[An analysis of isometric reflections in morphology exemplified by the mandible of the rat (Rattus, Rodentia)]. / Analiz izometricheskikh otobrazhenii v morfologii na primere nizhnei cheliusti krys (Rattus, Rodentia).

Individual, age, sex, and species differences of morphological shape is treated as a result of general shape formation process. It is assumed that mutual reflections of these differences could be described by continuous and discontinuous transformations. The first type of these reflects equilibrium properties of shape formation, while the second type reflects its non-equilibrium properties. Equilibrium process is strongly canalized and is able to generate quite limited diversity of shapes. Contrary to this, non-equilibrium process can generate a lot of different shapes, as it destroys canalized relations between characters. Idea of equilibrium process provides a background for formulation of null hypothesis about anticipated relations between characters. Statistically significant deviations from these relations allow to recognize characters that mark areas of possibly non-equilibrium transformations. Analysis of localizations of all such characters allows to formulate more meaningful hypothesis about shape transformations for a particular morphological object. Some easily available statistical methods of recognizing characters that reflect either continuous of discontinuous transformations are exposed using mandible of three rat species as an example. It is shown that discontinuous transformations are located mainly in the same areas of mandible in all modes of inter-reflections. Characters (linear measurements between morphometric landmarks) with continuous inter-reflections describe transformations of general shape of the mandible. Characters with discontinuous inter-reflections mark boundaries between functional blocks and areas with the heaviest dynamic loads.

[A small-mammal study in the northeastern Kara Kum for leptospirosis infectivity]. / Issledovanie melkikh mlekopitaiushchikh severo-vostochnykh Karakumov na zarazhennost' leptospirozom.

Search for natural foci of leptospirosis was carried out in 1987-1989 in humid biotopes of Tashauz Province, Turkmenistan. Such potential carriers of leptospirosis as house mice (Mus musculus) and tamarisk gerbils (Meriones tamariscinus) are widely spread in this area, and the size of their population can amount to great numbers. The sharpest fluctuations in the population size are characteristic of house mice inhabiting the shores of water collecting ponds and lakes in the regions of minimally used pastures. A moderate number of house mice was registered in spring and autumn at the area of irrigated agriculture. Only here and only in autumn a faint epizootic manifestation of the natural focus of L. grippotyphosa infection in house mice was registered for the first time in Turkmenistan. The titers in mouse blood sera, determined in the microagglutination test and the Leptospira lysis test, were 1:20 to 1:200. According to the data on the humidity and pH of the soil in the vicinity of irrigated fields, spring and summer months may be regarded as the most favorable period for the survival of leptospires in the environment. The probability of the aggravation of the epizootic situation seems to increase when irrigated fields adjoin pastures of are temporarily used as grazing ground for cattle.

[Population contacts in the Republic of Guinea with ectoparasites and rodents based on questionnaire data. 1. The tasks and the scope of the questionnaire]. / Kontakty naseleniia Gvineiskoi Respubliki s éktoparazitami i gryzunami po dannym anketirovaniia. 1. Zadachi i soderzhanie ankety.

Questionnaire is presented which was used in 1987 in 15 regions (28,400 inhabitants) of 3 landscape climatic areas in Guinea: savanna-forest, light and damp tropical forests. The questionnaire was aimed at obtaining quantitative characteristics on important items of population economic activity and number of potential hosts and carriers of natural focus infections in the buildings. Types of the population occupation were differentiated in conformity with various biotopes the people belong to, and according to their direct contacts with domestic, synanthropic and wild animals. The quantity of little mammals (multi-nipple, gray, black and hamster--like rats, mice, shrews, and bats) and ectoparasites (bloodsucking Ixodes, fleas and lice) and intensity of control thereof were estimated according to 4 grades in 6 types of residential and uninhabited constructions.