Projects / Programmes
Functions and technologies of complex systems
January 1, 2004
- December 31, 2008
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.06.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Systems and cybernetics |
|
| 2.07.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Computer science and informatics |
|
| 2.10.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Manufacturing technologies and systems |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T111 |
Technological sciences |
Imaging, image processing |
| T121 |
Technological sciences |
Signal processing |
Researchers (27)
Organisations (2)
Significance for science
I. MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS Methods have been developed for multimodal image registration and for registration of pre-interventional 3D CT and MR images to intra-interventional 2D X-ray images needed for accurate patient localization in image-guided surgery, radiotherapy, radiosurgery or interventional radiology. Methods for restoration of intensity inhomogeneities in MR and microscopic images have been developed. Protocols for evaluating similarity measures in rigid and non-rigid registrations were developed. Methods for automatic analysis of MR and CT spine images were developed that enable efficient visualization and objective quantification of spine curvature and vertebra rotations in 3D. Studies on the impact of lossy image compression on various image analysis tasks revealed numerous shortcomings and flaws in the use of lossy image compression. II. VISUAL INSPECTION OF PRODUCTS Methods for registration, segmentation and analysis of images of pharmaceutical tablets and capsules were developed that enable robust quality assurance and sorting in real-time. Methods were developed for quality assessment and sorting of light emitting diodes and for inspection of geometric and photometric properties of roof panels. III. INORGANIC AND ORGANIC NANOSTRUCTURES Membrane budding, which may in the final stage lead to pinching off the daughter vesicle from the mother membrane, has been studied by analysing different microscopic images. We were the first to observe by electronic microscope the process of detergent-induced formation of tubular nanoexovesicles of the erythrocyte membrane. To support the hypothesis that development of thin tubular structures is the consequence of anisotropic properties of membrane constituents and membrane-intercaleted detergent molecules, we developed a unifying theory of the stability of membrane nanostructures. We showed that the stability of the membraneous nanostructures is connected to the lateral segregation of the membrane constituents. We have studied experimentally the adhesion between phospholipid membranes, mediated by protein molecules in the surrounding solution. We found that this process can prevent membrane vesiculation by retention of buds to the mother membrane. We developed a theoretical description where we were the first to take into account finite distances between charges in the nanoparticle. Theoretical predictions were tested by experimental study of interaction (adhesion) between electrically charged liposomes. IV. COMPLEX DYNAMIC SYSTEMS We developed several methods for analyzing the dynamics of coupled oscillators, their interaction, synchronization and direction of coupling. Using the wavelet transform, we generalized the bispectral analysis and method for defining the phase-coherence of time-varying oscillatory processes. We proposed two novel methods for identification of parameters of non-linear stochastic models on the basis of Bayesian inference method and Markov processes. We introduced a novel method for defining the direction of coupling. We showed that in addition to the five known oscillatory components of the blood flow there exists a sixth one. We demonstrated that local as well as global anesthesia significantly reduces oscillations under 0.1Hz in blood flow. We were the first to show that there is a causal connection between the current frequency in breathing phase and the delta oscillation phase of brain waves. We conducted several clinical studies and discovered numerous changes in the oscillatory components and their interactions associated with cardiovascular diseases. We found that after acute myocardial infarction, patients have decreased skin blood flow and flow oscillations, despite having no detectable clinical signs of heart failure. We have also shown that the wavelet transform of heart rate variability data in diabetic patients exhibits changes in spectral components before the occurrence of clinical signs.
Significance for the country
1. PROMOTION OF SLOVENIA THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY RESERCH From 2004 to 2008 researchers have published 115 papers in peer reviewed journals with an impact factor. Half of these papers (58) were published in top 25% of journals in a category. On the average the research group has published 23 papers per year or 10 papers/year/FT researcher. Many of the papers were co-authored by established researchers that came from 12 countries and 26 institutions. In the last 5 years papers authored by the researchers were cited 1456 times. The number and quality of publications resulted, among others, in: a) editorship of 8 per reviewed journals, b) chairing of the Biomedical Image Analysis TC of IAPR, c) projects for Philips Medical Systems, The Netherlands and InspireWorks, USA and consulting for Stryker, Switzerland, d) projects BRACCIA (A. Stefanovska coordinator) and GIACS of the 6FP, e) 2 COST and 7 bilateral projects, f) organizing and program committee memberships of international conferences, g) invited talks at several universities (Harvard, Yale, ETH, Oxford, etc.) European Patent Office, Siemens USA and China, Philips and BrainLab. 2. EDUCATION OF SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS The research program members have supervised 24 PhD and 13 Master students who all successfully finished. The majority found employment in industry and the University Clinical Center. Based also on the quality of past research and the large number of students educated by the researchers, the Biomedical Engineering Department and graduate Biomedical Engineering study program have been established, together with the group of prof. Miklavčič, at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana. 3. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER FROM ACADEMIA TO INDUSTRY Research in the period from 2004 to 2008 resulted in the development of methods and systems for automated visual inspection of products for Slovenian companies like Lek, Krka, Eta, Trimo, Sensum, etc. The developed systems and tools are helping these companies in the production of higher quality and cheaper products and services, to become more competitive and thus keep or increase their share on the world market, and to increase the added value of their products. To more successfully transfer knowledge from academia to industry some researchers of the group have founded a high-tech company SENSUM that develops, markets and sells visual inspection systems to the pharmaceutical industry. It is also the good research collaboration between the group and SENSUM that help the latter to develop into one of the leading companies in the world that produce machines for visual inspection of tablets and capsules. 4. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER FROM ACADEMIA TO HEALTH CARE Philips acquired the method for intensity inhomogeneity correction. The method has also been transferred to National Institute of Health, USA. For Philips we have developed some algorithms for connecting colon segments visible on CT images for the purpose of virtual colonoscopy. The hip stress distribution evaluation methodology is used at the Orthopaedic Clinic of the University Clinical Center (UCC) Ljubljana for therapy and surgery planning. The measurement system CARDIOSIGNALS is used at two departments of UCC andis being upgraded into a system for measuring the depth of anesthesia. The results in the area of membrane nanostructures are applicable to the search for efficient, on molecular and cellular levels founded, methods for cancer treatment and for ecologic problems related to detergents in sea and rivers. 5. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER FROM ACADEMIA TO SPORTS We have developed a system that, based on the analysis of the video tape of a sports game, gives information on distances traveled per match, how does a player's velocity and acceleration vary during a match, what are the major differences in the dynamics of losers and winners, etc. In collaboration with the Faculty of Sports we use this system to analyze the motion of handball, basketball and squash playe
Most important scientific results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
