NIS-Elements

Highly accurate segmentation of cell areas based on DIC images using deep learning

September 2020

Quantification of cell migration and cell confluency is important in biological and medical research on cellular functions. A scratch assay is used to quantitatively measure the speed of cells migrating to a cell-free area (gap) that is physically produced. This is a common technique for evaluating cell migration in cell development and differentiation, as well as in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. However, manually processing unstained sample images for quantification takes an immense amount of time. In addition, the Wound Healing function, a special application for scratch assays in the NIS-Elements imaging software, shows roughly correct results, but it has limited accuracy in terms of detailed detection.

In this Application Note, we introduce examples of quantification of a scratch assay using the NIS.ai module of NIS-Elements. These examples proved that NIS.ai can make more accurate inferences compared to the existing Wound Healing function based on a small number of training images.

Nikon NIS-Elements Denoise.ai Software: utilizing deep learning to denoise confocal data

January 2020

Noise is a fundamental component of confocal images, a result of discreet digital sampling of continuously emitting photons from samples. The contribution of noise to image quality (signal-to-noise ratio) increases as the signal decreases as a square-root function. Using a trained neural network, we use artificial intelligence to remove the shot noise component from confocal image data, allowing an increase in image quality and the ability to acquire dimmer samples at faster rates. NIS-Elements software’s Denoise.ai deploys this trained network for live or post-acquisition processing.

Hardware Triggering: Maximizing Speed and Efficiency for Live Cell Imaging

December 2017

Live cell imaging experiments now require higher speeds and more data throughput than ever before. Nikon Instruments has robust tools that enable hardware triggering of imaging devices in microscopy via direct signaling between hardware. This minimizes delays, synchronizes devices, and reduces the exposure of specimens to light. This Application Note explains how Nikon’s NIS-Elements hardware triggering workflow operates, and details its benefits for common time-lapse acquisition routines.