Abstract: Provided are a hybrid prediction apparatus and method for entropy encoding that may enhance an existing image compression scheme and prediction scheme by including and selectively using a plurality of predictors configured to perform a per-pixel prediction of an image frame, and may also supplement a performance of a prediction scheme, excessively occurring in a particular pixel.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring a permeability of a subject's blood-brain barrier to water. The method includes acquiring, with an magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system, a first T1 map of the subject over at least a selected region-of-interest (“ROI”) including a brain of the subject and waiting a delay period selected to allow an affect of the contrast agent on the longitudinal relaxation period to change. The method then includes acquiring, after expiration of the delay period and with the MRI system, a second T1 map of the subject over at least the selected ROI and determining, using the first T1 map and the second T1 map, a fractional volume of vascular compartments in the ROI and a permeability surface area product in the ROI. The method includes creating, using the determined fractional volume and permeability surface area product, a map of water exchange rate in the ROI.

Abstract: Provided is a lossless/near-lossless image compression apparatus and method. The lossless/near-lossless image compression method may include calculating a predicted value by predicting a pixel of a current location based on adjacent pixels, calculating an error that is a difference between the predicted value and a pixel value, and modulating the error to output the modulated error, encoding the modulated error, and controlling a tolerance based on a slice unit to enable a number of encoded bits to be the same as a target number of encoded bits. The tolerance may be set to be gradually increased or to be decreased to prevent a rapid change in the tolerance.

Abstract: Provided are a hybrid prediction apparatus and method for entropy encoding that may enhance an existing image compression scheme and prediction scheme by including and selectively using a plurality of predictors configured to perform a per-pixel prediction of an image frame, and may also supplement a performance of a prediction scheme, excessively occurring in a particular pixel.

Abstract: A reporter conjugate for non-invasive imaging of gene expression in vivo is disclosed. The conjugate includes a targeting nucleic acid linked to a contrast agent, such as a paramagnetic label that can be used with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The targeting nucleic acid can be an anti-sense strand that hybridizes to a portion of a messenger RNA encoded by the gene whose expression is to be imaged. In some embodiments, the contrast agent is a chelated metal such as gadolinium or dysprosium. The invention also features methods to image gene expression in various tissues, including the brain.

Abstract: Interpolating pixel data in scaling pixel data for display can be provided by determining a pixel value at an interpolation location of a display based on filtering pixel data proximate to the interpolation location in a plurality of directions from the interpolation location. Related circuits and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A circuit and method for full search block matching, capable of quickly calculating the motion vector with lower power consumption, are provided. In the circuit and method for full search block matching, a best matching candidate block is selected by performing a predetermined operation between the reference block pixel data and the candidate block pixel data of a plurality of candidate blocks. The feature of the circuit and method lies in that computation on some pixels can be skipped after determination as to whether to continue or stop the computation on a candidate block. The circuit and method for full search block matching can considerably reduce the number of computations so that the motion vector can be rapidly calculated, saving power.

Abstract: Interpolating pixel data in scaling pixel data for display can be provided by determining a pixel value at an interpolation location of a display based on filtering pixel data proximate to the interpolation location in a plurality of directions from the interpolation location. Related circuits and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A security system is provided that uses a video processor of a video mobile phone to detect a moving object, and includes a video mobile phone for capturing external images and determining changes from the external images, transmitting alarm signals and compressing to transmit alarm video frames; an alarm generator for receiving alarm control signals from the video mobile phone to alarm; and an alarm video storage device for receiving and storing the alarm video frames transmitted from the video mobile phone.

Abstract: A circuit and method for full search block matching, capable of quickly calculating the motion vector with lower power consumption, are provided. In the circuit and method for full search block matching, a best matching candidate block is selected by performing a predetermined operation between the reference block pixel data and the candidate block pixel data of a plurality of candidate blocks. The feature of the circuit and method lies in that computation on some pixels can be skipped after determination as to whether to continue or stop the computation on a candidate block. The circuit and method for full search block matching can considerably reduce the number of computations so that the motion vector can be rapidly calculated, saving power.