Color Micrographs Research Articles

Robustness of machine learning to color, size change, normalization, and image enhancement on micrograph datasets with large sample differences

Appropriate image preprocessing could improve machine learning performance, but the robustness of machine learning to preprocessing methods in micrograph datasets with significant sample differences remains unexplored. Here we collected hundreds of optical micrographs varied in color, contrast, size and brightness and tensile strength from published literature. After preprocessing including color transformation, size adjustment, normalization and image enhancement, classification model of whether it was texture or not and tensile strength prediction model were established using transfer learning and VGG16 model. Our results showed comparable accuracy between classification models using grayscale and color micrographs. Based on grayscale images, classification model utilizing center cropping achieved an average accuracy 1.09% higher than model employing scaling, while coefficient of determination (R2) of regression model showed an average increase of 0.0404. The combination of cropping and dividing by 255 was preferable for classification model, yielding an accuracy of 90.79%. Similarly, the combination of cropping and min–max normalization had a better effect on regression model, yielding R2 of 0.2167. Histogram equalization emerged as the optimal technique for improving classification model, yielding 2.63% increase in accuracy compared to models without image enhancement. For regression models, gamma correction exhibited the highest improvement effect, with an R2 of 0.2681.

АРТЕФАКТЫ ФОРМЕННЫХ ЭЛЕМЕНТОВ И ПЛАЗМЫ КРОВИ ПТИЦ, ИХ ПРОИСХОЖДЕНИЕ И ДИАГНОСТИЧЕСКОЕ ЗНАЧЕНИЕ

The work is devoted to the study of literature data (humane and veterinary medicine) and the practical analysis of artifacts formed elements and plasma in peripheral blood smears of birds in a model of broiler chickens Gallus gallus L. of early postnatal ontogenesis. The age of the studied clinically healthy chicks and young hens was: day 1, day 7, day 23 and day 42 (n = 40). We studied 158 (n = 158) high-resolution color micrographs of the fields of view, in blood smears stained according to Pappenheim. As a result, single artifacts of avian erythrocytes were identified: cytoplasmic vacuoles of various pattern character, scalloped «bitten» edges of cells. Artifacts of blood plasma were found: pericellular and adhesioned on the cell surface of colored coagulated granularity. In some cases, this granularity imitated the toxic forms of granulocytes and agranulocytes in the peripheral blood of birds. It is necessary to distinguish artifacts of cells and plasma in peripheral blood smears from adaptive changes and symptoms of infectious, invasive and non-infectious diseases.

Color Light Metallography Versus Electron Microscopy for Detecting and Estimating Various Phases in a High-Strength Multiphase Steel

In this study, fresh attempts have been made to identify and estimate the phase constituents of a high-silicon, medium carbon multiphase steel (DIN 1.5025 grade) subjected to austenitization at 900 °C for 5 min, followed by quenching and low-temperature bainitizing (Q&B) at 350 °C for 200 s. Several techniques were employed using different chemical etching reagents either individually (single-step) or in combination of two or more etchants in succession (multiple-step) for conducting color metallography. The results showed that the complex multiphase microstructures comprising a fine mixture of bainite, martensite and retained austenite phase constituents were selectivity stained/tinted with good contrasting resolution, as observed via conventional light optical microscopy observations. While the carbon-enriched martensite-retained austenite (M/RA) islands were revealed as cream-colored areas by using a double-step etching technique comprising etching with 10% ammonium persulfate followed by etching with Marble’s reagent, the dark gray-colored bainite packets were easily distinguishable from the brown-colored martensite regions. However, the high-carbon martensite and retained austenite in M/RA islands could be differentiated only after resorting to a triple-step etching technique comprising etching in succession with 2% nital, 10% ammonium persulfate solution and then warm Marble’s reagent at 30 °C. This revealed orange-colored martensite in contrast to cream-colored retained austenite in M/RA constituents, besides the presence of brown-colored martensite laths in the dark gray-colored bainitic matrix. A quadruple-step technique involving successive etching with 2% nital, 10% ammonium persulfate solution, Marble’s reagent and finally Klemm’s Ι reagent at 40 °C revealed even better contrast in comparison to the triple-step etching technique, particularly in distinguishing the RA from martensite. Observations using advanced techniques like field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) failed to differentiate untempered, high-carbon martensite from retained austenite in the M/RA islands and martensite laths from bainitic matrix, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies successfully distinguished the RA from high-carbon martensite, as noticed in M/RA islands. The volume fraction of retained austenite estimated by EBSD, XRD and a point counting method on color micrographs of quadruple-step etched samples showed good agreement.

Reappraisal of Immotthia in Dictyosporiaceae, Pleosporales: Introducing Immotthia bambusae sp. nov. and Pseudocyclothyriella clematidis comb. et gen. nov. Based on Morphology and Phylogeny.

Immotthia is a poorly known genus, and currently, no DNA sequence data are available to ascertain its proper phylogenetic placement and evolutionary relationships with other bitunicate fungi. To date, there are only two species accepted in the genus. During our ongoing research study of bambusicolous fungi in southwest China and Thailand, a fungus associated with stromata of Hypoxylon sp. was found on dead bamboo culms in Loei Province, Thailand. Preliminary morphological identification revealed that the fungal collection belongs to Immotthia. A novel species, Immotthia bambusae, is introduced herein based on a comparison of morphological characteristics with the type specimen of I. hypoxylon (≡ Amphisphaeria hypoxylon Ellis and Everh.), a synonym of I. atrograna (Cooke and Ellis) M. E. Barr. Phylogenetic analyses of a concatenated ITS, LSU, SSU, and TEF1-α DNA sequence matrix showed that Immotthia belongs to Dictyosporiaceae, Pleosporales. Despite I. bambusae strains constituting a supported subclade, they are nested with the genus Pseudocoleophoma. Pseudocoleophoma clematidis is morphologically different from all other Pseudocoleophoma species, while its conidial characteristics are similar to Cyclothyriella. Multigene phylogenetic analyses showed that P. clematidis formed a clade basal to Immotthia, separated from Pseudocoleophoma with strong statistical support. Therefore, we introduce a monotypic genus, Pseudocyclothyriella Phukhams. and Phookamsak, gen. nov. to accommodate the single species, Pseudocyclothyriella clematidis (Phukhams. and K. D. Hyde) Phukhams. and Phookamsak, comb. nov. Detailed descriptions, color micrographs, and phylogenetic trees to show the placement of the new taxa are provided. In addition, an updated taxonomic treatment of the genera Immotthia and Pseudocyclothyriella is also provided based on the study of the type materials and phylogeny generated from DNA sequence data.

Effect of chloride salt type on the physicochemical, mechanical and morphological properties of fish gelatin film

Fish gelatin (FG) film has received an increasing attention in the last decades due to its biodegradability and environmental friendliness, which is a prospective replacer of petroleum-based plastics. This work for the first time investigated the effect of chloride salt type on the properties of the FG film. FG films incorporated with three kinds of chloride salts (CaCl2, KCl, NaCl) with various concentrations were prepared by casting. The light barrier property, mechanical property, swelling behaviour, color and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) micrographs of FG films were investigated. The incorporation of CaCl2 had no effect on the light barrier property and the color of FG films, while the addition of NaCl or KCl increased the resistance of FG films to ultraviolet and visible light. The incorporation of KCl or NaCl decreased the tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EB) of FG films significantly while the EB of FG films increased with the addition of CaCl2. There is no significant difference on the swelling of FG films after incorporation of CaCl2. However, the incorporation of KCl or NaCl could significantly increase the swelling value of FG film at the high level of chloride. SEM micrographs showed that CaCl2 was most compatible with gelatin protein among three kinds of chloride salts. These results may cause the extensive concern for the effects of salts on FG films because salts exist widely.

Морфологическая диагностика эндогенной интоксикации с использованием биохимических маркеров

Morphological diagnosis of endogenous intoxication in target organs - lung, liver and kidney, is unreliable due to lack of specific structural changes. To reliable diagnose of intoxication, the definition used in the tissue of the target organ indole, phenol and skatole, which are products of the activity of intestinal bacteria and penetrating into the systemic circulation together with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, can be used. The diagnostic accuracy can be estimated by reducing the brightness of the color micrographs of the investigated histological preparations in the system brightness RGB in the analysis of the micrographs in the program "Adobe Photoshop".Endogenous intoxication causes a statistically significant increase in the number indianola products, verified by the reaction of diazotization on histological sections in the cytoplasm of cells of the lungs, liver and kidneys. It can serve as a reliable diagnostic criterion for post-mortem morphological diagnosis of endogenous intoxication. The accumulation of indole, phenol and skatole in millionary partitions is detected at the endogenous intoxication in the lungs. In the liver, the toxic products found throughout the liver lobules. In the kidneys, indianola products accumulate in remoteley proximal tubules. Diagnostic value of research to target organs within the definition disapoiting substrate decreases in the series: liver>kidneys>lungs.

Textbook of Peripheral Neuropathy edited by DonofrioPeter D., 486 pp., Demos Medical, 2012, $125

edited by Peter D. Donofrio, 486 pp., Demos Medical, 2012, $125 Peripheral neuropathy is a common but underappreciated neurologic condition. Approximately 2%–7% of the US population and 24% over age 70 years are estimated to have neuropathy. Focal neuropathy is more common. However, neuropathy awareness lags behind other common neurologic conditions. Likewise, useful and authoritative physician tools are underrepresented in the medical literature, including neuropathy sections of general textbooks of neurology. Pocket books typically oversimplify and exhaustive tomes dedicated to neuropathy are out of reach and impractical for most practitioners and trainees. Textbook of Peripheral Neuropathy offers a manageable and affordable reference targeted for practicing neurologists and non-neurologists, fellows, and residents. At 475 pages, the book is detailed enough for the purpose but not onerous for topical review. The book includes a useful introduction by the editor focusing on the clinical approach to neuropathy patients. The work includes sections on mononeuropathies, plexopathies, ganglionopathies, radiculopathies, cranial neuropathies, mononeuropathy multiplex, and autonomic neuropathies. However, the bulk of the content is devoted to reviews of multiple categories of polyneuropathy organized by cause. Individual contributions are offered by highly respected authorities in the field. Tables that highlight etiology, clinical patterns, classification schemes, and treatment options permeate the work. A respectable number of figures, charts, and color micrographs are included. Most sections have clearly marked clinical pearls, topic summaries, and key points. Many anatomical diagrams are present. Little space is devoted to pathophysiology or scientific basis of disease but these topics are not the intended focus. Sections are generally up to date and include current consensus regarding diagnosis and treatment. Criteria important for clinical diagnosis and care are evident, such as comparison of the multiple chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy clinical and research diagnostic criteria sensitivities and specificities. Some sections have duplicate tables but without notable contradictions. The same conditions are also addressed by different authors, including paraneoplastic conditions, monoclonal gammopathies, vasculitis, toxic neuropathy, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, but the redundant discussions are complementary in most instances. Sections on neuropathy complicating medical conditions are potentially useful for non-neurologists and practitioners needing to research a specific condition. A section addressing the utility of numerous individual laboratory tests employed to diagnose polyneuropathy should be particularly instructive for the target audience. Overall, the work is a welcome addition and fills an important niche. The presentation level, readability, and abundant educational aids are well suited for the intended audience. Hopefully, this work will help promote further insight into the significance, prevalence, clinical approach, and management of neuropathic conditions.

Quantifying β-Cells in Health and Disease: The Past, the Present, and the Need

Through the studies of a number of pathologists, the past has taught us a great deal about islet pathology. A reduction in the quantity of β-cells in hyperglycemic individuals was described over 110 years ago by Eugene Opie (1) in an elegant report that included hand-drawn color micrographs. These illustrations clearly bring attention to the fact that the islet has lost numerous cells and that it also contains hyaline deposits, which we now recognize may be part of the destructive process. The past also included quantification of the number of endocrine cells by MacLean and Ogilvie (2) who demonstrated that β-cell mass is decreased in patients with phenotypic type 2 diabetes, but that the mass of α-cells is not diminished. And then, over 50 years ago, Bell (3) published a report of his studies of hyalinosis in islets that were based on the examination of pancreas sections from 3,959 individuals who were not known to have diabetes and 1,661 with diabetes. He observed hyaline to be more frequent in individuals with diabetes and that the number of affected individuals increased with age. While diabetes was certainly not the epidemic we now face, Bell stated in his commentary that “Hyaline islets are an expression of unrecognized or potential diabetes”—a clear recognition of the link of these deposits to diabetes and the problem of undiagnosed diabetes. The present includes the study by Saisho et al. (4), which appears in this issue of Diabetes Care . This article builds on the past and the present. The authors describe their findings in pancreas samples obtained at …

CMEIAS Color Segmentation: An Improved Computing Technology to Process Color Images for Quantitative Microbial Ecology Studies at Single-Cell Resolution

Quantitative microscopy and digital image analysis are underutilized in microbial ecology largely because of the laborious task to segment foreground object pixels from background, especially in complex color micrographs of environmental samples. In this paper, we describe an improved computing technology developed to alleviate this limitation. The system's uniqueness is its ability to edit digital images accurately when presented with the difficult yet commonplace challenge of removing background pixels whose three-dimensional color space overlaps the range that defines foreground objects. Image segmentation is accomplished by utilizing algorithms that address color and spatial relationships of user-selected foreground object pixels. Performance of the color segmentation algorithm evaluated on 26 complex micrographs at single pixel resolution had an overall pixel classification accuracy of 99+%. Several applications illustrate how this improved computing technology can successfully resolve numerous challenges of complex color segmentation in order to produce images from which quantitative information can be accurately extracted, thereby gain new perspectives on the in situ ecology of microorganisms. Examples include improvements in the quantitative analysis of (1) microbial abundance and phylotype diversity of single cells classified by their discriminating color within heterogeneous communities, (2) cell viability, (3) spatial relationships and intensity of bacterial gene expression involved in cellular communication between individual cells within rhizoplane biofilms, and (4) biofilm ecophysiology based on ribotype-differentiated radioactive substrate utilization. The stand-alone executable file plus user manual and tutorial images for this color segmentation computing application are freely available at http://cme.msu.edu/cmeias/ . This improved computing technology opens new opportunities of imaging applications where discriminating colors really matter most, thereby strengthening quantitative microscopy-based approaches to advance microbial ecology in situ at individual single-cell resolution.

Coloring Pictures for Electron Microscopists or Elements of Digital Image Manipulation for Students

Abstract Coloring pictures is an educational exercise, which is fun, and helps develop important skills. Coloring SEM micrographs is especially suitable for electron microscopists. Color micrographs are not just great looking on a lab wall; they inspire both microscopists and students to exercise digital picture manipulation. Many microscopists enjoyed looking at the beautiful color micrographs by D. Scharf, but were frustrated to learn they needed a very particular scanning electron microscope equipped with multiple secondary electron detectors in order to color their own pictures. Fortunately, there are other ways to color SEM micrographs. Most SEMs are equipped with at least two detectors, for secondary and backscattered electrons.

Direct Interactions of Runx2 and Canonical Wnt Signaling Induce FGF18

Canonical Wnt signaling is clearly required for skeletal development and bone formation. However, the targets of Wnt signaling that convert this signal into bone are unclear. Identification of these targets will yield insight into normal bone physiology and suggest new therapeutics for treatment of bone disease. Here we show that an essential regulator of bone development, FGF18, is a direct target of canonical Wnt signaling. A single DNA binding site for the Wnt-dependent transcription factors TCF/Lef accounted for the stimulation of the fgf18 promoter in response to Wnt signaling. Additionally, targeted disruption of betacat blocked fgf18 expression in vivo. Partially overlapping the TCF/Lef binding site is a Runx2 binding site and experiments showed that Runx2 and TCF/Lef work cooperatively to induce fgf18 expression. RNA interference knockdown of Runx2 inhibited and Runx2 forced expression augmented the induction of fgf18 by canonical Wnt signaling. Significantly, Runx2 formed a complex with Lef1 or TCF4 and this complex bound the composite binding site in the fgf18 promoter. These results demonstrate that two transcription pathways that are essential for bone, physically and functionally converge at the fgf18 promoter.

Computer-assisted Quantification of Occlusion and Coil Densities on Angiographic and Histological Images of Experimental Aneurysms

Occlusion rates (OR) and coil densities were quantified by computer-assisted morphometry on angiograms and histological ground sections of coil-embolized experimental aneurysms. The aims of this study were 1) to develop computer-assisted evaluations of angiographic OR and histometrical OR, 2) to compare these results to subjectively estimated angiographic OR from clinical practice, and 3) to test the correlation between histometrical data of coil density and occlusion. Eight rabbit carotid-bifurcation aneurysms had been followed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) before and after Guglielmi detachable coil embolization and at sacrifice (1 h to 24 wk postembolization). Angiographic OR was subjectively estimated, then determined by computer-assisted density-gradient distinction on digitized DSAs. Histometrically, maximum length, neck width, total area, recanalized area, and coil-occupied area were measured on digitized and calibrated color micrographs from surface-stained histological ground sections of the aneurysms. Histometrical OR and coil density were calculated as indirect parameters. Subjective versus computer-assisted angiographic OR yielded for one aneurysm, 100% versus 100%, and for three aneurysms less than 90% versus 65 to 60% occlusion. For four aneurysms, OR was estimated greater than 90%, whereas computer-assisted OR ranged between 45 to 80%, the latter being more precise because of better definition of the aneurysm's total area on digitized DSA. Histometrical OR ranged between 32.8 and 87.6%, but did not correlate significantly with computer-assisted angiographic OR (r = 0.467, P > 0.1) because of differences in two aneurysms. Coil densities between 5.5 and 22.1% were slightly lower than reported in literature but significantly correlated to histometrical OR (r = 0.646, P < 0.05). Computer-assisted DSA evaluation, delivering more precise values than subjectively estimated occlusion, may be a useful tool for follow-up studies. Comparing computer-assisted angiographic with histometrical occlusion demonstrates limits of DSA in displaying the real morphology of coil-embolized aneurysms. The clinically postulated correlation of OR and coil densities was statistically corroborated.

Exhibits facilitate histology laboratory instruction: student evaluation of learning resources.

Some professional schools have replaced microscopes for histology laboratory instruction with printed and electronic media. It is recognized that these media cannot replace experience with the microscope and that there is a cognitive dissonance of completely replacing microscope study. In addition, students believe that their time is not optimally used in the traditional histology laboratory. Therefore, at Loma Linda University, nine weekly microscope exhibits consisting of 10-15 slides each were prepared. For each exhibited slide, a one page "atlas" is provided, consisting of labeled low- and high-power color micrographs taken from that slide and an informative legend. By referring to the atlas, the student can easily identify the exact field and the labeled features with little help from an instructor. A live or taped video demonstration of the microscope exhibit is available on the first day of the exhibit. During the eighth week of the quarter, students were asked to evaluate the various learning resources available to them. No resource was valued significantly more than the microscope exhibits, but the video demonstrations were valued significantly more than the printed black and white atlas or the color atlas on CD. These exhibits have been used for 2 years to instruct a class of 90 dental students. Advantages are (1) students' time is used efficiently, (2) only one slide set and a fourth as many microscopes need be maintained compared with a traditional laboratory, and (3) one-of-a-kind slides derived from research activities provide for high impact learning.

Cis-acting elements in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNAs direct viral transcripts to distinct intranuclear locations

Two distinct intranuclear locations were identified for alternatively spliced RNA transcripts expressed from the pNL4-3 infectious molecular clone of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1. Multiply spliced HIV RNA encoding tat was detected within the nucleus in large clusters; immunostaining and colocalization studies using laser-scanning confocal microscopy revealed that these structures contained the non-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein RNA processing factor, SC35. In contrast, unspliced gag RNA was detected in much smaller granules distributed throughout the nucleus, with little or no association with SC35-containing granules. Analyses of nuclear RNA expressed from recombinant plasmids encoding gag (pCMVgag-2) alone or tat (pCMVtat-2) alone revealed distributions corresponding to those obtained with pNL4-3, indicating that expression within the context of the HIV provirus was not required for the distinct RNA locations detected for these transcripts. The presence of unspliced gag RNA in small granules was confirmed in infections of H9 T-lymphocytic cells, indicating that gag localization was not restricted to transient expression systems. The intranuclear distribution of gag RNA was dependent on specific RNA sequences. Deletion of a portion of the gag gene of pCMVgag-2, containing a cis-repressing inhibitory region, resulted in redirection of unspliced gag RNA from small granules into large SC35-containing clusters. The addition of the Rev-responsive element, RRE, to the deleted pCMVgag-2 construct resulted in RNA transcripts which were no longer associated with SC35. We also identified a cellular intron, rabbit beta-globin-intervening sequence 2 (IVS-2) which, when introduced into pCMVgag-2, redirected unspliced gag RNA into SC35-containing granules and permitted rev-independent Gag expression. These findings suggest that redirecting intranuclear RNA localization may influence gene expression. Color micrographs from this article are available for view at http//128.231.216.2/lmmhome.htm.

Atlas of Diagnostic Oncology

This is a beautiful book—large, well-made, handsomely designed. The 14 chapters were prepared by 12 contributors, all of the Harvard Medical School. The chapter topics conform to the organ systems and bodily regions, eg, "Cancer of the Head and Neck," "Cancer of the Gastrointestinal Tract," "Endocrine Tumors and Malignancies." Three chapters are given to the blood: leukemias, lymphomas, myeloma. Each chapter is appropriately subdivided, eg, "Gynecologic Tumors" includes "Ovarian Carcinoma," "Endometrial Carcinoma," "Cervical Carcinoma," and "Other Gynecologic Malignancies." Tables are appropriately selected to demonstrate staging, incidence, classification, and so forth. The tables are tinted, thus blending with the color photographs and micrographs, which are the gist of this atlas. The large pages (25×30 cm, almost square) hold without crowding two, four, sometimes six illustrations. In addition to anatomic photographs plus cytologic and histologic micrographs, there are neat pen-and-ink drawings of much of the histology to permit labeling of details. In

The anatomy of the P lymphocyte

This paper describes the basic morphologic criteria for identifying the P lymphocyte. The P cell is a stimulated atypical lymphocyte that is found in schizophrenics and some of their relatives. This cell is suggested as a tentative laboratory indicator of the schizophrenia process. The main identifying features of the cell are its high cytoplasmic basophilia and leptochromatic nuclear structure. Furthermore, the cytoplasm often contains vacuoles and the nuclear shape is often irregular with one or more nucleoli visible. Color micrographs are used to illustrate the cell features.

High Resolution Color Recording for the Scanning Electron Microscope and the Electron Probe

The advantages of color recording in the scanning electron microscope and the electron probe have been previously enumerated. The usual method of recording scanned images from these instruments is by photographing the display from a long-persistence black and white cathode ray tube. Previous attempts at color recording have included a variety of methods utilizing color filters, density traces, and color cathode ray tubes. These methods present difficulties in super-imposition of sequential images and/or poor resolution. Resolution of the cathode ray tube is particularly important in scanning electron microscopy.A new recorder providing high-resolution color micrographs for both the electron probe and the scanning electron microscope has been constructed. This instrument employs a multi-color laser which is scanned in synchronism with the electron beam in the column to give a point-to-point correlation.