Conceptual beliefs about human values and their implications: Human nature beliefs predict value importance, value trade-offs, and responses to value-laden rhetoric.

Beliefs that may underlie the importance of human values were investigated in 4 studies, drawing on research that distinguishes natural-kind (natural), nominal-kind (conventional), and artifact (functional) beliefs. Values were best characterized by artifact and nominal-kind beliefs, as well as a natural-kind belief specific to the social domain, "human nature" (Studies 1 and 2). The extent to which values were considered central to human nature was associated with value importance in both Australia and Japan (Study 2), and experimentally manipulating human nature beliefs influenced value importance (Study 3). Beyond their association with importance, human nature beliefs predicted participants' reactions to value trade-offs (Study 1) and to value-laden rhetorical statements (Study 4). Human nature beliefs therefore play a central role in the psychology of values. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Expression of oligodendrocytic mRNAs in glial tumors: changes associated with tumor grade and extent of neoplastic infiltration

We examined the expression of glial- and neuronal-specific mRNAs within human gliomas using in situ hybridization. We found that low-grade astrocytomas contained a high number of proteolipid protein (PLP) mRNA-positive cells and that the number of PLP-stained cells decreased markedly with increasing tumor grade. Interestingly, the ratio of PLP mRNA-stained cells:myelin basic protein (MBP) mRNA-stained cells in normal white matter and low-grade astrocytoma was about 2:1 but approached 1:1 with increasing tumor grade. This parameter appeared to be a good indicator of tumor infiltration in astrocytomas, so we tested this in the analysis of other gliomas. Unlike astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas were found consistently to contain few PLP mRNA- or MBP mRNA-expressing cells. In contrast, gemistocytic astrocytomas, typically highly invasive tumors, contained high numbers of PLP-positive cells and a ratio of PLP mRNA:MBP mRNA-stained cells of about 1.5:1, similar to low-grade astrocytomas. Nonradioactive in situ hybridization also enabled the morphological identification of specific cells. For example, gemistocytic astrocytes, which were found to be strongly vimentin mRNA positive, contained little glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA and did not stain for PLP or MBP mRNAs. Neuronal mRNAs, such as neurofilament 68, were observed in small numbers of entrapped neurons within gliomas but were uninformative with respect to predicting tumor grade. Our results suggest that oligodendrocytes survive low-grade tumor infiltration and that glial tumor cells, unlike cell lines derived from them, do not express oligodendrocyte or neuronal mRNAs. In addition, the expression of mRNAs for the two major myelin protein genes, PLP and MBP, could be used to predict the grade and extent of tumor infiltration in astrocytomas.     

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

PURPOSE: To optimize the performance of artificial neural networks in the prediction of pulmonary embolism from ventilation-perfusion (V-P) scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Neural networks were constructed with a set of V-P scan criteria that included sharpness and completeness of perfusion defects and involved quantification of abnormalities by using a continuous numeric scale. Several network parameters were systematically varied. Networks were trained with 150 cases and tested with 30 different cases. Findings were compared with those of pulmonary angiography. RESULTS: Networks capable of performing as well as experienced nuclear medicine physicians could be constructed with few V-P scan features. A brief training period was optimal (50-100 iterations). Further training diminished network performance. CONCLUSION: Effective neural networks can be constructed by using a limited number of unconventional V-P scan features. Several parameters can be adjusted to optimize performance.     

Coil bobbin composed of high-strength polyethylene fiber reinforced plastics for a stable high-field superconducting magnet

High-field superconducting solenoid magnets sometimes quench by wire motion induced by electromagnetic force. Fiber reinforced plastic [Dyneema fiber reinforced plastic (DFRP)] pipes composed of high-strength polyethylene fiber by filament winding method could be constructed so as to expand in the circumferential direction when cooled to low temperature with an appropriate selection of winding angle and shape of the pipes. In the case of a superconducting coil fabricated with a DFRP bobbin, it is expected that wire motions in high field are decreased by expansion of the coil bobbin. In this paper, tap voltage between both ends of the coils fabricated with DFRP bobbin and stainless steel (SUS) bobbin were measured with increasing current. The coil using SUS bobbin showed many sharp peaks in tap voltage induced by quick wire motions. In contrast, those using DFRP bobbin showed only a few small peaks. These results suggest that wire motions were constrained by DFRP bobbin. The training effects were observed in both cases.     

Novel formula for cell kinetics in xenograft model of hepatocellular carcinoma using histologically calculable parameters

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with increased expression and function of inhibitory guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins (Gi-proteins). This study addresses the effects of chronic ethanol exposure on the expression and function of adenylyl cyclase (AC)-linked G-proteins (Gs and Gi) and growth in experimental HCC. G-protein expression and function was determined by immunoblot in the hepatic tumorigenic H4IIE cell line and isolated cultured hepatocytes in the absence or presence of ethanol (5-100 mmol/L). Chronic exposure (24 hours) to ethanol dose-dependently increased Gialpha1/2 expression in the H4IIE cell line, but not in cultured hepatocytes. Gsalpha-protein expression remained unchanged in both H4IIE cells and cultured hepatocytes following ethanol treatment. In addition, ethanol directly activated a Gi-protein, because pertussis toxin (PTx)-catalyzed, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-dependent ribosylation of Gialpha substrates decreased following ethanol treatment. The increased functional activity of Gialpha1/2-protein expression was confirmed by demonstrating that ethanol dose-dependently inhibited basal and stimulated AC activity in H4IIE cells, while not significantly altering basal AC activity in isolated cultured hepatocytes. Furthermore, while ethanol had no significant effect on basal mitogenesis in H4IIE cells or hepatocytes, increased mitogenesis caused by direct Gialpha-protein stimulation (mastoparan M7; 10-5,000 nmol/L) was further enhanced in the presence of ethanol, an effect that was completely blocked following Gi-protein inhibition (PTx; 100 ng/mL). In contrast, activation of Gi-proteins using M7 failed to alter cellular mitogenesis in isolated cultured hepatocytes, whether in the absence or presence of ethanol. Finally, analysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity demonstrated that chronic ethanol treatment further enhanced Gi-protein-stimulated MAPK activity in hepatic tumorigenic cells. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that ethanol enhances cellular mitogenesis in experimental HCC as a result of, at least in part, a Gi-MAPK-dependent pathway. Furthermore, this effect may be caused by ethanol's direct up-regulation of the expression and activity of Gi-proteins in HCC.     

Methodology of Comparative Studies of National Character: West Coast Survey

This paper describes the methodology employed to survey Japanese Americans in the Seattle, Washington and San Jose, California areas. Japanese name dictionaries were used to generate a sampling frame of Japanese Americans who were registered voters in the counties that contained the two cities. Random samples were drawn and 344 survey respondents were interviewed. Items from the “Japanese National Survey” and from studies of Japanese American interpersonal style and community persistence were administered.

     

Effects of ascorbic acid on trace element metabolism in the choroid-retina of streptozotocin-induced diabetic guinea pigs

In order to investigate the effect of ascorbic acid on trace element metabolism in the choroid-retina, experimental diabetes mellitus was induced in Hartley guinea pigs with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. After 4 weeks, ascorbic acid-deficient feed was given for 3 weeks. Trace elements of the choroid-retina were measured with inductively-coupled plasma emission spectrometry. The activity of superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxide content also were measured. The results indicated that zinc and magnesium increased in diabetes mellitus. However, with ascorbic acid deficiency in diabetes mellitus, zinc and magnesium significantly decreased. On the other hand, the activity of superoxide dismutase showed no change between either condition and lipid peroxide content decreased under ascorbic acid deficiency in diabetes mellitus. These findings suggested that ascorbic acid played an important role in chorioretinal damage of diabetes mellitus. However, it was also suggested that lipid peroxide has little influence on the choroid-retina under these conditions.     

A ciliated cyst as a component of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland

In 2 boys aged 8 years and 10 months, respectively, uncommon manifestations of cat scratch disease were seen. The first patient had acute encephalopathy: coma and generalized tonic-clinic convulsions. The second patient was presented with fever and peripheral lymphadenopathy in combination with hypodense lesions in the liver on ultrasound. Diagnosis was established on the clinical picture and the positive results of serological testing of antibody titres for Bartonella henselae. Both patients recovered completely within 2 months.