Blob detection by relaxation

A blob is a compact region lighter (or darker) than its background surrounded by a smoothly curved edge. Blobs can be detected using cooperating relaxation processes to enhance their interior and edge probabilities. A discussion of the processes working independently and together is given. The use of a pyramidal relaxation structure, the use of the closedness of contours as an additional information source, and the extension of cooperating relaxation processes to a time sequence of images are also discussed.     

Strip detection using relaxation

This note describes some experiments in the detection of parallel sided strips using a relaxation-like process which iteratively reinforces collinear or anti-parallel edges. The process was tested on two types of data, tree trunks and runways.     

The ghosts of brain states past: Remembering reactivates the brain regions engaged during encoding.

There is growing evidence that the brain regions involved in encoding an episode are partially reactivated when that episode is later remembered. That is, the process of remembering an episode involves literally returning to the brain state that was present during that episode. This article reviews studies of episodic and associative memory that provide support for the assertion that encoding regions are reactivated during subsequent retrieval. In the first section, studies are reviewed in which neutral stimuli were associated with different modalities of sensory stimuli or different valences of emotional stimuli. When the neutral stimuli were later used as retrieval cues, relevant sensory and emotion processing regions were reactivated. In the second section, studies are reviewed in which participants used different strategies for encoding stimuli. When the stimuli were later retrieved, regions associated with the different encoding strategies were reactivated. Together, these studies demonstrate not only that the encoding experience determines which regions are activated during subsequent retrieval but also that the same regions are activated during encoding and retrieval. In the final section, relevant questions are posed and discussed regarding the reactivation of encoding regions during retrieval. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The ether lipid inositol-C2-PAF is a potent inhibitor of cell proliferation in HaCaT cells

The search for specific anticancer drugs that do not interfere with DNA synthesis or influence the cytoskeleton has led to the development of modified phospholipids with antiproliferative properties. These compounds cause remodeling of the structure and function of plasma membranes. Recently, we described novel compounds, the glycosidated phospholipids, that surprisingly inhibit cell proliferation. These compounds contain alpha-D-glucose in the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and platelet-activating factor (PAF), which gives rise to 2-glucophosphatidylcholine (Glc-PC) and 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-alpha-d-glucopyranosyl-sn-2-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (Glc-PAF), respectively. Glc-PC and Glc-PAF inhibit the growth of HaCaT cells at nontoxic concentrations. Here we report the introduction of myo-inositol, in place of alpha-D-glucose, in the sn-2 position of the glycerol backbone; this leads to two diastereomeric 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-(2-(myo-inositolyl)-ethyl)-sn-glycero-3-(R/S)-phosphatidylcholines (Ino-C2-PAF). The inositol-containing PAF enhances the antiproliferative capacity (IC(50)=1.8 microM) and reduces the cytotoxicity relative to Glc-PAF (LC(50)=15 microM). Through biological assays, we showed that, in HaCaT cells, Ino-C2-PAF causes upregulation of the keratinocyte-specific differentiation marker involucrin, increases the activity of the differentiation marker transglutaminase, and induces apoptosis at nontoxic concentrations. Ino-C2-PAF therefore seems to be a promising candidate for development as an antiproliferative drug for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases of the skin.     

Forgetting in the workplace: attributions and recommendations for young and older employees

A novel method of prophylaxis and treatment for peritoneal carcinomatosis--mitomycin C bound to activated carbon particles (MMC-CH)--was tested in patients with advanced gastric cancer in a prospective randomized study. Activated carbon particles are taken up selectively by lymphatic tissues, which seem to be a primary site of peritoneal carcinomatosis in the peritoneal cavity, and adsorb a large amount of anticancer agent mitomycin C, which is subsequently released slowly and for a protracted period. A group of 113 patients who underwent radical resection for gastric cancer with definite serosal involvement were entered in this trial. Those in the control group received no intraperitoneal anticancer drugs. Patients in the MMC-CH group were given 50 mg mitomycin C as MMC-CH, which was dispersed throughout the peritoneal cavity just before surgical closure. No other anticancer drugs were given to these patients after surgery. The 2- and 3-year survival rates for the MMC-CH group were 42% and 38%, respectively; and the rates for the control group were 28% and 20%, respectively. The difference in survival between the two groups was significant at 2 and 3 years (p < 0.05). For the survival of patients with macroscopic peritoneal carcinomatosis, there was no difference between these two groups. For the survival of patients who underwent histologically curative resection, 2- and 3-year survivals for the MMC-CH group were 66% and 66%, respectively and for the control group 35% and 20%, respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.01) at both 2 and 3 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)