bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FRACTIONAL TREND OF THE VARIANCE IN CAVALIERI SAMPLING
Authors: García-Fiñana Marta , Cruz-Orive Luis M
Published: July 2011

Cavalieri sampling is often used to estimate the volume of an object with systematic sections a constant distance T apart. The variance of the corresponding estimator can be expressed as the sum of the extension term (which gives the overall trend of the variance and is used to estimate it), the 'Zitterbewegung' (which oscillates about zero) and higher order terms. The extension term is of order T2m+2 for small T, where m is the order of the first non-continuous derivative of the measurement function f, (namely of the area function if the target is the volume). A key condition is that the jumps of the mth derivative f (m) of f are finite. When this is not the case, then the variance exhibits a fractional trend, and the current theory fails. Indeed, in practice the mentioned trend is often of order T2q+2, typically with 0 <q <1. We obtain a general representation of the variance, and thereby of the extension term, by means of a new Euler-MacLaurin formula involving fractional derivatives of f. We also present a new and general estimator of the variance, see Eq. 26a, b, and apply it to real data (white matter of a human brain).
ON THE SAMPLING OF SERIAL SECTIONING TECHNIQUE FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL SPACE-FILLING GRAIN STRUCTURES
Authors: Liu Guoquan , Yu Haibo
Published: July 2011

Serial sectioning technique provides plenty of quantitative geometric information of the microstructure analyzed, including those unavailable from stereology with one- and two-dimensional probes. This may be why it used to be and is being continuously served as one of the most common and invaluable methods to study the size and the size distribution, the topology and the distribution of topology parameters, and even the shape of three-dimensional space filling grains or cells. On the other hand, requiring tedious lab work, the method is also very time and energy consuming, most often only less than one hundred grains per sample were sampled and measured in almost all reported practice. Thus, a question is often asked: for typical microstructures in engineering materials, are so many grains or cells sampled adequate to obtain reliable results from this technique? To answer this question, experimental data of 1292 contiguous austenite grains in a low-carbon steel specimen obtained from the serial sectioning analysis are presented in this paper, which demonstrates the effect of sampling on the measurement of various parameters of grain size distribution and of the grain topology distribution. The result provides one of rules of thumb for grain stereology of similar microstructures.
A STEREOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF EARLY POSTNATAL ETHANOL EXPOSURE ON NEURONAL NUMBERS IN RAT DENTATE GYRUS
Authors: Miki Takanori , Harris Simon J , Wilce Peter , Takeuchi Yoshiki , Bedi Kuldip S
Published: July 2011

Maternal ethanol ingestion during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in their offspring. Among the symptoms of FAS, damage to the central nervous system has emerged as one of the most serious problems. We have previously shown that a relatively high dose of ethanol exposure during early postnatal life can cause alterations in spatial learning ability. This ability is controlled, at least in part, by the hippocampal formation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether exposure of rat pups to ethanol during early postnatal life had effects on the total number of the dentate gyrus neurons. Wistar rats were exposed to a relatively high daily dose of ethanol between postnatal days 10 to 15. Ethanol exposure was achieved by placing rat pups in a chamber containing ethanol vapour for 3 hours a day. The blood ethanol concentration was found to be about 430 mg/dL at the end of the exposure period. Groups of ethanol treated (ET), separation controls (SC) and mother reared controls (MRC) were anaesthetised and killed at 16-days-of-age by perfusion with phosphate-buffered 2.5% glutaraldehyde. The Cavalieri principle was used to determine the volume of subdivisions of the dentate gyrus, and the physical disector method was used to estimate the numerical densities of neurons within each subdivision. The total number of neurons was calculated by multiplying estimates of the numerical density with the volume. There was, on average, about 421,000 granule cells in all three treatment groups. In the hilus region, ET rats had about 27,000 neuronal cells. This value was significantly smaller than the average of 38,000 such neurons estimated to be present in both MRC and SC animals. It is concluded that neurons in the hilus region of the dentate gyrus may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of a high dose of ethanol exposure during PND 10-15. It is likely that this deficit was due to neuronal death induced by some mechanisms related to the ethanol exposure.
SEQUENTIAL QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF OVAL CELL PROLIFERATION IN THIOACETAMIDE TREATED RATS
Authors: Zaitoun Abdul M , Record Christopher O , Al-Mardini Hanan
Published: July 2011

Oval cells are the progeny of facultative stem cells found in the periportal areas in response to liver injury in experimental animals and humans. The aims of this study were to describe the morphological, stereological and morphometric features of oval cells, and to compare them with those of bile duct cells and hepatocytes. It was also aimed to study the fate of oval cells by morphological and morphometric criteria. Rats were given thioacetamide to induce liver injury. The livers from experimental and control groups were processed routinely and stereological and morphometric analysis assessed using a computer image analysis system. Eight morphometric parameters were assessed in oval cells, bile duct cells and hepatocytes from control and experimental rats. Mitoses were observed in both oval cells and hepatocytes. Stereological area fraction analysis indicated that necrosis reached its maximum extent at 30 hours followed by regeneration and almost complete restoration of liver cell parenchyma at 132 hours. Oval cell proliferation reached a peak at 48-52 hours but was not apparent at 132 hours. Morphometric findings have shown increases in the nuclear diameter and nuclear area of oval cells with changes in the roundness and contours ratios of the nuclear membrane. It is concluded from this study that in thioacetamide treated rats, the liver responds to injury by bile ductal proliferation in the periportal areas which, accompanied by hepatocyte regeneration, leads to restoration of the hepatic parenchyma. At a subcellular morphological level the nuclei of oval cells showed a progressive change to a hepatocyte phenotype from that of a normal biliary cell, suggesting the differentiation of these cells into hepatocytes.
DISECTOR PROGRAM FOR UNBIASED ESTIMATION OF PARTICLE NUMBER, NUMERICAL DENSITY AND MEAN VOLUME
Authors: Tomori Zoltán , Krekule Ivan , Kubínová Lucie
Published: July 2011

A DISECTOR program is presented, offering the possibility to count particles by the disector or unbiased sampling brick principles as well as to apply the point-counting method needed for estimation of the particle volume density or mean particle volume. Three modes of counting, two semi-automatic and one automatic, are offered, allowing the user to choose the one most suitable for his image data. In a semi-automatic regime, the user marks and counts individual particles by a mouse during browsing through the stack of images. In the algorithm working in an automated mode, the role of a human operator is suppressed, assuming that segmented objects are available in individual levels. The settings of the point grid and 3-D probe can be tailored for each application. The DISECTOR program applications are shown on the examples of the estimation of the number and numerical density of mesophyll cells in a Norway spruce needle and the mean volume of tubular cells in a chick embryonic kidney.
SEGMENTATION AND GRAIN SIZE OF CERAMICS
Authors: Arnould Xavier , Coster Michel , Chermant Jean-Louis , Chermant Liliane , Chartier Thierry , Elmoataz Abder
Published: July 2011

This paper presents some methods to automatically extract the grain boundaries of materials in order to develop an automatic method to determine the grain size and morphological parameters of ceramic materials. Results are presented in the case of sintered cerine (CeO2) materials.
METRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS METHODS FOR NUMERICAL DENSITY ESTIMATION IN TRANSMISSION LIGHT MICROSCOPY – A COMPUTER SIMULATION
Authors: Kališnik Miroslav , Blejec Andrej , Pajer Zdenka , Majhenc Janja
Published: July 2011

In the introduction the evolution of methods for numerical density estimation of particles is presented shortly. Three pairs of methods have been analysed and compared: (1) classical methods for particles counting in thin and thick sections, (2) original and modified differential counting methods and (3) physical and optical disector methods. Metric characteristics such as accuracy, efficiency, robustness, and feasibility of methods have been estimated and compared. Logical, geometrical and mathematical analysis as well as computer simulations have been applied. In computer simulations a model of randomly distributed equal spheres with maximal contrast against surroundings has been used. According to our computer simulation all methods give accurate results provided that the sample is representative and sufficiently large. However, there are differences in their efficiency, robustness and feasibility. Efficiency and robustness increase with increasing slice thickness in all three pairs of methods. Robustness is superior in both differential and both disector methods compared to both classical methods. Feasibility can be judged according to the additional equipment as well as to the histotechnical and counting procedures necessary for performing individual counting methods. However, it is evident that not all practical problems can efficiently be solved with models.
BAYESIAN IMAGE SEGMENTATION THROUGH LEVEL LINES SELECTION
Authors: Kervrann Charles
Published: July 2011

Bayesian statistical theory is a convenient way of taking a priori information into consideration when inference is made from images. In Bayesian image segmentation, the a priori distribution should capture the knowledge about objects. Taking inspiration from (Alvarez et al., 1999), we design a prior density that penalizes the area of homogeneous parts in images. The segmentation problem is further formulated as the estimation of the set of curves that maximizes the posterior distribution. In this paper, we explore a posterior distribution model for which its maximal mode is given by a subset of level curves, that is the boundaries of image level sets. For the completeness of the paper, we present a stepwise greedy algorithm for computing partitions with connected components.
MULTI-SCALE SIMULATION OF SPHERICAL AGGREGATES
Authors: Delarue Arnaud , Jeulin Dominique
Published: July 2011

This paper presents a method to simulate high density non overlapping sphere structures with anisotropy and heterogeneity.
COMPUTATION OF NORMAL VECTORS OF DISCRETE 3D OBJECTS: APPLICATION TO NATURAL SNOW IMAGES FROM X-RAY TOMOGRAPHY
Authors: Flin Frederic , Brzoska Jean-Bruno , Lesaffre Bernard , Coleou Cecile , Lamboley Pascal
Published: July 2011

Estimating the normal vector field on the boundary of discrete 3D objects is essential for rendering and image measurement problems. Most of the existing algorithms do not provide an accurate determination of the normal vector field for shapes that present edges. We propose here a new and simple computational method to obtain accurate results on all types of shapes whatever their degree of local convexity. The presented method is based on the analysis of the gradient vector field of the distance map of the object. Some results on simulated data and snow images from X-ray tomography are presented and discussed.
QUANTITATIVE 3D RECONSTRUCTIONS AS IDENTIFICATION TOOL IN HEART DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Soufan Alexandre T , Ruijter Jan M , Hoff Maurice JB Van Den , Moorman Antoon FM
Published: July 2011

A method for displaying quantitative information in 3D reconstructions of the embryonic heart was developed to investigate spatial distributions of cell division and cell density. The method utilizes serial sections to extract morphological as well as quantitative data. The morphological data are used to reconstruct the embryonic heart and the quantitative data are classified and superimposed on the resulting reconstruction. The bias, which would result from size differences between cell populations, was investigated. If present, it would influence the absolute number of particles (nuclei) per volume, although the classification applied on the reconstruction displaying the mitotic fraction remains unchanged. Although the reconstruction displaying the local densities is influenced by the bias, less than 2.5% of the regions is misclassified.
SPATIAL STATISTICS FOR SIMULATED PACKINGS OF SPHERES
Authors: Bezrukov Alexander , Stoyan Dietrich , Bargieł Monika
Published: July 2011

This paper reports on spatial-statistical analyses for simulated random packings of spheres with random diameters. The simulation methods are the force-biased algorithm and the Jodrey-Tory sedimentation algorithm. The sphere diameters are taken as constant or following a bimodal or lognormal distribution. Standard characteristics of spatial statistics are used to describe these packings statistically, namely volume fraction, pair correlation function of the system of sphere centres and spherical contact distribution function of the set-theoretic union of all spheres. Furthermore, the coordination numbers are analysed.
DAMAGE MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS
Authors: Chermant Jean-Louis , Boitier Guillaume , Darzens Severine , Coster Michel , Chermant Liliane
Published: July 2011

This paper shows how it is possible to characterize and quantify the damages in materials using classical tools of automatic image analysis. Examples presented concern ceramic matrix composites, i.e. high tech materials. It gives important information to support the deformation and rupture mechanism of materials under mechanical solicitations.
CALIBRATION OF DENSITOMETRY IN RADIO-ISOTOPIC IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION
Authors: Ruijter Jan M , Hagoort Jaco , Boer Piet AJ De , Moorman Antoon FM
Published: July 2011

Densitometry on autoradiographs of sections processed for in situ hybridization provides a direct measure for the in situ quantification of mRNA. Gelatin spots, containing different concentrations of the radioisotope, and processed in parallel with the tissue sections, can be used as a sensitive model to calibrate the densitometric measurements. The shape of the gelatin spots was shown to be circular with a parabolic crosssectional profile. This simple shape allows the subdivision of the spot into a series of concentric rings, which enables an unbiased measurement of the optical density - radioactivity relation. This spot measurement is also applicable to DNA arrays spotted on glass or membranes. A new model, explaining the optical density of autoradiographs, was derived and fitted to the calibration points. The use of this calibration method is crucial for the correct interpretation of autoradiographs
CHARACTERIZATION AND AUTOMATIC COUNTING OF F.I.S.H. SIGNALS IN 3-D TISSUE IMAGES
Authors: Adiga Umesh PS , Knight Samantha JL , Chaudhuri BB
Published: July 2011

The evaluation of malignancy-related features often helps to determine the prognoses for patients with carcinomas. One technique, which is becoming increasingly important for assessing such prognostic features is that of Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH). By counting the number of FISH signals in a stack of 2- D images of a tumor (which together constitute the 3-D image volume), it is possible to determine whether there has been any loss or gain of the target DNA sequences and thereby evaluate the stage of the disease. However, visual counting of the FISH signals in this way is a tedious, fatiguing and time-consuming task. Therefore, we have developed an automated system for the quantitative evaluation of FISH signals. We present and discuss the implementation of an image processing module that segments, characterizes and counts the FISH signals in 3-D images of thick prostate tumor tissue specimens. Possible errors in the automatic counting of signals are listed and ways to circumvent these errors are described. We define a feature vector for a FISH signal and describe how we have used the weighted feature vector to segment specific signals from noise artifacts. In addition, we present a method, which allows overlapping FISH signals to be distinguished by fitting a local Gaussian model around the intensity profile and studying the feature vector of each model. Our complete image processing module overcomes the problems of manual counting of FISH signals in 3-D images of tumor specimens, thereby providing improved diagnostic and prognostic capability in qualitative diagnostic pathology.
NEW METHOD FOR FAST IMAGE EDGE DETECTION BASED ON SUBBAND DECOMPOSITION
Authors: Hao Chong-Yang , Qi Min , Heute U , Moraga C
Published: July 2011

A new method of detection the edges of an image is presented in this article. The method uses a kind of twodimensional subband spectrum analysis (2D-SSA) filter that is based on subband decomposition, and it is very convenient to get the edge frequency spectrum of an image after certain preprocessing. Comparing with spatial methods, the method is less sensitive to noise. It is also superior to the conventional frequency methods. In conventional frequency methods, the bandwidth and central frequency of filter are fixed, and it needs to transform the whole image into frequency domain. While in this method, the bandwidth and central frequency can be adjusted flexibly, and it only uses a few pixels to implement FFT. So this method is a fast way to extract the edges of an image. The simulation results show its efficiency.
NEW CONCEPTS AND TEST METHODS OF CURVE PROFILE AREA DENSITY IN SURFACE: ESTIMATION OF AREAL DENSITY ON CURVED SPATIAL SURFACE
Authors: Shen Hong
Published: July 2011

The concepts of curve profile, curve intercept, curve intercept density, curve profile area density, intersection density in containing intersection (or intersection density relied on intersection reference), curve profile intersection density in surface (or curve intercept intersection density relied on intersection of containing curve), and curve profile area density in surface (AS) were defined. AS expressed the amount of curve profile area of Y phase in the unit containing surface area, S(X). The test methods and formulas were deduced, e.g.: AS=ICI /IC=LCI /BC. In the formula, ICI and IC indicated the intersection numbers of test line with curve intercepts (or profiles in 2D) and with the containing curve respectively. BC denoted the length of containing curve, LCI being the length of curve intercepts. The formula means that AS are equal to the curve intercept density and equal to the curve profile intersection density in surface. Issues about AS application and its correction for shrinking tissues were discussed. Example for testing AS was given.
REVIEW OF RECENT RESULTS ON EXCURSION SET MODELS
Authors: Wilson Richard J , Nott David J
Published: July 2011

Many images consist of two or more "phases", where a phase is a collection of homogeneous zones. For example, the phases may represent the presence of different sulphides in an ore sample. Frequently, these phases exhibit very little structure, though all connected components of a given phase may be similar in some sense. As a consequence, random set models are commonly used to model such images. The Boolean model and models derived from the Boolean model are often chosen. An alternative approach to modelling such images is to use the excursion sets of random fields to model each phase. In this paper, the properties of excursion sets will be firstly discussed in terms of modelling binary images. Ways of extending these models to multi-phase images will then be explored. A desirable feature of any model is to be able to fit it to data reasonably well. Different methods for fitting random set models based on excursion sets will be presented and some of the difficulties with these methods will be discussed.
INTERGRANULE FUSION IN RAT PARS INTERMEDIA CELLS
Authors: Košmelj Katarina , Cedilnik Anton , Veranič Peter , Zupančič Gregor , Rupnik Marjan , Kocmur-Bobanović Laura , Zorec Robert
Published: July 2011

Using electron microscopy, we studied the morphology of secretory granules in rat pars intermedia cells. We found figures of apparent intergranule fusion, characterized by a tight association of two granules. The fusion was detected in around 2% of all measured granules, indicating a low occurrence of intergranule fusion. To study whether intergranule fusion affects the distribution of granule diameters a simple probabilistic model was developed. It is based on the theory that larger granules are formed by fusion of two or more spherical granules of fixed size, and that the surface of a newly formed granule is equal to the sum of fused granule membranes. The model accounts for the bias on granule diameter measurements due to sectioning of granules. Although the electron microscopy data strongly indicates the existence of intergranule fusion in rat melanotrophs, this process as modelled in the present work does not contribute to the granule diameter distribution significantly. It is likely that in addition to the fusion of larger granules, other processes, such as fusion of microvesicles, may affect the distribution of granule diameters.
MORPHOLOGICAL GRANULOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SEDIMENT IMAGES
Authors: Balagurunathan Yoganand , Dougherty Edward R , Frančišković-Bilinski Stanislav , Bilinski Halka , Vdović Neda
Published: July 2011

Sediments are routinely analyzed in terms of the sizing characteristics of the grains of which they are composed. Via sieving methods, the grains are separated and a weight-based size distribution constructed. Various moment parameters are computed from the size distribution and these serve as sediment characteristics. This paper examines the feasibility of a fully electronic granularity analysis using digital image processing. The study uses a random model of three-dimensional grains in conjunction with the morphological method of granulometric size distributions. The random model is constructed to simulate sand, silt, and clay particle distributions. Owing to the impossibility of perfectly sifting small grains so that they do not touch, the model is used in both disjoint and non-disjoint modes, and watershed segmentation is applied in the non-disjoint model. The image-based granulometric size distributions are transformed so that they take into account the necessity to view sediment fractions at different magnifications and in different frames. Gray-scale granulometric moments are then computed using both ordinary and reconstructive granulometries. The resulting moments are then compared to moments found from real grains in seven different sediments using standard weight-based size distributions.
BRAIN VOLUMES OF THE LAMB, RAT AND BIRD DO NOT SHOW HEMISPHERIC ASYMMETRY: A STEREOLOGICAL STUDY
Authors: Sahin Bünyamin , Aslan Hüseyin , Unal Bünyami , Canan Sinan , Bilgic Sait , Kaplan Süleyman , Tumkaya Levent
Published: July 2011

It is well known that there are functional differences between right and left brain hemispheres. However, it is not clear whether these functional differences are reflected in morphometric differences. This study was carried out to investigate the right-left asymmetry, and sex and species differences of the brains using the Cavalieri principle for volume estimation. Seventeen lambs, 10 rats and 12 avian brains were used to estimate brain volumes. A transparent point grid was superimposed on the slices of lamb brains directly and the slices of the rat and avian brains were projected onto a screen at 10x magnification. Surface areas of the cut slice faces were estimated by simply counting the points that hit the slices. Mean brain volumes were 37.74 cm3, 598.95 mm3 and 730.38 mm3 and the coefficients of variations were 0.08, 0.05 and 0.05 for lamb, rat and avian brains respectively. The differences between left and right hemispheres did not show statistical significance (P > 0.05). However, the male brain volumes were larger than the females for the lamb and bird (P < 0.05). In light of such findings, it will be necessary to evaluate neuron number of the brain hemispheres to provide more useful data regarding inter-hemispheric brain asymmetry.
STEREOLOGICAL ESTIMATION OF ITO CELLS FROM RAT LIVER USING THE OPTICAL FRACTIONATOR - A PRELIMINARY REPORT
Authors: Marcos Ricardo , Rocha Eduardo , Monteiro Rogério AF
Published: July 2011

In the last two decades, much light has been shed on hepatic fibrosis, and the activation / proliferation of Ito cells (IC) emerged to play a central role. Therefore, it is essential to have solid quantitative data in nonpathological statuses; yet, this data is scarce and confined to "number per area" or semiquantitative information. Moreover, the supposed heterogeneous distribution of IC in the hepatic lobule was never analysed with design-based (unbiased) stereology. In the present study, the total number (N) of IC in rat liver was estimated for the first time, by combining immunocytochemistry with the optical fractionator. Quantification was extended to the hepatocytes, to disclose the IC index, an often-used ratio in hepatology. Systematic uniform random liver sections were obtained from male Wistar rats (n = 3), and immunostained against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a known specific marker for hepatic IC. For the first time, these were marked against GFAP in thick (30 μm) paraffin sections. The estimated N of IC was 224E06; with a coefficient of error of 0.04 or 0.06, depending on the particular equation used (based on the so-called "quadratic approximation"). The IC index was 91 IC/1000 hepatocytes. Concerning the lobular heterogeneity, it was proved the liver harbours a larger total number of periportal IC and hepatocytes.
INTERPRETATION OF MERCURY INJECTION EXPERIMENTS USING A MINIMUM SET OF POROUS DESCRIPTORS DERIVED BY QUANTITATIVE IMAGE ANALYSIS
Authors: Anguy Yannick , Belin Sophie , Ehrlich Robert , Ahmadi Azita
Published: July 2011

The porosity exposed in a series of petrographic thin sections from a sub-arkosic sandstone reservoir of the Alwyn area (North Sea) is described by 5 morphological porous descriptors, Pore-Types, obtained by quantitative image analysis procedures and pattern recognition algorithms developed by Ehrlich et al. (1991a). By combining Pore-Type data with capillary pressure curves, we obtain preliminary results showing that in the studied reservoir, the achieved Pore-Types relate better to petrophysics when they are complemented with a sedimentological information.
GLOMERULAR NUMBER AND CAPILLARY DIMENSIONS IN THE NORMAL LAMB KIDNEY
Authors: Brown Julian , Briscoe Todd A , Harding Richard , Cock Megan L , Bertram John F , Black Jane M
Published: July 2011

Reduced nephron endowment, either inherited or acquired, has been linked to adult renal pathology as well as hypertension. The sheep provides an excellent model for studying nephrogenesis and renal development because, as in humans, nephrogenesis is complete before birth. In the present study, the physical disector/fractionator method was used to estimate the total number of glomeruli, and thereby nephrons, in normal lambs. Glomerular capillary parameters including mean capillary length per glomerulus, mean capillary surface area per glomerulus and total renal filtration surface area (TRFSA) were also estimated. Total glomerular, and hence nephron number was 333,832 ± 69,560 (mean± standard deviation). TRFSA was 10.95 ± 3.64 x 104 mm2• These results establish a methodology for future investigations, using the sheep as a model, into the effects of depleted nephrogenesis on renal pathology in later life.
CHARACTERIZATION OF BIVARIATE SIZE-ORIENTATION DISTRIBUTION OF CIRCULAR PLATE PARTICLES
Authors: Bodlák Karel , Gokhale Arun Balasundarun M , Beneš Viktor
Published: July 2011

The paper is devoted to the stereological unfolding problem of bivariate size-orientation distribution of platelike particles in metallography. Gokhale (1996) derived an integral equation which relates this bivariate distribution in three-dimensional (3D) space to the corresponding size-orientation distribution of planar sections of the specimen. The present paper yields a numerical algorithm which enables to transform a bivariate histogram of observed quantities to the histogram of 3D characteristics. The use of the method is demonstrated in examples with simulated data, where an easy analytical solution is available and can be compared with the results of estimation. The spectrum of unfolding problems solved numerically (cf. Ohser and Muecklich, 2000) is thus extended.
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF FATIGUE FRACTURE SURFACE IN THE DUPLEX STEEL
Authors: Sozańska Maria , Iacoviello Francesco , Cwajna Jan , Jerome Michel , Sojka Jaroslav , Galland Jacques
Published: July 2011

We present a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the fatigue surface of Z2CND2205 duplex steel. Both the ferritic and austenitic phases of this duplex steel are investigated. The observed brittleness of the steel is here due to the presence of hydrogen. The hydrogen influence is complex in that the two phases are altered by hydrogen in different ways. Quantitative parameters describing striations spacing in each phase are measured.
USE OF PROTON MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPIC IMAGING DATA IN PLANNING FOCAL RADIATION THERAPIES FOR BRAIN TUMORS
Authors: Graves Edward E , Pirzkall Andrea , Mcknight Tracy R , Vigneron Daniel B , Larson David A , Verhey Lynn J , Mcdermott Michael , Chang Susan , Nelson Sarah J
Published: July 2011

Advances in radiation therapy for malignant neoplasms have produced techniques such as Gamma Knife radiosurgery, capable of delivering an ablative dose to a specific, irregular volume of tissue. However, efficient use of these techniques requires the identification of a target volume that will produce the best therapeutic response while sparing surrounding normal brain tissue. Accomplishing this task using conventional computed tomography (CT) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques has proven difficult because of the difficulties in identifying the effective tumor margin. Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) has been shown to offer a clinically-feasible metabolic assessment of the presence and extent of neoplasm that can complement conventional anatomic imaging. This paper reviews current Gamma Knife protocols and MRSI acquisition, reconstruction, and interpretation techniques, and discusses the motivation for including magnetic resonance spectroscopy findings while planning focal radiation therapies. A treatment selection and planning strategy incorporating MRSI is then proposed, which can be used in the future to assess the efficacy of spectroscopy-based therapy planning.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE WATER SELF-DIFFUSION TENSOR ENCODING OPTIMIZATION METHODS FOR FULL BRAIN ACQUISITION
Authors: Hasan Khader M , Parker Dennis L , Alexander Andrew L
Published: July 2011

Water diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) is a non-invasive and sensitive modality that is becoming increasingly popular in diagnostic radiology. DT-MRI provides in vivo directional information about the organization and microdynamics of deep brain tissue that is not available by other MRI relaxationbased methods. The DT-MRI experiment involves a host of imaging and diffusion parameters that influence the efficiency (signal-to-noise ratio per unit time), accuracy, and specificity of the information sought. These parameters may include typical imaging parameters such as TE, TR, slice thickness, sampling rate, etc. The DTI relevant parameter space includes pulse duration, separation, direction, number of directions (Ne), order, sign and strength of the diffusion encoding gradient pulses. The goal of this work is to present and compare different tensor encoding strategies used to obtain the DT-MRI information for the whole brain. In this paper an evaluation of tensor encoding advantage is presented using a multi-dimensional non-parametric Bootstrap resampling method. This work also explores the relationship between different tensor encoding schemes using the analytical encoding approach. This work shows that the minimum energy optimization approach can produce uniformly distributed tensor encoding that are comparable to the icosahedral sets. The minimum condition encoding sets are not uniformly distributed and are shown to be suboptimal and related to a commonly used heuristic tensor encoding set. This work shows that the icosahedral set is the only uniformly distributed set with Ne = 6. At equal imaging time, the Bootstrap experiments show that optimal tensor encoding sets can have 6 < Ne < 24.
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN NEUROIMAGING AND NEURONAL PHYSIOLOGY
Authors: Kim Dae-Shik , Ugurbil Kamil
Published: July 2011

Despite the fact that blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have become ubiquitous and are of ever increasing importance for clinical and basic neurosciences, the fundamental relationships between BOLD and the underlying neuronal physiology are not understood. This raises severe concerns about the validity of BOLD contrast per se, and the conceptual frameworks currently employed in interpreting cognitive neuroimaging data. In order to expand the explanatory power of functional MRI data, several crucial questions will have to be addressed. The two most important questions are: First, what is the ultimate spatial resolution of fMRI?, secondly, what is the "neural correlate" of functional MRI? This article attempts to compile a series of results from our and other laboratories, suggesting that both the questions of "spatial specificity" and "neural correlate" might be within the reach of a tentative solution, thus finally bridging the gap between functional neuroimaging and neuronal physiology.
STEREOLOGY FROM ONE OF ALL THE POSSIBLE ANGLES
Authors: Wojnar Leszek
Published: July 2011

Relation between image analysis and stereology is discussed in terms of different fields of applications, especially materials science, biology and medicine. Some long-term tendencies observed as well as possible future trends are discussed. The need of a wider use of image analysis techniques including ma1hematical morphology in any field of science is demons1rated. Simultaneously, the significance of stereological background in automatic quantification of1he investigated structures is confirmed.
STEREOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SHAPE
Authors: Hobolth Asger , Jensen Eva B Vedel
Published: July 2011

This paper concerns the problem of making stereological inference about the shape variability in a population of spatial particles. Under rotational invariance the shape variability can be estimated from central planar sections through the particles. A simple, but flexible, parametric model for rotation invariant spatial particles is suggested. It is shown how the parameters of the model can be estimated from observations on central sections. The corresponding model for planar particles is also discussed in some detail.
MODELLING RANDOM MEDIA
Authors: Jeulin Dominique
Published: July 2011

Basic random structure models (random sets and random function models) are introduced for the simulation of images and of microstructures. Their implementation requires the use of image analysis tools defined in mathematical morphology.They can be used for solving problems of physics of random media.
SIMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RANDOM SYSTEMS OF HARD PARTICLES
Authors: Stoyan Dietrich
Published: July 2011

This paper surveys methods for the simulation of random systems of hard particles, namely sedimentation and collective rearrangement algorithms, molecular dynamics, and Monte Carlo methods such as the Metropolis­ Hastings algorithm. Furthermore, some set-theoretic statistical characteristics are discussed: the covariance and topological descriptors such as specific connectivity numbers and Meck.e's morphological functions.
PRESENT TRENDS IN EARTH TERRESTRIAL SURFACES OBSERVATION FROM SPACE. EXPECTED PAYLOADS, DATA COOPERATION AND IMAGE ANALYSIS
Authors: Flouzat Guy , Laporterie Florence , Lefevre-Fonollosa Marie-Jose , Lopez-Ornelas Erick
Published: July 2011

This paper presents remote sensing sensors: SPOT and LANDSAT systems are the most important providers of data in the 10-30 m spatial resolution range; NOAA (AVHRR radiometer) and SPOT4-5 (VEGETATION radiometer) provide coarse spatial resolution (-1 km) but high frequency data. Microwave sensors are more recently available (radar on board of ERSl, ERS2, and RADARSAT). The principal methods of data cooperation to get benefits of these new technologies are described. Many combinations in the field of data fusion will contribute to enhance the perception of the terrestrial surfaces. A tentative review of this domain is proposed after a recall of a general definition. Finally, the present trends in image analysis for remote sensing coming from the evolution of the orbital sensors are developed.
RECOGNITION AND STATISTICAL SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF MICRODOMAINS IN TEM-IMAGES OF POLYIMIDE FILMS DURING THEIR PROCESSING
Authors: Bronnikov Sergei , Sukhanova Tatiana
Published: July 2011

The surface morphology of polyamic acid films evolving under heating towards polyimide films is investigated with transmission electron microscopy. Micro-domains observed at the surface of the films are treated statistically and shown to form optimized statistical ensemble(s). The statistical size distribution of the micro-domains is described with the model of reversible aggregation. The distribution parameters, namely the aggregation energy and the mean diameter of micro-domains, are shown to depend on the chemical structure of the polymer and the heating temperature.
A PARALLEL ARCHITECTURE FOR CURVE-EVOLUTION PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
Authors: Dejnožková Eva , Dokládal Petr
Published: July 2011

The computation of the distance function is a crucial and limiting element in many applications of image processing. This is particularly true for the PDE-based methods, where the distance is used to compute various geometric properties of the travelling curve. Massive Marchinga is a parallel algorithm computing the distance function by propagating the solution from the sources and permitting simultaneous spreading of component labels in the infiuence zones. Its hardware implementation is conceivable as no sorted data structures are used. The feasibility is demonstrated here on a set of parallely-operating Processing Units arranged in a linear array. The text concludes by a study of the accuracy and the implementation cost.
RANDOM CLOSED SET MODELS: ESTIMATING AND SIMULATING BINARY IMAGES
Authors: Gallego Ángeles M , Simó Amelia
Published: July 2011

In this paper we show the use of the Boolean model and a class of RACS models that is a generalization of it to obtain simulations of random binary images able to imitate natural textures such as marble or wood. The different tasks required, parameter estimation, goodness-of-fit test and simulation, are reviewed. In addition to a brief review of the theory, simulation studies of each model are included.
3D MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS WITH AGGREGATES OF SPHERICAL INCLUSIONS
Authors: Delarue Arnaud , Jeulin Dominique
Published: July 2011

Composite materials containing aggregates of spherical inclusions are studied from 3D images obtained by X-ray microtomography. Using two point statistics in different directions, and the empirical distribution of orientations of pairs of inclusions, interesting details concerning the anisotropy of the distribution of inclusions are obtained and are related to the method of construction for these materials. Some 3D morphological properties, available on the 3D images, give new information on the shape and the distribution of aggregates: tortuosity of shortest paths in the matrix, local volume fraction, geodesic distance function, local histograms of numbers of objects.
STEREOLOGY OF NEURONAL CONNECTIONS (MYELINATED FIBERS OF WHITE MATTER AND SYNAPSES OF NEOCORTEX) IN HUMAN BRAIN
Authors: Tang Yong , Nyengaard Jens R , Pakkenberg Bente , Gundersen Hans Jørgen G
Published: July 2011

Unbiased stereological sampling and counting techniques for estimating the total length, total volume and diameter distribution of myelinated nerve fibers in white matter and the total number of synapses in neocortex of human autopsy brains were described. Uniform random sampling of tissues from entire hemisphere was performed. The total volume and total length of myelinated fibers in white matter were estimated from the product of the volume of white matter obtained with the Cavalieri principle and the volume density and length density of myelinated fibers in white matter, respectively. The volume density of myelinated nerve fibers in white a matter was estimated with a point counting method. The length density of myelinated fibers in white matter was estimated from the isotropic, uniform random sections that were ensured by the sector. The diameter of myelinated fibers was derived by measuring the profile diameterperpendicular to its longest axis. The ethanolic phosphotungstic acid staining technique was modified for staining synapses in human autopsy brains. The total number of synapses in each neocortical region was estimated as the product of the volume of each neocortical region and the numerical density of synapses in each region. The numerical density of synapses in each neocortical region was obtained with the disector at the electron microscopical level. The presented methods will be useful for quantitative studies of the changes of myelinated nerve fibers and synapses in various distinct regions of the central nervous system due to development, aging and diseases.
INFLUENCE OF MECHANICAL ERRORS IN A ZOOM CAMERA
Authors: Gardel Alfredo , Lazaro Jose Luis , Lavest Jean Marc
Published: July 2011

As it is well known, varying the focus and zoom of a camera lens system changes the alignment of the lens components resulting in a displacement of the image centre and field of view. Thus, knowledge of how the image centre shifts may be important for some aspects of camera calibration. As shown in other papers, the pinhole model is not adequate for zoom lenses. To ensure a calibration model for these lenses, the calibration parameters must be adjusted. The geometrical modelling of a zoom lens is realized from its lens specifications. The influence on the calibration parameters is calculated by introducing mechanical errors in the mobile lenses. Figures are given describing the errors obtained in the principal point coordinates and also in its standard deviation. A comparison is then made with the errors that come from the incorrect detection of the calibration points. It is concluded that mechanical errors of actual zoom lenses can be neglected in the calibration process because detection errors have more influence on the camera parameters.
MODERN STEREOLOGICAL EVALUATION IN THE AGING HUMAN SUBSTANTIA NIGRA
Authors: Ma Shuang Y , Longo Frank M , Röyttä Matias , Collan Yrjö
Published: July 2011

Quantitative estimation of neuronal numbers in the human substantia nigra (SN) can be achieved by a conventional single section (SS) count or by the more modern stereological disector (DS) count. However, counting results from SS counts are potentially biased and might not accurately reflect the total neuronal number in the SN or the changes in the total number of neurons occurring during aging or with neurodegenerative disease. Potential sources of bias include the lack of linearity between cell number per area of section and cell number per volume; the variation in the counting level and orientation of tissue sections; and shrinkage of tissue. Modern stereological DS counting overcomes these problems and has played a crucial role in many recent studies in neuropathology, neuroanatomy, neuropharmacology and neurogenetics. Over the past decades, four stereology based counting methods including physical DS, physical fractionator, optical DS and optical fractionator, have been established for quantitative measurement. Recently, stereological estimates have revealed a linear reduction rate of total nigral neuronal numbers with age of about 10% per decade. These findings suggest that the surviving nigral neurons undergo a degenerative change leading to neuronal dysfunction with aging. Furthermore, as an advanced quantitative tool, modern stereological evaluation may provide new insights into the aging of the human SN thereby enabling us to better understand the pathophysiological processes in aging brain.
MORPHOLOGICAL QUANTIFICATION OF AORTIC CALCIFICATION FROM LOW MAGNIFICATION IMAGES
Authors: Angulo Jesús , Nguyen-Khoa Thao , Massy Ziad A , Drüeke Tilman , Serra Jean
Published: July 2011

Atherosclerotic and medial vascular calcifications are frequent in chronic renal failure patiens and predict their increased cardiovascular mortality. Experimental models for mice have been recently developed in order to study these disorders. The aim of this paper is to present the morphological image processing algorithms developed for the semi-automated measurement of calcification from sections of aorta stained using von Kossa's silver nitrate procedure and acquired at low magnification power (x 2.5) on colour images. The approach is separated into two sequential phases. First, the segmentation is aimed to extract the calcification structures and on the other hand to demarcate the region of the atherosclerotic lesion within the tissue. The segmentation yields the image data which is the input to the second phase, the quantification. Calcified structures are measured inside and outside the lesion using a granulometric curve which allows the calculation of statistical parameters of size. The same operator computes the shape of the lesion. The relative proportion of the area of calcification is also calculated respectively for the atherosclerotic lesion area and the area outside such lesions. In conclusion, the here developed method allows quantification of vascular calcified deposits in mouse aorta. This method will be useful for the quantitative assessment of pathological vascular changes in animals and man.
APPLICATION OF IMAGE ANALYSIS TO ASSESSING CRITICAL PORE SIZE FOR PERMEABILITY PREDICTION OF CEMENT PASTE
Authors: Hu Jing , Stroeven Piet
Published: July 2011

This paper explores image analysis techniques that provide insight into the nature of pore structure as observed in backscattered electron images of polished sections. On the basis of mathematical morphology, the pore size distribution is characterised and the critical pore size is determined for cement paste at different hydration time. The influence of image resolution is investigated. The permeability of cement paste can be predicted according to General Effective Media (GEM) theory. Comparison between permeability estimation and experiment results reveals good agreement.