ExploreASL

ExploreASL is a pipeline and toolbox for image processing and statistics of arterial spin labeling perfusion MR images. It is designed as a multi-OS, open source, collaborative framework that facilitates cross-pollination between image processing method developers and clinical investigators.

The software provides a complete head-to-tail approach that runs fully automatically, encompassing all necessary tasks from data import and structural segmentation, registration and normalization, up to CBF quantification. In addition, the software package includes and quality control (QC) procedures and region-of-interest (ROI) as well as voxel-wise analysis on the extracted data. To-date, ExploreASL has been used for processing ~10000 ASL datasets from all major MRI vendors and ASL sequences, and a variety of patient populations, representing ~30 studies. The ultimate goal of ExploreASL is to combine data from multiple studies to identify disease related perfusion patterns that may prove crucial in using ASL as a diagnostic tool and enhance our understanding of the interplay of perfusion and structural changes in neurodegenerative pathophysiology.

Additionally, this (semi-)automatic pipeline allows us to minimize manual intervention, which increases the reproducibility of studies.

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3D Slicer

3D Slicer is: A software platform for the analysis (including registration and interactive segmentation) and visualization (including volume rendering) of medical images and for research in image guided therapy. A free, open source software available on multiple operating systems: Linux, MacOSX and Windows Extensible, with powerful plug-in capabilities for adding algorithms and applications. Features include: Multi organ: from head to toe. Support for multi-modality imaging including, MRI, CT, US, nuclear medicine, and microscopy. Bidirectional interface for devices. There is no restriction on use, but Slicer is not approved for clinical use and intended for research. Permissions and compliance with applicable rules are the responsibility of the user.

Data analysis and visualisation

3DSpineS

Dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons are the targets of most excitatory synapses in the cerebral cortex and their morphology appears to be critical from the functional point of view. Thus, characterizing this morphology is necessary to link structural and functional spine data and thus interpret and make them more meaningful. We have used a large database of more than 7,000 individually 3D reconstructed dendritic spines from human cortical pyramidal neurons that is first transformed into a set of 54 quantitative features characterizing spine geometry mathematically. The resulting data set is grouped into spine clusters based on a probabilistic model with Gaussian finite mixtures. We uncover six groups of spines whose discriminative characteristics are identified with machine learning methods as a set of rules. The clustering model allows us to simulate accurate spines from human pyramidal neurons to suggest new hypotheses of the functional organization of these cells.

Data analysis and visualisationData

3D Structure Tensor Analysis

A Structure Tensor Analysis (STA) tool for the characterization of local 3D orientation in TIFF image stacks. This tool is based on the evaluation of local image intensity gradients. In addition to the local 3D orientation, it also provides a full analysis of local gradient strength, structure disarray, shape and fractional anisotropy indices.

Data analysis and visualisation

Other software

3D Slicer

3DSpineS

3D Structure Tensor Analysis

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