Membrane lipid perturbation modifies the set point of the temperature of heat shock response in yeast.

Addition of a saturated fatty acid (SFA) induced a strong increase in heat shock (HS) mRNA transcription when cells were heat-shocked at 37 degrees C, whereas treatment with an unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) reduced or eliminated the level of HS gene transcription at 37 degrees C. Transcription of the delta 9-desaturase gene (Ole1) of Histoplasma capsulatum, whose gene product is responsible for the synthesis of UFA, is up-regulated in a temperature-sensitive strain. We show that when the L8-14C mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which has a disrupted Ole1 gene, is complemented with its own Ole1 coding region under control of its own promoter or Ole1 promoters of H. capsulatum, the level of HS gene transcription depends on the activity of the promoters. Fluorescence anisotropy of mitochondrial membranes of completed strains corresponded to the different activity of the Ole1 promoter used. We propose that the SFA/UFA ratio and perturbation of membrane lipoprotein complexes are involved in the perception of rapid temperature changes and under HS conditions disturbance of the preexisting membrane physical state causes transduction of a signal that induces transcription of HS genes.

The extent of heterocellular communication mediated by gap junctions is predictive of bystander tumor cytotoxicity in vitro.

Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk)/ganciclovir (GCV) viral-directed enzyme prodrug gene therapy causes potent, tumor-selective cytotoxicity in animal models in which HSV-tk gene transduction is limited to a minority of tumor cells. The passage of toxic molecules from HSV-tk+ cells to neighboring HSV-tk- cells during GCV therapy is one mechanism that may account for this "bystander" cytotoxicity. To investigate whether gap junction-mediated intercellular coupling could mediate this bystander effect, we used a flow cytometry assay to quantitate the extent of heterocellular coupling between HSV-tk+ murine fibroblasts and both rodent and human tumor cell lines. Bystander tumor cytotoxicity during GCV treatment in a coculture assay was highly correlated (P < 0.001) with the extent of gap junction-mediated coupling. These findings show that gap junction-mediated intercellular coupling contributes to the in vitro bystander effect during HSV-tk/GCV therapy and that retroviral transduction of tumor cells is not required for bystander cytotoxicity.

A Computational Model of the Belief System Under the Scope of Social Communication

This paper presents an approach to the belief system based on a computational framework in three levels: first, the logic level with the definition of binary local rules, second, the arithmetic level with the definition of recursive functions and finally the behavioural level with the definition of a recursive construction pattern. Social communication is achieved when different beliefs are expressed, modified, propagated and shared through social nets. This approach is useful to mimic the belief system because the defined functions provide different ways to process the same incoming information as well as a means to propagate it. Our model also provides a means to cross different beliefs so, any incoming information can be processed many times by the same or different functions as it occurs is social nets.

Bill of sale of sloop Cyrus, 1793 February 2

Bill of sale between Thomas Sawyer, Jacob Adams, and Isaac Sawyer, all of Falmouth, Massachusetts, and Ebenezer Storer and William Winthrop for the sloop Cyrus.

Bill of sale of sloop Cyrus, 1795 March 4

Bill of sale transferring William Winthrop's share of the sloop Cyrus to Treasurer Ebenezer Storer. This bill of the sale has a wax seal but is unsigned.

Bill of sale of sloop Cyrus, [1798 March 7 ]

Uncompleted bill of sale for the sloop Cyrus between Ebenezer Storer and buyers Samuel Drinkwater and Abel Sawyer. The document is undated.

Bill of sale of sloop Cyrus, 1795 March 4

Bill of sale transferring William Winthrop's share of the sloop Cyrus to Treasurer Ebenezer Storer. This copy of the sale has William Winthrop's signature.

[ Deed of sale] 1705

Deed of sale in fee simple absolute of land in Boston to Abigail Brightman.

Deed of sale of property, Hingham, Massachusetts, 1686

Deed acknowledging Sprague's sale of land in Hingham to Israel Fering. Signed by Sprague, Nathaniel Beale, Sr., and John Parsens, Jr.

Deed of sale, 1705 April 11

Handwritten deed between grantors Samuel Champney, Daniel Champney, and Joseph Champney and grantee Andrew Bordman for Cambridge property bordering land owned by Harvard College.

Deed of sale, 1707 November 19

Handwritten deed between grantor William Brattle and grantee Andrew Bordman for Cambridge property bordering the highway leading to Watertown. The deed is also signed by Elizabeth Brattle.

Deed of sale, 1709/10 March 15

Handwritten deed between grantor Samuel Gookin and grantee Andrew Bordman for property in Cambridge Neck. The deed is also signed by Hannah Gookin. The red wax seals of Gookin and Bordman are still visible on the document.

Deed of sale, 1712 April 4

Handwritten deed between grantor Benjamin Goddard and grantee Andrew Bordman for Cambridge property known as Black Island. The deed is also signed by Martha Goddard.