MINIMIZATION OF RESOURCE UTILIZATION FOR A REAL-TIME DEPTH-MAP COMPUTATIONAL MODULE ON FPGA

Depth-map algorithm allows camera system to estimate depth in many applications. The algorithm is computationally intensive and therefore more effective to be implemented on hardware such as the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). However, the recurring issue in FPGA implementation is the resource limitation. The issue is normally resolved by modifying the algorithm. However, the issue can also be addressed by implementing hardware architectures without the need to modify the depth-map algorithm. In this thesis, five different depth-map processor architectures for the sum-of-absolute-difference (SAD) depth-map algorithm on FPGA at real-time were designed and implemented. Two resource minimization techniques were employed to address the resource limitation issues. Resource usage and performance of these architectures were compared. Memory contention and bandwidth constrain were resolved by using self-initiative memory controller, FIFOs and line buffers. Parallel processing was utilized to achieve high processing speed at low clock frequency. Memory-based line buffers were used instead of register-based line buffers to save 62.4% of logic element (LEs) used, but require some additional dedicated memory bits. A proper use of registers to replace repetitive subtractors saves 24.75% of LEs. The system achieves SAD performance of 295 mega pixel disparity per second (MPDS) for the architecture with 640x480 pixel image, 3x3 pixel window size, 32 pixel disparity range and 30 frames per second. The system achieves SAD performance of 590 MPDS for the 64 pixels disparity range architecture. The disparity matching module works at the frequency of 10 MHz and produces one pixel of result every clock cycle. The results are dense disparity images, suitable for high speed, low cost, low power applications

SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF NOVEL DRUG CANDIDATES TO ADDRESS DRUG RESISTANCE IN TUBERCULOSIS AND FUNGAL DISEASES

Tuberculosis (TB) and fungal infections are two of the most lethal infectious diseases worldwide due to the emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and fungal strains that can resist the most potent antimicrobial drugs currently employed. Due to the rise of these drug resistant strains, effective treatment options for these two infections are limited. This dissertation aims at exploring novel drug scaffolds to help combat drug resistance in TB and fungal infections. TB caused by the pathogenic Mtb is, alongside with human immunodeficiency virus acquired immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the deadliest infectious disease worldwide with approximately 2-3 billion people infected yearly. The situation has become increasingly intensified due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Mtb strains.Aminoglycoside (AG) antibiotics such as amikacin and kanamycin A (KAN) are heavily relied upon for the treatment of MDR- and XDR-Mtb strains. However, the success rate for the treatment of these MDR- and XDR-TB cases is decreasing as a result of increased KAN resistance. It was reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that upregulation of the enhanced intracellular survival (eis) gene was the cause of resistance to KAN in a large portion of Mtb clinical isolates. Our lab previously demonstrated that Eis is an AG acetyltransferase that can inactivate AGs via chemoenzymatic modification of the AG scaffolds. As Eis has been shown to acetylate a wide variety of AG scaffolds, the development of novel AGs that can completely escape the action of Eis remains highly challenging. Therefore, we suggested an alternative therapeutic approach involving inhibiting Eis enzyme and still employing the current FDA-approved KAN. As exemplified by the clinically successful combination of penicillin and b-lactamase inhibitors, we hypothesized that an Eis inhibitor may be used as adjuvant therapy in combination with KAN to treat MDR- and XDR-tuberculosis. Using high-throughput screening, we were able to identify several small-molecule scaffolds capable of inhibiting Eis. We performed structure activity relationship (SAR) studies using purified Eis enzyme and optimized lead compounds. Additionally, we also showed that co-administration of Eis lead inhibitors with KAN led to recovery of KAN activity against a KAN-resistant Mtb cell line that overexpressed Ei Invasive fungal infections are on the rise due to an increased population of critically ill patients as a result of HIV infections, chemotherapies, and organ transplantations. Unlike antibiotics that are greatly diverse in categories and mechanisms of action, our current antifungal drug repertoire is greatly limited and insufficient in addressing the problem of drug-resistant fungal infections. Thus, there is a growing need for novel antimycotics that are safe and effective. We report a number of lead compounds with potent antifungal activitiy. The MIC values of these compounds were as low as 0.02 mg/mL against the fungal strains tested. Our compounds are derived from the ebselen core structure, which has been shown to be safe in multicenter clinical trials. Notably, fungal cells treated with our compounds showed the accumulation of ROS, which may further contribute to the growth inhibitory effect against fungi. This study provides new lead compounds for the development of antimycotic agents

A Secondary Analysis of the Differences in Accessing Health and Social Services Between Ethnically Diverse Individuals and the Mainstream Society

Background: Mental illness is the third leading cause of disability and premature death in Canada. Research shows that access issues are a major concern, especially ethnically diverse individuals who may experience greater barriers. Purpose: This study is a secondary analysis that compares health and social service access difficulty, perceived barriers, and service effectiveness between mainstream and ethnically diverse individuals living with mental illness. Results: There were no significant differences between level of access difficulty, and perceived barriers between the ethnically diverse individuals and the mainstream society differentiated by race, but a significant difference was found in perceived service effectiveness between Caucasians born in Canada and ethnically diverse individuals born outside of Canada accounting for race and birth country. Discussion: Individuals living with mental illness experience comparable levels of access difficulty, barriers and service effectiveness. Additional studies with larger sample sizes from different socio-economic backgrounds are needed to strengthen this conclusion

Pest Identification and Management in Tomatillo in Louisiana.

In anticipation of the regional demand for tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) for the fresh market and sauce industry, four years of research trials (1990-1993) showed a significant adaptation of tomatillo to Louisiana planting conditions where, like tomato, it performed best in the cooler temperatures of spring and early fall. Field surveys indicated that virus diseases were major constraints on production. A foliar mosaic and yellow mottle found commonly affecting plants was caused by Physalis mosaic virus (PhyMV), identified by host reaction, electron microscopy, serology, and dsRNA analysis. Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) were also found. Potato flea beetles, aphids, and thrips transmitted PhyMV, CMV, and TSWV, respectively. A high incidence of aphids and thrips occurred during the flowering periods of tomatillo (May and October) while flea beetle populations began to appear in May and peaked in late September to early October. Field evaluations of insecticides for the control of tomato fruitworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie) indicated that pyrethroid treatments (permethrin, cypermethrin, esfenvalerate, cyfluthrin) were significantly more effective in controlling this pest than the organophosphates (azinphos-methyl, methomyl), a carbamate (carbaryl), or an organochlorine (endosulfan). Greenhouse and field weed control studies showed that tomatillo was tolerant to pendimethalin, napropamide, trifluralin, metolachlor, sethoxydim, quizalofop, and fluazifop-butyl. Tomatillo was more sensitive to alachlor and clomazone, and showed no tolerance to metribuzin, acifluorfen, imazethapyr, and fomesafen. Full season control of many grass and broadleaf weeds was obtained without reducing tomatillo yields with sequential treatments of metolachlor, trifluralin, napropamide, or pendimethalin preemergence followed by sethoxydim, fluazifop-butyl, or quizalofop postemergence. In the spring and fall tomatillo transplantings, the aluminum mulch + insecticide treatment provided a high level of fruitworm and insect vector control and gave higher yields. Beneficial effects of mulching, such as insect repellency, weed control, adjustment of soil temperature, reduction of water percolation, and prevention of fruit rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani and other soilborne pathogens accounted for increased yields. Pest management techniques for tomatillo in Louisiana were outlined in detail along with production practices

How market orientation induces small business performance: The role of strategic fits

The purpose of this study is to shed light on how strategic fits between market orientation and the prospector strategy leads to higher performance of small businesses in Vietnam. This study draws from the contingency theory of organization to propose that strategic fits in small businesses represent by prospector strategy's mediating effects on the link between market orientation and these small businesses' performance. Data collected from 161 small businesses in Vietnam was examined. PLS-SEM was used to assess the research framework. The results reveal that the fit between market orientation and the prospector strategy, represented by the full mediating effects of this strategy, is essential to determine the performance improvement of small businesses in Vietnam. For the findings, this study provides some practical implications for small business owners in Vietnam. This study also contributes to the strategic management literature by providing empirical evidence, which suggests the strategic fits between prospector strategy and market orientation induces performance. This study also overcomes the limitations relating to the proposals of the analytic framework to assess strategic fits. Lastly, this study extends to strategic management literature by examining the role of strategic fit in small businesses' contexts

MINIMIZATION OF RESOURCE UTILIZATION FOR A REAL-TIME DEPTH-MAP COMPUTATIONAL MODULE ON FPGA

Depth-map algorithm allows camera system to estimate depth in many applications. The algorithm is computationally intensive and therefore more effective to be implemented on hardware such as the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). However, the recurring issue in FPGA implementation is the resource limitation. The issue is normally resolved by modifying the algorithm. However, the issue can also be addressed by implementing hardware architectures without the need to modify the depth-map algorithm. In this thesis, five different depth-map processor architectures for the sum-of-absolute-difference (SAD) depth-map algorithm on FPGA at real-time were designed and implemented. Two resource minimization techniques were employed to address the resource limitation issues. Resource usage and performance of these architectures were compared. Memory contention and bandwidth constrain were resolved by using self-initiative memory controller, FIFOs and line buffers. Parallel processing was utilized to achieve high processing speed at low clock frequency. Memory-based line buffers were used instead of register-based line buffers to save 62.4% of logic element (LEs) used, but require some additional dedicated memory bits. A proper use of registers to replace repetitive subtractors saves 24.75% of LEs. The system achieves SAD performance of 295 mega pixel disparity per second (MPDS) for the architecture with 640x480 pixel image, 3x3 pixel window size, 32 pixel disparity range and 30 frames per second. The system achieves SAD performance of 590 MPDS for the 64 pixels disparity range architecture. The disparity matching module works at the frequency of 10 MHz and produces one pixel of result every clock cycle. The results are dense disparity images, suitable for high speed, low cost, low power applications

Instrumentation and robotic image processing using top-down model control

A top-down image processing scheme is described. A three-dimensional model of a robotic working environment, with robot manipulators, workpieces, cameras, and on-the-scene visual enhancements is employed to control and direct the image processing, so that rapid, robust algorithms act in an efficient manner to continually update the model. Only the model parameters are communicated, so that savings in bandwidth are achieved. This image compression by modeling is especially important for control of space telerobotics. The background for this scheme lies in an hypothesis of human vision put forward by the senior author and colleagues almost 20 years ago - the Scanpath Theory. Evidence was obtained that repetitive sequences of saccadic eye movements, the scanpath, acted as the checking phase of visual pattern recognition. Further evidence was obtained that the scanpaths were apparently generated by a cognitive model and not directly by the visual image. This top-down theory of human vision was generalized in some sense to the frame in artificial intelligence. Another source of the concept arose from bioengineering instrumentation for measuring the pupil and eye movements with infrared video cameras and special-purpose hardware