An Overview of Analytical Methods for in Vitro Bioassay of Actinides.

The bioassay of urine and fecal samples has been used since the 1940s to determine an individual's uptake of uranium and actinide elements such as americium and plutonium. Over the years, several analytical separation methods and techniques have been employed for these types of analyses. Analytical separations, ranging from solvent extraction and anion exchange to chromatography, and analytical techniques, ranging from autoradiography to kinetic phosphorescence to fission-track analysis and high-resolution solid-state alpha spectroscopy, have been used at one time or another. Over the last few decades, there have been significant advances in radiochemical separations, as well as an increased use of mass spectroscopy, to determine trace and ultratrace levels of actinides in urine and fecal samples. This review summarizes and discusses developments in radiochemical separation methods and advancements in analytical techniques for actinide bioassay since the early 1940s to the present, followed by a recent development and trend in the bioassay of actinides-particularly in urine and fecal samples.

Population ecology of Heteronyx piceus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in a peanut/maize cropping system.

Large larval populations of the scarabaeid beetle Heteronyx piceus Blanchard that occur under peanuts, but not maize, in the South Burnett region of Australia are the result of a high rate and prolonged period of egg production by females feeding on peanut foliage. Heteronyx piceus is a relatively sedentary species and movement of females between adjacent fields is low. Populations of H. piceus varied markedly with landscape position. High larval populations are more likely (1 in 4 chance) to be encountered on the 'scrub' soils in the upper parts of the landscape than in the 'forest' soils in the lower half (1 in 20 chance), indicating that soil type/landscape position is a key risk factor in assessing the need for management intervention. The studies indicate that, because of the species' sedentary nature, the most meaningful population entity for management of H. piceus is the individual field, rather than the whole-farm or the region. The implications of this population ecology for management of the pest are discussed in relation to control strategies.

A repeater type biotelemetry system for use on wild big game animals.

A repeater type telemetry system was developed and field tested on a wild elk near laramie, Wyoming, in the summer of 1973. The telemetry system consisted of the following: (a) a heat flow rate sensing implanted transmitter, (b) a repeater type neck collar and (c) a portable receiving station consisting of a receiver, decoding circuitry and analog chart recorder. The transmitter in (a) produced relatively low frequency rf pulses whose repetition rate was directly proportional to heat flow rate through the hide of the animal. In (b), the pulses from the implant are sensed and retransmitted using a relatively high power, high frequency transmitter. A second rf pulse was generated whose pulse spacing was related to animal activity. Details of circuit design and performance are given. Field experience has shown that this method is extremely useful for the monitoring of biological data from secretive big game animals such as elk.