Cascaded differential and wavelet compression of chromosome images

This paper proposes a new method for chromosome image compression based on an important characteristic of these images: the regions of interest (ROIs) to cytogeneticists for evaluation and diagnosis are well determined and segmented. Such information is utilized to advantage in our compression algorithm, which combines lossless compression of chromosome ROIs with lossy-to-lossless coding of the remaining image parts. This is accomplished by first performing a differential operation on chromosome ROIs for decorrelation, followed by critically sampled integer wavelet transforms on these regions and the remaining image parts. The well-known set partitioning in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) (Said and Perlman, 1996) algorithm is modified to generate separate embedded bit streams for both chromosome ROIs and the rest of the image that allow continuous lossy-to-lossless compression of both (although lossless compression of the former is commonly used in practice). Experiments on two sets of sample chromosome spread and karyotype images indicate that the proposed approach significantly outperforms current compression techniques used in commercial karyotyping systems and JPEG-2000 compression, which does not provide the desirable support for lossless compression of arbitrary ROIs.     

Nonlinear multiscale wavelet diffusion for speckle suppression and edge enhancement in ultrasound images

This paper introduces a novel nonlinear multiscale wavelet diffusion method for ultrasound speckle suppression and edge enhancement. This method is designed to utilize the favorable denoising properties of two frequently used techniques: the sparsity and multiresolution properties of the wavelet, and the iterative edge enhancement feature of nonlinear diffusion. With fully exploited knowledge of speckle image models, the edges of images are detected using normalized wavelet modulus. Relying on this feature, both the envelope-detected speckle image and the log-compressed ultrasonic image can be directly processed by the algorithm without need for additional preprocessing. Speckle is suppressed by employing the iterative multiscale diffusion on the wavelet coefficients. With a tuning diffusion threshold strategy, the proposed method can improve the image quality for both visualization and auto-segmentation applications. We validate our method using synthetic speckle images and real ultrasonic images. Performance improvement over other despeckling filters is quantified in terms of noise suppression and edge preservation indices.     

Multiscale texture classification using reduced quaternion wavelet transform

This article proposes a study of the reduced quaternion wavelet transform (RQWT) which has one shift-invariant magnitude and three angle phases at each scale from digital image analysis application. A new multiscale texture classifier which uses features extracted from the sub-bands of the RQWT decomposition is proposed in the transform domain. The proposed method can achieve a high texture classification rate. The experimental results can demonstrate the robustness of the proposed method and achieve a higher texture classification accuracy rate than a famous wavelet transform based classifier.     

基于小波变换的低对比度图像增强

针对传统算法存在噪声过增强的问题,提出了基于小波分析的图像增强算法。在小波变换多尺度分析的基础上,算法对图像多尺度分解得到的小波系数进行缩减去噪,然后在不同尺度上对各分解系数进行不同程度的增强;对同一尺度的系数进行非线性处理以增加对比度;增强低频子带图像的对比度以保证整体的增强效果。实验表明,该算法能有效地增强低对比度图像,减小了噪声的增强幅度,使结果图像具有很好的视觉效果。     

New image compression techniques using multiwavelets andmultiwavelet packets

Advances in wavelet transforms and quantization methods have produced algorithms capable of surpassing the existing image compression standards like the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) algorithm. For best performance in image compression, wavelet transforms require filters that combine a number of desirable properties, such as orthogonality and symmetry. However, the design possibilities for wavelets are limited because they cannot simultaneously possess all of the desirable properties. The relatively new field of multiwavelets shows promise in obviating some of the limitations of wavelets. Multiwavelets offer more design options and are able to combine several desirable transform features. The few previously published results of multiwavelet-based image compression have mostly fallen short of the performance enjoyed by the current wavelet algorithms. This paper presents new multiwavelet transform and quantization methods and introduces multiwavelet packets. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that our techniques exhibit performance equal to, or in several cases superior to, the current wavelet filters.     

Mammographic feature enhancement by multiscale analysis

Introduces a novel approach for accomplishing mammographic feature analysis by overcomplete multiresolution representations. The authors show that efficient representations may be identified within a continuum of scale-space and used to enhance features of importance to mammography. Methods of contrast enhancement are described based on three overcomplete multiscale representations: 1) the dyadic wavelet transform (separable), 2) the phi-transform (nonseparable, nonorthogonal), and 3) the hexagonal wavelet transform (nonseparable). Multiscale edges identified within distinct levels of transform space provide local support for image enhancement. Mammograms are reconstructed from wavelet coefficients modified at one or more levels by local and global nonlinear operators. In each case, edges and gain parameters are identified adaptively by a measure of energy within each level of scale-space. The authors show quantitatively that transform coefficients, modified by adaptive nonlinear operators, can make more obvious unseen or barely seen features of mammography without requiring additional radiation. The authors' results are compared with traditional image enhancement techniques by measuring the local contrast of known mammographic features. They demonstrate that features extracted from multiresolution representations can provide an adaptive mechanism for accomplishing local contrast enhancement. By improving the visualization of breast pathology, one can improve chances of early detection while requiring less time to evaluate mammograms for most patients.     

基于小波变换多尺度积的图像融合算法

图像融合是图像处理中的关键技术之一。它在军事和民用图像处理领域获得了广泛的应用。提出了一种新的基于小波变换多尺度积的图像融合算法,小波变换多尺度积具有放大信号边缘特征和降低信号噪声的特点,有利于在融合图像中保持图像的细节特征。利用统计分析的评判准则,如熵、标准偏差评价图像的融合效果。实验结果表明该方法提高了图像的熵和标准偏差。在保留原图像信息的情况下增强了融合图像的细节信息。     

Speckle reduction and contrast enhancement of echocardiograms viamultiscale nonlinear processing

This paper presents an algorithm for speckle reduction and contrast enhancement of echocardiographic images. Within a framework of multiscale wavelet analysis, the authors apply wavelet shrinkage techniques to eliminate noise while preserving the sharpness of salient features. In addition, nonlinear processing of feature energy is carried out to enhance contrast within local structures and along object boundaries. The authors show that the algorithm is capable of not only reducing speckle, but also enhancing features of diagnostic importance, such as myocardial walls in two-dimensional echocardiograms obtained from the parasternal short-axis view. Shrinkage of wavelet coefficients via soft thresholding within finer levels of scale is carried out on coefficients of logarithmically transformed echocardiograms. Enhancement of echocardiographic features is accomplished via nonlinear stretching followed by hard thresholding of wavelet coefficients within selected (midrange) spatial-frequency levels of analysis. The authors formulate the denoising and enhancement problem, introduce a class of dyadic wavelets, and describe their implementation of a dyadic wavelet transform. Their approach for speckle reduction and contrast enhancement was shown to be less affected by pseudo-Gibbs phenomena. The authors show experimentally that this technique produced superior results both qualitatively and quantitatively when compared to results obtained from existing denoising methods alone. A study using a database of clinical echocardiographic images suggests that such denoising and enhancement may improve the overall consistency of expert observers to manually defined borders     

基于频域增强和差分盒维数的早期火灾烟雾图像分割

根据烟雾的半透明性特征和分形性质,提出一种基于频域增强和差分盒维数的烟雾图像分割算法。首先,利用小波变换空-频域的特性,通过对图像多层分解后小波系数的加权处理得到烟雾纹理增强图像;然后,运用差分盒维数方法遍历图像,计算出各像素分形维数值,由阈值法得到烟雾分割图像。最后,通过形态学膨胀运算使分割图像更加完整。实验结果表明,该算法能有效利用小波频域增强的特点,减小烟雾薄弱区内背景的影响,使该区域烟雾的分形维数更多地集中于阈值内,提高了烟雾分割的准确性。     

Bayesian texture classification based on contourlet transform and BYY harmony learning of Poisson mixtures

As a newly developed 2-D extension of the wavelet transform using multiscale and directional filter banks, the contourlet transform can effectively capture the intrinsic geometric structures and smooth contours of a texture image that are the dominant features for texture classification. In this paper, we propose a novel Bayesian texture classifier based on the adaptive model-selection learning of Poisson mixtures on the contourlet features of texture images. The adaptive model-selection learning of Poisson mixtures is carried out by the recently established adaptive gradient Bayesian Ying-Yang harmony learning algorithm for Poisson mixtures. It is demonstrated by the experiments that our proposed Bayesian classifier significantly improves the texture classification accuracy in comparison with several current state-of-the-art texture classification approaches.     

Impact of applying pre-processing techniques for improving classification accuracy

Image denoising is a procedure aimed at removing noise from images while retaining as many important signal features as possible. Many images suffer from poor contrast due to inadequate illumination or finite sensitivity of the imaging device, electronic sensor noise or atmospheric disturbances. This paper proposes a hybrid directional lifting technique for image denoising to retain the original information present in the images. The primary objective of this paper is to show the impact of applying preprocessing techniques for improving classification accuracy. In order to classify the image accurately, effective preservation of edges and contour details of an image is essential. The discrete wavelet transform-based interpolation technique is developed for resolution enhancement. The image is then classified using support vector machine classifier, which is well suitable for image classification. The efficiency of the classifier is analyzed based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The quantitative performance measures peak signal to noise ratio and ROC analysis show the significance of the proposed techniques.     

Integrated wavelets for enhancement of microcalcifications in digital mammography

This paper presents a new algorithm for enhancement of microcalcifications in mammograms. The main novelty is the application of techniques we have developed for construction of filterbanks derived from the continuous wavelet transform. These discrete wavelet decompositions, called integrated wavelets, are optimally designed for enhancement of multiscale structures in images. Furthermore, we use a model based approach to refine existing methods for general enhancement of mammograms resulting in a more specific enhancement of microcalcifications. We present results of our method and compare them with known algorithms. Finally, we want to indicate how these techniques can also be applied to the detection of microcalcifications. Our algorithm was positively evaluated in a clinical study. It has been implemented in a mammography workstation designed for soft-copy reading of digital mammograms developed by IMAGETOOL, Germany.     

Moving window-based double Haar wavelet transform for image processing.

Image denoising is a lively research field. The classical nonlinear filters used for image denoising, such as median filter, are based on a local analysis of the pixels within a moving window. Recently, the research of image denoising has been focused on the wavelet domain. Compared to the classical nonlinear filters, it is based on a global multiscale analysis of images. Apparently, the wavelet transform can be embedded in a moving window. Thus, a moving window-based local multiscale analysis is obtained. In this paper, based on the Haar wavelet, a class of nonorthogonal multi-channel filter bank with its corresponding wavelet shrinkage called Lee shrinkage is derived. As a special case of this filter bank, the double Haar wavelet transform is introduced. Examples show that it is suitable for a moving window-based local multiscale analysis used for image denoising, edge detection, and edge enhancement.     

Context-based multiscale classification of document images usingwavelet coefficient distributions

In this paper, an algorithm is developed for segmenting document images into four classes: background, photograph, text, and graph. Features used for classification are based on the distribution patterns of wavelet coefficients in high frequency bands. Two important attributes of the algorithm are its multiscale nature-it classifies an image at different resolutions adaptively, enabling accurate classification at class boundaries as well as fast classification overall-and its use of accumulated context information for improving classification accuracy.     

Noise reduction for magnetic resonance images via adaptive multiscale products thresholding

Edge-preserving denoising is of great interest in medical image processing. This paper presents a wavelet-based multiscale products thresholding scheme for noise suppression of magnetic resonance images. A Canny edge detector-like dyadic wavelet transform is employed. This results in the significant features in images evolving with high magnitude across wavelet scales, while noise decays rapidly. To exploit the wavelet interscale dependencies we multiply the adjacent wavelet subbands to enhance edge structures while weakening noise. In the multiscale products, edges can be effectively distinguished from noise. Thereafter, an adaptive threshold is calculated and imposed on the products, instead of on the wavelet coefficients, to identify important features. Experiments show that the proposed scheme better suppresses noise and preserves edges than other wavelet-thresholding denoising methods.     

Integrated spectral and spatial information mining in remote sensing imagery

Most existing remote sensing image retrieval systems allow only simple queries based on sensor, location, and date of image capture. This approach does not permit the efficient retrieval of useful hidden information from large image databases. This paper presents an integrated approach to retrieving spectral and spatial patterns from remotely sensed imagery using state-of-the-art data mining and advanced database technologies. Land cover information corresponding to spectral characteristics is identified by supervised classification based on support vector machines with automatic model selection, while textural features characterizing spatial information are extracted using Gabor wavelet coefficients. Within identified land cover categories, textural features are clustered to acquire search-efficient space in an object-oriented database with associated images in an image database. Interesting patterns are then retrieved using a query-by-example approach. The evaluation of the study results using coverage and novelty measures validates the effectiveness of the proposed remote sensing image information mining framework, which is potentially useful for applications such as agricultural and environmental monitoring.     

Kernel eigenmaps based multiscale sparse model for hyperspectral image classification

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is the emerging method that combines traditional imaging and spectroscopy to provide the image with both the spatial and spectral information of the object present in the image. The major challenges of the existing techniques for HSI classification are the high dimensionality of data and its complexity in classification. This paper devises a new technique to classify the HSI named Spatial–Spectral Schroedinger Eigen Maps based Multi-scale adaptive sparse representation (S²SEMASR). In this, two different phases are employed for the accurate classification of the HSI, namely, Schroedinger Eigen maps (SE) based spatial–spectral feature extraction and multi-scale adaptive sparse classification for the feature extracted image. SE makes use of spatial–spectral cluster potentials which allows the extraction of features that best describes the characteristics of different classes of HSI. The multiscale adaptive sparse representation (MASR) applied over the SE features provides the sparse coefficients that includes distinct scale level sparsity with same class level sparsity. With the obtained coefficients, the class label of each pixel is determined. The proposed HSI classifier well utilizes the spectral and spatial characteristics to exploit the within-class variability and thus reduces the misclassification of similar test pixels Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed S²SEMASR approach outperforms the traditional results both qualitatively and quantitatively with an overall accuracy of 98.3%.     

一种自适应多尺度积阈值的图像去噪算法

该文提出了平稳小波变换(Stationary Wavelet Transform, SWT )域自适应多尺度积阈值的图像去噪算法(SWT domain Multiscale Products, SWTMP)。与传统的阈值去噪算法不同,该阈值不是直接作用于小波系数,而是作用于小波系数的空间多尺度积。分析了SWT域含噪图像多尺度积的特点,提出了SWT域自适应多尺度积阈值的计算方法。多尺度积强化了图像的重要结构信息,弱化了噪声,在有效去噪的同时更多地保留了图像的边缘和细节。实验结果表明,所提算法对自然图像去噪后的视觉效果和性能指标均好于二进小波域多尺度积阈值(Adaptive Multiscale Products Thresholding, AMPT)去噪方法。