Three unpublished letters to Charles Darwin: the solution to a ‘geometrico-geological’ problem

While Charles Darwin wrote his Observations on South America, he often sought the advice and help of other scientists in solving specific problems. Three letters that the Cambridge geologist and mathematician William Hopkins wrote to Darwin exemplify such aid. In these letters Hopkins was able to show Darwin how he could calculate the position of the sedimentary beds on the Chonos Archipelago, which Darwin had visited. In his first letter Hopkins sent a solution, part of which eluded Darwin. Darwin's letters to Hopkins have not yet been found, but two additional letters gave Darwin the solution he was looking for.     

The absence of normal serum proteins in lymphoma patients revealed by disc electrophoresis

Résumé La méthode d'électrophorèse en gel avec coloration spéciale est utilisée ici pour la comparaison des protéines sériques de 97 malades porteurs de néoplasme avec celles de 33 contrÔles normaux. Deux bandes, présentes dans tous les contrÔles représentant aux moins deux différentes protéines avec une mobilité d'-2-globuline, sont absentes dans 60 sérums de malades.     

Specificity of the macrophage reaction in vitro

Résumé Les macrophages de cobayes immunisés provoquent in vitro l'adhérence des hématies utilisées comme antigènes, selon une spécificité d'éspèce et non de groupe. Les sérums humains s'adsorbent in vitro sur les macrophages de cobayes immunisés par ces sérums, indépendemment du groupe (mais non sur des macrophages de cobayes normaux) causant l'adhérence et la phagocytose des hématies correspondantes. Les hématies adhérant aux macrophages sont hémolysées en présence du complément.     

Facilitation of a stereotyped motor behavior (climbing behavior) by previous stimulation of dopaminergic receptors: hyposensitivity of autoreceptors?]

The sensitivity of dopamine receptors in Mouse striatum has been evaluated both behaviourally (responsiveness to apomorphine as regarviour) and biochemically (striatal level of homovanillic acid and its decrease induced by apomorphine) After a single administration of apomorphine (0.25 mg.kg-1 or 5 mg.kg-1) or piribedil, another dopamine agonist, a state of "behavioural facilitation" develops which differs from the state of hypersensitivity following blockade. This state of facilitation is characterized by a lower threshold dose of apomorphine eliciting the stereotyped behaviour, without modification of the response to higher doses. In contrast with the state of hypersensitivity, the level of homovanillic acid is not modified and the decrease of this level by a low dose of apomorphine is less important. The hypothesis is put forward that "behavioural facilitation" results from the hyposensitivity of a class of dopamine receptors, possibly autoreceptors, mediating an impaired activity of dopaminergic neurons and, consequently, inhibitory behavioural effects.