17 research outputs found
Image denoising in photon-counting CT using PFGM++ with hijacked regularized sampling
Deep learning (DL) has proven to be an important tool for high quality image
denoising in low-dose and photon-counting CT. However, DL models are usually
trained using supervised methods, requiring paired data that may be difficult
to obtain in practice. Physics-inspired generative models, such as score-based
diffusion models, offer unsupervised means of solving a wide range of inverse
problems via posterior sampling. The latest in this family are Poisson flow
generative models (PFGM)++ which, inspired by electrostatics, treat the
-dimensional data as positive electric charges in a -dimensional
augmented space. The electric field lines generated by these charges are used
to find an invertible mapping, via an ordinary differential equation, between
an easy-to-sample prior and the data distribution of interest. In this work, we
propose a method for CT image denoising based on PFGM++ that does not require
paired training data. To achieve this, we adapt PFGM++ for solving inverse
problems via posterior sampling, by hijacking and regularizing the sampling
process. Our method incorporates score-based diffusion models (EDM) as a
special case as , but additionally allows trading off
robustness for rigidity by varying . The network is efficiently trained on
randomly extracted patches from clinical normal-dose CT images. The proposed
method demonstrates promising performance on clinical low-dose CT images and
clinical images from a prototype photon-counting system
Analytic Continuation of Liouville Theory
Correlation functions in Liouville theory are meromorphic functions of the
Liouville momenta, as is shown explicitly by the DOZZ formula for the
three-point function on the sphere. In a certain physical region, where a real
classical solution exists, the semiclassical limit of the DOZZ formula is known
to agree with what one would expect from the action of the classical solution.
In this paper, we ask what happens outside of this physical region. Perhaps
surprisingly we find that, while in some range of the Liouville momenta the
semiclassical limit is associated to complex saddle points, in general
Liouville's equations do not have enough complex-valued solutions to account
for the semiclassical behavior. For a full picture, we either must include
"solutions" of Liouville's equations in which the Liouville field is
multivalued (as well as being complex-valued), or else we can reformulate
Liouville theory as a Chern-Simons theory in three dimensions, in which the
requisite solutions exist in a more conventional sense. We also study the case
of "timelike" Liouville theory, where we show that a proposal of Al. B.
Zamolodchikov for the exact three-point function on the sphere can be computed
by the original Liouville path integral evaluated on a new integration cycle.Comment: 86 pages plus appendices, 9 figures, minor typos fixed, references
added, more discussion of the literature adde
Light States in Chern-Simons Theory Coupled to Fundamental Matter
Motivated by developments in vectorlike holography, we study SU(N)
Chern-Simons theory coupled to matter fields in the fundamental representation
on various spatial manifolds. On the spatial torus T^2, we find light states at
small `t Hooft coupling \lambda=N/k, where k is the Chern-Simons level, taken
to be large. In the free scalar theory the gaps are of order \sqrt {\lambda}/N
and in the critical scalar theory and the free fermion theory they are of order
\lambda/N. The entropy of these states grows like N Log(k). We briefly consider
spatial surfaces of higher genus. Based on results from pure Chern-Simons
theory, it appears that there are light states with entropy that grows even
faster, like N^2 Log(k). This is consistent with the log of the partition
function on the three sphere S^3, which also behaves like N^2 Log(k). These
light states require bulk dynamics beyond standard Vasiliev higher spin gravity
to explain them.Comment: 58 pages, LaTeX, no figures, Minor error corrected, references added,
The main results of the paper have not change
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Development of the LBNL positron emission mammography camera
We present the construction status of the LBNL Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) camera, which utilizes a PET detector module with depth of interaction measurement consisting of 64 LSO crystals (3x3x30 mm3) coupled on one end to a single photomultiplier tube (PMT) and on the opposite end to a 64 pixel array of silicon photodiodes (PDs). The PMT provides an accurate timing pulse, the PDs identify the crystal of interaction, the sum provides a total energy signal, and the PD/(PD+PMT) ratio determines the depth of interaction. We have completed construction of all 42 PEM detector modules. All data acquisition electronics have been completed, fully tested and loaded onto the gantry. We have demonstrated that all functions of the custom IC work using the production rigid-flex boards and data acquisition system. Preliminary detector module characterization and coincidence data have been taken using the production system, including initial images
Measurement of brachial artery endothelial function using a standard blood pressure cuff
The integrity of endothelial function in major arteries (EFMA) is a powerful independent predictor of heart attack and stroke. Existing ultrasound-based non-invasive assessment methods are technically challenging and suitable only for laboratory settings. EFMA, like blood pressure (BP), is both acutely and chronically affected by factors such as lifestyle and medication. Consequently, lab-based measurements cannot fully gauge the effects of medical interventions on EFMA. EFMA and BP have, arguably, comparable (but complementary) value in the assessment of cardiovascular health. Widespread deployment of EFMA assessment is thus a desirable clinical goal. To this end, we propose a device based on modifying the measurement protocol of a standard electronic sphygmomanometer. METHODS: The protocol involves inflating the cuff to sub-diastolic levels to enable recording of the pulse waveform before and after vasodilatory stimulus. The mechanical unloading of the arterial wall provided by the cuff amplifies the distension that occurs with each pulse, which is measured as a pressure variation in the cuff. We show that the height of the rising edge of each pulse is proportional to the change in lumen area between diastole and systole. This allows the effect of vasodilatory stimuli on the artery to be measured with high sensitivity. We compare the proposed cuff flow-mediated dilation (cFMD) method to ultrasound FMD (uFMD). RESULTS: We find significant correlation (r=0.55, p = 0.003, N=27) between cFMD- and uFMD-based metrics obtained when the release of a 5-minute cuff occlusion is employed to induce endothelial stimulus via reactive hyperemia. cFMD is approximately proportional to the square of uFMD, representing a typical increase in sensitivity to vasodilation of 300–600%. CONCLUSION: This study illustrates the potential for an individual to conveniently measure his/her EFMA by using a low-cost reprogrammed home sphygmomanometer