ACMC: past,present and future.

In this article, the president of the Association of Canadian Medical Colleges (ACMC) and its director of research review the issues that have confronted ACMC since its inception: the founding of ACMC; development of the clinical teaching unit; creation of the Medical Research Council and expansion of the research mission; the Royal Commission on Health Services and the founding of new faculties of medicine; ACMC''s in-house research program; accreditation and ACMC''s links with medical education in the United States; and French-language medical education in Canada. The review points out the perennial nature of many of these issues, and how often perceived solutions to the problems later become problems themselves. It ends on the optimistic note that ACMC can successfully meet the challenges of the future.     

“Openness” and Article 76 of the Law of the Sea Convention: The Process Does Not Need to Be Adjusted

The establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles under Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which requires states to submit information to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), is a complex and costly process. States have an interest in being aware of the kind of information that the Commission is expecting to receive. States also have an interest in being able to assess whether the coastal state in establishing these outer limits has acted on the basis of the recommendations of the Commission, as is required by the Convention. Both these issues have led to calls for greater “openness” with respect to the consideration of submissions by the CLCS. This article takes a close look at the proposals that have been advanced to accomplish greater openness and concludes that there is no need to change the current process, which offers sufficient opportunities to deal with the above-mentioned concerns. It is further concluded that the proposed changes in any case do not stand any chance of being adopted.     

Meeting the Deadline: Canada's Arctic Submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf

Abstract

Seafloor highs can be grouped into three legal categories: (i) oceanic ridges; (ii) submarine ridges; and (iii) submarine elevations. The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf recognizes that the foot of slope serves as the qualifier to distinguish oceanic ridges from the two other categories. The Commission established a view that the sole qualifier for a submarine ridge is its morphological continuity with the continental margin. A submarine elevation needs also to share geological characteristics with the rest of the continental margin. Recent recommendations suggest that the Commission may have complicated its view in this respect.     

Northern Health Service in Canada

The current state and future development of Canada''s North present significant medical problems. The medical facilities available at present are inadequate and, although they are improving rapidly, they must keep pace with the coming expansion of the North. Arctic regions of other northern countries do not show the great discrepancies in health standards that Canada''s North does in comparison to her southern areas. To improve the situation adequate communication, transportation, personnel and facilities are needed. It is proposed that residents in hospital training programs work for a period in the North to supplement recommendations of the Hall Commission in this connection and to broaden their own training.     

Mitoses in thermodormant lettuce seeds with reference to histological location,localized expansion,and seed storage

Summary Seeds from one lot of New York lettuce were sown in each of 5 successive years to compare the effect of duration of storage on the capacity for mitosis in thermodormant seeds with the effect of storage on the capacity for germination under conditions favorable for germination. Whereas the capacity for mitosis in absence of germination increased as a function of duration of seed storage, the capacity for germination itself decreased steadily over the period studied. Thus, the apparent deterioration of stored seed, as measured by decreased germination, does not necessarily indicate a general deterioration of all cytologic processes. Histological study of thermodormant lettuce seeds demonstrated that in some seeds mitosis and cytokinesis can occur without either overall or localized expansion of the embryo-axis. Although localized expansion occurred in some seeds, there was no expansion of the embryo-axis as a whole in any of the seeds, the localized expansion being accompanied always by localized compression elsewhere in the axis. Restraint of the embryo by the endosperm, which remained intact, could account for the prevention of overall expansion of those embryos in which localized expansion and compression occurred. Mitoses in such embryos occurred both within and outside the regions of localized expansion. Thus, even in those embryos with localized expansion, mitotic activity is not necessarily correlated with expansion. Mitoses occurred in each of the primary tissue meristems of the hypocotyl-radicle, mainly within the apical 0.5 mm of the radicle. In this regard, thermodormant embryos resemble growing roots of lettuce seedlings. These findings demonstrate that mitotic activity and localized expansion, either separately or together, can occur in the embryo without germination.Research sponsored by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission under contract with the Union Carbide Corporation.The authors are grateful to Miss Sarah A. Angel and Mrs. Helen J. Luippold for their technical contributions to this work.     

What the Peritrichs Have Taught Us*†

SYNOPSIS. The peritrichs have taught naturalists, biologists, zoologists, and other kinds of scientists many of their secrets. Consequently, we know many details regarding their gross structure, ultrastructure, ecology, and life history. Their sexual phenomena are rather clearly understood. While general agreement has been attained as regards the forementioned topics, the taxonomic position of peritrichs is still vigorously debated. In this address representative examples of advances in our knowledge of peritrichs will be reviewed … representative instead of all-inclusive examples. A plea for the restoration of peritrichs to a taxonomic position above spirotrichs will be made. The Society's members will be assured that all protozoologists will have the opportunity to help design a completely International Commission on Protozoology in the International Union of Biological Sciences and they will be assured that such a Commission can and should be planned at the 1969 International Conference in Leningrad.     

Edmund Keffer Kline 1894-1976

It is with deep regret that the friends of Dr. E. K. Kline learned of his death on January 26th, 1976. Dr. Kline served with the Biological Stain Commission for many years, joining the Board of Trustees as representative of the American Public Health Association shortly after the reorganization of the Commission during the latter stages of World War II. Dr. Kline served as Vice-president of the Commission from 1963 to 1966, and as President from 1966 to 1969. His warm good nature and sound judgement combined effectively to help advance the goals of the Commission throughout his period of service, and his absence will be keenly felt.     

Report from the President the Biological Stain Commission: Its Goals, Its Past and Its Present Status

This is a brief overview of the goals, evolution, and present status of the Biological Stain Commission. The main function of the Commission is the testing and certification of dye batches intended for biological applications. The testing is supported by charges made for batch testing and by the sale of certification labels affixed to individual dye containers. Submission of dyes for testing is voluntary, depending on the cooperation of the companies who sell them and the consumers who buy them. The supportive role of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry—both past and present—is not well known and should be. Increasingly federal regulations affect the production, availability, and cost of dyes. Commission income from the sale of labels has decreased in recent years. Continuation of its work requires changes that will produce more income. Much dye is now sold in solutions instead of dry powders. The value of using Stain Commission certified dyes whenever possible is illustrated by the case of basic fuchsin. Years ago this dye was a mixture. Most basic fuchsin now marketed consists mainly of either pararosanilin (Colour Index No. 42500) or rosanilin (C.I. No. 42510). The Biological Stain Commission discovered that some certified batches of both pararosanilin and rosanilin sold as “basic fuchsin” had incorrect C.I. numbers on the labels. Sometimes that caused failure of the aldehyde fuchsin stain. Unless made with pararosanilin, aldehyde fuchsin does not stain pancreatic islet B-cells, elastic fibers, and hepatitis B surface antigen in unoxidized sections. Mislabelling by packagers may interfere with other applications of pararosanilin and rosanilin. The Commission acted to publicize and correct this problem. Biological Stain Commission publications help educate microscopists and histotechnologists about dyes and their best use. Stain Commission representatives from member scientific societies provide valuable input about changes in the availability and quality of such dyes as hematoxylin and others; they also provide useful feedback to their societies about dye problems. Each new generation of biologists and histotechnologists should be taught the importance of using only Stain Commission certified stains when available. They should be taught also to notify the Stain Commission whenever they experience problems with any certified dye.     

Report from the President

Although the original Commission on Standardization of Biological Stains was first organized in 1921, it was not until 1944 that this was incorporated as an independent, nonprofit organization known as the Biological Stain Commission (see Clark 1974). The certification of dyes, as indicated by special labels purchased by manufacturers or vendors for attachment to the dye containers, originated with the parent organization and has continued to this day. The objectives of the Biological Stain Commission (BSC) are 1) to identify and standardize the content and performance of dyes and dye preparations used in staining biological tissues and products, 2) to issue labels of certification to companies that buy these to inform consumers that their certified dyes meet the specifications of the BSC, 3) to carry out and to support investigations on dyes and their performance, 4) to publish scientific data concerning biological stains and their use, and 5) to maintain, through scientific meetings and correspondence, an active “dialogue” among scientific and industrial personnel concerned with biological stains. The present report summarizes Commission activity and some of the changes that have occurred during the past five years.     

Certification procedures for nuclear fast red (Kernechtrot), CI 60760

Nuclear fast red (CI 60760), also known as Kernechtrot, is commonly used in conjunction with an excess of aluminum ions as a red nuclear counterstain following histochemical procedures that yield blue products. The dye has also been used as a histochemical and colorimetric reagent for calcium. Unsatisfactory samples of nuclear fast red are encountered occasionally, and confusion has resulted from applying the name of the dye to neutral red (CI 50040), an unrelated compound with different properties. Tests for the identity and performance of nuclear fast red have been developed in the laboratory of the Biological Stain Commission. The Commission will now accept samples submitted by vendors for certification. We describe here the spectrophotometric, chromatographic and biological staining methods that are used to identify and test nuclear fast red.     

Progress in the Standardization of Stains Research on the Chemistry of Dyes

One of the services that the Stain Commission has been able to perform for biologists is in assisting them to identify dyes of unknown composition with which desired staining effects have been secured. This enables them both to obtain new supplies of the same dyes and to publish their results in such a form that other biologists may duplicate them.     

Call for an enzyme genomics initiative

I propose an Enzyme Genomics Initiative, the goal of which is to obtain at least one protein sequence for each enzyme that has previously been characterized biochemically. There are 1,437 enzyme activities for which Enzyme Commission (EC) numbers have been assigned but no sequence can be found in public protein-sequence databases.     

Statement on Cancer Cures by the Cancer Commission of the C.M.A

In recent months there has been a recrudescence in the daily press of claims for certain alleged cancer cures. Most of these receive the scant attention which they deserve and are soon forgotten. A few receive sensational publicity and are a source of considerable distress, both psychic and economic, to patients with cancer. In order to bring up to date the opinion of the Cancer Commission on this general question, it was resolved at the regular meeting of the Commission held in Los Angeles, May 1951, that a suitable statement bearing on this subject be prepared and issued to the press or to interested persons. The following is the statement as approved by the Commission:     

Risk bases can complement dose bases for implementing and optimising a radiological protection strategy in urgent and transition emergency phases

Radiation and Environmental Biophysics - Current radiological emergency response recommendations have been provided by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and adopted by the...     

Purity of commercial non-certified European samples of Pyronin Y

Summary The purity of six European non-certified samples of Pyronin Y was compared with that of two American samples certified by the Biological Stain Commission. The methods used were spectrophotometry and a Methyl Green-Pyronin staining test (both as applied by the Biological Stain Commission), thin layer chromatography, mass spectrometry, determination of pH, and content of some electrolytes. It was found that none of the European batches of Pyronin Y passed the complete test as prescribed by the Biological Stain Commission. Their dye content was uniformly low (between 5 and 19%). Furthermore, thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed that two of the dye samples contained no Pyronin Y or only traces.It is concluded that assessment of an unknown sample of a dye labelled Pyronin Y should be initiated with thin layer chromatography. The pH and content of electrolytes in an aqueous solution of the dye should also be determined in order to obtain reproducible staining results. Finally, the value of the work performed by the Biological Stain Commission is underlined, although more sophisticated methods are necessary for testing the purity of dyestuffs.     

Advocating a Larger Role for Environmental Nongovernment Organizations in Developing a Network for Marine Protected Areas in the Southern Ocean

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) adopted a conservation measure for establishing a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in 2011. Since then, a number of proposals have been submitted to the Commission, but their designation has been consistently opposed by some pro-fishing CCAMLR member countries. This article provides an analysis of CCAMLR institutional and decision-making processes in an attempt to explain the obstacles preventing the creation of a network of MPAs. The role of environmental nongovernmental organizations (ENGOs) is examined through their track record in Antarctic environmental governance as well as the extent of their participation within the CCAMLR MPA process.     

‘A Dispassionate and Objective Effort:’ Negotiating the First Study on the Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation

The National Academy of Science’s 1956 study on the Biological Effects of Atomic Radiation (BEAR) was designed to provide an objective analysis to assess conflicting statements by leading geneticists and by officials in the Atomic Energy Commission. Largely because of its status as a detached, non-governmental evaluation by eminent scientists, no studies have had a broader impact on the development of biological thinking in regard to nuclear policies. This paper demonstrates that despite the first BEAR study’s reputation as an objective and independent study, it was the product of careful negotiation between Academy scientists, the Atomic Energy Commission, and Britain’s Medical Research Council. This paper also reveals the fragility of the consensus that produced the Academy’s report, the range of political uses of the report, and the subsequent disaffection of the scientists who took part in it.     

Directive 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes

Directive 86/609/EEC regulates the use of animals for experimental and other scientific purposes in the EU. The Directive seeks to improve the controls on the use of laboratory animals, and to set minimum standards for housing and care, and for the training of personnel handling these animals and supervising the experiments. It also aims to reduce the numbers of animals used for experiments, by encouraging the development and the validation of alternative methods to replace animals methods. Since the scientific basis of the Directive dates back at least 15 years, the Commission is planning on an in-depth revision of the Directive. The Commission aims to have a first draft proposal ready by the end of 2003.     

Intervertebral disc lesions; surgical treatment,end results,disability ratings and cost in industrial accident injuries

In lumbar intervertebral disc operations there is sometimes pronounced disparity between the clinical results and the results as reflected in the disability rating given by the Industrial Accident Commission. It is believed that the difference must be due to excessive complaining and exaggeration on the part of the claimant and his representative before the Commission, and that undue credence and importance are given to these subjective symptoms as compared with the objective findings as reported by the surgeon or clinician. Data in the present study indicate that the belief that surgical decompression of a single nerve root and removal of an injured or degenerated disc necessarily entails a certain degree of disability is not justified. Satisfactory clinical results were obtained in 93 per cent of compensation cases, but when settled or rated by the Industrial Accident Commission, only 59 per cent were closed as having good or excellent results.