The traffic sign detection and recognition system is an essential part of the driver warning and assistance systems. In this thesis, traffic sign recognition system is studied. We considered circular, triangular and square Turkish traffic signs. For detection stage, we have two different approaches. In first approach, we assume that the detected signs are available. In the second approach, the region of interest of the traffic sign image is given. Traffic sign is extracted from ROI by using a detection algorithm. In recognition stage, the ring-partitioned method is implemented. In this method, the traffic sign is divided into rings and the normalized fuzzy histogram is used as an image descriptor. The histograms of these rings are compared with the reference histograms. Ring-partitions provide robustness to rotation because the rotation does not change the histogram of the ring. This is very critical for circle signs because rotation is hard to detect in circle signs. To overcome illumination problem, specified gray scale image is used. To apply this method to triangle and square signs, the circumscribed circle of these shapes is extracted. Ring partitioned method is tested for the case where the detected signs are available and the region of interests of the traffic sign is given. The data sets contain about 500 static and video captured images and the images in the data set are taken in daytime.

A transição do sistema radiográfico convencional para os sistemas radiográficos digitais, ao longo de vinte anos, tem transformado as salas de laudos nos Serviços de Diagnóstico por Imagem tanto na Medicina quanto na Medicina Veterinária. Atualmente, com a introdução do sistema radiográfico computadorizado na rotina de alguns hospitais e laboratório de imagem, o uso das ferramentas do pós-processamento tem se tornado mais freqüente. Diante das vantagens e desvantagens destas ferramentas e da escassez de trabalhos a cerca dos filtros utilizados em imagens radiográficas digitais, o objetivo deste trabalho foi testar o uso dos filtros convencional, realce de borda e invertido, assim como a associação deles na detecção dos padrões pulmonares de cães e gatos. Foram selecionados 40 exames radiográficos do tórax de cães e gatos contendo as três projeções de eleição. Três observadores com diferentes graus de experiência e familiaridade com o sistema radiográfico computadorizado analisaram os filtros individualmente e depois em associação na detecção geral dos padrões pulmanres e individualmente. Obteve-se melhores valores de sensibilidade e especificidade, em geral, quando os observadores experientes utilizaram os três filtros em associação e, para o iniciante, os melhores resultados da sensibilidade e especificidade, em geral, foram no filtro convencional. Os resultados deste trabalho permitiram concluir que houve diferença estatística entre os observadores com distintos graus de experiência e familiaridade com o sistema digital. E que o uso em associação dos filtros pode incrementar o desempenho do radiologista na avaliação radiográfica do parênquima pulmonar. / The transition of the conventional radiographic system to the digital one has been transforming the radiographic routine human and veterinary medicine over the last twenty years. Currently, the introduction of the computed radiography system in some hospitals and imaging services has increased the use of post processing tools. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of these tools and the lack of knowledge about the filters used in digital radiographic images, the aim of this study was to test efficacy of the standard, edge enhancement and gray scale reversed filters and their association to detect pulmonary patterns of cats and dogs. This work selected forty canine and feline sets of thoracic radiographs, including three projections. Three different observers with different degrees of experience and familiarity with the computed radiographic system analyzed the filters individually and then associated in order to detect pulmonary patterns. The best results in sensibility and specificity were related to the more experienced observers using the three associated filters. However, for the beginner, the best sensibility and specificity results was reached with the use of the standard filter in general results. In conclusion were statistical differences between more experienced and familiarized observers with the digital system and the use of filters can increase the radiologist performance when evaluating the pulmonary patterns on the radiography.

Neste trabalho são apresentadas a implementação e avaliação da aplicação do processador gráfico TMS34010. O objetivo foi o desenvolvimento de um sistema para visualização de imagens com este processador, a ser integrado ao Tomógrafo por Ressonância Magnética, do Departamento de Física e Ciência dos Materiais. A fim de avaliar tanto os aspectos do \"hardware\" quanto às capacidades do processador, foram desenvolvidos dois sistemas: um com 16 cores, e outro com 256 níveis de cinza, ambos contendo uma interface serial para interligação de um \"mouse\" convencional para microcomputadores do tipo PC-AT. Através destes sistemas foram avaliados recursos tais como \"pan\" horizontal e vertical, divisão da tela ao meio, vídeo no modo entrelaçado, transparência, operações lógicas, e instruções de transferência de blocos de \"pixels\" / This work describes the implementation and evaluation of a TMS34010 graphics processor based system. The system was developed to be used for the visualization of Magnetic Resonance Images in the MR tomography system under development in our Department. To evaluate the design and the performance of the processor, two systems were developed: one capable to show pictures with 16 simultaneous colors, and a second one able to display pictures with a gray scale of 256 levels. Both systems are equipped with a serial interface supporting a conventional mouse as used for PC compatibles. The hardware developed was used to evaluate implementations of resources such as horizontal and vertical PAN, screen division, interlaced video, transparency, logic operations and pixels block transfer routines

Charakterisierung von Lebertumoren nach kontrastverstärkter Sonographie und digitaler Graustufenbestimmung Ziel: Die Charakterisierung fokaler Leberläsionen ist Bestandteil des klinischen Alltags und für Patienten von therapeutischer und prognostischer Relevanz. Auf diesem Gebiet wurde bisher die native Sonographie regulär eingesetzt. Eine sichere Artdiagnose bei unklaren Lebertumoren ist jedoch nur selten möglich. Die Einführung der kontrastmittelverstärkten Sonographie hat die differentialdiagnostischen Optionen erweitert. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Nutzen des kontrastmittelverstärkten Ultraschalls und der anschließenden digitalen Graustufenanalyse bei fokalen Leberläsionen zu bewerten. Methodik: In einer prospektiven Studie wurde bei 50 Patienten mit CT oder MRT gesicherten Lebertumoren eine Sonographie des Oberbauches in nativer Sonographie und in Phaseninversionstechnik mit intravenöser Gabe des Ultraschallkontrastmittels SonoVue® durchgeführt. Nach Kontrastmittelgabe wurden über 120 s digitale Standbilder akquiriert. Mittels Software ermittelte man den dynamischen Graustufenverlauf für jeden einzelnen Tumor. Es folgte der Vergleich der einzelnen bildgebenden Modalitäten untereinander. Ergebnisse: Der Anteil der artdiagnostisch korrekten Zuordnungen belief sich in der CT bzw. MRT auf 78% und in der nativen Sonographie auf 60%. Mit Hilfe des kontrastmittelverstärkten Ultraschalls konnte er auf 86% gesteigert werden. Die digitale Graustufenanalyse lieferte für die einzelnen Tumorentitäten charakteristische Kurvenverläufe. Hierbei erwiesen sich die Zeitpunkte 20 s und 100 s nach Kontrastmittelgabe für die artspezifische Charakterisierung und für die Differenzierung in benigne und maligne Tumoren als optimal. Schlussfolgerung: Die kontrastmittelverstärkte Sonographie und deren digitale Graustufenbestimmung bilden eine Ergänzung der bisherigen Diagnostik von Lebertumoren und ermöglichen eine bessere Charakterisierung der Herde. Dies sollte in zusätzlichen Studien evaluiert werden. / Characterization of Hepatic Tumors with Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound and Digital Gray-Scale Analysis Purpose: The characterization of liver tumors is of therapeutic and prognostic relevance. Although ltrasound offers the opportunity to detect hepatic tumors, its previous techniques did not lead towards a definitve differentiation. The purpouse of this study was the evaluation of contrast enhanced ultrasound followed by quantitative digital analysis in patients with focal hepatic tumors. Materials and Methods: In a prospective stuy, 50 patients with liver tumors previously detected by CT or MRI were examined by ultrasound of the upper abdomen using conventional and phase inversion technique after intravenous application of an ultrasound contrast agent. Digital images were stored over 120 s and software powerd digital gray-scale curves were produced for each individual lesion. Results: While the percentage of tumors correctly characterised by CT/MRI amounted to 78%, the percentage increased from 60% using conventional ultrasound to 86% using contrast enhanced ultrasound including gray-scale analysis. Typical graphs were achieved for different tumor entities on digital gray-scale analysis. Time intervals at 20 and 100 seconds showed optimal for differantiation between particualar entities. Conclusion: Quantification of contrast enhanced ultrasound is an addition to the previous diagnostic procedure in hepatic tumors. It offers the possibility of an investigator-independent characterization of lesions and should be evaluated in further studies.