滤食性贝类筏式养殖对浅海生态环境影响的基础研究

近年来，由于对海区不合理的开发，我国浅海贝类筏式养殖接连遭受重创，这亟需从理论上和实践中确定养殖容量和养殖模式。本文在我国北方典型养殖海湾四十里湾对筏式养殖的贝类开展了现场生理生态学研究，对贝类对浮游植物等悬浮颗粒物的处理过程即贝类对颗粒有机物及营养元素C、N、P的摄食、吸收、排泄、排粪和生长进行了剖析，分析了贝类在沿岸养殖生态系中的物质和营养循环中所扮演的角色，为海区贝类养殖容量和养殖模式的最终确定提供了基础数据。另外，本文还对海水、沉积物及生物体中磷的分析方法进行了大量的实验工作。主要结果如下：① 比较系统地评述了双壳贝类的生物沉积(biodeposition)的原理、测定方法及其生态效应。贝类通过生物沉积在沿岸生态系中的物质和营养循环中扮演着重要的角色。国际上已有不少研究专门报道了贝类在海区现场的生物沉积。而在我国，这方面的研究却罕见。② 综述了双壳贝类各种形态的 N 和 P 排泄及其生态效应。对于我国广泛养殖 的栉孔扇贝、海湾扇贝和牡蛎等双壳贝类的TDN、TP排泄尚未见报道。 ③ 在6～7月，在四十里湾的不同养殖海区(8个站位)对扇贝的生物沉积进行了现场测定。在整个四十里湾海区，一龄栉孔扇贝(壳高 41.1±4.1mm，软体干重 0.48±O.10 g/ind))每个每天所产生生物沉积物干重平均为59.9mg，对颗粒有机质(POM)、颗粒有机碳(POC)、颗粒有机氮(PON)和颗粒有机磷(POP)的生物沉积速率范围及平均值分别为： 6.88、3.09、0.392 和 0.022mg/ind·d。还在一个站位测定了海湾扇贝(壳高 24.6±2.3mm；软体干重 O.14g/ind)的生物沉积速率为 24.3mg/ind·d，或179.2mg/g·d。不同站位一龄栉孔扇贝的生物沉积速率有较大变化，这主要与饵料浓度不同有关。二龄栉孔扇贝(壳高60.9±8.2mm；软体干重1.91±0.32 g/ind)的生物沉积速率平均为 112.7mg/ind·d，对POM、POC、PON和POP的沉积速率分别是一龄扇贝的1.85倍、1.68倍、1.77倍和2.33倍。养殖海区与非养殖海区比较，前者近海底沉积速率是后者的 1.51～3.47 倍。根据以上数据，作者计算了中等规格栉孔扇贝(用壳高 41.1±4.8mm 扇贝估算)在四十里湾在夏季每天的生物沉积量达 162 吨(干重)，或18.6tPOM、8.37tPOC、1.06tPON和60kgPP。在四十里湾的贝类筏式养殖海区，可以估计贝类每年因生物沉积的生产而循环427tN和98.OtP(包括20.0t OP的贡献)，它们能分别满足浮游藻类生产所需求N和P的17.0％和28.3％(其中OP贡献 6.9％)。可见，贝类在养殖生态系的物质和营养盐循环中扮演着重要的角色。高密度、大面积的贝类养殖使大量的生物沉积物聚集于海底，可能对海区环境产生冲击。作者分析，98年8月份烟台养殖区赤潮的发生很可能与海底生物沉积物营养盐的快速释放以及栉孔扇贝大面积死亡而使浮游藻类失去了摄食控制有关，而风平浪静和养殖笼对水流的阻挡也为赤潮的发生提供了有利条件。④ 采用半现场流水系统法测定了栉孔扇贝在不同养殖密度、不同养殖模式(扇贝单养、贝藻混养、贝藻参混养)中的生物沉积。实验时间尺度大，前后计80天。结果说明扇贝的生物沉积速率与其养殖密度呈反比关系。养殖密度的高低影响饵料浓度的变化(两者呈负相关的对数函数关系)，而饵料浓度的高低直接决定着扇贝的生物沉积速率的高低，两者呈正相关关系(生物沉积速率与POC和叶绿 a 分别呈对数和指数函数关系)。不仅生物沉积物的数量与养殖密度(或饵料浓度)有关，生物沉积物的质量同样与养殖密度(或饵料浓度)有关。栉孔扇贝的养殖使沉积物的有机质含量及C、N 和 P 含量降低，且密度越高，它们的含量越低。这反映了扇贝对环境的适应能力。在海带和扇贝的混养模式中，海带对扇贝生物沉积物的数量和质量不构成影响，当然这是在海带不影响浮游植物数量的前提下得出的结果。而实际上在自然海区两者可能是竞争关系。⑤ 对从海区取回到实验室的多种滤食性动物，包括经济双壳贝类(栉孔扇贝、海湾扇贝、长牡蛎、贻贝、菲律宾蛤仔等)和养殖中的污损动物(栖海鞘、玻璃海鞘、藤壶、玟斑稜蛤)的 N 和 P 排泄进行了测定，包括排泄成分和排泄速率。在N排泄中，NH_4-H 占主要部分，如笼式养殖的双壳贝类 NH_4-N 占总N排泄的70％以上，平均值范围为70.8～80.1％。氨基酸是第二大排泄成分，平均占总N排泄的10～25％。其它形态的N，如尿素、亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐也有检出，如双壳贝类尿素氮在总氮排泄中占 2～5％。但在双壳贝类中未检出尿酸氮。比较而言，海鞘、藤壶的尿素氮相对高一些。在P排泄中，OP约占TDP排泄的15～27％。栉孔扇贝TDP排泄速率为0.281μmol/h·ind。作者以实验室测定结果计算，在整个四十里湾的夏季，所养殖的双壳贝类每天将排泄4.54t总溶解氮，其中NH_4-N 3.36t、Amino-N 0.69t、Urea-N 0.2t。 同时每天磷的排泄为0.57t TDP，其中OP O.15t。对面积为1.3 * 10~4hm~2的海区而言，贝类的N、P排泄分别能满足浮游植物生产所需N、P的44％和40％。尽管Urea-N所占比例有限，但也能满足海区浮游植物所需 N 的 2％左右。以上说二月高密度的贝类养殖对海区生态系统营养盐循环的影响是很显著的。附着动物(柄海鞘等)的N、P 排泄也不容忽视，它们分别能满足浮游藻类生产所需 N、P 的 ll％和 12％。它们一方面通过排泄和排粪加速营养盐和物质的循环对浮游植物的生长产生刺激作用；另一方面，对藻类产生摄食控制，如果海区中滤食性动物太多，即使营养盐再丰富也难以使浮游植物大量繁殖，这无疑将影响滤食性动物的生长速率。⑥ 运用近年来发展起来的生物沉积法对四十里湾半现场流水系统中贝类的滤水率、吸收率、生长率、生态效率等生理生态学参数进行了测定。栉孔扇贝(收获时规格0.194～0.412g软体干重/ind)滤水率平均为3.65 1/ind·h。扇贝放养密度和饵料浓度没有显著关系。扇贝的总摄食率平均为3.98mg/ind·h，对POM、POC、PON的 摄食率范围为0.84～1.87、0.335～0.748、0.0515～O.1293mg/ind·h。扇贝的摄食率随放养密度的升高而降低，与POM呈正相关关系。扇贝的吸收速率受密度和饵料浓度的影响不明显。扇贝对N的吸收效率较C、P稍高，对总有机质的吸收效率为75.9±4.1％，如此高的吸收效率与低饵料浓度有关。扇贝氨基酸泄漏所损失的能量高于排氨的能量损失。代谢能与吸收能呈明显的正相关关系。SFG与饵料浓度呈正相关关系。总生长效率K1(* 100)变化较大，范围为20～49；净生长效率K，K_2(* 100)随POM的升高而升高。扇贝对N的总生态效率范围为6.2～12.8％(平均9.9％)，这高于对C(平均5.9％)和P(平均4.1％)的总生态效率。扇贝对POC、PON和PP的生长余力(SFG_C、SFG_N、SFG_P)平均分别为197、46.8和6.2μg/ind·h，它们分别与POC、PON和PP呈正比关系。扇贝对N的净生长率高于对C和P的净生长率。在N的预算中，如果仅考虑NH_4-N的排泄而忽视其它形态氮的排泄，将会产生很大偏差(平均约20％)。扇贝贝壳生长所需的能量在整个扇贝生长所需能量的9.0～15.1％(平均 11.2％)；贝壳C、N和P在扇贝生长中所占的比例分别为10.5～17.8％、9.4～16.1％和8.7～15.O％。可见，贝壳不管在能量预算还是在元素预算中都不应该被忽视。理论计算而得到的SFG和SFG_C、SFG_N、SFG_P与扇贝的实际生长和扇贝C、N、P的实际增长量之间呈正相关关系，但前者明显过高地估计了扇贝的生长。⑦ 运用生物沉积法在四十里湾养殖海区现场对栉孔扇贝的生理生态学特征进行了研究。不同海区扇贝的滤水率有变化，一龄扇贝(41.1±4.1mm，软体干重 0.48±O.10g/ind)滤水率变化范围为 0.72～2.54(平均 1.27)1/ind·h 或 1.65～5.97(平均 2.61)1/g·h。与半现场研究结果一致，滤水率与TPM没有明显关系，而摄食率却与TPM呈正相关关系。二龄扇贝(软体干重 1.91±0.32g/ind)滤水率为 2.09～3.99(平均 3.10)1/ind·h。吸收速率与POM(或TDM)呈正相关关系，与饵料质量(POM/TPM)无明显的相关关系。吸收效率AE_(POM)与TPM(或POM)没有相关关系，却与饵料质量呈明显 的正相关关系。扇贝对POC、PON和PP的吸收效率平均分别为68.9％、64.0％和63.6％。不同海区SFG差别很大。一龄扇贝SFG范围为-O.174～24.08 J/ind·h，SFG与饵料浓度POM呈正相关关系。SFG负值的出现主要与低饵料浓度有关。SFG_C、SFG_N、SFG_P分别与POC、PON和PP呈正相关关系。在N的生长余力计算中，如果仅考虑NH_4-N排泄，而不考虑其它形态N的排泄，就可能产生相当大的偏差，偏差范围为11～360％，这高于半现场的偏差值，显然SFG_N越低，产生的偏差就越大。这说明在饵料不足、扇贝生长受到限制的环境下进行N生长余力的计算时必须考虑其它形态N的排泄。⑧ 对四十里湾养殖海区一些双壳贝类和藻类的化学组成和有机净生产量进行了讨论。不同双壳贝类的软体有机碳含量差别不大，而N含量差异较大。栉孔扇贝N含量最高(占软体干重的12.36％)，而牡蛎、毛蚶软体N含量相对较低，为 8～9％。从双壳贝类贝壳的组成来看，贻贝和菲律宾蛤仔贝壳中N含量最高，分别为 0.55％ 和 0.56％；而栉孔扇贝贝壳N含量相对较低，在 O.1％左右。贻贝贝壳有机磷含量 (308ppm) 也明显高于栉孔扇贝贝壳(62.1 ppm)。不同海区海带的 C/N 比值较高，变化明显，范围为17.36～30.23。石莼与此相似。大型藻类高 C/N 比值说明海区营养元素N的不足。海带的不同部位N含量差别很大，中带部和边叶在不同海区有较大变化，即对环境的营养状况比较敏感。紫贻贝贝壳中C、H、N 和 P 的含量在整个贻贝中占有相对大的比例，分别为 30.4％、30.2％、31.8％和 29．6％。

桑沟湾贝藻养殖区附着生物生态效应研究

附着生物又称污损生物，是附生在海洋设施和生物体表面的动物、植物和微生物等生物的总称（Azis et al., 2001）。附生在养殖器材和生物体表面的数量巨大的附着生物，对贝类养殖和海湾生态系统内的物质和营养盐循环等多个方面产生影响。本研究以北方重要的养殖海湾----桑沟湾为研究对象，对贝藻养殖区附着生物的群落演替及其生态效应进行了研究。主要研究结果如下： ① 2007年5月至2008年5月，采用挂网的方法对桑沟湾栉孔扇贝和海带混养区的附着生物的季节变化进行了研究。结果显示挂网上的附着生物具有显著的季节变化特征，网片上的附着生物湿重与水温的变化相一致，生物量为3~1210 g•m-2。2月份附着生物的生物量最低，8月份最高。2007年9月至11月，对栉孔扇贝养殖笼上和贝壳上的附着生物种类和数量进行了研究。结果显示9月份养殖笼上附着生物的湿重约为1.94 kg，10月份降至0.99 kg，11月份又稍有增加，为1.03 kg。扇贝壳上的附着生物变化趋势与养殖笼上的相同，9~11月份壳上附着生物的数量约0.49~2.09 g。扇贝养殖笼上可鉴定的大型附着生物约23种，包括藻类、海鞘类、苔藓虫类、环节动物、腔肠动物、软体动物、甲壳动物和海绵动物等。玻璃海鞘、柄海鞘、紫贻贝和苔藓虫等是附着生物群落中的优势种。 ② 通过在栉孔扇贝和虾夷扇贝上壳上添加不同重量的“模拟附着生物”（速凝水泥）的方法，研究了贝壳上附着生物的重量对这两种扇贝生长和存活的影响。结果显示水泥重量是上壳重0.5-3倍的各组实验组扇贝的生长和存活与对照组（未添加水泥的扇贝）之间没有显著差异。说明贝壳上附着生物重量为上壳的3倍重时，也不会显著影响扇贝生长存活。9-11月份贝壳上的自然附着生物的重量约为1.47-2.09 g，为上壳重的28.16 (±38.6)%—31.29 ± (31.63)%。因此，贝壳上附着的生物重量不太可能对扇贝的生长存活造成显著的负面影响。 ③ 在桑沟湾现场测定了玻璃海鞘和柄海鞘的生物沉积速率。9月份（水温约24℃）玻璃海鞘和柄海鞘的生物沉积速率分别为32.14和90.06 mg•ind-1•d-1或（858.99 和467.76 mg•gdw-1•d-1），据此计算，养殖笼上的两种海鞘的生物沉积速率约为84.29 mg•m-2•d-1。海区的自然沉积速率为41.49 mg•m-2•d-1；玻璃海鞘和柄海鞘沉积物中有机质含量分别为14.34%和13.77%，对照组海区自然的有机质含量为14.36%；以上三者有机碳的含量分别为24.72%，23.74%和24.76%；氮的含量分别为0.27%和0.25%，自然沉积物中的氮含量为0.30%。9月份扇贝养殖笼上附着的海鞘将产生2588.16吨的沉积物，即向底部沉积363.77吨的有机物、6.99吨的氮和1.79吨的磷。 ④ 通过测定扇贝养殖笼上优势种附着生物--玻璃海鞘、柄海鞘和贻贝的摄食、呼吸和排泄，研究了这些优势种类对贝类养殖和海湾环境的影响。9月份（水温约24.5℃）玻璃海鞘和柄海鞘对颗粒有机物（POM）的摄食率分别为14.30 和17.01 mg• h-1•ind-1。根据实验结果计算这两种海鞘摄取的颗粒有机物相当于312个扇贝的摄取量，大于笼内养殖的扇贝的摄取量；玻璃海鞘和柄海鞘的耗氧率分别约为0.32和0.18 mg•h-1•ind-1，养殖笼上的这两种海鞘消耗的溶解氧约等于75个扇贝消耗的溶解氧。栉孔扇贝、玻璃海鞘、柄海鞘和贻贝的排氨率分别为33.66 ±11.34，117.90±23.46，35.91±6.22，28.08±3.41 ug NH4-N•gdw-1•h-1。以此估算，9月份玻璃海鞘、柄海鞘和贻贝每天排泄的氨氮约为654.08 kg，相当于16467吨栉孔扇贝（鲜重）排泄的氨氮。海鞘和贻贝排泄的氨氮可提供浮游植物等所需的2.75%的氮，可以提供1204吨海带的生长所需的氮。 ⑤ 一个养殖笼内的栉孔扇贝和全部附着生物（Scallop Culture Unit, SCU）在夏季（6-9月）对颗粒有机物的摄食速率约为43.13-98.94 mg/h，平均74.05 mg/h，期间桑沟湾养殖的栉孔扇贝及附着生物摄取的POM约为1279.58吨；同期，SCU对氨氮和磷（PO4-P）的排泄速率分别为125.59-1432.23 μmol•h-1和76.2-252.89μmol•h-1，期间桑沟湾养殖扇贝及附着生物排泄的氮磷分别为211.09 吨和83.79 吨。一串牡蛎及吊绳和牡蛎壳上的附着生物（Oyster Culture Unit, OCU），夏季摄食率为5-41.43μmol•h-1，耗氧率为16.54-41.76μmol•h-1，对氨氮和磷（PO4-P）的排泄速率分别为35.56-489.34μmol•h-1 和9.92-16.68μmol•h-1。以此估算，夏季OCU可摄取POM535.68吨，消耗溶解氧955.58吨，排泄氮磷分别为62.37 吨和15.50 吨。

Spatial distributions and seasonal variations of particulate phosphorus in the Jiaozhou Bay in North China

Based oil the measurements of particulate phosphorus (PP) in the Jiaozhou Bay front May 2003 to April 2004, the spatial distribution, seasonal variation and biogeochemical characteristics of PP Were investigated to Understand the fates and roles of phosphorus in the Jiaozhou Bay ecosystem. The Concentration of the total PP ranged from 0. 07 to 2. 09 mu mol/dm(3). The concentration of POP was from 0. 01 to 1. 83 mu mol/dm(3), with all average of with all average of 0. 33 mu mol/dm(3), which accounted for 50. 4% in total PP. In general, file concentrations of IT in surface water show obvious seasonal variations in the Jiaozhou Bay. POP was the highest in spring, which derived front the accumulation of phyto-detritus and was the lowest ill autumn, which was decomposed into seawaters to participate the recycle of phosphorus. PIP was the highest in spring and summer and Was the lowest in autumn and winter. PLP Was Mainly influenced by river input in the inner bay lint POP derived front autochthonous source in the outer bay. Overkill, the concentrations of IT in the inner bay were higher than those in mouth and the Older bay. In the inner bay. the concentrations of IT with the area near the shore were higher than those in the center of the bay. Totally PP showed the decreasing trend with depth especially in spring and winter. The high value of PP emerged in 20 and 10 in Corresponding to summer and autumn, respectively. The changes of POP showed hysteretic effect compared with the changes of Chl a in the investigated year. However, according to the Change of Chl a, the second high value of POP which should be emerged ill October was missing due to the remineralization of POP and participation in the recycle of phosphorus, which lead to the high concentration of orthophosphate in seawaters.

我国部分南极陨石的分类和宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的研究

随着我国南极陨石的大量回收，对陨石的研究也越来越深入。本文主要对我国部分南极陨石和沙漠陨石开展了三方面的工作：（1）我国部分南极陨石的分类；（2）陨石中宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的化学分离、纯化实验；（3）我国部分南极陨石和沙漠陨石的全岩化学组成分析和宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的初步研究。 1、我国部分南极陨石的分类研究 通过对我国19次南极科考队回收的4448块陨石中24块南极普通球粒陨石的矿物、岩石分析，将这24块陨石化学－岩石类型进行了划分，分别为1个H3型（GRV 021603）、2个H4型（GRV 020200和GRV 021493）、4个H5型（GRV 020048、GRV 020078、GRV 020129和GRV 020236）、2个H6型（GRV 020075和GRV 020226）、1个L4型（GRV 021563）、8个L5型（GRV 020047、GRV 020283、GRV 020297、GRV 021547、GRV 021547、GRV 021581、GRV 021615和GRV 023771）、5个L6型（GRV 020103、GRV 020155、GRV 021505、GRV 021711和GRV 022171）、1个LL4型（GRV 020029）和1个LL6型（GRV 021496）。在此基础上，将我国的南极陨石和美国的南极陨石进行了类型和质量分布模型的对比。结果表明，我国南极陨石比美国南极陨石具有相对高的L群丰度；我国的南极陨石质量分布模型与美国南极陨石一致。 2、陨石中宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的化学分离、纯化实验 在前人关于陨石中宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的分离方法基础上，通过多次模拟样品的分离实验，成功地将陨石中Be和Al进行了分离、纯化。并且进一步改善了前人的分离方法，将Be的淋洗液由原来的120ml减少为90ml。在此基础上，用空白样品和吉林陨石的硅酸盐样品对整个化学分离实验进行了检验，并将所获得的BeO和Al2O3粉末用加速器质谱（AMS）进行了10Be和26Al的测试。根据所测定的10Be和26Al数据，计算得到吉林陨石的暴露年龄为0.52Ma，这一结果与前人所获得的吉林陨石第二阶段的暴露年龄0.4Ma接近。这一结果再次证明了陨石中宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的分离流程是成功的，同时也说明本次所测的吉林陨石样品为吉林陨石第二阶段暴露辐射的样品。 3、我国部分南极陨石和沙漠陨石的全岩化学组成分析以及宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的初步研究 对我国13块南极陨石和3块沙漠陨石进行了全岩化学成分的分析，其结果进一步证明了这些陨石由岩石、矿物分析所划分的类型的正确性。在这些陨石类型和全岩分析的基础上，对它们进行了宇宙成因核素10Be和26Al的初步分析。得到其中4块南极陨石和2块沙漠陨石的暴露年龄和居地年龄，这些陨石暴露年龄的范围为2.09－3.05Ma，居地年龄为0－0.23Ma。

High-Resolution CT for Small-Animal Imaging Research

Preclinical imaging has a critical role in phenotyping, in drug discovery, and in providing a basic understanding of mechanisms of disease. Translating imaging methods from humans to small animals is not an easy task. The purpose of this work is to review high-resolution computed tomography (CT) also known as micro-CT for small-animal imaging. We present the principles, the technologies, the image quality parameters, and the types of applications. We show that micro-CT can be used to provide not only morphological but also functional information such as cardiac function or vascular permeability. Another way in which micro-CT can be used in the study of both function and anatomy is by combining it with other imaging modalities, such as positron emission tomography or single-photon emission tomography. Compared to other modalities, micro-CT imaging is usually regarded as being able to provide higher throughput at lower cost and higher resolution. The limitations are usually associated with the relatively poor contrast mechanisms and the radiation damage, although the use of novel nanoparticle-based contrast agents and careful design of studies can address these limitations.

Kinetic studies of the effect of varnish on water loss by glass-ionomer cements

OBJECTIVES: This paper reports a study of the water loss behaviour of two commercial glass-ionomer cements coated with varnishes. METHODS: For each cement (Fuji IX Fast or Chemflex), specimens (6mmdiameterx2mm depth) were prepared and cured for 10min at 37 degrees C. They were exposed to a desiccating environment over H(2)SO(4) either uncoated or coated with the appropriate varnish (Fuji Varnish, a solvent-based lacquer, or Fuji Coat, a light-cured varnish). Four specimens were prepared for each material. They were weighed at hourly intervals for 6h, daily for up to 5 days, then weekly thereafter until equilibration. RESULTS: Unlike the uncoated specimens, water loss from varnished cements was not Fickian, but followed the form: mass loss=A/t+B, where t is time, A and B are constants specific to each cement/varnish combination. A varied from 1.22 to 1.30 (mean 1.26, standard deviation 0.04), whereas B varied from 1.54 to 2.09 (mean -1.83, standard deviation 0.29). At equilibrium, varnished specimens lost much less water than unvarnished ones (p>0.01) but there was no significant difference between the solvent-based and the light-cured varnishes. SIGNIFICANCE: Varnishes protect immature glass-ionomer cements from drying out by altering the mechanism of water loss. This slows the rate of drying but does not necessarily change the total amount of water retained. It confirms that, in clinical use, glass-ionomer restoratives should be varnished to allow them to mature satisfactorily.

Respiration Of The Meiobenthic Harpacticoid Copepod Tachidius-Discipes Giesbrecht From An Estuarine Mudflat

The relationships between respiration (R) and body volume (V) for all developmental stages of the harpacticoid copepod Tachidius discipes Giesbrecht have been investigated. The relationships for laboratory-reared animals and animals from the field are significantly different. They are: logR = −0.07 + 1.10 logV for laboratory-reared animals and log R = −0.10 + 0.82 logV for field animals. The effect of temperature on the respiration rate of adult males, over the temperature range 5–20°C, was described by a Q10 of 2.09 ± 0.24. The respiration rate of an adult T. discipes is very similar to that of a similar sized nematode from the same field site and is compared with published data for other harpacticoids.

Risk of Malignant Progression in Barrett’s Esophagus Patients: Results from a Large Population-Based Study

Background: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant lesion that predisposes to esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, the reported incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with BE varies widely. We examined the risk of malignant progression in patients with BE using data from the Northern Ireland Barrett's esophagus Register (NIBR), one of the largest population-based registries of BE worldwide, which includes every adult diagnosed with BE in Northern Ireland between 1993 and 2005.

Subjects and Methods: We followed 8522 patients with BE, defined as columnar lined epithelium of the esophagus with or without specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM), until the end of 2008. Patients with incident adenocarcinomas of the esophagus or gastric cardia or with high-grade dysplasia of the esophagus were identified by matching the NIBR with the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, and deaths were identified by matching with records from the Registrar General's Office. Incidence of cancer outcomes or high-grade dysplasia was calculated as events per 100 person-years (% per year) of follow-up, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine incidence by age, sex, length of BE segment, presence of SIM, macroscopic BE, or low-grade dysplasia. All P values were from two-sided tests.

Results: After a mean of 7.0 years of follow-up, 79 patients were diagnosed with esophageal cancer, 16 with cancer of the gastric cardia, and 36 with high-grade dysplasia. In the entire cohort, incidence of esophageal or gastric cardia cancer or high-grade dysplasia combined was 0.22% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.19% to 0.26%). SIM was found in 46.0% of patients. In patients with SIM, the combined incidence was 0.38% per year (95% CI = 0.31 to 0.46%). The risk of cancer was statistically significantly elevated in patients with vs without SIM at index biopsy (0.38% per year vs 0.07% per year; hazard ratio [HR] = 3.54, 95% CI = 2.09 to 6.00, P <. 001), in men compared with women (0.28% per year vs 0.13% per year; HR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.41 to 3.16, P <. 001), and in patients with low-grade dysplasia compared with no dysplasia (1.40% per year vs 0.17% per year; HR = 5.67, 95% CI = 3.77 to 8.53, P <. 001).

Conclusion: We found the risk of malignant progression among patients with BE to be lower than previously reported, suggesting that currently recommended surveillance strategies may not be cost-effective. © The Author 2011. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

Optimal glycaemic control, pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension in women with type 1 diabetes in the Diabetes and Pre-Eclampsia Intervention Trial

OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between glycemic control, pre-eclampsia, and gestational hypertension in women with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Pregnancy outcome (pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension) was assessed prospectively in 749 women from the randomized controlled Diabetes and Pre-eclampsia Intervention Trial (DAPIT). HbA1c (A1C) values were available up to 6 months before pregnancy (n = 542), at the first antenatal visit (median 9 weeks) (n = 721), at 26 weeks’ gestation (n = 592), and at 34 weeks’ gestation (n = 519) and were categorized as optimal (<6.1%: referent), good (6.1–6.9%), moderate (7.0–7.9%), and poor (=8.0%) glycemic control, respectively.

RESULTS
Pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension developed in 17 and 11% of pregnancies, respectively. Women who developed pre-eclampsia had significantly higher A1C values before and during pregnancy compared with women who did not develop pre-eclampsia (P < 0.05, respectively). In early pregnancy, A1C =8.0% was associated with a significantly increased risk of pre-eclampsia (odds ratio 3.68 [95% CI 1.17–11.6]) compared with optimal control. At 26 weeks’ gestation, A1C values =6.1% (good: 2.09 [1.03–4.21]; moderate: 3.20 [1.47–7.00]; and poor: 3.81 [1.30–11.1]) and at 34 weeks’ gestation A1C values =7.0% (moderate: 3.27 [1.31–8.20] and poor: 8.01 [2.04–31.5]) significantly increased the risk of pre-eclampsia compared with optimal control. The adjusted odds ratios for pre-eclampsia for each 1% decrement in A1C before pregnancy, at the first antenatal visit, at 26 weeks’ gestation, and at 34 weeks’ gestation were 0.88 (0.75–1.03), 0.75 (0.64–0.88), 0.57 (0.42–0.78), and 0.47 (0.31–0.70), respectively. Glycemic control was not significantly associated with gestational hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS
Women who developed pre-eclampsia had significantly higher A1C values before and during pregnancy. These data suggest that optimal glycemic control both early and throughout pregnancy may reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia in women with type 1 diabetes.

Improved diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) measurement of total dissolved inorganic arsenic in waters and soils using a hydrous zirconium oxide binding layer

Abstract Image

A high-capacity diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique has been developed for measurement of total dissolved inorganic arsenic (As) using a long shelf life binding gel layer containing hydrous zirconium oxide (Zr-oxide). Both As(III) and As(V) were rapidly accumulated in the Zr-oxide gel and could be quantitatively recovered by elution using 1.0 M NaOH for freshwater or a mixture of 1.0 M NaOH and 1.0 M H2O2 for seawater. DGT uptake of As(III) and As(V) increased linearly with deployment time and was independent of pH (2.0–9.1), ionic strength (0.01–750 mM), the coexistence of phosphate (0.25–10 mg P L–1), and the aging of the Zr-oxide gel up to 24 months after production. The capacities of the Zr-oxide DGT were 159 μg As(III) and 434 μg As(V) per device for freshwater and 94 μg As(III) and 152 μg As(V) per device for seawater. These values were 5–29 times and 3–19 times more than those reported for the commonly used ferrihydrite and Metsorb DGTs, respectively. Deployments of the Zr-oxide DGT in As-spiked synthetic seawater provided accurate measurements of total dissolved inorganic As over the 96 h deployment, whereas ferrihydrite and Metsorb DGTs only measured the concentrations accurately up to 24 and 48 h, respectively. Deployments in soils showed that the Zr-oxide DGT was a reliable and robust tool, even for soil samples heavily polluted with As. In contrast, As in these soils was underestimated by ferrihydrite and Metsorb DGTs due to insufficient effective capacities, which were likely suppressed by the competing effects of phosphate.

Aspirin therapy in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with reduced intensive care unit mortality: a prospective analysis

INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common clinical syndrome with high mortality and long-term morbidity. To date there is no effective pharmacological therapy. Aspirin therapy has recently been shown to reduce the risk of developing ARDS, but the effect of aspirin on established ARDS is unknown.

METHODS: In a single large regional medical and surgical ICU between December 2010 and July 2012, all patients with ARDS were prospectively identified and demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables were recorded retrospectively. Aspirin usage, both pre-hospital and during intensive care unit (ICU) stay, was included. The primary outcome was ICU mortality. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to assess the impact of these variables on ICU mortality.

RESULTS: In total, 202 patients with ARDS were included; 56 (28%) of these received aspirin either pre-hospital, in the ICU, or both. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, aspirin therapy, given either before or during hospital stay, was associated with a reduction in ICU mortality (odds ratio (OR) 0.38 (0.15 to 0.96) P = 0.04). Additional factors that predicted ICU mortality for patients with ARDS were vasopressor use (OR 2.09 (1.05 to 4.18) P = 0.04) and APACHE II score (OR 1.07 (1.02 to 1.13) P = 0.01). There was no effect upon ICU length of stay or hospital mortality.

CONCLUSION: Aspirin therapy was associated with a reduced risk of ICU mortality. These data are the first to demonstrate a potential protective role for aspirin in patients with ARDS. Clinical trials to evaluate the role of aspirin as a pharmacological intervention for ARDS are needed.

Electrochemical study of butylate: application to the analysis of water

The electroactivity of butylate (BTL) is studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) at a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). Britton–Robinson buffer solutions of pH 1.9–11.5 are used as supporting electrolyte. CV voltammograms using GCE show a single anodic peak regarding the oxidation of BTL at +1.7V versus AgCl/ Ag, an irreversible process controlled by diffusion. Using a HMDE, a single cathodic peak is observed, at 1.0V versus AgCl/Ag. The reduction of BTL is irreversible and controlled by adsorption. Mechanism proposals are presented for these redox transformations. Optimisation is carried out univaryingly. Linearity ranges were 0.10–0.50 mmol L-1 and 2.0–9.0 µmolL-1 for anodic and cathodic peaks, respectively. The proposed method is applied to the determination of BTL in waters. Analytical results compare well with those obtained by an HPLC method.

Spin labile conducting metallopolymers : a new architecture for hybrid multifunctional materials

The synthesis of 3-ethynylthienyl- (2.07), 3-ethynylterthienyl- (2.19) substituted qsal [qsalH = N-(8-quinolyl)salicylaldimine] and 3,3' -diethynyl-2,2' -bithienyl bridging bisqsal (5.06) ligands are described along with the preparation and characterization of eight cationic iron(III) complexes containing these ligands with a selection of counteranions [(2.07) with: SCN- (2.08), PF6- (2.09), and CI04- (2.10); (2.19) with PF6 - (2.20); (5.06) with: cr (5.07), SeN- (5.08), PF6- (5.09), and CI04- (5.10)]. Spin-crossover is observed in the solid state for (2.08) - (2.10) and (5.07) - (5.10), including a ve ry rare S = 5/2 to 3/2 spin-crossover in complex (2.09). The unusal reduction of complex (2.10) produces a high-spin iron(I1) complex (2.12). Six iron(II) complexes that are derived from thienyl analogues of bispicen [bispicen = bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-diamine] [2,5-thienyl substituents = H- (3.11), Phenyl- (3.12), 2- thienyl (3.13) or N-phenyl-2-pyridinalimine ligands [2,5-phenyl substituents = diphenyl (3.23), di(2-thienyl) (3.24), 4-phenyl substituent = 3-thienyl (3.25)] are reported Complexes (3.11), (3.23) and (3.25) display thermal spin-crossover in the solid state and (3.12) remains high-spin at all temperatures. Complex (3.13) rearranges to form an iron(II) complex (3.14) with temperature dependent magnetic properties be s t described as a one-dimensional ferromagnetic chain, with interchain antiferromagnetic interactions and/or ZFS dominant at low temperatures. Magnetic succeptibility and Mossbauer data for complex (3.24) display a temperature dependent mixture of spin isomers. The preparation and characterization of two cobalt(II) complexes containing 3- ethynylthienyl- (4.04) and 3-ethynylterhienyl- (4.06) substituted bipyridine ligands [(4.05): [Co(dbsqh(4.04)]; (4.07): [Co(dbsq)2(4.06)]] [dbsq = 3,5-dbsq=3,5-di-tert-butylI ,2-semiquinonate] are reported. Complexes (4.05) and (4.07) exhibit thermal valence tautomerism in the solid state and in solution. Self assembly of complex (2.10) into polymeric spheres (6.11) afforded the first spincrossover, polydisperse, micro- to nanoscale material of its kind. . Complexes (2.20), (3.24) and (4.07) also form polymers through electrochemical synthesis to produce hybrid metaUopolymer films (6.12), (6.15) and (6.16), respectively. The films have been characterized by EDX, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate that spin lability is operative in the polymers and conductivity measurements confirm the electron transport properties. Polymer (6.15) has a persistent oxidized state that shows a significant decrease in electrical resistance.

Fluoreszenz und Lasertätigkeit in dünnen amorphen Schichten von Spirobifluorenderivaten

Es wurden die optischen Eigenschaften einiger Spirooligophenylverbindungen untersucht. Bei den Verbindungen handelte es sich um lineare und verzweigte Derivate des Spirobifluorens. Es wurden dünne amorphe Schichten der Verbindungen mittels spincoating und Vakuumverdampfen (OMBD) auf unterschiedlichen Substraten hergestellt. Mit spektroskopischer Ellipsometrie konnten die Schichtdicken und optische Konstanten der dünnen Schichten bestimmt werden. Dafür sind die Extinktionsspektren mit Tauc-Lorentz-Oszillatoren modelliert worden. Auf diese Weise ließen sich die optischen Konstanten der amorphen Filme besser beschreiben als mit den üblicherweise verwendeten Gauß-Oszillatoren. In dünnen Filmen von Spirosexiphenyl konnte uniaxiale Anisotropie nachgewiesen werden. Im Bereich der pie,pie*-Bande beträgt das Verhältnis des ordentlichen zum außerordentlichen Extinktionskoeffizienten 2.09. Mit einer Integrationskugel wurden die absoluten Quantenausbeuten der Fluoreszenz in festen Filmen bestimmt. Dafür ist ein vereinfachtes Verfahren der Auswertung entwickelt worden. Im Vergleich der untersuchten Substanzen zeigt sich, dass die Verbindungen mit dem Sexiphenyl-Chromophor höhere Quantenausbeuten im Festkörper haben (31 % - 48 %) als die Verbindungen mit Quaterphenyl als Chromophor (15 % - 30 %). In den beiden Klassen haben jeweils die sterisch anspruchsvollen Octopusvarianten die höchsten Festkörperquantenausbeuten. Durch verdünnen mit m,m-Spirosexiphenyl konnte die Quantenausbeute von p,p-Spirosexiphenyl in dünnen festen Filmen bis auf 65 % (95 % m,m- und 5 % p,p-Spirosexiphenyl) gesteigert werden. Eine Korrelation der Quantenausbeuten in Lösung und im festen, unverdünnten Film wurde nicht festgestellt. Als dünne Filme in Wellenleitergeometrie zeigen Spirooligophenyle bei optischer Anregung verstärkte spontane Emission (ASE). Dies manifestiert sich in einer Einengung des Emissionsspektrums mit zunehmender Pumpleistungsdichte. Auch für stimulierte Emission sind die Verbindungen mit Sexiphenylchromophor besser geeignet. Die niedrigste Schwelle in einer unverdünnten Reinsubstanz wurde mit 0.23 µJ/cm² in einer aufgeschleuderten Schicht Spirosexiphenyl gemessen. Auch 4-Spiro³, Spiro-SPO und Octo-2 zeigten niedrige ASE-Schwellen von 0.45 µJ/cm², 0.45 µJ/cm² und 0.5 µJ/cm². Die ASE-Schwellwerte von Spiroquaterphenyl und seinen beiden Derivaten Methoxyspiroquaterphenyl und Octo-1 sind mit 1.8 µJ/cm², 1.4 µJ/cm² und 1.2 µJ/cm² höher als die der Sexiphenylderivate. Im gemischten System aus m,m- und p,p-Spirosexiphenyl konnte die ASE-Schwelle noch weiter gesenkt werden. Bei einer Konzentration von 5 % p,p-Spirosexiphenyl wurde ein Schwellwert von nur 100 nJ/cm² bestimmt. Durch Dotierung mit unterschiedlichen Farbstoffen in Spirosexiphenyl als Matrix konnte ASE fast über den gesamten sichtbaren Spektralbereich gezeigt werden. Mit der „variable Streifenlänge“ (VSL-) -Methode wurden die pumpleistungsabhängigen Gainspektren dünner aufgedampfter Proben gemessen. Hieraus konnten die Wechselwirkungsquerschnitte der stimulierten Emission der Substanzen ermittelt werden. In Übereinstimmung mit den Verhältnissen bei den Festkörperfluoreszenzquantenausbeuten und den Schwellwerten der ASE sind auch bei den Gainkoeffizienten reiner Spirooligophenyle die besten Werte bei den Sexiphenylderivaten gefunden worden. Der Wirkungsquerschnitt der stimulierten Emission beträgt für Methylspiroquaterphenyl und Octo-1 ca. 1.8*10^-17 cm². Für Spiro-SPO und Spirosexiphenyl wurden Wirkungsquerschnitte von 7.5*10^-17 cm² bzw. 9.2*10^-17 cm² bestimmt. Noch etwas größer waren die Werte im gemischten System aus m,m- und p,p-Spirosexiphenyl (1.1*10^-16 cm²) und für DPAVB dotiert in Spirosexiphenyl (1.4*10^-16 cm²). Der höchste Maximalwert des Gainkoeffizienten von 328 cm-1 bei einer absorbierten Pumpenergiedichte von 149 µJ/cm² wurde mit Spirosexiphenyl erreicht. Abschließend wurden DFB-Laser-Strukturen mit reinen und dotierten Spirooligophenylverbindungen als aktiven Materialien vorgestellt. Mit Spiroterphenyl konnte ein DFB-Laser mit der bisher kürzesten Emissionswellenlänge (361.9 nm) in einem organischen Festkörperlaser realisiert werden. Mit reinen Spirooligophenylverbindungen und Mischungen daraus habe ich DFB-Lasing bei Wellenlängen zwischen 361.9 nm und 479 nm aufgezeigt. Durch Dotierung mit DPAVB wurde der Bereich der erreichbaren Wellenlängen bis 536 nm erweitert, bei gleichzeitiger Erniedrigung der Schwellenergiedichten für Lasertätigkeit. Bei Emissionswellenlängen von 495 nm bis 536 nm blieb die Laserschwelle zwischen 0.8 µJ/cm² und 1.1 µJ/cm². Diese Werte sind für DFB-Laser zweiter Ordnung sehr niedrig und geben Anlass zu glauben, dass sich mit DFB-Strukturen erster Ordnung Schwellen im Nanojoule Bereich erzielen lassen. Damit würde man den Bedingungen für elektrisch gepumpten Betrieb nahe kommen.