PFLOTRAN-E4D: A parallel open source PFLOTRAN module for simulating time-lapse electrical resistivity data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, Timothy C.; Hammond, Glenn E.; Chen, Xingyuan

Time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is finding increased application for remotely monitoring processes occurring in the near subsurface in three-dimensions (i.e. 4D monitoring). However, there are few codes capable of simulating the evolution of subsurface resistivity and corresponding tomographic measurements arising from a particular process, particularly in parallel and with an open source license. Herein we describe and demonstrate an electrical resistivity tomography module for the PFLOTRAN subsurface simulation code, named PFLOTRAN-E4D. The PFLOTRAN-E4D module operates in parallel using a dedicated set of compute cores in a master-slave configuration. At each time step, the master processes receives subsurface states frommore » PFLOTRAN, converts those states to bulk electrical conductivity, and instructs the slave processes to simulate a tomographic data set. The resulting multi-physics simulation capability enables accurate feasibility studies for ERT imaging, the identification of the ERT signatures that are unique to a given process, and facilitates the joint inversion of ERT data with hydrogeological data for subsurface characterization. PFLOTRAN-E4D is demonstrated herein using a field study of stage-driven groundwater/river water interaction ERT monitoring along the Columbia River, Washington, USA. Results demonstrate the complex nature of changes subsurface electrical conductivity, in both the saturated and unsaturated zones, arising from water table changes and from river water intrusion into the aquifer. The results also demonstrate the sensitivity of surface based ERT measurements to those changes over time. PFLOTRAN-E4D is available with the PFLOTRAN development version with an open-source license at https://bitbucket.org/pflotran/pflotran-dev .« less

PFLOTRAN-E4D: A parallel open source PFLOTRAN module for simulating time-lapse electrical resistivity data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Timothy C.; Hammond, Glenn E.; Chen, Xingyuan

2017-02-01

Time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is finding increased application for remotely monitoring processes occurring in the near subsurface in three-dimensions (i.e. 4D monitoring). However, there are few codes capable of simulating the evolution of subsurface resistivity and corresponding tomographic measurements arising from a particular process, particularly in parallel and with an open source license. Herein we describe and demonstrate an electrical resistivity tomography module for the PFLOTRAN subsurface flow and reactive transport simulation code, named PFLOTRAN-E4D. The PFLOTRAN-E4D module operates in parallel using a dedicated set of compute cores in a master-slave configuration. At each time step, the master processes receives subsurface states from PFLOTRAN, converts those states to bulk electrical conductivity, and instructs the slave processes to simulate a tomographic data set. The resulting multi-physics simulation capability enables accurate feasibility studies for ERT imaging, the identification of the ERT signatures that are unique to a given process, and facilitates the joint inversion of ERT data with hydrogeological data for subsurface characterization. PFLOTRAN-E4D is demonstrated herein using a field study of stage-driven groundwater/river water interaction ERT monitoring along the Columbia River, Washington, USA. Results demonstrate the complex nature of subsurface electrical conductivity changes, in both the saturated and unsaturated zones, arising from river stage fluctuations and associated river water intrusion into the aquifer. The results also demonstrate the sensitivity of surface based ERT measurements to those changes over time. PFLOTRAN-E4D is available with the PFLOTRAN development version with an open-source license at https://bitbucket.org/pflotran/pflotran-dev.

Spectral imaging toolbox: segmentation, hyperstack reconstruction, and batch processing of spectral images for the determination of cell and model membrane lipid order.

PubMed

Aron, Miles; Browning, Richard; Carugo, Dario; Sezgin, Erdinc; Bernardino de la Serna, Jorge; Eggeling, Christian; Stride, Eleanor

2017-05-12

Spectral imaging with polarity-sensitive fluorescent probes enables the quantification of cell and model membrane physical properties, including local hydration, fluidity, and lateral lipid packing, usually characterized by the generalized polarization (GP) parameter. With the development of commercial microscopes equipped with spectral detectors, spectral imaging has become a convenient and powerful technique for measuring GP and other membrane properties. The existing tools for spectral image processing, however, are insufficient for processing the large data sets afforded by this technological advancement, and are unsuitable for processing images acquired with rapidly internalized fluorescent probes. Here we present a MATLAB spectral imaging toolbox with the aim of overcoming these limitations. In addition to common operations, such as the calculation of distributions of GP values, generation of pseudo-colored GP maps, and spectral analysis, a key highlight of this tool is reliable membrane segmentation for probes that are rapidly internalized. Furthermore, handling for hyperstacks, 3D reconstruction and batch processing facilitates analysis of data sets generated by time series, z-stack, and area scan microscope operations. Finally, the object size distribution is determined, which can provide insight into the mechanisms underlying changes in membrane properties and is desirable for e.g. studies involving model membranes and surfactant coated particles. Analysis is demonstrated for cell membranes, cell-derived vesicles, model membranes, and microbubbles with environmentally-sensitive probes Laurdan, carboxyl-modified Laurdan (C-Laurdan), Di-4-ANEPPDHQ, and Di-4-AN(F)EPPTEA (FE), for quantification of the local lateral density of lipids or lipid packing. The Spectral Imaging Toolbox is a powerful tool for the segmentation and processing of large spectral imaging datasets with a reliable method for membrane segmentation and no ability in programming required. The Spectral Imaging Toolbox can be downloaded from https://uk.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/62617-spectral-imaging-toolbox .

Artifact suppression in electron paramagnetic resonance imaging of 14N- and 15N-labeled nitroxyl radicals with asymmetric absorption spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Wataru; Miyake, Yusuke; Hirata, Hiroshi

2014-10-01

This article describes an improved method for suppressing image artifacts in the visualization of 14N- and 15N-labeled nitroxyl radicals in a single image scan using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The purpose of this work was to solve the problem of asymmetric EPR absorption spectra in spectral processing. A hybrid function of Gaussian and Lorentzian lineshapes was used to perform spectral line-fitting to successfully separate the two kinds of nitroxyl radicals. This approach can process the asymmetric EPR absorption spectra of the nitroxyl radicals being measured, and can suppress image artifacts due to spectral asymmetry. With this improved visualization method and a 750-MHz continuous-wave EPR imager, a temporal change in the distributions of a two-phase paraffin oil and water/glycerin solution system was visualized using lipophilic and hydrophilic nitroxyl radicals, i.e., 2-(14-carboxytetradecyl)-2-ethyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-oxazolidinyloxy (16-DOXYL stearic acid) and 4-hydroxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-d17-1-15N-1-oxyl (TEMPOL-d17-15N). The results of the two-phase separation experiment verified that reasonable artifact suppression could be achieved by the present method that deals with asymmetric absorption spectra in the EPR imaging of 14N- and 15N-labeled nitroxyl radicals.

a Study of the Effects of Processing Chemistry on the Holographic Image Space.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kocher, Clive Joseph

Available from UMI in association with The British Library. Processing methods for reflection and transmission holograms were evaluated with a view to minimising distortion in the images of small, metallic, near field subjects, whilst retaining optimum quality. The study was limited to recordings made with the HeNe laser (633 nm) in conjunction with the Agfa Gevaert 8E75 HD silver halide emulsion on glass or film support (5^{' '} x 4^{' '} format). Simple ray diagrams were used to help predict angular distortion arising from emulsion shrinkage for a two-dimensional model. The main conclusions are: (a) Serious distortion of the order of several millimetres, and loss of resolution will occur in the images of reflection holograms unless careful attention is given to processing procedures. Evidence supports the hypothesis that shrinkage due to processing causes the fringe system to collapse with a resultant change in inclination angle, and hence a distortion of the reconstructed image. Minimum distortion occurs with a laser reconstructed hologram processed in a high tanning developer and rehalogenating bleach, none being detected under the test conditions. (b) The same problem was not apparent for the transmission hologram due to a different fringe orientation, and within the limitations of the measuring system, no distortion was detected for any processing system. Comparative tests were made to evaluate the differences in performance for the Agfa 8E75 HD emulsion on plate and film support. Results show a significant increase in speed for film (as high as times4) and shrinkage (~3%), under all processing conditions. The advantages of using Phenidone based developers are shown. The report also includes a comprehensive background theory section covering basic concepts, silver halide recording material, holographic processing chemistry, distortion in holograms and pulsed laser holography. A review of previous work on phase holograms is given. Although primarily intended for measurement, this report contains useful information of benefit to display holography.

MRO CTX-based Digital Terrain Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dumke, Alexander

2016-04-01

In planetary surface sciences, digital terrain models (DTM) are paramount when it comes to understanding and quantifying processes. In this contribution an approach for the derivation of digital terrain models from stereo images of the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Context Camera (CTX) are described. CTX consists of a 350 mm focal length telescope and 5000 CCD sensor elements and is operated as pushbroom camera. It acquires images with ~6 m/px over a swath width of ~30 km of the Mars surface [1]. Today, several approaches for the derivation of CTX DTMs exist [e. g. 2, 3, 4]. The discussed approach here is based on established software and combines them with proprietary software as described below. The main processing task for the derivation of CTX stereo DTMs is based on six steps: (1) First, CTX images are radiometrically corrected using the ISIS software package [5]. (2) For selected CTX stereo images, exterior orientation data from reconstructed NAIF SPICE data are extracted [6]. (3) In the next step High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) DTMs [7, 8, 9] are used for the rectification of CTX stereo images to reduce the search area during the image matching. Here, HRSC DTMs are used due to their higher spatial resolution when compared to MOLA DTMs. (4) The determination of coordinates of homologous points between stereo images, i.e. the stereo image matching process, consists of two steps: first, a cross-correlation to obtain approximate values and secondly, their use in a least-square matching (LSM) process in order to obtain subpixel positions. (5) The stereo matching results are then used to generate object points from forward ray intersections. (6) As a last step, the DTM-raster generation is performed using software developed at the German Aerospace Center, Berlin. Whereby only object points are used that have a smaller error than a threshold value. References: [1] Malin, M. C. et al., 2007, JGR 112, doi:10.1029/2006JE002808 [2] Broxton, M. J. et al., 2008, LPSC XXXIX, Abstract#2419 [3] Yershov, V. et al., 2015 EPSC 10, EPSC2015-343 [4] Kim, J. R. et al., 2013 EPS 65, 799-809 [5] https://isis.astrogeology.usgs.gov/index.html [6] http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/index.html [7] Gwinner et al., 2010, EPS 294, 543-540 [8] Gwinner et al., 2015, PSS [9] Dumke, A. et al., 2008, ISPRS, 37, Part B4, 1037-1042

Architecture for a PACS primary diagnosis workstation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shastri, Kaushal; Moran, Byron

1990-08-01

A major factor in determining the overall utility of a medical Picture Archiving and Communications (PACS) system is the functionality of the diagnostic workstation. Meyer-Ebrecht and Wendler [1] have proposed a modular picture computer architecture with high throughput and Perry et.al [2] have defined performance requirements for radiology workstations. In order to be clinically useful, a primary diagnosis workstation must not only provide functions of current viewing systems (e.g. mechanical alternators [3,4]) such as acceptable image quality, simultaneous viewing of multiple images, and rapid switching of image banks; but must also provide a diagnostic advantage over the current systems. This includes window-level functions on any image, simultaneous display of multi-modality images, rapid image manipulation, image processing, dynamic image display (cine), electronic image archival, hardcopy generation, image acquisition, network support, and an easy user interface. Implementation of such a workstation requires an underlying hardware architecture which provides high speed image transfer channels, local storage facilities, and image processing functions. This paper describes the hardware architecture of the Siemens Diagnostic Reporting Console (DRC) which meets these requirements.

Improved colour matching technique for fused nighttime imagery with daytime colours

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hogervorst, Maarten A.; Toet, Alexander

2016-10-01

Previously, we presented a method for applying daytime colours to fused nighttime (e.g., intensified and LWIR) imagery (Toet and Hogervorst, Opt.Eng. 51(1), 2012). Our colour mapping not only imparts a natural daylight appearance to multiband nighttime images but also enhances the contrast and visibility of otherwise obscured details. As a result, this colourizing method leads to increased ease of interpretation, better discrimination and identification of materials, faster reaction times and ultimately improved situational awareness (Toet e.a., Opt.Eng.53(4), 2014). A crucial step in this colouring process is the choice of a suitable colour mapping scheme. When daytime colour images and multiband sensor images of the same scene are available the colour mapping can be derived from matching image samples (i.e., by relating colour values to sensor signal intensities). When no exact matching reference images are available the colour transformation can be derived from the first-order statistical properties of the reference image and the multiband sensor image (Toet, Info. Fus. 4(3), 2003). In the current study we investigated new colour fusion schemes that combine the advantages of the both methods, using the correspondence between multiband sensor values and daytime colours (1st method) in a smooth transformation (2nd method). We designed and evaluated three new fusion schemes that focus on: i) a closer match with the daytime luminances, ii) improved saliency of hot targets and iii) improved discriminability of materials

Cloud-enabled microscopy and droplet microfluidic platform for specific detection of Escherichia coli in water.

PubMed

Golberg, Alexander; Linshiz, Gregory; Kravets, Ilia; Stawski, Nina; Hillson, Nathan J; Yarmush, Martin L; Marks, Robert S; Konry, Tania

2014-01-01

We report an all-in-one platform - ScanDrop - for the rapid and specific capture, detection, and identification of bacteria in drinking water. The ScanDrop platform integrates droplet microfluidics, a portable imaging system, and cloud-based control software and data storage. The cloud-based control software and data storage enables robotic image acquisition, remote image processing, and rapid data sharing. These features form a "cloud" network for water quality monitoring. We have demonstrated the capability of ScanDrop to perform water quality monitoring via the detection of an indicator coliform bacterium, Escherichia coli, in drinking water contaminated with feces. Magnetic beads conjugated with antibodies to E. coli antigen were used to selectively capture and isolate specific bacteria from water samples. The bead-captured bacteria were co-encapsulated in pico-liter droplets with fluorescently-labeled anti-E. coli antibodies, and imaged with an automated custom designed fluorescence microscope. The entire water quality diagnostic process required 8 hours from sample collection to online-accessible results compared with 2-4 days for other currently available standard detection methods.

Cloud-Enabled Microscopy and Droplet Microfluidic Platform for Specific Detection of Escherichia coli in Water

PubMed Central

Kravets, Ilia; Stawski, Nina; Hillson, Nathan J.; Yarmush, Martin L.; Marks, Robert S.; Konry, Tania

2014-01-01

We report an all-in-one platform – ScanDrop – for the rapid and specific capture, detection, and identification of bacteria in drinking water. The ScanDrop platform integrates droplet microfluidics, a portable imaging system, and cloud-based control software and data storage. The cloud-based control software and data storage enables robotic image acquisition, remote image processing, and rapid data sharing. These features form a “cloud” network for water quality monitoring. We have demonstrated the capability of ScanDrop to perform water quality monitoring via the detection of an indicator coliform bacterium, Escherichia coli, in drinking water contaminated with feces. Magnetic beads conjugated with antibodies to E. coli antigen were used to selectively capture and isolate specific bacteria from water samples. The bead-captured bacteria were co-encapsulated in pico-liter droplets with fluorescently-labeled anti-E. coli antibodies, and imaged with an automated custom designed fluorescence microscope. The entire water quality diagnostic process required 8 hours from sample collection to online-accessible results compared with 2–4 days for other currently available standard detection methods. PMID:24475107

Classifying Physical Morphology of Cocoa Beans Digital Images using Multiclass Ensemble Least-Squares Support Vector Machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawi, Armin; Adhitya, Yudhi

2018-03-01

The objective of this research is to determine the quality of cocoa beans through morphology of their digital images. Samples of cocoa beans were scattered on a bright white paper under a controlled lighting condition. A compact digital camera was used to capture the images. The images were then processed to extract their morphological parameters. Classification process begins with an analysis of cocoa beans image based on morphological feature extraction. Parameters for extraction of morphological or physical feature parameters, i.e., Area, Perimeter, Major Axis Length, Minor Axis Length, Aspect Ratio, Circularity, Roundness, Ferret Diameter. The cocoa beans are classified into 4 groups, i.e.: Normal Beans, Broken Beans, Fractured Beans, and Skin Damaged Beans. The model of classification used in this paper is the Multiclass Ensemble Least-Squares Support Vector Machine (MELS-SVM), a proposed improvement model of SVM using ensemble method in which the separate hyperplanes are obtained by least square approach and the multiclass procedure uses One-Against- All method. The result of our proposed model showed that the classification with morphological feature input parameters were accurately as 99.705% for the four classes, respectively.

Satellite on-board real-time SAR processor prototype

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergeron, Alain; Doucet, Michel; Harnisch, Bernd; Suess, Martin; Marchese, Linda; Bourqui, Pascal; Desnoyers, Nicholas; Legros, Mathieu; Guillot, Ludovic; Mercier, Luc; Châteauneuf, François

2017-11-01

A Compact Real-Time Optronic SAR Processor has been successfully developed and tested up to a Technology Readiness Level of 4 (TRL4), the breadboard validation in a laboratory environment. SAR, or Synthetic Aperture Radar, is an active system allowing day and night imaging independent of the cloud coverage of the planet. The SAR raw data is a set of complex data for range and azimuth, which cannot be compressed. Specifically, for planetary missions and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems with limited communication data rates this is a clear disadvantage. SAR images are typically processed electronically applying dedicated Fourier transformations. This, however, can also be performed optically in real-time. Originally the first SAR images were optically processed. The optical Fourier processor architecture provides inherent parallel computing capabilities allowing real-time SAR data processing and thus the ability for compression and strongly reduced communication bandwidth requirements for the satellite. SAR signal return data are in general complex data. Both amplitude and phase must be combined optically in the SAR processor for each range and azimuth pixel. Amplitude and phase are generated by dedicated spatial light modulators and superimposed by an optical relay set-up. The spatial light modulators display the full complex raw data information over a two-dimensional format, one for the azimuth and one for the range. Since the entire signal history is displayed at once, the processor operates in parallel yielding real-time performances, i.e. without resulting bottleneck. Processing of both azimuth and range information is performed in a single pass. This paper focuses on the onboard capabilities of the compact optical SAR processor prototype that allows in-orbit processing of SAR images. Examples of processed ENVISAT ASAR images are presented. Various SAR processor parameters such as processing capabilities, image quality (point target analysis), weight and size are reviewed.

An image-processing software package: UU and Fig for optical metrology applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Lujie

2013-06-01

Modern optical metrology applications are largely supported by computational methods, such as phase shifting [1], Fourier Transform [2], digital image correlation [3], camera calibration [4], etc, in which image processing is a critical and indispensable component. While it is not too difficult to obtain a wide variety of image-processing programs from the internet; few are catered for the relatively special area of optical metrology. This paper introduces an image-processing software package: UU (data processing) and Fig (data rendering) that incorporates many useful functions to process optical metrological data. The cross-platform programs UU and Fig are developed based on wxWidgets. At the time of writing, it has been tested on Windows, Linux and Mac OS. The userinterface is designed to offer precise control of the underline processing procedures in a scientific manner. The data input/output mechanism is designed to accommodate diverse file formats and to facilitate the interaction with other independent programs. In terms of robustness, although the software was initially developed for personal use, it is comparably stable and accurate to most of the commercial software of similar nature. In addition to functions for optical metrology, the software package has a rich collection of useful tools in the following areas: real-time image streaming from USB and GigE cameras, computational geometry, computer vision, fitting of data, 3D image processing, vector image processing, precision device control (rotary stage, PZT stage, etc), point cloud to surface reconstruction, volume rendering, batch processing, etc. The software package is currently used in a number of universities for teaching and research.

GreenView and GreenLand Applications Development on SEE-GRID Infrastructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mihon, Danut; Bacu, Victor; Gorgan, Dorian; Mészáros, Róbert; Gelybó, Györgyi; Stefanut, Teodor

2010-05-01

The GreenView and GreenLand applications [1] have been developed through the SEE-GRID-SCI (SEE-GRID eInfrastructure for regional eScience) FP7 project co-funded by the European Commission [2]. The development of environment applications is a challenge for Grid technologies and software development methodologies. This presentation exemplifies the development of the GreenView and GreenLand applications over the SEE-GRID infrastructure by the Grid Application Development Methodology [3]. Today's environmental applications are used in vary domains of Earth Science such as meteorology, ground and atmospheric pollution, ground metal detection or weather prediction. These applications run on satellite images (e.g. Landsat, MERIS, MODIS, etc.) and the accuracy of output results depends mostly of the quality of these images. The main drawback of such environmental applications regards the need of computation power and storage power (some images are almost 1GB in size), in order to process such a large data volume. Actually, almost applications requiring high computation resources have approached the migration onto the Grid infrastructure. This infrastructure offers the computing power by running the atomic application components on different Grid nodes in sequential or parallel mode. The middleware used between the Grid infrastructure and client applications is ESIP (Environment Oriented Satellite Image Processing Platform), which is based on gProcess platform [4]. In its current format, gProcess is used for launching new processes on the Grid nodes, but also for monitoring the execution status of these processes. This presentation highlights two case studies of Grid based environmental applications, GreenView and GreenLand [5]. GreenView is used in correlation with MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) satellite images and meteorological datasets, in order to produce pseudo colored temperature and vegetation maps for different geographical CEE (Central Eastern Europe) regions. On the other hand, GreenLand is used for generating maps for different vegetation indexes (e.g. NDVI, EVI, SAVI, GEMI) based on Landsat satellite images. Both applications are using interpolation and random value generation algorithms, but also specific formulas for computing vegetation index values. The GreenView and GreenLand applications have been experimented over the SEE-GRID infrastructure and the performance evaluation is reported in [6]. The improvement of the execution time (obtained through a better parallelization of jobs), the extension of geographical areas to other parts of the Earth, and new user interaction techniques on spatial data and large set of satellite images are the goals of the future work. References [1] GreenView application on Wiki, http://wiki.egee-see.org/index.php/GreenView [2] SEE-GRID-SCI Project, http://www.see-grid-sci.eu/ [3] Gorgan D., Stefanut T., Bâcu V., Mihon D., Grid based Environment Application Development Methodology, SCICOM, 7th International Conference on "Large-Scale Scientific Computations", 4-8 June, 2009, Sozopol, Bulgaria, (To be published by Springer), (2009). [4] Gorgan D., Bacu V., Stefanut T., Rodila D., Mihon D., Grid based Satellite Image Processing Platform for Earth Observation Applications Development. IDAACS'2009 - IEEE Fifth International Workshop on "Intelligent Data Acquisition and Advanced Computing Systems: Technology and Applications", 21-23 September, Cosenza, Italy, IEEE Published in Computer Press, 247-252 (2009). [5] Mihon D., Bacu V., Stefanut T., Gorgan D., "Grid Based Environment Application Development - GreenView Application". ICCP2009 - IEEE 5th International Conference on Intelligent Computer Communication and Processing, 27 Aug, 2009 Cluj-Napoca. Published by IEEE Computer Press, pp. 275-282 (2009). [6] Danut Mihon, Victor Bacu, Dorian Gorgan, Róbert Mészáros, Györgyi Gelybó, Teodor Stefanut, Practical Considerations on the GreenView Application Development and Execution over SEE-GRID. SEE-GRID-SCI User Forum, 9-10 Dec 2009, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey, ISBN: 978-975-403-510-0, pp. 167-175 (2009).

Web-Enabled Distributed Health-Care Framework for Automated Malaria Parasite Classification: an E-Health Approach.

PubMed

Maity, Maitreya; Dhane, Dhiraj; Mungle, Tushar; Maiti, A K; Chakraborty, Chandan

2017-10-26

Web-enabled e-healthcare system or computer assisted disease diagnosis has a potential to improve the quality and service of conventional healthcare delivery approach. The article describes the design and development of a web-based distributed healthcare management system for medical information and quantitative evaluation of microscopic images using machine learning approach for malaria. In the proposed study, all the health-care centres are connected in a distributed computer network. Each peripheral centre manages its' own health-care service independently and communicates with the central server for remote assistance. The proposed methodology for automated evaluation of parasites includes pre-processing of blood smear microscopic images followed by erythrocytes segmentation. To differentiate between different parasites; a total of 138 quantitative features characterising colour, morphology, and texture are extracted from segmented erythrocytes. An integrated pattern classification framework is designed where four feature selection methods viz. Correlation-based Feature Selection (CFS), Chi-square, Information Gain, and RELIEF are employed with three different classifiers i.e. Naive Bayes', C4.5, and Instance-Based Learning (IB1) individually. Optimal features subset with the best classifier is selected for achieving maximum diagnostic precision. It is seen that the proposed method achieved with 99.2% sensitivity and 99.6% specificity by combining CFS and C4.5 in comparison with other methods. Moreover, the web-based tool is entirely designed using open standards like Java for a web application, ImageJ for image processing, and WEKA for data mining considering its feasibility in rural places with minimal health care facilities.

Parallel Infrastructure Modeling and Inversion Module for E4D

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

2014-10-09

Electrical resistivity tomography ERT is a method of imaging the electrical conductivity of the subsurface. Electrical conductivity is a useful metric for understanding the subsurface because it is governed by geomechanical and geochemical properties that drive subsurface systems. ERT works by injecting current into the subsurface across a pair of electrodes, and measuring the corresponding electrical potential response across another pair of electrodes. Many such measurements are strategically taken across an array of electrodes to produce an ERT data set. These data are then processed through a computationally demanding process known as inversion to produce an image of the subsurfacemore » conductivity structure that gave rise to the measurements. Data can be inverted to provide 2D images, 3D images, or in the case of time-lapse 3D imaging, 4D images. ERT is generally not well suited for environments with buried electrically conductive infrastructure such as pipes, tanks, or well casings, because these features tend to dominate and degrade ERT images. This reduces or eliminates the utility of ERT imaging where it would otherwise be highly useful for, for example, imaging fluid migration from leaking pipes, imaging soil contamination beneath leaking subusurface tanks, and monitoring contaminant migration in locations with dense network of metal cased monitoring wells. The location and dimension of buried metallic infrastructure is often known. If so, then the effects of the infrastructure can be explicitly modeled within the ERT imaging algorithm, and thereby removed from the corresponding ERT image. However,there are a number of obstacles limiting this application. 1) Metallic infrastructure cannot be accurately modeled with standard codes because of the large contrast in conductivity between the metal and host material. 2) Modeling infrastructure in true dimension requires the computational mesh to be highly refined near the metal inclusions, which increases computational demands. 3) The ERT imaging algorithm requires specialized modifications to accomodate high conductivty inclusions within the computational mesh. The solution to each of these challenges was implemented within E4D (formerly FERM3D), which is a parallel ERT imaging code developed at PNNL (IPID #30249). The infrastructure modeling module implement in E4D uses a method of decoupling the model at the metallic interface(s) boundaries, into several well posed sub-problems (one for each distinct metallicinclusion) that are subsequently solved and recombined to form the global solution. The approach is based on the immersed interface method, with has been applied for similar problems in other fields (e.g. semiconductor industry). Comparisons to analytic solutions have shown the results to be very accurate, addressing item 1 above. The solution is implemented about an unstructured mesh, which enables arbitrary shapes to be efficiently modelled, thereby addressing item 2 above. In addition, the algorithm is written in parallel and shows excellent scalability, which also addresses equation 2 above. Finally, because only the boundaries of metallic inclusions are modeled, there are no high conductivity cells within the modeling mesh, and the problem described by item 3 above is no longer applicable.« less

The Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign: The Companion Detection Pipeline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wahhaj, Zahed; Liu, Michael C.; Biller, Beth A.; Nielsen, Eric L.; Close, Laird M.; Hayward, Thomas L.; Hartung, Markus; Chun, Mark; Ftaclas, Christ; Toomey, Douglas W.

2013-12-01

We present high-contrast image processing techniques used by the Gemini NICI Planet-Finding Campaign to detect faint companions to bright stars. The Near-Infrared Coronographic Imager (NICI) is an adaptive optics instrument installed on the 8 m Gemini South telescope, capable of angular and spectral difference imaging and specifically designed to image exoplanets. The Campaign data pipeline achieves median contrasts of 12.6 mag at 0.''5 and 14.4 mag at 1'' separation, for a sample of 45 stars (V = 4.3-13.9 mag) from the early phase of the campaign. We also present a novel approach to calculating contrast curves for companion detection based on 95% completeness in the recovery of artificial companions injected into the raw data, while accounting for the false-positive rate. We use this technique to select the image processing algorithms that are more successful at recovering faint simulated point sources. We compare our pipeline to the performance of the Locally Optimized Combination of Images (LOCI) algorithm for NICI data and do not find significant improvement with LOCI. Based on observations obtained at the Gemini Observatory, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under a cooperative agreement with the NSF on behalf of the Gemini partnership: the National Science Foundation (United States), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (United Kingdom), the National Research Council (Canada), CONICYT (Chile), the Australian Research Council (Australia), Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia (Brazil) and Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva (Argentina).

Automatic food detection in egocentric images using artificial intelligence technology.

PubMed

Jia, Wenyan; Li, Yuecheng; Qu, Ruowei; Baranowski, Thomas; Burke, Lora E; Zhang, Hong; Bai, Yicheng; Mancino, Juliet M; Xu, Guizhi; Mao, Zhi-Hong; Sun, Mingui

2018-03-26

To develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm which can automatically detect food items from images acquired by an egocentric wearable camera for dietary assessment. To study human diet and lifestyle, large sets of egocentric images were acquired using a wearable device, called eButton, from free-living individuals. Three thousand nine hundred images containing real-world activities, which formed eButton data set 1, were manually selected from thirty subjects. eButton data set 2 contained 29 515 images acquired from a research participant in a week-long unrestricted recording. They included both food- and non-food-related real-life activities, such as dining at both home and restaurants, cooking, shopping, gardening, housekeeping chores, taking classes, gym exercise, etc. All images in these data sets were classified as food/non-food images based on their tags generated by a convolutional neural network. A cross data-set test was conducted on eButton data set 1. The overall accuracy of food detection was 91·5 and 86·4 %, respectively, when one-half of data set 1 was used for training and the other half for testing. For eButton data set 2, 74·0 % sensitivity and 87·0 % specificity were obtained if both 'food' and 'drink' were considered as food images. Alternatively, if only 'food' items were considered, the sensitivity and specificity reached 85·0 and 85·8 %, respectively. The AI technology can automatically detect foods from low-quality, wearable camera-acquired real-world egocentric images with reasonable accuracy, reducing both the burden of data processing and privacy concerns.

Coronary artery wall imaging in mice using osmium tetroxide and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT).

PubMed

Pai, Vinay M; Kozlowski, Megan; Donahue, Danielle; Miller, Elishiah; Xiao, Xianghui; Chen, Marcus Y; Yu, Zu-Xi; Connelly, Patricia; Jeffries, Kenneth; Wen, Han

2012-05-01

The high spatial resolution of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is ideal for 3D imaging of coronary arteries in intact mouse heart specimens. Previously, micro-CT of mouse heart specimens utilized intravascular contrast agents that hardened within the vessel lumen and allowed a vascular cast to be made. However, for mouse coronary artery disease models, it is highly desirable to image coronary artery walls and highlight plaques. For this purpose, we describe an ex vivo contrast-enhanced micro-CT imaging technique based on tissue staining with osmium tetroxide (OsO(4) ) solution. As a tissue-staining contrast agent, OsO(4) is retained in the vessel wall and surrounding tissue during the fixation process and cleared from the vessel lumens. Its high X-ray attenuation makes the artery wall visible in CT. Additionally, since OsO(4) preferentially binds to lipids, it highlights lipid deposition in the artery wall. We performed micro-CT of heart specimens of 5- to 25-week-old C57BL/6 wild-type mice and 5- to 13-week-old apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE(-/-) ) mice at 10 μm resolution. The results show that walls of coronary arteries as small as 45 μm in diameter are visible using a table-top micro-CT scanner. Similar image clarity was achieved with 1/2000th the scan time using a synchrotron CT scanner. In 13-week-old apoE mice, lipid-rich plaques are visible in the aorta. Our study shows that the combination of OsO(4) and micro-CT permits the visualization of the coronary artery wall in intact mouse hearts. Published 2012. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Journal of Anatomy © 2012 Anatomical Society.

Coronary artery wall imaging in mice using osmium tetroxide and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pai, Vinay M.; Kozlowski, Megan; Donahue, Danielle

2012-05-10

The high spatial resolution of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is ideal for 3D imaging of coronary arteries in intact mouse heart specimens. Previously, micro-CT of mouse heart specimens utilized intravascular contrast agents that hardened within the vessel lumen and allowed a vascular cast to be made. However, for mouse coronary artery disease models, it is highly desirable to image coronary artery walls and highlight plaques. For this purpose, we describe an ex vivo contrast-enhanced micro-CT imaging technique based on tissue staining with osmium tetroxide (OsO{sub 4}) solution. As a tissue-staining contrast agent, OsO{sub 4} is retained in the vessel wall andmore » surrounding tissue during the fixation process and cleared from the vessel lumens. Its high X-ray attenuation makes the artery wall visible in CT. Additionally, since OsO{sub 4} preferentially binds to lipids, it highlights lipid deposition in the artery wall. We performed micro-CT of heart specimens of 5- to 25-week-old C57BL/6 wild-type mice and 5- to 13-week-old apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE{sup -/-}) mice at 10 {mu}m resolution. The results show that walls of coronary arteries as small as 45 {mu}m in diameter are visible using a table-top micro-CT scanner. Similar image clarity was achieved with 1/2000th the scan time using a synchrotron CT scanner. In 13-week-old apoE mice, lipid-rich plaques are visible in the aorta. Our study shows that the combination of OsO{sub 4} and micro-CT permits the visualization of the coronary artery wall in intact mouse hearts.« less

Concurrent Image Processing Executive (CIPE)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Meemong; Cooper, Gregory T.; Groom, Steven L.; Mazer, Alan S.; Williams, Winifred I.

1988-01-01

The design and implementation of a Concurrent Image Processing Executive (CIPE), which is intended to become the support system software for a prototype high performance science analysis workstation are discussed. The target machine for this software is a JPL/Caltech Mark IIIfp Hypercube hosted by either a MASSCOMP 5600 or a Sun-3, Sun-4 workstation; however, the design will accommodate other concurrent machines of similar architecture, i.e., local memory, multiple-instruction-multiple-data (MIMD) machines. The CIPE system provides both a multimode user interface and an applications programmer interface, and has been designed around four loosely coupled modules; (1) user interface, (2) host-resident executive, (3) hypercube-resident executive, and (4) application functions. The loose coupling between modules allows modification of a particular module without significantly affecting the other modules in the system. In order to enhance hypercube memory utilization and to allow expansion of image processing capabilities, a specialized program management method, incremental loading, was devised. To minimize data transfer between host and hypercube a data management method which distributes, redistributes, and tracks data set information was implemented.

An Analysis of Full Scale Measurements on M/V Stewart J. Cort during the 1979 and 1980 Trial Programs. Parts I and II.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-02-01

IKCuNITY CLASSIFICATION OF Tm4iS IMAGE (Vrhn Dot& Entered) .,.-’- . . . . . ... .. ... " . . ...... ....... .. . . . . . . . . TABLE OF CONTENTS...11-19 APPENDIX D: BASIC PROCESSING ............................... 11-21 APPENDIX E: SIMULATION OF DATA...equipment previously developed, and an on-board data processing system. These full scale ship trials were the first in history with the objective of directly

Tumor image signatures and habitats: a processing pipeline of multimodality metabolic and physiological images.

PubMed

You, Daekeun; Kim, Michelle M; Aryal, Madhava P; Parmar, Hemant; Piert, Morand; Lawrence, Theodore S; Cao, Yue

2018-01-01

To create tumor "habitats" from the "signatures" discovered from multimodality metabolic and physiological images, we developed a framework of a processing pipeline. The processing pipeline consists of six major steps: (1) creating superpixels as a spatial unit in a tumor volume; (2) forming a data matrix [Formula: see text] containing all multimodality image parameters at superpixels; (3) forming and clustering a covariance or correlation matrix [Formula: see text] of the image parameters to discover major image "signatures;" (4) clustering the superpixels and organizing the parameter order of the [Formula: see text] matrix according to the one found in step 3; (5) creating "habitats" in the image space from the superpixels associated with the "signatures;" and (6) pooling and clustering a matrix consisting of correlation coefficients of each pair of image parameters from all patients to discover subgroup patterns of the tumors. The pipeline was applied to a dataset of multimodality images in glioblastoma (GBM) first, which consisted of 10 image parameters. Three major image "signatures" were identified. The three major "habitats" plus their overlaps were created. To test generalizability of the processing pipeline, a second image dataset from GBM, acquired on the scanners different from the first one, was processed. Also, to demonstrate the clinical association of image-defined "signatures" and "habitats," the patterns of recurrence of the patients were analyzed together with image parameters acquired prechemoradiation therapy. An association of the recurrence patterns with image-defined "signatures" and "habitats" was revealed. These image-defined "signatures" and "habitats" can be used to guide stereotactic tissue biopsy for genetic and mutation status analysis and to analyze for prediction of treatment outcomes, e.g., patterns of failure.

Functional imaging of the angiogenic switch in a transgenic mouse model of human breast cancer by dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Consolino, Lorena; Longo, Dario Livio; Dastrù, Walter; Cutrin, Juan Carlos; Dettori, Daniela; Lanzardo, Stefania; Oliviero, Salvatore; Cavallo, Federica; Aime, Silvio

2016-07-15

Tumour progression depends on several sequential events that include the microenvironment remodelling processes and the switch to the angiogenic phenotype, leading to new blood vessels recruitment. Non-invasive imaging techniques allow the monitoring of functional alterations in tumour vascularity and cellularity. The aim of this work was to detect functional changes in vascularisation and cellularity through Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) and Diffusion Weighted (DW) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) modalities during breast cancer initiation and progression of a transgenic mouse model (BALB-neuT mice). Histological examination showed that BALB-neuT mammary glands undergo a slow neoplastic progression from simple hyperplasia to invasive carcinoma, still preserving normal parts of mammary glands. DCE-MRI results highlighted marked functional changes in terms of vessel permeability (K(trans) , volume transfer constant) and vascularisation (vp , vascular volume fraction) in BALB-neuT hyperplastic mammary glands if compared to BALB/c ones. When breast tissue progressed from simple to atypical hyperplasia, a strong increase in DCE-MRI biomarkers was observed in BALB-neuT in comparison to BALB/c mice (K(trans)  = 5.3 ± 0.7E-4 and 3.1 ± 0.5E-4; vp  = 7.4 ± 0.8E-2 and 4.7 ± 0.6E-2 for BALB-neuT and BALB/c, respectively) that remained constant during the successive steps of the neoplastic transformation. Consistent with DCE-MRI observations, microvessel counting revealed a significant increase in tumour vessels. Our study showed that DCE-MRI estimates can accurately detect the angiogenic switch at early step of breast cancer carcinogenesis. These results support the view that this imaging approach is an excellent tool to characterize microvasculature changes, despite only small portions of the mammary glands developed neoplastic lesions in a transgenic mouse model. © 2016 UICC.

A Topographic Image Map of The Mc-18 Quadrangle "coprates" At 1: 2,000,000 Using Data Obtained From The Mars Orbiter Camera and The Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter of Mars Global Surveyor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niedermaier, G.; Wählisch, M.; van Gasselt, S.; Scholten, F.; Wewel, F.; Roatsch, T.; Matz, K.-D.; Jaumann, R.

We present a new topographic image map of Mars using 8 bit data obtained from the Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) of the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) [1]. The new map covers the Mars surface from 270 E (90 W) to 315 E (45 W) and from 0 North to 30 South with a resolution of 231.529 m/pixel (256 pixel/degree). For map creation, digital image processing methods have been applied. Furthermore, we managed to de- velop a general processing method for creating image mosaics based on MOC data. From a total amount of 66,081 images, 4,835 images (4,339 Context and 496 Geodesy images [3]) were finally used for the creation of the mosaic. After radiometric and brightness corrections, the images were Mars referenced [5], geometrically [6] cor- rected and sinusoidal map projected [4] using a global Martian Digital Terrain Model (DTM), developed by the DLR and based on MGS Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topographic datasets [2]. Three layers of MOC mosaics were created, which were stacked afterwards. The upper layer contains the context images with a resolution < 250 m/pixel. The middle layer contains the images of the Geodesy Campaign with a resolution < 250 m/pixel. The bottom layer consists of the Geodesy Campaign im- ages with a resolution > 250 m/pixel and < 435 m/pixel. The contour lines have been extracted from the global Martian DTM, developed at DLR. The contour data were imported as vector data into Macromedia Freehand as separate layer and corrected interactively. The map format of 1,15 m × 1,39 m represents the western part of the MDIM2 j quadrangle. The map is used for geological and morphological interpreta- tions in order to review and improve our current Viking-based knowledge about the Martian surface. References: [1] www.msss.com [2] wufs.wustl.edu [3] Caplinger, M. and M. Malin, The Mars Orbiter Camera Geodesy Campaign, JGR, in press. [4] Scholten, F., Vol XXXI, Part B2, Wien, 1996, p.351-356 [5] naif.jpl.nasa.gov [6] Kirk, R.L. et al., Geometric Calibration of the Mars Orbiter Cameras and Coalignment with Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, (abstract #1863), LPSC XXXII, 2001

PFLOTRAN-E4D: A parallel open source PFLOTRAN module for simulating time-lapse electrical resistivity data

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, Timothy C.; Hammond, Glenn E.; Chen, Xingyuan

Time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is finding increased application for remotely monitoring processes occurring in the near subsurface in three-dimensions (i.e. 4D monitoring). However, there are few codes capable of simulating the evolution of subsurface resistivity and corresponding tomographic measurements arising from a particular process, particularly in parallel and with an open source license. Herein we describe and demonstrate an electrical resistivity tomography module for the PFLOTRAN subsurface flow and reactive transport simulation code, named PFLOTRAN-E4D. The PFLOTRAN-E4D module operates in parallel using a dedicated set of compute cores in a master-slave configuration. At each time step, the master processesmore » receives subsurface states from PFLOTRAN, converts those states to bulk electrical conductivity, and instructs the slave processes to simulate a tomographic data set. The resulting multi-physics simulation capability enables accurate feasibility studies for ERT imaging, the identification of the ERT signatures that are unique to a given process, and facilitates the joint inversion of ERT data with hydrogeological data for subsurface characterization. PFLOTRAN-E4D is demonstrated herein using a field study of stage-driven groundwater/river water interaction ERT monitoring along the Columbia River, Washington, USA. Results demonstrate the complex nature of subsurface electrical conductivity changes, in both the saturated and unsaturated zones, arising from river stage fluctuations and associated river water intrusion into the aquifer. Furthermore, the results also demonstrate the sensitivity of surface based ERT measurements to those changes over time.« less

PFLOTRAN-E4D: A parallel open source PFLOTRAN module for simulating time-lapse electrical resistivity data

DOE PAGES

Johnson, Timothy C.; Hammond, Glenn E.; Chen, Xingyuan

2016-09-22

Time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is finding increased application for remotely monitoring processes occurring in the near subsurface in three-dimensions (i.e. 4D monitoring). However, there are few codes capable of simulating the evolution of subsurface resistivity and corresponding tomographic measurements arising from a particular process, particularly in parallel and with an open source license. Herein we describe and demonstrate an electrical resistivity tomography module for the PFLOTRAN subsurface flow and reactive transport simulation code, named PFLOTRAN-E4D. The PFLOTRAN-E4D module operates in parallel using a dedicated set of compute cores in a master-slave configuration. At each time step, the master processesmore » receives subsurface states from PFLOTRAN, converts those states to bulk electrical conductivity, and instructs the slave processes to simulate a tomographic data set. The resulting multi-physics simulation capability enables accurate feasibility studies for ERT imaging, the identification of the ERT signatures that are unique to a given process, and facilitates the joint inversion of ERT data with hydrogeological data for subsurface characterization. PFLOTRAN-E4D is demonstrated herein using a field study of stage-driven groundwater/river water interaction ERT monitoring along the Columbia River, Washington, USA. Results demonstrate the complex nature of subsurface electrical conductivity changes, in both the saturated and unsaturated zones, arising from river stage fluctuations and associated river water intrusion into the aquifer. Furthermore, the results also demonstrate the sensitivity of surface based ERT measurements to those changes over time.« less

SU-E-J-42: Motion Adaptive Image Filter for Low Dose X-Ray Fluoroscopy in the Real-Time Tumor-Tracking Radiotherapy System.

PubMed

Miyamoto, N; Ishikawa, M; Sutherland, K; Suzuki, R; Matsuura, T; Takao, S; Toramatsu, C; Nihongi, H; Shimizu, S; Onimaru, R; Umegaki, K; Shirato, H

2012-06-01

In the real-time tumor-tracking radiotherapy system, fiducial markers are detected by X-ray fluoroscopy. The fluoroscopic parameters should be optimized as low as possible in order to reduce unnecessary imaging dose. However, the fiducial markers could not be recognized due to effect of statistical noise in low dose imaging. Image processing is envisioned to be a solution to improve image quality and to maintain tracking accuracy. In this study, a recursive image filter adapted to target motion is proposed. A fluoroscopy system was used for the experiment. A spherical gold marker was used as a fiducial marker. About 450 fluoroscopic images of the marker were recorded. In order to mimic respiratory motion of the marker, the images were shifted sequentially. The tube voltage, current and exposure duration were fixed at 65 kV, 50 mA and 2.5 msec as low dose imaging condition, respectively. The tube current was 100 mA as high dose imaging. A pattern recognition score (PRS) ranging from 0 to 100 and image registration error were investigated by performing template pattern matching to each sequential image. The results with and without image processing were compared. In low dose imaging, theimage registration error and the PRS without the image processing were 2.15±1.21 pixel and 46.67±6.40, respectively. Those with the image processing were 1.48±0.82 pixel and 67.80±4.51, respectively. There was nosignificant difference in the image registration error and the PRS between the results of low dose imaging with the image processing and that of high dose imaging without the image processing. The results showed that the recursive filter was effective in order to maintain marker tracking stability and accuracy in low dose fluoroscopy. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Effects of illumination on image reconstruction via Fourier ptychography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Xinrui; Sinzinger, Stefan

2017-12-01

The Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) technique provides high-resolution images by combining a traditional imaging system, e.g. a microscope or a 4f-imaging system, with a multiplexing illumination system, e.g. an LED array and numerical image processing for enhanced image reconstruction. In order to numerically combine images that are captured under varying illumination angles, an iterative phase-retrieval algorithm is often applied. However, in practice, the performance of the FPM algorithm degrades due to the imperfections of the optical system, the image noise caused by the camera, etc. To eliminate the influence of the aberrations of the imaging system, an embedded pupil function recovery (EPRY)-FPM algorithm has been proposed [Opt. Express 22, 4960-4972 (2014)]. In this paper, we study how the performance of FPM and EPRY-FPM algorithms are affected by imperfections of the illumination system using both numerical simulations and experiments. The investigated imperfections include varying and non-uniform intensities, and wavefront aberrations. Our study shows that the aberrations of the illumination system significantly affect the performance of both FPM and EPRY-FPM algorithms. Hence, in practice, aberrations in the illumination system gain significant influence on the resulting image quality.

Testbed Experiment for SPIDER: A Photonic Integrated Circuit-based Interferometric imaging system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badham, K.; Duncan, A.; Kendrick, R. L.; Wuchenich, D.; Ogden, C.; Chriqui, G.; Thurman, S. T.; Su, T.; Lai, W.; Chun, J.; Li, S.; Liu, G.; Yoo, S. J. B.

The Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (LM ATC) and the University of California at Davis (UC Davis) are developing an electro-optical (EO) imaging sensor called SPIDER (Segmented Planar Imaging Detector for Electro-optical Reconnaissance) that seeks to provide a 10x to 100x size, weight, and power (SWaP) reduction alternative to the traditional bulky optical telescope and focal-plane detector array. The substantial reductions in SWaP would reduce cost and/or provide higher resolution by enabling a larger-aperture imager in a constrained volume. Our SPIDER imager replaces the traditional optical telescope and digital focal plane detector array with a densely packed interferometer array based on emerging photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technologies that samples the object being imaged in the Fourier domain (i.e., spatial frequency domain), and then reconstructs an image. Our approach replaces the large optics and structures required by a conventional telescope with PICs that are accommodated by standard lithographic fabrication techniques (e.g., complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication). The standard EO payload integration and test process that involves precision alignment and test of optical components to form a diffraction limited telescope is, therefore, replaced by in-process integration and test as part of the PIC fabrication, which substantially reduces associated schedule and cost. In this paper we describe the photonic integrated circuit design and the testbed used to create the first images of extended scenes. We summarize the image reconstruction steps and present the final images. We also describe our next generation PIC design for a larger (16x area, 4x field of view) image.

A Signal Processing Algorithm Based on Multiple Microprocessors for an Underwater Acoustic Imaging System.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-12-01

identified by the 49 4 UJ 4 4JJ 4A ww U- *i 0 tao Cv4- 50-0 trace) indicated that the bus usage was 7.9% of the loop’s execution time. The number of...1S Wc 0 4 wW 1 C, .- L 3 WQ - is = IViu4 W" L - &’aoI c O: W " Cn -- I C I0 " L =l- *. at C mW C 4 isq - is Ca W WCC .. .- C.- a .of C-( i I X0"e , Lw

Electro-Chemical-Mechanical, Low Stress, Automatic Polishing (ECMP) Device (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

into models that predict mechanical response [ 4 - 6 ]. In addition, surface preparation steps are critical to the imaging of ceramic and hybrid...2p 3/2 peak in the spectral data found in Figure 4 . The Ti 2p 3/2 peak is initially observed at 458.4 eV indicating that titanium is present in its...above 6 acceptable limits for both (average IQ values were higher than 2000). For the titanium samples, the samples processed without applied

Survey view of EXPRESS Rack 4 in the JPM during Expedition 22

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-12-30

iss022e015850 (12/30/2009) --- The image shows a front view of EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station EXPRESS Rack 4 (Rack 4,JPM/1F5) in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM). Equipment visible in the EXPRESS Rack includes the Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (BSTC) and the Gas Supply Module (GSM) support hardware for the CBOSS (Cellular Biotechnology Operations Support Systems) investigations, and the Device for the Study of Critical Liquids and Crystallization (DECLIC).

An objective electrophysiological marker of face individualisation impairment in acquired prosopagnosia with fast periodic visual stimulation.

PubMed

Liu-Shuang, Joan; Torfs, Katrien; Rossion, Bruno

2016-03-01

One of the most striking pieces of evidence for a specialised face processing system in humans is acquired prosopagnosia, i.e. the inability to individualise faces following brain damage. However, a sensitive and objective non-behavioural marker for this deficit is difficult to provide with standard event-related potentials (ERPs), such as the well-known face-related N170 component reported and investigated in-depth by our late distinguished colleague Shlomo Bentin. Here we demonstrate that fast periodic visual stimulation (FPVS) in electrophysiology can quantify face individualisation impairment in acquired prosopagnosia. In Experiment 1 (Liu-Shuang et al., 2014), identical faces were presented at a rate of 5.88 Hz (i.e., ≈ 6 images/s, SOA=170 ms, 1 fixation per image), with different faces appearing every 5th face (5.88 Hz/5=1.18 Hz). Responses of interest were identified at these predetermined frequencies (i.e., objectively) in the EEG frequency-domain data. A well-studied case of acquired prosopagnosia (PS) and a group of age- and gender-matched controls completed only 4 × 1-min stimulation sequences, with an orthogonal fixation cross task. Contrarily to controls, PS did not show face individualisation responses at 1.18 Hz, in line with her prosopagnosia. However, her response at 5.88 Hz, reflecting general visual processing, was within the normal range. In Experiment 2 (Rossion et al., 2015), we presented natural (i.e., unsegmented) images of objects at 5.88 Hz, with face images shown every 5th image (1.18 Hz). In accordance with her preserved ability to categorise a face as a face, and despite extensive brain lesions potentially affecting the overall EEG signal-to-noise ratio, PS showed 1.18 Hz face-selective responses within the normal range. Collectively, these findings show that fast periodic visual stimulation provides objective and sensitive electrophysiological markers of preserved and impaired face processing abilities in the neuropsychological population. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The PDS-based Data Processing, Archiving and Management Procedures in Chang'e Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Z. B.; Li, C.; Zhang, H.; Zhang, P.; Chen, W.

2017-12-01

PDS is adopted as standard format of scientific data and foundation of all data-related procedures in Chang'e mission. Unlike the geographically distributed nature of the planetary data system, all procedures of data processing, archiving, management and distribution are proceeded in the headquarter of Ground Research and Application System of Chang'e mission in a centralized manner. The RAW data acquired by the ground stations is transmitted to and processed by data preprocessing subsystem (DPS) for the production of PDS-compliant Level 0 Level 2 data products using established algorithms, with each product file being well described using an attached label, then all products with the same orbit number are put together into a scheduled task for archiving along with a XML archive list file recoding all product files' properties such as file name, file size etc. After receiving the archive request from DPS, data management subsystem (DMS) is provoked to parse the XML list file to validate all the claimed files and their compliance to PDS using a prebuilt data dictionary, then to exact metadata of each data product file from its PDS label and the fields of its normalized filename. Various requirements of data management, retrieving, distribution and application can be well met using the flexible combination of the rich metadata empowered by the PDS. In the forthcoming CE-5 mission, all the design of data structure and procedures will be updated from PDS version 3 used in previous CE-1, CE-2 and CE-3 missions to the new version 4, the main changes would be: 1) a dedicated detached XML label will be used to describe the corresponding scientific data acquired by the 4 instruments carried, the XML parsing framework used in archive list validation will be reused for the label after some necessary adjustments; 2) all the image data acquired by the panorama camera, landing camera and lunar mineralogical spectrometer should use an Array_2D_Image/Array_3D_Image object to store image data, and use a Table_Character object to store image frame header; the tabulated data acquired by the lunar regolith penetrating radar should use a Table_Binary object to store measurements.

Comparison of three dimeric 18F-AlF-NOTA-RGD tracers.

PubMed

Guo, Jinxia; Lang, Lixin; Hu, Shuo; Guo, Ning; Zhu, Lei; Sun, Zhongchan; Ma, Ying; Kiesewetter, Dale O; Niu, Gang; Xie, Qingguo; Chen, Xiaoyuan

2014-04-01

RGD peptide-based radiotracers are well established as integrin αvβ3 imaging probes to evaluate tumor angiogenesis or tissue remodeling after ischemia or infarction. In order to optimize the labeling process and pharmacokinetics of the imaging probes, we synthesized three dimeric RGD peptides with or without PEGylation and performed in vivo screening. Radiolabeling was achieved through the reaction of F-18 aluminum-fluoride complex with the cyclic chelator, 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (NOTA). Three imaging probes were synthesized as (18)F-AlF-NOTA-E[c(RGDfK)]2, (18)F-AlF-NOTA-PEG4-E[c(RGDfK)]2, and (18)F-AlF-NOTA-E[PEG4-c(RGDfk)]2. The receptor binding affinity was determined by competitive cell binding assay, and the stability was evaluated by mouse serum incubation. Tumor uptake and whole body distribution of the three tracers were compared through direct tissue sampling and PET quantification of U87MG tumor-bearing mice. All three compounds remained intact after 120 min incubation with mouse serum. They all had a rapid and relatively high tracer uptake in U87MG tumors with good target-to-background ratios. Compared with the other two tracers, (18)F-AlF-NOTA-E[PEG4-c(RGDfk)]2 had the highest tumor uptake and the lowest accumulation in the liver. The integrin receptor specificity was confirmed by co-injection of unlabeled dimeric RGD peptide. The rapid one-step radiolabeling strategy by the complexation of (18)F-aluminum fluoride with NOTA-peptide conjugates was successfully applied to synthesize three dimeric RGD peptides. Among the three probes developed, (18)F-AlF-NOTA-E[PEG4-c(RGDfk)]2 with relatively low liver uptake and high tumor accumulation appears to be a promising candidate for further translational research.

High-speed mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging using quantum cascade lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelley, David B.; Goyal, Anish K.; Zhu, Ninghui; Wood, Derek A.; Myers, Travis R.; Kotidis, Petros; Murphy, Cara; Georgan, Chelsea; Raz, Gil; Maulini, Richard; Müller, Antoine

2017-05-01

We report on a standoff chemical detection system using widely tunable external-cavity quantum cascade lasers (ECQCLs) to illuminate target surfaces in the mid infrared (λ = 7.4 - 10.5 μm). Hyperspectral images (hypercubes) are acquired by synchronously operating the EC-QCLs with a LN2-cooled HgCdTe camera. The use of rapidly tunable lasers and a high-frame-rate camera enables the capture of hypercubes with 128 x 128 pixels and >100 wavelengths in <0.1 s. Furthermore, raster scanning of the laser illumination allowed imaging of a 100-cm2 area at 5-m standoff. Raw hypercubes are post-processed to generate a hypercube that represents the surface reflectance relative to that of a diffuse reflectance standard. Results will be shown for liquids (e.g., silicone oil) and solid particles (e.g., caffeine, acetaminophen) on a variety of surfaces (e.g., aluminum, plastic, glass). Signature spectra are obtained for particulate loadings of RDX on glass of <1 μg/cm2.

Cardiovascular imaging environment: will the future be cloud-based?

PubMed

Kawel-Boehm, Nadine; Bluemke, David A

2017-07-01

In cardiovascular CT and MR imaging large datasets have to be stored, post-processed, analyzed and distributed. Beside basic assessment of volume and function in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging e.g., more sophisticated quantitative analysis is requested requiring specific software. Several institutions cannot afford various types of software and provide expertise to perform sophisticated analysis. Areas covered: Various cloud services exist related to data storage and analysis specifically for cardiovascular CT and MR imaging. Instead of on-site data storage, cloud providers offer flexible storage services on a pay-per-use basis. To avoid purchase and maintenance of specialized software for cardiovascular image analysis, e.g. to assess myocardial iron overload, MR 4D flow and fractional flow reserve, evaluation can be performed with cloud based software by the consumer or complete analysis is performed by the cloud provider. However, challenges to widespread implementation of cloud services include regulatory issues regarding patient privacy and data security. Expert commentary: If patient privacy and data security is guaranteed cloud imaging is a valuable option to cope with storage of large image datasets and offer sophisticated cardiovascular image analysis for institutions of all sizes.

An airborne thematic thermal infrared and electro-optical imaging system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Xiuhong; Shu, Peter

2011-08-01

This paper describes an advanced Airborne Thematic Thermal InfraRed and Electro-Optical Imaging System (ATTIREOIS) and its potential applications. ATTIREOIS sensor payload consists of two sets of advanced Focal Plane Arrays (FPAs) - a broadband Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS) and a four (4) band Multispectral Electro-Optical Sensor (MEOS) to approximate Landsat ETM+ bands 1,2,3,4, and 6, and LDCM bands 2,3,4,5, and 10+11. The airborne TIRS is 3-axis stabilized payload capable of providing 3D photogrammetric images with a 1,850 pixel swathwidth via pushbroom operation. MEOS has a total of 116 million simultaneous sensor counts capable of providing 3 cm spatial resolution multispectral orthophotos for continuous airborne mapping. ATTIREOIS is a complete standalone and easy-to-use portable imaging instrument for light aerial vehicle deployment. Its miniaturized backend data system operates all ATTIREOIS imaging sensor components, an INS/GPS, and an e-Gimbal™ Control Electronic Unit (ECU) with a data throughput of 300 Megabytes/sec. The backend provides advanced onboard processing, performing autonomous raw sensor imagery development, TIRS image track-recovery reconstruction, LWIR/VNIR multi-band co-registration, and photogrammetric image processing. With geometric optics and boresight calibrations, the ATTIREOIS data products are directly georeferenced with an accuracy of approximately one meter. A prototype ATTIREOIS has been configured. Its sample LWIR/EO image data will be presented. Potential applications of ATTIREOIS include: 1) Providing timely and cost-effective, precisely and directly georeferenced surface emissive and solar reflective LWIR/VNIR multispectral images via a private Google Earth Globe to enhance NASA's Earth science research capabilities; and 2) Underflight satellites to support satellite measurement calibration and validation observations.

High throughput on-chip analysis of high-energy charged particle tracks using lensfree imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Luo, Wei; Shabbir, Faizan; Gong, Chao

2015-04-13

We demonstrate a high-throughput charged particle analysis platform, which is based on lensfree on-chip microscopy for rapid ion track analysis using allyl diglycol carbonate, i.e., CR-39 plastic polymer as the sensing medium. By adopting a wide-area opto-electronic image sensor together with a source-shifting based pixel super-resolution technique, a large CR-39 sample volume (i.e., 4 cm × 4 cm × 0.1 cm) can be imaged in less than 1 min using a compact lensfree on-chip microscope, which detects partially coherent in-line holograms of the ion tracks recorded within the CR-39 detector. After the image capture, using highly parallelized reconstruction and ion track analysis algorithms running on graphics processingmore » units, we reconstruct and analyze the entire volume of a CR-39 detector within ∼1.5 min. This significant reduction in the entire imaging and ion track analysis time not only increases our throughput but also allows us to perform time-resolved analysis of the etching process to monitor and optimize the growth of ion tracks during etching. This computational lensfree imaging platform can provide a much higher throughput and more cost-effective alternative to traditional lens-based scanning optical microscopes for ion track analysis using CR-39 and other passive high energy particle detectors.« less

SU-E-J-157: Improving the Quality of T2-Weighted 4D Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Clinical Evaluation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Du, D; Mutic, S; Hu, Y

2014-06-01

Purpose: To develop an imaging technique that enables us to acquire T2- weighted 4D Magnetic Resonance Imaging (4DMRI) with sufficient spatial coverage, temporal resolution and spatial resolution for clinical evaluation. Methods: T2-weighed 4DMRI images were acquired from a healthy volunteer using a respiratory amplitude triggered T2-weighted Turbo Spin Echo sequence. 10 respiratory states were used to equally sample the respiratory range based on amplitude (0%, 20%i, 40%i, 60%i, 80%i, 100%, 80%e, 60%e, 40%e and 20%e). To avoid frequent scanning halts, a methodology was devised that split 10 respiratory states into two packages in an interleaved manner and packages were acquiredmore » separately. Sixty 3mm sagittal slices at 1.5mm in-plane spatial resolution were acquired to offer good spatial coverage and reasonable spatial resolution. The in-plane field of view was 375mm × 260mm with nominal scan time of 3 minutes 42 seconds. Acquired 2D images at the same respiratory state were combined to form the 3D image set corresponding to that respiratory state and reconstructed in the coronal view to evaluate whether all slices were at the same respiratory state. 3D image sets of 10 respiratory states represented a complete 4D MRI image set. Results: T2-weighted 4DMRI image were acquired in 10 minutes which was within clinical acceptable range. Qualitatively, the acquired MRI images had good image quality for delineation purposes. There were no abrupt position changes in reconstructed coronal images which confirmed that all sagittal slices were in the same respiratory state. Conclusion: We demonstrated it was feasible to acquire T2-weighted 4DMRI image set within a practical amount of time (10 minutes) that had good temporal resolution (10 respiratory states), spatial resolution (1.5mm × 1.5mm × 3.0mm) and spatial coverage (60 slices) for future clinical evaluation.« less

Live-Cell Imaging of Filoviruses.

PubMed

Schudt, Gordian; Dolnik, Olga; Becker, Stephan

2017-01-01

Observation of molecular processes inside living cells is fundamental to a deeper understanding of virus-host interactions in filoviral-infected cells. These observations can provide spatiotemporal insights into protein synthesis, protein-protein interaction dynamics, and transport processes of these highly pathogenic viruses. Thus, live-cell imaging provides the possibility for antiviral screening in real time and gives mechanistic insights into understanding filovirus assembly steps that are dependent on cellular factors, which then represent potential targets against this highly fatal disease. Here we describe analysis of living filovirus-infected cells under maximum biosafety (i.e., BSL4) conditions using plasmid-driven expression of fluorescently labeled viral and cellular proteins and/or viral genome-encoded expression of fluorescently labeled proteins. Such multiple-color and multidimensional time-lapse live-cell imaging analyses are a powerful method to gain a better understanding of the filovirus infection cycle.

Image restoration for civil engineering structure monitoring using imaging system embedded on UAV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vozel, Benoit; Dumoulin, Jean; Chehdi, Kacem

2013-04-01

Nowadays, civil engineering structures are periodically surveyed by qualified technicians (i.e. alpinist) operating visual inspection using heavy mechanical pods. This method is far to be safe, not only for civil engineering structures monitoring staff, but also for users. Due to the unceasing traffic increase, making diversions or closing lanes on bridge becomes more and more difficult. New inspection methods have to be found. One of the most promising technique is to develop inspection method using images acquired by a dedicated monitoring system operating around the civil engineering structures, without disturbing the traffic. In that context, the use of images acquired with an UAV, which fly around the structures is of particular interest. The UAV can be equipped with different vision system (digital camera, infrared sensor, video, etc.). Nonetheless, detection of small distresses on images (like cracks of 1 mm or less) depends on image quality, which is sensitive to internal parameters of the UAV (vibration modes, video exposure times, etc.) and to external parameters (turbulence, bad illumination of the scene, etc.). Though progresses were made at UAV level and at sensor level (i.e. optics), image deterioration is still an open problem. These deteriorations are mainly represented by motion blur that can be coupled with out-of-focus blur and observation noise on acquired images. In practice, deteriorations are unknown if no a priori information is available or dedicated additional instrumentation is set-up at UAV level. Image restoration processing is therefore required. This is a difficult problem [1-3] which has been intensively studied over last decades [4-12]. Image restoration can be addressed by following a blind approach or a myopic one. In both cases, it includes two processing steps that can be implemented in sequential or alternate mode. The first step carries out the identification of the blur impulse response and the second one makes use of this estimated blur kernel for performing the deconvolution of the acquired image. In the present work, different regularization methods, mainly based on the pseudo norm aforementioned Total Variation, are studied and analysed. The key point of their respective implementation, their properties and limits are investigated in this particular applicative context. References [1] J. Hadamard. Lectures on Cauchy's problem in linear partial differential equations. Yale University Press, 1923. [2] A. N. Tihonov. On the resolution of incorrectly posed problems and regularisation method (in Russian). Doklady A. N.SSSR, 151(3), 1963. [3] C. R. Vogel. Computational Methods for inverse problems, SIAM, 2002. [4] A. K. Katsaggelos, J. Biemond, R.W. Schafer, and R. M. Mersereau, "A regularized iterative image restoration algorithm," IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, vol.39, no. 4, pp. 914-929, 1991. [5] J. Biemond, R. L. Lagendijk, and R. M. Mersereau, "Iterative methods for image deblurring," Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 78, no. 5, pp. 856-883, 1990. [6] D. Kundur and D. Hatzinakos, "Blind image deconvolution," IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 43-64, 1996. [7] Y. L. You and M. Kaveh, "A regularization approach to joint blur identification and image restoration," IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 416-428, 1996. [8] T. F. Chan and C. K. Wong, "Total variation blind deconvolution," IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 370-375, 1998. [9] S. Chardon, B. Vozel, and K. Chehdi. Parametric Blur Estimation Using the GCV Criterion and a Smoothness Constraint on the Image. Multidimensional Systems and Signal Processing Journal, Kluwer Ed., 10:395-414, 1999 [10] B. Vozel, K. Chehdi, and J. Dumoulin. Myopic image restoration for civil structures inspection using UAV (in French). In GRETSI, 2005. [11] L. Bar, N. Sochen, and N. Kiryati. Semi-blind image restoration via Mumford-Shah regularization. IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 15(2), 2006. [12] J. H. Money and S. H. Kang, "Total variation minimizing blind deconvolution with shock filter reference," Image and Vision Computing, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 302-314, 2008.

Quantitative fundus autofluorescence in mice: correlation with HPLC quantitation of RPE lipofuscin and measurement of retina outer nuclear layer thickness.

PubMed

Sparrow, Janet R; Blonska, Anna; Flynn, Erin; Duncker, Tobias; Greenberg, Jonathan P; Secondi, Roberta; Ueda, Keiko; Delori, François C

2013-04-17

Our study was conducted to establish procedures and protocols for quantitative autofluorescence (qAF) measurements in mice, and to report changes in qAF, A2E bisretinoid concentration, and outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness in mice of different genotypes and age. Fundus autofluorescence (AF) images (55° lens, 488 nm excitation) were acquired in albino Abca4(-/-), Abca4(+/-), and Abca4(+/+) mice (ages 2-12 months) with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO). Gray levels (GLs) in each image were calibrated to an internal fluorescence reference. The bisretinoid A2E was measured by quantitative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Histometric analysis of ONL thicknesses was performed. The Bland-Altman coefficient of repeatability (95% confidence interval) was ±18% for between-session qAF measurements. Mean qAF values increased with age (2-12 months) in all groups of mice. qAF was approximately 2-fold higher in Abca4(-/-) mice than in Abca4(+/+) mice and approximately 20% higher in heterozygous mice. HPLC measurements of the lipofuscin fluorophore A2E also revealed age-associated increases, and the fold difference between Abca4(-/-) and wild-type mice was more pronounced (approximately 3-4-fold) than measurable by qAF. Moreover, A2E levels declined after 8 months of age, a change not observed with qAF. The decline in A2E levels in the Abca4(-/-) mice corresponded to reduced photoreceptor cell viability as reflected in ONL thinning beginning at 8 months of age. The qAF method enables measurement of in vivo lipofuscin and the detection of genotype and age-associated differences. The use of this approach has the potential to aid in understanding retinal disease processes and will facilitate preclinical studies.

Quantitative approach for optimizing e-beam condition of photoresist inspection and measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Chia-Jen; Teng, Chia-Hao; Cheng, Po-Chung; Sato, Yoshishige; Huang, Shang-Chieh; Chen, Chu-En; Maruyama, Kotaro; Yamazaki, Yuichiro

2018-03-01

Severe process margin in advanced technology node of semiconductor device is controlled by e-beam metrology system and e-beam inspection system with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image. By using SEM, larger area image with higher image quality is required to collect massive amount of data for metrology and to detect defect in a large area for inspection. Although photoresist is the one of the critical process in semiconductor device manufacturing, observing photoresist pattern by SEM image is crucial and troublesome especially in the case of large image. The charging effect by e-beam irradiation on photoresist pattern causes deterioration of image quality, and it affect CD variation on metrology system and causes difficulties to continue defect inspection in a long time for a large area. In this study, we established a quantitative approach for optimizing e-beam condition with "Die to Database" algorithm of NGR3500 on photoresist pattern to minimize charging effect. And we enhanced the performance of measurement and inspection on photoresist pattern by using optimized e-beam condition. NGR3500 is the geometry verification system based on "Die to Database" algorithm which compares SEM image with design data [1]. By comparing SEM image and design data, key performance indicator (KPI) of SEM image such as "Sharpness", "S/N", "Gray level variation in FOV", "Image shift" can be retrieved. These KPIs were analyzed with different e-beam conditions which consist of "Landing Energy", "Probe Current", "Scanning Speed" and "Scanning Method", and the best e-beam condition could be achieved with maximum image quality, maximum scanning speed and minimum image shift. On this quantitative approach of optimizing e-beam condition, we could observe dependency of SEM condition on photoresist charging. By using optimized e-beam condition, measurement could be continued on photoresist pattern over 24 hours stably. KPIs of SEM image proved image quality during measurement and inspection was stabled enough.

SU-E-QI-17: Dependence of 3D/4D PET Quantitative Image Features On Noise

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oliver, J; Budzevich, M; Zhang, G

2014-06-15

Purpose: Quantitative imaging is a fast evolving discipline where a large number of features are extracted from images; i.e., radiomics. Some features have been shown to have diagnostic, prognostic and predictive value. However, they are sensitive to acquisition and processing factors; e.g., noise. In this study noise was added to positron emission tomography (PET) images to determine how features were affected by noise. Methods: Three levels of Gaussian noise were added to 8 lung cancer patients PET images acquired in 3D mode (static) and using respiratory tracking (4D); for the latter images from one of 10 phases were used. Amore » total of 62 features: 14 shape, 19 intensity (1stO), 18 GLCM textures (2ndO; from grey level co-occurrence matrices) and 11 RLM textures (2ndO; from run-length matrices) features were extracted from segmented tumors. Dimensions of GLCM were 256×256, calculated using 3D images with a step size of 1 voxel in 13 directions. Grey levels were binned into 256 levels for RLM and features were calculated in all 13 directions. Results: Feature variation generally increased with noise. Shape features were the most stable while RLM were the most unstable. Intensity and GLCM features performed well; the latter being more robust. The most stable 1stO features were compactness, maximum and minimum length, standard deviation, root-mean-squared, I30, V10-V90, and entropy. The most stable 2ndO features were entropy, sum-average, sum-entropy, difference-average, difference-variance, difference-entropy, information-correlation-2, short-run-emphasis, long-run-emphasis, and run-percentage. In general, features computed from images from one of the phases of 4D scans were more stable than from 3D scans. Conclusion: This study shows the need to characterize image features carefully before they are used in research and medical applications. It also shows that the performance of features, and thereby feature selection, may be assessed in part by noise analysis.« less

Retrieval of Ocean Surface Windspeed and Rainrate from the Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) Brightness Temperature Observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Biswas, Sayak K.; Jones, Linwood; Roberts, Jason; Ruf, Christopher; Ulhorn, Eric; Miller, Timothy

2012-01-01

The Hurricane Imaging Radiometer (HIRAD) is a new airborne synthetic aperture passive microwave radiometer capable of wide swath imaging of the ocean surface wind speed under heavy precipitation e.g. in tropical cyclones. It uses interferometric signal processing to produce upwelling brightness temperature (Tb) images at its four operating frequencies 4, 5, 6 and 6.6 GHz [1,2]. HIRAD participated in NASA s Genesis and Rapid Intensification Processes (GRIP) mission during 2010 as its first science field campaign. It produced Tb images with 70 km swath width and 3 km resolution from a 20 km altitude. From this, ocean surface wind speed and column averaged atmospheric liquid water content can be retrieved across the swath. The column averaged liquid water then could be related to an average rain rate. The retrieval algorithm (and the HIRAD instrument itself) is a direct descendant of the nadir-only Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer that is used operationally by the NOAA Hurricane Research Division to monitor tropical cyclones [3,4]. However, due to HIRAD s slant viewing geometry (compared to nadir viewing SFMR) a major modification is required in the algorithm. Results based on the modified algorithm from the GRIP campaign will be presented in the paper.

MO-E-BRB-03: Panel Member

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Salter, B.

2016-06-15

In this interactive session, lung SBRT patient cases will be presented to highlight real-world considerations for ensuring safe and accurate treatment delivery. An expert panel of speakers will discuss challenges specific to lung SBRT including patient selection, patient immobilization techniques, 4D CT simulation and respiratory motion management, target delineation for treatment planning, online treatment alignment, and established prescription regimens and OAR dose limits. Practical examples of cases, including the patient flow thought the clinical process are presented and audience participation will be encouraged. This panel session is designed to provide case demonstration and review for lung SBRT in terms ofmore » (1) clinical appropriateness in patient selection, (2) strategies for simulation, including 4D and respiratory motion management, and (3) applying multi imaging modality (4D CT imaging, MRI, PET) for tumor volume delineation and motion extent, and (4) image guidance in treatment delivery. Learning Objectives: Understand the established requirements for patient selection in lung SBRT Become familiar with the various immobilization strategies for lung SBRT, including technology for respiratory motion management Understand the benefits and pitfalls of applying multi imaging modality (4D CT imaging, MRI, PET) for tumor volume delineation and motion extent determination for lung SBRT Understand established prescription regimes and OAR dose limits.« less

MO-E-BRB-01: Panel Member

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Benedict, S.

2016-06-15

In this interactive session, lung SBRT patient cases will be presented to highlight real-world considerations for ensuring safe and accurate treatment delivery. An expert panel of speakers will discuss challenges specific to lung SBRT including patient selection, patient immobilization techniques, 4D CT simulation and respiratory motion management, target delineation for treatment planning, online treatment alignment, and established prescription regimens and OAR dose limits. Practical examples of cases, including the patient flow thought the clinical process are presented and audience participation will be encouraged. This panel session is designed to provide case demonstration and review for lung SBRT in terms ofmore » (1) clinical appropriateness in patient selection, (2) strategies for simulation, including 4D and respiratory motion management, and (3) applying multi imaging modality (4D CT imaging, MRI, PET) for tumor volume delineation and motion extent, and (4) image guidance in treatment delivery. Learning Objectives: Understand the established requirements for patient selection in lung SBRT Become familiar with the various immobilization strategies for lung SBRT, including technology for respiratory motion management Understand the benefits and pitfalls of applying multi imaging modality (4D CT imaging, MRI, PET) for tumor volume delineation and motion extent determination for lung SBRT Understand established prescription regimes and OAR dose limits.« less

MO-E-BRB-00: PANEL DISCUSSION: SBRT/SRS Case Studies - Lung

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

2016-06-15

In this interactive session, lung SBRT patient cases will be presented to highlight real-world considerations for ensuring safe and accurate treatment delivery. An expert panel of speakers will discuss challenges specific to lung SBRT including patient selection, patient immobilization techniques, 4D CT simulation and respiratory motion management, target delineation for treatment planning, online treatment alignment, and established prescription regimens and OAR dose limits. Practical examples of cases, including the patient flow thought the clinical process are presented and audience participation will be encouraged. This panel session is designed to provide case demonstration and review for lung SBRT in terms ofmore » (1) clinical appropriateness in patient selection, (2) strategies for simulation, including 4D and respiratory motion management, and (3) applying multi imaging modality (4D CT imaging, MRI, PET) for tumor volume delineation and motion extent, and (4) image guidance in treatment delivery. Learning Objectives: Understand the established requirements for patient selection in lung SBRT Become familiar with the various immobilization strategies for lung SBRT, including technology for respiratory motion management Understand the benefits and pitfalls of applying multi imaging modality (4D CT imaging, MRI, PET) for tumor volume delineation and motion extent determination for lung SBRT Understand established prescription regimes and OAR dose limits.« less

3D Human cartilage surface characterization by optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Brill, Nicolai; Riedel, Jörn; Schmitt, Robert; Tingart, Markus; Truhn, Daniel; Pufe, Thomas; Jahr, Holger; Nebelung, Sven

2015-10-07

Early diagnosis and treatment of cartilage degeneration is of high clinical interest. Loss of surface integrity is considered one of the earliest and most reliable signs of degeneration, but cannot currently be evaluated objectively. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an arthroscopically available light-based non-destructive real-time imaging technology that allows imaging at micrometre resolutions to millimetre depths. As OCT-based surface evaluation standards remain to be defined, the present study investigated the diagnostic potential of 3D surface profile parameters in the comprehensive evaluation of cartilage degeneration. To this end, 45 cartilage samples of different degenerative grades were obtained from total knee replacements (2 males, 10 females; mean age 63.8 years), cut to standard size and imaged using a spectral-domain OCT device (Thorlabs, Germany). 3D OCT datasets of 8  ×  8, 4  ×  4 and 1  ×  1 mm (width  ×  length) were obtained and pre-processed (image adjustments, morphological filtering). Subsequent automated surface identification algorithms were used to obtain the 3D primary profiles, which were then filtered and processed using established algorithms employing ISO standards. The 3D surface profile thus obtained was used to calculate a set of 21 3D surface profile parameters, i.e. height (e.g. Sa), functional (e.g. Sk), hybrid (e.g. Sdq) and segmentation-related parameters (e.g. Spd). Samples underwent reference histological assessment according to the Degenerative Joint Disease classification. Statistical analyses included calculation of Spearman's rho and assessment of inter-group differences using the Kruskal Wallis test. Overall, the majority of 3D surface profile parameters revealed significant degeneration-dependent differences and correlations with the exception of severe end-stage degeneration and were of distinct diagnostic value in the assessment of surface integrity. None of the 3D surface profile parameters investigated were capable of reliably differentiating healthy from early-degenerative cartilage, while scan area sizes considerably affected parameter values. In conclusion, cartilage surface integrity may be adequately assessed by 3D surface profile parameters, which should be used in combination for the comprehensive and thorough evaluation and overall improved diagnostic performance. OCT- and image-based surface assessment could become a valuable adjunct tool to standard arthroscopy.

3D Human cartilage surface characterization by optical coherence tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brill, Nicolai; Riedel, Jörn; Schmitt, Robert; Tingart, Markus; Truhn, Daniel; Pufe, Thomas; Jahr, Holger; Nebelung, Sven

2015-10-01

Early diagnosis and treatment of cartilage degeneration is of high clinical interest. Loss of surface integrity is considered one of the earliest and most reliable signs of degeneration, but cannot currently be evaluated objectively. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is an arthroscopically available light-based non-destructive real-time imaging technology that allows imaging at micrometre resolutions to millimetre depths. As OCT-based surface evaluation standards remain to be defined, the present study investigated the diagnostic potential of 3D surface profile parameters in the comprehensive evaluation of cartilage degeneration. To this end, 45 cartilage samples of different degenerative grades were obtained from total knee replacements (2 males, 10 females; mean age 63.8 years), cut to standard size and imaged using a spectral-domain OCT device (Thorlabs, Germany). 3D OCT datasets of 8  ×  8, 4  ×  4 and 1  ×  1 mm (width  ×  length) were obtained and pre-processed (image adjustments, morphological filtering). Subsequent automated surface identification algorithms were used to obtain the 3D primary profiles, which were then filtered and processed using established algorithms employing ISO standards. The 3D surface profile thus obtained was used to calculate a set of 21 3D surface profile parameters, i.e. height (e.g. Sa), functional (e.g. Sk), hybrid (e.g. Sdq) and segmentation-related parameters (e.g. Spd). Samples underwent reference histological assessment according to the Degenerative Joint Disease classification. Statistical analyses included calculation of Spearman’s rho and assessment of inter-group differences using the Kruskal Wallis test. Overall, the majority of 3D surface profile parameters revealed significant degeneration-dependent differences and correlations with the exception of severe end-stage degeneration and were of distinct diagnostic value in the assessment of surface integrity. None of the 3D surface profile parameters investigated were capable of reliably differentiating healthy from early-degenerative cartilage, while scan area sizes considerably affected parameter values. In conclusion, cartilage surface integrity may be adequately assessed by 3D surface profile parameters, which should be used in combination for the comprehensive and thorough evaluation and overall improved diagnostic performance. OCT- and image-based surface assessment could become a valuable adjunct tool to standard arthroscopy.

ULTOR(Registered TradeMark) Passive Pose and Position Engine For Spacecraft Relative Navigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hannah, S. Joel

2008-01-01

The ULTOR(Registered TradeMark) Passive Pose and Position Engine (P3E) technology, developed by Advanced Optical Systems, Inc (AOS), uses real-time image correlation to provide relative position and pose data for spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control. Potential data sources include a wide variety of sensors, including visible and infrared cameras. ULTOR(Registered TradeMark) P3E has been demonstrated on a number of host processing platforms. NASA is integrating ULTOR(Registerd TradeMark) P3E into its Relative Navigation System (RNS), which is being developed for the upcoming Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Servicing Mission 4 (SM4). During SM4 ULTOR(Registered TradeMark) P3E will perform realtime pose and position measurements during both the approach and departure phases of the mission. This paper describes the RNS implementation of ULTOR(Registered TradeMark) P3E, and presents results from NASA's hardware-in-the-loop simulation testing against the HST mockup.

A History of the Chemical Innovations in Silver-Halide Materials for Color PhotographyIII. Dye Tranfer Process — Instant Color Photography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oishi, Yasushi

A historical review of the technological developments of instant color photographic process, is presented with emphasis on the innovation processes at the following main turning points: 1) the creation of instant photography by E. H. Land in 1948 (one step processing by transfer of image-forming materials), 2) the advent of instant color photography based on dye developer, by Polaroid Corp., in 1963 (departing from dye-forming development, forming a direct positive preformed-dye image with a negative emulsion, but constraining the sensitive-material designs), 3) the introduction of a color instant product containing redox dye releaser with improved auto-positive emulsion, by Eastman Kodak Co., in 1976 (producing much improved color image quality, freed from the design constraints), and 4) the realization of absolute one-step photography by the integral film- unit system, by Polaroid in 1972. And the patent litigation (1976-86) raised by Polaroid against Kodak allegedly infringing on the integral film-unit patents caused the vast impacts on the industry.

Long-range non-contact imaging photoplethysmography: cardiac pulse wave sensing at a distance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blackford, Ethan B.; Estepp, Justin R.; Piasecki, Alyssa M.; Bowers, Margaret A.; Klosterman, Samantha L.

2016-03-01

Non-contact, imaging photoplethysmography uses photo-optical sensors to measure variations in light absorption, caused by blood volume pulsations, to assess cardiopulmonary parameters including pulse rate, pulse rate variability, and respiration rate. Recently, researchers have studied the applications and methodology of imaging photoplethysmography. Basic research has examined some of the variables affecting data quality and accuracy of imaging photoplethysmography including signal processing, imager parameters (e.g. frame rate and resolution), lighting conditions, subject motion, and subject skin tone. This technology may be beneficial for long term or continuous monitoring where contact measurements may be harmful (e.g. skin sensitivities) or where imperceptible or unobtrusive measurements are desirable. Using previously validated signal processing methods, we examined the effects of imager-to-subject distance on one-minute, windowed estimates of pulse rate. High-resolution video of 22, stationary participants was collected using an enthusiast-grade, mirrorless, digital camera equipped with a fully-manual, super-telephoto lens at distances of 25, 50, and 100 meters with simultaneous contact measurements of electrocardiography, and fingertip photoplethysmography. By comparison, previous studies have usually been conducted with imager-to-subject distances of up to only a few meters. Mean absolute error for one-minute, windowed, pulse rate estimates (compared to those derived from gold-standard electrocardiography) were 2.0, 4.1, and 10.9 beats per minute at distances of 25, 50, and 100 meters, respectively. Long-range imaging presents several unique challenges among which include decreased, observed light reflectance and smaller regions of interest. Nevertheless, these results demonstrate that accurate pulse rate measurements can be obtained from over long imager-to-participant distances given these constraints.

Visual and visuomotor processing of hands and tools as a case study of cross talk between the dorsal and ventral streams.

PubMed

Almeida, Jorge; Amaral, Lénia; Garcea, Frank E; Aguiar de Sousa, Diana; Xu, Shan; Mahon, Bradford Z; Martins, Isabel Pavão

2018-05-24

A major principle of organization of the visual system is between a dorsal stream that processes visuomotor information and a ventral stream that supports object recognition. Most research has focused on dissociating processing across these two streams. Here we focus on how the two streams interact. We tested neurologically-intact and impaired participants in an object categorization task over two classes of objects that depend on processing within both streams-hands and tools. We measured how unconscious processing of images from one of these categories (e.g., tools) affects the recognition of images from the other category (i.e., hands). Our findings with neurologically-intact participants demonstrated that processing an image of a hand hampers the subsequent processing of an image of a tool, and vice versa. These results were not present in apraxic patients (N = 3). These findings suggest local and global inhibitory processes working in tandem to co-register information across the two streams.

Using Cell-ID 1.4 with R for Microscope-Based Cytometry

PubMed Central

Bush, Alan; Chernomoretz, Ariel; Yu, Richard; Gordon, Andrew

2012-01-01

This unit describes a method for quantifying various cellular features (e.g., volume, total and subcellular fluorescence localization) from sets of microscope images of individual cells. It includes procedures for tracking cells over time. One purposefully defocused transmission image (sometimes referred to as bright-field or BF) is acquired to segment the image and locate each cell. Fluorescent images (one for each of the color channels to be analyzed) are then acquired by conventional wide-field epifluorescence or confocal microscopy. This method uses the image processing capabilities of Cell-ID (Gordon et al., 2007, as updated here) and data analysis by the statistical programming framework R (R-Development-Team, 2008), which we have supplemented with a package of routines for analyzing Cell-ID output. Both Cell-ID and the analysis package are open-source. PMID:23026908

Quantitative imaging biomarkers: the application of advanced image processing and analysis to clinical and preclinical decision making.

PubMed

Prescott, Jeffrey William

2013-02-01

The importance of medical imaging for clinical decision making has been steadily increasing over the last four decades. Recently, there has also been an emphasis on medical imaging for preclinical decision making, i.e., for use in pharamaceutical and medical device development. There is also a drive towards quantification of imaging findings by using quantitative imaging biomarkers, which can improve sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and reproducibility of imaged characteristics used for diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. An important component of the discovery, characterization, validation and application of quantitative imaging biomarkers is the extraction of information and meaning from images through image processing and subsequent analysis. However, many advanced image processing and analysis methods are not applied directly to questions of clinical interest, i.e., for diagnostic and therapeutic decision making, which is a consideration that should be closely linked to the development of such algorithms. This article is meant to address these concerns. First, quantitative imaging biomarkers are introduced by providing definitions and concepts. Then, potential applications of advanced image processing and analysis to areas of quantitative imaging biomarker research are described; specifically, research into osteoarthritis (OA), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cancer is presented. Then, challenges in quantitative imaging biomarker research are discussed. Finally, a conceptual framework for integrating clinical and preclinical considerations into the development of quantitative imaging biomarkers and their computer-assisted methods of extraction is presented.

High-quality and small-capacity e-learning video featuring lecturer-superimposing PC screen images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nomura, Yoshihiko; Murakami, Michinobu; Sakamoto, Ryota; Sugiura, Tokuhiro; Matsui, Hirokazu; Kato, Norihiko

2006-10-01

Information processing and communication technology are progressing quickly, and are prevailing throughout various technological fields. Therefore, the development of such technology should respond to the needs for improvement of quality in the e-learning education system. The authors propose a new video-image compression processing system that ingeniously employs the features of the lecturing scene. While dynamic lecturing scene is shot by a digital video camera, screen images are electronically stored by a PC screen image capturing software in relatively long period at a practical class. Then, a lecturer and a lecture stick are extracted from the digital video images by pattern recognition techniques, and the extracted images are superimposed on the appropriate PC screen images by off-line processing. Thus, we have succeeded to create a high-quality and small-capacity (HQ/SC) video-on-demand educational content featuring the advantages: the high quality of image sharpness, the small electronic file capacity, and the realistic lecturer motion.

A discriminative structural similarity measure and its application to video-volume registration for endoscope three-dimensional motion tracking.

PubMed

Luo, Xiongbiao; Mori, Kensaku

2014-06-01

Endoscope 3-D motion tracking, which seeks to synchronize pre- and intra-operative images in endoscopic interventions, is usually performed as video-volume registration that optimizes the similarity between endoscopic video and pre-operative images. The tracking performance, in turn, depends significantly on whether a similarity measure can successfully characterize the difference between video sequences and volume rendering images driven by pre-operative images. The paper proposes a discriminative structural similarity measure, which uses the degradation of structural information and takes image correlation or structure, luminance, and contrast into consideration, to boost video-volume registration. By applying the proposed similarity measure to endoscope tracking, it was demonstrated to be more accurate and robust than several available similarity measures, e.g., local normalized cross correlation, normalized mutual information, modified mean square error, or normalized sum squared difference. Based on clinical data evaluation, the tracking error was reduced significantly from at least 14.6 mm to 4.5 mm. The processing time was accelerated more than 30 frames per second using graphics processing unit.

Impact of Apolipoprotein E4 Polymorphism on the Gray Matter Volume and the White Matter Integrity in Subjective Memory Impairment without White Matter Hyperintensities: Voxel-Based Morphometry and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study under 3-Tesla MRI.

PubMed

Lee, Young-Min; Ha, Ji-Kyung; Park, Je-Min; Lee, Byung-Dae; Moon, EunSoo; Chung, Young-In; Kim, Ji-Hoon; Kim, Hak-Jin; Mun, Chi-Woong; Kim, Tae-Hyung; Kim, Young-Hoon

2016-01-01

The aim of this study is to compare gray matter (GM) volume and white matter (WM) integrity in Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE ε4) carriers with that of ApoE ε4 noncarriers using the voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the effect of the ApoE ε4 on brain structures in subjective memory impairment (SMI) without white matter hyperintensities (WMH). Altogether, 26 participants with SMI without WMH were finally recruited from the Memory impairment clinics of Pusan National University Hospital in Korea. All participants were ApoE genotyped (ApoE ε4 carriers: n = 13, matched ApoE ε4 noncarriers: n = 13) and underwent 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including 3-dimensional volumetric images for GM volume and DTI for WM integrity. ApoE ε4 carriers compared with noncarriers in SMI without WMH showed the atrophy of GM in inferior temporal gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, anterior cingulum, middle frontal gyrus, and precentral gyrus and significantly lower fractional anisotropy WM values in the splenium of corpus callosum and anterior corona radiate. Our findings suggest that the ApoE ε4 is associated with both atrophy of GM volume and disruption of WM integrity in SMI without WMH. Copyright © 2015 by the American Society of Neuroimaging.

Investigation of image enhancement techniques for the development of a self-contained airborne radar navigation system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Phatak, A. V.; Karmali, M. S.

1983-01-01

This study was devoted to an investigation of the feasibility of applying advanced image processing techniques to enhance radar image characteristics that are pertinent to the pilot's navigation and guidance task. Millimeter (95 GHz) wave radar images for the overwater (i.e., offshore oil rigs) and overland (Heliport) scenario were used as a data base. The purpose of the study was to determine the applicability of image enhancement and scene analysis algorithms to detect and improve target characteristics (i.e., manmade objects such as buildings, parking lots, cars, roads, helicopters, towers, landing pads, etc.) that would be helpful to the pilot in determining his own position/orientation with respect to the outside world and assist him in the navigation task. Results of this study show that significant improvements in the raw radar image may be obtained using two dimensional image processing algorithms. In the overwater case, it is possible to remove the ocean clutter by thresholding the image data, and furthermore to extract the target boundary as well as the tower and catwalk locations using noise cleaning (e.g., median filter) and edge detection (e.g., Sobel operator) algorithms.

Towards Portable Large-Scale Image Processing with High-Performance Computing.

PubMed

Huo, Yuankai; Blaber, Justin; Damon, Stephen M; Boyd, Brian D; Bao, Shunxing; Parvathaneni, Prasanna; Noguera, Camilo Bermudez; Chaganti, Shikha; Nath, Vishwesh; Greer, Jasmine M; Lyu, Ilwoo; French, William R; Newton, Allen T; Rogers, Baxter P; Landman, Bennett A

2018-05-03

High-throughput, large-scale medical image computing demands tight integration of high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure for data storage, job distribution, and image processing. The Vanderbilt University Institute for Imaging Science (VUIIS) Center for Computational Imaging (CCI) has constructed a large-scale image storage and processing infrastructure that is composed of (1) a large-scale image database using the eXtensible Neuroimaging Archive Toolkit (XNAT), (2) a content-aware job scheduling platform using the Distributed Automation for XNAT pipeline automation tool (DAX), and (3) a wide variety of encapsulated image processing pipelines called "spiders." The VUIIS CCI medical image data storage and processing infrastructure have housed and processed nearly half-million medical image volumes with Vanderbilt Advanced Computing Center for Research and Education (ACCRE), which is the HPC facility at the Vanderbilt University. The initial deployment was natively deployed (i.e., direct installations on a bare-metal server) within the ACCRE hardware and software environments, which lead to issues of portability and sustainability. First, it could be laborious to deploy the entire VUIIS CCI medical image data storage and processing infrastructure to another HPC center with varying hardware infrastructure, library availability, and software permission policies. Second, the spiders were not developed in an isolated manner, which has led to software dependency issues during system upgrades or remote software installation. To address such issues, herein, we describe recent innovations using containerization techniques with XNAT/DAX which are used to isolate the VUIIS CCI medical image data storage and processing infrastructure from the underlying hardware and software environments. The newly presented XNAT/DAX solution has the following new features: (1) multi-level portability from system level to the application level, (2) flexible and dynamic software development and expansion, and (3) scalable spider deployment compatible with HPC clusters and local workstations.

Hydrated Sulfates in the Southern High Latitudes of Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ackiss, S. E.; Wray, J. J.

2012-12-01

Sulfates on Mars appear largely concentrated in sedimentary rocks dating to the Late Noachian or Hesperian [e.g., 1], but they are also abundant in Amazonian sand dunes around the north polar cap [2]. The gypsum in those dunes derives from the polar layered deposits [e.g., 3], where it may form when sunlight causes minor melting and weathering of embedded dust. We are investigating whether such processes might have also contributed to sulfate formation elsewhere, specifically in regions surrounding the south polar terrain. Our study regions to date include the Sisyphi Montes (20W-40E and 55-75S) and other mountainous areas near the Thyles Rupes (110-140E and 55-75S), the Ulyxis Rupes (150-180E and 55-70S), and Chamberlin Crater (110-150W and 55-75S). We searched for sulfates using the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM). TRR3 images were evaluated using standard CRISM procedures, including the "volcano scan" atmospheric correction. We used spectral parameters to identify regions of interest, from which we extracted spectra, which we divided by spectrally neutral regions in the same scene to remove systematic artifacts. The resulting ratio spectra were visually compared to library spectra to identify possible hydrated mineral constituents. Some sulfates in the southern high latitudes appear localized to mountains of the Sisyphi Montes, which have been interpreted as volcanoes that erupted under a Hesperian ice sheet [4]. These sulfates might have formed via volcanic hydrothermal or acid fog alteration. We found that nearly 50% of the images on putative volcanoes in the Sisyphi Montes show a 1.9 μm absorption consistent with hydration. The percentage for images on the plains between volcanoes is actually higher; i.e., hydration is not unique to the volcanoes. Nevertheless, the three locations at which we found the strongest absorptions are all on volcanoes. In the Thyles Rupes region, 25% of the images on putative volcanoes are hydrated with a broad band at ~1.92 μm. Roughly 45% of the images off volcanoes are hydrated with the majority of them being located inside a crater, on a crater rim, or in the plains. Nearly 80% of hydrated images near the Ulyxis Rupes are also located either on a crater rim or inside a crater. Twenty percent of the images near the Chamberlin Crater are hydrated and mostly located in the plains or on a crater rim. Their spectra show consistent absorptions around 1.9 and 2.5 μm. The concentration of hydrated sulfates inside and on the rims of craters in all three of these regions suggests that the sulfates may be relatively old, and were exposed when the surface was impacted. Our results substantially expand the number of known areas in the southern high latitudes exhibiting hydration. The fact that hydration is found in all the regions we studied suggests an ubiquitous process for hydrated mineral formation, possibly similar to icy weathering processes proposed for the north polar region. References: [1] Bibring J.-P. et al. (2006) Science, 312, 400-404. [2] Langevin Y. et al. (2005) Science, 307, 1584-1586. [3] Massé M. et al. (2010) Icarus, 209, 434-451. [4] Ghatan G. and Head J. (2002) JGR, 107, 5048

Coincident Extraction of Line Objects from Stereo Image Pairs.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-09-01

4.4.3 Reconstruction of intersections 4.5 Final result processing 5. Presentation of the results 5.1 FIM image processing system 5.2 Extraction results in...image. To achieve this goal, the existing software system had to be modified and extended considerably. The following sections of this report will give...8000 pixels of each image without explicit loading of subimages could not yet be performed due to computer system software problems. m m n m -4- The

Comparative analysis of electrophysical properties of ceramic tantalum pentoxide coatings, deposited by electron beam evaporation and magnetron sputtering methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donkov, N.; Mateev, E.; Safonov, V.; Zykova, A.; Yakovin, S.; Kolesnikov, D.; Sudzhanskaya, I.; Goncharov, I.; Georgieva, V.

2014-12-01

Ta2O5 ceramic coatings have been deposited on glass substrates by e-beam evaporation and magnetron sputtering methods. For the magnetron sputtering process Ta target was used. X-ray diffraction measurements show that these coatings are amorphous. XPS survey spectra of the ceramic Ta2O5 coatings were obtained. All spectra consist of well-defined XPS lines of Ta 4f, 4d, 4p and 4s; O 1s; C 1s. Ta 4f doublets are typical for Ta2O5 coatings with two main peaks. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images of the e-beam evaporated and magnetron sputtered Ta2O5 ceramic coatings have revealed a relatively flat surface with no cracks. The dielectric properties of the tantalum pentoxide coatings have been investigated in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 1 MHz. The electrical behaviour of e-beam evaporated and magnetron sputtered Ta2O5 ceramic coatings have also been compared. The deposition process conditions principally effect the structure parameters and electrical properties of Ta2O5 ceramic coatings. The coatings deposited by different methods demonstrate the range of dielectric parameters due to the structural and stoichiometric composition changes

Spectral-element simulations of wave propagation in complex exploration-industry models: Imaging and adjoint tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Y.; Nissen-Meyer, T.; Morency, C.; Tromp, J.

2008-12-01

Seismic imaging in the exploration industry is often based upon ray-theoretical migration techniques (e.g., Kirchhoff) or other ideas which neglect some fraction of the seismic wavefield (e.g., wavefield continuation for acoustic-wave first arrivals) in the inversion process. In a companion paper we discuss the possibility of solving the full physical forward problem (i.e., including visco- and poroelastic, anisotropic media) using the spectral-element method. With such a tool at hand, we can readily apply the adjoint method to tomographic inversions, i.e., iteratively improving an initial 3D background model to fit the data. In the context of this inversion process, we draw connections between kernels in adjoint tomography and basic imaging principles in migration. We show that the images obtained by migration are nothing but particular kinds of adjoint kernels (mainly density kernels). Migration is basically a first step in the iterative inversion process of adjoint tomography. We apply the approach to basic 2D problems involving layered structures, overthrusting faults, topography, salt domes, and poroelastic regions.

Toward a Low-Cost System for High-Throughput Image-Based Phenotyping of Root System Architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, T. W.; Schneider, D. J.; Cheng, H.; Shaw, N.; Kochian, L. V.; Shaff, J. E.

2015-12-01

Root system architecture is being studied more closely for improved nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance and carbon sequestration by relating the genetic material that corresponds to preferential physical features. This information can help direct plant breeders in addressing the growing concerns regarding the global demand on crops and fossil fuels. To help support this incentive comes a need to make high-throughput image-based phenotyping of plant roots, at the individual plant scale, simpler and more affordable. Our goal is to create an affordable and portable product for simple image collection, processing and management that will extend root phenotyping to institutions with limited funding (e.g., in developing countries). Thus, a new integrated system has been developed using the Raspberry Pi single-board computer. Similar to other 3D-based imaging platforms, the system utilizes a stationary camera to photograph a rotating crop root system (e.g., rice, maize or sorghum) that is suspended either in a gel or on a mesh (for hydroponics). In contrast, the new design takes advantage of powerful open-source hardware and software to reduce the system costs, simplify the imaging process, and manage the large datasets produced by the high-resolution photographs. A newly designed graphical user interface (GUI) unifies the system controls (e.g., adjusting camera and motor settings and orchestrating the motor motion with image capture), making it easier to accommodate a variety of experiments. During each imaging session, integral metadata necessary for reproducing experiment results are collected (e.g., plant type and age, growing conditions and treatments, camera settings) using hierarchical data format files. These metadata are searchable within the GUI and can be selected and extracted for further analysis. The GUI also supports an image previewer that performs limited image processing (e.g., thresholding and cropping). Root skeletonization, 3D reconstruction and trait calculation (e.g., rooting depth, rooting angle, total volume of roots) is being developed in conjunction with this project.

SU-E-J-88: Deformable Registration Using Multi-Resolution Demons Algorithm for 4DCT.

PubMed

Li, Dengwang; Yin, Yong

2012-06-01

In order to register 4DCT efficiently, we propose an improved deformable registration algorithm based on improved multi-resolution demons strategy to improve the efficiency of the algorithm. 4DCT images of lung cancer patients are collected from a General Electric Discovery ST CT scanner from our cancer hospital. All of the images are sorted into groups and reconstructed according to their phases, and eachrespiratory cycle is divided into 10 phases with the time interval of 10%. Firstly, in our improved demons algorithm we use gradients of both reference and floating images as deformation forces and also redistribute the forces according to the proportion of the two forces. Furthermore, we introduce intermediate variable to cost function for decreasing the noise in registration process. At the same time, Gaussian multi-resolution strategy and BFGS method for optimization are used to improve speed and accuracy of the registration. To validate the performance of the algorithm, we register the previous 10 phase-images. We compared the difference of floating and reference images before and after registered where two landmarks are decided by experienced clinician. We registered 10 phase-images of 4D-CT which is lung cancer patient from cancer hospital and choose images in exhalationas the reference images, and all other images were registered into the reference images. This method has a good accuracy demonstrated by a higher similarity measure for registration of 4D-CT and it can register a large deformation precisely. Finally, we obtain the tumor target achieved by the deformation fields using proposed method, which is more accurately than the internal margin (IM) expanded by the Gross Tumor Volume (GTV). Furthermore, we achieve tumor and normal tissue tracking and dose accumulation using 4DCT data. An efficient deformable registration algorithm was proposed by using multi-resolution demons algorithm for 4DCT. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

TheHiveDB image data management and analysis framework.

PubMed

Muehlboeck, J-Sebastian; Westman, Eric; Simmons, Andrew

2014-01-06

The hive database system (theHiveDB) is a web-based brain imaging database, collaboration, and activity system which has been designed as an imaging workflow management system capable of handling cross-sectional and longitudinal multi-center studies. It can be used to organize and integrate existing data from heterogeneous projects as well as data from ongoing studies. It has been conceived to guide and assist the researcher throughout the entire research process, integrating all relevant types of data across modalities (e.g., brain imaging, clinical, and genetic data). TheHiveDB is a modern activity and resource management system capable of scheduling image processing on both private compute resources and the cloud. The activity component supports common image archival and management tasks as well as established pipeline processing (e.g., Freesurfer for extraction of scalar measures from magnetic resonance images). Furthermore, via theHiveDB activity system algorithm developers may grant access to virtual machines hosting versioned releases of their tools to collaborators and the imaging community. The application of theHiveDB is illustrated with a brief use case based on organizing, processing, and analyzing data from the publically available Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

TheHiveDB image data management and analysis framework

PubMed Central

Muehlboeck, J-Sebastian; Westman, Eric; Simmons, Andrew

2014-01-01

The hive database system (theHiveDB) is a web-based brain imaging database, collaboration, and activity system which has been designed as an imaging workflow management system capable of handling cross-sectional and longitudinal multi-center studies. It can be used to organize and integrate existing data from heterogeneous projects as well as data from ongoing studies. It has been conceived to guide and assist the researcher throughout the entire research process, integrating all relevant types of data across modalities (e.g., brain imaging, clinical, and genetic data). TheHiveDB is a modern activity and resource management system capable of scheduling image processing on both private compute resources and the cloud. The activity component supports common image archival and management tasks as well as established pipeline processing (e.g., Freesurfer for extraction of scalar measures from magnetic resonance images). Furthermore, via theHiveDB activity system algorithm developers may grant access to virtual machines hosting versioned releases of their tools to collaborators and the imaging community. The application of theHiveDB is illustrated with a brief use case based on organizing, processing, and analyzing data from the publically available Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. PMID:24432000

Imaging the eye fundus with real-time en-face spectral domain optical coherence tomography

PubMed Central

Bradu, Adrian; Podoleanu, Adrian Gh.

2014-01-01

Real-time display of processed en-face spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images is important for diagnosis. However, due to many steps of data processing requirements, such as Fast Fourier transformation (FFT), data re-sampling, spectral shaping, apodization, zero padding, followed by software cut of the 3D volume acquired to produce an en-face slice, conventional high-speed SD-OCT cannot render an en-face OCT image in real time. Recently we demonstrated a Master/Slave (MS)-OCT method that is highly parallelizable, as it provides reflectivity values of points at depth within an A-scan in parallel. This allows direct production of en-face images. In addition, the MS-OCT method does not require data linearization, which further simplifies the processing. The computation in our previous paper was however time consuming. In this paper we present an optimized algorithm that can be used to provide en-face MS-OCT images much quicker. Using such an algorithm we demonstrate around 10 times faster production of sets of en-face OCT images than previously obtained as well as simultaneous real-time display of up to 4 en-face OCT images of 200 × 200 pixels2 from the fovea and the optic nerve of a volunteer. We also demonstrate 3D and B-scan OCT images obtained from sets of MS-OCT C-scans, i.e. with no FFT and no intermediate step of generation of A-scans. PMID:24761303

A hybrid reconstruction algorithm for fast and accurate 4D cone-beam CT imaging.

PubMed

Yan, Hao; Zhen, Xin; Folkerts, Michael; Li, Yongbao; Pan, Tinsu; Cervino, Laura; Jiang, Steve B; Jia, Xun

2014-07-01

4D cone beam CT (4D-CBCT) has been utilized in radiation therapy to provide 4D image guidance in lung and upper abdomen area. However, clinical application of 4D-CBCT is currently limited due to the long scan time and low image quality. The purpose of this paper is to develop a new 4D-CBCT reconstruction method that restores volumetric images based on the 1-min scan data acquired with a standard 3D-CBCT protocol. The model optimizes a deformation vector field that deforms a patient-specific planning CT (p-CT), so that the calculated 4D-CBCT projections match measurements. A forward-backward splitting (FBS) method is invented to solve the optimization problem. It splits the original problem into two well-studied subproblems, i.e., image reconstruction and deformable image registration. By iteratively solving the two subproblems, FBS gradually yields correct deformation information, while maintaining high image quality. The whole workflow is implemented on a graphic-processing-unit to improve efficiency. Comprehensive evaluations have been conducted on a moving phantom and three real patient cases regarding the accuracy and quality of the reconstructed images, as well as the algorithm robustness and efficiency. The proposed algorithm reconstructs 4D-CBCT images from highly under-sampled projection data acquired with 1-min scans. Regarding the anatomical structure location accuracy, 0.204 mm average differences and 0.484 mm maximum difference are found for the phantom case, and the maximum differences of 0.3-0.5 mm for patients 1-3 are observed. As for the image quality, intensity errors below 5 and 20 HU compared to the planning CT are achieved for the phantom and the patient cases, respectively. Signal-noise-ratio values are improved by 12.74 and 5.12 times compared to results from FDK algorithm using the 1-min data and 4-min data, respectively. The computation time of the algorithm on a NVIDIA GTX590 card is 1-1.5 min per phase. High-quality 4D-CBCT imaging based on the clinically standard 1-min 3D CBCT scanning protocol is feasible via the proposed hybrid reconstruction algorithm.

Concurrent Image Processing Executive (CIPE). Volume 1: Design overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Meemong; Groom, Steven L.; Mazer, Alan S.; Williams, Winifred I.

1990-01-01

The design and implementation of a Concurrent Image Processing Executive (CIPE), which is intended to become the support system software for a prototype high performance science analysis workstation are described. The target machine for this software is a JPL/Caltech Mark 3fp Hypercube hosted by either a MASSCOMP 5600 or a Sun-3, Sun-4 workstation; however, the design will accommodate other concurrent machines of similar architecture, i.e., local memory, multiple-instruction-multiple-data (MIMD) machines. The CIPE system provides both a multimode user interface and an applications programmer interface, and has been designed around four loosely coupled modules: user interface, host-resident executive, hypercube-resident executive, and application functions. The loose coupling between modules allows modification of a particular module without significantly affecting the other modules in the system. In order to enhance hypercube memory utilization and to allow expansion of image processing capabilities, a specialized program management method, incremental loading, was devised. To minimize data transfer between host and hypercube, a data management method which distributes, redistributes, and tracks data set information was implemented. The data management also allows data sharing among application programs. The CIPE software architecture provides a flexible environment for scientific analysis of complex remote sensing image data, such as planetary data and imaging spectrometry, utilizing state-of-the-art concurrent computation capabilities.

SU-E-J-74: Impact of Respiration-Correlated Image Quality On Tumor Motion Reconstruction in 4D-CBCT: A Phantom Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, S; Lu, B; Samant, S

2014-06-01

Purpose: To investigate the effects of scanning parameters and respiratory patterns on the image quality for 4-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography(4D-CBCT) imaging, and assess the accuracy of computed tumor trajectory for lung imaging using registration of phased 4D-CBCT imaging with treatment planning-CT. Methods: We simulated a periodic and non-sinusoidal respirations with various breathing periods and amplitudes using a respiratory phantom(Quasar, Modus Medical Devices Inc) to acquire respiration-correlated 4D-CBCT images. 4D-CBCT scans(Elekta Oncology Systems Ltd) were performed with different scanning parameters for collimation size(e.g., small and medium field-of-views) and scanning speed(e.g., slow 50°·min{sup −1}, fast 100°·min{sup −1}). Using a standard CBCT-QA phantom(Catphan500,more » The Phantom Laboratory), the image qualities of all phases in 4D-CBCT were evaluated with contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) for lung tissue and uniformity in each module. Using a respiratory phantom, the target imaging in 4D-CBCT was compared to 3D-CBCT target image. The target trajectory from 10-respiratory phases in 4D-CBCT was extracted using an automatic image registration and subsequently assessed the accuracy by comparing with actual motion of the target. Results: Image analysis indicated that a short respiration with a small amplitude resulted in superior CNR and uniformity. Smaller variation of CNR and uniformity was present amongst different respiratory phases. The small field-of-view with a partial scan using slow scan can improve CNR, but degraded uniformity. Large amplitude of respiration can degrade image quality. RMS of voxel densities in tumor area of 4D-CBCT images between sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal motion exhibited no significant difference. The maximum displacement errors of motion trajectories were less than 1.0 mm and 13.5 mm, for sinusoidal and non-sinusoidal breathings, respectively. The accuracy of motion reconstruction showed good overall agreement with the 4D-CBCT image quality results only using sinusoidal breathings. Conclusion: This information can be used to determine the appropriate acquisition parameters of 4D-CBCT imaging for registration accuracy and target trajectory measurements in a clinical setting.« less

Automatic Nuclei Segmentation in H&E Stained Breast Cancer Histopathology Images

PubMed Central

Veta, Mitko; van Diest, Paul J.; Kornegoor, Robert; Huisman, André; Viergever, Max A.; Pluim, Josien P. W.

2013-01-01

The introduction of fast digital slide scanners that provide whole slide images has led to a revival of interest in image analysis applications in pathology. Segmentation of cells and nuclei is an important first step towards automatic analysis of digitized microscopy images. We therefore developed an automated nuclei segmentation method that works with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained breast cancer histopathology images, which represent regions of whole digital slides. The procedure can be divided into four main steps: 1) pre-processing with color unmixing and morphological operators, 2) marker-controlled watershed segmentation at multiple scales and with different markers, 3) post-processing for rejection of false regions and 4) merging of the results from multiple scales. The procedure was developed on a set of 21 breast cancer cases (subset A) and tested on a separate validation set of 18 cases (subset B). The evaluation was done in terms of both detection accuracy (sensitivity and positive predictive value) and segmentation accuracy (Dice coefficient). The mean estimated sensitivity for subset A was 0.875 (±0.092) and for subset B 0.853 (±0.077). The mean estimated positive predictive value was 0.904 (±0.075) and 0.886 (±0.069) for subsets A and B, respectively. For both subsets, the distribution of the Dice coefficients had a high peak around 0.9, with the vast majority of segmentations having values larger than 0.8. PMID:23922958

Automatic nuclei segmentation in H&E stained breast cancer histopathology images.

PubMed

Veta, Mitko; van Diest, Paul J; Kornegoor, Robert; Huisman, André; Viergever, Max A; Pluim, Josien P W

2013-01-01

The introduction of fast digital slide scanners that provide whole slide images has led to a revival of interest in image analysis applications in pathology. Segmentation of cells and nuclei is an important first step towards automatic analysis of digitized microscopy images. We therefore developed an automated nuclei segmentation method that works with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained breast cancer histopathology images, which represent regions of whole digital slides. The procedure can be divided into four main steps: 1) pre-processing with color unmixing and morphological operators, 2) marker-controlled watershed segmentation at multiple scales and with different markers, 3) post-processing for rejection of false regions and 4) merging of the results from multiple scales. The procedure was developed on a set of 21 breast cancer cases (subset A) and tested on a separate validation set of 18 cases (subset B). The evaluation was done in terms of both detection accuracy (sensitivity and positive predictive value) and segmentation accuracy (Dice coefficient). The mean estimated sensitivity for subset A was 0.875 (±0.092) and for subset B 0.853 (±0.077). The mean estimated positive predictive value was 0.904 (±0.075) and 0.886 (±0.069) for subsets A and B, respectively. For both subsets, the distribution of the Dice coefficients had a high peak around 0.9, with the vast majority of segmentations having values larger than 0.8.

Biomedical image analysis and processing in clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bednarz, Tomasz; Szul, Piotr; Arzhaeva, Yulia; Wang, Dadong; Burdett, Neil; Khassapov, Alex; Chen, Shiping; Vallotton, Pascal; Lagerstrom, Ryan; Gureyev, Tim; Taylor, John

2013-10-01

Cloud-based Image Analysis and Processing Toolbox project runs on the Australian National eResearch Collaboration Tools and Resources (NeCTAR) cloud infrastructure and allows access to biomedical image processing and analysis services to researchers via remotely accessible user interfaces. By providing user-friendly access to cloud computing resources and new workflow-based interfaces, our solution enables researchers to carry out various challenging image analysis and reconstruction tasks. Several case studies will be presented during the conference.

Parallel Algorithms for Image Analysis.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-06-01

8217 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4. TITLE (aid Subtitle) S. TYPE OF REPORT & PERIOD COVERED PARALLEL ALGORITHMS FOR IMAGE ANALYSIS TECHNICAL 6. PERFORMING O4G. REPORT NUMBER TR-1180...Continue on reverse side it neceesary aid Identlfy by block number) Image processing; image analysis ; parallel processing; cellular computers. 20... IMAGE ANALYSIS TECHNICAL 6. PERFORMING ONG. REPORT NUMBER TR-1180 - 7. AUTHOR(&) S. CONTRACT OR GRANT NUMBER(s) Azriel Rosenfeld AFOSR-77-3271 9

Lab-X-ray multidimensional imaging of processes inside porous media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Godinho, Jose

2017-04-01

Time-lapse and other multidimensional X-ray imaging techniques have mostly been applied using synchrotron radiation, which limits accessibility and complicates data analysis. Here, we present new time-lapse imaging approaches using laboratory X-ray computed microtomography (CT) to study transformations inside porous media. Specifically, three methods will be presented: 1) Quantitative time-lapse radiography to study sub-second processes. For example to study the penetration of particles into fractures and pores, which is essential to understand how proppants keep fractures opened during hydraulic fracturing and how filter cakes form during borehole drilling. 2) Combination of time-lapse CT with diffraction tomography to study the transformation between bio-inspired polymorphs in 6D, e.g. mineral phase transformation between ACC, Vaterite and Calcite - CaCO3, and between ACS, Anhydrite and Gypsum - CaSO4. Crystals can be resolved in nanopores down to 7 nm (over 100 times smaller than the resolution of CT), which allows studying the effect of confinement on phase stability and growth rates. 3) Fast iterative helical micro-CT scanning to study samples of high ratio height to width (e.g. long cores) with optimal resolution. Here we show how this can be useful to study the distribution of the products from fluid-mediated mineral reactions throughout longer reaction paths and more representative volumes. Using state of the art reconstruction algorithms allows reducing the scanning times from over ten hours to below two hours enabling time-lapse studies. It is expected that these new techniques will open new possibilities for time-lapse imaging of a wider range of geological processes using laboratory X-ray CT, thereby increasing the accessibility of multidimensional imaging to a larger number of users and applications in geology.

Graphic Warning Labels Elicit Affective and Thoughtful Responses from Smokers: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Evans, Abigail T; Peters, Ellen; Strasser, Andrew A; Emery, Lydia F; Sheerin, Kaitlin M; Romer, Daniel

2015-01-01

Observational research suggests that placing graphic images on cigarette warning labels can reduce smoking rates, but field studies lack experimental control. Our primary objective was to determine the psychological processes set in motion by naturalistic exposure to graphic vs. text-only warnings in a randomized clinical trial involving exposure to modified cigarette packs over a 4-week period. Theories of graphic-warning impact were tested by examining affect toward smoking, credibility of warning information, risk perceptions, quit intentions, warning label memory, and smoking risk knowledge. Adults who smoked between 5 and 40 cigarettes daily (N = 293; mean age = 33.7), did not have a contra-indicated medical condition, and did not intend to quit were recruited from Philadelphia, PA and Columbus, OH. Smokers were randomly assigned to receive their own brand of cigarettes for four weeks in one of three warning conditions: text only, graphic images plus text, or graphic images with elaborated text. Data from 244 participants who completed the trial were analyzed in structural-equation models. The presence of graphic images (compared to text-only) caused more negative affect toward smoking, a process that indirectly influenced risk perceptions and quit intentions (e.g., image->negative affect->risk perception->quit intention). Negative affect from graphic images also enhanced warning credibility including through increased scrutiny of the warnings, a process that also indirectly affected risk perceptions and quit intentions (e.g., image->negative affect->risk scrutiny->warning credibility->risk perception->quit intention). Unexpectedly, elaborated text reduced warning credibility. Finally, graphic warnings increased warning-information recall and indirectly increased smoking-risk knowledge at the end of the trial and one month later. In the first naturalistic clinical trial conducted, graphic warning labels are more effective than text-only warnings in encouraging smokers to consider quitting and in educating them about smoking's risks. Negative affective reactions to smoking, thinking about risks, and perceptions of credibility are mediators of their impact. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01782053.

Medical image integrity control and forensics based on watermarking--approximating local modifications and identifying global image alterations.

PubMed

Huang, H; Coatrieux, G; Shu, H Z; Luo, L M; Roux, Ch

2011-01-01

In this paper we present a medical image integrity verification system that not only allows detecting and approximating malevolent local image alterations (e.g. removal or addition of findings) but is also capable to identify the nature of global image processing applied to the image (e.g. lossy compression, filtering …). For that purpose, we propose an image signature derived from the geometric moments of pixel blocks. Such a signature is computed over regions of interest of the image and then watermarked in regions of non interest. Image integrity analysis is conducted by comparing embedded and recomputed signatures. If any, local modifications are approximated through the determination of the parameters of the nearest generalized 2D Gaussian. Image moments are taken as image features and serve as inputs to one classifier we learned to discriminate the type of global image processing. Experimental results with both local and global modifications illustrate the overall performances of our approach.

Survey view of EXPRESS Rack 4 in the JPM during Expedition 22

NASA Image and Video Library

2009-12-30

iss022e015852 (12/30/2009) --- The image shows a front view of EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station EXPRESS Rack 4 (Rack 4,JPM/1F5) in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM). Equipment visible in the EXPRESS Rack includes the Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (BSTC) and the Gas Supply Module (GSM) support hardware for the CBOSS (Cellular Biotechnology Operations Support Systems) investigations, and the Device for the Study of Critical Liquids and Crystallization (DECLIC). Also visible is the Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS) II.

Balanced increases in selectivity and tolerance produce constant sparseness along the ventral visual stream

PubMed Central

Rust, Nicole C.; DiCarlo, James J.

2012-01-01

While popular accounts suggest that neurons along the ventral visual processing stream become increasingly selective for particular objects, this appears at odds with the fact that inferior temporal cortical (IT) neurons are broadly tuned. To explore this apparent contradiction, we compared processing in two ventral stream stages (V4 and IT) in the rhesus macaque monkey. We confirmed that IT neurons are indeed more selective for conjunctions of visual features than V4 neurons, and that this increase in feature conjunction selectivity is accompanied by an increase in tolerance (“invariance”) to identity-preserving transformations (e.g. shifting, scaling) of those features. We report here that V4 and IT neurons are, on average, tightly matched in their tuning breadth for natural images (“sparseness”), and that the average V4 or IT neuron will produce a robust firing rate response (over 50% of its peak observed firing rate) to ~10% of all natural images. We also observed that sparseness was positively correlated with conjunction selectivity and negatively correlated with tolerance within both V4 and IT, consistent with selectivity-building and invariance-building computations that offset one another to produce sparseness. Our results imply that the conjunction-selectivity-building and invariance-building computations necessary to support object recognition are implemented in a balanced fashion to maintain sparseness at each stage of processing. PMID:22836252

Post-processing images from the WFIRST-AFTA coronagraph testbed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmerman, Neil T.; Ygouf, Marie; Pueyo, Laurent; Soummer, Remi; Perrin, Marshall D.; Mennesson, Bertrand; Cady, Eric; Mejia Prada, Camilo

2016-01-01

The concept for the exoplanet imaging instrument on WFIRST-AFTA relies on the development of mission-specific data processing tools to reduce the speckle noise floor. No instruments have yet functioned on the sky in the planet-to-star contrast regime of the proposed coronagraph (1E-8). Therefore, starlight subtraction algorithms must be tested on a combination of simulated and laboratory data sets to give confidence that the scientific goals can be reached. The High Contrast Imaging Testbed (HCIT) at Jet Propulsion Lab has carried out several technology demonstrations for the instrument concept, demonstrating 1E-8 raw (absolute) contrast. Here, we have applied a mock reference differential imaging strategy to HCIT data sets, treating one subset of images as a reference star observation and another subset as a science target observation. We show that algorithms like KLIP (Karhunen-Loève Image Projection), by suppressing residual speckles, enable the recovery of exoplanet signals at contrast of order 2E-9.

Application of the 4-D XCAT Phantoms in Biomedical Imaging and Beyond.

PubMed

Segars, W Paul; Tsui, B M W; Cai, Jing; Yin, Fang-Fang; Fung, George S K; Samei, Ehsan

2018-03-01

The four-dimensional (4-D) eXtended CArdiac-Torso (XCAT) series of phantoms was developed to provide accurate computerized models of the human anatomy and physiology. The XCAT series encompasses a vast population of phantoms of varying ages from newborn to adult, each including parameterized models for the cardiac and respiratory motions. With great flexibility in the XCAT's design, any number of body sizes, different anatomies, cardiac or respiratory motions or patterns, patient positions and orientations, and spatial resolutions can be simulated. As such, the XCAT phantoms are gaining a wide use in biomedical imaging research. There they can provide a virtual patient base from which to quantitatively evaluate and improve imaging instrumentation, data acquisition, techniques, and image reconstruction and processing methods which can lead to improved image quality and more accurate clinical diagnoses. The phantoms have also found great use in radiation dosimetry, radiation therapy, medical device design, and even the security and defense industry. This review paper highlights some specific areas in which the XCAT phantoms have found use within biomedical imaging and other fields. From these examples, we illustrate the increasingly important role that computerized phantoms and computer simulation are playing in the research community.

SU-E-J-243: Possibility of Exposure Dose Reduction of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in An Image Guided Patient Positioning System by Using Various Noise Suppression Filters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kamezawa, H; Fujimoto General Hospital, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki; Arimura, H

Purpose: To investigate the possibility of exposure dose reduction of the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in an image guided patient positioning system by using 6 noise suppression filters. Methods: First, a reference dose (RD) and low-dose (LD)-CBCT (X-ray volume imaging system, Elekta Co.) images were acquired with a reference dose of 86.2 mGy (weighted CT dose index: CTDIw) and various low doses of 1.4 to 43.1 mGy, respectively. Second, an automated rigid registration for three axes was performed for estimating setup errors between a planning CT image and the LD-CBCT images, which were processed by 6 noise suppression filters, i.e.,more » averaging filter (AF), median filter (MF), Gaussian filter (GF), bilateral filter (BF), edge preserving smoothing filter (EPF) and adaptive partial median filter (AMF). Third, residual errors representing the patient positioning accuracy were calculated as an Euclidean distance between the setup error vectors estimated using the LD-CBCT image and RD-CBCT image. Finally, the relationships between the residual error and CTDIw were obtained for 6 noise suppression filters, and then the CTDIw for LD-CBCT images processed by the noise suppression filters were measured at the same residual error, which was obtained with the RD-CBCT. This approach was applied to an anthropomorphic pelvic phantom and two cancer patients. Results: For the phantom, the exposure dose could be reduced from 61% (GF) to 78% (AMF) by applying the noise suppression filters to the CBCT images. The exposure dose in a prostate cancer case could be reduced from 8% (AF) to 61% (AMF), and the exposure dose in a lung cancer case could be reduced from 9% (AF) to 37% (AMF). Conclusion: Using noise suppression filters, particularly an adaptive partial median filter, could be feasible to decrease the additional exposure dose to patients in image guided patient positioning systems.« less

A 7 ke-SD-FWC 1.2 e-RMS Temporal Random Noise 128×256 Time-Resolved CMOS Image Sensor With Two In-Pixel SDs for Biomedical Applications.

PubMed

Seo, Min-Woong; Kawahito, Shoji

2017-12-01

A large full well capacity (FWC) for wide signal detection range and low temporal random noise for high sensitivity lock-in pixel CMOS image sensor (CIS) embedded with two in-pixel storage diodes (SDs) has been developed and presented in this paper. For fast charge transfer from photodiode to SDs, a lateral electric field charge modulator (LEFM) is used for the developed lock-in pixel. As a result, the time-resolved CIS achieves a very large SD-FWC of approximately 7ke-, low temporal random noise of 1.2e-rms at 20 fps with true correlated double sampling operation and fast intrinsic response less than 500 ps at 635 nm. The proposed imager has an effective pixel array of and a pixel size of . The sensor chip is fabricated by Dongbu HiTek 1P4M 0.11 CIS process.

A service protocol for post-processing of medical images on the mobile device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Longjun; Ming, Xing; Xu, Lang; Liu, Qian

2014-03-01

With computing capability and display size growing, the mobile device has been used as a tool to help clinicians view patient information and medical images anywhere and anytime. It is uneasy and time-consuming for transferring medical images with large data size from picture archiving and communication system to mobile client, since the wireless network is unstable and limited by bandwidth. Besides, limited by computing capability, memory and power endurance, it is hard to provide a satisfactory quality of experience for radiologists to handle some complex post-processing of medical images on the mobile device, such as real-time direct interactive three-dimensional visualization. In this work, remote rendering technology is employed to implement the post-processing of medical images instead of local rendering, and a service protocol is developed to standardize the communication between the render server and mobile client. In order to make mobile devices with different platforms be able to access post-processing of medical images, the Extensible Markup Language is taken to describe this protocol, which contains four main parts: user authentication, medical image query/ retrieval, 2D post-processing (e.g. window leveling, pixel values obtained) and 3D post-processing (e.g. maximum intensity projection, multi-planar reconstruction, curved planar reformation and direct volume rendering). And then an instance is implemented to verify the protocol. This instance can support the mobile device access post-processing of medical image services on the render server via a client application or on the web page.

Segmentation-based retrospective shading correction in fluorescence microscopy E. coli images for quantitative analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mai, Fei; Chang, Chunqi; Liu, Wenqing; Xu, Weichao; Hung, Yeung S.

2009-10-01

Due to the inherent imperfections in the imaging process, fluorescence microscopy images often suffer from spurious intensity variations, which is usually referred to as intensity inhomogeneity, intensity non uniformity, shading or bias field. In this paper, a retrospective shading correction method for fluorescence microscopy Escherichia coli (E. Coli) images is proposed based on segmentation result. Segmentation and shading correction are coupled together, so we iteratively correct the shading effects based on segmentation result and refine the segmentation by segmenting the image after shading correction. A fluorescence microscopy E. Coli image can be segmented (based on its intensity value) into two classes: the background and the cells, where the intensity variation within each class is close to zero if there is no shading. Therefore, we make use of this characteristics to correct the shading in each iteration. Shading is mathematically modeled as a multiplicative component and an additive noise component. The additive component is removed by a denoising process, and the multiplicative component is estimated using a fast algorithm to minimize the intra-class intensity variation. We tested our method on synthetic images and real fluorescence E.coli images. It works well not only for visual inspection, but also for numerical evaluation. Our proposed method should be useful for further quantitative analysis especially for protein expression value comparison.

Visualization of Monocytic Cells in Regressing Atherosclerotic Plaques by Intravital 2-Photon and Positron Emission Tomography-Based Imaging-Brief Report.

PubMed

Li, Wenjun; Luehmann, Hannah P; Hsiao, Hsi-Min; Tanaka, Satona; Higashikubo, Ryuji; Gauthier, Jason M; Sultan, Deborah; Lavine, Kory J; Brody, Steven L; Gelman, Andrew E; Gropler, Robert J; Liu, Yongjian; Kreisel, Daniel

2018-05-01

Aortic arch transplants have advanced our understanding of processes that contribute to progression and regression of atherosclerotic plaques. To characterize the dynamic behavior of monocytes and macrophages in atherosclerotic plaques over time, we developed a new model of cervical aortic arch transplantation in mice that is amenable to intravital imaging. Vascularized aortic arch grafts were transplanted heterotropically to the right carotid arteries of recipient mice using microsurgical suture techniques. To image immune cells in atherosclerotic lesions during regression, plaque-bearing aortic arch grafts from B6 ApoE-deficient donors were transplanted into syngeneic CX 3 CR1 GFP reporter mice. Grafts were evaluated histologically, and monocytic cells in atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-deficient grafts were imaged intravitally by 2-photon microscopy in serial fashion. In complementary experiments, CCR2 + cells in plaques were serially imaged by positron emission tomography using specific molecular probes. Plaques in ApoE-deficient grafts underwent regression after transplantation into normolipidemic hosts. Intravital imaging revealed clusters of largely immotile CX 3 CR1 + monocytes/macrophages in regressing plaques that had been recruited from the periphery. We observed a progressive decrease in CX 3 CR1 + monocytic cells in regressing plaques and a decrease in CCR2 + positron emission tomography signal during 4 months. Cervical transplantation of atherosclerotic mouse aortic arches represents a novel experimental tool to investigate cellular mechanisms that contribute to the remodeling of atherosclerotic plaques. © 2018 American Heart Association, Inc.

Modeling 4D Pathological Changes by Leveraging Normative Models

PubMed Central

Wang, Bo; Prastawa, Marcel; Irimia, Andrei; Saha, Avishek; Liu, Wei; Goh, S.Y. Matthew; Vespa, Paul M.; Van Horn, John D.; Gerig, Guido

2016-01-01

With the increasing use of efficient multimodal 3D imaging, clinicians are able to access longitudinal imaging to stage pathological diseases, to monitor the efficacy of therapeutic interventions, or to assess and quantify rehabilitation efforts. Analysis of such four-dimensional (4D) image data presenting pathologies, including disappearing and newly appearing lesions, represents a significant challenge due to the presence of complex spatio-temporal changes. Image analysis methods for such 4D image data have to include not only a concept for joint segmentation of 3D datasets to account for inherent correlations of subject-specific repeated scans but also a mechanism to account for large deformations and the destruction and formation of lesions (e.g., edema, bleeding) due to underlying physiological processes associated with damage, intervention, and recovery. In this paper, we propose a novel framework that provides a joint segmentation-registration framework to tackle the inherent problem of image registration in the presence of objects not present in all images of the time series. Our methodology models 4D changes in pathological anatomy across time and and also provides an explicit mapping of a healthy normative template to a subject’s image data with pathologies. Since atlas-moderated segmentation methods cannot explain appearance and locality pathological structures that are not represented in the template atlas, the new framework provides different options for initialization via a supervised learning approach, iterative semisupervised active learning, and also transfer learning, which results in a fully automatic 4D segmentation method. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our novel approach with synthetic experiments and a 4D multimodal MRI dataset of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), including validation via comparison to expert segmentations. However, the proposed methodology is generic in regard to different clinical applications requiring quantitative analysis of 4D imaging representing spatio-temporal changes of pathologies. PMID:27818606

Quality Assurance By Laser Scanning And Imaging Techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

SchmalfuB, Harald J.; Schinner, Karl Ludwig

1989-03-01

Laser scanning systems are well established in the world of fast industrial in-process quality inspection systems. The materials inspected by laser scanning systems are e.g. "endless" sheets of steel, paper, textile, film or foils. The web width varies from 50 mm up to 5000 mm or more. The web speed depends strongly on the production process and can reach several hundred meters per minute. The continuous data flow in one of different channels of the optical receiving system exceeds ten Megapixels/sec. Therefore it is clear that the electronic evaluation system has to process these data streams in real time and no image storage is possible. But sometimes (e.g. first installation of the system, change of the defect classification) it would be very helpful to have the possibility for a visual look on the original, i.e. not processed sensor data. At first we show the principle set up of a standard laser scanning system. Then we will introduce a large image memory especially designed for the needs of high-speed inspection sensors. This image memory co-operates with the standard on-line evaluation electronics and provides therefore an easy comparison between processed and non-processed data. We will discuss the basic system structure and we will show the first industrial results.

Spatiotemporal Change Detection Using Landsat Imagery: the Case Study of Karacabey Flooded Forest, Bursa, Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akay, A. E.; Gencal, B.; Taş, İ.

2017-11-01

This short paper aims to detect spatiotemporal detection of land use/land cover change within Karacabey Flooded Forest region. Change detection analysis applied to Landsat 5 TM images representing July 2000 and a Landsat 8 OLI representing June 2017. Various image processing tools were implemented using ERDAS 9.2, ArcGIS 10.4.1, and ENVI programs to conduct spatiotemporal change detection over these two images such as band selection, corrections, subset, classification, recoding, accuracy assessment, and change detection analysis. Image classification revealed that there are five significant land use/land cover types, including forest, flooded forest, swamp, water, and other lands (i.e. agriculture, sand, roads, settlement, and open areas). The results indicated that there was increase in flooded forest, water, and other lands, while the cover of forest and swamp decreased.

Cloud Engineering Principles and Technology Enablers for Medical Image Processing-as-a-Service.

PubMed

Bao, Shunxing; Plassard, Andrew J; Landman, Bennett A; Gokhale, Aniruddha

2017-04-01

Traditional in-house, laboratory-based medical imaging studies use hierarchical data structures (e.g., NFS file stores) or databases (e.g., COINS, XNAT) for storage and retrieval. The resulting performance from these approaches is, however, impeded by standard network switches since they can saturate network bandwidth during transfer from storage to processing nodes for even moderate-sized studies. To that end, a cloud-based "medical image processing-as-a-service" offers promise in utilizing the ecosystem of Apache Hadoop, which is a flexible framework providing distributed, scalable, fault tolerant storage and parallel computational modules, and HBase, which is a NoSQL database built atop Hadoop's distributed file system. Despite this promise, HBase's load distribution strategy of region split and merge is detrimental to the hierarchical organization of imaging data (e.g., project, subject, session, scan, slice). This paper makes two contributions to address these concerns by describing key cloud engineering principles and technology enhancements we made to the Apache Hadoop ecosystem for medical imaging applications. First, we propose a row-key design for HBase, which is a necessary step that is driven by the hierarchical organization of imaging data. Second, we propose a novel data allocation policy within HBase to strongly enforce collocation of hierarchically related imaging data. The proposed enhancements accelerate data processing by minimizing network usage and localizing processing to machines where the data already exist. Moreover, our approach is amenable to the traditional scan, subject, and project-level analysis procedures, and is compatible with standard command line/scriptable image processing software. Experimental results for an illustrative sample of imaging data reveals that our new HBase policy results in a three-fold time improvement in conversion of classic DICOM to NiFTI file formats when compared with the default HBase region split policy, and nearly a six-fold improvement over a commonly available network file system (NFS) approach even for relatively small file sets. Moreover, file access latency is lower than network attached storage.

GENETIC INFLUENCE OF APOE4 GENOTYPE ON HIPPOCAMPAL MORPHOMETRY - AN N=725 SURFACE-BASED ADNI STUDY

PubMed Central

Shi, Jie; Leporé, Natasha; Gutman, Boris A.; Thompson, Paul M.; Baxter, Leslie C.; Caselli, Richard L.; Wang, Yalin

2014-01-01

The apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele is the most prevalent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Hippocampal volumes are generally smaller in AD patients carrying the e4 allele compared to e4 non-carriers. Here we examined the effect of APOE e4 on hippocampal morphometry in a large imaging database – the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). We automatically segmented and constructed hippocampal surfaces from the baseline MR images of 725 subjects with known APOE genotype information including 167 with AD, 354 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 204 normal controls. High-order correspondences between hippocampal surfaces were enforced across subjects with a novel inverse consistent surface fluid registration method. Multivariate statistics consisting of multivariate tensor-based morphometry (mTBM) and radial distance were computed for surface deformation analysis. Using Hotelling’s T2 test, we found significant morphological deformation in APOE e4 carriers relative to non-carriers in the entire cohort as well as in the non-demented (pooled MCI and control) subjects, affecting the left hippocampus more than the right, and this effect was more pronounced in e4 homozygotes than heterozygotes. Our findings are consistent with previous studies that showed e4 carriers exhibit accelerated hippocampal atrophy; we extend these findings to a novel measure of hippocampal morphometry. Hippocampal morphometry has significant potential as an imaging biomarker of early stage AD. PMID:24453132

SU-E-J-16: Automatic Image Contrast Enhancement Based On Automatic Parameter Optimization for Radiation Therapy Setup Verification

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qiu, J; Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO; Li, H. Harlod

Purpose: In RT patient setup 2D images, tissues often cannot be seen well due to the lack of image contrast. Contrast enhancement features provided by image reviewing software, e.g. Mosaiq and ARIA, require manual selection of the image processing filters and parameters thus inefficient and cannot be automated. In this work, we developed a novel method to automatically enhance the 2D RT image contrast to allow automatic verification of patient daily setups as a prerequisite step of automatic patient safety assurance. Methods: The new method is based on contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) and high-pass filtering algorithms. The mostmore » important innovation is to automatically select the optimal parameters by optimizing the image contrast. The image processing procedure includes the following steps: 1) background and noise removal, 2) hi-pass filtering by subtracting the Gaussian smoothed Result, and 3) histogram equalization using CLAHE algorithm. Three parameters were determined through an iterative optimization which was based on the interior-point constrained optimization algorithm: the Gaussian smoothing weighting factor, the CLAHE algorithm block size and clip limiting parameters. The goal of the optimization is to maximize the entropy of the processed Result. Results: A total 42 RT images were processed. The results were visually evaluated by RT physicians and physicists. About 48% of the images processed by the new method were ranked as excellent. In comparison, only 29% and 18% of the images processed by the basic CLAHE algorithm and by the basic window level adjustment process, were ranked as excellent. Conclusion: This new image contrast enhancement method is robust and automatic, and is able to significantly outperform the basic CLAHE algorithm and the manual window-level adjustment process that are currently used in clinical 2D image review software tools.« less

Auto-SEIA: simultaneous optimization of image processing and machine learning algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Negro Maggio, Valentina; Iocchi, Luca

2015-02-01

Object classification from images is an important task for machine vision and it is a crucial ingredient for many computer vision applications, ranging from security and surveillance to marketing. Image based object classification techniques properly integrate image processing and machine learning (i.e., classification) procedures. In this paper we present a system for automatic simultaneous optimization of algorithms and parameters for object classification from images. More specifically, the proposed system is able to process a dataset of labelled images and to return a best configuration of image processing and classification algorithms and of their parameters with respect to the accuracy of classification. Experiments with real public datasets are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed system.

Towards real-time medical diagnostics using hyperspectral imaging technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bjorgan, Asgeir; Randeberg, Lise L.

2015-07-01

Hyperspectral imaging provides non-contact, high resolution spectral images which has a substantial diagnostic potential. This can be used for e.g. diagnosis and early detection of arthritis in finger joints. Processing speed is currently a limitation for clinical use of the technique. A real-time system for analysis and visualization using GPU processing and threaded CPU processing is presented. Images showing blood oxygenation, blood volume fraction and vessel enhanced images are among the data calculated in real-time. This study shows the potential of real-time processing in this context. A combination of the processing modules will be used in detection of arthritic finger joints from hyperspectral reflectance and transmittance data.

Methods of Hematoxylin and Erosin Image Information Acquisition and Optimization in Confocal Microscopy

PubMed Central

Yoon, Woong Bae; Kim, Hyunjin; Kim, Kwang Gi; Choi, Yongdoo; Chang, Hee Jin

2016-01-01

Objectives We produced hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining-like color images by using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), which can obtain the same or more information in comparison to conventional tissue staining. Methods We improved images by using several image converting techniques, including morphological methods, color space conversion methods, and segmentation methods. Results An image obtained after image processing showed coloring very similar to that in images produced by H&E staining, and it is advantageous to conduct analysis through fluorescent dye imaging and microscopy rather than analysis based on single microscopic imaging. Conclusions The colors used in CLSM are different from those seen in H&E staining, which is the method most widely used for pathologic diagnosis and is familiar to pathologists. Computer technology can facilitate the conversion of images by CLSM to be very similar to H&E staining images. We believe that the technique used in this study has great potential for application in clinical tissue analysis. PMID:27525165

Methods of Hematoxylin and Erosin Image Information Acquisition and Optimization in Confocal Microscopy.

PubMed

Yoon, Woong Bae; Kim, Hyunjin; Kim, Kwang Gi; Choi, Yongdoo; Chang, Hee Jin; Sohn, Dae Kyung

2016-07-01

We produced hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining-like color images by using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), which can obtain the same or more information in comparison to conventional tissue staining. We improved images by using several image converting techniques, including morphological methods, color space conversion methods, and segmentation methods. An image obtained after image processing showed coloring very similar to that in images produced by H&E staining, and it is advantageous to conduct analysis through fluorescent dye imaging and microscopy rather than analysis based on single microscopic imaging. The colors used in CLSM are different from those seen in H&E staining, which is the method most widely used for pathologic diagnosis and is familiar to pathologists. Computer technology can facilitate the conversion of images by CLSM to be very similar to H&E staining images. We believe that the technique used in this study has great potential for application in clinical tissue analysis.

Scanning the Images of Science.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greenberg, Richard

1992-01-01

The Image Processing Technology Project explores the possibility of using digital image processing in mathematics and science education. Describes the origin of the project and reports the results of a 4-week teacher workshop that trained over 80 teachers in the techniques and technology of image processing. (MDH)

Image processing for navigation on a mobile embedded platform

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Preuss, Thomas; Gentsch, Lars; Rambow, Mark

2006-02-01

Mobile computing devices such as PDAs or cellular phones may act as "Personal Multimedia Exchanges", but they are limited in their processing power as well as in their connectivity. Sensors as well as cellular phones and PDAs are able to gather multimedia data, e. g. images, but leak computing power to process that data on their own. Therefore, it is necessary, that these devices connect to devices with more performance, which provide e.g. image processing services. In this paper, a generic approach is presented that connects different kinds of clients with each other and allows them to interact with more powerful devices. This architecture, called BOSPORUS, represents a communication framework for dynamic peer-to-peer computing. Each peer offers and uses services in this network and communicates loosely coupled and asynchronously with the others. These features make BOSPORUS a service oriented network architecture (SONA). A mobile embedded system, which uses external services for image processing based on the BOSPORUS Framework is shown as an application of the BOSPORUS framework.

Image based performance analysis of thermal imagers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wegner, D.; Repasi, E.

2016-05-01

Due to advances in technology, modern thermal imagers resemble sophisticated image processing systems in functionality. Advanced signal and image processing tools enclosed into the camera body extend the basic image capturing capability of thermal cameras. This happens in order to enhance the display presentation of the captured scene or specific scene details. Usually, the implemented methods are proprietary company expertise, distributed without extensive documentation. This makes the comparison of thermal imagers especially from different companies a difficult task (or at least a very time consuming/expensive task - e.g. requiring the execution of a field trial and/or an observer trial). For example, a thermal camera equipped with turbulence mitigation capability stands for such a closed system. The Fraunhofer IOSB has started to build up a system for testing thermal imagers by image based methods in the lab environment. This will extend our capability of measuring the classical IR-system parameters (e.g. MTF, MTDP, etc.) in the lab. The system is set up around the IR- scene projector, which is necessary for the thermal display (projection) of an image sequence for the IR-camera under test. The same set of thermal test sequences might be presented to every unit under test. For turbulence mitigation tests, this could be e.g. the same turbulence sequence. During system tests, gradual variation of input parameters (e. g. thermal contrast) can be applied. First ideas of test scenes selection and how to assembly an imaging suite (a set of image sequences) for the analysis of imaging thermal systems containing such black boxes in the image forming path is discussed.

Computational Motion Phantoms and Statistical Models of Respiratory Motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ehrhardt, Jan; Klinder, Tobias; Lorenz, Cristian

Breathing motion is not a robust and 100 % reproducible process, and inter- and intra-fractional motion variations form an important problem in radiotherapy of the thorax and upper abdomen. A widespread consensus nowadays exists that it would be useful to use prior knowledge about respiratory organ motion and its variability to improve radiotherapy planning and treatment delivery. This chapter discusses two different approaches to model the variability of respiratory motion. In the first part, we review computational motion phantoms, i.e. computerized anatomical and physiological models. Computational phantoms are excellent tools to simulate and investigate the effects of organ motion in radiation therapy and to gain insight into methods for motion management. The second part of this chapter discusses statistical modeling techniques to describe the breathing motion and its variability in a population of 4D images. Population-based models can be generated from repeatedly acquired 4D images of the same patient (intra-patient models) and from 4D images of different patients (inter-patient models). The generation of those models is explained and possible applications of those models for motion prediction in radiotherapy are exemplified. Computational models of respiratory motion and motion variability have numerous applications in radiation therapy, e.g. to understand motion effects in simulation studies, to develop and evaluate treatment strategies or to introduce prior knowledge into the patient-specific treatment planning.

PScan 1.0: flexible software framework for polygon based multiphoton microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yongxiao; Lee, Woei Ming

2016-12-01

Multiphoton laser scanning microscopes exhibit highly localized nonlinear optical excitation and are powerful instruments for in-vivo deep tissue imaging. Customized multiphoton microscopy has a significantly superior performance for in-vivo imaging because of precise control over the scanning and detection system. To date, there have been several flexible software platforms catered to custom built microscopy systems i.e. ScanImage, HelioScan, MicroManager, that perform at imaging speeds of 30-100fps. In this paper, we describe a flexible software framework for high speed imaging systems capable of operating from 5 fps to 1600 fps. The software is based on the MATLAB image processing toolbox. It has the capability to communicate directly with a high performing imaging card (Matrox Solios eA/XA), thus retaining high speed acquisition. The program is also designed to communicate with LabVIEW and Fiji for instrument control and image processing. Pscan 1.0 can handle high imaging rates and contains sufficient flexibility for users to adapt to their high speed imaging systems.

Image Processing Strategies Based on a Visual Saliency Model for Object Recognition Under Simulated Prosthetic Vision.

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Li, Heng; Fu, Weizhen; Chen, Yao; Li, Liming; Lyu, Qing; Han, Tingting; Chai, Xinyu

2016-01-01

Retinal prostheses have the potential to restore partial vision. Object recognition in scenes of daily life is one of the essential tasks for implant wearers. Still limited by the low-resolution visual percepts provided by retinal prostheses, it is important to investigate and apply image processing methods to convey more useful visual information to the wearers. We proposed two image processing strategies based on Itti's visual saliency map, region of interest (ROI) extraction, and image segmentation. Itti's saliency model generated a saliency map from the original image, in which salient regions were grouped into ROI by the fuzzy c-means clustering. Then Grabcut generated a proto-object from the ROI labeled image which was recombined with background and enhanced in two ways--8-4 separated pixelization (8-4 SP) and background edge extraction (BEE). Results showed that both 8-4 SP and BEE had significantly higher recognition accuracy in comparison with direct pixelization (DP). Each saliency-based image processing strategy was subject to the performance of image segmentation. Under good and perfect segmentation conditions, BEE and 8-4 SP obtained noticeably higher recognition accuracy than DP, and under bad segmentation condition, only BEE boosted the performance. The application of saliency-based image processing strategies was verified to be beneficial to object recognition in daily scenes under simulated prosthetic vision. They are hoped to help the development of the image processing module for future retinal prostheses, and thus provide more benefit for the patients. Copyright © 2015 International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Prototype Focal-Plane-Array Optoelectronic Image Processor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fang, Wai-Chi; Shaw, Timothy; Yu, Jeffrey

1995-01-01

Prototype very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) planar array of optoelectronic processing elements combines speed of optical input and output with flexibility of reconfiguration (programmability) of electronic processing medium. Basic concept of processor described in "Optical-Input, Optical-Output Morphological Processor" (NPO-18174). Performs binary operations on binary (black and white) images. Each processing element corresponds to one picture element of image and located at that picture element. Includes input-plane photodetector in form of parasitic phototransistor part of processing circuit. Output of each processing circuit used to modulate one picture element in output-plane liquid-crystal display device. Intended to implement morphological processing algorithms that transform image into set of features suitable for high-level processing; e.g., recognition.

From plastic to gold: a unified classification scheme for reference standards in medical image processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lehmann, Thomas M.

2002-05-01

Reliable evaluation of medical image processing is of major importance for routine applications. Nonetheless, evaluation is often omitted or methodically defective when novel approaches or algorithms are introduced. Adopted from medical diagnosis, we define the following criteria to classify reference standards: 1. Reliance, if the generation or capturing of test images for evaluation follows an exactly determined and reproducible protocol. 2. Equivalence, if the image material or relationships considered within an algorithmic reference standard equal real-life data with respect to structure, noise, or other parameters of importance. 3. Independence, if any reference standard relies on a different procedure than that to be evaluated, or on other images or image modalities than that used routinely. This criterion bans the simultaneous use of one image for both, training and test phase. 4. Relevance, if the algorithm to be evaluated is self-reproducible. If random parameters or optimization strategies are applied, reliability of the algorithm must be shown before the reference standard is applied for evaluation. 5. Significance, if the number of reference standard images that are used for evaluation is sufficient large to enable statistically founded analysis. We demand that a true gold standard must satisfy the Criteria 1 to 3. Any standard only satisfying two criteria, i.e., Criterion 1 and Criterion 2 or Criterion 1 and Criterion 3, is referred to as silver standard. Other standards are termed to be from plastic. Before exhaustive evaluation based on gold or silver standards is performed, its relevance must be shown (Criterion 4) and sufficient tests must be carried out to found statistical analysis (Criterion 5). In this paper, examples are given for each class of reference standards.

Laser-assisted nanomaterial deposition, nanomanufacturing, in situ monitoring and associated apparatus

DOEpatents

Mao, Samuel S; Grigoropoulos, Costas P; Hwang, David J; Minor, Andrew M

2013-11-12

Laser-assisted apparatus and methods for performing nanoscale material processing, including nanodeposition of materials, can be controlled very precisely to yield both simple and complex structures with sizes less than 100 nm. Optical or thermal energy in the near field of a photon (laser) pulse is used to fabricate submicron and nanometer structures on a substrate. A wide variety of laser material processing techniques can be adapted for use including, subtractive (e.g., ablation, machining or chemical etching), additive (e.g., chemical vapor deposition, selective self-assembly), and modification (e.g., phase transformation, doping) processes. Additionally, the apparatus can be integrated into imaging instruments, such as SEM and TEM, to allow for real-time imaging of the material processing.

Physical modeling of 3D and 4D laser imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anna, Guillaume; Hamoir, Dominique; Hespel, Laurent; Lafay, Fabien; Rivière, Nicolas; Tanguy, Bernard

2010-04-01

Laser imaging offers potential for observation, for 3D terrain-mapping and classification as well as for target identification, including behind vegetation, camouflage or glass windows, at day and night, and under all-weather conditions. First generation systems deliver 3D point clouds. The threshold detection is largely affected by the local opto-geometric characteristics of the objects, leading to inaccuracies in the distances measured, and by partial occultation, leading to multiple echos. Second generation systems circumvent these limitations by recording the temporal waveforms received by the system, so that data processing can improve the telemetry and the point cloud better match the reality. Future algorithms may exploit the full potential of the 4D full-waveform data. Hence, being able to simulate point-cloud (3D) and full-waveform (4D) laser imaging is key. We have developped a numerical model for predicting the output data of 3D or 4D laser imagers. The model does account for the temporal and transverse characteristics of the laser pulse (i.e. of the "laser bullet") emitted by the system, its propagation through turbulent and scattering atmosphere, its interaction with the objects present in the field of view, and the characteristics of the optoelectronic reception path of the system.

High-performance camera module for fast quality inspection in industrial printing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fürtler, Johannes; Bodenstorfer, Ernst; Mayer, Konrad J.; Brodersen, Jörg; Heiss, Dorothea; Penz, Harald; Eckel, Christian; Gravogl, Klaus; Nachtnebel, Herbert

2007-02-01

Today, printing products which must meet highest quality standards, e.g., banknotes, stamps, or vouchers, are automatically checked by optical inspection systems. Typically, the examination of fine details of the print or security features demands images taken from various perspectives, with different spectral sensitivity (visible, infrared, ultraviolet), and with high resolution. Consequently, the inspection system is equipped with several cameras and has to cope with an enormous data rate to be processed in real-time. Hence, it is desirable to move image processing tasks into the camera to reduce the amount of data which has to be transferred to the (central) image processing system. The idea is to transfer relevant information only, i.e., features of the image instead of the raw image data from the sensor. These features are then further processed. In this paper a color line-scan camera for line rates up to 100 kHz is presented. The camera is based on a commercial CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) area image sensor and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). It implements extraction of image features which are well suited to detect print flaws like blotches of ink, color smears, splashes, spots and scratches. The camera design and several image processing methods implemented on the FPGA are described, including flat field correction, compensation of geometric distortions, color transformation, as well as decimation and neighborhood operations.

Amination of electrophilic aromatic compounds by vicarious nucleophilic substitution

DOEpatents

Mitchell, Alexander R.; Pagoria, Philip F.; Schmidt, Robert D.

2000-01-01

The present invention relates to a process to aminate electrophilic aromatic compounds by vicarious nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen using quaternary hydrazinium salts. The use of trialkylhydrazinium halide, e.g., trimethylhydrazinium iodide, as well as hydroxylamine, alkoxylamines, and 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole to produce aminated aromatic structures, such as 1,3-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (DATB), 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) and 3,5-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (DATNT), is described. DATB and TATB are useful insensitive high explosives. TATB is also used for the preparation of benzenehexamine, a starting material for the synthesis of novel materials (optical imaging devices, liquid crystals, ferromagnetic compounds).

Water resources, chapter 2, part B

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

Various applications and projected applications of active microwave instruments for studying water resources. Most applications involve use of an imaging system operating primarily at wavelengths of less than 30 cm (i.e., K-, X-, and L-bands). Discussion is also included concerning longer wavelength nonimaging systems for use in sounding polar glaciers and icecaps (e.g., Greenland and the Antarctic). The section is divided into six topics: (1) stream runoff, drainage basin analysis, and floods, (2) lake detection and fluctuating levels, (3) coastal processes and wetlands, (4) seasonally and permanently frozen (permafrost) ground, (5) solid water resources (snow, ice, and glaciers), and (6) water pollution.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, D; Kang, S; Kim, T

Purpose: Patient breathing-related sorting method of projections in 4D digital tomosythesis (DTS) can be suffered from severe artifacts due to non-uniform angle distribution of projections and noncoplanar reconstructed images for each phase. In this study, we propose a method for optimally acquiring projection images in 4D DTS. Methods: In this method every pair of projections at x-ray tube’s gantry angles symmetrical with respect to the center of the range of gantry rotation is obtained at the same respiration amplitude. This process is challenging but becomes feasible with visual-biofeedback using a patient specific respiration guide wave which is in sinusoidal shapemore » (i.e., smooth and symmetrical enough). Depending on scan parameters such as the number of acquisition points per cycle, total scan angle and projections per acquisition amplitude, acquisition sequence is pre-determined. A simulation study for feasibility test was performed. To mimic actual situation closely, a group of volunteers were recruited and breathing data were acquired both with/without biofeedback. Then, x-ray projections for a humanoid phantom were virtually performed following (1) the breathing data from volunteers without guide, (2) the breathing data with guide and (3) the planned breathing data (i.e., ideal situation). Images from all of 3 scenarios were compared. Results: Scenario #2 showed significant artifact reduction compared to #1 while did minimal increase from the ideal situation (i.e., scenario #3). We verified the performance of the method with regard to the degree of inaccuracy during respiratory guiding. Also, the scan angle dependence-related differences in the DTS images could reduce between using the proposed method and the established patient breathing-related sorting method. Conclusion: Through the proposed 4D DTS method, it is possible to improve the accuracy of image guidance between intra/inter fractions with relatively low imaging dose. This research was supported by the Mid-career Researcher Program through NRF funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning of Korea (NRF-2014R1A2A1A10050270) and by the Radiation Technology R&D program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (No. 2013M2A2A7038291)« less

Geology and Stratigraphy of Four Candidate Pyroclastic Deposits on Mercury

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weinauer, Julia; Hiesinger, Harald; Bauch, Karin; Preusker, Frank

2016-04-01

The MESSENGER (Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging) spacecraft [1] to Mercury revealed numerous new findings, including the discovery of potential pyroclastic deposits [2-9]. Besides impact cratering, volcanic processes, including the deposition of pyroclastic materials are among the most important processes to shape the surface of a planet. Volcanic processes allow us to study the thermal evolution of the planet, and impacts provide insights into the composition of the crust, and possible the mantle. In this study we focus on four specific examples of potential pyroclastic deposits: Lermontov NE (-48.15°E, 15.80°), Lermontov SE (-49.08°E, 15.04°), Glinka (-112.42°E, 15.01°), and Unnamed crater 7 (88.20°E, 32.40°). For our investigation we used data of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) [10]. In particular we studied narrow-angle Camera (NAC) images with a resolution of 25-100 m/pixel and wide-angle camera (WAC) images with a resolution of about 170-250 m/pixel. Our data set is complemented by Digital Terrain Models (DTM) based on photogrammetric analyses of stereo images [11]. The objectives of this study are to investigate the geologic context of the pyroclastic deposits, to map their morphological/compositional sub-units in detail, to derive volume estimates for these deposits, to study their eruption conditions, and to derive information on the timing of the emplacement of these units. In addition, absolute model ages are determined to develop a stratigraphy of the mapped units Several morphologic features were observed in association with the pyroclastic deposits, including lobate scarps, melt pools, and large irregular depressions, as well as small-scale irregularly shaped, shallow, rimless depressions, i.e., hollows [2]. In Lermontov, the large irregular depressions that can be plausibly interpreted as vent structures [6,7] occur within a roughly circular depression of about 50 km in diameter, located in the center of the floor of Lermontov. Because of the hilly terrain, multiple volcanic processes might have led to the formation of these structures. Crater counts for Lermontov yielded absolute model ages between 3.79 (+0.03/-0.03) Ga and 4.01 (+0.02/-0.03) Ga and for Glinka between 3.20 (+0.15/-0.39) Ga and 4.00 (+0.04/-0.07) Ga. [1] Solomon, S.C. et al. (2008) Science 321, 59-62. [2] Blewett, D.T. et al. (2009a) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 285, 263-271. [3] Blewett, D.T. et al. (2009b) Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. 40 (abstract 1793). [4] Head, J.W. et al. (2008) Science 321, 69-72. [5] Head, J.W. et al. (2009) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 285, 227-242. [6] Kerber, L. et al. (2009) Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 285, 263-271. [7] Kerber, L. et al. (2011) Planet. Space Sci., 59, 1895-1909. [8] Murchie, S.L. et al. (2008) Science 321, 73-76. [9] Robinson, M.S. et al. (2008) Science 321, 66-69. [10] Head, J.W. et al. (2011) Science 333, 1853-1856. [11] Preusker, F. et al. (2011) Planet. Space Sci. 59, 1910-1917.

Hardware accelerator of convolution with exponential function for image processing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panchenko, Ivan; Bucha, Victor

2015-12-01

In this paper we describe a Hardware Accelerator (HWA) for fast recursive approximation of separable convolution with exponential function. This filter can be used in many Image Processing (IP) applications, e.g. depth-dependent image blur, image enhancement and disparity estimation. We have adopted this filter RTL implementation to provide maximum throughput in constrains of required memory bandwidth and hardware resources to provide a power-efficient VLSI implementation.

Application and further development of diffusion based 2D chemical imaging techniques in the rhizosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoefer, Christoph; Santner, Jakob; Borisov, Sergey; Kreuzeder, Andreas; Wenzel, Walter; Puschenreiter, Markus

2015-04-01

Two dimensional chemical imaging of root processes refers to novel in situ methods to investigate and map solutes at a high spatial resolution (sub-mm). The visualization of these solutes reveals new insights in soil biogeochemistry and root processes. We derive chemical images by using data from DGT-LA-ICP-MS (Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) and POS (Planar Optode Sensors). Both technologies have shown promising results when applied in aqueous environment but need to be refined and improved for imaging at the soil-plant interface. Co-localized mapping using combined DGT and POS technologies and the development of new gel combinations are in our focus. DGTs are smart and thin (<0.4 mm) hydrogels; containing a binding resin for the targeted analytes (e.g. trace metals, phosphate, sulphide or radionuclides). The measurement principle is passive and diffusion based. The present analytes are diffusing into the gel and are bound by the resin. Thereby, the resin acts as zero sink. After application, DGTs are retrieved, dried, and analysed using LA-ICP-MS. The data is then normalized by an internal standard (e.g. 13C), calibrated using in-house standards and chemical images of the target area are plotted using imaging software. POS are, similar to DGT, thin sensor foils containing a fluorophore coating depending on the target analyte. The measurement principle is based on excitation of the flourophore by a specific wavelength and emission of the fluorophore depending on the presence of the analyte. The emitted signal is captured using optical filters and a DSLR camera. While DGT analysis is destructive, POS measurements can be performed continuously during the application. Both semi-quantitative techniques allow an in situ application to visualize chemical processes directly at the soil-plant interface. Here, we present a summary of results from rhizotron experiments with different plants in metal contaminated and agricultural soils.

Characterization of E coli biofim formations on baby spinach leaf surfaces using hyperspectral fluorescence imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Hyunjeong; Baek, Insuck; Oh, Mirae; Kim, Sungyoun; Lee, Hoonsoo; Kim, Moon S.

2017-05-01

Bacterial biofilm formed by pathogens on fresh produce surfaces is a food safety concern because the complex extracellular matrix in the biofilm structure reduces the reduction and removal efficacies of washing and sanitizing processes such as chemical or irradiation treatments. Therefore, a rapid and nondestructive method to identify pathogenic biofilm on produce surfaces is needed to ensure safe consumption of fresh, raw produce. This research aimed to evaluate the feasibility of hyperspectral fluorescence imaging for detecting Escherichia.coli (ATCC 25922) biofilms on baby spinach leaf surfaces. Samples of baby spinach leaves were immersed and inoculated with five different levels (from 2.6x104 to 2.6x108 CFU/mL) of E.coli and stored at 4°C for 24 h and 48 h to induce biofilm formation. Following the two treatment days, individual leaves were gently washed to remove excess liquid inoculums from the leaf surfaces and imaged with a hyperspectral fluorescence imaging system equipped with UV-A (365 nm) and violet (405 nm) excitation sources to evaluate a spectral-image-based method for biofilm detection. The imaging results with the UV-A excitation showed that leaves even at early stages of biofilm formations could be differentiated from the control leaf surfaces. This preliminary investigation demonstrated the potential of fluorescence imaging techniques for detection of biofilms on leafy green surfaces.

Diagnostic and procedural imaging curricula in physical therapist professional degree programs.

PubMed

Boissonnault, William G; White, Douglas M; Carney, Sara; Malin, Brittany; Smith, Wayne

2014-08-01

Descriptive survey. To describe the status of diagnostic and procedural imaging curricula within United States physical therapist professional degree programs. As patient direct access to physical therapy services increases, the ability to refer patients directly for diagnostic imaging could promote more efficient delivery of care. Appropriate patient referral is contingent on physical therapists having the requisite knowledge base and skills. While evidence describing imaging competence of physical therapists with advanced training in military institutions exists, evidence is lacking for other physical therapists, including new graduates of physical therapist professional degree programs. Faculty members teaching imaging at 206 United States physical therapist professional degree programs recognized by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education were recruited via e-mail correspondence. An e-mail attachment included the survey on which faculty reported imaging curricula and faculty qualifications, attitudes, and experiences. Faculty from 155 (75.2%) programs responded to the survey, with imaging being included in the curriculum of 152 programs. Content was integrated by required standalone courses or clinical science track courses, and/or through elective courses. The average reported estimate of imaging contact hours was 24.4 hours (range, 2-75 hours). Emphasis was on the musculoskeletal system, including 76.3% of the required standalone course content. Student competence was assessed in 147 (96.7%) programs, primarily by written (66.7%) and practical (19.7%) examinations. Faculty rated student competence on a scale of 1 (not competent) to 5 (competent), with ratings ranging from a high of 4.0 (identifying normal anatomy on plain-film radiography) to a low of 1.9 (identifying common tissue pathological processes/injuries on ultrasound). While a majority of programs reported including imaging curricula, variability was noted in all curricular aspects. These results may serve as a benchmark for faculty to assess existing curricula, allow for further development of imaging curricula, and provide a benchmark for the profession regarding current level of training for recent graduates of entry-level physical therapist professional degree programs.

Dielectric relaxation of NdMnO{sub 3} nanoparticles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saha, Sujoy, E-mail: sahasujoy3@gmail.com; Chanda, Sadhan; Dutta, Alo

2013-11-15

Graphical abstract: (a) TEM image of particle distribution of NMO. (b) HRTEM image of a single NMO particle under 4,000,000× magnification. (c) SAED pattern of a single NMO nanoparticle. - Highlights: • NdMnO{sub 3} nanoparticles are synthesized by sol–gel process. • TEM micrograph shows a granular characteristic with an average particle size of ∼50 nm. • HRTEM is consistent with the spacing between the (2 0 0) planes of the orthorhombic NdMnO{sub 3}. • Band gap is found to be 4.4 eV. • Cole–Cole model has been used to explain the dielectric relaxation in the material. • The activation energymore » of the material is found to be ∼0.43 eV. - Abstract: The neodymium manganate (NdMnO{sub 3}) nanoparticles are synthesized by the sol–gel process. The phase formation and particle size of the sample are determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and transmission electron microscopy. The band gap of the material is obtained by UV–visible absorption spectroscopy using Tauc relation. Dielectric properties of the sample have been investigated in the frequency range from 42 Hz to 1 MHz and in the temperature range from 303 K to 573 K. The dielectric relaxation peaks are observed in the frequency dependent dielectric loss spectra. The Cole–Cole model is used to explain the dielectric relaxation mechanism of the material. The complex impedance plane plot confirms the existence of both the grain and grain-boundary contribution to the relaxation. The temperature dependence of both grain and grain-boundary resistances follow the Arrhenius law with the activation energy of 0.427 and 0.431 eV respectively. The frequency-dependent conductivity spectra follow the power law.« less

Time-resolved nanosecond fluorescence lifetime imaging and picosecond infrared spectroscopy of combretastatin A-4 in solution and in cellular systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bisby, Roger H.; Botchway, Stanley W.; Greetham, Greg M.; Hadfield, John A.; McGown, Alan T.; Parker, Anthony W.; Scherer, Kathrin M.; Towrie, Mike

2012-08-01

Fluorescence lifetime images of intrinsic fluorescence obtained with two-photon excitation at 630 nm are shown following uptake of a series of E-combretastatins into live cells, including human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) that are the target for the anticancer activity of combretastatins. Images show distribution of the compounds within the cell cytoplasm and in structures identified as lipid droplets by comparison with images obtained following Nile red staining of the same cells. The intracellular fluorescent lifetimes are generally longer than in fluid solution as a consequence of the high viscosity of the cellular environment. Following incubation, the intracellular concentrations of a fluorinated derivative of E-combretastatin A-4 in HUVECs are between two and three orders of magnitude higher than the concentration in the surrounding medium. Evidence is presented to indicate that at moderate laser powers (up to 6 mW), it is possible to isomerize up to 25% of the combretastatin within the femtolitre focal volume of the femtosecond laser beam. This suggests that it may be possible to activate the E-combretastatin (with low cellular toxicity) to the Z-isomer with high anticancer drug activity using two-photon irradiation. The isomerization of Z- and E-combretastatins by 266 nm irradiation has been probed by ultrafast time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. Results for the E-isomer show a rapid loss of excess vibrational energy in the excited state with a lifetime of 7 ps, followed by a slower process with a lifetime of 500 ps corresponding to the return to the ground state as also determined from the fluorescence lifetime. In contrast, the Z-isomer, whilst also appearing to undergo a rapid cooling of the initial excited state, has a much shorter overall excited state lifetime of 14 ps. DedicationThis paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor Christopher G Morgan (1949-2011). He was a valued colleague and friend at the University of Salford and made significant contributions to the development and applications of fluorescence lifetime imaging.

Thigh muscle segmentation of chemical shift encoding-based water-fat magnetic resonance images: The reference database MyoSegmenTUM.

PubMed

Schlaeger, Sarah; Freitag, Friedemann; Klupp, Elisabeth; Dieckmeyer, Michael; Weidlich, Dominik; Inhuber, Stephanie; Deschauer, Marcus; Schoser, Benedikt; Bublitz, Sarah; Montagnese, Federica; Zimmer, Claus; Rummeny, Ernst J; Karampinos, Dimitrios C; Kirschke, Jan S; Baum, Thomas

2018-01-01

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can non-invasively assess muscle anatomy, exercise effects and pathologies with different underlying causes such as neuromuscular diseases (NMD). Quantitative MRI including fat fraction mapping using chemical shift encoding-based water-fat MRI has emerged for reliable determination of muscle volume and fat composition. The data analysis of water-fat images requires segmentation of the different muscles which has been mainly performed manually in the past and is a very time consuming process, currently limiting the clinical applicability. An automatization of the segmentation process would lead to a more time-efficient analysis. In the present work, the manually segmented thigh magnetic resonance imaging database MyoSegmenTUM is presented. It hosts water-fat MR images of both thighs of 15 healthy subjects and 4 patients with NMD with a voxel size of 3.2x2x4 mm3 with the corresponding segmentation masks for four functional muscle groups: quadriceps femoris, sartorius, gracilis, hamstrings. The database is freely accessible online at https://osf.io/svwa7/?view_only=c2c980c17b3a40fca35d088a3cdd83e2. The database is mainly meant as ground truth which can be used as training and test dataset for automatic muscle segmentation algorithms. The segmentation allows extraction of muscle cross sectional area (CSA) and volume. Proton density fat fraction (PDFF) of the defined muscle groups from the corresponding images and quadriceps muscle strength measurements/neurological muscle strength rating can be used for benchmarking purposes.

e-phenology: monitoring leaf phenology and tracking climate changes in the tropics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morellato, Patrícia; Alberton, Bruna; Almeida, Jurandy; Alex, Jefersson; Mariano, Greice; Torres, Ricardo

2014-05-01

The e-phenology is a multidisciplinary project combining research in Computer Science and Phenology. Its goal is to attack theoretical and practical problems involving the use of new technologies for remote phenological observation aiming to detect local environmental changes. It is geared towards three objectives: (a) the use of new technologies of environmental monitoring based on remote phenology monitoring systems; (b) creation of a protocol for a Brazilian long term phenology monitoring program and for the integration across disciplines, advancing our knowledge of seasonal responses within tropics to climate change; and (c) provide models, methods and algorithms to support management, integration and analysis of data of remote phenology systems. The research team is composed by computer scientists and biology researchers in Phenology. Our first results include: Phenology towers - We set up the first phenology tower in our core cerrado-savanna 1 study site at Itirapina, São Paulo, Brazil. The tower received a complete climatic station and a digital camera. The digital camera is set up to take daily sequence of images (five images per hour, from 6:00 to 18:00 h). We set up similar phenology towers with climatic station and cameras in five more sites: cerrado-savanna 2 (Pé de Gigante, SP), cerrado grassland 3 (Itirapina, SP), rupestrian fields 4 ( Serra do Cipo, MG), seasonal forest 5 (Angatuba, SP) and Atlantic raiforest 6 (Santa Virginia, SP). Phenology database - We finished modeling and validation of a phenology database that stores ground phenology and near-remote phenology, and we are carrying out the implementation with data ingestion. Remote phenology and image processing - We performed the first analyses of the cerrado sites 1 to 4 phenology derived from digital images. Analysis were conducted by extracting color information (RGB Red, Green and Blue color channels) from selected parts of the image named regions of interest (ROI). using the green color channel. We analyzed a daily sequence of images (6:00 to 18:00 h). Our results are innovative and indicate the great variation in color change response for tropical trees. We validate the camera phenology with our on the ground direct observation in the core cerrado site 1. We are developing a Image processing software to authomatic process the digital images and to generate the time series for further analyses. New techniques and image features have been used to extract seasonal features from data and for data processing, such as machine learning and visual rhythms. Machine learning was successful applied to identify similar species within the image. Visual rhythms show up as a new analytic tool for phenological interpretation. Next research steps include the analyses of longer data series, correlation with local climatic data, analyses and comparison of patterns among different vegetation sites, prepare a compressive protocol for digital camera phenology and develop new technologies to access vegetation changes using digital cameras. Support: FAPESP-Micorsoft Research, CNPq, CAPES.

Radio jets in NGC 4151: where eMERLIN meets HST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, D. R. A.; McHardy, I. M.; Baldi, R. D.; Beswick, R. J.; Argo, M. K.; Dullo, B. T.; Knapen, J. H.; Brinks, E.; Fenech, D. M.; Mundell, C. G.; Muxlow, T. W. B.; Panessa, F.; Rampadarath, H.; Westcott, J.

2017-12-01

We present high-sensitivity eMERLIN radio images of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 at 1.51 GHz. We compare the new eMERLIN images to those from archival MERLIN observations in 1993 to determine the change in jet morphology in the 22 yr between observations. We report an increase by almost a factor of 2 in the peak flux density of the central core component, C4, thought to host the black hole, but a probable decrease in some other components, possibly due to adiabatic expansion. The core flux increase indicates an active galactic nucleus (AGN) that is currently active and feeding the jet. We detect no significant motion in 22 yr between C4 and the component C3, which is unresolved in the eMERLIN image. We present a spectral index image made within the 512 MHz band of the 1.51 GHz observations. The spectrum of the core, C4, is flatter than that of other components further out in the jet. We use HST emission-line images (H α, [O III] and [O II]) to study the connection between the jet and the emission-line region. Based on the changing emission-line ratios away from the core and comparison with the eMERLIN radio jet, we conclude that photoionization from the central AGN is responsible for the observed emission-line properties further than 4 arcsec (360 pc) from the core, C4. Within this region, a body of evidence (radio-line co-spatiality, low [O III]/H α and estimated fast shocks) suggests additional ionization from the jet.

Learning process for performing and analyzing 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound imaging and interobserver reliability study.

PubMed

Siafarikas, F; Staer-Jensen, J; Braekken, I H; Bø, K; Engh, M Ellström

2013-03-01

To evaluate the learning process for acquiring three- and four-dimensional (3D/4D) transperineal ultrasound volumes of the levator hiatus (LH) dimensions at rest, during pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction and on Valsalva maneuver, and for analyzing the ultrasound volumes, as well as to perform an interobserver reliability study between two independent ultrasound examiners. This was a prospective study including 22 women. We monitored the learning process of an inexperienced examiner (IE) performing 3D/4D transperineal ultrasonography and analyzing the volumes. The examination included acquiring volumes during three PFM contractions and three Valsalva maneuvers. LH dimensions were determined in the axial plane. The learning process was documented by estimating agreement between the IE and an experienced examiner (E) using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Agreement was calculated in blocks of 10 ultrasound examinations and analyzed volumes. After the learning process was complete the interobserver reliability for the technique was calculated between these two independent examiners. For offline analysis of the first 10 ultrasound volumes obtained by E, good to very good agreement between E and IE was achieved for all LH measurements except for the left and right levator-urethra gap and pubic arc. For the next 10 analyzed volumes, agreement improved for all LH measurements. Volumes that had been obtained by IE and E were then re-evaluated by IE, and good to very good agreement was found for all LH measurements indicating consistency in volume acquisition. The interobserver reliability study showed excellent ICC values (ICC, 0.81-0.97) for all LH measurements except the pubic arc (ICC = 0.67). 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound is a reliable technique that can be learned in a short period of time. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC): 10 Years of Imaging Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaumann, R.; Neukum, G.; Tirsch, D.; Hoffmann, H.

2014-04-01

The HRSC Experiment: Imagery is the major source for our current understanding of the geologic evolution of Mars in qualitative and quantitative terms.Imaging is required to enhance our knowledge of Mars with respect to geological processes occurring on local, regional and global scales and is an essential prerequisite for detailed surface exploration. The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) of ESA's Mars Express Mission (MEx) is designed to simultaneously map the morphology, topography, structure and geologic context of the surface of Mars as well as atmospheric phenomena [1]. The HRSC directly addresses two of the main scientific goals of the Mars Express mission: (1) High-resolution three-dimensional photogeologic surface exploration and (2) the investigation of surface-atmosphere interactions over time; and significantly supports: (3) the study of atmospheric phenomena by multi-angle coverage and limb sounding as well as (4) multispectral mapping by providing high-resolution threedimensional color context information. In addition, the stereoscopic imagery will especially characterize landing sites and their geologic context [1]. The HRSC surface resolution and the digital terrain models bridge the gap in scales between highest ground resolution images (e.g., HiRISE) and global coverage observations (e.g., Viking). This is also the case with respect to DTMs (e.g., MOLA and local high-resolution DTMs). HRSC is also used as cartographic basis to correlate between panchromatic and multispectral stereo data. The unique multi-angle imaging technique of the HRSC supports its stereo capability by providing not only a stereo triplet but also a stereo quintuplet, making the photogrammetric processing very robust [1, 3]. The capabilities for three dimensional orbital reconnaissance of the Martian surface are ideally met by HRSC making this camera unique in the international Mars exploration effort.

Multispectral data processing from unmanned aerial vehicles: application in precision agriculture using different sensors and platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piermattei, Livia; Bozzi, Carlo Alberto; Mancini, Adriano; Tassetti, Anna Nora; Karel, Wilfried; Pfeifer, Norbert

2017-04-01

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in combination with consumer grade cameras have become standard tools for photogrammetric applications and surveying. The recent generation of multispectral, cost-efficient and lightweight cameras has fostered a breakthrough in the practical application of UAVs for precision agriculture. For this application, multispectral cameras typically use Green, Red, Red-Edge (RE) and Near Infrared (NIR) wavebands to capture both visible and invisible images of crops and vegetation. These bands are very effective for deriving characteristics like soil productivity, plant health and overall growth. However, the quality of results is affected by the sensor architecture, the spatial and spectral resolutions, the pattern of image collection, and the processing of the multispectral images. In particular, collecting data with multiple sensors requires an accurate spatial co-registration of the various UAV image datasets. Multispectral processed data in precision agriculture are mainly presented as orthorectified mosaics used to export information maps and vegetation indices. This work aims to investigate the acquisition parameters and processing approaches of this new type of image data in order to generate orthoimages using different sensors and UAV platforms. Within our experimental area we placed a grid of artificial targets, whose position was determined with differential global positioning system (dGPS) measurements. Targets were used as ground control points to georeference the images and as checkpoints to verify the accuracy of the georeferenced mosaics. The primary aim is to present a method for the spatial co-registration of visible, Red-Edge, and NIR image sets. To demonstrate the applicability and accuracy of our methodology, multi-sensor datasets were collected over the same area and approximately at the same time using the fixed-wing UAV senseFly "eBee". The images were acquired with the camera Canon S110 RGB, the multispectral cameras Canon S110 NIR and S110 RE and with the multi-camera system Parrot Sequoia, which is composed of single-band cameras (Green, Red, Red Edge, NIR and RGB). Imagery from each sensor was georeferenced and mosaicked with the commercial software Agisoft PhotoScan Pro and different approaches for image orientation were compared. To assess the overall spatial accuracy of each dataset the root mean square error was computed between check point coordinates measured with dGPS and coordinates retrieved from georeferenced image mosaics. Additionally, image datasets from different UAV platforms (i.e. DJI Phantom 4Pro, DJI Phantom 3 professional, and DJI Inspire 1 Pro) were acquired over the same area and the spatial accuracy of the orthoimages was evaluated.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Myronakis, M; Cai, W; Dhou, S

Purpose: To design a comprehensive open-source, publicly available, graphical user interface (GUI) to facilitate the configuration, generation, processing and use of the 4D Extended Cardiac-Torso (XCAT) phantom. Methods: The XCAT phantom includes over 9000 anatomical objects as well as respiratory, cardiac and tumor motion. It is widely used for research studies in medical imaging and radiotherapy. The phantom generation process involves the configuration of a text script to parameterize the geometry, motion, and composition of the whole body and objects within it, and to generate simulated PET or CT images. To avoid the need for manual editing or script writing,more » our MATLAB-based GUI uses slider controls, drop-down lists, buttons and graphical text input to parameterize and process the phantom. Results: Our GUI can be used to: a) generate parameter files; b) generate the voxelized phantom; c) combine the phantom with a lesion; d) display the phantom; e) produce average and maximum intensity images from the phantom output files; f) incorporate irregular patient breathing patterns; and f) generate DICOM files containing phantom images. The GUI provides local help information using tool-tip strings on the currently selected phantom, minimizing the need for external documentation. The DICOM generation feature is intended to simplify the process of importing the phantom images into radiotherapy treatment planning systems or other clinical software. Conclusion: The GUI simplifies and automates the use of the XCAT phantom for imaging-based research projects in medical imaging or radiotherapy. This has the potential to accelerate research conducted with the XCAT phantom, or to ease the learning curve for new users. This tool does not include the XCAT phantom software itself. We would like to acknowledge funding from MRA, Varian Medical Systems Inc.« less

MPEG-4-based 2D facial animation for mobile devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riegel, Thomas B.

2005-03-01

The enormous spread of mobile computing devices (e.g. PDA, cellular phone, palmtop, etc.) emphasizes scalable applications, since users like to run their favorite programs on the terminal they operate at that moment. Therefore appliances are of interest, which can be adapted to the hardware realities without loosing a lot of their functionalities. A good example for this is "Facial Animation," which offers an interesting way to achieve such "scalability." By employing MPEG-4, which provides an own profile for facial animation, a solution for low power terminals including mobile phones is demonstrated. From the generic 3D MPEG-4 face a specific 2D head model is derived, which consists primarily of a portrait image superposed by a suited warping mesh and adapted 2D animation rules. Thus the animation process of MPEG-4 need not be changed and standard compliant facial animation parameters can be used to displace the vertices of the mesh and warp the underlying image accordingly.

Geostationary Lightning Mapper: Lessons Learned from Post Launch Test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edgington, S.; Tillier, C. E.; Demroff, H.; VanBezooijen, R.; Christian, H. J., Jr.; Bitzer, P. M.

2017-12-01

Pre-launch calibration and algorithm design for the GOES Geostationary Lightning Mapper resulted in a successful and trouble-free on-orbit activation and post-launch test sequence. Within minutes of opening the GLM aperture door on January 4th, 2017, lightning was detected across the entire field of view. During the six-month post-launch test period, numerous processing parameters on board the instrument and in the ground processing algorithms were fine-tuned. Demonstrated on-orbit performance exceeded pre-launch predictions. We provide an overview of the ground calibration sequence, on-orbit tuning of the instrument, tuning of the ground processing algorithms (event filtering and navigation). We also touch on new insights obtained from analysis of a large and growing archive of raw GLM data, containing 3e8 flash detections derived from over 1e10 full-disk images of the Earth.

A hybrid reconstruction algorithm for fast and accurate 4D cone-beam CT imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yan, Hao; Folkerts, Michael; Jiang, Steve B., E-mail: xun.jia@utsouthwestern.edu, E-mail: steve.jiang@UTSouthwestern.edu

2014-07-15

Purpose: 4D cone beam CT (4D-CBCT) has been utilized in radiation therapy to provide 4D image guidance in lung and upper abdomen area. However, clinical application of 4D-CBCT is currently limited due to the long scan time and low image quality. The purpose of this paper is to develop a new 4D-CBCT reconstruction method that restores volumetric images based on the 1-min scan data acquired with a standard 3D-CBCT protocol. Methods: The model optimizes a deformation vector field that deforms a patient-specific planning CT (p-CT), so that the calculated 4D-CBCT projections match measurements. A forward-backward splitting (FBS) method is inventedmore » to solve the optimization problem. It splits the original problem into two well-studied subproblems, i.e., image reconstruction and deformable image registration. By iteratively solving the two subproblems, FBS gradually yields correct deformation information, while maintaining high image quality. The whole workflow is implemented on a graphic-processing-unit to improve efficiency. Comprehensive evaluations have been conducted on a moving phantom and three real patient cases regarding the accuracy and quality of the reconstructed images, as well as the algorithm robustness and efficiency. Results: The proposed algorithm reconstructs 4D-CBCT images from highly under-sampled projection data acquired with 1-min scans. Regarding the anatomical structure location accuracy, 0.204 mm average differences and 0.484 mm maximum difference are found for the phantom case, and the maximum differences of 0.3–0.5 mm for patients 1–3 are observed. As for the image quality, intensity errors below 5 and 20 HU compared to the planning CT are achieved for the phantom and the patient cases, respectively. Signal-noise-ratio values are improved by 12.74 and 5.12 times compared to results from FDK algorithm using the 1-min data and 4-min data, respectively. The computation time of the algorithm on a NVIDIA GTX590 card is 1–1.5 min per phase. Conclusions: High-quality 4D-CBCT imaging based on the clinically standard 1-min 3D CBCT scanning protocol is feasible via the proposed hybrid reconstruction algorithm.« less

38 CFR 1.554 - Requirements for making requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... must contain an image of the requester's handwritten signature. To make a request for VA records, write... by another confidentiality statute, the e-mail transmission must contain an image of the requester's... assure prompt processing, e-mail FOIA requests must be sent to official VA FOIA mailboxes established for...

38 CFR 1.554 - Requirements for making requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... must contain an image of the requester's handwritten signature. To make a request for VA records, write... by another confidentiality statute, the e-mail transmission must contain an image of the requester's... assure prompt processing, e-mail FOIA requests must be sent to official VA FOIA mailboxes established for...

38 CFR 1.554 - Requirements for making requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... must contain an image of the requester's handwritten signature. To make a request for VA records, write... by another confidentiality statute, the e-mail transmission must contain an image of the requester's... assure prompt processing, e-mail FOIA requests must be sent to official VA FOIA mailboxes established for...

SU-E-T-261: Development of An Automated System to Detect Patient Identification and Positioning Errors Prior to Radiotherapy Treatment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jani, S; Low, D; Lamb, J

2015-06-15

Purpose: To develop a system that can automatically detect patient identification and positioning errors using 3D computed tomography (CT) setup images and kilovoltage CT (kVCT) planning images. Methods: Planning kVCT images were collected for head-and-neck (H&N), pelvis, and spine treatments with corresponding 3D cone-beam CT (CBCT) and megavoltage CT (MVCT) setup images from TrueBeam and TomoTherapy units, respectively. Patient identification errors were simulated by registering setup and planning images from different patients. Positioning errors were simulated by misaligning the setup image by 1cm to 5cm in the six anatomical directions for H&N and pelvis patients. Misalignments for spine treatments weremore » simulated by registering the setup image to adjacent vertebral bodies on the planning kVCT. A body contour of the setup image was used as an initial mask for image comparison. Images were pre-processed by image filtering and air voxel thresholding, and image pairs were assessed using commonly-used image similarity metrics as well as custom -designed metrics. A linear discriminant analysis classifier was trained and tested on the datasets, and misclassification error (MCE), sensitivity, and specificity estimates were generated using 10-fold cross validation. Results: Our workflow produced MCE estimates of 0.7%, 1.7%, and 0% for H&N, pelvis, and spine TomoTherapy images, respectively. Sensitivities and specificities ranged from 98.0% to 100%. MCEs of 3.5%, 2.3%, and 2.1% were obtained for TrueBeam images of the above sites, respectively, with sensitivity and specificity estimates between 96.2% and 98.4%. MCEs for 1cm H&N/pelvis misalignments were 1.3/5.1% and 9.1/8.6% for TomoTherapy and TrueBeam images, respectively. 2cm MCE estimates were 0.4%/1.6% and 3.1/3.2%, respectively. Vertebral misalignment MCEs were 4.8% and 4.9% for TomoTherapy and TrueBeam images, respectively. Conclusion: Patient identification and gross misalignment errors can be robustly and automatically detected using 3D setup images of two imaging modalities across three commonly-treated anatomical sites.« less

SU-E-T-428: Feasibility Study of 4D Image Reconstruction by Organ Motion Vector Extension Based On Portal Images

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yoon, J; Jung, J; Yeo, I

2015-06-15

Purpose: To develop and to test a method to generate a new 4D CT images of the treatment day from the old 4D CT and the portal images of the day when the motion extent exceeded from that represented by plan CTs. Methods: A motion vector of a moving tumor in a patient may be extended to reconstruct the tumor position when the motion extent exceeded from that represented by plan CTs. To test this, 1. a phantom that consists of a polystyrene cylinder (tumor) embedded in cork (lung) was placed on a moving platform with 4 sec/cycle and amplitudesmore » of 1 cm and 2 cm, and was 4D-scanned. 2. A 6MV photon beam was irradiated on the moving phantoms and cineEPID images were obtained. 3. A motion vector of the tumor was acquired from 4D CT images of the phantom with 1 cm amplitude. 4. From cine EPID images of the phantom with the 2 cm amplitude, various motion extents (0.3 cm, 0.5 cm, etc) were acquired and programmed into the motion vector, producing CT images at each position. 5. The reconstructed CT images were then compared with pre-acquired “reference” 4D CT images at each position (i.e. phase). Results: The CT image was reconstructed and compared with the reference image, showing a slight mismatch in the transition direction limited by voxel size (slice thickness) in CT image. Due to the rigid nature of the phantom studied, the modeling the displacement of the center of object was sufficient. When deformable tumors are to be modeled, more complex scheme is necessary, which utilize cine EPID and 4D CT images. Conclusion: The new idea of CT image reconstruction was demonstrated. Deformable tumor movements need to be considered in the future.« less

Live-cell imaging to compare the transfection and gene silencing efficiency of calcium phosphate nanoparticles and a liposomal transfection agent.

PubMed

Chernousova, S; Epple, M

2017-05-01

The processing of DNA (for transfection) and short interfering RNA (siRNA; for gene silencing), introduced into HeLa cells by triple-shell calcium phosphate nanoparticles, was followed by live-cell imaging. For comparison, the commercial liposomal transfection agent Lipofectamine was used. The cells were incubated with these delivery systems, carrying either enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)-encoding DNA or siRNA against eGFP. In the latter case, HeLa cells that stably expressed eGFP were used. The expression of eGFP started after 5 h in the case of nanoparticles and after 4 h in the case of Lipofectamine. The corresponding times for gene silencing were 5 h (nanoparticles) and immediately after incubation (Lipofectamine). The expression of eGFP was notably enhanced 2-3 h after cell division (mitosis). In general, the transfection and gene silencing efficiencies of the nanoparticles were lower than those of Lipofectamime, even at a substantially higher dose (factor 20) of nucleic acids. However, the cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles was lower than that of Lipofectamine, making them suitable vectors for in vivo application.

Live-cell imaging to compare the transfection and gene silencing efficiency of calcium phosphate nanoparticles and a liposomal transfection agent

PubMed Central

Chernousova, S; Epple, M

2017-01-01

The processing of DNA (for transfection) and short interfering RNA (siRNA; for gene silencing), introduced into HeLa cells by triple-shell calcium phosphate nanoparticles, was followed by live-cell imaging. For comparison, the commercial liposomal transfection agent Lipofectamine was used. The cells were incubated with these delivery systems, carrying either enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)-encoding DNA or siRNA against eGFP. In the latter case, HeLa cells that stably expressed eGFP were used. The expression of eGFP started after 5 h in the case of nanoparticles and after 4 h in the case of Lipofectamine. The corresponding times for gene silencing were 5 h (nanoparticles) and immediately after incubation (Lipofectamine). The expression of eGFP was notably enhanced 2–3 h after cell division (mitosis). In general, the transfection and gene silencing efficiencies of the nanoparticles were lower than those of Lipofectamime, even at a substantially higher dose (factor 20) of nucleic acids. However, the cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles was lower than that of Lipofectamine, making them suitable vectors for in vivo application. PMID:28218744

4D-SFM Photogrammetry for Monitoring Sediment Dynamics in a Debris-Flow Catchment: Software Testing and Results Comparison

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cucchiaro, S.; Maset, E.; Fusiello, A.; Cazorzi, F.

2018-05-01

In recent years, the combination of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) algorithms and UAV-based aerial images has revolutionised 3D topographic surveys for natural environment monitoring, offering low-cost, fast and high quality data acquisition and processing. A continuous monitoring of the morphological changes through multi-temporal (4D) SfM surveys allows, e.g., to analyse the torrent dynamic also in complex topography environment like debris-flow catchments, provided that appropriate tools and procedures are employed in the data processing steps. In this work we test two different software packages (3DF Zephyr Aerial and Agisoft Photoscan) on a dataset composed of both UAV and terrestrial images acquired on a debris-flow reach (Moscardo torrent - North-eastern Italian Alps). Unlike other papers in the literature, we evaluate the results not only on the raw point clouds generated by the Structure-from- Motion and Multi-View Stereo algorithms, but also on the Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) created after post-processing. Outcomes show differences between the DTMs that can be considered irrelevant for the geomorphological phenomena under analysis. This study confirms that SfM photogrammetry can be a valuable tool for monitoring sediment dynamics, but accurate point cloud post-processing is required to reliably localize geomorphological changes.

Adaptive Algorithms for Automated Processing of Document Images

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

ABSTRACT Title of dissertation: ADAPTIVE ALGORITHMS FOR AUTOMATED PROCESSING OF DOCUMENT IMAGES Mudit Agrawal, Doctor of Philosophy, 2011...2011 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Adaptive Algorithms for Automated Processing of Document Images 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM...ALGORITHMS FOR AUTOMATED PROCESSING OF DOCUMENT IMAGES by Mudit Agrawal Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University

Prostate seed implant quality assessment using MR and CT image fusion.

PubMed

Amdur, R J; Gladstone, D; Leopold, K A; Harris, R D

1999-01-01

After a seed implant of the prostate, computerized tomography (CT) is ideal for determining seed distribution but soft tissue anatomy is frequently not well visualized. Magnetic resonance (MR) images soft tissue anatomy well but seed visualization is problematic. We describe a method of fusing CT and MR images to exploit the advantages of both of these modalities when assessing the quality of a prostate seed implant. Eleven consecutive prostate seed implant patients were imaged with axial MR and CT scans. MR and CT images were fused in three dimensions using the Pinnacle 3.0 version of the ADAC treatment planning system. The urethra and bladder base were used to "line up" MR and CT image sets during image fusion. Alignment was accomplished using translation and rotation in the three ortho-normal planes. Accuracy of image fusion was evaluated by calculating the maximum deviation in millimeters between the center of the urethra on axial MR versus CT images. Implant quality was determined by comparing dosimetric results to previously set parameters. Image fusion was performed with a high degree of accuracy. When lining up the urethra and base of bladder, the maximum difference in axial position of the urethra between MR and CT averaged 2.5 mm (range 1.3-4.0 mm, SD 0.9 mm). By projecting CT-derived dose distributions over MR images of soft tissue structures, qualitative and quantitative evaluation of implant quality is straightforward. The image-fusion process we describe provides a sophisticated way of assessing the quality of a prostate seed implant. Commercial software makes the process time-efficient and available to any clinical practice with a high-quality treatment planning system. While we use MR to image soft tissue structures, the process could be used with any imaging modality that is able to visualize the prostatic urethra (e.g., ultrasound).

Assessing the impact of graphical quality on automatic text recognition in digital maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiang, Yao-Yi; Leyk, Stefan; Honarvar Nazari, Narges; Moghaddam, Sima; Tan, Tian Xiang

2016-08-01

Converting geographic features (e.g., place names) in map images into a vector format is the first step for incorporating cartographic information into a geographic information system (GIS). With the advancement in computational power and algorithm design, map processing systems have been considerably improved over the last decade. However, the fundamental map processing techniques such as color image segmentation, (map) layer separation, and object recognition are sensitive to minor variations in graphical properties of the input image (e.g., scanning resolution). As a result, most map processing results would not meet user expectations if the user does not "properly" scan the map of interest, pre-process the map image (e.g., using compression or not), and train the processing system, accordingly. These issues could slow down the further advancement of map processing techniques as such unsuccessful attempts create a discouraged user community, and less sophisticated tools would be perceived as more viable solutions. Thus, it is important to understand what kinds of maps are suitable for automatic map processing and what types of results and process-related errors can be expected. In this paper, we shed light on these questions by using a typical map processing task, text recognition, to discuss a number of map instances that vary in suitability for automatic processing. We also present an extensive experiment on a diverse set of scanned historical maps to provide measures of baseline performance of a standard text recognition tool under varying map conditions (graphical quality) and text representations (that can vary even within the same map sheet). Our experimental results help the user understand what to expect when a fully or semi-automatic map processing system is used to process a scanned map with certain (varying) graphical properties and complexities in map content.

ARTIP: Automated Radio Telescope Image Processing Pipeline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharma, Ravi; Gyanchandani, Dolly; Kulkarni, Sarang; Gupta, Neeraj; Pathak, Vineet; Pande, Arti; Joshi, Unmesh

2018-02-01

The Automated Radio Telescope Image Processing Pipeline (ARTIP) automates the entire process of flagging, calibrating, and imaging for radio-interferometric data. ARTIP starts with raw data, i.e. a measurement set and goes through multiple stages, such as flux calibration, bandpass calibration, phase calibration, and imaging to generate continuum and spectral line images. Each stage can also be run independently. The pipeline provides continuous feedback to the user through various messages, charts and logs. It is written using standard python libraries and the CASA package. The pipeline can deal with datasets with multiple spectral windows and also multiple target sources which may have arbitrary combinations of flux/bandpass/phase calibrators.

Observation sequences and onboard data processing of Planet-C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, M.; Imamura, T.; Nakamura, M.; Ishi, N.; Ueno, M.; Hihara, H.; Abe, T.; Yamada, T.

Planet-C or VCO Venus Climate Orbiter will carry 5 cameras IR1 IR 1micrometer camera IR2 IR 2micrometer camera UVI UV Imager LIR Long-IR camera and LAC Lightning and Airglow Camera in the UV-IR region to investigate atmospheric dynamics of Venus During 30 hr orbiting designed to quasi-synchronize to the super rotation of the Venus atmosphere 3 groups of scientific observations will be carried out i image acquisition of 4 cameras IR1 IR2 UVI LIR 20 min in 2 hrs ii LAC operation only when VCO is within Venus shadow and iii radio occultation These observation sequences will define the scientific outputs of VCO program but the sequences must be compromised with command telemetry downlink and thermal power conditions For maximizing science data downlink it must be well compressed and the compression efficiency and image quality have the significant scientific importance in the VCO program Images of 4 cameras IR1 2 and UVI 1Kx1K and LIR 240x240 will be compressed using JPEG2000 J2K standard J2K is selected because of a no block noise b efficiency c both reversible and irreversible d patent loyalty free and e already implemented as academic commercial software ICs and ASIC logic designs Data compression efficiencies of J2K are about 0 3 reversible and 0 1 sim 0 01 irreversible The DE Digital Electronics unit which controls 4 cameras and handles onboard data processing compression is under concept design stage It is concluded that the J2K data compression logics circuits using space

Dynamic Stimuli And Active Processing In Human Visual Perception

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haber, Ralph N.

1990-03-01

Theories of visual perception traditionally have considered a static retinal image to be the starting point for processing; and has considered processing both to be passive and a literal translation of that frozen, two dimensional, pictorial image. This paper considers five problem areas in the analysis of human visually guided locomotion, in which the traditional approach is contrasted to newer ones that utilize dynamic definitions of stimulation, and an active perceiver: (1) differentiation between object motion and self motion, and among the various kinds of self motion (e.g., eyes only, head only, whole body, and their combinations); (2) the sources and contents of visual information that guide movement; (3) the acquisition and performance of perceptual motor skills; (4) the nature of spatial representations, percepts, and the perceived layout of space; and (5) and why the retinal image is a poor starting point for perceptual processing. These newer approaches argue that stimuli must be considered as dynamic: humans process the systematic changes in patterned light when objects move and when they themselves move. Furthermore, the processing of visual stimuli must be active and interactive, so that perceivers can construct panoramic and stable percepts from an interaction of stimulus information and expectancies of what is contained in the visual environment. These developments all suggest a very different approach to the computational analyses of object location and identification, and of the visual guidance of locomotion.

gProcess and ESIP Platforms for Satellite Imagery Processing over the Grid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bacu, Victor; Gorgan, Dorian; Rodila, Denisa; Pop, Florin; Neagu, Gabriel; Petcu, Dana

2010-05-01

The Environment oriented Satellite Data Processing Platform (ESIP) is developed through the SEE-GRID-SCI (SEE-GRID eInfrastructure for regional eScience) co-funded by the European Commission through FP7 [1]. The gProcess Platform [2] is a set of tools and services supporting the development and the execution over the Grid of the workflow based processing, and particularly the satelite imagery processing. The ESIP [3], [4] is build on top of the gProcess platform by adding a set of satellite image processing software modules and meteorological algorithms. The satellite images can reveal and supply important information on earth surface parameters, climate data, pollution level, weather conditions that can be used in different research areas. Generally, the processing algorithms of the satellite images can be decomposed in a set of modules that forms a graph representation of the processing workflow. Two types of workflows can be defined in the gProcess platform: abstract workflow (PDG - Process Description Graph), in which the user defines conceptually the algorithm, and instantiated workflow (iPDG - instantiated PDG), which is the mapping of the PDG pattern on particular satellite image and meteorological data [5]. The gProcess platform allows the definition of complex workflows by combining data resources, operators, services and sub-graphs. The gProcess platform is developed for the gLite middleware that is available in EGEE and SEE-GRID infrastructures [6]. gProcess exposes the specific functionality through web services [7]. The Editor Web Service retrieves information on available resources that are used to develop complex workflows (available operators, sub-graphs, services, supported resources, etc.). The Manager Web Service deals with resources management (uploading new resources such as workflows, operators, services, data, etc.) and in addition retrieves information on workflows. The Executor Web Service manages the execution of the instantiated workflows on the Grid infrastructure. In addition, this web service monitors the execution and generates statistical data that are important to evaluate performances and to optimize execution. The Viewer Web Service allows access to input and output data. To prove and to validate the utility of the gProcess and ESIP platforms there were developed the GreenView and GreenLand applications. The GreenView related functionality includes the refinement of some meteorological data such as temperature, and the calibration of the satellite images based on field measurements. The GreenLand application performs the classification of the satellite images by using a set of vegetation indices. The gProcess and ESIP platforms are used as well in GiSHEO project [8] to support the processing of Earth Observation data over the Grid in eGLE (GiSHEO eLearning Environment). Experiments of performance assessment were conducted and they have revealed that the workflow-based execution could improve the execution time of a satellite image processing algorithm [9]. It is not a reliable solution to execute all the workflow nodes on different machines. The execution of some nodes can be more time consuming and they will be performed in a longer time than other nodes. The total execution time will be affected because some nodes will slow down the execution. It is important to correctly balance the workflow nodes. Based on some optimization strategy the workflow nodes can be grouped horizontally, vertically or in a hybrid approach. In this way, those operators will be executed on one machine and also the data transfer between workflow nodes will be lower. The dynamic nature of the Grid infrastructure makes it more exposed to the occurrence of failures. These failures can occur at worker node, services availability, storage element, etc. Currently gProcess has support for some basic error prevention and error management solutions. In future, some more advanced error prevention and management solutions will be integrated in the gProcess platform. References [1] SEE-GRID-SCI Project, http://www.see-grid-sci.eu/ [2] Bacu V., Stefanut T., Rodila D., Gorgan D., Process Description Graph Composition by gProcess Platform. HiPerGRID - 3rd International Workshop on High Performance Grid Middleware, 28 May, Bucharest. Proceedings of CSCS-17 Conference, Vol.2., ISSN 2066-4451, pp. 423-430, (2009). [3] ESIP Platform, http://wiki.egee-see.org/index.php/JRA1_Commonalities [4] Gorgan D., Bacu V., Rodila D., Pop Fl., Petcu D., Experiments on ESIP - Environment oriented Satellite Data Processing Platform. SEE-GRID-SCI User Forum, 9-10 Dec 2009, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey, ISBN: 978-975-403-510-0, pp. 157-166 (2009). [5] Radu, A., Bacu, V., Gorgan, D., Diagrammatic Description of Satellite Image Processing Workflow. Workshop on Grid Computing Applications Development (GridCAD) at the SYNASC Symposium, 28 September 2007, Timisoara, IEEE Computer Press, ISBN 0-7695-3078-8, 2007, pp. 341-348 (2007). [6] Gorgan D., Bacu V., Stefanut T., Rodila D., Mihon D., Grid based Satellite Image Processing Platform for Earth Observation Applications Development. IDAACS'2009 - IEEE Fifth International Workshop on "Intelligent Data Acquisition and Advanced Computing Systems: Technology and Applications", 21-23 September, Cosenza, Italy, IEEE Published in Computer Press, 247-252 (2009). [7] Rodila D., Bacu V., Gorgan D., Integration of Satellite Image Operators as Workflows in the gProcess Application. Proceedings of ICCP2009 - IEEE 5th International Conference on Intelligent Computer Communication and Processing, 27-29 Aug, 2009 Cluj-Napoca. ISBN: 978-1-4244-5007-7, pp. 355-358 (2009). [8] GiSHEO consortium, Project site, http://gisheo.info.uvt.ro [9] Bacu V., Gorgan D., Graph Based Evaluation of Satellite Imagery Processing over Grid. ISPDC 2008 - 7th International Symposium on Parallel and Distributed Computing, July 1-5, 2008, Krakow, Poland. IEEE Computer Society 2008, ISBN: 978-0-7695-3472-5, pp. 147-154.

Cloud Engineering Principles and Technology Enablers for Medical Image Processing-as-a-Service

PubMed Central

Bao, Shunxing; Plassard, Andrew J.; Landman, Bennett A.; Gokhale, Aniruddha

2017-01-01

Traditional in-house, laboratory-based medical imaging studies use hierarchical data structures (e.g., NFS file stores) or databases (e.g., COINS, XNAT) for storage and retrieval. The resulting performance from these approaches is, however, impeded by standard network switches since they can saturate network bandwidth during transfer from storage to processing nodes for even moderate-sized studies. To that end, a cloud-based “medical image processing-as-a-service” offers promise in utilizing the ecosystem of Apache Hadoop, which is a flexible framework providing distributed, scalable, fault tolerant storage and parallel computational modules, and HBase, which is a NoSQL database built atop Hadoop’s distributed file system. Despite this promise, HBase’s load distribution strategy of region split and merge is detrimental to the hierarchical organization of imaging data (e.g., project, subject, session, scan, slice). This paper makes two contributions to address these concerns by describing key cloud engineering principles and technology enhancements we made to the Apache Hadoop ecosystem for medical imaging applications. First, we propose a row-key design for HBase, which is a necessary step that is driven by the hierarchical organization of imaging data. Second, we propose a novel data allocation policy within HBase to strongly enforce collocation of hierarchically related imaging data. The proposed enhancements accelerate data processing by minimizing network usage and localizing processing to machines where the data already exist. Moreover, our approach is amenable to the traditional scan, subject, and project-level analysis procedures, and is compatible with standard command line/scriptable image processing software. Experimental results for an illustrative sample of imaging data reveals that our new HBase policy results in a three-fold time improvement in conversion of classic DICOM to NiFTI file formats when compared with the default HBase region split policy, and nearly a six-fold improvement over a commonly available network file system (NFS) approach even for relatively small file sets. Moreover, file access latency is lower than network attached storage. PMID:28884169

Parallel Wavefront Analysis for a 4D Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, Shanti R.

2011-01-01

This software provides a programming interface for automating data collection with a PhaseCam interferometer from 4D Technology, and distributing the image-processing algorithm across a cluster of general-purpose computers. Multiple instances of 4Sight (4D Technology s proprietary software) run on a networked cluster of computers. Each connects to a single server (the controller) and waits for instructions. The controller directs the interferometer to several images, then assigns each image to a different computer for processing. When the image processing is finished, the server directs one of the computers to collate and combine the processed images, saving the resulting measurement in a file on a disk. The available software captures approximately 100 images and analyzes them immediately. This software separates the capture and analysis processes, so that analysis can be done at a different time and faster by running the algorithm in parallel across several processors. The PhaseCam family of interferometers can measure an optical system in milliseconds, but it takes many seconds to process the data so that it is usable. In characterizing an adaptive optics system, like the next generation of astronomical observatories, thousands of measurements are required, and the processing time quickly becomes excessive. A programming interface distributes data processing for a PhaseCam interferometer across a Windows computing cluster. A scriptable controller program coordinates data acquisition from the interferometer, storage on networked hard disks, and parallel processing. Idle time of the interferometer is minimized. This architecture is implemented in Python and JavaScript, and may be altered to fit a customer s needs.

Pre-processing, registration and selection of adaptive optics corrected retinal images.

PubMed

Ramaswamy, Gomathy; Devaney, Nicholas

2013-07-01

In this paper, the aim is to demonstrate enhanced processing of sequences of fundus images obtained using a commercial AO flood illumination system. The purpose of the work is to (1) correct for uneven illumination at the retina (2) automatically select the best quality images and (3) precisely register the best images. Adaptive optics corrected retinal images are pre-processed to correct uneven illumination using different methods; subtracting or dividing by the average filtered image, homomorphic filtering and a wavelet based approach. These images are evaluated to measure the image quality using various parameters, including sharpness, variance, power spectrum kurtosis and contrast. We have carried out the registration in two stages; a coarse stage using cross-correlation followed by fine registration using two approaches; parabolic interpolation on the peak of the cross-correlation and maximum-likelihood estimation. The angle of rotation of the images is measured using a combination of peak tracking and Procrustes transformation. We have found that a wavelet approach (Daubechies 4 wavelet at 6th level decomposition) provides good illumination correction with clear improvement in image sharpness and contrast. The assessment of image quality using a 'Designer metric' works well when compared to visual evaluation, although it is highly correlated with other metrics. In image registration, sub-pixel translation measured using parabolic interpolation on the peak of the cross-correlation function and maximum-likelihood estimation are found to give very similar results (RMS difference 0.047 pixels). We have confirmed that correcting rotation of the images provides a significant improvement, especially at the edges of the image. We observed that selecting the better quality frames (e.g. best 75% images) for image registration gives improved resolution, at the expense of poorer signal-to-noise. The sharpness map of the registered and de-rotated images shows increased sharpness over most of the field of view. Adaptive optics assisted images of the cone photoreceptors can be better pre-processed using a wavelet approach. These images can be assessed for image quality using a 'Designer Metric'. Two-stage image registration including correcting for rotation significantly improves the final image contrast and sharpness. © 2013 The Authors Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics © 2013 The College of Optometrists.

Feature extraction using gray-level co-occurrence matrix of wavelet coefficients and texture matching for batik motif recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suciati, Nanik; Herumurti, Darlis; Wijaya, Arya Yudhi

2017-02-01

Batik is one of Indonesian's traditional cloth. Motif or pattern drawn on a piece of batik fabric has a specific name and philosopy. Although batik cloths are widely used in everyday life, but only few people understand its motif and philosophy. This research is intended to develop a batik motif recognition system which can be used to identify motif of Batik image automatically. First, a batik image is decomposed into sub-images using wavelet transform. Six texture descriptors, i.e. max probability, correlation, contrast, uniformity, homogenity and entropy, are extracted from gray-level co-occurrence matrix of each sub-image. The texture features are then matched to the template features using canberra distance. The experiment is performed on Batik Dataset consisting of 1088 batik images grouped into seven motifs. The best recognition rate, that is 92,1%, is achieved using feature extraction process with 5 level wavelet decomposition and 4 directional gray-level co-occurrence matrix.

White-Light Optical Information Processing and Holography.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-06-22

Processing, Image Deblurring , Source Encoding, Signal Sampling, Coherence Measurement, Noise Performance, / Pseudocolor Encoding. , ’ ’ * .~ 10.ASS!RACT...o 2.1 Broad Spectral Band Color Image Deblurring .. . 4 2.2 Noise Performance ...... ...... .. . 4 2.3 Pseudocolor Encoding with Three Primary...spectra. This technique is particularly suitable for linear smeared color image deblurring . 2.2 Noise Performance In this period, we have also

Guinea-pig interpubic joint (symphysis pubica) relaxation at parturition: Underlying cellular processes that resemble an inflammatory response

PubMed Central

Rodríguez, Horacio A; Ortega, Hugo H; Ramos, Jorge G; Muñoz-de-Toro, Mónica; Luque, Enrique H

2003-01-01

Background At term, cervical ripening in coordination with uterine contractions becomes a prerequisite for a normal vaginal delivery. Currently, cervical ripening is considered to occur independently from uterine contractions. Many evidences suggest that cervical ripening resembles an inflammatory process. Comparatively little attention has been paid to the increased flexibility of the pelvic symphysis that occurs in many species to enable safe delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the guinea-pig interpubic joint relaxation process observed during late pregnancy and parturition resembles an inflammatory process. Methods Samples of pubic symphysis were taken from pregnant guinea-pigs sacrificed along gestation, parturition and postpartum. Serial sections of paraffin-embedded tissues were used to measure the interpubic distance on digitalized images, stained with Giemsa to quantify leukocyte infiltration and to describe the vascular area changes, or studied by the picrosirius-polarization method to evaluate collagen remodeling. P4 and E2 serum levels were measured by a sequential immunometric assay. Results Data showed that the pubic relaxation is associated with an increase in collagen remodeling. In addition, a positive correlation between E2 serum levels and the increase in the interpubic distance was found. On the other hand, a leukocyte infiltration in the interpubic tissue around parturition was described, with the presence of almost all inflammatory cells types. At the same time, histological images show an increase in vascular area (angiogenesis). Eosinophils reached their highest level immediately before parturition; whereas for the neutrophilic and mononuclear infiltration higher values were recorded one day after parturition. Correlation analysis showed that eosinophils and mononuclear cells were positively correlated with E2 levels, but only eosinophilic infiltration was associated with collagen remodeling. Additionally, we observed typical histological images of dissolution of the connective tissue matrix around eosinophils. Conclusion The present study shows that a timely regulated influx of infiltrating leukocytes is associated with an extensive collagen remodeling process that allows the pubic separation for a normal delivery in guinea-pig. Thus, the findings in this study support the hypothesis that the guinea-pig pubic symphyseal relaxation at parturition resembles an inflammatory process. PMID:14633278

Simple synthesis of carbon-11 labeled styryl dyes as new potential PET RNA-specific, living cell imaging probes.

PubMed

Wang, Min; Gao, Mingzhang; Miller, Kathy D; Sledge, George W; Hutchins, Gary D; Zheng, Qi-Huang

2009-05-01

A new type of styryl dyes have been developed as RNA-specific, live cell imaging probes for fluorescent microscopy technology to study nuclear structure and function. This study was designed to develop carbon-11 labeled styryl dyes as new probes for biomedical imaging technique positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of RNA in living cells. Precursors (E)-2-(2-(1-(triisopropylsilyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)vinyl)quinoline (2), (E)-2-(2,4,6-trimethoxystyryl)quinoline (3) and (E)-4-(2-(6-methoxyquinolin-2-yl)vinyl)-N,N-diemthylaniline (4), and standards styryl dyes E36 (6), E144 (7) and F22 (9) were synthesized in multiple steps with moderate to high chemical yields. Precursor 2 was labeled by [(11)C]CH(3)OTf, trapped on a cation-exchange CM Sep-Pak cartridge following a quick deprotecting reaction by addition of (n-Bu)(4)NF in THF, and isolated by solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification to provide target tracer [(11)C]E36 ([(11)C]6) in 40-50% radiochemical yields, decay corrected to end of bombardment (EOB), based on [(11)C]CO(2). The target tracers [(11)C]E144 ([(11)C]7) and [(11)C]F22 ([(11)C]9) were prepared by N-[(11)C]methylation of the precursors 3 and 4, respectively, using [(11)C]CH(3)OTf and isolated by SPE method in 50-70% radiochemical yields at EOB. The specific activity of the target tracers [(11)C]6, [(11)C]7 and [(11)C]9 was in a range of 74-111GBq/mumol at the end of synthesis (EOS).

Automatic registration of multi-modal microscopy images for integrative analysis of prostate tissue sections.

PubMed

Lippolis, Giuseppe; Edsjö, Anders; Helczynski, Leszek; Bjartell, Anders; Overgaard, Niels Chr

2013-09-05

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths. For diagnosis, predicting the outcome of the disease, and for assessing potential new biomarkers, pathologists and researchers routinely analyze histological samples. Morphological and molecular information may be integrated by aligning microscopic histological images in a multiplex fashion. This process is usually time-consuming and results in intra- and inter-user variability. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using modern image analysis methods for automated alignment of microscopic images from differently stained adjacent paraffin sections from prostatic tissue specimens. Tissue samples, obtained from biopsy or radical prostatectomy, were sectioned and stained with either hematoxylin & eosin (H&E), immunohistochemistry for p63 and AMACR or Time Resolved Fluorescence (TRF) for androgen receptor (AR). Image pairs were aligned allowing for translation, rotation and scaling. The registration was performed automatically by first detecting landmarks in both images, using the scale invariant image transform (SIFT), followed by the well-known RANSAC protocol for finding point correspondences and finally aligned by Procrustes fit. The Registration results were evaluated using both visual and quantitative criteria as defined in the text. Three experiments were carried out. First, images of consecutive tissue sections stained with H&E and p63/AMACR were successfully aligned in 85 of 88 cases (96.6%). The failures occurred in 3 out of 13 cores with highly aggressive cancer (Gleason score ≥ 8). Second, TRF and H&E image pairs were aligned correctly in 103 out of 106 cases (97%).The third experiment considered the alignment of image pairs with the same staining (H&E) coming from a stack of 4 sections. The success rate for alignment dropped from 93.8% in adjacent sections to 22% for sections furthest away. The proposed method is both reliable and fast and therefore well suited for automatic segmentation and analysis of specific areas of interest, combining morphological information with protein expression data from three consecutive tissue sections. Finally, the performance of the algorithm seems to be largely unaffected by the Gleason grade of the prostate tissue samples examined, at least up to Gleason score 7.

High speed multiphoton imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yongxiao; Brustle, Anne; Gautam, Vini; Cockburn, Ian; Gillespie, Cathy; Gaus, Katharina; Lee, Woei Ming

2016-12-01

Intravital multiphoton microscopy has emerged as a powerful technique to visualize cellular processes in-vivo. Real time processes revealed through live imaging provided many opportunities to capture cellular activities in living animals. The typical parameters that determine the performance of multiphoton microscopy are speed, field of view, 3D imaging and imaging depth; many of these are important to achieving data from in-vivo. Here, we provide a full exposition of the flexible polygon mirror based high speed laser scanning multiphoton imaging system, PCI-6110 card (National Instruments) and high speed analog frame grabber card (Matrox Solios eA/XA), which allows for rapid adjustments between frame rates i.e. 5 Hz to 50 Hz with 512 × 512 pixels. Furthermore, a motion correction algorithm is also used to mitigate motion artifacts. A customized control software called Pscan 1.0 is developed for the system. This is then followed by calibration of the imaging performance of the system and a series of quantitative in-vitro and in-vivo imaging in neuronal tissues and mice.

Unified Digital Image Display And Processing System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horii, Steven C.; Maguire, Gerald Q.; Noz, Marilyn E.; Schimpf, James H.

1981-11-01

Our institution like many others, is faced with a proliferation of medical imaging techniques. Many of these methods give rise to digital images (e.g. digital radiography, computerized tomography (CT) , nuclear medicine and ultrasound). We feel that a unified, digital system approach to image management (storage, transmission and retrieval), image processing and image display will help in integrating these new modalities into the present diagnostic radiology operations. Future techniques are likely to employ digital images, so such a system could readily be expanded to include other image sources. We presently have the core of such a system. We can both view and process digital nuclear medicine (conventional gamma camera) images, positron emission tomography (PET) and CT images on a single system. Images from our recently installed digital radiographic unit can be added. Our paper describes our present system, explains the rationale for its configuration, and describes the directions in which it will expand.

Finding-specific display presets for computed radiography soft-copy reading.

PubMed

Andriole, K P; Gould, R G; Webb, W R

1999-05-01

Much work has been done to optimize the display of cross-sectional modality imaging examinations for soft-copy reading (i.e., window/level tissue presets, and format presentations such as tile and stack modes, four-on-one, nine-on-one, etc). Less attention has been paid to the display of digital forms of the conventional projection x-ray. The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of providing presets for computed radiography (CR) soft-copy display, based not on the window/level settings, but on processing applied to the image optimized for visualization of specific findings, pathologies, etc (i.e., pneumothorax, tumor, tube location). It is felt that digital display of CR images based on finding-specific processing presets has the potential to: speed reading of digital projection x-ray examinations on soft copy; improve diagnostic efficacy; standardize display across examination type, clinical scenario, important key findings, and significant negatives; facilitate image comparison; and improve confidence in and acceptance of soft-copy reading. Clinical chest images are acquired using an Agfa-Gevaert (Mortsel, Belgium) ADC 70 CR scanner and Fuji (Stamford, CT) 9000 and AC2 CR scanners. Those demonstrating pertinent findings are transferred over the clinical picture archiving and communications system (PACS) network to a research image processing station (Agfa PS5000), where the optimal image-processing settings per finding, pathologic category, etc, are developed in conjunction with a thoracic radiologist, by manipulating the multiscale image contrast amplification (Agfa MUSICA) algorithm parameters. Soft-copy display of images processed with finding-specific settings are compared with the standard default image presentation for 50 cases of each category. Comparison is scored using a 5-point scale with the positive scale denoting the standard presentation is preferred over the finding-specific processing, the negative scale denoting the finding-specific processing is preferred over the standard presentation, and zero denoting no difference. Processing settings have been developed for several findings including pneumothorax and lung nodules, and clinical cases are currently being collected in preparation for formal clinical trials. Preliminary results indicate a preference for the optimized-processing presentation of images over the standard default, particularly by inexperienced radiology residents and referring clinicians.

47 CFR 64.4002 - Notification obligations of LECs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... and processing a PIC selection submitted by a customer and placing the customer on the network of the...-submitted PIC order (i.e., mirror image of the original order), unless otherwise specified by this paragraph... request (i.e., the mirror image of the original request), along with the specific reason(s) why the...

47 CFR 64.4002 - Notification obligations of LECs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... and processing a PIC selection submitted by a customer and placing the customer on the network of the...-submitted PIC order (i.e., mirror image of the original order), unless otherwise specified by this paragraph... request (i.e., the mirror image of the original request), along with the specific reason(s) why the...

47 CFR 64.4002 - Notification obligations of LECs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... and processing a PIC selection submitted by a customer and placing the customer on the network of the...-submitted PIC order (i.e., mirror image of the original order), unless otherwise specified by this paragraph... request (i.e., the mirror image of the original request), along with the specific reason(s) why the...

47 CFR 64.4002 - Notification obligations of LECs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... and processing a PIC selection submitted by a customer and placing the customer on the network of the...-submitted PIC order (i.e., mirror image of the original order), unless otherwise specified by this paragraph... request (i.e., the mirror image of the original request), along with the specific reason(s) why the...

Live imaging of targeted cell ablation in Xenopus: a new model to study demyelination and repair

PubMed Central

Kaya, F.; Mannioui, A.; Chesneau, A.; Sekizar, S.; Maillard, E.; Ballagny, C.; Houel-Renault, L.; Du Pasquier, D.; Bronchain, O.; Holtzmann, I.; Desmazieres, A.; Thomas, J.-L.; Demeneix, B. A.; Brophy, P. J.; Zalc, B.; Mazabraud, A.

2012-01-01

Live imaging studies of the processes of demyelination and remyelination have so far been technically limited in mammals. We have thus generated a Xenopus laevis transgenic line allowing live imaging and conditional ablation of myelinating oligodendrocytes throughout the central nervous system (CNS). In these transgenic pMBP-eGFP-NTR tadpoles the myelin basic protein (MBP) regulatory sequences, specific to mature oligodendrocytes, are used to drive expression of an eGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) reporter fused to the E. coli nitroreductase (NTR) selection enzyme. This enzyme converts the innocuous pro-drug metronidazole (MTZ) to a cytotoxin. Using two-photon imaging in vivo, we show that pMBP-eGFP-NTR tadpoles display a graded oligodendrocyte ablation in response to MTZ, which depends on the exposure time to MTZ. MTZ-induced cell death was restricted to oligodendrocytes, without detectable axonal damage. After cessation of MTZ treatment, remyelination proceeded spontaneously, but was strongly accelerated by retinoic acid. Altogether, these features establish the Xenopus pMBP-eGFP-NTR line as a novel in vivo model for the study of demyelination/remyelination processes and for large-scale screens of therapeutic agents promoting myelin repair. PMID:22973012

Experiences with digital processing of images at INPE

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mascarenhas, N. D. A. (Principal Investigator)

1984-01-01

Four different research experiments with digital image processing at INPE will be described: (1) edge detection by hypothesis testing; (2) image interpolation by finite impulse response filters; (3) spatial feature extraction methods in multispectral classification; and (4) translational image registration by sequential tests of hypotheses.

Graphic Warning Labels Elicit Affective and Thoughtful Responses from Smokers: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Evans, Abigail T.; Peters, Ellen; Strasser, Andrew A.; Emery, Lydia F.; Sheerin, Kaitlin M.; Romer, Daniel

2015-01-01

Objective Observational research suggests that placing graphic images on cigarette warning labels can reduce smoking rates, but field studies lack experimental control. Our primary objective was to determine the psychological processes set in motion by naturalistic exposure to graphic vs. text-only warnings in a randomized clinical trial involving exposure to modified cigarette packs over a 4-week period. Theories of graphic-warning impact were tested by examining affect toward smoking, credibility of warning information, risk perceptions, quit intentions, warning label memory, and smoking risk knowledge. Methods Adults who smoked between 5 and 40 cigarettes daily (N = 293; mean age = 33.7), did not have a contra-indicated medical condition, and did not intend to quit were recruited from Philadelphia, PA and Columbus, OH. Smokers were randomly assigned to receive their own brand of cigarettes for four weeks in one of three warning conditions: text only, graphic images plus text, or graphic images with elaborated text. Results Data from 244 participants who completed the trial were analyzed in structural-equation models. The presence of graphic images (compared to text-only) caused more negative affect toward smoking, a process that indirectly influenced risk perceptions and quit intentions (e.g., image->negative affect->risk perception->quit intention). Negative affect from graphic images also enhanced warning credibility including through increased scrutiny of the warnings, a process that also indirectly affected risk perceptions and quit intentions (e.g., image->negative affect->risk scrutiny->warning credibility->risk perception->quit intention). Unexpectedly, elaborated text reduced warning credibility. Finally, graphic warnings increased warning-information recall and indirectly increased smoking-risk knowledge at the end of the trial and one month later. Conclusions In the first naturalistic clinical trial conducted, graphic warning labels are more effective than text-only warnings in encouraging smokers to consider quitting and in educating them about smoking’s risks. Negative affective reactions to smoking, thinking about risks, and perceptions of credibility are mediators of their impact. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01782053 PMID:26672982

Analysis of ROC on chest direct digital radiography (DR) after image processing in diagnosis of SARS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Guozheng; Lan, Rihui; Zeng, Qingsi; Zheng, Zhong

2004-05-01

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS, also called Infectious Atypical Pneumonia), which initially broke out in late 2002, has threatened the public"s health seriously. How to confirm the patients contracting SARS becomes an urgent issue in diagnosis. This paper intends to evaluate the importance of Image Processing in the diagnosis on SARS at the early stage. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis has been employed in this study to compare the value of DR images in the diagnosis of SARS patients before and after image processing by Symphony Software supplied by E-Com Technology Ltd., and DR image study of 72 confirmed or suspected SARS patients were reviewed respectively. All the images taken from the studied patients were processed by Symphony. Both the original and processed images were taken into ROC analysis, based on which the ROC graph for each group of images has been produced as described below: For processed images: a = 1.9745, b = 1.4275, SA = 0.8714; For original images: a = 0.9066, b = 0.8310, SA = 0.7572; (a - intercept, b - slop, SA - Area below the curve). The result shows significant difference between the original images and processed images (P<0.01). In summary, the images processed by Symphony are superior to the original ones in detecting the opacity lesion, and increases the accuracy of SARS diagnosis.

TH-CD-206-01: Expectation-Maximization Algorithm-Based Tissue Mixture Quantification for Perfusion MRI

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Han, H; Xing, L; Liang, Z

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of estimating the tissue mixture perfusions and quantifying cerebral blood flow change in arterial spin labeled (ASL) perfusion MR images. Methods: The proposed perfusion MR image analysis framework consists of 5 steps: (1) Inhomogeneity correction was performed on the T1- and T2-weighted images, which are available for each studied perfusion MR dataset. (2) We used the publicly available FSL toolbox to strip off the non-brain structures from the T1- and T2-weighted MR images. (3) We applied a multi-spectral tissue-mixture segmentation algorithm on both T1- and T2-structural MR images to roughly estimate the fraction of eachmore » tissue type - white matter, grey matter and cerebral spinal fluid inside each image voxel. (4) The distributions of the three tissue types or tissue mixture across the structural image array are down-sampled and mapped onto the ASL voxel array via a co-registration operation. (5) The presented 4-dimensional expectation-maximization (4D-EM) algorithm takes the down-sampled three tissue type distributions on perfusion image data to generate the perfusion mean, variance and percentage images for each tissue type of interest. Results: Experimental results on three volunteer datasets demonstrated that the multi-spectral tissue-mixture segmentation algorithm was effective to initialize tissue mixtures from T1- and T2-weighted MR images. Compared with the conventional ASL image processing toolbox, the proposed 4D-EM algorithm not only generated comparable perfusion mean images, but also produced perfusion variance and percentage images, which the ASL toolbox cannot obtain. It is observed that the perfusion contribution percentages may not be the same as the corresponding tissue mixture volume fractions estimated in the structural images. Conclusion: A specific application to brain ASL images showed that the presented perfusion image analysis method is promising for detecting subtle changes in tissue perfusions, which is valuable for the early diagnosis of certain brain diseases, e.g. multiple sclerosis.« less

Virtual Averaging Making Nonframe-Averaged Optical Coherence Tomography Images Comparable to Frame-Averaged Images.

PubMed

Chen, Chieh-Li; Ishikawa, Hiroshi; Wollstein, Gadi; Bilonick, Richard A; Kagemann, Larry; Schuman, Joel S

2016-01-01

Developing a novel image enhancement method so that nonframe-averaged optical coherence tomography (OCT) images become comparable to active eye-tracking frame-averaged OCT images. Twenty-one eyes of 21 healthy volunteers were scanned with noneye-tracking nonframe-averaged OCT device and active eye-tracking frame-averaged OCT device. Virtual averaging was applied to nonframe-averaged images with voxel resampling and adding amplitude deviation with 15-time repetitions. Signal-to-noise (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR), and the distance between the end of visible nasal retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the foveola were assessed to evaluate the image enhancement effect and retinal layer visibility. Retinal thicknesses before and after processing were also measured. All virtual-averaged nonframe-averaged images showed notable improvement and clear resemblance to active eye-tracking frame-averaged images. Signal-to-noise and CNR were significantly improved (SNR: 30.5 vs. 47.6 dB, CNR: 4.4 vs. 6.4 dB, original versus processed, P < 0.0001, paired t -test). The distance between the end of visible nasal RNFL and the foveola was significantly different before (681.4 vs. 446.5 μm, Cirrus versus Spectralis, P < 0.0001) but not after processing (442.9 vs. 446.5 μm, P = 0.76). Sectoral macular total retinal and circumpapillary RNFL thicknesses showed systematic differences between Cirrus and Spectralis that became not significant after processing. The virtual averaging method successfully improved nontracking nonframe-averaged OCT image quality and made the images comparable to active eye-tracking frame-averaged OCT images. Virtual averaging may enable detailed retinal structure studies on images acquired using a mixture of nonframe-averaged and frame-averaged OCT devices without concerning about systematic differences in both qualitative and quantitative aspects.

Virtual Averaging Making Nonframe-Averaged Optical Coherence Tomography Images Comparable to Frame-Averaged Images

PubMed Central

Chen, Chieh-Li; Ishikawa, Hiroshi; Wollstein, Gadi; Bilonick, Richard A.; Kagemann, Larry; Schuman, Joel S.

2016-01-01

Purpose Developing a novel image enhancement method so that nonframe-averaged optical coherence tomography (OCT) images become comparable to active eye-tracking frame-averaged OCT images. Methods Twenty-one eyes of 21 healthy volunteers were scanned with noneye-tracking nonframe-averaged OCT device and active eye-tracking frame-averaged OCT device. Virtual averaging was applied to nonframe-averaged images with voxel resampling and adding amplitude deviation with 15-time repetitions. Signal-to-noise (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR), and the distance between the end of visible nasal retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the foveola were assessed to evaluate the image enhancement effect and retinal layer visibility. Retinal thicknesses before and after processing were also measured. Results All virtual-averaged nonframe-averaged images showed notable improvement and clear resemblance to active eye-tracking frame-averaged images. Signal-to-noise and CNR were significantly improved (SNR: 30.5 vs. 47.6 dB, CNR: 4.4 vs. 6.4 dB, original versus processed, P < 0.0001, paired t-test). The distance between the end of visible nasal RNFL and the foveola was significantly different before (681.4 vs. 446.5 μm, Cirrus versus Spectralis, P < 0.0001) but not after processing (442.9 vs. 446.5 μm, P = 0.76). Sectoral macular total retinal and circumpapillary RNFL thicknesses showed systematic differences between Cirrus and Spectralis that became not significant after processing. Conclusion The virtual averaging method successfully improved nontracking nonframe-averaged OCT image quality and made the images comparable to active eye-tracking frame-averaged OCT images. Translational Relevance Virtual averaging may enable detailed retinal structure studies on images acquired using a mixture of nonframe-averaged and frame-averaged OCT devices without concerning about systematic differences in both qualitative and quantitative aspects. PMID:26835180

Investigation of the ripeness of oil palm fresh fruit bunches using bio-speckle imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salambue, R.; Adnan, A.; Shiddiq, M.

2018-03-01

The ripeness of the oil palm Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) determines the yield of the oil produced. Traditionally there are two ways to determine FFB ripeness which are the number of loose fruits and the color changes. Nevertheless, one drawback of visual determination is subjective and qualitative judgment. In this study, the FFB ripeness was investigated using laser based image processing technique. The advantages of using this technique are non-destructive, simple and quantitative. The working principle of the investigation is that a FFB is inserted into a light tight box which contains a laser diode and a CMOS camera, the FFB is illuminated, and then an image is recorded. The FFB image recorder was performed on four FFB fractions i.e. F0, F3, F4 and F5 on the front and rear surfaces at three sections. The recorded images are speckled granules that have light intensity variation (bio-speckle imaging). The feature extracted from the specked image is the contrast value obtained from the average gray value intensity and the standard deviation. Based on the contrast values, the four fractions of FFB can be grouped into three levels of ripeness of unripe (F0), ripe (F3) and overripe (F4 and F5) on the front surface of base section of FFB by 75%.

Emergence of molecular imaging of aortic aneurysm; implications for risk stratification and management

PubMed Central

Golestani, Reza; Sadeghi, Mehran M.

2014-01-01

Summary Imaging cellular and molecular processes associated with aneurysm expansion, dissection, and rupture can potentially transform the management of patients with thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm (TAA and AAA). Here, we review recent advances in molecular imaging of aortic aneurysm, focusing on imaging modalities with the greatest potential for clinical translation and application, PET, SPECT and MRI. Inflammation (e.g., with 18F-FDG, nanoparticles) and matrix remodeling (e.g., with matrix metalloproteinase-targeted tracers) are highlighted as promising targets for molecular imaging of aneurysm. Potential alternative or complementary approaches to molecular imaging for aneurysm risk stratification are briefly discussed. PMID:24381115

Maritime Domain Awareness: C4I for the 1000 Ship Navy

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-12-04

unit action, provide unit sensed contacts, coordinate unit operations, process unit information, release image , and release contact report, Figure 33...Intelligence Tasking Request Intelligence Summary Release Unit Person Incident Release Unit Vessel Incident Process Intelligence Tasking Release Image ...xi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Functional Problem Sequence Process Flow. ....................................................4 Figure 2. United

The COST Action IC0604 "Telepathology Network in Europe" (EURO-TELEPATH).

PubMed

García-Rojo, Marcial; Gonçalves, Luís; Blobel, Bernd

2012-01-01

The COST Action IC0604 "Telepathology Network in Europe" (EURO-TELEPATH) is a European COST Action that has been running from 2007 to 2011. COST Actions are funded by the COST (European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research) Agency, supported by the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7), of the European Union. EURO-TELEPATH's main objectives were evaluating and validating the common technological framework and communication standards required to access, transmit and manage digital medical records by pathologists and other medical professionals in a networked environment. The project was organized in four working groups. orking Group 1 "Business modeling in pathology" has designed main pathology processes - Frozen Study, Formalin Fixed Specimen Study, Telepathology, Cytology, and Autopsy -using Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN). orking Group 2 "Informatics standards in pathology" has been dedicated to promoting the development and application of informatics standards in pathology, collaborating with Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE), Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), Health Level Seven (HL7), and other standardization bodies. Working Group 3 "Images: Analysis, Processing, Retrieval and Management" worked on the use of virtual or digital slides that are fostering the use of image processing and analysis in pathology not only for research purposes, but also in daily practice. Working Group 4 "Technology and Automation in Pathology" was focused on studying the adequacy of current existing technical solutions, including, e.g., the quality of images obtained by slide scanners, or the efficiency of image analysis applications. Major outcome of this action are the collaboration with international health informatics standardization bodies to foster the development of standards for digital pathology, offering a new approach for workflow analysis, based in business process modeling. Health terminology standardization research has become a topic of high interest. Future research work should focus on standardization of automatic image analysis and tissue microarrays imaging.

Test–retest repeatability of human speech biomarkers from static and real-time dynamic magnetic resonance imaging

PubMed Central

Töger, Johannes; Sorensen, Tanner; Somandepalli, Krishna; Toutios, Asterios; Lingala, Sajan Goud; Narayanan, Shrikanth; Nayak, Krishna

2017-01-01

Static anatomical and real-time dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (RT-MRI) of the upper airway is a valuable method for studying speech production in research and clinical settings. The test–retest repeatability of quantitative imaging biomarkers is an important parameter, since it limits the effect sizes and intragroup differences that can be studied. Therefore, this study aims to present a framework for determining the test–retest repeatability of quantitative speech biomarkers from static MRI and RT-MRI, and apply the framework to healthy volunteers. Subjects (n = 8, 4 females, 4 males) are imaged in two scans on the same day, including static images and dynamic RT-MRI of speech tasks. The inter-study agreement is quantified using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and mean within-subject standard deviation (σe). Inter-study agreement is strong to very strong for static measures (ICC: min/median/max 0.71/0.89/0.98, σe: 0.90/2.20/6.72 mm), poor to strong for dynamic RT-MRI measures of articulator motion range (ICC: 0.26/0.75/0.90, σe: 1.6/2.5/3.6 mm), and poor to very strong for velocities (ICC: 0.21/0.56/0.93, σe: 2.2/4.4/16.7 cm/s). In conclusion, this study characterizes repeatability of static and dynamic MRI-derived speech biomarkers using state-of-the-art imaging. The introduced framework can be used to guide future development of speech biomarkers. Test–retest MRI data are provided free for research use. PMID:28599561

Linear- and Repetitive Feature Detection Within Remotely Sensed Imagery

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-04-01

applicable to Python or other pro- gramming languages with image- processing capabilities. 4.1 Classification machine learning The first methodology uses...remotely sensed images that are in panchromatic or true-color formats. Image- processing techniques, in- cluding Hough transforms, machine learning, and...data fusion .................................................................................................... 44 6.3 Context-based processing

Wavelet-Based Blind Superresolution from Video Sequence and in MRI

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-12-31

in Fig. 4(e) and (f), respectively. The PSNR- based optimal threshold gives better noise filtering but poor deblurring [see Fig. 4(c) and (e)] while...that ultimately produces the deblurred , noise filtered, superresolved image. Finite support linear shift invariant blurs are reasonable to assume... Deblurred and Noise Filtered HR Image Cameras with different PSFs Figure 1: Multichannel Blind Superresolution Model condition [11] on the zeros of the

UWGSP4: an imaging and graphics superworkstation and its medical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jong, Jing-Ming; Park, Hyun Wook; Eo, Kilsu; Kim, Min-Hwan; Zhang, Peng; Kim, Yongmin

1992-05-01

UWGSP4 is configured with a parallel architecture for image processing and a pipelined architecture for computer graphics. The system's peak performance is 1,280 MFLOPS for image processing and over 200,000 Gouraud shaded 3-D polygons per second for graphics. The simulated sustained performance is about 50% of the peak performance in general image processing. Most of the 2-D image processing functions are efficiently vectorized and parallelized in UWGSP4. A performance of 770 MFLOPS in convolution and 440 MFLOPS in FFT is achieved. The real-time cine display, up to 32 frames of 1280 X 1024 pixels per second, is supported. In 3-D imaging, the update rate for the surface rendering is 10 frames of 20,000 polygons per second; the update rate for the volume rendering is 6 frames of 128 X 128 X 128 voxels per second. The system provides 1280 X 1024 X 32-bit double frame buffers and one 1280 X 1024 X 8-bit overlay buffer for supporting realistic animation, 24-bit true color, and text annotation. A 1280 X 1024- pixel, 66-Hz noninterlaced display screen with 1:1 aspect ratio can be windowed into the frame buffer for the display of any portion of the processed image or graphics.

Strong Gravitational Lensing as a Probe of Gravity, Dark-Matter and Super-Massive Black Holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koopmans, L.V.E.; Barnabe, M.; Bolton, A.; Bradac, M.; Ciotti, L.; Congdon, A.; Czoske, O.; Dye, S.; Dutton, A.; Elliasdottir, A.; Evans, E.; Fassnacht, C.D.; Jackson, N.; Keeton, C.; Lasio, J.; Moustakas, L.; Meneghetti, M.; Myers, S.; Nipoti, C.; Suyu, S.; van de Ven, G.; Vegetti, S.; Wucknitz, O.; Zhao, H.-S.

Whereas considerable effort has been afforded in understanding the properties of galaxies, a full physical picture, connecting their baryonic and dark-matter content, super-massive black holes, and (metric) theories of gravity, is still ill-defined. Strong gravitational lensing furnishes a powerful method to probe gravity in the central regions of galaxies. It can (1) provide a unique detection-channel of dark-matter substructure beyond the local galaxy group, (2) constrain dark-matter physics, complementary to direct-detection experiments, as well as metric theories of gravity, (3) probe central super-massive black holes, and (4) provide crucial insight into galaxy formation processes from the dark matter point of view, independently of the nature and state of dark matter. To seriously address the above questions, a considerable increase in the number of strong gravitational-lens systems is required. In the timeframe 2010-2020, a staged approach with radio (e.g. EVLA, e-MERLIN, LOFAR, SKA phase-I) and optical (e.g. LSST and JDEM) instruments can provide 10^(2-4) new lenses, and up to 10^(4-6) new lens systems from SKA/LSST/JDEM all-sky surveys around ~2020. Follow-up imaging of (radio) lenses is necessary with moderate ground/space-based optical-IR telescopes and with 30-50m telescopes for spectroscopy (e.g. TMT, GMT, ELT). To answer these fundamental questions through strong gravitational lensing, a strong investment in large radio and optical-IR facilities is therefore critical in the coming decade. In particular, only large-scale radio lens surveys (e.g. with SKA) provide the large numbers of high-resolution and high-fidelity images of lenses needed for SMBH and flux-ratio anomaly studies.

Terahertz (THZ) Imaging

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-03-01

work in image processing for CWD and other security-related imaging with visual, x - ray , infrared and millimeter wave imagery was seen as a jumping-off...advantage of the fact that, unlike x - rays which offer only magnitude information, THz offers phase information. as well. While the magnitude contains...perspective are analyzed, specially compared with X - ray process tomography system. 5. Gregory, I.S.; Tribe, W.R.; Cole, B.E.; Baker, C.; Evans, M.J

Apodization of spurs in radar receivers using multi-channel processing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Doerry, Armin W.; Bickel, Douglas L.

The various technologies presented herein relate to identification and mitigation of spurious energies or signals (aka "spurs") in radar imaging. Spurious energy in received radar data can be a consequence of non-ideal component and circuit behavior. Such behavior can result from I/Q imbalance, nonlinear component behavior, additive interference (e.g. cross-talk, etc.), etc. The manifestation of the spurious energy in a radar image (e.g., a range-Doppler map) can be influenced by appropriate pulse-to-pulse phase modulation. Comparing multiple images which have been processed using the same data but of different signal paths and modulations enables identification of undesired spurs, with subsequent croppingmore » or apodization of the undesired spurs from a radar image. Spurs can be identified by comparison with a threshold energy. Removal of an undesired spur enables enhanced identification of true targets in a radar image.« less

Vectorized Rebinning Algorithm for Fast Data Down-Sampling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dean, Bruce; Aronstein, David; Smith, Jeffrey

2013-01-01

A vectorized rebinning (down-sampling) algorithm, applicable to N-dimensional data sets, has been developed that offers a significant reduction in computer run time when compared to conventional rebinning algorithms. For clarity, a two-dimensional version of the algorithm is discussed to illustrate some specific details of the algorithm content, and using the language of image processing, 2D data will be referred to as "images," and each value in an image as a "pixel." The new approach is fully vectorized, i.e., the down-sampling procedure is done as a single step over all image rows, and then as a single step over all image columns. Data rebinning (or down-sampling) is a procedure that uses a discretely sampled N-dimensional data set to create a representation of the same data, but with fewer discrete samples. Such data down-sampling is fundamental to digital signal processing, e.g., for data compression applications.

Effect of age, decentration, aberrations and pupil size on subjective image quality with concentric bifocal optics.

PubMed

Rio, David; Woog, Kelly; Legras, Richard

2016-07-01

We investigated the impact of lens centration, wearer aberrations, pupil size and age on the optics of two bifocal contact lenses using image simulation. Fourteen conditions (i.e. two optical profiles with two and eight concentric zones; two conditions of centration: centred and 0.77 mm decentred; and three conditions of aberrations: 0, 0.15 and 0.35 μm RMS; three pupil sizes: 3, 4.5 and 6 mm) were tested on two populations (i.e. 20-40 and 40-60 years old) using a numerical simulation method. For each condition, images were calculated for proximities ranging from -4D to + 2D with steps of 0.25D. Subjects graded the quality of each simulated image (i.e. a target 'HEV' of 0.4 logMAR) on a continuous scale from 0 to 5. To limit the effect of the observer's own aberrations, subjects viewed the displayed images through a 3-mm pupil and their optimal correction. Both populations reported similar image quality (i.e. average absolute difference of 0.23) except for sharp and low contrast images, which obtained slightly higher grades with younger subjects, probably due to a better contrast sensitivity in this population. Typical decentration had no effect on bifocal contact lenses wearers' vision, as the ratio between areas dedicated to near and distance vision did not change. Aberrations (i.e. mainly 0.24 μm of spherical aberration on a 4.5-mm pupil) reduced the addition of the two radial zones bifocal optics and introduced a hyperopic shift (i.e. 0.50D) of the through-focus image quality for the eight radial zone bifocal lens. The combination of typical aberrations with typical decentration created the same effect as typical aberrations alone, meaning that aberration impact was stronger than decentration impact. The two radial zone bifocal lens was dependent on the pupil whereas the eight radial zone lens was not. When fitting new bifocal optics, the aberrations of the patients, as well as their pupil diameter, are the main subject dependent parameters influencing quality of vision. Typical contact lens decentration and lower cortical treatment efficiency of retinal images of older subjects had relatively little impact. © 2016 The Authors Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics © 2016 The College of Optometrists.

Image-Processing Software For A Hypercube Computer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Meemong; Mazer, Alan S.; Groom, Steven L.; Williams, Winifred I.

1992-01-01

Concurrent Image Processing Executive (CIPE) is software system intended to develop and use image-processing application programs on concurrent computing environment. Designed to shield programmer from complexities of concurrent-system architecture, it provides interactive image-processing environment for end user. CIPE utilizes architectural characteristics of particular concurrent system to maximize efficiency while preserving architectural independence from user and programmer. CIPE runs on Mark-IIIfp 8-node hypercube computer and associated SUN-4 host computer.

SU-E-J-240: Development of a Novel 4D MRI Sequence for Real-Time Liver Tumor Tracking During Radiotherapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhuang, L; Burmeister, J; Ye, Y

2015-06-15

Purpose: To develop a Novel 4D MRI Technique that is feasible for realtime liver tumor tracking during radiotherapy. Methods: A volunteer underwent an abdominal 2D fast EPI coronal scan on a 3.0T MRI scanner (Siemens Inc., Germany). An optimal set of parameters was determined based on image quality and scan time. A total of 23 slices were scanned to cover the whole liver in the test scan. For each scan position, the 2D images were retrospectively sorted into multiple phases based on breathing signal extracted from the images. Consequently the 2D slices with same phase numbers were stacked to formmore » one 3D image. Multiple phases of 3D images formed the 4D MRI sequence representing one breathing cycle. Results: The optimal set of scan parameters were: TR= 57ms, TE= 19ms, FOV read= 320mm and flip angle= 30°, which resulted in a total scan time of 14s for 200 frames (FMs) per slice and image resolution of (2.5mm,2.5mm,5.0mm) in three directions. Ten phases of 3D images were generated, each of which had 23 slices. Based on our test scan, only 100FMs were necessary for the phase sorting process which may lower the scan time to 7s/100FMs/slice. For example, only 5 slices/35s are necessary for a 4D MRI scan to cover liver tumor size ≤ 2cm leading to the possibility of tumor trajectory tracking every 35s during treatment. Conclusion: The novel 4D MRI technique we developed can reconstruct a 4D liver MRI sequence representing one breathing cycle (7s/ slice) without an external monitor. This technique can potentially be used for real-time liver tumor tracking during radiotherapy.« less

High Resolution Near Real Time Image Processing and Support for MSSS Modernization

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

00-00-2012 to 00-00-2012 4 . TITLE AND SUBTITLE High Resolution Near Real Time Image Processing and Support for MSSS Modernization 5a. CONTRACT...This current CONOPS is depicted in Fig. 4 . Fig. 4 . PCID/ASPIRE High Resolution Post...experiments were performed, and subsequently addressed in papers and presentations [3, 4 ,] that demonstrated system behavior; with details of the

Snapshot hyperspectral fovea vision system (HyperVideo)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kriesel, Jason; Scriven, Gordon; Gat, Nahum; Nagaraj, Sheela; Willson, Paul; Swaminathan, V.

2012-06-01

The development and demonstration of a new snapshot hyperspectral sensor is described. The system is a significant extension of the four dimensional imaging spectrometer (4DIS) concept, which resolves all four dimensions of hyperspectral imaging data (2D spatial, spectral, and temporal) in real-time. The new sensor, dubbed "4×4DIS" uses a single fiber optic reformatter that feeds into four separate, miniature visible to near-infrared (VNIR) imaging spectrometers, providing significantly better spatial resolution than previous systems. Full data cubes are captured in each frame period without scanning, i.e., "HyperVideo". The current system operates up to 30 Hz (i.e., 30 cubes/s), has 300 spectral bands from 400 to 1100 nm (~2.4 nm resolution), and a spatial resolution of 44×40 pixels. An additional 1.4 Megapixel video camera provides scene context and effectively sharpens the spatial resolution of the hyperspectral data. Essentially, the 4×4DIS provides a 2D spatially resolved grid of 44×40 = 1760 separate spectral measurements every 33 ms, which is overlaid on the detailed spatial information provided by the context camera. The system can use a wide range of off-the-shelf lenses and can either be operated so that the fields of view match, or in a "spectral fovea" mode, in which the 4×4DIS system uses narrow field of view optics, and is cued by a wider field of view context camera. Unlike other hyperspectral snapshot schemes, which require intensive computations to deconvolve the data (e.g., Computed Tomographic Imaging Spectrometer), the 4×4DIS requires only a linear remapping, enabling real-time display and analysis. The system concept has a range of applications including biomedical imaging, missile defense, infrared counter measure (IRCM) threat characterization, and ground based remote sensing.

Elemental and isotopic imaging to study biogeochemical functioning of intact soil micro-environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mueller, Carsten W.

2017-04-01

The complexity of soils extends from the ecosystem-scale to individual micro-aggregates, where nano-scale interactions between biota, organic matter (OM) and mineral particles are thought to control the long-term fate of soil carbon and nitrogen. It is known that such biogeochemical processes show disproportionally high reaction rates within nano- to micro-meter sized isolated zones ('hot spots') in comparison to surrounding areas. However, the majority of soil research is conducted on large bulk (> 1 g) samples, which are often significantly altered prior to analysis and analysed destructively. Thus it has previously been impossible to study elemental flows (e.g. C and N) between plants, microbes and soil in complex environments at the necessary spatial resolution within an intact soil system. By using nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) in concert with other imaging techniques (e.g. scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and micro computed tomography (µCT)), classic analyses (isotopic and elemental analysis) and biochemical methods (e.g. GC-MS) it is possible to exhibit a more complete picture of soil processes at the micro-scale. I will present exemplarily results about the fate and distribution of organic C and N in complex micro-scale soil structures for a range of intact soil systems. Elemental imaging was used to study initial soil formation as an increase in the structural connectivity of micro-aggregates. Element distribution will be presented as a key to detect functional spatial patterns and biogeochemical hot spots in macro-aggregate functioning and development. In addition isotopic imaging will be demonstrated as a key to trace the fate of plant derived OM in the intact rhizosphere from the root to microbiota and mineral soil particles. Especially the use of stable isotope enrichment (e.g. 13CO2, 15NH4+) in conjunction with NanoSIMS allows to directly trace the fate of OM or nutrients in soils at the relevant scale (e.g. assimilate C / inorganic N in the rhizosphere). However, especially the elemental mapping requires more sophisticated computational approaches to evaluate (and quantify) the spatial heterogeneities of biogeochemical properties in intact soil systems.

Hyperspectral imaging for food processing automation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Bosoon; Lawrence, Kurt C.; Windham, William R.; Smith, Doug P.; Feldner, Peggy W.

2002-11-01

This paper presents the research results that demonstrates hyperspectral imaging could be used effectively for detecting feces (from duodenum, ceca, and colon) and ingesta on the surface of poultry carcasses, and potential application for real-time, on-line processing of poultry for automatic safety inspection. The hyperspectral imaging system included a line scan camera with prism-grating-prism spectrograph, fiber optic line lighting, motorized lens control, and hyperspectral image processing software. Hyperspectral image processing algorithms, specifically band ratio of dual-wavelength (565/517) images and thresholding were effective on the identification of fecal and ingesta contamination of poultry carcasses. A multispectral imaging system including a common aperture camera with three optical trim filters (515.4 nm with 8.6- nm FWHM), 566.4 nm with 8.8-nm FWHM, and 631 nm with 10.2-nm FWHM), which were selected and validated by a hyperspectral imaging system, was developed for a real-time, on-line application. A total image processing time required to perform the current multispectral images captured by a common aperture camera was approximately 251 msec or 3.99 frames/sec. A preliminary test shows that the accuracy of real-time multispectral imaging system to detect feces and ingesta on corn/soybean fed poultry carcasses was 96%. However, many false positive spots that cause system errors were also detected.

AstroImageJ: Image Processing and Photometric Extraction for Ultra-precise Astronomical Light Curves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collins, Karen A.; Kielkopf, John F.; Stassun, Keivan G.; Hessman, Frederic V.

2017-02-01

ImageJ is a graphical user interface (GUI) driven, public domain, Java-based, software package for general image processing traditionally used mainly in life sciences fields. The image processing capabilities of ImageJ are useful and extendable to other scientific fields. Here we present AstroImageJ (AIJ), which provides an astronomy specific image display environment and tools for astronomy specific image calibration and data reduction. Although AIJ maintains the general purpose image processing capabilities of ImageJ, AIJ is streamlined for time-series differential photometry, light curve detrending and fitting, and light curve plotting, especially for applications requiring ultra-precise light curves (e.g., exoplanet transits). AIJ reads and writes standard Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) files, as well as other common image formats, provides FITS header viewing and editing, and is World Coordinate System aware, including an automated interface to the astrometry.net web portal for plate solving images. AIJ provides research grade image calibration and analysis tools with a GUI driven approach, and easily installed cross-platform compatibility. It enables new users, even at the level of undergraduate student, high school student, or amateur astronomer, to quickly start processing, modeling, and plotting astronomical image data with one tightly integrated software package.

Processing Dynamic Image Sequences from a Moving Sensor.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-02-01

65 Roadsign Image Sequence ..... ................ ... 70 Roadsign Sequence with Redundant Features .. ........ . 79 Roadsign Subimage...Selected Feature Error Values .. ........ 66 2c. Industrial Image Selected Feature Local Search Values. .. .... 67 3ab. Roadsign Image Error Values...72 3c. Roadsign Image Local Search Values ............. 73 4ab. Roadsign Redundant Feature Error Values. ............ 8 4c. Roadsign

High Resolution Seamless Dom Generation Over CHANG'E-5 Landing Area Using Lroc Nac Images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Di, K.; Jia, M.; Xin, X.; Liu, B.; Liu, Z.; Peng, M.; Yue, Z.

2018-04-01

Chang'e-5, China's first sample return lunar mission, will be launched in 2019, and the planned landing area is near Mons Rümker in Oceanus Procellarum. High-resolution and high-precision mapping of the landing area is of great importance for supporting scientific analysis and safe landing. This paper proposes a systematic method for large area seamless digital orthophoto map (DOM) generation, and presents the mapping result of Chang'e-5 landing area using over 700 LROC NAC images. The developed method mainly consists of two stages of data processing: stage 1 includes subarea block adjustment with rational function model (RFM) and seamless subarea DOM generation; stage 2 includes whole area adjustment through registration of the subarea DOMs with thin plate spline model and seamless DOM mosaicking. The resultant seamless DOM coves a large area (20° longitude × 4° latitude) and is tied to the widely used reference DEM - SLDEM2015. As a result, the RMS errors of the tie points are all around half pixel in image space, indicating a high internal precision; the RMS errors of the control points are about one grid cell size of SLDEM2015, indicating that the resultant DOM is tied to SLDEM2015 well.

Testing an Alternative Method for Estimating the Length of Fungal Hyphae Using Photomicrography and Image Processing.

PubMed

Shen, Qinhua; Kirschbaum, Miko U F; Hedley, Mike J; Camps Arbestain, Marta

2016-01-01

This study aimed to develop and test an unbiased and rapid methodology to estimate the length of external arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) hyphae in soil. The traditional visual gridline intersection (VGI) method, which consists in a direct visual examination of the intersections of hyphae with gridlines on a microscope eyepiece after aqueous extraction, membrane-filtration, and staining (e.g., with trypan blue), was refined. For this, (i) images of the stained hyphae were taken by using a digital photomicrography technique to avoid the use of the microscope and the method was referred to as "digital gridline intersection" (DGI) method; and (ii), the images taken in (i) were processed and the hyphal length was measured by using ImageJ software, referred to as the "photomicrography-ImageJ processing" (PIP) method. The DGI and PIP methods were tested using known grade lengths of possum fur. Then they were applied to measure the hyphal lengths in soils with contrasting phosphorus (P) fertility status. Linear regressions were obtained between the known lengths (Lknown) of possum fur and the values determined by using either the DGI (LDGI) (LDGI = 0.37 + 0.97 × Lknown, r2 = 0.86) or PIP (LPIP) methods (LPIP = 0.33 + 1.01 × Lknown, r2 = 0.98). There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences between the LDGI and LPIP values. While both methods provided accurate estimation (slope of regression being 1.0), the PIP method was more precise, as reflected by a higher value of r2 and lower coefficients of variation. The average hyphal lengths (6.5-19.4 m g-1) obtained by the use of these methods were in the range of those typically reported in the literature (3-30 m g-1). Roots growing in P-deficient soil developed 2.5 times as many hyphae as roots growing in P-rich soil (17.4 vs 7.2 m g-1). These tests confirmed that the use of digital photomicrography in conjunction with either the grid-line intersection principle or image processing is a suitable method for the measurement of AMF hyphal lengths in soils for comparative investigations.

LANDSAT-4 image data quality analysis for energy related applications. [nuclear power plant sites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wukelic, G. E. (Principal Investigator)

1983-01-01

No useable LANDSAT 4 TM data were obtained for the Hanford site in the Columbia Plateau region, but TM simulator data for a Virginia Electric Company nuclear power plant was used to test image processing algorithms. Principal component analyses of this data set clearly indicated that thermal plumes in surface waters used for reactor cooling would be discrenible. Image processing and analysis programs were successfully testing using the 7 band Arkansas test scene and preliminary analysis of TM data for the Savanah River Plant shows that current interactive, image enhancement, analysis and integration techniques can be effectively used for LANDSAT 4 data. Thermal band data appear adequate for gross estimates of thermal changes occurring near operating nuclear facilities especially in surface water bodies being used for reactor cooling purposes. Additional image processing software was written and tested which provides for more rapid and effective analysis of the 7 band TM data.

Estimating Regional Mass Balance of Himalayan Glaciers Using Hexagon Imagery: An Automated Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maurer, J. M.; Rupper, S.

2013-12-01

Currently there is much uncertainty regarding the present and future state of Himalayan glaciers, which supply meltwater for river systems vital to more than 1.4 billion people living throughout Asia. Previous assessments of regional glacier mass balance in the Himalayas using various remote sensing and field-based methods give inconsistent results, and most assessments are over relatively short (e.g., single decade) timescales. This study aims to quantify multi-decadal changes in volume and extent of Himalayan glaciers through efficient use of the large database of declassified 1970-80s era Hexagon stereo imagery. Automation of the DEM extraction process provides an effective workflow for many images to be processed and glacier elevation changes quantified with minimal user input. The tedious procedure of manual ground control point selection necessary for block-bundle adjustment (as ephemeral data is not available for the declassified images) is automated using the Maximally Stable Extremal Regions algorithm, which matches image elements between raw Hexagon images and georeferenced Landsat 15 meter panchromatic images. Additional automated Hexagon DEM processing, co-registration, and bias correction allow for direct comparison with modern ASTER and SRTM elevation data, thus quantifying glacier elevation and area changes over several decades across largely inaccessible mountainous regions. As consistent methodology is used for all glaciers, results will likely reveal significant spatial and temporal patterns in regional ice mass balance. Ultimately, these findings could have important implications for future water resource management in light of environmental change.

Identifying regions of interest in medical images using self-organizing maps.

PubMed

Teng, Wei-Guang; Chang, Ping-Lin

2012-10-01

Advances in data acquisition, processing and visualization techniques have had a tremendous impact on medical imaging in recent years. However, the interpretation of medical images is still almost always performed by radiologists. Developments in artificial intelligence and image processing have shown the increasingly great potential of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD). Nevertheless, it has remained challenging to develop a general approach to process various commonly used types of medical images (e.g., X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound images). To facilitate diagnosis, we recommend the use of image segmentation to discover regions of interest (ROI) using self-organizing maps (SOM). We devise a two-stage SOM approach that can be used to precisely identify the dominant colors of a medical image and then segment it into several small regions. In addition, by appropriately conducting the recursive merging steps to merge smaller regions into larger ones, radiologists can usually identify one or more ROIs within a medical image.

Equatorial All Sky Imager Images from the Seychelles during the March 17th, 2015 geomagnetic storm.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Curtis, B.

2015-12-01

An all sky imager was installed in the Seychelles earlier this year. The Seychelles islands are located northeast of Madagascar and east of Somalia in the equatorial Indian Ocean. The all sky imager is located on the island of Mahe (4.6667°S, 55.4667°E geographic), (10.55°S, 127.07°E geomagnetic), with filters of 557.7, 620.0, 630.0, 765.0 and 777.4 nm. Images with a 90 second exposure from Seychelles in 777.4nm and 630.0nm from the night before and night of the March 17th geomagnetic storm are discussed in comparison to solar wind measurements at ACE and the disturbance storm time (Dst) index. These images show line-of-sight intensities of photons received dependent on each filters wavelength. A time series of these images sometimes will show the movement of relatively dark areas, or depletions, in each emission. The depletion regions are known to cause scintillation in GPS signals. The direction and speed of movement of these depletions are related to changes observed in the solar wind.

Lanthanide ion (III) complexes of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraaminophosphonate (DOTA-4AmP8−) for dual biosensing of pH with CEST (chemical exchange saturation transfer) and BIRDS (biosensor imaging of redundant deviation in shifts)

PubMed Central

Huang, Yuegao; Coman, Daniel; Ali, Meser M.; Hyder, Fahmeed

2014-01-01

Relaxivity based magnetic resonance of phosphonated ligands chelated with gadolinium (Gd3+) shows promise for pH imaging. However instead of monitoring the paramagnetic effect of lanthanide complexes on the relaxivity of water protons, biosensor (or molecular) imaging with magnetic resonance is also possible by detecting either the non-exchangeable or the exchangeable protons on the lanthanide complexes themselves. The non-exchangeable protons (e.g., –CHx, where 3≥x≥1) are detected using a three-dimensional chemical shift imaging method called Biosensor Imaging of Redundant Deviation in Shifts (BIRDS), whereas the exchangeable protons (e.g., –OH or –NHy, where 2≥y≥1) are measured with Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) contrast. Here we tested the feasibility of BIRDS and CEST for pH imaging of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraaminophosphonate (DOTA-4AmP8−) chelated with thulium (Tm3+) and ytterbium (Yb3+). BIRDS and CEST experiments show that both complexes are responsive to pH and temperature changes. Higher pH and temperature sensitivities are obtained with BIRDS for either complex when using the chemical shift difference between two proton resonances vs. using the chemical shift of a single proton resonance, thereby eliminating the need to use water resonance as reference. While CEST contrast for both agents is linearly dependent on pH within a relatively large range (i.e., 6.3-7.9), much stronger CEST contrast is obtained with YbDOTA-4AmP5− than with TmDOTA-4AmP5−. In addition, we demonstrate the prospect of using BIRDS to calibrate CEST as new platform for quantitative pH imaging. PMID:24801742

Monitoring Coastal Processes at Local and Regional Geographic Scales with UAS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Starek, M. J.; Bridges, D.; Prouty, D.; Berryhill, J.; Williams, D.; Jeffress, G.

2014-12-01

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) provide a powerful tool for coastal mapping due to attractive features such as low cost data acquisition, flexibility in data capture and resolution, rapid response, and autonomous flight. We investigate two different scales of UAS platforms for monitoring coastal processes along the central Texas Gulf coast. Firstly, the eBee is a small-scale UAS weighing ~0.7 kg designed for localized mapping. The imaging payload consists of a hand held RGB digital camera and NIR digital camera, both with 16.1 megapixel resolutions. The system can map up to 10 square kilometers on a single flight and is capable of acquiring imagery down to 1.5 cm ground sample distance. The eBee is configured with a GPS receiver, altitude sensor, gyroscope and a radio transmitter enabling autonomous flight. The system has a certificate of authorization (COA) from the FAA to fly over the Ward Island campus of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC). The campus has an engineered beach, called University Beach, located along Corpus Christi Bay. A set of groins and detached breakwaters were built in an effort to protect the beach from erosive wave action. The eBee is being applied to periodically survey the beach (Figure 1A). Through Structure from Motion (SfM) techniques, eBee-derived image sequences are post-processed to extract 3D topography and measure volumetric change. Additionally, when water clarity suffices, this approach enables the extraction of shallow-water bathymetry. Results on the utilization of the eBee to monitor beach morphodynamics will be presented including a comparison of derived estimates to RTK GPS and airborne lidar. Secondly, the RS-16 UAS has a 4 m wingspan and 11 kg sensor payload. The system is remotely piloted and has a flight endurance of 12 to 16 hours making it suitable for regional scale coastal mapping. The imaging payload consists of a multispectral sensor suite measuring in the visible, thermal IR, and ultraviolet ranges of the spectrum. The RS-16 is being used to conduct surveys along the shoreline of North Padre Island, which is a high wind energy and wave-dominated barrier island system (Figure 1B). Results on the utilization of the RS-16 to study alongshore variability in shoreline dynamics and surf zone processes, such as wave runup, will be presented.

Variational PDE Models in Image Processing

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-07-31

161–168, 2001. [22] T. F. Chan and L. A. Vese. Active contour and segmentation models using ge- ometric PDE’s for medical imaging. Malladi , R . (Ed...continuous “movie” NMOPQ (with some small time step R ), D E >LK @ ’s are the estimated optical flows (i.e. velocity fields) at each moment. During...Bertalmio, G. Sapiro, V. Caselles, and C. Ballester. Image inpainting. Computer Graphics, SIGGRAPH 2000, July, 2000. [6] G. Birkhoff and C. R . De Boor

TH-E-BRF-02: 4D-CT Ventilation Image-Based IMRT Plans Are Dosimetrically Comparable to SPECT Ventilation Image-Based Plans

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kida, S; University of Tokyo Hospital, Bunkyo, Tokyo; Bal, M

Purpose: An emerging lung ventilation imaging method based on 4D-CT can be used in radiotherapy to selectively avoid irradiating highly-functional lung regions, which may reduce pulmonary toxicity. Efforts to validate 4DCT ventilation imaging have been focused on comparison with other imaging modalities including SPECT and xenon CT. The purpose of this study was to compare 4D-CT ventilation image-based functional IMRT plans with SPECT ventilation image-based plans as reference. Methods: 4D-CT and SPECT ventilation scans were acquired for five thoracic cancer patients in an IRB-approved prospective clinical trial. The ventilation images were created by quantitative analysis of regional volume changes (amore » surrogate for ventilation) using deformable image registration of the 4D-CT images. A pair of 4D-CT ventilation and SPECT ventilation image-based IMRT plans was created for each patient. Regional ventilation information was incorporated into lung dose-volume objectives for IMRT optimization by assigning different weights on a voxel-by-voxel basis. The objectives and constraints of the other structures in the plan were kept identical. The differences in the dose-volume metrics have been evaluated and tested by a paired t-test. SPECT ventilation was used to calculate the lung functional dose-volume metrics (i.e., mean dose, V20 and effective dose) for both 4D-CT ventilation image-based and SPECT ventilation image-based plans. Results: Overall there were no statistically significant differences in any dose-volume metrics between the 4D-CT and SPECT ventilation imagebased plans. For example, the average functional mean lung dose of the 4D-CT plans was 26.1±9.15 (Gy), which was comparable to 25.2±8.60 (Gy) of the SPECT plans (p = 0.89). For other critical organs and PTV, nonsignificant differences were found as well. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that 4D-CT ventilation image-based functional IMRT plans are dosimetrically comparable to SPECT ventilation image-based plans, providing evidence to use 4D-CT ventilation imaging for clinical applications. Supported in part by Free to Breathe Young Investigator Research Grant and NIH/NCI R01 CA 093626. The authors thank Philips Radiation Oncology Systems for the Pinnacle3 treatment planning systems.« less

Lesion registration for longitudinal disease tracking in an imaging informatics-based multiple sclerosis eFolder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Kevin; Liu, Joseph; Zhang, Xuejun; Lerner, Alex; Shiroishi, Mark; Amezcua, Lilyana; Liu, Brent

2016-03-01

We have designed and developed a multiple sclerosis eFolder system for patient data storage, image viewing, and automatic lesion quantification results stored in DICOM-SR format. The web-based system aims to be integrated in DICOM-compliant clinical and research environments to aid clinicians in patient treatments and data analysis. The system needs to quantify lesion volumes, identify and register lesion locations to track shifts in volume and quantity of lesions in a longitudinal study. In order to perform lesion registration, we have developed a brain warping and normalizing methodology using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) MATLAB toolkit for brain MRI. Patients' brain MR images are processed via SPM's normalization processes, and the brain images are analyzed and warped according to the tissue probability map. Lesion identification and contouring are completed by neuroradiologists, and lesion volume quantification is completed by the eFolder's CAD program. Lesion comparison results in longitudinal studies show key growth and active regions. The results display successful lesion registration and tracking over a longitudinal study. Lesion change results are graphically represented in the web-based user interface, and users are able to correlate patient progress and changes in the MRI images. The completed lesion and disease tracking tool would enable the eFolder to provide complete patient profiles, improve the efficiency of patient care, and perform comprehensive data analysis through an integrated imaging informatics system.

A portable smart-phone device for rapid and sensitive detection of E. coli O157:H7 in Yoghurt and Egg.

PubMed

Zeinhom, Mohamed Maarouf Ali; Wang, Yijia; Song, Yang; Zhu, Mei-Jun; Lin, Yuehe; Du, Dan

2018-01-15

The detection of E. coli O157:H7 in foods has held the attention of many researchers because of the seriousness attributed to this pathogen. In this study, we present a simple, sensitive, rapid and portable smartphone based fluorescence device for E. coli O157:H7 detection. This field-portable fluorescent imager on the smartphone involves a compact laser-diode-based photosource, a long-pass (LP) thin-film interference filter and a high-quality insert lenses. The design of the device provided a low noise to background imaging system. Based on a sandwich ELISA and the specific recognition of antibody to E. coli O157:H7, the sensitive detection of E. coli O157:H7 were realized both in standard samples and real matrix in yoghurt and egg on our device. The detection limit are 1 CFU/mL and 10 CFU/mL correspondingly. Recovery percentages of spiked yogurt and egg samples with 10 3 , 10 4 and 10 5 CFU/mL E. coli O157:H7 were 106.98, 96.52 and 102.65 (in yogurt) and 107.37, 105.64 and 93.84 (in egg) samples using our device, respectively. Most importantly, the entire process could be quickly completed within two hours. This smartphone based device provides a simple, rapid, sensitive detection platform for fluorescent imaging which applied in pathogen detection for food safety monitoring. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

INDUSTRIE 4.0 - Automation in weft knitting technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simonis, K.; Gloy, Y.-S.; Gries, T.

2016-07-01

Industry 4.0 applies to the knitting industry. Regarding the knitting process retrofitting activities are executed mostly manually by an operator on the basis on the operator's experience. In doing so, the knitted fabric is not necessarily produced in the most efficient way regarding process speed and fabric quality aspects. The knitting division at ITA is concentrating on project activities regarding automation and Industry 4.0. ITA is working on analysing the correspondences of the knitting process parameters and their influence on the fabric quality. By using e.g. the augmented reality technology, the operator will be supported when setting up the knitting machine in case of product or pattern change - or in case of an intervention when production errors occur. Furthermore, the RFID-Technology offers great possibilities to ensure information flow between sub-processes of the fragmented textile process chain. ITA is using RFID-chips to save yarn production information and connect the information to the fabric producing machine control. In addition, ITA is currently working on integrating image processing systems into the large circular knitting machine in order to ensure online-quality measurement of the knitted fabrics. This will lead to a self-optimizing and selflearning knitting machine.

Evidence of Absence of Tidal Features in the Outskirts of Ultra Diffuse Galaxies in the Coma Cluster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mowla, Lamiya; van Dokkum, Pieter; Merritt, Allison; Abraham, Roberto; Yagi, Masafumi; Koda, Jin

2017-12-01

We study the presence of tidal features associated with ultra diffuse galaxies (UDGs) in galaxy clusters. Specifically, we stack deep Subaru images of UDGs in the Coma cluster to determine whether they show position angle twists at large radii. Selecting galaxies with central surface brightness μ (g,0)> 24 magarcsec-2 and projected half-light radius {r}e> 1.5 {kpc}, we identify 287 UDGs in the Yagi et al. catalog of low surface brightness Coma objects. The UDGs have apparent spheroidal shapes with median Sérsic index < n> =0.8 and median axis ratio < b/a> =0.7. The images are processed by masking all background objects and rotating to align the major axis before stacking them in bins of properties such as axis ratio, angle of major axis with respect to the cluster center, and separation from cluster center. Our image stacks reach further than 7 kpc (≳4r e). Analysis of the isophotes of the stacks reveals that the ellipticity remains constant up to the last measured point, which means that the individual galaxies have a non-varying position angle and axis ratio and show no evidence for tidal disruption out to ˜ 4{r}e. We demonstrate this explicitly by comparing our stacks with stacks of model UDGs with and without tidal features in their outskirts. We infer that the average tidal radius of the Coma UDGs is >7 kpc and estimate that the average dark matter fraction within the tidal radius of the UDGs inhabiting the innermost 0.5 Mpc of Coma is >99%.

The Effects of Visual Degradation on Attended Objects and the Ability to Process Unattended Objects within the Visual Array

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-01

field at once (e.g., Biederman , Blickle, Teitelbaum, & Klatsky, 1988), and objects of interest typically receive the attention required to recognize them...field ( Biederman & Cooper, 1991) and image size changes ( Biederman & Cooper, 1992). Yet, only attended objects are recognized when mirror images...left-right reversals) occur ( Biederman & Cooper, 1991). Due to these results, Hummel (2001) proposed that attended images are processed by both

Astronomy In The Cloud: Using Mapreduce For Image Coaddition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiley, Keith; Connolly, A.; Gardner, J.; Krughoff, S.; Balazinska, M.; Howe, B.; Kwon, Y.; Bu, Y.

2011-01-01

In the coming decade, astronomical surveys of the sky will generate tens of terabytes of images and detect hundreds of millions of sources every night. The study of these sources will involve computational challenges such as anomaly detection, classification, and moving object tracking. Since such studies require the highest quality data, methods such as image coaddition, i.e., registration, stacking, and mosaicing, will be critical to scientific investigation. With a requirement that these images be analyzed on a nightly basis to identify moving sources, e.g., asteroids, or transient objects, e.g., supernovae, these datastreams present many computational challenges. Given the quantity of data involved, the computational load of these problems can only be addressed by distributing the workload over a large number of nodes. However, the high data throughput demanded by these applications may present scalability challenges for certain storage architectures. One scalable data-processing method that has emerged in recent years is MapReduce, and in this paper we focus on its popular open-source implementation called Hadoop. In the Hadoop framework, the data is partitioned among storage attached directly to worker nodes, and the processing workload is scheduled in parallel on the nodes that contain the required input data. A further motivation for using Hadoop is that it allows us to exploit cloud computing resources, i.e., platforms where Hadoop is offered as a service. We report on our experience implementing a scalable image-processing pipeline for the SDSS imaging database using Hadoop. This multi-terabyte imaging dataset provides a good testbed for algorithm development since its scope and structure approximate future surveys. First, we describe MapReduce and how we adapted image coaddition to the MapReduce framework. Then we describe a number of optimizations to our basic approach and report experimental results compring their performance. This work is funded by the NSF and by NASA.

Whole slide imaging of unstained tissue using lensfree microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morel, Sophie Nhu An; Hervé, Lionel; Bordy, Thomas; Cioni, Olivier; Delon, Antoine; Fromentin, Catherine; Dinten, Jean-Marc; Allier, Cédric

2016-04-01

Pathologist examination of tissue slides provides insightful information about a patient's disease. Traditional analysis of tissue slides is performed under a binocular microscope, which requires staining of the sample and delays the examination. We present a simple cost-effective lensfree imaging method to record 2-4μm resolution wide-field (10 mm2 to 6 cm2) images of unstained tissue slides. The sample processing time is reduced as there is no need for staining. A wide field of view (10 mm2) lensfree hologram is recorded in a single shot and the image is reconstructed in 2s providing a very fast acquisition chain. The acquisition is multispectral, i.e. multiple holograms are recorded simultaneously at three different wavelengths, and a dedicated holographic reconstruction algorithm is used to retrieve both amplitude and phase. Whole tissue slides imaging is obtained by recording 130 holograms with X-Y translation stages and by computing the mosaic of a 25 x 25 mm2 reconstructed image. The reconstructed phase provides a phase-contrast-like image of the unstained specimen, revealing structures of healthy and diseased tissue. Slides from various organs can be reconstructed, e.g. lung, colon, ganglion, etc. To our knowledge, our method is the first technique that enables fast wide-field lensfree imaging of such unlabeled dense samples. This technique is much cheaper and compact than a conventional phase contrast microscope and could be made portable. In sum, we present a new methodology that could quickly provide useful information when a rapid diagnosis is needed, such as tumor margin identification on frozen section biopsies during surgery.

Radar image enhancement and simulation as an aid to interpretation and training

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frost, V. S.; Stiles, J. A.; Holtzman, J. C.; Dellwig, L. F.; Held, D. N.

1980-01-01

Greatly increased activity in the field of radar image applications in the coming years demands that techniques of radar image analysis, enhancement, and simulation be developed now. Since the statistical nature of radar imagery differs from that of photographic imagery, one finds that the required digital image processing algorithms (e.g., for improved viewing and feature extraction) differ from those currently existing. This paper addresses these problems and discusses work at the Remote Sensing Laboratory in image simulation and processing, especially for systems comparable to the formerly operational SEASAT synthetic aperture radar.

Reduction of artifacts caused by orthopedic hardware in the spine in spectral detector CT examinations using virtual monoenergetic image reconstructions and metal-artifact-reduction algorithms.

PubMed

Große Hokamp, Nils; Neuhaus, V; Abdullayev, N; Laukamp, K; Lennartz, S; Mpotsaris, A; Borggrefe, J

2018-02-01

Aim of this study was to assess the artifact reduction in patients with orthopedic hardware in the spine as provided by (1) metal-artifact-reduction algorithms (O-MAR) and (2) virtual monoenergetic images (MonoE) as provided by spectral detector CT (SDCT) compared to conventional iterative reconstruction (CI). In all, 28 consecutive patients with orthopedic hardware in the spine who underwent SDCT-examinations were included. CI, O-MAR and MonoE (40-200 keV) images were reconstructed. Attenuation (HU) and noise (SD) were measured in order to calculate signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of paravertebral muscle and spinal canal. Subjective image quality was assessed by two radiologists in terms of image quality and extent of artifact reduction. O-MAR and high-keV MonoE showed significant decrease of hypodense artifacts in terms of higher attenuation as compared to CI (CI vs O-MAR, 200 keV MonoE: -396.5HU vs. -115.2HU, -48.1HU; both p ≤ 0.001). Further, artifacts as depicted by noise were reduced in O-MAR and high-keV MonoE as compared to CI in (1) paravertebral muscle and (2) spinal canal-CI vs. O-MAR/200 keV: (1) 34.7 ± 19.0 HU vs. 26.4 ± 14.4 HU, p ≤ 0.05/27.4 ± 16.1, n.s.; (2) 103.4 ± 61.3 HU vs. 72.6 ± 62.6 HU/60.9 ± 40.1 HU, both p ≤ 0.001. Subjectively both O-MAR and high-keV images yielded an artifact reduction in up to 24/28 patients. Both, O-MAR and high-keV MonoE reconstructions as provided by SDCT lead to objective and subjective artifact reduction, thus the combination of O-MAR and MonoE seems promising for further reduction.

Watch your step! A frustrated total internal reflection approach to forensic footwear imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Needham, J. A.; Sharp, J. S.

2016-02-01

Forensic image retrieval and processing are vital tools in the fight against crime e.g. during fingerprint capture. However, despite recent advances in machine vision technology and image processing techniques (and contrary to the claims of popular fiction) forensic image retrieval is still widely being performed using outdated practices involving inkpads and paper. Ongoing changes in government policy, increasing crime rates and the reduction of forensic service budgets increasingly require that evidence be gathered and processed more rapidly and efficiently. A consequence of this is that new, low-cost imaging technologies are required to simultaneously increase the quality and throughput of the processing of evidence. This is particularly true in the burgeoning field of forensic footwear analysis, where images of shoe prints are being used to link individuals to crime scenes. Here we describe one such approach based upon frustrated total internal reflection imaging that can be used to acquire images of regions where shoes contact rigid surfaces.

Watch your step! A frustrated total internal reflection approach to forensic footwear imaging.

PubMed

Needham, J A; Sharp, J S

2016-02-16

Forensic image retrieval and processing are vital tools in the fight against crime e.g. during fingerprint capture. However, despite recent advances in machine vision technology and image processing techniques (and contrary to the claims of popular fiction) forensic image retrieval is still widely being performed using outdated practices involving inkpads and paper. Ongoing changes in government policy, increasing crime rates and the reduction of forensic service budgets increasingly require that evidence be gathered and processed more rapidly and efficiently. A consequence of this is that new, low-cost imaging technologies are required to simultaneously increase the quality and throughput of the processing of evidence. This is particularly true in the burgeoning field of forensic footwear analysis, where images of shoe prints are being used to link individuals to crime scenes. Here we describe one such approach based upon frustrated total internal reflection imaging that can be used to acquire images of regions where shoes contact rigid surfaces.

Generation of Digital Surface Models from satellite photogrammetry: the DSM-OPT service of the ESA Geohazards Exploitation Platform (GEP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stumpf, André; Michéa, David; Malet, Jean-Philippe

2017-04-01

The continuously increasing fleet of agile stereo-capable very-high resolution (VHR) optical satellites has facilitated the acquisition of multi-view images of the earth surface. Theoretical revisit times have been reduced to less than one day and the highest spatial resolution which is commercially available amounts now to 30 cm/pixel. Digital Surface Models (DSM) and point clouds computed from such satellite stereo-acquisitions can provide valuable input for studies in geomorphology, tectonics, glaciology, hydrology and urban remote sensing The photogrammetric processing, however, still requires significant expertise, computational resources and costly commercial software. To enable a large Earth Science community (researcher and end-users) to process easily and rapidly VHR multi-view images, the work targets the implementation of a fully automatic satellite-photogrammetry pipeline (i.e DSM-OPT) on the ESA Geohazards Exploitation Platform (GEP). The implemented pipeline is based on the open-source photogrammetry library MicMac [1] and is designed for distributed processing on a cloud-based infrastructure. The service can be employed in pre-defined processing modes (i.e. urban, plain, hilly, and mountainous environments) or in an advanced processing mode (i.e. in which expert-users have the possibility to adapt the processing parameters to their specific applications). Four representative use cases are presented to illustrate the accuracy of the resulting surface models and ortho-images as well as the overall processing time. These use cases consisted of the construction of surface models from series of Pléiades images for four applications: urban analysis (Strasbourg, France), landslide detection in mountainous environments (South French Alps), co-seismic deformation in mountain environments (Central Italy earthquake sequence of 2016) and fault recognition for paleo-tectonic analysis (North-East India). Comparisons of the satellite-derived topography to airborne LiDAR topography are discussed. [1] Rupnik, E., Pierrot Deseilligny, M., Delorme, A., and Klinger, Y.: Refined satellite image orientation in the free open-source photogrammetric tools APERO/MICMAC, ISPRS Ann. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., III-1, 83-90, doi:10.5194/isprs-annals-III-1-83-2016, 2016.

SU-F-P-06: Moving From Computed Radiography to Digital Radiography: A Collaborative Approach to Improve Image Quality

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sandoval, D; Mlady, G; Selwyn, R

Purpose: To bring together radiologists, technologists, and physicists to utilize post-processing techniques in digital radiography (DR) in order to optimize image acquisition and improve image quality. Methods: Sub-optimal images acquired on a new General Electric (GE) DR system were flagged for follow-up by radiologists and reviewed by technologists and medical physicists. Various exam types from adult musculoskeletal (n=35), adult chest (n=4), and pediatric (n=7) were chosen for review. 673 total images were reviewed. These images were processed using five customized algorithms provided by GE. An image score sheet was created allowing the radiologist to assign a numeric score to eachmore » of the processed images, this allowed for objective comparison to the original images. Each image was scored based on seven properties: 1) overall image look, 2) soft tissue contrast, 3) high contrast, 4) latitude, 5) tissue equalization, 6) edge enhancement, 7) visualization of structures. Additional space allowed for additional comments not captured in scoring categories. Radiologists scored the images from 1 – 10 with 1 being non-diagnostic quality and 10 being superior diagnostic quality. Scores for each custom algorithm for each image set were summed. The algorithm with the highest score for each image set was then set as the default processing. Results: Images placed into the PACS “QC folder” for image processing reasons decreased. Feedback from radiologists was, overall, that image quality for these studies had improved. All default processing for these image types was changed to the new algorithm. Conclusion: This work is an example of the collaboration between radiologists, technologists, and physicists at the University of New Mexico to add value to the radiology department. The significant amount of work required to prepare the processing algorithms, reprocessing and scoring of the images was eagerly taken on by all team members in order to produce better quality images and improve patient care.« less

Vaping on Instagram: cloud chasing, hand checks and product placement

PubMed Central

Chu, Kar-Hai; Allem, Jon-Patrick; Cruz, Tess Boley; Unger, Jennifer B

2016-01-01

Introduction This study documented images posted on Instagram of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) and vaping (activity associated with e-cigarette use). Although e-cigarettes have been studied on Twitter, few studies have focused on Instagram, despite having 500 million users. Instagram’s emphasis on images warranted investigation of e-cigarettes, as past tobacco industry strategies demonstrated that images could be used to mislead in advertisements, or normalise tobacco-related behaviours. Findings should prove informative to tobacco control policies in the future. Methods 3 months of publicly available data were collected from Instagram, including images and associated metadata (n=2208). Themes of images were classified as (1) activity, for example, a person blowing vapour; (2) product, for example, a personal photo of an e-cigarette device; (3) advertisement; (4) text, for example, ‘meme’ or image containing mostly text and (5) other. User endorsement (likes) of each type of image was recorded. Caption text was analysed to explore different trends in vaping and e-cigarette-related text. Results Analyses found that advertisement-themed images were most common (29%), followed by product (28%), and activity (18%). Likes were more likely to accompany activity and product-themed images compared with advertisement or text-themed images (p<0.01). Vaping-related text greatly outnumbered e-cigarette-related text in the image captions. Conclusions Instagram affords its users the ability to post images of e-cigarette-related behaviours and gives advertisers the opportunity to display their product. Future research should incorporate novel data streams to improve public health surveillance, survey development and educational campaigns. PMID:27660111

Optimization of super-resolution processing using incomplete image sets in PET imaging.

PubMed

Chang, Guoping; Pan, Tinsu; Clark, John W; Mawlawi, Osama R

2008-12-01

Super-resolution (SR) techniques are used in PET imaging to generate a high-resolution image by combining multiple low-resolution images that have been acquired from different points of view (POVs). The number of low-resolution images used defines the processing time and memory storage necessary to generate the SR image. In this paper, the authors propose two optimized SR implementations (ISR-1 and ISR-2) that require only a subset of the low-resolution images (two sides and diagonal of the image matrix, respectively), thereby reducing the overall processing time and memory storage. In an N x N matrix of low-resolution images, ISR-1 would be generated using images from the two sides of the N x N matrix, while ISR-2 would be generated from images across the diagonal of the image matrix. The objective of this paper is to investigate whether the two proposed SR methods can achieve similar performance in contrast and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as the SR image generated from a complete set of low-resolution images (CSR) using simulation and experimental studies. A simulation, a point source, and a NEMA/IEC phantom study were conducted for this investigation. In each study, 4 (2 x 2) or 16 (4 x 4) low-resolution images were reconstructed from the same acquired data set while shifting the reconstruction grid to generate images from different POVs. SR processing was then applied in each study to combine all as well as two different subsets of the low-resolution images to generate the CSR, ISR-1, and ISR-2 images, respectively. For reference purpose, a native reconstruction (NR) image using the same matrix size as the three SR images was also generated. The resultant images (CSR, ISR-1, ISR-2, and NR) were then analyzed using visual inspection, line profiles, SNR plots, and background noise spectra. The simulation study showed that the contrast and the SNR difference between the two ISR images and the CSR image were on average 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively. Line profiles of the point source study showed that the three SR images exhibited similar signal amplitudes and FWHM. The NEMA/IEC study showed that the average difference in SNR among the three SR images was 2.1% with respect to one another and they contained similar noise structure. ISR-1 and ISR-2 can be used to replace CSR, thereby reducing the total SR processing time and memory storage while maintaining similar contrast, resolution, SNR, and noise structure.

New opportunities in planetary geomorphology: an assessment of the capabilities of the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on The Exomars Trace Gas Orbiter through Image Simulation.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tornabene, Livio Leonardo; Seelos, Frank; Pommerol, Antoine; Thomas, Nick; Caudill, Christy; Conway, Susan J.

2017-04-01

The Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) is a full-colour visible to near-infrared (VNIR) bi-directional pushframe stereo camera onboard the ExoMars 2016 Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). For more details on ExoMars TGO and its payload, please see [4], and for the CaSSIS instrument see [1]. For details on the first Mars Capture Orbit (MCO)-acquired CaSSIS stereo images and preliminary 3D reconstructions from them [5]. CaSSIS will provide full-colour, stereo and repeat imaging spanning different times of day and covering all seasons. Such images will be used to address the following objectives: 1) characterizing possible [surface/subsurface] sources for methane and other trace gases; 2) investigating dynamic surface processes that may contribute to atmospheric gases; and 3) certifying and characterizing candidate landing site safety and hazards (e.g., rocks, slopes, etc.). Here we present a summary, and some highlights, based on the creation and analysis of simulated CaSSIS image cubes [see 2, 3]. We generated simulated images that are spatially (4.6 m/px) and spectrally (4-bands) consistent with CaSSIS from existing Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) datasets. Simulated CaSSIS colours were generated from hyperspectral VNIR (S-detector) data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) after the methods of [6], which were then combined with spatially oversampled and resampled 32-bit calibrated I/F images from the Context Camera (CTX) and High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) [2, 3]. For more of the details on the simulation process and the various products produced please see [2, 3]. Our simulations show that such colour coverage will be particularly valuable towards facilitating and enhancing seasonal process and change detection studies. For example, a simulation image of Gasa crater demonstrates exactly how additional colour context would facilitate gully change detections that can be subtle and difficult to detect in single-band images, or when missed by the HiRISE colour swath. Another result based on our colour analysis includes, excellent separation of ferrous- and ferric-bearing surface materials provided by band ratio colour composite images utilizing the two NIR bands of CaSSIS (3RED, 4NIR). These images will be particularly useful for associating CaSSIS colour units with spectral units defined by orbiting spectrometers (e.g., CRISM), and thereby extend spectral mapping to CaSSIS spatial scales. This will particularly be beneficial for landing sites where it is difficult to achieve continuous colour coverage with HiRISE. Our analysis shows that dune movement can be detected at the scale of CaSSIS, given a long enough baseline. Other results include resolving: 1) larger individual or sets of Recurring Slope Lineae (RSL), 2) small impacts (including ice excavators), and 3) surface changes associated with landers/rovers (NOTE: lander/rovers and their tracks are not resolvable). References: [1] Thomas N. et al. (2016), submitted to SSR. [2] Tornabene L. et al. (2017), submitted to SSR. [3] Tornabene L. et al. (2016) LPSC 47, Abstract #2695. [4] Vago J. et al. (2015) SSR, 49 518-528. [5] Cremonese G. et al. (2017) LPSC 48. [6] Seelos F. et al. (2011) AGU Fall, vol. 23, Abstract #1714. [7] Delamere A. et al. (2010), Icarus, 205, 38-52. Acknowledgements: The authors wish to thank the spacecraft and instrument engineering teams for the successful completion of the instrument. CaSSIS is a project of the University of Bern and funded through the Swiss Space Office via ESA's PRODEX programme. The instrument hardware development was also supported by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) (ASI-INAF agreement no.I/018/12/0), INAF/Astronomical Observatory of Padova, and the Space Research Center (CBK) in Warsaw. Support from SGF (Budapest), the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, and NASA are also gratefully acknowledged. The lead author also acknowledges personal Canadian-based support from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the NSERC DG programme.

Diversity of the Marine Cyanobacterium Trichodesmium: Characterization of the Woods Hole Culture Collection and Quantification of Field Populations

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

using her beadbeater, Sonya Dyhrman for being my initial biology advisor, Heidi Sosik for her advice on image processing , the residents of Watson...64 2-17 Phycobiliprotein absorption spectra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 3-1 Image processing for automated cell counts...digital camera and Axiovision 4.6.3 software. Images were measured, and cell metrics were determined using the MATLAB image processing toolbox

MT6415CA: a 640×512-15µm CTIA ROIC for SWIR InGaAs detector arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eminoglu, Selim; Isikhan, Murat; Bayhan, Nusret; Gulden, M. Ali; Incedere, O. Samet; Soyer, S. Tuncer; Kocak, Serhat; Yilmaz, Gokhan S.; Akin, Tayfun

2013-06-01

This paper reports the development of a new low-noise CTIA ROIC (MT6415CA) suitable for SWIR InGaAs detector arrays for low-light imaging applications. MT6415CA is the second product in the MT6400 series ROICs from Mikro-Tasarim Ltd., which is a fabless IC design house specialized in the development of monolithic imaging sensors and ROICs for hybrid imaging sensors. MT6415CA is a low-noise snapshot CTIA ROIC, has a format of 640 × 512 and pixel pitch of 15 µm, and has been developed with the system-on-chip architecture in mind, where all the timing and biasing for this ROIC are generated on-chip without requiring any external inputs. MT6415CA is a highly configurable ROIC, where many of its features can be programmed through a 3-wire serial interface allowing on-the-fly configuration of many ROIC features. It performs snapshot operation both using Integrate-Then-Read (ITR) and Integrate-While-Read (IWR) modes. The CTIA type pixel input circuitry has three gain modes with programmable full-well-capacity (FWC) values of 10.000 e-, 20.000 e-, and 350.000 e- in the very high gain (VHG), high-gain (HG), and low-gain (LG) modes, respectively. MT6415CA has an input referred noise level of less than 5 e- in the very high gain (VHG) mode, suitable for very low-noise SWIR imaging applications. MT6415CA has 8 analog video outputs that can be programmed in 8, 4, or 2-output modes with a selectable analog reference for pseudo-differential operation. The ROIC runs at 10 MHz and supports frame rate values up to 200 fps in the 8-output mode. The integration time can be programmed up to 1s in steps of 0.1 µs. The ROIC uses 3.3 V and 1.8V supply voltages and dissipates less than 150 mW in the 4-output mode. MT6415CA is fabricated using a modern mixed-signal CMOS process on 200 mm CMOS wafers, and tested parts are available at wafer or die levels with test reports and wafer maps. A compact USB 3.0 camera and imaging software have been developed to demonstrate the imaging performance of SWIR sensors built with MT6415CA ROIC

Imaging Magnetospheric Boundries at Ionospheric Heights

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baumgardner, J.; Nottingham, D.; Wroten, J.; Mendillo, M.

2001-12-01

Stable auroral red (SAR) arcs are excited by a downward heat flux within a narrow range of fluxtubes that define the plasmapause-ring current interaction region. Ambient F-region electrons near and above the peak height (300-500 km) are heated and collisionally excite atomic oxygen to the O(1D) state, thereby emitting 6300 A photons. At the same time, the diffuse aurora at 6300 A is excited by the precipitation of plasma sheet electrons into the lower thermosphere, exciting O(1D) to emit near 200 km. An all-sky imaging system operating at a sub-auroral site (e.g., at Millstone Hill) can readily record the SAR arc centroid location and the equatorial edge of the diffuse aurora in the same 6300 A image. We have analyzed 75 such cases showing where both stuctures occur in the ionosphere and then conducted field-line mapping to define the L-shell domains of origin in the equatorial plane of the inner magnetosphere (L ~ 2.5 - 4). To within the measurement and mapping accuracies, both boundaries coincide, i.e., the inner edge of the plasma sheet essentially falls along the plasmapause. Since the O(1D) 6300 A emission corresponds to ~2 ev of excitation by magnetospheric processes, this technique defines ELENA (Extremely Low Energetic Neutral Atom) imaging of magnetospheric structures.

Automatized image processing of bovine blastocysts produced in vitro for quantitative variable determination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rocha, José Celso; Passalia, Felipe José; Matos, Felipe Delestro; Takahashi, Maria Beatriz; Maserati, Marc Peter, Jr.; Alves, Mayra Fernanda; de Almeida, Tamie Guibu; Cardoso, Bruna Lopes; Basso, Andrea Cristina; Nogueira, Marcelo Fábio Gouveia

2017-12-01

There is currently no objective, real-time and non-invasive method for evaluating the quality of mammalian embryos. In this study, we processed images of in vitro produced bovine blastocysts to obtain a deeper comprehension of the embryonic morphological aspects that are related to the standard evaluation of blastocysts. Information was extracted from 482 digital images of blastocysts. The resulting imaging data were individually evaluated by three experienced embryologists who graded their quality. To avoid evaluation bias, each image was related to the modal value of the evaluations. Automated image processing produced 36 quantitative variables for each image. The images, the modal and individual quality grades, and the variables extracted could potentially be used in the development of artificial intelligence techniques (e.g., evolutionary algorithms and artificial neural networks), multivariate modelling and the study of defined structures of the whole blastocyst.

Lanthanide ion (III) complexes of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraaminophosphonate for dual biosensing of pH with chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) and biosensor imaging of redundant deviation in shifts (BIRDS).

PubMed

Huang, Yuegao; Coman, Daniel; Ali, Meser M; Hyder, Fahmeed

2015-01-01

Relaxivity-based magnetic resonance of phosphonated ligands chelated with gadolinium (Gd(3+)) shows promise for pH imaging. However instead of monitoring the paramagnetic effect of lanthanide complexes on the relaxivity of water protons, biosensor (or molecular) imaging with magnetic resonance is also possible by detecting either the nonexchangeable or the exchangeable protons on the lanthanide complexes themselves. The nonexchangeable protons (e.g. -CHx, where 3 ≥ x ≥ 1) are detected using a three-dimensional chemical shift imaging method called biosensor imaging of redundant deviation in shifts (BIRDS), whereas the exchangeable protons (e.g. -OH or -NHy , where 2 ≥ y ≥ 1) are measured with chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) contrast. Here we tested the feasibility of BIRDS and CEST for pH imaging of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraaminophosphonate (DOTA-4AmP(8-)) chelated with thulium (Tm(3+) ) and ytterbium (Yb(3+)). BIRDS and CEST experiments show that both complexes are responsive to pH and temperature changes. Higher pH and temperature sensitivities are obtained with BIRDS for either complex when using the chemical shift difference between two proton resonances vs using the chemical shift of a single proton resonance, thereby eliminating the need to use water resonance as reference. While CEST contrast for both agents is linearly dependent on pH within a relatively large range (i.e. 6.3-7.9), much stronger CEST contrast is obtained with YbDOTA-4AmP(5-) than with TmDOTA-4AmP(5-). In addition, we demonstrate the prospect of using BIRDS to calibrate CEST as new platform for quantitative pH imaging. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Focusing on media body ideal images triggers food intake among restrained eaters: a test of restraint theory and the elaboration likelihood model.

PubMed

Boyce, Jessica A; Kuijer, Roeline G

2014-04-01

Although research consistently shows that images of thin women in the media (media body ideals) affect women negatively (e.g., increased weight dissatisfaction and food intake), this effect is less clear among restrained eaters. The majority of experiments demonstrate that restrained eaters - identified with the Restraint Scale - consume more food than do other participants after viewing media body ideal images; whereas a minority of experiments suggest that such images trigger restrained eaters' dietary restraint. Weight satisfaction and mood results are just as variable. One reason for these inconsistent results might be that different methods of image exposure (e.g., slideshow vs. film) afford varying levels of attention. Therefore, we manipulated attention levels and measured participants' weight satisfaction and food intake. We based our hypotheses on the elaboration likelihood model and on restraint theory. We hypothesised that advertent (i.e., processing the images via central routes of persuasion) and inadvertent (i.e., processing the images via peripheral routes of persuasion) exposure would trigger differing degrees of weight dissatisfaction and dietary disinhibition among restrained eaters (cf. restraint theory). Participants (N = 174) were assigned to one of four conditions: advertent or inadvertent exposure to media or control images. The dependent variables were measured in a supposedly unrelated study. Although restrained eaters' weight satisfaction was not significantly affected by either media exposure condition, advertent (but not inadvertent) media exposure triggered restrained eaters' eating. These results suggest that teaching restrained eaters how to pay less attention to media body ideal images might be an effective strategy in media-literary interventions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

SU-E-J-15: Automatically Detect Patient Treatment Position and Orientation in KV Portal Images

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qiu, J; Yang, D

2015-06-15

Purpose: In the course of radiation therapy, the complex information processing workflow will Result in potential errors, such as incorrect or inaccurate patient setups. With automatic image check and patient identification, such errors could be effectively reduced. For this purpose, we developed a simple and rapid image processing method, to automatically detect the patient position and orientation in 2D portal images, so to allow automatic check of positions and orientations for patient daily RT treatments. Methods: Based on the principle of portal image formation, a set of whole body DRR images were reconstructed from multiple whole body CT volume datasets,more » and fused together to be used as the matching template. To identify the patient setup position and orientation shown in a 2D portal image, the 2D portal image was preprocessed (contrast enhancement, down-sampling and couch table detection), then matched to the template image so to identify the laterality (left or right), position, orientation and treatment site. Results: Five day’s clinical qualified portal images were gathered randomly, then were processed by the automatic detection and matching method without any additional information. The detection results were visually checked by physicists. 182 images were correct detection in a total of 200kV portal images. The correct rate was 91%. Conclusion: The proposed method can detect patient setup and orientation quickly and automatically. It only requires the image intensity information in KV portal images. This method can be useful in the framework of Electronic Chart Check (ECCK) to reduce the potential errors in workflow of radiation therapy and so to improve patient safety. In addition, the auto-detection results, as the patient treatment site position and patient orientation, could be useful to guide the sequential image processing procedures, e.g. verification of patient daily setup accuracy. This work was partially supported by research grant from Varian Medical System.« less

36 CFR 1237.26 - What materials and processes must agencies use to create audiovisual records?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...) If using reversal type processing, require full photographic reversal; i.e., develop, bleach, expose...-digital or scanned digital images that are scheduled as permanent or unscheduled, a record (or master) version of each image must be comparable in quality to a 35 mm film photograph or better, and must be...

36 CFR 1237.26 - What materials and processes must agencies use to create audiovisual records?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) If using reversal type processing, require full photographic reversal; i.e., develop, bleach, expose...-digital or scanned digital images that are scheduled as permanent or unscheduled, a record (or master) version of each image must be comparable in quality to a 35 mm film photograph or better, and must be...

36 CFR § 1237.26 - What materials and processes must agencies use to create audiovisual records?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... recommendations. (3) If using reversal type processing, require full photographic reversal; i.e., develop, bleach...-digital or scanned digital images that are scheduled as permanent or unscheduled, a record (or master) version of each image must be comparable in quality to a 35 mm film photograph or better, and must be...

36 CFR 1237.26 - What materials and processes must agencies use to create audiovisual records?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) If using reversal type processing, require full photographic reversal; i.e., develop, bleach, expose...-digital or scanned digital images that are scheduled as permanent or unscheduled, a record (or master) version of each image must be comparable in quality to a 35 mm film photograph or better, and must be...

36 CFR 1237.26 - What materials and processes must agencies use to create audiovisual records?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) If using reversal type processing, require full photographic reversal; i.e., develop, bleach, expose...-digital or scanned digital images that are scheduled as permanent or unscheduled, a record (or master) version of each image must be comparable in quality to a 35 mm film photograph or better, and must be...

Radiographic trends of dental offices and dental schools.

PubMed

Suleiman, O H; Spelic, D C; Conway, B; Hart, J C; Boyce, P R; Antonsen, R G

1999-07-01

A survey of private practice facilities in the United States that perform dental radiography was conducted in 1993 and repeated in dental schools in 1995-1996. Both surveys were conducted as part of the Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends, or NEXT, survey program. A representative sample of dental facilities from each participating state were surveyed, and data on patient radiation exposure, radiographic technique, film-image quality, film-processing quality and darkroom fog were collected. The authors found that dental schools use E-speed film more frequently than do private practice facilities. The use of E-speed film and better film processing by dental schools resulted in lower patient radiation exposures without sacrificing image quality. The authors also found that dental school darkrooms had lower ambient fog levels than did those of private practice facilities. The distribution for the 1993 NEXT survey facilities was greater than that observed for dental schools for radiation exposure, film-processing quality and darkroom fog. Dental schools, in general, had better film quality and lower radiation exposures than did private practice facilities. Facilities need to emphasize better quality processing and the use of E-speed film to reduce patient exposure and improve image quality.

A framework for correcting brain retraction based on an eXtended Finite Element Method using a laser range scanner.

PubMed

Li, Ping; Wang, Weiwei; Song, Zhijian; An, Yong; Zhang, Chenxi

2014-07-01

Brain retraction causes great distortion that limits the accuracy of an image-guided neurosurgery system that uses preoperative images. Therefore, brain retraction correction is an important intraoperative clinical application. We used a linear elastic biomechanical model, which deforms based on the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) within a framework for brain retraction correction. In particular, a laser range scanner was introduced to obtain a surface point cloud of the exposed surgical field including retractors inserted into the brain. A brain retraction surface tracking algorithm converted these point clouds into boundary conditions applied to XFEM modeling that drive brain deformation. To test the framework, we performed a brain phantom experiment involving the retraction of tissue. Pairs of the modified Hausdorff distance between Canny edges extracted from model-updated images, pre-retraction, and post-retraction CT images were compared to evaluate the morphological alignment of our framework. Furthermore, the measured displacements of beads embedded in the brain phantom and the predicted ones were compared to evaluate numerical performance. The modified Hausdorff distance of 19 pairs of images decreased from 1.10 to 0.76 mm. The forecast error of 23 stainless steel beads in the phantom was between 0 and 1.73 mm (mean 1.19 mm). The correction accuracy varied between 52.8 and 100 % (mean 81.4 %). The results demonstrate that the brain retraction compensation can be incorporated intraoperatively into the model-updating process in image-guided neurosurgery systems.

Operating principles and detection characteristics of the Visible and Near-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer in the Chang'e-3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Zhi-Ping; Wang, Bin-Yong; Lü, Gang; Li, Chun-Lai; Yuan, Li-Yin; Xu, Rui; Liu, Bin; Chen, Kai; Wang, Jian-Yu

2014-12-01

The Visible and Near-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (VNIS), using two acousto-optic tunable filters as dispersive components, consists of a VIS/NIR imaging spectrometer (0.45-0.95 μm), a shortwave IR spectrometer (0.9-2.4 μm) and a calibration unit with dust-proofing functionality. The VNIS was utilized to detect the spectrum of the lunar surface and achieve in-orbit calibration, which satisfied the requirements for scientific detection. Mounted at the front of the Yutu rover, lunar objects that are detected with the VNIS with a 45° visual angle to obtain spectra and geometrical data in order to analyze the mineral composition of the lunar surface. After landing successfully on the Moon, the VNIS performed several explorations and calibrations, and obtained several spectral images and spectral reflectance curves of the lunar soil in the region of Mare Imbrium. This paper describes the working principle and detection characteristics of the VNIS and provides a reference for data processing and scientific applications.

Computer Model Locates Environmental Hazards

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

Catherine Huybrechts Burton founded San Francisco-based Endpoint Environmental (2E) LLC in 2005 while she was a student intern and project manager at Ames Research Center with NASA's DEVELOP program. The 2E team created the Tire Identification from Reflectance model, which algorithmically processes satellite images using turnkey technology to retain only the darkest parts of an image. This model allows 2E to locate piles of rubber tires, which often are stockpiled illegally and cause hazardous environmental conditions and fires.

SU-E-J-89: Comparative Analysis of MIM and Velocity’s Image Deformation Algorithm Using Simulated KV-CBCT Images for Quality Assurance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cline, K; Narayanasamy, G; Obediat, M

Purpose: Deformable image registration (DIR) is used routinely in the clinic without a formalized quality assurance (QA) process. Using simulated deformations to digitally deform images in a known way and comparing to DIR algorithm predictions is a powerful technique for DIR QA. This technique must also simulate realistic image noise and artifacts, especially between modalities. This study developed an algorithm to create simulated daily kV cone-beam computed-tomography (CBCT) images from CT images for DIR QA between these modalities. Methods: A Catphan and physical head-and-neck phantom, with known deformations, were used. CT and kV-CBCT images of the Catphan were utilized tomore » characterize the changes in Hounsfield units, noise, and image cupping that occur between these imaging modalities. The algorithm then imprinted these changes onto a CT image of the deformed head-and-neck phantom, thereby creating a simulated-CBCT image. CT and kV-CBCT images of the undeformed and deformed head-and-neck phantom were also acquired. The Velocity and MIM DIR algorithms were applied between the undeformed CT image and each of the deformed CT, CBCT, and simulated-CBCT images to obtain predicted deformations. The error between the known and predicted deformations was used as a metric to evaluate the quality of the simulated-CBCT image. Ideally, the simulated-CBCT image registration would produce the same accuracy as the deformed CBCT image registration. Results: For Velocity, the mean error was 1.4 mm for the CT-CT registration, 1.7 mm for the CT-CBCT registration, and 1.4 mm for the CT-simulated-CBCT registration. These same numbers were 1.5, 4.5, and 5.9 mm, respectively, for MIM. Conclusion: All cases produced similar accuracy for Velocity. MIM produced similar values of accuracy for CT-CT registration, but was not as accurate for CT-CBCT registrations. The MIM simulated-CBCT registration followed this same trend, but overestimated MIM DIR errors relative to the CT-CBCT registration.« less

On the influence of noise correlations in measurement data on basis image noise in dual-energylike x-ray imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Roessl, Ewald; Ziegler, Andy; Proksa, Roland

2007-03-15

In conventional dual-energy systems, two transmission measurements with distinct spectral characteristics are performed. These measurements are used to obtain the line integrals of two basis material densities. Usually, the measurement process is such that the two measured signals can be treated as independent and therefore uncorrelated. Recently, however, a readout system for x-ray detectors has been introduced for which this is no longer the case. The readout electronics is designed to obtain simultaneous measurements of the total number of photons N and the total energy E they deposit in the sensor material. Practically, this is realized by a signal replicationmore » and separate counting and integrating processing units. Since the quantities N and E are (electronically) derived from one and the same physical sensor signal, they are statistically correlated. Nevertheless, the pair N and E can be used to perform a dual-energy processing following the well-known approach by Alvarez and Macovski. Formally, this means that N is to be identified with the first dual-energy measurement M{sub 1} and E with the second measurement M{sub 2}. In the presence of input correlations between M{sub 1}=N and M{sub 2}=E, however, the corresponding analytic expressions for the basis image noise have to be modified. The main observation made in this paper is that for positively correlated data, as is the case for the simultaneous counting and integrating device mentioned above, the basis image noise is suppressed through the influence of the covariance between the two signals. We extend the previously published relations for the basis image noise to the case where the original measurements are not independent and illustrate the importance of the input correlations by comparing dual-energy basis image noise resulting from the device mentioned above and a device measuring the photon numbers and the deposited energies consecutively.« less

Applications of Molecular Imaging

PubMed Central

Galbán, Craig; Galbán, Stefanie; Van Dort, Marcian; Luker, Gary D.; Bhojani, Mahaveer S.; Rehemtualla, Alnawaz; Ross, Brian D.

2015-01-01

Today molecular imaging technologies play a central role in clinical oncology. The use of imaging techniques in early cancer detection, treatment response and new therapy development is steadily growing and has already significantly impacted clinical management of cancer. In this chapter we will overview three different molecular imaging technologies used for the understanding of disease biomarkers, drug development, or monitoring therapeutic outcome. They are (1) optical imaging (bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging) (2) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and (3) nuclear imaging (e.g, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET)). We will review the use of molecular reporters of biological processes (e.g. apoptosis and protein kinase activity) for high throughput drug screening and new cancer therapies, diffusion MRI as a biomarker for early treatment response and PET and SPECT radioligands in oncology. PMID:21075334

Application of off‐line image processing for optimization in chest computed radiography using a low cost system

PubMed Central

Msaki, Peter; Padovani, Renato

2015-01-01

The objective of this study was to improve the visibility of anatomical details by applying off‐line postimage processing in chest computed radiography (CR). Four spatial domain‐based external image processing techniques were developed by using MATLAB software version 7.0.0.19920 (R14) and image processing tools. The developed techniques were implemented to sample images and their visual appearances confirmed by two consultant radiologists to be clinically adequate. The techniques were then applied to 200 chest clinical images and randomized with other 100 images previously processed online. These 300 images were presented to three experienced radiologists for image quality assessment using standard quality criteria. The mean and ranges of the average scores for three radiologists were characterized for each of the developed technique and imaging system. The Mann‐Whitney U‐test was used to test the difference of details visibility between the images processed using each of the developed techniques and the corresponding images processed using default algorithms. The results show that the visibility of anatomical features improved significantly (0.005≤p≤0.02) with combinations of intensity values adjustment and/or spatial linear filtering techniques for images acquired using 60≤kVp≤70. However, there was no improvement for images acquired using 102≤kVp≤107 (0.127≤p≤0.48). In conclusion, the use of external image processing for optimization can be effective in chest CR, but should be implemented in consultations with the radiologists. PACS number: 87.59.−e, 87.59.−B, 87.59.−bd PMID:26103165

Development of an inflammation imaging tracer, 111In-DOTA-DAPTA, targeting chemokine receptor CCR5 and preliminary evaluation in an ApoE-/- atherosclerosis mouse model.

PubMed

Wei, Lihui; Petryk, Julia; Gaudet, Chantal; Kamkar, Maryam; Gan, Wei; Duan, Yin; Ruddy, Terrence D

2018-02-07

Chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) plays an important role in atherosclerosis. Our objective was to develop a SPECT tracer targeting CCR5 for imaging plaque inflammation by radiolabeling D-Ala-peptide T-amide (DAPTA), a CCR5 antagonist, with 111 In. 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) conjugated DAPTA (DOTA-DAPTA) was labeled with 111 In. Cell uptake studies were conducted in U87-CD4-CCR5 and U87-MG cells. Biodistribution was determined in C57BL/6 mice. Autoradiography, en face and Oil Red O (ORO) imaging studies were performed in ApoE -/- mice. DOTA-DAPTA was radiolabeled with 111 In with high radiochemical purity (> 98%) and specific activity (70 MBq·nmol). 111 In-DOTA-DAPTA exhibited fast blood and renal clearance and high spleen uptake. The U87-CD4-CCR5 cells had significantly higher uptake in comparison to the U87-MG cells. The cell uptake was reduced by three times with DAPTA, indicating the receptor specificity of the uptake. Autoradiographic images showed significantly higher lesion uptake of 111 In-DOTA-DAPTA in ApoE -/- mice than that in C57BL/6 mice. The tracer uptake in 4 month old ApoE -/- high fat diet (HFD) mice with blocking agent was twofold lower than the same mice without the blocking agent, demonstrating the specificity of the tracer for the CCR5 receptor. 111 In-DOTA-DAPTA, specifically targeting chemokine receptor CCR5, is a potential SPECT agent for imaging inflammation in atherosclerosis.

Halftoning processing on a JPEG-compressed image

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sibade, Cedric; Barizien, Stephane; Akil, Mohamed; Perroton, Laurent

2003-12-01

Digital image processing algorithms are usually designed for the raw format, that is on an uncompressed representation of the image. Therefore prior to transforming or processing a compressed format, decompression is applied; then, the result of the processing application is finally re-compressed for further transfer or storage. The change of data representation is resource-consuming in terms of computation, time and memory usage. In the wide format printing industry, this problem becomes an important issue: e.g. a 1 m2 input color image, scanned at 600 dpi exceeds 1.6 GB in its raw representation. However, some image processing algorithms can be performed in the compressed-domain, by applying an equivalent operation on the compressed format. This paper is presenting an innovative application of the halftoning processing operation by screening, to be applied on JPEG-compressed image. This compressed-domain transform is performed by computing the threshold operation of the screening algorithm in the DCT domain. This algorithm is illustrated by examples for different halftone masks. A pre-sharpening operation, applied on a JPEG-compressed low quality image is also described; it allows to de-noise and to enhance the contours of this image.

Real time display Fourier-domain OCT using multi-thread parallel computing with data vectorization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eom, Tae Joong; Kim, Hoon Seop; Kim, Chul Min; Lee, Yeung Lak; Choi, Eun-Seo

2011-03-01

We demonstrate a real-time display of processed OCT images using multi-thread parallel computing with a quad-core CPU of a personal computer. The data of each A-line are treated as one vector to maximize the data translation rate between the cores of the CPU and RAM stored image data. A display rate of 29.9 frames/sec for processed OCT data (4096 FFT-size x 500 A-scans) is achieved in our system using a wavelength swept source with 52-kHz swept frequency. The data processing times of the OCT image and a Doppler OCT image with a 4-time average are 23.8 msec and 91.4 msec.

Telerobotic Surgery: An Intelligent Systems Approach to Mitigate the Adverse Effects of Communication Delay. Chapter 4

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cardullo, Frank M.; Lewis, Harold W., III; Panfilov, Peter B.

2007-01-01

An extremely innovative approach has been presented, which is to have the surgeon operate through a simulator running in real-time enhanced with an intelligent controller component to enhance the safety and efficiency of a remotely conducted operation. The use of a simulator enables the surgeon to operate in a virtual environment free from the impediments of telecommunication delay. The simulator functions as a predictor and periodically the simulator state is corrected with truth data. Three major research areas must be explored in order to ensure achieving the objectives. They are: simulator as predictor, image processing, and intelligent control. Each is equally necessary for success of the project and each of these involves a significant intelligent component in it. These are diverse, interdisciplinary areas of investigation, thereby requiring a highly coordinated effort by all the members of our team, to ensure an integrated system. The following is a brief discussion of those areas. Simulator as a predictor: The delays encountered in remote robotic surgery will be greater than any encountered in human-machine systems analysis, with the possible exception of remote operations in space. Therefore, novel compensation techniques will be developed. Included will be the development of the real-time simulator, which is at the heart of our approach. The simulator will present real-time, stereoscopic images and artificial haptic stimuli to the surgeon. Image processing: Because of the delay and the possibility of insufficient bandwidth a high level of novel image processing is necessary. This image processing will include several innovative aspects, including image interpretation, video to graphical conversion, texture extraction, geometric processing, image compression and image generation at the surgeon station. Intelligent control: Since the approach we propose is in a sense predictor based, albeit a very sophisticated predictor, a controller, which not only optimizes end effector trajectory but also avoids error, is essential. We propose to investigate two different approaches to the controller design. One approach employs an optimal controller based on modern control theory; the other one involves soft computing techniques, i.e. fuzzy logic, neural networks, genetic algorithms and hybrids of these.

Statistical modeling of 4D respiratory lung motion using diffeomorphic image registration.

PubMed

Ehrhardt, Jan; Werner, René; Schmidt-Richberg, Alexander; Handels, Heinz

2011-02-01

Modeling of respiratory motion has become increasingly important in various applications of medical imaging (e.g., radiation therapy of lung cancer). Current modeling approaches are usually confined to intra-patient registration of 3D image data representing the individual patient's anatomy at different breathing phases. We propose an approach to generate a mean motion model of the lung based on thoracic 4D computed tomography (CT) data of different patients to extend the motion modeling capabilities. Our modeling process consists of three steps: an intra-subject registration to generate subject-specific motion models, the generation of an average shape and intensity atlas of the lung as anatomical reference frame, and the registration of the subject-specific motion models to the atlas in order to build a statistical 4D mean motion model (4D-MMM). Furthermore, we present methods to adapt the 4D mean motion model to a patient-specific lung geometry. In all steps, a symmetric diffeomorphic nonlinear intensity-based registration method was employed. The Log-Euclidean framework was used to compute statistics on the diffeomorphic transformations. The presented methods are then used to build a mean motion model of respiratory lung motion using thoracic 4D CT data sets of 17 patients. We evaluate the model by applying it for estimating respiratory motion of ten lung cancer patients. The prediction is evaluated with respect to landmark and tumor motion, and the quantitative analysis results in a mean target registration error (TRE) of 3.3 ±1.6 mm if lung dynamics are not impaired by large lung tumors or other lung disorders (e.g., emphysema). With regard to lung tumor motion, we show that prediction accuracy is independent of tumor size and tumor motion amplitude in the considered data set. However, tumors adhering to non-lung structures degrade local lung dynamics significantly and the model-based prediction accuracy is lower in these cases. The statistical respiratory motion model is capable of providing valuable prior knowledge in many fields of applications. We present two examples of possible applications in radiation therapy and image guided diagnosis.

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words. The Use of Clinical Images in Electronic Medical Records.

PubMed

Ai, Angela C; Maloney, Francine L; Hickman, Thu-Trang; Wilcox, Allison R; Ramelson, Harley; Wright, Adam

2017-07-12

To understand how clinicians utilize image uploading tools in a home grown electronic health records (EHR) system. A content analysis of patient notes containing non-radiological images from the EHR was conducted. Images from 4,000 random notes from July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 were reviewed and manually coded. Codes were assigned to four properties of the image: (1) image type, (2) role of image uploader (e.g. MD, NP, PA, RN), (3) practice type (e.g. internal medicine, dermatology, ophthalmology), and (4) image subject. 3,815 images from image-containing notes stored in the EHR were reviewed and manually coded. Of those images, 32.8% were clinical and 66.2% were non-clinical. The most common types of the clinical images were photographs (38.0%), diagrams (19.1%), and scanned documents (14.4%). MDs uploaded 67.9% of clinical images, followed by RNs with 10.2%, and genetic counselors with 6.8%. Dermatology (34.9%), ophthalmology (16.1%), and general surgery (10.8%) uploaded the most clinical images. The content of clinical images referencing body parts varied, with 49.8% of those images focusing on the head and neck region, 15.3% focusing on the thorax, and 13.8% focusing on the lower extremities. The diversity of image types, content, and uploaders within a home grown EHR system reflected the versatility and importance of the image uploading tool. Understanding how users utilize image uploading tools in a clinical setting highlights important considerations for designing better EHR tools and the importance of interoperability between EHR systems and other health technology.

HoloMonitor M4: holographic imaging cytometer for real-time kinetic label-free live-cell analysis of adherent cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sebesta, Mikael; Egelberg, Peter J.; Langberg, Anders; Lindskov, Jens-Henrik; Alm, Kersti; Janicke, Birgit

2016-03-01

Live-cell imaging enables studying dynamic cellular processes that cannot be visualized in fixed-cell assays. An increasing number of scientists in academia and the pharmaceutical industry are choosing live-cell analysis over or in addition to traditional fixed-cell assays. We have developed a time-lapse label-free imaging cytometer HoloMonitorM4. HoloMonitor M4 assists researchers to overcome inherent disadvantages of fluorescent analysis, specifically effects of chemical labels or genetic modifications which can alter cellular behavior. Additionally, label-free analysis is simple and eliminates the costs associated with staining procedures. The underlying technology principle is based on digital off-axis holography. While multiple alternatives exist for this type of analysis, we prioritized our developments to achieve the following: a) All-inclusive system - hardware and sophisticated cytometric analysis software; b) Ease of use enabling utilization of instrumentation by expert- and entrylevel researchers alike; c) Validated quantitative assay end-points tracked over time such as optical path length shift, optical volume and multiple derived imaging parameters; d) Reliable digital autofocus; e) Robust long-term operation in the incubator environment; f) High throughput and walk-away capability; and finally g) Data management suitable for single- and multi-user networks. We provide examples of HoloMonitor applications of label-free cell viability measurements and monitoring of cell cycle phase distribution.

From Wheatstone to Cameron and beyond: overview in 3-D and 4-D imaging technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilbreath, G. Charmaine

2012-02-01

This paper reviews three-dimensional (3-D) and four-dimensional (4-D) imaging technology, from Wheatstone through today, with some prognostications for near future applications. This field is rich in variety, subject specialty, and applications. A major trend, multi-view stereoscopy, is moving the field forward to real-time wide-angle 3-D reconstruction as breakthroughs in parallel processing and multi-processor computers enable very fast processing. Real-time holography meets 4-D imaging reconstruction at the goal of achieving real-time, interactive, 3-D imaging. Applications to telesurgery and telemedicine as well as to the needs of the defense and intelligence communities are also discussed.

New method for identifying features of an image on a digital video display

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doyle, Michael D.

1991-04-01

The MetaMap process extends the concept of direct manipulation human-computer interfaces to new limits. Its specific capabilities include the correlation of discrete image elements to relevant text information and the correlation of these image features to other images as well as to program control mechanisms. The correlation is accomplished through reprogramming of both the color map and the image so that discrete image elements comprise unique sets of color indices. This process allows the correlation to be accomplished with very efficient data storage and program execution times. Image databases adapted to this process become object-oriented as a result. Very sophisticated interrelationships can be set up between images text and program control mechanisms using this process. An application of this interfacing process to the design of an interactive atlas of medical histology as well as other possible applications are described. The MetaMap process is protected by U. S. patent #4

Improved Performance Characteristics For Indium Antimonide Photovoltaic Detector Arrays Using A FET-Switched Multiplexing Technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Yung-Lung; Ma, Chialo

1987-03-01

In this paper An Acoustic Imaging Recognition System (AIRS) will be introduced which is installed on an Intelligent Robotic System and can recognize different type of Hand tools' by Dynamic pattern recognition. The dynamic pattern recognition is approached by look up table method in this case, the method can save a lot of calculation time and it is practicable. The Acoustic Imaging Recognition System (AIRS) is consist of four parts _ position control unit, pulse-echo signal processing unit, pattern recognition unit and main control unit. The position control of AIRS can rotate an angle of ±5 degree Horizental and Vertical seperately, the purpose of rotation is to find the maximum reflection intensity area, from the distance, angles and intensity of the target we can decide the characteristic of this target, of course all the decision is target, of course all the decision is processed by the main control unit. In Pulse-Echo Signal Process Unit, we utilize the correlation method, to overcome the limitation of short burst of ultrasonic, because the Correlation system can transmit large time bandwidth signals and obtain their resolution and increased intensity through pulse compression in the correlation receiver. The output of correlator is sampled and transfer into digital data by p law coding method, and this data together with delay time T, angle information eH, eV will be sent into main control unit for further analysis. The recognition process in this paper, we use dynamic look up table method, in this method at first we shall set up serval recognition pattern table and then the new pattern scanned by Transducer array will be devided into serval stages and compare with the sampling table. The comparison is implemented by dynamic programing and Markovian process. All the hardware control signals, such as optimum delay time for correlator receiver, horizental and vertical rotation angle for transducer plate, are controlled by the Main Control Unit, the Main Control Unit also handles the pattern recognition process. The distance from the target to the transducer plate is limitted by the power and beam angle of transducer elements, in this AIRS Models, we use a narrow beam transducer and it's input voltage is 50V p-p. A Robot equipped with AIRS can not only measure the distance from the target but also recognize a three dimensional image of target from the image lab of Robot memory. Indexitems, Accoustic System, Supersonic transducer, Dynamic programming, Look-up-table, Image process, pattern Recognition, Quad Tree, Quadappoach.

Spatially Resolved MR-Compatible Doppler Ultrasound: Proof of Concept for Triggering of Diagnostic Quality Cardiovascular MRI for Function and Flow Quantification at 3T.

PubMed

Crowe, Lindsey Alexandra; Manasseh, Gibran; Chmielewski, Aneta; Hachulla, Anne-Lise; Speicher, Daniel; Greiser, Andreas; Muller, Hajo; de Perrot, Thomas; Vallee, Jean-Paul; Salomir, Rares

2018-02-01

We demonstrate the use of a magnetic-resonance (MR)-compatible ultrasound (US) imaging probe using spatially resolved Doppler for diagnostic quality cardiovascular MR imaging (MRI) as an initial step toward hybrid US/MR fetal imaging. A newly developed technology for a dedicated MR-compatible phased array ultrasound-imaging probe acquired pulsed color Doppler carotid images, which were converted in near-real time to a trigger signal for cardiac cine and flow quantification MRI. Ultrasound and MR data acquired simultaneously were interference free. Conventional electrocardiogram (ECG) and the proposed spatially resolved Doppler triggering were compared in 10 healthy volunteers. A synthetic "false-triggered" image was retrospectively processed using metric optimized gating (MOG). Images were scored by expert readers, and sharpness, cardiac function and aortic flow were quantified. Four-dimensional (4-D) flow (two volunteers) showed feasibility of Doppler triggering over a long acquisition time. Imaging modalities were compatible. US probe positioning was stable and comfortable. Image quality scores and quantified sharpness were statistically equal for Doppler- and ECG-triggering (p ). ECG-, Doppler-triggered, and MOG ejection fractions were equivalent (p ), with false-triggered values significantly lower (p < 0.0005). Aortic flow showed no difference between ECG- and Doppler-triggered and MOG (p > 0.05). 4-D flow quantification gave consistent results between ECG and Doppler triggering. We report interference-free pulsed color Doppler ultrasound during MR data acquisition. Cardiovascular MRI of diagnostic quality was successfully obtained with pulsed color Doppler triggering. The hardware platform could further enable advanced free-breathing cardiac imaging. Doppler ultrasound triggering is applicable where ECG is compromised due to pathology or interference at higher magnetic fields, and where direct ECG is impossible, i.e., fetal imaging.

A sprayable luminescent pH sensor and its use for wound imaging in vivo.

PubMed

Schreml, Stephan; Meier, Robert J; Weiß, Katharina T; Cattani, Julia; Flittner, Dagmar; Gehmert, Sebastian; Wolfbeis, Otto S; Landthaler, Michael; Babilas, Philipp

2012-12-01

Non-invasive luminescence imaging is of great interest for studying biological parameters in wound healing, tumors and other biomedical fields. Recently, we developed the first method for 2D luminescence imaging of pH in vivo on humans, and a novel method for one-stop-shop visualization of oxygen and pH using the RGB read-out of digital cameras. Both methods make use of semitransparent sensor foils. Here, we describe a sprayable ratiometric luminescent pH sensor, which combines properties of both these methods. Additionally, a major advantage is that the sensor spray is applicable to very uneven tissue surfaces due to its consistency. A digital RGB image of the spray on tissue is taken. The signal of the pH indicator (fluorescein isothiocyanate) is stored in the green channel (G), while that of the reference dye [ruthenium(II)-tris-(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)] is stored in the red channel (R). Images are processed by rationing luminescence intensities (G/R) to result in pseudocolor pH maps of tissues, e.g. wounds. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Image analysis assisted study of mitotic figures in oral epithelial dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma using differential stains.

PubMed

Tandon, Ankita; Singh, Narendra Nath; Brave, V R; Sreedhar, Gadiputi

2016-11-01

Mitosis is a process of cell division resulting in two genetically equivalent daughter cells. Excessive proliferation of cells due to mitosis is the hallmark in pre cancer and cancer. This study was conducted to count the number of mitotic figures in normal oral mucosa, oral epithelial dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma in both Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Crystal Violet stained sections. Also the overall number of mitotic figures with both stains were compared along with the evaluation of staining efficacy of both the stains. The present study was conducted on 20 specimens each of the three categories. These were further divided into two groups for staining with H&E and with 1% Crystal Violet respectively. Images were captured and analyzed using image analysis software Dewinter Biowizard 4.1. Comparison of mitotic figure count in three categories in sections stained with both stains showed statistically significant difference ( p  < 0.001). The mean number of mitotic figures seen in Crystal Violet reagent were significantly higher as seen in H&E stain ( p  < 0.001). The overall diagnostic efficacy of Crystal Violet was 87.6%. Crystal Violet scored over H&E stain and also helped to better appreciate metaphases in Squamous cell carcinoma and telophases in dysplasia. Number of mitotic figures progressively increase with the advancement of the pathology. Use of 1% Crystal Violet provides better appreciation of mitotic figures and can be employed as a selective stain in routine histopathology.

The EISCAT_3D Project in Norway: E3DN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

La Hoz, C.; Oksavik, K.

2013-12-01

EISCAT_3D (E3D) is a project to build the next generation of incoherent scatter radars endowed with 3-dimensional scalar and vector capabilities that will replace the current EISCAT radars in Northern Scandinavia. One active (transmitting) site in Norway and four passive (receiving) sites in the Nordic countries will provide 3-D vector imaging capabilities by rapid scanning and multi-beam forming. The unprecedented flexibility of the solid-state transmitter with high duty-cycle, arbitrary wave-forming and polarisation and its pulsed power of 10 MW will provide unrivalled experimental capabilities to investigate the highly non-stationary and non-homogeneous state of the polar upper atmosphere. Aperture Synthesis Imaging Radar (ASIR) will to endow E3D with imaging capabilities in 3-dimensions that includes sub-beam resolution. Complemented by pulse compression, it will provide 3-dimensional images of certain types of incoherent scatter radar targets resolved to about 100 metres at 100 km range, depending on the signal-to-noise ratio. The Norwegian scientific programme is inspired by the pioneer polar scientist Kristian Birkeland (picture) and includes pressing questions on polar upper atmospheric research, among others: (Q1) How to proceed beyond the present simplistic, static, stationary and homogeneous analysis of upper atmospheric and ionospheric processes? (Q2) How does space weather affect ionospheric processes and how to support modelling and space weather services? (Q3) How to advance fundamental plasma physics by employing the ionosphere as a natural plasma physics laboratory? (Q4) How does the influx of extraterrestrial material interact with the upper atmosphere and where does the material originate from? (Q5) How does solar activity couple from geospace into the lower atmosphere and climate system, and does this energy change the wave forcing of geospace from below? Kristian Birkeland, Norwegian scientist and pioneer in polar and auroral research.

TU-FG-209-04: Testing of Digital Image Receptors Using AAPM TG-150’s Draft Recommendations - Investigating the Impact of Different Processing Parameters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Finley, C; Dave, J

Purpose: To evaluate implementation of AAPM TG-150’s draft recommendations via a parameter study for testing the performance of digital image receptors. Methods: Flat field images were acquired from 9 calibrated digital image receptors associated with 9 new portable digital radiography systems (Carestream Health, Inc.) based on the draft recommendations and manufacturer-specified calibration conditions (set of 4 images at input detector air kerma ranging from 1 to 25 µGy). Effects of exposure response function (linearized and logarithmic), ‘Presentation Intent Type’ (‘For Processing’ and ‘For Presentation’), detector orientation with respect to the anode-cathode axis (4 orientations; 900 rotations per iteration), different ROImore » sizes (5×5–40×40 mm{sup 2}) and elimination of varying dimensions of image border (0 mm i.e., without boundary elimination to 150 mm) on signal, noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the associated nonuniformities were evaluated. Images were analyzed in Matlab and quantities were compared using ANOVA. Results: Signal, noise and SNR values averaged over 9 systems with default parameter values in draft recommendations were 4837.2±139.4, 19.7±0.9 and 246.4±10.1 (mean ± standard deviation), respectively (at input detector air kerma: 12.5 µGy). Signal, noise and SNR showed characteristic dependency on exposure response function and on ‘Presentation Intent Type’. These values were not affected by ROI size and detector orientation, but analysis showed that eliminating the edge pixels along the boundary was required for the noise parameter (coefficient of variation range for noise: 72%–106% and 3%–4% without and with boundary elimination; respectively). Local and global nonuniformities showed a similar dependence on the need for boundary elimination. Interestingly, computed non-uniformities showed agreement with manufacturer-reported values except for noise non-uniformities in two units; artifacts were seen in images from these two units highlighting the importance of independent evaluations. Conclusion: The effect of different parameters on performance characterization of digital image receptors was evaluated based on TG-150’s draft recommendations.« less

The Radon cumulative distribution transform and its application to image classification

PubMed Central

Kolouri, Soheil; Park, Se Rim; Rohde, Gustavo K.

2016-01-01

Invertible image representation methods (transforms) are routinely employed as low-level image processing operations based on which feature extraction and recognition algorithms are developed. Most transforms in current use (e.g. Fourier, Wavelet, etc.) are linear transforms, and, by themselves, are unable to substantially simplify the representation of image classes for classification. Here we describe a nonlinear, invertible, low-level image processing transform based on combining the well known Radon transform for image data, and the 1D Cumulative Distribution Transform proposed earlier. We describe a few of the properties of this new transform, and with both theoretical and experimental results show that it can often render certain problems linearly separable in transform space. PMID:26685245

Vaping on Instagram: cloud chasing, hand checks and product placement.

PubMed

Chu, Kar-Hai; Allem, Jon-Patrick; Cruz, Tess Boley; Unger, Jennifer B

2016-09-01

This study documented images posted on Instagram of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) and vaping (activity associated with e-cigarette use). Although e-cigarettes have been studied on Twitter, few studies have focused on Instagram, despite having 500 million users. Instagram's emphasis on images warranted investigation of e-cigarettes, as past tobacco industry strategies demonstrated that images could be used to mislead in advertisements, or normalise tobacco-related behaviours. Findings should prove informative to tobacco control policies in the future. 3 months of publicly available data were collected from Instagram, including images and associated metadata (n=2208). Themes of images were classified as (1) activity , for example, a person blowing vapour; (2) product , for example, a personal photo of an e-cigarette device; (3) advertisement ; (4) text , for example, 'meme' or image containing mostly text and (5) other . User endorsement (likes) of each type of image was recorded. Caption text was analysed to explore different trends in vaping and e-cigarette-related text. Analyses found that advertisement -themed images were most common (29%), followed by product (28%), and activity (18%). Likes were more likely to accompany activity and product -themed images compared with advertisement or text -themed images (p<0.01). Vaping-related text greatly outnumbered e-cigarette-related text in the image captions. Instagram affords its users the ability to post images of e-cigarette-related behaviours and gives advertisers the opportunity to display their product. Future research should incorporate novel data streams to improve public health surveillance, survey development and educational campaigns. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Superresolution with the focused plenoptic camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Georgiev, Todor; Chunev, Georgi; Lumsdaine, Andrew

2011-03-01

Digital images from a CCD or CMOS sensor with a color filter array must undergo a demosaicing process to combine the separate color samples into a single color image. This interpolation process can interfere with the subsequent superresolution process. Plenoptic superresolution, which relies on precise sub-pixel sampling across captured microimages, is particularly sensitive to such resampling of the raw data. In this paper we present an approach for superresolving plenoptic images that takes place at the time of demosaicing the raw color image data. Our approach exploits the interleaving provided by typical color filter arrays (e.g., Bayer filter) to further refine plenoptic sub-pixel sampling. Our rendering algorithm treats the color channels in a plenoptic image separately, which improves final superresolution by a factor of two. With appropriate plenoptic capture we show the theoretical possibility for rendering final images at full sensor resolution.

Research on Remote Sensing Image Classification Based on Feature Level Fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, L.; Zhu, G.

2018-04-01

Remote sensing image classification, as an important direction of remote sensing image processing and application, has been widely studied. However, in the process of existing classification algorithms, there still exists the phenomenon of misclassification and missing points, which leads to the final classification accuracy is not high. In this paper, we selected Sentinel-1A and Landsat8 OLI images as data sources, and propose a classification method based on feature level fusion. Compare three kind of feature level fusion algorithms (i.e., Gram-Schmidt spectral sharpening, Principal Component Analysis transform and Brovey transform), and then select the best fused image for the classification experimental. In the classification process, we choose four kinds of image classification algorithms (i.e. Minimum distance, Mahalanobis distance, Support Vector Machine and ISODATA) to do contrast experiment. We use overall classification precision and Kappa coefficient as the classification accuracy evaluation criteria, and the four classification results of fused image are analysed. The experimental results show that the fusion effect of Gram-Schmidt spectral sharpening is better than other methods. In four kinds of classification algorithms, the fused image has the best applicability to Support Vector Machine classification, the overall classification precision is 94.01 % and the Kappa coefficients is 0.91. The fused image with Sentinel-1A and Landsat8 OLI is not only have more spatial information and spectral texture characteristics, but also enhances the distinguishing features of the images. The proposed method is beneficial to improve the accuracy and stability of remote sensing image classification.

Development of Tool Representations in the Dorsal and Ventral Visual Object Processing Pathways.

PubMed

Kersey, Alyssa J; Clark, Tyia S; Lussier, Courtney A; Mahon, Bradford Z; Cantlon, Jessica F

2016-07-01

Tools represent a special class of objects, because they are processed across both the dorsal and ventral visual object processing pathways. Three core regions are known to be involved in tool processing: the left posterior middle temporal gyrus, the medial fusiform gyrus (bilaterally), and the left inferior parietal lobule. A critical and relatively unexplored issue concerns whether, in development, tool preferences emerge at the same time and to a similar degree across all regions of the tool-processing network. To test this issue, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure the neural amplitude, peak location, and the dispersion of tool-related neural responses in the youngest sample of children tested to date in this domain (ages 4-8 years). We show that children recruit overlapping regions of the adult tool-processing network and also exhibit similar patterns of co-activation across the network to adults. The amplitude and co-activation data show that the core components of the tool-processing network are established by age 4. Our findings on the distributions of peak location and dispersion of activation indicate that the tool network undergoes refinement between ages 4 and 8 years. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

An optimized color transformation for the analysis of digital images of hematoxylin & eosin stained slides.

PubMed

Zarella, Mark D; Breen, David E; Plagov, Andrei; Garcia, Fernando U

2015-01-01

Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining is ubiquitous in pathology practice and research. As digital pathology has evolved, the reliance of quantitative methods that make use of H&E images has similarly expanded. For example, cell counting and nuclear morphometry rely on the accurate demarcation of nuclei from other structures and each other. One of the major obstacles to quantitative analysis of H&E images is the high degree of variability observed between different samples and different laboratories. In an effort to characterize this variability, as well as to provide a substrate that can potentially mitigate this factor in quantitative image analysis, we developed a technique to project H&E images into an optimized space more appropriate for many image analysis procedures. We used a decision tree-based support vector machine learning algorithm to classify 44 H&E stained whole slide images of resected breast tumors according to the histological structures that are present. This procedure takes an H&E image as an input and produces a classification map of the image that predicts the likelihood of a pixel belonging to any one of a set of user-defined structures (e.g., cytoplasm, stroma). By reducing these maps into their constituent pixels in color space, an optimal reference vector is obtained for each structure, which identifies the color attributes that maximally distinguish one structure from other elements in the image. We show that tissue structures can be identified using this semi-automated technique. By comparing structure centroids across different images, we obtained a quantitative depiction of H&E variability for each structure. This measurement can potentially be utilized in the laboratory to help calibrate daily staining or identify troublesome slides. Moreover, by aligning reference vectors derived from this technique, images can be transformed in a way that standardizes their color properties and makes them more amenable to image processing.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Galactic CHaMP. II. Dense gas clumps. (Ma+, 2013)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, B.; Tan, J. C.; Barnes, P. J.

2015-04-01

A total of 303 dense gas clumps have been detected using the HCO+(1-0) line in the CHaMP survey (Paper I, Barnes et al. 2011, J/ApJS/196/12). In this article we have derived the SED for these clumps using Spitzer, MSX, and IRAS data. The Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) was launched in 1996 April. It conducted a Galactic plane survey (0

Adolescents' behavioral and neural responses to e-cigarette advertising.

PubMed

Chen, Yvonnes; Fowler, Carina H; Papa, Vlad B; Lepping, Rebecca J; Brucks, Morgan G; Fox, Andrew T; Martin, Laura E

2018-03-01

Although adolescents are a group heavily targeted by the e-cigarette industry, research in cue-reactivity has not previously examined adolescents' behavioral and neural responses to e-cigarette advertising. This study addressed this gap through two experiments. In Experiment One, adult traditional cigarette smokers (n = 41) and non-smokers (n = 41) answered questions about e-cigarette and neutral advertising images. The 40 e-cigarette advertising images that most increased desire to use the product were matched to 40 neutral advertising images with similar content. In Experiment Two, the 80 advertising images selected in Experiment One were presented to adolescents (n = 30) during an functional magnetic resonance imaging brain scan. There was a range of traditional cigarette smoking across the sample with some adolescents engaging in daily smoking and others who had never smoked. Adolescents self-reported that viewing the e-cigarette advertising images increased their desire to smoke. Additionally, all participants regardless of smoking statuses showed significantly greater brain activation to e-cigarette advertisements in areas associated with cognitive control (left middle frontal gyrus), reward (right medial frontal gyrus), visual processing/attention (left lingual gyrus/fusiform gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule, left posterior cingulate, left angular gyrus) and memory (right parahippocampus, left insula). Further, an exploratory analysis showed that compared with age-matched non-smokers (n = 7), adolescent smokers (n = 7) displayed significantly greater neural activation to e-cigarette advertising images in the left inferior temporal gyrus/fusiform gyrus, compared with their responses to neutral advertising images. Overall, participants' brain responses to e-cigarette advertisements suggest a need to further investigate the long-run impact of e-cigarette advertising on adolescents. © 2017 Society for the Study of Addiction.

A New Feedback-Based Method for Parameter Adaptation in Image Processing Routines.

PubMed

Khan, Arif Ul Maula; Mikut, Ralf; Reischl, Markus

2016-01-01

The parametrization of automatic image processing routines is time-consuming if a lot of image processing parameters are involved. An expert can tune parameters sequentially to get desired results. This may not be productive for applications with difficult image analysis tasks, e.g. when high noise and shading levels in an image are present or images vary in their characteristics due to different acquisition conditions. Parameters are required to be tuned simultaneously. We propose a framework to improve standard image segmentation methods by using feedback-based automatic parameter adaptation. Moreover, we compare algorithms by implementing them in a feedforward fashion and then adapting their parameters. This comparison is proposed to be evaluated by a benchmark data set that contains challenging image distortions in an increasing fashion. This promptly enables us to compare different standard image segmentation algorithms in a feedback vs. feedforward implementation by evaluating their segmentation quality and robustness. We also propose an efficient way of performing automatic image analysis when only abstract ground truth is present. Such a framework evaluates robustness of different image processing pipelines using a graded data set. This is useful for both end-users and experts.

A New Feedback-Based Method for Parameter Adaptation in Image Processing Routines

PubMed Central

Mikut, Ralf; Reischl, Markus

2016-01-01

The parametrization of automatic image processing routines is time-consuming if a lot of image processing parameters are involved. An expert can tune parameters sequentially to get desired results. This may not be productive for applications with difficult image analysis tasks, e.g. when high noise and shading levels in an image are present or images vary in their characteristics due to different acquisition conditions. Parameters are required to be tuned simultaneously. We propose a framework to improve standard image segmentation methods by using feedback-based automatic parameter adaptation. Moreover, we compare algorithms by implementing them in a feedforward fashion and then adapting their parameters. This comparison is proposed to be evaluated by a benchmark data set that contains challenging image distortions in an increasing fashion. This promptly enables us to compare different standard image segmentation algorithms in a feedback vs. feedforward implementation by evaluating their segmentation quality and robustness. We also propose an efficient way of performing automatic image analysis when only abstract ground truth is present. Such a framework evaluates robustness of different image processing pipelines using a graded data set. This is useful for both end-users and experts. PMID:27764213

Interactive brain shift compensation using GPU based programming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Steen, Sander; Noordmans, Herke Jan; Verdaasdonk, Rudolf

2009-02-01

Processing large images files or real-time video streams requires intense computational power. Driven by the gaming industry, the processing power of graphic process units (GPUs) has increased significantly. With the pixel shader model 4.0 the GPU can be used for image processing 10x faster than the CPU. Dedicated software was developed to deform 3D MR and CT image sets for real-time brain shift correction during navigated neurosurgery using landmarks or cortical surface traces defined by the navigation pointer. Feedback was given using orthogonal slices and an interactively raytraced 3D brain image. GPU based programming enables real-time processing of high definition image datasets and various applications can be developed in medicine, optics and image sciences.

Oct4-GFP expression during transformation of gonocytes into spermatogonial stem cells in the perinatal mouse testis.

PubMed

Li, Ruili; Vannitamby, Amanda; Zhang, Jian-Guo; Fehmel, Emma L; Southwell, Bridget R; Hutson, John M

2015-12-01

In cryptorchidism perinatal failure to switch off Oct4, a germ cell (GC) marker, may lead to carcinoma in situ. We aimed to analyze Oct4 expression during mouse gonocyte transformation into spermatogonial stem cells (SSC). Testes from OG2 (Oct4-promoter driven eGFP) mice at embryonic day (E) 17 and postnatal day P0-10 underwent immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Antibodies against MVH, AMH, Ki67, and c-Kit were visualized by confocal microscopy. Numbers of Oct4-GFP(+) GC and Oct4-GFP(-) GC/tubule were counted using ImageJ. Data were analyzed using nonparametric one-way ANOVA. GC from E17-P4 were Oct4-GFP(+). Numbers of Oct4-GFP(-) GC/tubule increased from P6-10, whereas Oct4-GFP(+) GC/tubule numbers remained similar between P6 and P10. Sertoli cells proliferated from E17-P10, whereas GC only proliferated from P2. Gonocytes (Oct4-GFP(+)/c-Kit(-)) central in tubules migrated to the basement membrane to become prospermatogonia (Oct4-GFP(+)/c-Kit(-)) and then SSC (Oct4-GFP(+)/c-Kit(+)) from day 4 and further developed into Oct4-GFP(-)/c-Kit(+) at P6. In Oct4-GFP mice both centrally located gonocytes and prospermatogonia located at the tubular basement membrane were Oct4-GFP(+)/c-Kit(-) before further developing into SSC (Oct4-GFP(+)/c-Kit(+)). This indicates that Oct4 is important in gonocyte transformation into SSC. Understanding this process will aid GC tumor diagnostics and fertility potential in boys with UDT undergoing orchidopexy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Frequency Based Design Partitioning to Achieve Higher Throughput in Digital Cross Correlator for Aperture Synthesis Passive MMW Imager.

PubMed

Asif, Muhammad; Guo, Xiangzhou; Zhang, Jing; Miao, Jungang

2018-04-17

Digital cross-correlation is central to many applications including but not limited to Digital Image Processing, Satellite Navigation and Remote Sensing. With recent advancements in digital technology, the computational demands of such applications have increased enormously. In this paper we are presenting a high throughput digital cross correlator, capable of processing 1-bit digitized stream, at the rate of up to 2 GHz, simultaneously on 64 channels i.e., approximately 4 Trillion correlation and accumulation operations per second. In order to achieve higher throughput, we have focused on frequency based partitioning of our design and tried to minimize and localize high frequency operations. This correlator is designed for a Passive Millimeter Wave Imager intended for the detection of contraband items concealed on human body. The goals are to increase the system bandwidth, achieve video rate imaging, improve sensitivity and reduce the size. Design methodology is detailed in subsequent sections, elaborating the techniques enabling high throughput. The design is verified for Xilinx Kintex UltraScale device in simulation and the implementation results are given in terms of device utilization and power consumption estimates. Our results show considerable improvements in throughput as compared to our baseline design, while the correlator successfully meets the functional requirements.

Imaging across the interface of small-scale breaking waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Techet, Alexandra H.; Belden, Jesse L.

2007-11-01

Flow characteristics on both the air and water side of small scale spilling and plunging waves are investigated using fully time-resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV). PIV at 1000 frames per second (fps) is used to capture the flow field in both the air and water for waves generated by shoaling. Reynolds number of the waves is on the order of Re = 9x10^4 to 2x10^6, where Re = ρ√g 3̂μ, ρ is fluid density, μ is fluid dynamic viscosity, g is gravity, and λ is the characteristic wavelength of the breaking wave before breaking. Isopropyl alcohol is mixed with the distilled water in the tank to reduce surface tension and thus achieve plunging breakers on this scale. Flow in the water is seeded using conventional silver-coated hollow glass spheres, whereas the quiescent air side (i.e. no wind) is seeded using micro-air balloons with high stokes drag and thus long settling times. Imaging of both the air and water are performed simultaneously and advanced image processing is performed to determine the water surface location and to avoid surface tracking during PIV processing. Repeatable, coherent vortical structures are revealed on the air-side of the waves and are considered mechanisms for energy transfer across the interface.

SU-E-J-22: A Feasibility Study On KV-Based Whole Breast Radiation Patient Setup

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Q; Zhang, M; Yue, N

Purpose: In room kilovoltage x-ray (kV) imaging provides higher contrast than Megavoltage (MV) imaging with faster acquisition time compared with on-board cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), thus improving patient setup accuracy and efficiency. In this study we evaluated the clinical feasibility of utilizing kV imaging for whole breast radiation patient setup. Methods: For six breast cancer patients with whole breast treatment plans using two opposed tangential fields, MV-based patient setup was conducted by aligning patient markers with in room lasers and MV portal images. Beam-eye viewed kV images were acquired using Varian OBI system after the set up process. In housemore » software was developed to transfer MLC blocks information overlaying onto kV images to demonstrate the field shape for verification. KV-based patient digital shift was derived by performing rigid registration between kV image and the digitally reconstructed radiography (DRR) to align the bony structure. This digital shift between kV-based and MV-based setup was defined as setup deviation. Results: Six sets of kV images were acquired for breast patients. The mean setup deviation was 2.3mm, 2.2mm and 1.8mm for anterior-posterior, superior-inferior and left-right direction respectively. The average setup deviation magnitude was 4.3±1.7mm for six patients. Patient with large breast had a larger setup deviation (4.4–6.2mm). There was no strong correlation between MV-based shift and setup deviation. Conclusion: A preliminary clinical workflow for kV-based whole breast radiation setup was established and tested. We observed setup deviation of the magnitude below than 5mm. With the benefit of providing higher contrast and MLC block overlaid on the images for treatment field verification, it is feasible to use kV imaging for breast patient setup.« less

Image Quality Assessment of JPEG Compressed Mars Science Laboratory Mastcam Images using Convolutional Neural Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kerner, H. R.; Bell, J. F., III; Ben Amor, H.

2017-12-01

The Mastcam color imaging system on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover acquires images within Gale crater for a variety of geologic and atmospheric studies. Images are often JPEG compressed before being downlinked to Earth. While critical for transmitting images on a low-bandwidth connection, this compression can result in image artifacts most noticeable as anomalous brightness or color changes within or near JPEG compression block boundaries. In images with significant high-frequency detail (e.g., in regions showing fine layering or lamination in sedimentary rocks), the image might need to be re-transmitted losslessly to enable accurate scientific interpretation of the data. The process of identifying which images have been adversely affected by compression artifacts is performed manually by the Mastcam science team, costing significant expert human time. To streamline the tedious process of identifying which images might need to be re-transmitted, we present an input-efficient neural network solution for predicting the perceived quality of a compressed Mastcam image. Most neural network solutions require large amounts of hand-labeled training data for the model to learn the target mapping between input (e.g. distorted images) and output (e.g. quality assessment). We propose an automatic labeling method using joint entropy between a compressed and uncompressed image to avoid the need for domain experts to label thousands of training examples by hand. We use automatically labeled data to train a convolutional neural network to estimate the probability that a Mastcam user would find the quality of a given compressed image acceptable for science analysis. We tested our model on a variety of Mastcam images and found that the proposed method correlates well with image quality perception by science team members. When assisted by our proposed method, we estimate that a Mastcam investigator could reduce the time spent reviewing images by a minimum of 70%.

Remote Sensing Combined with Field Spectroscopy for the Detection and Monitoring of Heavy Metal Contamination from Informal E-waste Recycling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedlander, L. R.; Garb, Y.

2017-12-01

Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of today's fastest growing waste streams. Made up of discarded electronics, e-waste disposal is complex. However, e-waste also provides economic opportunity through the processing and extraction of precious metals. Sometimes referred to as "urban mining," this recycling operates informally or illegally and is characterized by dangerous practices such as, open-pit burning, acid leaching, and burning of low value wastes. Poorly controlled e-waste recycling releases dangerous contaminants, especially heavy metals, directly to the surface environment where they can infiltrate water resources and spread through precipitation events. Despite growing recognition of the prevalence of unregulated e-waste processing, systematic data on the extent and persistence of the released contamination is still limited. In general, contamination is established through techniques that provide only a snapshot in time and in a limited geographic area. Here we present preliminary results from attempts to combine field, laboratory, and remote sensing studies toward a systematic remote sensing methodology for e-waste contamination detection and monitoring. The ongoing work utilizes a tragic "natural experiment," in which over 500 e-waste burn sites were active over more than a decade in a variety of agricultural, residential, and natural contexts. We have collected over 100 soil samples for which we have both XRF and ICP-AES measurements showing soil Pb concentrations as high as 14000 ppm. We have also collected 480 in-situ reflectance spectra with corresponding soil samples over 4 field transects of areas with long-term burn activity. The most heavily contaminated samples come from within the burn sites and are made up of ash. Field spectra of these samples reflect their dark color with low overall reflectance and shallow spectral features. These spectra are challenging to use for image classification due to their similarity with other low-reflectance parts of the image (e.g., shadows). We have begun to distinguish shadows from the dark burn site centers by automatically detecting and masking shadows. This will allow us to utilize images taken at different times and our in-situ field spectral results to develop a method for monitoring contaminant spread from these complex point sources.

LAS - LAND ANALYSIS SYSTEM, VERSION 5.0

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pease, P. B.

1994-01-01

The Land Analysis System (LAS) is an image analysis system designed to manipulate and analyze digital data in raster format and provide the user with a wide spectrum of functions and statistical tools for analysis. LAS offers these features under VMS with optional image display capabilities for IVAS and other display devices as well as the X-Windows environment. LAS provides a flexible framework for algorithm development as well as for the processing and analysis of image data. Users may choose between mouse-driven commands or the traditional command line input mode. LAS functions include supervised and unsupervised image classification, film product generation, geometric registration, image repair, radiometric correction and image statistical analysis. Data files accepted by LAS include formats such as Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS), Thematic Mapper (TM) and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The enhanced geometric registration package now includes both image to image and map to map transformations. The over 200 LAS functions fall into image processing scenario categories which include: arithmetic and logical functions, data transformations, fourier transforms, geometric registration, hard copy output, image restoration, intensity transformation, multispectral and statistical analysis, file transfer, tape profiling and file management among others. Internal improvements to the LAS code have eliminated the VAX VMS dependencies and improved overall system performance. The maximum LAS image size has been increased to 20,000 lines by 20,000 samples with a maximum of 256 bands per image. The catalog management system used in earlier versions of LAS has been replaced by a more streamlined and maintenance-free method of file management. This system is not dependent on VAX/VMS and relies on file naming conventions alone to allow the use of identical LAS file names on different operating systems. While the LAS code has been improved, the original capabilities of the system have been preserved. These include maintaining associated image history, session logging, and batch, asynchronous and interactive mode of operation. The LAS application programs are integrated under version 4.1 of an interface called the Transportable Applications Executive (TAE). TAE 4.1 has four modes of user interaction: menu, direct command, tutor (or help), and dynamic tutor. In addition TAE 4.1 allows the operation of LAS functions using mouse-driven commands under the TAE-Facelift environment provided with TAE 4.1. These modes of operation allow users, from the beginner to the expert, to exercise specific application options. LAS is written in C-language and FORTRAN 77 for use with DEC VAX computers running VMS with approximately 16Mb of physical memory. This program runs under TAE 4.1. Since TAE 4.1 is not a current version of TAE, TAE 4.1 is included within the LAS distribution. Approximately 130,000 blocks (65Mb) of disk storage space are necessary to store the source code and files generated by the installation procedure for LAS and 44,000 blocks (22Mb) of disk storage space are necessary for TAE 4.1 installation. The only other dependencies for LAS are the subroutine libraries for the specific display device(s) that will be used with LAS/DMS (e.g. X-Windows and/or IVAS). The standard distribution medium for LAS is a set of two 9track 6250 BPI magnetic tapes in DEC VAX BACKUP format. It is also available on a set of two TK50 tape cartridges in DEC VAX BACKUP format. This program was developed in 1986 and last updated in 1992.

42 CFR 37.44 - Approval of radiographic facilities that use digital radiography systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... effective management, safety, and proper performance of chest image acquisition, digitization, processing... digital chest radiographs by submitting to NIOSH digital radiographic image files of a test object (e.g... radiographic image files from six or more sample chest radiographs that are of acceptable quality to one or...

Embedded image processing engine using ARM cortex-M4 based STM32F407 microcontroller

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Samaiya, Devesh, E-mail: samaiya.devesh@gmail.com

2014-10-06

Due to advancement in low cost, easily available, yet powerful hardware and revolution in open source software, urge to make newer, more interactive machines and electronic systems have increased manifold among engineers. To make system more interactive, designers need easy to use sensor systems. Giving the boon of vision to machines was never easy, though it is not impossible these days; it is still not easy and expensive. This work presents a low cost, moderate performance and programmable Image processing engine. This Image processing engine is able to capture real time images, can store the images in the permanent storagemore » and can perform preprogrammed image processing operations on the captured images.« less

Raspberry Pi-powered imaging for plant phenotyping.

PubMed

Tovar, Jose C; Hoyer, J Steen; Lin, Andy; Tielking, Allison; Callen, Steven T; Elizabeth Castillo, S; Miller, Michael; Tessman, Monica; Fahlgren, Noah; Carrington, James C; Nusinow, Dmitri A; Gehan, Malia A

2018-03-01

Image-based phenomics is a powerful approach to capture and quantify plant diversity. However, commercial platforms that make consistent image acquisition easy are often cost-prohibitive. To make high-throughput phenotyping methods more accessible, low-cost microcomputers and cameras can be used to acquire plant image data. We used low-cost Raspberry Pi computers and cameras to manage and capture plant image data. Detailed here are three different applications of Raspberry Pi-controlled imaging platforms for seed and shoot imaging. Images obtained from each platform were suitable for extracting quantifiable plant traits (e.g., shape, area, height, color) en masse using open-source image processing software such as PlantCV. This protocol describes three low-cost platforms for image acquisition that are useful for quantifying plant diversity. When coupled with open-source image processing tools, these imaging platforms provide viable low-cost solutions for incorporating high-throughput phenomics into a wide range of research programs.

Review of advanced imaging techniques

PubMed Central

Chen, Yu; Liang, Chia-Pin; Liu, Yang; Fischer, Andrew H.; Parwani, Anil V.; Pantanowitz, Liron

2012-01-01

Pathology informatics encompasses digital imaging and related applications. Several specialized microscopy techniques have emerged which permit the acquisition of digital images (“optical biopsies”) at high resolution. Coupled with fiber-optic and micro-optic components, some of these imaging techniques (e.g., optical coherence tomography) are now integrated with a wide range of imaging devices such as endoscopes, laparoscopes, catheters, and needles that enable imaging inside the body. These advanced imaging modalities have exciting diagnostic potential and introduce new opportunities in pathology. Therefore, it is important that pathology informaticists understand these advanced imaging techniques and the impact they have on pathology. This paper reviews several recently developed microscopic techniques, including diffraction-limited methods (e.g., confocal microscopy, 2-photon microscopy, 4Pi microscopy, and spatially modulated illumination microscopy) and subdiffraction techniques (e.g., photoactivated localization microscopy, stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy, and stimulated emission depletion microscopy). This article serves as a primer for pathology informaticists, highlighting the fundamentals and applications of advanced optical imaging techniques. PMID:22754737

Comparative evaluation of Bis(thiosemicarbazone)- Biotin and Met-ac-TE3A for tumor imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Sweta; Tiwari, Anjani K.; Varshney, Raunak; Mathur, R.; Shukla, Gauri; Bag, N.; Singh, B.; Mishra, Anil K.

2016-01-01

2,2‧,2″-(11-(2-((4-mercapto-1-methoxy-1-oxobutan-2-yl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraaza cyclotetradecane-1,4,8-triyl)triacetic acid, Met-ac-TE3A and (E)-N-methyl-2-((E)-3-(2-(2-(5-((3aS,4S,6aR)-2-oxohexahydro-1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazol-4-yl)pentanoyl)hydrazinecarbono-thioyl)hydrazonobutan-2-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide, Bis(thiosemicarbazone)- Biotin were synthesized and evaluated for imaging application. The pharmacokinetics of these ligands were determined by tracer methods. In vitro human serum stability of 99mTc Met-ac-TE3A/99mTc Bis(thiosemicarbazone)-Biotin after 24 h was found to be 96.5% and 97.0% respectively. Blood kinetics of both ligands in normal rabbits showed biphasic clearance pattern. Ex vivo biodistribution study revealed significant initial tumor uptake and high tumor/muscles ratio which is a pre-requisite condition for a ligand to work as SPECT-radiopharmaceutical for tumor imaging.

Wide-field Fluorescent Microscopy and Fluorescent Imaging Flow Cytometry on a Cell-phone

PubMed Central

Zhu, Hongying; Ozcan, Aydogan

2013-01-01

Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry are widely used tools in biomedical research and clinical diagnosis. However these devices are in general relatively bulky and costly, making them less effective in the resource limited settings. To potentially address these limitations, we have recently demonstrated the integration of wide-field fluorescent microscopy and imaging flow cytometry tools on cell-phones using compact, light-weight, and cost-effective opto-fluidic attachments. In our flow cytometry design, fluorescently labeled cells are flushed through a microfluidic channel that is positioned above the existing cell-phone camera unit. Battery powered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are butt-coupled to the side of this microfluidic chip, which effectively acts as a multi-mode slab waveguide, where the excitation light is guided to uniformly excite the fluorescent targets. The cell-phone camera records a time lapse movie of the fluorescent cells flowing through the microfluidic channel, where the digital frames of this movie are processed to count the number of the labeled cells within the target solution of interest. Using a similar opto-fluidic design, we can also image these fluorescently labeled cells in static mode by e.g. sandwiching the fluorescent particles between two glass slides and capturing their fluorescent images using the cell-phone camera, which can achieve a spatial resolution of e.g. ~ 10 μm over a very large field-of-view of ~ 81 mm2. This cell-phone based fluorescent imaging flow cytometry and microscopy platform might be useful especially in resource limited settings, for e.g. counting of CD4+ T cells toward monitoring of HIV+ patients or for detection of water-borne parasites in drinking water. PMID:23603893

Wide-field fluorescent microscopy and fluorescent imaging flow cytometry on a cell-phone.

PubMed

Zhu, Hongying; Ozcan, Aydogan

2013-04-11

Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry are widely used tools in biomedical research and clinical diagnosis. However these devices are in general relatively bulky and costly, making them less effective in the resource limited settings. To potentially address these limitations, we have recently demonstrated the integration of wide-field fluorescent microscopy and imaging flow cytometry tools on cell-phones using compact, light-weight, and cost-effective opto-fluidic attachments. In our flow cytometry design, fluorescently labeled cells are flushed through a microfluidic channel that is positioned above the existing cell-phone camera unit. Battery powered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are butt-coupled to the side of this microfluidic chip, which effectively acts as a multi-mode slab waveguide, where the excitation light is guided to uniformly excite the fluorescent targets. The cell-phone camera records a time lapse movie of the fluorescent cells flowing through the microfluidic channel, where the digital frames of this movie are processed to count the number of the labeled cells within the target solution of interest. Using a similar opto-fluidic design, we can also image these fluorescently labeled cells in static mode by e.g. sandwiching the fluorescent particles between two glass slides and capturing their fluorescent images using the cell-phone camera, which can achieve a spatial resolution of e.g. - 10 μm over a very large field-of-view of - 81 mm(2). This cell-phone based fluorescent imaging flow cytometry and microscopy platform might be useful especially in resource limited settings, for e.g. counting of CD4+ T cells toward monitoring of HIV+ patients or for detection of water-borne parasites in drinking water.

Stochastic simulation by image quilting of process-based geological models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffimann, Júlio; Scheidt, Céline; Barfod, Adrian; Caers, Jef

2017-09-01

Process-based modeling offers a way to represent realistic geological heterogeneity in subsurface models. The main limitation lies in conditioning such models to data. Multiple-point geostatistics can use these process-based models as training images and address the data conditioning problem. In this work, we further develop image quilting as a method for 3D stochastic simulation capable of mimicking the realism of process-based geological models with minimal modeling effort (i.e. parameter tuning) and at the same time condition them to a variety of data. In particular, we develop a new probabilistic data aggregation method for image quilting that bypasses traditional ad-hoc weighting of auxiliary variables. In addition, we propose a novel criterion for template design in image quilting that generalizes the entropy plot for continuous training images. The criterion is based on the new concept of voxel reuse-a stochastic and quilting-aware function of the training image. We compare our proposed method with other established simulation methods on a set of process-based training images of varying complexity, including a real-case example of stochastic simulation of the buried-valley groundwater system in Denmark.

A distribution-based parametrization for improved tomographic imaging of solute plumes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pidlisecky, Adam; Singha, K.; Day-Lewis, F. D.

2011-01-01

Difference geophysical tomography (e.g. radar, resistivity and seismic) is used increasingly for imaging fluid flow and mass transport associated with natural and engineered hydrologic phenomena, including tracer experiments, in situ remediation and aquifer storage and recovery. Tomographic data are collected over time, inverted and differenced against a background image to produce 'snapshots' revealing changes to the system; these snapshots readily provide qualitative information on the location and morphology of plumes of injected tracer, remedial amendment or stored water. In principle, geometric moments (i.e. total mass, centres of mass, spread, etc.) calculated from difference tomograms can provide further quantitative insight into the rates of advection, dispersion and mass transfer; however, recent work has shown that moments calculated from tomograms are commonly biased, as they are strongly affected by the subjective choice of regularization criteria. Conventional approaches to regularization (Tikhonov) and parametrization (image pixels) result in tomograms which are subject to artefacts such as smearing or pixel estimates taking on the sign opposite to that expected for the plume under study. Here, we demonstrate a novel parametrization for imaging plumes associated with hydrologic phenomena. Capitalizing on the mathematical analogy between moment-based descriptors of plumes and the moment-based parameters of probability distributions, we design an inverse problem that (1) is overdetermined and computationally efficient because the image is described by only a few parameters, (2) produces tomograms consistent with expected plume behaviour (e.g. changes of one sign relative to the background image), (3) yields parameter estimates that are readily interpreted for plume morphology and offer direct insight into hydrologic processes and (4) requires comparatively few data to achieve reasonable model estimates. We demonstrate the approach in a series of numerical examples based on straight-ray difference-attenuation radar monitoring of the transport of an ionic tracer, and show that the methodology outlined here is particularly effective when limited data are available. ?? 2011 The Authors Geophysical Journal International ?? 2011 RAS.

Rapid Prototyping Integrated With Nondestructive Evaluation and Finite Element Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abdul-Aziz, Ali; Baaklini, George Y.

2001-01-01

Most reverse engineering approaches involve imaging or digitizing an object then creating a computerized reconstruction that can be integrated, in three dimensions, into a particular design environment. Rapid prototyping (RP) refers to the practical ability to build high-quality physical prototypes directly from computer aided design (CAD) files. Using rapid prototyping, full-scale models or patterns can be built using a variety of materials in a fraction of the time required by more traditional prototyping techniques (refs. 1 and 2). Many software packages have been developed and are being designed to tackle the reverse engineering and rapid prototyping issues just mentioned. For example, image processing and three-dimensional reconstruction visualization software such as Velocity2 (ref. 3) are being used to carry out the construction process of three-dimensional volume models and the subsequent generation of a stereolithography file that is suitable for CAD applications. Producing three-dimensional models of objects from computed tomography (CT) scans is becoming a valuable nondestructive evaluation methodology (ref. 4). Real components can be rendered and subjected to temperature and stress tests using structural engineering software codes. For this to be achieved, accurate high-resolution images have to be obtained via CT scans and then processed, converted into a traditional file format, and translated into finite element models. Prototyping a three-dimensional volume of a composite structure by reading in a series of two-dimensional images generated via CT and by using and integrating commercial software (e.g. Velocity2, MSC/PATRAN (ref. 5), and Hypermesh (ref. 6)) is being applied successfully at the NASA Glenn Research Center. The building process from structural modeling to the analysis level is outlined in reference 7. Subsequently, a stress analysis of a composite cooling panel under combined thermomechanical loading conditions was performed to validate this process.

Visual Image Sensor Organ Replacement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maluf, David A.

2014-01-01

This innovation is a system that augments human vision through a technique called "Sensing Super-position" using a Visual Instrument Sensory Organ Replacement (VISOR) device. The VISOR device translates visual and other sensors (i.e., thermal) into sounds to enable very difficult sensing tasks. Three-dimensional spatial brightness and multi-spectral maps of a sensed image are processed using real-time image processing techniques (e.g. histogram normalization) and transformed into a two-dimensional map of an audio signal as a function of frequency and time. Because the human hearing system is capable of learning to process and interpret extremely complicated and rapidly changing auditory patterns, the translation of images into sounds reduces the risk of accidentally filtering out important clues. The VISOR device was developed to augment the current state-of-the-art head-mounted (helmet) display systems. It provides the ability to sense beyond the human visible light range, to increase human sensing resolution, to use wider angle visual perception, and to improve the ability to sense distances. It also allows compensation for movement by the human or changes in the scene being viewed.

Simulation of nanoparticle-mediated near-infrared thermal therapy using GATE

PubMed Central

Cuplov, Vesna; Pain, Frédéric; Jan, Sébastien

2017-01-01

Application of nanotechnology for biomedicine in cancer therapy allows for direct delivery of anticancer agents to tumors. An example of such therapies is the nanoparticle-mediated near-infrared hyperthermia treatment. In order to investigate the influence of nanoparticle properties on the spatial distribution of heat in the tumor and healthy tissues, accurate simulations are required. The Geant4 Application for Emission Tomography (GATE) open-source simulation platform, based on the Geant4 toolkit, is widely used by the research community involved in molecular imaging, radiotherapy and optical imaging. We present an extension of GATE that can model nanoparticle-mediated hyperthermal therapy as well as simple heat diffusion in biological tissues. This new feature of GATE combined with optical imaging allows for the simulation of a theranostic scenario in which the patient is injected with theranostic nanosystems that can simultaneously deliver therapeutic (i.e. hyperthermia therapy) and imaging agents (i.e. fluorescence imaging). PMID:28663855

Beyond arousal and valence: the importance of the biological versus social relevance of emotional stimuli.

PubMed

Sakaki, Michiko; Niki, Kazuhisa; Mather, Mara

2012-03-01

The present study addressed the hypothesis that emotional stimuli relevant to survival or reproduction (biologically emotional stimuli) automatically affect cognitive processing (e.g., attention, memory), while those relevant to social life (socially emotional stimuli) require elaborative processing to modulate attention and memory. Results of our behavioral studies showed that (1) biologically emotional images hold attention more strongly than do socially emotional images, (2) memory for biologically emotional images was enhanced even with limited cognitive resources, but (3) memory for socially emotional images was enhanced only when people had sufficient cognitive resources at encoding. Neither images' subjective arousal nor their valence modulated these patterns. A subsequent functional magnetic resonance imaging study revealed that biologically emotional images induced stronger activity in the visual cortex and greater functional connectivity between the amygdala and visual cortex than did socially emotional images. These results suggest that the interconnection between the amygdala and visual cortex supports enhanced attention allocation to biological stimuli. In contrast, socially emotional images evoked greater activity in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and yielded stronger functional connectivity between the amygdala and MPFC than did biological images. Thus, it appears that emotional processing of social stimuli involves elaborative processing requiring frontal lobe activity.

A Dedicated Microprocessor Controller for a Bound Document Scanner.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-06-01

focused onto the CCD which converts the image into 2048 pixels. After the pixel data are processed by the scanner hardware, they are sent to the display...data in real time after the data on each of the 2048 pixel elements .-.- .---.; . has been transferred out of the device. Display-control commands and...05 06 07 Fig. 4.9 2716 EPROM Block D~iagram and Pin Assignment HE-E 64 BYTES RA ’ FFF 4095 INTERNAL I FCO 4032 EXECUTABLE FBP 4031 RA Soo0 2048 _ _7FF

Waveforms for Active Sensing: Optical Waveform Design and Analysis for Ballistic Imaging Through Turbid Media

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-04-04

Poisson process, the probabilities of false alarm PFA and detection PD are computed as PFA P k1 N yk 0 k 1 eNXeNXek k! 1...character- istics (ROC) (PD versus PFA ) curves for detecting opaque objects in heavy fog, considering a detector with Xe 20 and a laser power as in...objects in this scattering me- dium up to a distance of 30 MFPs. Figure 4(b) shows the system performance curves by fixing the false alarm rate PFA at

Mixture of learners for cancer stem cell detection using CD13 and H and E stained images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oǧuz, Oǧuzhan; Akbaş, Cem Emre; Mallah, Maen; Taşdemir, Kasım.; Akhan Güzelcan, Ece; Muenzenmayer, Christian; Wittenberg, Thomas; Üner, Ayşegül; Cetin, A. E.; ćetin Atalay, Rengül

2016-03-01

In this article, algorithms for cancer stem cell (CSC) detection in liver cancer tissue images are developed. Conventionally, a pathologist examines of cancer cell morphologies under microscope. Computer aided diagnosis systems (CAD) aims to help pathologists in this tedious and repetitive work. The first algorithm locates CSCs in CD13 stained liver tissue images. The method has also an online learning algorithm to improve the accuracy of detection. The second family of algorithms classify the cancer tissues stained with H and E which is clinically routine and cost effective than immunohistochemistry (IHC) procedure. The algorithms utilize 1D-SIFT and Eigen-analysis based feature sets as descriptors. Normal and cancerous tissues can be classified with 92.1% accuracy in H and E stained images. Classification accuracy of low and high-grade cancerous tissue images is 70.4%. Therefore, this study paves the way for diagnosing the cancerous tissue and grading the level of it using H and E stained microscopic tissue images.

A non-contact time-domain scanning brain imaging system: first in-vivo results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mazurenka, M.; Di Sieno, L.; Boso, G.; Contini, D.; Pifferi, A.; Dalla Mora, A.; Tosi, A.; Wabnitz, H.; Macdonald, R.

2013-06-01

We present results of first in-vivo tests of an optical non-contact scanning imaging system, intended to study oxidative metabolism related processes in biological tissue by means of time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy. Our method is a novel realization of the short source-detector separation approach and based on a fast-gated single-photon avalanche diode to detect late photons only. The scanning system is built in quasi-confocal configuration and utilizes polarizationsensitive detection. It scans an area of 4×4 cm2, recording images with 32×32 pixels, thus creating a high density of source-detector pairs. To test the system we performed a range of in vivo measurements of hemodynamic changes in several types of biological tissues, i.e. skin (Valsalva maneuver), muscle (venous and arterial occlusions) and brain (motor and cognitive tasks). Task-related changes in hemoglobin concentrations were clearly detected in skin and muscle. The brain activation shows weaker, but yet detectable changes. These changes were localized in pixels near the motor cortex area (C3). However, it was found that even very short hair substantially impairs the measurement. Thus the applicability of the scanner is limited to hairless parts of body. The results of our first in-vivo tests prove the feasibility of non-contact scanning imaging as a first step towards development of a prototype for biological tissue imaging for various medical applications.

Rapid virtual H&E histology of breast tissue specimens using a compact fluorescence nonlinear microscope

PubMed Central

Cahill, Lucas C.; Giacomelli, Michael G.; Yoshitake, Tadayuki; Vardeh, Hilde; Faulkner-Jones, Beverly E.; Connolly, James L.; Sun, Chi-Kuang; Fujimoto, James G.

2017-01-01

Up to 40% of patients undergoing breast conserving surgery for breast cancer require repeat surgeries due to close to or positive margins. The lengthy processing required for evaluating surgical margins by standard paraffin embedded histology precludes its use during surgery and therefore, technologies for rapid evaluation of surgical pathology could improve the treatment of breast cancer by reducing the number of surgeries required. We demonstrate real-time histological evaluation of breast cancer surgical specimens by staining specimens with acridine orange (AO) and sulforhodamine 101 (SR101) analogously to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and then imaging the specimens with fluorescence nonlinear microscopy (NLM) using a compact femtosecond fiber laser. A video-rate computational light absorption model was used to produce realistic virtual H&E images of tissue in real time and in three dimensions. NLM imaging could be performed to depths of 100 µm below the tissue surface, which is important since many surgical specimens require subsurface evaluation due to artifacts on the tissue surface from electrocautery, surgical ink or debris from specimen handling. We validate this method by expert review of NLM images compared to formalin fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) H&E histology. Diagnostically important features such as normal terminal ductal lobular units, fibrous and adipose stromal parenchyma, inflammation, invasive carcinoma, and in-situ lobular and ductal carcinoma were present in NLM images associated with pathologies identified on standard FFPE H&E histology. We demonstrate that AO and SR101 were extracted to undetectable levels after FFPE processing and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) HER2 amplification status was unaffected by the NLM imaging protocol. This method potentially enables cost-effective, real-time histological guidance of surgical resections. PMID:29131161

Parallel-Processing Software for Correlating Stereo Images

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klimeck, Gerhard; Deen, Robert; Mcauley, Michael; DeJong, Eric

2007-01-01

A computer program implements parallel- processing algorithms for cor relating images of terrain acquired by stereoscopic pairs of digital stereo cameras on an exploratory robotic vehicle (e.g., a Mars rove r). Such correlations are used to create three-dimensional computatio nal models of the terrain for navigation. In this program, the scene viewed by the cameras is segmented into subimages. Each subimage is assigned to one of a number of central processing units (CPUs) opera ting simultaneously.

Attention to local and global levels of hierarchical Navon figures affects rapid scene categorization.

PubMed

Brand, John; Johnson, Aaron P

2014-01-01

In four experiments, we investigated how attention to local and global levels of hierarchical Navon figures affected the selection of diagnostic spatial scale information used in scene categorization. We explored this issue by asking observers to classify hybrid images (i.e., images that contain low spatial frequency (LSF) content of one image, and high spatial frequency (HSF) content from a second image) immediately following global and local Navon tasks. Hybrid images can be classified according to either their LSF, or HSF content; thus, making them ideal for investigating diagnostic spatial scale preference. Although observers were sensitive to both spatial scales (Experiment 1), they overwhelmingly preferred to classify hybrids based on LSF content (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, we demonstrated that LSF based hybrid categorization was faster following global Navon tasks, suggesting that LSF processing associated with global Navon tasks primed the selection of LSFs in hybrid images. In Experiment 4, replicating Experiment 3 but suppressing the LSF information in Navon letters by contrast balancing the stimuli examined this hypothesis. Similar to Experiment 3, observers preferred to classify hybrids based on LSF content; however and in contrast, LSF based hybrid categorization was slower following global than local Navon tasks.

Attention to local and global levels of hierarchical Navon figures affects rapid scene categorization

PubMed Central

Brand, John; Johnson, Aaron P.

2014-01-01

In four experiments, we investigated how attention to local and global levels of hierarchical Navon figures affected the selection of diagnostic spatial scale information used in scene categorization. We explored this issue by asking observers to classify hybrid images (i.e., images that contain low spatial frequency (LSF) content of one image, and high spatial frequency (HSF) content from a second image) immediately following global and local Navon tasks. Hybrid images can be classified according to either their LSF, or HSF content; thus, making them ideal for investigating diagnostic spatial scale preference. Although observers were sensitive to both spatial scales (Experiment 1), they overwhelmingly preferred to classify hybrids based on LSF content (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, we demonstrated that LSF based hybrid categorization was faster following global Navon tasks, suggesting that LSF processing associated with global Navon tasks primed the selection of LSFs in hybrid images. In Experiment 4, replicating Experiment 3 but suppressing the LSF information in Navon letters by contrast balancing the stimuli examined this hypothesis. Similar to Experiment 3, observers preferred to classify hybrids based on LSF content; however and in contrast, LSF based hybrid categorization was slower following global than local Navon tasks. PMID:25520675

Mode extraction on wind turbine blades via phase-based video motion estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarrafi, Aral; Poozesh, Peyman; Niezrecki, Christopher; Mao, Zhu

2017-04-01

In recent years, image processing techniques are being applied more often for structural dynamics identification, characterization, and structural health monitoring. Although as a non-contact and full-field measurement method, image processing still has a long way to go to outperform other conventional sensing instruments (i.e. accelerometers, strain gauges, laser vibrometers, etc.,). However, the technologies associated with image processing are developing rapidly and gaining more attention in a variety of engineering applications including structural dynamics identification and modal analysis. Among numerous motion estimation and image-processing methods, phase-based video motion estimation is considered as one of the most efficient methods regarding computation consumption and noise robustness. In this paper, phase-based video motion estimation is adopted for structural dynamics characterization on a 2.3-meter long Skystream wind turbine blade, and the modal parameters (natural frequencies, operating deflection shapes) are extracted. Phase-based video processing adopted in this paper provides reliable full-field 2-D motion information, which is beneficial for manufacturing certification and model updating at the design stage. The phase-based video motion estimation approach is demonstrated through processing data on a full-scale commercial structure (i.e. a wind turbine blade) with complex geometry and properties, and the results obtained have a good correlation with the modal parameters extracted from accelerometer measurements, especially for the first four bending modes, which have significant importance in blade characterization.

Optimization of image quality and acquisition time for lab-based X-ray microtomography using an iterative reconstruction algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Qingyang; Andrew, Matthew; Thompson, William; Blunt, Martin J.; Bijeljic, Branko

2018-05-01

Non-invasive laboratory-based X-ray microtomography has been widely applied in many industrial and research disciplines. However, the main barrier to the use of laboratory systems compared to a synchrotron beamline is its much longer image acquisition time (hours per scan compared to seconds to minutes at a synchrotron), which results in limited application for dynamic in situ processes. Therefore, the majority of existing laboratory X-ray microtomography is limited to static imaging; relatively fast imaging (tens of minutes per scan) can only be achieved by sacrificing imaging quality, e.g. reducing exposure time or number of projections. To alleviate this barrier, we introduce an optimized implementation of a well-known iterative reconstruction algorithm that allows users to reconstruct tomographic images with reasonable image quality, but requires lower X-ray signal counts and fewer projections than conventional methods. Quantitative analysis and comparison between the iterative and the conventional filtered back-projection reconstruction algorithm was performed using a sandstone rock sample with and without liquid phases in the pore space. Overall, by implementing the iterative reconstruction algorithm, the required image acquisition time for samples such as this, with sparse object structure, can be reduced by a factor of up to 4 without measurable loss of sharpness or signal to noise ratio.

3D digital image processing for biofilm quantification from confocal laser scanning microscopy: Multidimensional statistical analysis of biofilm modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zielinski, Jerzy S.

The dramatic increase in number and volume of digital images produced in medical diagnostics, and the escalating demand for rapid access to these relevant medical data, along with the need for interpretation and retrieval has become of paramount importance to a modern healthcare system. Therefore, there is an ever growing need for processed, interpreted and saved images of various types. Due to the high cost and unreliability of human-dependent image analysis, it is necessary to develop an automated method for feature extraction, using sophisticated mathematical algorithms and reasoning. This work is focused on digital image signal processing of biological and biomedical data in one- two- and three-dimensional space. Methods and algorithms presented in this work were used to acquire data from genomic sequences, breast cancer, and biofilm images. One-dimensional analysis was applied to DNA sequences which were presented as a non-stationary sequence and modeled by a time-dependent autoregressive moving average (TD-ARMA) model. Two-dimensional analyses used 2D-ARMA model and applied it to detect breast cancer from x-ray mammograms or ultrasound images. Three-dimensional detection and classification techniques were applied to biofilm images acquired using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Modern medical images are geometrically arranged arrays of data. The broadening scope of imaging as a way to organize our observations of the biophysical world has led to a dramatic increase in our ability to apply new processing techniques and to combine multiple channels of data into sophisticated and complex mathematical models of physiological function and dysfunction. With explosion of the amount of data produced in a field of biomedicine, it is crucial to be able to construct accurate mathematical models of the data at hand. Two main purposes of signal modeling are: data size conservation and parameter extraction. Specifically, in biomedical imaging we have four key problems that were addressed in this work: (i) registration, i.e. automated methods of data acquisition and the ability to align multiple data sets with each other; (ii) visualization and reconstruction, i.e. the environment in which registered data sets can be displayed on a plane or in multidimensional space; (iii) segmentation, i.e. automated and semi-automated methods to create models of relevant anatomy from images; (iv) simulation and prediction, i.e. techniques that can be used to simulate growth end evolution of researched phenomenon. Mathematical models can not only be used to verify experimental findings, but also to make qualitative and quantitative predictions, that might serve as guidelines for the future development of technology and/or treatment.

Generalized Newton Method for Energy Formulation in Image Processing

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-04-01

A. Brook, N. Sochen, and N. Kiryati. Deblurring of color images corrupted by impulsive noise . IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, 16(4):1101–1111...tive functionals: variational image deblurring and geodesic active contours for image segmentation. We show that in addition to the fast convergence...inner product, active contours, deblurring . AMS subject classifications. 35A15, 65K10, 90C53 1. Introduction. Optimization of a cost functional is a

The Application of Chinese High-Spatial Remote Sensing Satellite Image in Land Law Enforcement Information Extraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, N.; Yang, R.

2018-04-01

Chinese high -resolution (HR) remote sensing satellites have made huge leap in the past decade. Commercial satellite datasets, such as GF-1, GF-2 and ZY-3 images, the panchromatic images (PAN) resolution of them are 2 m, 1 m and 2.1 m and the multispectral images (MS) resolution are 8 m, 4 m, 5.8 m respectively have been emerged in recent years. Chinese HR satellite imagery has been free downloaded for public welfare purposes using. Local government began to employ more professional technician to improve traditional land management technology. This paper focused on analysing the actual requirements of the applications in government land law enforcement in Guangxi Autonomous Region. 66 counties in Guangxi Autonomous Region were selected for illegal land utilization spot extraction with fusion Chinese HR images. The procedure contains: A. Defines illegal land utilization spot type. B. Data collection, GF-1, GF-2, and ZY-3 datasets were acquired in the first half year of 2016 and other auxiliary data were collected in 2015. C. Batch process, HR images were collected for batch preprocessing through ENVI/IDL tool. D. Illegal land utilization spot extraction by visual interpretation. E. Obtaining attribute data with ArcGIS Geoprocessor (GP) model. F. Thematic mapping and surveying. Through analysing 42 counties results, law enforcement officials found 1092 illegal land using spots and 16 suspicious illegal mining spots. The results show that Chinese HR satellite images have great potential for feature information extraction and the processing procedure appears robust.

Increasing the oscillation frequency of strong magnetic fields above 101 kHz significantly raises peripheral nerve excitation thresholds

PubMed Central

Weinberg, Irving N.; Stepanov, Pavel Y.; Fricke, Stanley T.; Probst, Roland; Urdaneta, Mario; Warnow, Daniel; Sanders, Howard; Glidden, Steven C.; McMillan, Alan; Starewicz, Piotr M.; Reilly, J. Patrick

2012-01-01

Purpose: A time-varying magnetic field can cause unpleasant peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) when the maximum excursion of the magnetic field (ΔB) is above a frequency-dependent threshold level [P. Mansfield and P. R. Harvey, Magn. Reson. Med. 29, 746–758 (1993)]. Clinical and research magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gradient systems have been designed to avoid such bioeffects by adhering to regulations and guidelines established on the basis of clinical trials. Those trials, generally employing sinusoidal waveforms, tested human responses to magnetic fields at frequencies between 0.5 and 10 kHz [W. Irnich and F. Schmitt, Magn. Reson. Med. 33, 619–623 (1995), T. F. Budinger et al., J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr. 15, 909–914 (1991), and D. J. Schaefer et al., J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 12, 20–29 (2000)]. PNS thresholds for frequencies higher than 10 kHz had been extrapolated, using physiological models [J. P. Reilly et al., IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. BME-32(12), 1001–1011 (1985)]. The present study provides experimental data on human PNS thresholds to oscillating magnetic field stimulation from 2 to 183 kHz. Sinusoidal waveforms were employed for several reasons: (1) to facilitate comparison with earlier reports that used sine waves, (2) because prior designers of fast gradient hardware for generalized waveforms (e.g., including trapezoidal pulses) have employed quarter-sine-wave resonant circuits to reduce the rise- and fall-times of pulse waveforms, and (3) because sinusoids are often used in fast pulse sequences (e.g., spiral scans) [S. Nowak, U.S. patent 5,245,287 (14 September 1993) and K. F. King and D. J. Schaefer, J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 12, 164–170 (2000)]. Methods: An IRB-approved prospective clinical trial was performed, involving 26 adults, in which one wrist was exposed to decaying sinusoidal magnetic field pulses at frequencies from 2 to 183 kHz and amplitudes up to 0.4 T. Sham exposures (i.e., with no magnetic fields) were applied to all subjects. Results: For 0.4 T pulses at 2, 25, 59, 101, and 183 kHz, stimulation was reported by 22 (84.6%), 24 (92.3%), 15 (57.7%), 2 (7.7%), and 1 (3.8%) subjects, respectively. Conclusions: The probability of PNS due to brief biphasic time-varying sinusoidal magnetic fields with magnetic excursions up to 0.4 T is shown to decrease significantly at and above 101 kHz. This phenomenon may have particular uses in dynamic scenarios (e.g., cardiac imaging) and in studying processes with short decay times (e.g., electron paramagnetic resonance imaging, bone and solids imaging). The study suggests the possibility of new designs for human and preclinical MRI systems that may be useful in clinical practice and scientific research. PMID:22559628

Towards automated segmentation of cells and cell nuclei in nonlinear optical microscopy.

PubMed

Medyukhina, Anna; Meyer, Tobias; Schmitt, Michael; Romeike, Bernd F M; Dietzek, Benjamin; Popp, Jürgen

2012-11-01

Nonlinear optical (NLO) imaging techniques based e.g. on coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) or two photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) show great potential for biomedical imaging. In order to facilitate the diagnostic process based on NLO imaging, there is need for an automated calculation of quantitative values such as cell density, nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio, average nuclear size. Extraction of these parameters is helpful for the histological assessment in general and specifically e.g. for the determination of tumor grades. This requires an accurate image segmentation and detection of locations and boundaries of cells and nuclei. Here we present an image processing approach for the detection of nuclei and cells in co-registered TPEF and CARS images. The algorithm developed utilizes the gray-scale information for the detection of the nuclei locations and the gradient information for the delineation of the nuclear and cellular boundaries. The approach reported is capable for an automated segmentation of cells and nuclei in multimodal TPEF-CARS images of human brain tumor samples. The results are important for the development of NLO microscopy into a clinically relevant diagnostic tool. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Characteristics of a multichannel low-noise front-end ASIC for CZT-based small animal PET imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, W.; Liu, H.; Gan, B.; Hu, Y.

2014-05-01

In this paper, we present the design and characteristics of a novel low-noise front-end readout application-specific integrated circuit dedicated to CdZnTe (CZT) detectors for a small animal PET imaging system. A low-noise readout method based on the charge integration and the delayed peak detection is proposed. An eight-channel front-end readout prototype chip is designed and implemented in a 0.35 μm CMOS process. The die size is 2.3 mm ×2.3 mm. The prototype chip is tested in different methods including electronic test, energy spectrum test and irradiation test. The input range of the ASIC is from 2000e- to 180,000e-, reflecting the energy of the gamma ray from 11.2 keV to 1 MeV. The gain of the readout channel is 65 mV/fC at the shaping time of 1 μs. The best test result of the equivalent noise charge (ENC) is 58.9 e- at zero farad plus 5.4 e- per picofarad. The nonlinearity and the crosstalk are less than 3% and less than 2%, respectively, at the room temperature. The static power dissipation is about 3 mW/channel.

A coherent through-wall MIMO phased array imaging radar based on time-duplexed switching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Qingchao; Chetty, Kevin; Brennan, Paul; Lok, Lai Bun; Ritchie, Matthiew; Woodbridge, Karl

2017-05-01

Through-the-Wall (TW) radar sensors are gaining increasing interest for security, surveillance and search and rescue applications. Additionally, the integration of Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) techniques with phased array radar is allowing higher performance at lower cost. In this paper we present a 4-by-4 TW MIMO phased array imaging radar operating at 2.4 GHz with 200 MHz bandwidth. To achieve high imaging resolution in a cost-effective manner, the 4 Tx and 4 Rx elements are used to synthesize a uniform linear array (ULA) of 16 virtual elements. Furthermore, the transmitter is based on a single-channel 4-element time-multiplexed switched array. In transmission, the radar utilizes frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) waveforms that undergo de-ramping on receive to allow digitization at relatively low sampling rates, which then simplifies the imaging process. This architecture has been designed for the short-range TW scenarios envisaged, and permits sufficient time to switch between antenna elements. The paper first outlines the system characteristics before describing the key signal processing and imaging algorithms which are based on traditional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) processing. These techniques are implemented in LabVIEW software. Finally, we report results from an experimental campaign that investigated the imaging capabilities of the system and demonstrated the detection of personnel targets. Moreover, we show that multiple targets within a room with greater than approximately 1 meter separation can be distinguished from one another.

Fundus Autofluorescence and Photoreceptor Cell Rosettes in Mouse Models

PubMed Central

Flynn, Erin; Ueda, Keiko; Auran, Emily; Sullivan, Jack M.; Sparrow, Janet R.

2014-01-01

Purpose. This study was conducted to study correlations among fundus autofluorescence (AF), RPE lipofuscin accumulation, and photoreceptor cell degeneration and to investigate the structural basis of fundus AF spots. Methods. Fundus AF images (55° lens; 488-nm excitation) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans were acquired in pigmented Rdh8−/−/Abca4−/− mice (ages 1–9 months) with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (cSLO). For quantitative fundus AF (qAF), gray levels (GLs) were calibrated to an internal fluorescence reference. Retinal bisretinoids were measured by quantitative HPLC. Histometric analysis of outer nuclear layer (ONL) thicknesses was performed, and cryostat sections of retina were examined by fluorescence microscopy. Results. Quantified A2E and qAF intensities increased until age 4 months in the Rdh8−/−/Abca4−/− mice. The A2E levels declined after 4 months of age, but qAF intensity values continued to rise. The decline in A2E levels in the Rdh8−/−/Abca4−/− mice paralleled reduced photoreceptor cell viability as reflected in ONL thinning. Hyperautofluorescent puncta in fundus AF images corresponded to photoreceptor cell rosettes in SD-OCT images and histological sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The inner segment/outer segment–containing core of the rosette emitted an autofluorescence detected by fluorescence microscopy. Conclusions. When neural retina is disordered, AF from photoreceptor cells can contribute to noninvasive fundus AF images. Hyperautofluorescent puncta in fundus AF images are attributable, in at least some cases, to photoreceptor cell rosettes. PMID:25015357

Phytoplankton Imaging and Analysis System: Instrumentation for Field and Laboratory Acquisition, Analysis and WWW/LAN-Based Sharing of Marine Phytoplankton Data (DURIP)

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-09-30

networks (LAN), (3) quantifying size, shape, and other parameters of plankton cells and colonies via image analysis and image reconstruction, and (4) creating educational materials (e.g. lectures, videos etc.).

SU-E-J-167: Improvement of Time-Ordered Four Dimensional Cone-Beam CT; Image Mosaicing with Real and Virtual Projections

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nakano, M; Kida, S; Masutani, Y

2014-06-01

Purpose: In the previous study, we developed time-ordered fourdimensional (4D) cone-beam CT (CBCT) technique to visualize nonperiodic organ motion, such as peristaltic motion of gastrointestinal organs and adjacent area, using half-scan reconstruction method. One important obstacle was that truncation of projection was caused by asymmetric location of flat-panel detector (FPD) in order to cover whole abdomen or pelvis in one rotation. In this study, we propose image mosaicing to extend projection data to make possible to reconstruct full field-of-view (FOV) image using half-scan reconstruction. Methods: The projections of prostate cancer patients were acquired using the X-ray Volume Imaging system (XVI,more » version 4.5) on Synergy linear accelerator system (Elekta, UK). The XVI system has three options of FOV, S, M and L, and M FOV was chosen for pelvic CBCT acquisition, with a FPD panel 11.5 cm offset. The method to produce extended projections consists of three main steps: First, normal three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction which contains whole pelvis was implemented using real projections. Second, virtual projections were produced by reprojection process of the reconstructed 3D image. Third, real and virtual projections in each angle were combined into one extended mosaic projection. Then, 4D CBCT images were reconstructed using our inhouse reconstruction software based on Feldkamp, Davis and Kress algorithm. The angular range of each reconstruction phase in the 4D reconstruction was 180 degrees, and the range moved as time progressed. Results: Projection data were successfully extended without discontinuous boundary between real and virtual projections. Using mosaic projections, 4D CBCT image sets were reconstructed without artifacts caused by the truncation, and thus, whole pelvis was clearly visible. Conclusion: The present method provides extended projections which contain whole pelvis. The presented reconstruction method also enables time-ordered 4D CBCT reconstruction of organs with non-periodic motion with full FOV without projection-truncation artifacts. This work was partly supported by the JSPS Core-to-Core Program(No. 23003). This work was partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI 24234567.« less

Image fusion of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Energy-dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy data for the characterization of uranium-molybdenum fuel foils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Willingham, David; Naes, Benjamin E.; Tarolli, Jay G.; Schemer-Kohrn, Alan; Rhodes, Mark; Dahl, Michael; Guzman, Anthony; Burkes, Douglas E.

2018-01-01

Uranium-molybdenum (U-Mo) monolithic fuels represent one option for converting civilian research and test reactors operating with high enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU), effectively reducing the threat of nuclear proliferation world-wide. However, processes associated with fabrication of U-Mo monolithic fuels result in regions of elemental heterogeneity, observed as bands traversing the cross-section of representative samples. Isotopic variations (e.g., 235U and 238U) could also be introduced because of associated processing steps, particularly since HEU feedstock is melted with natural or depleted uranium diluent to produce LEU. This study demonstrates the utility of correlative analysis of Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) with their image data streams using image fusion, resulting in a comprehensive microanalytical characterization toolbox. Elemental and isotopic measurements were made on a sample from the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) Full-sized plate In-center flux trap Position (AFIP)-7 experiment and compared to previous optical and electron microscopy results. The image fusion results are characteristic of SIMS isotopic maps, but with the spatial resolution of EDS images and, therefore, can be used to increase the effective spatial resolution of the SIMS imaging results to better understand homogeneity or heterogeneity that persists because of processing selections. Visual inspection using the image fusion methodology indicated slight variations in the 235U/238U ratio and quantitative analysis using the image intensities across several FoVs revealed an average 235U atom percent value of 17.9 ± 2.4%, which was indicative of a non-uniform U isotopic distribution in the area sampled. Further development of this capability is useful for understanding the connections between the properties of LEU fuel alternatives and the ability to predict performance under irradiation.

Intensity-based segmentation and visualization of cells in 3D microscopic images using the GPU

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Mi-Sun; Lee, Jeong-Eom; Jeon, Woong-ki; Choi, Heung-Kook; Kim, Myoung-Hee

2013-02-01

3D microscopy images contain abundant astronomical data, rendering 3D microscopy image processing time-consuming and laborious on a central processing unit (CPU). To solve these problems, many people crop a region of interest (ROI) of the input image to a small size. Although this reduces cost and time, there are drawbacks at the image processing level, e.g., the selected ROI strongly depends on the user and there is a loss in original image information. To mitigate these problems, we developed a 3D microscopy image processing tool on a graphics processing unit (GPU). Our tool provides efficient and various automatic thresholding methods to achieve intensity-based segmentation of 3D microscopy images. Users can select the algorithm to be applied. Further, the image processing tool provides visualization of segmented volume data and can set the scale, transportation, etc. using a keyboard and mouse. However, the 3D objects visualized fast still need to be analyzed to obtain information for biologists. To analyze 3D microscopic images, we need quantitative data of the images. Therefore, we label the segmented 3D objects within all 3D microscopic images and obtain quantitative information on each labeled object. This information can use the classification feature. A user can select the object to be analyzed. Our tool allows the selected object to be displayed on a new window, and hence, more details of the object can be observed. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of our tool by comparing the CPU and GPU processing times by matching the specification and configuration.

Analysis of 3D Subharmonic Ultrasound Signals from Patients with Known Breast Masses for Lesion Differentiation

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-01

separate image processing course were attended and this programming language will be used for the research component of this project. Subharmonic...4 5 BODY ...lesions. 5 BODY 5.1 Training Component The training component of this research has been split into breast imaging and image processing arms

Analysis of the fractal dimension of volcano geomorphology through Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) amplitude images acquired in C and X band.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pepe, S.; Di Martino, G.; Iodice, A.; Manzo, M.; Pepe, A.; Riccio, D.; Ruello, G.; Sansosti, E.; Tizzani, P.; Zinno, I.

2012-04-01

In the last two decades several aspects relevant to volcanic activity have been analyzed in terms of fractal parameters that effectively describe natural objects geometry. More specifically, these researches have been aimed at the identification of (1) the power laws that governed the magma fragmentation processes, (2) the energy of explosive eruptions, and (3) the distribution of the associated earthquakes. In this paper, the study of volcano morphology via satellite images is dealt with; in particular, we use the complete forward model developed by some of the authors (Di Martino et al., 2012) that links the stochastic characterization of amplitude Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images to the fractal dimension of the imaged surfaces, modelled via fractional Brownian motion (fBm) processes. Based on the inversion of such a model, a SAR image post-processing has been implemented (Di Martino et al., 2010), that allows retrieving the fractal dimension of the observed surfaces, dictating the distribution of the roughness over different spatial scales. The fractal dimension of volcanic structures has been related to the specific nature of materials and to the effects of active geodynamic processes. Hence, the possibility to estimate the fractal dimension from a single amplitude-only SAR image is of fundamental importance for the characterization of volcano structures and, moreover, can be very helpful for monitoring and crisis management activities in case of eruptions and other similar natural hazards. The implemented SAR image processing performs the extraction of the point-by-point fractal dimension of the scene observed by the sensor, providing - as an output product - the map of the fractal dimension of the area of interest. In this work, such an analysis is performed on Cosmo-SkyMed, ERS-1/2 and ENVISAT images relevant to active stratovolcanoes in different geodynamic contexts, such as Mt. Somma-Vesuvio, Mt. Etna, Vulcano and Stromboli in Southern Italy, Shinmoe in Japan, Merapi in Indonesia. Preliminary results reveal that the fractal dimension of natural areas, being related only to the roughness of the observed surface, is very stable as the radar illumination geometry, the resolution and the wavelength change, thus holding a very unique property in SAR data inversion. Such a behavior is not verified in case of non-natural objects. As a matter of fact, when the fractal estimation is performed in the presence of either man-made objects or SAR image features depending on geometrical distortions due to the SAR system acquisition (i.e. layover, shadowing), fractal dimension (D) values outside the range of fractality of natural surfaces (2 < D < 3) are retrieved. These non-fractal characteristics show to be heavily dependent on sensor acquisition parameters (e.g. view angle, resolution). In this work, the behaviour of the maps generated starting from the C- and X- band SAR data, relevant to all the considered volcanoes, is analyzed: the distribution of the obtained fractal dimension values is investigated on different zones of the maps. In particular, it is verified that the fore-slope and back-slope areas of the image share a very similar fractal dimension distribution that is placed around the mean value of D=2.3. We conclude that, in this context, the fractal dimension could be considered as a signature of the identification of the volcano growth as a natural process. The COSMO-SkyMed data used in this study have been processed at IREA-CNR within the SAR4Volcanoes project under Italian Space Agency agreement n. I/034/11/0.

KOSMOS and COSMOS: new facility instruments for the NOAO 4-meter telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martini, Paul; Elias, J.; Points, S.; Sprayberry, D.; Derwent, Mark A.; Gonzalez, Raymond; Mason, J. A.; O'Brien, T. P.; Pappalardo, D. P.; Pogge, Richard W.; Stoll, R.; Zhelem, R.; Daly, Phil; Fitzpatrick, M.; George, J. R.; Hunten, M.; Marshall, R.; Poczulp, Gary; Rath, S.; Seaman, R.; Trueblood, M.; Zelaya, K.

2014-07-01

We describe the design, construction and measured performance of the Kitt Peak Ohio State Multi-Object Spectrograph (KOSMOS) for the 4-m Mayall telescope and the Cerro Tololo Ohio State Multi-Object Spectrograph (COSMOS) for the 4-m Blanco telescope. These nearly identical imaging spectrographs are modified versions of the OSMOS instrument; they provide a pair of new, high-efficiency instruments to the NOAO user community. KOSMOS and COSMOS may be used for imaging, long-slit, and multi-slit spectroscopy over a 100 square arcminute field of view with a pixel scale of 0.29 arcseconds. Each contains two VPH grisms that provide R~2500 with a one arcsecond slit and their wavelengths of peak diffraction efficiency are approximately 510nm and 750nm. Both may also be used with either a thin, blue-optimized CCD from e2v or a thick, fully depleted, red-optimized CCD from LBNL. These instruments were developed in response to the ReSTAR process. KOSMOS was commissioned in 2013B and COSMOS was commissioned in 2014A.

Contour Detection and Completion for Inpainting and Segmentation Based on Topological Gradient and Fast Marching Algorithms

PubMed Central

Auroux, Didier; Cohen, Laurent D.; Masmoudi, Mohamed

2011-01-01

We combine in this paper the topological gradient, which is a powerful method for edge detection in image processing, and a variant of the minimal path method in order to find connected contours. The topological gradient provides a more global analysis of the image than the standard gradient and identifies the main edges of an image. Several image processing problems (e.g., inpainting and segmentation) require continuous contours. For this purpose, we consider the fast marching algorithm in order to find minimal paths in the topological gradient image. This coupled algorithm quickly provides accurate and connected contours. We present then two numerical applications, to image inpainting and segmentation, of this hybrid algorithm. PMID:22194734

Working memory and decision processes in visual area v4.

PubMed

Hayden, Benjamin Y; Gallant, Jack L

2013-01-01

Recognizing and responding to a remembered stimulus requires the coordination of perception, working memory, and decision-making. To investigate the role of visual cortex in these processes, we recorded responses of single V4 neurons during performance of a delayed match-to-sample task that incorporates rapid serial visual presentation of natural images. We found that neuronal activity during the delay period after the cue but before the images depends on the identity of the remembered image and that this change persists while distractors appear. This persistent response modulation has been identified as a diagnostic criterion for putative working memory signals; our data thus suggest that working memory may involve reactivation of sensory neurons. When the remembered image reappears in the neuron's receptive field, visually evoked responses are enhanced; this match enhancement is a diagnostic criterion for decision. One model that predicts these data is the matched filter hypothesis, which holds that during search V4 neurons change their tuning so as to match the remembered cue, and thus become detectors for that image. More generally, these results suggest that V4 neurons participate in the perceptual, working memory, and decision processes that are needed to perform memory-guided decision-making.

A novel real time imaging platform to quantify macrophage phagocytosis.

PubMed

Kapellos, Theodore S; Taylor, Lewis; Lee, Heyne; Cowley, Sally A; James, William S; Iqbal, Asif J; Greaves, David R

2016-09-15

Phagocytosis of pathogens, apoptotic cells and debris is a key feature of macrophage function in host defense and tissue homeostasis. Quantification of macrophage phagocytosis in vitro has traditionally been technically challenging. Here we report the optimization and validation of the IncuCyte ZOOM® real time imaging platform for macrophage phagocytosis based on pHrodo® pathogen bioparticles, which only fluoresce when localized in the acidic environment of the phagolysosome. Image analysis and fluorescence quantification were performed with the automated IncuCyte™ Basic Software. Titration of the bioparticle number showed that the system is more sensitive than a spectrofluorometer, as it can detect phagocytosis when using 20× less E. coli bioparticles. We exemplified the power of this real time imaging platform by studying phagocytosis of murine alveolar, bone marrow and peritoneal macrophages. We further demonstrate the ability of this platform to study modulation of the phagocytic process, as pharmacological inhibitors of phagocytosis suppressed bioparticle uptake in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas opsonins augmented phagocytosis. We also investigated the effects of macrophage polarization on E. coli phagocytosis. Bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) priming with M2 stimuli, such as IL-4 and IL-10 resulted in higher engulfment of bioparticles in comparison with M1 polarization. Moreover, we demonstrated that tolerization of BMDMs with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) results in impaired E. coli bioparticle phagocytosis. This novel real time assay will enable researchers to quantify macrophage phagocytosis with a higher degree of accuracy and sensitivity and will allow investigation of limited populations of primary phagocytes in vitro. Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A method and results of color calibration for the Chang'e-3 terrain camera and panoramic camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Xin; Li, Chun-Lai; Liu, Jian-Jun; Wang, Fen-Fei; Yang, Jian-Feng; Liu, En-Hai; Xue, Bin; Zhao, Ru-Jin

2014-12-01

The terrain camera (TCAM) and panoramic camera (PCAM) are two of the major scientific payloads installed on the lander and rover of the Chang'e 3 mission respectively. They both use a Bayer color filter array covering CMOS sensor to capture color images of the Moon's surface. RGB values of the original images are related to these two kinds of cameras. There is an obvious color difference compared with human visual perception. This paper follows standards published by the International Commission on Illumination to establish a color correction model, designs the ground calibration experiment and obtains the color correction coefficient. The image quality has been significantly improved and there is no obvious color difference in the corrected images. Ground experimental results show that: (1) Compared with uncorrected images, the average color difference of TCAM is 4.30, which has been reduced by 62.1%. (2) The average color differences of the left and right cameras in PCAM are 4.14 and 4.16, which have been reduced by 68.3% and 67.6% respectively.

Study on a High Compression Processing for Video-on-Demand e-learning System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nomura, Yoshihiko; Matsuda, Ryutaro; Sakamoto, Ryota; Sugiura, Tokuhiro; Matsui, Hirokazu; Kato, Norihiko

The authors proposed a high-quality and small-capacity lecture-video-file creating system for distance e-learning system. Examining the feature of the lecturing scene, the authors ingeniously employ two kinds of image-capturing equipment having complementary characteristics : one is a digital video camera with a low resolution and a high frame rate, and the other is a digital still camera with a high resolution and a very low frame rate. By managing the two kinds of image-capturing equipment, and by integrating them with image processing, we can produce course materials with the greatly reduced file capacity : the course materials satisfy the requirements both for the temporal resolution to see the lecturer's point-indicating actions and for the high spatial resolution to read the small written letters. As a result of a comparative experiment, the e-lecture using the proposed system was confirmed to be more effective than an ordinary lecture from the viewpoint of educational effect.

Multiscale image processing and antiscatter grids in digital radiography.

PubMed

Lo, Winnie Y; Hornof, William J; Zwingenberger, Allison L; Robertson, Ian D

2009-01-01

Scatter radiation is a source of noise and results in decreased signal-to-noise ratio and thus decreased image quality in digital radiography. We determined subjectively whether a digitally processed image made without a grid would be of similar quality to an image made with a grid but without image processing. Additionally the effects of exposure dose and of a using a grid with digital radiography on overall image quality were studied. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs of five dogs of various sizes were made. Four acquisition techniques were included (1) with a grid, standard exposure dose, digital image processing; (2) without a grid, standard exposure dose, digital image processing; (3) without a grid, half the exposure dose, digital image processing; and (4) with a grid, standard exposure dose, no digital image processing (to mimic a film-screen radiograph). Full-size radiographs as well as magnified images of specific anatomic regions were generated. Nine reviewers rated the overall image quality subjectively using a five-point scale. All digitally processed radiographs had higher overall scores than nondigitally processed radiographs regardless of patient size, exposure dose, or use of a grid. The images made at half the exposure dose had a slightly lower quality than those made at full dose, but this was only statistically significant in magnified images. Using a grid with digital image processing led to a slight but statistically significant increase in overall quality when compared with digitally processed images made without a grid but whether this increase in quality is clinically significant is unknown.

Investigation of small scale roughness properties of Martian terrains using Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter data.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ivanov, A. B.; Rossi, A.

2009-04-01

Studies of layered terrains in polar regions as well as inside craters and other areas on Mars often require knowledge of local topography at much finer resolution than global MOLA topography allows. For example, in the polar layered deposits spatial relationships are important to understand unconformities that are observed on the edges of the layered terrains [15,3]. Their formation process is not understood at this point, yet fine scale topography, joint with ground penetrating radar like SHARAD and MARSIS may shed light on their 3D structure. Landing site analysis also requires knowledge of local slopes and roughness at scales from 1 to 10 m [1,2]. Mars Orbiter Camera [13] has taken stereo images at these scales, however interpretation was difficult due to unstable behavior of the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft during image take (wobbling effect). Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is much better stabilized, since it is required for optimal operation of its high resolution camera. In this work we have utilized data from MRO sensors (CTX camera [11] and HIRISE camera [12] in order to derive digital elevation models (DEM) from images targeted as stereo pairs. We employed methods and approaches utilized for the Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) stereo data [4,5]. CTX data varies in resolution and stereo pairs analyzed in this work can be derived at approximately 10m scale. HIRISE images allow DEM post spacing at around 1 meter. The latter are very big images and our computer infrastructure was only able to process either reduced resolution images, covering larger surface or working with smaller patches at the original resolution. We employed stereo matching technique described in [5,9], in conjunction with radiometric and geometric image processing in ISIS3 [16]. This technique is capable of deriving tiepoint co-registration at subpixel precision and has proven itself when used for Pathfinder and MER operations [8]. Considerable part of this work was to accommodate CTX and HIRISE image processing in the existing data processing pipeline and improve it at the same time. Currently the workflow is not finished: DEM units are relative and are not in elevation. We have been able to derive successful DEMs from CTX data Becquerel [14] and Crommelin craters as well as for some areas in the North Polar Layered Terrain. Due to its tremendous resolution HIRISE data showing great surface detail, hence allowing better correlation than other sensors considered in this work. In all cases DEM were showing considerable potential for exploration of terrain characteristics. Next steps include cross validation results with DEM produced by other teams and sensors (HRSC [6], HIRISE [7]) and providing elevation in terms of absolute height over a MOLA areoid. MRO imaging data allows us an unprecedented look at Martian terrain. This work provides a step forward derivation of DEM from HIRISE and CTX datasets and currently undergoing validation vs. other existing datasets. We will present our latest results for layering structures in both North and South Polar Layered deposits as well as layered structures inside Becquerel and Crommelin craters. Digital Elevation models derived from the CTX sensor can also be utilized effectively as a input for clutter reduction models, which are in turn used for the ground penetrating SHARAD instrument [13]. References. [1] R. Arvidson, et al. Mars exploration program 2007 phoenix landing site selection and characteristics. Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 113, JUN 19 2008. [2] M. Golombek, et al. Assessment of mars exploration rover landing site predictions. Nature, 436(7047):44-48, JUL 7 2005. [3] K. E. Herkenhoff, et al. Meter-scale morphology of the north polar region of mars. Science, 317(5845):1711-1715, SEP 21 2007. [4] A. B. Ivanov. Ten-Meter Scale Topography and Roughness of Mars Exploration Rovers Landing Sites and Martian Polar Regions. volume 34 of Lunar and Planetary Inst. Technical Report, pages 2084-+, Mar. 2003. [5] A. B. Ivanov and J. J. Lorre. Analysis of Mars Orbiter Camera Stereo Pairs. In Lunar and Planetary Institute Conference Abstracts, volume 33 of Lunar and Planetary Inst. Technical Report, pages 1845-+, Mar. 2002. [6] R. Jaumann, et al. The high-resolution stereo camera (HRSC) experiment on mars express: Instrument aspects and experiment conduct from interplanetary cruise through the nominal mission. Planetary and Space Science, 55(7-8):928-952, MAY 2007. [7] R. L. Kirk, et al. Ultrahigh resolution topographic mapping of mars with MRO HIRISE stereo images: Meter-scale slopes of candidate phoenix landing sites. Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 113, NOV 15 2008. [8] S. Lavoie, et al. Processing and analysis of mars pathfinder science data at the jet propulsion laboratory's science data processing systems section. Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 104(E4):8831-8852, APR 25 1999. [9] J. J. Lorre, et al. Recent developments at JPL in the application of image processing to astronomy. In D. L. Crawford, editor, Instrumentation in Astronomy III, volume 172 of Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Conference Series, pages 394-402, 1979. [10] M. Malin, et al. Early views of the martian surface from the mars orbiter camera of mars global surveyor. Science, 279(5357):1681-1685, MAR 13 1998. [11] M. C. Malin,et al. Context camera investigation on board the mars reconnaissance orbiter. Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 112(E5), MAY 18 2007. [12] A. S. McEwen, et al.. Mars reconnaissance orbiter's high resolution imaging science experiment (HIRISE). Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets, 112(E5), MAY 17 2007. [13] A. Rossi, et al. Multi-spacecraft synergy with MEX HRSC and MRO SHARAD: Light-Toned Deposits in crater bulges. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, pages B1371+, Dec. 2008. [14] A. P. Rossi, et al. Stratigraphic architecture and structural control on sediment emplacement in Becquerel crater (Mars). volume 40. Lunar and Planetary Science Institute, 2009. [15] K. L. Tanaka,et al. North polar region of mars: Advances in stratigraphy, structure, and erosional modification, AUG 2008. Icarus. [16] USGS. Planetary image processing software: ISIS3. http://isis.astrogeology.usgs.gov/

Binding of 2-[18F]fluoro-CP-118,954 to mouse acetylcholinesterase: microPET and ex vivo Cerenkov luminescence imaging studies.

PubMed

Kim, Dong Hyun; Choe, Yearn Seong; Choi, Joon Young; Lee, Kyung-Han; Kim, Byung-Tae

2011-05-01

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been an important cholinergic factor for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), because of reduced AChE activity in the postmortem brains of AD patients. We previously developed 5,7-dihydro-3-(2-(1-(2-[(18)F]fluorobenzyl)-4-piperidinyl)ethyl)-6H-pyrrolo(3,2,f)-1,2-benzisoxazol-6-one (2-[(18)F]fluoro-CP-118,954) for in vivo studies of AChE in mice. In the present study, we automated the synthesis of 2-[(18)F]fluoro-CP-118,954 for the routine use and evaluated the radioligand by microPET and ex vivo Cerenkov luminescence imaging of mouse AChE. 4-[(18)F]Fluoro-donepezil, another AChE inhibitor, was used for comparison. Automated syntheses of 2-[(18)F]fluoro-CP-118,954 and 4-[(18)F]fluoro-donepezil resulted in high radiochemical yields (25-33% and 30-40%) and high specific activity (27.1-35.4 and 29.7-37.3 GBq/μmol). Brain microPET images of two ICR mice injected with 2-[(18)F]fluoro-CP-118,954 demonstrated high uptake in the striatum (ROI analysis: 5.1 %ID/g for the first 30 min and 4.1 %ID/g for another 30 min), and a blocking study with injection of CP-118,954 into one of the mice at 30 min after radioligand injection led to complete blocking of radioligand uptake in the striatum (ROI analysis: 1.9 %ID/g), whereas (18)F-labeled donepezil did not show specific uptake in the striatum. In another set of experiments, the brain tissues (striatum, parietal cortex, frontal cortex and cerebellum) were excised after brain microPET/CT imaging of mouse injected with 2-[(18)F]fluoro-CP-118,954, and a high striatal uptake was also detected in ex vivo optical and microPET images (ROI analysis: 1.4 %ID/g) and in γ-counting data (2.1 %ID/g at 50 min post-injection) of the brain tissues. Taken together, these results demonstrated that 2-[(18)F]fluoro-CP-118,954 specifically binds to AChE in mouse brains. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fuzzy Matching Based on Gray-scale Difference for Quantum Images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, GaoFeng; Zhou, Ri-Gui; Liu, XingAo; Hu, WenWen; Luo, Jia

2018-05-01

Quantum image processing has recently emerged as an essential problem in practical tasks, e.g. real-time image matching. Previous studies have shown that the superposition and entanglement of quantum can greatly improve the efficiency of complex image processing. In this paper, a fuzzy quantum image matching scheme based on gray-scale difference is proposed to find out the target region in a reference image, which is very similar to the template image. Firstly, we employ the proposed enhanced quantum representation (NEQR) to store digital images. Then some certain quantum operations are used to evaluate the gray-scale difference between two quantum images by thresholding. If all of the obtained gray-scale differences are not greater than the threshold value, it indicates a successful fuzzy matching of quantum images. Theoretical analysis and experiments show that the proposed scheme performs fuzzy matching at a low cost and also enables exponentially significant speedup via quantum parallel computation.

Defocusing effects of lensless ghost imaging and ghost diffraction with partially coherent sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Shuang-Xi; Sheng, Wei; Bi, Yu-Bo; Luo, Chun-Ling

2018-04-01

The defocusing effect is inevitable and degrades the image quality in the conventional optical imaging process significantly due to the close confinement of the imaging lens. Based on classical optical coherent theory and linear algebra, we develop a unified formula to describe the defocusing effects of both lensless ghost imaging (LGI) and lensless ghost diffraction (LGD) systems with a partially coherent source. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the influence of defocusing length on the quality of LGI and LGD. We find that the defocusing effects of the test and reference paths in the LGI or LGD systems are entirely different, while the LGD system is more robust against defocusing than the LGI system. Specifically, we find that the imaging process for LGD systems can be viewed as pinhole imaging, which may find applications in ultra-short-wave band imaging without imaging lenses, e.g. x-ray diffraction and γ-ray imaging.

Optronic System Imaging Simulator (OSIS): imager simulation tool of the ECOMOS project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wegner, D.; Repasi, E.

2018-04-01

ECOMOS is a multinational effort within the framework of an EDA Project Arrangement. Its aim is to provide a generally accepted and harmonized European computer model for computing nominal Target Acquisition (TA) ranges of optronic imagers operating in the Visible or thermal Infrared (IR). The project involves close co-operation of defense and security industry and public research institutes from France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Sweden. ECOMOS uses two approaches to calculate Target Acquisition (TA) ranges, the analytical TRM4 model and the image-based Triangle Orientation Discrimination model (TOD). In this paper the IR imager simulation tool, Optronic System Imaging Simulator (OSIS), is presented. It produces virtual camera imagery required by the TOD approach. Pristine imagery is degraded by various effects caused by atmospheric attenuation, optics, detector footprint, sampling, fixed pattern noise, temporal noise and digital signal processing. Resulting images might be presented to observers or could be further processed for automatic image quality calculations. For convenience OSIS incorporates camera descriptions and intermediate results provided by TRM4. For input OSIS uses pristine imagery tied with meta information about scene content, its physical dimensions, and gray level interpretation. These images represent planar targets placed at specified distances to the imager. Furthermore, OSIS is extended by a plugin functionality that enables integration of advanced digital signal processing techniques in ECOMOS such as compression, local contrast enhancement, digital turbulence mitiga- tion, to name but a few. By means of this image-based approach image degradations and image enhancements can be investigated, which goes beyond the scope of the analytical TRM4 model.

The Music of the Spheres

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lewicki, Martin; Hughes, Stephen

2012-01-01

This article describes a method for making a spectroscope from scrap materials, i.e. a fragment of compact disc, a cardboard box, a tube and a digital camera to record the spectrum. An image processing program such as ImageJ can be used to calculate the wavelength of emission and absorption lines from the digital photograph. Multiple images of a…

Beyond arousal and valence: The importance of the biological versus social relevance of emotional stimuli

PubMed Central

Sakaki, Michiko; Niki, Kazuhisa; Mather, Mara

2012-01-01

The present study addressed the hypothesis that emotional stimuli relevant to survival or reproduction (biologically emotional stimuli) automatically affect cognitive processing (e.g., attention; memory), while those relevant to social life (socially emotional stimuli) require elaborative processing to modulate attention and memory. Results of our behavioral studies showed that: a) biologically emotional images hold attention more strongly than socially emotional images, b) memory for biologically emotional images was enhanced even with limited cognitive resources, but c) memory for socially emotional images was enhanced only when people had sufficient cognitive resources at encoding. Neither images’ subjective arousal nor their valence modulated these patterns. A subsequent functional magnetic resonance imaging study revealed that biologically emotional images induced stronger activity in visual cortex and greater functional connectivity between amygdala and visual cortex than did socially emotional images. These results suggest that the interconnection between the amygdala and visual cortex supports enhanced attention allocation to biological stimuli. In contrast, socially emotional images evoked greater activity in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and yielded stronger functional connectivity between amygdala and MPFC than biological images. Thus, it appears that emotional processing of social stimuli involves elaborative processing requiring frontal lobe activity. PMID:21964552

Simultaneous motion estimation and image reconstruction (SMEIR) for 4D cone-beam CT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Jing; Gu, Xuejun

2013-10-15

Purpose: Image reconstruction and motion model estimation in four-dimensional cone-beam CT (4D-CBCT) are conventionally handled as two sequential steps. Due to the limited number of projections at each phase, the image quality of 4D-CBCT is degraded by view aliasing artifacts, and the accuracy of subsequent motion modeling is decreased by the inferior 4D-CBCT. The objective of this work is to enhance both the image quality of 4D-CBCT and the accuracy of motion model estimation with a novel strategy enabling simultaneous motion estimation and image reconstruction (SMEIR).Methods: The proposed SMEIR algorithm consists of two alternating steps: (1) model-based iterative image reconstructionmore » to obtain a motion-compensated primary CBCT (m-pCBCT) and (2) motion model estimation to obtain an optimal set of deformation vector fields (DVFs) between the m-pCBCT and other 4D-CBCT phases. The motion-compensated image reconstruction is based on the simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) coupled with total variation minimization. During the forward- and backprojection of SART, measured projections from an entire set of 4D-CBCT are used for reconstruction of the m-pCBCT by utilizing the updated DVF. The DVF is estimated by matching the forward projection of the deformed m-pCBCT and measured projections of other phases of 4D-CBCT. The performance of the SMEIR algorithm is quantitatively evaluated on a 4D NCAT phantom. The quality of reconstructed 4D images and the accuracy of tumor motion trajectory are assessed by comparing with those resulting from conventional sequential 4D-CBCT reconstructions (FDK and total variation minimization) and motion estimation (demons algorithm). The performance of the SMEIR algorithm is further evaluated by reconstructing a lung cancer patient 4D-CBCT.Results: Image quality of 4D-CBCT is greatly improved by the SMEIR algorithm in both phantom and patient studies. When all projections are used to reconstruct a 3D-CBCT by FDK, motion-blurring artifacts are present, leading to a 24.4% relative reconstruction error in the NACT phantom. View aliasing artifacts are present in 4D-CBCT reconstructed by FDK from 20 projections, with a relative error of 32.1%. When total variation minimization is used to reconstruct 4D-CBCT, the relative error is 18.9%. Image quality of 4D-CBCT is substantially improved by using the SMEIR algorithm and relative error is reduced to 7.6%. The maximum error (MaxE) of tumor motion determined from the DVF obtained by demons registration on a FDK-reconstructed 4D-CBCT is 3.0, 2.3, and 7.1 mm along left–right (L-R), anterior–posterior (A-P), and superior–inferior (S-I) directions, respectively. From the DVF obtained by demons registration on 4D-CBCT reconstructed by total variation minimization, the MaxE of tumor motion is reduced to 1.5, 0.5, and 5.5 mm along L-R, A-P, and S-I directions. From the DVF estimated by SMEIR algorithm, the MaxE of tumor motion is further reduced to 0.8, 0.4, and 1.5 mm along L-R, A-P, and S-I directions, respectively.Conclusions: The proposed SMEIR algorithm is able to estimate a motion model and reconstruct motion-compensated 4D-CBCT. The SMEIR algorithm improves image reconstruction accuracy of 4D-CBCT and tumor motion trajectory estimation accuracy as compared to conventional sequential 4D-CBCT reconstruction and motion estimation.« less

Peripheral Visual Fields in ABCA4 Stargardt Disease and Correlation With Disease Extent on Ultra-widefield Fundus Autofluorescence.

PubMed

Abalem, Maria Fernanda; Otte, Benjamin; Andrews, Chris; Joltikov, Katherine A; Branham, Kari; Fahim, Abigail T; Schlegel, Dana; Qian, Cynthia X; Heckenlively, John R; Jayasundera, Thiran

2017-12-01

To evaluate the disease extent on ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence (UWF-FAF) in patients with ABCA4 Stargardt disease (STGD) and correlate these data with functional outcome measures. Retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting: Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan. Sixty-five patients with clinical diagnosis and proven pathogenic variants in the ABCA4 gene. Observational Procedures: The UWF-FAF images were obtained using Optos (200 degrees) and classified into 3 types. Functional testing included kinetic widefield perimetry, full-field electroretinogram (ffERG), and visual acuity (VA). All results were evaluated with respect to UWF-FAF classification. Classification of UWF-FAF; area comprising the I4e, III4e, and IV4e isopters; ffERG patterns; and VA. For UWF-FAF, 27 subjects (41.5%) were classified as type I, 17 (26.2%) as type II, and 21 (32.4%) as type III. The area of each isopter correlated inversely with the extent of the disease and all isopters were able to detect differences among UWF-FAF types (IV4e, P = .0013; III4e, P = .0003; I4e, P < .0001 = 3.93e -8 ). ffERG patterns and VA were also different among the 3 UWF-FAF types (P < .001 = 6.61e- 6 and P < .001 = 7.3e -5 , respectively). Patients with widespread disease presented with more constriction of peripheral visual fields and had more dysfunction on ffERG and worse VA compared to patients with disease confined to the macula. UWF-FAF images may provide information for estimating peripheral and central visual function in STGD. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moore, A. S., E-mail: alastair.moore@physics.org; Ahmed, M. F.; Soufli, R.

A dual-channel streaked soft x-ray imager has been designed and used on high energy-density physics experiments at the National Ignition Facility. This streaked imager creates two images of the same x-ray source using two slit apertures and a single shallow angle reflection from a nickel mirror. Thin filters are used to create narrow band pass images at 510 eV and 360 eV. When measuring a Planckian spectrum, the brightness ratio of the two images can be translated into a color-temperature, provided that the spectral sensitivity of the two images is well known. To reduce uncertainty and remove spectral features inmore » the streak camera photocathode from this photon energy range, a thin 100 nm CsI on 50 nm Al streak camera photocathode was implemented. Provided that the spectral shape is well-known, then uncertainties on the spectral sensitivity limits the accuracy of the temperature measurement to approximately 4.5% at 100 eV.« less

SU-E-J-91: FFT Based Medical Image Registration Using a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU).

PubMed

Luce, J; Hoggarth, M; Lin, J; Block, A; Roeske, J

2012-06-01

To evaluate the efficiency gains obtained from using a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to perform a Fourier Transform (FT) based image registration. Fourier-based image registration involves obtaining the FT of the component images, and analyzing them in Fourier space to determine the translations and rotations of one image set relative to another. An important property of FT registration is that by enlarging the images (adding additional pixels), one can obtain translations and rotations with sub-pixel resolution. The expense, however, is an increased computational time. GPUs may decrease the computational time associated with FT image registration by taking advantage of their parallel architecture to perform matrix computations much more efficiently than a Central Processor Unit (CPU). In order to evaluate the computational gains produced by a GPU, images with known translational shifts were utilized. A program was written in the Interactive Data Language (IDL; Exelis, Boulder, CO) to performCPU-based calculations. Subsequently, the program was modified using GPU bindings (Tech-X, Boulder, CO) to perform GPU-based computation on the same system. Multiple image sizes were used, ranging from 256×256 to 2304×2304. The time required to complete the full algorithm by the CPU and GPU were benchmarked and the speed increase was defined as the ratio of the CPU-to-GPU computational time. The ratio of the CPU-to- GPU time was greater than 1.0 for all images, which indicates the GPU is performing the algorithm faster than the CPU. The smallest improvement, a 1.21 ratio, was found with the smallest image size of 256×256, and the largest speedup, a 4.25 ratio, was observed with the largest image size of 2304×2304. GPU programming resulted in a significant decrease in computational time associated with a FT image registration algorithm. The inclusion of the GPU may provide near real-time, sub-pixel registration capability. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Evaluating the Improvement in Shear Wave Speed Image Quality Using Multidimensional Directional Filters in the Presence of Reflection Artifacts.

PubMed

Lipman, Samantha L; Rouze, Ned C; Palmeri, Mark L; Nightingale, Kathryn R

2016-08-01

Shear waves propagating through interfaces where there is a change in stiffness cause reflected waves that can lead to artifacts in shear wave speed (SWS) reconstructions. Two-dimensional (2-D) directional filters are commonly used to reduce in-plane reflected waves; however, SWS artifacts arise from both in- and out-of-imaging-plane reflected waves. Herein, we introduce 3-D shear wave reconstruction methods as an extension of the previous 2-D estimation methods and quantify the reduction in image artifacts through the use of volumetric SWS monitoring and 4-D-directional filters. A Gaussian acoustic radiation force impulse excitation was simulated in phantoms with Young's modulus ( E ) of 3 kPa and a 5-mm spherical lesion with E = 6, 12, or 18.75 kPa. The 2-D-, 3-D-, and 4-D-directional filters were applied to the displacement profiles to reduce in-and out-of-plane reflected wave artifacts. Contrast-to-noise ratio and SWS bias within the lesion were calculated for each reconstructed SWS image to evaluate the image quality. For 2-D SWS image reconstructions, the 3-D-directional filters showed greater improvements in image quality than the 2-D filters, and the 4-D-directional filters showed marginal improvement over the 3-D filters. Although 4-D-directional filters can further reduce the impact of large magnitude out-of-plane reflection artifacts in SWS images, computational overhead and transducer costs to acquire 3-D data may outweigh the modest improvements in image quality. The 4-D-directional filters have the largest impact in reducing reflection artifacts in 3-D SWS volumes.

Development of cataclastic foliation in deformation bands in feldspar-rich conglomerates of the Rio do Peixe Basin, NE Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nicchio, Matheus A.; Nogueira, Francisco C. C.; Balsamo, Fabrizio; Souza, Jorge A. B.; Carvalho, Bruno R. B. M.; Bezerra, Francisco H. R.

2018-02-01

In this work we describe the deformation mechanisms and processes that occurred during the evolution of cataclastic deformation bands developed in the feldspar-rich conglomerates of the Rio do Peixe Basin, NE Brazil. We studied bands with different deformation intensities, ranging from single cm-thick tabular bands to more evolved clustering zones. The chemical identification of cataclastic material within deformation bands was performed using compositional mapping in SEM images, EDX and XRD analyses. Deformation processes were identified by microstructural analysis and by the quantification of comminution intensity, performed using digital image processing. The deformation bands are internally non homogeneous and developed during five evolutionary stages: (1) moderate grain size reduction, grain rotation and grain border comminution; (2) intense grain size reduction with preferential feldspar fragmentation; (3) formation of subparallel C-type slip zones; (4) formation of S-type structures, generating S-C-like fabric; and (5) formation of C‧-type slip zones, generating well-developed foliation that resembles S-C-C‧-type structures in a ductile environment. Such deformation fabric is mostly imparted by the preferential alignment of intensely comminuted feldspar fragments along thin slip zones developed within deformation bands. These processes were purely mechanical (i.e., grain crushing and reorientation). No clays or fluids were involved in such processes.

Investigating the Role of Global Histogram Equalization Technique for 99mTechnetium-Methylene diphosphonate Bone Scan Image Enhancement.

PubMed

Pandey, Anil Kumar; Sharma, Param Dev; Dheer, Pankaj; Parida, Girish Kumar; Goyal, Harish; Patel, Chetan; Bal, Chandrashekhar; Kumar, Rakesh

2017-01-01

99m Technetium-methylene diphosphonate ( 99m Tc-MDP) bone scan images have limited number of counts per pixel, and hence, they have inferior image quality compared to X-rays. Theoretically, global histogram equalization (GHE) technique can improve the contrast of a given image though practical benefits of doing so have only limited acceptance. In this study, we have investigated the effect of GHE technique for 99m Tc-MDP-bone scan images. A set of 89 low contrast 99m Tc-MDP whole-body bone scan images were included in this study. These images were acquired with parallel hole collimation on Symbia E gamma camera. The images were then processed with histogram equalization technique. The image quality of input and processed images were reviewed by two nuclear medicine physicians on a 5-point scale where score of 1 is for very poor and 5 is for the best image quality. A statistical test was applied to find the significance of difference between the mean scores assigned to input and processed images. This technique improves the contrast of the images; however, oversaturation was noticed in the processed images. Student's t -test was applied, and a statistically significant difference in the input and processed image quality was found at P < 0.001 (with α = 0.05). However, further improvement in image quality is needed as per requirements of nuclear medicine physicians. GHE techniques can be used on low contrast bone scan images. In some of the cases, a histogram equalization technique in combination with some other postprocessing technique is useful.

A 4MP high-dynamic-range, low-noise CMOS image sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Cheng; Liu, Yang; Li, Jing; Zhou, Quan; Chang, Yuchun; Wang, Xinyang

2015-03-01

In this paper we present a 4 Megapixel high dynamic range, low dark noise and dark current CMOS image sensor, which is ideal for high-end scientific and surveillance applications. The pixel design is based on a 4-T PPD structure. During the readout of the pixel array, signals are first amplified, and then feed to a low- power column-parallel ADC array which is already presented in [1]. Measurement results show that the sensor achieves a dynamic range of 96dB, a dark noise of 1.47e- at 24fps speed. The dark current is 0.15e-/pixel/s at -20oC.

Opto-Electronic Systems Research. Image Recovery from Partial Fresnel Zone Information

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-01

c E. zq D 40 & 0v -E 0C cE. #1. C 4- 0 ’ A ED - 4-0 T r CCE...in Figs. 2-4( a ), 2-4(b), 2-4( c ), and 2- 4(d) respectively. The phase is represented by 256 grey levels, with a phase which is just greater than - n... a grey scale from black to white. - 30- ( a ) ZF = 0.0 (b) ZF = 0.5 - . .. ( C ) ZF = 3.0 (d) ZF = 8.0 Fig. 2-5 Results of reconstructing an object

Affimer proteins for F-actin: novel affinity reagents that label F-actin in live and fixed cells.

PubMed

Lopata, Anna; Hughes, Ruth; Tiede, Christian; Heissler, Sarah M; Sellers, James R; Knight, Peter J; Tomlinson, Darren; Peckham, Michelle

2018-04-26

Imaging the actin cytoskeleton in cells uses a wide range of approaches. Typically, a fluorescent derivative of the small cyclic peptide phalloidin is used to image F-actin in fixed cells. Lifeact and F-tractin are popular for imaging the cytoskeleton in live cells. Here we characterised novel affinity reagents called Affimers that specifically bind to F-actin in vitro to determine if they are suitable alternatives as eGFP-fusion proteins, to label actin in live cells, or for labeling F-actin in fixed cells. In vitro experiments showed that 3 out of the 4 Affimers (Affimers 6, 14 and 24) tested bind tightly to purified F-actin, and appear to have overlapping binding sites. As eGFP-fusion proteins, the same 3 Affimers label F-actin in live cells. FRAP experiments suggest that eGFP-Affimer 6 behaves most similarly to F-tractin and Lifeact. However, it does not colocalise with mCherry-actin in dynamic ruffles, and may preferentially bind stable actin filaments. All 4 Affimers label F-actin in methanol fixed cells, while only Affimer 14 labels F-actin after paraformaldehyde fixation. eGFP-Affimer 6 has potential for use in selectively imaging the stable actin cytoskeleton in live cells, while all 4 Affimers are strong alternatives to phalloidin for labelling F-actin in fixed cells.

Sub-parsec Scale Imaging of Centaurus A

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

Sub-parsec scale imaging of Centaurus A Cornelia Muller" M. Kadler,,2,3, R.Ojha4,5, M. Bock’, C. M. Fromm7, E. Ros6,7, R. E. Rothschild8 and J. Wilms...California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0424, USA Abstract. At a distance of about 3.4 Mpc, the radio galaxy Centaurus A is... Centaurus A (PKS 1322-427) is the closest ac- tive radio galaxy at a distance of 3.42 ± 0.18Mpc (Ferrarese et a1. 2007), where an angular resolution

Meridiani

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-11-16

This image shows part of the Meridiani region of Mars, home of the Opportunity Rover. Image information: VIS instrument. Latitude 1.9N, Longitude 358.4E. 36 meter/pixel resolution. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA01790

Scalets, wavelets and (complex) turning point quantization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Handy, C. R.; Brooks, H. A.

2001-05-01

Despite the many successes of wavelet analysis in image and signal processing, the incorporation of continuous wavelet transform theory within quantum mechanics has lacked a compelling, first principles, motivating analytical framework, until now. For arbitrary one-dimensional rational fraction Hamiltonians, we develop a simple, unified formalism, which clearly underscores the complementary, and mutually interdependent, role played by moment quantization theory (i.e. via scalets, as defined herein) and wavelets. This analysis involves no approximation of the Hamiltonian within the (equivalent) wavelet space, and emphasizes the importance of (complex) multiple turning point contributions in the quantization process. We apply the method to three illustrative examples. These include the (double-well) quartic anharmonic oscillator potential problem, V(x) = Z2x2 + gx4, the quartic potential, V(x) = x4, and the very interesting and significant non-Hermitian potential V(x) = -(ix)3, recently studied by Bender and Boettcher.

Recycling-oriented characterization of plastic frames and printed circuit boards from mobile phones by electronic and chemical imaging.

PubMed

Palmieri, Roberta; Bonifazi, Giuseppe; Serranti, Silvia

2014-11-01

This study characterizes the composition of plastic frames and printed circuit boards from end-of-life mobile phones. This knowledge may help define an optimal processing strategy for using these items as potential raw materials. Correct handling of such a waste is essential for its further "sustainable" recovery, especially to maximize the extraction of base, rare and precious metals, minimizing the environmental impact of the entire process chain. A combination of electronic and chemical imaging techniques was thus examined, applied and critically evaluated in order to optimize the processing, through the identification and the topological assessment of the materials of interest and their quantitative distribution. To reach this goal, end-of-life mobile phone derived wastes have been systematically characterized adopting both "traditional" (e.g. scanning electronic microscopy combined with microanalysis and Raman spectroscopy) and innovative (e.g. hyperspectral imaging in short wave infrared field) techniques, with reference to frames and printed circuit boards. Results showed as the combination of both the approaches (i.e. traditional and classical) could dramatically improve recycling strategies set up, as well as final products recovery. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improving Cloud Detection in Satellite Images of Coral Reef Environments Using Space Shuttle Photographs and High-Definition Television

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andrefeouet, Serge; Robinson, Julie

2000-01-01

Coral reefs worldwide are suffering from severe and rapid degradation (Bryant et A, 1998; Hoegh-Guldberg, 1999). Quick, consistent, large-scale assessment is required to assess and monitor their status (e.g., USDOC/NOAA NESDIS et al., 1999). On-going systematic collection of high resolution digital satellite data will exhaustively complement the relatively small number of SPOT, Landsat 4-5, and IRS scenes acquired for coral reefs the last 20 years. The workhorse for current image acquisition is the Landsat 7 ETM+ Long Term Acquisition Plan (Gasch et al. 2000). Coral reefs are encountered in tropical areas and cloud contamination in satellite images is frequently a problem (Benner and Curry 1998), despite new automated techniques of cloud cover avoidance (Gasch and Campana 2000). Fusion of multidate acquisitions is a classical solution to solve the cloud problems. Though elegant, this solution is costly since multiple images must be purchased for one location; the cost may be prohibitive for institutions in developing countries. There are other difficulties associated with fusing multidate images as well. For example, water quality or surface state can significantly change through time in coral reef areas making the bathymetric processing of a mosaiced image strenuous. Therefore, another strategy must be selected to detect clouds and improve coral reefs mapping. Other supplemental data could be helpful and cost-effective for distinguishing clouds and generating the best possible reef maps in the shortest amount of time. Photographs taken from the 1960s to the present from the Space Shuttle and other human-occupied spacecraft are one under-used source of alternative multitemporal data (Lulla et al. 1996). Nearly 400,000 photographs have been acquired during this period, an estimated 28,000 of these taken to date are of potential value for reef remote sensing (Robinson et al. 2000a). The photographic images can be digitized into three bands (red, green and blue) and processed for various applications (e.g., Benner and Curry 1998, Nedeltchev 1999, Glasser and Lulla 2000, Robinson et al. 2000c, Webb et al, in press).

WISEGAL. WISE for the Galactic Plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noriega-Crespo, Alberto

There is truly a community effort to study on a global scale the properties of the Milky Way, like its structure, its star formation and interstellar medium, and to use this knowledge to create accurate templates to understand the properties of extragalactic systems. A testimony of this effort are the multi-wavelength surveys of the Galactic Plane that have been recently carried out or are underway from both the ground (e.g. IPHAS, ATLASGAL, JCMT Galactic Plane Survey) or space (GLIMPSE, MIPSGAL, HiGAL). Adding to this wealth of data is the recent release of approximately 57 percent of the whole sky by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) team of their high angular resolution and sensitive mid-IR (3.4, 4.6, 12 and 22 micron) images and point source catalogs, encompassing nearly three quarters of the Galactic Plane, including the less studied regions of the Outer Galaxy. The WISE Atlas Images are spectacular, but to take full advantage of them, they need to be transformed from their default Data Number (DN) units into absolute surface brightness calibrated units. Furthermore, to mitigate the contamination effect of the point sources on the extended/diffuse emission, we will remove them and create residual images. This processing will enable a wide range of science projects using the Atlas Images, where measuring the spectral energy distribution of the extended emission is crucial. In this project we propose to transform the W3 (12 micron) and W4 (22 micron) images of the Galactic Plane, in particular of the Outer Galaxy where WISE provides an unique data set, into a background-calibrated, point-source subtracted images using IRIS (DIRBE IRAS Calibrated data). This transformation will allow us to carry out research projects on Massive star formation, the properties of dust in the diffuse ISM, the three dimensional distribution of the dust emission in the Galaxy and the mid/far infrared properties of Supernova Remnants, among others, and to perform a detailed comparison between the characteristics (e.g. star formation rate, dust properties) a of the Inner and Outer Galaxy. The background-calibrated point-source subtracted images will be released to the astronomical community to be fully exploited and to be used in many other science projects, beyond those proposed in this proposal.

Electrical analysis of inter-growth structured Bi4Ti3O12-Na0.5Bi4.5Ti4O15 ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Xiangping; Jiang, Yalin; Jiang, Xingan; Chen, Chao; Tu, Na; Chen, Yunjing

2017-06-01

Inter-growth bismuth layer-structured ferroelectrics (BLSFs), Bi4Ti3O12-Na0.5Bi4.5Ti4O15 (BIT-NBT), were successfully synthesized using the traditional solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) Rietveld refinements were conducted using GSAS software. Good agreement and low residual are obtained. The XRD diffraction peaks can be well indexed into I2cm space group. The inter-growth structure was further observed in the high-resolution TEM image. Dielectric and impedance properties were measured and systematically analyzed. At the temperature range 763-923 K (below {T}{{c}}), doubly ionized oxygen vacancies (OVs) are localized and the short-range hopping leads to the relaxation processes with an activation energy of 0.79-1.01 eV. Above {T}{{c}}, the doubly charged OVs are delocalized and become free ones, which contribute to the long-range dc conduction. The reduction in relaxation species gives rise to a higher relaxation activation energy ˜1.6  eV. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51562014, 51262009, and 51602135).

DETECTION OF BACTERIAL BIOFILM ON STAINLESS STEEL BY HYPERSPECTRAL FLUORESCENCE IMAGING

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In this study, hyperspectral fluorescence imaging techniques were investigated for detection of microbial biofilm on stainless steel plates typically used to manufacture food processing equipment. Stainless steel coupons were immersed in bacterium cultures consisting of nonpathogenic E. coli, Pseudo...

StreakDet data processing and analysis pipeline for space debris optical observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Virtanen, Jenni; Flohrer, Tim; Muinonen, Karri; Granvik, Mikael; Torppa, Johanna; Poikonen, Jonne; Lehti, Jussi; Santti, Tero; Komulainen, Tuomo; Naranen, Jyri

We describe a novel data processing and analysis pipeline for optical observations of space debris. The monitoring of space object populations requires reliable acquisition of observational data, to support the development and validation of space debris environment models, the build-up and maintenance of a catalogue of orbital elements. In addition, data is needed for the assessment of conjunction events and for the support of contingency situations or launches. The currently available, mature image processing algorithms for detection and astrometric reduction of optical data cover objects that cross the sensor field-of-view comparably slowly, and within a rather narrow, predefined range of angular velocities. By applying specific tracking techniques, the objects appear point-like or as short trails in the exposures. However, the general survey scenario is always a “track before detect” problem, resulting in streaks, i.e., object trails of arbitrary lengths, in the images. The scope of the ESA-funded StreakDet (Streak detection and astrometric reduction) project is to investigate solutions for detecting and reducing streaks from optical images, particularly in the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) domain, where algorithms are not readily available yet. For long streaks, the challenge is to extract precise position information and related registered epochs with sufficient precision. Although some considerations for low-SNR processing of streak-like features are available in the current image processing and computer vision literature, there is a need to discuss and compare these approaches for space debris analysis, in order to develop and evaluate prototype implementations. In the StreakDet project, we develop algorithms applicable to single images (as compared to consecutive frames of the same field) obtained with any observing scenario, including space-based surveys and both low- and high-altitude populations. The proposed processing pipeline starts from the segmentation of the acquired image (i.e., the extraction of all sources), followed by the astrometric and photometric characterization of the candidate streaks, and ends with orbital validation of the detected streaks. A central concept of the pipeline is streak classification which guides the actual characterization process by aiming to identify the interesting sources and to filter out the uninteresting ones, as well as by allowing the tailoring of algorithms for specific streak classes (e.g. point-like vs. long, disintegrated streaks). To validate the single-image detections, the processing is finalized by orbital analysis, resulting in preliminary orbital classification (Earth-bound vs. non-Earth-bound orbit) for the detected streaks.

Method for growing a back surface contact on an imaging detector used in conjunction with back illumination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blacksberg, Jordana (Inventor); Hoenk, Michael Eugene (Inventor); Nikzad, Shouleh (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A method is provided for growing a back surface contact on an imaging detector used in conjunction with back illumination. In operation, an imaging detector is provided. Additionally, a back surface contact (e.g. a delta-doped layer, etc.) is grown on the imaging detector utilizing a process that is performed at a temperature less than 450 degrees Celsius.

High Throughput Multispectral Image Processing with Applications in Food Science.

PubMed

Tsakanikas, Panagiotis; Pavlidis, Dimitris; Nychas, George-John

2015-01-01

Recently, machine vision is gaining attention in food science as well as in food industry concerning food quality assessment and monitoring. Into the framework of implementation of Process Analytical Technology (PAT) in the food industry, image processing can be used not only in estimation and even prediction of food quality but also in detection of adulteration. Towards these applications on food science, we present here a novel methodology for automated image analysis of several kinds of food products e.g. meat, vanilla crème and table olives, so as to increase objectivity, data reproducibility, low cost information extraction and faster quality assessment, without human intervention. Image processing's outcome will be propagated to the downstream analysis. The developed multispectral image processing method is based on unsupervised machine learning approach (Gaussian Mixture Models) and a novel unsupervised scheme of spectral band selection for segmentation process optimization. Through the evaluation we prove its efficiency and robustness against the currently available semi-manual software, showing that the developed method is a high throughput approach appropriate for massive data extraction from food samples.

Space/Frequency Conversions in Image Processing and Transmission.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-11-01

particularly with respect to the signal-to- noise ratio of the processed outputs. Devejlmnnt 9i a 1megtg fO-g s *&t~i egM2&Y conversion image_ aEggMsinLg: One...slowiv, whil e tle spatial impulse r-on i Ix~v; t) is vairied rapidly Iit *I tat tern recognitiont steartcl operaitioti. Under thiese c’irc-umstances, 11...electronic) will he incapable of recording the image with good signal-to- noise ratio. In what follows, we consider two approaches to producing these

Development of Gentle Slope Light Guide Structure in a 3.4 μm Pixel Pitch Global Shutter CMOS Image Sensor with Multiple Accumulation Shutter Technology.

PubMed

Sekine, Hiroshi; Kobayashi, Masahiro; Onuki, Yusuke; Kawabata, Kazunari; Tsuboi, Toshiki; Matsuno, Yasushi; Takahashi, Hidekazu; Inoue, Shunsuke; Ichikawa, Takeshi

2017-12-09

CMOS image sensors (CISs) with global shutter (GS) function are strongly required in order to avoid image degradation. However, CISs with GS function have generally been inferior to the rolling shutter (RS) CIS in performance, because they have more components. This problem is remarkable in small pixel pitch. The newly developed 3.4 µm pitch GS CIS solves this problem by using multiple accumulation shutter technology and the gentle slope light guide structure. As a result, the developed GS pixel achieves 1.8 e - temporal noise and 16,200 e - full well capacity with charge domain memory in 120 fps operation. The sensitivity and parasitic light sensitivity are 28,000 e - /lx·s and -89 dB, respectively. Moreover, the incident light angle dependence of sensitivity and parasitic light sensitivity are improved by the gentle slope light guide structure.

The effects of transducer geometry on artifacts common to diagnostic bone imaging with conventional medical ultrasound.

PubMed

Mauldin, F William; Owen, Kevin; Tiouririne, Mohamed; Hossack, John A

2012-06-01

The portability, low cost, and non-ionizing radiation associated with medical ultrasound suggest that it has potential as a superior alternative to X-ray for bone imaging. However, when conventional ultrasound imaging systems are used for bone imaging, clinical acceptance is frequently limited by artifacts derived from reflections occurring away from the main axis of the acoustic beam. In this paper, the physical source of off-axis artifacts and the effect of transducer geometry on these artifacts are investigated in simulation and experimental studies. In agreement with diffraction theory, the sampled linear-array geometry possessed increased off-axis energy compared with single-element piston geometry, and therefore, exhibited greater levels of artifact signal. Simulation and experimental results demonstrated that the linear-array geometry exhibited increased artifact signal when the center frequency increased, when energy off-axis to the main acoustic beam (i.e., grating lobes) was perpendicularly incident upon off-axis surfaces, and when off-axis surfaces were specular rather than diffusive. The simulation model used to simulate specular reflections was validated experimentally and a correlation coefficient of 0.97 between experimental and simulated peak reflection contrast was observed. In ex vivo experiments, the piston geometry yielded 4 and 6.2 dB average contrast improvement compared with the linear array when imaging the spinous process and interlaminar space of an animal spine, respectively. This work indicates that off-axis reflections are a major source of ultrasound image artifacts, particularly in environments comprising specular reflecting (i.e., bone or bone-like) objects. Transducer geometries with reduced sensitivity to off-axis surface reflections, such as a piston transducer geometry, yield significant reductions in image artifact.

Moderated histogram equalization, an automatic means of enhancing the contrast in digital light micrographs reversibly.

PubMed

Entwistle, A

2004-06-01

A means for improving the contrast in the images produced from digital light micrographs is described that requires no intervention by the experimenter: zero-order, scaling, tonally independent, moderated histogram equalization. It is based upon histogram equalization, which often results in digital light micrographs that contain regions that appear to be saturated, negatively biased or very grainy. Here a non-decreasing monotonic function is introduced into the process, which moderates the changes in contrast that are generated. This method is highly effective for all three of the main types of contrast found in digital light micrography: bright objects viewed against a dark background, e.g. fluorescence and dark-ground or dark-field image data sets; bright and dark objects sets against a grey background, e.g. image data sets collected with phase or Nomarski differential interference contrast optics; and darker objects set against a light background, e.g. views of absorbing specimens. Moreover, it is demonstrated that there is a single fixed moderating function, whose actions are independent of the number of elements of image data, which works well with all types of digital light micrographs, including multimodal or multidimensional image data sets. The use of this fixed function is very robust as the appearance of the final image is not altered discernibly when it is applied repeatedly to an image data set. Consequently, moderated histogram equalization can be applied to digital light micrographs as a push-button solution, thereby eliminating biases that those undertaking the processing might have introduced during manual processing. Finally, moderated histogram equalization yields a mapping function and so, through the use of look-up tables, indexes or palettes, the information present in the original data file can be preserved while an image with the improved contrast is displayed on the monitor screen.

Development of a compact radiation-hardened low-noise front-end readout ASIC for CZT-based hard X-ray imager

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, W.; Gan, B.; Li, X.; Wei, T.; Gao, D.; Hu, Y.

2015-04-01

In this paper, we present the development and performances of a radiation-hardened front-end readout application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) dedicated to CZT detectors for a hard X-ray imager in space applications. The readout channel consists of a charge sensitive amplifier (CSA), a CR-RC shaper, a fast shaper, a discriminator and a driving buffer. With the additional digital filtering, the readout channel can achieve very low noise performances and low power dissipation. An eight-channel prototype ASIC is designed and fabricated in 0.35 μm CMOS process. The energy range of the detected X-rays is evaluated as 1.45 keV to 281 keV. The gain is larger than 100 mV/fC. The equivalent noise charge (ENC) of the ASIC is 53 e- at zero farad plus 10 e- per picofarad. The power dissipation is less than 4.4 mW/channel. Through the measurement with a CZT detector, the energy resolution is less than 3.45 keV (FWHM) under the irradiation of the radioactive source 241Am. The radiation effect experiments indicate that the proposed ASIC can resist the total ionization dose (TID) irradiation of higher than 200 krad (Si).

Repeated Structural Imaging Reveals Nonlinear Progression of Experience-Dependent Volume Changes in Human Motor Cortex.

PubMed

Wenger, Elisabeth; Kühn, Simone; Verrel, Julius; Mårtensson, Johan; Bodammer, Nils Christian; Lindenberger, Ulman; Lövdén, Martin

2017-05-01

Evidence for experience-dependent structural brain change in adult humans is accumulating. However, its time course is not well understood, as intervention studies typically consist of only 2 imaging sessions (before vs. after training). We acquired up to 18 structural magnetic resonance images over a 7-week period while 15 right-handed participants practiced left-hand writing and drawing. After 4 weeks, we observed increases in gray matter of both left and right primary motor cortices relative to a control group; 3 weeks later, these differences were no longer reliable. Time-series analyses revealed that gray matter in the primary motor cortices expanded during the first 4 weeks and then partially renormalized, in particular in the right hemisphere, despite continued practice and increasing task proficiency. Similar patterns of expansion followed by partial renormalization are also found in synaptogenesis, cortical map plasticity, and maturation, and may qualify as a general principle of structural plasticity. Research on human brain plasticity needs to encompass more than 2 measurement occasions to capture expansion and potential renormalization processes over time. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Topomapping of Mars with HRSC images, ISIS, and a commercial stereo workstation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirk, R. L.; Howington-Kraus, E.; Galuszka, D.; Redding, B.; Hare, T. M.

HRSC on Mars Express [1] is the first camera designed specifically for stereo imaging to be used in mapping a planet other than the Earth. Nine detectors view the planet through a single lens to obtain four-band color coverage and stereo images at 3 to 5 distinct angles in a single pass over the target. The short interval between acquisition of the images ensures that changes that could interfere with stereo matching are minimized. The resolution of the nadir channel is 12.5 m at periapsis, poorer at higher points in the elliptical orbit. The stereo channels are typically operated at 2x coarser resolution and the color channels at 4x or 8x. Since the commencement of operations in January 2004, approximately 58% of Mars has been imaged at nadir resolutions better than 50 m/pixel. This coverage is expected to increase significantly during the recently approved extended mission of Mars Express, giving the HRSC dataset enormous potential for regional and even global mapping. Systematic processing of the HRSC images is carried out at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Berlin. Preliminary digital topographic models (DTMs) at 200 m/post resolution and orthorectified image products are produced in near-realtime for all orbits, by using the VICAR software system [2]. The tradeoff of universal coverage but limited DTM resolution makes these products optimal for many but not all research studies. Experiments on adaptive processing with the same software, for a limited number of orbits, have allowed DTMs of higher resolution (down to 50 m/post) to be produced [3]. In addition, numerous Co-Investigators on the HRSC team (including ourselves) are actively researching techniques to improve on the standard products, by such methods as bundle adjustment, alternate approaches to stereo DTM generation, and refinement of DTMs by photoclinometry (shape-from-shading) [4]. The HRSC team is conducting a systematic comparison of these alternative processing approaches by arranging for team members to produce DTMs in a consistent coordinate system from a carefully chosen suite of test images [5]. Here, we describe our own approach to HRSC processing and the results we obtained with the test images. We have developed an independent capability for processing of HRSC images at the USGS, based on the approach previously taken with Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera (MGS MOC) images [6]. The chosen approach uses both the USGS digital cartographic system ISIS and the commercial photogrammetric software SOCET SET ( R BAE Systems) and exploits the strengths of each. This capability provides 1 an independent point of comparison for the standard processing, as described here. It also prepares us for systematic mapping with HRSC data, if desired, and makes some useful processing tools (including relatively powerful photometric normalization and photoclinometry software) available to a wide community of ISIS users. ISIS [7] provides an end-to-end system for the analysis of digital images and production of maps from them that is readily extended to new missions. Its stereo capabilities are, however, limited. SOCET SET [8] is tailored to aerial and Earth-orbital imagery but provides a complete workflow with modules for bundle adjustment (MST), automatic stereomatching (ATE), and interactive quality control/editing of DTMs with stereo viewing (ITE). Our processing approach for MOC and other stereo datasets has been to use ISIS to ingest images in an archival format, decompress them as necessary, and perform instrument-specific radiometric calibration. Software written in ISIS is used to translate the image and, more importantly, orientation parameters and other metadata, to the formats understood by SOCET SET. The commercial system is then used for "three-dimensional" processing: bundle-adjustment (including measurement of needed control points), DTM generation, and DTM editing. Final steps such as orthrectification and mosaicking of images can be performed either in SOCET SET or in ISIS after exporting the DTM data back to it. This workflow was modified slightly for HRSC to take advantage of the standard processing performed at the DLR. As the first step in DTM production, we import VICAR Level 2 files (radiometrically calibrated but still in the raw camera geometry) into ISIS where they can immediately be used or exported to SOCET SET. HRSC Level 3 and 4 products (DTMs and orthorectified images) can also be imported and used as map-projected data (e.g., Level 4 DTMs from DLR can be compared with those produced in SOCET SET). Our results for images from orbit h1235 (covering western Candor Chasma) and the adjacent orbits h0894, h0905, h0927 (Nanedi Valles), are encouraging even though we were unable to take full advantage of the multiple-line design of HRSC in the analysis. The version of SOCET SET used (5.2) does not allow for the introduction of constraints in the bundle adjustment to ensure that the images from a single HRSC orbit share the same trajectory and pointing history. We therefore computed offsets to the trajectory and pointing angles for each image of the set as if they were fully independent Furthermore, a limitation of the existing SOCET (and ISIS) pushbroom scanner sensor models is that the exposure time per line is taken as constant for each image. HRSC is generally operated so that the line time changes multiple times per orbit, requiring us to split each VICAR image into multiple files for processing. Because the segments of each image could not be constrained to have consistent adjustments, the DTM of Nanedi Valles produced from these image segments contained small discontinuities at the segment boundaries. This problem did not arise for Candor Chasma 2 because the entire study area was covered without changes in the time per image line. The latest release of SOCET SET (5.3) incorporates the ability to do constrained bundle adjustment and should solve these problems. In addition, we are modifying the ISIS and SOCET sensor models to allow changes of line time within an image. This will greatly reduce the effort needed to work with HRSC image sets with frequent line time changes (i.e., the vast majority), because we will no longer have to split them into short segments that must be controlled and processed individually. In addition, a bug in recent and current versions of SOCET SET prevents the capability for multi-way image matching from being used with sets of scanner images. We therefore collected separate DTMs by pairwise matching of each combination of images (nadir-stereo1, nadir-stereo2, stereo1-stereo2) within an orbit and merged the results. The bug will be corrected in a future release of SOCET SET, making multi-way matching possible. This is expected to improve the robustness of DTM generation and reduce the need for interactive editing. The Candor Chasma bundle adjustment yielded RMS two-dimensional residuals of 0.5 to 0.7 pixels in most bands, 1.4 pixels in the blue. RMS residuals to the ground control provided by Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data were ˜180 m horizontally but only 15 m vertically. Adjustments to the spacecraft orientation were surprisingly large, and may be correlated: 0.1 to 2.4 km in position, ≤0.3° in omega, ≤0.8° in the other two angles. Placement of the (manually selected) control points was found to be critical; matching MOLA to the images to constrain horizontal coordinates is easiest at slope breaks such as the canyon edges, but vertical constraints are best obtained in areas of low slope. As a result, it is preferable to choose separate points for horizontal and vertical control. It is also useful to import the MOLA ground tracks into SOCET SET in order to be sure of picking control points on or near altimetry profiles rather than in gaps where the MOLA DTM has been filled by interpolation. We collected DTMs at 75 m/post in the interior of Candor Chasma and 300 m on the walls and surrounding plateau, and merged the results from both spacings and all 3 image combinations at 75 m/post. For Nanedi Valles, which lacks the extremely steep or flat areas encountered in Candor, DTMs at both spacings were collected over the full study area. A small amount of interactive editing was performed to remove areas of obvious matcher errors from the individual DTMs before they were merged. In most cases, this resulted in the combined DTM being based on the other, more successful matching results. Parts of the plateau around Candor Chasma, which has very little image texture, could not be matched successfully and were filled with MOLA data. As would be expected, the resulting DTM appears sharper than either MOLA at 463 m/post or the preliminary HRSC DTM at 200 m/post. The added detail is subjectively well correlated with the image but is not as sharp at the 75 m (˜3 pixel) grid spacing. 3 With the DTM and orthorectified images translated back into ISIS format, a variety of useful additional processing steps could be demonstrated, such as generation of pan-sharpened true and false color images, color-albedo maps, and band-ratio images with correction for surface and atmospheric photometric effects. Similar processing of the nadir and stereo panchromatic images, which have phase angles ranging from 17° to 48°, reveals a surprising diversity of surface photometric behavior. Maps of phase- dependence of scattering will not only be useful for empirical classification of surface units and quantitative modeling of microtexture and other photometric parameters, they are also likely to be essential for the rigorous comparison of the color images, which span a comparable range of phase angles. Finally, by dividing the nadir image by a smoothed version of the albedo map, we were able to obtain an image in which all but the most localized albedo variations had been removed. The albedo-corrected image was then analyzed by two-dimensional photoclinometry [9] to generate a DTM that contains real geomorphic detail at the limit of image resolution while retaining consistency with the stereo and MOLA data over longer distances. Because photoclinometry serves merely as a form of "smart interpolation" to fill in local details in the stereo DTM, the complications that can arise in the general case [10] do not occur, and this processing can be carried out unsupervised. We note in conclusion that orthorectification of the images, photometric normalization and modeling, and photoclinometry are all performed with the free software system ISIS. At the moment, the commercial software SOCET SET is required for both bundle adjustment and stereo DTM production. The USGS is currently developing its own bundle adjustment software for HRSC and other line scanners, which, when available, will make it possible for ISIS users to control HRSC images to MOLA and therefore to use the altimetric topography in subsequent processing and analysis steps similar to those described here. Acknowledgement: For this study, the HRSC Experiment Team of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Berlin has provided HRSC Preliminary 200m DTM(s). References: [1] Neukum, G., et al. (2004) Nature, 432, 971. [2] Scholten, F., et al. (2005) PE&RS, 71, 1143. [3] Gwinner, K., et al. (2005) PFG, 5, 387. [4] Albertz, J., et al. (2005) PE&RS, 71, 1153. [5] Heipke, C., et al. (2006) IAPRS, submitted. [6] Kirk, R.L., et al. (2003) JGR, 108, 8088. [7] Eliason, E. (1997) LPS XXVIII, 331; Gaddis et al. (1997) LPS XXVIII, 387; Torson, J., and K. Becker, (1997) LPS XXVIII, 1443. [8] Miller, S.B., and A.S. Walker (1993) ACSM/ASPRS Annual Conv., 3, 256; S.B., and A.S. Walker (1995) Z. Phot. Fern. 63, 4. [9] Kirk, R.L. (1987) Ph.D. Thesis, Caltech, Part III. [10] Kirk, R.L., et al. (2003) ISPRS-ET Workshop, http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Projects/ISPRS/Meetings/Houston2003/abstracts/ Kirk_isprs_mar03.pdf. 4

In-Situ Mosaic Production at JPL/MIPL

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deen, Bob

2012-01-01

Multimission Image Processing Lab (MIPL) at JPL is responsible for (among other things) the ground-based operational image processing of all the recent in-situ Mars missions: (1) Mars Pathfinder (2) Mars Polar Lander (3) Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) (4) Phoenix (5) Mars Science Lab (MSL) Mosaics are probably the most visible products from MIPL (1) Generated for virtually every rover position at which a panorama is taken (2) Provide better environmental context than single images (3) Valuable to operations and science personnel (4) Arguably the signature products for public engagement

Crowdsourcing Based 3d Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Somogyi, A.; Barsi, A.; Molnar, B.; Lovas, T.

2016-06-01

Web-based photo albums that support organizing and viewing the users' images are widely used. These services provide a convenient solution for storing, editing and sharing images. In many cases, the users attach geotags to the images in order to enable using them e.g. in location based applications on social networks. Our paper discusses a procedure that collects open access images from a site frequently visited by tourists. Geotagged pictures showing the image of a sight or tourist attraction are selected and processed in photogrammetric processing software that produces the 3D model of the captured object. For the particular investigation we selected three attractions in Budapest. To assess the geometrical accuracy, we used laser scanner and DSLR as well as smart phone photography to derive reference values to enable verifying the spatial model obtained from the web-album images. The investigation shows how detailed and accurate models could be derived applying photogrammetric processing software, simply by using images of the community, without visiting the site.

Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging for quality analysis of agricultural and food products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, C. B.; Jayas, D. S.; Paliwal, J.; White, N. D. G.

2010-04-01

Agricultural and food processing industries are always looking to implement real-time quality monitoring techniques as a part of good manufacturing practices (GMPs) to ensure high-quality and safety of their products. Near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging is gaining popularity as a powerful non-destructive tool for quality analysis of several agricultural and food products. This technique has the ability to analyse spectral data in a spatially resolved manner (i.e., each pixel in the image has its own spectrum) by applying both conventional image processing and chemometric tools used in spectral analyses. Hyperspectral imaging technique has demonstrated potential in detecting defects and contaminants in meats, fruits, cereals, and processed food products. This paper discusses the methodology of hyperspectral imaging in terms of hardware, software, calibration, data acquisition and compression, and development of prediction and classification algorithms and it presents a thorough review of the current applications of hyperspectral imaging in the analyses of agricultural and food products.

[Evaluating the maturity of IT-supported clinical imaging and diagnosis using the Digital Imaging Adoption Model : Are your clinical imaging processes ready for the digital era?

PubMed

Studzinski, J

2017-06-01

The Digital Imaging Adoption Model (DIAM) has been jointly developed by HIMSS Analytics and the European Society of Radiology (ESR). It helps evaluate the maturity of IT-supported processes in medical imaging, particularly in radiology. This eight-stage maturity model drives your organisational, strategic and tactical alignment towards imaging-IT planning. The key audience for the model comprises hospitals with imaging centers, as well as external imaging centers that collaborate with hospitals. The assessment focuses on different dimensions relevant to digital imaging, such as software infrastructure and usage, workflow security, clinical documentation and decision support, data exchange and analytical capabilities. With its standardised approach, it enables regional, national and international benchmarking. All DIAM participants receive a structured report that can be used as a basis for presenting, e.g. budget planning and investment decisions at management level.

Microfluidic electrochemical device and process for chemical imaging and electrochemical analysis at the electrode-liquid interface in-situ

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yu, Xiao-Ying; Liu, Bingwen; Yang, Li

2016-03-01

A microfluidic electrochemical device and process are detailed that provide chemical imaging and electrochemical analysis under vacuum at the surface of the electrode-sample or electrode-liquid interface in-situ. The electrochemical device allows investigation of various surface layers including diffuse layers at selected depths populated with, e.g., adsorbed molecules in which chemical transformation in electrolyte solutions occurs.

apART: system for the acquisition, processing, archiving, and retrieval of digital images in an open, distributed imaging environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneider, Uwe; Strack, Ruediger

1992-04-01

apART reflects the structure of an open, distributed environment. According to the general trend in the area of imaging, network-capable, general purpose workstations with capabilities of open system image communication and image input are used. Several heterogeneous components like CCD cameras, slide scanners, and image archives can be accessed. The system is driven by an object-oriented user interface where devices (image sources and destinations), operators (derived from a commercial image processing library), and images (of different data types) are managed and presented uniformly to the user. Browsing mechanisms are used to traverse devices, operators, and images. An audit trail mechanism is offered to record interactive operations on low-resolution image derivatives. These operations are processed off-line on the original image. Thus, the processing of extremely high-resolution raster images is possible, and the performance of resolution dependent operations is enhanced significantly during interaction. An object-oriented database system (APRIL), which can be browsed, is integrated into the system. Attribute retrieval is supported by the user interface. Other essential features of the system include: implementation on top of the X Window System (X11R4) and the OSF/Motif widget set; a SUN4 general purpose workstation, inclusive ethernet, magneto optical disc, etc., as the hardware platform for the user interface; complete graphical-interactive parametrization of all operators; support of different image interchange formats (GIF, TIFF, IIF, etc.); consideration of current IPI standard activities within ISO/IEC for further refinement and extensions.

Reflective optical imaging system for extreme ultraviolet wavelengths

DOEpatents

Viswanathan, Vriddhachalam K.; Newnam, Brian E.

1993-01-01

A projection reflection optical system has two mirrors in a coaxial, four reflection configuration to reproduce the image of an object. The mirrors have spherical reflection surfaces to provide a very high resolution of object feature wavelengths less than 200 .mu.m, and preferably less than 100 .mu.m. An image resolution of features less than 0.05-0.1 .mu.m, is obtained over a large area field; i.e., 25.4 mm .times.25.4 mm, with a distortion less than 0.1 of the resolution over the image field.

Reflective optical imaging system for extreme ultraviolet wavelengths

DOEpatents

Viswanathan, V.K.; Newnam, B.E.

1993-05-18

A projection reflection optical system has two mirrors in a coaxial, four reflection configuration to reproduce the image of an object. The mirrors have spherical reflection surfaces to provide a very high resolution of object feature wavelengths less than 200 [mu]m, and preferably less than 100 [mu]m. An image resolution of features less than 0.05-0.1 [mu]m, is obtained over a large area field; i.e., 25.4 mm [times] 25.4 mm, with a distortion less than 0.1 of the resolution over the image field.

Persistent recruitment of somatosensory cortex during active maintenance of hand images in working memory.

PubMed

Galvez-Pol, A; Calvo-Merino, B; Capilla, A; Forster, B

2018-07-01

Working memory (WM) supports temporary maintenance of task-relevant information. This process is associated with persistent activity in the sensory cortex processing the information (e.g., visual stimuli activate visual cortex). However, we argue here that more multifaceted stimuli moderate this sensory-locked activity and recruit distinctive cortices. Specifically, perception of bodies recruits somatosensory cortex (SCx) beyond early visual areas (suggesting embodiment processes). Here we explore persistent activation in processing areas beyond the sensory cortex initially relevant to the modality of the stimuli. Using visual and somatosensory evoked-potentials in a visual WM task, we isolated different levels of visual and somatosensory involvement during encoding of body and non-body-related images. Persistent activity increased in SCx only when maintaining body images in WM, whereas visual/posterior regions' activity increased significantly when maintaining non-body images. Our results bridge WM and embodiment frameworks, supporting a dynamic WM process where the nature of the information summons specific processing resources. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In vivo three-dimensional molecular imaging with Biosensor Imaging of Redundant Deviation in Shifts (BIRDS) at high spatiotemporal resolution.

PubMed

Coman, Daniel; de Graaf, Robin A; Rothman, Douglas L; Hyder, Fahmeed

2013-11-01

Spectroscopic signals which emanate from complexes between paramagnetic lanthanide (III) ions (e.g. Tm(3+)) and macrocyclic chelates (e.g. 1,4,7,10-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetate, or DOTMA(4-)) are sensitive to physiology (e.g. temperature). Because nonexchanging protons from these lanthanide-based macrocyclic agents have relaxation times on the order of a few milliseconds, rapid data acquisition is possible with chemical shift imaging (CSI). Thus, Biosensor Imaging of Redundant Deviation in Shifts (BIRDS) which originate from nonexchanging protons of these paramagnetic agents, but exclude water proton detection, can allow molecular imaging. Previous two-dimensional CSI experiments with such lanthanide-based macrocyclics allowed acquisition from ~12-μL voxels in rat brain within 5 min using rectangular encoding of k space. Because cubical encoding of k space in three dimensions for whole-brain coverage increases the CSI acquisition time to several tens of minutes or more, a faster CSI technique is required for BIRDS to be of practical use. Here, we demonstrate a CSI acquisition method to improve three-dimensional molecular imaging capabilities with lanthanide-based macrocyclics. Using TmDOTMA(-), we show datasets from a 20 × 20 × 20-mm(3) field of view with voxels of ~1 μL effective volume acquired within 5 min (at 11.7 T) for temperature mapping. By employing reduced spherical encoding with Gaussian weighting (RESEGAW) instead of cubical encoding of k space, a significant increase in CSI signal is obtained. In vitro and in vivo three-dimensional CSI data with TmDOTMA(-), and presumably similar lanthanide-based macrocyclics, suggest that acquisition using RESEGAW can be used for high spatiotemporal resolution molecular mapping with BIRDS. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

SFERA: An Integrated Circuit for the Readout of X and gamma -Ray Detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schembari, Filippo; Quaglia, Riccardo; Bellotti, Giovanni; Fiorini, Carlo

2016-06-01

In this work we present SFERA, a low-noise fully-programmable 16 channel readout ASIC designed for both Xand y-ray spectroscopy and imaging applications. The chip is designed to process signals coming from solid-state detectors and CMOS preamplifiers. The design has been guided by the use of Silicon Drift Detectors (SDDs) and CUBE charge sensitive amplifiers (CSAs), although we consider the ASIC sufficiently versatile to be used with other types of detectors. Five different gains are implemented, namely 2800 e-, 4400 e-, 10000 e-, 14000 e- and 20000 e-, considering the input connected to a 25 fF feedback capacitance CMOS preamplifier. Filter peaking times (tP) are also programmable among 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 μs. Each readout channel is the cascade of a 9th order semi-Gaussian shaping-amplifier (SA) and a peak detector (PKS), followed by a dedicated pile-up rejection (PUR) digital logic. Three data multiplexing strategies are implemented: the so-called polling X, intended for high-rate X-ray applications, the polling y, for scintillation light detection and the sparse, for signals derandomization. The spectroscopic characterization has shown an energy resolution of 122.1 eV FWHM on the Mn-Ku line of an 55Fe X-ray source using a 10 mm2 SDD cooled at -35 °C at 4 μs filter peaking time. The measured resolution is 130 eV at the peaking time of 500 ns. At 1 Mcps input count rate and 500 ns peaking time, we have measured 42% of processed events at the output of the ASIC after the PUR selection. Output data can be digitized on-chip by means of an embedded 12-bit successive-approximation ADC. The effective resolution of the data converter is 10.75-bit when operated at 4.5 MS/s. The chosen technology is the AMS 0.35 μm CMOS and the chip area occupancy is 5 × 5 mm2.

Visualization of Concrete Slump Flow Using the Kinect Sensor

PubMed Central

Park, Minbeom

2018-01-01

Workability is regarded as one of the important parameters of high-performance concrete and monitoring it is essential in concrete quality management at construction sites. The conventional workability test methods are basically based on length and time measured by a ruler and a stopwatch and, as such, inevitably involves human error. In this paper, we propose a 4D slump test method based on digital measurement and data processing as a novel concrete workability test. After acquiring the dynamically changing 3D surface of fresh concrete using a 3D depth sensor during the slump flow test, the stream images are processed with the proposed 4D slump processing algorithm and the results are compressed into a single 4D slump image. This image basically represents the dynamically spreading cross-section of fresh concrete along the time axis. From the 4D slump image, it is possible to determine the slump flow diameter, slump flow time, and slump height at any location simultaneously. The proposed 4D slump test will be able to activate research related to concrete flow simulation and concrete rheology by providing spatiotemporal measurement data of concrete flow. PMID:29510510

Visualization of Concrete Slump Flow Using the Kinect Sensor.

PubMed

Kim, Jung-Hoon; Park, Minbeom

2018-03-03

Workability is regarded as one of the important parameters of high-performance concrete and monitoring it is essential in concrete quality management at construction sites. The conventional workability test methods are basically based on length and time measured by a ruler and a stopwatch and, as such, inevitably involves human error. In this paper, we propose a 4D slump test method based on digital measurement and data processing as a novel concrete workability test. After acquiring the dynamically changing 3D surface of fresh concrete using a 3D depth sensor during the slump flow test, the stream images are processed with the proposed 4D slump processing algorithm and the results are compressed into a single 4D slump image. This image basically represents the dynamically spreading cross-section of fresh concrete along the time axis. From the 4D slump image, it is possible to determine the slump flow diameter, slump flow time, and slump height at any location simultaneously. The proposed 4D slump test will be able to activate research related to concrete flow simulation and concrete rheology by providing spatiotemporal measurement data of concrete flow.

Example-based super-resolution for single-image analysis from the Chang'e-1 Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Fan-Lu; Wang, Xiang-Jun

2016-11-01

Due to the low spatial resolution of images taken from the Chang'e-1 (CE-1) orbiter, the details of the lunar surface are blurred and lost. Considering the limited spatial resolution of image data obtained by a CCD camera on CE-1, an example-based super-resolution (SR) algorithm is employed to obtain high-resolution (HR) images. SR reconstruction is important for the application of image data to increase the resolution of images. In this article, a novel example-based algorithm is proposed to implement SR reconstruction by single-image analysis, and the computational cost is reduced compared to other example-based SR methods. The results show that this method can enhance the resolution of images using SR and recover detailed information about the lunar surface. Thus it can be used for surveying HR terrain and geological features. Moreover, the algorithm is significant for the HR processing of remotely sensed images obtained by other imaging systems.

The increasing influence of medical image processing in clinical neuroimaging.

PubMed

Barillot, Christian

2007-01-20

This paper review the evolution of clinical neuroinformatics domain in the passed and gives an outlook how this research field will evolve in clinical neurology (e.g. Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia) and neurosurgery (e.g. image guided surgery, intra-operative imaging, the definition of the Operation Room of the future). These different issues, as addressed by the VisAGeS research team, are discussed in more details and the benefits of a close collaboration between clinical scientists (radiologist, neurologist and neurosurgeon) and computer scientists are shown to give adequate answers to the series of problems which needs to be solved for a more effective use of medical images in clinical neurosciences.

EU-FP7-iMARS: analysis of Mars multi-resolution images using auto-coregistration, data mining and crowd source techniques: A Final Report on the very variable surface of Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muller, Jan-Peter; Sidiropoulos, Panagiotis; Tao, Yu; Putri, Kiky; Campbell, Jacqueline; Xiong, Si-Ting; Gwinner, Klaus; Willner, Konrad; Fanara, Lida; Waehlisch, Marita; Walter, Sebastian; Schreiner, Bjoern; Steikert, Ralf; Ivanov, Anton; Cantini, Federico; Wardlaw, Jessica; Sprinks, James; Houghton, Robert; Kim, Jung-Rack

2017-04-01

There has been a revolution in 3D surface imaging of Mars over the last 12 years with systematic stereoscopy from HRSC. Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and OrthoRectified Images (ORIs) have been produced for almost 50% of the Martian surface. DLR, together with the HRSC science team, produced 3D HRSC mosaic products for large regions comprising around 100 individual strips per region (MC-11E/W). UCL processed full coverage of DTMs over the South Polar Residual Cap (SPRC) and started work on the North Polar Layered Deposits (NPLD). The iMars project has been exploiting this unique set of 3D products as a basemap to co-register NASA imagery going back to the 1970s. UCL have developed an automated processing chain for CTX and HiRISE 3D processing to densify the global HRSC dataset with DTMs down to 18m and 75cm respectively using a modification of the open source NASA Ames Stereo Pipeline [1]. 1542 CTX DTMs + ORIs were processed using the Microsoft Azure® cloud and an in-house linux cluster. It is planned to process around 10% of the total HiRISE stereo-DTMs before the end of the project. A fully Automated Co-Registration and Orthorectification (ACRO) system has been developed at UCL and applied to the production of around some 15,000 NASA images. These were co-registered co-registered to a HRSC pixel (typically 12.5m/pixel) and orthorectified to HRSC DTMs of 50-150m spacing [2] over MC-11E/W. All of these new products images are viewable through an OGC-compliant webGIS developed at FUB,. This includes tools for viewing temporal sequences of co-registered ORIs over the same area [3]. Corresponding MARSIS and SHARAD data can be viewed through a QGIS plugin made publicly available [4]. An automated data mining system has been developed at UCL [5] for change detection to search and classify features in images going back to Viking Orbiter of IFoV ≤100m. In parallel, a citizen science project at Nottingham University [6] has defined training samples for classification of change features and eventually for verification of change [7]. Scientific applications include change mapping over MC11E/W, the SPRC [8], mass movements near the North Pole [9]; dark streaks [10] CRISM mapping of mineralogy of dust in the SPRC "Swiss cheese" layers [11] and mapping of dune movement [12]. Examples of some of these will be shown. [1] Tao, Y. & J.-P. Muller LPSC16-2074; [2] Gwinner, K. et al. EPSC15-672; [3] Walter, S. et al. LPSC17-508; [4] Ivanov, A. & Cantini, F. EPSC16; [5] Sidiropoulos, P. & J.-P. Muller EPSC16; [6] Sprinks et al. EPSC16; [7] Wardlaw et al. EPSC16; [8] Putri et al., EPSC16;[9] Fanara, L. et al. LPSC16-2710; [10] Schreiner, B. et al., EPSC16; [11] Campbell, J.et al., EPSC16;[12] Kim, J-R., et al., EPSC16; Acknowledgements This research has received funding from the EU's FP7 Programme under iMars 607379. Partial support is also provided from the STFC Grant ST/K000977/1. iMars thanks the HRSC Experiment team at DLR, Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin, and at Freie Universität Berlin, the HRSC Science Team, as well as the Mars Express Project teams at ESTEC, ESOC, and ESAC for their successful planning, acquisition, and release of image data to the community.

Restoration of singularities in reconstructed phase of crystal image in electron holography.

PubMed

Li, Wei; Tanji, Takayoshi

2014-12-01

Off-axis electron holography can be used to measure the inner potential of a specimen from its reconstructed phase image and is thus a powerful technique for materials scientists. However, abrupt reversals of contrast from white to black may sometimes occur in a digitally reconstructed phase image, which results in inaccurate information. Such phase distortion is mainly due to the digital reconstruction process and weak electron wave amplitude in some areas of the specimen. Therefore, digital image processing can be applied to the reconstruction and restoration of phase images. In this paper, fringe reconnection processing is applied to phase image restoration of a crystal structure image. The disconnection and wrong connection of interference fringes in the hologram that directly cause a 2π phase jump imperfection are correctly reconnected. Experimental results show that the phase distortion is significantly reduced after the processing. The quality of the reconstructed phase image was improved by the removal of imperfections in the final phase. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Japanese Society of Microscopy. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) on the Mars Polar Lander

USGS Publications Warehouse

Malin, M.C.; Caplinger, M.A.; Carr, M.H.; Squyres, S.; Thomas, P.; Veverka, J.

2001-01-01

The Mars Descent Imager, or MARDI, experiment on the Mars Polar Lander (MPL) consists of a camera characterized by small physical size and mass (???6 ?? 6 ?? 12 cm, including baffle; <500 gm), low power requirements (<2.5 W, including power supply losses), and high science performance (1000 x 1000 pixel, low noise). The intent of the investigation is to acquire nested images over a range of resolutions, from 8 m/pixel to better than 1 cm/pixel, during the roughly 2 min it takes the MPL to descend from 8 km to the surface under parachute and rocket-powered deceleration. Observational goals will include studies of (1) surface morphology (e.g., nature and distribution of landforms indicating past and present environmental processes); (2) local and regional geography (e.g., context for other lander instruments: precise location, detailed local relief); and (3) relationships to features seen in orbiter data. To accomplish these goals, MARDI will collect three types of images. Four small images (256 x 256 pixels) will be acquired on 0.5 s centers beginning 0.3 s before MPL's heatshield is jettisoned. Sixteen full-frame images (1024 X 1024, circularly edited) will be acquired on 5.3 s centers thereafter. Just after backshell jettison but prior to the start of powered descent, a "best final nonpowered descent image" will be acquired. Five seconds after the start of powered descent, the camera will begin acquiring images on 4 s centers. Storage for as many as ten 800 x 800 pixel images is available during terminal descent. A number of spacecraft factors are likely to impact the quality of MARDI images, including substantial motion blur resulting from large rates of attitude variation during parachute descent and substantial rocket-engine-induced vibration during powered descent. In addition, the mounting location of the camera places the exhaust plume of the hydrazine engines prominently in the field of view. Copyright 2001 by the American Geophysical Union.

38 CFR 1.559 - Appeals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... contain an image of the requester's handwritten signature, such as an attachment that shows the requester... confidentiality statute, the email transmission must contain an image of the requester's handwritten signature... processing, e-mail FOIA appeals must be sent to official VA FOIA mailboxes established for the purpose of...

38 CFR 1.559 - Appeals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... contain an image of the requester's handwritten signature, such as an attachment that shows the requester... confidentiality statute, the email transmission must contain an image of the requester's handwritten signature... processing, e-mail FOIA appeals must be sent to official VA FOIA mailboxes established for the purpose of...

38 CFR 1.559 - Appeals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... contain an image of the requester's handwritten signature, such as an attachment that shows the requester... confidentiality statute, the email transmission must contain an image of the requester's handwritten signature... processing, e-mail FOIA appeals must be sent to official VA FOIA mailboxes established for the purpose of...

Bayer Demosaicking with Polynomial Interpolation.

PubMed

Wu, Jiaji; Anisetti, Marco; Wu, Wei; Damiani, Ernesto; Jeon, Gwanggil

2016-08-30

Demosaicking is a digital image process to reconstruct full color digital images from incomplete color samples from an image sensor. It is an unavoidable process for many devices incorporating camera sensor (e.g. mobile phones, tablet, etc.). In this paper, we introduce a new demosaicking algorithm based on polynomial interpolation-based demosaicking (PID). Our method makes three contributions: calculation of error predictors, edge classification based on color differences, and a refinement stage using a weighted sum strategy. Our new predictors are generated on the basis of on the polynomial interpolation, and can be used as a sound alternative to other predictors obtained by bilinear or Laplacian interpolation. In this paper we show how our predictors can be combined according to the proposed edge classifier. After populating three color channels, a refinement stage is applied to enhance the image quality and reduce demosaicking artifacts. Our experimental results show that the proposed method substantially improves over existing demosaicking methods in terms of objective performance (CPSNR, S-CIELAB E, and FSIM), and visual performance.

MO-B-BRB-01: Optimize Treatment Planning Process in Clinical Environment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feng, W.

The radiotherapy treatment planning process has evolved over the years with innovations in treatment planning, treatment delivery and imaging systems. Treatment modality and simulation technologies are also rapidly improving and affecting the planning process. For example, Image-guided-radiation-therapy has been widely adopted for patient setup, leading to margin reduction and isocenter repositioning after simulation. Stereotactic Body radiation therapy (SBRT) and Radiosurgery (SRS) have gradually become the standard of care for many treatment sites, which demand a higher throughput for the treatment plans even if the number of treatments per day remains the same. Finally, simulation, planning and treatment are traditionally sequentialmore » events. However, with emerging adaptive radiotherapy, they are becoming more tightly intertwined, leading to iterative processes. Enhanced efficiency of planning is therefore becoming more critical and poses serious challenge to the treatment planning process; Lean Six Sigma approaches are being utilized increasingly to balance the competing needs for speed and quality. In this symposium we will discuss the treatment planning process and illustrate effective techniques for managing workflow. Topics will include: Planning techniques: (a) beam placement, (b) dose optimization, (c) plan evaluation (d) export to RVS. Planning workflow: (a) import images, (b) Image fusion, (c) contouring, (d) plan approval (e) plan check (f) chart check, (g) sequential and iterative process Influence of upstream and downstream operations: (a) simulation, (b) immobilization, (c) motion management, (d) QA, (e) IGRT, (f) Treatment delivery, (g) SBRT/SRS (h) adaptive planning Reduction of delay between planning steps with Lean systems due to (a) communication, (b) limited resource, (b) contour, (c) plan approval, (d) treatment. Optimizing planning processes: (a) contour validation (b) consistent planning protocol, (c) protocol/template sharing, (d) semi-automatic plan evaluation, (e) quality checklist for error prevention, (f) iterative process, (g) balance of speed and quality Learning Objectives: Gain familiarity with the workflow of modern treatment planning process. Understand the scope and challenges of managing modern treatment planning processes. Gain familiarity with Lean Six Sigma approaches and their implementation in the treatment planning workflow.« less

MO-B-BRB-00: Optimizing the Treatment Planning Process

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

The radiotherapy treatment planning process has evolved over the years with innovations in treatment planning, treatment delivery and imaging systems. Treatment modality and simulation technologies are also rapidly improving and affecting the planning process. For example, Image-guided-radiation-therapy has been widely adopted for patient setup, leading to margin reduction and isocenter repositioning after simulation. Stereotactic Body radiation therapy (SBRT) and Radiosurgery (SRS) have gradually become the standard of care for many treatment sites, which demand a higher throughput for the treatment plans even if the number of treatments per day remains the same. Finally, simulation, planning and treatment are traditionally sequentialmore » events. However, with emerging adaptive radiotherapy, they are becoming more tightly intertwined, leading to iterative processes. Enhanced efficiency of planning is therefore becoming more critical and poses serious challenge to the treatment planning process; Lean Six Sigma approaches are being utilized increasingly to balance the competing needs for speed and quality. In this symposium we will discuss the treatment planning process and illustrate effective techniques for managing workflow. Topics will include: Planning techniques: (a) beam placement, (b) dose optimization, (c) plan evaluation (d) export to RVS. Planning workflow: (a) import images, (b) Image fusion, (c) contouring, (d) plan approval (e) plan check (f) chart check, (g) sequential and iterative process Influence of upstream and downstream operations: (a) simulation, (b) immobilization, (c) motion management, (d) QA, (e) IGRT, (f) Treatment delivery, (g) SBRT/SRS (h) adaptive planning Reduction of delay between planning steps with Lean systems due to (a) communication, (b) limited resource, (b) contour, (c) plan approval, (d) treatment. Optimizing planning processes: (a) contour validation (b) consistent planning protocol, (c) protocol/template sharing, (d) semi-automatic plan evaluation, (e) quality checklist for error prevention, (f) iterative process, (g) balance of speed and quality Learning Objectives: Gain familiarity with the workflow of modern treatment planning process. Understand the scope and challenges of managing modern treatment planning processes. Gain familiarity with Lean Six Sigma approaches and their implementation in the treatment planning workflow.« less

MO-B-BRB-03: Systems Engineering Tools for Treatment Planning Process Optimization in Radiation Medicine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kapur, A.

The radiotherapy treatment planning process has evolved over the years with innovations in treatment planning, treatment delivery and imaging systems. Treatment modality and simulation technologies are also rapidly improving and affecting the planning process. For example, Image-guided-radiation-therapy has been widely adopted for patient setup, leading to margin reduction and isocenter repositioning after simulation. Stereotactic Body radiation therapy (SBRT) and Radiosurgery (SRS) have gradually become the standard of care for many treatment sites, which demand a higher throughput for the treatment plans even if the number of treatments per day remains the same. Finally, simulation, planning and treatment are traditionally sequentialmore » events. However, with emerging adaptive radiotherapy, they are becoming more tightly intertwined, leading to iterative processes. Enhanced efficiency of planning is therefore becoming more critical and poses serious challenge to the treatment planning process; Lean Six Sigma approaches are being utilized increasingly to balance the competing needs for speed and quality. In this symposium we will discuss the treatment planning process and illustrate effective techniques for managing workflow. Topics will include: Planning techniques: (a) beam placement, (b) dose optimization, (c) plan evaluation (d) export to RVS. Planning workflow: (a) import images, (b) Image fusion, (c) contouring, (d) plan approval (e) plan check (f) chart check, (g) sequential and iterative process Influence of upstream and downstream operations: (a) simulation, (b) immobilization, (c) motion management, (d) QA, (e) IGRT, (f) Treatment delivery, (g) SBRT/SRS (h) adaptive planning Reduction of delay between planning steps with Lean systems due to (a) communication, (b) limited resource, (b) contour, (c) plan approval, (d) treatment. Optimizing planning processes: (a) contour validation (b) consistent planning protocol, (c) protocol/template sharing, (d) semi-automatic plan evaluation, (e) quality checklist for error prevention, (f) iterative process, (g) balance of speed and quality Learning Objectives: Gain familiarity with the workflow of modern treatment planning process. Understand the scope and challenges of managing modern treatment planning processes. Gain familiarity with Lean Six Sigma approaches and their implementation in the treatment planning workflow.« less

Color model comparative analysis for breast cancer diagnosis using H and E stained images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xingyu; Plataniotis, Konstantinos N.

2015-03-01

Digital cancer diagnosis is a research realm where signal processing techniques are used to analyze and to classify color histopathology images. Different from grayscale image analysis of magnetic resonance imaging or X-ray, colors in histopathology images convey large amount of histological information and thus play significant role in cancer diagnosis. Though color information is widely used in histopathology works, as today, there is few study on color model selections for feature extraction in cancer diagnosis schemes. This paper addresses the problem of color space selection for digital cancer classification using H and E stained images, and investigates the effectiveness of various color models (RGB, HSV, CIE L*a*b*, and stain-dependent H and E decomposition model) in breast cancer diagnosis. Particularly, we build a diagnosis framework as a comparison benchmark and take specific concerns of medical decision systems into account in evaluation. The evaluation methodologies include feature discriminate power evaluation and final diagnosis performance comparison. Experimentation on a publicly accessible histopathology image set suggests that the H and E decomposition model outperforms other assessed color spaces. For reasons behind various performance of color spaces, our analysis via mutual information estimation demonstrates that color components in the H and E model are less dependent, and thus most feature discriminate power is collected in one channel instead of spreading out among channels in other color spaces.

Pitfalls and Limitations in the Interpretation of Geophysical Images for Hydrologic Properties and Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Day-Lewis, F. D.

2014-12-01

Geophysical imaging (e.g., electrical, radar, seismic) can provide valuable information for the characterization of hydrologic properties and monitoring of hydrologic processes, as evidenced in the rapid growth of literature on the subject. Geophysical imaging has been used for monitoring tracer migration and infiltration, mapping zones of focused groundwater/surface-water exchange, and verifying emplacement of amendments for bioremediation. Despite the enormous potential for extraction of hydrologic information from geophysical images, there also is potential for misinterpretation and over-interpretation. These concerns are particularly relevant when geophysical results are used within quantitative frameworks, e.g., conversion to hydrologic properties through petrophysical relations, geostatistical estimation and simulation conditioned to geophysical inversions, and joint inversion. We review pitfalls to interpretation associated with limited image resolution, spatially variable image resolution, incorrect data weighting, errors in the timing of measurements, temporal smearing resulting from changes during data acquisition, support-volume/scale effects, and incorrect assumptions or approximations involved in modeling geophysical or other jointly inverted data. A series of numerical and field-based examples illustrate these potential problems. Our goal in this talk is to raise awareness of common pitfalls and present strategies for recognizing and avoiding them.

Additive Manufacturing of Single-Crystal Superalloy CMSX-4 Through Scanning Laser Epitaxy: Computational Modeling, Experimental Process Development, and Process Parameter Optimization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basak, Amrita; Acharya, Ranadip; Das, Suman

2016-08-01

This paper focuses on additive manufacturing (AM) of single-crystal (SX) nickel-based superalloy CMSX-4 through scanning laser epitaxy (SLE). SLE, a powder bed fusion-based AM process was explored for the purpose of producing crack-free, dense deposits of CMSX-4 on top of similar chemistry investment-cast substrates. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations revealed the presence of dendritic microstructures that consisted of fine γ' precipitates within the γ matrix in the deposit region. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based process modeling, statistical design of experiments (DoE), and microstructural characterization techniques were combined to produce metallurgically bonded single-crystal deposits of more than 500 μm height in a single pass along the entire length of the substrate. A customized quantitative metallography based image analysis technique was employed for automatic extraction of various deposit quality metrics from the digital cross-sectional micrographs. The processing parameters were varied, and optimal processing windows were identified to obtain good quality deposits. The results reported here represent one of the few successes obtained in producing single-crystal epitaxial deposits through a powder bed fusion-based metal AM process and thus demonstrate the potential of SLE to repair and manufacture single-crystal hot section components of gas turbine systems from nickel-based superalloy powders.

ImagingSIMS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

2017-11-06

ImagingSIMS is an open source application for loading, processing, manipulating and visualizing secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) data. At PNNL, a separate branch has been further developed to incorporate application specific features for dynamic SIMS data sets. These include loading CAMECA IMS-1280, NanoSIMS and modified IMS-4f raw data, creating isotopic ratio images and stitching together images from adjacent interrogation regions. In addition to other modifications of the parent open source version, this version is equipped with a point-by-point image registration tool to assist with streamlining the image fusion process.

Synergistic bactericidal action of phytic acid and sodium chloride against Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells protected by a biofilm.

PubMed

Kim, Nam Hee; Rhee, Min Suk

2016-06-16

The food industry must prevent the build-up of strong Escherichia coli O157:H7 biofilms in food processing environments. The present study examined the bactericidal action of phytic acid (PA), a natural extract from rice bran and the hulls/peels of legumes, against E. coli O157:H7 biofilms. The synergistic bactericidal effects of PA plus sodium chloride (NaCl) were also examined. E. coli O157:H7 biofilms were allowed for form on stainless steel coupons by culture in both rich (tryptic soy broth, TSB) and minimal (M9) medium at 22°C for 6days. Bacterial cells within biofilms grown in M9 medium were significantly more resistant to PA than those grown in TSB (p<0.05); thus M9 medium was selected for further experiments. The anti-biofilm effect of PA was significantly increased by addition of NaCl (2-4%) (p<0.05); indeed, the combination of 0.4% PA plus 3-4% NaCl completely inactivated E. coli O157:H7 biofilms without recovery (a>6.5logCFU/cm(2) reduction). Neither PA nor NaCl alone were this effective (PA, 1.6-2.7logCFU/cm(2) reduction; NaCl, <0.5logCFU/cm(2) reduction). Confocal laser scanning microscopy images of propidium iodide-treated cells showed that PA (0.4%) plus NaCl (2-4%) had marked membrane permeabilizing effects. These results suggest that a sanitizer that combines these two naturally occurring antimicrobial agents may be useful to food safety managers who encounter thick biofilm formation in food processing environments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Immunochromatographic diagnostic test analysis using Google Glass.

PubMed

Feng, Steve; Caire, Romain; Cortazar, Bingen; Turan, Mehmet; Wong, Andrew; Ozcan, Aydogan

2014-03-25

We demonstrate a Google Glass-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) reader platform capable of qualitative and quantitative measurements of various lateral flow immunochromatographic assays and similar biomedical diagnostics tests. Using a custom-written Glass application and without any external hardware attachments, one or more RDTs labeled with Quick Response (QR) code identifiers are simultaneously imaged using the built-in camera of the Google Glass that is based on a hands-free and voice-controlled interface and digitally transmitted to a server for digital processing. The acquired JPEG images are automatically processed to locate all the RDTs and, for each RDT, to produce a quantitative diagnostic result, which is returned to the Google Glass (i.e., the user) and also stored on a central server along with the RDT image, QR code, and other related information (e.g., demographic data). The same server also provides a dynamic spatiotemporal map and real-time statistics for uploaded RDT results accessible through Internet browsers. We tested this Google Glass-based diagnostic platform using qualitative (i.e., yes/no) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and quantitative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. For the quantitative RDTs, we measured activated tests at various concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 ng/mL for free and total PSA. This wearable RDT reader platform running on Google Glass combines a hands-free sensing and image capture interface with powerful servers running our custom image processing codes, and it can be quite useful for real-time spatiotemporal tracking of various diseases and personal medical conditions, providing a valuable tool for epidemiology and mobile health.

Immunochromatographic Diagnostic Test Analysis Using Google Glass

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

We demonstrate a Google Glass-based rapid diagnostic test (RDT) reader platform capable of qualitative and quantitative measurements of various lateral flow immunochromatographic assays and similar biomedical diagnostics tests. Using a custom-written Glass application and without any external hardware attachments, one or more RDTs labeled with Quick Response (QR) code identifiers are simultaneously imaged using the built-in camera of the Google Glass that is based on a hands-free and voice-controlled interface and digitally transmitted to a server for digital processing. The acquired JPEG images are automatically processed to locate all the RDTs and, for each RDT, to produce a quantitative diagnostic result, which is returned to the Google Glass (i.e., the user) and also stored on a central server along with the RDT image, QR code, and other related information (e.g., demographic data). The same server also provides a dynamic spatiotemporal map and real-time statistics for uploaded RDT results accessible through Internet browsers. We tested this Google Glass-based diagnostic platform using qualitative (i.e., yes/no) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and quantitative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. For the quantitative RDTs, we measured activated tests at various concentrations ranging from 0 to 200 ng/mL for free and total PSA. This wearable RDT reader platform running on Google Glass combines a hands-free sensing and image capture interface with powerful servers running our custom image processing codes, and it can be quite useful for real-time spatiotemporal tracking of various diseases and personal medical conditions, providing a valuable tool for epidemiology and mobile health. PMID:24571349

Noninvasive Detection and Differentiation of Axonal Injury/Loss, Demyelination, and Inflammation

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER Sheng-Kwei Song, William M. Spees, Peng Sun, Yong Wang, Anne Cross 5e. TASK NUMBER E-Mail...Page 1. Introduction…………………………………………………………. 4 2. Keywords……………………………………………………………. 4 3. Overall Project Summary…………………………………………... 4 – 8 4. Key...diffusion basis spectrum imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, EAE, inflammation, axonal injury, curizone, demyelination Overall project Summary The primary

A Study of Light Level Effect on the Accuracy of Image Processing-based Tomato Grading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prijatna, D.; Muhaemin, M.; Wulandari, R. P.; Herwanto, T.; Saukat, M.; Sugandi, W. K.

2018-05-01

Image processing method has been used in non-destructive tests of agricultural products. Compared to manual method, image processing method may produce more objective and consistent results. Image capturing box installed in currently used tomato grading machine (TEP-4) is equipped with four fluorescence lamps to illuminate the processed tomatoes. Since the performance of any lamp will decrease if its service time has exceeded its lifetime, it is predicted that this will affect tomato classification. The objective of this study was to determine the minimum light levels which affect classification accuracy. This study was conducted by varying light level from minimum and maximum on tomatoes in image capturing boxes and then investigates its effects on image characteristics. Research results showed that light intensity affects two variables which are important for classification, for example, area and color of captured image. Image processing program was able to determine correctly the weight and classification of tomatoes when light level was 30 lx to 140 lx.

Image-Based Reconstruction and Analysis of Dynamic Scenes in a Landslide Simulation Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scaioni, M.; Crippa, J.; Longoni, L.; Papini, M.; Zanzi, L.

2017-12-01

The application of image processing and photogrammetric techniques to dynamic reconstruction of landslide simulations in a scaled-down facility is described. Simulations are also used here for active-learning purpose: students are helped understand how physical processes happen and which kinds of observations may be obtained from a sensor network. In particular, the use of digital images to obtain multi-temporal information is presented. On one side, using a multi-view sensor set up based on four synchronized GoPro 4 Black® cameras, a 4D (3D spatial position and time) reconstruction of the dynamic scene is obtained through the composition of several 3D models obtained from dense image matching. The final textured 4D model allows one to revisit in dynamic and interactive mode a completed experiment at any time. On the other side, a digital image correlation (DIC) technique has been used to track surface point displacements from the image sequence obtained from the camera in front of the simulation facility. While the 4D model may provide a qualitative description and documentation of the experiment running, DIC analysis output quantitative information such as local point displacements and velocities, to be related to physical processes and to other observations. All the hardware and software equipment adopted for the photogrammetric reconstruction has been based on low-cost and open-source solutions.

Registration of clinical volumes to beams-eye-view images for real-time tracking

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bryant, Jonathan H.; Rottmann, Joerg; Lewis, John H.

2014-12-15

Purpose: The authors combine the registration of 2D beam’s eye view (BEV) images and 3D planning computed tomography (CT) images, with relative, markerless tumor tracking to provide automatic absolute tracking of physician defined volumes such as the gross tumor volume (GTV). Methods: During treatment of lung SBRT cases, BEV images were continuously acquired with an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) operating in cine mode. For absolute registration of physician-defined volumes, an intensity based 2D/3D registration to the planning CT was performed using the end-of-exhale (EoE) phase of the four dimensional computed tomography (4DCT). The volume was converted from Hounsfield unitsmore » into electron density by a calibration curve and digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs) were generated for each beam geometry. Using normalized cross correlation between the DRR and an EoE BEV image, the best in-plane rigid transformation was found. The transformation was applied to physician-defined contours in the planning CT, mapping them into the EPID image domain. A robust multiregion method of relative markerless lung tumor tracking quantified deviations from the EoE position. Results: The success of 2D/3D registration was demonstrated at the EoE breathing phase. By registering at this phase and then employing a separate technique for relative tracking, the authors are able to successfully track target volumes in the BEV images throughout the entire treatment delivery. Conclusions: Through the combination of EPID/4DCT registration and relative tracking, a necessary step toward the clinical implementation of BEV tracking has been completed. The knowledge of tumor volumes relative to the treatment field is important for future applications like real-time motion management, adaptive radiotherapy, and delivered dose calculations.« less

Fire Protection Informational Exchange

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-01

0.95 L/min concurrent spray & 274x521 mm pool (66°C) i. Persistent fuels; turbine fuel in spray/pool; lubricant, hydraulic fluid in spray ii...conjugate image plane La Vision sCMOS + Kl long- distance microscope with CF4 objective wire .. " " " " ... in-line hologram image plane La...distance microscope with CF4 objective wire I phase disrurbanc.e (f= 2000 nun) .. " " " " ... in-line hologram image plane La Vision sCNlOS

Estimation of Damaged Areas due to the 2010 Chile Earthquake and Tsunami Using SAR Imagery of Alos/palsar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Made, Pertiwi Jaya Ni; Miura, Fusanori; Besse Rimba, A.

2016-06-01

A large-scale earthquake and tsunami affect thousands of people and cause serious damages worldwide every year. Quick observation of the disaster damage is extremely important for planning effective rescue operations. In the past, acquiring damage information was limited to only field surveys or using aerial photographs. In the last decade, space-borne images were used in many disaster researches, such as tsunami damage detection. In this study, SAR data of ALOS/PALSAR satellite images were used to estimate tsunami damage in the form of inundation areas in Talcahuano, the area near the epicentre of the 2010 Chile earthquake. The image processing consisted of three stages, i.e. pre-processing, analysis processing, and post-processing. It was conducted using multi-temporal images before and after the disaster. In the analysis processing, inundation areas were extracted through the masking processing. It consisted of water masking using a high-resolution optical image of ALOS/AVNIR-2 and elevation masking which built upon the inundation height using DEM image of ASTER-GDEM. The area result was 8.77 Km2. It showed a good result and corresponded to the inundation map of Talcahuano. Future study in another area is needed in order to strengthen the estimation processing method.

LANDSAT-D data format control book. Volume 6, appendix C: Partially processed multispectral scanner high density tape (HDT-AM)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andersen, K. E.

1982-01-01

The format of high density tapes which contain partially processed LANDSAT 4 and LANDSAT D prime MSS image data is defined. This format is based on and is compatible with the existing format for partially processed LANDSAT 3 MSS image data HDTs.

A new method for fusion, denoising and enhancement of x-ray images retrieved from Talbot-Lau grating interferometry.

PubMed

Scholkmann, Felix; Revol, Vincent; Kaufmann, Rolf; Baronowski, Heidrun; Kottler, Christian

2014-03-21

This paper introduces a new image denoising, fusion and enhancement framework for combining and optimal visualization of x-ray attenuation contrast (AC), differential phase contrast (DPC) and dark-field contrast (DFC) images retrieved from x-ray Talbot-Lau grating interferometry. The new image fusion framework comprises three steps: (i) denoising each input image (AC, DPC and DFC) through adaptive Wiener filtering, (ii) performing a two-step image fusion process based on the shift-invariant wavelet transform, i.e. first fusing the AC with the DPC image and then fusing the resulting image with the DFC image, and finally (iii) enhancing the fused image to obtain a final image using adaptive histogram equalization, adaptive sharpening and contrast optimization. Application examples are presented for two biological objects (a human tooth and a cherry) and the proposed method is compared to two recently published AC/DPC/DFC image processing techniques. In conclusion, the new framework for the processing of AC, DPC and DFC allows the most relevant features of all three images to be combined in one image while reducing the noise and enhancing adaptively the relevant image features. The newly developed framework may be used in technical and medical applications.

The Impact of a Health IT Changeover on Medical Imaging Department Work Processes and Turnaround Times

PubMed Central

Georgiou, A.; Lymer, S.; Hordern, A.; Ridley, L.; Westbrook, J.

2015-01-01

Summary Objectives To assess the impact of introducing a new Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and Radiology Information System (RIS) on: (i) Medical Imaging work processes; and (ii) turnaround times (TATs) for x-ray and CT scan orders initiated in the Emergency Department (ED). Methods We employed a mixed method study design comprising: (i) semi-structured interviews with Medical Imaging Department staff; and (ii) retrospectively extracted ED data before (March/April 2010) and after (March/April 2011 and 2012) the introduction of a new PACS/RIS. TATs were calculated as: processing TAT (median time from image ordering to examination) and reporting TAT (median time from examination to final report). Results Reporting TAT for x-rays decreased significantly after introduction of the new PACS/RIS; from a median of 76 hours to 38 hours per order (p<.0001) for patients discharged from the ED, and from 84 hours to 35 hours (p<.0001) for patients admitted to hospital. Medical Imaging staff reported that the changeover to the new PACS/RIS led to gains in efficiency, particularly regarding the accessibility of images and patient-related information. Nevertheless, assimilation of the new PACS/RIS with existing Departmental work processes was considered inadequate and in some instances unsafe. Issues highlighted related to the synchronization of work tasks (e.g., porter arrangements) and the material set up of the work place (e.g., the number and location of computers). Conclusions The introduction of new health IT can be a “double-edged sword” providing improved efficiency but at the same time introducing potential hazards affecting the effectiveness of the Medical Imaging Department. PMID:26448790

Using eye movements to investigate selective attention in chronic daily headache.

PubMed

Liossi, Christina; Schoth, Daniel E; Godwin, Hayward J; Liversedge, Simon P

2014-03-01

Previous research has demonstrated that chronic pain is associated with biased processing of pain-related information. Most studies have examined this bias by measuring response latencies. The present study extended previous work by recording eye movement behaviour in individuals with chronic headache and in healthy controls while participants viewed a set of images (i.e., facial expressions) from 4 emotion categories (pain, angry, happy, neutral). Biases in initial orienting were assessed from the location of the initial shift in gaze, and biases in the maintenance of attention were assessed from the duration of gaze on the picture that was initially fixated, and the mean number of visits, and mean fixation duration per image category. The eye movement behaviour of the participants in the chronic headache group was characterised by a bias in initial shift of orienting to pain. There was no evidence of individuals with chronic headache visiting more often, or spending significantly more time viewing, pain images compared to other images. Both participant groups showed a significantly greater bias to maintain gaze longer on happy images, relative to pain, angry, and neutral images. Results are consistent with a pain-related bias that operates in the orienting of attention on pain-related stimuli, and suggest that chronic pain participants' attentional biases for pain-related information are evident even when other emotional stimuli are present. Pain-related information-processing biases appear to be a robust feature of chronic pain and may have an important role in the maintenance of the disorder. Copyright © 2013 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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