Bolzano,Cauchy and the “new analysis” of the early nineteenth century

Summary In this paper I discuss the development of mathematical analysis during the second and third decades of the nineteenth century; and in particular I assert that the well-known correspondence of new ideas to be found in the writings of Bolzano and Cauchy is not a coincidence, but that Cauchy had read one particular paper of Bolzano and drew on its results without acknowledgement. The reasons for this conjecture involve not only the texts in question but also the state of development of mathematical analysis itself, Cauchy both as personality and as mathematician, and the rivalries which were prevalent in Paris at that time.     

Self-labeling of human polymorphonuclear leucocyte myeloperoxidase with125iodine

In order to obtain a radioimmunoassay (RIA) technique for the measurement of human plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO), we purified the enzyme from polymorphonuclear granulocytes (neutrophils), and compared three methods of labeling it with¹²⁵Iodine: chloramine T, lactoperoxidase, and an original technique of self labeling based on the ability of the enzyme to oxidize and bind¹²⁵I in the presence of H₂O₂. The chloramine T technique produced a degraded protein, as well shown by a high non-specific binding of tracer to antibody. The lactoperoxidase technique did not succeed in labeling MPO with an adequate specific activity. In contrast, the self-labeling method gave a stable tracer with a specific activity of 23 Ci/gmg MPO (85 MBq), a satisfactory level of immunoreactivity, and a low-specific binding (3%). After labeling, purification of tracer was achieved by gel filtration chromatography in phosphate buffer (0.05 M; pH7) to which 0.1% poly-L-lysine was added. The labeled molecule remained stable for 40 days and could be used for RIA with a polyclonal antibody raised in rabbits.     

The phytotoxins ofMycosphaerella fijiensis,the causative agent of Black Sigatoka disease of bananas and plantains

Black Sigatoka is the most costly to control disease of bananas and plantains in the world. Currently, a worldwide search is underway either to find or to produce cultivars that are disease-resistant or-tolerant. Phytotoxins isolated from the pathogen might facilitate the discovery of such cultivars. Several aromatic compounds from liquid cultures ofMycosphaerella fijiensis, the causal agent of Black Sigatoka disease of bananas and plantains, have been isolated. The most abundant and phytotoxic of these compounds is 2,4,8-trihydroxytetralone, which induces necrotic lesions at 5 g/5 l in less than 12 h on sensitive cultivars of bananas. This compound exhibits host-selectivity that mimics that of the pathogen. Other phytotoxins isolated from this fungus, in lesser amounts, were juglone, the novel compound 2-carboxy-3-hydroxycinnamic acid, isoochracinic acid and 4-hydroxyscytalone. Some of the phytotoxins isolated are melanin shunt pathway metabolites, which makes this fungus unique among plant pathogens.     

MD Method in Solving Multiple Criteria Decision Problems Arising from Investment Systems

ＭＤＭｅｔｈｏｄｉｎＳｏｌｖｉｎｇＭｕｌｔｉｐｌｅＣｒｉｔｅｒｉａＤｅｃｉｓｉｏｎＰｒｏｂｌｅｍｓＡｒｉｓｉｎｇｆｒｏｍＩｎｖｅｓｔｍｅｎｔＳｙｓｔｅｍｓＤＵＷｅｎｚｈｏｎｇ;ＣＩＪｉａｎｈｕａ（ＥｃｏｎｏｍｉｃＩｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎＣｅｎｔｅｒｏｆ...     

Inhibition of the growth of cariogenic bacteria in vitro by plant falvanones

Phytoalexins, defensive compounds produced by plants against microbial infections, were purified fromSophora exigua (Leguminosae) and their growth inhibitory effects on oral cariogenic bacteria were determined in vitro. Among three isolated compounds, 5,7,2,4-tetrahydroxy-8-lavandulylflavanone completely inhibited the growth of oral bacteria including primary cariogenic mutans streptococci, other oral streptococci, actinomycetes, and lactobacilli, at concentrations of 1.56 to 6.25 g/ml.     

A novel mechanism for jumping in the indian ant<Emphasis Type="Italic">Harpegnathos saltator</Emphasis> (Jerdon) (Formicidae,Ponerinae)

The Indian antHarpegnathos saltator may be unique among insects in using its jumping capacity not only as an escape mechanism but also as a normal means of locomotion, and for catching its prey in flight. High-speed cinematography used to analyse the various phases of the jump suggests thatHarpegnathos employs a novel jumping mechanism to mediate these behaviours: namely the synchronous activation of its middle and hindlegs. Electrophysiological recordings from muscles or nerves in pairs of middle and hindlegs show remarkably synchronous activity during fictive jumping, supporting the synchronous activation hypothesis.Harpegnathos is not the only ant to jump, and a cladistic analysis suggests that jumping behaviour evolved independently three times during ant evolutionary history.