A semi-automated hybrid algorithm for accurate detection and counting of chemically etched tracks

In this paper, we present an accurate and comprehensive semi-automated algorithm for detection and counting the chemically etched tracks on polycarbonate nuclear Track detectors. The proposed algorithm consists of two main phases: a preprocessing phase for image preparation and quality improvement. It uses a format conversion into gray-scale image and contrast enhancement procedure. The contrast enhancement procedure employs the first-order fuzzy moment of the image and the Sugeno class of fuzzy complements to maximize the parametric indices of fuzziness of the image. In one feature extraction phase, two intrinsic characteristics of tracks are defined and formulated as topological feature (TF) and chromatic feature (CF). TF refers to tracks shape and geometry which are characterized and quantized by calculating the local Gray Level Spatial Correlation histogram of the tracks and CF refers to the color intensity difference of the tracks borders and tracks centric areas. The CF characterizes this difference specified to the tracks. After the feature extraction phase, the algorithm enters the detection and counting phase in which the fuzzy sets of background, noise (including small objects, notches, etc.) and track are constructed. Detected objects are then characterized according to their membership values to the fuzzy sets. The algorithm is designed in order to be applicable for different forms of tracks and track counting systems. Accuracy, linearity, sensitivity to the input parameters and comprehensibility of the method are validated in the simulation section.     

A new method for measuring tracks density in CR-39 detectors by compensating for overlapping tracks

CR-39 nuclear track detectors have been used as an efficient radon monitoring system. Exposing these detectors to radon would result in tracks where ever particles hit the surface of the detector. Natural radioactivity of alpha particles (radon concentration) is measured based on the count of these tracks on CR-39 detector. Counting these tracks by eye is not an easy task especially when the density of the tracks is high. Automated tracks counting systems are attractive solution for this problem. However, as the density of tracks increases the accuracy of these methods deteriorates. This is due to the fact that overlapped tracks are counted as one track during the segmentation process resulting in an underestimation of the real count of the tracks. This work proposes a new image processing based automated approach for tracks counting. This new automated approach solves the problem of counting overlapping tracks by approximating their number and then adjusting the final count of tracks by compensating for those uncounted tracks. The experimental results show that the proposed approach reduces the counting percentage error from 5.64% to 2.54% by solving the counting problem of the overlapped tracks.     

Automation system for optical counting of nuclear tracks

An automation system consisting of the microscope, video camera and Pentium PC with frame recorder was created. The system provides counting of nuclear tracks on the SSNTD surface with a resolution of 752 × 582 points, determination of the surface area and main axis of the track. The pattern recognition program was developed for operation in Windows 3.1 (or higher) ensuring a convenient interface with the user. In a comparison of the results on automatic track counting with the more accurate hand mode it was shown that the program enables the tracks to be detected even on images with a rather high noise level. It ensures a high accuracy of track counting being comparable with the accuracy of manual counting for densities of tracks in the range of up to 2·10⁵ tracks/cm². The automatic system was applied in the experimental investigation of uranium and transuranium elements.     

Alternative procedure for LR 115 chemical etching and alpha tracks counting

An improved procedure for etching and analysis of alpha tracks induced in LR-115 detectors is proposed with the advantages of simplicity and its relatively low cost. A new type of detector holder was designed to etch and rinse efficiently up to 100 detectors. We develop a simple and reliable methodology with a semiautomatic track count using a Nikon digital camera coupled to a PC and employing software “SCION” freely available on the Internet. Track images are binarized prior the application of software “SCION” so that original track shapes are not distorted, space resolution is improved and track counting has low dependence on focus and illumination level. High discrimination for tracks is achieved when marks and rips perturb the detector surface. An image generator of nuclear tracks is included to study the effect of track overlapping effect on counting.     

Statistical and Visual Analysis of Audio,Text, and Image Features for Multi-Modal Music Genre Recognition

We present a multi-modal genre recognition framework that considers the modalities audio, text, and image by features extracted from audio signals, album cover images, and lyrics of music tracks. In contrast to pure learning of features by a neural network as done in the related work, handcrafted features designed for a respective modality are also integrated, allowing for higher interpretability of created models and further theoretical analysis of the impact of individual features on genre prediction. Genre recognition is performed by binary classification of a music track with respect to each genre based on combinations of elementary features. For feature combination a two-level technique is used, which combines aggregation into fixed-length feature vectors with confidence-based fusion of classification results. Extensive experiments have been conducted for three classifier models (Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest) and numerous feature combinations. The results are presented visually, with data reduction for improved perceptibility achieved by multi-objective analysis and restriction to non-dominated data. Feature- and classifier-related hypotheses are formulated based on the data, and their statistical significance is formally analyzed. The statistical analysis shows that the combination of two modalities almost always leads to a significant increase of performance and the combination of three modalities in several cases.     

An automatic image analysis system for the evaluation of dielectric track detectors

The automatic image analysis system for scanning solid state nuclear track detectors is designed by utilizing a microdensitometer. The control of the entire system as well as the data analysis are accomplished with the IBM PC computer equipped with a FrameGrabber. The system counts the number of tracks and measures their geometrical parameters. The usage of the system is illustrated by counting rhombic tracks in mica detectors which were used for the investigation of the fusion–fission reaction ¹²C+ ²⁰⁸Pb.     

Statistical variance reduction analysis in counting the highly overlapping nuclear tracks

In this paper, a statistical analysis is performed on counting the highly overlapping tracks. As the track density and tracks overlapping increase, the statistical error of track counting raises. An upper limit for the uncertainty of the track counting is found. The approximated number of tracks is computed based on the measured number of objects, approximated ratio of overlapping cases, measured number of tracks in the overlapping cases and calculated uncertainty. The approximation of the number of tracks obtained through both calculation and measurement processes is validated comparing with the real number of manually counted tracks and the uncertainty is calculated for each comparison.     

Supervised nuclear track detection of CR-39 detectors by cellular automata

In this paper, cellular automata are used to detect the nuclear tracks in the track images captured from the surface of CR-39 detectors. Parameters of the automaton as the states, neighborhood, rules and quality parameters are defined optimally for the track image data set under analysis. The presented method is a supervised computational algorithm which comprises a rule definition phase as the learning procedure. Parameter optimization is also performed to adapt the algorithm to the data set used.     

Estimate of etched tracks by optical method and spark counting

Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (SSNTD) are commonly used for long term measurements of radon, thoron and progeny concentrations. In the present study, we compared the optical counting method and the spark counting technique for counting the alpha tracks on LR 115 track detector films. The paper discusses the various parameters that are innate in the process. More than 300 films were counted by both optical microscope and spark counter and the results are compared. The overall results show that the tracks obtained by spark counting are marginally less compared to the optical measurement. A linear fit of the data gives a slope less that one, which indicates that both the methods are almost in good agreement for counting the tracks when the track density is low. At higher track densities the spark counter gives an underestimation with respect to actual number of tracks formed, which could be corrected using a relation obtained between the tracks measured by optical method and spark counting.      

A new method to measure track density and to differentiate nuclear tracks in CR-39 detectors

An alternative method to count and differentiate nuclear tracks in SSNTD is described. The method is based on the analysis of Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of coherent light produced by tracks of an etched SSNT detector. The diffraction pattern was also simulated by applying computational Fourier Optics. The comparison between results obtained by simulation and by the theoretical model gave satisfactory concordance. The proposed method is capable of differentiating tracks in CR-39 by their diameter and energies. The diameter resolution ranged between 8% and 25%, while the counting error was less than 15%. The discriminating ability to distinguish genuine etched tracks from defects and background anomalies is demonstrated. The incidence angle did not influence significantly the total count and the track parameter measuring capability. Errors due to track overlapping are only significant for track densities higher than 3×10⁵ cm⁻².     

SHI induced nano track polymer filters and characterization

Swift heavy ion irradiation produces damage in polymers in the form of latent tracks. Latent tracks can be enlarged by etching it in a suitable etchant and thus nuclear track etch membrane can be formed for gas permeation / purification in particular for hydrogen where the molecular size is very small. By applying suitable and controlled etching conditions well defined tracks can be formed for specific applications of the membranes. After etching gas permeation method is used for characterizing the tracks. In the present work polycarbonate (PC) of various thickness were irradiated with energetic ion beam at Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), New Delhi. Nuclear tracks were modified by etching the PC in 6N NaOH at 60 (±1) °C from both sides for different times to produce track etch membranes. At critical etch time the etched pits from both the sides meet a rapid increase in gas permeation was observed. Permeability of hydrogen and carbon dioxide has been measured in samples etched for different times. The latent tracks produced by SHI irradiation in the track etch membranes show enhancement of free volume of the polymer. Nano filters are separation devices for the mixture of gases, different ions in the solution and isotopes and isobars separations. The polymer thin films with controlled porosity finding it self as best choice. However, the permeability and selectivity of these polymer based membrane filters are very important at the nano scale separation. The Swift Heavy Ion (SHI) induced nuclear track etched polymeric films with controlled etching have been attempted and characterized as nano scale filters.      

Radiography with Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors

The investigation of localisation is counted among the typical and important applications of nuclear track recorders. In this paper, after a comparison of the most important features of nuclear track recorders a system of their applications is given. On the grounds of information obtained from the tracks, eight groups of applications can be distinguished. One of them represents the four geometrical situations of the different types of radiography.

Taking radiography into account in the wider sense, as an investigation of localisation, then several cases of special localization tasks are known, which can be classified into two further groups of applications of track detectors. A survey of the applications of solid slate nuclear track detectors for all kinds of radiography is given on the basis of this definition of localisation experiments.     

基于BP—LVQ神经网络的纸币新旧识别算法研究

针对纸币图像的特点,在一个系统同时提取两组表示纸币新旧的图像特征,采用级联的组合方式,设计了一种新的BP—LVQ神经网络组合分类器对纸币进行新旧识别。经过实验对比验证,该方法有效提高15％的系统识别率,可应用于清分系统的纸币新旧识别。     

Observations of fission-tracks in zircons by atomic force microscope

The fission-track (FT) method is a dating technique based on the observation of damage (tracks) by spontaneous fission of ²³⁸U left in a mineral. The date is calculated from the track density and the uranium concentration in the mineral. This is possible because the number of tracks is a function of uranium concentration and time since the start of track accumulation. Usually, the number of tracks is counted under an optical microscope after etching (chemical expansion of a track). However, as FT density per unit area rises, it becomes difficult to count the number of tracks. This is due to the fact that FTs overlap one another and are unable to be readily distinguished. This research examines the potential of atomic force microscope (AFM) for FT dating using zircons, which are likely to show higher FT density than other minerals due to their high U concentrations.To obtain an AFM image for a sample prepared for FT dating, removing the static electricity of the sample is essential to avoid an unexpected movement of the cantilever. A grain should be wider than about 30 μm to bring the cantilever on the mineral surface. Polishing with a fine grained compound is very important. There is not much difference in sharpness between images by AC mode (scanning with vibrating cantilever at a constant cycle) and Contact mode (scanning with the cantilever always in close contact with the surface). To confirm how tracks can be identified with the AFM, an AFM image was compared with an image obtained with the optical microscope. When change in the number of tracks and their shapes were observed through stepwise etching, the track expanded as the etching time increased. In addition, the etching rate was slower for large tracks than those for small tracks. This implied that the AFM can be used to observe etching of zircons with different degrees of nuclear fission damage. A track that could not be seen with the optical microscope due to insufficient etching could be observed by AFM methods, indicating the possibility of FT dating with high track densities using AFM after relatively short etching periods.     

Neutron response study using poly allyl diglycol carbonate

The results of an experimental work aimed at improving the performance of the CR-39 nuclear track detector for neutron dosimetry applications are reported. A set of CR-39 plastic detectors was exposed to ²⁵²Cf neutron source, which has the emission rate of 0.68 × 10⁸ s⁻¹, and neutron dose equivalent rate 1 m apart from the source is equal to 3.8 mrem/h. The detection of fast neutrons performed with CR-39 detector foils, subsequent chemical etching and evaluation of the etched tracks by an automatic track counting system was studied. It is found that the track density increases with the increase of neutron dose and etching time. The track density in the detector is directly proportional to the neutron fluence producing the recoil tracks, provided the track density is in the countable range. This fact plays an important role in determining the equivalent dose in the field of neutron dosimetry. These results are compared with previous work. It is found that our results are in good agreement with their investigations.      

Nuclear tracks: present and future perspectives

Current research work related to the development of nuclear tracks comprising: (i) fundamental principles (nuclear track physics and chemistry, as well as development of track detectors and the relevant hard- and software), (ii) development of nuclear instruments and methods (etch track radiometers for ions, neutrons and cosmic rays, radon monitoring devices, radiography and fission track dating) is briefly outlined. The paper concentrates on a literature survey of applications of nuclear tracks in (iii) physical sciences (high-energy physics, nuclear physics and earth sciences), (iv) biomedical sciences (radiation protection, environment, cancer therapy), and (v) technological sciences (materials, nano-technology and nuclear technology).

Presently about 350 papers per year are being published in this field. Increased activity is noted in ion track technology (track-made membranes, modern nano-tech methodology including biological and biological-like samples, nano-electrode bio-electrochemistry, bio-magnetic assays and probes). New applications of nuclear tracks in fundamental (possibility of the detection of neutron quantum states in a gravitational field, nucleus–nucleus interactions, search for new chemical super-heavy elements) and applied science (precise measurements of the behaviour of radiation in human tissue in connection with of long term space missions and treatment of cancer) are surveyed, and possible research in the next decades is presented and examined in this review paper.     

一种基于图像特征和神经网络的苹果图像分割算法

苹果识别是开发苹果采摘机器人的关键环节,利用图像处理技术和神经网络分类器探索苹果图像分割算法.从苹果树图片中选取苹果图像样本和背景网像样本.分别计算这两类图像样本的颜色特征和纹理特征.颜色特征的计算基于RGB色彩模型,纹理特征的计算基于灰度共生矩阵.选取适当的颜色特征(R/B值)和纹理特征(对比度值和相关性值)作为输入节点,利用反向传播神经网络分类器建模,输出值是一个O～1之间的计算值.通过阈值将输出结果分类为苹果或背景.试验结果表明,该算法正确率大于87.6%,对光照的影响不敏感,是一利较为实用的苹果分割算法.     

Computer simulation of the processes in a CR-39 neutron detector

The application of CR-39 as a fast neutron dosimeter, based on counting elastic recoil nuclei tracks of H, C and O nuclei in a geometrically matched pair of detectors, was studied. A computer simulation of the processes during the exposure of a detector pair to neutrons is presented. The energy and spatial distribution of the recoil nuclei was calculated with the MCNP 4B program package. On the basis of this distribution, a Monte-Carlo procedure for the generation of latent tracks in the CR-39 detectors was run. Additionally, a procedure for calculation of the chemical track etching for revealing the visible track parameters was performed to obtain the detector response.     

Modelling of continuous and discontinuous floating slab tracks in a tunnel using a periodic approach

This paper presents a periodic approach to couple a track and a tunnel-soil system of different periodicity. The periodicity of the track and the tunnel-soil system is exploited using the Floquet transform to efficiently formulate the problem in the frequency-wavenumber domain as well as to limit the discretization effort to a reference cell. The track and the tunnel-soil system are modelled as two separate systems of different periodicity and are coupled in the frequency-wavenumber domain. A coupled periodic finite element-boundary element method is used to model the tunnel-soil system, while a periodic finite element model or an analytical approach is used to model the track.A general analytical formulation to compute the response of three-dimensional periodic media that are excited by moving loads is discussed. It is shown that the response due to moving loads on the track can be calculated from the transfer function of the track-tunnel-soil system and the axle loads.A methodology for computing the transfer functions of the coupled track-tunnel-soil system as well as the computation of dynamic forces accounting for the interaction between the moving vehicle and the periodic track are described. The model accounts for quasi-static forces as well as dynamic forces due to parametric excitation and unevenness excitation.The methodology has been used to assess the vibration isolation efficiency of continuous and discontinuous floating slab tracks. It is concluded that both continuous and discontinuous floating slab tracks have a similar efficiency in the frequency range well above the isolation frequency of the slabs, which is usually higher than the slab passage frequency. In case of discontinuous slab tracks, the parametric excitation is found to be important, which results in a poorer performance of the track at low frequencies.     

Estimation of indoor radon, thoron and their progeny using twin cup dosemeters with solid-state nuclear track detectors in Digboi of Upper Assam

The seasonal variations of indoor radon, thoron and their progeny levels were studied in 20 houses situated in the oil-rich areas of Digboi of Upper Assam. Solid-state nuclear track detectors LR-115 type II were exposed using plastic twin chamber dosemeters to record tracks formed by the two gases and their progeny. Inhalation doses were found out using extracted equilibrium factors and ventilation rates. The random (counting) errors in track densities were determined.