An adaptive perception-based image preprocessing method

The aim of this paper is to introduce an adaptive preprocessing procedure based on human perception in order to increase the performance of some standard image processing techniques. Specifically, image frequency content has been weighted by the corresponding value of the contrast sensitivity function, in agreement with the sensitiveness of human eye to the different image frequencies and contrasts. The 2D Rational dilation wavelet transform has been employed for representing image frequencies. In fact, it provides an adaptive and flexible multiresolution framework, enabling an easy and straightforward adaptation to the image frequency content. Preliminary experimental results show that the proposed preprocessing allows us to increase the performance of some standard image enhancement algorithms in terms of visual quality and often also in terms of PSNR

Wavelets and partial differential equations for image denoising

In this paper a wavelet based model for image de-noising is presented. Wavelet coefficients are modelled as waves that grow while dilating along scales. The model establishes a precise link between corresponding modulus maxima in the wavelet domain and then allows to predict wavelet coefficients at each scale from the first one. This property combined with the theoretical results about the characterization of singularities in the wavelet domain enables to discard noise. Significant structures of the image are well recovered while some annoying artifacts along image edges are reduced. Some experimental results show that the proposed approach outperforms the most recent and effective wavelet based denoising schemes

A machine-learning approach for automatic grape-bunch detection based on opponent colors

This paper presents a novel and automatic artificial-intelligence (AI) method for grape-bunch detection from RGB images. It mainly consists of a cascade of support vector machine (SVM)-based classifiers that rely on visual contrast-based features that, in turn, are defined according to grape bunch color visual perception. Due to some principles of opponent color theory and proper visual contrast measures, a precise estimate of grape bunches is achieved. Extensive experimental results show that the proposed method is able to accurately segment grapes even in uncontrolled acquisition conditions and with limited computational load. Finally, such an approach requires a very small number of training samples, making it appropriate for onsite and real-time applications that are implementable on smart devices, usable and even set up by winemakers

Radon spectrogram-based approach for automatic IFs separation

The separation of overlapping components is a well-known and difficult problem in multicomponent signals analysis and it is shared by applications dealing with radar, biosonar, seismic, and audio signals. In order to estimate the instantaneous frequencies of a multicomponent signal, it is necessary to disentangle signal modes in a proper domain. Unfortunately, if signal modes supports overlap both in time and frequency, separation is only possible through a parametric approach whenever the signal class is a priori fixed. In this work, time-frequency analysis and Radon transform are jointly used for the unsupervised separation of modes of a generic frequency modulated signal in noisy environment. The proposed method takes advantage of the ability of the Radon transform of a proper time-frequency distribution in separating overlapping modes. It consists of a blind segmentation of signal components in Radon domain by means of a near-to-optimal threshold operation. The inversion of the Radon transform on each detected region allows us to isolate the instantaneous frequency curves of each single mode in the time-frequency domain. Experimental results performed on constant amplitudes chirp signals confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method, opening the way for its extension to more complex frequency modulated signals

A signal complexity-based approach for AM–FM signal modes counting

I segnali modulati in frequenza appaiono in molte discipline applicate, tra cui la geologia, la comunicazione, la biologia e l'acustica. Questi sono multicomponenti, cioè consistono in forme d'onda multiple, con frequenza specifica dipendente dal tempo (frequenza istantanea). Nella maggior parte delle applicazioni pratiche, il numero di modalità - che è sconosciuto - è necessario per analizzare correttamente un segnale; per esempio per separare ogni singolo componente e per stimare la sua frequenza istantanea. Il rilevamento del numero di componenti è un problema impegnativo, specialmente nel caso di modalità che interferiscono. L'approccio basato sull'entropia di Rényi si è dimostrato adatto per il conteggio delle modalità di un segnale, ma è limitato a componenti ben separate. Il presente documento affronta questo problema introducendo una nuova nozione di complessità del segnale. In particolare, lo spettrogramma di un segnale multicomponente è visto come un processo non stazionario in cui l'interferenza si alterna alla non interferenza. La complessità relativa alla transizione tra sezioni consecutive dello spettrogramma viene valutata mediante la Run Length Encoding. Sulla base di una legge di evoluzione tempo-frequenza dello spettrogramma, le variazioni di complessità sono studiate per stimare accuratamente il numero di componenti. Il metodo presentato è adatto a segnali multicomponente con modalità non separabili, così come ad ampiezze variabili nel tempo e mostra robustezza al rumore.Frequency modulated signals appear in many applied disciplines, including geology, communication, biology and acoustics. They are naturally 1multicomponent, i.e., they consist of multiple waveforms, with specific time-dependent frequency (instantaneous frequency). In most practical applications, the number of modes—which is unknown—is needed for correctly analyzing a signal; for instance for separating each individual component and for estimating its instantaneous frequency. Detecting the number of components is a challenging problem, especially in the case of interfering modes. The Rényi Entropy-based approach has proven to be suitable for signal modes counting, but it is limited to well separated components. This paper addresses this issue by introducing a new notion of signal complexity. Specifically, the spectrogram of a multicomponent signal is seen as a non-stationary process where interference alternates with non-interference. Complexity concerning the transition between consecutive spectrogram sections is evaluated by means of a modified Run Length Encoding. Based on a spectrogram time-frequency evolution law, complexity variations are studied for accurately estimating the number of components. The presented method is suitable for multicomponent signals with non-separable modes, as well as time-varying amplitudes, showing robustness to noise

An MDL-based wavelet scattering features selection for signal classification

Wavelet scattering is a redundant time-frequency transform that was shown to be a powerful tool in signal classification. It shares the convolutional architecture with convolutional neural networks, but it offers some advantages, including faster training and small training sets. However, it introduces some redundancy along the frequency axis, especially for filters that have a high degree of overlap. This naturally leads to a need for dimensionality reduction to further increase its efficiency as a machine learning tool. In this paper, the Minimum Description Length is used to define an automatic procedure for optimizing the selection of the scattering features, even in the frequency domain. The proposed study is limited to the class of uniform sampling models. Experimental results show that the proposed method is able to automatically select the optimal sampling step that guarantees the highest classification accuracy for fixed transform parameters, when applied to audio/sound signals

Functional balance at rest of hemispheric homologs assessed via normalized compression distance

Introduction: The formation and functioning of neural networks hinge critically on the balance between structurally homologous areas in the hemispheres. This balance, reflecting their physiological relationship, is fundamental for learning processes. In our study, we explore this functional homology in the resting state, employing a complexity measure that accounts for the temporal patterns in neurodynamics. Methods: We used Normalized Compression Distance (NCD) to assess the similarity over time, neurodynamics, of the somatosensory areas associated with hand perception (S1). This assessment was conducted using magnetoencephalography (MEG) in conjunction with Functional Source Separation (FSS). Our primary hypothesis posited that neurodynamic similarity would be more pronounced within individual subjects than across different individuals. Additionally, we investigated whether this similarity is influenced by hemisphere or age at a population level. Results: Our findings validate the hypothesis, indicating that NCD is a robust tool for capturing balanced functional homology between hemispheric regions. Notably, we observed a higher degree of neurodynamic similarity in the population within the left hemisphere compared to the right. Also, we found that intra-subject functional homology displayed greater variability in older individuals than in younger ones. Discussion: Our approach could be instrumental in investigating chronic neurological conditions marked by imbalances in brain activity, such as depression, addiction, fatigue, and epilepsy. It holds potential for aiding in the development of new therapeutic strategies tailored to these complex conditions, though further research is needed to fully realize this potential

Alexithymia and immunoendocrine parameters in patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: Aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of alexithymia in patients affected by SLE or RA and to investigate the correlation between alexithymia and immunoendocrine parameters (PRL, hGH, IL-6 and TNF-alfa). Methods: Twenty-five patients (12 and 13 affected by SLE and RA, respectively) were enrolled into the study. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) was administered. PRL, hGH, IL-6 and TNF-alfa levels were measured by commercially available ELISA kits. Results: Alexithymia prevalence (TAS-20≥51) was 54% in RA and 42% in SLE patients. hGH serum levels were 3.1±4.2 and 1.1±0.9 IU/ml in SLE and RA, respectively. PRL concentration was 18.4±6.5 ng/ml and 14.2±4.0 ng/ml in SLE and RA patients, respectively (p=0.03). In RA group, TNF-alpha was 20±36.2 whereas in SLE it was 4.9±12.8 pg/ml (p=0.03); IL-6 serum concentrations were 24.4±25.1 and 2.9±5.4 pg/ml, in RA and SLE respectively (p=0.004). The serum level of hGH showed slight increase in alexithymic group (A) compared to non alexithymic group (NA) in both SLE and RA patients. PRL serum levels in SLE-A patients was 26.7±17.3 ng/ml while in SLE-NA patients was 12.4±3.3 ng/ml (p=0.04). In RA patients increased values of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were present in the A group compared to NA group (IL-6: 35.3±28 pg/mL vs 3.5±3.9 pg/mL, p=0.01; TNF-alpha: 34.7±39 pg/mL vs 3.1±3.4 pg/mL, p=0.01). Conclusions: In this preliminary results we found an high prevalence of alexithymia and a correlation between immunoendocrine parameters and alexhytimic features in SLE and RA, suggesting that an immunomodulatory pathway could influence this cognitive style in patients with autoimmune disorders. Other studies should contribute to find a common biological pathway linking alexithymia and autoimmunity

Normalized compression distance to measure cortico-muscular synchronization

The neuronal functional connectivity is a complex and non-stationary phenomenon creating dynamic networks synchronization determining the brain states and needed to produce tasks. Here, as a measure that quantifies the synchronization between the neuronal electrical activity of two brain regions, we used the normalized compression distance (NCD), which is the length of the compressed file constituted by the concatenated two signals, normalized by the length of the two compressed files including each single signal. To test the NCD sensitivity to physiological properties, we used NCD to measure the cortico-muscular synchronization, a well-known mechanism to control movements, in 15 healthy volunteers during a weak handgrip. Independently of NCD compressor (Huffman or Lempel Ziv), we found out that the resulting measure is sensitive to the dominant-non dominant asymmetry when novelty management is required (p = 0.011; p = 0.007, respectively) and depends on the level of novelty when moving the nondominant hand (p = 0.012; p = 0.024). Showing lower synchronization levels for less dexterous networks, NCD seems to be a measure able to enrich the estimate of functional two-node connectivity within the neuronal networks that control the body