The objective structured interview for medical student selection

An objective structured interview is an integral part of the process of selecting and admitting applicants to study medicine at this university. During the nine years (to the end of 1986) that the interview has been used 1600 candidates were interviewed out of roughly 13 000 applicants, and from these, 584 students were admitted to the course. Analysis of the interview data was carried out based on two aspects of student progress: graduation with honours and failure to complete the course of study.The interview as a whole, and especially some of the subscales, appears to identify students who may fail to complete the course: it may also help to predict which students are likely to graduate with honours.     

Changes in lipid content and composition during the development of N-nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatocarcinoma

Alterations in lipid content and composition in the N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinoma were investigated. Rats were administrated with N-nitrosodiethylamine in the drinking water for 12 weeks followed by normal tap water for another 6 weeks. The cholesterol content in the liver was increased shortly after the administration of N-nitrosodiethylamine and remained elevated after the removal of the nitrosoamine from the water. The phosphatidylethanolamine level was elevated during N-nitrosodiethylamine administration with a concomitant reduction in phosphatidylcholine level. Lysophosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin levels were increased during the last four weeks of the study. The level of phosphatidylinositol was substantially reduced after eight weeks of N-nitrosodiethylamine treatment, and remained low during the post-treatment period. We postulate that changes in lysophosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin may be a compensatory mechanism for maintaining the asymmetrical distribution of choline-containing lipids in the outer leaflet of the membrane. The elevated level of cholesterol may be a useful indicator for the early detection of N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinoma.     

Differences in learning by foraging juvenile pumpkinseed and bluegill sunfish in a structured habitat

Synopsis We investigated the ability of two congeneric species of sunfish to learn to forage on a novel prey item in feeding arenas containing structured habitats. Eight bluegill sunfish and eight pumpkinseed sunfish were given the opportunity to forage on whiteworms daily for 10 days. Each day, several behavioural measures were recorded for each fish. Both species of sunfish learned to feed over the 10-day period but the bluegill sunfish learned to feed more quickly than the pumpkinseed sunfish. Pumpkinseeds, however, attained a higher level of foraging efficiency. The differences in learning and foraging efficiency were related to body morphology.     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from immature embryos of western larch

Somatic embryogenesis was initiated from immature embryos of western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) on media containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and N6- benzyladenine. The effects of explant type and ammonium nitrate and glutamine concentrations on initiation were tested. Although 21–93% of explants rendered cultures in various experiments, only 3% yielded sustainable embryogenic lines. Excised embryos at the early cotyledonary stage were optimal for initiation. Maturation of somatic embryos was promoted by abscisic acid. Response to abscisic acid concentrations and duration of exposure to abscisic acid varied with genotype. Maximal results were obtained with 0.025 M abscisic acid for 1 to 2 weeks followed by individual culture on medium without growth regulators. Mature somatic embryos developed into shoots with roots. Plantlets have been established in peat.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BA N⁶-benzyladenine - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - ABA abscisic acid