Interactive Skill in Scrabble

An experiment was performed to test the hypothesis that people sometimes take physical actions to make themselves more effective problem solvers. The task was to generate all possible words that could be formed from seven Scrabble letters. In one condition, participants could use their hands to manipulate the letters, and in another condition, they could not. Results show that more words were generated with physical manipulation than without. However, an interaction was obtained between the physical manipulation conditions and the specific letter sets chosen, indicating that physical manipulation helps more for generating words in some circumstances than in others. Overall, our findings can be explained in terms of an interactive search process in which external, physical activity effectively complements internal, cognitive activity. Within this framework, the interaction can be explained in terms of the relative difficulty of generating words from the letters given in the different sets

Mammary tumors that become independent of the type I insulin-like growth factor receptor express elevated levels of platelet-derived growth factor receptors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Targeted therapies are becoming an essential part of breast cancer treatment and agents targeting the type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) are currently being investigated in clinical trials. One of the limitations of targeted therapies is the development of resistant variants and these variants typically present with unique gene expression patterns and characteristics compared to the original tumor.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MTB-IGFIR transgenic mice, with inducible overexpression of the IGF-IR were used to model mammary tumors that develop resistance to IGF-IR targeting agents. IGF-IR independent mammary tumors, previously shown to possess characteristics associated with EMT, were found to express elevated levels of PDGFRα and PDGFRβ. Furthermore, these receptors were shown to be inversely expressed with the IGF-IR in this model. Using cell lines derived from IGF-IR-independent mammary tumors (from MTB-IGFIR mice), it was demonstrated that PDGFRα and to a lesser extent PDGFRβ was important for cell migration and invasion as RNAi knockdown of PDGFRα alone or PDGFRα and PDGFRβ in combination, significantly decreased tumor cell migration in Boyden chamber assays and suppressed cell migration in scratch wound assays. Somewhat surprisingly, concomitant knockdown of PDGFRα and PDGFRβ resulted in a modest increase in cell proliferation and a decrease in apoptosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>During IGF-IR independence, PDGFRs are upregulated and function to enhance tumor cell motility. These results demonstrate a novel interaction between the IGF-IR and PDGFRs and highlight an important, therapeutically relevant pathway, for tumor cell migration and invasion.</p

Small Interfering RNA Targeted to IGF-IR Delays Tumor Growth and Induces Proinflammatory Cytokines in a Mouse Breast Cancer Model

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and its type I receptor (IGF-IR) play significant roles in tumorigenesis and in immune response. Here, we wanted to know whether an RNA interference approach targeted to IGF-IR could be used for specific antitumor immunostimulation in a breast cancer model. For that, we evaluated short interfering RNA (siRNAs) for inhibition of in vivo tumor growth and immunological stimulation in immunocompetent mice. We designed 2′-O-methyl-modified siRNAs to inhibit expression of IGF-IR in two murine breast cancer cell lines (EMT6, C4HD). Cell transfection of IGF-IR siRNAs decreased proliferation, diminished phosphorylation of downstream signaling pathway proteins, AKT and ERK, and caused a G0/G1 cell cycle block. The IGF-IR silencing also induced secretion of two proinflammatory cytokines, TNF- α and IFN-γ. When we transfected C4HD cells with siRNAs targeting IGF-IR, mammary tumor growth was strongly delayed in syngenic mice. Histology of developing tumors in mice grafted with IGF-IR siRNA treated C4HD cells revealed a low mitotic index, and infiltration of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils, suggesting activation of an antitumor immune response. When we used C4HD cells treated with siRNA as an immunogen, we observed an increase in delayed-type hypersensitivity and the presence of cytotoxic splenocytes against wild-type C4HD cells, indicative of evolving immune response. Our findings show that silencing IGF-IR using synthetic siRNA bearing 2′-O-methyl nucleotides may offer a new clinical approach for treatment of mammary tumors expressing IGF-IR. Interestingly, our work also suggests that crosstalk between IGF-I axis and antitumor immune response can mobilize proinflammatory cytokines

9 Million Complexes Planned

Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "600 Broadway Place is a $5 million office complex on the west side of the Broadway Extension.

An Investigation Into the Resistance of Goosegrass (Eleusine Indica) to Dinitroaniline Herbicides (Biotypes, Trifluralin, Oryzalin)

91 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1985.Research was conducted in the growth chamber and laboratory to determine if continuous dinitroaniline use in the Coastal Plain region of South Carolina has selected for a dinitroaniline-resistant goosegrass (Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertner). Seed was collected from two locations where dinitroniline herbicides were used exclusively for the past 10-12 years and from a third location which had no previous dinitroaniline history. A petridish assay was conducted with pendimethalin (N-(1-ethylpropyl)3,4 dimethyl-2,6 dinitrobenzeneamine), trifluralin ((alpha),(alpha),(alpha)-trifluoro 2,6 dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine) and oryzalin (3,5 dinitro-N('4)N('4)-dipropyl-sulfanilamide) indicated that resistance was associated with goosegrass that had a previous dinitroaniline history. The degree of resistance was greatest with trifluralin and pendimethalin and least with oryzalin. Sensitivity among resistant biotypes ranged from resistant to intermediately-resistant. Goosegrass, without previous dinitronaline exposure, was over 50 times more sensitive to the three dinitroanilines thus was termed susceptible.Mitotic indicies were conducted on root tips of dinitroaniline-resistant and susceptible goosegrass to quantify their effect of mitosis. Mitosis was arrested at metaphase in the susceptible goosegrass. Polyploidy and abnormal cell shapes were evident at dinitroaniline concentrations of 1 (mu)M. Treated cells of the resistant goosegrass appeared normal, and without incidence of polyploidy or interrupted mitosis at trifluralin and pendimethalin concentrations of 16 (mu)M.Lipid content and fatty acid distribution in dry seed and root meristems were measured in dinitroaniline-susceptible and resistant goosegrass. Seed of the resistant goosegrass contained the highest lipid level and oryzalin exposure had little influence on total lipid and fatty acid composition in root meristems. However, significant reductions in total lipid and changes in fatty acid composition were noted when the susceptible goosegrass was treated with 8 (mu)M oryzalin.Radioautographs showed substantial acropetal movement of oryzalin and trifluralin in the dinitroaniline-susceptible goosegrass. Trifluralin plant mobility appeared restricted in the resistant goosegrass at 1 (mu)M. Oryzalin was more mobile in the resistant goosegrass at low concentrations compared to trifluralin. The greater mobility of oryzalin in the resistant biotype may be the reason that this herbicide was more active. Differences in acropetal movement of herbicides between goosegrass biotypes were overcome by increases in herbicide concentration.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Electronic Data Recorders for Weed Science Research

Most field data are recorded in a notebook or on paper in the field and later re-entered into computer files for statistical analyses. Using electronic field data recorders, data can be entered directly into computer files. Initial communication problems between electronic data recorders and personal computers and learning time requirements may limit effective use of these tools. Use of a dedicated field data recorder and software developed by the authors produced an estimated first-year labor cost savings of $500 to$700.</jats:p

Response of Bermudagrass to Rotations of Selective Grass Herbicides

The 1985 and 1986 Cotton Reports have the same publication and P-Series numbers.Several herbicides are now available or are being tested to control grass weeds in cotton and other crops. Most labels suggest repeat applications of the same herbicide applied in a single season. Cotton growers may apply two different grass herbicides in the same season because of herbicide cost, availability, or effectiveness. Three tests in 1985 compared the effectiveness of grass herbicides applied in rotation with other grass herbicides

Effects of Sublethal Concentrations of Bentazon, Fluazifop, Haloxyfop, and Sethoxydim on Corn (<i>Zea mays</i>)

Field studies were conducted to measure the response of corn (Zea maysL. var. ‘Pioneer 3377’) to foliar applications of sethoxydim {2-[1-(ethoxyimino)butyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one}, fluazifop {(±)-2-[4-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] propanoic acid}, and haloxyfop {2-[4-[[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy] propanoic acid} as influenced by corn growth stage and the addition of 7.7, 15,4, 77.7, 140, 280, and 840 g/ai/ha of bentazon [3-(1-methylethyl)-(1H)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide]. Applications of sethoxydim (16.8, 33.6, 67.2, 100, and 134 g ai/ha), fluazifop, or haloxyfop (1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, 10.0, and 13.4 g ai/ha) to four- to five-leaf corn did not reduce seed weight, but significant reductions resulted when sethoxydim (100 g/ha) or fluazifop (13.4 g/ha) was applied to 70- to 80-cm (six-leaf) corn with or without bentazon. Corn grain yield was significantly reduced by sethoxydim (&gt;67.2 g/ha) treatment at either growth stage of corn. In contrast, corn injury induced by fluazifop (&gt;8.0 g/ha) and haloxyfop (13.4 g/ha) resulted in reductions in yield only when applications were made to 70- to 80-cm corn. Significant reductions in seed germination also resulted from foliar applications of the graminicides, but these reductions were inconsistent across corn growth stage.</jats:p