Immediate prenatal diagnosis of Zellweger syndrome by direct measurement of very long chain fatty acids in chorionic villus cells

We report a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method which allows the very long chain fatty acids content of trophoblastic tissue to be directly measured in samples collected by biopsy between 8 and 11 weeks of gestation. This method has been successfully applied to the detection of fetal Zellweger syndrome in two pregnant women who had previously delivered affected infants. In one of them, increased concentrations of C26:0 (0.254 versus 0.108±0.035 μ/mg proteins) and C24:0 (1.32 versus 0.815±0.325 μ/mg proteins) in trophoblast indicated that the fetus had Zellweger syndrome, a diagnosis confirmed by pathological findings after abortion. In the second case, the pregnancy was allowed to proceed, on the basis of normal concentrations of very long chain fatty acids in trophoblastic tissue, and its outcome was actually a healthy newborn.     

Catalytic dechlorination of o-chlorophenol by nanoscale Pd/Fe

IntroductionTheuseofzerovalentironforthetreatmentofchlorinatedorganiccompounds (COCs )inwaterandgroundwaterhasbeenthefocusofmuchrecentresearch .Thestudieswereconcernedwithcompoundssuchascarbontetrachloride(Bradley ,1995 ) ,trichloroethene(Orth ,1996 ;Chen ,2 0 0 1)andpesticidesandrelatedcompounds(Sayles,1997;Monson ,1998;Eykholt,2 0 0 1;Dombek ,2 0 0 1) .Whenironisincontactwithalessreductivemetal,themetalcouplecanformgalvaniccells.ThishasledtothediscoveryofPd Febimetalliccomplexinwhichpal…     

Influence of no-tillage on the distribution and lability of phosphorus in Finnish clay soils

No-tillage (NT) is a method adopted to reduce erosion and particulate phosphorus (P) load from arable land to watercourses. However, it has been found to increase the loss of dissolved P with surface runoff, but the reasons for that have rarely been examined in detail. The objective of the present study was to determine the chemical factors explaining this response by investigating the impact of NT on the type and distribution of P reserves as well as on organic carbon (C) in the 0–35 cm topsoil layer of clay soil profiles (Vertic Cambisols). Soil samples were taken from two experimental fields (Jokioinen and Aurajoki) at 0–5, 5–20 and 20–35 cm depths in conventionally tilled (CT) and non-tilled (for 4–5 years) plots. The plots had been cultivated and fertilized according to the common field practices in Finland (15–18 kg P and 100–128 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹).Inorganic and organic P reserves characterized by a modified Chang and Jackson fractionation procedure were not significantly affected by the cultivation methods. However, in the uppermost soil layer (0–5 cm) in NT of the Jokioinen field, the labile P determined by water extraction (P_w) increased significantly, whereas the increase in P extracted with acid ammonium acetate (P_AAC) remained statistically insignificant. The increase in labile P coincided with a significant increase in organic carbon (C), which supports the theory that competition between organic anions and phosphate for the same sorption sites on oxide surfaces will enhance the lability of soil P. In the Aurajoki field with distinct soil cracking, P_w and P_AAC were not affected by NT in the uppermost soil layer, but they increased in the deepest soil layer (20–35 cm) concomitantly with an increase in Al-bound P and organic C. However, the increases were not statistically significant. In both fields, soil acidification due to the repeated application of N fertilizers at a shallow soil depth as well as the accumulation of organic C lowered pH of the uppermost soil layer in NT compared to the deeper soil layers. The results indicated that even short-term NT can increase the labile P in clay soil. However, further studies are needed to assess the long-term changes in lability of surface soil P and, consequently, the possible need for readjustment of the fertilization level in NT.     

Environmental aftermath of the radiation accident at Tomsk-7

An analysis is presented of the environmental effects of the most serious radiation accident recorded after Chernobyl, which occurred in the formerly secret town of Tomsk-7 in Siberia, Russia, on 6, April 1993. Fortunately, it appears not to have become a major industrial crisis or disaster. The causes of the accident are described. It is argued that a mixture of both objective and subjective prerequisites, including specific human, organizational, and technological factors, were responsible for the explosion or directly facilitated it. The Tomsk-7 accident's ecological, medical, social, and psychological consequences are discussed.     

A New Modus Operandi for the Agricultural Economics Profession

Agricultural economics has, until the 1990s, enjoyeda reputation for relevance and usefulness to theagri-food industry and policy-makers. Thatreputation has been jeopardized by a growinginfatuation with models and quantification, and aconcomitant underemphasis placed on many complexproblems and issues of society. An illustrativeexample is explored, using agriculturalactivity-related damage to the natural resourcebase, environment and ecology. Agriculturaleconomists are urged to respond by broadening theirterms of reference and joining forces with otherdisciplines.     

ClO2处理含铁,锰及细菌饮用水的应用研究

为了除去水中高含量的铁，锰及细菌，采用ＣｌＯ２氧化Ｆｅ＾２＋，Ｍｎ＾２＋和灭菌的方法。研究结果表明，处理后水平铁，锰都末检出，细菌指标符合国家饮用水标准。此法具有工艺简单，操作方便，反应速度快，去除率极高，不产生致癌物质ＴＨＭ、且能很好地除水中的异味及色度等优点。此法适用于各种生活给水系统。     

北京地区15000年以来环境变迁中灾害性气候突变事件的讨论

通过高分辨率孢粉分析及烧失量、炭屑实验结果的统计分析，结合１４Ｃ、古地磁等，对北京房山东甘池１５０００ａ以来植被变化和环境变迁进行了较为深入的研究，特别强调气候变化的灾害性突变事件。初步得知约在１４１００～１４０００ａＢ．Ｐ．前后曾出现与哥得堡反转相对应的事件，在１００００ａＢ．Ｐ．左右出现类似与新仙女木事件相对应的事件，在大约５７７０ａＢ．Ｐ．和４５６０ａＢ．Ｐ．左右及２８５０～２６５０ａＢ．Ｐ．出现了大暖期的突然降温事件。     

基于FAHP的黄河中下游灾害系统脆性评价

首次将复杂系统的脆性引用到黄河灾害的研究中,并根据复杂系统的层次结构,采用模糊层次分析法(FAHP)对黄河中下游灾害系统进行了分析.由模糊层次分析法求得了灾害子系统的相对重要度排序向量,找出了极易使黄河中下游系统崩溃的脆性因素.结合黄河中下游的现状,通过对系统必要的脆性分析,为决策者提供重要的参考依据.     

应用AERMOD计算卫生防护距离方法探讨

针对目前环评工作中计算确定工业企业卫生防护距离几种常见方法的不足和局限性,本文提出应用美国环保局推出的第二代法规模式AERMOD模型计算卫生防护距离的方法,并比较三种计算方法的优劣,提出确定工业企业卫生防护距离的最终可行方案。     

长江上游重庆段近20 a降水时空变化特征

全球气候变暖背景下,中国的降水分布日趋复杂,气象灾害造成的损失巨大。为满足防灾减灾与水资源管理的数据支撑需求,基于长江上游重庆段近20 a降水数据,利用线性回归、M-K非参数检验等方法,探究降水的时间变化趋势与空间分异特征。结果表明：近20 a重庆市年降水量在875.6—1348.2 mm。时间上,春、秋两季呈明显增多的趋势,其中3月最显著。降水在14 a时间尺度的周期过程线中波动最强,是第一主周期。空间分布上,呈西低东高的特点,在渝西和长江河谷地区降水相对偏少,主要受重庆地形的影响;渝西和渝东北地区秋季降水显著增多。研究结果可为长江流域旱涝灾害防治、水资源开发利用及经济社会可持续发展提供数据支撑,同时可为植被修复与生态廊道保障提供参考。