"Renal autoregulation stabilizes renal blood flow to protect the glomerular capillaries and maintain glomerular filtration rates through two mechanisms: tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) and the myogenic response (MR). It is considered that the feedback mechanisms operate independently in each nephron (the functional unit of the kidney) within a kidney, but renal autoregulation dynamics can be coupled between vascular connected nephrons. It has also been shown that the mechanisms are time-varying and interact with each other. Understanding of the significance of such complex behavior has been limited by absence of techniques capable of monitoring renal flow signals among more than 2 or 3 nephrons simultaneously. The purpose of this thesis was to develop approaches to allow the identification and characterization of spatial and temporal properties of renal autoregulation dynamics. We present evidence that laser speckle perfusion imaging (LSPI) effectively captures renal autoregulation dynamics in perfusion signals across the renal cortex of anaesthetized rats and that spatial heterogeneity of the dynamics is present and can be investigated using LSPI. Next, we present a novel approach to segment LSPI of the renal surface into phase synchronized clusters representing areas with coupled renal autoregulation dynamics. Results are shown for the MR and demonstrate that when a signal is present phase synchronized regions can be identified. We then describe an approach to identify quadratic phase coupling between the TGF and MR mechanisms in time and space. Using this approach we can identify locations across the renal surface where both mechanisms are operating cooperatively. Finally, we show how synchronization between nephrons can be investigated in relation to renal autoregulation effectiveness by comparing phase synchronization estimates from LSPI with renal autoregulation system properties estimated from renal blood flow and blood pressure measurements. Overall, we have developed approaches to 1) capture renal autoregulation dynamics across the renal surface, 2) identify regions with phase synchronized renal autoregulation dynamics, 3) quantify the presence of the TGF-MR interaction across the renal surface, and 4) determine how the above vary over time. The described tools allow for investigations of the significance and mechanisms behind the complex spatial interactions and time-varying properties of renal autoregulation dynamics. "

With an increasing emphasis on personal privacy, security, and convenience, the security of identification system is an important issue nowadays. In this thesis, two intelligent identification systems, laser speckle image identification system and laser-based finger biometric system, are proposed to perform superior solutions for identification applications. In laser speckle image identification system, we investigated the characteristics of laser speckle as well as proposed an appropriate algorithm to establish this system. The proposed algorithm is a coarse-to-fine process which identifies laser speckle images systematically. In laser-based finger biometric system, a new biometric approach is described to proceed personal identification using a scanner with a low power laser scans across the surface of the finger and continuously recording the reflected intensity at a fixed position. Experimental results show that the recognition rates of the proposed system are both 100%.

In this thesis, we proposed an innovation ideal that is employment of laser to extract finger feature, and constructed laser speckle recognition systems for this kind of feature. When projecting laser on the object surface, the speckle could be obtained to represent the characteristic of object surface by collecting scattered light. Two measurement of scattered light was adopted. First is laser signal recording the strength of scattered light when laser scan across the finger. The second is laser speckle image which is demonstrated when projecting the laser on the fingerprint and simultaneously collecting the scatter light by CCD. We proposed two recognition systems for laser signal and laser speckle. Besides, the proposed laser speckle fingerprint recognition system combines biometric detection, it can accurately distinguish biometric and non-biometric speckle. Experimental results demonstrate that proposed laser speckle recognition systems are feasible and with excellent ability of identity verification.

INTRODUCTION: As populations are adopting a Western lifestyle, with high intake of dietary sugar and fat and low physical activity, the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes is only increasing dramatically. Diabetes leads to drastic alterations within the body, primarily leading to neuropathies, nephropathies and retinopathies. As the prevalence of diabetes increases, it is important to understand the threat that it poses to the retina, and ultimately, vision. OBJECTIVE: We plan to compare the retina of diabetic patients with retinopathies to normal, healthy patients to understand the differences between them. We will be using a novel imaging technique, called Laser Speckle Flowgraphy, which provides the Mean Blur Rate, a value directly related to the blood flow velocity within the retina, specifically the optic nerve head. Using the calculated Mean Blur Rate, this study will quantify baseline blood flows in patients with diabetic retinopathies. This project aims to understand and differentiate the Mean Blur Rate of healthy patients and diabetic patients, including inter-patient and intra-patient comparisons, as well as changes in the Mean Blur Rate over time. The potential influence of treatment factors, such as intravitreal injection treatment or laser treatment, or demographic factors, such as age and race, on the Mean Blur Rate of diabetic retinopathy patients will also be evaluated. By understanding the difference in the retinas of diabetic patients and healthy patients, we can work towards preventing the loss of vision and function. METHODS: A total of 25 Type 2 diabetic patients with a diabetic retinopathy equaling 46 eyes were compared to 20 healthy patients, equaling 40 eyes. We collected the Mean Blur Rate for comparison between the two populations. Data was compared with correlation, t-test and ANOVA studies to find whether demographic or treatment variables influenced the Mean Blur Rate of diabetic retinopathy patients. RESULTS: We found a difference between the Mean Blur Rate, and thus blood flow, between the retina of diabetic and healthy patients. Diabetic patients tended to have a lower flow, presumably attributable the effects of hyperglycemia on blood circulation. Diabetic patients also have a significant difference in the Mean Blur Rate between both of their eyes, indicating that their hyperglycemia may affect both eyes differently (p<0). There was significant variability within both diabetic retinopathy patients and normal, healthy patients (p<0 for healthy patients and p<0.001 for diabetic patients). This is expected as blood circulation can be affected by a variety of factors other than disease status. We also found that the MBR of diabetics who were treated with intravitreal injections was on average higher than those who had not received intravitreal treatment. (p<0.05) CONCLUSION: Our study highlights how diabetic retinopathy impacts retinal blood flow, as well as showcases how Laser Speckle Flowgraphy can be used as a reliable method to measure and compare retinal blood velocities. Further studies are needed to understand how exactly diabetes affects blood circulation, although several theories are currently available. We also found a relation between previous intravitreal injection history and the blood flow velocity, but other studies have had mixed results on how exactly these injections alter the blood flow within the retina. Future studies can be conducted to better understand this relationship and uncover whether the effect on blood flow velocity is related to the drug used for the intravitreal injection or some other factor.

Laser speckle photography is an experimental technique which provides a non-contract means for direct measurement of in-plane displacements of objects subjected to different loading conditions. It requires a camera system to record two images of the object that are illuminated with laser light on a high resolution film. The double-exposure film (specklegram) is a permanent record of the displacement information of the object. Point-by-point analysis of the specklegram will yield the displacement data, but requires considerable time to complete the data reduction. An automated data analysis system is developed and described in this report. He-Ne laser and computer-controlled translation stages holding the specklegram represent the first part of the system. A linear diode sensor is used to digitize the generated fringe pattern. Finally, a microcomputer and a spectrum analyzer are used to perform the analysis. The system has been successfully applied to the computation of displacements of a cantilever beam. Comparisons to theoretical results indicate that the system is indeed a viable one and may be sued for a more complex displacement analysis.

An experimental and a theoretical analysis for a laser beam propagating through multiple phase screens was performed. The theoretical analysis showed that the statistics for the intensity fluctuations, which can be predicted by the HK and the I-K distributions, could be derived from a multiplicative process using statistical distributions derived from Gaussian statistics. For the single phase screen experiment, the experimental normalized moments were compared with the normalized moments of both the HK and I-K distributions . In addition, the intensity data was lowpass filtered to yield moments that are predicted by the gamma distribution. The single phase screen data was segmented into small time intervals, and all time segments with approximately the same variance were grouped together into bins to yield normalized moments for each bin that are predicted by the Rician distribution. Also, the normalized moments for two and three phase screen experiments were measured. Finally, a computer program was written to simulate K distributed noise from two independent Gaussian noise sources.

A cimentação de próteses e/ou de outros elementos protéticos constituem-se em uma preocupação permanente, já que uma das grandes aplicações do cimento de fosfato de zinco é como agente cimentante. No entanto, a reação de presa do cimento de fosfato de zinco, assim como o tempo de sua presa final, não estão ainda completamente esclarecidos. O presente estudo visa analisar, microestruturalmente, a evolução da reação de presa do cimento de fosfato de zinco. Mais especificamente, buscou-se mensurar, baseado no fenômeno conhecido como speckle dinâmico, o tempo de duração da reação de presa do cimento de fosfato de zinco, desde o momento do término da espatulação até a sua presa completa, em ambiente com temperatura e umidade relativa do ar controlada. A metodologia utilizada consiste na análise do speckle dinâmico obtido através da luz laser, em um ensaio não-destrutivo. A partir dos dados coletados pela técnica óptica de speckle, usando algoritmos computacionais, foi possível estabelecer os coeficientes de correlação temporal e momentos de intensidade. O tratamento estatístico permitiu relacionar e comparar com outros parâmetros tradicionais, químicos e mecânicos macroestruturais já existentes e estudados por outros autores. Pode-se concluir que os resultados alcançados pela nova técnica e pelos métodos convencionais são convergentes. / The prosthesis cementation and/or other prosthetic elements, consists in permanent concern, since one of the major applications of zinc phosphate cement is as lutting agent. This study aims at the microstructural analyze to the evolution of the zinc phosphate cement´s setting reaction. More specifically, searched to verify, based on the known phenomenon as dynamic speckle, how long takes the setting reaction of zinc phosphate cement, since the moment of the ending of the mix until your complete setting, in environment with air relative humidity and temperature controlled. The used methodology consist in the analysis of dynamic speckle gotten through the laser, in a non-destructive assay. From the data supplied by the laser speckle, it was possible to establish the temporal correlation coefficients and intensity moments. The statistical treatment, allowed to compare and relate with other traditional, chemical and mechanical macrostructural parameters, already existing and studied by other authors. It can be conclude that outcomes achieved by the new technique and with the conventional methods are convergent.

A cimentação de próteses e/ou de outros elementos protéticos constituem-se em uma preocupação permanente, já que uma das grandes aplicações do cimento de fosfato de zinco é como agente cimentante. No entanto, a reação de presa do cimento de fosfato de zinco, assim como o tempo de sua presa final, não estão ainda completamente esclarecidos. O presente estudo visa analisar, microestruturalmente, a evolução da reação de presa do cimento de fosfato de zinco. Mais especificamente, buscou-se mensurar, baseado no fenômeno conhecido como speckle dinâmico, o tempo de duração da reação de presa do cimento de fosfato de zinco, desde o momento do término da espatulação até a sua presa completa, em ambiente com temperatura e umidade relativa do ar controlada. A metodologia utilizada consiste na análise do speckle dinâmico obtido através da luz laser, em um ensaio não-destrutivo. A partir dos dados coletados pela técnica óptica de speckle, usando algoritmos computacionais, foi possível estabelecer os coeficientes de correlação temporal e momentos de intensidade. O tratamento estatístico permitiu relacionar e comparar com outros parâmetros tradicionais, químicos e mecânicos macroestruturais já existentes e estudados por outros autores. Pode-se concluir que os resultados alcançados pela nova técnica e pelos métodos convencionais são convergentes. / The prosthesis cementation and/or other prosthetic elements, consists in permanent concern, since one of the major applications of zinc phosphate cement is as lutting agent. This study aims at the microstructural analyze to the evolution of the zinc phosphate cement´s setting reaction. More specifically, searched to verify, based on the known phenomenon as dynamic speckle, how long takes the setting reaction of zinc phosphate cement, since the moment of the ending of the mix until your complete setting, in environment with air relative humidity and temperature controlled. The used methodology consist in the analysis of dynamic speckle gotten through the laser, in a non-destructive assay. From the data supplied by the laser speckle, it was possible to establish the temporal correlation coefficients and intensity moments. The statistical treatment, allowed to compare and relate with other traditional, chemical and mechanical macrostructural parameters, already existing and studied by other authors. It can be conclude that outcomes achieved by the new technique and with the conventional methods are convergent.

No description available.

This research will investigate the problem of position estimation for planetary rovers. Diverse algorithmic filters are available for collecting input data and transforming that data to useful information for the purpose of position estimation process. The terrain has sandy soil which might cause slipping of the robot, and small stones and pebbles which can affect trajectory. The Kalman Filter, a state estimation algorithm was used for fusing the sensor data to improve the position measurement of the rover. For the rover application the locomotion and errors accumulated by the rover is compensated by the Kalman Filter. The movement of a rover in a rough terrain is challenging especially with limited sensors to tackle the problem. Thus, an initiative was taken to test drive the rover during the field trial and expose the mobile platform to hard ground and soft ground(sand). It was found that the LSV system produced speckle image and values which proved invaluable for further research and for the implementation of data fusion. During the field trial,It was also discovered that in a at hard surface the problem of the steering rover is minimal. However, when the rover was under the influence of soft sand the rover tended to drift away and struggled to navigate. This research introduced the laser speckle velocimetry as an alternative for odometric measurement. LSV data was gathered during the field trial to further simulate under MATLAB, which is a computational/mathematical programming software used for the simulation of the rover trajectory. The wheel encoders came with associated errors during the position measurement process. This was observed during the earlier field trials too. It was also discovered that the Laser Speckle Velocimetry measurement was able to measure accurately the position measurement but at the same time sensitivity of the optics produced noise which needed to be addressed as error problem. Though the rough terrain is found in Mars, this paper is applicable to a terrestrial robot on Earth. There are regions in Earth which have rough terrains and regions which are hard to measure with encoders. This is especially true concerning icy places like Antarctica, Greenland and others. The proposed implementation for the development of the locomotion system is to model a system for the position estimation through the use of simulation and collecting data using the LSV. Two simulations are performed, one is the differential drive of a two wheel robot and the second involves the fusion of the differential drive robot data and the LSV data collected from the rover testbed. The results have been positive. The expected contributions from the research work includes a design of a LSV system to aid the locomotion measurement system. Simulation results show the effect of different sensors and velocity of the robot. The kalman filter improves the position estimation process.