Synthesis,tautomerism, and antimicrobial,anti-HCV,anti-SSPE,antioxidant, and antitumor activities of arylazobenzosuberones

2-Dimethylaminomethylene-1-benzosuberone 1 was coupled with diazotized aniline derivatives to afford a series of the hitherto unreported 2-arylazo-1-benzosuberones 3a–i. The tautomeric structure and the effect of substituents on the tautomeric form (s) of the products 3a–i were discussed. Similar coupling of the enaminone 1 with diazonium salts of heterocyclic amines gave the respective fused azolotriazino-benzosuberones. Some of the newly synthesized compounds showed potent antimicrobial, anti-HCV, antioxidant, antitumor (as topoisomerase I inhibitors), and antimicrobial activities.     

Exercise, dobutamine, and combined atropine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine compared

We compared the cardiovascular effects evoked in conscious dogs by 1) submaximal exercise; 2) infusion of dobutamine (40 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1); and 3) infusion of a combination of atropine (0.15 mg/kg), norepinephrine (0.19 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1), and epinephrine (0.05 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1). Myocardial O2 demand, as estimated by the double product (heart rate X systolic blood pressure), was similar during all three interventions. Cardiac output and heart rate increased significantly (P less than 0.05) during each of the three interventions. Arteriovenous O2 difference and total body O2 consumption, however, increased only during submaximal exercise. Although myocardial blood flow increased similarly during each of the three interventions, blood flow to skeletal muscle and the tongue increased only during exercise. Exercise and the combined infusion of atropine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine produced similar increases in blood flow to the diaphragm and similar decreases in blood flow to the stomach. These changes in blood flow were associated with appropriate changes in vascular resistance. Additionally, blood flow to the brain, kidney, adrenal glands, liver, and intestine did not change during any of the three interventions. Thus, in dogs, submaximal exercise, infusion of dobutamine, and infusion of a combination of atropine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine to evoke a given level of estimated myocardial O2 consumption produce similar increases in cardiac output, heart rate, and myocardial blood flow. In contrast, the changes in total body O2 consumption, arteriovenous O2 difference, regional blood flow, and regional vascular resistance that occur during each of these three interventions are different.     

Indians, Markets, and Rainforests: Theory, Methods, and Analysis

Indians, Markets, and Rainforests: Theory, Methods, and Analysis. Ricardo A. Godoy. New York: Columbia University Press, 2001. 274 pp.     

Definitions,measurements, and classifications of stimuli,situations, and environments

A review is presented of issues relevant to the definition, measurement, and classification of stimuli, situations, and environments. Problems such as the lack of adequate definitions of concepts, error and bias in measurement procedures, confusion between measurement of a concept and measurement of its behavioral effects, and the lack of agreement among alternative measures are emphasized. It is suggested that concepts be defined in terms of objective characteristics while allowing for the study of the transactional relationship between organism and environment. The work of the ethologists in defining stimuli while studying their relationship to different organismic states and situational contexts is emphasized in this regard. Following Brunswik, it is also suggested that wherever possible there be a representative sampling of variables in natural settings. Note from the editors: From time to time, Human Ecology will publish a review article. Our first in this series is a review by a psychologist of basic definitional and conceptual problems in environmental studies.This paper was prepared while the author was a Visiting Research Fellow at the Educational Testing Service. The support of ETS and my colleagues in the Division of Psychological Studies is gratefully acknowledged. The review was also supported in part by a grant from the Rutgers University Research Council.     

Pericytes: developmental, physiological, and pathological perspectives, problems, and promises

Pericytes, the mural cells of blood microvessels, have recently come into focus as regulators of vascular morphogenesis and function during development, cardiovascular homeostasis, and disease. Pericytes are implicated in the development of diabetic retinopathy and tissue fibrosis, and they are potential stromal targets for cancer therapy. Some pericytes are probably mesenchymal stem or progenitor cells, which give rise to adipocytes, cartilage, bone, and muscle. However, there is still confusion about the identity, ontogeny, and progeny of pericytes. Here, we review the history of these investigations, indicate emerging concepts, and point out problems and promise in the field of pericyte biology.     

Lipid,lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein models: past,present, and future

Mones Berman's untimely death on 12 August 1982 put an end to his work in the development of theoretical biology. Arguments are examined, and it is concluded that a formal theory of lipoprotein metabolism flourished and expanded under the guidance of Dr. Berman. Not many scientists in the field of biology spend a major portion of their energies on theoretical work xxx was outstanding because of his early decision to follow the theoretical path.     

Boas, Darwin, science, and anthropology

This paper presents a new reading of Franz Boas's philosophy of science and his approach to the understanding of culture and behavior. It points out that his approach had important parallels with the worldview of the major figures associated with pragmatism and suggests that a similar perspective can be useful today.     

Cadmium transport, resistance, and toxicity in bacteria, algae, and fungi

Cadmium is an important environmental pollutant and a potent toxicant to bacteria, algae, and fungi. Mechanisms of Cd toxicity and resistance are variable, depending on the organism. It is very clear that the form of the metal and the environment it is studied in, play an important role in how Cd exerts its effect and how the organism(s) responds. A wide range of Cd concentrations have been used to designate resistance in organisms. To date, no concentration has been specified that is applicable to all species studied under standardized conditions. Cadmium exerts its toxic effect(s) over a wide range of concentrations. In most cases, algae and cyanobacteria are the most sensitive organisms, whereas bacteria and fungi appear to be more resistant. In some bacteria, plasmid-encoded resistance can lead to reduced Cd2+ uptake. However, some Gram-negative bacteria without plasmids are just as resistant to Cd as are bacteria containing plasmids encoding for Cd resistance. According to Silver and Misra (1984), there is no evidence for enzymatic or chemical transformations associated with Cd resistance. Insufficient information is available on the genetics of Cd uptake and resistance in cyanobacteria and algae. Mechanisms remain largely unknown at this point in time. Cadmium is toxic to these organisms, causing severe inhibition of such physiological processes as growth, photosynthesis, and nitrogen fixation at concentrations less than 2 ppm, and often in the ppb range (Tables 2 and 3). Cadmium also causes pronounced morphological aberrations in these organisms, which are probably related to deleterious effects on cell division. This may be direct or indirect, as a result of Cd effects on protein synthesis and cellular organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts. Cadmium is accumulated internally in algae (Table 4) as a result of a two-phase uptake process. The first phase involves a rapid physicochemical adsorption of Cd onto cell wall binding sites, which are probably proteins and (or) polysaccharides. This is followed by a lag period and then a slow, steady intracellular uptake. This latter phase is energy dependent and may involve transport systems used to accumulate other divalent cations, such as Mn2+ and Ca2+. Some data indicate that Cd resistance, and possibly uptake, in algae and cyanobacteria is controlled by a plasmid-encoded gene(s). Although considerable information is available on Cd toxicity to, and uptake in fungi, further work is clearly needed in several areas. There is little information about Cd uptake by filamentous fungi, and even in yeasts, information on the specificity, kinetics, and mechanisms of Cd uptake is limited.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Homophily,Close Friendship,and Life Satisfaction among Gay,Lesbian, Heterosexual,and Bisexual Men and Women

Friends play important roles throughout our lives by providing expressive, instrumental, and companionate support. We examined sexual orientation, gender, and age differences in the number of friends people can rely on for expressive, instrumental, and companionate support. Additionally, we examined the extent to which people relied on same-gender versus cross-gender friends for these types of support. Participants (N = 25,185) completed a survey via a popular news website. Sexual orientation differences in number of same-gender and cross-gender friends were generally small or non-existent, and satisfaction with friends was equally important to overall life satisfaction for all groups. However, the extent to which people’s friendship patterns demonstrated gender-based homophily varied by sexual orientation, gender, and age. Young adult gay and bisexual men, and to some extent bisexual women and older bisexual men, did not conform to gendered expectations that people affiliate primarily with their own gender.     

Substance,rights, value,and abortion

Most serious contemporary opposition to abortion is grounded on the belief that human fetuses are members of the same moral category as beings like us, and that the loss of any such life is one of the worst possible losses. Substance view theorists oppose abortion for this reason: in their view beings like us are essentially rational substances with inherent moral worth, and those who perform induced abortion fail to recognize this moral worth. In a recent series of articles, Rob Lovering presents reductio‐style arguments against the substance view, in part arguing that it is inconsistent with our intuitions in rescue and spontaneous abortion cases. In a recent reply, Henrik Friberg‐Fernros argues that the substance view can evade these problematic implications because of a distinction between killing and letting die. According to this argument, the fetus’s right to life is a negative right not to be killed, not a positive right to be rescued, thus the anti‐abortion theorist who lets fetuses die acts acceptably. I argue this stance fails to recognize the inherent moral worth that the substance view contends fetuses possess. One who refrains from saving a person, or doesn’t care how many people she saves, cannot reasonably claim to value life. Furthermore, this stance is at odds with most contemporary anti‐abortion views that oppose induced abortions of both the killing and letting die variety.     

Whales,lifespan, phospholipids,and cataracts

This study addresses the question: why do rats get cataracts at 2 years, dogs at 8 years, and whales do not develop cataracts for 200 years? Whale lens lipid phase transitions were compared with the phase transitions of other species that were recalculated. The major phospholipids of the whale lens were sphingolipids, mostly dihydrosphingomyelins with an average molar cholesterol/phospholipid ratio of 10. There was a linear correlation between the percentage of lens sphingolipid and lens lipid hydrocarbon chain order until about 60% sphingolipid. The percentage of lens sphingolipid correlated with the lens lipid phase transition temperature. The lifespan of the bowhead whale was the longest of the species measured and the percentage of whale lens sphingolipid fit well in the correlation between the percentage of lens sphingolipid and lifespan for many species. In conclusion, bowhead whale lens membranes have a high sphingolipid content that confers resistance to oxidation, allowing these lenses to stay clear relatively longer than many other species. The strong correlation between sphingolipid and lifespan may form a basis for future studies, which are needed because correlations do not infer cause. One could hope that if human lenses could be made to have a lipid composition similar to whales, like the bowhead, humans would not develop age-related cataracts for over 100 years.