Newtonianism and the enthusiasm of Enlightenment

The career of John Jackson (1686-1763), Arian theologian and controversialist, provides a key to unlocking the early reception and quick collapse of a Newtonian natural apologetic originally developed by Samuel Clarke. The importance of friendship and discipleship in eighteenth-century intellectual enquiry is emphasised, and the links between Newton and his followers are traced alongside those of a group of Cambridge Lockeans, led by Jackson’s direct contemporary Daniel Waterland, who proved instrumental in the initial dismantling of Clarke’s brand of Newtonian apologetic. The controversial context of this engagement is shown to have been largely provided by the religiously compromising rise of freethinking, and Tindal’s Christianity as old as the creation (1731) signalled the dangers to proponents of natural religion as an adjunct of Christian apologetic in such a heated atmosphere. Religious division of the sort that resulted paradoxically played into the hands of the freethinkers in the anticlerical atmosphere of the 1730s, and accusations were exchanged between Newtonians and Lockeans accordingly. The dynamic of England’s Enlightenment experience is, then, a complicated one, and, as the career and writings of Jackson and William Whiston demonstrate, it was one which absorbed as well as repudiated ‘enthusiasm’.     

Photon emission of phagocytes in relation to stress and disease.

Phagocytes, the first-line cells of the body's defence mechanisms against invading pathogens, kill microorganisms by means of lysosomal degradative enzymes and highly toxic reactive oxygen intermediates. The reactive oxygen compounds are produced, in a process called the 'respiratory burst', by the NADPH oxidase complex in plasma membranes, and by myeloperoxidase in phagolysosomes after degranulation. These processes generate electronically excited states which, on relaxation, emit photons, giving rise to phagocyte chemiluminescence (CL). This paper describes the conditions for the measurement of CL, and reviews the activity of phagocytes from individuals undergoing stress or disease. The capability of phagocytes to emit photons reflects remarkably well the pathophysiological state of the host. In many cases even the magnitude of the stress, the presence of a pathogen in the body, or the activity of the disease can be estimated. Physiological changes, e.g. in the reproductive cycle, can also be predicted.     

Sul meccanismo di azione della streptomicina

Summary A study was undertaken on the variations of the redox potential level produced by streptomycinin vitro andin vivo. We have been able to show that, owing to an oxidative effect, streptomycin produces an increase of the redox potential level. This oxidative effect varies in degree according to the condition of the patient.We also found that in the blood and in the spinal fluid of patients suffering from tubercular meningitis factors are present which inhibit the action of streptomycin.The results of our findings lead to the conclusion that the dose of streptomycin must be varied according to the condition of the patient if the constant level required for an efficient therapy is to be maintained in the blood and in the spinal fluid.     

Kondensationsprodukte von Oxyketonen und Aminoketonen mit 2,4,5-Triamino-6-oxy-pyrimidin

Summary By condensing 2:4:5-triamino-6-hydroxy-pyrimidine with dihydroxyacetone (diacetate), diaminoacetone or acetone-1,3-di (p-formylaminobenzoic acid) not the expected 8- or 9-oxymethyl resp. -aminomethyl-pteridines but 8-or 9-methyl-pteridines were obtained. With p-tolyl-d-isoglucosamine not a tetrahydroxybutyl-pteridine but a trihydroxybutyl-pteridine was formed. For an explanation of these results it is supposed that from the dihydro-pteridines formed at first by intramolecular splitting off of H₂O or R·NH₂ aromatization takes place.     

A propos d'antibiotiques insolubles

Summary The authors show the antibiotic activity of water-insoluble salts of hydrosoluble antibiotics in the case of penicillin G (salts of iron, copper, silver, gold, and uranium) and streptomycin (oleate).     

New Membranes Based on Polybenzimidazole for Polymer Fuel Cells

1 Results Acid-doped polybenzimidazoles[1] are particularly appealing because of high proton conductivity with no or low humidification and promising fuel cells performances. PBI, in fact, contains basic functional groups which can easily interact with strong oxo-acids, such as H3PO4 and H2SO4. The acid partially protonates the polymer and partially is freely dispersed in the polymer backbone, so allowing proton migration via Grotthuss mechanism along the anionic chains[2]. Anyway, a technological limit...     

Die Wirkung von synthetischen Antihistaminkörpern auf die Senfölchemosis am Kaninchenauge

Summary Intravenous or subcutaneous administration of pyribenzamine and other antihistaminics is able to decrease, and to delay the appearance of chemosis produced by mustard oils in the eye of the rabbit. Simultaneously occurring vascular reactions, on the other hand, are but slightly affected by antihistaminics. Intravenous or subcutaneous administration of rutin has no clear-cut effect on chemosis; it is however able to inhibit the vascular reaction.