Decision theory and information propagation in quantum physics

In recent papers, Zurek [(2005). Probabilities from entanglement, Born's rule p_k=|ψ_k|² from entanglement. Physical Review A, 71, 052105] has objected to the decision-theoretic approach of Deutsch [(1999) Quantum theory of probability and decisions. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London A, 455, 3129–3137] and Wallace [(2003). Everettian rationality: defending Deutsch's approach to probability in the Everett interpretation. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 34, 415–438] to deriving the Born rule for quantum probabilities on the grounds that it courts circularity. Deutsch and Wallace assume that the many worlds theory is true and that decoherence gives rise to a preferred basis. However, decoherence arguments use the reduced density matrix, which relies upon the partial trace and hence upon the Born rule for its validity. Using the Heisenberg picture and quantum Darwinism—the notion that classical information is quantum information that can proliferate in the environment pioneered in Ollivier et al. [(2004). Objective properties from subjective quantum states: Environment as a witness. Physical Review Letters, 93, 220401 and (2005). Environment as a witness: Selective proliferation of information and emergence of objectivity in a quantum universe. Physical Review A, 72, 042113]—I show that measurement interactions between two systems only create correlations between a specific set of commuting observables of system 1 and a specific set of commuting observables of system 2. This argument picks out a unique basis in which information flows in the correlations between those sets of commuting observables. I then derive the Born rule for both pure and mixed states and answer some other criticisms of the decision theoretic approach to quantum probability.     

Experimental : The double standard in the quantum-information approach to the foundations of quantum theory

Among the alternatives of non-relativistic quantum mechanics (NRQM) there are those that give different predictions than quantum mechanics in yet-untested circumstances, while remaining compatible with current empirical findings. In order to test these predictions, one must isolate one's system from environmental induced decoherence, which, on the standard view of NRQM, is the dynamical mechanism that is responsible for the ‘apparent’ collapse in open quantum systems. But while recent advances in condensed-matter physics may lead in the near future to experimental setups that will allow one to test the two hypotheses, namely genuine collapse vs. decoherence, hence make progress toward a solution to the quantum measurement problem, those philosophers and physicists who are advocating an information-theoretic approach to the foundations of quantum mechanics are still unwilling to acknowledge the empirical character of the issue at stake. Here I argue that in doing so they are displaying an unwarranted double standard.     

Can We Explain Thermodynamics By Quantum Decoherence?

Can we explain the laws of thermodynamics, in particular the irreversible increase of entropy, from the underlying quantum mechanical dynamics? Attempts based on classical dynamics have all failed. Albert (1994a,b; 2000) proposed a way to recover thermodynamics on a purely dynamical basis, using the quantum theory of the collapse of the wavefunction of Ghirardi, Rimini and Weber (1986). In this paper we propose an alternative way to explain thermodynamics within no-collapse interpretations of quantum mechanics. Our approach relies on the standard quantum mechanical models of environmental decoherence of open systems, e.g. Joos and Zeh (1985) and Zurek and Paz (1994).     

Quantum propensities

This paper reviews four attempts throughout the history of quantum mechanics to explicitly employ dispositional notions in order to solve the quantum paradoxes, namely: Margenau's latencies, Heisenberg's potentialities, Maxwell's propensitons, and the recent selective propensities interpretation of quantum mechanics. Difficulties and challenges are raised for all of them, and it is concluded that the selective propensities approach nicely encompasses the virtues of its predecessors. Finally, some strategies are discussed for reading similar dispositional notions into two other well-known interpretations of quantum mechanics, namely the GRW interpretation and Bohmian mechanics.     

Die anorganischen Bestandteile des Honigtaues vonMegoura viciae Buckt

Summary In the honeydew ofMegoura viciae Buckt., sucking on the sieve tube sap ofVicia faba, the following cations are present in measurable quantities: potassium (13.0–14.1 mg/ml), sodium (0.04–0.051 mg/ml), magnesium (1.8–2.3 mg/ml) and calcium (0.07–0.09 mg/ml). There are only traces of copper, iron, manganese, zinc, cobalt and molybdenum. Amongst the anions, phosphate was found at 1.9–2.5 and chloride at 0.02–0.05 mg/ml, whereas nitrate and sulphate could not be detected.     

Supertasks, dynamical attractors and indeterminism

Atkinson [2006. Losing energy in classical, relativistic and quantum mechanics. in Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 38 To appear.] has obtained some new results on supertasks and the violation of conservation laws. I discuss these results here, extending them from a different perspective, which, by focusing on considerations of indeterminism, facilitates the natural introduction in this context of the concept of dynamical attractor.     

Is there a stability problem for Bayesian noncommutative probabilities?

A stability condition for Bayesian statistical inference, which Redei [(1992). When can non-commutative statistical inference be Bayesian? International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 6, 129–132; (1998). Quantum logic in algebraic approach. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers] formulated as a rationality constraint holding in classical probability theory, is shown to fail in quantum mechanics. That allegedly challenges a Bayesian interpretation of quantum probabilities. In this paper we demonstrate that Redei's argument does not apply to quantum mechanics. Moreover, we provide a solution to the problem of Bayesian noncommutative statistical inference arising from the violation of stability condition in general probability spaces.     

The case for black hole thermodynamics part II: Statistical mechanics

I present in detail the case for regarding black hole thermodynamics as having a statistical-mechanical explanation in exact parallel with the statistical-mechanical explanation believed to underlie the thermodynamics of other systems. (Here I presume that black holes are indeed thermodynamic systems in the fullest sense; I review the evidence for that conclusion in the prequel to this paper.) I focus on three lines of argument: (i) zero-loop and one-loop calculations in quantum general relativity understood as a quantum field theory, using the path-integral formalism; (ii) calculations in string theory of the leading-order terms, higher-derivative corrections, and quantum corrections, in the black hole entropy formula for extremal and near-extremal black holes; (iii) recovery of the qualitative and (in some cases) quantitative structure of black hole statistical mechanics via the AdS/CFT correspondence. In each case I briefly review the content of, and arguments for, the form of quantum gravity being used (effective field theory; string theory; AdS/CFT) at a (relatively) introductory level: the paper is aimed at readers with some familiarity with thermodynamics, quantum mechanics and general relativity but does not presume advanced knowledge of quantum gravity. My conclusion is that the evidence for black hole statistical mechanics is as solid as we could reasonably expect it to be in the absence of a directly-empirically-verified theory of quantum gravity.     

Activité antifibrillante chez l'animal d'un nouveau dérivé de la phényl-éthylamine

Summary A new synthetic phenyl-ethyl-amine derivative, the 2-[N- (3, 4-methylen-dioxyphenylethyl)-methylaminomethyl]-tetrahydrofuran, No. 11 081, exhibits a strong protective effect against cardiac fibrillation and arrhythmias produced by various experimental methods: against fibrillation due to aconitine 3 × 10^–8 on the isolated cat's heart, it is active in a concentration of 10^–6–2 × 10^–6. Against cardiac arrhythmias produced in the cat by adrenaline + CHCl₃ or cyclopropane, it shows a protective effect by 5–10 mg/kg i.v. and even perorally by 50 mg/kg. In these tests, the antifibrillatory activity of the new compound seems to be roughly the same as that of -fagarine, and higher than that of procaine.

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9^e communication sur les dérivés des alcoylène-imines; 8^e communication, cf. Exper.10, 261 (1954).     

Fatty acid modulation of antiestrogen action and antiestrogen-binding protein in cultured lymphoid cells

Summary Nonsteroidal antiestrogens reversibly and specifically inhibited the proliferation of two estrogen receptornegative lymphoid cell lines (EL4 and Raji) in a dose-dependent manner. [³H]Thymidine incorporation of concanavalin A-stimulated primary splenocytes was also inhibited by 10^–6 M clomiphene (1-[4-(2-diethylaminoethoxy)phenyl]-1,2-diphenyl-2-chloroethylene). The antiproliferative effect could be prevented by the simultaneous presence in the growth medium of 10^–5 M linoleic acid or 10^–5 M arachidonic acid but not by 10^–6 M estradiol. Both lymphoid cell lines had high affinity antiestrogen-binding sites whose affinity could be altered by conditions of growth. Growth of EL4 cells in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with charcoal-pretreated 5% fetal calf serum (charcoal-stripped medium) resulted in significantly higher affinity (K_d 0.54 nM±0.11 nM; n=6) than growth in medium supplemented with untreated serum (complete medium) (K_d=1.68 nM±0.48 nM; n=6) (p<0.001). This change in affinity was partly due to removal of fatty acids from the growth medium by charcoal pretreatment, since addition of 10^–5 M linoleic acid or 10^–5 M gamma-linolenic to charcoal-stripped medium decreased the affinity of the antiestrogen-binding protein. In contrast, growth in 10^–5 M stearic acid or 10^–5 M oleic acid did not significantly alter the affinity of the antiestrogen-binding protein, whereas 10^–5 M palmitic acid significantly increased its affinity. The same fatty acids were also tested for their intrinsic effects on EL4 cell proliferation. Oleic, linoleic and gamma-linolenic acids were growth stimulatory while stearic and palmitic acids were not. Thus linoleic and gamma-linolenic acids whose presence in the growth medium was associated with decreased affinity of [³H]tamoxifen (1-[4-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)phenyl]-1,2-diphenylbut-1(Z)-ene) binding to the intracellular antiestrogen-binding protein were also growth stimulatory. Unsaturated fatty acids have previously been shown to inhibit binding of [³H]tamoxifen to the antiestrogen-binding protein in a cell-free system. The present observations demonstrate that unsaturated fatty acids also modify the affinity of the antiestrogen-binding protein in intact cells.     

Naringenin inhibition on expiants in vitro ofCichorium intybus (Chicory)

Riassunto La naringenina alla concentrazione di 10^–4 M inibisce in modo totale l'emissione di gemme in radici diCichorium intybus in vitro senza tuttavia bloccare completamente la callogenesi. A concentrazioni scalari minori (10^–5, 10^–6, 10^–7 M) questa sostanza causa una inibizione solo nella fase iniziale dell'esperienza.     

Participation of ACTH1–10 and ACTH4–10 on the melatonin modulation of benzodiazepine receptors in rat cerebral cortex

In this study, we examined the effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) injection of melatonin and/or ACTH_1–10 and ACTH_4–10 on [³H]flunitrazepam binding sites in the cerebral cortex of hypophysectomized rats. Hypophysectomy increased the B_max (maximum number of binding sites) of benzodiazepine (BNZ) receptors for at least 7 days after surgery, without changing K_D (dissociation constant). The i.c.v. injection of melatonin to hypophysectomized rats significantly increased B_max, whereas the same doses of melatonin were ineffective in sham-operated animals. In both cases, K_D values were unchanged. The i.c.v injection of ACTH_1–10 to hypophysectomized animals significantly increased B_max, an effect that was enhanced by simultaneous i.c.v. injection of ACTH_1–10+melatonin, reaching higher values of B_max than the i.c.v. injection of these hormones individually. No significant changes in K_D values were found after ACTH_1–10 and/or melatonin administration. However, the i.c.v. injection of ACTH_4–10 to hypophysectomized rats did not change B_max, although it significantly increased K_D values, indicating a decrease in the BNZ binding affinity. Melatonin injection counteracted this effect of ACTH_4–10, returning K_D to the control value. Moreover, although the lower dose of i.c.v. melatonin used, 10 ng, was unable to modify B_max of BNZ binding in the ACTH_4–10-injected group, the higher dose, 20 ng, significantly increased B_max. The results suggest that these ACTH-derived peptides can modulate the effect of melatonin on brain benzodiazepine receptors.     

On Minkowskian branching structures

In Belnap's [Branching space-time. Synthese, 92, 385–434. ‘Postprint’ archived at http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/archive/00001003] theory of branching space-times (BST) Our World's possible histories are thought of as space-times, yet the theory has models in which histories do not resemble relativistic space-times or any other physical space-times. The aim of this paper is to define a certain class of BST models, called ‘Minkowskian Branching Structures’ (MBSs), in which histories are isomorphic to Minkowski space-time. By focusing on these models rather than on general BST models, we hope that one may be able to improve on earlier BST analyses of physical phenomena. Also, introducing MBSs sets the stage for recent discussions about whether or not branching is physically feasible.     

Das Parallelenproblem im Corpus Aristotelicum

Summary In the Corpus Aristotelicum are numerous items suggesting that the assertion of the fifth postulate in Euclid's Elements had been preceded by attempts to demonstrate this postulate itself, or some equivalent fundamental proposition, within the rigorous frame of Absolute Geometry in Bolyai's sense. Thus geometers contemporary with Aristotle tried to solve the problem which became known commonly in later centuries as the Problem of Parallels.Probably these geometers first attempted a direct solution. Only one text at our disposal supports this hypothesis: (1) Anal. Prior. 65 a 4–7. My analysis below in Chapter I shows that a mathematical meaning can be read from this somewhat obscure text only if it is interpreted as an allusion by Aristotle to those geometers who believe they are demonstrating, obviously in an absolute way, the proposition Elem. I 29, equivalent to the fifth postulate, but do not realize that in the process they are using lemmas which result themselves from the proposition to be demonstrated. Such a lemma would assert the uniqueness of the parallels, existence of which was shown in an absolute way in Elem. I 27. My conjecture and reconstruction afford a natural explanation for an inconsequence singular for Book I of the Elements, namely, the presence of the proposition Elem. I 31 in the purely Euclidean part of the book, in spite of the fact that the assertion merely repeats the absolute proposition Elem. I 27 without explicitly containing any Euclidean element.It is probable that the failure of these direct attempts led to an indirect approach to the problem through reductio ad absurdum of some hypothesis contrary to what was to become Postulate V or to some equivalent proposition. Numerous texts survive from which it is clear that geometers contemporary with Aristotle followed fairly far the consequences of an hypothesis contrary to the fifth postulate, obtaining important results which are partly identical with some theorems of Saccheri. Some of these texts attest first of all that what Saccheri called the Hypothesis of the Obtuse Angle had been stated in an independent and explicit way and that the fundamental result, identical with Prop. 14 of Saccheri's Euclides ab omni naevo vindicatus (1733), had been obtained, namely, that within Bolyai's Absolute Geometry this hypothesis leads to the remarkable formal contradiction that parallels intersect. This conclusion followed from two different formulations of the Obtuse Angle Hypothesis: (2) Anal. Prior. 66a 11–14, if the exterior angle (formed by a secant which intersects two parallel straight lines) is smaller than the interior angle (opposite and situated on the same side of the secant), and (3) 66a 14–15, if the sum of the angles in a triangle is greater than 2R. Finally, an item in (4) Ethica ad Eudemum 1222b 35–36 shows us that by investigating the Obtuse Angle Hypothesis, the Greek geometers also discovered the quadrilateral in which the sum of the angles is equal to 8R; this quadrilateral, which does not appear even in Saccheri's book, is the maximal quadrilateral of the Riemann geometry, a quadrilateral degenerated into a straight line closed upon itself (Chapter IV 20).Nowhere in the Corpus does the Hypothesis of the Acute Angle appear in an independent formulation. Nevertheless in (5) Anal. Poster. 90a 33–34 this Hypothesis is mentioned along with the other two: namely, Aristotle states that the essence of the triangle consists in the sum of its angles' being equal to, greater than or less than 2R (Chapter V 27). The formulation of the fifth postulate in the Elements allows greater probability to the conjecture of independent existence of the Acute Angle Hypothesis as well. Indeed, in its original formulation the fifth postulate is redundant, since it unnecessarily specifies in which of the half-planes (bounded by the secant) the intersection of the two straight lines occurs; this specification is itself a theorem. The Acute Angle Hypothesis must have been formulated not only symmetrically to (3) Anal. Prior. 66 a 14–15, that is, the sum of the angles of the triangle is less than 2R, as results from (5) Anal. Poster. 90 a 33–34, but also symmetrically to (2) Anal. Prior. 66 a 11–14. In the latter case the following final conclusion should have been reached in order to reduce to absurdity the Acute Angle Hypothesis: Two straight lines cut by a secant are incident if the sum of the interior angles (on the same side of the secant) is smaller than 2R, and the incidence occurs on that side of the secant where the sum of the angles is less than 2R. In the frame of the Acute Angle Hypothesis, this end conclusion is relevant only if this final specification (concerning the half-plane where the incidence occurs) is explicitly emphasised. According to my conjecture, it was precisely the practical impossibility of reaching this conclusion as a theorem of Absolute Geometry that later determined Euclid to transpose this decisive end conclusion from the Acute Angle Hypothesis, without changing its wording, and to include it among the postulates (Chapter II 13).A queer passage of Proklos (In primum Euclidis Elementorum, ed. Friedlein p. 368, 26–369, 1) in which the Acute Angle Hypothesis is presented in the form of a Zenonian paradox reinforces the conjecture that this hypothesis was studied independently by the ancient geometers (Chapter VI 33). Thus failure to solve the Problem of Parallels preceded not only the later Non-Euclidean geometry but also Euclidean geometry itself.The general undifferentiated Contra-Euclidean Hypothesis appears in the following form in all the other texts examined: The sum of the angles in the triangle is not equal to 2R. This hypothesis is nowhere qualified by Aristotle as being absurd or impossible: On the contrary, he takes it always as being just as much justified a priori as is the Euclidean theorem Elem. I 32 which contradicts it. For instance in (6) Anal. Poster. 93 a 33–35 Aristotle puts the problematical alternative: Which of the two propositions is right (or, which of the two constitutes the Logos, the raison d'être of the triangle), the one that states that the sum of the angles in the triangle is equal to 2R, or on the contrary, the one that states that the sum of the angles in the triangle is not equal to 2R (Chapter V 28)?In a number of texts the theorem Elem. I 32 itself and the general Contra-Euclidean Hypothesis are treated as being a sort of principle, and stress is laid on the idea that the logical consequences of each of these items invariantly preserve its specific (Euclidean or non-Euclidean) geometrical content [(7) 1187 a 35–38 (Chapter IV 18); (8) 1222 b 23–26 (Chapter IV 19); (9) 1187 b 1–2 (Chapter IV 18); (10) 1222 b 41–42 Chapter IV 21); (11) 1187 b 2–4 (Chapter IV 18)]; (12) Physica 200 a 29–30: If the sum of the angles in the triangle is not equal to 2R, then the principles of geometry cannot remain the same (Chapter V 25); (13) Metaph. 1052 a 6–7: It is impossible that the sum of the angles in the triangle be sometimes equal to 2R and sometimes not equal to 2R (Chapter V 24). Finally, the most important item of this sort is to be found in (14) De Caelo 281 b 5–7: If we accept as a starting hypothesis that it is impossible for the sum of the angles in the triangle to be equal to 2R, then the diagonal of the square is commensurable with its side (Chapter III).Another group of texts reveal Aristotle's attitude as regard these Contra-Euclidean theorems: (15) 1222 b 38–39 (Chapter IV 20); (16) 200 a 16–19 (Chapter VI 30); (17) 402 b 18–21 (Chapter VI 31); (18) 171 a 12–16 (Chapter VI 32); (19) 77 b 22–26 (Chapter V 26); (20) 101 a 15–17 (Chapter VI 31); (21) 76 b 39–77 a 3 (Chapter VI 31). These passages reveal Aristotle's conviction that these paradoxical Contra-Euclidean propositions (which cannot be annihilated by reductio ad absurdum) are nevertheless inacceptable as bad, probably because their graphical construction requires curved lines for representing the concept of straight lines.Finally, another group of texts show that Aristotle sensed in a way the necessity of adding to the foundations of Geometry a new postulate, from which the proposition Elem. I 32 should follow rigorously.

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Aram Frenkian zum Gedächtnis

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Vorgelegt von J. E. Hofmann     

Quantum probability and many worlds

We discuss the meaning of probabilities in the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. We start by presenting very briefly the many worlds theory, how the problem of probability arises, and some unsuccessful attempts to solve it in the past. Then we criticize a recent attempt by Deutsch to derive the quantum mechanical probabilities from the non-probabilistic parts of quantum mechanics and classical decision theory. We further argue that the Born probability does not make sense even as an additional probability rule in the many worlds theory. Our conclusion is that the many worlds theory fails to account for the probabilistic statements of standard (collapse) quantum mechanics.     

The cephalopod heart: The evolution of a high-performance invertebrate pump

Cephalopods typically have high metabolic rates. They have blood in which the oxygen carrier is haemocyanin, a pigment that is found only in solution and which never seems to be present in concentrations that will transport more than 4–5 vols % of oxygen. Their hearts must in consequence have very high cardiac outputs. In this account the performance of the heart ofNautilus, the only surviving ectocochleate, is contrasted with the performance of the hearts of coleoids,Octopus which has a relatively low metabolic rate (for a coleoid) and squids which have very high oxygen uptakes by any standards. In all these animals, heartbeat frequency is temperature-dependent and the additional oxygen demand in exercise is met very largely by a 2–3-fold increase in stroke volume. With the exception ofNautilus, cephalopods tend to utilise nearly all of the oxygen transported in the blood even at rest; they show very limited factorial scopes. Specific power output has, however, increased dramatically from 2.7 mWg^–1 in an activeNautilus to 5.5 mWg^–1 inOctopus and up to 20 or 30 mWg^–1 in species ofLoligo. The increase is almost entirely due to a 10-fold increase in heartbeat frequency. It is argued that frequency cannot be used as a means of responding to extra demand in an animal that must also carry automatic compensation for changes in metabolic rate dependent upon the ambient temperature, and that the use of frequency in some squid may be associated with a reduced temperature tolerance. Cephalopod systemic hearts do not scale directly with body mass, like the hearts of fish and the higher vertebrates. Smaller cephalopods have relatively larger hearts (as Mass^0.9). A typical 100-g coleoid would have a heart mass of 0.15 g. Oegopsid squids appear to be exceptional with hearts twice as large.     

Vegetation structure and primary production in acidified lakes in southwestern Sweden

Summary Research during the last two decades has clearly pointed out that dramatic ecosystem changes have occured in lakes due to deposition of acid substances and decreased pH. Today a large number of lakes and running waters in Scandinavia are suffering biological damage with disappearing fish populations, overgrowth of the bottom by mosses and filamentous algae, reduced invertebrate fauna, increased transparency etc.—Of all documented biological changes the effect on macrophyte succession, in particular that ofSphagnum, is the most striking effect. Along with the growth of filamentous algae, these changes have brought about major shifts in the composition of the primary producers. The biomass in one lake was estimated to be 6.5 t (dry wt) corresponding to about 24 g m^–2, the relevant proportions being 52% forSphagnum, 34% forLobelia and 15% forIsoetes. Percentage production in the whole lake is 54% forSphagnum, 29% forLobelia and 17% forIsoetes, which gives an estimated production of 2.9 t yr^–1 or 9 g m^–2 yr^–1.Sphagnum is a recent flora element and its occurrence is related to the acidification of the lakes. The investigations also show that the growth ofLobelia is reduced in acid lakes compared to other oligotrophic lakes due to shading by the benthic mat of filamentous algae, detritus andSphagnum debris.—One can conclude that there are several quantitative and qualitative changes in the macrophyte community which are related to acidification. One can also conclude that liming of lakes cause elimination ofSphagnum and some increase in the production ofIsoetids.     

Interactions between mechanics and differential geometry in the 19th century

Conclusion 79. This study of the interaction between mechanics and differential geometry does not pretend to be exhaustive. In particular, there is probably more to be said about the mathematical side of the history from Darboux to Ricci and Levi Civita and beyond. Statistical mechanics may also be of interest and there is definitely more to be said about Hertz (I plan to continue in this direction) and about Poincaré's geometric and topological reasonings for example about the three body problem [Poincaré 1890] (cf. also [Poincaré 1993], [Andersson 1994] and [Barrow-Green 1994]). Moreover, it would be interesting to find out how the 19^th century ideas discussed here influenced the developments in the 20^th century. Einstein himself is a hotly debated case.Yet, despite these shortcommings, I hope that this paper has shown that the interactions between mechanics and differential geometry is not a 20^th century invention. Klein's view (see my Introduction) that Riemannian geometry grew out of mechanics, more specifically the principle of least action, cannot be maintained. On the other hand, when Riemannian geometry became known around 1870 it was immediately used in mechanics by Lipschitz. He began a continued tradition in this field, which had several elements in common with the new view of mechanics conceived by the physicists and explicitly carried out by Hertz.Before 1870 we found only scattered interactions between differential geometry and mechanics and only direct ones for systems of two or three degrees of freedom. For more degrees of freedom the geometrical ideas were in some interesting cases taken over by analogy, but these analogies did not lead to formal introduction of geometries of more than three dimensions.     

Die Synthese des Novobiocins

Summary The synthesis of the antibiotic novobiocin is described. First the essential carbohydrate, the 3-O-carbamoylnoviose was synthesized fromd-glucose. A number of steps (1–6) led to the 3,5,6-tri-O-benzyl-2-O-methyl-d-galactono--lactone (6) which is characterized by the correct array of carbon atoms inherent to the noviose. Further transformations (7–15) finally yielded the carbohydrate. The problem of glycosidation is discussed in some detail. Glycosidation of a suitable aglycon precursor (18) with 2,3-O-carbonyl--noviosyl-chloride (22) proved possible and led to the isolation of an-glycoside (23) which was further transformed (24–28) into novobiocin.

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Chemische Forschungsabteilung der F. Hoffmann-La Roche & Co. AG, Basel.

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Vortrag Dr.B. P. Vaterlaus, gehalten an der Gordon Research Conference on Steroids and other Natural Products, 16.–20. Juli 1962, New Hampton, N.H., USA, und vor der Basler Chemischen Gesellschaft, 8. November 1962. Im Auszug:H. Spiegelberg,Synthèse du 3-O-carbamoylnoviose, sucre de la novobiocine, Symposium international de chimie organique, Bruxelles, 15. Juni 1962;J. Kiss,The Synthesis of Noviose and Allied Compounds, Birkbeck College (Univ. London), 23. Oktober 1962. Der vorliegende Aufsatz ist Gegenstand von Detailpublikationen in den Helv. chim. Acta, in Vorbereitung (1963).     

Effets de l'actinomycine D sur le développement normal et sur les modifications expérimentales de la morphogénèse de l'oeuf de l'oursinParacentrotus lividus

Summary In the presence of actinomycin D (20–40 µg/ml), the development of the eggs of the sea urchin,Paracentrotus lividus, is slowed from the late morula and stopped at the blastula stage. The development is immediately stopped in the blastula treated with actinomycin D (20–40 µg/ml). The inhibitory effects of actinomycin D are prevented by deoxyribonucleic acid. Actinomycin D does not exert animalizing or vegetalizing effects. However, the enhancing of vegetalizing action of lithium and the weakening of animalizing effects of zinc ions and Evans blue have been observed in the presence of actinomycin D. These observations may reflect some difference in the state of dependence of differentiation of entomesodermic and ectodermic structures towards the nucleus.