Correlations between the neurobiology of colour vision and the psycholinguistics of colour naming.

Neurobiological experiments demonstrate that colour sensation is perceived by the brain by processes which, in principle, follow the opponent colour pairs scheme proposed by Hering in 1874. Tests on colour naming in various European, Asian and Central American languages have shown that the opponent scheme is also reflected in psycholinguistics. The linguistic evolution of colour terms proposed by Berlin and Kay (1969) is correlated directly with the ontogenetic development of language in children as elucidated by Jakobson (1941). Colour vision is therefore a suitable field for interdisciplinary investigations of brain processes and linguistics.     

A new type of interaction between spore colour mutants ofAspergillus niger

Summary A new white-spored mutant of the imperfect fungusA. niger is described. Behind the heterokaryotic heads formed with non-allelic spore colour mutants, it shows as a result of crossfeeding a uniform change of colour of the conidial heads in a band up to 4–5 mm deep. This mutation with pleiotropic effects on colour and crossfeeding occurs relatively frequently inA. niger, although it has not been reported previously.Acknowledgment. Thanks are due to Dr A. J. Clutterbuck (Department of Genetics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow) for helpful comments on this work.     

The specific localization of diethyl sulphate-induced second chromosome recessive lethal mutations inDrosophila melanogaster

Résumé La localisation des mutations récessives létales produites par le diéthyl-sulphate sur le second chromosome de la Drosophile, a montré que ce mutagène possède une action remarquablement spécifique. Ainsi toutes les mutations se localisent dans trois régions. D'autre part, l'analyse par « le test d'allélisme » de 38 mutations létales provenant indépendamment l'une de l'autre a permis de distinguer 3 groupes de létaux: létaux identiques, non-identiques et « partiellement » identiques.

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Acknowledgments. Part of this work was carried out at the Department of Biology, University of Thessaloniki, Greece. I thank Prof.A. Kanellis for providing the laboratory facilities. Thanks are due also to O.E.C.D. (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) for financial support as well as to Prof.J. M. Thoday, F.R.S., Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, England, for allowing me to use the Department's library.     

Investigation of the microstructure of kidney stones (oxalate type) by high voltage electron microscopy and electron diffraction

Summary The organic matrix of this type of urinary calculus contains 3 components, which differ in form and in amorphous/crystalline content. Deposition of crystalline material in the early stages of mineralisation seems to be epitaxially related to the orientation of the organic matrix.Acknowledgments. The authors are indebted to Ass. Prof. N. Allouba of Ein-Shams University (Cairo) for supplying the kidney stones and medical information, and to the Physiology and Zoology Departments of Cambridge University for assistance in cutting the sections. The work was performed during the tenure by K. E. S. of a research bursary from the British Council.     

C-band positive W chromosome in the female Indian frog

Summary In the female Indian frog,Rana tigrina (2n=26; NF=52), the female is heterogametic. The heterochromosomes (ZW) are morphologically indistinguishable, but the W chromosome proves by C-banding analysis to be entierly heterochromatic.Acknowledgment. S.C. is grateful to Prof. G.K. Manna, Zoology Department, Kalyani University, Prof. Archana Sharma, Botany Department, Calcutta University and to Prof. T. Sharma, Zoology Department, Banarus Hindu University for encouragements. He is also thankful to Prof. D.K. Choudhuri, Burdwan University for support.     

Testing hypothesized causes of within-island geographic variation in the colour of lizards

Summary Within the island of Tenerife the lizardGallotia galloti shows geographic variation in a range of features, most notably the colour pattern of breeding males. Numerous (7) specific causal hypotheses, both phylogenetic and ecogenetic, are proposed or plausible for this geographic variation and these are simultaneously tested against the observed multivariate pattern. The hypotheses based on the divergence in allopatry (e.g. the secondary contact of populations from the precursor islands of Anaga and Teno and the separation of high- and low-altitude populations by encircling cloud) are rejected. The hypothesis that the pattern is caused by topographically determined climatic differences within the island is not rejected. The climate may influence the balance between selection for signalling colouration for sexual/territorial purposes and natural selection for crypsis.     

On the stability of bilirubin

Riassunto Gli autori hanno studiato l'azione della luce sulla stabilità della bilirubina in soluzione alcalina e in soluzione cloroformica. Viene proposto, in via generate, un meccanismo del primo ordine per la trasformazione della bilirubina in pigmenti verdinoidi, sia per le soluzioni irradiate, sia per quelle conservate al buio.

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Research carried out with CNR financial support. A report on this investigation, with more detailed experimental data, has been published in Acta medica romana (Annali della Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia dell'Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Roma)2, 192 (1964).

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We are indebted to Prof. P.Fasella, University of Rome, and to Prof. A.Vaciago, Sacred Heart Catholic University Medical School, for their helpful suggestions and constructive criticisms. One of us (I. W. de E.) is also grateful to Prof. Ing. W. S.Hill, University of Montevideo, for his suggestion to her to investigate bilirubin spectroscopically.     

Unusual distribution of constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) in the somatic chromosomes of a passerine birdErithacus svecicus

Summary The distribution of constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) has been studied in a passerine bird,Erithacus svecicus (Linnaeus) (Turdidae, Passeriformes, Aves) (2n=76±). In 7 out of 9 pairs of macrochromosomes pericentromeric heterochromatin has been observed. The smaller 2 pairs of macrochromosomes are entirely heterochromatic.The authors are grateful to Prof. B.K. Behura, P.G. Dept. of Zoology, Utkal University for extending laboratory and library facilities. T.S. is grateful to CSIR, India for providing financial assistance under SRF scheme.     

The roots of predictivism

In The Paradox of Predictivism (2008, Cambridge University Press) I tried to demonstrate that there is an intimate relationship between predictivism (the thesis that novel predictions sometimes carry more weight than accommodations) and epistemic pluralism (the thesis that one important form of evidence in science is the judgments of other scientists). Here I respond to various published criticisms of some of the key points from Paradox from David Harker, Jarret Leplin, and Clark Glymour. Foci include my account of predictive novelty (endorsement novelty), the claim that predictivism has two roots, the prediction per se and predictive success, and my account of why Mendeleev’s predictions carried special weight in confirming the Periodic Law of the Elements.     

Neurochemical correlates of alloxan diabetes: I. Ribonucleic acid and protein levels of amphibian brain

Summary The levels of RNA and protein were higher in the brain of alloxan-administered frogs. It is possible that alloxan is responsible for the protein changes in the brain as the protein levels were higher 48 h after alloxan injection than after 96 h. Acknowledgment. I am grateful to the late Prof.K. Pampapathi Rao for encouragement and facilities.     

Temporal and spatial distribution of phosphoglucomutase (PGM) polymorphism in natural populations ofDrosophila melanogaster

Summary Drosophila melanogaster adults were collected for several years in various localities of Italy. The frequencies of thePgm electrophoretic alleles were determined and the similarity of the configuration of allelic frequencies observed. It was concluded that the PGM electrophoretic polymorphism could be maintained by random genetic drift in the natural populations studied only if the effective breeding size (N _e ) during the bottle-neck period is about 5000.I am grateful to Prof. D. Sperlich and Prof. W. Seyffert for their kind hospitality during my sojourn as Research Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in the Institute of Biology II at the University of Tübingen (FRG) where the final version of this paper has been done. The technical assistance of Mr A. Micheli is also acknowledged.     

Carbohydrate composition of the human cataractous lenses

Summary Specific chemical assays, including carbohydrate, hexosamines and hexuronic acid, were determined on the lens insoluble albumoid. It was noticed that the carbohydrate composition varies with age. The significance of carbohydrate in the lens in discussed.This work was supported by the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, and financed by the British Council. The work was undertaken at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, University of Salford, Salford (England).Special thanks are expressed to Dr L. R. Croft and Prof. G. I. Phillip for their help, support and encouragement throughout this study.     

A study on the parameters of digestion inPeriplaneta americana L

Summary An attempt was made to provide evidence for the regulatory mechanism for digestion inPeriplaneta americana by studying possible correlations between digestive enzymes, taking midgut protease activity into considerationI wish to acknowledge Prof. J. Bahadur, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India, for his supervision, criticism and encouragement during the course of this study. Award of Junior Research Fellowship by C.S.I.R., New Delhi is also thankfully acknowledged.     

Distribution of constitutive heterochromatin (C-bands) in the somatic chromosomes of an Indian bird,Chrysomma sinense (Gmelin)

Summary The localization of constitutive heterochromatin has been studied in a passerine bird,Chrysomma sinense (2n=±70). In all the 7 pairs of macrochromosomes pericentric heterochromatin has been observed as usual except in pairs Nos 2 and 4, in which both pericentric and non-centromeric heterochromatin have been recorded.The authors are grateful to Prof. B. K. Behura, Department of Zoology, Utkal University, for necessary laboratory and library facilities. T.S. is grateful to the CSIR for providing financial assistance under the JRF scheme.     

Autoradiographic studies on RNA synthesis and transport in the Salivary gland ofLygaeus sp. (Hemiptera-Lygaeidae)

Summary Autoradiographic studies using³H-uridine in the salivary gland of adultLygaeus sp. were carried out. The gland cell nuclei, particularly the multiple nucleoli, are the sites of incorporation of the label exhibiting RNA synthesis. The labelled molecules (RNA) are transported to the cell cytoplasm and then into the gland lumen in which no turnover of the radioactivity is observed.I am grateful to my teacher, Prof. P. S. Ramamurty, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, for his constant inspiration. Grateful acknowledgement is made to Prof. J. P. Thapliyal, Dept of Zoology, B. H. U. for encouragement and to Dr Om Prakash, Dept of Biochemistry, B. H. U. for his valuable criticism.     

Viewing stereopair micrographs: Facilitated alignment through use of color filter

Résumé On propose l'emploi d'un écran coloré, disposé devant un des oculaires, comme aide à la superposition d'images paires pour l'observation stéréoscopique d'objets examinés en microscopie à balayage. Le filtre permet un alignement facile et rapide, ce qui réduit appréciablement la fatigue et les maux de tête que beaucoup ressentent au cours de ces manipulations.

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This work was supported by Grants No. NSF GB-8787 and No. NIH PO1 NS-07512 and by AMR, Burlington, Mass., JEOL, Medford, Mass., and Kent Cambridge, Morton Grove, Ill. I thank Mr.D. Corbisiero of Wild Heerbrugg for loan of the ST 4 mirror stereoscope.     

Cold tolerance of two Antarctic terrestrial arthropods

Summary Two Antarctic arthropods,Alaskozetes antarcticus (Acari) andCryptopygus antarcticus (Collembola) possess the ability to supercool to –30°C, but the realisation of this potential is dependent on starvation. The mite contains glycerol in a concentration of about 1% fresh weight.Acknowledgments. We thank the British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge and the Zoological Institute. University of Oslo for support and reasearch facilities, and the Natural Environment Research Council for a research grant (GR. 3/2797). We are grateful to Ms I. Tambs-Lyche for technical assistance.     

Endogenous inhibitor of ecdysone synthesis in crabs

Summary Attempts to isolate the molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) of crustaceans from crab eyestalks (ES) resulted in the characterization of xanthurenic acid as an inhibitor of ecdysone biosynthesis in the cultured Y-organ-complex (YOC) homogenate. It was also found that 3-hydroxyl-l-kynurenine present in the ES is transformed into xanthurenic acid in the YOC and body fluid. Its mode of inhibitory action in ecdysone biosynthesis is probably inactivation of cytochrome P-450.Acknowledgments. We thank Prof. M. Oka (Nagasaki University) and Dr J. Cappuzo (Oceanographic Inst.) for information on Y-organ and molting stages, Dr J. Termini and Mr J. Cesarelli (Columbia University) for organ excision of blue crabs and experiments in the early stage of this study, the Japan Sea Farming Association for aqua culture of crabs, Prof. Y. Umebachi (Kanazawa University) for a gift of 3-OH-l-Kyn, and Mr J. Rudloe (Gulf Specimen Co.) for collection and shipping of some selected crabs. This study was partially supported by NIH grant AI 10 187 (to K. N., at Columbia University).     

Vital staining of neurosecretory material with acridine orange in the insect,Periplaneta americana

Résumé On expose une méthode rapide de la coloration vitale à l'acridine orange des produits de neurosécrétion dans le tissu nerveux des insectes. Irradiés avec la lumière bleue, tout les types connus de produits de neurosécrétions entrent en fluorescence en prenant une teinte métachromique rouge.

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I am indebted to Prof.B. Johnson for helpful suggestions and criticisms. This study was supported by a University of Tasmania Research Grant and the author has received financial support from I.C.I.A.N.Z. and University of Tasmania Post-Graduate Scholarships.