Inherent properties and statistics with individual particles in quantum mechanics

This paper puts forward the hypothesis that the distinctive features of quantum statistics are exclusively determined by the nature of the properties it describes. In particular, all statistically relevant properties of identical quantum particles in many-particle systems are conjectured to be irreducible, ‘inherent’ properties only belonging to the whole system. This allows one to explain quantum statistics without endorsing the ‘Received View’ that particles are non-individuals, or postulating that quantum systems obey peculiar probability distributions, or assuming that there are primitive restrictions on the range of states accessible to such systems. With this, the need for an unambiguously metaphysical explanation of certain physical facts is acknowledged and satisfied.     

Spasmin-like proteins in various ciliates revealed by antibody to purified spasmins ofCarchesium polypinum

Summary It was found that some ciliates,Stentor, Spirostomum andBlepharisma, which can contract rapidly like the stalks of Vorticellidae, have Ca²⁺-binding proteins that are very similar to spasmins, in the immunological sense. The presence of spasmins in other Protozoa and in some Metazoa was also investigated.     

Partial sequence of the gene for a serine protease from a halophilic archaeumhaloferax mediterranei R4, and nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA encoding genes from several halophilic archaea

A part of the gene coding for a halophilic serine protease from a halophilic archaeumHaloferax mediterranei R4 was amplified by PCR and its 672 nucleotide sequence was determined. Tentative translation to the amino acid sequence suggested that the enzyme was quite similar to halolysin produced by another halophilic archaeum strain 172P1. Nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA encoding genes from 9 halophilic archaea were determined. Alignment of 19 sequences known so far showed that there are more than 20 positions carrying bases or deletions specific for each halobacterial genus:Halobacterium, Haloarcula, Haloferax, andHalococcus.     

Anthelmintic activity of a benzimidazoline compound in sheep by abomasal infusion

Summary In vitro and in vivo data on the benzimidazoline compound indicate anthelmintic potential when introduced directly into the abomasum.     

Cognition wars

In what kinds of physical systems can cognition be realized? There are currently competing answers among scientists and theorists of cognition. There are many plant scientists who maintain that cognition can be realized in plants. There are biological scientists who maintain that cognition is materially realized in bacteria. In this paper, I will present the basis for such claims and evaluate them and discuss the future for theories of the metaphysical basis of cognition in the cognitive sciences.     

Mating attempts between the Scarlet Tiger Moth,Callimorpha dominula L., and the Cinnabar Moth,Tyria jacobaeae L. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), involve a common sex pheromone composition

It has been suggested that a common sex pheromone composition may account for interspecific sexual interactions observed with certain moths in the Arctiidae. In this study, it is demonstrated that the sex pheromones released by females of the Scarlet Tiger Moth,Callimorpha dominula L., and the Cinnabar Moth,Tyria jacobaeae L., have similar activities and elute at the same retention time on analysis by coupled gas chromatography (GC)-electrophysiology with males from each species. Peak enhancement on GC, chiral GC and coupled GC-mass spectrometry using authentic compounds show that the sex pheromone for bothC. dominula andT. jacobaeae is (3Z,6Z,9S,10R)-9,10-epoxyheneicosa-3,6-diene.     

Phenology of fruit and leaf production by ‘strangler’ figs on Barro Colorado Island,Panamá

Summary Fruit and leaf initiation by 26 trees representing five stranglerFicus species in the subgenusUrostigma were monitored for 5–8 years in a seasonal lowland forest of central Panamá. Individual trees of each species initiated fruit in synchronized crops. High variation in the number of crops, intervals between crops and dates of crop initiation indicate that these species, like species in the subgenusPharmacosycea, initiate fruit crops the year around. Nevertheless, mean crop initiation dates for four of five species fell within the four-month dry season. Similarly, all species produced new leaf flushes throughout the year, however, mean leaf flush dates of all species fell within the first three months of the dry season.     

Recruitment communication and pheromone trails in the neotropical ants,Leptothorax (Nesomyrmex) spininodis andL. (N.) echinatinodis

Leptothorax (Nesomyrmex) spininodis andL. (N.) echinatinodis workers lay pheromone trails when returning from food sources to their nests. Workers from within the nest begin following the trail almost immediately upon the successful forager's return and do not require a leader. The trail remains effective for about four minutes under our laboratory conditions but it is unclear whether the trail alone is sufficient to induce recruitment or whether additional signals, perhaps emitted within the nest, are involved. Pheromone trails of this type have not previously been documented for leptothoracine ants.     

Inter-specific avoidance of egg-associated semiochemicals in four tortricids

Oviposition of four tortricid pests of vineyards (the European grapevine moth and the grape berry moth) and fruit orchards (the codling moth and the oriental fruit moth) is deterred by a blend of straight chain fatty acids and esters of fatty acids that have been identified in the eggs of one of them: the European grapevine moth (EGVM)Lobesia botrana. This is the first evidence of inter-specific recognition of an egg-like signal in moths. We demonstrate that oviposition site selection is influenced by population density, avoidance of deterrent being most important when females are isolated. Inter-specific egg recognition might be an important phenomenon, especially in species competing for a common food resource. We propose the term oviposition regulating synomone for molecules and blends that affect the inter-specific spacing of eggs.     

Biochemical and environmental perspectives on nitrogen metabolism in fishes

Catabolism of nitrogen-containing substances makes a major contribution to the oxidative metabolism in teleostean fishes. In this review, we focus on aspects of the formation, transport, detoxification and excretion of the two most important nitrogenous products of fishes: ammonia (NH₃ plus NH ₄ ⁺ ) and urea. While NH ₄ ⁺ makes up the bulk of nitrogenous waste, it is in equilibrium with the highly toxic NH₃. Ammonia is generated in the liver and excreted through branchial, surface and renal routes. Innocuous urea is derived through hepatic uricolysis or argininolysis and voided through kidney, gill, skin or faeces. Under conditions hampering the release of ammonia, such as exposure to exogenous ammonia, water limitation, or alkaline conditions, some teleosts detoxify ammonia through synthesis of urea by the ornithine-urea cycle in liver. Ammonia and possibly alanine are the prevalent vehicles of internal nitrogen transport. Glutamine is immaterial to interorgan nitrogen transport in fishes, but plays a transient role in the detoxification of ammonia by brain glutamine synthetase.     

Molecular insights into the novel aspects of diatom biology

Diatoms are unicellular photosynthetic eukaryotes that are thought to contribute as much as 25% of global primary productivity. In spite of their ecological importance in the worlds oceans, very little information is available at the molecular level about the novel aspects of their biology. Recent advances, such as the development of gene transfer protocols, are now allowing the genetic dissection of diatom biology. Notable examples are advances in understanding the genetic basis for the silica-based bioinorganic pattern formation of their cell walls and for elucidating key aspects of diatom ecophysiology. The potentiation of current research will allow an evaluation of the use of diatoms to construct submicrometre-scale silicon structures for the nanotechnology industry and will reveal the molecular secrets underlying their ecological success. Received 29 March 2001; received after revision 31 May 2001; accepted 31 May 2001     

Studies on the fungal phytotoxin victorin: Structures of three novel amino acids from the acid hydrolyzate

Summary The host-selective phytotoxin victorin, produced by the fungusCochliobolus victoriae, was found to be at least partially peptidic in nature, and did not contain victoxinine. The exact mass of the M-H ion was measured by FABMS as 795.1877. Derivatives of three major acid hydrolysis products were isolated. The structures of the corresponding amino acids were assigned as 2S,3R-3-hydroxyleucine, 5,5-dichloroleucine, and 3-hydroxylysine. A into victorin by the fungus in vivo.     

Development of behavior and learning inAplysia

Summary A set of fundamental issues in neuroethology concerns the neural mechanisms underlying behavior and behavioral plasticity. We have recently analyzed these issues by combining a simple systems approach in the marine molluscAplysia with a developmental analysis aimed at examining the emergence and maturation of different forms of behavior and learning. We have focussed on two kinds of questions: 1) How are specific neural circuits developmentally assembled to mediate different types of behaviors? and 2) how is plasticity integrated with these circuits to give rise to different forms of learning? From our analysis of the development of learning and memory inAplysia, several themes have emerged: 1) Different forms of learning emerge according to different developmental timetables. 2) Cellular analogs of learning have the same developmental timetables as their respective forms of behavioral learing. 3) An analysis of non-decremented responses prior to the emergence of sensitization reveals a novel inhibitory process on both behavioral and cellular levels. 4) Sensitization emerges simultaneously in diverse response systems, suggesting an underlying general process. 5) A widespread proliferation of central neurons occurs in the same developmental stage as the emergence of sensitization, raising the possibility that some aspect of the trigger for neuronal proliferation may also contribute to the expression of sensitization.     

Individual recognition and incest avoidance in eusocial common mole-rats rather than reproductive suppression by parents

Non-reproductive females in families of eusocial common mole-rats (Cryptomys sp., Rodentia) are not suppressed by their mother, (either behaviourally or pheromonally) as is generally assumed. They do not mate with their father and brothers simply because they are not sexually attractive for them (and vice versa). The incest avoidance is based on the capability to recognize (and keep in memory for up to three weeks) each family member individually. A sterile daughter may conceive and deliver young in her parental family if given the opportunity to mate with an unfamiliar mate in a separate cage. In this way, two females may breed side by side in one family.     

Locke on measurement

Like many virtuosi in his day, the English philosopher John Locke maintained an active interest in metrology. Yet for Locke, this was no mere hobby: questions concerning measurement were also implicated in his ongoing philosophical project to develop an account of human understanding. This paper follows Locke's treatment of four problems of measurement from the early Drafts A and B of the Essay concerning Human Understanding to the publication of this famous book and its aftermath. It traces Locke's attempt to develop a natural or universal standard for the measure of length, his attempts to grapple with the measurement of duration, as well as the problems of determining comparative measures for secondary qualities, and the problem of discriminating small differences in the conventional measures of his day. It is argued that the salient context for Locke's treatment of these problems is the new experimental philosophy and its method of experimental natural history.     

A cyanoglucoside stored by aSedum-feeding Apollo butterfly,Parnassius phoebus

A bitter tasting cyanoglucoside, sarmentosin, was isolated from an aposematic Apollo butterfly,Parnassius phoebus, and from its plant-host,Sedum stenopetalum. The content of sarmentosin in the body tissues was as high as 500 g/insect, suggesting a defensive role for this substance; a high concentration was detected in the wings. Sarmentosin was also present in the eggs.     

Is ATP synthesized by a vacuolar-ATPase in the extremely halophilic bacteria?

The proton-dependent synthesis of ATP was demonstrated in representative members of the generaHalobacterium, Haloarcula, andHaloferax. In all cases, synthesis was not inhibited by nitrate or N-ethylmaleimide, inhibitors of the vacuolar-like ATPase found in Archaea, but was affected by azide, an inhibitor of F₀F₁-ATP syntheses. These observations extend the earlier observations withHalobacterium saccharovorum and suggest that ATP synthesis in these organisms is brought about by an F₀F₁-APT synthase.