P systems without multiplicities of symbol-objects

In this paper we investigate P systems whose compartments contain sets of symbol-objects rather than multisets of objects, as it is common in membrane computing. If the number of membranes cannot grow, then in this framework we can characterize exactly the regular languages. If membrane creation or membrane division is allowed, then the Parikh sets of recursively enumerable languages can be generated. The last result also implies the universality of P systems with active membranes (with multisets of symbol-objects) without polarizations.