developed to eliminate images with cirrus cloud coverage or vessel traffic. Using the filtered model‐development dataset, unique reflectance‐SSC and reflectance‐turbidity models were developed for three Landsat sensors: Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager, Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus, and Landsat 4–5 Thematic Mapper. Coefficient of determination values for the models ranged from 0.72 to 0.88 for the model‐development dataset. The model‐validation dataset was used to evaluate the performance of the models and had coefficient of determination values ranging from 0.62 to 0.79.