Coding and Decoding Stereoscopic Film Compression by Multiwavelet Transform

This paper proposes a Multiwavelet Transform Algorithm (MWT) to fully utilize the spectral and spatial correlation in the 3D spectroscopic film [1]. A practical lossy compression concept and corresponding compression ratio and quality requirements are submitted to the multiple bands of the frames to construct the film [2]. The MLWT bands image compression technique depend on the contour and edge feature of the multiple band images in the same district [3]. The removal correlation method of the multiple band images contour features is a coding method for the multiple band images [4]. The MWT analysis is discussed and the fast-algorithmic model is designed. The compression and reconstruction the procedure results are the 16-band images that may obtain a compression ratio over the lossy requirements [5]. This compression method has enhanced the quality of reconstruction frames to the requirement of lossy with the high compression ratio [5]. Consequently, the proposed coding and decoding compression technique is achieved efficient transmission for minimum bandwidth usage as well as for the storage usage reduction of 3D stereoscopic film down to 38.19% with dimension [1812,1080] frame

G-CSF Prevents the Progression of Structural Disintegration of White Matter Tracts in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Pilot Trial

Background: The hematopoietic protein Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has neuroprotective and regenerative properties. The G-CSF receptor is expressed by motoneurons, and G-CSF protects cultured motoneuronal cells from apoptosis. It therefore appears as an attractive and feasible drug candidate for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The current pilot study was performed to determine whether treatment with G-CSF in ALS patients is feasible.Methods: Ten patients with definite ALS were entered into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Patients received either 10 mu g/kg BW G-CSF or placebo subcutaneously for the first 10 days and from day 20 to 25 of the study. Clinical outcome was assessed by changes in the ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS), a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery, and by examining hand activities of daily living over the course of the study (100 days). The total number of adverse events (AE) and treatment-related AEs, discontinuation due to treatment-related AEs, laboratory parameters including leukocyte, erythrocyte, and platelet count, as well as vital signs were examined as safety endpoints. Furthermore, we explored potential effects of G-CSF on structural cerebral abnormalities on the basis of voxel-wise statistics of Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), brain volumetry, and voxel-based morphometry.Results: Treatment was well-tolerated. No significant differences were found between groups in clinical tests and brain volumetry from baseline to day 100. However, DTI analysis revealed significant reductions of fractional anisotropy (FA) encompassing diffuse areas of the brain when patients were compared to controls. On longitudinal analysis, the placebo group showed significant greater and more widespread decline in FA than the ALS patients treated with G-CSF.Conclusions: Subcutaneous G-CSF treatment in ALS patients appears as feasible approach. Although exploratory analysis of clinical data showed no significant effect, DTI measurements suggest that the widespread and progressive microstructural neural damage in ALS can be modulated by G-CSF treatment. These findings may carry significant implications for further clinical trials on ALS using growth factors

Medical conferences: Value for money?

Does anything change? Why do we attend congresses? Such meetings are also popular in science and engineering, literature and the arts, business and finance. But it is time to consider what is gained

Kinnier Wilson's puzzling features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Pre-eminent neurologist S.A. Kinnier Wilson’s posthumously published 1940 textbook ‘Neurology’ included a detailed clinicopathological account of the neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In providing a comprehensive discussion of the breadth of the clinical heterogeneity, he highlighted five “puzzling features” that appear prescient of the modern recognition of ALS as a complex multisystem syndrome. The issues he raises span the areas of ongoing debate and active research in ALS, including clinical and pathological discordance, upper versus lower motor neuron loss, and the apparent non-random onset and spread of clinical symptoms. We discuss each of his observations in light of the great advances in histopathology, molecular biology, neurophysiology and neuroimaging over the subsequent 75 years

Unmet psychosocial needs in haematological cancer: A systematic review

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-014-2123-5A systematic review of key online databases and psycho-oncology journals was conducted to identify papers that formally assessed unmet psychosocial needs in adults with a diagnosis of haematological cancer

The influence of nano-additives in strengthening mechanical performance of 3D printed multi-binder geopolymer composites

The weak mechanical properties the 3D printed parts can limit the competence of this technology when compared to conventionally cast-in-mold cementitious composites structures. However, experimental results in this study showed that the incorporation of nano additives could improve the mechanical property of printed structures. Six geopolymeric mixtures were designed and tested for their flow-ability, shape stability, buildability and mechanical performance. Different dosage of nano graphite platelets (NGPs) ranging from 0.1% to 1%, by the weight of geopolymer, were incorporated to the best performing geopolymer. The 3D printed geopolymer with 1% of NGPs increased the flexural strength by 89% and 46% compared to the same 3D printed and casted geopolymer without any NGPs, respectively. The same increase for compressive strength was 28% and 12%. Moreover, the geopolymer mix containing 1% of NGPs demonstrated the best shape retention and buildability

Growth hormone secretion is correlated with neuromuscular innervation rather than motor neuron number in early-symptomatic male amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice

GH deficiency is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, therapy with GH and/or IGF-I has not shown benefit. To gain a better understanding of the role of GH secretion in ALS pathogenesis, we assessed endogenous GH secretion in wild-type and hSOD1(G93A) mice throughout the course of ALS disease. Male wild-type and hSOD1(G93A) mice were studied at the presymptomatic, onset, and end stages of disease. To assess the pathological features of disease, we measured motor neuron number and neuromuscular innervation. We report that GH secretion profile varies at different stages of disease progression in hSOD1(G93A) mice; compared with age-matched controls, GH secretion is unchanged prior to the onset of disease symptoms, elevated at the onset of disease symptoms, and reduced at the end stage of disease. In hSOD1(G93A) mice at the onset of disease, GH secretion is positively correlated with the percentage of neuromuscular innervation but not with motor neuron number. Moreover, this occurs in parallel with an elevation in the expression of muscle IGF-I relative to controls. Our data imply that increased GH secretion at symptom onset may be an endogenous endocrine response to increase the local production of muscle IGF-I to stimulate reinnervation of muscle, but that in the latter stages of disease this response no longer occurs