3D encoding/2D decoding of medical data

We propose a fully three-dimensional wavelet-based coding system featuring 3D encoding/2D decoding functionalities. A fully three-dimensional transform is combined with context adaptive arithmetic coding; 2D decoding is enabled by encoding every 2D subband image independently. The system allows a finely graded up to lossless quality scalability on any 2D image of the dataset. Fast access to 2D images is obtained by decoding only the corresponding information thus avoiding the reconstruction of the entire volume. The performance has been evaluated on a set of volumetric data and compared to that provided by other 3D as well as 2D coding systems. Results show a substantial improvement in coding efficiency (up to 33%) on volumes featuring good correlation properties along the z axis. Even though we did not address the complexity issue, we expect a decoding time of the order of one second/image after optimization. In summary, the proposed 3D/2D Multidimensional Layered Zero Coding System (3D/2D MLZC) provides the improvement in compression efficiency attainable with 3D systems without sacrificing the effectiveness in accessing the single images characteristic of 2D ones

Image Registration Workshop Proceedings

Automatic image registration has often been considered as a preliminary step for higher-level processing, such as object recognition or data fusion. But with the unprecedented amounts of data which are being and will continue to be generated by newly developed sensors, the very topic of automatic image registration has become and important research topic. This workshop presents a collection of very high quality work which has been grouped in four main areas: (1) theoretical aspects of image registration; (2) applications to satellite imagery; (3) applications to medical imagery; and (4) image registration for computer vision research

Earthquake Engineering

The book Earthquake Engineering - From Engineering Seismology to Optimal Seismic Design of Engineering Structures contains fifteen chapters written by researchers and experts in the fields of earthquake and structural engineering. This book provides the state-of-the-art on recent progress in the field of seimology, earthquake engineering and structural engineering. The book should be useful to graduate students, researchers and practicing structural engineers. It deals with seismicity, seismic hazard assessment and system oriented emergency response for abrupt earthquake disaster, the nature and the components of strong ground motions and several other interesting topics, such as dam-induced earthquakes, seismic stability of slopes and landslides. The book also tackles the dynamic response of underground pipes to blast loads, the optimal seismic design of RC multi-storey buildings, the finite-element analysis of cable-stayed bridges under strong ground motions and the acute psychiatric trauma intervention due to earthquakes

The anthropometric, environmental and genetic determinants of right ventricular structure and function

BACKGROUND Measures of right ventricular (RV) structure and function have significant prognostic value. The right ventricle is currently assessed by global measures, or point surrogates, which are insensitive to regional and directional changes. We aim to create a high-resolution three-dimensional RV model to improve understanding of its structural and functional determinants. These may be particularly of interest in pulmonary hypertension (PH), a condition in which RV function and outcome are strongly linked. PURPOSE To investigate the feasibility and additional benefit of applying three-dimensional phenotyping and contemporary statistical and genetic approaches to large patient populations. METHODS Healthy subjects and incident PH patients were prospectively recruited. Using a semi-automated atlas-based segmentation algorithm, 3D models characterising RV wall position and displacement were developed, validated and compared with anthropometric, physiological and genetic influences. Statistical techniques were adapted from other high-dimensional approaches to deal with the problems of multiple testing, contiguity, sparsity and computational burden. RESULTS 1527 healthy subjects successfully completed high-resolution 3D CMR and automated segmentation. Of these, 927 subjects underwent next-generation sequencing of the sarcomeric gene titin and 947 subjects completed genotyping of common variants for genome-wide association study. 405 incident PH patients were recruited, of whom 256 completed phenotyping. 3D modelling demonstrated significant reductions in sample size compared to two-dimensional approaches. 3D analysis demonstrated that RV basal-freewall function reflects global functional changes most accurately and that a similar region in PH patients provides stronger survival prediction than all anthropometric, haemodynamic and functional markers. Vascular stiffness, titin truncating variants and common variants may also contribute to changes in RV structure and function. CONCLUSIONS High-resolution phenotyping coupled with computational analysis methods can improve insights into the determinants of RV structure and function in both healthy subjects and PH patients. Large, population-based approaches offer physiological insights relevant to clinical care in selected patient groups.Open Acces

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

"Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Advanced Neuroimaging Applications" is a concise book on applied methods of fMRI used in assessment of cognitive functions in brain and neuropsychological evaluation using motor-sensory activities, language, orthographic disabilities in children. The book will serve the purpose of applied neuropsychological evaluation methods in neuropsychological research projects, as well as relatively experienced psychologists and neuroscientists. Chapters are arranged in the order of basic concepts of fMRI and physiological basis of fMRI after event-related stimulus in first two chapters followed by new concepts of fMRI applied in constraint-induced movement therapy; reliability analysis; refractory SMA epilepsy; consciousness states; rule-guided behavioral analysis; orthographic frequency neighbor analysis for phonological activation; and quantitative multimodal spectroscopic fMRI to evaluate different neuropsychological states

Immunohistochemical and electrophysiological investigation of E/I balance alterations in animal models of frontotemporal dementia

Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by changes in behaviour. Apathy, behavioural disinhibition and stereotyped behaviours are the first symptoms to appear and all have a basis in reward and pleasure deficits. The ventral striatum and ventral regions of the globus pallidus are involved in reward and pleasure. It is therefore reasonable to suggest alterations in these regions may underpin bvFTD. One postulated contributory factor is alteration in E/I balance in striatal regions. GABAergic interneurons play a role in E/I balance, acting as local inhibitory brakes, they are therefore a rational target for research investigating early biological predictors of bvFTD. To investigate this, we will carry out immunohistochemical staining for GABAergic interneurons (parvalbumin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase) in striatal regions of brains taken from CHMP2B mice, a validated animal model of bvFTD. We hypothesise that there will be fewer GABAergic interneurons in the striatum which may lead to ‘reward-seeking’ behaviour in bvFTD. This will also enable us to investigate any preclinical alterations in interneuron expression within this region. Results will be analysed using a mixed ANOVA and if significant, post hoc t-tests will be used. The second part of our study will involve extracellular recordings from CHMP2B mouse brains using a multi-electrode array (MEA). This will enable us to determine if there are alterations in local field potentials (LFP) in preclinical and symptomatic animals. We will also be able to see if neuromodulators such as serotonin and dopamine effect LFPs after bath application. We will develop slice preparations to preserve pathways between the ventral tegmental area and the ventral pallidum, an output structure of the striatum, and the dorsal raphe nucleus and the VP. Using the MEA we will stimulate an endogenous release of dopamine and serotonin using the slice preparations as described above. This will enable us to see if there are any changes in LFPs after endogenous release of neuromodulators. We hypothesise there will be an increase in LFPs due to loss of GABAergic interneurons