Infrared thermal imaging figures of merit

Commercially available types of infrared thermal imaging instruments, both viewers (qualitative) and imagers (quantitative) are discussed. The various scanning methods by which thermal images (thermograms) are generated will be reviewed. The performance parameters (figures of merit) that define the quality of performance of infrared radiation thermometers will be introduced. A discussion of how these parameters are extended and adapted to define the performance of thermal imaging instruments will be provided. Finally, the significance of each of the key performance parameters of thermal imaging instruments will be reviewed and procedures currently used for testing to verify performance will be outlined

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance activity in the United Kingdom: a survey on behalf of the british society of cardiovascular magnetic resonance

<p>Background: The indications, complexity and capabilities of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) have rapidly expanded. Whether actual service provision and training have developed in parallel is unknown.</p> <p>Methods: We undertook a systematic telephone and postal survey of all public hospitals on behalf of the British Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance to identify all CMR providers within the United Kingdom.</p> <p>Results: Of the 60 CMR centres identified, 88% responded to a detailed questionnaire. Services are led by cardiologists and radiologists in equal proportion, though the majority of current trainees are cardiologists. The mean number of CMR scans performed annually per centre increased by 44% over two years. This trend was consistent across centres of different scanning volumes. The commonest indication for CMR was assessment of heart failure and cardiomyopathy (39%), followed by coronary artery disease and congenital heart disease. There was striking geographical variation in CMR availability, numbers of scans performed, and distribution of trainees. Centres without on site scanning capability refer very few patients for CMR. Just over half of centres had a formal training programme, and few performed regular audit.</p> <p>Conclusion: The number of CMR scans performed in the UK has increased dramatically in just two years. Trainees are mainly located in large volume centres and enrolled in cardiology as opposed to radiology training programmes.</p&gt

Continuous volumetric imaging via an optical phase-locked ultrasound lens

In vivo imaging at high spatiotemporal resolution is key to the understanding of complex biological systems. We integrated an optical phase-locked ultrasound lens into a two-photon fluorescence microscope and achieved microsecond-scale axial scanning, thus enabling volumetric imaging at tens of hertz. We applied this system to multicolor volumetric imaging of processes sensitive to motion artifacts, including calcium dynamics in behaving mouse brain and transient morphology changes and trafficking of immune cells

Colorimetric analysis of soil with flatbed scanners

Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Russian Science Academy Presidium (2015). The CIEDE2000 calculation of Sharma et al. (2005) was made available from spreadsheets from these authors.Peer reviewedPostprin

Digital Color Imaging

This paper surveys current technology and research in the area of digital color imaging. In order to establish the background and lay down terminology, fundamental concepts of color perception and measurement are first presented us-ing vector-space notation and terminology. Present-day color recording and reproduction systems are reviewed along with the common mathematical models used for representing these devices. Algorithms for processing color images for display and communication are surveyed, and a forecast of research trends is attempted. An extensive bibliography is provided

Cloud Watching: Understanding Attacks Against Cloud-Hosted Services

Cloud computing has dramatically changed service deployment patterns. In this work, we analyze how attackers identify and target cloud services in contrast to traditional enterprise networks and network telescopes. Using a diverse set of cloud honeypots in 5~providers and 23~countries as well as 2~educational networks and 1~network telescope, we analyze how IP address assignment, geography, network, and service-port selection, influence what services are targeted in the cloud. We find that scanners that target cloud compute are selective: they avoid scanning networks without legitimate services and they discriminate between geographic regions. Further, attackers mine Internet-service search engines to find exploitable services and, in some cases, they avoid targeting IANA-assigned protocols, causing researchers to misclassify at least 15\% of traffic on select ports. Based on our results, we derive recommendations for researchers and operators.Comment: Proceedings of the 2023 ACM Internet Measurement Conference (IMC '23), October 24--26, 2023, Montreal, QC, Canad

Inter-crystal scatter in positron emission tomography: Identification techniques and effects on reconstructed images for AX-PET demonstrator

La PET es una técnica de imagen en medicina nuclear que permite la visualización in-vivo y en 3D de procesos funcionales en seres vivos. Un escáner PET mide los rayos gamma producidos al aniquilarse un positrón, el cual es emitido por un radioisótopo inyectado al paciente. La eficiencia del sistema es una característica crucial de los escáneres PET de alta resolución dedicados a la imagen del cerebro o de animales pequeños con el fin de obtener una imagen más fiel o de reducir la actividad del radiotrazador, y por consiguiente, la dosis inyectada al paciente. El objetivo de este trabajo de investigación es mejorar la eficiencia y calidad de imagen de un prototipo de escáner PET axial (AX-PET) sin comprometer la resolución espacial. El escáner AX-PET está diseñado para imagen del cerebro humano y consta de varios pisos de cristales centelleadores largos y finos, orientados axialmente, que son leídos individualmente por un fotomultiplicador de silicio. El diseño del detector permite la adquisición de eventos en los que un rayo gamma sufre múltiples interacciones en diferentes cristales: eventos de dispersión inter-cristal (ICS). A diferencia de los eventos más convencionales con una sola interacción (Golden), los eventos ICS son ambiguos debido al desconocimiento de la secuencia de interacción. Por ello, en esta investigación desarrollamos estrategias para la inclusión e identificación de eventos ICS para reconstrucción de imagen y evaluamos el impacto en la eficiencia del sistema y calidad de imagen. Diferentes algoritmos son empleados para seleccionar la primera interacción en un evento ICS basándose en cinemática Compton, sección eficaz de Klein-Nishina, etc., cada cual con una determinada tasa de identificación. Su rendimiento es analizado en base a imágenes reconstruidas de una fuente puntual y tres maniquíes diferentes a través de varias figuras de mérito como coeficiente de recuperación, relación contraste-ruido, visibilidad, etc. El análisis de datos muestra una contribución estadísticamente significante de eventos ICS a la eficiencia del sistema: la sensitividad mejora entre un 25% y 80% con respecto a sólo eventos Golden dependiendo del subtipo de ICS seleccionados para la reconstrucción. Los resultados de la inclusión de coincidencias ICS revelan el incremento de la relación señal-ruido y contraste-ruido, pero una ligera reducción de la resolución espacial incluso para el mejor algoritmo de identificación. En conclusión, el uso de eventos ICS para reconstrucción de imagen es prometedor para medidas de baja actividad (baja estadística), dado que aumenta significativamente la eficiencia del sistema y mejora la calidad de imagen sin perjuicio severo a la resolución espacial.Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine imaging technique that allows in-vivo 3D visualization of functional processes of the body. A PET scanner measures the gamma rays produced during the annihilation of a positron, which is emitted from a radioisotope injected to the patient. System efficiency is a crucial feature of high resolution PET scanners aimed at brain or small animal imaging in order to obtain a more faithful image or reduce the radiotracer activity, hence dose, injected to the patient. The aim of this research work is to improve the efficiency and image quality of an Axial PET scanner prototype (AX-PET) without jeopardizing spatial resolution. The AX-PET scanner is designed for human brain imaging and is based on several layers of long, thin, axially arranged scintillator crystals, which are individually readout by Silicon Photo Multipliers. The detector's design allows acquisition of events in which a gamma ray has multiple interactions in different crystals: inter-crystal scatter (ICS) events. In contrast with more standard single-hit (or Golden) events, ICS events are ambiguous as the interaction sequence is unknown. Therefore, in this investigation we develop strategies for the inclusion and identification of ICS events for image reconstruction and assess the impact on system efficiency and image quality. Different algorithms are used to select the first interaction in an ICS event based on Compton kinematics, Klein-Nishina cross section, etc., each with a certain identification rate. Their performance is analysed on the resulting reconstructed images of a point source and three different phantoms through several figures of merit such as recovery coefficient, contrast to noise ratio, visibility, etc. The data analysis shows a statistically significant contribution of ICS events to system efficiency: a sensitivity improvement between 25% and 80% in comparison with only Golden events depending on the ICS subtypes selected for the reconstruction. The results of the inclusion of ICS coincidences reveal an increase in signal and contrast to noise ratio, but a slight decrease of the spatial resolution even for the best identification algorithm. In conclusion, the use of ICS events for image reconstruction is promising for low activity measurements (low statistics), as it significantly increases the system efficiency and improves image quality without a serious decrease in spatial resolution

NE- 165 Case Study : LEANER PORK: Can New Sector Linkages Be Formed?

A more demanding and evolving consumer is creating change in the market for pork and many working within the industry are predicting opportunities for leaner products. However, leaner pork enthusiasts also are frustrated by the established industry food chain that offers little incentive for modification. Modification would require change on the part of genetic suppliers, commercial producers, packers and processors, and retailers. However, many of these food chain participants traditionally have not collaborated with others in the sector. Yet the establishment of these new linkages may be key to the success of a leaner pork industry. This case study documents several of the activities currently occurring within the leaner pork industry and explores new linkages which may be critical in the future. Currently, genetic suppliers are struggling with short-term needs of producers, while attempting to look at the long-term demands of consumers. Hog producers have been profitable and lack incentives to alter practices which would produce leaner animals. Packers are interested in efficiently running large scale operations with large quantities of low cost meat. Retailers struggle with labeling inconsistencies and a low cost mentality that make it difficult to market leaner pork in the meatcase. Leaner pork enthusiasts are making strides to overcome the disadvantages found in the traditional system. Some genetic suppliers are now working with packers to determine animal quality beyond the producer's feedlot. Some packers are creating incentive programs that pay producers for leaner quality. These lean incentive programs may become more attractive for packers and producers if new technologies measuring lean become less prohibitive for larger operations. Many packers are moving into branded products, resulting in incentive programs for producers who supply animals with the desired quality. Overall, these efforts have remained a small portion of total pork industry activities.Agribusiness, Livestock Production/Industries,