Schizencephaly: Prenatal diagnosis by computed sonography and magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed at 29 weeks of pregnancy after ultrasonographic detection of an abnormal cleft in the fetal brain. Fetal neuromuscular blockade was induced by pancuronium bromide injected into the umbilical vein under continuous ultrasound (US) guidance. MR images supported the echotomographic diagnosis of schizencephaly improving the visualization of symmetrical broad clefts connecting the lateral ventricles with the subarachnoid space. Schizencephaly was finally confirmed by neonatal US, computed tomography, and MR.     

Optimization, equilibrium, adsorption behavior and role of surface functional groups on graphene oxide-based nanocomposite towards diclofenac drug

Aquatic contamination of diclofenac (DCF), an emergent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs), can result in adverse effects to many ecosystems through biomagnification. Hence, introducing effective remediation techniques to sequester the pharmaceutical wastes is highly fundamental to prevent their accumulation in the environment. Generally, adsorption has been presented as a green and efficient approach. Herein, we report the characterization and application of the novel magnetic nanocomposite ([email protected]₂O₄) derived from cobalt-based ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) and graphene oxide (GO) for DCF adsorption. For the optimization procedure, the response surface methodology (RSM) was adopted to investigate the impacts of DCF concentration (1.6–18.4 mg/L), DCF dosage (0.08–0.92 g/L), and solution pH (2.6–9.4) to find the optimum conditions for DCF removal, at 10.5 mg/L, 0.74 g/L, and pH 4, respectively. For the adsorption experiments, the kinetic, isotherm, thermodynamic, and intraparticle diffusion models were systematically studied. Moreover, we have elucidated the role of functional groups on the surface of [email protected]₂O₄ in enhancing the adsorption of DCF drug. With good removal efficiency (up to 86.1%), high maximum adsorption capacity (32.4 mg/g), [email protected]₂O₄ can be a potential candidate to eliminate DCF drug from water.     

Prenatal demonstration of a cervical myelocystocele

Myelocystocele is a rare spinal cord disorder and has not been described prenatally. We report a case in which prenatal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a posterior cervical mass which was initially thought to be a meningocele or an atypical cystic hygroma. Surgery performed at 1 day of age showed this to be a myelocystocele. Therefore, the differential diagnosis of an extracranial cystic mass in the posterior cervical region should be expanded to include myelocystoceles.     

Clock-shift experiments with Savannah sparrows, Passerculus sandwichensis, at high northern latitudes

Orientation can be difficult for nocturnal bird migrants at high northern latitudes because of the large changes of magnetic declinations, rapid longitudinal time-shifts experienced during a long-distance flight and the invisibility of stars during the polar summer. Both sunset cues as well as geomagnetic cues have been shown to be of great importance in the orientation system of Savannah sparrows, Passerculus sandwichensis. We used clock-shift experiments to investigate whether geomagnetic and sunset cues were used for migratory orientation by wild-caught young Savannah sparrows at high geomagnetic latitudes in Northern Canada. We exposed birds to a 4-h slow clock-shift, expecting a 60° clock-wise shift in orientation after the treatment. Under natural clear skies in the local geomagnetic field, the birds responded by showing a significant axial mean orientation directed towards the position of the setting sun in the NW and towards their preferred migratory direction in the SE. After exposure to the clock-shift for 6 days and nights the birds showed a clear response to the treatment and shifted significantly towards NNE. Birds that first oriented towards NW in the experiments before clock-shift tended to shift clock-wise, thus reacted to the clock-shift in the expected way. The reaction of the individual birds that originally oriented towards SE seems to vary. In summary, our birds did not select a constant angle (menotaxis) in relation to the sun's position during the experiments, but presumably were affected by the sun showing phototaxis or followed their magnetic compass. Possible explanations of the unexpected experimental results are discussed. Electronic Publication     

Prenatal diagnosis of anatomical connections in conjoined twins by use of contrast magnetic resonance imaging

Omphalopagus conjoined twins were diagnosed by ultrasonography in a pregnant woman at 21 weeks' gestation. In order to clarify the anatomical connections, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, having achieved fetal paralysis by intravascular injection of 100 mg of pancuronium into each twin. Prior to MRI, 2 ml of a 0.0001 mmol/ml solution of gadolinium DTPA was also injected into the stomach of one twin. The contrast agent opacified the bowel loops of both twins, indicating bowel to bowel anastomosis. Following pregnancy termination, autopsy confirmed the prenatal diagnosis.     

Ultra-low concentration of total organic carbon in ultrapure water using ion-exchange resin embedding silanized magnetic nanoparticles

Regeneration of pure water is an important issue not only for the healthy life but also for the fine control of precise processes in various industries.One important issue in ultrahigh purified water is to reduce the amount of total organic carbon(TOC).Herein,we introduce a new approach to reduce the TOC using the surface silanized nanoparticles,in which the magnetic nanoparticles(mNPs) are silanized and then complexed with ion exchange resin(IER) beads.The Fe_3O_4 mNPs are surface modified by using high concentrated vinyltrimethoxysilane(VTMS) and then adhered on the surface of IER beads.The surface modified mNPs have a thick-shell of polysiloxane layer varying from 5 to 22 nm depending on the amount of VTMS used,which leads the significant increase of specific surface area.The IER beads embedding VTMS-silanized mNPs achieves about 7 μg/L of the TOC level in ultrapure water system,which is two orders less than 228 μg/L of the feeding water and one order less than 96 μg/L from the system using pristine IER beads.This result is mainly attributed to the polysiloxane layer forming broccoli-like surface structure and some part by the vinyl group of VTMS exposed to the amines in the water.     

Nitrate removal from aqueous solutions by magnetic cationic hydrogel: Effect of electrostatic adsorption and mechanism

Excessive nitrate(NO_3~-) is among the most problematic surface water and groundwater pollutants.In this study,a type of magnetic cationic hydrogel(MCH) is employed for NO_3~-adsorption and well characterized herein.Its adsorption capacity is considerably pHdependent and achieves the optimal adsorption(maximum NO_3~--adsorption capacity is95.88±1.24 mg/g) when the pH level is 5.2-8.8.The fitting result using the homogeneous surface diffusion model indicates that the surface/film diffusion controls the adsorption rate,and NO_3~-approaches the center of MCH particles within 30 min.The diffusion coefficient(D_s) and external mass transfer coefficient(k_F) in the liquid phase are1.15 × 10~(-6) cm~2/min and 4.5 × 10~(-6) cm/min,respectively.The MCH is employed to treat surface water that contains 10 mg/L of NO_3~-,and it is found that the optimal magnetic separation time is 1.6 min.The high-efficiency mass transfer and magnetic separation of MCH during the adsorption-regeneration process favors its application in surface water treatment.Furthermore,the study of the mechanism involved reveals that both-N~+(CH_3)_3 groups and NO_3~-are convoluted in adsorption via electrostatic interactions.It is further found that ion exchange between NO_3~-and chlorine occurs.     

Rapid degradation of dyes in water by magnetic Fe/Fe3O4/graphene composites

Magnetic Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene has been successfully synthesized by a one-step reduction method and investigated in rapid degradation of dyes in this work. The material was characterized by N₂ sorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene had a layered structure with Fe crystals highly dispersed in the interlayers of graphene, which could enhance the mass transfer process between Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene and pollutants. Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene exhibited ferromagnetism and could be easily separated and re-dispersed for reuse in water. Typical dyes, such as Methyl Orange, Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet, could be decolorized by Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene rapidly. After 20 min, the decolorization efficiencies of methyl orange, methylene blue and crystal violet were 94.78%, 91.60% and 89.07%, respectively. The reaction mechanism of Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene with dyes mainly included adsorption and enhanced reduction by the composite. Thus, Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene prepared by the one-step reduction method has excellent performance in removal of dyes in water.     

Development and physicochemical characterization of a new magnetic nanocomposite as an economic antibiotic remover

Maghemite (ϒ-Fe₂O₃) nanoparticles were impregnated to nanoporous carbon obtained from tomato waste (TWNC). The prepared magnetic composite (MTWNC) was characterized and used to remove tetracycline (TC) from water and then easily be separated from the medium by a magnetic technique. The morphologies and surface chemistries of both magnetic and non-magnetic nanoporous carbons were studied by FTIR, XRD, SEM, SEM-EDX, VSM, BET surface area, proximate and elemental analysis determinations. Batch adsorption studies were carried out and the effects of pH, initial TC concentration, adsorbent dose, ionic strength and temperature were investigated. The adsorption kinetics of TC on MTWNC could be expressed well by the pseudo-second order model, and sorption isotherms were described by Langmuir equation with maximum adsorption capacity of 60.60 mg/g at pH 4 and 50 °C. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of TC onto MTWNC was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic. Furthermore, the recyclability of the adsorbent was tested with 0.01 M NaOH solution, and the results show that the synthesized composite adsorbent could be employed repeatedly in wastewater treatment.     

有机微污染水磁混凝处理试验研究

实验以取自浙江湖州有机微污染水作为研究对象,研究了PAC,PFS,PAFC,KAl(SO4)2及FeCl3等常用混凝剂对该有机微污染水的CODMn的去除效果,结果表明PAC为处理该有机微污染水的最佳混凝剂,最佳投加量为30 mg/L。同时还研究了加载磁粉对有机微污染水混凝处理效果的影响,结果表明加载磁粉粒径为45μm,投加量为30 mg/L时,同一原水的CODMn去除率从常规混凝的39.3%提高到45.6%,且加载磁粉后大大缩短了混凝沉淀时间,符合微污染水源的应急处理要求,最佳投放顺序为：“磁粉+PAC+PAM”。