We propose a natural scene statistic based quality assessment model Refer- enceless Image Spatial QUality Evaluator (RISQUE) which extracts marginal statistics of local normalized luminance signals and measures 'un-naturalness' of the distorted image based on measured deviation of them. We also model distribution of pairwise products of adjacent normalized luminance signals providing us with orientation distortion information. Although multi-scale, the model is defined in the space domain avoiding costly frequency or wavelet transforms. The frame work is simple, fast, human perception based and shown to perform statistically better than other proposed no reference algorithms and full reference structural similarity index(SSIM). / text

Digitization of medical data has become a very important part of the modern healthcare system. Data can be transmitted easily at any time to anywhere in the world using Internet to get the best diagnosis possible for a patient. This digitized medical data must be protected at all times to preserve the doctor-patient confidentiality. Watermarking can be used as an effective tool to achieve this. In this research project, image watermarking is performed both in the spatial domain and the frequency domain to embed a shared image with medical image data and the patient data which would include the patient identification number. For the proposed system, Structural Similarity (SSIM) is used as an index to measure the quality of the watermarking process instead of Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) since SSIM takes into account the visual perception of the images compared to PSNR which uses the intensity levels to measure the quality of the watermarking process. The system response under ideal conditions as well as under the influence of noise were measured and the results were analyzed.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Electronic watermarking is a method whereby information can be imperceptibly embedded into electronic media, while ideally being robust against common signal manipulations and intentional attacks to remove the embedded watermark. This study evaluates the characteristics of uncompressed video watermarking techniques in terms of visual characteristics, computational complexity and robustness against attacks and signal manipulations. The foundations of video watermarking are reviewed, followed by a survey of existing video watermarking techniques. Representative techniques from different watermarking categories are identified, implemented and evaluated. Existing image quality metrics are reviewed and extended to improve their performance when comparing these video watermarking techniques. A new metric for the evaluation of inter frame flicker in video sequences is then developed. A technique for possibly improving the robustness of the implemented discrete Fourier transform technique against rotation is then proposed. It is also shown that it is possible to reduce the computational complexity of watermarking techniques without affecting the quality of the original content, through a modified watermark embedding method. Possible future studies are then recommended with regards to further improving watermarking techniques against rotation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Elektroniese watermerk is ’n metode waardeur inligting onmerkbaar in elektroniese media vasgelê kan word, met die doel dat dit bestand is teen algemene manipulasies en doelbewuste pogings om die watermerk te verwyder. In hierdie navorsing word die eienskappe van onsaamgeperste video watermerktegnieke ondersoek in terme van visuele eienskappe, berekeningskompleksiteit en weerstandigheid teen aanslae en seinmanipulasies. Die onderbou van video watermerktegnieke word bestudeer, gevolg deur ’n oorsig van reedsbestaande watermerktegnieke. Verteenwoordigende tegnieke vanuit verskillende watermerkkategorieë word geïdentifiseer, geïmplementeer en geëvalueer. Bestaande metodes vir die evaluering van beeldkwaliteite word bestudeer en uitgebrei om die werkverrigting van die tegnieke te verbeter, spesifiek vir die vergelyking van watermerktegnieke. ’n Nuwe stelsel vir die evaluering van tussenraampie flikkering in video’s word ook ontwikkel. ’n Tegniek vir die moontlike verbetering van die geïmplementeerde diskrete Fourier transform tegniek word voorgestel om die tegniek se bestandheid teen rotasie te verbeter. Daar word ook aangetoon dat dit moontlik is om die berekeningskompleksiteit van watermerktegnieke te verminder, sonder om die kwaliteit van die oorspronklike inhoud te beïnvloed, deur die gebruik van ’n verbeterde watermerkvasleggingsmetode. Laastens word aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing aangaande die verbetering van watermerktegnieke teen rotasie gemaak.

La stéganographie est l’art de la dissimulation de l’information secrète dans un médium donné (cover) de sorte que le médium résultant (stégo) soit quasiment identique au médium cover. De nos jours, avec la mondialisation des échanges (Internet, messagerie et commerce électronique), s’appuyant sur des médiums divers (son, image, vidéo), la stéganographie moderne a pris de l’ampleur. Dans ce manuscrit, nous avons étudié les méthodes de stéganographie LSB adaptatives, dans les domaines spatial et fréquentiel (DCT, et DWT), permettant de cacher le maximum d’information utile dans une image cover, de sorte que l’existence du message secret dans l’image stégo soit imperceptible et pratiquement indétectable. La sécurité du contenu du message, dans le cas de sa détection par un adversaire, n’est pas vraiment assurée par les méthodes proposées dans la littérature. Afin de résoudre cette question, nous avons adapté et implémenté deux méthodes (connues) de stéganographie LSB adaptatives, en ajoutant un système chaotique robuste permettant une insertion quasi-chaotique des bits du message secret. Le système chaotique proposé consiste en un générateur de séquences chaotiques robustes fournissant les clés dynamiques d’une carte Cat 2-D chaotique modifiée. La stéganalyse universelle (classification) des méthodes de stéganographie développées est étudiée. A ce sujet, nous avons utilisé l’analyse discriminante linéaire de Fisher comme classifieur des vecteurs caractéristiques de Farid, Shi et Wang. Ce choix est basé sur la large variété de vecteurs caractéristiques testés qui fournissent une information sur les propriétés de l’image avant et après l’insertion du message. Une analyse des performances des trois méthodes de stéganalyse développées, appliquées sur des images stégo produites par les deux méthodes de stéganographie LSB adaptatives proposées, est réalisée. L’évaluation des résultats de la classification est réalisée par les paramètres: sensibilité, spécificité, précision et coefficient Kappa. / Steganography is the art of the dissimulation of a secret message in a cover medium such that the resultant medium (stego) is almost identical to the cover medium. Nowadays, with the globalization of the exchanges (Internet, messaging and e-commerce), using diverse mediums (sound, embellish with images, video), modern steganography is widely expanded. In this manuscript, we studied adaptive LSB methods of stéganography in spatial domain and frequency domain (DCT, and DWT), allowing of hiding the maximum of useful information in a cover image, such that the existence of the secret message in the stégo image is imperceptible and practically undetectable. Security of the message contents, in the case of its detection by an opponent, is not really insured by the methods proposed in the literature. To solve this question, we adapted and implemented two (known) methods of adaptive stéganographie LSB, by adding a strong chaotic system allowing a quasi-chaotic insertion of the bits of the secret message. The proposed chaotic system consists of a generator of strong chaotic sequences, supplying the dynamic keys of a modified chaotic 2D Cat map. Universal steganalysis (classification) of the developed methods of stéganography, is studied. On this question, we used the linear discriminating analysis of Fisher as classifier of the characteristic vectors of Farid, Shi and Wang. This choice is based on the wide variety of tested characteristic vectors that give an information about the properties of the image before and after message insertion. An analysis of the performances of three developed methods of steganalysis, applied to the produced stego images by the proposed adaptive methods of stéganography, is realized. Performance evaluation of the classification is realized by using the parameters: sensibility, specificity, precision and coefficient Kappa.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:21:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lucas Galvao de Britto.pdf: 1356483 bytes, checksum: da73d05015996a2d841a7d4e9a63f490 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-05 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This study's purpose is the spatial criterion of the matrix-norm of tax incidence. Investigates it from an hermeneutic-analytical point of view, departing from the understanding of how spatial categories help humans in understanding the objects of experience, in order to isolate and transpose these categories to the study of law, testing them with the established theory of place of crime and conducting the analysis results for the formulation of a theory of the place of tribute / Esta pesquisa tem por objeto o critério espacial da regra-matriz de incidência tributária. Investiga-o desde um ponto de vista analítico- hemenêutico para, a partir da compreensão de como as categorias espaciais ajudam o ser humano na compreensão dos objetos da experiência,transpor as categorias isolada são direito,testando-as com a já estabelecida teoria do lugar do crime e, conduzindo os resultados da análise para a formação de uma teoria do lugar do tributo

Cílem téhle práce je navrhnutí nových technik pro robustní neviditelné značení digitálních signálů. Nejdříve je prezentován současný stav tohoto odvětví a dostupné softwarové řešení. Poté následuje návrh několika algoritmů pro neviditelné značení, přičemž každý z nich je založen na jiném principu. Dále je připravena sada digitálních testovacích signálů společně s testovacím softwarem pro otestování navržených řešení a jejích porovnání s vybraným dostupným softwarem. Poté následuje srovnání naměřených výsledků, výkonu a jejích diskuze.

Broadband spectral content is required to support ultrashort pulses. However this broadband content is subject to dispersion and hence the pulse duration of corresponding ultrashort pulses may be stretched accordingly. I used a commercially-available adaptive ultrashort pulse shaper featuring multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan technology to characterise and compensate for the dispersion of the optical system in situ and conducted experimental and theoretical studies in various inter-linked topics relating to the light-matter interaction. Firstly, I examined the role of broadband ultrashort pulses in novel light-matter interacting systems involving optically co-trapped particle systems in which inter-particle light scattering occurs between optically-bound particles. Secondly, I delivered dispersion-compensated broadband ultrashort pulses in a dispersive microscope system to investigate the role of pulse duration in a biological light-matter interaction involving laser-induced cell membrane permeabilisation through linear and nonlinear optical absorption. Finally, I examined some of the propagation characteristics of broadband ultrashort pulse propagation using a computer-controlled spatial light modulator. The propagation characteristics of ultrashort pulses is of paramount importance for defining the light-matter interaction in systems. The ability to control ultrashort pulse propagation by using adaptive dispersion compensation enables chirp-free ultrashort pulses to be used in experiments requiring the shortest possible pulses for a specified spectral bandwidth. Ultrashort pulsed beams may be configured to provide high peak intensities over long propagation lengths, for example, using novel beam shapes such as Bessel-type beams, which has applications in biological light-matter interactions including phototransfection based on laser-induced cell membrane permeabilisation. The need for precise positioning of the beam focus on the cell membrane becomes less strenuous by virtue of the spatial properties of the Bessel beam. Dispersion compensation can be used to control the temporal properties of ultrashort pulses thus permitting, for example, a high peak intensity to be maintained along the length of a Bessel beam, thereby reducing the pulse energy required to permeabilise the cell membrane and potentially reduce damage therein.