Optimal transport has emerged as a promising and effective tool for supporting modern image processing, geometric processing, and even machine learning. Indeed, the optimal transport theory enables great flexibility in modeling problems, as different optimization resources can be successfully employed while preserving a context relevant property that can be interpreted as mass. In this research, we introduce a novel automatic technique for eye fundus image registration which is based on optimal transport theory, image processing filters, graph matching, and geometric transformations into a concise and unified framework. Given two ocular fundus images, we construct representative graphs which embed in their structures spatial and topological information from the eyes blood vessels. The graphs produced are then used as input by our optimal transport model in order to establish a correspondence between their sets of nodes. We also proposed a new measure that estimates the register quality and an extension of an outlier removal technique called DeSAC. Finally, the best geometric transformation is performed on the image to properly accomplish the registration task. Our method relies on a solid mathematical foundation, is easy-to-implement and performs well when dealing with outliers created during the matching stage, producing deterministic and accurate solutions. We demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed methodology through a comprehensive set of qualitative and quantitative comparisons against various representative state-of-the-art methods on different fundus image databases. / O transporte ótimo se tornou uma ferramenta promissora e eficaz para apoiar o processamento de imagens moderno, processamento geométrico e até aprendizado de máquina. De fato, a teoria do transporte ótimo permite uma grande flexibilidade na modelagem de problemas, pois diferentes recursos de otimização podem ser empregados enquanto se preserva uma propriedade relevante ao contexto que pode ser interpretada como massa. Nesta pesquisa, nós introduzimos uma nova técnica automática para o registro da imagem do fundo do olho que é baseada na teoria óptima do transporte, filtros de processamento de imagem, correspondência de grafos e transformações geométricas em uma estrutura concisa e unificada . Dadas duas imagens de fundo ocular, construímos grafos representativos que incorporam em suas estruturas informações espaciais e topológicas dos vasos sanguíneos do olho. Os grafos produzidos são usados como entrada pelos nossos modelo de transporte ótimo, a fim de estabelecer uma correspondência entre seus conjuntos de nós. Propomos também uma nova medida que estima a qualidade do registro e uma extensão de uma tecnica de removeção de outliers chamada DeSAC. Finalmente, transformações geométricas são realizadas entre as imagens para realizar adequadamente a tarefa de registro. Nosso método baseia-se em uma sólida base matemática, é fácil de implementar e funciona bem lidando com outliers criados durante o estágio de correspondência, produzindo soluções determinísticas e precisas. Demonstramos a exatidão e eficácia da metodologia proposta por meio de uma abordagem abrangente de comparações qualitativas e quantitativas contra vários métodos representativos do estado da arte em diferentes bases de dados de imagens de fundo de olho.

Un traitement possible de l'épilepsie partielle pharmaco-résistante consiste en l'exérèse de la région cérébrale responsable des crises. La difficulté est de localiser cette zone et d'en définir l'étendue. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'apporter des données permettant de préciser la localisation et le volume des régions pathologiques, en exploitant deux modalités : l'imagerie TEP (Tomographie par Emission de Positons) et l'EEGHR (EEG Haute Résolution : signaux cérébraux recueillis sur le scalp avec un nombre important d'électrodes et une fréquence d'échantillonnage élevée). En imagerie TEP, il s'agit de segmenter les zones d'hypométabolisme qui sont liées aux régions responsables des crises. Des méthodes de comparaisons statistiques à l'aide d'outils de type SPM (Statistical Parametric Mapping) entre les images TEP de sujets pathologiques et de sujets sains ont été appliquées, en effectuant des tests d'hypothèse voxel à voxel entre les différentes images. Pour pouvoir être comparées à une population de référence, les différentes images ont subi des transformations non linéaires afin que chaque voxel corresponde à la même région anatomique chez tous les sujets. Deux algorithmes ont été appliqués : une méthode SPM classique et une méthode Block-Matching. Les résultats sont comparés par analyse subjective clinique et également sur des données simulées. En ce qui concerne l'EEG-HR, la localisation spatiale et temporelle de sources d'événements intercritiques (pointes et ondes lentes) a été réalisée par résolution du problème inverse. Ceci a permis de localiser les sources électriques intracérébrales d'intérêt qui sont à l'origine des signaux acquis sur le scalp. Enfin, une représentation des données multimodales (images TEP et signaux EEG-HR) dans un même référentiel a permis d'accroître les connaissances sur les relations existant entre les activités électriques et métaboliques et ainsi de mieux définir les régions épileptogènes / A possible treatment for drug-resistant partial epilepsy involves the resection of the brain region which generates crisis. The difficulty is to locate this area and to determine its extent. The objective of this thesis is to provide data to specify the location and the volume of pathological regions, using two modalities: PET (Positron Emission Tomography) imaging and HR-EEG (High-Resolution EEG: brain signals collected on the scalp with a large number of electrodes and a high sampling rate). In PET imaging, hypometabolic areas associated with regions generating seizures have to be segmented. Statistical comparisons methods using tools such as SPM (Statistical Parametric Mapping) between images of pathological and healthy subjects have been applied. Voxelwise statistical analyses between the different images were thus used to highlight the hypometabolic areas. For comparison with a reference population, nonlinear transformations were applied to the images so that each voxel corresponds to the same anatomical region in every subject. Two algorithms were applied: a conventional SPM method and a Block-Matching method. The results were compared by subjective clinical analysis and also on simulated data. Regarding the HR-EEG, the spatial and temporal source localizations of interictal events (spikes and slow waveforms) were done by solving the inverse problem. This allowed to localize intracerebral electrical sources generating the signals acquired on the scalp. Finally, a representation in the same space of multimodal data (PET images and HR-EEG) allowed to increase the knowledge on the relationship between electrical and metabolic activities and to better define the epileptogenic regions

Le but de ce travail est d'analyser des scènes sous-marines naturelles et en particulier cartographier des environnements sous-marins en 3D. Il existe aujourd'hui de nombreuses techniques pour résoudre ce problème. L'originalité de ce travail se trouve dans la fusion de deux cartes obtenues avec des capteurs de différentes résolutions. Dans un premier temps, un engin autonome (ou un bateau) analyse les fonds marins avec un sonar multifaisceaux et crée une première carte globale de la zone. Cette carte est ensuite décomposée en petites cellules représentant une mosaïque du fond marin. Une deuxième analyse est ensuite réalisée sur certaines cellules particulières à l'aide d'un second capteur avec une résolution plus élevée. Cela permettra d'obtenir une carte détaillée 3D de la cellule. Un véhicule autonome sous-marin ou un plongeur muni d'un système de vision stéréoscopique effectuera cette acquisition.Ce projet se décompose en deux parties, la première s'intéressera à la reconstruction 3D de scènes sous-marines en milieu contraint à l'aide d'une paire stéréoscopique. La deuxième partie de l'étude portera sur l'aspect multimodal. Dans notre cas, nous utilisons cette méthode pour obtenir des reconstructions précises d'objets d'intérêts archéologiques (statues, amphores, etc.) détectés sur la carte globale.La première partie du travail concerne la reconstruction 3D de la scène sous-marine. Même si aujourd'hui le monde de la vision a permis de mieux appréhender ce type d'image, l'étude de scène sous-marine naturelle pose encore de nombreux problèmes. Nous avons pris en compte les bruits sous-marins lors de la création du modèle 3D vidéo ainsi que lors de la calibration des appareils photos. Une étude de robustesse à ces bruits a été réalisée sur deux méthodes de détections et d'appariements de points d'intérêt. Cela a permis d'obtenir des points caractéristiques précis et robustes pour le modèle 3D. La géométrie épipolaire nous a permis de projeter ces points en 3D. La texture a été ajoutée sur les surfaces obtenues par triangulation de Delaunay.La deuxième partie consiste à fusionner le modèle 3D obtenu précédemment et la carte acoustique. Dans un premier temps, afin d'aligner les deux modèles 3D (le modèle vidéo et le modèle acoustique), nous appliquons un recalage approximatif en sélectionnant manuellement quelques paires de points équivalents sur les deux nuages de points. Pour augmenter la précision de ce dernier, nous utilisons un algorithme ICP (Iterative Closest Points).Dans ce travail nous avons créé une carte 3D sous-marine multimodale réalisée à l'aide de modèles 3D « vidéo » et d'une carte acoustique globale. / This work aims to analyze natural underwater scenes and it focuses on mapping underwater environment in 3D. Today, many methods exist to solve this problem. The originality of this work lies in the fusion of two maps obtained from sensors of different resolutions. Initially, an autonomous vehicle (or boat) analyzes the seabed with multibeam sonar and creates a first global map of the area. This map is then divided into small cells representing a mosaic of the seabed. A second analysis is then performed on some particular cells using a second sensor with a higher resolution. This will provide a detailed map of the 3D cell. An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) or a diver with a stereoscopic vision system will make this acquisition. This project is divided into two parts; the first one focuses on the 3D reconstruction of underwater scenes in constrained environment using a stereoscopic pair. The second part investigates the multimodal aspect. In our study, we want to use this method to obtain accurate reconstructions of archaeological objects (statues, amphorae, etc.) detected on the global map. The first part of the work relates the 3D reconstruction of the underwater scene. Even if today the vision community has led to a better understanding of this type of images, the study of natural underwater scenes still poses many problems. We have taken into account the underwater noise during the creation of the 3D video model and during the calibration of cameras. A study of the noise robustness was performed on two methods of detection and matching of features points. This resulted into obtaining accurate and robust feature points for the 3D model. Epipolar geometry allowed us to project these points in 3D. The texture was added to the surfaces obtained by Delaunay triangulation.The second part consists of fusing the 3D model obtained previously with the acoustic map. To align the two 3D models (video and acoustic model), we use a first approximated registration by selecting manually few points on each cloud. To increase the accuracy of this registration, we use an algorithm ICP (Iterative Closest Point).In this work we created a 3D underwater multimodal map performed using 3D video model and an acoustic global map.

Understanding mysteries of a brain represents one of the great challenges for modern science. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has two features that make it unique amongst other imaging modalities used in behavioral neuroscience. First, it can be entirely non-invasive and second, fMRI has the spatial and temporal resolution to resolve patterns of neuronal activity across the entire brain in less than a minute. fMRI indirectly detects neural activity in different parts of the brain by comparing contrast in MR signal intensity prior to and following stimulation. Areas of the brain with increased synaptic and neuronal activity require increased levels of oxygen to sustain this activity. Enhanced brain activity is accompanied by an increase in metabolism followed by increases in blood flow and blood volume. The enhanced blood flow usually exceeds the metabolic demand exposing the active brain area to high level of oxygenated hemoglobin. Oxygenated hemoglobin increases the MR signal intensity that can be detected in MR scanner. This relatively straight forward scenario is, unfortunately, oversimplified. The fMRI signal change to noise ratio is extremely small. In this work a quantitative analysis strategy to analyze fMRI data was successfully developed, implemented and optimized for the rat brain. Therein, each subject is registered or aligned to a complete volume-segmented rat atlas. The matrices that transformed the subject's anatomy to the atlas space are used to embed each slice within the atlas. All transformed pixel locations of the anatomy images are tagged with the segmented atlas major and minor regions creating a fully segmented representation of each subject. This task required the development of a full 3D surface atlas based upon 2D non-uniformly spaced 2D slices from an existing atlas. A multiple materials marching cube (M3C) algorithm was used to generate these 1277 subvolumes. After this process, they were coalesced into a dozen major zones of the brain (amygdaloid complex, cerebrum, cerebellum, hypothalamus, etc.). Each major brain category was subdivided into approximately 10 sub-major zones. Many scientists are interested in behavior and reactions to pain, pleasure, smell, for example. Consequently, the 3D volume atlas was segmented into functional zones as well as the anatomical regions. A utility (program) called Tree Browser was developed to interactively display and choose different anatomical and/or functional areas. Statistical t-tests are performed to determine activation on each subject within their original coordinate system. Due to the multiple t-test analyses performed, a false-positive detection controlling mechanism was introduced. A statistical composite of five components was created for each group. The individual analyses were summed within groups. The strategy developed in this work is unique as it registers segments and analyzes multiple subjects and presents a composite response of the whole group. This strategy is robust, incredibly fast and statistically powerful. The power of this system was demonstrated by mapping the olfactory system of a rat brain. Synchronized changes in neuronal activity across multiple subjects and brain areas can be viewed as functional neuro-anatomical circuits coordinating the thoughts, memories and emotions for particular behaviors using this fMRI module.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T13:17:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Michaele Terena Saban.pdf: 1151659 bytes, checksum: 94dd30825fe6f10b8238f90f701afb68 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-05-28 / The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of the protocol adaptation "Live with Chronic Pain: An Acceptance-based Approach" (Vowles & Sorrell, 2007), based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (1999) in three participants with chronic pain who attended the Rehabilitation Centre and Day Hospital Psychiatry Institute of a public hospital in São Paulo. A multiple baseline design was used, where intervention was initiated to two participants at a time and the last participant to four weeks later. The forms of measurement data were questionnaires (Profile Questionnaire, Questionnaire History of Pain, Brief Pain Inventory, WHOQOL-Brev, HAD Scale and Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire) applied an initial interview, before the intervention, during, and 6-9 weeks follow-up depending on participant; observation time speech of the participants in the session; and an auto registration contingency in which the participant fulfilled when was in pain for a week before the intervention and during the weeks that occurred in the eight sessions. The results demonstrate that the intervention was benefit to participants, particularly in the reduction of pain episodes, reduction of medication use and rest due to pain. Comparing pre-intervention and follow-up, all participants improved in relation to anxiety and social relationships. The auto record was the instrument that yields information about the therapeutic process and was methodologically the most interesting option for measuring in this search / O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o efeito da adaptação do protocolo Live with Chronic Pain: An Acceptance-based Approach (Vowles & Sorrell, 2007), baseado na Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso (1999) em três participantes com dor crônica que frequentavam o Centro de Reabilitação e Hospital Dia de um hospital público da cidade de São Paulo. Foi utilizado um delineamento de linha de base múltipla em que a intervenção foi iniciada para dois participantes num momento e para o último participante quatro semanas depois. As formas de mensuração dos dados foram questionários (Questionário de Perfil, Questionário de Histórico da Dor, Inventário Breve de Dor, WHOQOL-BREV, Escala HAD, e Questionário de Aceitação da Dor Crônica) aplicados numa entrevista inicial, antes da intervenção, durante, após e no seguimento de seis a nove semanas depois da intervenção a depender do participante; observação do tempo de fala dos participantes na sessão; e um auto-registro da contingência em que o participante sentia dor por uma semana antes da intervenção e no decorrer das semanas em que ocorreram as oito sessões. Os resultados demonstram que a intervenção beneficiou os participantes, principalmente na diminuição dos episódios de dor, na diminuição da utilização de medicação e descanso devido à dor. Comparando antes da intervenção e o seguimento, todos os participantes melhoraram em relação à ansiedade e suas relações sociais. O auto-registro foi o instrumento que mais forneceu informações sobre o processo terapêutico e mostrou-se metodologicamente a opção mais interessante de mensuração nesta pesquisa

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-08-10T14:03:42Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rafaela de Morais Ramos - 2016.pdf: 2036172 bytes, checksum: e8d4ca791691bf7f33132d86c3fba2fc (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-08-10T14:07:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rafaela de Morais Ramos - 2016.pdf: 2036172 bytes, checksum: e8d4ca791691bf7f33132d86c3fba2fc (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T14:07:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rafaela de Morais Ramos - 2016.pdf: 2036172 bytes, checksum: e8d4ca791691bf7f33132d86c3fba2fc (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-19 / The research “Planning, registration and evaluation: instruments that resignify teaching practice in children education” was developed in Pos-Graduation Program of the Master degree course in Education in Early Childhood Education of Centro de Ensino e Pesquisa Aplicada à Educação/CEPAE in the Universidade Federal de Goiás, in the research area “Theoretical and methodological conceptions and teaching practices”. The question that instigates the research was: Does the teacher critically linked what plans, registrate and evaluate in order to use them as tools of analysis and reflection of their pedagogical practice? This study had as object the interrelation between planning, registration and evaluation. The locus chosen for this research was the DEI/CEPAE/UFG. The research had as general objective understand if the teacher plan, execute and do the registration articulately, critically and if use this pedagogical instruments in order to analyze and evaluate their pedagogical do. The specific objectives were: a) verify in what way theses three instruments are developed; b) indentify if the registrations allows the analysis and evaluation of their pedagogical do; c) verify if the planning is based on registrations and evaluations made; d) substantiate theoretically the knowledge about planning, registration and evaluation. Defined the historical materialist dialectical method to fundament all the way of this research, understanding that this method is configured as a philosophical basis of analysis and comprehension of the world and reality. About the method, the theoreticals basis that supports the research were: Marx and Engels (1982); Vigostki (1987); Luria (1988); Triviños (2006). The methodology used was action-research (Severino, 2007), which favored different types of interactions for a dynamic reality apprehension process in order to change it. In the theoretical reference that addresses the didactic, early childhood education and childhood in historical dialectical perspective we use the following authors: Libâneo (1991); Ostetto (2000); Corsino (2009); Vigostski (1998), Luria (2012) and Leontiev (2012). The chapters of the data analysis are based on the sociohistorical authors, who also support the pedagogical proposal of DEI/CEPAE. The teaching practices of the Department of Early Childhood Education guide the learning development in the Historic-cultural approach, whose representatives are Vygotsky (1998), Wallon (2012), Leontiev (2012) and Luria (2012). Their studies conceive the child development as a historical phenomenon not determined by universal natural laws. From the analysis of the plans, registrations and evaluations of the three participating teachers of the research, it was understood that the interrelation between the three instruments needs common categories as the theoretical conception that guides the work of the teachers - the historical cultural. Explain the complexity of this dialectic triad is a challenge, however we attempted to face it during the research and, at the end of it realized that the interrelation between planning, registration and evaluation requires the teacher a critical and reflexive posture capable of resignify their own practice appropriating the knowledge and promoting the pedagogical praxis. / A pesquisa “Planejamento, registro e avaliação: instrumentos que ressignificam a prática docente na educação infantil” foi desenvolvida no Programa de Pós-Graduação do curso de Mestrado em Ensino na Educação Básica do Centro de Ensino e Pesquisa Aplicada à Educação/CEPAE da Universidade Federal de Goiás, na linha de pesquisa “Concepções teórico-metodológicas e práticas docentes”. A questão que introduziu a pesquisa foi: o professor vincula criticamente o que planeja, registra e avalia de modo a utilizá-los como instrumentos de análise e reflexão do seu fazer pedagógico? Esse estudo teve por objeto a inter-relação entre o planejamento, registro e avaliação. O lócus escolhido para verificar esta investigação foi o Departamento de Educação Infantil – CEPAE/UFG. A pesquisa teve como objetivo geral averiguar se o professor planeja, executa e faz os registros de forma articulada, crítica e se utiliza esses instrumentos pedagógicos com o objetivo de analisar, avaliar e redimensionar seu fazer pedagógico. Os objetivos específicos foram: a) verificar de que forma estes três instrumentos são elaborados; b) identificar se os registros possibilitam a análise e avaliação do seu fazer pedagógico; c) verificar se o planejamento tem como base os registros e avaliações realizadas; d) fundamentar teoricamente os conhecimentos acerca de planejamento, registro e avaliação. Definiu-se o método materialista histórico dialético para embasar todo o percurso desta pesquisa, entendendo que este método se configura como uma base filosófica de análise e compreensão do mundo e da realidade. Acerca do método, os aportes teóricos que subsidiaram a pesquisa foram: Marx e Engels (1982); Vigostki (1987); Luria (1988); Triviños (2006). A metodologia utilizada foi a pesquisa-ação (Severino, 2007), que favoreceu diversos tipos de interações para dinamizar o processo de apreensão da realidade, a fim de modificá-la. No referencial teórico que aborda a didática, educação infantil e infância na perspectiva histórico dialética utilizou-se os seguintes autores: Libâneo (1991); Ostetto (2000); Corsino (2009); Vigostski (1998); Luria (2012) e Leontiev (2012). Os capítulos de análises dos dados estão fundamentados nos autores sócio-históricos, que também fundamentam a proposta pedagógica do DEI/CEPAE. As práticas docentes do departamento de educação infantil norteiam a aprendizagem e o desenvolvimento na abordagem Histórico-cultural, cujos representantes são Vigotski (1998) Wallon (2012), Leontiev (2012), e Luria (2012). Seus estudos concebem o desenvolvimento infantil como fenômeno histórico não determinado por leis naturais universais. A partir das análises dos planejamentos, registros e avaliações das três professoras participantes da pesquisa verificouse que a inter-relação entre os três instrumentos necessita de categorias comuns conforme a concepção teórica que norteia o trabalho das professoras – a histórico-cultural. Explicar a complexidade desta tríade dialética é um desafio, entretanto buscou-se enfrentá-lo no decorrer da pesquisa e, ao final dela, identificou-se que a inter-relação entre planejamento, registro e avaliação exige do professor uma postura crítica e reflexiva capaz de ressignificar sua própria prática apropriando-se dos saberes e promovendo a práxis pedagógica.

O interesse no uso de técnicas de aquisição de dados 3D em vídeos interativos e sistemas de videoconferência imersiva aumentou significativamente nos últimos anos. A disponibilidade de sensores de profundidade baseados em luz estruturada no varejo apresenta uma série de novas oportunidades em sistemas de teleconferência, entretenimento e e-learning. No entanto, problemas de oclusão frequentemente ocorrem quando é utilizado um único sensor ou técnicas de reconstrução 2,5D. Outras técnicas de interação e aplicações de teleconferências podem exigir uma reconstrução mais completa do usuário. Uma possível solução para isso implica na utilização de múltiplos dispositivos simultaneamente, o que traz novos desafios relacionados ao processo de calibração de câmaras e a aferição do aumento da superfície capturada quando é adicionado um novo sensor. Neste trabalho é apresentada a proposta VMD (Video-avatar from Multiple Depth maps), uma arquitetura de sistema que trata esses dois problemas. Com a finalidade de validar a viabilidade dessa proposta, três experimentos foram feitos resultando em uma análise qualitativa e quantitativa a fim de encontrar uma configuração adequada de múltiplos sensores de profundidade. / The interest in the use of 3D data acquisition techniques in video based interaction and immersive videoconferencing systems has noticeably increased in recent years. The availability of structured light 3D sensors as off-the-shelf hardware presents a series of new opportunities in teleconferences, entertainment and e-learning. However, occlusion issues often occur when it is used a single sensor or 2,5D reconstruction techniques. Other interaction techniques and teleconferencing applications may require a more complete reconstruction of the user. One possible solution to this involves the use of multiple devices simultaneously, which may bring new challenges related to the calibration process of cameras and measurement of the increase in covered area when it is added a new sensor. In this work we present VMD (Video-avatar from Multiple Depth maps), a system architecture that addresses this two issues. In order to validate the feasibility of this proposal, three experiments were performed resulting in a qualitative and quantitative analysis with the purpose of finding a suitable setup with multiple depth sensors.

The human cerebral cortex is a highly foliated structure that supports the complex cognitive abilities of humans. The cortex is divided by its cytoarchitectural characteristics that can be approximated by the folding pattern of the cortex. Psychiatric and neurological diseases, such as Huntington's disease or schizophrenias, are often related with structural changes in the cerebral cortex. Detecting structural changes in different regions of cerebral cortex can provide insight into disease biology, progression and response to treatment. The delineation of anatomical regions on the cerebral cortex is time intensive if performed manually, therefore automated methods are needed to perform this delineation. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is commonly used to explore the structural change in patients with psychiatric and neurological diseases. This dissertation proposes a fast and reliable method to automatically parcellate the cortical surface generated from MR images. A fully automated pipeline has been built to process MR images and generate cortical surfaces associated with parcellation labels. First, genus zero cortical surfaces for each hemisphere of a subject are generated from MR images. The surface is generated at the parametric boundary between gray matter and white matter. Geometry features are calculated for each cortical surface to as scalar values to drive a multi-resolution spherical registration that can align two cortical surfaces together in the spherical domain. Then, the labels on a subject's cortical surface are evaluated by registering a subject's cortical surface with a population atlas and combining the information of prior probabilities on the atlas with the subject's geometry features. The automated parcellation has been tested on a group of subjects with various cerebral cortex structures. It shows that the proposed method is fast (takes about 3 hours to parcellate at one hemisphere) and accurate (with the weighted average Dice ~0.86). The framework of this dissertation will be as follows: the first chapter is about the introduction, including motivation, background, and significance of the study. The second chapter describes the whole pipeline of the automated surface parcellation and focuses on technical details of every method used in the pipeline. The third chapter presents results achieved in this study and the fourth chapter discusses the results and draws a conclusion.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become an attractive tool in understanding the characteristic of air flow in the human lungs. Inter-subject variations make subject-specific simulations essential for understanding structure-function relationship, assessing lung function and improving drug delivery. However, currently the subject-specific CFD analysis remains challenging due, in large part to, two issues: construction of realistic deforming airway geometry and imposition of physiological boundary conditions. To address these two issues, we develop subject-specific, dynamic lung models by utilizing two or multiple volume multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) data sets and image registrations in this thesis. A mass-preserving nonrigid image registration algorithm is first proposed to match a pair of three-dimensional (3D) MDCT data sets with large deformations. A novel similarity criterion, the sum of squared tissue volume difference (SSTVD), is introduced to account for changes in intensity with lung inflation. We then demonstrate the ability to develop dynamic lung models by using a pair of lung volumes to account for deformations of airway geometries and subject-specific boundary conditions. The deformation of the airway geometry is derived by the registration-derived deformation field and subject-specific boundary condition is estimated from regional ventilation in a 3D and one-dimensional (1D) coupled multi-scale framework. Improved dynamic lung models are then proposed from three lung volumes by utilizing nonlinear interpolations. The improved lung models account for nonlinear geometry motions and time-varying boundary conditions during breathing. The capability of the proposed dynamic lung model is expected to move the CFD-based interrogation of lung function to the next plateau.

Although many research studies about sexual offender registration exist, there is no qualitative study on the perspective of police officers whose job duties include the implementation of Sex Offender Registration and Notification (SORN) laws. The purpose of this case study was to explore specific police officers' perceptions of sex offender registration. Six police officers were hand selected for face-to-face interviews based on their unique job duties that included responsibilities and training related to the implementation of the sexual offender registration and community notification protocols. Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory provided the theoretical framework for this research study. According to study findings, the majority of the police officers in this study supported sexual offender registration despite the lack of research that supports its effectiveness. Data gathered from conducting face-to face interviews with the identified police officers revealed that 5 out of 6 police officers believed that SORN policies had a positive impact on enhancing community safety, and half of the police officers felt that SORN policies reduced recidivism. All of the police officers in the study called for more formal training and education about SORN. Also, these police officers identified money and human power as barriers to proactive efforts or effective management of the sexual offenders who lived in their jurisdiction. Finally, the police officers in this study suggested the use of specialized officers or the creation of a task force as a method to better address the sexual offenders in the community. Exploring these options could have far-reaching implications for positive social change for the law enforcement community and society as a whole.