Cognitive Social Psychology

Social psychology is presently dominated by cognitive theories that emphasize the importance of personal beliefs and in tellective processes as the immediate determinants of behavior. The present paper explores two areas of.research within this tra dition : (1) beliefs about the external world, and (2) beliefs about the self. The paper concludes with a brief critique of the cognitive approach to social psychology.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69030/2/10.1177_014616727700300402.pd

Homeobox transcription factor muscle segment homeobox 2 (Msx2) correlates with good prognosis in breast cancer patients and induces apoptosis in vitro

Introduction: The homeobox-containing transcription factor muscle segment homeobox 2 (Msx2) plays an important role in mammary gland development. However, the clinical implications of Msx2 expression in breast cancer are unclear. The aims of this study were to investigate the potential clinical value of Msx2 as a breast cancer biomarker and to clarify its functional role in vitro. Methods: Msx2 gene expression was first examined in a well-validated breast cancer transcriptomic dataset of 295 patients. Msx2 protein expression was then evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray (TMA) containing 281 invasive breast tumours. Finally, to assess the functional role of Msx2 in vitro, Msx2 was ectopically expressed in a highly invasive breast tumour cell line (MDA-MB-231) and an immortalised breast cell line (MCF10a), and these cell lines were examined for changes in growth rate, cell death and cell signalling. Results: Examination of Msx2 mRNA expression in a breast cancer transcriptomic dataset demonstrated that increased levels of Msx2 were associated with good prognosis (P = 0.011). Evaluation of Msx2 protein expression on a TMA revealed that Msx2 was detectable in both tumour cell nuclei and cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic Msx2 expression was associated with low grade tumours (P = 0.012) and Ki67 negativity (P = 0.018). Nuclear Msx2 correlated with low-grade tumours (P = 0.015), estrogen receptor positivity (P = 0.038), low Ki67 (P = 0.005) and high cyclin D1 expression (P = 0.037). Increased cytoplasmic Msx2 expression was associated with a prolonged breast cancer-specific survival (P = 0.049), recurrence-free survival (P = 0.029) and overall survival (P = 0.019). Ectopic expression of Msx2 in breast cell lines resulted in radically decreased cell viability mediated by induction of cell death via apoptosis. Further analysis of Msx2-expressing cells revealed increased levels of p21 and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and decreased levels of Survivin and the 'split ends' (SPEN) protein family member RBM15. Conclusions: We conclude that increased Msx2 expression results in improved outcome for breast cancer patients, possibly by increasing the likelihood of tumour cell death by apoptosis

Progesterone Receptor Activates Msx2 Expression by Downregulating TNAP/Akp2 and Activating the Bmp Pathway in EpH4 Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells

Previously we demonstrated that EpH4 mouse mammary epithelial cells induced the homeobox transcription factor Msx2 either when transfected with the progesterone receptor (PR) or when treated with Bmp2/4. Msx2 upregulation was unaffected by Wnt inhibitors s-FRP or Dkk1, but was inhibited by the Bmp antagonist Noggin. We therefore hypothesized that PR signaling to Msx2 acts through the Bmp receptor pathway. Herein, we confirm that transcripts for Alk2/ActR1A, a non-canonical BmpR Type I, are upregulated in mammary epithelial cells overexpressing PR (EpH4-PR). Increased phosphorylation of Smads 1,5, 8, known substrates for Alk2 and other BmpR Type I proteins, was observed as was their translocation to the nucleus in EpH4-PR cells. Analysis also showed that Tissue Non-Specific Alkaline Phosphatase (TNAP/Akp2) was also found to be downregulated in EpH4-PR cells. When an Akp2 promoter-reporter construct containing a ½PRE site was transfected into EpH4-PR cells, its expression was downregulated. Moreover, siRNA mediated knockdown of Akp2 increased both Alk2 and Msx2 expression. Collectively these data suggest that PR inhibition of Akp2 results in increased Alk2 activity, increased phosphorylation of Smads 1,5,8, and ultimately upregulation of Msx2. These studies imply that re-activation of the Akp2 gene could be helpful in downregulating aberrant Msx2 expression in PR+ breast cancers

Produkcja wielkowymiarowego giętego wielopłaszczyznowo szkła architektonicznego - wyzwania i ograniczenia

The paper focuses on the development of knowledge about the hot bending of curved architectural glass produced by the slumping process and the challenges as well as the limitations thereof. Due to the complexity of the process, many factors influence the final quality of the glass and the main objective was to better understand the procedure itself in order to improve the control and quality of the slumping process. As a result of the growing interest in this type of glass for architectural applications, the glass processing market is increasingly investing in the required technology. For the moment, this growing niche does not have a large number of direct explanations of the glass behaviour in the furnace in the available literature, which in turn encourages cooperation between the scientific community and manufacturers. This paper presents the conducted experiments that have led to a better understanding of the furnace's work and the impact of specific factors on its operation. Based on the 3D numerical model, a large sample of glass was produced, which was then scanned with a 3D laser using a method developed for the experiment. The results suggested that a more accurate test with usage of a full-size furnace is required. Based on this, the experiment was carried out using a large number of glass samples of different thicknesses. The results of the experiment helped to better understand and demonstrate the need for further research of this technology in order to optimize the quality of the process.W artykule skupiono się na rozwoju wiedzy na temat wielopłaszyznowego gięcia na gorąco szkła architektonicznego produkowanego w procesie opadania oraz na wyzwaniach i ograniczeniach samego procesu. Ze względu na złożoność procesu, wiele czynników wpływa na końcową jakość szkła, a głównym celem było lepsze zrozumienie samej procedury w celu poprawy kontroli i jakości procesu produkcji tego typu szkła. W związku z rosnącym zainteresowaniem tego rodzaju szkłem do zastosowań architektonicznych, rynek przetwórstwa szkła coraz częściej inwestuje w wymagane technologie. W chwili obecnej ta rosnąca nisza nie ma w dostępnej literaturze wielu bezpośrednich wyjaśnień na temat zachowania się szkła w piecu, co z kolei zachęca do współpracy pomiędzy środowiskiem naukowym a producentami. W niniejszym artykule przedstawiono przeprowadzone doświadczenia, które doprowadziły do lepszego zrozumienia pracy pieca oraz wpływu poszczególnych czynników na jego funkcjonowanie. W oparciu o trójwymiarowy model numeryczny wyprodukowano dużą próbkę szkła, która następnie została zeskanowana laserem 3D metodą opracowaną na potrzeby eksperymentu. Wyniki sugerowały, że konieczny jest dokładniejszy test z wykorzystaniem pełnowymiarowego pieca. Na tej podstawie eksperyment został przeprowadzony z wykorzystaniem dużej liczby próbek szkła o różnej grubości. Wyniki eksperymentu pozwoliły lepiej zrozumieć i wykazać potrzebę dalszych badań tej technologii w celu optymalizacji jakości procesu

Molecular diagnostic of Phytophthora pathogens as a tool for Integrated Pest Management

Traditional detection methods such as baiting or direct isolation take a long time and are incapable to handling large volume of material to be tested. The real−time PCR−based techniques are faster, more sensitive, more easily automated, and do not require post−amplification procedures. Species−specific primers for Phytophthora were designed based on the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) of rDNA collected from the NCBI DNA database. Primers and probes were designed using the Allele ID 7 at default search criteria. Specific probes were labeled with the reporter dyes JOE (6−carboxy−4,5−dichloro−2,7−dimethoxyfluorescein) at the 5' end and HBQ1 quencher at the 3' end (Sigma−Aldrich). The specificity of primers and fluorogenic probes was tested against genomic DNA of P. alni subsp. multiformis, P. lacustris and P. taxon hungarica. The real−time PCR reactions with the specific probes and primers yielded positive results with five concentrations of standards obtained by standard PCR reaction for corresponding Phytophthora species. The negative control (lack of DNA pathogens) yielded no amplification products. Standard curves showed a linear correlation between input DNA and cycle threshold (Ct) values with R² from 0.994 (P. alni) to 0.998 (P. taxon hungarica). The amplification efficiency of target DNA varied from 94.6% (P. alni) to 100% (P. taxon hungarica). The validation of the primers and probes designed for analysed Phytophthora species was performed on pure cultures, on soil samples from the forest nursery and declining oak stands. The designed probes displayed the high specificity of the detection of investigated species in pure cultures. The presented new molecular TaqMan probes can fully assist the integrated pest management as a powerful tool for a quick detection of above pathogenic organisms in forest nurseries. The molecular detection of harmful phytophthoras and in consequences diminishing of fungicides use for their control in forestry fully support European Union directives as well as the ‘Good plant protection practice measures' elaborated by European and Mediterranean Organisation of Plant Protection