The sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum as a potential biomonitor for microplastics contamination on the Brazilian Amazon coast.

Harden and Walpole (1905) found that glucose fermented by Aerobacter aerogenes yielded formic, lactic, acetic and succinic acids, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ethyl alcohol, 2,3-butylene glycol and acetylmethylcarbinol. Scheffer (1928) has confirmed these as the the only products formed in appreciable quantities. On the basis of carbon balances obtained from analyses of completed fermentations, the latter investigator proposed a breakdown of glucose to methylglyoxal-hydrate which stabilized as lactic acid or split into formic acid and acetaldehyde-hydrate or into pyruvic acid and hydrogen. The pyruvic acid yielded CO2 and acetaldehyde, the latter with the acetaldehyde-hydrate formed acetylmethylcarbinol or was reduced to ethyl alcohol. 2,3-Butylene glycol was formed by reduction of the carbinol, and formic acid was split into CO2 and H2. The formation of acetylmethylcarbinol and 2,3-butylene glycol from glucose has been of interest as an example of the enzymatic coupling of carbon compounds. Neuberg and Hirsch (1921) demonstrated that acetaldehyde is condensed to acetylmethylcarbinol by yeast when added to fermentations of glucose and presented evidence supporting the suggestion that the condensation involves one molecule of added and one of biologically formed acetaldehyde (Neuberg and Simon, 1933). The reversion of acidity caused by Aerobacter is of interest in connection with the work to be reported. Ayers and Rupp (1918), among others, found that this reversion can take place

The Intermediate Dissimilation of Glucose by Aerobacter indologenes.

Study of the solid and gaseous inclusions in the fluorites from Wölsendorf (Bavaria, F.R. of Germany) and Margnac (Haute Vienne, France) by microprobe and mass spectrometry

Summary The paper presents an account of the mineralogy, geological occurrence and history of the blue and white banded fluorspar found near Castleton in Derbyshire. Blue John is shown to be a fluorspar, coloured by bituminous inclusions, deposited as cavity-linings and replacements in Carboniferous Limestone of reef and massif facies. Alternative hypotheses of the cause of the colouring in Blue John are discussed. Lying more or less parallel to the bedding of the limestones, the deposits are in pipe-veins rising up the flanks of a pseudo-anticlinal structure formerly covered by impervious Namurian shales, which now outcrop only round the flanks of Treak Cliff. The relationships between Blue John and the associated minerals (calcite, barytes, galena, pyrites and quartz) are described, and an account is given of the history of the use of Blue John and the methods of manufacturing ornaments. Reasons are given for the conclusion that the story of the use of Blue John by the Romans is without foundation.

Bertram Blount

Papers

LVIII.—“Blue John” and other forms of fluorite

The determination of carbon in steel by direct combustion

New form of fat extraction apparatus

Analysis of a sample of air which extinguishes flame

Sulphuretted hydrogen from artificial graphite