Immediate hypersensitivity responses in flatfish

Fungal extracts that precipitate with human C-reactive protein caused immediate erythema on subdermal injection into marine flatfish. Only species with calcium-dependent serum precipitins to these fungi showed skin reactions. Immediate hypersensitivity in a nonreactive species could be induced after injection with serum from reactive species. The transferable serum factor (or factors) was heat sensitive.     

A reversible, unidirectional molecular rotary motor driven by chemical energy

With the long-term goal of producing nanometer-scale machines, we describe here the unidirectional rotary motion of a synthetic molecular structure fueled by chemical conversions. The basis of the rotation is the movement of a phenyl rotor relative to a naphthyl stator about a single bond axle. The sense of rotation is governed by the choice of chemical reagents that power the motor through four chemically distinct stations. Within the stations, the rotor is held in place by structural features that limit the extent of the rotor's Brownian motion relative to the stator.     

An instrument to monitor infiltration of fine sediment into stable gravel stream beds

An instrument, using a submersible linear displacement transducer mounted beneath a sediment catch-tray, has been developed to monitor infiltration of fine sediment into gravel beds. Field tests show a good correlation between the amount of sediment infiltration into the bed and the total amount of sediment moving through the channel.