Computer aided system for segmentation and visualization of microcalcifications in digital mammograms.

Two methods for segmentation and visualization of microcalcifications in digital or digitized mammograms are described. First method is based on modern mathematical morphology, while the second one uses the multifractal approach. In the first method, by using an appropriate combination of some morphological operations, high local contrast enhancement, followed by significant suppression of background tissue, irrespective of its radiology density, is obtained. By iterative procedure, this method highly emphasizes only small bright details, possible microcalcifications. In a multifractal approach, from initial mammogram image, a corresponding multifractal "images" are created, from which a radiologist has a freedom to change the level of segmentation. An appropriate user friendly computer aided visualization (CAV) system with embedded two methods is realized. The interactive approach enables the physician to control the level and the quality of segmentation. Suggested methods were tested through mammograms from MIAS database as a gold standard, and from clinical praxis, using digitized films and digital images from full field digital mammograph

Computer aided system for segmentation and visualization of microcalcifications in digital mammograms

Two methods for segmentation and visualization of microcalcifications in digital or digitized mammograms are described. First method is based on modern mathematical morphology, while the second one uses the multifractal approach. In the first method, by using an appropriate combination of some morphological operations, high local contrast enhancement, followed by significant suppression of background tissue, irrespective of its radiology density, is obtained. By iterative procedure, this method highly emphasizes only small bright details, possible microcalcifications. In a multifractal approach, from initial mammogram image, a corresponding multifractal "images" are created, from which a radiologist has a freedom to change the level of segmentation. An appropriate user friendly computer aided visualization (CAV) system with embedded two methods is realized. The interactive approach enables the physician to control the level and the quality of segmentation. Suggested methods were tested through mammograms from MIAS database as a gold standard, and from clinical praxis, using digitized films and digital images from full field digital mammograph

Effects of Adaptive Sports on Quality of Life in Individuals with Disability

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify any correlation between quality of life and adaptive sport participation in individuals with disability. Methods: A questionnaire including the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life - BREF questionnaire and an adaptive sports impact questionnaire were electronically distributed to adults participating in an adaptive sport program. Athletes participating in the adaptive sport program’s wheelchair rugby team completed skill assessments that were examined for changes in physical domain. Results: All participants (n=11) rated their quality of life good or very good. Participants performed best in the environmental and physical domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Skill assessment data showed only some improvements in physical skill data. Conclusion: Adaptive sport participation was found to correlate with high quality of life; duration of participation did not affect scores. Adaptive sports were found to increase environmental, physical, and social domains of wellness

Enhancement of microcalcifications in digitized mammograms: Multifractal and mathematical morphology approach

Prikazana su dva metoda isticanja mikrokalcifikacija u digitalnim mamogramima. Prvi metod zasnovan je na multifraktalnoj analizi digitalne slike, a drugi na primeni moderne matematičke morfologije. U multifraktalnom pristupu kreiraju se multifraktalne 'slike' izvornog mamograma, na osnovu kojih se dalje interaktivno bira nivo segmentacije detalja. Drugi metod, pogodnom kombinacijom morfoloških operacija, povećava lokalni kontrast uz snažno potiskivanje pozadinske teksture, nezavisno od radiološke gustine tkiva dojke. Iterativnim postupkom morfološki metod visoko ističe samo male detalje sjajnije od okolnog tkiva, potencijalne mikrokalcifikacije. Interaktivni pristup kod oba metoda omogućava radiologu da kontroliše nivo izdvajanja detalja. Predloženi metodi su testirani na referentnim mamogramima iz miniMIAS baze i iz kliničke prakse.Two methods for enhancing the microcalcifications in digitized mammograms are under consideration. First method is based on multifractal approach, and second on modern mathematical morphology. In multifractal approach, from initial mammogram image, a corresponding multifractal 'images' are created, from which a radiologist has a freedom to change the level of segmentation in an interactive manner. The second method, using an appropriate combination of some morphological operations, enables high local contrast enhancement, followed by significant suppression of background tissue, irrespective of the radiology density of the tissue. By iterative procedure this method highly emphasizes only small bright details, possible microcalcifications. The interactive approach enables the physician to control the level of segmentation. Suggested methods were tested through referent mammograms from MiniMIAS database and from clinical praxis mammograms

Analysis of Fractional Difference Schemes with Application to Radiographic Images

Visual inspection of radiographic images by radiologists is a regular practice in making a diagnosis. Thus the enhancement of details in radiographs can improve inspection and diagnosis certainty. Through this paper we perform the analysis of the fractional gradient for visual improvement of chest radiographs. Two implementations of the fractional derivative operator, based on central fractional differences, are evaluated. Also we tested two norms for calculation of the magnitude of the fractional gradient, Euclidean and infimum norm, and the conducted tests for both norms are consistent

Effect of salycilic acid on biochemical tolerance mechanisams of Impatiens walleriana (Balsaminaceae) to water stress

U prvom delu doktorske disertacije ispitivan je odgovor biljaka Impatiens walleriana na vodni stres indukovan polietilen glikolom (PEG) i uticaj salicilne kiseline (SA) u in vitro uslovima. Kulture izdanaka I. walleriana su gajene na hranljivoj podlozi koja je sadržala različite kombinacije i koncentracije PEG (1-3%) i SA (1-3 mM). Nakon dugotrajnog delovanja vodnog stresa na biljke I. walleriana utvrđen je uticaj PEG i SA na parametre hidratacije, indikatore oksidativnog stresa, kao i na parametre rastenja izdanaka. PEG indukovani vodni stres je uzrokovao redukciju rastenja, smanjenje mase svežih izdanaka, broja listova i izdanaka, relativnog sadržaja vode (RWC) i sadržaja hlorofila, kao i akumulaciju prolina, H2O2, i malondialdehida (MDA). Aktivnosti antioksidativnih enzima, katalaza (CAT), superoksid dismutaza (SOD) i peroksidaza (POX), su povećane kao odgovor na PEG tretman i to zavisno od primenjene koncentracije PEG. U drugom delu doktorske disertacije ispitivan je uticaj folijarne primene 2 mM SA na I. walleriana gajene ex vitro u uslovima suše. Biljke su podeljene u 4 grupe: zalivane biljke, zalivane biljke tretirane sa SA, nezalivane biljke i nezalivane biljke tretirane sa SA. Utvrđen je broj cvetnih pupoljaka i cvetova, RWC, sadržaj MDA, prolina, kao i aktivnosti SOD, CAT i POX u različitim vremenskim tačkama tokom trajanja eksperimenta. Suša je dovela do venjenja, odbacivanja cvetova, smanjenja RWC i porasta MDA. Kao odgovor na sušu kod I. walleraina je pojačana aktivnost hloroplastne Cu/ZnSOD i dve izoforme gvajakol peroksidaze. Identifikovane su tri de novo sekvence dehidrina korišćenjem transkriptoma iz listova I. walleriana: IwDhn1, IwDhn2.1 i IwDhn2.2. Suša je indukovala ekspresiju IwDhn2.1 i IwDhn2.2. Primena SA je pozitivno uticala na biljke koje su bile izložene suši, sprečavajući venjenje, održavajući RWC i aktivnost antioksidativnih enzima, ali nije imala uticaj na sprečavanje odbacivanja cvetova.In the first part of dissertation the responses of Impatiens walleriana to polyethylene glycol (PEG) induced water stress and the potential of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) as stress-ameliorating agent was described. Impatiens shoot culture was established on medium containing different concentrations and combinations of PEG (1–3% ) and SA (1–3 mM). After prolonged drought, water relation parameters, oxidative stress indicators, and growth responses of the shoots to PEG and/or SA were recorded. PEG reduced growth, fresh weight of shoots, the number of developed leaves and shoots, relative water content (RWC), and chlorophyll content. PEG caused accumulation of proline, H2O2, and malondialdehyde (MDA). The activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POX) were increased in response to PEG in a dose-dependent manner. In the second part of dissertation it was investigated whether the foliar application of 2 mM SA could protect ex vitro grown I. walleriana plants from drought stress. The plants were divided into 4 groups: watered plants, drought-stressed plants, watered plants treated with SA and drought-stressed plants treated with SA. The number of flower buds and flowers, RWC, contents of MDA, proline and the activities of superoxide dismutases, catalases and peroxidases were recorded at different time points. Three dehydrin sequences were identified in de novo assembled leaf transcriptome: IwDhn1, IwDhn2.1 and IwDhn2.2. Drought stress caused wilting, floral abortion, reduction of RWC and increased MDA. In response to drought, I. walleriana induced chloroplastic Cu/ZnSOD and two guaiacol peroxidase isoforms. The remarkable drought response was induction of IwDhn2.1 and IwDhn2.2. SA had ameliorating effects on plants exposed to drought, including prevention of wilting, preservation of RWC, modulation of antioxidative activities, but had no effects on flowers preservation