Book Reviews: Behavior Change in the Human Services: An Introduction to Principles and Applications by Martin Sundel and Sandra S. Sundel. Exploring Personality: An Intellectual Odyssey by Russell L. Ackoff. The Ecologist: The Cosmic Covenant.

Systemic Practice and Action Research -     

Thiarubrine A, a bioactive constituent of Aspilia (Asteraceae) consumed by wild chimpanzees

Two African species of Aspilia (Asteraceae), which are used medicinally by man and which are eaten by wild chimpanzees in an unusual manner, were found to contain the potent antibiotic thiarubrine A as a major leaf phytochemical. Its presence in leaf material strengthens the view that the feeding behavior of wild chimpanzees is related to special physiological or pharmacological effects on the animals.     

Protein turnover in glycine-C14-labelled Landschütz ascites tumor cells

Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen über die Stabilität der Eiweißstoffe von Landschütz-Aszites-Tumoren wurden an C¹⁴-Glykokoll,-Valin oder -Leucin markierten Zellen durchgeführt. Es wurde festgestellt, dass während der Zellteilung und des Wachstums kontinuierlich etwa 5–10% pro Tag der einmal gebundenen C¹⁴-Aktivität als niedrigmolekulare Komponenten in die Aszitesflüssigkeit ausgeschieden wird. Diese Instabilität kommt offenbar durch intrazellulare Umsetzung der Eiweißstoffe und nicht durch Ausscheidung ganzer Eiweissmoleküle zustande.     

BOOK REVIEWS: Partnership and Participation by Ann Taket and Leroy White. Sustainable Development: Economics and Policy by P. K. Rao.

Systemic Practice and Action Research -     

Thiarubrine A,a bioactive constituent ofAspilia (Asteraceae) consumed by wild chimpanzees

Summary Two African species ofAspilia (Asteraceae), which are used medicinally by man and which are eaten by wild chimpanzees in an unusual manner, were found to contain the potent antibiotic thiarubrine A as a major leaf phytochemical. Its presence in leaf material strengthens the view that the feeding behavior of wild chimpanzees is related to special physiological or pharmacological effects on the animals.     

Late survival of Neanderthals at the southernmost extreme of Europe

The late survival of archaic hominin populations and their long contemporaneity with modern humans is now clear for southeast Asia. In Europe the extinction of the Neanderthals, firmly associated with Mousterian technology, has received much attention, and evidence of their survival after 35 kyr bp has recently been put in doubt. Here we present data, based on a high-resolution record of human occupation from Gorham's Cave, Gibraltar, that establish the survival of a population of Neanderthals to 28 kyr bp. These Neanderthals survived in the southernmost point of Europe, within a particular physiographic context, and are the last currently recorded anywhere. Our results show that the Neanderthals survived in isolated refuges well after the arrival of modern humans in Europe.     

56K fibroblast protein not specific for Duchenne muscular dystrophy but for skin biopsy site

Recently, we reported the detection by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of a 56,000 (56K)-molecular weight polypeptide that was present in cultured skin fibroblasts from normal males but was not detectable in fibroblasts from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. Since then we have established that the 56K polypeptide is not present in skin fibroblasts from normal females, DMD carrier females, or in normal male fibroblasts obtained from sources other than the Repository for Mutant Human Cell Strains, Montreal. Further inquiry has led to the discovery that all the normal male fibroblast cultures obtained from the Montreal repository had been established from preputial skin. Fibroblast cultures from DMD patients, DMD carriers, as well as other normal individuals, had been derived from non-genital skin biopsies. Thus, the absence of the 56K polypeptide is not specific for DMD, but rather is related to the site of skin biopsy.     

Studies on peripheral neurons and neurohaemal tissue in the thorax of the stick insect (Carausius morosus)

Summary The distribution of peripheral neurosecretory and non-neurosecretory neurons, and transverse nerve neurohaemal swellings, is described in the thorax ofCarausius morosus. The electrical activity of the isolated transverse nerves has been recorded.We are grateful to the Science Research Concil for financial support, and to Dr Sue Fifield and Steven Irving for methylene blue and electron microscope preparations.