On the application of the theory of emergence and of the law of maximum entropy production to social processes

As there would be appear to be no limit to the process of successive emergence, the emergence of suprahuman autopoietic systems seems possible, if not yet necessary. Maybe there really are constraints on human behavior which would not permit such entities to emerge, or maybe the emergence of such entities entails the dissipation of more free energy than available at present. But unless such conditions are present, then, it appears to me, the emergence of suprahuman autopoietic systems is not just probable, it is inevitable.In any event, whether or not they share my concern about suprahuman autopoietic systems, all concerned with metaphor manufacture should attend to this important insight from Swenson (1989a, b, c, d) and should not be deterred by my so inadequate reflection of a new and important view of how the organizational world works.     

Hume'sAbstract exhumed

‘As it is now clear that Hume is the Author of theAbstract, this short work can be enthusiastically recommended to those who wish to consider Hume's own account of the chief argument of theTreatise’ (Norton, 1993a). This ‘simplification’ of Hume'sAbstract aims to make it more accessible to a wider audience, especially to readers who do not have English as their first language. Some of Hume's own invented terms have been translated, many of his longer sentences divided, and most of his expressions simplified. The sequence of his arguments is preserved. Where needed, his arguments have been set out in traditional form. Topic headings have been added and some definitions appended. To ease reference to theAbstract, as published in Hume (1740b), the page numbers have been inserted near their correct position in square brackets.     

The heavy chain of human histocompatibility antigen HLA-B7 contains an immunoglobulin-like region.

The 88-residue fragment (ac-2) containing the second disulphide loop from HLA-B7 heavy chain is shown to have statistically significant homology with Ig constant domains, including both matches at invariant positions and conservative substitutions of structurally important residues. Thus, both the light chain (beta 2m) and a segment of the heavy chain of HLA antigens may be structurally and evolutionarily related to immunoglobulins.     

Initial genome sequencing and analysis of multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an incurable malignancy of plasma cells, and its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Here we report the massively parallel sequencing of 38 tumour genomes and their comparison to matched normal DNAs. Several new and unexpected oncogenic mechanisms were suggested by the pattern of somatic mutation across the data set. These include the mutation of genes involved in protein translation (seen in nearly half of the patients), genes involved in histone methylation, and genes involved in blood coagulation. In addition, a broader than anticipated role of NF-κB signalling was indicated by mutations in 11 members of the NF-κB pathway. Of potential immediate clinical relevance, activating mutations of the kinase BRAF were observed in 4% of patients, suggesting the evaluation of BRAF inhibitors in multiple myeloma clinical trials. These results indicate that cancer genome sequencing of large collections of samples will yield new insights into cancer not anticipated by existing knowledge.     

Book Reviews

Systemic Practice and Action Research -     

The application of autopoiesis to social organizations: A comment on John Mingers' reply

I am grateful to our Editor for this opportunity of making a reply.I hope, in these few lines, not to have converted John Mingers, and those like-minded, to a belief in autopoietic social systems but to have raisedjust the possibility that there is a problem area here and that, because of the anticipated outcomes of such a possibility, this area is worth our attention.     

Cybernetics and suprahuman autopoietic systems

Several streams of cybernetic thinking lead to the notion that there may exist systems of a higher logical order than that of manmade organisation. Such systems would be autopoietic and, in principle, beyond human control. Man and his institutions would be but components of such systems. The accelerated growth of institutions and the connections between them facilitated by the IT revolution makes the realization of such systems more probable at this time. The implications for systems practice are discussed.     

Molecular cloning and expression of cDNAs for the human interleukin-2 receptor

We have purified the human T-cell growth factor (interleukin-2) receptor and have cloned, sequenced and expressed cDNAs corresponding to this receptor. We identify one gene, but two interleukin-2 receptor mRNAs which differ in their polyadenylation signals. We have isolated an additional cDNA that may correspond to an alternatively spliced mRNA that lacks a 216 base segment and appears to encode an altered membrane protein which cannot bind interleukin-2.