MULTI-PHASE ACTIVE CONTOUR MODEL FOR IMAGE SEGMENTATION BASED ON LEVEL SETS

A new multi-phase active contour model is proposed for the image segmentation. It is a generalization of the C-V model with the following characteristics： （1） A key technique, called the technique of painting background （TPBG）, is developed to remove the information of the background, which blocks the detection of weak boundaries in the object; （2） The two-phase level set is applied multiple times for getting the multi-phase segmentation model （n-1 times for the n-phase model, n〉1）; （3） A scaling-based method is introduced to improve the basic model. Experimental results show that the proposed model is effective for detecting weak boundaries.

A NEW DEFORMABLE MODEL USING LEVEL SETS FOR SHAPE SEGMENTATION

In this paper, we present a new deformable model for shape segmentation, which makes two modifications to the original level set implementation of deformable models.The modifications are motivated by difficulties that we have encountered in applying deformable models to segmentation of medical images.The level set algorithm has some advantages over the classical snake deformable models.However, it could develop large gaps in the boundary and holes within the objects.Such boundary gaps and holes of objects can cause inaccurate segmentation that requires manual correction.The proposed method in this paper possesses an inherent property to detect gaps and holes within the object with a single initial contour and also does not require specific initialization.The first modification is to replace the edge detector by some area constraint, and the second modification utilizes weighted length constraint to regularize the curve under evolution.The proposed method has been applied to both synthetic and real images with promising results.

LEVEL SETS AND EQUIVALENCES OF MORAN-TYPE SETS

In the paper, we consider Moran-type sets E;given by sequences {a;};and{n;};. we prove that E;may be decompose into the disjoint union of level sets. Moreover,we define three type of equivalence between two dimension functions associated to two Morantype sets, respectively, and we classify Moran-type sets by these equivalent relations.

MOTION OF LEVEL SETS BY A GENERALIZED MEAN CURVATURE

Short time existence and uniqueness for the classical motion are studied by the function of the principal curvatures of a smooth surface and the Evans and Spruck's results are generalized.

Active Contours and Mumford-Shah Segmentation Based on Level Sets

This paper is to detect regions (objects) boundaries, also to isolate and extract individual components from a medical image. This can be done using an active contours to detect regions in a given image, based on techniques of curve evolution, Mumford Shah functional for segmentation and level sets. The paper classified the images into different intensity regions based on Markov random field, then detected regions whose boundaries are not necessarily defined by gradient by minimizing an energy of Mumford Shah functional for segmentation which can be seen as a particular case of the minimal partition problem. In the level set formulation, the problem becomes a mean curvature flow like evolving the active contour, which will stop on the desired boundary. The stopping term does not depend on the gradient of the image, as in the classical active contour and the initial curve of level set can be anywhere in the image, and interior contours are automatically detected. The final image segmentation is one closed boundary per actual region in the image.

Curvature estimates for the level sets of spatial quasiconcave solutions to a class of parabolic equations

We prove a constant rank theorem for the second fundamental form of the spatial convex level surfaces of solutions to equations ut = F(▽2u,▽u,u,t) under a structural condition,and give a geometric lower bound of the principal curvature of the spatial level surfaces.

Curvature Estimates for the Level Sets of Solutions to the Monge-Ampère Equation det D^2u = 1

For the Monge-Amp`ere equation det D2u = 1, the authors find new auxiliary curvature functions which attain their respective maxima on the boundary. Moreover, the upper bounded estimates for the Gauss curvature and the mean curvature of the level sets for the solution to this equation are obtained.

Gaussian Curvature Estimates for the Convex Level Sets of Solutions for Some Nonlinear Elliptic Partial Differential Equations

We give lower bound estimates for the Gaussian curvature of convex level sets of minimal surfaces and the solutions to semilinear elliptic equations in terms of the norm of boundary gradient and the Gaussian curvature of the boundary.

The Exact Hausdorff Measure Function of the Level Sets of Multi-parameter Symmetric Stable Process

In this paper, we investigate the Hausdorff measure for level sets of N-parameter Rd-valued stable processes, and develop a means of seeking the exact Hausdorff measure function for level sets of N-parameter Rd-valued stable processes. We show that the exact Hausdorff measure function of level sets of N-parameter Rd-valued symmetric stable processes of index α is Ф（r） = r^N-d/α （log log l/r）d/α when Nα 〉 d. In addition, we obtain a sharp lower bound for the Hausdorff measure of level sets of general （N, d, α） strictly stable processes.

Level Sets of Certain Subclasses of α-Analytic Functions

For an open set V C Cn, denote by Mα （V） the family of α-analytic functions that obey a boundary maximum modulus principle. We prove that, on a bounded ＂harmonically fat＂ domain Ω C Cn, a function f ∈M a（Ω／f-1（0）） automatically sat- isfies f ∈M a（Ω）, if it is Caj-1smooth in the z/variable, α ∈ Zn＋ up to the boundary. For a submanifold U C Cn, denote by ma（U）, the set of functions locally approximable by α-analytic functions where each approximating member and its reciprocal （off the singularities） obey the boundary maximum modulus principle. We prove, that for a C3-smooth hypersurface, Ω, a member of ma （Ω）, cannot have constant modulus near a point where the Levi form has a positive eigenvalue, unless it is there the trace of a polyanalytic function of a simple form. The result can be partially generalized to C4-smooth submanifolds of higher codimension, at least near points with a Levi cone condition.

The Concavity of the Gaussian Curvature of the Convex Level Sets of p-Harmonic Functions with Respect to the Height

For the p-harmonic function with strictly convex level sets,we find an auxiliary function which comes from the combination of the norm of gradient of the p-harmonic function and the Gaussian curvature of the level sets of p-harmonic function.We prove that this curvature function is concave with respect to the height of the p-harmonic function.This auxiliary function is an affine function of the height when the p-harmonic function is the p-Green function on ball.

A Remark on the Level Sets of the Graph of Harmonic Functions Bounded by Two Circles in Parallel Planes

In this paper, we find two auxiliary functions and make use of the maximum principle to study the level sets of harmonic function defined on a convex ring with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions in R2. In higher dimensions, we also have a similar result to Jagy＇s.

CONSTRUCTION OF GEOMETRIC PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS FOR LEVEL SETS

Geometric partial differential equations of level-set form are usually constructed by a variational method using either Dirac delta function or co-area formula in the energy functional to be minimized. However, the equations derived by these two approaches are not consistent. In this paper, we present a third approach for constructing the level-set form equations. By representing various differential geometry quantities and differential geometry operators in terms of the implicit surface, we are able to reformulate three classes of parametric geometric partial differential equations （second-order, fourth-order and sixth- order） into the level-set forms. The reformulation of the equations is generic and simple, and the resulting equations are consistent with their parametric form counterparts. We further prove that the equations derived using co-area formula are also consistent with the parametric forms. However, these equations are of much complicated forms than these given by the equations we derived.

Concurrent Two-Scale Topology Optimization of Thermoelastic Structures Using a M-VCUT Level Set Based Model of Microstructures

By analyzing the results of compliance minimization of thermoelastic structures,we observed that microstructures play an important role in this optimization problem.Then,we propose to use a multiple variable cutting(M-VCUT)level set-based model of microstructures to solve the concurrent two-scale topology optimization of thermoelastic structures.A microstructure is obtained by combining multiple virtual microstructures that are derived respectively from multiple microstructure prototypes,thus giving more diversity of microstructure and more flexibility in design optimization.The effective mechanical properties of microstructures are computed in an off-line phase by using the homogenization method,and then a mapping relationship between the design variables and the effective properties is established,which gives a data-driven model of microstructure.In the online phase,the data-driven model is used in the finite element analysis to improve the computational efficiency.The compliance minimization problem is considered,and the results of numerical examples prove that the proposed method is effective.

A Hybrid Level Set Optimization Design Method of Functionally Graded Cellular Structures Considering Connectivity

With the continuous advancement in topology optimization and additive manufacturing(AM)technology,the capability to fabricate functionally graded materials and intricate cellular structures with spatially varying microstructures has grown significantly.However,a critical challenge is encountered in the design of these structures–the absence of robust interface connections between adjacent microstructures,potentially resulting in diminished efficiency or macroscopic failure.A Hybrid Level Set Method(HLSM)is proposed,specifically designed to enhance connectivity among non-uniform microstructures,contributing to the design of functionally graded cellular structures.The HLSM introduces a pioneering algorithm for effectively blending heterogeneous microstructure interfaces.Initially,an interpolation algorithm is presented to construct transition microstructures seamlessly connected on both sides.Subsequently,the algorithm enables the morphing of non-uniform unit cells to seamlessly adapt to interconnected adjacent microstructures.The method,seamlessly integrated into a multi-scale topology optimization framework using the level set method,exhibits its efficacy through numerical examples,showcasing its prowess in optimizing 2D and 3D functionally graded materials(FGM)and multi-scale topology optimization.In essence,the pressing issue of interface connections in complex structure design is not only addressed but also a robust methodology is introduced,substantiated by numerical evidence,advancing optimization capabilities in the realm of functionally graded materials and cellular structures.

Buckling Optimization of Curved Grid Stiffeners through the Level Set Based Density Method

Stiffened structures have great potential for improvingmechanical performance,and the study of their stability is of great interest.In this paper,the optimization of the critical buckling load factor for curved grid stiffeners is solved by using the level set based density method,where the shape and cross section(including thickness and width)of the stiffeners can be optimized simultaneously.The grid stiffeners are a combination ofmany single stiffenerswhich are projected by the corresponding level set functions.The thickness and width of each stiffener are designed to be independent variables in the projection applied to each level set function.Besides,the path of each single stiffener is described by the zero iso-contour of the level set function.All the single stiffeners are combined together by using the p-norm method to obtain the stiffener grid.The proposed method is validated by several numerical examples to optimize the critical buckling load factor.

Level-set法在液体晃荡研究中的应用

Level-set法是一种简便、通用、高效的计算分析空间运动界面的数值方法,本文尝试性地将Level-set方法应用于液体晃荡的研究,详细论述了应用该方法模拟液体晃荡的数学模型及数值解法。为了验证该方法处理晃荡问题的正确合理性,首先在势流假定下模拟了释放初始液面引起的自由晃荡,并将液面波动的数值结果与理论解析解进行了比较;然后模拟了二维矩形液箱做简谐横摇运动引起的液体受迫晃荡,计算结果以箱壁不同高度处的压强时间历经给出,并与实验结果进行了定量比较。计算结果初步表明采用Level-set方法研究液体晃荡现象是正确可行的。

基于Level-set法的液舱液体晃荡数值模拟

船舶液舱中液体晃荡现象已引起人们的深刻关注,液体晃荡载荷与效应成为航行中载液船舶安全性评估的重要内容之一。该文基于Level-set法,对一矩形液舱的两种工况下舱内的液体晃荡进行了数值模拟。通过计算,得到了液面起伏和压强的时间历经,结果显示Level-set方法可有效地模拟液体晃荡问题。

等离子熔积成形混相瞬态场的Level-Set方法模拟

提出了一种二维等离子熔积成形瞬态模型,该模型描述了液/气界面的自由表面发展,并模拟了熔池内流体流动和传热.采用Level-Set方法处理液/气界面边界条件,考虑了熔体流动的主要驱动力———表面张力梯度、表面曲率、浮力以及工件表面的对流散热等因素.用固液相统一模型来描述固/液界面处的熔融和凝固过程,并开发了相应的软件,对高温合金K163在不同扫描速度下的熔积层表面形貌、温度场以及熔池内流场进行了模拟分析.

可压缩多介质流体数值模拟中的Level-Set间断跟踪方法

针对可压缩多介质流体的数值模拟,发展了一种Level-Set间断追踪技术,用LS(Level-Set)函数追踪激波和捕捉界面,用Riemann问题解构造带状区域内的虚拟流体状态,对物理量的外推方法、间断附近虚拟流体的构造、间断推进速度的计算等问题进行了研究.最后对可压缩多介质流体一维和二维守恒律方程组进行数值模拟,数值计算采用通量重构的高精度WENO格式,计算结果令人满意.