Studies on Babylonian goal-year astronomy II: the Babylonian calendar and goal-year methods of prediction

This paper is the second part of an investigation into Babylonian non-mathematical astronomical texts and the relationships between Babylonian observational and predicted astronomical data. Part I (Gray and Steele 2008) showed that the predictions found in the Almanacs and Normal Star Almanacs were almost certainly made by applying Goal-Year periods to observations recorded in the Goal-Year Texts. The paper showed that the differences in dates of records between the Goal-Year Texts and the Almanacs or Normal Star Almanacs were consistent with the date corrections of a few days which, according to theoretical calculations, should be added to allow for the inexactness of Goal-Year periods. The current paper follows on from our earlier study to consider the effect of the Babylonian calendar on Goal-Year methods of prediction. Due to the fact that the Babylonian calendar year can contain either 12 or 13 months, a Goal-Year period can occasionally be month longer or shorter than usual. This suggests that there should in theory be certain points in the Metonic intercalation cycle where a predicted event occurs one Babylonian month earlier or later than the corresponding event a Goal-Year period later. By comparing dates of lunar and planetary records in the Astronomical Diaries, Goal-Year Texts, Almanacs and Normal Star Almanacs, we show that these month differences between the observational records and the predictions occur in the expected years. This lends further support to the theory that the Almanacs’ and Normal Star Almanacs’ predictions originated from records in the Goal-Year Texts, and clarifies how the Goal-Year periods were used in practice.     

Visual legitimisation of astronomy in the sixteenth and seventeeth centuries: Atlas, Hercules and Tycho’s nose

Images of the virtuous hero Hercules and the crowned King Atlas offered considerable potential for legitimising the new astronomy of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The accomplishments of Hercules, a seeker after virtue, with his exceptional learning, his role as disseminator of knowledge, his significance as an example of ideal manhood and, in addition to all, his achievement of immortality, invited comparison with the endeavours of astronomers. Throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Hercules and Atlas appear as the spiritual authorities of the discipline, and each was called into use to symbolise both the old and the new astronomy. Both figures embodied qualities that were decisive in struggles for patronage: they were politicised, especially Hercules, and used to legitimise claims to power.     

Studies on phytohemagglutinins XV. Hemagglutinins of the pea and the lentil: Advantage of their application in comparison to concanavalin a in some agglutination reactions

Zusammenfassung Phythämagglutinine der Erbse und Linse besitzen ähnliche biologische Eigenschaften wie Concanavalin A; ihre Aktivität ist jedoch in allen Agglutinationsreaktionen grösser als die von Concanavalin A.     

Studies on chemically induced tumors in rats: I. Heterogeneity of tumor cells and establishment of syngeneic, tumor-specific cytotoxic T cell clones

Sarcoma P1 was induced in DA rats by DMBA. Anti-P1 antibodies were produced in DA rats, purified via fixed tumor cells and used to induce anti-idiotypic antibodies in syngeneic rats. The anti-idiotypic antibodies were used to generate cytotoxic, P1 specific DA T cells in vitro. These cytotoxic T cells and P1 tumor cells were cloned by limiting dilution. Using the DA anti-P1 specific cytotoxic T cell clones, we were able to characterize 2 types of P1 tumor cell clones, namely those which were susceptible and those which were resistant to the P1 specific cytotoxic T cells. Cytotoxic T cell injected i.v. into syngeneic DA rats could not prevent the development of lethal P1 tumors.     

Biological activity of flucycloxuron,a novel benzoylphenylurea derivative,onTenebrio molitor: comparison with diflubenzuron and triflumuron

Flucycloxuron, a novel benzoylphenylurea (BPU) derivative, exhibited insecticidal activity when injected into newly ecdysed pupae ofTenebrio molitor. Mortality occurs because of defective adult ecdysis. Treatment caused a reduction in both cuticle thickness and incorporation of¹⁴C-labelled precursor into chitin, although it had no significant effect on the protein synthesis. The potencies of other BPU compounds as inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis have been examined and results showed that diflubenzuron was less effective than either flucycloxuron or triflumuron.     

Studies on correlations between chloroquine-induced tissue damage and serum enzyme changes in the rat

The administration of chloroquine to rats resulted in a significant elevation of serum enzymes and a corresponding decrease of these enzymes in the tissues. The changes in serum and kidney enzymes were most marked, thus indicating a primary renal dysfunction.     

Studies on cation transport in cold-stored human erythrocytes. I. Effect of aldosterone on sodium and potassium transfer

Riassunto L'aldosterone non esercita alcun effetto sugli scambi attivi di Na e di K che si manifestanoin vitro attraverso la membrana di eritrociti umani incubati a 37°C dopo 6 giorni di conservazione a 4°C.     

The measurement of the costs of maintenance in terrestrial poikilotherms: A comparison between respirometry and calorimetry

Zusammenfassung Durch Vergleich respirometrisch und kalorimetrisch bestimmter Daten über den Energieverbrauch während der Verpuppung vonTenebrio molitor wird gezeigt, dass die letztgenennte Methode der ersteren ebenbürtig ist, bei feuchtigkeitsliebenden Arten sogar überlegen sein müsste.

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I am most grateful to LKB-Produkter AB., S-161125 Bromma 1, Sweden and their staff for the extended loan of a modified Batch Microcalorimeter.     

Studies on the relationships between biotin and the behaviour of B and T lymphocytes in the guinea-pig

Summary In biotin-deficient guinea-pigs the number of circulating neutrophils is increased; lymphocytes carrying B and T markers are decreased. Incubation with biotin increases significantly the number of lymphocytes carrying B and T markers, from biotin-deficient guinea-pigs; no increase was observed when the lymphocytes from normal guinea-pigs were incubated.     

Synergism between ionizing radiation and a cytotoxic methylhydrazine derivative: Effect on DNA-degradation

Zusammenfassung Die kombinierte Einwirkung von ionisierender Strahlung und N-Isopropyl-p-(2-methyl-hydrazinomethyl)benzamid hydrochlorid (Natulan®) führt zu einem wesentlich stärkeren Abbau von Desoxyribonucleinsäure (DNS) als auf Grund der linearen Superposition zu erwarten wäre. Der Synergismus ist am ausgeprägtesten, wenn der Zusatz von Natulan unmittelbar nach der Bestrahlung erfolgt. Dieser Effekt kann als Folge der Bildung instabiler Peroxide während der Bestrahlung erklärt werden. Bekanntlich zerfallen die bei der Bestrahlung entstandenen organischen Peroxide zum grössten Teil innerhalb der ersten zwei bis drei Stunden nach der Bestrahlung unter Bildung freier Radikale. Diese können als Startradikale bei der Autoxydation von Natulan wirken und daher den Abbau von DNS beschleunigen.     

The effect of methallibure (I.C.I. 33, 828) on the steroidogenesis in the ovary and testis of a fresh water teleost,Cyprinus carpio

Summary Methalibure treatment of matureCyprinus carpio causes a marked reduction in the steroidogenesis, as indicated by the fall in 3-HSD activity in the gonads. Significance of these results is discussed.K.K. is thankful to University Grants Commission for a fellowship. Thanks are also due to I.C.I. England for the supplies of methallibure.     

Dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine in the venous blood of adrenal gland of man: a comparison with levels in the periphery of the circulation.

In 10 human subjects plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity was found in the adrenal vein blood to be as high as in the periphery of the circulation. Adrenaline concentration in the adrenal vein blood was in the mean 170 times, noradrenaline concentration 11 times and dopamine concentration little higher than levels in the periphery.     

Interconversion of testosterone and androstenedione in the human testis: A comparison between the activities displayed by the interstitium and the seminiferous tubules

Zusammenfassung Nachweis, dass im menschlichen Hoden sowohl das Interstitium wie auch das tubuläre System befähigt sind, Androstendion-4-¹⁴C und Testosteron-7-³H zu konvertieren.     

The effect of methallibure (I.C.I. 33,828) on the steriodogenesis in the ovary and testis of a fresh water teleost, Cyprinus carpio

Methallibure treatment of mature Cyprinus carpio causes a marked reduction in the steroidogenesis, as indicated by the fall in 3beta-HSD activity in the gonads. Significance of these results is discussed.