Committee on science and the arts

In contradiction to results previously reported, it has been found that DNA prepared by a method which utilizes strong NaOH is acted on by the specific nuclease, although at a rate only 20 per cent. of that of DNA prepared by a milder method. The nature of the changes responsible for the low rate of hydrolysis of the alkali-treated DNA are not known.     

Stability of oscillations in systems obeying Mathieu's equation

Numerous relatively simple physical systems give rise under appropriate circumstances to oscillations which obey the equation y″ + ?(1 + k cos t)y = 0 (Mathieu's equation). These oscillations may be either stable, periodic, or unstable, depending upon parameters of the physical system as expressed by the parameters ? and k in the basic equation. It has been customary to distinguish between the stable and unstable states by diagrams of the type of Fig. 1, from which it is possible to tell whether a given set of values of the parameters ?, k will yield a stable or unstable solution. In this paper are given curves which not only present this information, but in addition give for an important part of the stable state the values of the characteristic exponent μ. The solution of the equation y″ + ?(1 + k cos t)y = 0 depends to a large extent on this exponent, and the availability of values of μ should greatly facilitate the practical application of the equation.     

Some effects of variable excitation on synchronous motor oscillation

In this paper are presented the results of a study of synchronous motor oscillations resulting from sudden application of mechanical load. By means of the Differential Analyzer at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering of the University of Pennsylvania, theoretical synchronous machine equations were solved for conditions of suddenly applied load, and the effect on the resulting oscillations of variations in field excitation was determined for the most practical cases. The analyzer results were checked by a number of experimental observations, and it was found that the magnitude and duration of the oscillations could be greatly decreased by using the proper type of excitation variation.     

Electron diffusion,electron attachment,and the aging of negative ions in commercial nitrogen at atmospheric pressure

A criticism by Loeb and Bradbury of my interpretation of the experimental results of that part of a previous paper which dealt with the aging of negative ions in commercial nitrogen is shown to be invalidated by a mistake in their analysis and by assumptions which do not represent facts with sufficient accuracy. A more extended analysis of the previous work and new evidence which is given confirm the correctness of the former contention that the negative ions in question changed in size with age. The lateral spread, owing to diffusion, of a stream of electrons in this nitrogen at atmospheric pressure, when moving in an electric field of about 100 volts/cm., was found to be very nearly the same as that for positive ions under like conditions. The average energy losses of the electrons at collision with the molecules must therefore have nearly balanced the gains from the electric field and hence were greater than would result from purely elastic collisions. The experimental results indicate that in fields down to at least 20 volts/cm. nearly all of the attachment of electrons to molecules in the gas used occurred close to the place of their liberation.