Abstract
LONDON.Royal Society, June 25.—D. H. Black: (3 ray spectra of thorium disintegration products. Using comparatively strong sources of thorium-B in equilibrium with thorium-C and thorium-D, the ray spectra of these substances have been re-measured in order to bring them into line with the standard spectrum of radium-B. Several new lines were found. Of these, one group is of great interest on account of the fact that, despite their high energy (2-5 million volts), they are due to the expulsion of electrons from the K, L, and M levels of. an atom by one 7 ray.-C. F. Elam: Tensile tests of crystals of an aluminium zinc alloy. The crystals, containing 18-6 per cent, zinc, resemble pure aluminium in structure and contain the zinc in “solid solution.” They are harder and less ductile than pure aluminium. Fracture occurs on one or more planes at approximately 45° to the axis. These planes are closely related to crystallographic planes. Slip planes are sometimes parallel to planes of fracture.-G. Shearer: On the distribution of intensity in the X-ray spectra of certain long-chain organic compounds. In the X-ray "spectra "of substances the molecules of which contain long open chains of carbon atoms, there is a certain large spacing corresponding to planes at distances apart closely related to the length of a single molecule or of two, end to end. A large number of successive orders of reflection from this plane can be observed, and their distribution of intensity is calculated on certain simple assumptions as to the distribution of scattering material along the length of the molecule. It is thus possible, to fix with reasonable accuracy the position in the chain of the CO group in such series as the ketones and the esters; this appears to open up a new application of X-ray methods to chemical analysis. Further work on these lines may throw light on the relative scattering power of the various atoms and atomic groups.--C. F. Jenkin: High-frequency fatigue tests. High-frequency fatigue tests on copper, Armco iron, and mild steel were obtained at frequencies so high as 2000 periods per second, and unsuccessful experiments were made up to 5000 periods per second. There is a small rise in the fatigue limit as the speed is increased. The dependence of the fatigue limit on the frequency has, however, an important bearing on the theory of fatigue failure. The term "fatigue limit "is used here to denote the greatest alternating stress which can be applied to a material for an indefinitely large number of periods without causing fracture.-L. W. Bryant and D. H. Williams: An investigation of the flow of air around an aerofoil of infinite span. The stream-lines deduced were compared with those for inviscid flow obtained by means of an electric tank in which the equipotential lines were equivalent to stream - lines in a perfect fluid. Except for a narrow trailing "wake,"the lines of viscous flow approximate to those for an inviscid fluid, when a circulation equal to- that experimentally determined in the wind tunnel is superposed upon the flow around the aerofoil without circulation. The boundary layer around the nose and over the under surface of the aerofoil is very thin. Velocities deduced from observed pressures on the surface agree very well with velocities measured in the free stream, except over the upper surface, where "wake "begins to develop.-G. I. Taylor: Note on the connexion between the lift of an aerofoil in a wind and the circulation round it (Appendix to preceding paper). The connexion between the lift force on an aerofoil and the circulation round it is independent of the contour chosen if the flow is irrotational, and also if the flow is not irrotational provided that a special type of contour is used, according to Messrs. Bryant and Williams. Their contours happen to be of the special type, so the accuracy with which the observed lift force agrees with that predicted from measurements of circulation is no indication that the flow is in fact an irrotational motion with circulation.-T. H. Havelock: Wave resistance: the effect of varying draught. The effect of finite draught is considered; in particular, calculations are made when the ratio of draught to length is one-twentieth and one-tenth, a range which covers approximately ship models. The theoretical curves show a reasonable agreement with experimental results.-C. V. Raman and L. A. Ramdas: The scattering of light by liquid boundaries and its relation to surface tension. Part III.-W. H. George: An electrical method for the study of impact applied to the struck string. The two impinging bodies close, during the impact, a simple electrical circuit which includes an oscillograph. From the current variations shown in the oscillograph record, the variations in mechanical pressure during the impact is derived. With a struck string there are important fluctuations in the pressure between the hammer and string, depending markedly upon the position of the striking point along the string. At some places there is a momentary complete separation of hammer and string; These results are inconsistent with the older theories of the struck string, but are consistent with the newer theories. The ballistic galvanometer method to determine the duration of the impact upon the struck string is, in general, invalid.-F. H. Constable: The mechanism of catalytic decomposition. A quantitative theory based upon the series of papers entitled "The Catalytic Action of Copper"(Proc. Roy. Soc., A, vols. 98 to 107) is developed. The dehydrogenation of alcoholic substances by copper occurs in stages. Reaction only occurs in a unimolecular layer in which the - CH2OH groups are in contact with the copper surface. Activation of the alcohol molecule by the catalyst consists in increasing the distance between the H atom and the O atom in the hydroxyl group. Quantitative treatment from this point of view leads to results which are not in accord with experiment. Application of the theory of probability to the conception of a "reaction centre "enables the number of centres present to be connected with the heat of activation of each by an exponential relation. The equation obtained is in accord with experience in so far as it can be tested.-rS. A. Emerson and L. C. Martin: The photometric matching field.-II. Peripheral stimulation of the retina with white light may cause a reduction in the limen of contrast perception at the fovea. With monochromatic lights, using the same wave-length in centre and surround, initial reductions followed by a rise in the limen are found with 'increasing brightness of surround at all wavelengths, but the reductions are small in the red as compared with the blue end of the spectrum. The effects may be partly due to reflex actions associated with the retinal rods.-G. S. Adair: Partial osmotic pressures and membrane equilibria. Methods for calculating partial pressures are described, based on a long unrecognised equation for membrane equilibrium, developed by Gibbs. The.modified form of Dalton's law applies to certain haemoglobin solutions over a wide range of concentrations, not necessarily restricted to the very short range where the pressure is proportional to the concentration. The partial osmotic pressure of haemoglobin is relat d to the concentration by a form of Van der Waals' equation.- Mary W, Porter: A contribution to the study of the optical properties of mixed crystals. In mixtures of ammonium- and rubidium-magnesium chromates: (i) Variation of principal refractive index for vibrations along the symmetry axis is directly proportional to composition as expressed in volume or molecular percentage. (2) The other two principal indices are also continuous functions of the composition, but are not directly proportional. The general result extends the work of Lavenir and Dufet on ortho-rhombic mixtures.-H. Gregory and C. T. Archer: Experimental determination of the thermal conductivities of gases.-D. B. Deodhar: On atmospheric radio-activity and Indian weather.-J. R. Partington and A. B. Howe; The ratio of the specific heats of hydrogen. The determination of the ratio of the specific heats of hydrogen was undertaken by a method of adiabatic expansion previously used with air and carbon dioxide. The mean of nine determinations with pure hydrogen at atmospheric pressure and temperature gave y =Cj,/Cc =i -4113, and the values of C0 (4-832 gm. cal.) and Cp (6^820 gm. 'cal.) were calculated from this value and C,-C. =1-9875.-A. Cary and E. K. Rideal: The behaviour of crystals and lenses of fats on the surface of water.-Part I. In the process of "surface spreading,!' on water and solutions of N/ioo hydrochloric acid, of organic compounds containing a long chain terminating in a polar group, unimolecular films spread from crystals as well as lenses, a definite equilibrium surface tension or two - dimension al pressure, characteristic of the compound in question, being established. Spreading oil films appear to be pushed out from the source (lens or crystal) by the further entry of molecules into the surface layer, rather than pulled out over a surface by the attraction of the uncontaminated water.-G. H. Henderson: The capture and loss of electrons by a particles. Singly charged a. particles were measured by an ionisation method. The ratio of doubly charged to singly charged particles in equilibrium is the same in different materials, such as gold, mica, aluminium, etc. With this ratio for any material expressed as the nth power of the velocity, the value of n increased as the velocity decreased.-A. S. Parkes: The effects on fertility and the sex-ratio of sub-sterility exposures to X-rays.-R. N. Chrystal: The genus Dreyfusia (order Hemiptera, family Chermesidae) in Britain and its relation to the silver fir.-T. Moran: The effect of low temperatures on hens' eggs.- T. C. Angus: The electrical characteristics of an arc lamp (direct current) measured by biological effect.-R. J. Lythgoe and J. R. Pereira: Muscular exercise, lactic acid, and the supply and utilisation of oxygen.-Part XI. Pulse rate and oxygen intake during the early stages of recovery from severe exercise.-J. R. Pereira: Muscular exercise, lactic acid, and the supply and utilisation of oxygen.- Part XII. A note on the technique of determining the resting oxygen intake while breathing concentrated oxygen mixtures.-Mary E. Laing: The composition of soap films.-G. R. Goldsbrough: Torsional vibrations in reciprocating engine shafts. -D. Brunt: Periodicities in European weather.- S. Barratt: The absorption spectra of mixed metallic vapours (II.).-S. R. Savur: On the stress-optical effect in permanently overstrained celluloid.-O. W. Richardson: Structure in the secondary hydrogen spectrum (II.).-A. Gary and E. K. Rideal: The behaviour of crystals and lenses of fats on the surface of water (II. and III.).-J. E. Jones and P. A. Taylor: Some theoretical calculations of the physical properties of certain crystals.-C. Chree: The relationship between the "solar constant "and terrestrial magnetism.-J. A. Carroll: The vacuum spark spectra of some of the heavier elements and series classification in the spectra of ionised atoms homologous with copper, silver, and gold.-Sir J. C. Bose: Physiological and anatomical investigation of Mimosa pudica.-J. F. Fulton: Fatigue and pluri-segmental innervation of individual muscle fibres.- G. Matthai: Colony formation in astraeid corals (I.). Royal Anthropological Institute, May 19.-R. Ruggles Gates: Mendelian inheritance in man. Many abnormalities in man are inherited as simple Mendelian differences, and this is to be expected, since they must have arisen as single mutations. Such are brachydactyly and many other digital abnormalities, which are usually inherited as dominant characters. There is evidence that even slight abnormalities may sometimes be lethal in their effects when present in the homozygous condition. Cataract is usually inherited as a dominant, while such conditions as albinism and alkaptonuria are recessives. Colourblindness, haemophilia and some other conditions are usually sex-linked in inheritance, their history following exactly the course from generation to generation taken by the sex chromosomes. But various exceptions are found; and the same character may be differently inherited in different families, according to which part of the germ plasm was originally altered. The cephalic index has long been regarded as an important racial character. Recent investigations of Frets, Hild6n, and others lead to the view that multiple, cumulative size factors are involved and that brachycephaly in general is dominant over dolichocephaly. Age, sex, nutrition, stature and climate affect the head form. Interracial crosses appear frequently to give 2-peaked curves for cephalic index in later generations. Records of crosses between Indians and whites, obtained in Northern Ontario, indicate that skin-colour segregates and that eye-colour is inherited independently of skin-colour. PARIS. Academy of Sciences, June 2.-A. Haller and F. Salmon-Legagneur: The action of methyl magnesium iodide on the esters of the a-mononitrile of camphoric acid. When the reaction takes place in etherial solution the corresponding tertiary alcohol is produced: in toluene solution the nitrile group also takes part in the reaction, a ketone-alcohol being produced.-H. Vincent: The plurality of the toxins of the coli bacillus and the experimental bases of anticolibacillus serotherapy. Evidence is given of the existence of toxins of B. coli communis, differing in their thermostability and action on animals.- de Sparre: The velocity of propagation of the ram stroke in armoured concrete mains.-Ame Pictet, Werner Scherrer and Louis Heifer: The presence of argon in the gases from the alcoholic fermentation of glucose. Observations are given showing that in the alcohol fermentation of glucose, argon is evolved. It remains to be proved if this gas preexists in the yeast and in what form.-C. Sauvageau: The development of Leathesia difformis.-Benjamin Jekhowsky: The generalisation of Cauchy's numbers. - Stefan Banach: A characteristic property of orthogonal functions.-P. J. Myrberg: Discontinuous groups of linear substitutions. ^- C. Deve: An apparatus for microscopic reduction entitled "Pan-graphic."A description of a simplified pantograph, without articulation.-Bernard Lyot: Variations of the polarisation of Mars in the course of an atmospheric disturbance. - Jean Boccardi: The rotation of the interior planets.-H. Noirel: Determinations of the intensity of gravity made in the Republic of Ecuador during the expedition of the Service geographique de 1'Armee (1899-1906).- Mile. E. Gleditsch and E. Botolfsen: The X-ray spectrum of praseodymium, neodidymium, and samarium. Tables are given showing the wavelengths of seven lines for-each metal.-J. Heyrovsky: The physical signification of electrolytic solution pressure.-Eugene Delauney: A new method of quantitative analysis by X-rays. Various elements absorb a monochromatic bundle of X-rays to different extents. Details of the application of the method to solutions of barium and strontium chlorides, and of potassium chloride and bromide, are given.'-J. L. Costa: The precise determination of the atomic mass of lithium 6 by Aston's method. Taking He =4-000, the mass of the lithium (6) atom was found to be 6-010+ -002.-Rene Audubert and Henri Rabate: A method of determination of the granulometric distribution of dispersed systems.-Ch. Courtot and R. Geoffrey: z.y.g.g'-tetrahydroxy-Huorene.-R. Lautz and A. Wahl: The arylaminonaph-thoquinones. The arylaminooxynaphthalene sulphonic acids.-L. Cayeux: The existence of diatomaceous silex in"the flints of the coarse limestone in the neighbourhood of Paris. The silex consists of petrified organic residues. Remains of foraminiferae, radiolaria, ostracods, and gasteropods were found.- J. Orcel: A white chlorite from Madagascar.- Fernandez Navarro: The meteorite of Olivenza (Spain). This was seen to fall on June 19, 1924. The predominant mineral is olivine, but the meteorite is remarkable for the small proportion of nickel-iron. -Jacques de Lapparent: The two forms of hydrocarbons in bituminous schists.-H. Bouygues: The axillo-cotyledon facies of the Soissons bean.-Alfred Labriet and Raoul Husson: The principle of vocal accord, or a contribution to the elaboration of a theory of the normal emission of the singing voice, and the synthesis of the corresponding vocal mechanism.-P. Maz6: The influence of fluorine and iodine on the reproductive functions in rats and on the growth of the young. Experiments on the necessity of the presence of fluorine in the diet of rats to ensure reproduction.-T. Kahn: Active protoplasmic mass and reserve albumen.-Ch. Richet, jr., and R. Monceaux: Modifications caused by cooking in the metabolism of meat. From experiments on dogs it is concluded that the metabolism oof raw meat is more perfect than that of cooked meat. In diseases of the liver it is advantageous to administer raw meat: in renal affections, however, well-cooked meat is indicated.-J. Benoit: Compensating hypertrophy after unilateral castration in the domestic cock.-E. Faure-Fremiet and J. Murakami: The amaebocytes of the earth worm in the quiescent and in the active state.:-H. Herissey: Asperuloside, a new glucoside extracted from the wood-ruff. The new glucoside has been prepared in crystals, contains no nitrogen, and gives on hydrolysis a reducing sugar and asperuligenol.- Alphonse Labbe: Four generations of Artemia arietina,-MM. Mouriquand, Leulier, Michel, and Idrac. oC. avitaminosis and cholesterinaemia.-Raoul Bayeux: Structural modifications of the lung under the influence oof great barometric decompressions. The essential primitive lesion of the lung determined by a sudden fall in the atmospheric pressure is the parietal hypertrophy of the alveolae; all the cardio-vascular phenomena are secondary to this initial lesion.- F. Henrijean: The signification of the electrocardiogram.
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Societies and Academies. Nature 116, 34–36 (1925). https://doi.org/10.1038/116034a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/116034a0