Effects of ovarian fluid on sperm velocity in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Numbers of studies in externally fertilizing fish species provide evidence for an effect of ovarian fluid on sperm motility characteristics such as duration of forward mobility, velocity or percent motile sperm cells. Yet, because of variations among females in the quality of their ovarian fluid, such effects might differ between individuals. Additionally, ovarian fluid from different females could also be expected to affect each ejaculate differently, resulting in cryptic female choice. In this study on Artic charr (Salvelnius alpinus), sperm velocity from several males was measured in the diluted ovarian fluid of several females according to a fully balanced crossing design. This design allowed us to estimate variations among females in the effect of their ovarian fluid on the velocity of sperm from different males, and to detect variations among males in the ability of their sperm to swim in ovarian fluid. Sperm velocity was estimated by computer-assisted sperm analysis. Average velocity was found to vary among females, with some females having constantly higher velocity measurements in their ovarian fluid, and among males, indicating that some males had overall faster sperm in ovarian fluid than others. Moreover, variation in sperm velocity was shown to depend on individual female-male interactions. Our results document that females vary in the effect of their ovarian fluid on sperm velocity and that their ovarian fluid may stimulate sperm velocity according to individual characteristics of males. This latter result suggests a potential mechanism for cryptic female choice.

Trisomy 18 and maternal serum and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein

Maternal serum and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels were studied retrospectively in a total of 58 pregnancies with trisomy 18. In those pregnancies uncomplicated by either fetal exomphalos or neural tube defect the midtrimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) levels were markedly reduced, the median value for 38 such pregnancies being 0.6 multiples of the median (MoM). Trisomy 18 with exomphalos was associated with a higher median MSAFP, but still within the normal range: 1.1 MoM, (nine pregnancies); trisomy 18 with exomphalos and neural tube defect (NTD) was associated with grossly raised levels: median MSAFP was 4-5 MoM (three pregnancies). Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein (AFAFP) levels were normal in uncomplicated trisomy 18 pregnancies: median AFAFP, for 19 pregnancies, was 1.1 MoM. Exomphalos alone, or together with neural tube defect, was associated with greatly elevated levels of AFAFP; for exomphalos alone median AFAFP was 9.59 MoM (four pregnancies), and for exomphalos with neural tube defect the median AFAFP was 23.95 Mom (three pregnancies). Screening with low and high MSAFP, routine ultrasound, and amniocentesis on all women aged 35 years or over, together might identify over 50 per cent of pregnancies with trisomy 18.     

How Climate and Vegetation Influence the fire Regime of the Alaskan Boreal Biome: The Holocene Perspective

We synthesize recent results from lake-sediment studies of Holocene fire-climate-vegetation interactions in Alaskan boreal ecosystems. At the millennial time scale, the most robust feature of these records is an increase in fire occurrence with the establishment of boreal forests dominated by Picea mariana: estimated mean fire-return intervals decreased from ≥300 yrs to as low as ∼80 yrs. This fire-vegetation relationship occurred at all sites in interior Alaska with charcoal-based fire reconstructions, regardless of the specific time of P. mariana arrival during the Holocene. The establishment of P. mariana forests was associated with a regional climatic trend toward cooler/wetter conditions. Because such climatic change should not directly enhance fire occurrence, the increase in fire frequency most likely reflects the influence of highly flammable P. mariana forests, which are more conducive to fire ignition and spread than the preceding vegetation types (tundra, and woodlands/forests dominated by Populus or Picea glauca). Increased lightning associated with altered atmospheric circulation may have also played a role in certain areas where fire frequency increased around 4000 calibrated years before present (BP) without an apparent increase in the abundance of P. mariana. When viewed together, the paleo-fire records reveal that fire histories differed among sites in the same modern fire regime and that the fire regime and plant community similar to those of today became established at different times. Thus the spatial array of regional fire regimes was non-static through the Holocene. However, the patterns and causes of the spatial variation remain largely unknown. Advancing our understanding of climate-fire-vegetation interactions in the Alaskan boreal biome will require a network of charcoal records across various ecoregions, quantitative paleoclimate reconstructions, and improved knowledge of how sedimentary charcoal records fire events. In this paper, charcoal refers to macroscopic (≥180 μm) as opposed to microscopic (< 180 μm) particles unless indicated otherwise. Radiocarbon ages were converted to calibrated years before AD 1950 using the atmospheric calibration data set (Stuiver et al. 1998).     

含油污水、钻井液废水、废弃钻井液的致突变性研究

通过鼠伤寒沙门氏菌致突变试验（ＡＭＥＳ）对江苏油田含油污水、钻井液废水、废弃钻井液的致突变性进行了研究。结果表明：在本次检测条件下，以四氢呋喃做溶剂，江苏油田含油污水、钻井液废水及废弃钻井液均具有直接及间接碱基置换致突变性。     

废弃钻井液的治理与利用

石油勘探开发过程中产生的废弃钻井液中含有的地层钻屑、钻井液处理剂等有害物质，若直接排放将对环境与生态造成极大的危害，其治理与利用是当前急需解决的研究课题。从１９９１年开始，在室内反复模拟实验研究的基础上，经过井场应用实践，研制成功了将废弃钻井液转化成水泥浆的固化技术。     

合理控制钻井废水回用率以减轻环境污染

不合理地片面强调钻井废水的回用，是造成废水处理质量不高的重要原因之一。现在根据钻井生产的特点，分析讨论了钻井废水回用率合理控制的必要性，同时提出分阶段控制回用率的方法。现场实践证明，在这个方法实施的基础上，再加上一些有效的辅助措施，能有效地提高钻井废水达标率并减轻其对环境的污染。     

操作、维修合二为一的设备管理新模式探讨

介绍了韶钢第二轧钢厂推行以作业长制为基础 ,实施“操维合一”全员设备管理新模式的必要性和认识 ,阐述了该模式对设备隐患消除的意义 ,总结了实施“操维合一”的具体作法和步骤 ,收到了明显的效果