Visual Sensor Image Analysis and Massage Techniques to Prevent and Treat Common Injuries of Sports Dance Practitioners.

In recent years, the performance of sports dance in China has become better and better. Naturally, the technical requirements for this dance are getting higher and higher, and the number and intensity of training have also increased, which has led to increasing injuries in sports dance. This article is based on visual sensor images to analyze and study the common injuries and prevention of sports dance practitioners. It is aimed at providing a certain reference basis for athletes' injuries, so that dance practitioners and coaches can better master sports dance training and teaching. Injury-related rules and prevention reduce the injury rate. This article puts forward the related technology of a visual sensor image and applies its technology to the prevention and research of common injuries in sports dance. At the same time, it analyzes the causes of sports dance practitioners' injuries and seeks economical and affordable massage techniques for prevention, and the method of treatment provides protection for dance practitioners. The experimental results in this article show that the Tuina group cured 15 subjects, 41 subjects were markedly effective, 13 subjects were improved, and 6 subjects were unhealed. The total effective rate was 92%.

High Content, Phenotypic Assays and Screens for Compounds Modulating Cellular Processes in Primary Neurons.

High content, phenotypic screens offer a powerful approach to systems biology at the cellular level. The approach employs cells carrying fluorescently labeled molecules or organelles in 384- or 1536-well microplates, and an automated confocal screening microscope for capturing images from each well. Although some specifics vary according to the assay type, each will apply some degree of image processing and feature extraction followed by a data analysis pipeline to identify the perturbations (small molecules, etc.) of interest. We describe and discuss the advantages and limitations of high content assays and screens using the specific example of assaying mitochondrial dynamics in primary neurons. We provide a detailed description of our culturing methods, imaging and data analysis techniques and provide an open source, ready to use CellProfiler pipeline for high-throughput image segmentation and quantification tool for mitochondrial parameters.

1024-Pixel CMOS Multimodality Joint Cellular Sensor/Stimulator Array for Real-Time Holistic Cellular Characterization and Cell-Based Drug Screening.

This paper presents a fully integrated CMOS multimodality joint sensor/stimulator array with 1024 pixels for real-time holistic cellular characterization and drug screening. The proposed system consists of four pixel groups and four parallel signal-conditioning blocks. Every pixel group contains 16 × 16 pixels, and each pixel includes one gold-plated electrode, four photodiodes, and in-pixel circuits, within a pixel footprint. Each pixel supports real-time extracellular potential recording, optical detection, charge-balanced biphasic current stimulation, and cellular impedance measurement for the same cellular sample. The proposed system is fabricated in a standard 130-nm CMOS process. Rat cardiomyocytes are successfully cultured on-chip. Measured high-resolution optical opacity images, extracellular potential recordings, biphasic current stimulations, and cellular impedance images demonstrate the unique advantages of the system for holistic cell characterization and drug screening. Furthermore, this paper demonstrates the use of optical detection on the on-chip cultured cardiomyocytes to real-time track their cyclic beating pattern and beating rate.

Non-invasive methods of computer vision in the posture evaluation of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

PURPOSE: Reviewing techniques for non-invasive postural evaluation of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) based on information extraction from images based on computer methods. METHODS: The Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, ScieLo and PubMed databases were used, for the period 2011-2015. RESULTS: 131 articles were found based on keyword of which 15 articles met the established eligibility criteria. Of these, 4 were based on photogrammetry, and 11 based on laser, structured light, ultrasound, and Moiré projection. In these studies, the methodological quality varied from low to high. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated diversity in methodologies; 14/15 articles reviewed were limited to the evaluation of the topography of the posterior back. A study, using two-dimensional photogrammetry, presented a whole body postural evaluation. As the asymmetry in AIS can be extended to the whole body, more attention should be given to develop full body assessment techniques to provide important additional data to aid in treatment decisions.

Automatic spot preparation and image processing of paper microzone-based assays for analysis of bioactive compounds in plant extracts.

The colorimetric determination of the concentration of phytochemicals in plant extract samples using a spotting automatic system, mobile phone camera and a computer with developed software for quantification is described. Method automation was achieved by using a robotic system for spotting. The instrument was set to disperse the appropriate aliquots of the reagents and sample on a Whatman paper sheet. Spots were photographed and analysed by ImageJ software or by applying the developed MatLab based algorithm. The developed assay was found to be effective, with a linear response at the concentration range of 0.03-0.25g/L for polyphenols. The detection limit of the proposed method is sub 0.03g/L. The paper microzone-based assays for flavonoids and amino acids/peptides were also developed and evaluated as applicable. Comparing the results with conventional PµZP methods demonstrates that both methods yield similar results. At the same time, the proposed method has an attractive advantage in analysis time and repeatability/reproducibility.

Infrared machine vision system for the automatic detection of olive fruit quality.

External quality is an important factor in the extraction of olive oil and the marketing of olive fruits. The appearance and presence of external damage are factors that influence the quality of the oil extracted and the perception of consumers, determining the level of acceptance prior to purchase in the case of table olives. The aim of this paper is to report on artificial vision techniques developed for the online estimation of olive quality and to assess the effectiveness of these techniques in evaluating quality based on detecting external defects. This method of classifying olives according to the presence of defects is based on an infrared (IR) vision system. Images of defects were acquired using a digital monochrome camera with band-pass filters on near-infrared (NIR). The original images were processed using segmentation algorithms, edge detection and pixel value intensity to classify the whole fruit. The detection of the defect involved a pixel classification procedure based on nonparametric models of the healthy and defective areas of olives. Classification tests were performed on olives to assess the effectiveness of the proposed method. This research showed that the IR vision system is a useful technology for the automatic assessment of olives that has the potential for use in offline inspection and for online sorting for defects and the presence of surface damage, easily distinguishing those that do not meet minimum quality requirements.

Full-field optical coherence tomography using immersion Mirau interference microscope.

In this study, an immersion Mirau interference microscope was developed for full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT). Both the reference and measuring arms of the Mirau interferometer were filled with water to prevent the problems associated with imaging a sample in air with conventional FFOCT systems. The almost-common path interferometer makes the tomographic system less sensitive to environmental disturbances. En face OCT images at various depths were obtained with phase-shifting interferometry and Hariharan algorithm. This immersion interferometric method improves depth and quality in three-dimensional OCT imaging of scattering tissue.

High-throughput screening in primary neurons.

Despite years of incremental progress in our understanding of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), there are still no disease-modifying therapeutics. The discrepancy between the number of lead compounds and approved drugs may partially be a result of the methods used to generate the leads and highlights the need for new technology to obtain more detailed and physiologically relevant information on cellular processes in normal and diseased states. Our high-throughput screening (HTS) system in a primary neuron model can help address this unmet need. HTS allows scientists to assay thousands of conditions in a short period of time which can reveal completely new aspects of biology and identify potential therapeutics in the span of a few months when conventional methods could take years or fail all together. HTS in primary neurons combines the advantages of HTS with the biological relevance of intact, fully differentiated neurons which can capture the critical cellular events or homeostatic states that make neurons uniquely susceptible to disease-associated proteins. We detail methodologies of our primary neuron HTS assay workflow from sample preparation to data reporting. We also discuss the adaptation of our HTS system into high-content screening (HCS), a type of HTS that uses multichannel fluorescence images to capture biological events in situ, and is uniquely suited to study dynamical processes in living cells.

Clarifying the arrhythmogenic substrate for Brugada syndrome.

The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is considered the arrhythmogenic region that gives rise to Brugada syndrome. To obtain a better understanding of this substrate, we performed electroanatomic mapping of the right ventricle (RV) in patients with Brugada syndrome. The RV was mapped electroanatomically with the CARTO system in 11 patients with asymptomatic Brugada syndrome but in whom ventricular fibrillation was induced by programmed ventricular stimulation, and in 5 control patients. The low voltage zone area (< 1.5 mV) was larger (16.1% versus 7.8%, P < 0.01) and the bipolar electrogram duration was greater (81.6 ± 7.8 ms versus 53.4 ± 5.6 ms, P < 0.01) in the patients with Brugada syndrome versus the control patients; the bipolar electrogram duration was greater in the septal portion and free wall of the RVOT. Our data suggest that regional endocardial conduction slowing based on structural abnormalities exists at the RVOT in Brugada syndrome.

[Optimization of exposure conditions for amorphous selenium direct conversion DR-based mammography system].

A new direct-conversion detector for DR mammography has improved the detectability of microcalcifications and masses. Each optimized exposure condition (target/filter combination and tube voltage) was defined through comparison of physical values and visual evaluation on breast specimens using the innovative DR mammography. The contrast-to-noise-ratios (CNRs) of PMMA phantoms of various thicknesses were obtained under a variety of exposure conditions whose average glandular doses (AGDs) were made consistent. Fifty breast specimens were irradiated under these combinations. Visual evaluation was conducted on the images, whose histograms were controlled for consistency. In the phantoms with thicknesses of 20 mm or more, tungsten/rhodium had the highest CNRs of the targets/filters such as molybdenum/molybdenum and molybdenum/rhodium. For visualizing microcalcifications and masses on breast specimens of thicknesses of 35 mm and below, molybdenum/molybdenum was the best. Nevertheless, to obtain better image quality, molybdenum/rhodium was superior for 35-55 mm thickness, and tungsten/rhodium was superior for 55 mm and above under the same AGD, enabling accurate and efficient diagnosis. The study showed that the exposure conditions differ for obtaining the highest CNR using phantoms and those under which breast specimen images allow the most accurate and efficient diagnosis. In addition, image evaluations of the breast specimens allowed optimization of exposure conditions that are closer to those of the actual diagnosis using mammography.

[Periinterventional cone-beam-CT: application at transarterial chemoembolization of liver tumors]. / Periinterventionelle Cone-Beam-CT: Anwendung bei transarterieller Chemoembolisation von Lebertumoren.

Periinterventional Cone-Beam CT (CBCT) today is a valuable tool in complex radiological interventions. Only little experience exists about CBCT in transarterial chemoembolisations (TACE) of liver tumors. 25 patients underwent periinterventional CBCT. We used a C-arc DSA with 30 × 40 cm flat panel detector. Image data with axial, coronal and 3D-reconstruction were acquired by 217° rotation in 8 seconds. In all 25 cases CBCT had an influence on the TACE regarding the decision which vessels to catheterize, the amount of retention of the embolisation agent or an abort because of insufficient vascularisation. In comparison with DSA alone, CBCT allows a better visualisation of tumour vessels, simplifies selective catheterisation, the decision whether an embolisation is possible and enables a good visualisation of Lipiodol retention. Hence, CBCT is a helpful periinterventional tool but cannot substitute CT and MRI in follow up.

Brain structural changes in essential tremor: voxel-based morphometry at 3-Tesla.

BACKGROUND: Abnormalities in cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathways have been suggested as a basis for essential tremor (ET). Two voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies, each using a 1.5-T magnet, evaluated ET patients, leading to contradictory results. Using a 3-T magnet, we assessed whether white or gray matter changes occurred in ET patients vs. controls. METHODS: We recruited 19 ET patients (mean age 69.8+/-9.4 years) and 20 age and gender-matched controls. 3-T MRI data were analyzed using the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) 5 package. RESULTS: In case-control comparisons, white matter changes were seen in several areas (right cerebellum, left medulla, right parietal lobe, and right limbic lobe); gray matter changes were seen in several areas as well (bilateral cerebellum, bilateral parietal lobes, right frontal lobe, and right insula) (p<0.001, uncorrected at a voxel level). Compared with controls, ET patients with severe tremor had white matter changes in the midbrain, both occipital lobes, and right frontal lobe, and gray matter changes bilaterally in the cerebellum (p<0.001, uncorrected at a voxel level). CONCLUSIONS: Structural white and gray abnormalities may be detected in ET patients using VBM and a high-field MRI scanner. Such changes may be related to the pathological substrates associated with this disease.

Multiphoton adaptation of a commercial low-cost confocal microscope for live tissue imaging.

The Nikon C1 confocal laser scanning microscope is a relatively inexpensive and user-friendly instrument. We describe a straightforward method to convert the C1 for multiphoton microscopy utilizing direct coupling of a femtosecond near-infrared laser into the scan head and fiber optic transmission of emission light to the three-channel detector box. Our adapted system can be rapidly switched between confocal and multiphoton mode, requires no modification to the original system, and uses only a few custom-made parts. The entire system, including scan mirrors and detector box, remain under the control of the user-friendly Nikon EZ-C1 software without modification.

Semiautomatic landmark-based two-dimensional-three-dimensional image fusion in living mice: correlation of near-infrared fluorescence imaging of Cy5.5-labeled antibodies with flat-panel volume computed tomography.

Connecting fluorescence signals with anatomic structures enhances our ability to monitor biologic processes in mice. Here, we present a semiautomated approach to correlate two-dimensional (2D) noninvasive near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging with three-dimensional (3D), high-resolution, flat-panel volume computed tomography (fpVCT). We developed an algorithm to colocalize fluorescence signals of NIRF-labeled antibodies directed against matriptase and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) to orthotopic carcinomas in mice visualized by fpVCT. For this purpose, mice were anesthetized and fixed on a multimodality animal bed containing fiducial markers filled with iodine-containing contrast agent and fluorescent dye. After intravenous administration of contrast agent and Cy5.5-labeled antibodies, NIRF and fpVCT images were obtained, without repositioning the mice. Binding of Cy5.5-labeled matriptase-specific antibody to pancreatic tumors and Cy5.5-labeled uPAR-specific antibody to mammary carcinomas was assessed by time-domain NIRF imaging measuring the location of fluorescence intensity and its lifetime. In summary, we developed a novel 2D-3D registration technique for image fusion with NIRF imaging and fpVCT to provide complementary information in tumor models on the in vivo association of functional information with anatomic structures. The combination of fpVCT with NIRF imaging will now allow targeted and effective monitoring of preclinical tumor therapies.

Digital reconstruction based on angular spectrum diffraction with the ridge of wavelet transform in holographic phase-contrast microscopy.

A numerical reconstruction technique of digital holography based on angular spectrum diffraction by means of the ridge of Gabor wavelet transform (GWT) is presented. Appling the GWT, the object wave can be reconstructed by calculating the wavelet coefficients of the hologram at the ridge of the GWT automatically even if the spectrum of the virtual image is disturbed by the other spectrum. It provides a way to eliminate the effect of the zero-order and the twin-image terms without the spatial filtering. In particular, based on the angular spectrum theory, GWT is applied to the digital holographic phase-contrast microscopy on biological specimens. The theory, the results of a simulation and an experiment of an onion specimen are shown.

[Pediatric bowel MRI--accelerated parallel imaging in a single breathhold]. / MRT des darms bei kindern--beschleunigte bildgebung in einem atemzug.

PURPOSE: To compare highly accelerated parallel MRI of the bowel with conventional balanced FFE sequences in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 20 children with suspected or proven IBD underwent MRI using a 1.5 T scanner after oral administration of 700 -1000 ml of a Mannitol solution and an additional enema. The examination started with a 4-channel receiver coil and a conventional balanced FFE sequence in axial (2.5 s/slice) and coronal (4.7 s/slice) planes. Afterwards highly accelerated (R = 5) balanced FFE sequences in axial (0.5 s/slice) and coronal (0.9 s/slice) were performed using a 32-channel receiver coil and parallel imaging (SENSE). Both receiver coils achieved a resolution of 0.88 x 0.88 mm with a slice thickness of 5 mm (coronal) and 6 mm (axial) respectively. Using the conventional imaging technique, 4 - 8 breathholds were needed to cover the whole abdomen, while parallel imaging shortened the acquisition time down to a single breathhold. Two blinded radiologists did a consensus reading of the images regarding pathological findings, image quality, susceptibility to artifacts and bowel distension. The results for both coil systems were compared using the kappa-(kappa)-coefficient, differences in the susceptibility to artifacts were checked with the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Statistical significance was assumed for p = 0.05. RESULTS: 13 of the 20 children had inflammatory bowel wall changes at the time of the examination, which could be correctly diagnosed with both coil systems in 12 of 13 cases (92 %). The comparison of both coil systems showed a good agreement for pathological findings (kappa = 0.74 - 1.0) and the image quality. Using parallel imaging significantly more artifacts could be observed (kappa = 0.47) without impairing the diagnostic impact. The comparison of the bowel distension showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: The highly accelerated parallel MRI using the SENSE technique and a 32-channel surface coil enables the examination of the entire bowel in a single breathhold without relevant restrictions in image quality and diagnostic impact.

Evaluation of chest and abdominal exposure dose appropriate for a digital image reader system incorporating a columnar-crystal structured phosphor plate and a contrast-detail phantom.

We evaluated a newly developed digital image reader incorporating a columnar-crystal structured phosphor plate (CPP) to determine its effectiveness for chest and abdominal exposures by assessing contrast-detail (C-D) curves and image quality figure values obtained from a C-D phantom. With the help of five radiologic technologists with 5 years or more of experience in the interpretation of plain radiographs, we assessed chest and abdominal radiographic films that had undergone image processing. The exposure dose required for obtaining the same image quality under chest exposure conditions (110 kV) was 66% of that necessary for a conventionally used computed radiography system incorporating a powder phosphor plate, whereas the percentage under abdominal exposure conditions (85 kV) was 82%. The rate of dose reduction varied depending on the anatomic region radiographed, the exposure conditions applied, and the method of image processing employed. Because the CPP has a higher X-ray detection efficiency than the hitherto-used powder phosphor plate, its use has to potential to reduce the patients' radiation exposure dose.

Ultrasound monitoring of temperature change in liver tissue during laser thermotherapy: 10 degrees C intervals.

In thermal tissue ablation, it is very important to control the increase in the temperature for having an efficient ablation therapy. We conducted this study to determine the efficacy of measuring pixel shift of ultrasound B-mode images as a function of change in tissue temperature. By fixing some micro thermocouples in liver tissues, temperature at different points was monitored invasively in vitro during laser-induced thermotherapy. According to our results optimum power and exposure time were determined for ultrasound temperature monitoring. Simultaneously, noninvasive temperature monitoring was performed with ultrasound B-mode images. These images were saved on computer from 25 degrees C to 95 degrees C with 10 degrees C steps. The speed of sound changes with each 10 degrees C temperature change that produce virtual shifts in the scatter positions. Using an image processing method, the pixel shift due to 10 degrees C temperature change was extracted by motion detection. The cubic regression function between the mean pixel shifts on ultrasound B-mode images caused by the change in speed of sound which in turn was a function of the mean change in temperature was evaluated. When temperature increased, pixel shift occurs in ultrasound images. The maximum pixel shift was observed between 60 to 70 degrees C. After 70 degrees C, the local pixel shift due to change in the speed of sound in liver tissue had an irregular decreasing. Pearson correlation coefficient between invasive and non-invasive measurements for 10 degrees C temperature changes was 0.93 and the non-linear function was suitable for monitoring of temperature. Monitoring of changes in temperature based on pixel shifts observed in ultrasound B-mode images in interstitial laser thermotherapy of liver seems a good modality.

An infrastructure for high-throughput microscopy: instrumentation, informatics, and integration.

High-throughput, image-based cell assays are rapidly emerging as valuable tools for the pharmaceutical industry and academic laboratories for use in both drug discovery and basic cell biology research. Access to commercially available assay reagents and automated microscope systems has made it relatively straightforward for a laboratory to begin running assays and collecting image-based cell assay data, but doing so on a large scale can be more challenging. Challenges include process bottlenecks with sample preparation, image acquisition, and data analysis as well as day-to-day assay consistency, managing unprecedented quantities of image data, and fully extracting useful information from the primary assay data. This chapter considers many of the decisions needed to build a robust infrastructure that addresses these challenges. Infrastructure components described include integrated laboratory automation systems for sample preparation and imaging, as well as an informatics infrastructure for multilevel image and data analysis. Throughout the chapter we describe a variety of strategies that emphasize building processes that are scaleable, highly efficient, and rigorously quality controlled.