Variable size block truncation coding with adaptive bit plane omission for image compression

A modified version of the Block Truncation Coding (BTC), which is a non-information preserving image compression technique, is studied. The first modification is the introduction of variable block sizes to the standard BTC technique. The second modification is the adaptive omission of bit planes. Threshold selections for this modified BTC technique are analyzed in the context of the human visual system. Modified BTC techniques are compared against the standard technique from the point of view of visual image quality and compresion efficiency

The Licensing Protein ORC4 is Required for Polar Body Extrusion During Murine Meiosis.

Ph.D. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 2017

Design and Synthesis of Thiamine Analogs as Anti-Cancer Therapeutics

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death. There have been many investigations into therapeutic ways to prevent and reverse cancerous growth. We report a new approach in this thesis, which is to investigate the functions of Vitamin B1 (thiamine) in cancerous cells and their regulation. A number of thiamine analogs were synthesized to carry out the structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies with two transporters THTR1 and THTR2. Initial results show that the modifications of thiazole reduced the uptake of thiamine

Synthesis of Small Molecules for Diagnostics and Therapeutics of Influenza Virus

Influenza infection remains a constant threat to human health and results in huge financial loss annually. Rapid and accurate detection of influenza can aid health officials to monitor influenza activity and take measurements when necessary. In addition, influenza detection in a timely manner can help doctors make diagnosis and provide effective treatment. Additionally, novel inhibitors of influenza virus are in high demand because circulating strains have started to develop resistance to currently available anti-viral drugs. Influenza virus has two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), which play important roles in the influenza infection. The binding of HA to sialic acid-containing carbohydrates on cell surface initiates virus internalization, while cleavage of terminal sialic acid by NA facilitates viral particle release. In this dissertation, we focus on the development of a glycan microarray that is comprised of a panel of NA resistant sialosides, and demonstrate the application of the microarray to capture influenza virus at ambient temperature without the addition of NA inhibitors. We also describe a novel electrochemical assay for the detection of influenza virus. In addition, we have developed a new class of bivalent NA inhibitors that show promising inhibitory activities against influenza viruses