Der deutsch-britisch-französische Höchstflußreaktor in Grenoble und sein Forschungsprogramm

The 57-MW high-flux reactor of the Institute Max von Laue-Paul Langevin at Grenoble serves as a central neutron-beam facility for laboratories and research institutes in the three member countries, the United Kingdom, France, and the Federal Republic of Germany. The heavy-water-moderated and -cooled reactor is equipped with hot, thermal, and cold moderators, providing neutrons with high intensity over an unusual wide range of energies (wavelengths) extending from some 0.1 meV (30 Å) up to some 500 meV (0.4 Å). An extensive system of neutron guides with different curvatures permits the transport of neutrons over distances ranging up to 140 m with minimal intensity losses for neutrons in the useful wavelength band. The transmitted beams, in addition, exhibit very low background contamination by fast and epithermal neutrons, and γ-radiation. A large variety of high-resolution neutron spectrometers provide unique opportunities in fields such as nuclear physics, crystallography, solid-state physics, chemistry, metallurgy, and biology.     

The effect of NADH on different human and mouse cell lines

Part of the work was supported by the Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie, and from the Carl Zeiss, Hoechst, and Ernst Leitz companies. Special thanks are due to Dr. K. Wahn, Department of Virology, University of Giessen, for conducting the electron microscope and phase-contrast investigations, to Prof. G. Sauer, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, and Dr. W. R. Willems, Department of Medical Virology, University of Giessen, for supplying the different cell lines.     

Distribution of actinomycetes in oil contaminated ultisols of the Niger Delta (Nigeria)

The distribution of actinomycetes in oil contaminated sandy loam ultisols of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria was studied to aid in understanding the effect of hydrocarbons on indigenous microbial population in tropical soils. The average total counts of actinomycetes in all the oil samples analysed was 103 cfu/g. Higher counts of actinomycetes were observed during the dry season than during the wet season. The counts of hydrocarbonoclastic actinomycetes correlated positively with the total count of actinomycetes.The actinomycetes were generally restricted to the top soil(0-10 cm soil depth) although a seemingly deeper(down to 40 cm soil depth) distribution was noticed in the dry season. The isolates included oil degrading species of Actinoplanes, Norcadia,Streptomyces and Streptosporangium. Their high oil utilization ability indicates their positive potential and role in the bioremediation of oil-spilled soils.     

Integrated nutrient management and waste recycling for restoring soil fertility and productivity in Japanese mint and mustard sequence in Uttar Pradesh, India

Supplementing the nutrient requirement of crops through organic manures plays a key role in sustaining soil fertility, and crop productivity and reducing use of fossil fuels. Field experiments were conducted for 2 years at two different locations (i.e. Lucknow and Pantnagar) in Uttar Pradesh, India. The objectives of the study were to assess the herb and essential oil yields of Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis cv. Hy 77), and its nutrient accumulation under single and combined applications of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers (NPK). Changes in physical and chemical characteristics of the soils (Fluvisols, Mollisols) were also determined. Eight treatments comprising different combinations of NPK through inorganic fertilizers and farm yard manure (FYM) were compared. The distilled waste of mint after extraction of essential oil was recycled to soils in the plots to supplement the nutritional requirement of the succeeding mustard crop (Brassica juncea cv. Pusa Bold). Herb and essential oil yield of mint were significantly higher with combined application of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients as compared to single applications. Accumulation of N and P was at par under full inorganic and combined supply whereas, K accumulation was higher with the former. Soil organic C and pH after harvest of mint did not significantly differ among the treatments, but the level of mineralizable N, Olsen-P and NH₄OAc extractable K were higher in soil with integrated supply of nutrients. Significant increase in soil water stable aggregates, organic C, available NPK and microbial biomass, and decrease in soil bulk density were observed with waste recycling over fertilizer application. These benefits were reflected in the seed and stubble yield of mustard which succeeded mint. This study indicates that combined application of inorganic fertilizers with organics helps in increasing the availability of nutrients and crop yield and provides a significant effect to the succeeding crop. Similarly, recycling crop residues reduces the need for fossil fuel based fertilizer, and helps in sustaining and restoring soil fertility in terms of available nutrients and major physical and chemical characteristics of the soil.     

Non-random nectar unloading interactions between foragers and their receivers in the honeybee hive

Nectar acquisition in the honeybee Apis mellifera is a partitioned task in which foragers gather nectar and bring it to the hive, where nest mates unload via trophallaxis (i.e. mouth-to-mouth transfer) the collected food for further storage. Because forager mates exploit different feeding places simultaneously, this study addresses the question of whether nectar unloading interactions between foragers and hive-bees are established randomly, as it is commonly assumed. Two groups of foragers were trained to exploit a different scented food source for 5 days. We recorded their trophallaxes with hive-mates, marking the latter ones according to the forager group they were unloading. We found non-random probabilities for the occurrence of trophallaxes between experimental foragers and hive-bees, instead, we found that trophallactic interactions were more likely to involve groups of individuals which had formerly interacted orally. We propose that olfactory cues present in the transferred nectar promoted the observed bias, and we discuss this bias in the context of the organization of nectar acquisition: a partitioned task carried out in a decentralized insect society.     

安大略基拉尼公园及实验湖泊区浮游生物群落对酸化的响应及其恢复过程

人们普遍推测控制SO2排放可以促进加拿大、美国和欧洲的酸化淡水湖泊的恢复.本文研究了1998～2000年间靠近安大略省基拉尼公园的22个湖泊(pH值范围4.5～7.7)的浮游生物群落变化,将结果与安大略省西北的实验湖泊区(ELA)人工酸化(pH值从6.7降至4.5)又恢复(pH升至6.0)的南302号湖的数据进行了对比,以评价酸化后的恢复效果.根据历史记录,基拉尼地区数个湖泊的pH值由先前酸化的5.0～5.5反弹到6.0.浮游生物量与pH不相关,但其物种的丰富度与pH值间呈显著相关.将所得到的物种多样性数据与历史数据加以组合,可观察到其中6个湖泊中的恢复轨迹.相关分析表明:pH值得到提高后,其中几个湖泊的浮游生物群落开始向中性环境中的典型群落转化.