#open-source software

[theexodvs]

Mom: How do I avoid viruses and hackers?

Me: Try to seek out FOSS when you need to download a new program, use Firefox and/or Brave when browsing, use a VPN, disable pop-ups…

Mom: I know! Pathological avoidance of the EXE extension!

[bpod-bpod]

Ready, Set, Implant

The landing matters when it comes to embryo development. After a fertilised egg travels through the fallopian tubes it needs to land, then implant, into the womb. In preparation, its cells shrink and architecture changes. Researchers investigate the mechanics of this process using novel software called IVEN, Internal Versus External Neighbourhood. IVEN classifies cells into different groups based on their position and counts the number of neighbours they have in 3D. IVEN was applied to fluorescence microscopy images (pictured, cell nuclei in pink) of mouse embryos grown in dishes and analysed at different stages (left to right). To test the effectiveness of IVEN, the team added the chemical FGF-4, which is known to flatten and disperse cells in an embryo. The software confirmed these effects but also showed that adding FGF-4 changed overall embryo architecture. And it revealed that cells only start growing on implantation. IVEN can therefore help uncover early embryo mechanics.

Written by Lux Fatimathas

Image adapted from work by Jessica E. Forsyth and colleagues

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health (FBMH), Division of Developmental Biology & Medicine, Michael Smith Building, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in PLOS Biology, July 2021

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[k-star-holic]

Wait 'pieceKkonminam Open-source software!'

Source: k-star-holic.blogspot.com

[bpod-bpod]

See No Weevil

Biomedical scientists call on experience and knowledge to interpret medical scans. But image analysis is time consuming, so here computer software aims to define or 'segment' important features automatically. The new online package, called Biomedisa, sets to work on a 3D microscope image of a Trigonopterus weevil (original photo, centre), made up of a thousand 2D image 'slices', with the hope of walking through the images tracing boundaries. Some slices are pre-segmented by scientists, and act as milestones for the software to fill in the gaps. The question is: how much human help is enough? On these weevils, darker-coloured areas show where the software is successful – happening more frequently when using higher numbers of pre-segmented slices (left column), compared to fewer (right). Spotting more subtle boundaries (such as the green areas) requires a balance between human and computer analysis, which Biomedisa’s open source community will continue to improve, then apply to human tissues.

Written by John Ankers

Image adapted from work by Philipp D. Lösel and colleagues

Engineering Mathematics and Computing Lab (EMCL), Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

Images originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in Nature Communications, November 2020

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[bpod-bpod]

Uncharted Territory

When we think of the brain, we typically conjure images of a walnut-like ball made up of folds and cervices. But located deep within the squishy exterior is the often-overlooked subcortex, a collection of small structures that act as relay stations for all information going to the brain. Despite their vital role in our central nervous system, since sub-cortical structures are so small it has been very difficult for scientists to identify them using traditional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) maps. However, this process may now be easier thanks to a new open-source algorithm developed by team of scientists. The method can automatically identify and label up to 17 sub-cortical structures in MRI images, shown here with each structure represented by a different colour. The team hope that this algorithm will encourage other researchers to study in more detail the largely uncharted territory that is the human subcortex.

Written by Gaëlle Coullon

Image from work by Pierre-Louis Bazin and colleagues

Integrative Model-based Cognitive Neuroscience research unit, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Image originally published under a Creative Commons Licence (BY 4.0)

Published in eLife, December 2020

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[frnwhcom]

The Evolution of WordPress: Over Two Decades of Innovation

WordPress, a name synonymous with blogging and website creation, has transformed from a simple blogging tool into a powerful content management system (CMS) over the past two decades. Its journey from a niche project to dominating the web is a tale of innovation, community, and adaptability. Early Beginnings WordPress was born out of a desire to improve the existing blogging software,…

The Evolution of WordPress: Over Two Decades of Innovation

[olivergisttv]

Best Open-Source Alternatives to Popular Paid Software

Why pay when you can get similar—sometimes better—software for free? Open-source software (OSS) has become a powerful competitor to many paid programs, offering flexibility, customization, and an active community that ensures continuous improvements. Here’s a look at some of the best open-source alternatives to popular paid software you might be using today.       1. GIMP (Alternative to Adobe…

Best Open-Source Alternatives to Popular Paid Software