低强度超声波对低温下污水生物处理的强化效果及工艺设计

为了研究低温条件下超声波对污水生物处理的强化效果,采用强度0.3 W·cm-2的超声波对好氧活性污泥进行10 min的辐射处理,然后在4℃条件下进行模拟SBR(sequencing batch reactor)反应.以耗氧呼吸速率(oxygen uptake rate,OUR)、脱氢酶活性(dehydrogenase activity,DHA)和COD为指标,研究了低温条件下超声波对污泥生物活性以及有机物去除效果的改善.结果表明,低温条件下,经超声波处理后污泥活性可提高30%,COD的去除率也可保持常温水平.通过比较可以看出,低温条件下超声波的强化效果较常温条件下更为明显.本研究还以典型的城市二级处理污水处理厂和采用SBR工艺的污水处理厂为例,对低强度超声波在污水处理工艺中的设计和操作进行了说明.     

超声波/零价铁体系降解五氯酚的机理

在超声波/零价铁体系中,以五氯酚为目标污染物,分别对各种形态铁离子浓度和羟基自由基表观生成率进行了定量测定,探讨了超声波与零价铁的协同作用机理.结果表明,在超声波/零价铁体系降解五氯酚过程中,同时存在超声波的羟基自由基氧化作用和零价铁的还原作用,其中超声波的羟基自由基氧化作用占主导,零价铁大大地促进了该体系羟基自由基的生成.同时,采用气相色谱.质谱联用仪测定中间产物,并结合相关研究推测,超声波/零价铁降解五氯酚主要是通过羟基自由基的氧化脱氯、五氯酚氧自由基的自身耦合,以及零价铁的还原脱氯3种降解途径完成的.     

超声波/零价铁降解对氯苯胺性能及机理研究

在超声波/零价铁体系中考察了溶液初始pH值、浓度对对氯苯胺降解的影响.在pH值为3～11范围内最佳条件为pH=9;初始浓度为0.1、0.2和0.4 mmol/L时的降解率(180 min)分别为83.2%、63.5%和36.1%.对氯苯胺在单纯铁粉、单纯超声波和超声波/零价铁3种体系中降解符合拟一级反应动力学规律,速率常数分别为6.83×10-4、3.95×10-3和1.01×10-2 min-1,增强因子为218%,表明铁粉与超声波对对氯苯胺降解有明显的协同效应.在体系中加入自由基捕捉剂正丁醇能抑制对氯苯胺的降解,证实对氯苯胺降解主要是依靠羟基自由基的氧化作用.     

Novel mutation and prenatal sonographic findings of glutaric aciduria (type I) in two Taiwanese families

Glutaric aciduria type I (GA I) is an autosomal recessively inherited inborn error with a defect of the enzyme glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH), which has never been diagnosed prenatally in Taiwanese patients. We present the prenatal sonographic findings and mutational analysis data of three children in two Taiwanese families. One patient from each family was diagnosed postnatally due to macrocephaly and neurological deterioration at 4 months and 10 months, respectively. The third child, sister of the first patient, was diagnosed prenatally at 11 weeks' gestation through chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Molecular analysis revealed that the fetus and child in Family 1 were homozygous for a common mutation, IVS10 -2A>C, which has not been reported in the Caucasian population. The patient in Family 2 was a compound heterozygote for IVS10 -2A>C and a novel mutation 749T>C (L238P). After genetic counseling, the couple decided to continue the second pregnancy. However, dilatation of quadrigeminal cistern (QC) and suspicious macrocephaly were noted at 30 weeks. Progressive dilatation of the QC associated with macrocephaly, fronto-temporal atrophy and wide space of perisylvian fissure were found in the follow-up scans. The affected girl was delivered at 37 weeks' gestation by cesarean section. Postnatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies confirmed the prenatal sonographic findings. With prenatal sonographic findings and mutational analysis presented in the present cases, the feasibility of prenatal diagnosis of GA I in high-risk pregnancy can not be overlooked. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intrauterine brain teratoma: a case report of imaging (US,MRI) with neuropathologic correlations

Fetal brain tumors are rare and teratoma is considered as the most common. Fetal MR Imaging is currently used to evaluate cases of ventricular dilatation. We report a case of cerebral immature teratoma detected by ultrasonography because of ventricular dilatation at 24 gestational weeks. MRI was the more accurate imaging method in depicting the tumor and its consequences on brain development as well as in taking a decision with regard to the management of pregnancy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sirenomelia,the mermaid syndrome—detection in the first trimester

The sirenomelia sequence with fusion, rotation, hypotrophy or atrophy of the lower limbs in combination with severe urogenital and gastrointestinal malformations is a rare and usually lethal disorder. We present the case of a 28-year-old woman, who was referred to our department because of an intraabdominal cystic structure in the 9th week of gestation. Subsequent scans confirmed the diagnosis of a sirenomelia sequence with the fusion of the lower extremities without fusion of the bones according to Stocker I classification. The size of the intraabdominal cyst decreased during follow-up. After counseling, termination of pregnancy was induced. The postmortem X-ray confirmed the ultrasound diagnosis. The exact etiological mechanism of this malformation is still unknown. An early alteration of the embryological vascular network damaging the caudal mesoderm is thought to lead to arrested development of the lower limbs and other affected organs. The cyst we saw in the 9th week might fit with this theory, either as an expression of the complex malformation of the lower abdomen or as the sonographic appearance of necrosis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sonographic depiction of fetal tooth germs

Recently, sonography of the fetal face has gained increasing importance in prenatal diagnosis. It is not yet clear whether sonographic depiction of fetal tooth germs would have an influence on the prenatal diagnosis of ectodermal dysplasia syndromes. During routine malformation screening, horizontal sections of fetal jaws were visualized and examined for tooth germs in 124 pregnant women following sonographic ‘facing’. Histological jaw sections of fetuses that had died in utero at various gestational ages were produced in order to examine the degree of correspondence between the sonographic and histological findings. At least four tooth germs were found in the jaws of all fetuses between 19 and 34 gestational weeks (n=104). Although jaw visualization was possible between 14 and 18 gestational weeks (n=20), the exact number and location of the tooth germs could not be determined. Assessment of tooth germs may become increasingly important, as aplasia of the tooth germs is one of the principal signs of various hereditary ectodermal diseases.     

Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of congenital heart disease associated with intrauterine growth retardation. A report of 2 cases

Two fetuses with extreme growth retardation (IUGR) of 31 and 34 weeks gestation were studied using a combination of two dimensional echocardiography (2DE), pulse wave Doppler (PWD) and differential measurement of the instantaneous vessel diameter techniques. The first fetus was diagnosed as having univentricular heart or possible double outlet right ventricle (DORV). Descending aorta blood flow was reduced as was indexing for weight. The second fetus was diagnosed as having univentricular heart with periodic bigeminal and trigeminal rhythm. Descending aorta blood flow was measured on two occasions and was reduced both times. Indexing for weight was within normal limits the first time and showed gross reduction on the second occasion prior to fetal demise. Fetal death occurred in both cases at 34 weeks gestation. Cardiovascular evaluation in fetuses with IUGR is useful as the detection of severe congenital cardiac abnormalities may substantially alter the management of these pregnancies, in particular caesarean section may be avoided when the prognosis for the fetus is considered hopeless.     

Prenatal ultrasound detection of humero-radial synostosis in a case of antley-bixler syndrome

The Antley-Bixler syndrome is characterized by multiple skeletal fusions including humero-radial synostosis, anterior bowing of the femora, cardiac and renal malformations and a high incidence of early postnatal lethality. In the pregnancy of a mother who had previously given birth to a child with the Antley-Bixler syndrome, prenatal ultrasound diagnosis was performed at 17 and 20 weeks. Fixed flexion of about 80° in both elbows was seen together with humero-radial synostosis and bowing of the ulnae. The fetus performed jerky cranio-caudal movements in its shoulders, but did not, during five hours of real-time observation, move at all in the elbows. Mild anterior bowing of the femora was also observed. The pregnancy was terminated at 21 weeks, and radiological examination of the female fetus confirmed the above mentioned findings including complete bilateral humero-radial synostosis. She also had cardiac and renal malformations. An ultrasound diagnosis of syndromes which have humero-radial synostosis as one feature is possible. Immobility and flexion in the elbows during a long period is probably the essential diagnostic finding.