Trisomy 7 in chorionic villi: Follow-up studies of pregnancy,normal child,and placental clonal anomalies

Cytogenetic study of chorionic villi sampled because of advanced maternal age revealed, after overnight culture, an apparently non-mosaic trisomy 7. Amniocentesis showed exclusively normal mitoses, and the pregnancy continued normally. One hundred mitoses from cord blood of the normal newborn revealed a non-mosaic 46,XX complement. No cells with a proven trisomy 7 were found in cultures from either of two biopsies of the morphologically normal placenta, but the peripheral biopsy showed in multiple cultures an abnormal clone: 47,XX, + 20,-2,-21, + t(2;21)(p13;q22). To our knowledge, this is the first case of non-mosaic trisomy 7 detected on CVS which has had follow-up studies of amniotic fluid, cord blood, and term placenta.     

滨海软土中爆炸冲击对盾构隧道的影响研究∗

随着地下工程与城市管网的布设日益发展,在规划设计阶段往往需要考虑潜在发生的安全事故影响,确定安全距离。利用ANSYS/LS-DYNA有限元软件,结合天津滨海新区饱和软土特点,分析了可能发生的燃气管线爆炸所产生的冲击荷载对土中埋置盾构隧道的结构安全影响。运用有限元数值模拟,得到了隧道与管线的间距—隧道结构振速峰值的曲线关系;通过对标相关规范的振速限制,得到不同燃气压力下隧道—管线的安全避让距离关系。结果表明:随着燃气管道压强的增大,隧道—管线的安全避让距离呈现先增大后平稳的趋势。结论对于爆破与防护工程设计均具有重要的参考价值。     

Effects of calibration on L-THIA GIS runoff and pollutant estimation

Urbanization can result in alteration of a watershed's hydrologic response and water quality. To simulate hydrologic and water quality impacts of land use changes, the Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment (L-THIA) system has been used. The L-THIA system estimates pollutant loading based on direct runoff quantity and land use based pollutant coefficients. The accurate estimation of direct runoff is important in assessing water quality impacts of land use changes. An automated program was developed to calibrate the L-THIA model using the millions of curve number (CN) combinations associated with land uses and hydrologic soil groups. L-THIA calibration for the Little Eagle Creek (LEC) watershed near Indianapolis, Indiana was performed using land use data for 1991 and daily rainfall data for six months of 1991 (January 1-June 30) to minimize errors associated with use of different temporal land use data and rainfall data. For the calibration period, the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient was 0.60 for estimated and observed direct runoff. The calibrated CN values were used for validation of the model for the same year (July 1-December 31), and the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient was 0.60 for estimated and observed direct runoff. The Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient was 0.52 for January 1, 1991 to December 31, 1991 using uncalibrated CN values. As shown in this study, the use of better input parameters for the L-THIA model can improve accuracy. The effects on direct runoff and pollutant estimation of the calibrated CN values in the L-THIA model were investigated for the LEC. Following calibration, the estimated average annual direct runoff for the LEC watershed increased by 34%, total nitrogen by 24%, total phosphorus by 22%, and total lead by 43%. This study demonstrates that the L-THIA model should be calibrated and validated prior to application in a particular watershed to more accurately assess the effects of land use changes on hydrology and water quality.     

Microbial degradation and impact of Bracken toxin ptaquiloside on microbial communities in soil

The carcinogenic and toxic ptaquiloside (PTA) is a major secondary metabolite in Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) and was hypothesized to influence microbial communities in soil below Bracken stands. Soil and Bracken tissue were sampled at field sites in Denmark (DK) and New Zealand (NZ). PTA contents of 2.1 +/- 0.5 mg g(-1) and 37.0 +/- 8.7 mg g(-1) tissue were measured in Bracken fronds from DK and NZ, respectively. In the two soils the PTA levels were similar (0-5 microg g(-1) soil); a decrease with depth could be discerned in the deeper B and C horizons of the DK soil (weak acid sandy Spodosol), but not in the NZ soil (weak acid loamy Entisol). In the DK soil PTA turnover was predominantly due to microbial degradation (biodegradation); chemical hydrolysis was occurring mainly in the uppermost A horizon where pH was very low (3.4). Microbial activity (basal respiration) and growth ([3H]leucine incorporation assay) increased after PTA exposure, indicating that the Bracken toxin served as a C substrate for the organotrophic microorganisms. On the other hand, there was no apparent impact of PTA on community size as measured by substrate-induced respiration or composition as indicated by community-level physiological profiles. Our results demonstrate that PTA stimulates microbial activity and that microorganisms play a predominant role for rapid PTA degradation in Bracken-impacted soils.     

滑坡动态变形过程的综合研究方法

影响滑坡变形破坏过程的因素具有复杂性和多变性,要合理评价和预测滑坡的动态发展过程,深入的地质原型调查是基础,地质分析不仅能为其它分析方法的正确使用提供资料,而且能直接对滑坡的变形破坏发展过程作出定性的判断。在此基础上建立力学模型,采用数学力学理论进行定量计算和反演分析,可进一步从本质上去把握滑坡变形破坏的发展规律。本文通过介绍李家峡水电站Ⅱ号滑坡的研究实践,说明了采用定性地质分析与定量力学计算相结合的研究方法揭示滑坡变形破坏动态过程的有效性。     

高黏度污泥螺带螺杆搅拌混合特性的数值模拟

污泥处理过程通常需要加入添加剂,而高黏度污泥流动性差,搅拌混合是一个难点。选用螺带螺杆搅拌器加添加剂搅拌高黏度污泥,用Solid Works软件几何建模后,将模型导入Gambit划分网格,结合Fluent软件选用多重参考系法(MRF)分别对双螺带螺杆搅拌器与单螺带螺杆搅拌器下的污泥与添加剂混合过程进行了模拟,对比了两种搅拌桨的混合时间、体积分数流场分布及混合效率,分析了不同加料区域的影响,并将搅拌功率模拟与试验结果进行了对比。结果表明:螺带螺杆搅拌器适用于高黏度污泥的搅拌且双螺带螺杆搅拌器混合时间更短,体积分数流场更快趋于稳定且混合效率更高;最佳加料区域为搅拌槽的中部。     

Effects of pen bedding and feeding high crude protein diets on manure composition and greenhouse gas emissions from a feedlot pen surface

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from concentrated animal feeding operations vary by stage of production and management practices. The objective of this research was to study the effect of two dietary crude protein levels (12 and 16%) fed to beef steers in pens with or without corn stover bedding. Manure characteristics and GHG emissions were measured from feedlot pen surfaces. Sixteen equal-sized feedlot pens (19?×?23 m) were used. Eight were bedded approximately twice a week with corn stover and the remaining eight feedlot pens were not bedded. Angus steers (n = 138) were blocked by live weights (lighter and heavier) with 7 to 10 animals per pen. The trial was a 2?×?2 factorial design with factors of two protein levels and two bedding types (bedding vs. non bedding), with four replicates. The study was conducted from June through September and consisted of four ?28-day periods. Manure from each pen was scrapped once every 28 days and composite manure samples from each pen were collected. Air samples from pen surfaces were sampled in Tedlar bags using a Vac-U-Chamber coupled with a portable wind tunnel and analyzed with a greenhouse gas gas chromatograph within 24 hr of sampling. The manure samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), total nitrogen (TN), ammonia (NH₃), total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), total carbon (TC), total phosphorus (TP), and potassium (K). The air samples were analyzed for methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) concentrations. The concentration of TN was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in manure from pens with cattle fed the high protein diets. The volatile fatty acids (VFAs) such as acetic, propionic, isobutyric, butyric, isovaleric, and valeric acids concentrations were similar across both treatments. There were no significant differences in pen surface GHG emissions across manure management and dietary crude protein levels.

Implications: Livestock manure produces odor and emits GHGs (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) at different stages of production and management practices that have significant environmental concerns. Thus, it is important to measure GHG contributions from different sources and develop appropriate mitigation strategies for minimizing GHG contribution from livestock production facilities. Two dietary protein levels (12 and 16%) fed to beef steers in pens with or without corn stover bedding were studied. The results indicated that dietary protein levels and bedding vs. no bedding had very little effect on GHG emissions and manure composition under open feedlot conditions in North Dakota climatic conditions and management practices.