High-frequency volume and boundary acoustic backscatter fluctuations in shallow water

Volume and boundary acoustic backscatter envelope fluctuations are characterized from data collected by the Toroidal Volume Search Sonar (TVSS), a 68 kHz cylindrical array capable of 360 degrees multibeam imaging in the vertical plane perpendicular to its axis. The data are processed to form acoustic backscatter images of the seafloor, sea surface, and horizontal and vertical planes in the volume, which are used to attribute nonhomogeneous spatial distributions of zooplankton, fish, bubbles and bubble clouds, and multiple boundary interactions to the observed backscatter amplitude statistics. Three component Rayleigh mixture probability distribution functions (PDFs) provided the best fit to the empirical distribution functions of seafloor acoustic backscatter. Sea surface and near-surface volume acoustic backscatter PDFs are better described by Rayleigh mixture or log-normal distributions, with the high density portion of the distributions arising from boundary reverberation, and the tails arising from nonhomogeneously distributed scatterers such as bubbles, fish, and zooplankton. PDF fits to the volume and near-surface acoustic backscatter data are poor compared to PDF fits to the boundary backscatter, suggesting that these data may be better described by mixture distributions with component densities from different parametric families. For active sonar target detection, the results demonstrate that threshold detectors which assume Rayleigh distributed envelope fluctuations will experience significantly higher false alarm rates in shallow water environments which are influenced by near-surface microbubbles, aggregations of zooplankton and fish, and boundary reverberation.     

Integrating 3D images using laboratory‐based micro X‐ray computed tomography and confocal X‐ray fluorescence techniques

The application of non‐destructive imaging to characterizing samples has become more important as the costs of samples increase. Imaging a sample via X‐ray techniques is preferable when altering or even touching the sample affects its properties, or when the sample is fielded after characterization. Two laboratory‐based X‐ray techniques used at Los Alamos include micro X‐ray computed tomography (MXCT) and confocal micro X‐ray fluorescence (confocal MXRF). Both methods create a 3D rendering of the sample non‐destructively. MXCT produces a high‐resolution (sub‐µm voxel) rendering of the sample based upon X‐ray absorption; the resulting model is a function of density and does not contain any elemental information. Confocal MXRF produces an elementally specific 3D rendering of the sample, but at a lower (30 × 30 × 65 µm) resolution. By combining data from these two techniques, scientists provided a more comprehensive method of analysis. We will describe a MATLAB routine written to render each of these data sets individually and/or within the same coordinate system. This approach is shown in the analysis of two samples: an integrated circuit surface mounted resistor and a machined piece of polystyrene foam. The samples chosen provide an opportunity to compare and contrast the two X‐ray techniques, identify their weaknesses and show how they are used in a complementary fashion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Monte Carlo PDF modelling of a turbulent natural-gas diffusion flame

A piloted turbulent natural-gas diffusion flame is investigated numerically using a 2D elliptic Monte Carlo algorithm to solve for the joint probability density function (PDF) of velocity and composition. Results from simulations are compared to detailed experimental data: measurements of temperature statistics, data on mean velocity and turbulence characteristics and data on OH. Conserved-scalar/constrained-equilibrium chemistry calculations were performed using three different models for scalar micro-mixing: the interaction by exchange with the mean (IEM) model, a coalescence/dispersion (C/D) model and a mapping closure model. All three models yield good agreement with the experimental data for the mean temperature. Temperature standard deviation and PDF shapes are generally predicted well by the C/D and mapping closure models, whereas the IEM model gives qualitatively incorrect results in parts of the domain. It is concluded that the choice of micro-mixing model can have a strong influence on the quality of the predictions. The same flame was also simulated using reduced chemical kinetics obtained from the intrinsic low-dimensional manifold (ILDM) approach. Comparison with the constrained-equilibrium results shows that the shape of the OH concentration profiles is recovered better in the ILDM simulation, and that the ILDM reduced chemical kinetics can correctly predict super-equilibrium OH.     

Approximation of joint PDFs by discrete distributions generated with Monte Carlo methods

A new method for the approximation of multivariate scalar probability density functions (PDFs) in turbulent reacting flow by means of a joint presumed discrete distribution (jPDD) is presented. The jPDDs can be generated with specified mean values and variances as well as covariances. Correlations between variables – e.g. fluctuating mixture fractions and/or reaction progress – can thereby be taken into account. In this way the new approach overcomes an important limitation of ordinary presumed PDF methods, where statistical independence between the variables is often assumed. Different methods are presented to generate discrete distributions, based either on biased random number generators or on mixing models familiar from PDF transport models.

The new approach is extensively validated on a turbulent flow configuration with simultaneous mixing and reaction. Large eddy simulation data as well as results from a transported PDF model are used for the validation of the jPDD approach. The comparison shows that in particular distributions generated with mixing models are able to predict mean reaction rates accurately. For the configuration considered, the neglect of correlations results in significant underestimation of reaction rates. Moreover it is found that higher statistical moments (e.g. the skewness) can influence reaction rates. The consequences for the generation of jPDDs are discussed.

In summary, the new jPDD model has the potential to be significantly more accurate than established presumed PDF methods, because correlations between fluctuating variables can be taken into account. At the same time, the new approach is nearly as efficient as standard presumed PDF formulations, since mean rates are computed in a pre-processing step and stored in look-up tables as a function of the first and second moments of the relevant variables.     

Improved wrist pannus volume measurement from contrast-enhanced MRI in rheumatoid arthritis using shuffle transform

BACKGROUND: Contrast-enhanced MRI is of value in assessing rheumatoid pannus in the hand, but the images are not always easy to quantitate. OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate an improved measurement of volume of enhancing pannus (VEP) in the hand in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: MR images of the hand and wrist were obtained for 14 patients with RA at 0, 1 and 13 weeks. Volume of enhancing pannus was measured on images created by subtracting precontrast T1-weighted images from contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images using a shuffle transformation technique. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) and 3D volume rendering of the images were used as a guide to identify the pannus and any contrast-enhanced veins. RESULT: Visualisation of pannus was much improved following the shuffle transform. Between 0 weeks and 1 week, the mean value of the within-subject coefficient of variation (CoV) was 0.13 and the estimated total CoV was 0.15. There was no evidence of significant increased variability within the 13-week interval for the complete sample of patients. CONCLUSION: Volume of enhancing pannus can be measured reproducibly in the rheumatoid hand using 3D contrast-enhanced MRI and shuffle transform.     

A method for calibrating the confocal volume of a confocal three-dimensional micro-x-ray fluorescence setup

The measurement of the confocal volume of a confocal three-dimensional micro-x-ray fluorescence(3 D-XRF) setup is a key step in the field of confocal 3 D-XRF analysis.With the development of x-ray facilities and optical devices,3 D-XRF analysis with a micro confocal volume will create a great potential for 2 D and 3 D microstructural analysis and accurate quantitative analysis.However,the classic measurement method of scanning metal foils of a certain thickness leads to inaccuracy.A method for calibrating the confocal volume is proposed in this paper.The new method is based on the basic content of the textbook,and the theoretical results and the feasibility are given in detail for the 3 D-XRF mono-chromatic x-ray condition and the poly-chromatic x-ray condition.We obtain a set of experimental confirmation using the polychromatic x-ray tube in the laboratory.It is proved that the sensitivity factor of the 3 D-XRF can be directly and accurately obtained in a real calibration process.     

A fractal-based 2D expansion method for multi-scale volume data visualization

Abstract  

Visualization of volume data is difficult to realize and control because the most common output device is a two-dimensional (2D) display and the most common input device is a mouse, which only allows 2D operation. For example, volume rendering projects the data structure onto a 2D image plane, but this type of view-dependent method gives rise to occlusion. In addition, 2D mouse operation does not allow direct selection of three-dimensional (3D) regions or coordinates. In this article, we propose a method that expands the octree structure of volume data onto a 2D plane. The proposed method uses the self-similarity of the fractal diagram and achieves multi-scale visualization of volume data in two dimensions. With this method, we can browse the entire domain of volume data without occlusion. For greater effectiveness, we combined the proposed method and existing 3D-based methods. Since each cell has a one-to-one correspondence with squares in the Sierpinski carpet, we can assign arbitrary 3D regions or positions by selecting the corresponding squares. This provides direct access to 3D regions and coordinates by 2D mouse operation. We propose some functions for interactive visualization and discuss how to exploit the advantages and lessen the disadvantages of the proposed method.     

复杂背景下彩色数字图像分割算法研究

为了提高复杂背景下彩色数字图像分割的准确率,减少噪声对图像处理的干扰,尽可能的缩短运行时间,需要对复杂背景下彩色数字图像分割算法进行研究。当前图像分割算法在彩色数字图像分割的过程中,仅仅考虑了图像像素的亮度值,没有考虑其空间特征,存在计算的复杂性过大等缺陷,影响彩色数字图像处理效果。为此,提出了一种基于随机权重粒子群的复杂背景下彩色数字图像分割算法。该算法先采用多尺度均匀滤波方法,对复杂背景下彩色数据图像进行划分,其中包含噪声和不含噪声的像素点的亮度值、结构元素以及局部区域内的图像像素加权亮度密度特征。采用多段图分割获取彩色数字图像的优化分割,在平滑项中代入彩色数字图像梯度信息,对彩色数字图像分割结果中的弱边界进行剔除,从而实现准确的彩色数字图像分割。实验仿真证明,所提算法增加了彩色数字图像分割的对比度和信噪比,提高了复杂背景下彩色数字图像分割的准确性。     

Automatic registration of serial sections of mouse lymph node by using Image-Reg

The first step towards the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of histological structures from serial sectioned tissue blocks is the proper alignment of microscope image sequences. We have accomplished an automatic rigid registration program, named Image-Reg, to align serial sections from mouse lymph node and Peyer's patch. Our approach is based on the calculation of the pixel-correlation of objects in adjacent images. The registration process is mainly divided into two steps. Once the foreground images have been segmented from the original images, the first step (primary alignment) is performed on the binary images of segmented objects; this process includes rotation by using the moments and translation through the X, Y axes by using the centroid. In the second step, the matching error of two binary images is calculated and the registration results are refined through multi-scale iterations. In order to test the registration performance, Image-Reg has been applied to an image and its transformed (rotated) version and subsequently to an image sequence of three serial sections of mouse lymph node. In addition, to compare our algorithm with other registration methods, three other approaches, viz. manual registration with Reconstruct, semi-automatic landmark registration with Image-Pro Plus and the automatic phase-correlation method with Image-Pro Plus, have also been applied to these three sections. The performance of our program has been also tested on other two-image data sets. These include: (a) two light microscopic images acquired by the automatic microscope (stitched with other software); (b) two images fluorescent images acquired by confocal microscopy (tiled with other software). Our proposed approach provides a fast and accurate linear alignment of serial image sequences for the 3D reconstruction of tissues and organs.     

Cyber surgery: Parameterized mesh for multi-modal surgery simulation

This paper presents a new method for modeling of virtual organs for surgery simulation. The organ models have a parameterized representation that supports real-time interactive deformation. To accomplish real-time interaction with deformable organs, instead of computing the deformation on the 3D organ models in 3D space we use a novel yet simple and fast free-form deformation on the 2D parameterized representation itself. With the parameterized mesh, we also demonstrate that realistic visual and haptic rendering can be provided for interactive surgery simulation.     

A priori investigation of the constructed PDF model

The constructed probability density function (PDF) model approximates the species and temperature at a point in a general turbulent reacting flow by the species and temperature that evolved in an independent homogeneous turbulent flow. The thermo-chemical PDF is parameterized by a suitable set of lower moments, and tabulated for retrieval in 3D CFD codes. The Linear Eddy Model is used to resolve, affordably, detailed kinetic calculations in the homogeneous turbulence geometry. In this work, the constructed PDF is parameterized by the first two moments of the mixture fraction, and tested against the equilibrium, assumed-shape PDF model, which is parameterized by the same two moments. The models are evaluated by comparing mean species and temperature predictions with experimental measurements at three points in a turbulent, piloted, jet diffusion flame. The constructed PDF model exhibits consistently improved predictions, and is able to capture super-equilibrium intermediate species as well as species governed by slow kinetics, such as the pollutant NO. The advantage of the constructed PDF model is the capability to decouple the finite-rate chemistry from the multi-dimensional CFD simulation, allowing rapid CFD simulations on large meshes.     

A novel approach to segmentation and measurement of medical image using level set methods

The study proposes a novel approach for segmentation and visualization plus value-added surface area and volume measurements for brain medical image analysis. The proposed method contains edge detection and Bayesian based level set segmentation, surface and volume rendering, and surface area and volume measurements for 3D objects of interest (i.e., brain tumor, brain tissue, or whole brain).Two extensions based on edge detection and Bayesian level set are first used to segment 3D objects. Ray casting and a modified marching cubes algorithm are then adopted to facilitate volume and surface visualization of medical-image dataset. To provide physicians with more useful information for diagnosis, the surface area and volume of an examined 3D object are calculated by the techniques of linear algebra and surface integration. Experiment results are finally reported in terms of 3D object extraction, surface and volume rendering, and surface area and volume measurements for medical image analysis.     

Reflection confocal microscope readout system for three-dimensional photochromic optical data storage

We propose to use a reflection confocal microscope (RCM) as a readout system for digital data stored in a three-dimensional (3D) photochromic optical memory. We describe the merits and the difficulties for 3D optical memory that are associated with the use of such a RCM.It is shown by means of 3D Fourier space analysis that successful reading of 3D data can be obtained by selection of the appropriate parameter for the RCM.The system parameters include the numerical aperture of the objective lens and the wavelength of the light used for analysis (reading). Experimental results of multilayer recording and reflection confocal reading in photochromic-molecule-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) are presented. Good-contrast images are obtained.     

Experimental assessment of effectively probed volume in confocal XRF spectrometry using microparticles

Current approaches for assessing a confocal micro-X-rayfluorescence–probing volume involve the use of sharp knife edges, thin films, or wires, which are moved through this volume. The fluorescence radiation excited in the material of the object is measured, and profiles are built to enable the determination of the full width at half maximum in any of the three axes of the excited volume. Such approaches do not provide information on the shape of the volume, and the consequent alignment of both used lenses is made based on the position of the maxima of the registered intensity measurements. The use of particles that are smaller than the interaction volume (isolated enough to prevent the influence of nearby particles) and translated through the interaction volume (3D scan) is presented as an alternative methodology to determine the confocal probing volume. Spherical shaped uranium particles with diameter of 1–3 μm originally produced for scanning electron microscopy analysis calibration purposes were used in this study. The results obtained showed that the effectively probed confocal volume has a distinct prolate spheroidal shape that is longer in the axis of the confocal detector than it is wide on the axes of the plane perpendicular to it. The diameter in the longest axis (tilted accordingly to the angle between the two silicon drift detectors) was found to be approximately 25 μm, whereas the shorter was found about 15 μm each, with a volume of about 3,000 μm³.     

Comparison of RANS/CMC modeling of Flame D with conventional and with Presumed Mapping Function statistics

Numerical simulations of Sandia Flame D are presented using Reynolds-averaged formulations plus a two equation turbulence model for the flow and mixing fields and a first order Conditional Moment Closure for the flame model. The distributions of probability and Conditional Scalar Dissipation (CSD) in mixture fraction space are modeled first using a Beta PDF (Probability Distribution Function) plus a theoretical model for CSD and then using the consistent, Presumed Mapping Function-based formulation of Mortensen for both PDF and CSD, in both two and three stream mixing modes. It is shown that there is an improvement in predictions compared with experiment when using the consistent models.     

Fluoroscopically triggered contrast-enhanced 3D MR DSA and 3D time-of-flight turbo MRA of the carotid arteries: first clinical experiences in correlation with ultrasound, x-ray angiography, and endarterectomy findings

The aim of this article was to obtain initial experiences with fluoroscopically triggered contrast-enhanced (CE) 3D MR DSA with elliptical centric k-space order and 3D time-of-flight (TOF) turbo MRA of the carotid arteries. In this prospective study we examined 16 consecutive patients with suspicion of atherosclerotic disease involving the carotid arteries. Ultrasound was available in all, x-ray angiography in 12, surgical correlation in 9, and intraoperative x-ray angiography in 4 patients. All examinations were done on a 1.5 T unit applying: transverse plain 3D TOF turbo MRA and coronal CE MRA with fluoroscopic triggering. Combining head and neck array coils allowed the visualization of supraaortic arteries from the aortic arch to the circle of Willis. MRA results (maximum intensity projections) were compared with x-ray angiography, ultrasound, and inspection of endarterectomy specimens. Volume rendering was performed in selected cases additionally. Agreement between CE MRA, 3D TOF turbo MRA and x-ray angiography regarding stenoses of the internal and external carotid artery was very good. CE MRA was able to detect correctly intracranial stenoses, but delineation of the aortic arch and proximal common carotid arteries was sometimes reduced. Volume rendering was suited for visualization of MRA images providing a realistic three-dimensional impression. In conclusion, high-resolution fluoroscopically triggered CE MRA as non-invasive technique is another important step on the way to replace invasive x-ray angiography for the evaluation of atherosclerotic carotid artery disease. High resolution 3D TOF turbo MRA might be a helpful adjunct to increase the diagnostic reliability for the carotid bifurcation.     

Resolution enhancement by subtraction of confocal signals taken at different pinhole sizes

Subtractive imaging in confocal fluorescence light microscopy is based on the subtraction of a suitably weighted widefield image from a confocal image. An approximation to a widefield image can be obtained by detection with an opened confocal pinhole. The subtraction of images enhances the resolution in-plane as well as along the optic axis. Due to the linearity of the approach, the effect of subtractive imaging in Fourier-space corresponds to a reduction of low spatial frequency contributions leading to a relative enhancement of the high frequencies. Along the direction of the optic axis this also results in an improved sectioning. Image processing can achieve a similar effect. However, a 3D volume dataset must be acquired and processed, yielding a result essentially identical to subtractive imaging but superior in signal-to-noise ratio. The latter can be increased further with the technique of weighted averaging in Fourier-space. A comparison of 2D and 3D experimental data analysed with subtractive imaging, the equivalent Fourier-space processing of the confocal data only, and Fourier-space weighted averaging is presented.     

一种可交互的体绘制光学传递函数模型

针对三维数据场可视化过程中兴趣区的交瓦分离问题.给出了基于体绘制光学传递函数的半自动调节方法.该方法从传递函数的光学模型出发,根据三维数据的光强分布,结合体数据的三维梯度场.给出了体数据的颜色及透明度值分离交互凋常的模犁.为了提高本方法的实用性,本文采用了交互模型与现代显卡纹理特性相结合的方法来提高交互速度.实验证明,通过实时调节改进传递函数的相关参量.该模型能以大于每秒30帧的交互速度获得必趣区的最佳视觉分离效果.本方法能在交互体视化的同时实现最佳参量的获取.     

Data reduction by applying an image-based modeling and rendering technique to CG models

We applied an image-based modeling and rendering technique to reduce the data size of a CG model to be obtained as a visualization result. To date, this technique has been applied to the reconstruction of 3D graphical models from real objects; the size of the models can be reduced effectively because both color information and geometric information can be reduced. We applied a silhouette-and-voxel method that does not require design data for geometric simplification. Using our system, we simplified two models, one of which, involving medical data, was reduced by about 85% in file size. An accompanying subjective quality test showed that our approach maintains approximately the same visual quality as the geometric simplification method traditionally used.     

A texture-based hardware-independent technique for time-varying volume flow visualization

Existing texture-based 3D flow visualization techniques, e.g., volume Line Integral Convolution (LIC), are either limited to steady flows or dependent on special-purpose graphics cards. In this paper we present a texture-based hardware-independent technique for time-varying volume flow visualization. It is based on our Accelerated Unsteady Flow LIC (AUFLIC) algorithm (Liu and Moorhead, 2005), which uses a flow-driven seeding strategy and a dynamic seeding controller to reuse pathlines in the value scattering process to achieve fast time-dependent flow visualization with high temporal-spatial coherence. We extend AUFLIC to 3D scenarios for accelerated generation of volume flow textures. To address occlusion, lack of depth cuing, and poor perception of flow directions within a dense volume, we employ magnitude-based transfer functions and cutting planes in volume rendering to clearly show the flow structure and the flow evolution.