Removing lateral chromatic aberration in bright field optical microscopy

"We present an efficient alternative to remove lateral chromatic aberration (LCA) in bright field light microscopy images. Our procedure is based on error calibration using time-sequential acquisition at different wavelengths, and error correction through digital image warping. Measurement of the displacements of fiducial marks in the red and green images relative to blue provide calibration factors that are subsequently used in test images to realign color channels digitally. We demonstrate quantitative improvement in the position and boundaries of objects in target slides and in the color content and morphology of specimens in stained biological samples. Our results show a reduction of LCA content below the 0.1% level.

Cryoimaging-Microscopy Implementation for 3D Optical Imaging

The structures and biochemistry properties of biological tissues are mostly affected by diseases. The visualization of organ structure and biochemistry helps in early detection and progression monitoring of diseases. Although, 2D imaging has traditionally been used to gain information from the tissue, it does not accurately represent many of the structures and functions. There currently exists a need for sensitive and specific methods to show detailed information about the structure of the tissue with high resolution and in 3D. The potential advantage of the high resolution 3D images is the ability to accurately probe structural and biochemical properties of the tissue. Not only the changes in structure, but also the changes in temporal physiological responses affected by oxidative stress (OS) at cellular levels. Thus, it would be valuable to detect the cellular metabolic states, which play a key role in understanding the pathogenesis of the disease, and to develop instruments to detect high resolution 3D images of the tissue. The objective of this research is to develop a second generation fluorescence optical imaging instrument to image the cellular redox state in 3D, in control and diseases conditions. I have improved upon one of optical instrument, called cryoimager software and hardware wise to enable higher resolution images. This higher resolution imaging resembles the microscopy capability in cryo temperatures for high resolution 3D imaging. In conclusion, high resolution optical instrumentation combined with signal and image processing tools provide quantitative physiological and structural information of diseased tissue

MULTISCALE GUIDED DEBLURRING: CHROMATIC ABERRATION CORRECTION IN COLOR AND NEAR-INFRARED IMAGING

Chromatic aberration, caused by photographic lens imperfections, results in the image of only one spectral channel being sharp, while the other channels are blurred depending on their wavelengths difference with the sharp channel. We study chromatic aberration for a system that jointly records color and near-infrared (NIR) images on a single sensor. Chromatic aberration in such a system leads to a blurred NIR image when the color image is in-focus and sharp. We propose an algorithm that deblurs the NIR image using the gradients of the sharp color image, as both scene representations are generally similar. However, the details of these images often exhibit significant differences due to varying scene reflection and absorption in the corresponding bands. To account for this, we compute the correlation between color and NIR gradients, and use the gradients of the color image in reconstructing NIR only where the gradients are highly correlated. We propose a multiscale scheme that gradually deblurs NIR and accurately computes similarities between color and NIR gradients. Experimental results show that our algorithm recovers details of NIR without producing visible artifacts

Forensic image analysis – CCTV distortion and artefacts

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. As a result of the worldwide deployment of surveillance cameras, authorities have gained a powerful tool that captures footage of activities of people in public areas. Surveillance cameras allow continuous monitoring of the area and allow footage to be obtained for later use, if a criminal or other act of interest occurs. Following this, a forensic practitioner, or expert witness can be required to analyse the footage of the Person of Interest. The examination ultimately aims at evaluating the strength of evidence at source and activity levels. In this paper, both source and activity levels are inferred from the trace, obtained in the form of CCTV footage. The source level alludes to features observed within the anatomy and gait of an individual, whilst the activity level relates to activity undertaken by the individual within the footage. The strength of evidence depends on the value of the information recorded, where the activity level is robust, yet source level requires further development. It is therefore suggested that the camera and the associated distortions should be assessed first and foremost and, where possible, quantified, to determine the level of each type of distortion present within the footage. A review of the ‘forensic image analysis’ review is presented here. It will outline the image distortion types and detail the limitations of differing surveillance camera systems. The aim is to highlight various types of distortion present particularly from surveillance footage, as well as address gaps in current literature in relation to assessment of CCTV distortions in tandem with gait analysis. Future work will consider the anatomical assessment from surveillance footage

Gradient-Based Correction of Chromatic Aberration in the Joint Acquisition of Color and Near-Infrared Images

Chromatic aberration distortions, such as wavelength-dependent blur caused by imperfections in photographic lenses, have long been studied in color imaging. The problem becomes more challenging to solve in the case of color and near-infrared joint acquisition, as a wider range of wavelengths is captured. In this paper, we assume that the color image is in focus, hence, the NIR image captured with the same focus settings is blurred. We propose an algorithm that estimates the blur kernel and deblurs the NIR image, using the in-focus color image as a guide in both steps. In the deblurring step, we retrieve the lost details of the NIR image by using the sharp edges of the color image. The main diculty in this task is caused by the fact that the edges of color and NIR images are not always correlated. To handle this issue, the algorithm analyzes the dierences between the gradients of NIR and color channels. Simulation results verify the eectiveness of our algorithm, both in estimating the blur kernel and deblurring the NIR image, without producing ringing artifacts inherent to the results of other deblurring methods

A novel compact Shearographic NDT system

Includes bibliographical referencesThere is a need in industry and the NDT (Non-destructive Testing) community for quick, reliable, user-friendly and cost-effective compact NDT systems that can be used on a wide variety of materials and structures, for quality assurance and maintenance. Designing and building a compact Shearographic NDT system will enhance the capability of inspection during quality assurance and maintenance routines as well as reduce inspection time. Older compact Shearographic systems, which have been tested satisfactorily both under laboratory and field conditions at the NDT Laboratory at the University of Cape Town, have a rather restricted field of view. This is due to the proprietary shearing optics being placed in front of the camera lens, which in other words means that the field of view can only be increased by using a relatively small focal length camera lens which results in having to increase the size of the shearing optics. This would make the compact Shearographic device much larger which is counter-productive since technology enables/directs research and development toward more compact devices

Review on Photomicrography based Full Blood Count (FBC) Testing and Recent Advancements

With advancements in related sub-fields, research on photomicrography in life science is emerging and this is a review on its application towards human full blood count testing which is a primary test in medical practices. For a prolonged period of time, analysis of blood samples is the basis for bio medical observations of living creatures. Cell size, shape, constituents, count, ratios are few of the features identified using DIP based analysis and these features provide an overview of the state of human body which is important in identifying present medical conditions and indicating possible future complications. In addition, functionality of the immune system is observed using results of blood tests. In FBC tests, identification of different blood cell types and counting the number of cells of each type is required to obtain results. Literature discuss various techniques and methods and this article presents an insightful review on human blood cell morphology, photomicrography, digital image processing of photomicrographs, feature extraction and classification, and recent advances. Integration of emerging technologies such as microfluidics, micro-electromechanical systems, and artificial intelligence based image processing algorithms and classifiers with cell sensing have enabled exploration of novel research directions in blood testing applications.

Vision during manned booster operation Final report

Retinal images and accomodation control mechanism under conditions of space flight stres

Electrostatic Deflection and Correction Systems

Tato diplomová práce se věnuje prozkoumání možností dynamické korekce vad v elektronové litografii. Pro výpočty byl zvolen elektronový litograf BS600. Práce se zabývá korekcí vad vychýlení třetího řádu: zklenutí pole, astigmatismu a zkreslení. Aberace byly spočteny jak pro současný magnetický vychyolvací systém, tak pro nově navržený elektrostatický deflektor. Vlastnosti a vady obou vychylovacích a korekčních systémů byly porovnány.The aim of this master's thesis is to explore and study dynamic aberration correction options in electron-beam lithography systems. For the calculations, the thesis uses the optical column of the BS600 electron-beam writer. The thesis focuses on corrections of the third order field curvature, astigmatism, and distortion aberrations of the currently used magnetic deflection system and a newly designed electrostatic deflection system. The parameters of the two deflection and correction systems were compared.

An Infrared Camera for Leuschner Observatory and the Berkeley Undergraduate Astronomy Lab

We describe the design, fabrication, and operation of an infrared camera which is in use at the 30-inch telescope of the Leuschner Observatory. The camera is based on a Rockwell PICNIC 256 x 256 pixel HgCdTe array, which is sensitive from 0.9-2.5 micron. The primary purpose of this telescope is for undergraduate instruction. The cost of the camera has been minimized by using commercial parts whereever practical. The camera optics are based on a modified Offner relay which forms a cold pupil where stray thermal radiation from the telescope is baffled. A cold, six-position filter wheel is driven by a cryogenic stepper motor, thus avoiding any mechanical feed throughs. The array control and readout electronics are based on standard PC cards; the only custom component is a simple interface card which buffers the clocks and amplifies the analog signals from the array.Comment: 13 pages, 17 figures. Submitted to Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 2001 Jan 10, Accepted 2001 Jan 1