by Ho, Chi-Kin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-64). / Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 2 --- Previous Work --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.1 --- Thresholding --- p.2-1 / Chapter 2.2 --- Edge Detection --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.3 --- Region Growing --- p.2-2 / Chapter 2.4 --- Radial Contour Model --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.5 --- Regularized Region Contrast --- p.2-3 / Chapter 2.6 --- Deformable Model --- p.2-4 / Chapter 3 --- The ODD-Balloons Model --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.1 --- Design Rationale --- p.3-1 / Chapter 3.2 --- Overview --- p.3-5 / Chapter 3.3 --- 2-D Deformations --- p.3-8 / Chapter 3.4 --- Orthogonal Cut and Volume Transfer --- p.3-11 / Chapter 3.5 --- Smoothing Operation --- p.3-17 / Chapter 3.6 --- Properties --- p.3-20 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Conformation to 3-D Shape --- p.3-20 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Noise Sensitivity --- p.3-20 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Convergence and Efficiency --- p.3-22 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Easy-to-Use --- p.3-23 / Chapter 3.7 --- Summary --- p.3-24 / Chapter 4 --- Experiment Results --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.1 --- Synthetic Data Experiments --- p.4-1 / Chapter 4.2 --- Real Data Experiment --- p.4-3 / Chapter 4.3 --- Discussions --- p.4-6 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion and Future Work --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusion --- p.5-1 / Chapter 5.2 --- Recommended Future Work --- p.5-2 / Appendix A Discrete Implementation of 2-D Deformation --- p.A-1 / Appendix B Choosing Elasticity and Rigidity Coefficients of 2-D Deformation --- p.B-1 / Bibliography --- p.BIB-1

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in Diagnostic Radiology Johannesburg, 2014 / INTRODUCTION South Africa presents a complex scenario with regard to patients consenting for medical procedures, because of the differing profiles of the population and the health care workers who perform the consenting procedures. AIM To evaluate consenting practice for CT scanning, within the South African tertiary referral setting and to determine if there are any associations between patient demographic profile and the level of understanding with the adequacy of consent. METHOD A prospective survey regarding consenting practices for CT scanning was performed in a form of an interview questionnaire in patients presenting to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic hospitals. Determination of any associations between patient age, racial group, language and education was made with the level of understanding and adequacy of consent. RESULTS The survey was conducted on 117 patients; 86 from Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and 31 from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. We found no significant association between gender and age category (p=0.11), racial group (p=0.17), education (p=0.26), home language (p=0.21) or residential area type (p=0.70). vi There was a significant, weak, association between age category and education (p=0.043; Cramer’s V=0.29). There was a significant, moderate association between the understanding of the language of consent and the home language of the patients (p=0.0013; phi coefficient=0.43). There was also some association between education and age. Just over 50% of patients felt that they had been given enough information and had had an opportunity to ask questions and only 33% had been offered an alternative to the CT scan. There was a significant difference in the mean adequacy of consent score with regards to racial group (p<0.0001), home language (p=0.0073), residential area type (p<0.0001) and level of education (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION Language differences between patients and personnel performing the consent procedure proved to be a major barrier in offering adequate consenting for CT Scans.

X-ray Computer Tomography (CT) is well suited to the inspection of Fibre-Reinforced-Plastic (FRP) composite materials. However, a range of limitations currently restrict its uptake. The aim of the present research was to develop advanced inspection procedures that overcome these limitations and increase the scope of composite structures that can be inspected by industrial cone beam CT. Region of Interest (ROI) CT inspection of FRP laminated panels was investigated and two data completion methods developed to overcome reconstruction errors caused by truncated projection data. These allow accurate, highly magnified regions to be reconstructed on objects that extend beyond the Field-of-View (FOV) of the detector. The first method extended the truncated projection data using a cosine signal tailing off to zero attenuation. This method removed the strong 'glowing' artefacts but an inherent error existed across the reconstructed ROI. This did not affect the defect detectability of the inspection but was viewed as problematic for applications requiring accurate density measurements. The second method used prior knowledge of the test object so that a model could be created to estimate the missing data. This technique removed errors associated with ROI reconstruction thus significantly improving the accuracy. Techniques for extending the FOV were developed and applied to the inspection of FRP wind turbine blades; over 1.5X larger than the conventional scanning FOV. Two data completion methods were developed requiring an asymmetrically positioned detector. The first was based on the cosine tailing technique and the second used fan beam ray redundancy properties to estimate the missing data. Both produced accurate reconstructions for the 'offset' projection data, demonstrating that it was possible to approximately double the FOV. The cosine tailing method was found to be the more reliable. A dual energy image CT technique was developed to extend the optimum dynamic range and improve defect detectability for multi-density objects. This was applied to FRP composite/Titanium lap joints showing improved detectability of both volumetric and planar defects within the low density FRP. The dual energy procedure was validated using statistical performance measures on a specially fabricated multi-density phantom. The results showed a significant improvement in the detail SNR when compared to conventional CT scans.

The Computer Tomography (CT) scanned images are very important for the Treatment Planning System (TPS) to provide the electron density of the different types of tissues that the radiation penetrates in the path to the tumor to be treated. This electron density is converted to an attenuation coefficient, which varies with tissue for each structure and even varies by the tissue volume. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the CT numbers, and convert them into relative electron densities. Twenty-five patients’ data and CT numbers were evaluated in the CT scanner and in Eclipse and were converted into relative electron density and compared with each other. The differences between the relative electron density in the Eclipse was found to be from 0 up to 6% between tissue equivalent materials, the final result for all equivalent tissue materials was about 2%. For the patients’ data, the percentage difference of CT number versus electron density was found to be high for high relative electron density organs, namely the final average result for the spine was 8%, less for pelvis, and less for rib while for the other organs it was even less. The very lowest was 0.3% compared with 1% which is acceptable for clinical standards. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2001. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

M.Med. (Radiology), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / Lymphobronchial tuberculosis (LBTB) is tuberculous lymphadenopathy involving the airways, which is particularly common in children. AIM: To describe the CT findings of LBTB in children, the parenchymal complications and associated abnormalities. METHOD: CT scans of 98 children with LBTB were retrospectively reviewed. Lymphadenopathy, bronchial narrowing, parenchymal complications and associations were documented. RESULTS: Infants comprised 51% of patients. The commonest lymphadenopathy was subcarinal (97% of patients). Bronchial compressions (259 in total) were present in all patients, of which 23% were severe / complete stenoses and 28% affected bronchus intermedius. Parenchymal complications were present in 94% of patients, including consolidation (88%), breakdown (42%), air trapping (38%), expansile pneumonia (28%), collapse (17%) and bronchiectasis (9%), all predominantly right-sided (63%). Associations included oval focal bodies, miliary nodules, pleural disease and intracavitory bodies. CONCLUSIONS: The most important CT finding of children with LBTB is visible airway compression as a result of lymphadenopathy. CT of children with LBTB showed that airway compressions were more severe in infants and most commonly involved bronchus intermedius. Numerous parenchymal complications were documented, all showing rightsided predominance. Several associations were identified.

by Poon Mei Yu. / Thesis submitted in: Dec. 1997. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-132). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Declaration --- p.i / Acknowledgement --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.iii / Abbreviations --- p.xi / List of Figures --- p.xiv / List of Tables --- p.xvii / Abstract --- p.xxi / Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Obesity & related abnormalities --- p.2 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Measurement of body fat --- p.11 / Objective --- p.18 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Purpose of study --- p.19 / Method --- p.24 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Technical considerations on CT technique --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Data Collection --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Data Analysis --- p.44 / Results --- p.49 / Chapter Chapter 7: --- Amount of adipose tissue --- p.50 / Chapter Chapter 8: --- "Adipose tissue distribution, VSR & VTR" --- p.81 / Discussion --- p.105 / Chapter Chapter 9: --- Discussion --- p.106 / Conclusions --- p.122 / Chapter Chapter 10: --- Conclusions --- p.123 / References --- p.127 / Appendix I --- p.133 / Appendix II --- p.136 / Appendix III --- p.139 / DECLARATION --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / Brief Contents --- p.iii / Detailed Contents --- p.v / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiv / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xvii / ABSTRACT --- p.xxi / INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 1: --- OBESITY & RELATED ABNORMALITIES --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1 --- Adipose Tissue --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2 --- Classification of Adiposity --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Obesity --- p.5 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- MEASUREMENT OF BODY FAT --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1 --- Methods of Measuring Body Fat --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Non-imaging Methods --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Imaging Methods --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.2.1 --- Plain radiograph --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.2.2 --- Ultrasound --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.2.3 --- Computed tomography --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.2.4 --- Magnetic resonance imaging --- p.16 / OBJECTIVE --- p.18 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- PURPOSE OF STUDY --- p.19 / Chapter 3.1 --- Objectives --- p.19 / Chapter 3.2 --- Explanation --- p.20 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Best level of AT area measurement --- p.21 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Linear AT dimension --- p.22 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Sex and age differences --- p.22 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Difference in attenuation interval of fat --- p.23 / METHOD --- p.24 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS ON CT TECHNIQUE --- p.25 / Chapter 4.1 --- Defining Anatomy --- p.25 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Abdominal visceral cavity --- p.26 / Chapter 4.1.1.1 --- Diaphragm --- p.26 / Chapter 4.1.1.2 --- Pelvis --- p.26 / Chapter 4.1.1.3 --- Boundary at mid-potion --- p.27 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Intra- and retro- peritoneal compartments --- p.28 / Chapter 4.2 --- Attenuation interval of fat --- p.29 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Distinctive pixel value vs. attenuation interval --- p.30 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Choice of interval --- p.30 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- DATA COLLECTION --- p.32 / Chapter 5.1 --- Subjects --- p.32 / Chapter 5.2 --- Acquisition --- p.33 / Chapter 5.3 --- Measurement --- p.34 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- AT area measurement --- p.35 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Linear AT measurement --- p.38 / Chapter 5.3.2.1 --- Subcutaneous AT thickness --- p.38 / Chapter 5.3.2.2 --- Visceral AT thickness --- p.39 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- DATA ANALYSIS --- p.44 / Chapter 6.1 --- Tools --- p.44 / Chapter 6.2 --- Mathematical Assumptions --- p.45 / RESULTS --- p.49 / Chapter Chapter 7: --- AMOUNT OF ADIPOSE TISSUE --- p.50 / Chapter 7.1 --- AT Volumes --- p.50 / Chapter 7.1.1 --- In male and female subgroups --- p.50 / Chapter 7.1.2 --- VAT and SAT increase with TAT --- p.52 / Chapter 7.1.3 --- A VAT volume vs. VAT volume --- p.54 / Chapter 7.2 --- AT Areas at Various Anatomical Levels --- p.55 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- In male and female subgroups --- p.56 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- Correlation between AT volumes and areas --- p.62 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Prediction of abdominal AT volumes from AT areas --- p.63 / Chapter 7.3 --- Linear AT Dimensions --- p.66 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Linear SAT dimensions correlated to AT volumes --- p.66 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Linear VAT dimensions correlated to AT volumes --- p.68 / Chapter 7.3.3 --- Prediction of abdominal SAT volume --- p.70 / Chapter 7.3.4 --- Prediction of abdominal A VAT volume --- p.71 / Chapter 7.3.5 --- Prediction of abdominal TAT volume --- p.72 / Chapter 7.4 --- "AT Measurements, Sex and Age" --- p.73 / Chapter 7.4.1 --- In whole study population --- p.73 / Chapter 7.4.2 --- In male and female subgroups --- p.75 / Chapter 7.5 --- Difference in Attenuation Interval --- p.79 / Chapter Chapter 8: --- DISTRIBUTION OF ADIPOSE TISSUE: VSR & VTR --- p.81 / Chapter 8.1 --- VSR --- p.81 / Chapter 8.1.1 --- Correlation --- p.82 / Chapter 8.1.2 --- Prediction --- p.83 / Chapter 8.1.3 --- Effect of attenuation interval --- p.84 / Chapter 8.1.3.1 --- On VSR value --- p.84 / Chapter 8.1.3.2 --- On correlation and prediction results --- p.86 / Chapter 8.2 --- VTR --- p.88 / Chapter 8.2.1 --- Correlation --- p.88 / Chapter 8.2.2 --- Prediction --- p.89 / Chapter 8.2.3 --- Effect of attenuation interval --- p.91 / Chapter 8.2.3.1 --- On VTR value --- p.91 / Chapter 8.2.3.2 --- On correlation and prediction results --- p.93 / Chapter 8.3 --- VSR vs. VTR --- p.95 / Chapter 8.4 --- "VSR, VTR, Sex and Age" --- p.96 / Chapter 8.4.1 --- Correlation --- p.99 / Chapter 8.4.2 --- Prediction --- p.100 / Chapter 8.4.3 --- VSR and VTR increase with age --- p.101 / DISCUSSION --- p.105 / Chapter Chapter 9: --- DISCUSSION --- p.106 / Chapter 9.1 --- Absolute AT Content (Amount) --- p.106 / Chapter 9.1.1 --- AT areas of various anatomical levels --- p.106 / Chapter 9.1.1.1 --- Correlated to AT volume --- p.107 / Chapter 9.1.1.2 --- Prediction of abdominal A T volume: best level --- p.107 / Chapter 9.1.2 --- Linear AT dimensions --- p.109 / Chapter 9.1.2.1 --- Correlated to AT volume --- p.109 / Chapter 9.1.2.2 --- Prediction of abdominal AT volume --- p.111 / Chapter 9.2 --- AT Distribution Indices: VSR and VTR --- p.112 / Chapter 9.2.1 --- The best level --- p.114 / Chapter 9.3 --- Sex and Age Difference --- p.114 / Chapter 9.3.1 --- absolute AT content --- p.114 / Chapter 9.3.2 --- VSR and VTR --- p.116 / Chapter 9.4 --- Difference in Attenuation Interval --- p.118 / Chapter 9.4.1 --- Absolute AT content --- p.118 / Chapter 9.4.2 --- VSR and VTR --- p.119 / Chapter 9.5 --- Limitations --- p.120 / Chapter 9.5.1 --- Study population --- p.120 / Chapter 9.5.2 --- Differentiation of compartments --- p.121 / CONCLUSIONS --- p.122 / Chapter Chapter 10: --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.123 / Chapter 10.1 --- Absolute AT Content in Abdomen --- p.123 / Chapter 10.2 --- Abdominal AT Distribution --- p.125 / Chapter 10.3 --- Effect of Attenuation Interval --- p.126 / REFERENCES --- p.127 / APPENDIX I: Comparison of study populations & scanning techniques --- p.133 / APPENDIX II: Comparison of definitions of attenuation interval of fat and anatomical compartments --- p.136 / APPENDIX III: Statistical summary of the adipose tissue measurements in this study --- p.139

The permeability of hot mix asphalt (HMA) is of special interest to engineers and researchers due to the effects that water has on asphalt pavement performance. Significant research has been done to study HMA permeability. However, most of the studies primarily focused on relating permeability to the average percent air voids in the mix. Such relationships cannot predict permeability accurately due to the different distributions of air void structures at a given average percent of air voids. Air void distribution is a function of many factors such as mix design, compaction method, and aggregate properties. Recent advances in X-ray computed tomography and image analysis techniques offer a unique opportunity to better quantify the air void structure and, consequently, predict HMA permeability. This study is focused on portraying permeability as a function of air void size distribution by using a probabilistic approach that was previously developed by Garcia Bengochea for soils. This approach expresses permeability as a function of the probability density function (pdf) of the air void size distribution. Equations are derived in this thesis to describe this relationship for laboratory specimens compacted using the linear kneading compactor (LKC) and Superave^TM gyratory compactor (SGC) as well as for field cores (labeled as MS). A good correlation exists between permeability and the pdf of the air voids that formed the flow paths (i.e. connected voids). The relationship between moisture damage, air void structure, and cohesive and adhesive bond energy is also investigated in this study. Moisture damage is evaluated by monitoring changes in mechanical properties due to moisture conditioning. The influence of air void structure on pore pressure is studied using a recently developed program at Texas A&M University that simulates fluid flow and pore pressure in a porous medium. The surface free energy of the aggregates and asphalt are calculated from laboratory measurements using the Universal Sorption Device (USD) and the Wilhelmy Plate method, respectively, in order to test the compatibility of the aggregates with the asphalt in the presence of water.

Over the last decade, physicians have noted a rise in the prevalence of plagiocephaly. This sudden increase combined with the variability in presentation of infant head deformities makes the management of these cases often difficult. Currently, assessment for treatment is solely based largely on subjective determination of the severity of the patients skull malformation. Existing cephalometric techniques, such as external caliper measurements are commonly used, however these technique still contain inaccuracies, due to movement of an infant during measurement, soft tissue compression by the calipers, and lack of precise defined landmarks. (10) Given that no type of normalized measurement exists to identify objectively the severity of a patients skull deformity, the grading and selection of treatment modality has been relegated largely to experienced plastic surgeons and neurosurgeons. We report of a novel measurement that utilizes both CT scan and digital images combined with basic geometry to determine, objectively, the severity of an infants skull deformity, enabling all physicians to better decide what therapeutic intervention to employ.

X-ray computed tomography (CT) polymer gel dosimetry (PGD) is an attractive tool for three-dimensional (3D) radiation therapy (RT) treatment verification due to the availability of CT scanners in RT clinics. Nevertheless, wide-spread use of the technique has been hindered by low signal-to-noise CT images largely resulting from gel formulations with low radiation sensitivity. However, a new gel recipe with enhanced dose sensitivity was recently introduced that shows great promise for use with CT readout. This dissertation describes development of an CT PGD system for 3D verification of RT treatments using the new gel formulation. The work is divided into three studies: gel characterization, commissioning of a multislice CT scanner and investigation of a dose rate dependence observed during gel characterization. The first component of this work examines the dosimetric properties of the new gel formulation. The response of the gel is found to be stable between 15 - 36 hours post-irradiation and excellent batch reproducibility is seen for doses between 0 - 28 Gy. A dose rate dependence is found for gels irradiated between 100 - 600 MU/min, indicating machine dose rate must be consistent for calibration and test irradiations to avoid dosimetric error. An example clinical application is also presented using an IMRT treatment verification that demonstrates the potential of the system for use in modern RT. The second component of this work focuses on commissioning a multislice CT scanner for CT PGD. A new slice-by-slice background subtraction technique is introduced to account for the anode heel effect. Additional investigations show recommendations for optimizing image quality in CT PGD using a single slice machine also apply to multislice scanners. In addition, the consistency of CT numbers across the multislice detector array is found to be excellent for all slice thicknesses. Further work is performed to assess the tube load characteristics of the scanner and develop a scanning protocol for imaging large gel volumes. Finally, images acquired throughout the volume of an unirradiated active gel show variations in CT data across each image on the order of 7 HU. However, these variations are not expected to greatly influence gel measurements as they are consistent throughout the gel volume. The third component of this work examines the dose rate dependence found during gel characterization. Studies using gel vials and 1 L cylinders indicate the response of the gel does not depend on changes in mean dose rate on the order of seconds to minutes. However, the machine dose rate remains, indicating variations in dose rate on the order of milliseconds influence the response of the gel. An attempt is made to mitigate the effect by increasing the concentration of antioxidant in the gel system but results in reduced overall response. Further work is performed to determine if self-crosslinking of one of the gel components contributes to the observed machine dose rate dependence. In summary, this dissertation has significantly advanced the field of gel dosimetry by providing a prototype CT PGD system with enhanced dose resolution for complex RT treatment verification. / Graduate / 0992 / 0495 / 0756 / holly.johnston@utsouthwestern.edu