Bibliothek

Notizen: The introduction of chloroform into anaesthesia is described, together with an account of the parts played by Simpson and Waldie and their connexions with Liverpool. An account of the first chloroform anaesthetics administered in Liverpool is also given; David Waldie, who suggested the use of chloroform, was one of the administrators at the first demonstration.

Notizen: Abstract The objective of the study was to describe the annual and seasonal production of live biomass of six plant species or communities of the uplands of the UK –Calluna vulgaris, Vaccinium myrtillus, Nardus stricta, Molinia caerulea, Eriophorum vaginatum and Agrostis–Festuca grassland. The species or communities are important for the management of the uplands to meet both biodiversity and agriculture objectives. The annual and seasonal production of live biomass was determined for sites within six regions of England and Wales in 1995, 1996 and 1997. The six regions were North-east England, North-west England, North Pennines, South Pennines, South-west England and Wales. In each region, the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology's Land Classification Scheme was used to select three or four 2 km × 2 km squares that contained a mosaic of C. vulgaris and upland grassland plant species. Uniform plots of 1 ha were selected from each 2 km × 2 km square, within which three measurements were made on each sampling occasion. Biomass of each species or community was measured within 1·0 × 0·5-m quadrats using the same standard procedures. Measurements of annual production of current season's shoots of the pioneer, building, mature and degenerate phases of C. vulgaris and of V. myrtillus were made in October, and of the annual production of live biomass of N. stricta, M. caerulea and E. vaginatum in August. A simulated grazing regime was imposed for the Agrostis–Festuca grassland with cuts being made to a height of 4 cm at 8-week intervals. The annual production of live biomass produced was estimated as the sum of four harvests taken during the growing season. Seasonal measurements of the amount of live biomass of all the species were also made in April, June, August and October. For C. vulgaris, there were significant (P = 0·05) differences between the pioneer, building, mature and degenerate phases in the annual production of current season's shoots, with greater amounts being produced by the phases of greater age and with higher biomass. There were significant year (P 〈 0·05) and region (P 〈 0·05) effects, with the lowest production in 1995 and in the South-west of England. The values were higher than those observed in previous studies in Scotland, and these were interpreted as being associated with a longer growing season rather than higher summer temperatures. There was no difference between years and regions in the annual production of V. myrtillus. For the grass species, there were small differences in annual production of live biomass between years and regions. However, the annual production of live biomass of N. stricta was significantly (P 〈 0·01) lower in 1995 than in 1996 and 1997 and significantly (P 〈 0·001) lower in the South Pennines region than elsewhere. The effect of a range of weather and other environmental variables on the annual production of live biomass of each species of grass was explored, but they provided only a limited insight into the reasons for the observed differences and were found to be of limited value as predictors.

Notizen: Growth hormone (GH) mRNAs were first detected in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss during organogenesis (stage 29) within a control group while GH expression in cadmium exposed embryos was not detected until a later organogenic period (stage 31). GH transcripts were subsequently detected at all further developmental stages analysed within both treatment groups. These included hatching (stage 32), larval development (stages 33, 34, 35 and 36) and first feeding (stage 37). These results confirm that the GH axis is functional during early rainbow trout development and demonstrate an in vivo endocrine disrupting capacity at the molecular level for cadmium in teleosts. This is of particular relevance to freshwater habitats as heavy metal induced endocrine disruption may be a contributing factor in the decline of salmonid populations.

Notizen: The effect of infection by barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) on host reaction to powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis DC. f. sp. hordei Marchal) in four barley genotypes with different types of resistance to barley mildew isolate AB3, was studied in pot-grown plants at 7,12 and 26 days after mildew inoculation. Cv. Engledow India (hypersensitive resistance) showed necrotic spotting only at the third scoring date, but the area showing symptoms was significantly less in BYDV-infected than in control plants. On Vada (intermediately resistant), the reaction type value (a measure of host/pathogen compatibility), the percentage leaf area covered with mildew and the coefficient of infection (C.I., a mathematical combination of the other two characters mentioned) were initially less and subsequently greater on BYDV-infected than on virus-free plants. However, the initial trend was significant only for reaction type and C. I., and the subsequent trend only for percentage mildew cover and C.I. Reaction type values, percentage mildew cover and C.l. on cv. Emir (susceptible with some degree of adult plant resistance) and cv. Golden Promise (very susceptible) were also initially significantly less on BYDV-infected plants, but subsequently all three characters increased to amounts not significantly different from those on virus-free plants.

Notizen: [Auszug] Data from two short reflection lines obtained using explosives and an airgun source, together with offshore and onshore refraction profiles and a gravity interpretation, provide evidence of coherent reflections between the subducting oceanic Juan de Fuca and overriding continental America ...

Notizen: Summary The plasma glucose, C-peptide and insulin responses to subcutaneously administered highly purified porcine, ‘semi-synthetic’ and ‘biosynthetic’ human isophane (NPH) insulin and diluting medium as control in normal male subjects were evaluated. Porcine and semi-synthetic human NPH insulins were administered at two dose levels of 0.15 and 0.30 U/kg body weight and biosynthetic human NPH at 0.15 U/kg body weight only. At the low dose level the three insulin preparations resulted in a similar maximal hypoglycaemic effect within 3–5 h after administration. However, over the remainder of the 11 h post-injection period, the plasma glucose level was lower after semi-synthetic human insulin. In contrast, at the 0.30 U/kg dose level, there was no difference in the early or late hypoglycaemic response between porcine and semi-synthetic human NPH insulins of equivalent pharmaceutical formulation. The clinical relevance of these findings needs further evaluation. The data suggest that for the ‘intermediate-acting’ NPH insulin preparations, both the species of insulin, nature and quantity of the retarding protein and their subsequent interaction may determine their time-action characteristics.

Notizen: Summary When cells carrying the plasmids RP1, pDS4101 (a ColK derivative) or pDS1109 (a ColE1 derivative) were maintained in chemostat culture in the absence of antibiotic selection, plasmid-free segregants were not detected after 120 generations of nutrient-limited growth. By contrast, plasmid-free segregants of pMB9- and pBR322-containing cells arose after approximately 30 generations, irrespective of the host genetic background. However, even though pDS1109 was maintained its copy-number fell five-fold during 80 generations of limited growth. It is suggested that loss of pBR322 occurs following a similar copy-number decrease which results in defective segregation of the plasmid to daughter host cells. This defective segregation was not complemented in trans by either RP1 or pDS4101.

Notizen: Abstract The kinetics of Pr3+ transport by the ionophores alamethicin 30 and A23187 across unilamellar phospho-lipid vesicular membranes has been compared by following the time-dependent changes in the1H-NMR spectrum of the vesicles. The measured rates of transport allow stoichiometries of the transporting species to be deduced which are consistent with channel- and carrier-mediated mechanisms respectively. The method provides a useful complement to planar bilayer conductivity studies of these systems.

Notizen: Abstract The regulation of ion channels by phosphatidic acid (a proposed active metabolite in the phosphatidylinositol effect) was investigated using1H-NMR spectroscopy and small unilamellar phospholipid vesicles. Transport across egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine (egg PC) and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicular membranes in the presence of the channel-forming ionophores alamethicin, melittin, and nystatin was monitored using the lanthanide probe ion Pr3+. In the absence of the ionophores, phosphatidic acid (PA) alone was found to have no ionophore properties, but in the presence of the ionophores the incorporation of 3 mol % phosphatidic acid in the bilayer markedly increased the rate of transport using melittin and nystatin, but decreased the rate using alamethicin, independent of the type of phosphatidylcholine used. The presence of PA in the bilayer also stimulated the production of lyric type channels, the extent of which were both ionophore- and lipid-dependent. These results are discussed in terms of possible molecular interactions between the PA, the individual ionophores, and type of lipid used.

Notizen: Summary Puerperal psychosis is the most severe and rare form of postnatal psychiatric disorder. Researchers in Birmingham are currently involved in a wide range of studies into the disorder, which necessitates the recruitment of subjects who have suffered from this relatively uncommon illness, as well as conducting a comprehensive clinical assessment of the phenotype. This paper describes the approaches we have developed for sample ascertainment and the methodology for recruitment and clinical assessment used in research studies of puerperal psychosis. These include the establishment of a national panel of women who have suffered from the illness (Action on Puerperal Psychosis) and the use of the media as well as systematic routes of ascertainment. Clinical evaluation includes collection of key social, obstetric, and demographic data, together with life-time assessment of mania, depression and psychotic symptomatology by modified SCAN interview and review of case notes. We believe that the methods employed will be useful to other researchers investigating puerperal psychosis, as well as other psychiatric disorders.