Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2007. / Principal faculty advisor: Fouad Kiamilev, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2002. / Typescript (photocopy). "March 2002." Includes bibliographical references (p. 191-197). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2006. / Typescript (photocopy). "Year: 2004-2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-112). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Computer Science. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 186-196). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url%5Fver=Z39.88-2004&res%5Fdat=xri:pqdiss &rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR11837

Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 28, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

This work details two investigations into image capture, taken from the fields of x-ray and laser research, and also details two scanning systems: a wire surface generator and a video security device. Firstly a camera system is described that can display images, digitize them and provide real time false shading. This camera is shown to have a linear intensity response and to have a maximum saturation level below the digitizing range. Some example outputs are then illustrated. The ability to irradiate CCDs with direct X-ray radiation is also investigated. A camera is developed that vertically integrates such images and is shown to give an increase in the processing speed of existing equipment and to reduce experiment times by a factor of 388. Taking this idea further, a fast one dimensional camera is developed. This camera couples laser pulses onto a CCDs via a fibre optic faceplate and a 25 mum slit. Unusual scanning techniques are used to achieve image storage within the sensor itself and a method for correcting dark current and other errors is proposed. Next a mechanism for displaying wire surface representations of intensity) images is investigated. Results obtained from real time, hidden line removing hardware are illustrated, along with improved algorithms for shaded surface generation. This is then developed into a security device protecting VDUs from radio based surveillance. This is achieved by randomizing the display order of raster lines along with a hardware solution for random sequence generation. Finally the generation of Uniformly distributed random numbers is achieved by processing readings from a digitized. Normally distributed voltage source. The effects of this processing are investigated and an analysis of the underlying theory is used to determine an optimal setting for the gain stage.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of the morbidity and mortality in the western world today. Many different imaging modalities are in place today to diagnose and investigate cardiovascular diseases. Each of these, however, has strengths and weaknesses. There are different forms of noise and artifacts in each image modality that combine to make the field of medical image analysis both important and challenging. The aim of this thesis is develop a reliable method for segmentation of vessel structures in medical imaging, combining the expert knowledge of the user in such a way as to maintain efficiency whilst overcoming the inherent noise and artifacts present in the images. We present results from 2D segmentation techniques using different methodologies, before developing 3D techniques for segmenting vessel shape from a series of images. The main drive of the work involves the investigation of medical images obtained using catheter based techniques, namely Intra Vascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). We will present a robust segmentation paradigm, combining both edge and region information to segment the media-adventitia, and lumenal borders in those modalities respectively. By using a semi-interactive method that utilizes "soft" constraints, allowing imprecise user input which provides a balance between using the user's expert knowledge and efficiency. In the later part of the work, we develop automatic methods for segmenting the walls of lymph vessels. These methods are employed on sequential images in order to obtain data to reconstruct the vessel walls in the region of the lymph valves. We investigated methods to segment the vessel walls both individually and simultaneously, and compared the results both quantitatively and qualitatively in order obtain the most appropriate for the 3D reconstruction of the vessel wall. Lastly, we adapt the semi-interactive method used on vessels earlier into 3D to help segment out the lymph valve. This involved the user interactive method to provide guidance to help segment the boundary of the lymph vessel, then we apply a minimal surface segmentation methodology to provide segmentation of the valve.

The research described in this dissertation focuses on the development of a new approach for the generation of geometric models from multiple-view range image data. Through intensive comparison and evaluation of different representations, the cross-section contour based representation is concluded to be ideal for modeling with range image data. The representation is shown to be at an intermediate level - compatible with both the low-level of range image data and with the need to provide relatively high-level geometric and topological information in models. A new concept of generating partial models within device frames, frames associated with the working principle and geometry of a range sensor, is introduced. The range data are well distributed in the device frame. This good data distribution facilitates computations relevant to rendering the cross-sections required by the representation and relevent to identifying occlusions present in the image. Methodology for merging the partial models with a current global model is developed to allow the incorporation of redundancy between the partial model and the current global model and to allow growth of the global model. A simulation of the ERIM imaging-radar based range sensor, a prototype triangulation-based range sensor developed for this research and a commercial HYMARC range sensing system are used for approach verification. The device frames associated with the sensors are derived, and used to test the modeling approaches and the developed system. The presented research: demonstrates the suitability of the cross-section based representation for range-image based modeling systems; introduces a new concept and associated methods for generating cross-section contour models in range sensor device frames to take advantage of well distributed data; develops a series of algorithms for partial modeling in the device frame and for global model integration; and demonstrates the feasibility of the developed new approaches for applications by testing the system for multiple sensor types. / Graduate

Three centuries ago, the concept of the Solar Sytem being formed from an unstable disc was initially proposed. This research examines this cosmogony by the classical technique of initially obtaining the density structure of steady state discs, and gravitational instability of such systems Is then investigated in order to examine correlations between observed phenomena in the Solar System and predictions of the theory. A fluid mechanical approach to the steadystate axisymmetric structure is formulated for isothermal and polytropic gas systems, with uniform or radially dependent rotation. The equations are reduced to a single quasi-linear elliptical partial differential equation governing density, and known external boundary conditions are necessary to yield an unique density solution. When the external density is non-zero, flattened discs are possible solutions of the basic system. Two asymptotic techniques in spherical and cylindrical coordinates are created to obtain approximate solutions of the steadystate structure. Both techniques show that a self-consistent disc is composed of a high-density central bulge encircled by a low-density flat outer disc. Gravitational instability in gaseous discs is now formulated by the linear perturbation of the fundamental variables, density, pressure, gravitational potential and velocity. As the Solar System is essentially a planar structure, axisymmetric radial instability along the equatorial plane of rotation is examined. Such ring type modes are shown to be unstable to shear and tend to self-coverage. A dispersion relation is obtained analytically which indicates that the wavelength between rings is approximately inversely proportional to the square root of the steadystate density at marginal stability. However for the pure gas disc, the wavelengths are too long for any correspondence with the present spacing of the Planets. As usual, the presence of dust is invoked close to the equatorial plane. Radial instability in this gas-dust disc has a dispersion relation for the resultant wave in which the gas and dust move together such that the density term is multiplied by the dust-gas mass loading ratio. Thus the wavelengths at neutral stability will be correspondingly shorter and a correlation of ring density maxima with Planetary positions in the Solar System is obtained for reasonable values of three dimensionless parameters. If any planets exist outside Pluto the theory shows their distance apart can be expected to be similar to that of the Outer Planets, 10 a.u. Solar Systems formed by this type of instability in self-gravitating dust-gas discs can be expected to have linearly increasing planetary distances close to the central Sun "(Titius-Bode Law) with a more constant spacing further out as illustrated by our Solar System. / Science, Faculty of / Physics and Astronomy, Department of / Graduate

Master of Science