[en] The 'Applied ecology' programme sponsors research on major subjects concerning application-oriented bases of nature conservation and environmental protection in the following sectors: 1. nature and landscape (succession research, scientific accompanying of measures restoring the natural condition of a landscape, nature conservation concepts and development of ecological paradigms); 2. ecotoxicology (further development and standardization of biological indication methods within the framework of the ecotoxicological register of effects of Baden-Wuertemberg, design of exposure models for forcasting long-term changes in Baden-Wuertemberg); 3. risk assessments and risk evaluations in environmental protection (selected ecological balances and development of ecological evaluation criteria).- On March 22nd and 23rd, 1994, the second status colloquium of the project ''Applied Ecology (PAOe)'' was held at Ettlingen. During this annual event, the results of 39 research projects in the above-mentioned major subject areas were presented and debated by 600 experts from science, administration and economy. This volume sums up the results of the research and demonstrates, at the same time, the range of the research projects sponsored under this scheme. (orig./VHE)

[en] According to the tasks defined in the 'Atomic Energy and the Environment' program an expert evaluative survey was done for the first time in Lithuania concerning the Ignalina NPP and its consequences and perspectives according to the concept which was prepared. The results of survey analysis, done by Lithuanian experts, are presented. Investigation involved these problems: evolution of the technical state safety, use and prospects of the nuclear power plant; evaluation of the activities of governmental and social institutions in connection with the nuclear power plant; Ignalina NPP and the environment; the effect of the nuclear power plant on agricultural activities and development; evolution of the ethnic and cultural situation; conclusions and recommendations for regulations of those areas. (author). 2 refs., 11 figs

[en] A lot of epidemiological studies and experiments with cells and animals were made in the last decade to find out, whether electromagnetic fields, with fieldstrength as they occur in our normal environment, can influence biological systems. To make the results traceable, it is necessary first to look at the quality of the used fieldmeters. For this reason 16 field meters used in Germany were tested. The test was made by using calibration setups, the field near transmission lines and the field around common appliances. (orig.)

[en] The article deals with an item of water temperature distribution in the warm period of the year ( May - September). The evaporation from the lake was established. The water balance reflected that water losses were about 28.3 million cubic meters. (author). 5 refs., 6 tabs., 1 fig

[en] The state of carbonatic system in the lake was investigated for 5 years till beginning of Ignalina NPP work (1979-1983) and 11 years since it's operation. Due to it's constant chemical pollution (by waste waters from Visaginas town) the carbonatic system's metastable basic state is pronounced very weak and start changing. This change for the first time was fixed in the moist eutrophicated southern part of the lake in summer 1992. The satiety with CaCO₃ in the water here increased 28.6 times and pH reached 9.86 . (author). 10 refs., 1 tab

[en] On the ground of the data on material, genetical and granulometric composition of bottom sediments in lake Drukshiai, content of priority pollutants (heavy metals and hydrocarbons), obtained in 1993 (46 stations) and 1994 (15 stations) preliminary schemes of the bottom sediments and of the values of sorption coefficient as well as schemes of coefficient values of hydrocarbons and pollution with heavy metal were compiled. Zones of increased susceptibility of sediments to priority pollutants were determined and evaluated. The results of detailed geochemical investigations carried out in the zone of direct impact of the water used for cooling Ignalina NPP are discussed. (author). 4 refs., 4 figs

[en] Exposure of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum to carbon monoxide led to increased carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and hydrogenase activities due to de novo protein synthesis of both enzymes. Two-dimensional gels of [³⁵S]methionine-pulse-labeled cells showed that induction of CO dehydrogenase synthesis was rapidly initiated (less than 5 min upon exposure to CO) and was inhibited by oxygen. Both CO dehydrogenase and the CO-induced hydrogenase were inactivated by oxygen in vivo and in vitro. In contrast to CO dehydrogenase, the CO-induced hydrogenase was 95% inactivated by heating at 70 degrees C for 5 min. Unlike other hydrogenases, this CO-induced hydrogenase was inhibited only 60% by a 100% CO gas phase

[en] The aim was to study the mechanism of the previously established decrease in acetylcholine (ACh) concentration in the rat hippocampus under cold stress. Male rats were exposed for 14 days to cold (5 degree C) or kept (controls) at room temperature (24 degree C). Acetylcholine content, release and muscarinic receptor binding were investigated in the hippocampus. Cold exposure resulted in a decrease of ACh concentration in the dorsal hippocampus. Moreover, the potassium-evoked release of ACh from hippocampal slices was increased and an increase of maximal binding capacity of [³H](-) quinuclidinyl benzilate in the dorsal hippocampus of cold exposed animals was also observed. Thus the decrease of hippocampal ACh concentration under cold exposure is probably due to its increased release. On balance then, our results demonstrate that cold stress in the rat induces significant activation of the hippocampal cholinergic system

[en] The uptake and reduction of chromium(VI) compounds are crucial to their carcinogenicity. Many cellular systems have been shown to reduce chromium(VI). The ability of mitochondria to reduce chromate in vitro was investigated using rat liver submitochondrial particles (SMPs), which contain the electron transport chain, and isolated rat liver mitochondria. SMPs with NADH as substrate reduced chromate as shown by EPR and UV-VIS spectroscopic studies. Chromate was reduced to a chromium(V) species, which was detectable by EPR. SMPs with succinate as substrate were less effective in reducing chromate relative to NADH-driven chromate-reductase activity. SMPs show a higher rate of oxygen depletion with NADH as substrate as compared to succinate as substrate. In SMPs with NADH as substrate, rotenone, antimycin and cyanide all produced a ∼40% inhibition of chromate-reductase activity. In SMPs with succinate as substrate, cyanide and antimycin produced ∼50% inhibition of chromate-reductase activity and rotenone caused no detectable inhibition. In vivo studies of rats injected with sodium dichromate spiked with ⁵¹Cr showed that after 24 hr, chromium was bound preferentially to mitochondrial DNA relative to nuclear DNA by a factor of ∼1500

[en] The heat shock response of Euglena gracilis was studied and the proteins synthesized were identified. Cells were pulse-labeled with [³⁵S] sulfate at 21 degrees C or 36 degrees C and the proteins synthesized were analyzed by acrylamide gel analysis. The rate of synthesis of at least 4 major and 6 minor polypeptides, ranging from 25 Kd to 116 Kd increased in both light and dark grown cultures. Two polypeptides, 68 Kd and 69 Kd, were found to cross-react by immunoblot analysis with monoclonal antibodies raised against human 72 and 73 Kd heat shock proteins. Both the 68 Kd and 69 Kd proteins were expressed at 21 degrees C; however, the synthesis of only the 68 Kd protein increased at 36 degrees C. The 68 Kd heat inducible protein was present in the cytoplasm and nucleus, but not the chloroplast, in cells grown at 21 degrees C or exposed to 36 degrees C. Both 68 Kd and 69 Kd proteins copurified during ATP-agarose affinity chromatography. Preliminary evidence indicates that the 68 Kd protein is phosphorylated in the presence of Ca⁺⁺ and these proteins exhibit ATPase activity