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At least 1,567 records · Page 87
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2013

RECONSTRUCTING THE SUBSURFACE THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAGNETIC STRUCTURE OF A SOLAR ACTIVE REGION USING SDO/HMI OBSERVATIONS

A solar active region (AR) is a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic structure formed in the convection zone, whose property is fundamentally important for determining the coronal structure and solar activity when emerged. However, our knowledge of the detailed 3D structure prior to its emergence is rather poor, largely limited by the low cadence and sensitivity of previous instruments. Here, using the 45 s high-cadence observations from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we are able for the first time to reconstruct a 3D data cube and infer the detailed subsurface magnetic structure of NOAA AR 11158, and to characterize its magnetic connectivity and topology. This task is accomplished with the aid of the image-stacking method and advanced 3D visualization. We find that the AR consists of two major bipoles or four major polarities. Each polarity in 3D shows interesting tree-like structure, i.e., while the root of the polarity appears as a single tree-trunk-like tube, the top of the polarity has multiple branches consisting of smaller and thinner flux tubes which connect to the branches of the opposite polarity that is similarly fragmented. The roots of the four polarities align well along a straight line, while the top branches are slightly non-coplanar. Our observations suggest that an active region, even appearing highly complicated on the surface, may originate from a simple straight flux tube that undergoes both horizontal and vertical bifurcation processes during its rise through the convection zone.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

The development of a population of 4D pediatric XCAT phantoms for imaging research and optimization

Purpose: We previously developed a set of highly detailed 4D reference pediatric extended cardiac-torso (XCAT) phantoms at ages of newborn, 1, 5, 10, and 15 yr with organ and tissue masses matched to ICRP Publication 89 values. In this work, we extended this reference set to a series of 64 pediatric phantoms of varying age and height and body mass percentiles representative of the public at large. The models will provide a library of pediatric phantoms for optimizing pediatric imaging protocols. Methods: High resolution positron emission tomography-computed tomography data obtained from the Duke University database were reviewed by a practicing experienced radiologist for anatomic regularity. The CT portion of the data was then segmented with manual and semiautomatic methods to form a target model defined using nonuniform rational B-spline surfaces. A multichannel large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping algorithm was used to calculate the transform from the best age matching pediatric XCAT reference phantom to the patient target. The transform was used to complete the target, filling in the nonsegmented structures and defining models for the cardiac and respiratory motions. The complete phantoms, consisting of thousands of structures, were then manually inspected for anatomical accuracy. The mass for each major tissue was calculated and compared to linearly interpolated ICRP values for different ages. Results: Sixty four new pediatric phantoms were created in this manner. Each model contains the same level of detail as the original XCAT reference phantoms and also includes parameterized models for the cardiac and respiratory motions. For the phantoms that were 10 yr old and younger, we included both sets of reproductive organs. This gave them the capability to simulate both male and female anatomy. With this, the population can be expanded to 92. Wide anatomical variation was clearly seen amongst the phantom models, both in organ shape and size, even for models of the same age and sex. The phantoms can be combined with existing simulation packages to generate realistic pediatric imaging data from different modalities. Conclusions: This work provides a large cohort of highly detailed pediatric phantoms with 4D capabilities of varying age, height, and body mass. The population of phantoms will provide a vital tool with which to optimize 3D and 4D pediatric imaging devices and techniques in terms of image quality and radiation-absorbed dose.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Detailed characterization of the LLNL imaging proton spectrometer

Ultra-intense short pulse lasers incident on solid targets (e.g., thin Au foils) produce well collimated, broad-spectrum proton beams. These proton beams can be used to characterize magnetic fields, electric fields, and density gradients in high energy-density systems. The LLNL-Imaging Proton Spectrometer (L-IPS) was designed and built [H. Chen et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 81, 10D314 (2010)] for use with such laser produced proton beams. The L-IPS has an energy range of 50 keV-40 MeV with a resolving power (E/dE) of about 275 at 1 MeV and 21 at 20 MeV, as well as a single spatial imaging axis. In order to better characterize the dispersion and imaging capability of this diagnostic, a 3D finite element analysis solver is used to calculate the magnetic field of the L-IPS. Particle trajectories are then obtained via numerical integration to determine the dispersion relation of the L-IPS in both energy and angular space.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS2004

Hybrid Image-Plane/Stereo Manipulation

Hybrid Image-Plane/Stereo (HIPS) manipulation is a method of processing image data, and of controlling a robotic manipulator arm in response to the data, that enables the manipulator arm to place an end-effector (an instrument or tool) precisely with respect to a target (see figure). Unlike other stereoscopic machine-vision-based methods of controlling robots, this method is robust in the face of calibration errors and changes in calibration during operation. In this method, a stereoscopic pair of cameras on the robot first acquires images of the manipulator at a set of predefined poses. The image data are processed to obtain image-plane coordinates of known visible features of the end-effector. Next, there is computed an initial calibration in the form of a mapping between (1) the image-plane coordinates and (2) the nominal three-dimensional coordinates of the noted end-effector features in a reference frame fixed to the main robot body at the base of the manipulator. The nominal three-dimensional coordinates are obtained by use of the nominal forward kinematics of the manipulator arm that is, calculated by use of the currently measured manipulator joint angles and previously measured lengths of manipulator arm segments under the assumption that the arm segments are rigid, that the arm lengths are constant, and that there is no backlash. It is understood from the outset that these nominal three-dimensional coordinates are likely to contain possibly significant calibration errors, but the effects of the errors are progressively reduced, as described next. As the end-effector is moved toward the target, the calibration is updated repeatedly by use of data from newly acquired images of the end-effector and of the corresponding nominal coordinates in the manipulator reference frame. By use of the updated calibration, the coordinates of the target are computed in manipulator-reference-frame coordinates and then used to the necessary manipulator joint angles to position and orient the end-effector at the target with respect to the same kinematic model from the calibration step. As the end-effector/target distance decreases, the computed coordinates of the end-effector and target become more nearly affected by the same errors, so that the differences between their coordinates become increasingly precise. When the end-effector reaches the target, the remaining effective position error is the distance that corresponds to more than about one pixel in the stereoscopic images of the target.

Baumgartner, Eric↗
DOE OSTI2023

Evolution of titanium particle combustion in potassium perchlorate and air

Understanding titanium particle combustion processes is critical not only for characterizing existing pyrotechnic systems but also for creating new igniter designs. In order to characterize titanium particle combustion processes, morphologies, and temperatures, simultaneous spatially-resolved electric field holography and imaging pyrometry techniques were used to capture post-ignition data at up to 7 kHz. Due to the phase and thermal distortions present in the combustion cloud, traditional digital in-line holography techniques fail to capture accurate data. Here in this work, electric field holography techniques are used in order to cancel distortions and capture the three-dimensional spatial locations and diameters of the particles. In order to estimate the projected surface temperatures of the titanium particles, an imaging pyrometry method that ratios emission at 750 and 850 nm is utilized. Using these diagnostics, joint statistics are collected for particle size, morphology, velocity, and temperature. Results show that, early in the combustion process, the titanium particles are primarily oxidized by potassium perchlorate inside the igniter cup, resulting in projected surface temperatures near 3000 K. Later in the process, the particles interact with ambient air, resulting in lower surface temperatures around 2400 K and the formation of flame zones. These results are consistent with adiabatic flame temperature predictions as well as particle morphology observations of a titanium core with a TiO 2 surface. Late stage particle expansion, star fragmentation, and molten droplet breakup events are also observed using the time-resolved morphology and temperature diagnostics. These results illustrate the different stages of titanium particle combustion in pyrotechnic environments, which can be used to inform improvements in next-generation igniters.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2019

Gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging with cadmium-zinc-telluride detectors allows real-time assessment of dobutamine-stress-induced wall motion abnormalities

Background: Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) during high dobutamine stress (HD) by real-time gated-SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) on a cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) gamma camera was validated versus cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Methods and results: After injecting 99mTc-tetrofosmin (320 MBq) in 50 patients (mean age 64 +/− 11 years), EF at rest and post-stress as well as relevant changes in EF at HD (ΔEF ≥ 5%) were assessed. CZT and CMR rest EF values yielded an excellent correlation and agreement (r = 0.96; P < 0.001; Bland–Altman limits of agreement (BA): + 0 to 14.8%). HD EF acquisition was feasible using CZT and correlated better to HD CMR EF than did post-stress CZT EF (r = 0.85 vs 0.76, respectively, all P < 0.001). Agreement in ΔEF detection between HD CMR and immediate post-stress CZT (reflecting standard acquisition using conventional SPECT camera unable to scan during stress) was 45%, while this increased to 85% with real-time HD CZT scan. Conclusion: Real-time ultrafast dobutamine gated-SPECT MPI with a CZT device is feasible and provides accurate measurements of HD LV performance.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-T-16: A Comparison of Expected Dwell Times and Dose Variations for NAMD Patients Treated with An Episcleral Brachytherapy Device

Purpose: To evaluate the variations in dwell times and doses expected when using an episcleral brachytherapy device for treatment of neovascular agerelated macular degeneration (n-AMD) based on accurate imaging modalities Methods: Data from 40 eyes from 40 subjects with known n- AMD acquired through the Distance of Choroid Study (DOCS) conducted at Moorfields Eye Hospital was used to determine the target depth; the distance from the outer scleral surface of the eye, through the choroid, to the apex of the choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Each subject underwent, in triplicate, enhanced-depth Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT), Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography, (SS-OCT) and Ocular Ultrasound (O-US). These data are the most comprehensive and accurate measurements of the dimensions of the CNV and adjacent layers of the eye for this cohort of patients. During treatment of n-AMD, patients receive a dose of 24Gy to the apex at the target depth. Using the percentage depth dose for a Sr-90 episcleral brachytherapy device, dwell times and doses to the apex were computed to determine the expected variations. Results: The mean target depth and the 95% confidence interval (CI) determined by combining O-US with SD-OCT were 1326 (956,1696)µm and with SS-OCT were 1332 (970,1693)µm. The calculated corresponding mean dwell times and 95% (CI) were 334 (223,445)s and 335 (226,445)s for SD-OCT and SS-OCT determined depths, respectively. The corresponding mean apex dose and 95% (CI) were 24 (35.9,18.0)Gy (SD-OCT) and 24 (35.6,18.1)Gy (SS-OCT). Conclusion: For episcleral brachytherapy treatment of n-AMD, using a patient population average target depth for treatment planning is inadequate, resulting in dose variations of a factor of approximately two over the 95% CI and larger variations for a nontrivial segment of the population. Each patient should have individualized imaging studies to determine the target depth for use in the dwell time calculation. Study was sponsored by Salutaris Medical Devices, Ltd., a subsidiary of Salutaris Medical Devices, Inc. Hamilton and Marsteller are founders of Salutaris Medical Devices, Inc. Drew, McGovern and Vitali are minor equity holders in Salutaris Medical Devices, Inc.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

A set of 4D pediatric XCAT reference phantoms for multimodality research

Purpose: The authors previously developed an adult population of 4D extended cardiac-torso (XCAT) phantoms for multimodality imaging research. In this work, the authors develop a reference set of 4D pediatric XCAT phantoms consisting of male and female anatomies at ages of newborn, 1, 5, 10, and 15 years. These models will serve as the foundation from which the authors will create a vast population of pediatric phantoms for optimizing pediatric CT imaging protocols. Methods: Each phantom was based on a unique set of CT data from a normal patient obtained from the Duke University database. The datasets were selected to best match the reference values for height and weight for the different ages and genders according to ICRP Publication 89. The major organs and structures were segmented from the CT data and used to create an initial pediatric model defined using nonuniform rational B-spline surfaces. The CT data covered the entire torso and part of the head. To complete the body, the authors manually added on the top of the head and the arms and legs using scaled versions of the XCAT adult models or additional models created from cadaver data. A multichannel large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping algorithm was then used to calculate the transform from a template XCAT phantom (male or female 50th percentile adult) to the target pediatric model. The transform was applied to the template XCAT to fill in any unsegmented structures within the target phantom and to implement the 4D cardiac and respiratory models in the new anatomy. The masses of the organs in each phantom were matched to the reference values given in ICRP Publication 89. The new reference models were checked for anatomical accuracy via visual inspection. Results: The authors created a set of ten pediatric reference phantoms that have the same level of detail and functionality as the original XCAT phantom adults. Each consists of thousands of anatomical structures and includes parameterized models for the cardiac and respiratory motions. Based on patient data, the phantoms capture the anatomic variations of childhood, such as the development of bone in the skull, pelvis, and long bones, and the growth of the vertebrae and organs. The phantoms can be combined with existing simulation packages to generate realistic pediatric imaging data from different modalities. Conclusions: The development of patient-derived pediatric computational phantoms is useful in providing variable anatomies for simulation. Future work will expand this ten-phantom base to a host of pediatric phantoms representative of the public at large. This can provide a means to evaluate and improve pediatric imaging devices and to optimize CT protocols in terms of image quality and radiation dose.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Time-and-space resolved comparison of plasma expansion velocities in high-power diodes with velvet cathodes

Time-and-space resolved comparison of the expansion velocities of plasmas in the planar diode with cathodes made of carbon velvet and polymer velvet has been performed. The diode was powered by a 200 kV, 110 ns pulse, and the peak current density was nearly 477 A/cm{sup 2}. A four-channel high speed framing camera (HSFC) was used to observe the formation and subsequent movement of the cathode plasmas. More accurate and valuable information about the two-dimensional (radial and axial) velocity components of the cathode plasmas was also acquired by utilizing the digital image processing methods. Additionally, the perveance model based on the Child-Langmuir law was used to calculate the expansion velocities of the diode plasmas from voltage and current profiles. Results from the two diagnostics were compared. Comparing the average values of the radial and axial velocity components indicated that the former was much larger than the latter during the initial period of the current. It was also found that the radial velocity of the carbon velvet cathode (190 cm/{mu}s) was much larger than that (90 cm/{mu}s) of the polymer velvet cathode. Moreover, the average values of both the radial and axial velocity components of the carbon velvet cathode were typically in the range of 2.5 {+-} 1.5 cm/{mu}s, which were smaller than that of the polymer velvet cathode during the current flattop. These results, together with the comparison of calculated values from the perveance model, indicated that the diode with carbon velvet cathode was more robust as compared with the polymer velvet cathode for the same electron current densities.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Strictly Enforcing Invertibility and Conservation in CNN-Based Super Resolution for Scientific Datasets

Abstract Recently, deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have revolutionized image “super resolution” (SR), dramatically outperforming past methods for enhancing image resolution. They could be a boon for the many scientific fields that involve imaging or any regularly gridded datasets: satellite remote sensing, radar meteorology, medical imaging, numerical modeling, and so on. Unfortunately, while SR-CNNs produce visually compelling results, they do not necessarily conserve physical quantities between their low-resolution inputs and high-resolution outputs when applied to scientific datasets. Here, a method for “downsampling enforcement” in SR-CNNs is proposed. A differentiable operator is derived that, when applied as the final transfer function of a CNN, ensures the high-resolution outputs exactly reproduce the low-resolution inputs under 2D-average downsampling while improving performance of the SR schemes. The method is demonstrated across seven modern CNN-based SR schemes on several benchmark image datasets, and applications to weather radar, satellite imager, and climate model data are shown. The approach improves training time and performance while ensuring physical consistency between the super-resolved and low-resolution data. Significance Statement Recent advancements in using deep learning to increase the resolution of images have substantial potential across the many scientific fields that use images and image-like data. Most image super-resolution research has focused on the visual quality of outputs, however, and is not necessarily well suited for use with scientific data where known physics constraints may need to be enforced. Here, we introduce a method to modify existing deep neural network architectures so that they strictly conserve physical quantities in the input field when “super resolving” scientific data and find that the method can improve performance across a wide range of datasets and neural networks. Integration of known physics and adherence to established physical constraints into deep neural networks will be a critical step before their potential can be fully realized in the physical sciences.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2003

Lumbar spine disc heights and curvature: upright posture vs. supine compression harness

INTRODUCTION: Spinal lengthening in microgravity is thought to cause back pain in astronauts. A spinal compression harness can compress the spine to eliminate lengthening but the loading condition with harness is different than physiologic conditions. Our purpose was to compare the effect of spine compression with a harness in supine position on disk height and spinal curvature in the lumbar spine to that of upright position as measured using a vertically open magnetic resonance imaging system. METHODS: Fifteen healthy subjects volunteered. On day 1, each subject lay supine for an hour and a baseline scan of the lumbar spine was performed. After applying a load of fifty percent of body weight with the harness for thirty minutes, the lumbar spine was scanned again. On day 2, after a baseline scan, a follow up scan was performed after kneeling for thirty minutes within the gap between two vertically oriented magnetic coils. Anterior and posterior disk heights, posterior disk bulging, and spinal curvature were measured from the baseline and follow up scans. RESULTS: Anterior disk heights increased and posterior disk heights decreased compared with baseline scans both after spinal compression with harness and upright posture. The spinal curvature increased by both loading conditions of the spine. DISCUSSION: The spinal compression with specially designed harness has the same effect as the physiologic loading of the spine in the kneeling upright position. The harness shows some promise as a tool to increase the diagnostic capabilities of a conventional MR system.

Non-NASA Center↗
DOE OSTI2016

Four-dimensional dose reconstruction through in vivo phase matching of cine images of electronic portal imaging device

Purpose: A method is proposed to reconstruct a four-dimensional (4D) dose distribution using phase matching of measured cine images to precalculated images of electronic portal imaging device (EPID). Methods: (1) A phantom, designed to simulate a tumor in lung (a polystyrene block with a 3 cm diameter embedded in cork), was placed on a sinusoidally moving platform with an amplitude of 1 cm and a period of 4 s. Ten-phase 4D computed tomography (CT) images of the phantom were acquired. A planning target volume (PTV) was created by adding a margin of 1 cm around the internal target volume of the tumor. (2) Three beams were designed, which included a static beam, a theoretical dynamic beam, and a planning-optimized dynamic beam (PODB). While the theoretical beam was made by manually programming a simplistic sliding leaf motion, the planning-optimized beam was obtained from treatment planning. From the three beams, three-dimensional (3D) doses on the phantom were calculated; 4D dose was calculated by means of the ten phase images (integrated over phases afterward); serving as “reference” images, phase-specific EPID dose images under the lung phantom were also calculated for each of the ten phases. (3) Cine EPID images were acquired while the beams were irradiated to the moving phantom. (4) Each cine image was phase-matched to a phase-specific CT image at which common irradiation occurred by intercomparing the cine image with the reference images. (5) Each cine image was used to reconstruct dose in the phase-matched CT image, and the reconstructed doses were summed over all phases. (6) The summation was compared with forwardly calculated 4D and 3D dose distributions. Accounting for realistic situations, intratreatment breathing irregularity was simulated by assuming an amplitude of 0.5 cm for the phantom during a portion of breathing trace in which the phase matching could not be performed. Intertreatment breathing irregularity between the time of treatment and the time of planning CT was considered by utilizing the same reduced amplitude when the phantom was irradiated. To examine the phase matching in a humanoid environment, the matching was also performed in a digital phantom (4D XCAT phantom). Results: For the static, the theoretical, and the planning-optimized dynamic beams, the 4D reconstructed doses showed agreement with the forwardly calculated 4D doses within the gamma pass rates of 92.7%, 100%, and 98.1%, respectively, at the isocenter plane given by 3%/3 mm criteria. Excellent agreement in dose volume histogram of PTV and lung-PTV was also found between the two 4D doses, while substantial differences were found between the 3D and the 4D doses. The significant breathing irregularities modeled in this study were found not to be noticeably affecting the reconstructed dose. The phase matching was performed equally well in a digital phantom. Conclusions: The method of retrospective phase determination of a moving object under irradiation provided successful 4D dose reconstruction. This method will provide accurate quality assurance and facilitate adaptive therapy when distinguishable objects such as well-defined tumors, diaphragm, and organs with markers (pancreas and liver) are covered by treatment beam apertures.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Masked-backlighter technique used to simultaneously image x-ray absorption and x-ray emission from an inertial confinement fusion plasma

A method to simultaneously image both the absorption and the self-emission of an imploding inertial confinement fusion plasma has been demonstrated on the OMEGA Laser System. The technique involves the use of a high-Z backlighter, half of which is covered with a low-Z material, and a high-speed x-ray framing camera aligned to capture images backlit by this masked backlighter. Two strips of the four-strip framing camera record images backlit by the high-Z portion of the backlighter, while the other two strips record images aligned with the low-Z portion of the backlighter. The emission from the low-Z material is effectively eliminated by a high-Z filter positioned in front of the framing camera, limiting the detected backlighter emission to that of the principal emission line of the high-Z material. As a result, half of the images are of self-emission from the plasma and the other half are of self-emission plus the backlighter. The advantage of this technique is that the self-emission simultaneous with backlighter absorption is independently measured from a nearby direction. The absorption occurs only in the high-Z backlit frames and is either spatially separated from the emission or the self-emission is suppressed by filtering, or by using a backlighter much brighter than the self-emission, or by subtraction. The masked-backlighter technique has been used on the OMEGA Laser System to simultaneously measure the emission profiles and the absorption profiles of polar-driven implosions.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-C-BRE-05: PTV Margin Determination Based On Tumor Radiobiological Characteristics and Geometric Uncertainties Derived From Daily Cone- Beam CT Images

Purpose: To determine required PTV margins for ≤1% loss in mean population TCP using systematic (Σ) and random (σ) errors calculated from daily cone-beam CT (CBCT) images of head and neck patients. Methods: Daily CBCT images were acquired for 50 head and neck patients. The CBCT image sets acquired at each fraction were registered with planning CT to obtain positional errors for each patient for each fraction. Systematic and random errors were calculated from data collected for 50 patients as described in IPEM On Target report. CTV delineation uncertainty of 2mm is added quadratically to systematic error. Assuming a spherical target volume, the dose in each voxel of target volume is summed for each fraction in the treatment by shifting the dose grid to calculate mean population TCP inclusive of geometric uncertainties using a Monte Carlo method. These simulations were repeated for the set of Σ and σ in each axis for different PTV margins and drop in TCP for each margin are obtained. In order to study the effect of dose-response curve on PTV margins, two different σα of 0.048 Gy-1 and 0.218 Gy-1 representing steep and shallow dose-response curves are studied. Σ were 2.5, 2.5, 2.1 mm and σ were 0.3, 0.3 0.2 mm respectively in x, y and z axis respectively. Results: PTV margins based on tumor radiobiological characteristics are 4.8, 4.8 and 4 mm in x, y and z axis assuming 25 treatment fractions for σα 0.048 Gy-1 (steep) and 4.2,4.2 and 2.2 for σα of 0.218 Gy-1 (shallow). While the TCP-based margins did not differ much in x and y axis, it is considerably smaller in z axis for shallow DRC. Conclusion: TCP based margins are substantially smaller than physical dose-based margin recipes. This study also demonstrates the importance of considering tumor radiobiological characteristics while deriving margins.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Investigation of dose reduction in cardiac perfusion SPECT via optimization and choice of the image reconstruction strategy

Background: We investigated the extent to which the administered dose (activity) level can be reduced without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy for three reconstruction strategies for SPECT-myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Methods: We optimized the parameters of the three reconstruction strategies for perfusion-defect detection over a range of simulated administered dose levels using a set of hybrid studies (derived from 190 subjects) consisting of clinical SPECT-MPI data modified to contain realistic simulated lesions. The optimized strategies we considered are filtered backprojection (FBP) with no correction for degradations, ordered-subsets expectation-maximization (OS-EM) with attenuation correction (AC), scatter correction (SC), and resolution correction (RC), and OS-EM with scatter and resolution correction only. Each study was evaluated using a total perfusion deficit (TPD) score computed by the Quantitative Perfusion SPECT (QPS) software package. We conducted a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) study based on the TPD scores for each dose level and reconstruction strategy. Results: For FBP, the achieved optimum values of the area under the ROC curve (AUC) at 100%, 50%, 25%, and 12.5% of standard dose were 0.75, 0.74, 0.72, and 0.70, respectively, compared to 0.81, 0.79, 0.76, and 0.74 for OS-EM with AC–SC–RC and 0.78, 0.77, 0.74, 0.72 for OS-EM with SC–RC. Conclusions: Our results suggest that studies reconstructed by OS-EM with AC–SC–RC could possibly be reduced, on average, to 25% of the originally administered dose without causing diagnostic accuracy (AUC) to decrease below that of FBP.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
NASA NTRS2013

A Combined Very Large Telescope and Gemini Study of the Atmosphere of the Directly Imaged Planet, Beta Pictoris b

We analyze new/archival VLT/NaCo and Gemini/NICI high-contrast imaging of the young, self-luminous planet Beta Pictoris b in seven near-to-mid IR photometric filters, using advanced image processing methods to achieve high signal-to-noise, high precision measurements. While Beta Pic b's near-IR colors mimic those of a standard, cloudy early-to-mid L dwarf, it is overluminous in the mid-infrared compared to the field L/T dwarf sequence. Few substellar/planet-mass objects-i.e., κ And b and 1RXJ 1609B-match Beta Pic b's JHKsL photometry and its 3.1 micron and 5 micron photometry are particularly difficult to reproduce. Atmosphere models adopting cloud prescriptions and large (approx. 60 micron)dust grains fail to reproduce the Beta Pic b spectrum. However, models incorporating thick clouds similar to those found forHR8799 bcde, but also with small (a fewmicrons) modal particle sizes, yield fits consistent with the data within the uncertainties. Assuming solar abundance models, thick clouds, and small dust particles (a = 4 micron), we derive atmosphere parameters of log(g) = 3.8 +/- 0.2 and Teff = 1575-1650 K, an inferred mass of 7+4 −3 MJ, and a luminosity of log(L/L) approx. −3.80 +/- 0.02. The best-estimated planet radius, is approx. equal to 1.65 +/- 0.06 RJ, is near the upper end of allowable planet radii for hot-start models given the host star's age and likely reflects challenges constructing accurate atmospheric models. Alternatively, these radii are comfortably consistent with hot-start model predictions if Beta Pic b is younger than is approx. equal to 7 Myr, consistent with a late formation well after its host star's birth approx. 12+8 −4 Myr ago.

overluminous↗
DOE OSTI2013

A COMBINED VERY LARGE TELESCOPE AND GEMINI STUDY OF THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE DIRECTLY IMAGED PLANET, β PICTORIS b

We analyze new/archival VLT/NaCo and Gemini/NICI high-contrast imaging of the young, self-luminous planet β Pictoris b in seven near-to-mid IR photometric filters, using advanced image processing methods to achieve high signal-to-noise, high precision measurements. While β Pic b's near-IR colors mimic those of a standard, cloudy early-to-mid L dwarf, it is overluminous in the mid-infrared compared to the field L/T dwarf sequence. Few substellar/planet-mass objects—i.e., κ And b and 1RXJ 1609B—match β Pic b's JHK{sub s}L' photometry and its 3.1 μm and 5 μm photometry are particularly difficult to reproduce. Atmosphere models adopting cloud prescriptions and large (∼60 μm) dust grains fail to reproduce the β Pic b spectrum. However, models incorporating thick clouds similar to those found for HR 8799 bcde, but also with small (a few microns) modal particle sizes, yield fits consistent with the data within the uncertainties. Assuming solar abundance models, thick clouds, and small dust particles ((a) = 4 μm), we derive atmosphere parameters of log (g) = 3.8 ± 0.2 and T{sub eff} = 1575-1650 K, an inferred mass of 7{sup +4}{sub -3} M{sub J} , and a luminosity of log(L/L{sub ☉}) ∼–3.80 ± 0.02. The best-estimated planet radius, ≈1.65 ± 0.06 R{sub J} , is near the upper end of allowable planet radii for hot-start models given the host star's age and likely reflects challenges constructing accurate atmospheric models. Alternatively, these radii are comfortably consistent with hot-start model predictions if β Pic b is younger than ≈7 Myr, consistent with a late formation well after its host star's birth ∼12{sup +8}{sub -4} Myr ago.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-F-BRA-01: A Procedure for the Fast Semi-Automatic Localization of Catheters Using An Electromagnetic Tracker (EMT) for Image-Guided Brachytherapy

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of brachytherapy catheter localization through use of an EMT and 3D image set. Methods: A 15-catheter phantom mimicking an interstitial implantation was built and CT-scanned. Baseline catheter reconstruction was performed manually. An EMT was used to acquire the catheter coordinates in the EMT frame of reference. N user-identified catheter tips, without catheter number associations, were used to establish registration with the CT frame of reference. Two algorithms were investigated: brute-force registration (BFR), in which all possible permutation of N identified tips with the EMT tips were evaluated; and signature-based registration (SBR), in which a distance matrix was used to generate a list of matching signatures describing possible N-point matches with the registration points. Digitization error (average of the distance between corresponding EMT and baseline dwell positions; average, standard deviation, and worst-case scenario over all possible registration-point selections) and algorithm inefficiency (maximum number of rigid registrations required to find the matching fusion for all possible selections of registration points) were calculated. Results: Digitization errors on average <2 mm were observed for N ≥5, with standard deviation <2 mm for N ≥6, and worst-case scenario error <2 mm for N ≥11. Algorithm inefficiencies were: N = 5, 32,760 (BFR) and 9900 (SBR); N = 6, 360,360 (BFR) and 21,660 (SBR); N = 11, 5.45*1010 (BFR) and 12 (SBR). Conclusion: A procedure was proposed for catheter reconstruction using EMT and only requiring user identification of catheter tips without catheter localization. Digitization errors <2 mm were observed on average with 5 or more registration points, and in any scenario with 11 or more points. Inefficiency for N = 11 was 9 orders of magnitude lower for SBR than for BFR. Funding: Kaye Family Award.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗