The effects of discrete increases in the volume of an artificial space-occupying lesion on intracranial pressures and the systemic circulation were studied in six anaesthetised and artificially ventilated dogs. Each increase in volume, accompanied by an increase in supratentorial intracranial pressure, a decrease in supratentorial perfusion pressure, and an increase in transtentorial pressure gradient, induced alterations in the systemic circulation. There were a decrease in heart rate, marked alterations in the arrhythmia index, and increases in stroke volume and systemic vascular resistance. A period of transient systemic hypertension was noted to accompany each discrete increase in intracranial pressure.

Stationary-phase cultures of Streptococcus lactis (strain 1) ere used to produce basic peptides which had no antibiotic activity but which contained material electrophoretically similar to nisin. Cells of S. lactis (strain 354/07) which produce nisin in late log phase and stationary phase were harvested in early log phase and used for preparing cell extracts (C.E.). Incubation of C.E. with basic peptide preparations from strain 1 generated an antibiotic believed to be nisin. The amount generated was directly related to one of the peak areas in the electrophoretograms of the basic peptide preparations. It is suggested that material in this peak is similar to or is a precursor of nisin. The specific activity of the C.E. was highest when a mild disruption method was used which affected neither the phase-contrast appearance nor the Gram reaction of the organism.

SUMMARY When Po 2 is measured with currently available commercial electrode systems, blood systematically gives a lower reading than gas with which it has been equilibrated. Water gives an intermediate value between gas and blood of the same Po 2 . Calibration with gas mixtures prior to measurement of blood Po 2 requires the use of a correction factor for which an assumed constant value does not seem justified. Following trials of glycerol/water mixtures, it was found that 30 per cent glycerol gave an indicated Po 2 very close to that for blood, when both liquids were equilibrated with the same gas mixture. A method is described for routine calibration of the polarograph with 30 per cent glycerol: this obviates the need for a correction factor for the blood-gas difference.

SUMMARY The construction working principles and evaluation of the new Cyprane Fluotec Mark 3 vaporizer for halothane are described. The high output facilities at low flows with the Fluotec Mark 2 have been omitted. With the Mark 3, the output is linear at all flows, and the “Hill-Lowe pumping effect” is negligible. The construction and overall performance are satisfactory, the vaporizer providing halothene in acceptably consistent concentrations over a wide range of conditions encountered during routine use by anaesthetists.

A study of the kinetic properties of the α-lytic protease of Sorangium sp. indicated that substrate-binding by the enzyme was not pH dependent. In agreement with this indication of a pH-insensitive conformation, the optical rotation of the enzyme between pH 5 and 10.5 is not pH dependent. The optical rotatory dispersion spectrum above 220 mμ shows a main Cotton effect with a trough at 230 mμ and small but well-marked Cotton effects between 260 and 300 mμ. The reduced, mean residue rotation at the trough of the main Cotton effect was estimated to be −1650 ± 80° cm2/dmole; the Moffitt–Yang parameter b0 for rotations above 325 mμ is approximately zero. These values suggest that the enzyme has virtually no α-helices.

This chapter outlines the Aslib register of specialist translators. The register exists mainly for the purpose of enabling members of Aslib to have articles from the foreign scientific and technical press translated. The work carried out is restricted for the most part to periodical articles, although translators for whole books are occasionally requested. Applicants must also state the nature and extent of their experience in the particular subjects offered as specializations, and they must quote the names of two or three people for whom they have carried out translations and who are qualified to comment on their capabilities. All the major European languages are strongly represented, and there are over fifty translators of Russian. The greatest weakness is in oriental languages, particularly Chinese, for which only one translator is registered. Employers to whom translators are recommended are requested to send to Aslib a brief report stating that a particular translator was employed, whether the employer was satisfied with the translation and the total charge made.

For the first time since this series of annual reviews of the literature of special librarianship and information work began, the authorship has changed hands. It is fitting to pay tribute to the skill with which Mr J. Bird has compiled this review each year and to express the hope that the same standards of selectivity and pragmatic appraisal set by Mr Bird will be maintained. The aim of the survey remains unchanged: to bring to the notice of librarians, particularly those in the smaller organizations, the more significant and practically useful books, pamphlets, and articles which appeared during the past year, or, more strictly, were received in the Aslib library during the past year. Experience of the types of inquiry most frequently received in the Aslib library has been particularly useful in determining the type of publication that could most profitably be included. As has been stressed in previous years, the survey is not intended to be used as a bibliographical tool, since this purpose is adequately served by other existing services, but rather as a guide to current reading.

This exhibition was held in the library from 1st to 15th March and attracted some 250 visitors. This figure indicates that the theme of the exhibition was one of widespread interest and related to problems that most special libraries have to face. The figure also indicates an average of twenty‐three visitors on each day that the exhibition was open; with the average length of a visit in the region of thirty minutes, considerable calls were made upon the time of the library staff.

the dial by two screws, but in the faulty vaporizer one had fallen out, into the top of the casing. With the cam loose, it was possible to turn the dial a few degrees clockwise beyond the OFF position, when a strong smell of enflurane was noticed in the fresh gas flow. Anaesthetists should be aware that unless the OFF mark on the concentration setting dial coincides with the datum mark, then their Enfluratec or, presumably, Fluotec 3, may still deliver vapour. I have reported this finding to Cyprane, making two suggestions. First, all existing Enfluratecs should be modified by fixing the cam to the dial by four instead of two screws. The cam and dial are already drilled and tapped for this, the extra holes being used at present to attach the name-plate to the dial. Second, the present design, with a hard steel spring working on a soft plastic cam, seems unsatisfactory and bound to cause excessive wear. The cam on the faulty vaporizer was badly worn after only 8 months' use. The rim of the concentration setting dial could be used as a cam, with different machining for different models, from the same stock of parts. A spring made of plastic in the same way as the one-piece hinges found on some plastic boxes would avoid the wear problem. (1976). Another hazard of free-standing vaporizers: increasing anesthetic concentration with reversed flow of vaporizing gas. Sir,—Unfortunately we have not had the opportunity to examine the Enfluratec with which Dr Davies experienced his reported problems, but we have tried removing the stop mechanism completely from another Enfluratec to examine the performance under these conditions. With steady-state conditions we were unable to detect any measurable concentration of Enflurane below the OFF position until the dial had been turned approximately 90° below OFF where a concentration of approximately 1 % was observed. As the dial was rotated further the concentration again decreased to zero until the maximum graduation of the scale was approached from the reverse direction when the concentration suddenly increased to 7%. The apparatus used for these measurements was sensitive to concentrations of approximately 0.01 % enflurane. In a correctly functioning Enfluratec, the port which permits the flow of fresh gases into the vaporizing chamber is closed by the rotary valve from the position 90° below OFF to a position close to the lowest graduated mark on the scale. …