Analysis of the optical quality by determining the modulation transfer function for anterior corneal surface in myopes

AIM: To describe the characteristics of modulation transfer function (MTF) of anterior corneal surface, and obtain the the normal reference range of MTF at different spatial frequencies and optical zones of the anterior corneal surface in myopes. METHODS: Four hundred eyes from 200 patients were examined under SIRIUS corneal topography system. Phoenis analysis software was applied to simulate the MTF curves of anterior corneal surface at vertical and horizontal meridians at the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7mm optical zones of cornea. The MTF values at spatial frequencies of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 cycles/degree (c/d) were selected. RESULTS: The MTF curve of anterior corneal surface decreased rapidly from low to intermediate frequency (0-15cpd) at various optical zones of cornea, the value decreased to 0 slowly at higher frequency (>15cpd). With the increase of the optical zones of cornea, MTF curve decreased gradually. 3) In the range of 3 mm- 6 mm optical zones of the cornea, the MTF values measured at horizontal meridian were greater than the corresponding values at horizontal meridian of each spatial frequency, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). At 7 mm optical zones of cornea, the MTF values measured at horizontal meridian were less than the corresponding values at vertical meridian at 10-60 spatial frequencies (cpd), and the difference was statistically significant in 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 cpd(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: MTF can be used to describe the imaging quality of optical systems at anterior corneal surface objectively in detail.

Modulation transfer function characteristic of uniform-doping transmission-mode GaAs/GaAlAs photocathode

The resolution characteristic can be obtained by the modulation transfer function （MTF） of a GaAs/GaA1As photocathode. After establishing the theoretical model of GaAs（100）-oriented atomic configuration and the formula for the ionized impurity scattering of the non-equilibrium carriers, this paper calculates the trajectories of photoelectrons in a photocathode. Thus the distribution of photoelectron spots on the emit-face is obtained, which is namely the point spread function. The MTF is obtained by Fourier transfer of the line spread function obtained from the point spread function. The MTF obtained from these calculations is shown to depend heavily on the electron diffusion length, and enhanced considerably by decreasing the electron diffusion length and increasing the doping concentration. Furthermore, the resolution is enhanced considerably by increasing the active-layer thickness, especially at high spatial frequencies. The best spatial resolution is 860 lp/mm, for the GaAs photocathode of doping concentration 1 ×10^19 cm 3 electron diffusion length 3.6 μm and the active-layer thickness 2 μm, under the 633-nm light irradiated. This research will contribute to the future improvement of the cathode＇s resolution for preparing a high performance GaAs photocathode, and improve the resolution of a low light level image intensifier.

A new modulation transfer function for ocean wave spectra retrieval from X-band marine radar imagery

When imaging ocean surface waves by X-band marine radar, the radar backscatter from the sea surface is modulated by the long surface gravity waves. The modulation transfer function （MTF） comprises tilt, hydrodynamic, and shadowing modulations. A conventional linear MTF was derived using HH-polarized radar observations under conditions of deep water. In this study, we propose a new quadratic polynomial MTF based on W-polarized radar measurements taken from heterogeneous nearshore wave fields. This new MTF is obtained using a radar-observed image spectrum and in situ buoy-measured wave frequency spectrum. We validate the MTF by comparing peak and mean wave periods retrieved from X-band marine radar image sequences with those measured by the buoy. It is shown that the retrieval accuracies of peak and mean wave periods of the new MTF are better than the conventional MTF. The results also show that the bias and root mean square errors of the peak and mean wave periods of the new MTF are 0.05 and 0.88 s, and 0.32 and 0.53 s, respectively, while those of the conventional MTF are 0.61 and 0.98 s, and 1.39 and 1.48 s, respectively. Moreover, it is also shown that the retrieval results are insensitive to the coefficients in the proposed MTF.

Comparison of the retinal modulation transfer function between amblyopes successfully corrected and normal subjects

AIM:To analyze the retinal modulation transfer function between amblyopes whose visual acuity was corrected to 5.0 and normal subjects at the same age. METHODS: RM-800 used to detect contrast sensitivity was adopted to measure MTF of 96 amblyopes (96 eyes) whose visual acuity was corrected to 5.0 and 80 normal controls (80 eyes) at the same age under six interference fringes (IVA=0.06, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8). RESULTS: The functional values of amblyopes were significantly lower than those of normal subjects in every fringe (P<0.01), especially in medium and high frequency. CONCLUSION: For amblyopes, MTF was still abnormal after stopping the treatments.

Fuzzy image restoration using modulation transfer function

The key difficulty of restoring a fuzzy image is to estimate its point spread function( PSF). In the paper,PSF is modelled based on modulation transfer function( MTF). The first step is calculating the image MTF. In the traditional slanted-edge method,a sub-block is always manually extracted from original image and its MTF will be viewed as the result of the whole image. However,handcraft extraction is inefficient and will lead to inaccurate results. Given this,an automatic MTF computation algorithm is proposed,which extracts and screens out all the effective sub-blocks and calculates their average MTF as the final result. Then,a two-dimensional MTF restoration model is constructed by multiplying the horizontal and vertical MTF,and it is combined with conventional image restoration methods to restore fuzzy image. Experimental results indicate the proposed method implementes a fast and accurate MTF computation and the MTF model improves the performance of conventional restoration methods significantly.

Unbiased parameter estimation of continuous-time system based on modulating functions with input and output white noises

An efficient unbiased estimation method is proposed for the direct identification of linear continuous-time system with noisy input and output measurements.Using the Gaussian modulating filters,by numerical integration,an equivalent discrete identification model which is parameterized with continuous-time model parameters is developed,and the parameters can be estimated by the least-squares (LS) algorithm.Even with white noises in input and output measurement data,the LS estimate is biased,and the bias is determined by the variances of noises.According to the asymptotic analysis,the relationship between bias and noise variances is derived.One equation relating to the measurement noise variances is derived through the analysis of the LS errors.Increasing the degree of denominator of the system transfer function by one,an extended model is constructed.By comparing the true value and LS estimates of the parameters between original and extended model,another equation with input and output noise variances is formulated.So,the noise variances are resolved by the set of equations,the LS bias is eliminated and the unbiased estimates of system parameters are obtained.A simulation example by comparing the standard LS with bias eliminating LS algorithm indicates that the proposed algorithm is an efficient method with noisy input and output measurements.

A Wave Modulation Model of Ripples over Long Surface Waves

A study is presented on the modulation of ripples induced by a long surface wave (LW) and a new theoretical modula-tion model is proposed. In this model, the wind surface stress modulation is related to the modulation of ripple spectrum. The model results show that in the case of LW propagating in the wind direction with the wave age parameter of LW increasing, the area with enhanced shear stress shifts from the region near the LW crest on the upwind slope to the LW trough. With a smaller wave age parameter of LW, the ripple modulation has the maximum on the upwind slope in the vicinity of LW crest, while with a larger parameter the enhancement of ripple spectrum does not occur in that region. At low winds the amplitude of ripple modulation transfer function (MTF) is larger in the gravity wave range, while at moderate or high winds it changes little in the range from short gravity waves to capillary waves.

Solving the atmospheric scattering optical transfer function using the multi-coupled single scattering method

The atmospheric scattering optical transfer function （OTF） is solved by applying the multi-coupled single scattering （MCSS） method to the three-dimensional radiative transfer equation （RTE） under the periodic ground condition. This approach is a direct hit to the atmospheric scattering OTF using the same original context of modulation transfer function （MTF） measurement, i.e., images of sinusoidal grating at different spatial frequencies. Both the amplitude and phase shift of the OTF at various zenith and azimuth angles can be obtained at an arbitrary spatial frequency.

Discovering the cellular-localized functional modules and modular interactions in response to liver cancer

In this paper, we firstly identify the functional modules enriched with differentially expressed genes （DEGs） and characterized by biological processes in specific cellular locations, based on gene ontology （GO） and microarray data. Then, we further define and filter disease relevant signature modules according to the ranking of the disease discriminating abilities of the pre-selected functional modules. At last, we analyze the potential way by which they cooperate towards human disease. Application of the proposed method to the analysis of a liver cancer dataset shows that, using the same false discovery rate （ FDR ） threshold, we can find more biologically meaningful and detailed processes by using the cellular localization information. Some biological evidences support the relevancy of our biological modules to the disease mechanism.

Stimuli-responsive peptide assemblies:Design,self-assembly,modulation,and biomedical applications

Peptide molecules have design flexibility,self-assembly ability,high biocompatibility,good biodegradability,and easy functionalization,which promote their applications as versatile biomaterials for tissue engineering and biomedicine.In addition,the functionalization of self-assembled peptide nanomaterials with other additive components enhances their stimuli-responsive functions,promoting function-specific applications that induced by both internal and external stimulations.In this review,we demonstrate recent advance in the peptide molecular design,self-assembly,functional tailoring,and biomedical applications of peptide-based nanomaterials.The strategies on the design and synthesis of single,dual,and multiple stimuli-responsive peptide-based nanomaterials with various dimensions are analyzed,and the functional regulation of peptide nanomaterials with active components such as metal/metal oxide,DNA/RNA,polysaccharides,photosensitizers,2D materials,and others are discussed.In addition,the designed peptide-based nanomaterials with temperature-,pH-,ion-,light-,enzyme-,and ROS-responsive abilities for drug delivery,bioimaging,cancer therapy,gene therapy,antibacterial,as well as wound healing and dressing applications are presented and discussed.This comprehensive review provides detailed methodologies and advanced techniques on the synthesis of peptide nanomaterials from molecular biology,materials science,and nanotechnology,which will guide and inspire the molecular level design of peptides with specific and multiple functions for function-specific applications.

Identification of linear continuous-time system using wavelet modulating filters

An approach to identification of linear continuous-time system is studied with modulating functions. Based on wavelet analysis theory, the multi-resolution modulating functions are designed, and the corresponding filters have been analyzed. Using linear modulating filters, we can obtain an identification model that is parameterized directly in continuous-time model parameters. By applying the results from discrete-time model identification to the obtained identification model, a continuous-time estimation method is developed. Considering the accuracy of parameter estimates, an instrumental variable (Ⅳ) method is proposed, and the design of modulating integral filter is discussed. The relationship between the accuracy of identification and the parameter of modulating filter is investigated, and some points about designing Gaussian wavelet modulating function are outlined. Finally, a simulation study is also included to verify the theoretical results.

Application of slant lens fiber in reflective optical fiber displacement sensor

This paper introduces the application of a slant lens fiber in a reflective fiber optical displacement sensor, namely the receiving fiber use the slant lens fiber. Based on the characteristic formula expression of the intensity modulation of planar single fiber pair, a mathematic model of single fiber fair intensity modulation is established. After simulation experiment, the influence of fiber spacing, fiber core diameter and fiber numerical aperture on the modulation characteristics of the sensor is summarized.

Comparison of ocular modulation transfer function determined by a ray-tracing aberrometer and a double-pass system in early cataract patients

Background The evaluation of retinal image quality in cataract eyes has gained importance and the clinical modulation transfer functions （MTF） can obtained by aberrometer and double pass （DP） system. This study aimed to compare MTF derived from a ray tracing aberrometer and a DP system in early cataractous and normal eyes. Methods There were 128 subjects with 61 control eyes and 67 eyes with early cataract defined according to the Lens Opacities Classification System II1. A laser ray-tracing wavefront aberrometer （iTrace） and a double pass （DP） system （OQAS） assessed ocular MTF for 6.0 mm pupil diameters following dilation. Areas under the MTF （AUMTF） and their correlations were analyzed. Stepwise multiple regression analysis assessed factors affecting the differences between iTrace- and OQAS-derived AUMTF for the early cataract group. Results For both early cataract and control groups, iTrace-derived MTFs were higher than OQAS-derived MTFs across a range of spatial frequencies （P 〈0.01）. No significant difference between the two groups occurred for iTrace-derived AUMTF, but the early cataract group had significantly smaller OQAS-derived AUMTF than did the control group （P 〈0.01）. AUMTF determined from both the techniques demonstrated significant correlations with nuclear opacities, higher-order aberrations （HOAs）, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity functions, while the OQAS-derived AUMTF also demonstrated significant correlations with age and cortical opacity grade. The factors significantly affecting the difference between iTrace and OQAS AUMTF were root-mean-squared HOAs （standardized beta coefficient=-0.63, P 〈0.01） and age （standardized beta coefficient=0.26, P 〈0.01）. Conclusions MTFs determined from a iTrace and a DP system （OQAS） differ significantly in early cataractous and normal subjects. Correlations with visual performance were higher for the DP system. OQAS-derived MTF may be useful as an indicator of visual performance in early cataract eyes.

Urban niche dynamics of Kaifeng city

Niche theory is one of the most important ecological theories. It is widely applied to analyzing such phenomena as competition among, and evolution of, urban ecosystem functional modules. This paper describes a study concerning＇different functional modules of Kaifeng city urban ecosystem. Niche theory and techniques were used to analyze the changes of these functional modules in the period 1994-2003. The results showed that, in the period 1994-2003： （1） Niche value of the atmospheric environment and urban virescence modules increased, while niche value of the water environment and sound environment modules decreased; （2） niche value of the tertiary industry module increased, niche value of the secondary industry module decreased, while niche value of the primary industry module showed little change; and （3） niche value of the infrastructure, resource distribution, and production ＆ social security modules increased, while niche value of the population module decreased. This study may contribute to macroscopic planning of urban functional modules, economic development, and environmental protection.

Temporal Characteristics of GaAs NEA and Alkali Metal Photocathodes

The temporal characteristics of GaAs NEA and alkali metal photocathodes are studied using Monte Carlo simulation method. The electron transit time and its distribution functions in the photocathodes are calculated. Based on the results, the time modulation transfer functions and temporal resolutions of the photocathodes are obtained. The results show that the response time and temporal resolution of alkali metal photocathode is in femitosecond order and those of GaAs NEA photocathode are in picosecond order.

An Improved Coupling of Numerical and Physical Models for Simulating Wave Propagation

An improved coupling of numerical and physical models for simulating 2D wave propagation is developed in this paper. In the proposed model, an unstructured finite element model （FEM） based Boussinesq equations is applied for the numerical wave simulation, and a 2D piston-type wavemaker is used for the physical wave generation. An innovative scheme combining fourth-order Lagrange interpolation and Runge-Kutta scheme is described for solving the coupling equation. A Transfer function modulation method is presented to minimize the errors induced from the hydrodynamic invalidity of the coupling model and/or the mechanical capability of the wavemaker in area where nonlinearities or dispersion predominate. The overall performance and applicability of the coupling model has been experimentally validated by accounting for both regular and irregular waves and varying bathymetry. Experimental results show that the proposed numerical scheme and transfer function modulation method are efficient for the data transfer from the numerical model to the physical model up to a deterministic level.

Characterization of a Multimodal and Multispectral Led Imager: Application to Organic Polymer’s Microspheres with Diameter Φ = 10.2 μm

Multispectral microscopy enables information enhancement in the study of specimens because of the large spectral band used in this technique. A low cost multimode multispectral microscope using a camera and a set of quasi-monochromatic Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths as illumination sources was constructed. But the use of a large spectral band provided by non-monochromatic sources induces variation of focal plan of the imager due to chromatic aberration which rises up the diffraction effects and blurs the images causing shadow around them. It results in discrepancies between standard spectra and extracted spectra with microscope. So we need to calibrate that instrument to be a standard one. We proceed with two types of images comparison to choose the reference wavelength for image acquisition where diffraction effect is more reduced. At each wavelength chosen as a reference, one image is well contrasted. First, we compare the thirteen well contrasted images to identify that presenting more reduced shadow. In second time, we determine the mean of the shadow size over the images from each set. The correction of the discrepancies required measurements on filters using a standard spectrometer and the microscope in transmission mode and reflection mode. To evaluate the capacity of our device to transmit information in frequency domain, its modulation transfer function is evaluated. Multivariate analysis is used to test its capacity to recognize properties of well-known sample. The wavelength 700 nm was chosen to be the reference for the image acquisition, because at this wavelength the images are well contrasted. The measurement made on the filters suggested correction coefficients in transmission mode and reflection mode. The experimental instrument recognized the microsphere’s properties and led to the extraction of the standard transmittance and reflectance spectra. Therefore, this microscope is used as a conventional instrument.

New modal identification method under the non-stationary Gaussian ambient excitation

Based on the multivariate continuous time autoregressive （CAR） model, this paper presents a new time-domain modal identification method of linear time-invariant system driven by the uniformly modulated Gaussian random excitation. The method can identify the physical parameters of the system from the response data. First, the structural dynamic equation is transformed into a continuous time autoregressive model （CAR） of order 3. Second, based on the assumption that the uniformly modulated function is approximately equal to a constant matrix in a very short period of time and on the property of the strong solution of the stochastic differential equation, the uniformly modulated function is identified piecewise. Two special situations are discussed. Finally, by virtue of the Girsanov theorem, we introduce a likelihood function, which is just a con- ditional density function. Maximizing the likelihood function gives the exact maximum likelihood estimators of model parameters. Numerical results show that the method has high precision and the computation is efficient.

The efifect of wave breaking on surface wave imaging by Synthetic Aperture Radar

The effect of ocean wave breaking as a non-Bragg mechanism on backscattering cross-section and modulation transfer functions （MTF） of radar was investigated based on Bragg resonance theory and parametric method. The result showed that the additional effect of wave breaking on backscattering cross-section is not more than 20% except for the small incident angle of VV polarized electromagnetic （e.m.） wave but is significant for HH polarized e.m. wave. Breaking waves lead to increase in the modulus of tilt modulation MTF and the larger the wind speed, the faster the increase. For large incident angle, the modulus of tilt modulation MTF with wave breaking decreases quickly with incident angle for HH polarization and approach to that without wave breaking for VV polarization. The hydrodynamic MTF increases 30%-60% when considering wave breaking and the increase is larger for HH polarization than for VV polarization.

QUASI-NEUTRAL LIMIT OF THE BIPOLAR NAVIER-STOKES-POISSON SYSTEM

This paper is concerned with the quasi-neutral limit of the bipolar NavierStokes-Poisson system. It is rigorously proved, by introducing the new modulated energy functional and using the refined energy analysis, that the strong solutions of the bipolar Navier-Stokes-Poisson system converge to the strong solution of the compressible NavierStokes equations as the Debye length goes to zero. Moreover, if we let the viscous coefficients and the Debye length go to zero simultaneously, then we obtain the convergence of the strong solutions of bipolar Navier-Stokes-Poisson system to the strong solution of the compressible Euler equations.