Panoramic image Virtual Reality (VR) is a 360 degree image which has been interpreted as a kind of VR that allows users to navigate, view, hear and have remote access to a virtual environment. Panoramic Video VR builds on this, where filming is done in the real world to create a highly dynamic and immersive environment. This is proving to be a very attractive technology and has introduced many possible applications but still present a number of challenges, considered in this research. An initial literature survey identified limitations in panoramic video to date: these were the technology (e.g. filming and stitching) and the design of effective navigation methods. In particular, there is a tendency for users to become disoriented during way-finding. In addition, an effective interface design to embed contextual information is required. The research identified the need to have a controllable test environment in order to evaluate the production of the video and the optimal way of presenting and navigating within the scene. Computer Graphics (CG) simulation scenes were developed to establish a method of capturing, editing and stitching the video under controlled conditions. In addition, a novel navigation method, named the “image channel” was proposed and integrated within this environment. This replaced hotspots: the traditional navigational jumps between locations. Initial user testing indicated that the production was appropriate and did significantly improve user perception of position and orientation over jump-based navigation. The interface design combined with the environment view alone was sufficient for users to understand their location without the need to augment the view with an on screen map. After obtaining optimal methods in building and improving the technology, the research looked for a natural, complex, and dynamic real environment for testing. The web-based virtual zoo (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums) was selected as an ideal production: It had the purpose to allow people to get close to animals in their natural habitat and created particular interest to develop a system for knowledge delivery, raising protection concerns, and entertaining visitors: all key roles of a zoo. The design method established from CG was then used to develop a film rig and production unit for filming a real animal habitat: the Formosan rock monkey in Taiwan. A web-based panoramic video of this was built and tested though user experience testing and expert interviews. The results of this were essentially identical to the testing done in the prototype environment, and validated the production. Also was successfully attracting users to the site repeatedly. The research has contributed to new knowledge in improvement to the production process, improvement to presentation and navigating within panoramic videos through the proposed Image Channel method, and has demonstrated that web-based virtual zoo can be improved to help address considerable pressure on animal extinction and animal habitat degradation that affect humans by using this technology. Further studies were addressed. The research was sponsored by Taiwan’s Government and Twycross Zoo UK was a collaborator.

A hiperplasia do processo coronóide (HPC) é uma variação morfológica que causa limitação na abertura de boca interferindo na mastigação. Normalmente não apresenta sintomatologia dolorosa e o paciente só vai procurar tratamento quando houver dor ou problemas funcionais causados pela compressão do processo coronóide hiperplásico no osso zigomático. Muitos clínicos desconhecem esta alteração e adotam tratamento para disfunção da articulação temporomandibular (ATM). Neste trabalho propôs-se mostrar que a hiperplasia do processo coronóide pode ser observada em radiografias panorâmicas de forma a suspeitar da existência dessa alteração e, aliado aos dados clínicos, o cirurgião-dentista generalista possa encaminhar o paciente ao especialista para que sejam providenciados exames mais complexos que permitam a conclusão do diagnóstico. A amostra constituiu-se de 150 radiografias panorâmicas dentre as quais estavam incluídas imagens sugestivas da hiperplasia do processo coronóide (HPC). Estas radiografias foram submetidas à análise de 3 Radiologistas com um mínimo de 5 anos de experiência na especialidade. Ficou concluído que a radiografia panorâmica é um meio auxiliar para o diagnóstico inicial dessa alteração e o clínico deve estar atento aos possíveis indicativos que esta técnica radiográfica fornece para a sugestão do diagnóstico. / The Coronoid Process Hyperplasia is a morphologic variation, which reduces mouth opening and interferes on mastication. Normally, it doesn\'t have pain symtomatology, and the patient will only look for treatment when there is pain or functional problems caused by compression of the Hyperplasic Coronoid Process on the zygomatic bone. Many practitioners ignore this alteration, and do treatment for termporomandibular joint disorder. This work proposes to show that is possible to suspect the presence of Coronoid Process Hyperplasia on panoramic radiography, and allied with clinical information, general practitioners can forward their patients to a specialist, to make more complex exams which will allow the conclusion of the diagnosis. The sample was composed by 150 panoramic radiographys, where included some suggestive radiographs of Coronoid Process Hyperplasia. These radiographs were analyzed by 3 Radiologists with at least 5 years of experience on this activity. It was concluded that panoramic radiography is an auxiliary way for initial diagnoses of this alteration and practitioners should attent the possible indicatives that this radiograph technique brings for diagnoses suggestion.

Recentemente, a osteoporose tem sido apontada como fator associado a manifestações bucais representadas pela perda óssea, especialmente na mandíbula. Entretanto, as técnicas de avaliação direta da densidade mineral óssea mandibular ainda não demonstraram boa precisão e acurácia. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar, por meio de um estudo descritivo-analítico, a possibilidade da utilização das radiografias panorâmicas, como um método capaz de expressar as alterações morfológicas da mandíbula decorrentes da idade e estabelecer um único índice quantitativo e qualitativo, para identificar os casos de osteopenia e osteoporose. A pesquisa ocorreu em mulheres em período de menopausa e pós-menopausa em tratamento odontológico nas clínicas odontológicas da faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo, no município de São Paulo SP. A confirmação do diagnóstico da osteoporose foi estabelecida mediante verificação dos relatórios da densitometria de antebraço obtidos, e comparados aos diagnósticos obtidos nas radiografias panorâmicas para o estabelecimento de um único índice quantitativo e qualitativo que considere a reabsorção e a baixa espessura da cortical na avaliação. O novo Índice Panorâmico Quantitativo e Quantitativo (IPQQ) foi determinado. A concordância entre as duas avaliações, calculada como razoável, reflete sensibilidade (moderada) de 56%, especificidade (satisfatória) de 82% e VPN (Valor Preditivo Negativo) de 68%. O IPQQ apresentou associação e concordância significativa com a densitometria (padrão ouro) podendo ser utilizado como teste para o rastreamento, porém cuidados ou algumas restrições deverão ser tomados em sua utilização, pois a intensidade de concordância razoável foi devida a uma moderada sensibilidade deste teste em relação ao padrão ouro. / Recently, osteoporosis has been implicated as being associated with oral manifestations represented by bone loss, especially in the jaw. However, the techniques of direct assessment of mandibular bone mineral density has not demonstrated good accuracy and precision. This study aimed to evaluate, through a descriptive and analytical study, the possibility of the use of panoramic radiographs as a method to express the morphological changes of the jaw due to age and to establish a single index quantitatively and qualitatively, to identify cases of osteopenia and osteoporosis. The research period occurred in women in menopause and postmenopause in dental treatment in dental clinics of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, in São Paulo - SP. Confirmation of the diagnosis of osteoporosis was established by scanning densitometry reports obtained from the forearm, and compared the diagnoses obtained from panoramic radiographs for the establishment of a single index that considers both quantitative and qualitative resorption and lower cortical thickness in the assessment. The new Quantitative and Quantitative Panoramic Index (QQPI) was determined. The agreement between the two assessments, calculated as reasonable, reflects sensitivity (moderate) 56%, specificity (satisfactory) to 82% and NPV (Negative Predictive Value) of 68%. The QQPI showed significant association and agreement with densitometry (gold standard) can be used as a test for the screening, but some restrictions or care should be taken into use, because the intensity of reasonable agreement was due to a moderate sensitivity of this test in compared to the gold standard.

A osteoporose tem sido apontada como grave problema de saúde pública, que compromete a qualidade de vida dos seus portadores. Um dos principais fatores que influencia na prevenção à fraturas provenientes dessa enfermidade é o diagnóstico precoce. O diagnóstico das alterações morfológicas da mandíbula por meio de radiografias panorâmicas (RP) é um método barato, simples e indicado para o rastreamento da desmineralização óssea que mostrou estar associado às alterações sistêmicas. O presente estudo descritivo-analítico objetivou avaliar se existem e quais são as variáveis que podem interferir na determinação do diagnóstico por meio das RPs. Foram analisados dados sócio-biológicos, radiografias panorâmicas e densitometrias ósseas (DO) de um total de 435 pacientes. A análise das RPs foi realizada por meio do Índice Panorâmico Quantitativo e Qualitativo (IPQQ), estabelecido em outra parte desta pesquisa. Essas observações foram então relacionadas aos resultados da DO e às variáveis coletadas no questionário de dados sócio-biológicos. A análise das RPs mostrou estar correlacionada com a DO (kappa = 0,7) e mostrou ainda que pode ser influenciada pelo uso de bisfosfonatos ( p = 0,0137), renda ( p = 0,0264), e perda dentária representada pelas variáveis uso de prótese parcial removível ( p = 0,0249) e prótese parcial fixa ( p = 0,0320). O presente estudo propõe ainda outras investigações conduzidas com desenhos mais rigorosos, para compreensão do problema que ainda guarda muitas lacunas. / Osteoporosis has been identified as a serious public health problem affecting patients\' life quality. One of the major factors that influences fractures prevention from this disease is early diagnosis. The diagnosis of mandible morphological changes using panoramic radiographs (PR) is an inexpensive, simple method suitable for screening bone demineralization associated with systemic changes. This descriptive- analytical study aimed to evaluate whether there are and what are the variables that can interfere in the determination of PRs\' diagnosis. Socio-biological data, PR and bone densitometry (BO) of 435 patients were analyzed. The analysis was performed by RPs\' Quantitative and Qualitative Panoramic Index (QQPI) previously established in another part of this research. These observations were then related to BO results and variables collected from socio-biological data questionnaire. The PR analysis were correlated with BO (kappa = 0.7) and could be influenced by the use of bisphosphonates (p = 0.0137), income (p = 0.0264), and tooth loss, represented by the variables: use of removable partial dentures (p = 0.0249) and use of fixed partial denture (p = 0.0320). This study also suggests the conduction of more rigorous designs researches to understand this problem that still has many gaps.

Recentemente, a osteoporose tem sido apontada como fator associado a manifestações bucais representadas pela perda óssea, especialmente na mandíbula. Entretanto, as técnicas de avaliação direta da densidade mineral óssea mandibular ainda não demonstraram boa precisão e acurácia. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar, por meio de um estudo descritivo-analítico, a possibilidade da utilização das radiografias panorâmicas, como um método capaz de expressar as alterações morfológicas da mandíbula decorrentes da idade e estabelecer um único índice quantitativo e qualitativo, para identificar os casos de osteopenia e osteoporose. A pesquisa ocorreu em mulheres em período de menopausa e pós-menopausa em tratamento odontológico nas clínicas odontológicas da faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo, no município de São Paulo SP. A confirmação do diagnóstico da osteoporose foi estabelecida mediante verificação dos relatórios da densitometria de antebraço obtidos, e comparados aos diagnósticos obtidos nas radiografias panorâmicas para o estabelecimento de um único índice quantitativo e qualitativo que considere a reabsorção e a baixa espessura da cortical na avaliação. O novo Índice Panorâmico Quantitativo e Quantitativo (IPQQ) foi determinado. A concordância entre as duas avaliações, calculada como razoável, reflete sensibilidade (moderada) de 56%, especificidade (satisfatória) de 82% e VPN (Valor Preditivo Negativo) de 68%. O IPQQ apresentou associação e concordância significativa com a densitometria (padrão ouro) podendo ser utilizado como teste para o rastreamento, porém cuidados ou algumas restrições deverão ser tomados em sua utilização, pois a intensidade de concordância razoável foi devida a uma moderada sensibilidade deste teste em relação ao padrão ouro. / Recently, osteoporosis has been implicated as being associated with oral manifestations represented by bone loss, especially in the jaw. However, the techniques of direct assessment of mandibular bone mineral density has not demonstrated good accuracy and precision. This study aimed to evaluate, through a descriptive and analytical study, the possibility of the use of panoramic radiographs as a method to express the morphological changes of the jaw due to age and to establish a single index quantitatively and qualitatively, to identify cases of osteopenia and osteoporosis. The research period occurred in women in menopause and postmenopause in dental treatment in dental clinics of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, in São Paulo - SP. Confirmation of the diagnosis of osteoporosis was established by scanning densitometry reports obtained from the forearm, and compared the diagnoses obtained from panoramic radiographs for the establishment of a single index that considers both quantitative and qualitative resorption and lower cortical thickness in the assessment. The new Quantitative and Quantitative Panoramic Index (QQPI) was determined. The agreement between the two assessments, calculated as reasonable, reflects sensitivity (moderate) 56%, specificity (satisfactory) to 82% and NPV (Negative Predictive Value) of 68%. The QQPI showed significant association and agreement with densitometry (gold standard) can be used as a test for the screening, but some restrictions or care should be taken into use, because the intensity of reasonable agreement was due to a moderate sensitivity of this test in compared to the gold standard.

A osteoporose tem sido apontada como grave problema de saúde pública, que compromete a qualidade de vida dos seus portadores. Um dos principais fatores que influencia na prevenção à fraturas provenientes dessa enfermidade é o diagnóstico precoce. O diagnóstico das alterações morfológicas da mandíbula por meio de radiografias panorâmicas (RP) é um método barato, simples e indicado para o rastreamento da desmineralização óssea que mostrou estar associado às alterações sistêmicas. O presente estudo descritivo-analítico objetivou avaliar se existem e quais são as variáveis que podem interferir na determinação do diagnóstico por meio das RPs. Foram analisados dados sócio-biológicos, radiografias panorâmicas e densitometrias ósseas (DO) de um total de 435 pacientes. A análise das RPs foi realizada por meio do Índice Panorâmico Quantitativo e Qualitativo (IPQQ), estabelecido em outra parte desta pesquisa. Essas observações foram então relacionadas aos resultados da DO e às variáveis coletadas no questionário de dados sócio-biológicos. A análise das RPs mostrou estar correlacionada com a DO (kappa = 0,7) e mostrou ainda que pode ser influenciada pelo uso de bisfosfonatos ( p = 0,0137), renda ( p = 0,0264), e perda dentária representada pelas variáveis uso de prótese parcial removível ( p = 0,0249) e prótese parcial fixa ( p = 0,0320). O presente estudo propõe ainda outras investigações conduzidas com desenhos mais rigorosos, para compreensão do problema que ainda guarda muitas lacunas. / Osteoporosis has been identified as a serious public health problem affecting patients\' life quality. One of the major factors that influences fractures prevention from this disease is early diagnosis. The diagnosis of mandible morphological changes using panoramic radiographs (PR) is an inexpensive, simple method suitable for screening bone demineralization associated with systemic changes. This descriptive- analytical study aimed to evaluate whether there are and what are the variables that can interfere in the determination of PRs\' diagnosis. Socio-biological data, PR and bone densitometry (BO) of 435 patients were analyzed. The analysis was performed by RPs\' Quantitative and Qualitative Panoramic Index (QQPI) previously established in another part of this research. These observations were then related to BO results and variables collected from socio-biological data questionnaire. The PR analysis were correlated with BO (kappa = 0.7) and could be influenced by the use of bisphosphonates (p = 0.0137), income (p = 0.0264), and tooth loss, represented by the variables: use of removable partial dentures (p = 0.0249) and use of fixed partial denture (p = 0.0320). This study also suggests the conduction of more rigorous designs researches to understand this problem that still has many gaps.

Thesis (MSc (Radiography))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / Introduction: Forensic dentistry plays a key role in identifying human remains that cannot be identified visually or by other means. Studies have shown that in cases of single or multiple deaths, scientific identification of human remains utilising forensic dentistry is often the most successful source of identification. Dental identification of human remains consists of a very complex procedure that makes it necessary during the investigation process to use and compare unique dental identifiers. A reliable and accurate method of identifying human remains is a positive radiological identification between ante-mortem and post-mortem images of dental radiographic images. Even if ante-mortem radiographic images may not be present during the identification process, post-mortem images may include details of dental restorations such as dental implants which cannot be seen during visual examination. The different types of dental implants vary in morphology and in conjunction with the unique appearance of dental anatomy and the placement of custom restorations such as dental implants, it has been found to accurately assist in the identification of human remains. Objectives: To establish a radiographic dental implant guide for ten commonly used dental implant types in the Western Cape, South Africa; and to identify and describe the morphological characteristics of these dental implant types as observed on pantomographs. Methods: The ten commonly used dental implant types were imaged radiographically to create a reference instrument which served as a tool for identifying and comparing different types of dental implants. The morphologies of the different dental implants, specifically the apex, thread and neck, were observed on ante-mortem pantomographs and compared to the appearance of the dental implants on the reference instrument to make a positive match. The straight tube image of all ten dental implant types in the reference instrument was used as the point of reference to positively identify the morphological characteristics of each dental implant type on the pantomographs. The morphological characteristics of the ten commonly used dental implant types used in the Western Cape were described and based on this a radiographic dental implant guide was developed. Results: A total of 384 dental implants were observed on the pantomographs. Of these, 380 dental implants could be positively identified on the pantomographs while 4 dental implants could not. A total of 350 dental implants (91%) were identified as dental implant types listed in the reference instrument while 30 dental implants were identified as a dental implant type not listed in the reference instrument. A total of 208 dental implants (54.2%) could be positively identified using the morphological characteristics namely the apex, thread and neck on the straight tube images of the dental implant type in the reference instrument. The radiographic dental implant guide was developed based on positive identification of the morphological characteristics of the dental implant types. Conclusion: This research study has illustrated that the morphology of dental implants can be used to differentiate between different dental implant types on pantomographs. Each dental implant type had unique morphological characteristics as well as similarities which enabled distinction between the different dental implant types, which facilitated dental implant identification and the development of a radiographic dental implant guide. The radiographic dental implant guide developed as part of this research study, may be useful in the field of forensic dentistry and forensic radiology.

Recent work has shown that flow estimation from a pair of images can be formulated as a supervised learning task to be resolved with convolutional neural networks (CNN). However, the basic straightforward CNN methods estimate optical flow with motion and occlusion boundary blur. To tackle this problem, we propose a tiny diagnostic dataset called FlowClevr to quickly evaluate various modules that can use to enhance standard CNN architectures. Based on the experiments of the FlowClevr dataset, we find that a deformable module can improve model prediction accuracy by around 30% to 100% in most tasks and more significantly reduce boundary blur. Based on these results, we are able to design modifications to various existing network architectures improving their performance. Compared with the original model, the model with the deformable module clearly reduces boundary blur and achieves a large improvement on the MPI sintel dataset, an omni-directional stereo (ODS) and a novel omni-directional optical flow dataset.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1988.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1988.