Computer Image Processing System Research Articles

Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) treatment in relapsing-remitting MS: quantitative MR assessment.

To evaluate the efficacy of glatiramer acetate (GA, Copaxone; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., Petah Tiqva, Israel) by MRI-based measures in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) MS. Twenty-seven patients with clinically definite RR-MS were treated with either 20 mg of GA by daily subcutaneous self-injection (n = 14) or placebo (n = 13) for approximately 24 months. Axial dual-echo fast-spin-echo T2-weighted images and T1-weighted images before and after gadolinium (Gd) were acquired at 1.5 tesla and transferred into an image processing computer system. The main outcome measures were the number of Gd-enhanced T1 and T2 lesions and their volume as well as brain parenchyma volume. The values of age, disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, the number of T1- and T2-weighted lesions, and their volume were similar between GA- and placebo-receiving groups at the entry of this study. There was a decrease in the number of T1-enhanced lesions (p = 0.03) and a significant percent annual decrease of their volume in GA recipients compared with those of placebo recipients. There were no significant differences between changes in the two groups in the number of T2 lesions and their volume. The loss of brain tissue was significantly smaller in the GA group compared with that of the placebo group. These results show that GA treatment may decrease both lesion inflammation and the rate of brain atrophy in RR-MS.

Measurement of Cleanliness in Wool Sliver by Image Processing

This paper presents a new approach to wool sliver cleanliness analysis based on computer image processing system. The characteristics and principles of the instrument will be described in detail. Then, the validity of the system is investigated by comparing a significant number of cleanliness measurements carried out by this system and visual method judged by skilled specialists.The results of this research show that there are no significant differences between detected defects such as fibrous defects or neps and vegetable matters by this system, and visual method exception in case of small size neps. A discussion of these results will be presented in this paper.

Fast and slow recovery phases of goldfish behavior after transection of the optic nerve revealed by a computer image processing system

As the goldfish is a common experimental animal for vision research, including psychophysical behavior, it is very important to quantitatively score fish behavior. We have previously developed a computer image processing system which can acquire the positional coordinates of goldfish moving freely in an aquarium and determine turning directions (go straight, right or left turn). In the present study, an algorithm to determine tilting angles of moving goldfish was constructed. We also made histograms for quantifying the interaction between pairs of goldfish (two-point distance). By using these histograms, we estimated the time-course of behavioral regeneration after optic nerve transection in goldfish. Control goldfish showed an equal percentage of right or left turns and maintained an upright position in a dorsoventral axis. When the optic nerve of a goldfish was unilaterally sectioned, the goldfish showed predominant turning and slight tilting toward the intact eye. The abnormal turning and tilting behaviors lasted for 10–14 days and then gradually decreased, returning to control behaviors by one month after the unilateral transection. When the optic nerve of a single goldfish was bilaterally sectioned, it did not show any preferential turning and tilting behavior, which is similar to what was observed in control goldfish. However, the trace maps showed that, after bilateral sectioning, fish preferred to cross the center of the tank, which was unlike control fish. In control pairs, one goldfish chased the other with a fixed small range of two-point distances. However, in pairs of goldfish with bilateral transection of the optic nerve, the blind goldfish behaved independently of each other, with a long two-point distance. The long two-point distance of the blind goldfish lasted for at least two months and then slowly returned to control two-point distance by four months after bilateral transection. Such fast and slow recovery in goldfish behaviors evoked after unilateral and bilateral transection of the optic nerve is discussed with respect to reconnection of regenerating optic nerves in the fish central nervous system. This computer image processing system is a useful tool with which we can quickly and easily quantify fish behavior.

Milk Heat Exchanger Cleaning: Modelling of Deposit Removal

The removal of solid deposits encrusted on heat transfer surfaces of milk heat exchangers using chemical cleaning agents is a complex procedure. It involves a number of physical and chemical parameters such as flow mechanics, working time, composition, concentration and temperature of the cleaning agents, composition of the deposits, and the condition (shape, roughness) of the surfaces. Due to the variety of influencing factors, the description of the deposit removal kinetics using a simple mathematical model appears to be extremely difficult. In a series of extensive cleaning trials on a computer-controlled experimental cleaning plant using standard test soils and various CIP-procedures, the removal of deposits was monitored using a video camera in combination with a computerized image processing system. The experimentally gained time functions for deposit removal were inserted into a new mathematical model. This model initially was developed for the removal of dust from floor carpets by vacuum cleaning. It consists of a two-parameter exponential function with a specific time constant (the time, at which a cleaning degree of cleaning of 63.2% is achieved) and a parameter that is called slope (in a special grid the equation is a straight line with this slope). The soil removal model using these two parameters, obtained by regression from the experimental data, correlated with the experimental values with a coefficient of correlation of up to 0.995. The derivation of the proposed model and its physical explanation are given in this paper.

Orientation of aggregates of fine-grained soil: quantification and application

The orientation of aggregates in fine-grained soil is an important factor that influences the anisotropy and the engineering property of the fine-grained soil. This paper reviews the basic principle and functions of the computer image processing system for soil fabric, and proposes two new quantitative indices to assess the orientation of aggregates of fine-grained soil, which include alignment entropy (Hm) and frequency distribution function of clay aggregate orientation Q(α). The significance of Hm and its differences with anisotropy index (Ia) are discussed. Q(α) enables the orientation of the aggregates to be continuously represented from 0 to 180° and is also taken as a quantitative parameter reflecting the anisotropy of the fine-grained soil in the microstructural mechanical model. The latter sections in this paper give two examples showing the applications of these indices. The first example appraises the changes of fabrics of fine-grained soil during the process of compacting. The examination results confirm the phenomenon that the deformation of the soil samples during the process of compacting is mainly due to the re-alignment and deformation of clay aggregates rather than clay platelets; the other example represents the application of the Q(α) in fitting the creep of anisotropic fine-grained soil by the micromechanics model. The fitting results indicate that it is proper to take f(n)=Q(α).

Progressive Damage of Unidirectional Graphite/Epoxy Composites Containing a Circular Hole

In this paper, experimental and finite element results are presented to describe the anisotropic states of stress, strain and damage of unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite plates containing a central hole subjected to off-axis uniaxial tension. The nonlinear stress analysis of the laminates is based on the finite element procedure formulated with a newly developed anisotropic damage model, in which the inelastic behavior of composite material is attributed to the irreversible thermodynamics processes involving energy dissipation and stiffness change primarily caused by the presence of micro-structural changes of the material. Moiré interferometry, a high sensitivity whole-field experimental technique, with a computer image processing system is used to determine and to interrogate the two-dimensional deformation field in the composites. Results from the tests and analysis clearly reveal the anisotropic damage characteristics and the influence of principal material direction on the deformation response of the composites. Failure of the composite material near the hole area takes the form of a damage zone and the damage mechanism involves redistribution of stress and strain. From the analysis, it may be concluded that macrocrack initiates at the material point near the hole boundary with high damage value and propagates along the direction of damage zone extension. Good agreement between the predicted and experimental results confirms that the current approach can provide a convenient and accurate means to interrogate the complicated damage behavior of notched unidirectional composites with a hole and can be readily extended to examine the damage response of unidirectional composite structures with different notch configurations.

A scanning electron microscopy and computer image processing morphometric study of the pharmacological regulation of patency of the peritoneal stomata

The experiment on mice was carried out by injecting intraperitoneally Chinese materia medica for treating hepatocirrhosis with ascites. Observations and a quantitative analysis were carried out on the pharmacological regulation of the peritoneal stomata by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a computer image processing system attached to the SEM. There was a significant increase in both the diameter (P < 0.05) and distribution density (P < 0.01) of the peritoneal stomata in the red sage root and alismatis rhizome groups, whereas the effect of poria and poria peel was not significant compared with the control group (P > 0.05). Our findings confirm the effect of red sage root and alismatis rhizome on the regulation of the peritoneal stomata, which can enhance the absorption of ascitic fluid, taking into consideration the absorbent function of these stomata. They indicate that the patency of peritoneal stomata can vary in response to the effect of some Chinese materia. They also suggest that the ascites is drained mainly by means of enhancing the patency of the stomata and lymphatic absorption of the stomata during the process of treatment by traditional Chinese medicine.

A quantification of goldfish behavior by an image processing system

We developed a computer-image processing system to quantitatively score the goldfish behavior. The system was composed of two CCD cameras, set in the upper and side directions of a water tank, two graphics I/O boards (video interface) and an IBM PC/AT compatible computer. From the top and side views through the two CCD cameras, 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional positional coordinates of fish freely moving in an aquarium were acquired over a long period (60 min). A positional distribution histogram of the goldfish was made by measuring the number of coordinates. Goldfish have a tendency to move at the circumference and bottom of a water tank. The velocity of moving goldfish was calculated from the time and distance. The average velocity of goldfish was in the range of 6–36 mm/s. A directional histogram (go straight and turn right or left) of a moving goldfish in an aquarium was made to measure an angle formed by two vectors, which were defined as three (middle to terminal against initial to middle) points in a unitary length (50 mm) of the path of goldfish. Three directions (go straight, right turn and left turn) were quantified as a percentage (59±12%, 20±4% and 20±4%, respectively) of a 1-h-event of moving goldfish. This image processing system thus can make an easy and quantifiable behavioral analysis of moving goldfish.

Scanning electron microscopy of human cerebral meningeal stomata

The human dura mater and pia mater were studied by using a scanning electron microscope and a computer image processing system (C.I.P.). The human cerebral meningeal stomata are located between the mesothelial cells of the cerebral meninges. They are round or oval in shape with diameters of 0.33-2.98 microns. The cerebral meningeal stomata are stable structures, scattered or clustered together. Their density in the dura mater is greater than in the pia mater (P < 0.01), and they are regularly distributed. The statistical analysis showed that the stomata diameter and distribution density in the dura mater are 1.34 microns and 381.55/0.1 mm2; while in the pia mater they are 0.88 micron and 195.06/0.1 mm2 respectively. The cerebral meningeal stomata are probably part of the cerebral prelymphatic capillary system, which undertakes the cerebral lymph drainage because there are no lymphatic vessels in the brain although yet there is lymph drainage. Thus, we believe that the cerebral meningeal stomata are involved in maintaining the physiological function of the brain as part of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which absorbs the cerebral interstitial fluid.

Mucociliary function in the mouse measured in explanted lung tissue.

To develop a method for the study of mucociliary clearance in small-caliber airways, we investigated ciliary function in an in vitro lung tissue culture technique in mice. Lungs were excised from 45 anesthetized mice [weight 30.9 +/- 6.2 (SD) g] and inflated with 2% liquid agarose at 37 degrees C via the trachea. After cooling to 4 degrees C, the lungs were cut into 0.5- to 1.0-mm thick slices and cultured overnight. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was measured in airways cut in cross section using a computerized image processing system. In some experiments, charcoal particle transport (PT) in tangentially cut airways was also measured. Airway diameter ranged from 0.3 to 0.8 mm. In this preparation CBF was stable over a 3-h period and unaffected by minor pH changes. Both CBF and PT exhibited a linear dependency on temperature. CBF and PT were significantly correlated with each other. CBF at 37 degrees C (18.7 +/- 2.93 Hz) was almost twofold higher than values at 22 degrees C (9.74 +/- 3.11 Hz). Isoproterenol increased CBF in a dose-dependent fashion (50% effective concentration of 10(-6.75) M); the effect of isoproterenol could be blocked by propranolol. Administration of forskolin (10 microM) also increased both CBF and PT significantly. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of measuring the major aspects of mucociliary clearance in this system. This approach holds promise as a technique suitable to the investigation of both the small airways of humans and other large animals as well as of airways in murine genetic models of respiratory disease.

ELECTRIC-FIELD-INDUCED PHASE SEPARATION IN ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL FLUIDS

The phase separation into a high-density and a low-density phase, which occurs after a strong electric field is applied to an ER fluids, is demonstrated in terms of the Coulomb interaction energy of the system. The phase separation is manifested by two-dimensional pattern observed in the field direction by means of a pair of transparent glass (TG) electrodes. The development of phase separation with an increasing field is recorded by a computer image processing system consisting of a CCD video camera. The patterns are irregular and their characteristic sizes are determined by two-dimensional auto-correlation approach. The dependency of those patterns on external electric field is analyzed based on statistical methods. Two critical fields are presented to characterize the electric-field-induced phase separation process in the ER fluid.

Field Fragmentation of Macroscopic Targets Simulating Asteroidal Catastrophic Collisions

We report the results from a series of experiments in which spherical macroscopic targets of artificial rock were disrupted using contact charges, and concentrate on the detailed analysis of four tests. The experiments were performed in the open, so we have been able to identify the shape and measure the sizes of fragments from the primary fragmentation event and to record the uninterrupted ballistic trajectories of the fragments. The targets were spheres of about 21 cm in diameter, two of them with stronger cores. From the recorded distribution of fragments on the ground, and using fast framing photography and our own image processing computer system, it has been possible to obtain the mass, shape, velocity, and angular velocity for several hundred fragments and from these to deduce the corresponding statistical distributions, as well as information concerning the geometry of the ejection velocity field and the correlations between different fragment properties. Most results compare satisfactorily with the predictions of the numerical model by Paolicchi et al. ( Icarus 77, 187-212 (1989); Celest. Mech. 57, 49-56 (1993)). The presence of a core inside the target is found to influence the dynamics of the fragmentation process and the resulting velocity field, albeit not the fragment size distribution. The experimental fragments share some observed statistical properties of the asteroid families, in particular the higher dispersions of ejection velocity and rotation rate for smaller bodies.

A study of vortex magnetic separation (VMS) with a high-speed video system

This paper describes the work with a high-speed video system and an image processing computer system on the mechanisms involved in Vortex magnetic separation (VMS). The high-speed video system can clearly display individual particle trajectories at Reynolds Numbers of 6 – 40 which made it possible to measure and calculate particle position and velocity distribution with reference to a wire by means of an image processing computer system. Based on the analysis of variations of particle trajectories and velocity distribution around a single wire at different testing conditions in the process of vortex magnetic capture, it is revealed that the repulsive regions on the magnetized wire make magnetic particles separate from the wire surface at φ < 90°, where φ is the angle measured from the upstream stagnation point on the wire. Although some particles do follow the boundary layer flow to enter the vortex region behind the wire and be captured there, the probability for retention on the downstream side of the wire is reduced. When the repulsive regions on the wire is very small (e.g. H 0 < H s ), the trajectory is different, magnetic particles roll along the wire surface, enter the vortex region and are captured on the downstream of the wire. The nature of the boundary layer flow is another important factor in VMS process. Only those magnetic particles which can stay in the boundary layer can be involved in the downstream capture. The trajectory analysis also shows the inertia force acting on non-magnetic particles is the main factor which allows their escape from the boundary layer around the wire and this results in VMS process producing the secondary magnetic concentration of high grade.

Nonlinear image transformations implemented with spatial light modulators

A technique for optically implementing nonlinear gray-level transformations on images via a spatial light modulator (SLM) coupled to a computer image-processing system is presented. Both the exponential and the logarithmic functions are implemented. The only restriction in the choice of nonlinear transformations is that they must lie below the SLM's linear intensity output versus intensity input curve obtained with the SLM set to a full transmittance.

P-308 - Study of myocardial injury induced after coronary artery ligation-reperfusion model in rats ; Evaluation of myocardial injury by using a computer image processing system.

P-308 - Study of myocardial injury induced after coronary artery ligation-reperfusion model in rats ; Evaluation of myocardial injury by using a computer image processing system.

Interactions Between Wheat and a Corrugated Steel Surface

Friction of wheat on a corrugated galvanized steel surface was measured using a direct shear apparatus for three moisture contents [11.9, 14.2, and 17.7% w.b. (wet basis)] and four normal pressures (9.73, 34.05, 70.53, and 94.85 kPa). The wheat samples contained in a transparent shear box were sheared across the corrugations. Movements of grain kernels during shearing were recorded and analyzed using a computer image processing system. The coefficient of friction decreased with normal pressure in a pressure range from 9.73 to 70.53 kPa for all three moisture contents. Changes in the coefficient of friction were less than 2% for all three moisture contents when normal pressure increased from 70.53 to 90.85 kPa. Friction increased with the grain moisture content for all four normal pressures. Friction of wheat on corrugated steel was mainly grain-on-grain friction. An apparent shear plane existed slightly (2 to 5 mm) below the corrugation peaks. Grain-on-grain shearing occurred in a zone extending from the apparent shear plane to about one corrugation depth above the corrugation peaks.

Linear radial growth velocity of isolated spherulites in polymer free solidification

Real-time in situ observations of isolated spherulitic growth in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO, M n = 100 000) and α -phase isotactic polypropylene (iPP, M n = 250 000) have been carried out by using video microscopy coupled with a computer image-processing system. A macroscopic latent heat transfer model, which is consistent with the linear growth velocity measured experimentally during spherulitic growth, has been developed and tested in conjunction with Hoffman's nucleation theory. It was found that the latent heat release during spherulitic solidification is compatible with the linear growth velocity.

Young's fringes analysis with a computer image-processing system

A two-dimensional Fourier transform analysis is presented for numerically processing the Young's fringes diffraction pattern from a double- exposure speckle photograph. The fringe spacing and orientation are determined using only one Young's fringes pattern without any other diffraction halo patterns. This algorithm is based on the 2-D FFT of the fringe pattern with 256 × 256 pixels. Therefore, it enables automatic analysis to be performed on specklegram with noisy and poor fringe patterns. The measurement of deformation by the laser speckle method can be carried out with high accuracy, reliability and speed.

Analysis of Blend Irregularity in Yarns Using Image Processing: Part I: Fundamental Investigation of Model Yarns

In this research, a computer image processing system is used to evaluate the blend state (fiber arrangement) or uneven distribution in blended yarns. Part I presents an investigation of the precision and effectiveness of the system using three kinds of model yarns, whose numbers of component filaments, blend ratios, and blend states have been predetermined. The method of image input, various image processing techniques, and a statistical analysis are examined based on the model yarns. The results show clearly that with this system, the diameter and area of one fiber can be measured, the blend ratio of black and white fibers in a short sample length can be accurately determined, and the size of a cluster can be quantitatively evaluated.

Microanalysis of individual silver halide microcrystals

There is a considerable interest for the study of the elemental distribution and composition in silver halide photographic emulsions, particularly for the microanalysis of individual microcrystals. In this work, elemental distributions and contents of tabular and cubic silver halide microcrystals were obtained by backscattered electron imaging (BSEI), scanning transmission electron imaging (STEI), x-ray mapping and x-ray microanalysis in a scanning electron microscope (STEM) combined with energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX).Several kinds of silver halide microcrystals were prepared, After removing the gelatin, repeated centrifugation and washing in distilled water, the grains were resuspended and dispersed onto carbon coated 50 mesh copper grids. All analyses were carried out on a JEOL 1200 EX electron microscope equipped with detectors for backscattered, secondary and transmitted electrons and an energy dispersive x-ray analysis system. An image processing system was used for acquiring and processing BSE images, STE images and x-ray maps. The role of the image processing computer system (IBAS Kontron) is twofold: it allows to optimize the acquisition conditions and to process the images afterwards.