Trophoblast-like cells sorted from peripheral maternal blood using flow cytometry: A multiparametric study involving transmission electron microscopy and fetal dna amplification

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against trophoblast (GB17, GB21, and GB25) and flow cytometry were used to sort trophoblast-like cells (TLCs) from peripheral blood of pregnant women. Sorted TLCs were processed for electron microscopy and fetal DNA amplification of the Y-specific sequences from mothers carrying male fetuses. At the ultra-structural level, most of the nucleated cells had the morphology of leucocytes, suggesting maternal contaminants, and we did not find the characteristic features of the free inter-villous trophoblast cells. Nevertheless, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed an amplification of Y-specific sequences in two out of three samples of sorted TLCs. These results suggest that besides the maternal leucocytes, sufficient trophoblast nucleated fetal cells can be obtained using cell enrichment by sorting. This sensitive method holds promise for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal sex and if sufficient Y(positive) nuclei are found, for the diagnosis of selected numerical chromosome abnormalities.     

含酚废水治理方法的研究

根据含酚废水的性质，用ClO2氧化除酚，ZL—1和聚丙烯酰胺(PAM)混凝沉降除悬浮物的方法处理该废水。实验结果表明，经处理后废水中的主要污染物酚、焦油和悬浮物等去除率都很高，该水可以满足循环使用的要求。     

Gold mining in Siberia and the Far East as a source of mercury contamination of the environment

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＳｉｂｅｒｉａａｎｄｔｈｅＦａｒＥａｓｔａｒｅｔｈｅｏｌｄｅｓｔａｎｄｔｈｅｒｉｃｈｅｓｔｇｏｌｄ ｍｉｎｉｎｇａｒｅａｓｏｆＲｕｓｓｉａ .Ｉｎｔｅｎｓｉｖｅｇｏｌｄ ｍｉｎｉｎｇｈｅｒｅｓｔａｒｔｅｄｉｎｔｈｅｂｅｇｉｎｎｉｎｇｏｆｔｈｅ 19ｔｈｃｅｎｔｕｒｙ(Ｖｙａｚｅｌｓｈｃｈｉｋｏｖ ,1963) .Ｆｏｒｔｈｅｍｏｓｔｐａｒｔｇｏｌｄ ｂｅａｒｉｎｇｏｒｅｓａｎｄｓａｎｄｓｗｅｒｅｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｅｄｗｉｔｈｔｈｅｕｓｅｏｆａｍａｌｇａｍａｔｉｏｎｍｅｔｈｏｄｆｏｒｇｏｌｄｅ…     

Review of information on pesticide residues in the Canadian environment

Summary Pesticide residues in soil, water, food, wildlife and other media have been analysed in several monitoring studies. The purpose was to establish the distribution of these residues across a defined area, ascertain their trend over a specific period and use the results to assess environmental compliance and safety. In the present review the availability of information on pesticide residues in various Canadian environmental components was sought. With the possible exception of localized pesticide contamination of some private water supply wells, ground and surface water, most analyses revealed concentrations below guideline limits. Only a few cases were reported of mishandling, misuse and poisoning from pesticides. Continuing surveillance programmes and in-depth and well-organized monitoring studies, with special focus on areas that are vulnerable to contamination, by both provincial and federal governments, are largely responsible for the encouraging results. This experience in the control of pesticide use and monitoring of residues in the environment should be of particular interest in developing countries.Dr A.Y. Sangodoyin is a senior lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Ibadan. He was recently involved in a study visit to the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G7, where his co-author Dr D.W. Smith is a member of staff in the Department of Civil-Engineering.     

Enzyme-Retted Flax Fiber and Recycled Polyethylene Composites

Municipal solid wastes generated each year contain potentially useful and recyclable materials for composites. Simultaneously, interest is high for the use of natural fibers, such as flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), in composites thus providing cost and environmental benefits. To investigate the utility of these materials, composites containing flax fibers with recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) were created and compared with similar products made with wood pulp, glass, and carbon fibers. Flax was either enzyme- or dew-retted to observe composite property differences between diverse levels of enzyme formulations and retting techniques. Coupling agents would strengthen binding between fibers and HDPE but in this study fibers were not modified in anyway to observe mechanical property differences between natural fiber composites. Composites with flax fibers from various retting methods, i.e., dew- vs. enzyme-retting, behaved differently; dew-retted fiber composites resulted in both lower strength and percent elongation. The lowest level of enzyme-retting and the most economical process produces composites that do not appear to differ from the highest level of enzyme-retting. Flax fibers improved the modulus of elasticity over wood pulp and HDPE alone and were less dense than glass or carbon fiber composites. Likely, differences in surface properties of the various flax fibers, while poorly defined and requiring further research, caused various interactions with the resin that influenced composite properties.     

Tillage erosion and its effect on soil properties and crop yield in Denmark

Tillage erosion had been identified as a major process of soil redistribution on sloping arable land. The objectives of our study were to investigate the extent of tillage erosion and its effect on soil quality and productivity under Danish conditions. Soil samples were collected to a 0.45-m depth on a regular grid from a 1.9-ha site and analyzed for 137Cs inventories, as a measure of soil redistribution, soil texture, soil organic carbon (SOC) contents, and phosphorus (P) contents. Grain yield was determined at the same sampling points. Substantial soil redistribution had occurred during the past decades, mainly due to tillage. Average tillage erosion rates of 2.7 kg m(-2) yr(-1) occurred on the shoulderslopes, while deposition amounted to 1.2 kg m(-2) yr(-1) on foot- and toeslopes. The pattern of soil redistribution could not be explained by water erosion. Soil organic carbon and P contents in soil profiles increased from the shoulder- toward the toeslopes. Tillage translocation rates were strongly correlated with SOC contents, A-horizon depth, and P contents. Thus, tillage erosion had led to truncated soils on shoulderslopes and deep, colluvial soils on the foot- and toeslopes, substantially affecting within-field variability of soil properties. We concluded that tillage erosion has important implications for SOC dynamics on hummocky land and increases the risk for nutrient losses by overland flow and leaching. Despite the occurrence of deep soils across the study area, evidence suggested that crop productivity was affected by tillage-induced soil redistribution. However, tillage erosion effects on crop yield were confounded by topography-yield relationships.     

云南兰坪铅锌矿区优势植物重金属富集特性及应用潜力

为筛选适合云南高原地区重金属污染土壤修复治理以及矿区生态复垦的植物材料,通过实地野外调查,采集云南兰坪铅锌矿区18种优势植物样品及相应根系土壤,测定其Cd、 Cr、 Cu、 Ni、 Pb和Zn含量,计算植物对重金属的富集和转运系数,通过聚类分析方法,综合评估植物的应用潜力.结果表明, 18种优势植物分属18属13科,均为草本植物.植物体内多种重金属含量均高于植物正常含量,其中,延胡索(Corydalis yanhusuo)、旱芹菜(Carum bretschneideri)和毛连菜(Picris hieracioides)地上部Cd含量分别达到62.29、 76.49和85.09 mg·kg^-1,Cd富集系数分别为0.57、 0.58和0.66,转运系数分别为0.89、 0.45和1.48,有着较强的吸收和转移土壤重金属Cd能力,具有修复Cd污染土壤潜力.狼毒(Euphorbia fischeriana)和倒提壶(Cynoglossum amabile)地上部Cd含量分别为0.46 mg·kg^-1和0.23 mg·kg^-1     

Fenton试剂协同TiO2光催化降解三氯乙酸及协同机理

为了研究Fenton试剂协同TiO2光催化降解三氯乙酸(TCAA)的反应及其协同机理,在自制的光催化反应装置中分别考察了Fenton、UV/TiO2及Fenton/ UV/TiO2 3个反应对TCAA的降解情况。研究结果表明,在TCAA初始浓度为2.0 mg/L,TiO2用量为1.0 g/L,紫外辐射光源为15 W(λmain=254 nm)的实验条件下,Fenton试剂协同TiO2光催化降解TCAA反应在pH 3~7范围内均有较高的降解率;TCAA 在Fenton、UV/TiO2及Fenton/ UV/TiO2 3个反应中的一级反应速率常数分别为0.0009、0.0131和0.0456 min-1;Fenton试剂与TiO2光催化反应间存在较明显的协同效应,其协同机理主要体现在两个方面:一是紫外光激发Fe(OH)2+和H2O2分解产生更多的·OH,二是Fenton试剂中部分被氧化成的Fe3+可与TiO2表面的光生电子结合被还原为Fe2+,抑制了光生电子与空穴的复合,从而提高了TiO2光催化降解TCAA的效率。