particles, debris and fragmented nuclear
material that may mimic the criteria designated
to identify micronuclei. ‘The pattern matching
algorithm has to distinguish between the
micronuclei and all these artefacts,’ explains
Frieauff.
In 2007 Frieauff received the Novartis Leading
Scientist award for his work on ROBIAS and he
continues to work on the algorithms developed
maxim
using MIL. ‘The pattern matching algorithms
provide an underlying toolbox that covers the
ize
needs of different biological image analysis
moment
the
applications, and they could be modified to suit The micronucleus test looks at looks at
other assays using imaging in toxicology.’ chromosomal damage during cell division. The
Cell counts are an important part of many areas in red are micronuclei and signify dam-
scientific research projects, as quantitative aged genetic material. Image courtesy of Novartis.
pco.4000
analysis is used in statistical evaluations. Glance
High Resolution
Vision Technologies, a company based in Trieste, such as when objects overlap. He says that it
and High Dynamic
Italy, specialising in developing advanced is simply not possible to guarantee an accurate
computer vision solutions, has developed count using manual techniques, because there
eCELLence – a software tool for counting and are no common criteria for analysis.
classifying cells. The software incorporates 3D However, Vanzella continues: ‘Due to the
analysis capability, which allows cell counts to very complex nature of biology cell images,
be made through different cell layers, as is the development of a fully automated and robust
case when using confocal microscopy. computational algorithm for cell-image
Walter Vanzella, project manager at Glance segmentation still remains a challenge. This is
Vision Technologies, notes that when it why most of the scientific papers in this field
comes to manual image analysis, even among consider separate features and specific methods
experts, there could be significant differences for specific type of objects.’
in recognition – especially with difficult images eCELLence is currently being used in the
X-ray vision
The resolution of objects viewed down a times down to an acceptable level.
microscope depends on the wavelength Soft X-ray microscopy makes use of a
of light used. Electron microscopes utilise natural contrast between water and carbon
electrons to illuminate the sample, which have when examining biological specimens.
a much shorter wavelength than visible light. Radiation with wavelength 2.4-4.4nm is
Therefore the resolving power and, in turn, strongly absorbed by carbon, but has a high
Highlights
magnification is greater. X-ray microscopy uses transmission for water and oxygen.
• Resolution 4008 x 2672 pixel
electromagnetic radiation in the soft X-ray Electron microscopy requires a lengthy and
• cooled 14 bit dynamic range
band and lies between optical and electron time-consuming sample preparation process • low noise of 11 e
-
rms
microscopy in terms of resolving power. that involves fixing and slicing the sample into
• 5 fps at full resolution
The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser thin layers. ‘Sample preparation is much easier
• image memory up to 4 GB
Technology ILT in Aachen has developed compared to electron microscopy,’ explains Dr
• GigE Vision, IEEE1394a, Camera
a powerful light source for compact X-ray Klaus Bergmann, who leads the Fraunhofer ILT
Link interfaces available
microscopes. The group is part of a joint project team. ‘Additionally, soft X-rays allow for
project lead by Accel Instruments, an the investigation of thick samples of up to a
instrumentation company based in Germany, few microns. Three-dimensional tomographic
which is aiming to bring compact X-ray imaging is envisioned and also proven to work
microscopes onto the market. at synchrotron-based sources.’
The group’s task was to optimise the use of The team hope to integrate the source/
www.pco.de
short wavelength radiation as well as operating collector module into a first prototype of a
the source at a high power level to achieve compact X-ray microscope, which will allow for
in America:
sufficient high photon flux and bring exposure 3D cell imaging.
www.cookecorp.com
IMVEfeb09 pp16-19 science.indd 17 17/2/09 17:09:39
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