Automated system of seedling image analysis (SVIS) and electrical conductivity to assess sun hemp seed vigor

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Image analysis of modified cellulose fibers from sugarcane bagasse by zirconium oxychloride

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Petroleum well drilling monitoring through cutting image analysis and artificial intelligence techniques

Petroleum well drilling monitoring has become an important tool for detecting and preventing problems during the well drilling process. In this paper, we propose to assist the drilling process by analyzing the cutting images at the vibrating shake shaker, in which different concentrations of cuttings can indicate possible problems, such as the collapse of the well borehole walls. In such a way, we present here an innovative computer vision system composed by a real time cutting volume estimator addressed by support vector regression. As far we know, we are the first to propose the petroleum well drilling monitoring by cutting image analysis. We also applied a collection of supervised classifiers for cutting volume classification. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of micro-bubble size distribution and flow configuration in DAF contact zone by a non-intrusive image analysis system and tracer tests

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Image analysis for assessing broiler breeder behavior response to thermal environment

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Techniques of digital image analysis for histological quantification of melanin

A análise morfométrica da melanina tecidual pode subsidiar quantitativamente a pesquisa em discromias. Os autores demonstram três técnicas de análise de imagem digital que permitem a identificação dos pixels equivalentes à melanina na epiderme pela coloração de Fontana-Masson, possibilitando o cálculo da sua porcentagem nas diferentes camadas da epiderme, e discutem os principais elementos relacionados à análise e a necessidade de rigorosa padronização do processo.

An image analysis study of pit formation on Ti-6Al-4V

Metallographic techniques and digital image processing have been used to investigate heat-treated Ti-6Al-4V pitting corrosion, often used as aircraft components. LM and SEM metallography of 'as received', annealed (heating up to 800 degreesC/30 min and cooling furnace) and aged (heating up to 900 degreesC/30 min, quenching in water, heating up to 540 degreesC/240 min and again water-quenched) microstructures reveal pitting sites at primary and secondary alpha/beta interfaces. Microstructural arrangements influence and corrosive environment association on pit morphology could be demonstrated by digital image analysis and results statistical treatment. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Digital image analysis of root distribution towards improved irrigation water and soil management: Grapevine and date palm study cases

It is presented two study cases about the approach in root analysis at field and laboratory conditions based on digital image analysis. Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) root systems were analyzed by both the monolith and trench wall method aided by digital image analysis. Correlation between root parameters and their fractional distribution over the soil profile were obtained, as well as the root diameter estimation. Results have shown the feasibility of digital image analysis for evaluation of root distribution.

A method for the digital image analysis of ceramic grains based on shape factor segmentation

A very simple and robust method for ceramics grains quantitative image analysis is presented. Based on the use of optimal imaging conditions for reflective light microscopy of bulk samples, a digital image processing routine was developed for shading correction, noise suppressing and contours enhancement. Image analysis was done for grains selected according to their concavities, evaluated by perimeter ratio shape factor, to avoid consider the effects of breakouts and ghost boundaries due to ceramographic preparation limitations. As an example, the method was applied for two ceramics, to compare grain size and morphology distributions. In this case, most of artefacts introduced by ceramographic preparation could be discarded due to the use of perimeter ratio exclusion range.

Morphometric study by image analysis of Ag-stained nucleoli in thyroids bearing proliferating lesions

The Ag-NOR staining technique and image analysis were used to evaluate morphological parameters (area, perimeter and axis ratio) in nucleoli from normal thyroids and from thyroids bearing proliferating lesions (carcinomas, adenomas and hyperplasias). Regions with normal appearance located close to adenomatous and carcinomatous regions, in the thyroid of every patient, were also analyzed for comparison with the respective pathological regions and with normal thyroids. Statistical analysis of data for the nucleolar area and perimeter allowed the separation of adenomas and carcinomas from hyperplasias and normal tissue but not the two components in each of these two groups. However, if we look at the numbers, a sequence of increasing nucleolar mean areas in the order: normal, hyperplasia, adenoma and carcinoma may be observed, indicating the sequence of increasing rRNA requirements in these different kinds of cells. The axis ratio that denotes the nucleolar shape (round or oblong) did not show significant differences among tissues, suggesting that shape is not important in the characterization of these pathologies. Differences in nucleolar areas and perimeter between normal and affected regions from each patient were statistically significant for adenomas and carcinomas. When these normal regions were compared with the normal thyroids, significant differences were not obtained in the three evaluated parameters. The observations and their importance for histopathological diagnosis are discussed.

The significance and determination by image analysis of microcrack density in hard chromium plating

It is well known that the microcrack density is a fundamental parameter in hard chromium electroplating. The chemical and mechanical properties of this coating are widely dependent on its microcrack density. In this paper a simple image analysis procedure to determine microcrack density is presented in order to demonstrate it as a fundamental tool to estimate the fatigue, corrosion and wear behavior, as well as the residual stress field of a coated component. For this purpose, the image analysis procedure was carried out on two kinds of hard chromium plating - one called accelerated (high velocity of deposition and fluoride-free) and the other conventional (with fluoride). The coatings were applied on samples of AISI 4340 aeronautical steel, which is widely used in aircraft landing gear components. To characterize the practical significance of this study, the microcrack density results were related to the fatigue, wear and corrosion behavior from previous study and to the residual stress field in the coatings.

Estimate of concrete block texture using image analysis

The texture of concrete blocks is very important and is often the decisive factor when choosing a product, particularly if the building specifications call for high-strength blocks allied to low-cost finish, in which case exposed blocks with a closer texture are often preferred. Furthermore, a closer texture, especially for exteriors, may be a vital factor in ensuring the building's durability. At present, however, there is no standard to quantify the texture of a structural block. Further, when studying masonry blocks compressive strength should never be overlooked. This article discusses a procedure to produce concrete block textures with and without the addition of lime, but still to achieve the required compressive strength. The method used in this study, to evaluate texture, proved to be simpler and cheaper than methods reported by other authors in the literature. The addition of small quantities of lime proved beneficial for both texture and compressive strength. Increasing the amount of lime further, however, only improved texture.

Evaluation epidermal p53 immunostaining by digital image analysis

Digital techniques have been developed and validated to assess semiquantitatively immunohistochemical nuclear staining. Currently visual classification is the standard for qualitative nuclear evaluation. Analysis of pixels that represents the immunohistochemical labeling can be more sensitive, reproducible and objective than visual grading. This study compared two semiquantitative techniques of digital image analysis with three techniques of visual analysis imaging to estimate the p53 nuclear immunostaining. Methods: Sixty-three sun-exposed forearm-skin biopsies were photographed and submitted to three visual analyses of images: the qualitative visual evaluation method (0 to 4 +), the percentage of labeled nuclei and HSCORE. Digital image analysis was performed using ImageJ 1.45p; the density of nuclei was scored per ephitelial area (DensNU) and the pixel density was established in marked suprabasal epithelium (DensPSB). Results: Statistical significance was found in: the agreement and correlation among the visual estimates of evaluators, correlation among the median visual score of the evaluators, the HSCORE and the percentage of marked nuclei with the DensNU and DensPSB estimates. DensNU was strongly correlated to the percentage of p53-marked nuclei in the epidermis, and DensPSB with the HSCORE. Conclusion: The parameters presented herein can be applied in routine analysis of immunohistochemical nuclear staining of epidermis. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Quantitative fractography by digital image processing: NIH Image macro tools for stereo pair analysis and 3-D reconstruction

A set of NIH Image macro programs was developed to make qualitative and quantitative analyses from digital stereo pictures produced by scanning electron microscopes. These tools were designed for image alignment, anaglyph representation, animation, reconstruction of true elevation surfaces, reconstruction of elevation profiles, true-scale elevation mapping and, for the quantitative approach, surface area and roughness calculations. Limitations on time processing, scanning techniques and programming concepts are also discussed.

Morphologic and morphometric analysis of Hepatozoon spp. (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) of snakes

Hepatozoon species are the most abundant hemoparasites of snakes. Its identification has been based mainly on the morphologic characterization of the gamonts in the peripheral blood of the vertebrate host and also of the cysts found in the internal organs of the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Using a computerized image analysis system, we studied five species of Hepatozoon from recently captured snakes in Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil, to evaluate the importance of the morphology and morphometry of the gamonts for the characterization of Hepatozoon species and to analyze the morphologic changes induced in the erythrocytes by the parasite. The studied species were H. terzii of Boa constrictor amarali, Hepatozoon sp. of Crotalus durissusterrificus, H. philodryasi of Philodryas patagoniensis, and H. migonei and H. cyclagrasi of Hydrodynastes gigas. We observed three different groups, one of them including the species H. terzii, H. philodryasi and Hepatozoon sp. of C. durissus terrificus; and the other two consisting of H. migonei and H. cyclagrasi. Degree of alterations in the erythrocytes was variable and it may be useful for characterization of Hepatozoon species.