PHOTOTROPISM–THE NEED FOR A SENSE OF DIRECTION?

Abstract— The ill defined nature of the conceptual framework used to guide research on phototropism is a handicap to progress. It is argued that some of the central concepts, such as the stimulus perception-transduction-response chain, have not given a useful sense of direction. Likewise the arguments as to whether hormones are involved in phototropism have now become a distraction. A constructive phase is now needed, building on an agreed framework. There is an urgent need to identify the universal elements of phototropism and to distinguish those elements from the ones which apply only in specialised cases.     

Polymérisation anionique amorcée par les composés lamellaires du graphite et du lithium

In the present work, we use the binary insertion compound LiC₁₂ to polymerize styrene, methyl methacrylate, butadiene, isoprene, and to copolymerize isoprene and styrene in various hydrocarbon solvents (aromatics and aliphatic) and etheral solvents. We show that the styrene polymerization in aromatic solvents gives better yields than in the etheral solvents, the polymer being atactic. Methyl methacrylate does not polymerize in toluene but does so completely in DME. More generally, the yields of polymerization are better with KC₃₇ than with LiC₁₂ because of the different capacities of the monomer to get into the carbon layers. The polymerization of dienes with LiC₁₂ shows that the microstructures of the polymer obtained in π-or n-donor solvents are similar to the ones obtained by homogenous polymerization with Li cation in such solvents. However, for isoprene in cyclohexane, the results are different. The isoprene styrene copolymers are statistical ones and the mean length of styrene blocks is less than 5. The monomer interaction with the insertion compound and the growing chain geometry between the carbon layers are the facts which control either the stereospecificity of the polymerization or the selectivity of the copolymerization.     

Origin of the lower critical flocculation temperature in polymer colloids stabilized by polydimethylsiloxane

Summary It has recently been reported (6, 7) that poly(methyl methacrylate) particles that are sterically stabilised by polydimethylsiloxane flocculate on cooling when dispersed in short chain n-alkanes. Since the LCFT was reported to be essentially independent of the nature of the dispersion medium, it was postulated (2) that incipient flocculation of these particles was caused by crystallisation of the polydimethysiloxane chains, which would have allowed the attractive van der Waals forces to become operative. This hypothesis has now been confirmed by low temperature X-ray studies.

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Zusammenfassung Von (6, 7) wurde kürzlich mitgeteilt, daß Poly(methylmethacrylat)-Teilchen, die mit Polydimethylsiloxan sterisch stabilisiert sind, in kurzkettigenn-Alkanen als Dispersionsmittel ausflocken. Da die LCFT im wesentlichen unabhängig von der Natur des Dispersionsmediums ist, wurde von (2) angenommen, daß die beginnende Ausflockung dieser Teilchen auf eine Kristallisation der Polydimethylsiloxan-Ketten zurückzuführen ist, bedingt durch die wirkenden van der Waals-Anziehungskräfte. Diese Hypothese wurde nun durch Röntgenuntersuchungen bei tiefer Temperatur bestätigt.

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FLUORESCENCE SPECTRA IN LUNG WITH PORPHYRIN INJECTION

The fluorescence emission spectra from human bronchial mucosa and tumors, before and after injection of dihematoporphyrin ether/ester, have been measured with an optical multichannel analyzer from 500 to 750 nm. Fluorescence was excited with a violet krypton ion laser (average wavelength 410 nm). The autofluorescence spectra decrease monotonically with increasing wavelength except for a small broad peak near 600 nm. The spectra from tumor sites, after injection of the fluorescent porphyrin, exhibit the characteristic fluorescence emission at 630 and 690 nm, added to the autofluorescence spectrum. The spectra from control or nontumor sites are similar but the magnitude of the component due to the injected porphyrin is smaller than at a tumor site. The magnitude ratio of tumor to control site fluorescence depends on concentration of the porphyrin, tumor thickness, and time after injection. Autofluorescence degrades contrast and thus makes very thin tumors difficult to image. Subtraction of the autofluorescence background is desirable.