Gender,emotion, and physical distress: The Sicilian-Canadian “nerves” complex

Researchers identify nerves as an idiom of distress, an illness category, a metaphorical device capable of communicating social distress, and a technique for impression management. Much of the literature, however, links nerves to women. In this paper, I address two aspects of the phenomenon which have received limited attention. First, I discuss nerves within the context of Sicilian-Canadian conceptions of anatomy and physiology. Sicilian-Canadians regard nerves as essential components of the human anatomy which, in some cases, may be linked to both physical and psychic distress. Second, I build on this discussion to examine how Sicilian-Canadian males make use of the nerves idiom. The implications of my work include the need to: (1) modify our definition of nerves to recognize formally that we are dealing with a dynamiccomplex consisting of multiple, variable, and ambiguousmeanings — meanings that enable people to confront or cope with a variety of situations; (2) direct greater attention to nerves as an idiom ofphysical distress; and, (3) examine further the role of physical nerves in the social construction of gender.Glossary of terms Battuti Tired or exhausted - Duluri Pain - Gruppata Knotted - Musculidda Little muscle (often used to describe a small lump caused by muscle damage) - Nierbu (s),nierbi (pl) Nerves (depending on the context, however, the term can take on a variety of meanings) - Nierbi abbattuti Tired or Exhausted nerves (e.g., muscles) - Nierbi agruppati Knotted nerves (e.g., muscles). - Nierbi ammollanu Nerves (e.g., muscles) become soft and lax - Nierbi cunsumati Worn or frayed nerve-tissue (e.g., muscles) - Nierbi ngravaccati Entangled nerves (e.g., muscles) - Nirbatura The arrangement or system of nerves (muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues) that extend throughout the body - Nirbusu This term can refer to either an emotional state or a folk illness involving a disruption of the nerves and other physiological processes (such as the circulation of the blood) - Nucidda ni lu saccu A small nut [trapped] in a sack. Metaphor used to convey one's frustration and powerlessness - Omertà Manliness. Conducting oneself with respect and honor - Pena Sadness, sorrow, grief - Sangu Blood - Sangu si guasta The blood spoils - Scicata A rub or massage - Spavientu Fright - Spilatura In some cases the term is used to refer simply to strained muscles or tendons. However, it often refers to more serious muscle or sinew damage that involves an accumulation of fluid - Spuvari Release of emotional tension - Suggittata di nierbi Subdued or subjugated by one's nerves. - Tremulu Shaking or trembling sensation     

Cytological analysis on the distribution and origin of the alien chromosome pair conferring blue aleurone color in several European common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) strains

Summary Meiotic chromosome pairing and Giemsa C-banding analyses in crosses of several European blue-grained wheat strains with Chinese Spring double ditelosomic and other aneuploid lines showed that Triticum aestivum Blaukorn strains Berlin, Probstdorf, Tschermak, and Weihenstephan are chromosome substitutions, in which the complete wheat chromosome 4A pair is replaced, whereas the strains Brünn and Moskau are 4B substitutions. The alien chromosome pair in all of these strains is an A genome chromosome (4A) from diploid Triticum monococcum or T. boeoticum not present in common tetraploid and hexaploid cultivated wheats. The Blaukorn strain Weihenstephan W 70a86 possesses, in addition to a rye chromosome pair 5R compensating for the loss of part of chromosome 5D, a 4A/5DL translocation replacing chromosome pair 4B of wheat.     

Ultrastructure of motor nerve terminals on different types of muscle fibers in the atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa,L.)

Summary White and intermediate parietal muscle fibers of Myxine are innervated focally at one end. Most synaptic vesicles are empty. These terminals also contain 1–2% large 800–1.100 Å dense-core vesicles. Red fibers of parietal and craniovelar muscle are innervated in a distributed fashion, and the presynaptic profiles contain a higher number of large dense-core vesicles (averaging 9% and 15%, respectively; up to 37%). For all terminals the synaptic gap is 450–600 Å wide, and postsynaptic folds are absent.Empty synaptic vesicles exist as round or elongated profiles. The proportion of elongated profiles increases by formation from round ones when increasing the molarity of the buffer in the aldehyde fixative. Furthermore, the proportion of elongated vesicle profiles in terminals on Myxine white fibers at different buffer molarities, is identical with that in mammalian motor terminals at similar molarities. On this basis the significance and mode of formation of elongated vesicle profiles is discussed. The conclusion is made that the susceptibility of flattening depends on the osmotic pressure of the vesicle contents once the aldehyde has influenced the vesicle membrane.The different vesicle populations in terminals on different types of muscle fibers are significant. Terminals on red fibers probably contain serotonin (5-HT) either as sole transmitter or in addition to acetylcholine.The author is indebted to Dr. Finn Walvig, Biological Station, University of Oslo, Drøbak, for supply of hagfishes, and to Mrs. Jorunn Line Vaaland for expert technical assistance.     

Ultrastructure of four types of striated muscle fibers in the atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa,L.)

Summary Four types of striated muscle fibers with distinctive ultrastructure were defined in the Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa, L.): white, intermediate, and red fibers of m. parietalis, and red fibers of m. craniovelaris.White fibers are thick, contain very few mitochondria and fat vacuoles, and possess distinct and separate myofibrils with thin Z-disks and distinct M-lines. Intermediate fibers are thinner, possess largely similar myofibrils that often are even better separated due to a higher content of fat vacuoles and especially mitochondria and glycogen granules. Red fibers of m. parietalis contain large amounts of mitochondria, fat vacuoles, and glycogen granules. Their myofibrils possess M-lines, and although branching more, the myofibrils of red fibers conform with a Fibrillenstruktur pattern like those of white and intermediate fibers. Red fibers of m. craniovelaris are very thin, possess many smaller fat vacuoles, and large amounts of mitochondria and glycogen granules. The myofibrils are significantly thinner than in m. parietalis fibers, run as quite independent well separated units, possess thicker Z-disks, and lack M-lines. Large amounts of myosatellite cells are associated with these red fibers.Triads are located near A/I-junctions in all four fiber types and occur irregularly, the density of triads being different in the various fiber types.We are indebted to Dr. Finn Walvig, Biological Station, University of Oslo, Drøbak, for supply of hagfishes, and we also wish to thank Dr. Jan K. S. Jansen, Institute of Physiology, University of Oslo, for valuable suggestions during this study.     

Different regeneration potential of mesophyll protoplasts from cultivated and a wild species of tomato

Mesophyll protoplasts were isolated from leaves of three cultivars of Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill., namely Hilda 72, Rutgers and Rentita, and from the wild tomato species Lycopersicon peruvianum (L.) Mill. Protoplasts from L. peruvianum divided and grew actively in a liquid medium according to Zapata et al. (1977), whereas protoplasts from the tomato cultivars Hilda 72 and Rutgers showed comparable rates for cell division only, when the content of major elements in this medium was reduced to one half of the original concentration and when mannitol as osmoticum was replaced by glucose. In Rentita protoplasts no cell division could be observed in about 15 different modifications of the five basic culture media tested. The morphogenetic potential of these tomato cells was assessed by comparing the root and shoot formation of protoplasts and of leaf explants. L. peruvianum exhibited the highest potential. Calli derived from protoplasts regenerated roots on Murastrige-Skoog agar containing 1 M benzylaminopurine (BAP) plus 10 M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 0.1 M BAP plus 1 M IAA. Shoot formation occurred in the combinations of 10 M BAP with 0.1, 1.0, and 10 M IAA. Plantlets regenerated from the L. peruvianum calli could be grown in soil. No shoots or roots were regenerated from calli of Hilda 72 and Rutgers protoplasts in all combinations of BAP and IAA tested in the range from 0.1 M to 100 M, thus indicating the rather low morphogenetic potential of these protoplasts as compared to protoplasts from L. peruvianum leaves.Abbreviations BAP benzylaminopurine - IAA indole-acetic acid - TMV tobacco mosaic virus     

Photoreversion und Photoprotektion bei UV-induzierten Mutationen des nichtphotoreaktivierbaren Bacteriums E.coli phr?

Summary Stationary phase cells of strain phr^–/MC 2 ofE. coli are not photoreactivable but the frequency of UV-induced mutations to low Streptomycine-resistance (S 3, 3/ml) is decreased strongly by illumination with light of fluorescence tubes (310 to 500 nm) after UV-irradiation. Also dark-reversion (DRM) of these mutations due to keeping UV-irradiated cells in saline is observed. Illumination before UV-irradiation decreases the frequency of the mutations (photoprotection against mutation=PPM) to the same extent as the combined action of photoreversion (PRM) and DRM. The lag-phase of cell division is prolonged strongly by illumination from 80 min without light to 150 min by the light-dose of highest activity. The additional lag is nearly the same if the illumination is done before, after or without UV-irradiation; this lag is about additive to the small lag caused by UV. Pre-illumination of the stationary-phase cells does not cause photoprotection against killing (PP), it even decreases the survival after high UV-doses. The observations support the hypothesis that PRM in this strain may be indirect, i.e. caused by the light-induced additional division lag which enhances the dark repair of UV-premutations. Also spontaneous premutations which are apparently present in the stationary-phase cells seem to be influenced by the light in this way.     

Electrophoretic variation between class II molecules expressed on HLA-DRw8 homozygous typing cells reveals multiple distinct haplotypes

Two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis of immunoprecipitated HLA-DR antigens from eight homozygous typing cells (HTC) expressing the HLA-DRw8 specificity revealed a clustering of polymorphic chain patterns into distinct electrophoretic variants. The variant patterns correlate with three discrete HLA-D clusters that are defined in the mixed leukocyte culture reaction (MLR) using DRw8-positive HTC. These HLA-D clusters have been provisionally designated Dw8.1, detected primarily in Caucasoids, Dw8.2, detected primarily in American Indians, and Dw8.3, detected predominantly in Orientals. All three HLA-Dw8.1 cell lines express a single DR-locus product as defined by immunoprecipitation with a DR-specific monoclonal antibody, P4.1. This DR chain is identical among the Dw8.1 cell lines and different from the DR chains of the Dw8.2 and Dw8.3 cell lines. Two separate Dw8.2 HTC express a shared DR chain that is slightly more basic than the 8.1 DR molecule; interestingly, one of these lines also expresses an additional DR-like chain not found in the other cells. Thus, the two lines defining the Dw8.2 cluster share one distinct class 11 molecule, but differ in another and therefore are not biochemically HLA-identical. Cells from the Dw8.3 cluster are likewise distinct from all other Dw8 clusters. One additional DRw8-positive HTC has been analyzed and found to be distinct from the Dw8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 clusters by both MLR and 2D gels. lmmunoprecipitates using monoclonal antibody 1B5 [anti-DR and anti-DQ(DS)] identify additional polymorphic class II variants among the cell lines tested. These data indicate that HLA-DRw8 is a public serologic specificity present on class II molecules expressed on multiple distinct haplotypes. These haplotypes differ from each other in expression of polymorphic class II molecules encoded by at least two HLA loci. They also differ in HLA-D, even though they all type as HLA-DRw8 homozygous. In Dw8.2, variation in expressed chains is not reflected in variation in HLA-D, indicating that MLR, as well as serologic typing, does not detect the full degree of allelic polymorphism within HLA.     

Mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana with altered phototropism

Thirty five strains of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. have been identified with altered phototropic responses to 450-nm light. Four of these mutants have been more thoroughly characterized. Strain JK224 shows normal gravitropism and second positive phototropism. However, while the amplitude for first positive phototropism is the same as that in the wild-type, the threshold and fluence for the maximum response in first positive phototropism are shifted to higher fluence by a factor of 20–30. This mutant may represent an alteration in the photoreceptor pigment for phototropism. Strain JK218 exhibits no curvature to light at any fluence from 1 mol·m^-2 to 2700 mol·m^-2, but shows normal gravitropism. Strain JK345 shows no first positive phototropism, and reduced gravitropism and second positive phototropism. Strain JK229 shows no measurable first positive phototropism, but normal gravitropism and second positive phototropism. Based on these data, it is suggested that: 1. gravitropism and phototropism contain at least one common element; 2. first positive and second positive phototropism contain at least one common element; and 3. first positive phototropism can be substantially altered without any apparent alteration of second positive phototropism.Abbreviation WT wild-type     

Meiotic studies ofElymus nutans andE. jacquemontii (Poaceae,Triticeae) and their hybrids withPseudoroegneria spicata and seventeenElymus species

Hybridizations ofElymus nutans andE. jacquemontii were carried out with one species ofPseudoroegneria (S genome), and 20Elymus species, each containing either of the SH, SY, SYH, or SYW genomes. Chromosome configurations were analysed at metaphase I of the two target taxa and their interspecific hybrids. It is concluded that (i)E. nutans is an allohexaploid containing the SYH genomes, andE. jacquemontii is an allotetraploid having the SY genomes; (ii) the genomic affinity is associated with the geographic distance between the species studied; (iii) minor genomic structural rearrangements have occurred within the hexaploid taxon ofE. nutans.     

Further cytogenetic analyses of the Croatian triploid shallot “Ljutika” (Allium cepa var.viviparum, Alliaceae) and its comparison with the Indian triploid “Pran”

Feulgen and silver-stained karyotypes and meiosis of two triploid viviparous onion forms (Allium cepa var.viviparum), the Croatian Ljutika and the Indian Pran, were comparatively analyzed. The results of chromosome measurements show that Ljutika and Pran are karyologically not identical, although significant similarities were found in the morphology of their chromosomes. Five geographically distant clones of Ljutika showed good agreement in the number and gross morphology of the chromosomes and in the number and position of NORs and interphase nucleoli. Heterotrivalents were predominant in meiosis of Ljutika but a relatively high frequency of higher multivalents together with univalents and bivalents were also observed. The relationship between Ljutika and Pran and their possible origin are discussed.     

A model for light adaptation: Producing Weber's law with bleaching-type kinetics

An adaptation model having two stages is introduced and its mathematical properties are examined. The two stages are the adaptive process (parameter K _b), which has bleaching-type kinetics, and the response function (parameters K _r and n), which incorporates response saturation. In order to study the increment threshold functions generated by the adaptation model the concept of a detector is required. It is demonstrated that without an adaptive process the compression hypothesis, in the form of the difference equation, produces increment threshold functions which saturate and do not obey Weber's law. It is then shown that an adaptive process with bleaching-type kinetics can prevent saturation and produce Weber's law behavior provided that the adaptive strength of the system exceeds the detector sensitivity.     

Reflections on Ernst Mayr's This is Biology

In this essay I argue that Ernst Mayr's idea that the emergence of evolutionary biology in Western thought was delayed by the pernicious influence of the false ideologies of Platonism, Christianity, and physicalism is ahistorical and anti-evolutionary, that similar ideas, especially his antipathy to physicalism, prejudice his account of the transformation of natural history and medical science into biology, that his organicist resolution of the perennial conflict between mechanism and vitalism is an unstable compound of semi-holism and semi-mechanism, that his conception of biology as the true bridge between the sciences and the humanities, ethics, and social theory is open to question (especially as to the adequacy of the theory of natural selection to account for every aspect of human nature), and that his depiction of science as the sovereign key to understanding everything known to exist or happen in this universe cannot be justified at the bar of reason.     

Determination of the apparent K mfor oxygen of Beneckea natriegens using the respirograph technique

The affinity for oxygen of the marine bacterium Beneckea natriegens was mesured using the Respirograph technique of Degn and Wohlrab. Values between 0.15 and 0.25 M oxygen were obtained for the apparent K _mfor oxygen regardless of the nature of the respiratory substrate. These values are an order of magnitude lower than those previously reported for B. natriegens using the conventional closed oxygen electrode system.     

Wall morphogenesis in diatoms: Deposition of silica by cytoplasmic vesicles

Summary Several TEM and SEM techniques were applied to examine developing structures in valves of the centric diatomThalassiosira eccentrica (Ehrenb.) Cleve after cytokinesis. It was possible to confirm that in each stage of the silicification process there is a distinction between a growing zone with a loose assemblage of silica spheres and a compacting zone in an older phase of development. The spherical structure of the silica in the growing zone results from the addition of silica by small cytoplasmic vesicles of about 300 to 400 Å in diameter. The vesicle membrane fuses with the silicalemma and the vesicle content is released into the silica-deposition vesicle. The origin of these vesicles, named STV, is still unknown.     

Microaerophily

Objections to previous definitions of anaerobiosis and micro-aerophily are discussed, and a new definition of micro-aerophily is proposed. A survey of physiological characteristics of the micro-aerophilic bacterium Campylobacter sputorum spp. bubulus is given, and the concept of micro-aerophily is illustrated by the results of a study on the oxygen metabolism and oxygen sensitivity of this bacterium.     

Partial mispairing and crossing-over between β0 and δ genes as the origin of the δ β0 thalassemia gene

Summary Two double heterozygous ⁰/⁰ thalassemic sibs of Mexican descent were studied. The father had a ⁰/⁰ genotype, while the mother, one sib and several maternal relatives were ⁰/⁰ heterozygotes. Parental consanguinity and an apparently low frequency of thalassemia among Mexicans suggested a possible common origin of both ⁰ and ⁰ genes. A hypothesis to explain such a possibility is proposed on the basis of a partial mispairing between ⁰ and genes followed by a crossing-over which would results in a ⁰ recombinant gene. This hypothesis could also be extended to explain the 22 gluala, 22 alaglu and 116 arghis Hb variants as recombinants from double crossing-over between and mispaired genes for which the name interstitial-Lepore is proposed.     

Stipularbildungen beiDentaria und ihr Wert für die morphologische Deutung der Speicherschuppen als Phyllodien

Zusammenfassung An den schuppenförmigen, speichernden Niederblättern vonDentaria enneaphyllos L.,D. bipinnata C. A.Mey.,D. pentaphyllos L. undDentaria bulbifera L. sowie an den Schuppenblättern der Bulbillen der letztgenannten Art wurden Bildungen aufgefunden, die in Form, Stellung und Entstehung den Nebenblättern an den Laubblättern gleichen und auch als solche aufgefaßt werden müssen. Aus der basalen Insertion dieser Stipeln und aus entwicklungsgeschichtlichen Befunden ergibt sich, daß das Unterblatt am Aufbau des Niederblattes nur äußerst geringen Anteil hat. Die Schuppenblätter müssen daher nicht wie bisher mit dem Blattgrund, sondern mit einem Teil des Oberblattes — nämlich dem Blattstiel (die Spreite ist nur als Rudiment vertreten) homologisiert werden und können somit als Phyllodien gelten. Um den Niederblattcharakter zu betonen, wird man zweckmäßigerweise den Ausdruck Blattstiel- oder Phyllodialschuppen verwenden. Diese Blattstielschuppen stellen eine besondere und bisher unbekannte Gestaltungsmöglichkeit speichernder Niederblätter dar.

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Stipules inDentaria and their importance for the morphological interpretation of the storage scales as phyllodes

Summary Cruciferae are commonly said to have no stipules, but some authors have correctly pointed out that tiny stipules are nearly always present and form a regular morphological component of the leaf structure in this family (cf.Weberling, 1956).The present investigations refer to the stipules and the morphology of the storage scales on the rhizomes inDentaria enneaphyllos L.,D. bipinnata C. A.Mey.,D. pentaphyllos L.,D. bulbifera L., and on the bulbils of the last mentioned species. These cataphylls have usually and up to now been interpretated as corresponding to the leaf base (in the sense of the German Unterblatt), the leaf stalk and lamina being rudimentary. The present results correct this conception: Ontogeny shows that an early articulation into leaf base (carrying the stipules) and upper leaf (Oberblatt) does take place, but the leaf base completes its development very early, being restricted therefore in the adult cataphyll to a narrow basal zone, the tiny stipules being placed quite near the attachment of the scale. Hence, the cataphyll is not to be identified with the leaf base, but is homologous to the leaf stalk with a rudimentary lamina. Therefore it can be called a phyllode. For a more precise morphological terminology the terms leaf stalk scale or phyllodial scale might be applicable. These phyllodial scales represent a hitherto unknown type of morphological organization among storage cataphylls.

     

Abbau der 4-Chlorbenzoesäure durch eineArthrobacter-Species

Zusammenfassung EineArthrobacter-Species, die 4-Chlorobenzoesäure als einzige Kohlenstoffquelle verwerten kann, gibt beim Wachstum auf dieser Verbindung 4-Hydroxybenzoesäure und Protocatechusäure ins Medium ab. Der weiter Abbau des aromatischen Ringes erfolgt durch meta-Spaltung. Beim Wachstum derArthrobacter-Species auf Benzoesäure trit im Medium cis,cis-Muconsäure auf. In diesem Fallewird also der ortho-Weg eingeschlagen. Die Enzyme für beide Abbauwege sind induzierbar.

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Degradation of 4-Chlorobenzoic acid by anArthrobacter species

AnArthrobacter sp. growing on 4-Chlorobenzoic acid as its sole source of carbon excretes 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and protocatechuic acid into the culture medium. Protocatechuic acid is further attacked by meta-cleavage. During growth of theArthrobacter sp. on benzoic acid cis-cis muconic acid can be isolated from the medium, suggesting the involvement of the ortho-cleavage pathway. The enzymes both for the meta- and the ortho-cleavage pathway are inducible.

Dem Andenken an Professor Bernhauer gewidmet     

Protoplasmic streaming in the giant unicellular green algaAcetabularia mediterranea

Summary Protoplasmic Streaming inAcetabularia mediteranea has been studied by microcinematography in 1. germinating zygotes, 2. germlings before the differentiation of rhizoids and apices, 3. young cells with rhizoids and apices, 4. vegetative cells-several centimeters in length, 5. cells with a maximum sized cap, containing secondary nuclei, and 6. cells after cyst formation. Intracellular transport is found to occur at a network-system of thin filaments and at a different system of headed streaming bands. At the network of filaments chloroplasts are found to move at a velocity of 1–2 m/sec. Headed streaming bands move along the filaments and may lead without interruption from the rhizoid to the apex of the cell andvice versa. The front zone of the streaming bands is occupied by a leading cytoplasmic head-structure. Small vesicles, polyphosphate granula and secondary nuclei are the predominant moving structures in headed streaming bands. The velocity of these particles is found to be 3–11 m/sec. The filament system is found during all developmental stages. Headed streaming bands are undetectable in germinating zygotes and develop from small cytoplasmic droplets in germlings to broad heavily loaded bands in the huge vegetative cell.Transport of secondary nuclei by headed streaming bands is not observed during mitotic divisions and after cyst formation, though moving bands are still present for several weeks after cyst formation.     

Pattern of Phyllogenesis in the neonatal and regenerating Pongamia glabra L.

The seedling of Pongamia glabra L. generates some simple leaves before producing the first compound leaf. The regenerates arising from decapitated adult plants also show the same sequence of phyllogenesis, i.e. generation of an initial instalment of simple leaves followed by compound-leaf-production.