Morphological and cytogenetic analysis of intact oocytes and blocked zygotes

We examined cytological and cytogenetic parameters of 1076 oocytes and 385 zygotes that failed to develop post in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Out of 1076 oocytes, 894 (83%) arrested oocytes showed a first polar body and were thus assumed arrested at metaphase II while the remainder showed no polar body. In the group of oocytes with a polar body, 20.5% had an abnormal karyotype. Cytologically, premature sperm chromosome condensation was noted in 28.3% of uncleaved oocytes. This high PCC can be explained by the different grades of oocyte maturity from one center to another. Oocytes from older women showed no increased aneuploidy but did show increased premature chromosome condensation. Analysis by classical technique of 220 uncleaved zygotes showed 91 with highly condensed chromosomes, 53 with asynchrony of condensation, 31 with pulverized chromosomes, and 45 arrested at the first somatic metaphase. Out of 385 arrested zygotes, 165 were explored by in situ hybridization. FISH using a set of 7 chromosome-specific probes showed aneuploidy in the chromosomes analyzed (13, 16, 18, 21, 22, X, Y) in 21.8% of blocked zygotes (19–25% depending on morphology). Extrapolating to other chromosomes, we expect that a vast majority of blocked zygotes and oocytes probably carry chromosome abnormalities. These data demonstrate the contributions of chromosome disorder in early embryo development blocking and implantation failure. Certainly, the issue of cytoplasm and nuclear immaturity and their relation to each other and to chromosome abnormalities provides a fertile area for future investigation in ART. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

新民城市居民头发重金属含量测定及相关分析

文章采用电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法(ICP-AES)及原子荧光光谱法(AFS)对辽宁省新民市城市居民不同年龄、性别群体头发中镉(Cd),铅(Pb),汞(Hg),砷(As)等重金属含量进行了测定,比较并分析了人发中各种重金属含量水平及与年龄、性别的关系。结果表明,新民市城市居民整体群体头发中镉,铅,砷,汞等4种重金属平均含量分别为(0.14±0.10),(3.80±2.43),(0.29±0.17),(0.39±0.21)mg/kg,均在中国居民头发中重金属含量正常值上限以下。回归分析表明,头发中所测定的重金属中只有金属Hg含量变化与年龄之间存在线性关系(R2=0.71);单因素方差(One-way ANOVA)分析表明,不同年龄群体间Cd,Pb,Hg,As等重金属含量无显著性差异(p>0.05);皮尔逊相关分析表明各重金属含量与年龄、性别之间无显著相关性(p>0.05)。     

京津冀天然源挥发性有机物排放研究

为探明2017年京津冀地区天然源挥发性有机物(BVOCs)的空间分布,将研究区划分成3 km分辨率的格网,并通过WRF模型提供气象驱动数据,MODIS影像提供植被功能类型和叶面积指数,最终利用MEGAN模型进行模拟研究.结果表明,该模型将BVOCs分成147个细类,其中主要有异戊二烯、单萜烯41类、半萜烯32类、其他VOC73类.2017年京津冀地区BVOCs排放总量为426.26×10~3 t,四大类别的排放比例依次为29.38%、12.32%、6.24%、52.05%.单萜烯中排放较高的类别是α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯、t-β-罗勒烯,而半萜烯中排放较高的是α-法呢烯和β-石竹烯.整个研究区域内BVOCs排放较高的区域位于北部森林与灌丛分布密集的燕山山脉和西南的太行山山脉,其中主要的城市有承德、北京、张家口、保定、石家庄等.排放量较低的地区为廊坊、衡水、天津等地.本研究通过模型模拟得到了京津冀地区2017年高时空分辨率BVOCs排放清单,同时可为以后的大气环境研究提供基础数据.     

闽江口秋茄红树林凋落物产量及分解动态

于2017年以闽江口粗芦岛秋茄(Kandelia obovata)红树林为研究对象,分别采用凋落物收集框和分解袋法,研究秋茄凋落物产量及其碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量月动态及凋落叶分解过程中C、N、P含量与水解酶活性.结果表明:①秋茄凋落物年产量为618.79 g·m~(-2)·a~(-1),其中,叶占61.2%,果、枝和花分别占23.7%、10.5%和4.6%.②凋落叶总氮(TN)含量8月显著高于其他月份(p0.05),而TP含量在1—3月显著高于其他月份;C/N在8月显著低于其他月份(p0.05),而C/P及N/P在9月显著升高(p0.05).③在凋落叶分解过程中,C、N、P含量及其化学计量比随时间存在明显差异(p0.01),并且地上组TC、TN、C/N和C/P明显不同于地下组(p0.05).④在分解过程中,4种水解酶随时间存在明显差异(p0.01).⑤凋落叶酸性磷酸酶活性与土壤温度、电导率和凋落叶TP含量存在显著相关关系(p0.01).这些结果说明,秋茄凋落物产量及元素含量随季节变化存在明显差异;沉积作用对凋落叶分解过程中元素含量有显著影响,水解酶活性主要受凋落叶元素含量和土壤环境因子的控制.     

The Upper and Lower Ecological Limits of Specific Metabolic Power of Different Organisms

It has been demonstrated that bioenergetic properties of plants (independence of productivity from size, proportionality between radial growth of woody plants and plant mass, etc.) and animals are not related to the presumed universal linear relationship between metabolic power and body mass to the power of 3/4. This relationship is not true for plants and endothermic animals. The observed bioenergetic characteristics of these organisms are explained by simple biological and physical laws, including the existence of the lower and upper limits of the specific metabolic power of living matter.     

The estimated reduction in the odds of loss-of-control type crashes for sport utility vehicles equipped with electronic stability control

INTRODUCTION: Using data from the NASS General Estimates System (GES), the method of induced exposure was used to assess the effects of electronic stability control (ESC) on loss-of-control type crashes for sport utility vehicles. METHOD: Sport utility vehicles were classified into crash types generally associated with loss of control and crash types most likely not associated with loss of control. Vehicles were then compared as to whether ESC technology was present or absent in the vehicles. A generalized additive model was fit to assess the effects of ESC, driver age, and driver gender on the odds of loss of control. In addition, the effects of ESC on roads that were not dry were compared to effects on roads that were dry. RESULTS: Overall, the estimated percentage reduction in the odds of a loss-of-control crash for sport utility vehicles equipped with ESC was 70.3%. Both genders and all age groups showed reduced odds of loss-of-control crashes, but there was no significant difference between males and females. With respect to driver age, the maximum percentage reduction of 73.6% occurred at age 27. The positive effects of ESC on roads that were not dry were significantly greater than on roads that were dry.     

Demography and disappearing merchandise: How older workforces influence retail shrinkage

Prior research on retail shrinkage has taken a largely individual‐level approach to theorizing about why it occurs, showing that older employees are less prone to theft and more vigilant in preventing customer shoplifting than younger personnel. However, given the influence of organizational contexts on organizational behavior, theorizing about shrinkage may be enhanced by the consideration of business‐unit level contextual variables. The present study addressed this concern by examining the relationship between store‐level age composition, whistle‐blowing (WB) climate, and shrinkage in 726 retail stores. Results indicated that the negative mean age–shrinkage relationship was stronger when there was less age diversity or a climate more supportive of WB. Moreover, the negative WB climate–shrinkage linkage was stronger when the mean age was higher. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

好氧触媒在造纸法再造烟叶污水处理中的应用分析

本文围绕好氧触媒在造纸法再造烟叶污水处理中的应用展开分析。如对好氧触媒在再造烟叶污水处理中的应用必要性及好氧触媒作用原理予以介绍,并对好氧触媒在造纸法再造烟叶污水处理中应用展开试验。     

Comparison of Canadian firefighters and healthy controls based on submaximal fitness testing and strength considering age and gender

Introduction. Few studies have addressed whether firefighters are fitter than the general population and possess sufficient levels of aerobic capacity and muscle strength to perform on-duty tasks in a safe and efficient manner, considering age and gender. We aimed to evaluate the fitness levels of Hamilton firefighters, and to determine the effects of age and gender. Methods. In total, 89 participants were recruited. The modified Canadian aerobic fitness test was used to determine participants’ estimated maximal oxygen consumption (V_O2max) levels. For upper and lower body strength levels, a calibrated J-Tech hand-held dynamometer and a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lifting device was used respectively. Results. Firefighters’ mean (SD) V_O2max level was 40.30?±?6.25?ml·kg^?1·min^?1. Age proved to have a statistically significant impact on V_O2max (p?<?0.001). Gender displayed statistically significant effects on strength levels. Firefighters’ age was the only statistically significant independent variable, and accounted for 61.00% of the variance in firefighters’ aerobic capacity levels. Conclusions. Firefighters possessed somewhat similar aerobic capacities but much higher levels of body strength when compared with the general population. With age, firefighters’ aerobic capacities decreased; however, their upper and lower body strength levels remained the same.