• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2014

The purpose of the neural image analysis is to trace the velocities and the directions of moving mitochondria migrating through axons. This paper proposes an automated technique for detecting axon structure. Previously, the detection process has been carried out using a partially automated technique combined with some human intervention. In our algorithm, a consolidated image is built by taking the maximum intensity value on the all image frames at each pixel Axon detection is performed through vessel enhancement filtering followed by a peak detection procedure. In order to remove errors contained in ridge points, a filtering process is devised using a local reliability measure. Experiments have been performed using real neural image sequences and ground truth data extracted manually. It has been turned out that the proposed algorithm results in high detection rate and precision.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.39-48
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• 2021

According to International Associating for the Study of Pain (IASP) definition, neuropathic pain is a disorder characterized by dysfunction of the nervous system that, under normal conditions, mediates virulent information to the central nervous system (CNS). This pain can be divided into a disease with provable lesions in the peripheral or central nervous system and states with an incorporeal lesion of any nerves. Both conditions undergo long-term and chronic processes of change, which can eventually develop into chronic pain syndrome, that is, nervous system is inappropriately adapted and difficult to heal. However, the treatment of neuropathic pain itself is incurable from diagnosis to treatment process, and there is still a lack of notable solutions. Recently, several studies have observed the responses of CNS to harmful stimuli using image analysis technologies, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and optical imaging. These techniques have confirmed that the change in synaptic-plasticity was generated in brain regions which perceive and handle pain information. Furthermore, these techniques helped in understanding the interaction of learning mechanisms and chronic pain, including neuropathic pain. The study aims to describe recent findings that revealed the mechanisms of pathological pain and the structural and functional changes in the brain. Reflecting on the definition of chronic pain and inspecting the latest reports will help develop approaches to alleviate pain.