First and early second-trimester diagnosis of fetal urinary tract anomalies using transvaginal sonography

Urinary tract anomalies are common. Prenatal diagnosis is important and enables either special obstetric management or termination of pregnancy and probably in the future, intrauterine intervention. Transvaginal sonography (TVS) allows visualization of the normal and anomalous fetal urinary tract at an early stage. One thousand nine hundred and forty women were examined via TVS at an early stage of pregnancy between 10 and 16 weeks from the last menstrual period (LMP) and 35 anomalies (1·8 per cent) were clearly identified: 29 cases of low urinary tract obstruction, 2 cases of multicystic dysplastic kidney, 2 cases of polycystic kidney (infantile type), 1 case of double collecting system, and 1 case of horseshoe kidney. Potter syndrome could be ruled out in three patients who had delivered fetuses suffering from this anomaly in previous pregnancies. The concise and early identification of anomalies makes TVS an important aid in the hands of the obstetrician, ultrasonographer, and neonatologist.     

Identification and field bioassays of the sex pheromone of the yellow-legged clearwing Synanthedon vespiformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)

The yellow-legged clearwing (YLC) Synanthedon vespiformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) occurs in the Mediterranean and central Europe. It is polyphagous, boring into the woody parts of broadleaf species including forest trees as well as various Rosaceae species. S. vespiformis has been reported as an economically important pest causing severe injury to stone fruit plantations. Many attractants for sesiid species were discovered by random field screening using 2,13- and 3,13-octadecadienyl alcohols, acetates and aldehydes, including one for S. vespiformis; and about 20 sex pheromones of sesiids have been identified so far. In the present study we identified the natural composition of the sex pheromone of YLC laboratory reared females as a blend of E3,Z13- and Z3,Z13-octadecadienyl acetates, at a ratio of 4:1. We developed an efficient lure for monitoring the pest. Pheromone funnel traps with rubber septa, impregnated with 1 mg pheromone blend, efficiently captured males for 10 weeks. Suspension of Shin-Etsu^? ropes containing a 2:1 blend of E3,Z13-18:Ac and Z3,Z13-18:Ac at 13.74 mg/ha/h, resulted in shutdown of trap catches in the treated plots and closely situated neighboring plots indicating that mating disruption is feasible.     

A COMPARISON OF STATISTICAL TESTS ON THE EXTREME-VALUE TYPE-1 DISTRIBUTION1

ABSTRACT: The effects of the selections of plotting position formulae and class division schemes on goodness of fit tests are investigated for the extreme-value type-1 distribution using annual flood and annual maximum daily rainfall data. It was found that the plotting position formulae have a minor influence on the tests which involve their use, while the class division schemes may have a pronounced effect on the X²-test. The study also recommended the maximum likelihood method for fitting purposes and a new test which is independent of the afore-mentioned selections for judging the goodness of fit.     

"The little squealer" or "the virtual guardian angel"? Young drivers' and their parents' perspective on using a driver monitoring technology and its implications for parent-young driver communication

Introduction

In-vehicle driving monitoring technologies have the potential to enable young drivers to learn from self-assessment. However, their use is largely dependent on parental involvement.

Method

A total of 79 interviews were conducted with young drivers and parents regarding this technology and its use. Most had the experience of having an in-vehicle data recorder installed in the vehicle driven by the young drivers. Parents and the young drivers expressed both appreciation as well as reservations about its potential as a means to enhance the driving safety of young drivers.

Results

A surprising finding was that some parents did not check the feedback and said they relied on the young driver to do so. Main concerns related to privacy, parent-young driver relationship, self-esteem and confidence, constructive use of the feedback data, and the limitations of the documentation that can be done by the technology.

Conclusions

Providing parents and young drivers with a support system and tools to discuss and utilize the feedback are underscored. Challenges include addressing the invasion of young drivers’ privacy and gender differences, and using the monitoring-capacity of the technology to enhance safe driving practices. Implications for programs to enhance communication and a dialogical approach between parents and young drivers are discussed.     

Use of geographic information systems for assessing groundwater pollution potential by pesticides in Central Thailand

This study employed geographic information systems (GIS) technology to evaluate the vulnerability of groundwater to pesticide pollution in Thailand. The study area included three provinces, Kanchana Buri, Ratcha Buri, and Suphan Buri, located in west-central Thailand. Factors used for the vulnerability assessment included soil texture, slope, land use, well depth, and rainfall. These vulnerability factors were reclassified to a common scale, and a weighted average was computed to yield a vulnerability score. Vulnerability factors and weights were assigned considering pesticide concentrations in 90 wells throughout the study area. Well depth was the most significant vulnerability factor. Groundwater vulnerability maps were generated for several pesticides. The eastern, agricultural part of the study area has relatively deep wells and fine soils. Shallow wells are present in the mountainous west; however, fewer pesticides are applied in that region. Consequently, much of the study area had a medium groundwater vulnerability rating, although there were pockets of high vulnerability, for example, in agricultural areas with shallow wells. The groundwater vulnerability maps are effective for identifying locations warranting more detailed groundwater pollution and vulnerability investigations.     

Clues and pitfalls in the early prenatal diagnosis of ‘late onset’ infantile polycystic kidney

Infantile polycystic kidney disease (IPKD) is an autosornal recesive inherited disorder, IPKD has been previously diagnosed by us as early as the 14th week of gestation. ‘Late onset’ (third trimester) IPKD has been previously described by several authors. We present here a case of intrauterine detection of ‘late onset’ IPKD, suggesting that elongated hyperechogenic kidneys (with normal transverse and anteroposterior diameters) should be considered as an early sign of ‘late onset’ presenting IPKD.     

Early second-trimester sonographic appearance of occipital haemangioma simulating encephalocele

Encephalocele is the most common cause of occipital midline extracranial mass associated with hydrocephalus. A case is presented where an occipital extracranial mass associated with hydrocephalus which was detected on second-trimester ultrasound examination turned out to be a haemangioma, a relatively benign lesion. We suggest that haemangioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of extracranial masses detected prenatally.