Abstract: Systems and method to customize the facilitation of development of user thinking about and documenting of an arbitrary problem. A system or method for facilitating construction and documentation of a model representing user understanding about an arbitrary problem is disclosed. The model has a combination of thinking components and knowledge components. The system includes first logic to facilitate user specification of at least one thinking structure, and second logic to facilitate user specification of at least one knowledge structure. Third logic facilitates linkages among thinking and knowledge structures and control logic persuades user interaction with the first through third logic in accordance with a defined archetype process for user development and documentation of understanding about the arbitrary problem. Customization logic permits modification of the defined archetype process.

Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate user thinking about an arbitrary problem. The systems and methods include an output and interface to external components and resources. A system for facilitating construction of a model representing user understanding about an arbitrary problem is provided. The model has a combination of thinking components and knowledge components. The system includes first logic to facilitate user specification of at least one thinking structure, and second logic to facilitate user specification of at least one knowledge structure. Third logic facilitates linkages among thinking and knowledge structures, and model logic tracks user interaction with the first through third logic to construct a user model structure of user development and population of the user model structure, the thinking structures and the knowledge structures. Interface logic provides content to or from the user model structure or the archetype model structure.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods of facilitating and evaluating user thinking about an arbitrary problem. The system includes first logic to facilitate user specification of the problem to populate a problem statement structure; second logic to facilitate user specification of a conclusion, to populate a conclusion statement structure; third logic to facilitate user specification of knowledge, related to at least one of the problem and the conclusion, to populate a knowledge structure. Some embodiments include logic to construct a user model of user development and population of the structure; and visual feedback logic to depict an archetype problem-solution structure and to depict the user model structure. Other embodiments include tracking logic to monitor user interactions and to build a model of such interactions so that the model, and the user thinking process, may be evaluated.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods of facilitating and evaluating user thinking about an arbitrary problem. The system includes first logic to facilitate user specification of the problem to populate a problem statement structure. It also includes second logic to facilitate user specification of a conclusion, related to the problem specification, to populate a conclusion statement structure. It also includes third logic to facilitate user creation and specification of knowledge, related to at least one of the problem specification and the conclusion specification, to populate a knowledge structure. Certain embodiments include control logic to persuade user interaction with the first through third logic to a sequence of interactions within a predefined set of interaction sequences, wherein the predefined set of interactions define an archetype process for user thinking about the problem.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods of facilitating and evaluating user thinking about an arbitrary problem. The system includes first logic to facilitate user specification of the problem to populate a problem statement structure. It also includes second logic to facilitate user specification of a conclusion, related to the problem specification, to populate a conclusion statement structure. It also includes third logic to facilitate user creation and specification of knowledge, related to at least one of the problem specification and the conclusion specification, to populate a knowledge structure. Certain embodiments include control logic to persuade user interaction with the first through third logic to a sequence of interactions within a predefined set of interaction sequences, wherein the predefined set of interactions define an archetype process for user thinking about the problem.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods of facilitating and evaluating user thinking about an arbitrary problem. The system includes first logic to facilitate user specification of the problem to populate a problem statement structure. It also includes second logic to facilitate user specification of a conclusion, related to the problem specification, to populate a conclusion statement structure. It also includes third logic to facilitate user creation and specification of knowledge, related to at least one of the problem specification and the conclusion specification, to populate a knowledge structure. Certain embodiments include control logic to persuade user interaction with the first through third logic to a sequence of interactions within a predefined set of interaction sequences, wherein the predefined set of interactions define an archetype process for user thinking about the problem.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of TGF-&bgr; inhibitors to counteract a pathologic change in the expression level, activity and/or signaling of a receptor of the steroid-thyroid hormone receptor superfamily. In particular, the invention concerns a method for counteracting a pathologic change in a signal-transduction pathway involving a member of the steroid/thyroid hormone super-family, comprising administering to a mammalian subject in need an effective amount of a compound capable of inhibiting TGF-&bgr; signaling through a TGF-&bgr; receptor.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods for modulating the &bgr;-adrenergic pathway. In particular, the invention concerns methods for counteracting a pathologic change, such as, for example, a loss in &bgr;-adrenergic sensitivity, in the &bgr;-adrenergic signal transduction pathway by administering an effective amount of a compound capable of inhibiting TGF-&bgr; signaling through a TGF-&bgr; receptor.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods of facilitating and evaluating user thinking about an arbitrary problem. The system includes first logic to facilitate user specification of the problem to populate a problem statement structure. It also includes second logic to facilitate user specification of a conclusion, related to the problem specification, to populate a conclusion statement structure. It also includes third logic to facilitate user creation and specification of knowledge, related to at least one of the problem specification and the conclusion specification, to populate a knowledge structure. Certain embodiments include control logic to persuade user interaction with the first through third logic to a sequence of interactions within a predefined set of interaction sequences, wherein the predefined set of interactions define an archetype process for user thinking about the problem.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods of facilitating and evaluating user thinking about an arbitrary problem. The system includes first logic to facilitate user specification of the problem to populate a problem statement structure. It also includes second logic to facilitate user specification of a conclusion, related to the problem specification, to populate a conclusion statement structure. It also includes third logic to facilitate user creation and specification of knowledge, related to at least one of the problem specification and the conclusion specification, to populate a knowledge structure. Certain embodiments include control logic to persuade user interaction with the first through third logic to a sequence of interactions within a predefined set of interaction sequences, wherein the predefined set of interactions define an archetype process for user thinking about the problem.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods of facilitating and evaluating user thinking about an arbitrary problem. The system includes first logic to facilitate user specification of the problem to populate a problem statement structure. It also includes second logic to facilitate user specification of a conclusion, related to the problem specification, to populate a conclusion statement structure. It also includes third logic to facilitate user creation and specification of knowledge, related to at least one of the problem specification and the conclusion specification, to populate a knowledge structure. Certain embodiments include control logic to persuade user interaction with the first through third logic to a sequence of interactions within a predefined set of interaction sequences, wherein the predefined set of interactions define an archetype process for user thinking about the problem.

Abstract: The present invention provides assays to identify compounds that affect microglial cell activation, and specifically assays to identify compounds that affect secretion of cytokines from these microglial cells by modulating PGE2-mediated activity. The assays of the invention include assays for testing microglial cell activation by contacting microglia with compounds that modulate &bgr;-amyloid PGE2-mediated activation, which can be identified by cellular activity such as secretion of cytokines, e.g., TNF-&agr; and IL-1&agr;. The effect of the candidate compound can be determined by comparing the effect with a control culture which is not contacted with the compound, or by comparing the effect with a standardized profile.

Abstract: The invention concerns methods of treating fibroproliferative disorders associated with TGF-&bgr; signaling, by administering non-peptide small molecule inhibitors of TGF-&bgr; specifically binding to the type I TGF-&bgr; receptor (TGF&bgr;-R1). Preferably, the inhibitors are quinazoline derivatives. The invention also concerns methods for reversing the effect of TGF-&bgr;-mediated cell activation on the expression of a gene associated with fibrosis, comprising contacting a cell or tissue in which the expression of such gene is altered as a result of TGF-&bgr;-mediated cell activation, with a non-peptide small molecule inhibitor of TGF-&bgr;, specifically binding a TGF&bgr;-R1 receptor kinase present in the cell or tissue.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods to treat cystic fibrosis by administering certain imidazole derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention provides assays to identify compounds that affect microglial cell activation, and specifically assays to identify compounds that affect secretion of cytokines from these microglial cells by modulating PGE2-mediated activity. The assays of the invention include assays for testing microglial cell activation by contacting microglia with compounds that modulate &bgr;-amyloid PGE2-mediated activation, which can be identified by cellular activity such as secretion of cytokines, e.g., TNF-&agr; and IL-1&agr;. The effect of the candidate compound can be determined by comparing the effect with a control culture which is not contacted with the compound, or by comparing the effect with a standardized profile.