Linearized Growth Curve,Proper Age and Age at Menarche

A mathematical model of the linearized growth curve and its physiological interpretation by the introduction of proper age, which is proportional to the chronological age, are presented here. In the second phase, but not in the first phase, this constant of proportionality is highly correlated with the age at menarche.     

Analytical studies on the responses of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) to various defoliation treatments

The effects of defoliation treatments on plant growth in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) were studied in the field. Four defoliation treatments, 0 (control), 37.4, 56.1 and 93.4% of the total leaf dry weight, were applied to plants that had small third leaves. Decreased leaf weight/whole plant weight (F/W) ratios in defoliated plants rapidly recovered to almost the same ratio as that observed in the control within 12 to 16 days after defoliation according to the degree of defoliation. The mechanism involved in the recovery of the F/W ratio in defoliated plants mainly consisted of three parameters: enhancement of (1) carbon distribution ratios in the leaves, (2) photosynthetic activity in the remaining leaves, and (3) retranslocation of carbon from the stem and/or roots to leaves. Inhibitive effects of defoliation on relative growth rate and net assimilation rate were seen at an early stage, but subsequently both rates became larger in defoliated plants than in controls. Defoliated plants tended to show rapid development and expansion of new leaves, and to show increased specific leaf area and protein synthesis in individual leaves. The sugar content of leaves in defoliated plants was higher than that in controls, while the content in both stem and roots was lower. These responses seem to be advantageous for development of the photosynthetic system. Heights of defoliated plants were clearly depressed according to the degree of defoliation, and this was attributed largely to differences in the elongation rates of the internodes resulting from defoliation.     

Numerical abundance of myxomycetes (myxogastrids) in soils in the West of England

Abstract A most-probable-number technique was used to quantify the abundance of myxomycetes (myxogastrids) in soil samples taken from 23 'Sites of Special Scientific Interest' and one other site in the West of England. Associated organisms and soil conditions were also recorded. Sixteen of the 24 sites yielded myxomycete plasmodium-forming units (PFUs) in numbers averaging 230 cm⁻³ fresh soil. Where detectable in samples of grassland soil, the numbers ranged from 20–2750 cm⁻³, in woodland soil from 20–800 cm⁻³, and in sand dunes from 80–400 cm⁻³. Repeated sampling revealed changing numbers at single sites. The abundance of PFUs was correlated positively with numbers of soil amoebae, ciliates and nematodes, and with levels of magnesium and soil density, and negatively with organic matter content and levels of NH₄-nitrogen and phosphate. Each PFU probably corresponded to one or several uninucleate cells in the soil rather than to a plasmodium.     

用PFU法研究微型生物群集过程中数据的处理

根据MacArthur-Wilson的岛屿区系平衡模型S_t=S_(eq)(1-e~(GT)),可以从野外生态效应试验和室内毒性试验中,提出3个功能参数(S_(eq)、G、t_(90％))进行比较。本文提出两种计算方法:复合梯形法和最小二乘法,后者已在计算机上实现了BASIC计算程序。从数学理论上论证,最小二乘法误差较小,但如果实验布局合理,两种计算方法能得到十分一致的结果。实验模型是否符合理论模型,可以用统计学上的拟合差异度检验法来检验。     

Evaluation of two unstructured mathematical models for the penicillin G fedbatch fermentation

The mathematical model for the penicillin G fed-batch fermentation proposed by Heijnen et al. (1979) is compared with the model of Bajpai & Reuß (1980). Although the general structure of these models is similar, the difference in metabolic assumptions and specific growth and production kinetics results in a completely different behaviour towards product optimization. A detailed analysis of both models reveals some physical and biochemical shortcomings. It is shown that it is impossible to make a reliable estimation of the model parameters, only using experimental data of simple constant glucose feed rate fermentations with low initial substrate amount. However, it is demonstrated that some model parameters might be key factors in concluding whether or not altering the substrate feeding strategy has an important influence on the final amount of product.It is illustrated that feeding strategy optimization studies can be a tool in designing experiments for parameter estimation purposes.