Journal and Proceedings of
The Royal Society of New South Wales
Volume 122 Parts 1 and 2 [Issued December, 1989]
CONTENTS
| AUTHORS & TITLES | PAGES |
| Winch, D.E., The Earth's Magnetic Field [Presidential Address, 1989] |
1-9 |
| Brophy, Joseph J. and Clarkson, John R., The Essential Oils of Four Chemotypes of Melaleuca citrolens Barlow | 11-18 |
| Hills, B.A., A Physical Identity of the Blood-Brain Barrier | 19-26 |
| Watt, James, Cook and His Contemporaries; Differences in Medical Emphases | 27-32 |
| Scheibner, Erwin, The Tectonics of New South Wales in the Second Decade of Application of the Plate Tectonics Paradigm [45th Clarke Memorial Lecture] |
35-74 |
| Theses Abstracts [Not reproduced here, but opened in new page] |
|
| Dawes, Judith, M., A new Approach to Transient Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy | 75 |
| Everett, David, Rheological Properties of Coagulated Colloidal Suspensions | 77 |
| Kirk, Kiaran, Transmembrane Chemical Shift Differences of the 31P NMR Spectra of Erythrocyte Suspensions: Origins and Applications | 79 |
Vol. 122 pts 1-2 pp.1-9
The Earth's Magnetic Field
[Presidential Address delivered before the Royal Society of New South Wales on 5th April, 1989]
D.E.Winch
Abstract. The Earth's main magnetic field changes slowly over a period of years, and also exhibits regular daily changes with both solar and lunar components, and magnetic storms. Studies of these changes can be used as a probe into the Earth's interior, the upper atmosphere and the oceans.
Vol. 122 pts 1-2 pp.11-18
The Essential Oils of Four Chemotypes of Melaleuca citrolens Barlow
J.J. Brophy and J.R. Clarkson
Abstract. The existence of four chemotypes of Melaleuca citrolens has been determined. One chemotype is characterised by having a high (up to 50%) 1,8-cineole content together with significant amounts (up to 20%) of terpinolene. A second chemotype is characterised by relatively low (20%) 1,8-cineole content and much higher amounts (10%) of citronellal and citronellol. The third chemotype contains significant amounts of geranial/neral (up to 40%) and minor amounts of citronellal. The fourth chemotype is characterised by the presence (in up to 15%) of piperitenone, significant amounts (up to 25%) of 1,8-cineole and terpinolene but no citral or citronellal.
Vol. 122 pts 1-2 pp.19-26
A Physical Identity for the Blood-Brain Barrier
B.A. Hills
Abstract. The finding that cerebral vessels are hydrophobic has resulted in the use of fixatives for electromicroscopy which do not destroy hydrophobic surfaces or promote 'peeling' of any lining. The resulting electromicrographs display a phospholipid lining consisting of 8-10 lamellae adjacent to the bilayer of the endothelial membrane and of equal spacing. This is unlikely to be artefact because two hydrophobic probes gave the spectral distibution of light under UV excitation characteristic of oligolamellar phospholipid, while both this effect and surface hydrophobicity were eliminated by phospholipid solvents. This oligolamellar lining to cerebral vessel could provide the physical identity of the elusive blood-brain barrier.
Vol. 122 pts 1-2 pp.27-32
Cook and His Contemporaries; Difference in Medical Emphases
James Watt
Introduction. Throughout his naval service, Captain James Cook had received ample evidence that the success of maritime operations was often determined by health factors. In 1755, as an able seaman on board HMS Eagle, he had encountered the ravages of scurvy after only a few months' patrol off the English coast. Twenty-two men, including the surgeon, were buried at sea and 130 were landed sick, The experience was repeated when, on Palliser's recommendation, he was appointed master of HMS Pembroke. Scurvy was responsible for 26 deaths during her passage from Plymouth to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and her crew required four weeks' convalescence before she could join Boscawan for his attack on Louisburg. Its fall opened the way to the St Lawrence River which Cook successfully charted, enabling Admiral Saunders to negotiate the dangerous channel with 22 warships and 119 transports bearing Wolfe's army to capture Quebec in 1759 (R.T. Gould, 1978).
His reputation thus enhanced, Cook was next selected to survey the coasts of Newfoundland where his obervations on an eclipse of the sun in August 1766 brought him to the attention of the Royal Society, which had him appointed as Commander of HMS Endeavour for the Society's expedition to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus across the sun in 1769
The Tectonics of New South Wales in the Second Decade of Application of the Plate Tectonics Paradigm
Erwin Scheibner
[45th Clarke Memorial Lecture]
Introduction
Let me start with a quote of Thomas Jefferson: "Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong". Perhaps this quote is out of context here, but I have to disagree with it in a scientific research context, and I am sure, so would have Reverend W.B. Clarke. I base this on a study of his publications which indicate a positive and progressive approach to geologic research, not to mention his acceptance of Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection at a time when it was considered to be heretical in religious circles.
Progress of knowledge is not possible if we limit our investigations, our thought, our ideas, just to be on the safe side, just not to commit the sin of being wrong. What Jefferson said in reality would mean voluntary sterility and emptiness. To achieve progress in knowledge, we have to commit ourselves to hypotheses, to the construction of models, and have the courage to admit that some were partially or totally wrong. In this process we would have explored some new possibilities, and negative results have positive values also.
This bit of philosophising perhaps best illustrates my approach. It consists of data gathering, sorting, analysing, followed by a synthesis which results in a specific model or multiple models. The next step is the checking of the predictions of the model(s); their validation, modification or rejection in the process of back-feeding and revision.
The aim of this lecture is to assess the status of tectonics of New South Wales in the second decade of the application of plate tectonics. This paradigm on its own is nearly thirty years old, but its appliction in eastern Australia started twenty years ago.