Biochemical Investigations on the Stability of Biological Membranes

In this project, an attempt has been made to study the stability of erythrocyte and lysosomal membranes biochemically. Erythrocytes were chosen for the study because of their ready availability and relative simplicity. Biological membranes forming closed boundaries between compartments of varying composition consist mainly of proteins and lipids. They are asymmetric, fluid structures that are thermodynamically stable and metabolically active. Normal cellular function begins with normal membrane structure and any variation in it may upset the normal functions. The degree of fluidity of a membrane depends on the chain length of its lipids and degree of unsaturation of constituent fatty acids. In response to environmental changes, many cells can regulate composition of their membranes to maintain the overall semi fluid environment necessary for many membrane associated functions. The assembly and Maintenance of membrane structures in cells is a dynamic process. The components are not only synthesized and inserted into a growing membrane but are also continuously degraded at a slower rate. This turnover process varies with each individual molecule.Lysosomes are important in the catabolic processes occurring in the cell. Lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes and are stable under normal conditions. In certain pathological conditions, the lysosomal membrane may rupture, releasing the hydrolytic enzymes into the cell and digestion of cell takes place as a whole. This is very dangerous. In normal life processes of multi cellular organisms, lysosomes rupture following the death of a cell and it may have some value as a built in mechanism for selfremoval of dead cells.An attempt has also been made in this project towards developing lysosome membrane stability as an index of fish spoilage during storage. Different membranes within the cell and between cells have different compositions as reflected in the ratio of protein to lipid. The difference is not surprising given the very different functions of membranes

Seasonal ramification in the biochemical composition of organic matter in Chalakudy river-estuary

The present study which is the first of its kind in this region is an attempt to generate adequate information on the relative abundances, the seasonal and spatial variations as well as on the source and fate of organic compounds found associated with the dissolved, particulate and sedimentary compartments of Chalakudy river system. The study aimed at investigating variations, the relative proportion of dissolved, particulate and sedimentary fractions of these materials as well as the pollution extent so as to be able to comment on the present condition of this river-estuarine system. This thesis focuses attention on the role of biogeoorganics in modifying the ecological and environmental condition of the dissolved, particuIate and sediment compartments with their minute variability subjected to various physical, chemical and biogeochemical processes. A scheme of study encompassing all these objectives provides the frame work for the present investigation.

Re-engineering and Re-defining University Libraries in the context of modern Information and Communication Technologies: a study with special reference to the University Libraries in Kerala

Information and communication technologies are the tools that underpin the emerging “Knowledge Society”. Exchange of information or knowledge between people and through networks of people has always taken place. But the ICT has radically changed the magnitude of this exchange, and thus factors such as timeliness of information and information dissemination patterns have become more important than ever.Since information and knowledge are so vital for the all round human development, libraries and institutions that manage these resources are indeed invaluable. So, the Library and Information Centres have a key role in the acquisition, processing, preservation and dissemination of information and knowledge. ln the modern context, library is providing service based on different types of documents such as manuscripts, printed, digital, etc. At the same time, acquisition, access, process, service etc. of these resources have become complicated now than ever before. The lCT made instrumental to extend libraries beyond the physical walls of a building and providing assistance in navigating and analyzing tremendous amounts of knowledge with a variety of digital tools. Thus, modern libraries are increasingly being re-defined as places to get unrestricted access to information in many formats and from many sources.The research was conducted in the university libraries in Kerala State, India. lt was identified that even though the information resources are flooding world over and several technologies have emerged to manage the situation for providing effective services to its clientele, most of the university libraries in Kerala were unable to exploit these technologies at maximum level. Though the libraries have automated many of their functions, wide gap prevails between the possible services and provided services. There are many good examples world over in the application of lCTs in libraries for the maximization of services and many such libraries have adopted the principles of reengineering and re-defining as a management strategy. Hence this study was targeted to look into how effectively adopted the modern lCTs in our libraries for maximizing the efficiency of operations and services and whether the principles of re-engineering and- redefining can be applied towards this.Data‘ was collected from library users, viz; student as well as faculty users; library ,professionals and university librarians, using structured questionnaires. This has been .supplemented by-observation of working of the libraries, discussions and interviews with the different types of users and staff, review of literature, etc. Personal observation of the organization set up, management practices, functions, facilities, resources, utilization of information resources and facilities by the users, etc. of the university libraries in Kerala have been made. Statistical techniques like percentage, mean, weighted mean, standard deviation, correlation, trend analysis, etc. have been used to analyse data.All the libraries could exploit only a very few possibilities of modern lCTs and hence they could not achieve effective Universal Bibliographic Control and desired efficiency and effectiveness in services. Because of this, the users as well as professionals are dissatisfied. Functional effectiveness in acquisition, access and process of information resources in various formats, development and maintenance of OPAC and WebOPAC, digital document delivery to remote users, Web based clearing of library counter services and resources, development of full-text databases, digital libraries and institutional repositories, consortia based operations for e-journals and databases, user education and information literacy, professional development with stress on lCTs, network administration and website maintenance, marketing of information, etc. are major areas need special attention to improve the situation. Finance, knowledge level on ICTs among library staff, professional dynamism and leadership, vision and support of the administrators and policy makers, prevailing educational set up and social environment in the state, etc. are some of the major hurdles in reaping the maximum possibilities of lCTs by the university libraries in Kerala. The principles of Business Process Re-engineering are found suitable to effectively apply to re-structure and redefine the operations and service system of the libraries. Most of the conventional departments or divisions prevailing in the university libraries were functioning as watertight compartments and their existing management system was more rigid to adopt the principles of change management. Hence, a thorough re-structuring of the divisions was indicated. Consortia based activities and pooling and sharing of information resources was advocated to meet the varied needs of the users in the main campuses and off campuses of the universities, affiliated colleges and remote stations. A uniform staff policy similar to that prevailing in CSIR, DRDO, ISRO, etc. has been proposed by the study not only in the university libraries in kerala but for the entire country.Restructuring of Lis education,integrated and Planned development of school,college,research and public library systems,etc.were also justified for reaping maximum benefits of the modern ICTs.

Studies on the Intercompartmental Exchange of Trace Metals in an Estuarine System

The present study is an attempt at investigating the intercompartmental exchange of trace metals (copper, cadmium, zinc, lead and nickel) in the Cochin estuary. The nature and extent of distribution in the different compartments with special reference to the transport from environmental compartments to biological compartments have been dealt with in detail. The suitability of the shells of Villorita cyprinoides var cochinensis (Hanely) in pollution monitoring activities has been assessed. A mathematical model (SAAMPLE - Shells in the Assessment of Aquatic Metal Pollution Levels) based on kinetic laws that govern the intercompartmental exchange has been proposed.

Dynamics Of Pesticides In The Backwaters Of Kuttanad

The tremendous growth in industrial production and the consequent improving in the standards of living have provoked worldwide discussion on environmental quality. The question of abusive use of pesticides for crop protection and vector control programmes is only one aspect of this entire complex. Inspite of this, tendentious publications such as Rachel Carson’s Silent spring have brought crop protection into the foreground of environmental discussions. The persistence and high stability of organochlorine pesticides are regarded as problematic and the accumulation of pesticides residues and its metabolites in the different compartments of the environment is one of the major concerns. Because of their persistence in the aquatic environment and biomagnifications in food chain, the continuous use of pesticides will have wider implications not only in aquatic environmental quality but also on human health. The residual levels of these persistent chemicals exceed their permissible limits, and get partitioned among the constituent phases of the aquatic systems. Crop protection is only part of the agricultural economy and in agriculture itself has led to the most fundamental changes in the human environment. So, in all areas of life one must weigh the desired advantages against possible disadvantages. The proposed thesis is based on the investigations on the distributions of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in the waters and sediments of Kuttanad backwaters. Kuttanad, a unique agricultural area, which forms the southern part of the Vembanad lake, is a deltaic formation of four river systems entering the southern part of the Cochin estuary. No systematic study has ever been done to assess the ecotoxicological impact of these diverse chemicals and their metabolites in Kuttanad area. So, a detailed systematic and rigorous investigation on the distributions of these persistent chemicals is carried out. The thesis is divided into 7 Chapters

Phase Transitions Of Trace Metals In The Aquatic Environment Of Kuttanad, Kerala

Environmental persistence, fate and interactive effects with living organisms - beneficial or toxic - of trace elements are directly related to the physico-chemical forms in which they occur. Knowledge on the association of trace metals with different environmental compartments in an aquatic system are, therefore, essential for monitoring the trace metal pollution as well as transport, fate and bio-geochemical cycles of trace metals. This thesis is a modest attempt in assessing the trace metal levels and their behaviour in the aquatic environment of Kuttanad, an aquatic system that is severely affected by man's intervention on natural processes, by seriously evaluating the levels of trace metals in dissolved and particulate phases and also in the different chemical fractions of the sediments.

Integrated Coastal Water Quality Assessment Of Andrott Island, Lakshadweep

Assessment water’ quality nowa-days in global scenario implies the need for a reference point against which monitoring can be measured and weighed. Aquatic ecosystenis as part of the natural environment are balanced both witliin tlicinselves and with other environmental compartments and this equilibrium is subject to natural variations and evolutions as well as variations caused by human intervention. The present assessnient is to identify. and possibly quantify, anthropogenic influences over time against a “natural baseline situation. Water pollution problems have only recently been taken seriously in retrospect. Once damage occurred, it becomes immeasurable, and control action cannot be initiated

Management of Public Road Transport System in Trivandrum City

An efficient passenger road transport system is a boon to any city and an inefficient one its bane. Passenger bus transport operation involves various aspects like passenger convenience, profitability of operation and social, technological and environmental factors. The author’s interest in this area was aroused when he conducted a traffic survey of Trivandrum City in 1979. While some studies on the performance of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation in specific areas like finance, inventory control etc. have already been made, no study has been made from the operational point of view. The study is also the first one of its kind in dealing with the transportation problems for a second order city like Trivandrum. The objective of this research study is to develop a scientific basis for analysing and understanding the various operational aspects of urban bus transport management like assessing travel demand, depot location, fleet allocation, vehicle scheduling, maintenance etc. The operation of public road transportation in Trivandrum City is analysed on the basis of this theoretical background. The studies made have relevance to any medium sized city in India or even abroad. If not properly managed, deterioration of any public utility system is a natural process and it adversely affects the consumers, the economy and the nation. Making any system more efficient requires careful analysis, judicious decision making and proper implementation. It is hoped that this study will throw some light into the various operational aspects of urban passenger road transport management which can be of some help to make it perform more efficiently

Nitrification in a packed bed bioreactor integrated into amarine recirculating maturation system under different substrate concentrations and flow rates

BACKGROUND: A packed bed bioreactor (PBBR) activated with an indigenous nitrifying bacterial consortia was developed and commercialized for rapid establishment of nitrification in brackish water and marine hatchery systems in the tropics. The present study evaluated nitrification in PBBR integrated into a Penaeus monodon recirculating maturation system under different substrate concentrations and flow rates. RESULTS:Instantnitrificationwasobservedafter integration ofPBBRinto thematuration system.TANandNO2-Nconcentrations were always maintained below0.5 mg L−1 during operation. The TANandNO2-N removalwas significant (P < 0.001) in all the six reactor compartments of the PBBR having the substrates at initial concentrations of 2, 5 and 10 mg L−1. The average volumetric TAN removal rates increased with flow rates from 43.51 (250 L h−1) to 130.44 (2500 L h−1) gTAN m−3 day−1 (P < 0.05). FISH analysis of the biofilms after 70 days of operation gave positive results with probes NSO 190 ((β ammonia oxidizers), NsV 443 (Nitrosospira spp.) NEU (halophilic Nitrosomonas), Ntspa 712 (Phylum Nitrospira) indicating stability of the consortia. CONCLUSION: The PBBR integrated into the P. monodon maturation system exhibited significant nitrification upon operation for 70 days as well as at different substrate concentrations and flow rates. This system can easily be integrated into marine and brackish water aquaculture systems, to establish instantaneous nitrification

Truncated VP28 as oral vaccine candidate against WSSV infection in shrimp: An uptake and processing study in the midgut of Penaeus monodon

Several oral vaccination studies have been undertaken to evoke a better protection against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), amajor shrimp pathogen. Formalin-inactivated virus andWSSV envelope protein VP28 were suggested as candidate vaccine components, but their uptake mechanism upon oral delivery was not elucidated. In this study the fate of these components and of live WSSV, orally intubated to black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) was investigated by immunohistochemistry, employing antibodies specific for VP28 and haemocytes. The midgut has been identified as the most prominent site of WSSV uptake and processing. The truncated recombinant VP28 (rec-VP28), formalin-inactivated virus (IVP) and live WSSV follow an identical uptake route suggested as receptor-mediated endocytosis that starts with adherence of luminal antigens at the apical layers of gut epithelium. Processing of internalized antigens is performed in endo-lysosomal compartments leading to formation of supra-nuclear vacuoles. However, the majority of WSSV-antigens escape these compartments and are transported to the inter-cellular space via transcytosis. Accumulation of the transcytosed antigens in the connective tissue initiates aggregation and degranulation of haemocytes. Finally the antigens exiting the midgut seem to reach the haemolymph. The nearly identical uptake pattern of the different WSSV-antigens suggests that receptors on the apical membrane of shrimp enterocytes recognize rec-VP28 efficiently. Hence the truncated VP28 can be considered suitable for oral vaccination, when the digestion in the foregut can be bypassed

Model Development and Validation for Studying Consumer Preferences of Car Owners

Globalization and liberalization, with the entry of many prominent foreign manufacturers, changed the automobile scenario in India, since early 1990‟s. Manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Suzuki, Hyundai, Renault, Mitsubishi, Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and Nissan set up their manufacturing units in India in joint venture with their Indian counterpart companies, by making use of the Foreign Direct Investment policy of the Government of India, These manufacturers started capturing the hearts of Indian car customers with their choice of technological and innovative product features, with quality and reliability. With the multiplicity of choices available to the Indian passenger car buyers, it drastically changed the way the car purchase scenario in India and particularly in the State of Kerala. This transformed the automobile scene from a sellers‟ market to buyers‟ market. Car customers started developing their own personal preferences and purchasing patterns, which were hitherto unknown in the Indian automobile segment. The main purpose of this paper is to come up with the identification of possible parameters and a framework development, that influence the consumer purchase behaviour patterns of passenger car owners in the State of Kerala, so that further research could be done, based on the framework and the identified parameters

Influence of Frequent Flyer Programme and Airline Service Quality on Re-buy Intentions of Airline Frequent Passengers

The growth potential of service sector, especially the aviation sector in the Indian economy is splendid. Therefore, it is crucial for the airline service providers to realize their customers, design offers and deliver the desired value to their customers. This study reveals the effect of airline passenger satisfactions particularly on re-buy intentions derived from the attributes-level performance dimensions of both service aspects and loyalty programme of an airline. The mediation effect of satisfaction and other selected antecedents on the re-buy intention of a passenger is hypothesized in this study. Critical areas affecting buying intentions such as core service quality and loyalty attribute-level performances, effect of frequent flyer programme and service quality satisfaction, passenger trust on airline, brand image and moderating effects of perceived value, frequent programme status and travel frequency of airline passengers are linked in a structural model to assess the strength of each facet in affecting re-buy intentions. Implications to the airlines were made based on the finding that re-buy intentions cannot be attributed solely to the impacts of frequent flyer programme, rather affected through the mediation effect of airline service quality satisfaction, which is very much valid for the higher FFP status category of frequent travelers. The effects of moderation caused by perceived value, FFP status and flying experience were also found to be significant in making re-buy intentions.

Funktionelle Analyse der LC-FACS in Dictyostelium discoideum

"Funktionelle Analyse der LC-FACS in Dictyostelium discoideum" Das Dictyostelium discoideum Gen fcsA kodiert für ein 75 kDa großes Protein. Es kann durch Homologieanyalysen der Amino-säuresequenz zu den "long-chain fatty acyl-CoA"-Synthetasen ge-rechnet werden, die lang-kettige Fettsäuren durch die kovalente Bindung von Coenzym A akti-vie-ren und damit für diverse Reak-tionen in Stoffwechsel und Molekül-Synthese der Zelle verfügbar machen. Die hier untersuchte D. discoideum LC-FACS lokalisiert als peripher assoziiertes Protein an der cytosolischen Seite der Membran von Endo-somen und kleiner Vesikel. Bereits kurz nach der Bildung in der frühen sauren Phase kann die Lokalisation der LC-FACS auf Endosomen ge-zeigt werden. Sie dissoziiert im Laufe ihrer Neutra-li-sierung und kann auf späten Endosomen, die vor ihrer Exocytose stehen nicht mehr nach-gewiesen werden. Ein Teil der kleinen die in der gesamte Zelle verteilten kleinen Vesikel zeigt eine Kolokalisation mit lysosomalen Enzymen. Trotz des intrazellulären Verteilungs-mus-ters, das eine Beteiligung dieses Pro-teins an der Endocytose nahe-legt, konnte kein signifikanter Rückgang der Pino- und Phagocytose-Rate in LC-FACS Nullmutanten beobachtet werden. Der endo-cy-to-ti-sche Transit ist in diesen Zellen etwas verlängert, außerdem zeigen die Endosomen einen deutlich erhöhten pH-Wert, was zu einer weniger effektiven Prozessierung eines lysosomalen Enzyms führt (a-Mannosidase). Die Funktion der LC-FACS ist die Aufnahme von langkettigen Fettsäuren aus dem Lumen der Endosomen.

Role of Rab5 in synaptic vesicle recycling

During synaptic transmission, NT-filled synaptic vesicles are released by Ca2+-triggered exocytosis at the active zone. Following exocytosis, SV membrane is immediately re-internalized and synaptic vesicles (SVs) are regenerated by a local recycling mechanism within the presynaptic terminal. It is debated whether an endosomal compartment is involved in this recycling process. In contrast, it is well known from cultured mammalian cells, that endocytic vesicles fuse to the early sorting endosome. The early endosome is a major sorting station of the cell where cargo is send into the degradative pathway to late endosome and lysosome or towards recycling. Each trafficking step is mediated by a certain protein of the Rab family. Rab proteins are small GTPases belonging to the Ras superfamily. They accumulate at their target compartments and have thereby been used as markers for the different endocytic organelles in cultured mammalian cells. Rab5 controls trafficking from the PM to the early endosome and has thereby been used as marker for this compartment. A second marker is based on the specific binding of the FYVE zinc finger protein domain to the lipid PI(3)P that is specifically generated at the early endosomal membrane. This study used the Drosophila NMJ as a model system to investigate the SV recycling process. In particular, three questions were addressed: First, is an endosomal compartment present at the synapse? Second, do SVs recycle through an endosome? Third, is Rab5 involved in SV recycling? We used GFP fusions of Rab5 and 2xFYVE to visualize endosomal compartments at the presynaptic terminal of Drosophila third instar larval NMJs. Furthermore, the endosomes are located within the pool of recycling SVs, labeled with the styryl-dye FM5-95. Using the temperature-sensitive mutation in Dynamin, shibirets, we showed that SV recycling involves trafficking through an intermediate endosomal compartment. In cultured mammalian cells, interfering with Rab5 function by expressing the dominant negative version, Rab5SN causes the fragmentation of the endosome and the accumulation of endocytic vesicles. In contrast, when Rab5 is overexpressed enlarged endosomal compartments were observed. In Drosophila, the endosomal compartment was disrupted when loss of function and dominant negative mutants of Rab5 were expressed. In addition, at the ultrastructural we observed an accumulation of endocytic vesicles in Rab5S43N expressing terminals and enlarged endosomes when Rab5 was overexpressed. Furthermore, interfering with Rab5 function using the dominant negative Rab5S43N caused a decrease in the SV recycling kinetics as shown by FM1-43 experiments. In contrast, overexpression of Rab5 or GFP-Rab5 caused an increase in the FM1-43 internalization rate. Finally, standard electrophysiological techniques were used to measure synaptic function. We found that the Rab5-mediated endosomal SV recycling pathway generates vesicles with a higher fusion efficacy during Ca2+-triggered release, compared to SVs recycled when Rab5 function was impaired. We therefore suggest a model in which the endosome serves as organelle to control the SV fusion efficacy and thereby the synaptic strength. Since changes in the synaptic strength are occuring during learning and memory processes, controlling endosomal SV recycling might be a new molecular mechanism involved in learning and memory.

Praxisrelevante Auswirkungen des Vorschlages für eine EU-Verordnung KOM/2000/7/final, 2000/0212(COD) des europäischen Parlaments und des Rates von der Kommission der Europäischen Gemeinschaften auf die Verkehrsplanung des öffentlichen Personennahverkehrs

Die Arbeit behandelt den Vorschlag für eine EU-Verordnung KOM/2000/7/final, 2000/0212(COD) des europäischen Parlaments und des Rates von der Kommission der Europäischen Gemeinschaften als Grundlage einer Marktöffnungsverordnung und welche Veränderungen sich dadurch in Deutschland einstellen werden. Ausschreibungen von Verkehrsleistungen werden zunehmen. Die Ausschreibungsarten werden sich in ländlichen Regionen von denen in Verkehrszentren unterscheiden. In der Region werden sich Bedarfslösungen stärker durchsetzen. Kürzungen von Verkehrsleistungen werden hier stärker ausfallen als in den Zentren und damit zu einem kleineren Leistungsvolumen führen. Aufgrund des geringen Leistungsumfangs gibt es weniger Interessenten. Bei Standardausschreibungen werden deshalb auch häufig die Varianten der beschränkten oder die freihändige Vergabe gewählt. Funktionale Ausschreibungen haben nur eine untergeordnete Bedeutung. In den Verkehrszentren sind die Lose größer und damit für viele Anbieter interessant. Die Verkehrszusatzleistungen sind zudem komplexer. Standardausschreibungen in öffentlicher Vergabeart werden sich hier vermutlich als Norm durchsetzen. Die VOL/A wird sicherlich ihre Bedeutung und ihren dafür notwendigen Regelungsumfang in Deutschland als deutsches oder als europäisches Recht behalten. Ob der empfehlende Charakter der DIN EN 13816 Norm „ÖPNV: Definition, Festlegung von Leistungszielen und Messung der Servicequalität“ erhalten werden kann und nicht als Steuerungselement zur Standardisierung im ÖPNV beitragen wird, ist dabei zu bezweifeln. Durch diese Wettbewerbspflicht wird der Aufgabenträger zum Besteller von Verkehrsleistungen. Damit geht die Verkehrsplanung in die Verantwortung des Aufgabenträgers über und gerät stärker in den Einflussbereich der Politik. Die strategisch abstrakte und die konkrete Verkehrsplanung wachsen für den Normfall der Standardausschreibung zusammen. Die Hoffnung auf eine bessere Netzintegration und eine Standardisierung des ÖPNV Angebots und der ÖPNV Qualität entsteht. Es entwickelt sich dadurch aber auch die Gefahr der Abhängigkeit des Nahverkehrsangebots von der derzeitigen Haushaltslage oder der Interessenlage der Politik. Kontinuität in Angebot und Qualität werden zu erklärten Planungszielen. Der Verkehrsplaner auf der Bestellerseite muss die Planung in Ausschreibungsunterlagen umsetzen. Dies erfordert erweiterte Kompetenzen in den Bereichen Betriebswirtschaft, Logistik, Jura, Informatik und Führungskompetenzen. Ausbildende Institutionen müssen darauf bereits im Vorfeld der Umsetzung reagieren. Durch die zeitliche Verzögerung der Umsetzung der Planung durch die Ausschreibungsschritte sind in der Verkehrsplanung längere Planungsvorlaufzeiten einzukalkulieren. Vorausschauender zu planen, wird dabei wichtiger. Auch eventuelle Fehler in der Planung sind nicht mehr so einfach zu korrigieren. Durch den gestiegenen Einsatz von Technologien in den Fahrzeugen besteht für den Verkehrsplaner dafür häufiger die Möglichkeit, Planungsänderungen auf ihre Wirksamkeit im Hinblick auf Attraktivität für den Fahrgast anhand von den ermittelten Fahrgastzahlen zu kontrollieren. Dasselbe gilt auch für Marketing- und Vertriebsmaßnahmen, wie für die Tarifpolitik. Die Zahlen stehen nicht nur für diese Rückkopplung zur Verfügung, sondern dienen auch als Planungsgrundlage für zukünftige Maßnahmen. Dem Planer stehen konkretere Zahlen für die Planung zur Verfügung. Ein Aspekt, der aufgrund der Sanktionsmaßnahmen bei Ausschreibungen an Bedeutung gewinnen wird, ist die Möglichkeit, Qualität von Verkehrsleistungen möglichst objektiv beurteilen zu können. Praxisrelevante Auswirkungen auf die Verkehrsplanung des öffentlichen Personennahverkehrs ergeben sich hauptsächlich durch die gestiegene Komplexität in der Planung selbst und den dadurch unverzichtbaren gewordenen Einsatz von Computerunterstützung. Die Umsetzung in Ausschreibungsunterlagen der Planung und die Kontrolle stellen neue Elemente im Aufgabenbereich des Verkehrsplaners dar und erfordern damit breiter ausgelegte Kernkompetenzen. Es werden mehr Verkehrsplaner mit breiterer Ausbildung benötigt werden. Diese Arbeit hat aufgezeigt, dass sich mit der Integration des Ausschreibungsgedankens in den Ablauf der Verkehrsplanung eine sprunghafte Entwicklung in der Planungstätigkeit ergeben wird. Aufgrund der in Zukunft steigenden Qualität und Quantität der Planungsgrundlagen und der ebenfalls gestiegenen Ansprüche an die Bewertungsparameter ergeben sich Veränderungen und neue Anforderungen auf diesem Gebiet, die in erster Linie für die Hochschulen und andere ausbildende Einrichtungen, aber auch für die Verkehrsplanung unterstützende Industrie.