Small sample learning of superpixel classifiers for EM segmentation

Med Image Comput Comput Assist Interv. 2014;17(Pt 1):389-97. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-10404-1_49.

Abstract

Pixel and superpixel classifiers have become essential tools for EM segmentation algorithms. Training these classifiers remains a major bottleneck primarily due to the requirement of completely annotating the dataset which is tedious, error-prone and costly. In this paper, we propose an interactive learning scheme for the superpixel classifier for EM segmentation. Our algorithm is 'active semi-supervised' because it requests the labels of a small number of examples from user and applies label propagation technique to generate these queries. Using only a small set (< 20%) of all datapoints, the proposed algorithm consistently generates a classifier almost as accurate as that estimated from a complete groundtruth. We provide segmentation results on multiple datasets to show the strength of these classifiers.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Artificial Intelligence*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods*
  • Neurites / ultrastructure*
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sample Size
  • Sensitivity and Specificity