Paul Ehrenfest on the Necessity of Quanta (1911): Discontinuity,Quantization, Corpuscularity,and Adiabatic Invariance

Our object in this paper is to study the antecedents, contents, implications, and impact of a not well-known or appreciated paper by EHRENFEST in 1911 on the essential nature of the different quantum hypotheses in radiation theory. After a careful analysis of EHRENFESTs notebooks, correspondence, and publications, we conclude that the essential points of EHRENFESTs paper were not perceived to a large extent, and hence that its implications were not considered thoroughly. Specifically, we show that EHRENFEST contributed significantly to the clarifications of the differences between PLANCKs and EINSTEINs respective quantum hypotheses, as well as to those of the concepts discontinuity, quantization, and corpuscularity.     

Consideration on the effects of pollution at community and population level

Summary The effects of pollution at population level are considered in relation to demographic characteristics and overall to the birthrate. The direct and indirect effects of pollution on community structure is discussed. The influence of pollution may vary according to the food-chain structure; (as a consequence, the hazard ceteris paribus will be greater in freshwater communities than in marine ones). Relations between diversity and stability are discussed. In addition, the advantages and difficulties in using diversity and biotic indices for monitoring polluted water are taken into account.     

Zum physiologischen Potenzbegriff

Summary Based on the literature and the author's own research on general and comparative heart physiology, the term of Automaty-Potentiality is discussed and differentiated. Adouble term Automaty-Dominance/Automaty-Latence is proposed as serviceable.     

On the origin of the protein yolk in the oocytes ofAplysia depilans (Gastropoda,Opistobranchia)

Summary In the oocytes ofAplysia depilans it has been observed electronmicroscopically that gemmae or daughter-nucleoli separate from the nucleolus. These gemmae after having overcome the nuclear membrane, would aggregate together, even after transformation, into yolk globules. These observations seem to give plausibility to the hypothesis that there is a close relationship between production of ribonucleoproteic material by the nucleolus and yolk production.     

Structural differences of cone ‘oil-droplets’ in the light and dark adapted retina ofPoecilia reticulata P.

Summary The vast majority of oil-droplets in the dark and light-adapted retinal twin-cones ofPoecilia reticulata is of the matrix-type. In bright light (day light+overhead strip light) there occurs in some regions a very pronounced numerical change from matrix to cristate-type, whereas other regions remain unaffected. The functional significance of these differences is discussed.     

Zur Genese hepatozellulärer Kerneinschlüsse bei Colchicinvergiftung

Summary The colchicin-induced nuclear inclusions are a postmitotic phenomena. Fusing chromosome vesicles often include a portion of cytoplasm, surrounded by persisting parts of the vesicle membranes (indirect or membraned n.i.). This membrane sometimes degenerates; the n.i. then lies free in the karyoplasm (secondarily direct or free n.i.).     

Etude de l'hydrolyse et des propriétés toxiques vis-à-vis des mitochondries de maïs Texas,d'un insecticide,le méthomyl ou S-méthyl-N [(méthylcarbamoy)oxyl] thioacétimidate

Summary Methomyl, or S-methyl-N [(methylcarbamoyl)oxy] thioacetimidate, a common insecticide, has been found to be a specific poison of mitochondria of corn with Texas cytoplasm. Its hydrolysis under very mild acidic conditions affords thiomethyl methylthiosulphonate, which strongly inhibits the activity of CmST and N mitochondria of corn.     

The role of repair in radiobiology

Summary Apart from cancer and mutation induction, radiobiological effects on mammals are mostly attributable to cell death, defined as loss of proliferative capacity. Survival curves relate retention of that capacity to radiation dose, and often manifest a quasi-threshold (shoulder). The shoulder is attributable to an initial mechanism of repair (Q-repair) which is gradually depleted as dose increases. Another form of repair, which is not depleted (P-repair), increases the dose required to deliver an average of one lethal event per cell (dose D₀). Neither form of repair can unambiguously be linked with repair of defects in isolated DNA. An important initial lesion may well be disruption of the complex structural relationship between the DNA, nuclear membrane and associated proteins. One form of P-repair may be restoration of that structural relationship.     

A mathematical approach to cognitive processes

Summary A mathematical formalization of cognitive processes based on concepts previously given in Experientia¹ is presented. Cognitive processes are described as a set of exponentially decaying interaction probabilities determined by previous interactions between different elements and an association parameter, the inverse of the cognitive stability. The interactions occur in a cognitive string surrounded by a cognitive plasma which carries the contextual information. The complexity of a cognitive process is proportional to time.     

Axillary 5α-androst-16-en-3-one in men and women: Relationships with olfactory acuity to odorous 16-androstenes

Summary Axillary 5-androst-16-en-3-one (5-androstenone) levels were found to be significantly higher in men than in women but do not vary between left and right axillae, are not related to age, handedness or degree of hirsutism (in women) nor to anosmia to this steroid. In men (but not in women), levels are related linearly to axillary cholesterol concentrations but not to squalene. Olfactory thresholds for 5-androstenone varied widely, the lowest recorded being 0.2 ppb, but there was no difference in thresholds between men and women. Women (70%) found the smell repellant but anosmia did not differ greatly between men and women (9–20%). Anosmia to the smell of 5-androst-16-en-3-ol was most marked in women (90%) rather than in men (45%). Axillary 5-androstenone values were generally consistent with the musky or strong smells of male axillary extracts, compared with the sweet smell of those from female subjects.Supported by the Herbert Dunhill Trust.     

Nature and the time course of the effect of CO2 on electroretinogram (ERG) in an arachnid

Summary Electroretinogram recorded from the median eye of the scorpion, Heterometrus fulvipes before and after exposure to CO₂ indicated that the rate of recovery of b wave to pre-CO₂ level was slow and delayed as compared to a wave. b wave may therefore have a more central origin than that of a wave, which finds corroboration in the results of the depth recording in this eye with the microelectrode.The equipment was a gift from USAFOSR to Prof. T. H. Bullock and Prof. K. P. Rao, and the work was carried out at the Department of Zoology, Bangalore University. I thank Dr R. V. Krishnamoorthy and Dr A. R. Kasturi Bai.     

Glycoprotein biosynthesis in splenic cells. Purification of a microsomal galactosyl-transferase

Summary One part of the microsomal galactosyl-transferase activity of splenic cells of rats can by solubilized by the action of Triton X-100 and Tween 20. Its purification on a Sephadex G-200 column and by electrophoresis on a polyacrylamide gel leads to a solution of high specific enzymic activity.This work has benefited from the help of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, the Direction des Recherches et Moyens d'Essais, the Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale Française the Délégation Générale à la Recherche Scientifique et Technique and the Université de Lyon (UER Lyon-Sud et Biologie Humaine).     

A historical review of the problem of mitogenetic radiation

Summary The miracle of caryokinesis was the starting point that stimulated Alexander G. Gurwitsch to carry out his famous mitogenetic experiments in 1923. The results obtained confirmed his hypothesis of a weak radiation from cells, which is able to trigger the growth of other cells. Extensive experimental work within the first two decades after this discovery indicated that the problem of mitogenetic radiations is generally related to the biological significance of UV-radiation. Both energetic and informational aspects have to be considered, namely radiation effective in activating molecules, and that involved in arranging them into larger units.The molecular organization of biological structures is evidently governed by nonequilibrium conditions needing the uptake or emission of radiation. These concepts of A. G. Gurwitsch can be linked with modern approaches based on hypotheses of coherence in biology, synergetics and dissipative structures. However, the question of causal interrelationships between this part of non-equilibrium radiation and biological matter on different levels of evolution has to be solved now.     

Independent responses of two fruit characters to developmental regulation inMicroseris douglasii (Asteraceae,Lactuceae)

Summary The hairy achenes and yellow achenes characters are expressed only in peripheral fruits onMicroseris capitula. Segregation in interstrain hybrid D37 shows that the genes responsible for these characters respond independently to developmental regulation.Supported by grants Ba 536/7-7 from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and DEB 80-09427 from the National Science Foundation.     

Limitations of the ‘direct linear plot’ in evaluation of drug-protein binding parameters

Summary The applicability of the direct linear plot is compared with that of the Scatchard plot for the estimation of protein binding parameters. Only, if one class of binding sites exists in the system tested, binding parameters may be estimated by use of the direct linear plot. On the other hand the Scatchard plot also provides estimates in systems with more that one class of binding sites.     

Die Mitschattierung

Summary Contrast and concealment colour patterns take the form of spotting in visually articulated surroundings. In visually more uniform surroundings, the same effects are achieved by means of shading. The present paper brings some new examples of countershading, and explains the phenomenon of shadow accent (the reverse of countershading: emphasis of shadow areas by pigmentation, increasing the contrast between the animal and its environment).     

Chromosomal location of α-amylase structural genes in rye (Secale cereale L.)

Summary Rye (Secale cereale L.) -amylase isozymes are controlled by at least four loci located on the 5R (three) and 7R (one) chromosomes. In the case of Imperial and King II cultivars, two of the three 5R chromosome loci could be specifically located on the 5Rl chromosome arm; the other one was located on the 5RS. The locus of 7R chromosome was located on the 7RL chromosome arm of Imperial rye.     

Real-time models of morphogenetic processes

Summary Morphological transformations are often describable by simple series kinetic models,AB, ABC, etc., which allow assessment of the rates of interconversion of the distinguishable shapes or forms present and their probabilities of occurrence at various points in time, thus providing a means for kinetic comparisons with biochemical measurements of the molecular-level reactions that cause the transformations. When changes in cell morphology are followed turbidimetrically, the real-time progress curves can be simulated by fitting the data to a form of Beer's law for scattering by mixtures in which the species concentrations change with time in accordance with the chosen kinetic scheme. Because many even relatively large cells are mostly water, classical light scattering theory can be used to interpret the turbidimetric data in terms of simple geometrical models ofaverage cell size and shape suggested by microscopic examination. Two examples are briefly considered, the stimulus-induced changes in blood platelet shape and apparent size and their correlation with cytosolic-free calcium, and apparent swimming motion exhibited by neutrophils in suspension.What do you know about this business? the King said to Alice. Nothing, said Alice. Nothing whatever? persisted the King. Nothing whatever, said Alice. That's very important, the King said. Lewis Carroll (1865), in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland     

Spierule cells inDrosophila species

Summary Spherule cells are restricted to the larval stage and make up 5–16% of cells in the hemolymph. Their morphology varies between species, mainly due to the shape of their inclusions which may be oval (spheroidocytes), polyhedral (crystalloid cells), or clearly crystalline (crystal cells). These inclusions are very rich in tyrosine. They liquefy rapidly in vitro, whereby the cells become hyaline (coagulocytes).Acknowledgments. We thank Mr B. Barandun for excellent technical assistance. This investigation was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, grant No. 3.792.076.