596 research outputs found
A comparison of spectral decorrelation techniques and performance evaluation metrics for a wavelet-based, multispectral data compression algorithm
Future space-based, remote sensing systems will have data transmission requirements that exceed available downlinks necessitating the use of lossy compression techniques for multispectral data. In this paper, we describe several algorithms for lossy compression of multispectral data which combine spectral decorrelation techniques with an adaptive, wavelet-based, image compression algorithm to exploit both spectral and spatial correlation. We compare the performance of several different spectral decorrelation techniques including wavelet transformation in the spectral dimension. The performance of each technique is evaluated at compression ratios ranging from 4:1 to 16:1. Performance measures used are visual examination, conventional distortion measures, and multispectral classification results. We also introduce a family of distortion metrics that are designed to quantify and predict the effect of compression artifacts on multi spectral classification of the reconstructed data
Health conditions and support needs of persons living in residential facilities for adults with intellectual disability in Western Cape Province
Background: Intellectual disability (ID) is a relatively high-incidence disability, with an increased risk of poor physical and mental health. Persons with ID also have lifelong support needs that must be met if they are to achieve an acceptable quality of life. Little is known about these health conditions and support needs in the African context. This study examines persons over the age of 18 years with ID in residential facilities in Western Cape Province. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the health conditions and support needs of persons with ID in Western Cape Province. METHOD: A survey of residents' health conditions and support needs was conducted in face-to-face interviews with the managers of 37 out of 41 identified facilities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The survey comprised 2 098 residents (54% of them female), representing less than 2% of the estimated population of persons with ID in the province. The survey suggests that such persons experience a wide range of health conditions (notably mental health and behavioural issues) but have limited access to general health care and rehabilitation services. Furthermore, the daily living supports required for an acceptable quality of life are limited. The findings highlight the need for better health and support provision to persons with ID
Solicitation Under Section 1125 of the Bankruptcy Code: Century Glove and the First Amendment
Molecular Evolutionary Analysis of the Thiamine-Diphosphate-Dependent Enzyme, Transketolase
Members of the transketolase group of thiamine-
diphosphate-dependent enzymes from 17 different
organisms including mammals, yeast, bacteria, and
plants have been used for phylogenetic reconstruction.
Alignment of the amino acid and DNA sequences for 21
transketolase enzymes and one putative transketolase reveals
a number of highly conserved regions and invariant
residues that are of predicted importance for enzyme
activity, based on the crystal structure of yeast transketolase.
One particular sequence of 36 residues has some
similarities to the nucleotide-binding motif and we designate
it as the transketolase motif. We report further
evidence that the recP protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae
might be a transketolase and we list a number of
invariant residues which might be involved in substrate
binding. Phylogenies derived from the nucleotide and the
amino acid sequences by various methods show a conventional
clustering for mammalian, plant, and gramnegative
bacterial transketolases. The branching order of
the gram-positive bacteria could not be inferred reliably.
The formaldehyde transketolase (sometimes known as
dihydroxyacetone synthase) of the yeast Hansenula polymorpha
appears to be orthologous to the mammalian
enzymes but paralogous to the other yeast transketolases.
The occurrence of more than one transketolase gene in
some organisms is consistent with several gene duplications.
The high degree of similarity in functionally important
residues and the fact that the same kinetic mechanism
is applicable to all characterized transketolase
enzymes is consistent with the proposition that they are
all derived from one common ancestral gene. Transketolase
appears to be an ancient enzyme that has evolved
slowly and might serve as a model for a molecular clock,
at least within the mammalian clade
Molecular Evolutionary Analysis of the Thiamine-Diphosphate-Dependent Enzyme, Transketolase
Members of the transketolase group of thiamine-
diphosphate-dependent enzymes from 17 different
organisms including mammals, yeast, bacteria, and
plants have been used for phylogenetic reconstruction.
Alignment of the amino acid and DNA sequences for 21
transketolase enzymes and one putative transketolase reveals
a number of highly conserved regions and invariant
residues that are of predicted importance for enzyme
activity, based on the crystal structure of yeast transketolase.
One particular sequence of 36 residues has some
similarities to the nucleotide-binding motif and we designate
it as the transketolase motif. We report further
evidence that the recP protein from Streptococcus pneumoniae
might be a transketolase and we list a number of
invariant residues which might be involved in substrate
binding. Phylogenies derived from the nucleotide and the
amino acid sequences by various methods show a conventional
clustering for mammalian, plant, and gramnegative
bacterial transketolases. The branching order of
the gram-positive bacteria could not be inferred reliably.
The formaldehyde transketolase (sometimes known as
dihydroxyacetone synthase) of the yeast Hansenula polymorpha
appears to be orthologous to the mammalian
enzymes but paralogous to the other yeast transketolases.
The occurrence of more than one transketolase gene in
some organisms is consistent with several gene duplications.
The high degree of similarity in functionally important
residues and the fact that the same kinetic mechanism
is applicable to all characterized transketolase
enzymes is consistent with the proposition that they are
all derived from one common ancestral gene. Transketolase
appears to be an ancient enzyme that has evolved
slowly and might serve as a model for a molecular clock,
at least within the mammalian clade
Dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptor antagonists potentiate analgesic and motor effects of morphine
To examine the role of dopamine receptor subtypes mediating analgesic and motor responses to opioids, rats were pretreated with either saline or a selective D-1 or D-2 dopamine receptor antagonist 10 min prior to morphine (12 mg/kg IP). Analgesic response latency was determined using the hot plate test (52.5[deg]C and 55[deg]C), and catalepsy was assessed using the abnormal posture test. Morphine increased analgesic response latency to 44.5 +/- 7.9% of the maximum possible response, but had no cataleptic effect in the abnormal posture test. Pretreatment with either the D-1 antagonist, SCH 23390 (50-100 [mu]g/kg), or the D-2 antagonist, eticlopride (20-150 [mu]g/kg), potently enhanced morphine analgesia as measured on the 52.5[deg]C hot plate. Peak analgesic responses to morphine increased to 100 +/- 0% and 91.9 +/- 7.5% of maximum with the highest doses of SCH 23390 and eticlopride, respectively. These treatments also produced catalepsy. Increasing the hot plate temperature to 55[deg]C reduced response latency in groups treated with either dopamine receptor antagonist plus morphine. This indicates that the animals were capable of responding at a shorter latency and demonstrates that motor impairment cannot account for potentiation of morphine analgesia by D-1 and D-2 antagonists at 52.5[deg]C. These results show that the relationship between dopamine and opioids with respect to analgesic and motor systems involves both dopamine receptor subtypes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/28042/1/0000481.pd
Characterization of ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> at a pollution hotspot in New Delhi, India and inference of sources
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