Screen-positive rate in cell-free DNA screening for microdeletion 22q11.2

Objective

To examine the impact of the fetal fraction (FF) on the screen-positive rate in screening for microdeletion 22q11.2.

Methods

This study is based on samples that were analyzed using the Harmony® Prenatal Test (Roche Inc). The study cohort comprised samples from women with singleton pregnancies who were at least 16 years old and at least at 11 weeks' gestation. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine significant covariates that carry an impact on the screen-positive rate.

Results

The study population consisted of 52,019 pregnancies, including 309 pregnancies with a high-risk result for microdeletion 22q11.2. Thus, the overall screen-positive rate was 0.59%. In the low-risk group, the FF was 10.1%, and in the high-risk group, it was 7.3%. Regression analysis indicated a strong correlation between the FF and the screen-positive rate. In the cases with an FF of <11.0%, the screen-positive rate was 0.92%, while it was 0.13% in the group with a higher FF.

Conclusion

The screen-positive rate depends on the FF. In order to keep the rate low, we recommend restricting the analysis to samples with a FF of 11% and more.     

Toxicity of abamectin and doramectin to soil invertebrates

This study aimed at determining the toxicity of avermectins to soil invertebrates in soil and in faeces from recently treated sheep. Abamectin was more toxic than doramectin. In soil, earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were most affected with LC50s of 18 and 228 mg/kg dry soil, respectively, while LC50s were 67-111 and >300 mg/kg for springtails (Folsomia candida), isopods (Porcellio scaber) and enchytraeids (Enchytraeus crypticus). EC50s for the effect on reproduction of springtails and enchytraeids were 13 and 38 mg/kg, respectively for abamectin, and 42 and 170 mg/kg for doramectin. For earthworms, NOEC was 10 and 8.4 mg/kg for abamectin and doramectin effects on body weight. When exposed in faeces, springtails and enchytraeids gave LC50s and EC50s of 1.0-1.4 and 0.94-1.1 mg/kg dry faeces for abamectin and 2.2->2.4 mg/kg for doramectin. Earthworm reproduction was not affected. This study indicates a potential risk of avermectins for soil invertebrates colonizing faeces from recently treated sheep.     

Petroleum-contaminated soil in Minnesota

Petroleum-contaminated soil remediation in Minnesota will continue to include land treatment, composting, and thermal treatment alternatives. Contaminate levels, soil volume, disposal costs, and public opinion are ultimately the deciding factors in selecting any soils treatment technology appropriate for mitigating and remediating petroleum releases that, pursuant to the Minnesota Rules… “will protect the waters of the State”.     

Renewable energy: Biomass power and biofuels as alternative sustainable energy sources

This article describes biomass fuels as renewable and sustainable energy resources in Minnesota as well as across the United States. This country has long benefited from surplus supplies of diverse energy resources, while our dependency on foreign petroleum supplies and domestic coal reserves has only recently prompted Congress to recognize the importance of renewable and alternative fuels such as biomass energy. Our further utilization of biomass power and biofuels can be an important step in altering our dependency on both coal and petroleum while simultaneously reducing carbon dioxide emissions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Alternative energy: Environmental and economic factors associated with renewable energy and creating new integrated energy management systems

At best, the future of alternative and renewable energy remains uncertain. Our dependency on fossil fuels is already depleting world supplies of coal and petroleum while increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Most assuredly, the ability of alternative energy, described in this article as biomass, hydrogen, wind, solar, and geothermal power, to compete and even integrate with fossil fuels will depend on several important variables: First, developing, as well as developed, countries must be willing to direct long-term public and private funding towards innovative energy technologies by increasing research and promoting public education. Secondly, the “bottom line” economics associated with alternative energy technology must clearly show a positive cost/benefit ratio. Revenues and not deficits are paramount to the sustainability of alternative energy. Lastly, many experts argue for the environmental benefits of alternative energy by way of carbon reductions. The 1997 Kyoto Global Warming Treaty requires the United States in particular to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning by 7 percent below 1990 levels. While many experts argue that reactions to global warming and the alternative energy benefits anticipated because of them are fiscally irresponsible and not worth the billions of tax dollars intended, we can be assured that a business-as-usual attitude will continue without increased government and public support.© 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Integrating renewable and nonrenewable energy sources

Using renewable energy sources along with fossil fuels can help reduce our dependency on imported oil while also cutting greenhouse gas emissions. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Alternative energy technologies

Technologies that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce energy without reliance on fossil fuels can play a significant role in sustainably meeting our energy needs.© 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Genetic relationships between roost-mates in a fission–fusion society of tree-roosting big brown bats (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eptesicus fuscus</Emphasis>)

Kin-based patterns of associations are often observed in group living mammals. Colonies of forest-living big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) exhibit fission–fusion roosting behavior and female philopatry. Within a roosting area of forest, adult females are distributed into several subgroups roosting in different trees during the day. At night, adult females leave the roost subgroups to forage and, upon return to the roosting area at dawn, both the individual composition and location of subgroups often change. Individuals exhibit nonrandom roosting associations, and we hypothesized that genetic relationships would influence roosting associations. We determined (1) whether the strength of roosting associations between pairs of bats (based on radiotelemetry) was correlated with relatedness, (2) whether individuals that roosted together in roost subgroups were more related than by chance, and (3) from roost subgroups, the pairs of bats that roosted nonrandomly and whether the proportion of related pairs was higher than expected at random. Relatedness measures were based on microsatellite genotyping and mitochondrial DNA sequences. We found from all analyses that roosting associations were not influenced by relatedness or matrilineal relationships. These results provide clear evidence that, contrary to other mammals, kinship does not mediate roosting associations within forest living big brown bats that exhibit fission–fusion roosting behavior.