Image segmentation for uranium isotopic analysis by SIMS: Combined adaptive thresholding and marker controlled watershed approach
Abstract
A novel approach to particle identification and particle isotope ratio determination has been developed for nuclear safeguard applications. This particle search approach combines an adaptive thresholding algorithm and marker-controlled watershed segmentation (MCWS) transform, which improves the secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) isotopic analysis of uranium containing particle populations for nuclear safeguards applications. The Niblack assisted MCWS approach (a.k.a. Seeker) developed for this work has improved the identification of isotopically unique uranium particles under conditions that have historically presented significant challenges for SIMS image data processing techniques. Particles obtained from five National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uranium certified reference materials (CRM U129A, U015, U150, U500, and U850) were successfully identified in regions of SIMS image data (1) where a high variability in image intensity existed, (2) where particles were touching or were in close proximity to one another, and/or (3) where the magnitude of ion signal for a given region was count limited. Analysis of the isotopic distributions of uranium containing particles identified by Seeker showed four distinct, accurately identified 235U enrichment distributions, corresponding to the NIST certified 235U/238U isotope ratios for CRM U129A/U015 (not statistically differentiated), U150, U500, and U850. Additionally, comparison of the minor uranium isotope (234U,more »
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1421115
- Resource Type:
- Publisher's Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B Journal Volume: 34 Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 2166-2746
- Publisher:
- American Vacuum Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Willingham, David, Naes, Benjamin E., Heasler, Patrick G., Zimmer, Mindy M., Barrett, Christopher A., and Shane Addleman, R. Image segmentation for uranium isotopic analysis by SIMS: Combined adaptive thresholding and marker controlled watershed approach. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1116/1.4940150.
Willingham, David, Naes, Benjamin E., Heasler, Patrick G., Zimmer, Mindy M., Barrett, Christopher A., & Shane Addleman, R. Image segmentation for uranium isotopic analysis by SIMS: Combined adaptive thresholding and marker controlled watershed approach. United States. https://doi.org/10.1116/1.4940150
Willingham, David, Naes, Benjamin E., Heasler, Patrick G., Zimmer, Mindy M., Barrett, Christopher A., and Shane Addleman, R. Fri .
"Image segmentation for uranium isotopic analysis by SIMS: Combined adaptive thresholding and marker controlled watershed approach". United States. https://doi.org/10.1116/1.4940150.
@article{osti_1421115,
title = {Image segmentation for uranium isotopic analysis by SIMS: Combined adaptive thresholding and marker controlled watershed approach},
author = {Willingham, David and Naes, Benjamin E. and Heasler, Patrick G. and Zimmer, Mindy M. and Barrett, Christopher A. and Shane Addleman, R.},
abstractNote = {A novel approach to particle identification and particle isotope ratio determination has been developed for nuclear safeguard applications. This particle search approach combines an adaptive thresholding algorithm and marker-controlled watershed segmentation (MCWS) transform, which improves the secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) isotopic analysis of uranium containing particle populations for nuclear safeguards applications. The Niblack assisted MCWS approach (a.k.a. Seeker) developed for this work has improved the identification of isotopically unique uranium particles under conditions that have historically presented significant challenges for SIMS image data processing techniques. Particles obtained from five National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uranium certified reference materials (CRM U129A, U015, U150, U500, and U850) were successfully identified in regions of SIMS image data (1) where a high variability in image intensity existed, (2) where particles were touching or were in close proximity to one another, and/or (3) where the magnitude of ion signal for a given region was count limited. Analysis of the isotopic distributions of uranium containing particles identified by Seeker showed four distinct, accurately identified 235U enrichment distributions, corresponding to the NIST certified 235U/238U isotope ratios for CRM U129A/U015 (not statistically differentiated), U150, U500, and U850. Additionally, comparison of the minor uranium isotope (234U, 235U, and 236U) atom percent values verified that, even in the absence of high precision isotope ratio measurements, Seeker could be used to segment isotopically unique uranium particles from SIMS image data. Although demonstrated specifically for SIMS analysis of uranium containing particles for nuclear safeguards, Seeker has application in addressing a broad set of image processing challenges.},
doi = {10.1116/1.4940150},
journal = {Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B},
number = 3,
volume = 34,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 22 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Fri Jan 22 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}
https://doi.org/10.1116/1.4940150
Web of Science
Works referenced in this record:
Segmentation of Brain Tumor Tissue Using Marker Controlled Watershed Transform Method
book, January 2012
- Kaleem, Muhammad; Sanaullah, M.; Hussain, M. Ayyaz
- Communications in Computer and Information Science
Image segmentation using a texture gradient based watershed transform
journal, December 2003
- Hill, P. R.; Canagarajah, C. N.; Bull, D. R.
- IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, Vol. 12, Issue 12
Nuclear safeguards applications using LG-SIMS with automated screening capabilities
journal, May 2012
- Peres, P.; Hedberg, P. M. L.; Walton, S.
- Surface and Interface Analysis, Vol. 45, Issue 1
Determination of the angle of incidence in a Cameca IMS-4f SIMS instrument
journal, November 1989
- Meuris, M.; De Bisschop, P.; Leclair, J. F.
- Surface and Interface Analysis, Vol. 14, Issue 11
Microscopic studies of spherical particles for nuclear safeguards
journal, December 2008
- Donohue, D.; Ciurapinski, A.; Cliff, J.
- Applied Surface Science, Vol. 255, Issue 5
Three-dimensional analysis of trace elements with the CAMECA IMS 4F
journal, January 1989
- Migeon, H. N.; Schuhmacher, M.; Le Goux, J. J.
- Fresenius' Zeitschrift für analytische Chemie, Vol. 333, Issue 4-5
Interstellar oxide grains from the Tieschitz ordinary chondrite
journal, August 1994
- Nittler, L. R.; O'D Alexander, C. M.; Gao, X.
- Nature, Vol. 370, Issue 6489
Adaptive degraded document image binarization
journal, March 2006
- Gatos, B.; Pratikakis, I.; Perantonis, S. J.
- Pattern Recognition, Vol. 39, Issue 3
Algorithm based on marker-controlled watershed transform for overlapping plant fruit segmentation
journal, February 2009
- Zeng, Qingbing
- Optical Engineering, Vol. 48, Issue 2
Extraction and recognition of artificial text in multimedia documents
journal, February 2004
- Wolf, C.; Jolion, J. -M.
- Formal Pattern Analysis & Applications, Vol. 6, Issue 4
CellSegm - a MATLAB toolbox for high-throughput 3D cell segmentation
journal, August 2013
- Hodneland, Erlend; Kögel, Tanja; Frei, Dominik Michael
- Source Code for Biology and Medicine, Vol. 8, Issue 1
The Use of SIMS and SEM for the Characterization of Individual Particles with a Matrix Originating from a Nuclear Weapon
journal, May 2007
- Ranebo, Ylva; Eriksson, Mats; Tamborini, Gabriele
- Microscopy and Microanalysis, Vol. 13, Issue 3
Image Segmentation Using Watershed Transform and Feed-Back Pulse Coupled Neural Network
book, January 2005
- Xue, Yiyan; Yang, Simon X.
- Artificial Neural Networks: Biological Inspirations – ICANN 2005
A hybrid 3D watershed algorithm incorporating gradient cues and object models for automatic segmentation of nuclei in confocal image stacks
journal, October 2003
- Lin, Gang; Adiga, Umesh; Olson, Kathy
- Cytometry, Vol. 56A, Issue 1
Recoil mixing in high-fluence ion implantation
journal, March 1980
- Littmark, U.; Hofer, W. O.
- Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Vol. 170, Issue 1-3
Watershed, Hierarchical Segmentation and Waterfall Algorithm
book, January 1994
- Beucher, Serge; Viergever, Max A.; Serra, Jean
- Mathematical Morphology and Its Applications to Image Processing, p. 69-76
Stellar Sapphires: The Properties and Origins of Presolar Al 2 O 3 in Meteorites
journal, July 1997
- Nittler, Larry R.; Alexander, Conel M. O'D.; Gao, Xia
- The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 483, Issue 1
Particle analysis for a strengthened safeguards system: Use of a scanning electron microscope equipped with EDXRF and WDXRF spectrometers
journal, January 2002
- Ciurapinski, A.; Parus, J.; Donohue, D.
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 251, Issue 3, p. 345-352
Development in fission track-thermal ionization mass spectrometry for particle analysis of safeguards environmental samples
journal, May 2007
- Lee, C. G.; Iguchi, K.; Inagawa, J.
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 272, Issue 2
Validation of various adaptive threshold methods of segmentation applied to follicular lymphoma digital images stained with 3,3’-Diaminobenzidine&Haematoxylin
journal, March 2013
- Korzynska, Anna; Roszkowiak, Lukasz; Lopez, Carlos
- Diagnostic Pathology, Vol. 8, Issue 1
Use of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry in Nuclear Forensic Analysis for the Characterization of Plutonium and Highly Enriched Uranium Particles
journal, July 1999
- Betti, Maria; Tamborini, Gabriele; Koch, Lothar
- Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 71, Issue 14
Improved isotopic SIMS measurements of uranium particles for nuclear safeguard purposes
journal, January 2009
- Ranebo, Y.; Hedberg, P. M. L.; Whitehouse, M. J.
- Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 24, Issue 3
Application of Fission Track Technique for the Analysis of Individual Particles Containing Uranium in Safeguard Swipe Samples
journal, June 2004
- Esaka, Konomi T.; Esaka, Fumitaka; Inagawa, Jun
- Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 43, Issue No. 7A
Evaluation of binarization methods for document images
journal, March 1995
- Trier, O. D.; Taxt, T.
- IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Vol. 17, Issue 3
Characterization of Uranium Particles Produced by Hydrolysis of UF 6 Using SEM and SIMS
journal, May 2007
- Kips, Ruth; Leenaers, Ann; Tamborini, Gabriele
- Microscopy and Microanalysis, Vol. 13, Issue 3