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Yoshie Kodera

Publications and source records attributed to Yoshie Kodera.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

[Performance evaluation of computed tomography with equivalent resolution images].

A method of evaluating the performance of computed tomography (CT) with equivalent resolution images was investigated. Generally, in performance evaluations of CT, the resolution property is measured by the wire method, and the noise property is measured from noise images of a cylindrical water phantom. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is then calculated for the integrated evaluation. Our proposed method enabled perceptual integrated evaluation by using equivalent resolution images created with frequency processing. The frequency-processing factor was calculated from the ratio of the modulation transfer factors of two models of CT, and the image of one of the two was processed by the factor. Because these processed images have resolution equivalent to images of the other CT, the perceptual evaluation with noise images becomes effective. In this investigation, images of a water phantom and a middle contrast resolution phantom were employed. Perceptual comparison of the amount of noise with equivalent resolution images could be performed easily, and effective performance evaluation was achieved. Therefore, our proposed method is useful for noise property and performance evaluation of CT.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Improvement of image quality in chest MDCT using nonlinear wavelet shrinkage with trimmed-thresholding.

Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) has dramatically increased the speed of scanning, and allows high-resolution imaging compared with conventional single detector-row CT (SDCT). However, the use MDCT makes use of an increase in volume scanning, and causes a simultaneous increase in radiation dose to the patient. Thus, the radiation dose from the X-ray CT has become a problem in recent years. In this study, nonlinear wavelet-based edge preservation de-noising using trimmed-thresholding was applied to reconstructed low-dose chest MDCT images, and optimal wavelet processing including wavelet functions and thresholding methods was examined. Moreover, the usefulness of the de-noising for reducing radiation dose was examined. As a result of optimized edge preservation de-noising, noise reduction was achieved with little deterioration in image quality, and the wavelet function used at that time was Coiflet's with shorter support. As a result, almost the same quality of reconstructed image of the chest phantom was obtained for conventional scanning and low-dose scanning with the wavelet de-noising method using trimmed- thresholding. That is, the radiation dose from MDCT could be reduced using this wavelet-based de-noising method.

Humans↗

Measurement of modulation transfer functions for liquid crystal displays by rectangular waveform analysis.

We measured modulation transfer functions (MTFs) of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) by rectangular waveform analysis. This method consists of taking a picture of the bar pattern on the display surface with a digital camera, and analyzing the picture with a personal computer. The displays used are LCDs of 1M (about 1 million pixels), 2M, 3M, and 5M, and a cathode ray tube (CRT) display with a pixel number of 5M. Two kinds of 2M displays were used, an in-plane switching (IPS) system and vertical alignment (VA) system, from which liquid crystal operation mode differs. MTFs increased as pixels increased. For the LCDs, MTFs in the horizontal direction were higher than those in the vertical direction except for the 2M VA system. For the LCD of the 2M VA system, MTF in a horizontal direction was equal to MTF in a vertical direction. For the displays with the same number of pixels (5M), MTF of a LCD was higher than that of a CRT display. MTFs of LCDs are influenced by the pixel form, pixel composition, and the liquid crystal operation mode.

Data Display↗

Development of a kinetic analysis technique for PACS management and a screening examination in dynamic radiography.

The purpose of this study was to develop a method of kinetic analysis for picture archiving and communication system (PACS) management and computer-aided diagnostic application in dynamic chest radiography. The main analytical technique used in this study was a new algorithm that converts dynamic radiographs into a color-static image. The algorithm is a visualization technique for kinetic information that uses the intensity-density transformation and the direction classification in optical flow. The image made by the new algorithm was defined as a "kinetic map," and, by analysis using the kinetic map, a patient collation system and nodule detection system were constructed. By analysis that used an artificial neural network of certain feature vectors as kinetic map similarity, the collation system obtained good identification performance. Temporal subtraction processing between a current-status map with simulated nodule and previous-status map detected the region of abnormality as the simulated nodule. It is expected that our method of analysis will be useful as a screening examination for risk management and computer-aided diagnostic application in dynamic chest radiography.

Adult↗

Theoretical considerations for evaluating the degree of random-periodicity of radiographic noise.

Radiographic noise properties have been evaluated using the Wiener spectrum. However, this approach is not appropriate for periodic noise for two reasons. One is that it takes infinite values at the spatial frequencies of periodic noise. The other is that when adopting a numerical integration, it allows unstable values at each spatial frequency, depending on the integral region. Introducing three types of spectra (W(1), W(2), and W(3)) in connection with the Wiener spectrum, we propose a practical approach to evaluation of periodic noise. Radiographic images sometimes contain noise that is not totally random and not perfectly periodic. Therefore, using the Wiener spectrum and the W(1) spectrum, we also propose two factors for evaluation of the degree of random-periodicity of noise containing periodic signals.

Journal Article↗

[Theoretical considerations for evaluating the degree of random-periodicity of graphic noise.].

Graphic noise properties are usually evaluated using the Wiener spectrum. However, this approach is not appropriate for periodic noise for two reasons. One is that it takes infinite values at the spatial frequencies of periodic noise. The other is that when adopting a numerical integration, it allows unstable values at each spatial frequency, depending on the integral region. Introducing three types of spectra (W(1), W(2), and W(3)) in connection with the Wiener spectrum, we propose a practical approach to evaluation of periodic noise. Graphic images sometimes contain noise that is not totally random and not perfectly periodic. Therefore, using the Wiener spectrum and the W(1) spectrum, we also propose two factors for evaluation of the degree of random-periodicity of noise containing periodic signals.

Humans↗

Influence of monitor luminance change on observer performance for detection of abnormalities depicted on chest radiographs.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate how changes in luminance affect the detection accuracy of radiologists viewing chest radiograph images on high-resolution CRT monitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen radiologists performed a detection task for 11 chest radiograph images with simulated nodules on a monitor with 11 luminance conditions (the maximum luminance ranges from 157.4-369.0 candela/m2) simulating CRT degraded by long-term usage, under the ambient illumination of 200 lux; the observation order was always from the darkest to the brightest. RESULTS: There was a statistically reliable effect of the 11 monitor display conditions on the detection of nodules (P < 0.001). In the conditions in which the maximum luminance of the CRT was 60.7% or below that of the standard display luminance, the correctly detected nodule number reliably deteriorated. CONCLUSIONS: The luminance change in CRT monitor display under long-term usage will have a detrimental effect on nodule detection performance in chest radiograph images.

Data Display↗