Purity and Danger of an Information Infrastructure

We critically assess deep-seated assumptions and images of an information infrastructure, namely, that it needs to be uniform, tidy, and nonfragmented. This is necessary because our perception of order is socially constructed and, more importantly, because it has implications. Based on an historical reconstruction of the establishment of a Lotus Notes-based infrastructure in an internationally oriented oil company with 17,000 employees, we describe and analyze the productive role that appeals to an orderly infrastructure play. We trace its sources and describe how it operates. We also identify the implications in terms of choice of technological solution, delegation of organizational roles, and making organizational actors (in)visible.     

17β-Hydroxymethyl-Steroide: Darstellung von Derivaten des 17α-Hydroxy-17β-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-3-ons

Summary Starting from 17-hydroxy-17-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-3-one, we synthesized 4-chloro-17-hydroxy-17-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-3-one-17, 20-acetonide and 17-hydroxy-17-hydroxymethyl-1, 4-androstadien-3-one. 11, 17-dihydroxy-17-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-3-one was obtained from cortisone via methyl-17-hydroxy-3, 11-dioxo-4-etienate.     

On the continuity of reference of the elements: a response to Hendry

Robin Hendry has recently argued that although the term ‘element’ has traditionally been used in two different senses (basic substance and simple substance), there has nonetheless been a continuity of reference. The present article examines this author’s historical and philosophical claims and suggests that he has misdiagnosed the situation in several respects. In particular it is claimed that Hendry’s arguments for the nature of one particular element, oxygen, do not generalize to all elements as he implies. The second main objection is to Hendry’s view that the qua problem can be illuminated by appeal to the intention of scientists.     

Multiple dietary necrotic degeneration in the mouse

Zusammenfassung Bei der Maus wird durch eine Diät eine tödliche Mangelkrankheit, sogenannte multiple, nekrotische Degeneration, erzeugt. Diese Diät ist arm an Cystin und frei von Faktor 3 und Vitamin E. Nekrosen des Herzmuskels stehen im Vordergrund, ausserdem kommt es zu Degeneration von Leber, Nieren und Muskulatur. Pankreas und Testes zeigen Atrophie bei gestörtem Wachstum. Die Krankheit wird entweder durch den Faktor 3 oder durch Vitamin E verhütet. Der Faktor 3, der vor kurzem als eine organische Selenium-Verbindung identifiziert wurde, ist durch Selenit-Selenium ersetzbar.