Remote Imaging Techniques Research Articles

A Robust Approach for Ulcer Classification/Detection in WCE Images

Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (WCE) is a medical diagnostic technique recognized for its minimally invasive and painless nature for the patients. It uses remote imaging techniques to explore various segments of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, particularly the hard-to-reach small intestine, making it an effective alternative to traditional endoscopic techniques. However, physicians face a significant challenge when it comes to analyzing a large number of endoscopic images due to the effort and time required. It is therefore imperative to implement aided-diagnostic systems capable of automatically detecting suspicious areas for subsequent medical assessment. In this paper, we present a novel approach to identify gastrointestinal tract abnormalities from WCE images, with a particular focus on ulcerated areas. Our approach involves the use of the Median Robust Extended Local Binary Pattern (MRELBP) descriptor, which effectively overcomes the challenges faced when WCE image acquisition, such as variations in illumination and contrast, rotation, and noise. Using machine learning algorithms, we conducted experiments on the extensive Kvasir-Capsule dataset, and subsequently compared our results with recent relevant studies. Noteworthy is the fact that our approach achieved an accuracy of 97.04% with the SVM (RBF) classifier and 96.77% with the RF classifier.

Remote Imaging Capture with Widefield Swept-Source OCT Angiography During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact on the health sector worldwide, both in the clinical and research subsector. This has necessitated for the invention of protocols compliant with social distancing policies to efficiently tackle the current needs. Our aim is to describe a novel remote imaging technique, which helped us continue our research with widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (WF SS-OCTA).Patients and MethodsAs a part of this cross-sectional observational study from August 2020 to September 2020 at Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE), we used our institute approved remote desktop, outside of MEE, to gain full access to the on-site WF SS-OCTA device in the imaging room for the purpose of remote imaging. With only the patient being in the imaging room, effective communication was established via video conferencing on an encrypted tablet computer device for the entire procedure.ResultsWe imaged four patients with various retinal pathologies, aged 32–69 years. All images obtained were of high quality and signal strength (median score 9/10 for both) and all patients reported a highly satisfactory, comfortable, and safe experience amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionThis novel method is better for remote imaging compared to the previously described techniques as it is time and cost effective, requires limited resources without compromising the image quality or patient satisfaction and adheres to the various guidelines for infection control, most importantly social distancing. As a paradigm shift, this can also be employed in future for setups with limited staff like busy emergency departments or a rural setup with limited access or difficult commute, in the “new-normal” era.

Deep Image Representations for Coral Image Classification

Healthy coral reefs play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity in tropical marine ecosystems. Remote imaging techniques have facilitated the scientific investigations of these intricate ecosystems, particularly at depths beyond 10 m where SCUBA diving techniques are not time or cost efficient. With millions of digital images of the seafloor collected using remotely operated vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), manual annotation of these data by marine experts is a tedious, repetitive, and time-consuming task. It takes 10–30 min for a marine expert to meticulously annotate a single image. Automated technology to monitor the health of the oceans would allow for transformational ecological outcomes by standardizing methods to detect and identify species. This paper aims to automate the analysis of large available AUV imagery by developing advanced deep learning tools for rapid and large-scale automatic annotation of marine coral species. Such an automated technology would greatly benefit marine ecological studies in terms of cost, speed, and accuracy. To this end, we propose a deep learning based classification method for coral reefs and report the application of the proposed technique to the automatic annotation of unlabeled mosaics of the coral reef in the Abrolhos Islands, W.A., Australia. Our proposed method automatically quantified the coral coverage in this region and detected a decreasing trend in coral population, which is in line with conclusions drawn by marine ecologists.

Block-based adaptive ROI for remote photoplethysmography

Remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) can achieve contactless human vital signs monitoring, but its signal quality is limited by the remote operation nature. In practical applications, improving the rPPG signal quality becomes an essential task. As a remote imaging technique, rPPG utilizes a camera to capture a video of a skin area, especially the facial area, then focuses on a particular sub-area as the region of interest (ROI). In this paper, we investigated a novel adaptive ROI (AROI) approach for improving the rPPG signal quality. In this approach, block-based spatial-temporal division is performed on a captured face video. Based on these segmented video pipelines, the spatial-temporal quality distribution of the rPPG signals is estimated using a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) feature. Afterwards, AROIs are calculated through mean-shift clustering and adaptive thresholding in SNR maps. As the AROI can be dynamically adjusted according to the spatial-temporal quality distribution of rPPG signals on the face, the quality of the final recovered rPPG signal is improved. The performance of the proposed AROI approach was evaluated with both still and moving subjects. Compared to conventional ROI methods for rPPG, the proposed AROI obtained a higher accuracy in heart rate measurement. And the state-of-the-art motion-resistant rPPG techniques can be effectively enhanced through being integrated with the AROI.

Slow cooling of the lowermost oceanic crust at the fast-spreading East Pacific Rise

The cooling history of the lowermost ocean crust formed at the East Pacific Rise and exposed at the Hess Deep Rift is constrained using fresh primitive olivine gabbro and troctolite cores recently recovered by Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 345. The Mg-in-plagioclase and Ca-in-olivine geospeedometers constrain the initial subsolidus cooling rates, down to closure temperatures in the range of 900–750 °C. These independent geospeedometers yield similar slow cooling rates, 0.005–0.0001 °C yr−1, with a mean value of 0.0011 °C yr–1, making these results robust despite the uncertainties inherent in the methods. The slow cooling rates, derived using natural samples, provide a crucial test of predictions of the thermal structure of the lower crust based on remote imaging techniques and thermal modeling. The cooling rates are most consistent with thermal models that are dominated by conductive cooling within the plutonic complex. This implies that lower crust formed at fast spreading rates remains hot in the near-axis environment, indicating limited hydrothermal fluid ingress and reaction.

The evolution of volcanic plume morphology in short-lived eruptions

The details of volcanic plume source conditions or internal structure cannot readily be revealed by simple visual images or other existing remote imaging techniques. For example, one predominant observable quantity, the spreading rate in steady or quasi-steady volcanic plumes, is independent of source buoyancy flux. However, observable morphological features of short-duration unsteady plumes appear to be strongly controlled by volcanic source conditions, as inferred from our recent work. Here we present a new technique for using simple morphological evolution to extract the temporal evolution of source conditions of short-lived unsteady eruptions. In particular, using examples from Stromboli (Italy) and Santiaguito (Guatemala) volcanoes, we illustrate simple morphologic indicators of (1) increasing injection rate during the early phase of an eruption; (2) onset of source injection decline; and (3) the timing of source injection cessation. Combined, these observations indicate changes in eruption discharge rate and injection duration, and may assist in estimating total mass erupted for a given event. In addition, we show how morphology may provide clues about the vertical mass distribution in these plumes, which may be important for predicting ash dispersal patterns.

A possible biomedical facility at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

A well-attended meeting, called "Brainstorming discussion for a possible biomedical facility at CERN", was held by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics on 25 June 2012. This was concerned with adapting an existing, but little used, 78-m circumference CERN synchrotron to deliver a wide range of ion species, preferably from protons to at least neon ions, with beam specifications that match existing clinical facilities. The potential extensive research portfolio discussed included beam ballistics in humanoid phantoms, advanced dosimetry, remote imaging techniques and technical developments in beam delivery, including gantry design. In addition, a modern laboratory for biomedical characterisation of these beams would allow important radiobiological studies, such as relative biological effectiveness, in a dedicated facility with standardisation of experimental conditions and biological end points. A control photon and electron beam would be required nearby for relative biological effectiveness comparisons. Research beam time availability would far exceed that at other facilities throughout the world. This would allow more rapid progress in several biomedical areas, such as in charged hadron therapy of cancer, radioisotope production and radioprotection. The ethos of CERN, in terms of open access, peer-reviewed projects and governance has been so successful for High Energy Physics that application of the same to biomedicine would attract high-quality research, with possible contributions from Europe and beyond, along with potential new funding streams.

Remote energetic neutral atom imaging of electric potential over a lunar magnetic anomaly

AbstractThe formation of electric potential over lunar magnetized regions is essential for understanding fundamental lunar science, for understanding the lunar environment, and for planning human exploration on the Moon. A large positive electric potential was predicted and detected from single point measurements. Here, we demonstrate a remote imaging technique of electric potential mapping at the lunar surface, making use of a new concept involving hydrogen neutral atoms derived from solar wind. We apply the technique to a lunar magnetized region using an existing dataset of the neutral atom energy spectrometer SARA/CENA on Chandrayaan‐1. Electrostatic potential larger than +135 V inside the Gerasimovic anomaly is confirmed. This structure is found spreading all over the magnetized region. The widely spread electric potential can influence the local plasma and dust environment near the magnetic anomaly.

Gigapixel Imaging and Photogrammetry: Development of a New Long Range Remote Imaging Technique

The use of terrestrial remote imaging techniques, specifically LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) and digital stereo-photogrammetry, are widely proven and accepted for the mapping of geological structure and monitoring of mass movements. The use of such technologies can be limited, however: LiDAR generally by the cost of acquisition, and stereo-photogrammetry by the tradeoff between possible resolution within the scene versus the spatial extent of the coverage. The objective of this research is to test a hybrid gigapixel photogrammetry method, and investigate optimal equipment configurations for use in mountainous terrain. The scope of the work included field testing at variable ranges, angles, resolutions, and in variable geological and climatologically settings. Original field work was carried out in Canada to test various lenses and cameras, and detailed field mapping excursions were conducted in Norway. The key findings of the research are example data generated by gigapixel photogrammetry, a detailed discussion on optimal photography equipment for gigapixel imaging, and implementations of the imaging possibilities for rockfall mapping. This paper represents a discussion about a new terrestrial 3-dimensional imaging technique. The findings of this research will directly benefit natural hazard mapping programs in which rockfall potential must be recorded and the use of standard 3-dimensional imaging techniques cannot be applied.

Sustainable prevention of obesity through integrated strategies: The SPOTLIGHT project’s conceptual framework and design

BackgroundThe prevalence of overweight and obesity in Europe is high. It is a major cause of the overall rates of many of the main chronic (or non communicable) diseases in this region and is characterized by an unequal socio-economic distribution within the population. Obesity is largely determined by modifiable lifestyle behaviours such as low physical activity levels, sedentary behaviour and consumption of energy dense diets. It is increasingly being recognised that effective responses must go beyond interventions that only focus on a specific individual, social or environmental level and instead embrace system-based multi-level intervention approaches that address both the individual and environment. The EU-funded project “sustainable prevention of obesity through integrated strategies” (SPOTLIGHT) aims to increase and combine knowledge on the wide range of determinants of obesity in a systematic way, and to identify multi-level intervention approaches that are strong in terms of Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM).Methods/DesignSPOTLIGHT comprises a series of systematic reviews on: individual-level predictors of success in behaviour change obesity interventions; social and physical environmental determinants of obesity; and on the RE-AIM of multi-level interventions. An interactive web-atlas of currently running multi-level interventions will be developed, and enhancing and impeding factors for implementation will be described. At the neighbourhood level, these elements will inform the development of methods to assess obesogenicity of diverse environments, using remote imaging techniques linked to geographic information systems. The validity of these methods will be evaluated using data from surveys of health and lifestyles of adults residing in the neighbourhoods surveyed. At both the micro- and macro-levels (national and international) the different physical, economical, political and socio-cultural elements will be assessed.DiscussionSPOTLIGHT offers the potential to develop approaches that combine an understanding of the obesogenicity of environments in Europe, and thus how they can be improved, with an appreciation of the individual factors that explain why people respond differently to such environments. Its findings will inform governmental authorities and professionals, academics, NGOs and private sector stakeholders engaged in the development and implementation of policies to tackle the obesity epidemic in Europe.

NONDESTRUCTIVE CONTROL OF POLYETHYLENE BLANKET INSULATION BY MEANS OF LOCK-IN THERMOGRAPHY

It is well known that cross-linking of polyethylene molecules into three-dimensional networks improves material properties; in particular, it enhances impact strength, thermal performance and chemical resistance. A product of good characteristics can be obtained if the manufacturing process is adequate and all involved machines are working properly. In this context, infrared thermography as a remote imaging technique may be a valuable tool to monitor the polyethylene cross-linking processes. Experimental tests were carried out on specimens without treatment and on specimens treated with either chemical processes or electron beam irradiation. Our results prove that lock-in thermography can detect local non-uniformity of material characteristics due to either the extrusion or cross-linking processes, and material differences linked to the different compound.

Using infrared thermography to analyze substrate and adhesive effects in bonded structures

This study was focused on the application of infrared thermography for assessment of technological procedures used to improve adhesion in bonded structures. Infrared thermography is a remote imaging technique which can be fruitfully exploited either for mapping surface temperature in temperature-dependent manufacturing processes, or for nondestructive evaluation of end products. Basically, for nondestructive evaluation two different approaches are possible: traditional pulse thermography (PT) and lock-in thermography (LT) and the use of both techniques is discussed. Several specimens were fabricated to simulate different bonded structures that are used mainly in the aerospace industry. Such bonded structures included: adhesively-bonded aluminum joints with or without surface treatment before bonding, glass-reinforced epoxy composites and carbon-reinforced epoxy composites with or without plasma treatment before bonding. Pulse and lock-in thermographies are both capable of visualizing inhomogeneities in bulk materials, as well as disbonding, delamination, flaws and foreign inclusions in bonded structures. The results show that lock-in thermography is also capable of evaluating the effect of adhesive thickness and the effects induced in bonded structures by substrate surface treatments.