Multidimensional Image Analysis Research Articles

Multimodality multidimensional image analysis of cortical and subcortical plasticity in the rat brain

In this work, we developed and implemented a multimodality multidimensional imaging system which is capable of generating and displaying anatomical and functional images of selected structures and processes within a vertebrate's central nervous system (CNS). The functional images are generated from [14C]-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) autoradiography whereas the anatomic images are derived from cytochrome oxidase (CO) histochemistry. This multi-modality imaging system has been used to study mechanisms underlying information processing in the rat brain. We have applied this technique to visualize and measure the plasticity (deformation) observed in the rat's whisker system due to neonatal lesioning of selected peripheral sensory organs. Application of this imaging system revealed detailed information about the shape, size, and directionality of selected cortical and subcortical structures. Previous 2-D imaging techniques were unable to deliver such holistic information. Another important issue addressed in this work is related to image registration problems. We developed an image registration technique which employs extrinsic fiduciary marks for alignment and is capable of registering images with subpixel accuracy. It uses the information from all available fiduciary marks to promote alignment of the sections and to avoid propagation of errors across a serial data set.

The automated interactive microscope (AIM) for investigating the functional dynamics of living cells: Status and vision

The current status and future development plans for the Automated Interactive Microscope (AIM), to better define the mechanisms of the function of living cells, is described. The development of AIM is fueled by biologists need to spatially and temporally correlate biochemical, molecular and genetic patterns to study cell functions such as division, locomotion and endocytosis. AIM will allow the investigator to use the cell as a “living microcuvette”.AIM redefines the meaning of the term “microscope” to include the functional capability of the microscope system provided by computerization, in addition to the more classical definition which emphasizes the opto-mechanical hardware. AIM is an next generation electronic light microscope imaging system which has grown out of our work in the development of the multimode light microscope. New functionality includes new experiment control facilities as well as related multidimensional image processing, image analysis and interactive data visualization. AIM is built around microscope hardware with high precision motion controls and a powerful host workstation computer linked, via a very high speed data gateway, with the high performance computing and communication (HPCC) facilities of the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC).

Multidimensional data format specification: A generalization of the American College of Radiology-National Electric Manufacturers Association standards

Multidimensional image data are becoming increasingly common in biomedical imaging. Three-dimensional visualization and analysis techniques based on three-dimensional image data have become an established discipline in biomedicine. Some imaging problems generate image data of even higher dimensions. It often becomes necessary, rather than just convenient, to consider the higher-dimensional data as a whole to adequately answer the underlying imaging questions. Despite this established need for convenient exchange of image and image-derived information, no exchange protocols are available that adequately meet the needs of multidimensional imaging systems. This paper describes an exchange protocol that has been designed after careful consideration of the common requirements of methodologies for visualization and analysis of multidimensional data. It is based on and is a generalization of the widely accepted American College of Radiology-National Electrical Manufacturers Association (ACR-NEMA) standards specified for two-dimensional images. It is implemented and actively being used in a data-, application-, and machine-independent software environment, being developed in the authors' department, for the visualization and analysis of multidimensional images.

Analysis of multidimensional images on the Connection Machine system

AbstractThe Connection Machine (CM) has been demonstrated to be an efficient and fast computational engine for the solution of many problems related to image processing. The high‐level parallelism of the CM naturally fits to many large‐scale data intensive applications.In this paper the implementation of parallel algorithms for the analysis of multidimensional images on the CM is presented. Different aspects in the analysis of multidimensional images are considered. In the field of artificial vision, the implementation of algorithms for the filtering of image sequences (both in space and time) and the estimation of the optical flow is described and some results in terms of accuracy and computation time are presented.The processing of three‐dimensional images is investigated in the field of biomedical engineering. In this case the goal is the development of algorithms for the 3‐D reconstruction of human body segments and their visualization.The parallel implementations exploit the fine grain parallelism allowed by the CM, processing each point of the data on a different processor. This mechanism is allowed by the possibility of dynamically reconfiguring the connectivity of the CM nodes and of defining a huge number of virtual processors. Moreover, as the CM processors operate on one‐bit data, it is possible to tune the number of bits for each data point to match the accuracy required by the application.

Analyze: A Comprehensive, operator-interactive software package for multidimensional medical image display and analysis

A comprehensive software package, called ANALYZE, has been developed (1) which permits detailed investigation and evaluation of multidimensional biomedical images. ANALYZE can be used with 3-D imaging modalities based on x-ray computed tomography, radionuclide emission tomography, ultrasound tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The software is written entirely in “C” and runs on standard UNIX workstations. The ANALYZE package features integrated, complimentary tools for fully interactive display, manipulation and measurement of multidimensional image data. The software architecture permits systematic enhancements and upgrades which has fostered development of a readily expandable package. It provides an effective shell for custom software prototyping and turnkey applications. This paper provides a general description of this software as well as specific details on the methodology employed to develop it, both conceptual and technical. Applications of the software are illustrated.

Assessing the Visual Impact of Development Proposals: The Validity of Computer Simulations

Abstract Determining the contribution of a single variable, or single landscape element, to visual preference is made simple if scenes with variation in only a single variable can be compared. Computer technology based on the capture and editing of video signals provides the opportunity for such comparison, provided the computer output is a sufficiently good approximation of the scene as recorded in a photograph. The degree of approximation depends to a large extent on the pixel and color resolution of the computer system. Systems offering more than 256 simultaneous colors are still quite expensive. This paper finds a moderate correlation (0.76) between original photographs and corresponding images reduced to 256 colors. Preference for the digitized scenes is generally lower than for original slides. Subsequent analysis based on multi-dimensional scaling techniques, image analysis, and scene rating for special features suggests that a better approximation is obtained when (a) the greenness level of the original scene is well reproduced, (b) a prominent cultural modification (e.g. transmission tower) is present, (c) the scene is confined to fore- and middle-ground, and (d) topographic relief is low.

Multidimensional biomedical image display and analysis in the biotechnology computer resource at the Mayo Clinic

A powerful new microcomputer-based system has been developed which permits detailed investigations and evaluation of 3-D and 4-D biomedical images. The system comprises a network of powerful workstations to which all the information in a large 3-D image data base is accessible for rapid display, manipulation, and measurement. The system supports 3-D imaging modalities based on X ray, radionuclide emission tomography, ultrasound tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The system provides important capabilities for simultaneously representing and analyzing both structural and functional data and their relationships in various organs of the body. This paper provides a detailed description of this system, as well as some of the rationale, background, theoretical concepts, and practical considerations related to system implementation and applications.