Dual-energy (DE) for quantitative material discrimination has emerged as a promising application of microCT to increase contrast discrimination in preclinical studies. Here we present a protocol designed to optimize D...
Dual-energy (DE) for quantitative material discrimination has emerged as a promising application of microCT to increase contrast discrimination in preclinical studies. Here we present a protocol designed to optimize DE image subtraction for contrast enhanced studies in rodents, employing iodine-based contrast medium (CM). Our investigation used an Albira ARS commercial unit, not specifically designed for quantitative CT tasks. DE subtraction was divided into stages that were independently analyzed: acquisition, volume reconstruction, image registration and image weighting. The DE radiological techniques (low- and high- energy) had been previously optimized to enhance the visualization of iodine-based CM. An independent reconstruction was needed to guarantee linearity between iodine intensity and its concentration for high energy acquisition; it also reduced structured noise occasionally produced by the microCT reconstruction software over uniform regions and improved bone visualization. Image registration was optimized combining an affine transformation with a non-linear transformation determined with the Free-Form Deformation algorithm. Two subtraction weight factors were determined: one that maximized the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of iodine mixed with soft-tissue-equivalent resin and another that minimized CNR between bone-like rods and soft-tissue-equivalent material. A pilot test of the optimized protocol was performed on a rat injected with a continuous flow of CM.
Decision making for competitive production in high-wage countries is a daily challenge where rational and irrational methods are used. The design of decision making processes is an intriguing, discipline spanning scie...
Decision making for competitive production in high-wage countries is a daily challenge where rational and irrational methods are used. The design of decision making processes is an intriguing, discipline spanning science. However, there are gaps in understanding the impact of the known mathematical and procedural methods on the usage of rational choice theory. Following Benjamin Franklin’s rule for decision making formulated in London 1772, he called “Prudential Algebra” with the meaning of prudential reasons, one of the major ingredients of Meta-Modelling can be identified finally leading to one algebraic value labelling the results (criteria settings) of alternative decisions (parameter settings). This work describes the advances in Meta-Modelling techniques applied to multi-dimensional and multi-criterial optimization by identifying the persistence level of the corresponding Morse-Smale Complex. Implementations for laser cutting and laser drilling are presented, including the generation of fast and frugal Meta-Models with controlled error based on mathematical model reduction Reduced Models are derived to avoid any unnecessary complexity. Both, model reduction and analysis of multi-dimensional parameter space are used to enable interactive communication between Discovery Finders and Invention Makers. Emulators and visualizations of a metamodel are introduced as components of Virtual Production Intelligence making applicable the methods of Scientific Design Thinking and getting the developer as well as the operator more skilled.
暂无评论