Transparency and imaginary colors.

Unlike the Metelli monochrome transparencies, when overlays and their backgrounds have chromatic content, the inferred surface colors may not always be physically realizable, and are in some sense "imaginary." In these cases, the inferred chromatic transmittance or reflectance of the overlay lies outside the RGB spectral boundaries. Using the classical Metelli configuration, we demonstrate this illusion and briefly explore some of its attributes.

Surface current density mapping for identification of gastric slow wave propagation.

The magnetogastrogram (MGG) records clinically relevant parameters of the electrical slow wave of the stomach noninvasively. Besides slow wave frequency, gastric slow wave propagation velocity is a potentially useful clinical indicator of the state of health of gastric tissue, but it is a difficult parameter to determine from noninvasive bioelectric or biomagnetic measurements. We present a method for computing the surface current density from multichannel MGG recordings that allows computation of the propagation velocity of the gastric slow wave.

Four-gene expression ratio test for survival in patients undergoing surgery for mesothelioma.

Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma has few effective treatments, one being cytoreductive surgery. We previously developed a gene ratio test to predict outcome of malignant pleural mesothelioma patients undergoing surgery. In this study, we investigated the predictive value and technical assay performance of this test in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Comparison of conventional filtering and independent component analysis for artifact reduction in simultaneous gastric EMG and magnetogastrography from porcines.

In this study, we perform a comparative study of independent component analysis (ICA) and conventional filtering (CF) for the purpose of artifact reduction from simultaneous gastric EMG and magnetogastrography (MGG). EMG/MGG data were acquired from ten anesthetized pigs by obtaining simultaneous recordings using serosal electrodes (EMG) as well as with a superconducting quantum interference device biomagnetometer (MGG). The analysis of MGG waveforms using ICA and CF indicates that ICA is superior to the CF method in its ability to extract respiration and cardiac artifacts from MGG recordings.

Blockade of Dickkopf (DKK)-1 induces fusion of sacroiliac joints.

Objective: To study whether Dickkopf (DKK)-1, an inhibitor of wingless (Wnt) signalling, is involved in the fusion of sacroiliac joints.

Methods: Mice transgenic for tumour necrosis factor (TNFtg mice), which develop bilateral sacroiliitis, were treated with vehicle, anti-TNF antibody or anti-DKK1 antibody. Sacroiliac joints were analysed for histological signs of inflammation, bone erosion, osteoclast formation and ankylosis.

Biomagnetic signatures of uncoupled gastric musculature.

Gastric slow waves propagate in the electrical syncytium of the healthy stomach, being generated at a rate of approximately three times per minute in a pacemaker region along the greater curvature of the antrum and propagating distally towards the pylorus. Disease states are known to alter the normal gastric slow wave. Recent studies have suggested the use of biomagnetic techniques for assessing parameters of the gastric slow wave that have potential diagnostic significance.

Ultrafast shape recognition: evaluating a new ligand-based virtual screening technology.

Large scale database searching to identify molecules that share a common biological activity for a target of interest is widely used in drug discovery. Such an endeavour requires the availability of a method encoding molecular properties that are indicative of biological activity and at least one active molecule to be used as a template. Molecular shape has been shown to be an important indicator of biological activity; however, currently used methods are relatively slow, so faster and more reliable methods are highly desirable.

A phase I study of extrapleural pneumonectomy and intracavitary intraoperative hyperthermic cisplatin with amifostine cytoprotection for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine maximum tolerated dose and toxicity of intraoperative intracavitary hyperthermic cisplatin perfusion with amifostine after extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Methods: Patients with mesothelioma were prospectively enrolled. Those with resectable disease received amifostine and 1-hour hyperthermic cisplatin perfusion of ipsilateral hemithorax and abdomen.

Noninvasive detection of small bowel electrical activity from SQUID magnetometer measurements using SOBI.

We report a robust method for noninvasive biomagnetic detection of small bowel electrical activity. Simultaneous Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer (MENG) and serosal electrode recordings were made on pig small bowel. The SOBI blind-source separation algorithm was used to separate the underlying source signals of the MENG.

Endoluminal procedures for bariatric patients: expectations among bariatric surgeons.

Background: Primary and revisional bariatric endoluminal procedures are currently being developed. Acceptable levels of risk and weight loss for these procedures have not yet been established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expectations and concerns among bariatric surgeons regarding these procedures.

A gene expression ratio-based diagnostic test for bladder cancer.

Purpose: Bladder cancer is relatively common but early detection techniques such as cystoscopy and cytology are somewhat limited. We developed a broadly applicable, platform-independent and clinically relevant method based on simple ratios of gene expression to diagnose human cancers. In this study, we sought to determine whether this technique could be applied to the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Configuration stereopsis: a new look at the depth-disparity relation.

Recovering shape in three dimensions has obvious importance for visual perception. Hence one principal goal for stereopsis should be to recover good estimates of 3D shape. But this is impossible if disparity processing is hardwired, because at different fixation distances a fixed angular disparity will correspond to quite different distance increments.

Obesity-related focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis: normalization of proteinuria in an adolescent after bariatric surgery.

Obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) is a secondary form of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) occurring in severely obese patients. A significant percentage of individuals with ORG will develop renal insufficiency or end stage renal disease. We report here a 17-year-old girl with morbid obesity (body mass index 56.

Dynamics of conserved waters in human Hsp90: implications for drug design.

The flexibility of a promising protein target, human heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), is investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. These simulations focus on: (i) the interactions between the protein and conserved water molecules; and (ii) the interactions of the ligand PU3, the conserved water molecules and the protein. This is followed by a virtual screening docking study of the PU3 family of compounds and Hsp90 incorporating several conserved water molecules.

Classification of proteins based on similarity of two-dimensional protein maps.

Data reduction techniques are now a vital part of numerical analysis and principal component analysis is often used to identify important molecular features from a set of descriptors. We now take a different approach and apply data reduction techniques directly to protein structure. With this we can reduce the three-dimensional structural data into two-dimensions while preserving the correct relationships.

Mutations in the LKB1 tumour suppressor are frequently detected in tumours from Caucasian but not Asian lung cancer patients.

Somatic mutations of LKB1 tumour suppressor gene have been detected in human cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The relationship between LKB1 mutations and clinicopathological characteristics and other common oncogene mutations in NSCLC is inadequately described. In this study we evaluated tumour specimens from 310 patients with NSCLC including those with adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma histologies.

EML4-ALK fusion gene and efficacy of an ALK kinase inhibitor in lung cancer.

Purpose: The EML4-ALK fusion gene has been detected in approximately 7% of Japanese non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). We determined the frequency of EML4-ALK in Caucasian NSCLC and in NSCLC cell lines. We also determined whether TAE684, a specific ALK kinase inhibitor, would inhibit the growth of EML4-ALK-containing cell lines in vitro and in vivo.

Mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin mediate the attribution of personal meaning and spiritual significance 14 months later.

Psilocybin has been used for centuries for religious purposes; however, little is known scientifically about its long-term effects. We previously reported the effects of a double-blind study evaluating the psychological effects of a high psilocybin dose. This report presents the 14-month follow-up and examines the relationship of the follow-up results to data obtained at screening and on drug session days.

Human hallucinogen research: guidelines for safety.

There has recently been a renewal of human research with classical hallucinogens (psychedelics). This paper first briefly discusses the unique history of human hallucinogen research, and then reviews the risks of hallucinogen administration and safeguards for minimizing these risks. Although hallucinogens are relatively safe physiologically and are not considered drugs of dependence, their administration involves unique psychological risks.

Morbidity, mortality, mean survival, and the impact of histology on survival after pleurectomy in 64 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Aim: The survival of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) who do not seek treatment ranges from 4 to 12 months. To date, the optimal procedure for resection of malignant pleural mesothelioma is controversial, extrapleural pneumonectomy has been most consistently associated with long-term survival and has provided the most radical cytoreduction; but, unfortunately, not all patients qualify for this invasive surgical approach.

Methods: Between 1992 and 2000, 64 patients underwent pleurectomy as a palliative treatment for MPM.

Vulnerability, gender and "proxy negativity": women in relationships with HIV-positive men in Australia.

In contemporary international HIV discourse, women are positioned as especially vulnerable to HIV. This vulnerability is ascribed to gender inequality and its many structural, social and sexual manifestations. It is an important discourse in that it foregrounds how the realities of women worldwide constrain their ability to control their lives and bodies and, consequently, their ability to protect themselves against HIV infection.

Doubly stochastic Poisson distribution of platelet adhesion on material surfaces and its implication on fluorescence image analysis.

An image based assay has been developed to quantify platelet adhesion on material surfaces. Briefly, citrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) is incubated with materials for 2 h to allow platelet adhesion on the surface, followed by fluorescence labeling of platelets with Celltracker Green. Multiple images are acquired by an automatic fluorescence microscope, IN Cell Analyzer 1000.

VATS pericardiotomy for patients with known malignancy and pericardial effusion: survival and prognosis of positive cytology and metastatic involvement of the pericardium: a case control study.

Background: Pericardiotomy for cancer patients with effusion can alleviate symptoms, but with unclear effect on long term survival. Our experience with VATS technique has produced some long-term survivors.

Methods: A retrospective review of 62 VATS pericardiotomy for pericardial effusion in patients with known malignancy.