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At least 883 records · Page 49

Lidar Cloud Detection with Fully Convolutional Networks

In this contribution, we present a novel approach for segmenting laser radar (lidar) imagery into geometric time- height cloud locations with a fully convolutional network (FCN). We describe a semi-supervised learning method to train the FCN by: pre-training the classification layers of the FCN with image-level annotations, pre-training the en- tire FCN with the cloud locations of the MPLCMASK cloud mask algorithm, and fully supervised learning with hand-labeled cloud locations. We show the model achieves higher levels of cloud identification compared to the cloud mask algorithm implementation.

Cromwell, Erol LD↗

ASDFL: An adaptive super‐pixel discriminative feature‐selective learning for vehicle matching

Abstract There are a large number of cameras in modern transportation system that capture numerous vehicle images continuously. Therefore, automatic analysis of these vehicle images is helpful for traffic flow management, criminal investigations and vehicle inspections. Vehicle matching, which aims to determine whether two input images depict an identical vehicle, is one of the core tasks in vehicle analysis. Recent relevant studies have focused on local feature extraction instead of global extraction, since local details can provide crucial cues to distinguish between cars. However, these methods do not select local features; that is, they do not assign weights to local features. Therefore, in this research, we systematically study the vehicle matching task, and present a novel annotation‐free local‐based deep learning method called Adaptive super‐pixel discriminative feature‐selective learning (ASDFL) to address this issue. In ASDFL, vehicle images are segmented into clusters of super‐pixels of similar size by considering the location and colour similarities of pixels without using any component‐level annotation. These super‐pixels are deemed to be the virtual components of vehicles. Moreover, a convolutional neural network is used to extract the deep features of these virtual components. Thereafter, an instance‐specific mask generation module driven by the extracted global features is enhanced to produce a mask to select the most distinctive virtual components of each vehicle image pair in the feature space. Finally, the vehicle matching task is accomplished by classifying the selected virtual component features of each imaged vehicle pair. Extensive experiments on two popular vehicle identification benchmarks demonstrate that our method is 1.57% and 0.8% more accurate than the previous baselines in a vehicle matching task on the VeRi and VehicleID datasets, respectively, which demonstrates the effectiveness of our method.

Qin, Rong↗

The development and application of the stirred‐reactor coupon analysis (SRCA) test method

A new technique, termed the stirred‐reactor coupon analysis (SRCA) method, has been developed to measure the rate of glass dissolution in forward‐rate conditions. Monolithic glass coupons are partially masked with an inert material before placement in a large volume of well‐mixed solution with known chemistry and temperature for a predetermined duration. After the test, the mask is removed, and the difference in step height between the protected area and the exposed corroded portions of the sample coupon is measured to determine the extent of glass dissolution. The step height is converted to a rate measurement using the test duration and glass density. Test parameters such as sample surface preparation and test duration were evaluated to determine their effects on the measured rates. Additionally, results from an interlaboratory study (ILS) consisting of 12 laboratories from 11 different institutions are presented, where each laboratory performed 12 independent tests. When removing experimental outlier data, the 95% reproducibility limits for the SRCA method has no statistical difference with previously published standardized test methods used to determine the forward rate of glass dissolution. Overall, this paper describes steps necessary to perform the test method and provides the statistical calculations to evaluate test accuracy.

chemical durability↗

Comparative study of GaN mesa etch characteristics in Cl{sub 2} based inductively coupled plasma with Ar and BCl{sub 3} as additive gases

GaN thin film etching is investigated and compared for mesa formation in inductively coupled plasma (ICP) of Cl{sub 2} with Ar and BCl{sub 3} gas additives using photoresist mask. Etch characteristics are studied as a function of ICP process parameters, viz., ICP power, radio frequency (RF) power, and chamber pressure at fixed total flow rate. The etch rate at each ICP/RF power is 0.1–0.2 μm/min higher for Cl{sub 2}/Ar mixture mainly due to higher Cl dissociation efficiency of Ar additive that readily provides Cl ion/radical for reaction in comparison to Cl{sub 2}/BCl{sub 3} mixture. Cl{sub 2}/Ar mixture also leads to better photoresist mask selectivity. The etch-induced roughness is investigated using atomic force microscopy. Cl{sub 2}/Ar etching has resulted in lower root-mean-square roughness of GaN etched surface in comparison to Cl{sub 2}/BCl{sub 3} etching due to increased Ar ion energy and flux with ICP/RF power that enhances the sputter removal of etch product. The GaN surface damage after etching is also evaluated using room temperature photoluminescence and found to be increasing with ICP/RF power for both the etch chemistries with higher degree of damage in Cl{sub 2}/BCl{sub 3} etching under same condition.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Investigation of electrochemical etch differences in AlGaAs heterostructures using Cl{sub 2} ion beam assisted etching

A deeply etched, anisotropic 45° and 90° mirror technology is developed for Al{sub x}Ga{sub 1−x}As heterostructures using a Cl{sub 2} ion beam assisted etching system. When etching vertically, using a conductive low-erosion Ni mask, electrochemical etch differences between layers with various Al mole fractions caused nonuniform sidewall profiles not seen in semi-insulating GaAs test samples. These variations, based on alloy composition, were found to be negligible when etching at a 45°. A Si{sub 3}N{sub 4}-Ni etch mask is designed in order to electrically isolate charge buildup caused by the incoming Ar{sup +} ion beam to the Ni layer, preventing conduction to the underlying epitaxial layers. This modification produced smoothly etched facets, up to 8 μm in depth, enabling fabrication of substrate–surface-emitting slab-coupled optical waveguide lasers and other optoelectronic devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Application of cyclic fluorocarbon/argon discharges to device patterning

With increasing demands on device patterning to achieve smaller critical dimensions and pitches for the 5 nm node and beyond, the need for atomic layer etching (ALE) is steadily increasing. In this work, a cyclic fluorocarbon/Ar plasma is successfully used for ALE patterning in a manufacturing scale reactor. Self-limited etching of silicon oxide is observed. The impact of various process parameters on the etch performance is established. The substrate temperature has been shown to play an especially significant role, with lower temperatures leading to higher selectivity and lower etch rates, but worse pattern fidelity. The cyclic ALE approach established with this work is shown to have great potential for small scale device patterning, showing self-limited etching, improved uniformity and resist mask performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Review Article: Progress in fabrication of transition metal dichalcogenides heterostructure systems

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) semiconductors have attracted significant attention because of their rich electronic/photonic properties and importance for fundamental research and novel device applications. These materials provide a unique opportunity to build up high quality and atomically sharp heterostructures because of the nature of weak van der Waals interlayer interactions. The variable electronic properties of TMDCs (e.g., band gap and their alignment) provide a platform for the design of novel electronic and optoelectronic devices. The integration of TMDC heterostructures into the semiconductor industry is presently hindered by limited options in reliable production methods. Many exciting properties and device architectures which have been studied to date are, in large, based on the exfoliation methods of bulk TMDC crystals. These methods are generally more difficult to consider for large scale integration processes, and hence, continued developments of different fabrication strategies are essential for further advancements in this area. In this review, the authors highlight the recent progress in the fabrication of TMDC heterostructures. The authors will review several methods most commonly used to date for controllable heterostructure formation. One of the focuses will be on TMDC heterostructures fabricated by thermal chemical vapor deposition methods which allow for the control over the resulting materials, individual layers and heterostructures. Another focus would be on the techniques for selective growth of TMDCs. The authors will discuss conventional and unconventional fabrication methods and their advantages and drawbacks and will provide some guidance for future improvements. Mask-assisted and mask-free methods will be presented, which include traditional lithographic techniques (photo- or e-beam lithography) and some unconventional methods such as the focus ion beam and the recently developed direct-write patterning approach, which are shown to be promising for the fabrication of quality TMDC heterostructures.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Plasma etching of wide bandgap and ultrawide bandgap semiconductors

The precise patterning of front-side mesas, backside vias, and selective removal of ternary alloys are all needed for power device fabrication in the various wide bandgap (AlGaN/GaN, SiC) and ultrawide bandgap (high Al-content alloys, boron nitride, Ga2O3, diamond) semiconductor technologies. The plasma etching conditions used are generally ion-assisted because of the strong bond strengths in these materials, and this creates challenges for the choice of masks in order to have sufficient selectivity over the semiconductor and to avoid mask erosion and micromasking issues. It can also be challenging to achieve practical etch rates without creating excessive damage in the patterned surface. The authors review the optimum choices for plasma chemistries for each of the semiconductors and acknowledge the pioneering work of John Coburn, who first delineated the ion-assisted etch mechanism.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Impact of carrier wafer on etch rate, selectivity, morphology, and passivation during GaN plasma etching

The choice of carrier wafer was found to significantly influence etch rates, selectivity, and morphology in GaN micropillar etching in a Cl 2 -Ar high-density inductively coupled plasma. 7 × 7 mm 2 GaN on sapphire chips with a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition SiO 2 hard mask was etched on top of 4-in. fused silica, silicon carbide, silicon, sapphire, aluminum nitride, and high purity aluminum carriers. Silicon and silicon carbide carriers reduced GaN:SiO 2 selectivity because incidental SiCl x and CCl x etch products from the carriers attack the SiO 2 mask. Aluminum nitride and high-purity aluminum carriers yielded the highest GaN:SiO 2 selectivities due to the deposition of Al-based etched by-products, while the highest GaN etch rate was achieved using the sapphire carrier since it was the most inert carrier and did not sink any Cl 2 . Overall, results indicate that SiO 2 and Al may be used as passivation materials during GaN etching, as vertical profiles were achieved when SiO 2 or Al is redeposited from the fused silica and aluminum carriers, respectively. Floor pitting, trenching, sidewall roughness, and faceting were all influenced by carrier wafer type and will be discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Si content in methacrylamide-containing A- b -(B- r -C) block copolymers and its impact on reactive ion etching properties

Block copolymers (BCPs) of an A-block-(B-random-C) architecture have been explored as materials for nanolithography because the composition and chemistry of the random block enables modification of thermodynamic and wetting properties to meet manufacturing criteria. Here, in this study, A-b-(B-r-C) BCPs created by an amidation reaction of polystyrene-block-poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PPFMA) with controlled amounts of Si add insight to previous conclusions about the dual contributions of BCP chemistry and reactive ion etch (RIE) gas chemistry on etch properties. We focus on two RIE etch characteristics: organosilicon etch resistance in H 2 /N 2 plasma etching and enhanced removal of non-styrenic structures in an Ar/O 2 etch. Consistent with previous studies, higher amounts of Si result in greater etch resistance under H 2 /N 2 RIE, where at least ∼10 wt. % Si is necessary to exhibit sufficient etch resistance. By contrast, Ar/O 2 etching resulted in etch rates independent of Si content. We observe previously unreported surface roughening aligned with morphological domains during the H 2 /N 2 etch of modified PS-b-PPFMA BCPs. Limited in the amount of allowable Si to attain equal surface energy between blocks, these BCPs are further disqualified in forming a Si-containing mask. However, in an Ar/O 2 etch, the same BCPs exhibit suitable etch contrast and smooth domain structures, forming a uniform PS mask. Ultimately, this study uses the chemical flexibility of these materials to demonstrate the mechanisms of interactions between BCP and etch chemistry that must be considered to design effective materials for pattern transfer applications.

Eom, Christopher J. [University of Chicago, IL (Un↗

Measurement of EUV lithography pupil amplitude and phase variation via image-based methodology

Here, an approach to image-based EUV aberration metrology using binary mask targets and iterative model-based solutions to extract both the amplitude and phase components of the aberrated pupil function is presented. The approach is enabled through previously developed modeling, fitting, and extraction algorithms. We seek to examine the behavior of pupil amplitude variation in real-optical systems. Optimized target images were captured under several conditions to fit the resulting pupil responses. Both the amplitude and phase components of the pupil function were extracted from a zone-plate-based EUV mask microscope. The pupil amplitude variation was expanded in three different bases: Zernike polynomials, Legendre polynomials, and Hermite polynomials. It was found that the Zernike polynomials describe pupil amplitude variation most effectively of the three.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Cardiac C-arm computed tomography using a 3D + time ROI reconstruction method with spatial and temporal regularization

Purpose: Reconstruction of the beating heart in 3D + time in the catheter laboratory using only the available C-arm system would improve diagnosis, guidance, device sizing, and outcome control for intracardiac interventions, e.g., electrophysiology, valvular disease treatment, structural or congenital heart disease. To obtain such a reconstruction, the patient's electrocardiogram (ECG) must be recorded during the acquisition and used in the reconstruction. In this paper, the authors present a 4D reconstruction method aiming to reconstruct the heart from a single sweep 10 s acquisition. Methods: The authors introduce the 4D RecOnstructiOn using Spatial and TEmporal Regularization (short 4D ROOSTER) method, which reconstructs all cardiac phases at once, as a 3D + time volume. The algorithm alternates between a reconstruction step based on conjugate gradient and four regularization steps: enforcing positivity, averaging along time outside a motion mask that contains the heart and vessels, 3D spatial total variation minimization, and 1D temporal total variation minimization. Results: 4D ROOSTER recovers the different temporal representations of a moving Shepp and Logan phantom, and outperforms both ECG-gated simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique and prior image constrained compressed sensing on a clinical case. It generates 3D + time reconstructions with sharp edges which can be used, for example, to estimate the patient's left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions: 4D ROOSTER can be applied for human cardiac C-arm CT, and potentially in other dynamic tomography areas. It can easily be adapted to other problems as regularization is decoupled from projection and back projection.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

SU-E-T-210: Independent MU Dose Calculation Software for S and S IMRT Using Modified Clarkson Integration Sector

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to develop and validate an open source independent MU dose calculation software for S and S IMRT based in the algorithm proposed by Kung et.al. Methods: Treatment plans were done using Iplan v4.5 BrainLAB TPS and S and S IMRT modality. A 6MV photon beam produced by a Primus linear accelerator equipped with an Optifocus MLC was used. TPS dose calculation algorithms were pencil beam and Monte Carlo. 230 IMRT treatments plans were selected for the study. The software was written under MALTLAB environment. Treatment plans were imported by the software using RTP format. Field fluences were reconstructed adding all segments.The algorithm implemented in the software calculates the dose at a reference point as the sum of primary and scatter dose. The primary dose is obtained by masking the fluence map with a circle of radius 1cm. The scatter dose is obtained through a shaped ring mask around the previous circle with a thickness of 0.5cm; the rings are increased one after another with constant thickness until cover the entire map of influence. The dosimetric parameters Sc, Sp and TPR vary depending on radio, the transmission effect of the MLC, inverse square law and dose profile are used for the calculation. Results: The average difference between measured and independent calculated dose was 0.4% ± 2.2% [−6.8%, 6.4%]. For 91% of the studied plans the difference was less than 3%. The difference between the measured and TPS dose with pencilbeam algorithm was 2.6% ± 1.41% [−2.0%, 5.6%] and Monte Carlo algorithm was 0.4% ± 1.5% [−4.9%, 3.7%]. The differences obtained are comparable to that obtained with the ionization chamber and TPS. Conclusion: The developed software is suitable for use in S and S IMRT dose calculation. This application is open and can be downloading under request.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

WE-G-17A-01: Improving Tracking Image Spatial Resolution for Onboard MR Image Guided Radiation Therapy Using the WHISKEE Technique

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of using the weighted hybrid iterative spiral k-space encoded estimation (WHISKEE) technique to improve spatial resolution of tracking images for onboard MR image guided radiation therapy (MR-IGRT). Methods: MR tracking images of abdomen and pelvis had been acquired from healthy volunteers using the ViewRay onboard MRIGRT system (ViewRay Inc. Oakwood Village, OH) at a spatial resolution of 2.0mm*2.0mm*5.0mm. The tracking MR images were acquired using the TrueFISP sequence. The temporal resolution had to be traded off to 2 frames per second (FPS) to achieve the 2.0mm in-plane spatial resolution. All MR images were imported into the MATLAB software. K-space data were synthesized through the Fourier Transform of the MR images. A mask was created to selected k-space points that corresponded to the under-sampled spiral k-space trajectory with an acceleration (or undersampling) factor of 3. The mask was applied to the fully sampled k-space data to synthesize the undersampled k-space data. The WHISKEE method was applied to the synthesized undersampled k-space data to reconstructed tracking MR images at 6 FPS. As a comparison, the undersampled k-space data were also reconstructed using the zero-padding technique. The reconstructed images were compared to the original image. The relatively reconstruction error was evaluated using the percentage of the norm of the differential image over the norm of the original image. Results: Compared to the zero-padding technique, the WHISKEE method was able to reconstruct MR images with better image quality. It significantly reduced the relative reconstruction error from 39.5% to 3.1% for the pelvis image and from 41.5% to 4.6% for the abdomen image at an acceleration factor of 3. Conclusion: We demonstrated that it was possible to use the WHISKEE method to expedite MR image acquisition for onboard MR-IGRT systems to achieve good spatial and temporal resolutions simultaneously. Y. Hu and O. green receive travel reimbursement from ViewRay. S. Mutic has consulting and research agreements with ViewRay. Q. Zeng, R. Nana, J.L. Patrick, S. Shvartsman and J.F. Dempsey are ViewRay employees.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

TH-C-18A-04: Validation of Dosimetric Measurement of CT Radiation Profile Width

Purpose: The ACR now requires that the CT radiation profile width be measured at all clinically used collimations. We developed a method for measuring the profile width using dosimetry alone to allow a faster and simpler measurement of beam widths. Methods: A pencil ionization chamber is used to take two dose-length product measurements in air for a wide collimation. One of these is taken with a 1cm tungsten mask on the pencil chamber. The difference between these measurements is the calibration factor, or the DLP in air per unit length. By dividing the doselength product for any given collimation by this factor, we can rapidly determine the beam profile width.We measured the beam width for all available detector configurations and focal spot sizes on three different CT scanners from two different manufacturers. The measurements were done using film, CR cassette, and the present dosimetric method. Results: The beam widths measured dosimetrically are approximately 2% wider than those measured using film or computed radiography; this difference is believed due to off-focus or scattered radiation. After correcting for this, the dosimetric beam widths match the film and CR widths with an RMS difference of approximately 0.2mm. The measured beam widths are largely insensitive to errors in positioning of the mask, or to tilt errors in the pencil chamber. Conclusion: Using the present method, radiation profile widths can be measured quickly, with an accuracy better than 1mm.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

SU-E-J-105: Trusting Dose Deformation and Accumulation for GYN Brachytherapy

Purpose: In brachytherapy, structures surrounding the target have the potential to move between treatments and receive unknown dose. Deformable image registration could overcome challenges through dose accumulation. This study uses two possible deformable dose summation techniques and compares the results to point dose summation currently performed in clinic. Methods: Data for ten patients treated with a Syed template was imported into the MIM software (Cleveland, OH). The deformable registration was applied to structures by masking other image data to a single intensity. The registration flow consisted of the following steps: 1) mask CTs so that each of the structures-of-interest had one unique intensity; 2) perform applicator — based rigid registration; 3) Perform deformable registration; 4) Refine registration by changing local alignments manually; 5) Repeat steps 1 to 3 until desired structure adequately deformed; 5) Transfer each deformed contours to the first CT. The deformed structure accuracy was determined by a dice similarity coefficient (DSC) comparison with the first fraction. Two dose summation techniques were investigated: a deformation and recalculation on the structure; and a dose deformation and accumulation method. Point doses were used as a comparison value. Results: The Syed deformations have DSC ranging from 0.53 to 0.97 and 0.75 and 0.95 for the bladder and rectum, respectively. For the bladder, contour deformation addition ranged from −34.8% to 0.98% and dose deformation accumulation ranged from −35% to 29.3% difference from clinical calculations. For the rectum, contour deformation addition ranged from −5.2% to 16.9% and the dose deformation accumulation ranged from −29.1% to 15.3% change. Conclusion: Deforming dose for summation leads to different volumetric doses than when dose is recalculated on deformed structures, raising concerns about the accuracy of the deformed dose. DSC alone cannot be used to establish the accuracy of a deformation for brachy dose summation purpose.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

SU-E-J-108: Solving the Chinese Postman Problem for Effective Contour Deformation

Purpose: To develop a practical approach for accurate contour deformation when deformable image registration (DIR) is used for atlas-based segmentation or contour propagation in image-guided radiotherapy. Methods: A contour deformation approach was developed on the basis of 3D mesh operations. The 2D contours represented by a series of points in each slice were first converted to a 3D triangular mesh, which was deformed by the deformation vectors resulting from DIR. A set of parallel 2D planes then cut through the deformed 3D mesh, generating unordered points and line segments, which should be reorganized into a set of 2D contour points. It was realized that the reorganization problem was equivalent to solving the Chinese Postman Problem (CPP) by traversing a graph built from the unordered points with the least cost. Alternatively, deformation could be applied to a binary mask converted from the original contours. The deformed binary mask was then converted back into contours at the CT slice locations. We performed a qualitative comparison to validate the mesh-based approach against the image-based approach. Results: The DIR could considerably change the 3D mesh, making complicated 2D contour representations after deformation. CPP was able to effectively reorganize the points in 2D planes no matter how complicated the 2D contours were. The mesh-based approach did not require a post-processing of the contour, thus accurately showing the actual deformation in DIR. The mesh-based approach could keep some fine details and resulted in smoother contours than the image-based approach did, especially for the lung structure. Image-based approach appeared to over-process contours and suffered from image resolution limits. The mesh-based approach was integrated into in-house DIR software for use in routine clinic and research. Conclusion: We developed a practical approach for accurate contour deformation. The efficiency of this approach was demonstrated in both clinic and research applications. This work was partially supported by Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) RP110562.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

SU-E-J-193: Application of Surface Mapping in Detecting Swallowing for Head-&-Neck Cancer

Purpose: Recent evidence is emerging that long term swallowing function may be improved after radiotherapy for head-&-neck cancer if doses are limited to certain swallowing structures. Immobilization of patients with head-&-neck cancer is typically done with a mask. This mask, however, doesn’t limit patient swallowing. Patient voluntary or involuntary swallowing may introduce significant tumor motion, which can lead to suboptimal delivery. In this study, we have examined the feasibility of using surface mapping technology to detect patient swallowing during treatment and evaluated its magnitude. Methods: The C-RAD Catalyst system was used to detect the patient surface map. A volunteer lying on the couch was used to simulate the patient under treatment. A virtual marker was placed near the throat and was used to monitor the swallowing action. The target motion calculated by the Catalyst system through deformable registration was also collected. Two treatment isocenters, one placed close to the throat and the other placed posterior to the base-of-tongue, were used to check the sensitivity of surface mapping technique. Results: When the patient’s throat is not in the shadow of the patient’s chest, the Catalyst system can clearly identify the swallowing motion. In our tests, the vertical motion of the skin can reach to about 5mm. The calculated target motion can reach up to 1 cm. The magnitude of this calculated target motion is more dramatic when the plan isocenter is closer to the skin surface, which suggests that the Catalyst motion tracking technique is more sensitive to the swallowing motion with a shallower isocenter. Conclusion: Surface mapping can clearly identify patient swallowing during radiation treatment. This information can be used to evaluate the dosimetric impact of the involuntary swallowing. It may also be used to potentially gate head-&-neck radiation treatments. A prospective IRB approved study is currently enrolling patients in our institution. Research was funded through an Elekta grant.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗