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On the Stereological Estimation of Numerical Density of Particle Systems by an Object Counting Method
Author(s) -
Voss K.,
Stoyan D.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
biometrical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-4036
pISSN - 0323-3847
DOI - 10.1002/bimj.4710270816
Subject(s) - stereology , mathematics , simple (philosophy) , calipers , regular polygon , isotropy , ergodic theory , particle (ecology) , point (geometry) , particle number , mathematical analysis , geometry , physics , optics , volume (thermodynamics) , medicine , philosophy , oceanography , epistemology , quantum mechanics , geology
The determination of numerical density Nv of particles is one of the most complex problems in stereology. This paper presents a method for solving it, consisting only of counting of intersections between particles and thick slices of some different thicknesses. The essential stereological parameters Nv and mean caliper diameter D of the particles are determined by means of a regression line. The basic formula is a simple consequence of general principles for deriving stereological formulae which is described in this paper. The object counting method is applicable if the particles are convex and if the whole particle system can be described by a stationary isotropic ergodic marked point process. A practical example (liver cell nuclei of rats) demonstrates the application of the method.