Abstract
PARIS. Academy of Sciences, October 8.—M. Albin Haller in the chair.—A. Lacroix: Notice on P. Elie Colin. The greater part of Colin's life was spent in Madagascar, where his work in geodesy, meteorology, and magnetism formed the foundation of all subsequent work in these subjects in the island.—Jean Perrin: Radio-chemistry of fluorescence. The theory developed in an earlier communication is modified to agree with the observation that in certain cases the fluorescent body may enter into chemical combination with the solvent (glycerol) or with oxygen. The influence of temperature on photo-chemical reactions is also investigated.—Ch. Deperet, F. Arcelin, and L. Mayet: The discovery of fossil remains of man of the Auri-gnacian age at Solutrd (Saone-et-Loire). Three complete skeletons were discovered in positions which definitely prove burial. Drawings of the three skulls, with descriptions, are given. The men belonged to the Cro-Magnon race, Aurignacian period, but differ in some respects from the Cro-Magnons of Vezere and Grimaldi.—Alex. Veronnet: The formation of planetary systems and stellar systems.— R. Fortrat and P. Dejean: An attempt to construct a bobbin without iron giving intense magnetic fields. The solenoid was constructed of wires of electrolytic copper, rectangular in section, cooled by a rapid current of water. The apparatus as made could carry a current of 4740 amperes and absorbed 277 kilowatts. A field of more than 40,000 gauss was obtainable.—rLouis de Broglie: Quanta, the kinetic theory of gases and Fermat's principle.—L. P. Clerc: A question of photographic perspective.—Albert Portevin: Remarks concerning the relation between Young's modulus and the atomic volume. The equation expressing the relation between Young's modulus, the density and the atomic mass given in a recent communication by Th. Peczalski is identical with results arrived at by Fesserden in 1892. There is approximate agreement between the formula and experiment for certain metals, but for others, notably rhodium, tantalum, and tungsten, there are wide discrepancies, tungsten, for example, giving 42.2 as the modulus against 8.0 calculated.—P. Vaillant: The influence of small variations of temperature on the conductivity of solid salts and the role of the humidity in this phenomenon. The results of the experiments described lead to the conclusion that in solid salts the electrical conductivity is largely superficial and due to a particular condition of the surface layer. This accounts for the marked influence of traces of moisture on the observed conductivities.—V. Sorrel: Polarisation capacities with alternating currents.—Marc Bridel: Biochemical study on the composition of Monotropa hypopitys. Isolation of a new methyl salicylate glucoside, monotropitine. The extracts of this plant contain two glucosides, mono-tropeine and monotropitine, the latter being new: they are readily separated by their different solubilities in acetic ester. The new glucoside, monotropitine, has been isolated in the pure, crystalline state. Some physical and chemical properties are given: it does not appear to be identical with gaultherine.—Rene Wurmser: Energy yield and chlorophyll assimilation.—A. Maige: Remarks concerning the formation and digestion of starch in plant cells. The theory best in accord with known facts on the formation and digestion of starch in plants consists in regarding these two phenomena as due to entirely distinct catalytic actions.—G. Truffaut and N. Bezssonoff: The influence of the sugar concentration of the media on the activity of nitrogen fixing bacteria. Both for the development of the aerobic bacilli in a non-nitrogenous medium and for the fixation of nitrogen in those possessing this property, low sugar concentrations of the order of 1 in 1000 are more advantageous than those usually employed.—M. Lemoigne: The butyleneglycollic fermentation of calcium lactate by bacteria of the B. subtilis group. The formation of 2.3-butylene-glycol and acetylmethylcarbinol by the action of bacteria of the B. subtilis group on calcium lactate has been proved. The action is slow and difficult to detect.—H. Barthelemy: The action of water, common salt, sodium bromide, and calcium chloride on the spermatozoids of Rana fusca and Bufo vulgaris.—A. Weber: Does the rupture of the branchial operculum at the moment of metamorphosis of Batrachians demonstrate the transmission of an acquired character?
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Societies and Academies. Nature 112, 674–675 (1923). https://doi.org/10.1038/112674a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/112674a0