Prenatal diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) in four high risk male fetuses

Prenatal diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) was performed in four male high risk fetuses. The male sex was previously determined by an amniotic cell karyotype. Three kinds of test were performed on fetal blood obtained by umbilical venous puncture under fetoscopy at the 20th gestational week: nitroblue tetrazolium reduction (NBT) cytochemical test with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) as activator; luminol enhanced chemiluminescence with activation by serum opsonized zymosan (STZ) or PMA; superoxide anion (0) production by measurement of the superoxide dismutase inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c with PMA as activator. Results were compared to those obtained in six fetuses investigated for other inherited diseases. In one case, absence of granulocyte defects was confirmed at birth. In three other cases, the tests showed deficient metabolic oxidative granulocytes. The pregnancy was terminated and the CGD diagnosis was confirmed on the products of abortion. The use of three different techniques performed on whole blood for CGD prenatal diagnosis is recommended instead of a single isolated test to ensure a higher confidence in the diagnosis.     

FORECASTING DEMAND FOR RECREATIONAL BOATS1

ABSTRACT: This paper suggests theoretical models to forecast the demand for recreational boats in a metropolitan area, and their expected usage in various regional water bodies and marinas. The models, which are similar to those used in transportation studies, are implemented using statistical regression analysis and can be easily applied to a wide range of case studies. The models have been used to forecast demand for boats by type and size in the Cleveland S.M.S.A. The proportion of boats attracted to boating facilities on Lake Erie has been calculated. This study is significant in suggesting a theoretically sound methodology to project facilities required for recreational boats.     

Studies on seed germination and growth in weed species of rice field under salinity stress

An investigation was made to see the salt tolerance of 10 weed species of rice. Properly dried and treated seeds of weed species were placed on 9 cm diameter petridishes lined with Whatman No. 1 filter paper under 6 salinity regimes, viz. 0 (control), 4, 8, 16, 24 and 32 dS m(-1). The petri dishes were then kept in germinator at 25 +/- 1.0 degrees C and 12 hr light. The number of germinated seeds were recorded daily. The final germination percentage, germination index (GI), seedling vigour index, mean germination time and time for 50% germination were estimated. Root and shoot lengths of the weed seedlings were measured at 20 days after salt application and relative growth values were calculated. Results revealed that salinity decreased final germination percentage, seed of germination as measured by GI, and shoot and root length in all the species. Germination of most of the weed seeds was completely arrested (0) at 32 dS m(-1) salinity except in E. colona (12%) and C. iria (13.9%). The species C. iria, E. colona, J. linifolia and E. crusgalli showed better germination (above 30%) upto 24 dS m(-1) salinity level and were regarded as salt-tolerant weed species. J. linifolia, F. miliacea, L. chinensis and O. sativa L. (weedy rice) were graded as moderately tolerant and S. zeylanica, S. grosus and C. difformis were regarded as least tolerant weed species.     

Oil-Induced environmental Kuznets curve in organization of petroleum exporting countries (OPEC)

This study investigates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in 10 of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). To realize the study’s aims a time series model is built based on the period 1977–2008, utilizing the ecological footprint as an environmental indicator and income, labour, capital, oil consumption and oil price as economic indicators. Employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach, by comparing the short and long-run income elasticities, the EKC hypothesis is present in six OPEC countries namely Algeria, Iraq, Venezuela, Nigeria, Qatar and Kuwait. Moreover, the Toda–Yamamoto–Dolado–Lütkepohl (TYDL) causality tests outcome show that, after oil consumption, the most significant factors in increasing ecological footprint are labor and capital. This implies the relocation of pollution intensive industries to almost all of the OPEC countries. However, oil prices reduce environmental damage by its negative effect on the ecological footprint. From the outcome of this study it is important for the investigated countries to reduce their consumption of fossil fuel energy since it represents an important source of pollution. This can be achieved by allocating more labor and capital in projects and investments on renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy saving.