Activation status of Ras in pancreatic cancer cells.

<p><b>A.</b> The expression of Ras was examined by immunoblotting analysis in human pancreatic cancer BxPC-3, MIA, PANC-1 or lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells. The folds of the expression levels of Ras in pancreatic cancer cells relative to that in BEAS-2B cells were measured and indicated. Equal loading of total proteins per lane was determined by β-actin. <b>B.</b> Ras GTP-binding activity was measure in these cells by Ras-GTP assay. The blot was re-probed by anti-Ras antibody to judge evenly loading of total proteins.</p

PKC expression and activity following PMA or PMA plus GO6976 treatment.

<p><b>A.</b> Cell lysates isolated from untreated cells were immunoblotted with anti-pan-PKC antibody. <i>β</i>-actin was used to determine equal loading of total protein per lane. <b>B.</b> Cell lysates from the cells with or without being treated with PMA or PMA plus GO6976, were immunoprecipitated with anti-pan-PKC antibody. The immunocomplexes were incubated with [³²P] γ-ATP and the peptide substrates to analyze PKC activity. The error bars represented SD from three independent experiments (n = 3, <i>ρ</i><0.05).</p

Phosphorylation of p73 and upregulation of PUMA in pancreatic cancer cells.

<p><b>A.</b> With or without the treatment with GO6976 or GO6976 plus NAC, lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-p73 antibody. The immunoprecipitates were then subjected to immunoblotting using the anti-phosphorylated serine antibody. The level of the immunoprecipitates was judged by re-probing the blot with anti-p73 antibody. <b>B.</b> Total RNAs from the cells with or without treated with GO6976, GO6976 plus NAC or GO6976 plus <i>shRNA-p73</i> infection were isolated. Equal amount of RNAs was reverse-transcribed, and the expression of <i>PUMA</i> was tested by RT-PCR. <b>C.</b> With or without GO6976 treatment, MIA or PNAC-1 cells were subjected to immunoblotting analysis for PUMA expression. Equal loading of total proteins were determined by rep-probing the blot with anti-β-actin antibody.</p

Upregulation of ROS and induction of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.

<p><b>A.</b> The cells were treated with GO6976 or co-treated with GO6976 plus NAC (2.5 mM). After being stained with DCF, the levels of ROS in the cells were analyzed by a flow cytometer. <b>B.</b> The cells were treated with GO6976 (1 µM) or GO6976 plus NAC. Subsequently, the samples were collected and subjected for annexin V assay. The error bars are SD from 5 independent experiments (n = 5, <i>ρ</i><0.05).</p

Induction of apoptosis in GO6976-treated pancreatic cancer cells.

<p><b>A.</b> Cells were treated with GO6976 (1 µM) for 48 h and then collected for annexin V assay. The error bars are SD from 5 independent experiments (n = 5, <i>ρ</i><0.05). <b>B.</b> Profiles of the cells after being stained with annexin V. <b>C.</b> Cells were treated with FTI for 30 min prior to GO6976 treatment. Subsequently, annexin V assay was conducted. The error bars are SD from 5 independent experiments (n = 5, <i>ρ<</i>0.05).</p

Caspase 3 activation in response to the suppression of PKC.

<p><b>A.</b> With or without GO6976 treatment, cell lysates were prepared and immunoblotted with anti-caspase 3 antibody. <b>B.</b> The cells were subjected to the treatment with GO6976 or GO6976 plus NAC. Subsequently, annexin V assay was performed. The error bars represent SD from 3 independent experiments (n = 3, <i>ρ</i><0.05).</p

Nonimaging Optical Gain in Luminescent Concentration through Photonic Control of Emission Étendue

Luminescent and nonimaging optical concentration constitute two fundamentally different ways of collecting and intensifying light. Whereas nonimaging concentrators based on reflective, refractive, or diffractive optics operate most effectively for collimated light, luminescent concentrators (LCs) rely on absorption, re-emission, and waveguiding to concentrate diffuse light incident from any direction. LCs have been explored in many different shapes and sizes but have so far been unable to exploit the power of nonimaging optics to further increase their concentration ratio because their emission is angularly isotropic. Here, we use a luminescent thin film bilayer to create sharply directed conical emission in an LC and derive a nonimaging optical solution to leverage this directionality for secondary geometric gain ranging up to an order of magnitude or higher. We demonstrate this concept experimentally using a custom compound parabolic optical element index-matched to the LC surface and show that it delivers three times more luminescent power to an opposing GaAs photovoltaic cell when the emission profile is conically directed than when it is isotropic or the nonimaging optic is absent. These results open up a significant and general opportunity to improve LC performance for a variety of applications including photovoltaics, photobioreactors, and scintillator-based radiation detection

Influence of social network on drug use among clients of methadone maintenance treatment centers in Kunming, China

<div><p>Aims</p><p>To examine drug use behavior of clients attending Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) programs and its relationship with the clients’ social network characteristics.</p><p>Design</p><p>Cross-sectional study.</p><p>Setting</p><p>Four MMT clinics in Kunming, Yunnan province, China.</p><p>Participants</p><p>324 consecutive MMT clients.</p><p>Measurements</p><p>A structured, self-completed questionnaire on background characteristics and existing social network. Current drug use was assessed by urine test for opiate metabolites.</p><p>Analysis</p><p>The association between client's social network characteristics and their own current drug use behavior is analysed using multiple logistic regression adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) are obtained to give the strength of the associations.</p><p>Findings</p><p>MMT clients were more likely to concurrently use heroin while attending MMT if their social network had any of the following characteristics: more than half of the members were older than them (AOR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.00,1.06), any member had a high level of influence on them (AOR = 6.47, 95% CI = 2.86,14.65) and any member joined them in using drugs (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.04,3.63). Having a social network member who could provide emotional support (AOR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.03,0.35), having a spouse and/or child in their social network (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.24,0.81) and having a social network member with a high level of closeness (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.09,0.90) were associated with a decreased odds of heroin use.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Social networks who could provide MMT clients with emotional support and a close relationship were significant factors for reducing the risk of concurrent drug use among clients attending MMT clinics in Kunming, China. Behavioral interventions should address the role of family and social network members in providing support to these clients.</p></div

Characteristics of social network of MMT clients (N = 324).

<p>Characteristics of social network of MMT clients (N = 324).</p

Regression results of social network factors associated with result of urine test among MMT clinics in Kunming in Yunnan Provence, China (logistic regression predicting urine test: Positive vs. negative).

<p>Regression results of social network factors associated with result of urine test among MMT clinics in Kunming in Yunnan Provence, China (logistic regression predicting urine test: Positive vs. negative).</p