Eugen I. Scarlat

Automated imaging, identification, and counting of similar cells from digital hologram reconstructions

This paper presents our method, which simultaneously combines automatic imaging, identification, and counting with the acquisition of morphological information for at least 1000 blood cells from several three-dimensional images of the same sample. We started with seeking parameters to differentiate between red blood cells that are similar but different with respect to their development stage, i.e., mature or immature. We highlight that these cells have different diffractive patterns with complementary central intensity distribution in a given plane along the propagation axis. We use the Fresnel approximation to simulate propagation through cells modeled as spheroid-shaped phase objects and to find the cell property that has the dominant influence on this behavior. Starting with images obtained in the reconstruction step of the digital holographic microscopy technique, we developed a code for automated simultaneous individual cell image separation, identification, and counting, even when the cells are partially overlapped on a slide, and accurate measuring of their morphological features. To find the centroids of each cell, we propose a method based on analytical functions applied at threshold intervals. Our procedure separates the mature from the immature red blood cells and from the white blood cells through a decision based on gradient and radius values.

Similarity analysis for DNA sequences based on chaos game representation. Case study: the albumin.

Using chaos game representation we introduce a novel and straightforward method for identifying similarities/dissimilarities between DNA sequences of the same type, from different organisms. A matrix is associated to each CGR pattern and the similarities result from the comparison between the matrices of the sequences of interest. Three different methods of analysis of the resulting difference matrix are considered: a 3-dimensional representation giving both local and global information, a numerical characterization by defining an n-letter word similarity measure and a statistical evaluation. The method is illustrated by implementation to the study of albumin nucleotides sequences from eight mammal species taking as reference the human albumin.

Evaluation of the metastatic potential of malignant cells by image processing of digital holographic microscopy data

The cell refractive index has been proposed as a putative cancer biomarker of great potential, being correlated with cell content and morphology, cell division rate and membrane permeability. We used digital holographic microscopy to compare the refractive index and dry mass density of two B16 murine melanoma sublines of different metastatic potential. Using statistical methods, the distribution of phase shifts within the reconstructed quantitative phase images was analyzed by the method of bimodality coefficients. The observed correlation of refractive index, dry mass density and bimodality profile with the metastatic potential of the cells was validated by real time impedance‐based assay and clonogenic tests. We suggest that the refractive index and bimodality analysis of quantitative phase image histograms could be developed as optical biomarkers useful in label‐free detection and quantitative evaluation of cell metastatic potential.

A Generalized Devil Staircase-Based Generator for the JPY-USD Exchange Rate?

Abstract By exploiting the linear similarity between two series, namely the exchange rate Japanese Yen - United States Dollar (JPY-USD), and the generalized devil staircase (GDS) recursive plot, the possibility of synthesizing the real series by using the GDS generator is investigated. The properties of the real and simulated series are compared from both fractal and chaotic perspective using a new multifractal deviation factor, and a crossing analysis based on correlation dimension and non linear prediction error, respectively. Given the encouraging results supported by good fitting values, there are arguments to consider the method an alternative for time series modeling on deterministic assumptions.

Empirical quantitative characterization of holographic phase images of normal and abnormal cervical cells by fractal descriptors

AbstractThe paper proposes a way to examine whether cervical cells qualify as normal or abnormal on the basis of phase profiles, and to subsequently perform local fractal descriptions of their thre...

Focusing criterion in DHM image reconstruction

This study is presenting the theoretical approach and the practical results of a precise activity involved in the hologram reconstruction in order to find the optimally focused image of MG63 osteoblast-like cells cultivated on polymeric flat substrates. The morphology and dynamic of the cell is investigated by digital holographic microscopy (DHM) technique. The reconstruction is digitally performed using an algorithm based on the scalar theory of diffraction in the Fresnel approximation. The quality of the 3D images of the cells is crucially depending on the focusing capability of the reconstruction chain to fit the parameters of the optical recorder, particularly the focusing value. Our proposal to find the focused image is based on the images decomposition on gray levels and their histogram analysis. More precisely the focusing criterion is based on the evaluation of the form of this distribution.

Diffraction patterns from holographic masks generated using combined axicon and helical phase distributions

The diffraction patterns (DPs) from helical phase distributions were intensively studied due to their peculiar capability of carrying orbital angular momentum. In the present study, we investigated the combination between a helical phase distribution and another distribution: axicon in our case. Such phase distributions were digitally embedded into holographic masks (HMs). The reconstruction step is performed by simulating the propagation through these HMs, using scalar diffraction theory, Fraunhofer approximation. The spatial intensity arrangement of the DPs is investigated linked with the radial and azimuthal constructive parameters values of the diffractive phase structures embedded in the HMs and transferred in these DPs. Keywords: helical phase distribution

Light control using photonic crystals and metallic slits

A numerical analysis of TE mode of electric field propagation through the interface between a thin film of TiO2 and periodic metal slits of silver is presented. The lossy metallic slits are optically described by Drude model. A grid of regular slits generates sharp hotspots of electric field at the exit plane. Adding a 2D rectangular photonic crystal made of air cylinders in titanium dioxide will enhance the electric field at the exit from the metallic slits without any loses in propagation distance and peak width. An optimization of geometrical parameters of metallic slits and photonic crystals is made for the propagation of a visible incident radiation with the wavelength of 650nm.

Iterative algorithm analysis for phase-only diffractive control access system

A new architecture with two phases-only diffractive elements and one decryption mask for optical control access system is presented. Only three different persons which keep this element have the permission to access together. The Iterative Fourier Transform Algorithm (IFTA) is analyzed for phase-only diffractive optical elements (PODE) design with different constraints in the input and output plane and the optimal variant is chosen for better image quality in the output plane (big value for diffraction efficiency and small value for merit function and signal to noise ratio). For higher security we propose different incident waves. That are compared with the case when the first phase-only diffractive element and decryption masks are designed together in an extended iteration and the output images of them (first desired image) is taken over the second phase-only diffractive element. In order to increase security level, this finally PODE are designed to increase some parts from the first desired image. Only with this condition the key image on the detector is formed.

Magneto-mechanical oscillations revisited

Here we study the temporal evolution of a magnetemechanical, inverted spherical pendulum. The oscillator is a rigid, stainless steel, hollow needle. The needle has one end fixed in a spherical-like articulation, while the other extremity has no mechanical contact. The oscillation is driven by a longitudinal, periodically magnetic field added to a constant value of a static field. A video camera takes simultaneously the optical images of the projections of the oscillating needle along two mutually normal directions. The pairs of temporal sequences are analyzed in the real space, phase space and Fourier space. Among all the external parameter that can be usually varied, like the strength of the static magnetic field, the amplitude and the frequency of the driving magnetic field, or the momentum of inertia of the oscillating body, of a crucial importance seems to be the magnetc-mechanical feed-back of the oscillating system.