Ruler Based Automatic C-Arm Image Stitching Without Overlapping Constraint

In this paper, we propose a new method for stitching multiple fluoroscopic images taken by a C-arm instrument. We employ an X-ray radiolucent ruler with numbered graduations while acquiring the images, and the image stitching is based on detecting and matching ruler parts in the images to the corresponding parts of a virtual ruler. To achieve this goal, we first detect the regular spaced graduations on the ruler and the numbers. After graduation labeling, for each image, we have the location and the associated number for every graduation on the ruler. Then, we initialize the panoramic X-ray image with the virtual ruler, and we “paste” each image by aligning the detected ruler part on the original image, to the corresponding part of the virtual ruler on the panoramic image. Our method is based on ruler matching but without the requirement of matching similar feature points in pairwise images, and thus, we do not necessarily require overlap between the images. We tested our method on eight different datasets of X-ray images, including long bones and a complete spine. Qualitative and quantitative experiments show that our method achieves good results.

Soldatens, stecht de Deegens in! Verbrüderte Predigt an die 60,000pfündige Miletär-Batterie in Berlin un Umjejend: Olle Jungens, so is et recht, Arm in Arm wollen wir det schwerenöthsche Jahrhundert in de Schranken fordern ...

Welsch (Projektbearbeiter): "Der Verfasser appelliert an Bürger und Soldaten, Freundschaft miteinander zu schließen. Besonders die Soldaten erinnert er daran, daß sie auch Bürgersöhne sind, und daß sie ihre Gleichstellung mit den adligen Offizieren nur den Berliner Bürgern zu verdanken haben und deshalb nicht gegen sie kämpfen dürfen." [Führer, B.: Das Berlinische im Tagesschrifttum von 1848/49, S. 302]

Todten-Lied für die am 16. October gefallenen Brüder: Blutige Nachfeier des königlichen Geburtstages: Der kalte Tod nahm euch in seinen Arm, Da liegt ihr leblos, mit zerschoss'nen Gliedern ...

Welsch (Projektbearbeiter): Gedicht anläßlich der Beisetzung der am 16. Oktober 1848 in einer gewalttätigen Auseinandersetzung mit der Berliner Bürgerwehr getöten Arbeiter. Aufruf zur Eintracht und Warnung vor dem 'Bruderkampf', der nur der Reaktion in die Hände spielt

Leih' mir Makkabi's Arm : (Gedicht)

Otto Abeles

STUDIES ON CHOLINERGIC FUNCTION AND MEMORY IN MICE (CHOLINOTOXINS, WORKING, REFERENCE MEMORY, RADIAL ARM MAZE)

Considerable evidence suggests that central cholinergic neurons participate in either acquisition, storage or retrieval of information. Experiments were designed to evaluate information processing in mice following either reversible or irreversible impairment in central cholinergic activity. The cholinergic receptor antagonists, atropine and methylatropine were used to reversibly inhibit cholinergic transmission. Irreversible impairment in central cholinergic function was achieved by central administration of the cholinergic-specific neurotoxins, N-ethyl-choline aziridinium (ECA) and N-ethyl-acetylcholine aziridinium (EACA).^ ECA and EACA appear to act by irreversible inhibition of high affinity choline uptake (proposed rate-limiting step in acetylcholine synthesis). Intraventricular administration of ECA or EACA produced persistent reduction in hippocampal choline acetyltransferase activity. Other neuronal systems and brain regions showed no evidence of toxicity.^ Mice treated with either ECA or EACA showed behavioral deficits associated with cholinergic dysfunction. Passive avoidance behavior was significantly impaired by cholinotoxin treatment. Radial arm maze performance was also significantly impaired in cholinotoxin-treated animals. Deficits in radial arm maze performance were transient, however, such that rapid and apparent complete behavioral recovery was seen during retention testing. The centrally active cholinergic receptor antagonist atropine also caused significant impairment in radial arm maze behavior, while equivalent doses of methylatropine were without effect.^ The relative effects of cholinotoxin and receptor antagonist treatment on short-term (working) memory and long-term (reference) memory in radial arm maze behavior were examined. Maze rotation studies indicated that there were at least two different response strategies which could result in accurate maze performance. One strategy involved the use of response algorithms and was considered to be a function of reference memory. Another strategy appeared to be primarily dependent on spatial working memory. However, all behavioral paradigms with multiple trails have reference memory requirements (i.e. information useful over all trials). Performance was similarly affected following either cholinotoxin or anticholinergic treatment, regardless of the response strategy utilized. In addition, rates of behavioral recovery following cholinotoxin treatment were similar between response groups. It was concluded that both cholinotoxin and anticholinergic treatment primarily resulted in impaired reference memory processes. ^