Botanic gardens: Future challenges and responsibilities

In this introduction to the papers resulting from the Specimen to Habitat Management Conference hosted by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in September 1991. Current and future issues facing botanic gardens are outlined and responses outlined.     

919. ANTHEMIS MARSCHALLIANA

Anthemis marschalliana Willd. (Compositae: Anthemideae: Anthemidinae) is described and illustrated, a full synonymy provided and its present taxonomic position discussed, especially the choice of this as the current name, and not Archanthemis marschalliana (Willd.) Lo Presti & Oberpr. The type collections of the accepted name and one synonym are compared as both honour the same person, Marschall von Bieberstein. Cultivation requirements are also outlined, with some commentary on the pests that are sometimes an issue. Cultivation and propagation requirements are outlined, and the availability of the species noted.     

627. PHILIBERTIA BARBATA

Summary Philibertia barbata is illustrated, its habitat is described and its taxonomic relationships outlined.     

Sam Karlin and the stochastic theory of evolutionary population genetics

Sam Karlin’s role in the development of the stochastic theory of evolutionary population genetics is outlined, together with his work in developing BLAST theory.     

The Zoological Record–current developments

The scope and recent history of the service are outlined. Possible developments include the introduction of a computer-assisted system. The benefits of this are outlined.     

Development of a photosynthesis model with an emphasis on ecological applications

Summary Photosynthesis was measured in leaves ofPhaseolus vulgaris and analyzed according to the set of equations outlined previously by Tenhunen et al. (1976).     

Redescription of Branchinecta granulosa Daday, 1902 from Argentina (Crustacea: Branchiopoda)

The species Branchinecta granulosa Daday 1902, is redescribed on the basis of adult material from near Facundo (Chubut Province, Argentina). Its relationship to its regional congeners is outlined.     

Physiological Responses to Oxygen Depletion in Intertidal Animals

SYNOPSIS. Aquatic habitats, especially those of the intertidal,are subject to massive fluctuation of O₂ level including periodsof both extreme hypoxia and hyperoxia. Most animals have someability to regulate oxygen consumption during oxygen depletion,although the critical oxygen level above which compensationis possible varies complexly with many external and internalfactors. Mechanisms of detection of, and compensation for, hypoxicexposure are examined, in both the short and long-term. Thetime courses of behavioral, ventilatory and circulatory responsesto hypoxia are outlined and the limitations of their role inmaintenance of aerobic metabolism are discussed. The role ofadjustment of O₂ binding properties of respiratory pigmentsin maintenance of O₂ consumption in hypoxia is also explored.Finally the role of anaerobic energy production is briefly outlined.     

On the first record of a potentially harmful fish, Sparus aurata in the Gulf of California

The record of free and healthy Mediterranean gilt-head seabream Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758 in waters of the Gulf of California, México is documented for the first time. Consequences of this introduction are briefly outlined.     

Research on plasma physics and controlled fusion in 2008 in Russia

Papers presented at the XXXVI International Zvenigorod Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion (February 9–13, 2009, Zvenigorod) are reviewed, and the main research directions outlined there are analyzed.     

Multi-proxy studies in palaeolimnology

Multi-proxy studies are becoming increasingly common in palaeolimnology. Eight basic requirements and challenges for a multi-proxy study are outlined in this essay – definition of research questions, leadership, site selection and coring, data storage, chronology, presentation of results, numerical tools and data interpretation. The nature of proxy data is discussed in terms of physical proxies and biotic proxies. Loss-on-ignition changes and the use of transfer functions are reviewed as examples of problems in the interpretation of data from multi-proxy studies. The importance of pollen analysis and plant macrofossil analysis in multi-proxy studies is emphasised as lake history cannot be interpreted without knowledge of catchment history. Future directions are outlined about how multi-proxy studies can contribute to understanding biotic responses to environmental change.     

Abnormalities of the Urinary Tract in Association with Congenital Cardiovascular Disease

The incidence of urinary tract abnormalities in a group of infants and children with congenital cardiovascular disease was determined by assessing roentgenograms of the abdomen taken following angiocardiographic studies. The urinary tracts of 400 of these patients were so outlined, but in 50 others the tracts could not be outlined. In 21 of the latter the urinary tracts were assessed at autopsy.Of these 421 children, nine (approximately 2%) had serious urinary tract disease, and 15 (approximately 3.5%) had anomalies which were of no clinical significance.The incidence of four renal anomalies—bifid collecting system, rotated kidney, horsehoe kidney and ectopic kidney—was compared with that in another group of patients without cardiovascular disease. No significant difference was found in the incidence of these four anomalies in the two groups.     

中国生态环境区划初探

中国生态环境区划初探高密来（中国人民大学区域经济研究所北京１００８７２）ＡｎＡｐｐｒｏａｃｈｔｏｔｈｅＲｅｇｉｏｎａｌｉｚａｔｉｏｎｏｆＥｃｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌＥｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔｉｎＣｈｉｎａ．￥ＧａｏＭｉｌａｉ（ＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＲｅｇｉｏｎａ...     

On the Estimation of Intra-Sire Regression Heritability Subject to Linear Constraint

The derivation of the restricted intra-sire regression heritability estimator is provided. Procedures for obtaining a stable estimate of residual error variance σ² are outlined. A small illustration based on live data is given.     

A Rock in a hard place

Federal Minister of Health Allan Rock appears committed to improved funding for the health care system, but this may be a hard sell in cabinet. He outlined his views during the CMA''s recent annual meeting in Whitehorse.     

The field of vector biology: A perspective on the first 100 years

The time surrounding Ross' epic studies on the role mosquitoes play in the life cycle of Plasmodium was marked by a series of discoveries that truly defined the beginning of the field of vector biology, as outlined here by Bruce Christensen and Michael Ferdig.     

Suggestion for a possible approach to molecular biology

A hypothetical “self-reproducing living molecule” has been recently frequently discussed in the literature. A physical theory of such a molecule is tentatively outlined. The relational, rather than the quantitative, aspects of the process are emphasized. The process of synthesis of such a molecule from its components is considered as a transition of a complex system between two quantum-mechanical states. The requirement that a “living molecule” should be able to multiply only by self-reproduction but not by a formationde novo leads to the conclusion that the above mentioned transition is a forbidden one. A constellation of conditions under which the forbiddenness is lifted by the presence of an already existing “living molecule” is suggested. The outlined mechanism leads to the conclusion that the property of self-reproduction does not so much reside in the self-reproducing molecule itself as in its relations to other molecules of a system.     

A Multiraters Agreement Index for Ordinal Classification

An agreement index among more than two raters who employ ordinal classification is proposed here as an extension of the agreement index set up to consider such agreement between two raters as outlined by (JOLAYEMI , Biom. J. 32 (1990), 87–93). The method of application is outlined using a clinical diagnosis involving seven pathologists.