Magnetization transfer with echo planar imaging

The aim of magnetization transfer is to saturate the protons of the macromolecule pool with a radiofrequency (RF) pulse leading to differences in free water pool signal. Magnetization transfer (MT) contrast is difficult to achieve with the echo planar imaging (EPI) technique, although its short acquisition time would be most beneficial. Indeed, the RF saturation pulses can only be applied once before sampling the whole k-space in a single-short sequence. A possible solution to improve the sensitivity of EPI to magnetization transfer consists in applying a train of several saturation RF pulses before image acquisition. The different parameters of a RF pulse train and their influence on the MT rate have been tested to optimize an EPI clinical sequence. Our experimental procedure makes it possible to obtain a MT map in about 1 second. The technique is evaluated by multiple sclerosis lesion characterization. Supported by grants from the French research ministry and Siemens medical France.     

一种基于人眼视觉特性的图像质量评价

图像质量评价的研究已成为图像信息工程的基础技术之一。由于图像的最终接受者是人，所以评价图像质量的关键在于其是否符合人类视觉系统特性。为了建立一种新的符合人眼视觉特性的图像质量评价方法，利用小波变换与人类视觉系统的多通道特性相匹配的特点，结合对比敏感度函数的带通特性，同时考虑计算的复杂性，给出了一种与人对图像质量评价保持良好一致的图像质量评价算法。实验结果表明，其评价结果与主观评价方法平均评价分数的相关系数达0．95，而对应的客观评价方法峰值信噪比与平均评价分数的相关系数为0．81。     

防毡缩整理对羊仔毛衫压缩性能的影响

通过对H2O2—酶HAP防毡缩整理后的羊仔毛衫片进行压缩性研究，得出处理后的衫片比原衫片压缩性能指标值小，而且随着反应条件的逐渐加剧，羊仔毛衫片的蓬松性、丰厚性及丰满性逐渐变弱。     

Real imaging and size values of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells with comparable contrast tuning to two environmental scanning electron microscopy modes

The combined application of electron microscopy (EM) is frequently used for the microstructural investigation of biological specimens and plays two important roles in the quantification and in gaining an improved understanding of biological phenomena by making use of the highest resolution capability provided by EM. The possibility of imaging wet specimens in their "native" states in the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) at high resolution and large depth of focus in real time is discussed in this paper. It is demonstrated here that new features can be discovered by the elimination of even the least hazardous approaches in some preparation techniques, that destroy the samples. Since the analysis conditions may influence the morphology and the extreme surface sensitivity of living biological systems, the results obtained from the same cultured cell with two different ESEM modes (Lvac mode and wet mode) were compared. This offers new opportunities compared with ESEM-wet/Lvac-mode imaging, since wet-mode imaging involves a real contrast and gives an indication of the changes in cell morphology and structure required for cell viability. In this study, wet-mode imaging was optimized using the unique ability of cell quantities for microcharacterization in situ giving very fine features of topological effects. Accordingly, the progress is reported by comparing the results of these two modes, which demonstrate interesting application details. In general, the functional comparisons have revealed that the fresh unprocessed Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells (ESEM-wet mode) were essentially unaltered with improved and minimal specimen preparation timescales, and the optimal cell viability degree was visualized and also measured quantitatively while the cell size remained unchanged with continuous images.     

Backscattered electron imaging of the undersurface of resin-embedded cells by field-emission scanning electron microscopy

In this study backscattered electron (BSE) imaging was used to display cellular structures stained with heavy metals within an unstained resin by atomic number contrast in successively deeper layers. Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts were cultured on either 13-mm discs of plastic Thermanox, commercially pure titanium or steel. The cells were fixed, stained and embedded in resin and the disc removed. The resin block containing the cells was sputter coated and examined in a field-emission scanning electron microscope. The technique allowed for the direct visualization of the cell undersurface and immediately overlying areas of cytoplasm through the surrounding embedding resin, with good resolution and contrast to a significant depth of about 2 μm, without the requirement for cutting sections. The fixation protocol was optimized in order to increase heavy metal staining for maximal backscattered electron production. The operation of the microscope was optimized to maximize the number of backscattered electrons produced and to minimize the spot size. BSE images were collected over a wide range of accelerating voltages (keV), from low values to high values to give ‘sections' of information from increasing depths within the sample. At 3–4 keV only structures a very short distance into the material were observed, essentially the areas of cell attachment to the removed substrate. At higher accelerating voltages information on cell morphology, including in particular stress fibres and cell nuclei, where heavy metals were intensely bound became more evident. The technique allowed stepwise ‘sectional’ information to be acquired. The technique should be useful for studies on cell morphology, cycle and adhesion with greater resolution than can be obtained with any light-microscope-based system.     

The role of induced contrast in images obtained using the environmental scanning electron microscope

Generation of contrast in images obtained using the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) is explained by interpretation of images acquired using the gaseous secondary electron detector (GSED), ion current, and the Everhart-Thornley detector. We present a previously unreported contrast component in GSED and ion current images attributed to signal induction by changes in the concentration of positive ions in the ESEM chamber during image acquisition. Changes in positive ion concentration are caused by changes in electron emission from the sample during image acquisition and by a discrepancy between the drift velocities of negative and positive charge carriers in the imaging gas. The proposed signal generation mechanism is used to explain contrast reversal in images produced using the GSED and ion current signals and accounts for discrepancies in contrast observed, under some conditions, in these types of images. Combined with existing models of signal generation in the ESEM, the proposed model provides a basis for correct interpretation of ESEM images.     

Morphological contrast index based on the Weber's law

In this article, a morphological contrast index based on the Weber's law is proposed to quantify the contrast in a processed image. This measure involves the contours of the image along with its background. The proposal made here is applied to detect the image with higher contrast, and also identify the enhanced image most similar to the original. Moreover, the contrast index is compared with other four indexes reported in the current literature. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 22, 137–144, 2012     

Interpolation-tuned salient region detection

Image salient region detection is very useful in many multimedia applications,such as image retrieval,adaptive content delivery,and adaptive compression.Most existing methods are based on centersurround diferences,usually detecting the diferences around region boundaries,so these methods emphasize the high-contrast edges instead of detecting the regions.Diferent from traditional methods,our method smoothly propagates salient region information to the whole image by performing color interpolation and produces such saliency maps that uniformly highlight the whole salient regions and have high contrast between salient regions and backgrounds.We compare our method with five state-of-the-art salient region detection methods on a large public data set.The proposed method not only generates visually reasonable results but also achieves higher precision and better recall rates.     

Fuzzy Based Hybrid Focus Value Estimation for Multi Focus Image Fusion

Due to limited depth-of-field of digital single-lens reflex cameras, the scene content within a limited distance from the imaging plane remains in focus while other objects closer to or further away from the point of focus appear as blurred (out-of-focus) in the image. Multi-Focus Image Fusion can be used to reconstruct a fully focused image from two or more partially focused images of the same scene. In this paper, a new Fuzzy Based Hybrid Focus Measure (FBHFM) for multi-focus image fusion has been proposed. Optimal block size is very critical step for multi-focus image fusion. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm has been used to find optimal size of the block of the images for extraction of focus measure features. After finding optimal blocks, three focus measures Sum of Modified Laplacian, Gray Level Variance and Contrast Visibility has been extracted and combined these focus measures by using intelligent fuzzy technique. Fuzzy based hybrid intelligent focus values were estimated using contrast visibility measure to generate focused image. Different sets of multi-focus images have been used in detailed experimentation and compared the results with state-of-the-art existing techniques such as Genetic Algorithm (GA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Laplacian Pyramid discrete wavelet transform (DWT), and aDWT for image fusion. It has been found that proposed method performs well as compare to existing methods.

     

Colourful questions of an Indian village

How we understand and recall colour in the environments we encounter is reliant on the context. Drawing on a repeated experience of the author in a rural Indian village, a number of questions were raised regarding visual distinctiveness and its impact on the identity of place embedded in the memories of the village. A photographic walk‐through was undertaken to determine the existing colour palette and its relationship to the character of the memories of the village. Combined with observations and theory drawn from the literature, it is proposed that considering the experience from a pluralist perspective enables insights to emerge. In this case, colour moments and colour contrast are key attributes of memories and identity construction for the village visitor.