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A simple and efficient alternative to implementing systematic random sampling in stereological designs without a motorized microscope stage
Author(s) -
MELVIN NEAL R.,
PODA DANIEL,
SUTHERLAND ROBERT J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2007.01828.x
Subject(s) - stereology , systematic sampling , sampling (signal processing) , simple random sample , computer science , slice sampling , equidistant , simple (philosophy) , sampling design , statistics , mathematics , importance sampling , population , monte carlo method , computer vision , pathology , medicine , philosophy , demography , geometry , filter (signal processing) , epistemology , sociology
Summary When properly applied, stereology is a very robust and efficient method to quantify a variety of parameters from biological material. A common sampling strategy in stereology is systematic random sampling, which involves choosing a random sampling relevant objects start point outside the structure of interest, and sampling at sites that are placed at pre‐determined, equidistant intervals. This has proven to be a very efficient sampling strategy, and is used widely in stereological designs. At the microscopic level, this is most often achieved through the use of a motorized stage that facilitates the systematic random stepping across the structure of interest. Here, we report a simple, precise and cost‐effective software‐based alternative to accomplishing systematic random sampling under the microscope. We believe that this approach will facilitate the use of stereological designs that employ systematic random sampling in laboratories that lack the resources to acquire costly, fully automated systems.