Three-dimensional Scatter Research Articles

3D SLICED TOMOGRAPHIC INVERSE SCATTERING EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

The problem of imaging three-dimensional strong scatter- ers by means of a two-dimensional sliced tomographic reconstruction algorithm is dealt with. In particular, the focus of the paper is on the experimental validation of the involved inversion algorithm thanks to measurements collected in a controlled environment. A simple strategy exploiting reconstructions obtained at difierent time instants in order to detect slowly moving scatterers is also experimentally validated.

Impact of image reconstruction on phase analysis of ECG-gated myocardial perfusion SPECT studies

Phase analysis (SyncTool) has been developed to assess left-ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony from gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (GSPECT) studies. Conventionally, GSPECT data are reconstructed using filtered backprojection (FBP). This study is intended to determine the impact of various iterative reconstruction methods on SyncTool. Thirty consecutive patients, acquired using a Philips CardioMD system, were enrolled in this study. The GSPECT data were reconstructed using FBP, maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM), MLEM with three-dimensional resolution recovery (Astonish), MLEM with Vantage attenuation correction (AC), and MLEM with Vantage AC and three-dimensional Monte Carlo-based scatter correction (ACSC), respectively. The reconstructed data were then submitted to SyncTool to measure LV dyssynchrony (phase standard deviation and histogram bandwidth). The paired t-test was used to compare the LV dyssynchrony indices given by MLEM, Astonish, AC, and ACSC, respectively, with those given by the FBP. No statistical significance was observed for any comparison between iterative reconstruction methods and the FBP. Reconstruction methods have insignificant impact on the LV dyssynchrony indices, indicating that the standard FBP reconstruction is sufficient for accurate phase analysis, supporting the widespread clinical use of SyncTool in measuring LV dyssynchrony.

Spectrum spatial structure characteristic analysis of remote sensing alteration information and interference factors

Based on the statistical characteristics of remote sensing data, the spatial geometric structure characteristics of spectral data and distribution of background, interference and alteration information in characteristic space were researched through the analysis of two-dimensional and three-dimensional scatter diagrams. The results indicate that the hyper-space of remote sensing multi-data aggregation belongs to low-dimensional geometric structure, i.e. hyperplane form, and anomalous point groups including alteration information usually dissociate out of hyperplane. Scatter diagrams of remote sensing data band are mainly presented as two distribution forms of single-ellipse and dual-ellipse. Clarifying the relations of three objects of background, disturbance and alteration information in remote sensing images provides an important technical thought and guidance for accurately detecting and extracting remote sensing alteration information.

Radiography simulation based on point-kernel model and dose buildup factors

Three-dimensional point-kernel multiple scatter model for radiography simulation, based on dose X-ray buildup factors, is proposed and validated to Monte Carlo simulation. This model embraces nonuniform attenuation in object of imaging (patient body tissue). Photon multiple scattering is treated as in the point-kernel integration gamma ray shielding problems via scatter voxels. First order Compton scattering is described by means of Klein-Nishina formula. Photon multiple scattering is accounted by using dose buildup factors. The proposed model is convenient in those situations where more exact techniques, like Monte Carlo, are not time consuming acceptable.

Dreidimensionale Scatterplotanalyse zur Risikoeinschätzung für fetale Aneuploidien

First trimester screening (FTS) according to Nicolaides is now a worldwide established method for prenatal aneuloidy screening. An improvement was achieved by the "Advanced First Trimester Screening" (AFS). It was the aim of the current study to set up scatter plots from nuchal translucency (NT), Papp-A and fbeta-hCG, to derive likelihood ratios therefrom and to apply them to a test collective. We wanted to examine whether or nor the test performance of FTS could further be improved. In a multicentre study 10 136 singleton pregnancies were recruited. Risk assessment for the presence of aneuploidies was performed by the Pia Fetal Database (PIA). In addition, all data were recalculated by the AFS module of the online platform www.firsttrimester.net . In a third step, a newly developed algorithm was utilised, in which the foetal parameters DeltaNT, Papp-A and fbeta-hCG were put into a three-dimensional scatter plot. The surrounding volume was segmentally divided and for each space the relation of the healthy to the affected foetuses found therein was determined. Furthermore, for all participiants of this study, the likelihood ratios were examinied at the segment according to the currently measured values. This method is designated as AFS-3D. Within the observed fetuses, 86 cases with aneuploidy were detected. By appropriate choice of the cut-off the sensitivities were found to be 83 % (PIA and AFS) and 82 % (AFS-3D), respectively, and do not differ significantly from each other. The specificity could be improved from 94 % (PIA) to 96 % (AFS) and was further advanced to 98 % by the AFS-3D method. At the same time the false positive rate was lowered from 654 (PIA) to 397 (AFS) and 228 (AFS-3D) cases, respectively. By means of the new AFS-3D method the same count of diseased fetuses was detected compared with prior screening tests. Simultaneously, expectant mothers were spared from unnecessary invasive diagnostics in 65 % of the cases. The choice of an altered cut-off or other volume shapes are feasible and should be examined in further studies.

Validation of immuno-laser capture microdissection coupled with quantitative RT-PCR to probe blood–brain barrier gene expression in situ

Laser capture microdissection (LCM) holds great potential for analyzing gene expression profiles in situ. Most recently, this laboratory employed a novel immunostain-based LCM protocol (immuno-LCM) to selectively retrieve brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) from intimately associated perivascular cells. However, before this protocol can be confidently coupled to downstream analytical platforms, it must be demonstrated that any variability associated with it is minimal, so as not to obscure data interpretation. As various factors could contribute to variability, this study focused on determining whether technical inconsistency and/or biological diversity of sample populations, played such a role. Specifically, two separate immuno-LCM-derived BMEC samples derived from adjacent tissue sections of a single mouse (to detect only technical variability), and from analogous tissue sections of three different mice (to detect technical and biological variability) were compared for their relative expression of 16 genes, using quantitative-RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Both significant linear and rank-order correlations were observed between different sections from the same animal, underscoring lack of technical variability in this LCM application. Furthermore, a three-dimensional scatter plot of gene expression profiles from the three animals was linear, and ANOVA showed absence of statistically significant differences between any of the animals, confirming lack of biological variability. These findings argue that immuno-LCM coupled to qRT-PCR affords a reproducible means to assay gene expression in situ.

A 3D point-kernel multiple scatter model for parallel-beam SPECT based on a gamma-ray buildup factor

A three-dimensional (3D) point-kernel multiple scatter model for point spread function (PSF) determination in parallel-beam single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), based on a dose gamma-ray buildup factor, is proposed. This model embraces nonuniform attenuation in a voxelized object of imaging (patient body) and multiple scattering that is treated as in the point-kernel integration gamma-ray shielding problems. First-order Compton scattering is done by means of the Klein–Nishina formula, but the multiple scattering is accounted for by making use of a dose buildup factor. An asset of the present model is the possibility of generating a complete two-dimensional (2D) PSF that can be used for 3D SPECT reconstruction by means of iterative algorithms. The proposed model is convenient in those situations where more exact techniques are not economical. For the proposed model's testing purpose calculations (for the point source in a nonuniform scattering object for parallel beam collimator geometry), the multiple-order scatter PSF generated by means of the proposed model matched well with those using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Discrepancies are observed only at the exponential tails mostly due to the high statistic uncertainty of MC simulations in this area, but not because of the inappropriateness of the model.

Teaching: the role of active manipulation of three-dimensional scatter plots in understanding the concept of confounding.

In teaching epidemiology, confounding is a difficult topic. The authors designed active learning objects (LO) based on manipulable three-dimensional (3D) plots to facilitate understanding of confounding. The 3D LOs help illustrate of how confounding can occur, how it generates bias and how to adjust for it. For the development of the LOs, guidelines were formulated based on epidemiology and theories of instructional design. These included integrating the conceptual and empirical aspects: the causal relationships believed to be operating in the study population (conceptual aspect) and data-oriented associations (empirical aspect). Other guidelines based on theories of instructional design included: actively engage the students, use visual methods when possible, and motivate the students about the importance of the topic. Students gave the method strong positive evaluations. Experts in epidemiology agreed that the 3D LOs apply generally accepted scientific views on confounding. Based on their experiences, the authors think that the 3D plots can be useful addition in the teaching of confounding. The article includes links and a downloadable file that provide a demonstration of the 3D LO-based teaching materials.

ActiveGraph: A digital library visualization tool

ActiveGraph is an information visualization tool designed to provide users with a concise, customizable view of objects in a digital library. A set of digital library objects is represented as a data set in a two- or three-dimensional scatter plot. The data set can represent any digital library objects in any medium: books, journals, papers, images, Web resources, or even entire databases. Since ActiveGraph is intended for use in the context of digital libraries, data attributes consist for the most part of metadata fields such as title, author, date of publication, and number of citations. Data attributes are mapped to six visual attributes of the scatter plot: the X-, Y-, and Z-axes, color, size, and shape. The metadata for a selected data point are displayed in a control panel on the right-hand side of the screen. Users can edit the metadata and even add new metadata fields. Thus ActiveGraph allows users to both view and customize the contents of a library. Because of its flexibility in handling digital library objects and metadata of different types, ActiveGraph can be used in a variety of digital library applications. In this paper, we describe two: LibGraph, which is a visualization of a collaborative library, and CiteGraph, which is a visualization of citation statistics. Both applications were designed for use by scientists and engineers, for whom scatter plots are familiar and intuitive visualizations.

Identification of Staphylococcus aureus infections in hospital environment: electronic nose based approach

An electronic nose (e-nose), the Cyrano Sciences’ Cyranose 320 (C-320), comprising an array of 32 polymer carbon black composite sensors has been used to identify two species of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, namely methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) responsible for ear nose and throat (ENT) infections when present in standard agar solution in the hospital environment. C-320 e-nose has also been used to identify coagulase-negative staphylococci (C-NS) in the hospital environment. Swab samples were collected from the infected areas of the ENT patients’ ear, nose and throat regions. Gathered data were a very complex mixture of different chemical compounds. An innovative object-oriented data clustering approach was investigated for these groups of S. aureus data by combining the principal component analysis (PCA) based three-dimensional scatter plot, Fuzzy C Means (FCM) and self-organizing map (SOM) network. Using these three data clustering algorithms simultaneously better ‘classification’ of three bacteria subclasses were represented. Then three supervised classifiers, namely multi-layer perceptron (MLP), probabilistic neural network (PNN) and radial basis function network (RBF), were used to classify the three classes. A comparative evaluation of the classifiers was conducted for this application. The best results suggest that we are able to identify three bacteria subclasses with up to 99.69% accuracy with the application of the RBF network along with C-320. This type of bacteria data analysis and feature extraction is very difficult. But we can conclude that this preliminary study proves that e-nose based approach can provide very strong solution for identifying S. aureus infections in hospital environment and early detection.

Automatic beam angle selection in IMRT planning using genetic algorithm

The selection of suitable beam angles in external beam radiotherapy is at present generally based upon the experience of the human planner. The requirement to automatically select beam angles is particularly highlighted in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), in which a smaller number of modulated beams is hoped to be used, in comparison with conformal radiotherapy. It has been proved by many researchers that the selection of suitable beam angles is most valuable for a plan with a small number of beams (⩽5). In this paper an efficient method is presented to investigate how to improve the dose distributions by selecting suitable coplanar beam angles. In our automatic beam angle selection (ABAS) algorithm, the optimal coplanar beam angles correspond to the lowest objective function value of the dose distributions calculated using the intensity-modulated maps of this group of candidate beams. Due to the complexity of the problem and the large search space involved, the selection of beam angles and the optimization of intensity maps are treated as two separate processes and implemented iteratively. A genetic algorithm (GA) incorporated with an immunity operation is used to select suitable beam angles, and a conjugate gradient (CG) method is used to quickly optimize intensity maps for each selected beam combination based on a dose-based objective function. A pencil-beam-based three-dimensional (3D) full scatter convolution (FSC) algorithm is employed for the dose calculation. Two simulated cases with obvious optimal beam angles are used to verify the validity of the presented technique, and a more complicated case simulating a prostate tumour and two clinical cases are employed to test the efficiency of ABAS. The results show that ABAS is valid and efficient and can improve the dose distributions within a clinically acceptable computation time.

A multiple voxel model for scattered gamma radiation in pipe flow

A multiple voxel model for scattered gamma radiation in pipe flow has beendeveloped. The model has been used in the development of the dual modalitydensitometry measurement principle. In this measurement principle the gasvolume fraction and the water salinity of an oil/water/gas pipe flow are measuredby combining measurements of the intensity of scattered and transmittedradiation. The model has been applied to two different measurement geometries.The purpose of the model is to predict the intensity of scattered radiation at adetector position and to produce a three-dimensional spatial sensitivity map ofthe scatter generation. This is done by dividing the measurement volume intosmall cubic volumes; voxels. The contribution to the measured intensity ofscattered radiation from each voxel is calculated and integrated for all voxels. Themodel has been verified by comparing with experiments and Monte Carlosimulations.

Investigating Data with Andrews Plots

Most data that are collected are multivariate in nature, and much of them can be regarded as continuous. In the initial stages of analysis, graphic displays can be used to explore the data, but for multivariate data, traditional histograms or two-or three-dimensional scatter plots may miss complex relationships that exist in the data set. A number of methods for graphically displaying multivariate data have been suggested. However, these are not generally available in major statistical packages and are thus largely not used by researchers. One of the most appealing methods is that of Andrews Plots. This article discusses the potential uses of Andrews Plots and makes them accessible to users through the production of a freely available add-in for Microsoft Excel. The use of Andrews Plots is demonstrated by using data from the 2001 Parliamentary General Election in the United Kingdom.

Multidimensional data visualization.

Historically, data visualization has been limited primarily to two dimensions (e.g., histograms or scatter plots). Available software packages (e.g., Data Desk 6.1, MatLab 6.1, SAS-JMP 4.04, SPSS 10.0) are capable of producing three-dimensional scatter plots with (varying degrees of) user interactivity. We constructed our own data visualization application with the Visualization Toolkit (Schroeder, Martin, & Lorensen, 1998) and Tcl/Tk to display multivariate data through the application of glyphs (Ware, 2000). A glyph is a visual object onto which many data parameters may be mapped, each with a different visual attribute (e.g., size or color). We used our Multi-Dimensional data Viewer to explore data from several psycholinguistic experiments. The graphical interface provides flexibility when users dynamically explore the multidimensional image rendered from raw experimental data. We highlight advantages of multidimensional data visualization and consider some potential limitations.

Determination of equivalent photon fields through integrated 1D convolution kernels

The equivalent fields concept has been studied using a variation of the convolution dose calculation method. This allows a better understanding of this classic, widely-used concept and its relation to modern dose calculation techniques. Total scatter energy contribution as a function of field size was computed by radially integrating three-dimensional point interaction scatter kernels representing cobalt-60, 6 MV and 24 MV photon beam spectra and utilizing reciprocity. For arbitrarily shaped treatment fields, equivalent square or circular fields are chosen based on a conservation of energy approach. Associated depth dose curves are generated via convolution of primary fluence with pre-integrated scatter kernels. For the energy spectra used, the resulting equivalent circle to square relationships agree with the empirical equation recommended in the British Journal of Radiology Supplement 25 (BJR 25) (to within 2%). Tables converting rectangular fields to equivalent squares and circles have been generated and most (~63%) of the equivalent square (and circular) field sizes are within 0.5 cm of the BJR 25 tables. This agreement provides an explanation for the successful use of a single relationship for all therapeutic energies. Fields of different shape will be approximately equivalent only when the scatter kernels are similar in shape and total energy content. The equivalent field concept inevitably results in an optimal match of depth dose curves at a single depth only. These ideas are demonstrated for a highly elongated (2 × 30 cm2) field and its equivalent square field. The invalidity of the equivalent fields concept off-axis is demonstrated by examining predicted dose deposition for several points in and around a 15 × 15 cm2 cobalt-60 beam. Modern convolution techniques are shown to offer a unique approach to the classic equivalent fields method. The appropriate use of the BJR 25 equivalent fields tables is recommended for all photon energies.

A projector/backprojector with slice-to-slice blurring for efficient three-dimensional scatter modeling.

Scatter correction is an important factor in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Many scatter correction techniques, such as multiple-window subtraction and intrinsic modeling with iterative algorithms, have been under study for many years. Previously, we developed an efficient slice-to-slice blurring technique to model attenuation and system geometric response in a projector/backprojector pair, which was used in an ML-EM algorithm to reconstruct SPECT data. This paper proposes a projector/backprojector that models the three-dimensional (3-D) first-order scatter in SPECT, also using an efficient slice-to-slice blurring technique. The scatter response is estimated from a known nonuniform attenuation distribution map. It is assumed that the probability of detection of a first-order scattered photon from a photon that is emitted in a given source voxel and scattered in a given scatter voxel is proportional to the attenuation coefficient value at that voxel. Monte Carlo simulations of point sources and an MCAT torso phantom were used to verify the accuracy of the proposed projector/backprojector model. An experimental Jaszczak torso/cardiac phantom SPECT study was also performed. For a 64 x 64 x 64 image volume, it took 8.7 s to perform each iteration per slice on a Sun ULTRA Enterprise 3000 (167 MHz, 1 Gbyte RAM) computer, when modeling 3-D scatter, attenuation, and system geometric response functions. The main advantage of the proposed method is its easy implementation and the possibility of performing reconstruction in clinically acceptable time.

Matched-field evaluation of acoustic scattering from Arctic ice

This paper investigates the three-dimensional acoustic scatter from large-scale features under the Arctic ice cover using field data collected during the CEAREX experiments in April 1989. The analysis involves the identification and isolation of the features under the ice canopy, and the simultaneous evaluation of their spatial scattering characteristics. A two-step matched-field processing (MFP) algorithm is used to solve this complex multiparameter estimation problem. Using one large (∼1200 m) and four short (∼300 m) vertical line arrays, and a crossed horizontal hydrophone array in a matched-field processing scheme, beamforming under the ice sheet was performed to obtain an approximate map of the rough interface between ice and water. This analysis yields estimates for scattering strengths for frequencies ranging between 25 and 105 Hz. It is shown that scatter from the elastic ice surface is a frequency selective phenomenon. This beamformed map is then used to isolate a single discrete scatterer, and subsequently, its scattering characteristics are evaluated. Simultaneously, an idealized environmental model is developed to compute scatter from a canonical protuberance. Matching the theoretical results from the analytical model with the experimental data, which consists of contributions from multiple scatterers, yields the statistics of the distribution of ice protuberances.

Three-dimensional scatter diagrams: application to surface analytical microscopy

Multivariate statistical techniques, such as principal component analysis and two-dimensional scatter diagrams, are increasingly being applied to multispectral images in analytical electron and X-ray microscopy. Combining data from different sources can often reveal more information than would be obtained if each image was processed separately. Three-dimensional data manipulation and visualisation tools are gaining popularity in many scientific fields. However, three-dimensional scatter diagrams are not yet being exploited much in analytical microscopy. This paper demonstrates the advantages of three-dimensional scatter diagrams and interactive correlation partitioning. An introduction to the methodology is included. Examples using multi-element Auger and topographic images from the York multispectral analytical electron microscope (MULSAM) are presented. Implementation issues are discussed briefly to help other workers who may wish to investigate the techniques. Some areas of future work are suggested.

Expression of A/B zeins in single and double maize endosperm mutants

Zeins, the major endosperm proteins in maize (Zea mays L.), are deficient in the essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan. Some mutant genes, like opaque-2 (o2) and floury-2 (fl2), reduce the levels of A- and B-zeins, thereby improving maize's nutritional value. Other mutants, such as amylose-extender (ae), floury-1 (fl1), soft starch (h), dull-1 (du), shrunken-1 (sh1), sugary-1 (su1), sugary-2 (su2), and waxy (wx), primarily affect starch composition, but also alter zein composition. We undertook this study to examine the effects of some of these mutant genes on A/B-zein composition and to study the interactions of these genes in double-mutant combinations. Endosperm prolamins were extracted from inbred B37, ten near-isogenic single mutants (ae, du, fl1, fl2, h, o2, sh1, su1, su2, and wx), and most double-mutant combinations. Zeins in these extracts were fractionated by reversed-phase highperformance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) into 22-24 peaks. Of the resulting 22 major peaks the areas of 16 (per milligram endosperm) were significantly affected by individual mutant genes relative to the zein composition of the normal inbred. In combination these genes exhibited significant epistatic interactions in regulating the expression of individual A/B zeins. Epistatic interactions were judged to be significant when the amount of a peak in a double mutant differed from the averages for the peak in the two respective single mutants. The o2 gene, alone and in combination with other mutant genes, significantly decreased the amounts of many individual zeins. The effect of the o2 gene was the greatest of all the genes examined. Various clustering techniques were used to see if mutant effects could be grouped; among these was principal component analysis, a multivariate statistical technique that analyzes all peak sizes simultaneously. Three-dimensional scatter graphs were constructed based on the first three principal components. For the single mutants, these showed no relationships to gene actions; for the double mutants, however, this technique showed that four single mutants, o2, sh1, su1 and su2, had the greatest effects on zein composition when combined with each other and with the remaining six single mutants.

Testing hypotheses on dioptric power.

Transformation of dioptric power from the conventional clinical representation as sphere, cylinder, and axis to the vectorial representation known as the vector h makes it possible to apply formal multivariate statistical methods to dioptric power. Methods are described for testing hypotheses on mean dioptric power and on variance-covariance of dioptric power for one and more than one population. A number of numerical examples are presented. Attention is drawn to the underlying assumption of multivariate normality, to other limitations of the methods, and to pitfalls in the use of the methods. Three-dimensional scatter plots, shown by means of stereo-pair drawings, are useful for detecting departures from normality.