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Blixhavn CH, Reiten I, Kleven H, Øvsthus M, Yates SC, Schlegel U, Puchades MA, Schmid O, Bjaalie JG, Bjerke IE, Leergaard TB. The Locare workflow: representing neuroscience data locations as geometric objects in 3D brain atlases. Front Neuroinform 2024; 18:1284107. [PMID: 38421771 PMCID: PMC10884250 DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2024.1284107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroscientists employ a range of methods and generate increasing amounts of data describing brain structure and function. The anatomical locations from which observations or measurements originate represent a common context for data interpretation, and a starting point for identifying data of interest. However, the multimodality and abundance of brain data pose a challenge for efforts to organize, integrate, and analyze data based on anatomical locations. While structured metadata allow faceted data queries, different types of data are not easily represented in a standardized and machine-readable way that allow comparison, analysis, and queries related to anatomical relevance. To this end, three-dimensional (3D) digital brain atlases provide frameworks in which disparate multimodal and multilevel neuroscience data can be spatially represented. We propose to represent the locations of different neuroscience data as geometric objects in 3D brain atlases. Such geometric objects can be specified in a standardized file format and stored as location metadata for use with different computational tools. We here present the Locare workflow developed for defining the anatomical location of data elements from rodent brains as geometric objects. We demonstrate how the workflow can be used to define geometric objects representing multimodal and multilevel experimental neuroscience in rat or mouse brain atlases. We further propose a collection of JSON schemas (LocareJSON) for specifying geometric objects by atlas coordinates, suitable as a starting point for co-visualization of different data in an anatomical context and for enabling spatial data queries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla H. Blixhavn
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Reiten
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Heidi Kleven
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martin Øvsthus
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sharon C. Yates
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ulrike Schlegel
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maja A. Puchades
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Jan G. Bjaalie
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingvild E. Bjerke
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trygve B. Leergaard
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Smit N, Bruckner S. Towards Advanced Interactive Visualization for Virtual Atlases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1156:85-96. [PMID: 31338779 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-19385-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
An atlas is generally defined as a bound collection of tables, charts or illustrations describing a phenomenon. In an anatomical atlas for example, a collection of representative illustrations and text describes anatomy for the purpose of communicating anatomical knowledge. The atlas serves as reference frame for comparing and integrating data from different sources by spatially or semantically relating collections of drawings, imaging data, and/or text. In the field of medical image processing, atlas information is often constructed from a collection of regions of interest, which are based on medical images that are annotated by domain experts. Such an atlas may be employed, for example, for automatic segmentation of medical imaging data. The combination of interactive visualization techniques with atlas information opens up new possibilities for content creation, curation, and navigation in virtual atlases. With interactive visualization of atlas information, students are able to inspect and explore anatomical atlases in ways that were not possible with the traditional method of presenting anatomical atlases in book format, such as viewing the illustrations from other viewpoints. With advanced interaction techniques, it becomes possible to query the data that forms the basis for the atlas, thus empowering researchers to access a wealth of information in new ways. So far, atlas-based visualization has been employed mainly for medical education, as well as biological research. In this survey, we provide an overview of current digital biomedical atlas tasks and applications and summarize relevant visualization techniques. We discuss recent approaches for providing next-generation visual interfaces to navigate atlas data that go beyond common text-based search and hierarchical lists. Finally, we reflect on open challenges and opportunities for the next steps in interactive atlas visualization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noeska Smit
- Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. .,Mohn Medical Imaging and Visualization Centre, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Stefan Bruckner
- Department of Informatics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Armit C, Richardson L, Venkataraman S, Graham L, Burton N, Hill B, Yang Y, Baldock RA. eMouseAtlas: An atlas-based resource for understanding mammalian embryogenesis. Dev Biol 2017; 423:1-11. [PMID: 28161522 PMCID: PMC5442644 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The eMouseAtlas resource is an online database of 3D digital models of mouse development, an ontology of mouse embryo anatomy and a gene-expression database with about 30K spatially mapped gene-expression patterns. It is closely linked with the MGI/GXD database at the Jackson Laboratory and holds links to almost all available image-based gene-expression data for the mouse embryo. In this resource article we describe the novel web-based tools we have developed for 3D visualisation of embryo anatomy and gene expression. We show how mapping of gene expression data onto spatial models delivers a framework for capturing gene expression that enhances our understanding of development, and we review the exploratory tools utilised by the EMAGE gene expression database as a means of defining co-expression of in situ hybridisation, immunohistochemistry, and lacZ-omic expression patterns. We report on recent developments of the eHistology atlas and our use of web-services to support embedding of the online 'The Atlas of Mouse Development' in the context of other resources such as the DMDD mouse phenotype database. In addition, we discuss new developments including a cellular-resolution placental atlas, third-party atlas models, clonal analysis data and a new interactive eLearning resource for developmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Armit
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Lorna Richardson
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Shanmugasundaram Venkataraman
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Liz Graham
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Nicholas Burton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Bill Hill
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Yiya Yang
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Richard A Baldock
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, EH4 2XU, UK
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