Hyperechogenic fetal bowel and Down syndrome. Results of a French collaborative study based on 680 prospective cases

Hyperechogenic fetal bowel is prenatally detected by ultrasound during the second trimester of pregnancy in 0.1% to 1.8% of foetuses. It has been described as a normal variant and has often been associated with severe diseases, notably Down syndrome. The aim of the present study was to determine the risk of trisomy 21 in a prospective study of 680 fetuses with hyperechogenic foetal bowel. Karyotyping was performed on amniotic cells in 632 cases, and outcome was known in 655 cases. A 2.5% risk of Down syndrome and a 1% risk of other severe chromosomal anomalies were observed. Hyperechogenicity was isolated in 11/17 Down syndrome cases, and associated with other ultrasound anomalies in all seven cases of severe chromosomal anomalies. In conclusion, fetal bowel hyperechogenicity indicates a risk of chromosomal anomalies ten-fold higher than that expected on the basis of maternal age, therefore justifying invasive procedures. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

不同采样方法测算结果的分析与比较

通过瞬时采样、等时采样、等比例采样测算结果的分析和比较 ,说明用等比例采样法采集水样并核定出污染物的排放总量 ,解决了水样的代表性问题。     

纺织品防微波辐射检测方法及其仪器的研究

根据对纺织品微波性能测试方法的系统研究,针对我国纺织品防辐射检测现状和科技发展的需求,运用系统分析、有效控制方法,采用先进技术,开发完成了我国首台自行设计、自行制造,适于2,250～2,650MHz范围织物防微波辐射现代快速检测仪器。经以中国工程院院士姚穆为首的技术审定委员会审定认为:该仪器设计科学合理、结构严谨、检测快速、数据准确,关键技术达到国际先进水平。     

Short-Term Hydroscheduling with Discrepant Objectives Using Multi-Step Progressive Optimality Algorithm1

Cheng, Chuntian, Jianjian Shen, Xinyu Wu, and Kwok-wing Chau, 2012. Short-Term Hydroscheduling with Discrepant Objectives Using Multi-step Progressive Optimality Algorithm. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(3): 464-479. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00628.x Abstract: With increase in the number and total capacity of hydropower plants in power systems, optimality algorithms with a single objective are not suitable for optimizing the operation of complex hydropower systems to meet complex demands. Hydropower plants should prioritize discrepant objectives, such as peak regulation and maximizing generation during solving of optimal operation problems of hydropower systems. In this article, we present a multi-step progressive optimality algorithm (MSPOA) for the short-term hydroscheduling (STHS) problem to improve the quality of optimal solutions and enhance the convergence speed of progressive optimality algorithm (POA). In MSPOA, the original problem is first decomposed into a sequence of problems with the longer time steps. Next, the problem with the longest time step is solved, and the optimal solution is used as the initial solution for the problem with the second longest time step. This process proceeds until the original problem with the shortest time step is solved. The proposed discrepant-objective method and solution technique are tested for two types of hydroelectric systems. The results show that MSPOA can give better solutions and cost less time than POA due to enlarging feasible range of decision variables and reducing the number of computational stages. Discrepant objectives among hydropower plants can express the operation characteristics of complex hydropower systems more accurately than unique objective or multiple objectives.     

Symptoms and Clinical Findings From the Musculoskeletal System Among Operators at a Call Centre in Sweden—A 10-Month Follow-Up Study

The musculoskeletal health among 57 operators at 1 call centre in Sweden was studied with 10 monthly follow-ups, parallel to a reference group of 1,226 professional computer users in other occupations. Operators at this call centre were more symptom-loaded than the other professional computer users in spite of their younger age and shorter exposure to computer work. Symptoms were long-lasting or recurrent. Muscle tenderness and nerve affections in the neck- shoulder region were the most common specific findings and diagnoses at medical examination of incident symptom cases. More extensive studies should be done on the working conditions and health status among call centre workers.     

Trisomy 14 mosaicism leading to cytogenetic discrepancies in chorionic villi sampled at different times

Short- and long-term cultures of chorionic villi obtained in the 11th week of pregnancy revealed trisomy 14. After induced abortion trisomy 14 mosaicism was established in fetal skin and umbilical cord tissue while a second long-term culture of chorionic villi exhibited a normal karyotype. The results of the pathological investigations are discussed with respect to the cytogenetic findings.     

A rare case of cytogenetic discrepancy between extraembryonic and fetal tissue

We present a case of false-negative discrepancy between extraembryonic and fetal tissue sampled at 14 weeks of amenorrhoea when ultrasound examination showed morphological anomalies of the fetus. The same cytogenetic characteristic was confirmed on tissue samples after abortion.