Generalized Student's t-distribution mixtures for autoradiographic image spread modelling

Biom J. 2016 Sep;58(5):1021-38. doi: 10.1002/bimj.201500067. Epub 2016 Mar 16.

Abstract

In this paper, a new class of models for autoradiographic hot-line data is proposed. The models, for which there is theoretical justification, are a linear combination of generalized Student's t-distributions and have as special cases all currently accepted line-spread models. The new models are used to analyse experimental hot-line data and compared with the fit of current models. The data are from a line source labelled with iodine-125 in a resin section of 0.6 μm in thickness. It will be shown that a significant improvement in goodness of fit, over that of previous models, can be achieved by choosing from this new class of models. A single model from this class will be proposed that has a simple form made up of only two components, but which fits experimental data significantly better than previous models. A short sensitivity analysis indicates that estimation is reliable. The modelling approach, although motivated by and applied to autoradiography, is appropriate for any mixture modelling situation.

Keywords: EM autoradiography; Hot-lines; Image spread; LM autoradiography; Line-spread.

MeSH terms

  • Autoradiography / methods*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Statistical Distributions*