A probability model for the number of births in an equilibrium birth process

A probability model for the number of complete conceptions (that is, live births) taking into account foetal wastages, occurring in a couple during a specified period of time (T₀, T₀+T) is developed assuming that the data was collected starting a long time after marriage. A method of estimating some of the underlying parameters is given. The model is applied to data obtained in a Varanasi Survey in 1969–70.     

Participation of the intracellular enzymes in the control of the mutation process

Summary The influence of repair and replication on the frequency of spontaneous chromosome aberrations and of those induced by gamma-irradiation is reported.Using the technique of labelling DNA with radioactive ³H-thymidine and measuring the radioactivity of DNA isolated from embryos, the time of initiation and the duration of DNA synthesis in barley seeds was studied after the soaking of the seeds had begun. The average duration of each phase of the first DNA synthesis cycle in soaking barley seeds was found to be as follows: pre-DNA synthesis stage, 10–11 hrs; DNA synthesis stage, 8 hrs. After gamma-irradiation, the intensity of DNA synthesis decreased and the beginning of DNA synthesis was delayed.It was found that the inhibition of repair by caffeine led to an increase in the frequency of both spontaneous and induced chromosome aberrations. Caffeine enhanced several times the frequency of chromosome and chromatid aberrations at the time of the maximal activity of repair enzymes. During DNA replication, caffeine had a lower effect on the realization of premutational lesions.An inhibitor of DNA replication — hydroxyurea — had no influence on the frequency of spontaneous chromosome aberrations during the replication period, whereas after gamma-irradiation, hydroxyurea enhanced the frequency of aberrations mainly at the stage of DNA replication.The relatively small mutagenic action of both agents (caffeine and hydroxyurea) was observed during all stages of the cell cycle of germinating barley seeds.     

The microbiological basis of process control in methanogenic fermentation of soluble wastes

The essential requirement for anaerobic digestion of industrial wastes is that the process should operate reliably at high performance. In the digestion of dilute, soluble wastes it is necessary to retain the active biomass within the digester at short liquid retention times for the process to be economically feasible and this is reflected in digester design. Performance of digesters can only be assessed by interpretation of measurable parameters such as pH₂, E_h, pH, volatile fatty acid concentrations, temperature, gas production, biomass content and feed rate and composition. The effects of changes in these parameters on the microbiology of methanogenic digestion and the application of this knowledge in control of the process is discussed.     

落叶松人工林生态系统净初级生产力形成过程中的能量特征

 本文在生物生产力研究的基础之上,通过热值测定,对东北东部帽儿山地区21年生人工落叶松(Larix gmelinii)生态系统净初级生产力形成过程中的能量特征做了系统研究。结果表明：(1)植物热值随植物种类、器官、分布层次、年龄及季节而发生变化。(2)生态系统中活植物体的能量现存量为269.719×1010J／ha,而枯死体中的能量现存量为36.817×1010J／ha,其中凋落物层和立枯体中能量贮量各占84.04%和15.96%。 (3)生态系统能量净固定量为264.346×109J／ha·yr,其中29.49%的能量存留在植物体中,用于植物净生长。生态系统年能量归还量为88.809×109J／ha,其中32.39%的能量在当年被分解释放,余下能量积累于凋落物层之中;生态系统的能量转化效率为2.299%,与其它森林植物群落相比,落叶松人工林系统是高效率的能量代谢系统。     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials: II. Experimental investigations of theoretical hydrolysis--process models for an increased enzyme recovery

Stream pretreatment of wheat straw solubilized most of the xylan present. Xylose and other sugars were recovered by washing the substrate with water but only a minor part (34%) was monomeric. Treatment of this solutions with celulases and hemicellulases improved the yield of monomeric sugars to 69%, the main product being xylose. Some xylose was also obtained during enzymatic hydrolysis of the solid substrate although the pretreatment step contributed 64% (mean value) of total xylose formed. A reference model, No. 1, and two other models, Nos. 2 and 4, described in the first part of this article series (this issue) have been studied experimentally and results confirm the theoretical conclusions. An uninterrupted hydrolysis over a given time period leads to a lower degree of saccharification than when hydrolysate is withdrawn several times. Saccharification is also favored if the residue is removed at a late stage, i.e., at the end of the 24 h hydrolysis cycle. Extended recirculation of the enzymes during a 4 x 24-h experimental period gave the following average yields of saccharification on a 24-h basis: 65% (Reference), 73% (Model 2), and 79% (Model 4). It is concluded that enzyme recovery with model 4 is 70% or more, while the Reference and Model 2 attain a lower level of recovery. The design of an improved hydrolysis model is also discussed.     

茶园冬季乔木落叶的分解和矿质元素释放

在我国南方存在着一种传统植茶方式——茶林复合生态系统,近年来人们已逐步认识到它在维持土壤肥力,抗御自然灾害和保证茶叶内质特性等方面的作用,然而对冬季乔木落叶分解和矿质元素释放的作用尚无报道。本文是对安徽省黄山市休宁县茶树-乌桕复合园和茶树-板栗复合园的冬季乔木落叶分解的研究,为全面认识茶林复合生态系统的性质提供依据。     

Vegetation zonation in dune slacks on the Leba Bar,Polish Baltic Sea coast

Vegetation zones in dune slacks on the Leba Bar on the Polish Baltic Sea coast are described. Plant colonization starts on moist sand in eastern ends of slacks, in the wake of receding mobile dunes. Communities on deflation ribs, dominated by psammophytic grasses, sedges and lichens, are structurally simple. Communities in troughs, dominated by species of fresh habitats, become structurally more complex in a western direction and they culminate with the Pinus silvestris forest. The main lines of vegetation variation correlate with groundwa-ter depth, micro topography, soil profile build-up and substrate acidification.     

The management of Insular Caribbean mangroves in relation to site location and community type

Mangrove ecosystems occupy different locations on Caribbean island coasts, ranging from open bays (fringe mangals) to totally enclosed salt ponds and salinas. On geomorphologically active coastlines, such as south Jamaica, systems are at varying degrees of maturity and productivity. Furthermore, because of system variability, the interactions between mangroves and associated marine systems, such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, are developed to different degrees.Community structure and productivity of a range of mangals on different islands of the Greater and Lesser Antilles are discussed. Forcing functions and levels of interaction with the marine environment are identified.The rational choice of management options must be based on the range of goods and services provided by the different systems; and a good understanding of their ecology is essential when choosing sites for protection, waste disposal, landfill, marina development and fisheries enhancement. Examples are given from current studies in Jamaica, St. Lucia, the British Virgin Islands and Trinidad, of a flexible management response to mangrove ecosystem diversity.     

Preinfection cell wall formation in roots and developing nodules ofAlnus rubra Bong

Summary The establishment of actinorhizal root nodules involves penetration of host cell walls and intracellular colonization by the nitrogen-fixing endosymbiont,Frankia (Actinomycetales). In the early stages of the infection process inAlnus, unusual cell walls with undulate profiles were observed in root tip meristematic derivatives, and in early (preinfection) derivatives of the nodule lobe meristem, inFrankia-inoculated plants. The irregular cell walls attached obliquely to preexisting walls, but were not discontinuous. Serial sections revealed that the unusual walls divided two daughter cells. Microtubules in bundled arrays were abundant near the undulate walls, and radiated in several planes. In the root tips, the anomalous cell walls were observed within one day of inoculation withFrankia.