Other Possibly Essential Elements

There are many ways in which scientific research is carried out, but there are a few essential elements. One form of scientific study is experimentation. In order for causation to be established, an experimental study must perform some kind of manipulation. When an effect is produced, it can then be attributed to the manipulation. However, in order for this to be done, one must control for extraneous influences. To the degree possible, one must keep all other conditions constant so that the experimental effect can be correctly attributed to the manipulation. 

Section III discusses briefly (1) the relation between our logical equations and the differential equations as used in chemical kinetics (2) some aspects of logical versus numerical iteration methods (3) the possible application of our method (initially developed for genetic purposes) to other fields, and more particularly chemical kinetics and (4) the possibility of using this method al rovescio, that is, in a synthetic (inductive) way. In this perspective we assume that the essential elements of a system have been correctly identified and we ask to what extent one can proceed rationally from the observed behavior toward sets of interactions which account for this behavior. 

In Fig. 1, the essential elements of traceability are exemplified for the measurement of an element amount content using the internal standard method values linked by measurements to other values, thus constituting a chain (only a part of a chain is shown). The chain must ultimately end up in a value on a measurement scale (Fig. 2) [2] and therefore in a unit. All measurement results which are traceable to values on a common scale (or to the value of a unit) are comparable [3], meaning literally that they can be compared to each other. This does not imply that they must be concordant [3], i.e. result in the same value (within measurement uncertainty), but only that they can be validly compared for their magnitudes, even if these are (very) different. The measurement scale can be constructed from any sort of (internationally) agreed unit. If at all possible, this should be a base or derived SI unit because we have a solid international agreement on this. However, in chemistry, there are numerous measurement results which cannot be traced to (values of) SI... 

Still in question is the combined effects of certain metals in life stages to ascertain whether metals in combination act synergistically or antagonistically. These possible interactions are important because they can illustrate the ways in which toxic elements can impair metabolic processes that depend upon essential elements. Some of the interactions involve competition for ligands others are noncompetitive. The occurrence of an interaction probably has implications for the metabolism of elements other than those primarily involved31. ... 

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