The Everyday Life Context of Increasing Energy Demands: Time Use Survey Data in a Decomposition Analysis

Industrial ecologists have modeled with precision the material foundations of industrial systems, but given less attention to the demand for products and the drivers of structural changes in these systems. This article suggests that time use data complement data on monetary expenditure and can be used to elucidate the everyday life context in which the changes in the economy take place. It builds upon the claim that goods are not direct sources of utility, but enter specific household activities as inputs. A second argument for the proposed approach is that it can be used to introduce and foster human agency in analyses of production systems. The article uses Finnish time use survey data, consumption expenditure data, and data on the sectoral energy intensities of financial output in the Finnish economy. First, a measure of the energy intensity of activities is derived by relating consumer time use and the required direct and indirect energy requirements. Second, the results include a decomposition of changes in the energy requirements of private consumption in Finland during the 1990s. It is shown that although the same activities on average require increasing energy inputs per unit of time, Finns have simultaneously changed the structure of their everyday life toward less energy-intensive activities.     

A bacterial clone carrying sequences coding for elongation factor EF-1 alpha from Artemia

A bacterial cDNA clone was identified carrying one third of the nucleotides coding for elongation factor EF-1 alpha from the brine shrimp Artemia. The sequence of codons corresponds with the known sequence of amino acids of EF-1 alpha in the region involved.     

The effects of monocyte-conditioned medium and interleukin 1 on the synthesis of collagenous and non-collagenous proteins by mouse bone and human bone cells in vitro

Cultural adherent human mononuclear cells produce factor(s) which stimulate the release of calcium from new-born mouse calvaria in organ culture. This stimulation of bone resorption is accompanied by an inhibition of the incorporation of [³H]proline into collagen which is independent of increased prostaglandin production by the bone. When human osteoblast-like cells are treated with conditioned medium from human mononuclear cells, collagen accounts for a decreased proportion of the protein synthesised. This effect on matrix synthesis is not accompanied by an inhibitory action of the monocyte-conditioned medium preparations on net cell proliferation. In human osteoblast-like cell cultures, partially purified human interleukin 1 also inhibits the production of the bone-specific protein osteocalcin in a dose-dependent fashion. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that products of human monocytes similar to, or identical with, human interleukin 1 may be important regulators of bone metabolism and may contribute to the bone loss seen in diseases such as chronic rheumatoid arthritis.     

Characterization of microsatellite loci for the detection of temporal genetic shifts within a single cohort of the brown demoiselle,Neopomacentrus filamentosus

Neopomacentrus filamentosus, a common damselfish on the Indo–Australian archipelago, undergoes significant shifts in size and mitochondrial genetic structure upon larval settlement and metamorphosis to juvenile stages. We characterized five polymorphic microsatellite loci in order to study temporal genetic shifts within a single generation of N. filamentosus sampled first as larval settlers then again as demersal juvenile recruits. All loci were extremely polymorphic and exhibited high levels of heterozygosity. While all loci from the larval samples conformed to Hardy – Weinberg expectations, significant heterozygote deficiencies were seen in two loci in the juvenile samples, likely due to extreme size‐selective mortality imposed post‐settlement.     

Conservation of rDNA inPolystichum (Dryopteridaceae)

Restriction site variation in the nuclear 18S–25S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) was analyzed hierarchically in a species complex in the fern genusPolystichum. Two distinct rDNA repeat types were present in all individuals ofPolystichum examined. No variation was detected among individuals within a population ofP. munitum, among populations ofP. munitum orP. imbricans, or among the six diploid species ofPolystichum from North America, including the circumborealP. lonchitis. The identity of rDNA repeats across all six North American species ofPolystichum may reflect an overall similarity of the nuclear genomes of these species, an observation supported by isozyme data as well. However, this nuclear similarity contrasts sharply with the highly divergent chloroplast genomes of these six species. The conservative nature of the rDNA inPolystichum also is in contrast to the much more variable rDNAs of most angiosperms investigated. Perhaps the tempo and mode of evolution of rDNA in ferns differ from those of angiosperms; however, the data base for fern rDNA is very small. Furthermore, the number of repeat types per individual is consistent with a diploid, rather than polyploid, condition despite the high chromosome number (n = 41) of these plants, although homogenization of multiple, divergent rRNA genes cannot be disproven.     

Membrane electrical parameters in turtle bladder measured using impedance-analysis techniques

Summary Equivalent-circuit impedance analysis experiments were performed on the urinary bladders of freshwater turtles in order to quantify membrane ionic conductances and areas, and to investigate how changes in these parameters are associated with changes in the rate of proton secretion in this tissue. In all experiments, sodium reabsorption was inhibited thereby unmasking the electrogenic proton secretion process. We report the following: (1) transepithelial impedance is represented exceptionally well by a simple equivalent-circuit model, which results in estimates of the apical and basolateral membrane ionic conductances and capacitances; (2) when sodium transport is inhibited with mucosal amiloride and serosal ouabain, the apical and basolateral membrane conductances and capacitances exhibit a continual decline with time; (3) this decline in the membrane parameters is most likely caused by subtle time-dependent changes in cell volume, resulting in changes in the areas of the apical and basolateral membranes; (4) stable membrane parameters are obtained if the tissue is not treated with ouabain, and if the oncotic pressure of the serosal solution is increased by the addition of 2% albumin; (5) inhibition of proton secretion using acetazolamide in CO₂ and HCO ₃ ^– -free bathing solutions results in a decrease in the area of the apical membrane, with no significant change in its specific conductance; (6) stimulation of proton transport with CO₂ and HCO ₃ ^– -containing serosal solution results in an increase in the apical membrane area and specific conductance. These results show that our methods can be used to measure changes in the membrane electrophysiological parameters that are related to changes in the rate of proton transport. Notably, they can be used to quantify in the live tissue, changes in membrane area resulting from changes in the net rates of endocytosis and exocytosis which are postulated to be intimately involved in the regulation of proton transport.     

Activation of pigeon erythrocyte adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin partial purification of an essential macromolecular factor from horse erythrocyte cytosol

A cytosolic, macromolecular factor required for the cholera toxin-dependent activation of pigeon erythrocyte adenylate cyclase and cholera toxin-dependent ADP-ribosylation of a membrane-bound 43 000 dalton polypeptide has been purified 1100-fold from horse erythrocyte cytosol using organic solvent precipitation and heat treatment. This factor, 13 000 daltons, does not absorb to anionic or cationic exchange resins, is sensitive to trypsin or 10% trichloroacetic acid and is not extractable by diethyl ether. Activation of adenylate cyclase by cholera toxin requires the simultaneous presence of ATP (including possible trace GTP), NAD⁺, dithiothreitol, cholera toxin, membranes and the cytosolic macromolecular factor. Reversal of cholera toxin activation of adenylate cyclase, and of the toxin-dependent ADP-ribosylation, requires the presence of the cytosolic factor. The ability of the purified cytosolic factor to influence the hormonal sensitivity of liver membrane adenylate cyclase may provide clues to its physiological functions.