ALBERT

Notizen: Conclusions La préhypophyse sécrète deux hormones, l'auxogène et la crinogène. On peut, en détruisant ou éliminant le crinogène, obtenir des extraits à effet auxogène pur. L'urine de femme castrée ne contient que le principe auxogène: la lutéinisation, observée dans certains cas, est un effet secondaire dû à l'intervention de l'hypophyse de l'animal traité. L'urine de femme enceinte contient deux prolans: un principe crinogène identique à celui de l'hypophyse et agissant, comme ce dernier, directement sur l'ovaire; un principe hypophysotrope, stimulant l'hypophyse de l'animal — dans la mesure où elle est présente ou capable de réponse — et se traduisant dans l'ovaire par un effet auxogène de type physiologique. Les deux principes de l'UFE peuvent être séparés ou l'un peut être détruit avec conservation partielle de l'autre. Les taux des deux prolans varient d'une urine à l'autre, pour une même urine au cours de la gestation ou au cours du chauffage. L'existence de ces deux principes est importante à considérer lorsqu'on utilise, dans la pratique médicale, des extraits d'UFE qui sont, en réalité, des mélanges variables de deux hormones, dont les effets physiologiques et, par suite, les indications thérapentiques ne sont certainement pas les mémes.

Notizen: Summary A short description is given of actual problems of the dynamics of crystals. It is shown that thermal motions of atoms can be described by normal modes of vibrations, or by waves or then by the quanta, called phonons, carried by these waves. In terms of this gas of phonons, the dynamics of crystals becomes the kinetic theory of phonons. If the forces between the atoms are harmonic, the phonons behave like an ideal gas. If we introduce anharmonic forces, the gas of phonons is like a real gas, collisions between the particles playing an important part. The anharmonic forces produce waves which do not satisfy the principle of superposition; they can be Bragg-reflected one on another with a strong Doppler effect. It is possible to define a mean free path of the phonons and then such phenomena as heat conductivity and internal friction are easily interpreted either in terms of waves or phonons.

Notizen: Summary The size of nuclei can only be investigated in considering the volume calculated from measured diameters. Two rules as first established byJacobj are pecularly interesting: 1 In every kind of organ or tissue the volumes of nuclei are regularly distributed in such a manner, that a great part of them is accumulated in one class of size, specific for this organ or tissue. Sometimes accumulations in several classes of the proportion 1:2:4:8 are encountered. 2 The nuclei grow by doubling their volume. The statistical methods used until now in researches on the size of nuclei are not satisfactory for comparison of results from different investigations. It is therefore proposed to employ a logarithmical classification in researches on the volumes of nuclei; the arguments for this method and its usefulness are demonstrated by diagrams of samples calculated in the old and new manner.

Notizen: Summary Graftings between alkaloid-producing and non-alkaloid plants of theSolanaceae family have indicated the importance of the root and other subterraneous plant organs for the formation of alkaloids. If, for example, black nightshade(Solanum nigrum) is grafted on tobacco(Nicotiana Tabacum), the otherwise non-nicotinous scions ofSolanum nigrum contain considerable quantities of nicotine. If on the other hand the black nightshade is used as stock and the tobacco as scion, the nicotine completely disappears from the graftings. Similar results have been obtained from experiments with tomatoes(Solanum Lycopersicum) on one hand and thorn-apples(Datura Stramonium) and deadly nightshades(Atropa Belladonna) on the other. Morphological and histochemical investigations have likewise drawn attention to the subterraneous plant organs as centres of alkaloid formation. In this way hordenine is formed and stored only in the roots ofHordeum murinum, and berberine is to be found almost exclusively in the roots ofMahonia Aquifolium. Graftings which are carried out withNicotiana Tabacum, which contains nicotine, and withNicotiana glauca, which contains anabasine, have demonstrated the pronounced reciprocal influence of the alkaloid metabolism of scion and stock. These results are, however, not so conclusive as those obtained from graftings of non-alkaloid and alkaloid-producing scions or stocks. Nevertheless the following conclusions can be drawn from these investigations: 1 The grafted plants form more alkaloids than the test plants. 2 In graftedNicotiana glauca anabasine formation strongly prevails. 3 The total replacement of the nicotine by anabasine in grafts ofNicotiana Tabacum onNicotiana glauca is not based on the migration of the anabasine from the stock in the scion; it is due to the complete modification in the alkaloid metabolism of the scion under the influence of the stock. A final decision whether the plants in question form the corresponding alkaloids or their precursors, or indeed both, in their subterraneous organs, can at present not yet be given. The investigation of these questions will also clarify in each individual case the migration of these alkaloids. Further experiments are here required, as it appears that the various plants react differently in this respect on being grafted. Perhaps it will be possible to throw light on this question by means of other methods.

Notizen: Summary “A review is given of what we know of binary stars. Leaving out the historical development, the difficulties are shown, which astronomers encountered in their studies of visual as well as spectroscopic or photometric binaries. Thus the reader gets an idea of the methods used both for observing and for explaining the existence of these double stars. The importance of this problem for modern cosmology and for theoretical physics is pointed out.”

Notizen: Summary For the initiation of an epidemic with a tendency to become wide-spread, various conditions must be fulfilled in the vegetable kingdom. Factors which can lead to such an epidemic are the same as in epidemic diseases in humans and concern the host, causative agents and environmental factors.

Notizen: Summary The gravity values determined in Switzerland by the Swiss geodetic Commission enable us to compute the closing errors in the polygones of the levelling net of the survey. The observed errors do not agree with the computed errors; the differences between the one and the other must be eliminated by a computation of compensation. There results from this computation also a mean error for 1 km; it amounts to ±1,40 mm, so that the mean error of a levelling altitude difference measured over a length of 400 km is equal to ±1,40 √400=±28 mm. The intrinsic altitude of a point, i. e. the length of the plumbline between the point and the sea level, can only be indicated if the mean gravity value along the plumbline is known. This value can be derived by computation from the surface gravity value of the point. The differences between the levelling altitude and the intrinsic altitude amount to 1 dm in flat regions and reach 3–4 dm in the Alps.

Notizen: Summary Koschmieder's new thermodynamical theory of tornado formation (1940) makes it probable that a tornado (or a waterspout) develops when a warm air packet rises quickly within the convective mother cloud. In the present paper the three principle cases of conditions are indicated under which supplementary amounts of potential energy necessary to start a “daughter convection” in the cumulo-nimbus cloud can become available in the latter. Supply of moister air from below seems to be at least as important as that one of warmer air. However, the suddenness of the release of the said supplementary energy cannot be explained by the abrupt annihilation of an intercepting layer within the main body of the cumulo-nimbus, for the pre-existence of such a layer is incompatible with the general character of this type of cloud.

Notizen: Summary The growth factors for microorganisms are nothing else than the vitamines known in animal physiology. Some microorganisms, like animals, have lost the possibility of synthetising these factors, which must be added to the culture medium. The action of the vitamine is quantitative and specific. These properties enable the auxo-heterotrophic microorganism, having lost the possibility of synthesis for a determined vitamine, to be used for a quantitative determination of this factor. The Phycomyces test for thiamine (vitamine B1) and its different practical applications are discussed.

Notizen: Summary Let ϕ ν (x) (ν=1, ...,n) ben elementary functions, such that the integrals ϕ ν (x)=∫ϕ ν dx are not elementary. Then, if there exists a relationF(ψ 1, ...,ψ n,x)=0 with an elementary functionF(W 1, ...,W n,x) of itsn+1 variables, there exists also alinear relation $$\mathop \sum \limits_{v = 1}^n \alpha _v \psi _v (x) = \psi (x)$$ where α ν are constants andψ(x) is an elementary function.

Notizen: Summary The effect of the wilt producing substance, lycomarasmine, isolated from cultures ofFus. lycopersici Sacc., is shown in three pictures. On hydrolysis lycomarasmine yields glycine, aspartic and (probably) pyruvic acid and ammonia. A hypothetical formula is given.

Notizen: Summary It is possible to obtain good growth of fungi on blotting-paper-strips, if the strips are staying in beer-wort like the photo shows.

Notizen: Summary Based on experimental evidence we propose for strychnine formula II instead of formula I.

Notizen: Summary The author made a first attempt to utilize an artificial radioactive isotope for the production of localized biological radiation-effects, by means of intraperitoneal injections of radiozinc (Zn63) suspended in a solution of pectine. Experiments were performed on mice and rabbits and the procedure was applied, for the purpose of preliminary therapeutic investigations, to a case of carcinoma of the ovary with severe peritoneal extension.

Notizen: Summary Description of the high-mountains water-spout, Arosa, August 13th and its situation in space.

Notizen: Summary The exposure of a human ear to a very loud pure tone produces not only an increase of the threshold but also modifications of the pitch. These observations lead to a new «two-place» mechanism of the inner ear, where pitch and loudness are perceived at two different and locally separated places of the basilar membrane.

Notizen: Summary The paper deals with recent advances in chemotherapy of tuberculosis. In view of the fact that chemical analysis has shown the lipoid nature of tubercle bacilli and in view of the favorable therapeutic results obtained by treating leprosy with chaulmoogra-acids, the leading idea of many authors was to synthetize lipoidsoluble substances in order to affect the growth of tubercle bacilli. However, the finding that water-soluble substances as Promin inhibit the growth of the microorganisms showed that the idea to use exclusively fatsoluble substances was not necessarily right. Although the therapeutic effects of Promin are not yet particularly encouraging, the experiments made with this substances are useful as they indicate a new direction for research in chemotherapy of tuberculosis. Some of our own experiments with diaminodiphenylsulphone-derivatives are described.

Notizen: Summary The newly fallen snow exhibits in its large variety of form all the changes in the atmospheric conditions (temperature, moisture, wind), and is a divided, labile matter. After the deposit, the cubic weight increases through the dead weight and the intercrystalline forces. These latter are closely connected with the metamorphosis of the crystals of newly fallen snow, basing on a stability of form. It appears that the snow crystal is covered with a superficial layer of fluid-like properties, and that the surface expansion is responsible for the first phase of the transformation. For the further change into the coarse grained old snow temporal and local differences are necessary. This has been found by observation of nature and of laboratory experiments, and in both cases were the results the same. The snow aggregate possesses, as a whole, a remarkable plasticity; the relations of this latter to the crystal plasticity is, at present, being examined by means of deformation tests. Of the characteristics of the plasticity of crystals a certain firmness and recovery can be observed partly, however, obscured by an elastic after-effect up till now never observed in snow. Of a slow limit there is only a suggestion. Besides mechanical mensurations, microscopic tests are being made on thin grinding plates to get at the individual proceedings.

Notizen: Summary The crystal structure of CdCl0,67(OH)1,33, CdBr0,6(OH)1,4 and CdJ0,5(OH)1,5 is determined, the first crystalizes in the C-19-, the latter in the C-6-type. The dimensions of the lattice of the named compounds and of CdCl0,67(OH)1,33 are tabulated together with those of Cd(OH)2 and of the halogenides. It follows that when in Cd(OH)2 OH-ions are substituted by halogen-ions, the distancea of the Cd-ions in the layers are changed very little, while the distance of the layersc′ is increased according to the size of the halogen-ion.

Notizen: Summary The qualities required by a microorganism to work as test object are studied, so as the utilized methods to measure development. The different, watersoluble vitamins from the group B: thiamin, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, adermin (pyridoxin), pantothenic acid, β-alanin, biotin, p-aminobenzoic acid, mesoinositol, enable the creation of a useful test with a selected microorganism. The problem of the vitaminic factors of the soil is one of those which can only be studied with help of microbiological tests. The presence of vitamins in the soil is proved. Their origin is discussed. Their action and that of vitamins voluntary added to the soil is studied. It is shown that the qualities of soil and manures have a marked influence on the thiamin rate of the studied plant. A cycle is suggested to show how the action of growth factors enable to understand the natural relations existing between the auxo-heterotrophic and the auxo-autotrophic organisms. The growth factors of the soil participate to the biological balance ruling life in and on the soil. The necessity of an “ecological vitaminology” is being considered.

Notizen: Summary The “minimum period of tonal quality” of a pure tone of 200–10000Hz was determined on 16 normal hearing persons by a new device for producing shortest tones. The individual variations are comparatively small. The “minimum period” is more or less independent of the tone intensity. The conductive apparatus of the ear responds to shortest tones aperiodically and behaves only under the influence of a longer tone as periodically vibrating system. Different forms of conductive deafness as otosclerosis or after radical mastoid operation had no influence on the “minimum period.” In perceptive deafness the “minimum period” is either partially shorter (presbyacusis) or throughout longer than normal.

Notizen: Summary Results of partial hydrogenation support the assumption that lactaroviolin belongs to the azulen group.

Notizen: Summary Administration of calcium pantothenate to white rats in daily doses of 50–100 mg improved the signs of experimental thyreotoxicosis and decreased the metabolic rate.

Notizen: Summary The cleavage mitoses of eggs of the fresh-water oligochete Tubifex may be irreversibly blocked, if treated during a relatively short time by solutions of certain antimitotic substances (benzoquinone, naphthoquinone or colchicine). It is also possible to inhibit tail regeneration in tadpoles of Rana or Xenopus by a single colchicine treatment during only 30 to 60 minutes. It is discussed whether this is due to irreversible loss of regeneration capacity or simply to an inhibition of the first regeneration processes.

Notizen: Summary Diabetes resulting from treating animals with dialuric acid differs from that obtained by treating with alloxan. In rats fed with a casein-yeast-diet, sugar-excretion and urine volume are decreased in alloxan-diabetes, whereas in dialuric acid diabetes sugar-excretion is stopped completely but polyuria persists.