Purpose: This work proposes an accurate method for simulating dose reduction in digital mammography starting from a clinical image acquired with a standard dose. Methods: The method developed in this work consists of scaling a mammogram acquired at the standard radiation dose and adding signal-dependent noise. The algorithm accounts for specific issues relevant in digital mammography images, such

Early detection of risk of breast cancer is of upmost importance for effective treatment. In the field of medical image analysis, automatic methods have been developed to discover features of ductal trees that are correlated with radiological findings regarding breast cancer. In this study, a data mining approach is proposed that captures a new set of geometrical properties of ductal trees. The ex

Purpose: Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a promising breast cancer screening tool that has already begun making inroads into clinical practice. However, there is ongoing debate over how to quantitatively evaluate and optimize these systems, because different definitions of image quality can lead to different optimal design strategies. Powerful and accurate tools are desired to extend our und

Purpose: We present a novel algorithm for computer simulation of breast anatomy for generation of anthropomorphic software breast phantoms. A realistic breast simulation is necessary for preclinical validation of volumetric imaging modalities.Methods: The anthropomorphic software breast phantom simulates the skin, regions of adipose and fibroglandular tissue, and the matrix of Cooper's ligaments a

A method is proposed for realistic simulation of the breast ductal network as part of a computer three-dimensional (3-D) breast phantom. The ductal network is simulated using tree models. Synthetic trees are generated based upon a description of ductal branching by ramification matrices (R matrices), whose elements represent the probabilities of branching at various levels of a tree. We simulated

In the case of a quantum-noise limited detector, signal detection theory suggests that stereoradiographic images can be acquired with one half of the per-image dose needed for a standard radiographic projection, as information from the two stereo images can be combined. Previously, film-screen stereoradiography has been performed using the same per-image dose as in projection radiography, i.e., do

We have evaluated a method for synthesizing mammograms by comparing the texture of clinical and synthetic mammograms. The synthesis algorithm is based upon simulations of breast tissue and the mammographic imaging process. Mammogram texture was synthesized by projections of simulated adipose tissue compartments. It was hypothesized that the synthetic and clinical texture have similar properties, a

Flood risk is a great global concern that is not only affecting developing countries, but threatens to undermine sustainable development also in the most affluent advanced liberal democracies. While political inertia is delaying much needed global change, efforts to reduce risk and adapt to a changing climate are growing on more local levels. However, floods tend not to be bounded by geopolitical,

The structure and function of proteins are strongly affected by the surrounding solvent water, for example through hydrogen bonds and the hydrophobic effect. These interactions depend not only on the position, but also on the orientation, of the water molecules around the protein. Therefore, it is often vital to know the detailed orientations of the surrounding ordered water molecules. Such inform

Collimated sprays of paticle, known as jets,are abundantly produced in high-energy proton-proton (pp) collisions, and are predicted by many theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. This thesis reports first on the calibration of jets with focus on the data-driven in situ calibration. Two searches for new physics phenomena in events with jets in the final state are then presented. The analyse

Context. NGC 2264 is a young cluster whose accretion properties can be investigated in detail by taking advantage of the FLAMES data in the context of the Gaia-ESO Survey. In fact, the analysis of the Hα emission line profile can provide us with information about the accretion and ejection activity of young stars. However, a strong nebular emission that contributes to the Hα emission can alter the

Background European forests have a long record of management. However, the diversity of the current forest management across nations, tree species and owners, is hardly understood. Often when trying to simulate future forest resources under alternative futures, simply the yield table style of harvesting is applied. It is now crucially important to come to grips with actual forest management, now t

Using light to interact with cells is a promising way to steer cell behavior with minimal perturbation. Besides optogenetics, photovoltaic nanostructures such as nanowires can be used to interact with cells using light as a switch. Photovoltaic nanowires have, for instance, been used to stimulate neurons. However, the effects of the photovoltaic activity on cells are still poorly understood and ch