Cartographic representation of the distribution of black grouse (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lyrurus tetrix</Emphasis> L.) and hazel grouse (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetrastes bonasia</Emphasis> L.) in the West Siberian plain

Distribution of black grouse and hazel grouse was evaluated on the basis of the results of bird counts from July 16 to August 31, 1959–2005 over all natural geographical zones and subzones of West Siberia (with fractioning down to the type of landscape tract). Data averaging over groups of vegetation map units (dynamic series) and other specific averaging procedures revealed that black grouse is common in northern-, middle-, and southern-taiga bogs; in subtaiga pine forests; in grassy bogs combined with halophytic meadows within the boundaries of subtaiga forests and the northern forest-steppe; and in agricultural lands in the northern forest-steppe. Hazel grouse is numerous in southern-taiga and dark coniferous middle-taiga forests and their derivatives. The number of hazel grouse individuals in these habitats is larger than in other lands. In general, over the subzones, both black grouse and hazel grouse are most numerous in the middle and southern taiga and in subtaiga forests. To the north and to the south of these subzones, the abundance of these species decreases. They were not encountered in tundras and some open forest-steppe and steppe habitats.     

Cartographic analysis of the population of amphibians,reptiles, and birds of the West Siberian plain and Altai

For the entire territory of West Siberia, including its plain and mountainous parts, two maps were constructed for populations of amphibians together with reptiles, and of birds. Communities of these classes of vertebrates differ from one another in their spatial differentiation. The differences are demonstrated for the plain and mountainous territories considered jointly and separately.     

Morpho-functional principle of neuroendocrine system analysis

A new approach to the analysis of the neuroendocrine system (NES) is suggested. It is based on the fact of structural and metabolic determination of any effect on cell and cell aggregates. The principle of a common communication channel in the NES is formulated and a possible method of its formalization is proposed.     

Classification of the Avian Summer Population on the Western Siberian Plain

The proposed classification system reflects the difference between the three population systems: unbuilt land, built-up land, and aquatic–semiaquatic communities. Two superorder groups—north and median—further divided into types were recognized in each of the systems. Most types are divided into subtypes, classes, and subclasses (and sometimes genera of the population). The estimation of the power and generality of the influence of environmental factors (their variability correlates with heterogeneity of the avian population) has demonstrated that forestation of the territory is most significant in the first half of summer on the western Siberian Plain. The composition of the forest-forming species and zoning are less affected. The influence of moisture and hydration is 2–3 times less significant; mesorelief is 4–5 times less significant; and productivity (feeding capacity) and anthropogenic influence are 7–9 times less significant.     

Strategies for rare-event detection: an approach for automated fetal cell detection in maternal blood.

This article explores the feasibility of the use of automated microscopy and image analysis to detect the presence of rare fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) circulating in maternal blood. The rationales for enrichment and for automated image analysis for "rare-event" detection are reviewed. We also describe the application of automated image analysis to 42 maternal blood samples, using a protocol consisting of one-step enrichment followed by immunocytochemical staining for fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and FISH for X- and Y-chromosomal sequences. Automated image analysis consisted of multimode microscopy and subsequent visual evaluation of image memories containing the selected objects. The FISH results were compared with the results of conventional karyotyping of the chorionic villi. By use of manual screening, 43% of the slides were found to be positive (>=1 NRBC), with a mean number of 11 NRBCs (range 1-40). By automated microscopy, 52% were positive, with on average 17 NRBCs (range 1-111). There was a good correlation between both manual and automated screening, but the NRBC yield from automated image analysis was found to be superior to that from manual screening (P=.0443), particularly when the NRBC count was >15. Seven (64%) of 11 XY fetuses were correctly diagnosed by FISH analysis of automatically detected cells, and all discrepancies were restricted to the lower cell-count range. We believe that automated microscopy and image analysis reduce the screening workload, are more sensitive than manual evaluation, and can be used to detect rare HbF-containing NRBCs in maternal blood.     

An automated unit for manual photometry and morphometry

An automated unit for manually controlled photometry and morphometry is described. It enables the operator to carry out photometrical measurements according to the plug-method and morphometrical measurements with the help of an object-micrometer or some kind of a grid. The data obtained are stored in the "Elektronika D3-28" microcomputer to be statistically evaluated after the end of sampling. New variables can be obtained defined by the user as a product of some source variables or their inverses. The data and control structures of the system are described in detail.     

Spatial-typological differentiation of ecosystems of the west siberian plain. Communication IV: Terrestrial vertebrates

Differentiation of the vertebrate communities almost coincides with the differentiation of ecosystems in vegetation at the type level, as judged by formalized classifications of various blocks of ecosystems of West Siberia by geobotanical map units, and it differs significantly from that in the underground component due to the greater effect of waterlogging on the latter. In invertebrate communities, significant differences are observed in the boreal-subboreal part, where waterlogging is more significant and greater similarity is found among middle and southern-taiga communities than among subtaiga-steppe ones. Over the groups of map units, the heterogeneity of the vertebrate communities differs from that in all the examined blocks of ecosystems in greater differentiation in the tundra zone. In the pretundra northern taiga subzones and from the middle taiga to the steppe zone, the heterogeneity of vertebrate communities is somewhat lower than that of vegetation, and especially in the underground block of ecosystems. However, these differences relate only to the hierarchy of the division, and often occur at the level of taxa of the rank of subtype or class. All these data indicate the relative independence of changes in the distinguished blocks of ecosystems, which gives rise to noncoincidence of the boundaries and sizes of taxa within them, as well as the continuality of the ecosystems as a whole. A significant difference is observed between the traditional geobotanical and typological-chorological zones of terrestrial vertebrate communities.     

Spatial-typological differentiation of the ecosystems of the West Siberian Plain. Communication II: Underground phytomass,dead organic matter,and soil humus

Similarity was quantified for the ecosystems of the West Siberian Plain based on the masses of plant cover, dead organic matter, and underground organic matter (including soil humus) and the resultant matrix was subjected to cluster analysis. The results showed that the differentiation in the vegetation was nearly equally attributable to zonal gradients of thermal and moisture conditions (waterlogging), while the differentiation in the underground part of the ecosystems was predominantly under control of waterlogging. Intratypical differences in the underground part were due to zonal-subzonal heterogeneity in the gradients of thermal and moisture conditions, composition of vegetation, and flooding during snow-melt period. Such division did not entirely agree with subzonal division. The ecosystems were rather aggregated on the basis of the three abovementioned characteristics, with flooding and forest-forming species being the same.     

Use of automated microscopy for the detection of disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow samples

The use of automated microscopy has reached the maturity necessary for its routine use in the clinical pathology laboratory. In the following study we compared the performance of an automated microscope system (MDS) with manual method for the detection and analysis of disseminated tumor cells present in bone marrow preparations from breast carcinoma patients. The MDS System detected rare disseminated tumor cells among bone marrow mononuclear cells with higher sensitivity than standard manual microscopy. Automated microscopy also proved to be a method of high reproducibility and precision, the advantage of which was clearly illustrated by problems of variability in manual screening. Accumulated results from two pathologists who had screened 120 clinical slides from breast cancer patients both by manual microscopy and by use of the MDS System revealed only two (3.8%) missed by the automatic procedure, whereas as many as 20 out of 52 positive samples (38%) were missed by manual screening.     

Spatial and typological inhomogeneity of small mammal communities in plains and mountains of West Siberia

The paper reports results of analysis of spatial and typological inhomogeneity in small mammal communities of the West Siberian Plain and Altai as compared with that in amphibian, reptile, and bird communities.