Problems related to the deposition of microorganisms in the patent procedure

Some practical aspects concerning deposition of microbial strains in connection with patenting are discussed. In particular, situations requiring deposition of individual strains, mixed cultures or associants are analysed. Problems of patent legislation pertinent to deposition of microorganisms are discussed.     

A Comparison of the MPN and Fisher-Yates Estimators for the Density of Organisms

The method of moments estimator, discussed in FISHER and YATES (1970), for the density of bacteria is compared with the maximum likelihood or MPN estimator: For sample sizes used in practice the estimators are found to be very similar. Estimators which reduce bias are discussed and their use recommended.     

On the definition of the compartment concept in pharmacokinetics

Current attitudes on the compartment concept, as applied in pharmacokinetics, are discussed. The concept of a relative steady state is introduced, and shown to provide the basis for a definition of a compartment. The physical significance of the compartment parameters is discussed and a method of testing compartment models by direct sampling is described.     

Cytokine--factors of the neuroendocrine regulation

The given review is devoted to studying of a role cytokine in immune, nervous and endocrine systems. Ways of cytokine action in a brain are described. Are discussed neurotrophic and behavioural effects cytokine in a brain and mechanisms of their action. Acentuated, that there are groups cytokine which mainly show activity, operating in immune system, other groups cytokine are most active in nervous system, carrying out neurotrophic, neuroprotection functions or expressed and are produced in endocrine system and in a greater degree function as hormones. New approaches to functional classification cytokine are discussed.     

Shock: the essentials of recognition and management

The main types of shock seen in clinical practice are discussed with emphasis on practical management considerations. The clinical features of the shock syndrome are described and the underlying cause is explained for each of the three types commonly encountered, namely hypovolemic, cardiac and septic shock. The essential information required for diagnosis and monitoring of therapy is detailed and appropriate therapy for each of the principal types of shock is discussed. The possible etiological factors, manifestations and therapy of the enigmatic respiratory distress syndrome are discussed. Some of the controversies on the drug therapy of shock are outlined and the suggestion is made that commonsense measures should prevail until reliable evidence to settle the disputes becomes available.     

Kinetic and regulatory aspects of the function of the alternative oxidase in plant respiration

The kinetic modelling of the respiratory network in plant mitochondria is discussed, with emphasis on the importance of the choice of boundary conditions, and of modelling of both quinol-oxidising and quinone-reducing pathways. This allows quantitative understanding of the interplay between the different pathways, and of the functioning of the plant respiratory network in terms of the kinetic properties of its component parts. The effects of activation of especially succinate dehydrogenase and the cyanide-insensitive alternative oxidase are discussed. Phenomena, such as respiratory control ratios depending on the substrate, shortcomings of the Bahr and Bonner model for electron distribution between the oxidases and reversed respiratory control, are explained. The relation to metabolic control analysis of the respiratory network is discussed in terms of top-down analysis.     

Microbiological regulation of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle

Most nitrogen transformations in soil are carried out by micro-organisms. An understanding of the microbiological processes is thus necessary in order for us to devise management practices in agricultural ecosystems, which will optimize plant root uptake of nitrogen and minimize nitrogen losses from the systems. Some aspects of the individual microbiological processes in the nitrogen cycle are discussed and their importance for an efficient management of agroecosystems. In soil various groups of organisms compete for available inorganic nitrogen and quantitative data are needed on the uptake kinetics for these various groups in order to be able to assess their competitive ability under different conditions. The influence of abiotic factors such as oxygen concentration, inorganic nitrogen concentration and pH is discussed in relation to the different processes. The importance of acetylene as a tool in nitrogen cycling studies is discussed briefly.     

A review of damsel fishes (Pisces: Pomacentridae) of the genus Chromis from the central and eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean

The specific status of the damsel fish Chromis chromis (L) is discussed and it is suggested that Chromis chromis is retained for Mediterranean specimens and that Chromis lirnbatus is re-introduced for the East Atlantic form. Behavioural and morphological differences which distinguish these two species are given. A key to these and other East Atlantic Chromis is provided, the species are described and their geographical range discussed.     

Mechanics of the feeding action of various teleost fishes

Pressure changes have been recorded from the buccal cavities of nine species of teleost as they sucked food into their mouths. Some of the pressures recorded are discussed in relation to the sizes of the muscles responsible. Cinematograph films have been used to estimate how much the volume of the orobranchial chamber increases as food is sucked in. Some peculiarities in the feeding movements of Taurulus, Ictalurus and Anguilla are described and discussed.     

The functional morphology of the praying mantis forelimb (Dictyoptera: Mantodea)

The structure and function of the forelimbs of praying mantids are discussed. A large spine on the femur and the spine on the end of the tibia were shown experimentally to be important in the capture of unrestrained flies. These spines may function to narrow the gap through which a fly may escape while the tibia is closing on the femur. Some of the spines on the femur are hinged at their base; the structure, properties and possible functions of these spines are discussed.
Similar hinged spines are reported on the lorelimbs of Stomatopoda (CrustaceaI but were not found in the Mantispidac (Neuroptera:Insecta). The variation of forelimb structure within the Mantodea is briefly discussed. The theory that the optimum prev size can be predicted from the geometry of the mantid forelimb is critically discussed.     

Compartmentalization of regulatory proteins in the cell nucleus

The cell nucleus is increasingly recognized as a spatially organized structure. In this review, the nature and controversies associated with nuclear compartmentalization are discussed. The relationship between nuclear structure and organization of proteins involved in the regulation of RNA polymerase II-transcribed genes is then discussed. Finally, very recent data on the mobility of these proteins within the cell nucleus is considered and their implications for regulation through compartmentalization of proteins and genomic DNA are discussed.     

Assessment of the anaerobic biodegradability of macropollutants

A variety of test procedures for determination of anaerobic biodegradability have been reported. This paper reviews the methods developed for determination of anaerobic biodegradability of macro-pollutants. Main focus is paid to the final mineralization of organic compounds and the methane potential of compounds. Hydrolysis of complex substrates is also discussed. Furthermore, factors important for anaerobic biodegradation are shortly discussed.     

On the path to understanding the nature of cancer

In this essay crucial problems of the origin of cancer and the development of malignancy are discussed. The problem of precancer and three ways leading to malignancy are considered: induction of tumor precursors, accumulation of genetic traits common for tumor growth, and the role of inflammation in tumor induction. The nature of viral oncogenes and modes of their action are described in the context of their origin as a component of the viral genome. Oncogenes of RNA-containing viruses and DNA-containing tumorigenic viruses are described together with cellular protooncogenes, which are progenitors of RNA-containing viral oncogenes. Hematological malignancies are described as an intermediate form between simple tumors induced by a single oncogene and more complicated epithelial tumors. The roles of tumor suppressor genes and the interaction of several oncogenes in the formation of carcinomas and also the role of progression in tumor evolution are discussed.     

Neurophysiology and analysis of the phenomenon of catalepsy

Neurophysiological mechanisms of the photogenic catalepsy (the "animal hypnosis"), genetic catalepsy, and cataplexy are discussed. The data obtained demonstrates a significance of the brainstem structures suppressing motor activity and the muscle tone in these conditions. Motor disorders associated with the general immobility are discussed from the standpoint of the evolutionary theory.     

Some remarks on the boolean algebra of nervous nets in mathematical biophysics

Recent demonstration by the author has shown that the fundamental equations of the mathematical biophysics of the central nervous system can be considered as describing the behavior of very large numbers of neurons, of which each one follows discontinuous laws, such as discussed by W. S. McCulloch and W. Pitts. In that light some of the old problems are discussed. The comparative merits of the “microscopic” and “macroscopic” approaches are discussed for the problem of the point to point correspondence between the retina and the cortex, with the number of connecting fibers much less than the number of cells. Some aspects of discrimination of intensities are also discussed. Finally, a few generalizations of the McCulloch-Pitts treatment are suggested, and a nervous network is constructed which illustrates some aspects of the perception of numbers.     

The mummy of the neolitic man from the Hauslabjoch

Morphological, metrical and radiological data of the neolithic mummy from the Hauslabjoch are presented. Special attention is given to thanatological aspects and a possible ethnological implication of the tattoos on the body are discussed.