title: Development of retinal blood vessel segmentation methodology using wavelet transforms for assessment of diabetic retinopathy

authors: Cornforth, D.J.

subjects: engineering

abstract: Automated image processing has the potential to assist in the early detection of diabetes, by detecting changes in blood vessel diameter and patterns in the retina. This paper describes the development of segmentation methodology in the processing of retinal blood vessel images obtained using non-mydriatic colour photography. The methods used include wavelet analysis, supervised classifier probabilities and adaptive threshold procedures, as well as morphology-based techniques. We show highly accurate identification of blood vessels for the purpose of studying changes in the vessel network that can be utilized for detecting blood vessel diameter changes associated with the pathophysiology of diabetes. In conjunction with suitable feature extraction and automated classification methods, our segmentation method could form the basis of a quick and accurate test for diabetic retinopathy, which would have huge benefits in terms of improved access to screening people for risk or presence of diabetes.

text: Development of retinal blood vessel segmentation methodology using wavelet transforms for assessment of diabetic retinopathy Automated image processing has the potential to assist in the early detection of diabetes, by detecting changes in blood vessel diameter and patterns in the retina. This paper describes the development of segmentation methodology in the processing of retinal blood vessel images obtained using non-mydriatic colour photography. The methods used include wavelet analysis, supervised classifier probabilities and adaptive threshold procedures, as well as morphology-based techniques. We show highly accurate identification of blood vessels for the purpose of studying changes in the vessel network that can be utilized for detecting blood vessel diameter changes associated with the pathophysiology of diabetes. In conjunction with suitable feature extraction and automated classification methods, our segmentation method could form the basis of a quick and accurate test for diabetic retinopathy, which would have huge benefits in terms of improved access to screening people for risk or presence of diabetes.

year: 2005

title: Structured audio content analysis and metadata in a digital library

authors: Bainbridge, David

subjects: audio content analysis

abstract: This work illustrates how audio content analysis of music and manually assigned structural temporal metadata can be used to form a digital library designed for musicological exploration. In addition to text-based searching and browsing, the document view is enriched with an interactive structured audio time-line that shows ground-truth data representing the logical segments to the song, and a version that was automatically generated for comparison. A self-similarity "heat" map is also displayed, and is interactive. Clicking within the map at a co-ordinate (x,y) results in the audio being played simultaneous at time offset x and y, panned left and right, respectively, to make it easier for the listener to separate out the differences. The musicologist can also initiate an audio content based query starting at any point in the song. This produces a ranked result set which can be further studied through their respective document views. Alternatively they can perform a musical structure search (for example, for songs that contain the structure b, b, c, b, c).

text: Structured audio content analysis and metadata in a digital library This work illustrates how audio content analysis of music and manually assigned structural temporal metadata can be used to form a digital library designed for musicological exploration. In addition to text-based searching and browsing, the document view is enriched with an interactive structured audio time-line that shows ground-truth data representing the logical segments to the song, and a version that was automatically generated for comparison. A self-similarity "heat" map is also displayed, and is interactive. Clicking within the map at a co-ordinate (x,y) results in the audio being played simultaneous at time offset x and y, panned left and right, respectively, to make it easier for the listener to separate out the differences. The musicologist can also initiate an audio content based query starting at any point in the song. This produces a ranked result set which can be further studied through their respective document views. Alternatively they can perform a musical structure search (for example, for songs that contain the structure b, b, c, b, c).

year: 2012

title: Understanding contemporary Māori demographic fertility patterns and trends in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Rarere, Moana

abstract: This thesis re-examines demographic studies of contemporary Māori fertility patterns and trends. Analysing fertility is a core undertaking in demography, and in studies that include Māori fertility, most have been undertaken by non-Māori demographers who instinctively draw on Western-based frameworks to analyse and interpret these trends.  Consequently, Māori perspectives are virtually invisible.  Incorporating Māori perspectives are needed because despite a convergence of fertility similar to Pākehā, important fertility patterns persist.  Notably, Māori women bear their babies earlier and over a longer period.  Fertility studies of other Indigenous peoples in settler-colonial states share striking similarities.  While demographic and economic factors are important in fertility outcomes, this thesis primarily explores the potential influence of culture, which has received little attention.  Hence, this doctoral study asks: To what extent does culture influence contemporary Māori fertility patterns?

This thesis draws on Kaupapa Māori and Mana Wahine frameworks, along with the tools of demography, to deploy a mixed methods design of statistical techniques – using secondary data from the 2013 Aotearoa NZ Census and the 1995 New Zealand Women: Family, Employment, and Education Survey – and thematic analysis of interviews with nine Māori women.  While acknowledging the limitations of the analyses, the empirical results suggest that ‘cultural identity’ is an important factor in Māori fertility, and that ‘whakapapa’ and ‘whānau’ are at the heart of fertility decisions.  These findings broadly imply that taken-for-granted demographic theories and analytical practices need to incorporate Indigenous-centred frameworks and perspectives for a better understanding of Indigenous fertility and population change.

text: Understanding contemporary Māori demographic fertility patterns and trends in Aotearoa New Zealand This thesis re-examines demographic studies of contemporary Māori fertility patterns and trends. Analysing fertility is a core undertaking in demography, and in studies that include Māori fertility, most have been undertaken by non-Māori demographers who instinctively draw on Western-based frameworks to analyse and interpret these trends.  Consequently, Māori perspectives are virtually invisible.  Incorporating Māori perspectives are needed because despite a convergence of fertility similar to Pākehā, important fertility patterns persist.  Notably, Māori women bear their babies earlier and over a longer period.  Fertility studies of other Indigenous peoples in settler-colonial states share striking similarities.  While demographic and economic factors are important in fertility outcomes, this thesis primarily explores the potential influence of culture, which has received little attention.  Hence, this doctoral study asks: To what extent does culture influence contemporary Māori fertility patterns?

This thesis draws on Kaupapa Māori and Mana Wahine frameworks, along with the tools of demography, to deploy a mixed methods design of statistical techniques – using secondary data from the 2013 Aotearoa NZ Census and the 1995 New Zealand Women: Family, Employment, and Education Survey – and thematic analysis of interviews with nine Māori women.  While acknowledging the limitations of the analyses, the empirical results suggest that ‘cultural identity’ is an important factor in Māori fertility, and that ‘whakapapa’ and ‘whānau’ are at the heart of fertility decisions.  These findings broadly imply that taken-for-granted demographic theories and analytical practices need to incorporate Indigenous-centred frameworks and perspectives for a better understanding of Indigenous fertility and population change.

year: 2024