Woodland changes in Ruaha National Park (Tanzania) between 1976 and 1982

Tree surveys made in 1976 and 1977 were repeated in 1982. Three species were measured: Commiphora ugogensis, Acacia albida, and Adansonia digitata. All three showed significant decreases due to elephant browsing. These results confirm the predictions of the earlier surveys: elephants are causing a rapid and severe change in the rift valley woodlands of the Park.     

Rainfall and the population dynamics of elephant dung‐piles in the forests of southern Ghana

Decaying dung‐piles were observed at three sites in the lowland forests of southern Ghana. Time to disappearance was inversely related to rainfall in the month of deposition. The monthly survival of each age‐class decreased with age and was inversely proportional to rainfall in the month of deposition. A simulation revealed that if elephant numbers and defaecation rates are constant, then dung density in a given month will be governed by rainfall in the two preceding months. Changes in annual rainfall and its monthly distribution in southern Ghana mean that dung‐pile densities will vary from one month to the next, and between the same months in different years, even if elephant numbers are constant. Thus dung counters must take rainfall into account. A new method of censusing elephants in Ghana is presented, and suggestions are made for improving elephant counts in central African forests.     

Inter‐ and intra‐observer variation in the reporting of cervical smears: specialist cytopathologists versus histopathologists

One hundred and ten cervical smears were circulated to five specialist consultant cytopathologists and five consultant histopathologists. Of these smears, 100 were randomized and re‐circulated. The cytopathologists reported endocervical cells and wart virus infection more frequently than the histopathologists, although neither group showed good inter‐observer agreement for either assessment. Apart from smear adequacy and the presence of endocervical cells, both groups showed good intra‐observer agreement in all the parameters measured. This suggests that overall individuals were applying their own personal criteria with consistency over time, although a previous study had shown considerable lack of inter‐observer agreement among the histopathologists on the grade of dyskaryosis and the management recommendation. The results indicate that specialist cytopathologists bring a different viewpoint to the reporting of cervical smears than histopathologists. They also show a lack of standardization in the reporting of smears despite the guidelines issued by the British Society for Clinical Cytology.     

粘虫(Pseudaletia separata(Walker))生殖系统的解剖

本文内容是研究粘虫(Pseudaletia separata(Walker)生殖系统的形态构造。全文分为雄性内部生殖器、雄性外部生殖器、雌性内部生殖器及雌性外部生殖器四部分。 粘虫的雄性内生殖器中, 有睾丸一对, 左右并列, 呈扁椭圆形, 外被紫红色睾丸膜; 输精管一对, 基部膨大成二对贮精囊; 射精管分成复射精管及单射精管两部分。雄性外生殖器的构造极为复杂, 第9腹节的背、腹板分别形成马鞍状的背兜及基腹弧; 第10腹节仅有其附肢特化成钩形突、颚形突和背兜侧突等; 抱握器占雄性外生殖器中的大部分, 其顶上角具长约1毫米的端刺一枚, 此为本种特征之一, 可以此与近似种区别; 阳茎由基部球状的阳茎囊和端部柄状的阳茎端组成, 内具内阳茎及角状器:雄性外生殖器中有关器官的肌肉来源亦作了叙述。 精液是以贮存于精球的方式授入雌体, 精球分为精球体、精球柄及系带三部分。 雌性内生殖器中, 卵巢为多滋式, 一对, 各由四个卵巢管组成, 两组卵巢管再与一对侧输卵管相连, 后者通入中输卵管中, 中输卵管后端连有外生殖腔, 其外方的开口是为产卵孔; 受精囊为长形梨状物, 分成主囊及副囊两部分, 两者在顶部愈合, 并由此发出受精管与外生殖腔相通, 在主囊顶端有受精囊腺; 附腺一对, 与附腺囊相连, 后者通入附腺主囊, 并由此开口入外生殖腔。雌性外生殖器是由交配囊和产卵器组成, 前者复可分成囊导管、囊体及囊颈三部分, 其外方的开口为交配囊孔, 有导精管从囊颈连于外生殖腔; 产卵器由第8、9腹节组成, 非呈特殊构造。     

METHODS FOR THE ISOLATION OF FAECAL STREPTOCOCCI (LANCEFIELD GROUP D) FROM BACON FACTORIES

SUMMARY: Two methods have been developed for isolating and enumerating group D faecal streptococci from localities such as bacon factories where they are heavily outnumbered by other organisms. The first depends on presumptive counts in a Lab-Lemco-peptone-glucose broth (pH 6·0) containing 0·1% of thallous acetate with confirmation by streaking on tetrazolium agar. The other method involves direct plating on tetrazolium-glucose agar (pH 6·0) containing 0·1% of thallous acetate. On the tetrazolium medium differentiation can be made between Streptococcus faecalis and its variants zymogenes and liquefaciens and the other group D organisms, Strep. faecium, Strep. durans and Strep. bovis .