DOXYCYCLINE INDUCED PHOTODAMAGE TO HUMAN NEUTROPHILS AND TRYPTOPHAN

Abstract— Neutrophil functions were studied following irradiation (340–380 nm) of the cells in the presence of 22 mU M doxycycline. At increasing light fluence the locomotion, chemiluminescence and glucose oxidation (by the hexose monophosphate shunt) of the neutrophils steadily decreased. The photodamage increased with increasing preincubation temperature and time and was enhanced in D₂O, reduced in azide and abolished in anaerobiosis. Superoxide dismutase, catalase or mannitol did not influence the photodamage. Photooxidation of tryptophan in the presence of doxycycline was increased9–10-fold in D₂O and nearly abolished in the presence of 0.25 m M NaN₃, indicating that singlet oxygen is the most important reactive oxygen species in the doxycycline-induced photodamage. The results may explain some of the features of tetracycline-induced photosensitivity and why other authors have obtained diverging results when studying the influence of tetracyclines on neutrophil functions.     

ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS: THE EFFECT OF CHANGING MANAGEMENT BEHAVIOR

Abstract The paper assesses the welfare effects of biotechnological progress, as exemplified by tree improvements, using a partial equilibrium model. Timber demand is assumed to be stochastic and the distributions of its coefficients known. The coefficients of a log‐linear supply function are determined by maximizing the expected present value of the total surplus of timber production, both in the presence and in the absence of genetically improved regeneration materials. The supply functions are then used to estimate the expected present values of the total surplus in different cases through simulation. These estimates enable us to assess the direct effect and the effect of changing harvest behavior on the expected present value of the total surplus. The main results of the study are (i) the presence of genetically improved regeneration materials has significant impacts on the aggregate timber supply function; (ii) the application of genetically improved regeneration materials leads to a significant increase in the expected present value of the total surplus; and (iii) a considerable proportion of the welfare gain results from the change in harvest behavior. A conclusion we draw from this study is that ignoring the influences of technological and policy changes on behavior can lead to significantly biased welfare estimates. We view the model as a potential approach to conducting counterfactual policy comparisons in economics without forward‐looking data.     

USING RESERVES TO PROTECT FISH AND WILDLIFE SIMPLIFIED MODELING APPROACHES

ABSTRACT. This paper investigates theoretically to what extent a nature reserve may protect a uniformly distributed population of fish or wildlife against negative effects of harvesting. Two objectives of this protection are considered: avoidance of population extinction and maintenance of population, at or above a given precautionary population level. The pre‐reserve population is assumed to follow the logistic growth law and two models for post‐reserve population dynamics are formulated and discussed. For Model A by assumption the logistic growth law with a common carrying capacity is valid also for the post‐reserve population growth. In Model B, it is assumed that each sub‐population has its own carrying capacity proportionate to its distribution area. For both models, migration from the high‐density area to the low‐density area is proportional to the density difference. For both models there are two possible outcomes, either a unique globally stable equilibrium, or extinction. The latter may occur when the exploitation effort is above a threshold that is derived explicitly for both models. However, when the migration rate is less than the growth rate both models imply that the reserve can be chosen so that extinction cannot occur. For the opposite case, when migration is large compared to natural growth, a reserve as the only management tool cannot assure survival of the population, but the specific way it increases critical effort is discussed.