The finite Zak transform: An efficient tool for image representation and analysis

Automated determination of poplar chip size distribution based on combined image and multivariate analyses

Received: 2018-06-07 | Accepted: 2018-06-19 | Available online: 2018-06-30 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2018.21.02.77-83 The aim of this study was to distinguishing between kernels of maize hybrids by the use of image analysis tools. We analyzed 10 registered Zea mays L. hybrids (5 – dent, 2 – semi-flint to flint, and 3 – semi-flint to dent type). Different parameters on ventral, dorsal, corolla side, and lateral side cross section of kernel were measured. Sample per each hybrid comprised 50 maize kernels. Acquired bio-images were processed by software Zeiss AxioVision Rel. 4.8. We analyzed the segmented regions of interest on the kernels. The data for area (mm 2 ), height and width (mm) were gathered from these regions. The hybrid ZE EDOX significantly differed (p < 0.05) from all other hybrids almost in all traits. It is the hybrid with the smallest area of the whole kernel, floury endosperm proportion, and depressed part on corolla. The new trait the area of the depressed part on the kernel corolla was measured. The hybrids with smaller proportion of floury endosperm had smaller area of depressed part, and vice versa. The image analysis methods can usefully contribute to selection of proper hybrids for different types of use. Keywords: maize, Zea mays L., kernel, image analysis References BLASCHKE, T. et al. (2014) Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis – Towards a new paradigm. In ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, vol. 87, pp. 180–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2013.09.014 DE CARVALHO, M. L. M., VAN AELST, A. C., VAN ECK, J. W., HOEKSTRA, F. A. (1999) Pre-harvest stress cracks in maize (Zea mays L.) kernels as characterized by visual, X-ray and low temperature scanning electron microscopical analysis: effect on kernel quality. In Seed Science Research, vol. 9, pp. 227–236. DELL´AQUILA, A. (2006) Computerised seed imaging: a new tool to evaluate germination quality. In Communications in Biometry and Crop Science, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 20–31. ERASMUS, C. (2003) Maize kernel translucency measurement by Image Analysis and its relationship to vitreousness and dry milling performance. PhD thesis. Pretoria: University of Pretoria. FOX, G. and MANLEY, M. (2009) Hardness methods for testing maize kernels. In Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, vol. 57, no. 13, pp. 5647–5657. doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/jf900623w GLASBEY, C. A. and HORGAN, G. W. (2001) Image analysis in agriculture research. In Quantitative Approaches in System Analysis, special issue, vol. 23, pp. 43–54. GUELPA, A., DU PLESIS, A., KIDD, M., MANLEY, M. (2015) Nondestructive estimation of maize (Zea mays L.) kernel hardness by means of an X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) density calibration. In Food and Bioprocess Technology, vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 1419–1429. JANDA, J. and MICHALEC, V. (1982) Mayze. Bratislava: Priroda. 408 p. MUTTERER, J. and ZINCK, E. (2013) Quick‐and‐clean article figures with FigureJ. In Journal of Microscopy, vol. 252, pp. 89– 91. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmi.12069 ROBUTTI, J. L., HOSENEY, R. C. and WASSOM, C. E. (1974). Modified opaque-2 corn endosperms. ll. Structure viewed with a scanning electron microscope. In American Association of Cereal Chemists, vol. 51, pp. 173–180. RODRIGUEZ-PULIDO, F. J. et al. (2012) Ripeness estimation of grape berries and seeds by image analysis. In Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, vol. 82, pp. 128–133. SCHINDELIN, J., RUEDEN, C. T., HINER, M. C., ELICEIRI, K. W. (2015) The ImageJ ecosystem: An open platform for biomedical image analysis. In Mol. Reprod. Dev., vol. 82, pp. 518–529. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.22489 UCHIDA, S. (2013) Image processing and recognition for biological images. In Development, growth and differentiation, vol. 55, pp. 523–549. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/dgd.12054 WATSON, S. A. (1987) Structure and composition. In WATSON, S. A. and RAMSTAD, P. E. (Eds.). Corn chemistry and technology. St. Paul: American Association of Cereal Chemists. WIWART M. et al. (2012) Identification of hybrids of spelt and wheat and their parental forms using shape and color descriptors. In Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, vol. 83, pp. 68–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2012.01.015

A new graphical tool (Multimedia University’s RSIMANA—Remote-Sensing Image Analyzer) developed for image analysis is described in this paper. MATLAB and ENVI are some of the commercially available tools in the market that aid in image processing and analysis. But their current versions are of limited assistance in image analysis; for example, MATLAB can extract the area of irregular objects and patterns in images, but not their length. ENVI is more focused on image processing than on image analysis functions. Other commercially available tools are also prohibitively expensive. This indicates the need to develop a userfriendly graphical tool that meets research objectives in the educational environment.

The advancement of high-content optical microscopy has enabled the acquisition of very large three-dimensional (3D) image datasets. The analysis of these image volumes requires more computational resources than a biologist may have access to in typical desktop or laptop computers. This is especially true if machine learning tools are being used for image analysis. With the increased amount of data analysis and computational complexity, there is a need for a more accessible, easy-to-use, and efficient network-based 3D image processing system. The distributed and networked analysis of volumetric image data (DINAVID) system was developed to enable remote analysis of 3D microscopy images for biologists. We present an overview of the DINAVID system and compare it to other tools currently available for microscopy image analysis. DINAVID is designed using open-source tools and has two main sub-systems, a computational system for 3D microscopy image processing and analysis and a 3D visualization system. DINAVID is a network-based system with a simple web interface that allows biologists to upload 3D volumes for analysis and visualization. DINAVID enables the image access model of a center hosting image volumes and remote users analyzing those volumes, without the need for remote users to manage any computational resources. The DINAVID system, designed and developed using open-source tools, enables biologists to analyze and visualize 3D microscopy volumes remotely without the need to manage computational resources. DINAVID also provides several image analysis tools, including pre-processing and several segmentation models.

The recent development of complex chemical and small interfering RNA (siRNA) collections has enabled large-scale cell-based phenotypic screening. High-content and high-throughput imaging are widely used methods to record phenotypic data after chemical and small interfering RNA treatment, and numerous image processing and analysis methods have been used to quantify these phenotypes. Currently, there are no standardized methods for evaluating the effectiveness of new and existing image processing and analysis tools for an arbitrary screening problem. We generated a series of benchmarking images that represent commonly encountered variation in high-throughput screening data and used these image standards to evaluate the robustness of five different image analysis methods to changes in signal-to-noise ratio, focal plane, cell density and phenotype strength. The analysis methods that were most reliable, in the presence of experimental variation, required few cells to accurately distinguish phenotypic changes between control and experimental data sets. We conclude that by applying these simple benchmarking principles an a priori estimate of the image acquisition requirements for phenotypic analysis can be made before initiating an image-based screen. Application of this benchmarking methodology provides a mechanism to significantly reduce data acquisition and analysis burdens and to improve data quality and information content.

Image analysis tools are currently in use for a variety of applications in the fields of forensics and security printing. Objective, quantitative data allow for characterization and comparison of a variety of image attributes.In forensics, document examiners can use quantitative image analysis systems in authentication, detection and analysis of forgeries, counterfeits and altered documents. Statistical analysis enables population characterization that can help in forgery detection and supports the potential for source identification. In security printing, image analysis tools can be applied to measure the quality of printed output and assess wear for bank notes.Flexible hardware options allow for a broad application of image quality measurements in a variety of image analysis situations. Camera and scanner-based image quality systems can be used for quantitative analysis of image content. A laser-based system can be used for height and depth profiling. Oblique angle illumination and scanning can be used for impression detection. A flatbed scanner can be used in transmission mode for the evaluation of bank note wear and for watermark analysis.In this paper, we will be discussing the use of a variety of hardware configurations for image analysis in forensics and security printing.

Fluorescence microscopy is the primary tool for studying complex processes inside individual living cells. Technical advances in both molecular biology and microscopy have made it possible to image cells from many genetic and environmental backgrounds. These images contain a vast amount of information, which is often hidden behind various sources of noise, convoluted with other information and stochastic in nature. Accessing the desired biological information therefore requires new tools of computational image analysis and modeling. Here, we review some of the recent advances in computational analysis of images obtained from fluorescence microscopy, focusing on bacterial systems. We emphasize techniques that are readily available to molecular and cell biologists but also point out examples where problem-specific image analyses are necessary. Thus, image analysis is not only a toolkit to be applied to new images but also an integral part of the design and implementation of a microscopy experiment.

P-glycoprotein is implicated in clinical drug resistance; thus, rapid quantitative analysis of its expression and activity is of paramout importance to the design and success of novel therapeutics. The scope for the application of quantitative imaging and image analysis tools in this field is reported here at "proof of concept" level. P-glycoprotein expression was utilized as a model for quantitative immunofluorescence and subsequent spatial intensity distribution analysis (SpIDA). Following expression studies, p-glycoprotein inhibition as a function of verapamil concentration was assessed in two cell lines using live cell imaging of intracellular Calcein retention and a routine monolayer fluorescence assay. Intercellular and sub-cellular distributions in the expression of the p-glycoprotein transporter between parent and MDR1-transfected Madin-Derby Canine Kidney cell lines were examined. We have demonstrated that quantitative imaging can provide dose-response parameters while permitting direct microscopic analysis of intracellular fluorophore distributions in live and fixed samples. Analysis with SpIDA offers the ability to detect heterogeniety in the distribution of labeled species, and in conjunction with live cell imaging and immunofluorescence staining may be applied to the determination of pharmacological parameters or analysis of biopsies providing a rapid prognostic tool.

Engineering applications including pervious concrete require effective packing of aggregates to optimize strength. Size and shape distribution of aggregates significantly affect the performance. Computational methods numerically represent shape of aggregates, from image analysis, the effectiveness of has not been compared and verified. This study aims to analyse the representability of shape aspects of aggregates by different computational methods. Crushed aggregates were grouped into 5 clusters, and each group was milled in a Los Angeles machine for different degrees (0–2000) to induce morphological changes on the aggregates. Aggregates ranging from 5 to 30mm in diameter were obtained (7191 in total). imageJTM, was used to compute dimensions and shape factors of aggregates from 14 computational methods. Statistical tests, Pearson’s Correlations and Principal Components Analysis and machine learning classification tools, Decision-tree, Random-Forest, Naïve-Bayes, Support-Vector-Machines, K-Nearest-Neighbours and Perceptron were employed to assess. In conclusion, no shape factor could be singularly used to numerically represent the morphological changes on aggregate particles but a combination of shape factors is required. Data matrix had three primary dimensions. Combination of Circularity, Kumbrein-Solidity and Barksdale-Shape-Factor yield best representation of aggregate shape. Regression Tree classification method had the highest accuracy (0.9) in classifying milled and unmilled aggregates.

The aim of this study is to review the methods being used for image analysis of microscopic views of immunohistochemically stained specimen in medical research. The solutions available range from general purpose software to commercial packages. Many studies have developed their own custom written programs based on some general purpose software available. Many groups have reported development of computer aided image analysis programs aiming at obtaining faster, simpler and cheaper solutions. Image analysis tools namely Aperio, Lucia, Metaview, Metamorph, ImageJ, Scion, Adobe Photoshop, Image Pro Plus are also used for evaluation of expressions using immunohistochemical staining. An overview of such methods used for image analysis is provided in this paper. This study concludes that there is good scope for development of freely available software for staining intensity quantification, which a medical researcher could easily use without requiring high level computer skills.

Distance transforms (DTs) are standard tools in image analysis, with applications in image registration and segmentation. The DT is based on extremal (minimal) distance values and is therefore highly sensitive to noise. We present a stochastic distance transform (SDT) based on discrete random sets, in which a model of element-wise probability is utilized and the SDT is computed as the first moment of the distance distribution to the random set. We present two methods for computing the SDT and analyze them w.r.t. accuracy and complexity. Further, we propose a method, utilizing kernel density estimation, for estimating probability functions and associated random sets to use with the SDT. We evaluate the accuracy of the SDT and the proposed framework on images of thin line structures and disks corrupted by salt and pepper noise and observe excellent performance. We also insert the SDT into a segmentation framework and apply it to overlapping objects, where it provides substantially improved performance over previous methods. Finally, we evaluate the SDT and observe very good performance, on simulated images from localization microscopy, a state-of-the-art super-resolution microscopy technique which yields highly spatially localized but noisy point-clouds.

Non-linear filters have proved to be powerful tools in image analysis, enhancement and restoration. Filters such as the ranked order, median, alpha-trimmed mean, weighted median and the class of morphological filters have been investigated thoroughly and have been shown to be indispensable in certain image processing applications. Another interesting, though unrelated, research area has been the use of fuzzy set theoretic operations in image processing. The underlying idea in employing the fuzzy set theory is to employ fuzzy membership grades to represent image characteristics and features. This paper seeks to unify these two methodologies resulting in an interesting approach to image enhancement problems. The emphasis is on using non-linear operations to generate a local fuzzy property plane. This is then used as an adaptive filter based on local image characteristics. In this paper, we propose a novel localized filtering approach similar to non- linear filters, the point of departure being that we work in the fuzzy property plane rather than the image domain itself. For instance, we may realize a fuzzy implementation based on the median filter which traditionally uses actual pixel intensities, to generate fuzzy memberships instead. In our experiments, we consider a locally adaptive contrast enhancement of x-ray images typically having low contrast. The results are compared with traditional enhancement techniques, such as histogram equalization. The results provide a better subjective quality as compared to other approaches as is also evident from the histogram distribution of the processed images.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Registration is an essential tool in image analysis. Deep learning based alternatives have recently become popular, achieving competitive performance at a faster speed. However, many contemporary techniques are limited to volumetric representations, despite increased popularity of 3D surface and shape data in medical image analysis. We propose a one-step registration model for 3D surfaces that internalises a lower dimensional probabilistic deformation model (PDM) using conditional variational autoencoders (CVAE). The deformations are constrained to be diffeomorphic using an exponentiation layer. The one-step registration model is benchmarked against iterative techniques, trading in a slightly lower performance in terms of shape fit for a higher compactness. We experiment with two distance metrics, Chamfer distance (CD) and Sinkhorn divergence (SD), as specific distance functions for surface data in real-world registration scenarios. The internalised deformation model is benchmarked against linear principal component analysis (PCA) achieving competitive results and improved generalisability from lower dimensions.

The Hough transform is a powerful tool in image analysis, e.g. circle detection is a fundamental issue in image processing applications of industrial parts or tools. Because of its drawbacks, various modifications of the basic circle Hough transform (CHT) method have been suggested. This paper presents a modified method based on the basic CHT algorithm and using no trigonometric calculations in order to improve the computational performance of the voting process for a good accuracy and robustness of circle detection in a binary image. This paper also provides the errors analysis of the proposed method against the basic CHT method to illustrate that it can replace the basic CHT method for small values of the resolution e of the angle θ. It then compete the CORDIC algorithm when implemented into digital device.

A comparison of methods and computation for multi-resolution low- and band-pass transforms for image processing