1. A dimensional reference system for image reconstruction in tomography, comprising:
a dimensional reference apparatus having:
a plurality of spheres, each sphere having an X-ray absorption property configured to permit reconstruction of the sphere in tomography, each sphere further having a centroid and a diameter;
a spacer unit configured to substantially fixedly space apart each of said plurality of spheres from each other at a known distance;
wherein, when reconstructed in tomography, the dimensional reference apparatus is configured to provide subvoxel length scales for three dimensions, wherein said length scales are provided based on either the known distances between the centroids of the plurality of spheres, or the diameters of the spheres; and
a diameter calculation element configured to calculate the diameter of at least one of the plurality of spheres, wherein the diameter calculation element includes a second moment tensor element configured to determine the second moment tensor of the at least one of the plurality of spheres.
2. The dimensional reference system of claim 1 wherein the X-ray absorption properties of the spheres are different from an X-ray absorption property of the spacer unit.
3. The dimensional reference system of claim 2 wherein:
the spheres are composed of a sphere material having an X-ray absorption property between approximately +500 Hounsfield units and +1200 Hounsfield units, and wherein,
the spacer unit is composed of a spacer unit material having an X-ray absorption between approximately \u2212100 Hounsfield units and +400 Hounsfield units.
4. The dimensional reference system of claim 1, wherein:
the sphere material is PTFE, or BK7 optical glass.
5. The dimensional reference system of claim 1, wherein at least one sphere has a coating material that permits reconstruction of the at least one sphere in MRI tomography.
6. The dimensional reference system of claim 1, wherein the known distance between the centroids of any two of the plurality of spheres is greater than the size of either of said two of said plurality of spheres.
7. The dimensional reference system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spheres are substantially identical to each other.
8. The dimensional reference of claim 1, wherein the spacer unit includes:
at least two fixtures configured to substantially fixedly sandwich the plurality of spheres therebetween;
at least one securing element configured to secure the at least two fixtures to each other.
9. A dimensional reference system for image reconstruction in X-ray computerized tomography, comprising:
a dimensional reference apparatus having:
three substantially identical spheres, each sphere being composed of a sphere material having an X-ray absorption property between approximately +500 Hounsfield units and +1200 Hounsfield units, each sphere further having a centroid and a diameter;
a spacer unit configured to substantially fixedly space apart each of said plurality of spheres from each other at a known distance, the spacer unit being composed of a spacer unit material having an X-ray absorption between approximately \u2212100 Hounsfield units and +400 Hounsfield units, wherein the spacer unit comprises two fixtures, each fixture having three circular holes into which the three substantially identical spheres are configured to be disposed;
wherein, when reconstructed in tomography, the dimensional reference apparatus is configured to provide subvoxel length scales for three dimensions, wherein said length scales are provided based on either the known distances between the centroids of the plurality of spheres, or the diameter of at least one of the plurality of spheres; and
a diameter calculation element configured to calculate the diameter of at least one of the plurality of spheres, wherein the diameter calculation element includes a second moment tensor element configured to determine the second moment tensor of the at least one of the plurality of spheres.
10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an image reconstruction apparatus configured to provide a reconstructed tomogram of the dimensional reference apparatus and a measurement subject.
11. The dimensional reference system of claim 9, wherein:
the sphere material is PTFE.
12. A negative space dimensional reference system for use in MRI tomography, comprising:
a fluid-tight enclosure;
a dimensional reference apparatus having:
a plurality of substantially identical spheres, each sphere having an X-ray absorption property configured to permit reconstruction of the sphere in tomography, each sphere further having a centroid and a diameter;
a spacer unit configured to substantially fixedly space apart each of said plurality of spheres from each other at a known distance;
wherein, when reconstructed in tomography, the dimensional reference apparatus is configured to provide subvoxel length scales for three dimensions, wherein said length scales are provided based on either the known distances between the centroids of the plurality of spheres, or the diameter of at least one of the plurality of spheres;
a mixture configured to provide contrast between the mixture and the dimensional reference apparatus; and
wherein, the mixture and dimensional reference apparatus are configured to substantially fill the interior of the enclosure; and
a diameter calculation element configured to calculate the diameter of at least one of the plurality of spheres, wherein the diameter calculation element includes a second moment tensor element configured to determine the second moment tensor of the at least one of the plurality of spheres.
13. The negative space dimensional reference system of claim 12, wherein the mixture contains water.
14. The negative space dimensional reference system of claim 13, wherein the mixture contains a contrast-enhancing agent.
15. The negative space dimensional reference system of claim 14, wherein the contrast-enhancing agent includes gadolinium chelate DTPA.
16. The negative space dimensional reference system of claim 15, wherein the mixture contains a sterile agent configured to enhance sterility.
17. The negative space dimensional reference system of claim 16, wherein the sterile agent includes ethanol.
18. A negative space dimensional reference array system for use in MRI tomography, comprising:
a fluid-tight enclosure;
a plurality of substantially identical spheres, each sphere being arranged in substantially a hexagonal close packed array, each sphere further having a centroid and a diameter, and wherein, when reconstructed in tomography, the plurality of spheres are configured to provide subvoxel length scales for three dimensions, wherein said length scales are provided based on either the known distances between the centroids of the plurality of spheres, or the diameter of at least one of the plurality of spheres;
a mixture configured to provide contrast between the mixture and the plurality of spheres; and
wherein, the mixture and the plurality of spheres are configured to substantially fill the interior of the enclosure.
19. The negative space dimensional reference system of claim 18, wherein the spheres are composed of acetyl or PTFE.
20. The negative space dimensional reference system of claim 18, further comprising:
a diameter calculation element configured to calculate the diameter of at least one of the plurality of spheres, wherein the diameter calculation element includes a second moment tensor element configured to determine the second moment tensor of the at least one of the plurality of spheres.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process for controlling grapevine ripening, comprising
a step, between the birth of a rachis (R) on a grapevine and harvesting of a bunch (G) of grapes, in which a rachis (R) supporting means (1), provided in a way to at least counterbalance the weight of flowers and fruit developing on the rachis (R), are applied to the rachis (R) so that the bunch (G) of grapes grows in an upward direction.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein, as a preliminary step, the rachis (R) supporting means is fixed on a support and is inclined in an upward direction from horizontal.
3. A process for controlling grape vine ripening by causing sap circulation to flow in an upward direction during grape ripening, comprising
providing a structure (2) fixed to ground, and rachis (R) supporting means (1) connected to the fixed structure (2), the supporting means being adapted to support a grape vine at a rachis (R) to at least counterbalance the weight of flowers and grapes developing on the rachis (R),
applying the supporting means (1) to the grape vine to support the rachis (R) so as to direct the rachis (R) in an upward direction, and
maintaining the supporting means (1) in position to at least counterbalance the weight of grape clusters developing on the rachis (R) so that a bunch (G) of grapes grows in an upward direction,
whereby inhibition of circulation of sap is minimized during bunch ripening, and grape ripening is made even and promoted.