Studies in Babylonian lunar theory: part III. The introduction of the uniform zodiac

This paper is the third of a multi-part examination of the Babylonian mathematical lunar theories known as Systems A and B. Part I (Britton, AHES 61:83–145, 2007) addressed the development of the empirical elements needed to separate the effects of lunar and solar anomaly on the intervals between syzygies, accomplished in the construction of the System A lunar theory early in the fourth century B.C. Part II (Britton, AHES 63:357–431, 2009) examines the accomplishment of this separation by the construction of a successful theory depicting the variations due to lunar anomaly in System A and its subsequent adaptation in System B. The present paper examines the introduction of the uniform zodiac, necessary for any theory depicting variations depending on the position of syzygy. It addresses three questions: (1) In light of all available evidence, what is the magnitude of the constant term in the expression Δλ* = C ? 1.3828°Y, describing the difference between the Babylonian sidereal longitudes and modern tropical longitudes? (2) What considerations governed the placement of the Babylonian sidereal zodiac relative to the fixed stars? (3) When was the uniform zodiac introduced? To the first question it finds C = 3.20° ± 0.1°, scarcely different from Huber’s (Centaurus 5:192–208, 1958) estimate of 3.08°, essentially confirming Huber’s result obtained from much less data. For the second it shows that accommodating the three asterisms comprising Taurus limited the placement of the zodiac to within 3°, while the prominence of half sign multiples among the measured intervals between prominent Normal Stars led irresistibly to the choice adopted. Finally, it finds that the zodiac was introduced between ?408 and ?397 and probably within a very few years of ?400.     

Greek angles from Babylonian numbers

Models of planetary motion as observed from Earth must account for two principal anomalies: the nonuniform speed of the planet as it circles the zodiac, and the correlation of the planet’s position with the position of the Sun. In the context of the geometrical models used by the Greeks, the practical difficulty is to somehow isolate the motion of the epicycle center on the deferent from the motion of the planet on its epicycle. One way to isolate the motion of the epicycle center is to determine the longitude and time of oppositions of the planet with the mean Sun. A Greek astronomer might have realized that the predictions of mean oppositions by Babylonian models could serve as useful proxies for real empirical observations. It is shown that a Greek astronomer with a reasonable understanding of Babylonian System A models for the outer planets and the Sun–Moon could have used those models to estimate approximate values for the eccentricity e and longitude of apogee A required for geometrical models. The same method would work for the inner planets if conjunctions were observable, but they are not, and the variation of the observable synodic events—first and last morning and evening visibilities—is dominated more by the motion of the planet in latitude than the nonuniform motion of the epicycle center.     

Edward Gresham’s Astrostereon,or A Discourse of the Falling of the Planet (1603), the Copernican paradox,and the construction of early modern proto-scientific discourse

This paper investigates the functioning of the ‘Copernican paradox’ (stating that the Sun stands still and the Earth revolves around the Sun) in the late sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century England, with particular attention to Edward Gresham's (1565–1613) little-known and hitherto understudied astronomical treatise – Astrostereon, or A Discourse of the Falling of the Planet (1603). The text, which is fully appreciative of the heliocentric system, is analysed within a broader context of the ongoing struggles with the Copernican theory at the turn of the seventeenth century. The article finds that apart from having a purely rhetorical function, the ‘Copernican paradox’ featured in the epistemological debates on how early modern scientific knowledge should be constructed and popularised. The introduction of new scientific claims to sceptical audiences had to be done both through mathematical demonstrations and by referring to the familiar concepts and tools drawn from the inventory of humanist education. As this article shows, Gresham's rhetorical techniques used for the rejection of paradoxicality of heliocentrism are similar to some of the practices which Thomas Digges and William Gilbert employed in order to defend their own findings and assertions.     

Functional anatomy of frog's taste organs

Résumé Dans les bourgeons gustatifs deRana pipiens deux groupes de cellules ont été découverts. Le premier est directement en relation avec la réception de stimuli, tandis que le second ne comprend que des cellules d'association. Les cellules sensorielles offrent des contacts synaptiques avec les fibres sensorielles.

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This work represents a portion of a thesis submitted byR. DeHan in partial fulfillment for the degree of doctor of philosophy.     

Effects of a bovine pineal peptidic fraction (E5) on plasma and pituitary levels of LH,FSH and prolactin

Summary Pituitary levels of prolactin were significantly diminished after 5 s.c. injections spaced 12 h apart of 5 g of a partially purified bovine pineal peptide fraction (E₅) in both intact and castrated rats. E₅ treatment did not significantly affect the castration-induced changes in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or pituitary LH but did partially block the pituitary fall in FSH in castrated animals.Supported by NSF grant PCM 8003441 and NIH Center for Reproductive Biology (Bioassay Core) No.P30 HD 10202. Many thanks are due A. Moreno for his excellent technical assistance.     

X-rays from the Sun

X-ray astronomy began in 1948 with the first detection of X-rays from the Sun. Astronomical X-ray observations need to be performed from high-altitude rockets and satellites because the Earth's atmosphere absorbs X-rays. Currently about 100,000 X-ray sources are known all over the sky. The Sun is by far the strongest source. The outermost solar atmosphere, the corona, emits X-rays due to its high temperature of a few million K. Solar X-ray emission is highly variable. Eruptions lead to variations of the X-ray flux on time scales of minutes. The average X-ray flux varies with the 11-year sunspot cycle by a factor of about 1000. Solar X-rays have a profound influence on the Earth's upper atmosphere.     

The steric course of hydrogenation of Δ4 and Δ5 steroids

Zusammenfassung Bei der katalytischen Hydrierung von Steroiden mit Doppelbindung in 4-Stellung entstehen überwiegend A/B-cis-Verbindungen, während Doppelbindung in 5 vor allem A/B-trans liefert. Dieser Unterschied wird mit Hilfe der Konstellationsanalyse erklärt: die als Zwischenformen angenommenen Komplexe aus Substrat, Wasserstoff und Katalysator weisen unterschiedliche sterische Hinderung auf.

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Based in part on a portion of the Ph. D. Thesis of the author, University of Wisconsin, 1951.     

The Jalālī Calendar: the enigma of its radix date

The Jalālī (or Malikī) Calendar is well known to Iranian and Western researchers. It was established by the order of Sulṭān Jalāl al-Dīn Malikshāh-i Saljūqī in the 5th c. A.H. (The dates which are designated with A.H. indicate the Hijrī Calendar.)/11th c. A.D. in Isfahan. After the death of Yazdigird III (the last king of the Sassanid dynasty), the Yazdigirdī Calendar, as a solar one, gradually lost its position, and the Hijrī Calendar replaced it. After the rise of Islam, nonetheless, Iranians preferred various solar calendars to the Hijrī one. The Jalālī Calendar must be considered the culmination of such efforts. The present article deals with the riddle of the radix date (epoch) of the Jalālī Calendar. The author examines the problem through a historical approach and provides a novel solution to the question.

     

Impact of corrections for dynamic selection bias on forecasts of retention behavior

We investigate the impact of corrections for dynamic selection bias on forecasting accuracy in a multi‐period stay/leave model. While corrections for selection bias are needed for consistent coefficient estimates, they do not necessarily produce more accurate forecasts than uncorrected techniques. Theorem 1 shows that, apart from estimation errors, a shrinkage principle applies: the heterogeneity restriction imposed by uncorrected and combination techniques improves accuracy for forecasting individuals that leave, and hurts accuracy for forecasting individuals that stay. This has important implications for decision making because of the potential for asymmetric losses. We also present an illustrative empirical application and results from Monte Carlo experiments. We find that differences in relative accuracy vary directly with the degree of selection bias and inversely with the percentage of the initial population that stays. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Etude comparée de la composition en oses et en amino-acides de la transferrine et de la lactotransferrine humaines

Summary A comparative study of human lactotransferrin and transferrin has been made with respect to sugar and amino acid composition. The authors conclude that there are significant differences between both types of glycoproteids, which confirm the specificity of lactotransferrin previously demonstrated by physico-chemical and immunological analysis.

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Ce travail a été réalisé grace à une subvention de la Délégation Générale à la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (Contrat 61-FR-170) à laquelle nous adressons nos plus vifs remerciements.

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Avec la collaboration technique de MM.F. Decamps etG. Decroix.

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Avec la collaboration technique de MadameM. P. Louchez et de MesdemoisellesR. Carpentier etM. T. Picque.     

四辊冷轧平整机振纹问题研究

针对某平整机带钢表面振纹问题进行了一系列的研究和实验。在平整机六自由度垂直振动模型基础上，通过对辊系振动信号分析和比较，得出了平整机振动与振纹之间的关系：连续振纹是由工作辊垂直振动产生的，振动核心频率与系统第六阶固有频率相符；非连续振纹是由垂振和冲击现象共同影响生成的。实际生产表明优化传动系统、降低轧制速度、合理安排生产次序对抑制振纹具有良好的效果。     

Der Vitaminbedarf des amerikanischen ReismehlkäfersTribolium confusum Duval

Summary As previously reported the larvae ofTribolium confusum require two unknown factors obtainable from yeast apart from various vitamines of the B-group for normal growth. One of these possesses acidic properties. This factor could be fully replaced by a folic acid preparation of potency 4000 kindly placed at our disposal by Prof.R. J. Williams. This may be regarded as a possibility but not as a proof that folic acid is the reported factor.

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C. A. Grob dankt der Haco-Gesellschaft AG., Gümligen, für die Unterstützung dieser Arbeit.     

Bemegride antagonism to the development of physical dependence on barbitone in rodents

Zusammenfassung Nachweis einer protektiven Wirkung bzw. Entwicklung einer Barbituratabhängigkeit durch die gleichzeitige Gabe des Analeptikums Bemegrid.

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This work was presented in part by C.I.A. in November, 1973 in partial fulfilment for the degree of B.Sc. (Hons) in the University of Melbourne.

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Acknowledgment. We gratefully acknowledge the generous gift of bemegride (Megimide) from Nicholas Pty Ltd, Australia.     

Sur les effets du 5-fluoruracile injecté à l'embryon de Poulet à des stades avancés de l'incubation

Summary 5-FU, injected into the chick embryo on the 5th and the 8th day of incubation, has an immediate lethal effect and a later lethal effect which are very attenuated. On the other hand, when injected in very high doses, the substance has a uniform teratogenic action and causes malformations which attain specifically the members, the brain, and the beak.

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Ces recherches ont été faites grâce à un subside du Fonds National Suisse de la recherche scientifique et de la Fondation E. Barell.     

Diffusion of d-glucose measured in the cytosol of a single astrocyte

Astrocytes interact with neurons and endothelial cells and may mediate exchange of metabolites between capillaries and nerve terminals. In the present study, we investigated intracellular glucose diffusion in purified astrocytes after local glucose uptake. We used a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based nano sensor to monitor the time dependence of the intracellular glucose concentration at specific positions within the cell. We observed a delay in onset and kinetics in regions away from the glucose uptake compared with the region where we locally super-fused astrocytes with the d-glucose-rich solution. We propose a mathematical model of glucose diffusion in astrocytes. The analysis showed that after gradual uptake of glucose, the locally increased intracellular glucose concentration is rapidly spread throughout the cytosol with an apparent diffusion coefficient (D _app) of (2.38 ± 0.41) × 10^?10 m² s^?1 (at 22–24 °C). Considering that the diffusion coefficient of d-glucose in water is D = 6.7 × 10^?10 m² s^?1 (at 24 °C), D _app determined in astrocytes indicates that the cytosolic tortuosity, which hinders glucose molecules, is approximately three times higher than in aqueous solution. We conclude that the value of D _app for glucose measured in purified rat astrocytes is consistent with the view that cytosolic diffusion may allow glucose and glucose metabolites to traverse from the endothelial cells at the blood–brain barrier to neurons and neighboring astrocytes.     

Infra-red study of the carbonate in bone,teeth and francolite

Résumé La diffraction des rayons X et la spectrographie infrarouge ont été employées pour rechercher la présence de calcite et de magnésite dans la fraction minérale de l'os et des dents ainsi que dans le minéral qui lui est le plus proche au point de vue chimique, la francolite. Le résultat positif obtenu dans l'infra-rouge indique la présence de liaisons CaCO₃ et MgCO₃ associées à la matrice fondamentale du type apatite de ces substances.

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This work was partially sponsored by theAir Research and Development Command, United States Air Force, through its European Office under contract n° AF 61 (514) 647 C.     

P/E changes: some new results

The P/E ratio is often used as a metric to compare individual stocks and the market as a whole relative to historical valuations. We examine the factors that affect changes in the inverse of the P/E ratio (E/P) over time in the broad market (S&P 500 Index). Our model includes variables that measure investor beliefs and changes in tax rates and shows that these variables are important factors affecting the P/E ratio. We extend prior work by correcting for the presence of a long‐run relation between variables included in the model. As frequently conjectured, changes in the P/E ratio have predictive power. Our model explains a large portion of the variation in E/P and accurately predicts the future direction of E/P, particularly when predicted changes in E/P are large or provide a consistent signal over more than one quarter. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of global warming on mortality

There is a significant relationship between ambient temperature and mortality. In healthy individuals with no underlying co-morbid conditions, there is an efficient heat regulation system which enables the body to effectively handle thermal stress. However, in vulnerable groups, especially in elderly over the age of 65 years, infants and individuals with co-morbid cardiovascular and/or respiratory conditions, there is a deficiency in thermoregulation. When temperatures exceed a certain limit, being cold winter spells or heat waves, there is an increase in the number of deaths. In particular, it has been shown that at temperatures above 27 °C, the daily mortality rate increases more rapidly per degree rise compared to when it drops below 27 °C.This is especially of relevance with the current emergency of global warming. Besides the direct effect of temperature rises on human health, global warming will have a negative impact on primary producers and livestock, leading to malnutrition, which will in turn lead to a myriad of health related issues. This is further exacerbated by environmental pollution.Public health measures that countries should follow should include not only health-related information strategies aiming to reduce the exposure to heat for vulnerable individuals and the community, but improved urban planning and reduction in energy consumption, among many others. This will reduce the carbon footprint and help avert global warming, thus reducing mortality.     

Das allgemeine Bauprinzip des Lamellarsystems der Chloroplasten

Summary The lamellar system of chloroplasts consists of close double lamellae. In electronphotomicrographs, the walls of two adjacent double lamellae can be seen as one thick lamella. Because of this, the lamellae in the inner portion of a lamellar packet appear about twice as thick as those at the boundary of the packet and, in chloroplasts that contain grana, the granalamellae appear twice as thick as the stromalamellae.

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Mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.