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>Dear All
>
>It is quite true that there are a number of softwares with which one can
>perform tracking. My main problem is that for the segmentation of the
>images these usually use tresholding which may work nicely for
>fluorescent images but fails often when phase contrast images of cell
>should be tracked. So my question is whether anyone is aware of a
>software with which one can automatically track phase contrast (or DIC)
>images of cells with minimal operator interference. Obviously in this
>case only in 2D...
>
>Thanks   Gabor
>
>--
>Gabor Csucs, PhD
>Light Microscopy Center
>Institute of Biochemistry
>Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETHZ
>
>tel     +41 1 633 6221
>        +41 1 633 6196                 ETH Hönngerberg
>fax     +41 1 633 1124                 CH-8093 Zürich
>email   [log in to unmask]
>www     http://www.biol.ethz.ch


Dear Gabor,

I am not aware of such software.

My suggestion is that you don't use Phase-Contrast (or DIC for that matter).

If you want a single image that will show you RI 
changes, use dark field.  I know that doing this 
as NA >1 is difficult but I think that you will 
find that an NA 1.0 lens will give you a better 
and more easily interpretable image in dark field 
than a 1.2 NA phase of DIC setup on most living 
specimens.

(doesn't work well on thick specimens with a lot 
of "out-of-focus" scattered light.)

Jim P.

--
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Prof. James B. Pawley,                             Ph.  608-263-3147
Room 223, Zoology Research Building,               FAX  608-265-5315
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"A scientist is not one who can answer questions but one who can
question answers."  Theodore Schick Jr., Skeptical Enquirer, 21-2:39