Particle tracking

u-track is a multiple-particle tracking Matlab software that is designed to (1) track dense particle fields, (2) close gaps in particle trajectories resulting from detection failure, and (3) capture particle merging and splitting events resulting from occlusion or genuine aggregation and dissociation events. Its core is based on formulating correspondence problems as linear assignment problems and searching for a globally optimal solution.

Data can be read using bio-format and interfaced with OMero data base.

It comes as a standalone software, but can be used as a library, which is according to the authors the most widely used version of it.

• Version 2.2 adds parallel processing functionality for multi-movie datasets when using the GUI.
• Version 2.1 enables the analysis of movies stored on an OMERO server
• Version 2.0 includes two new tracking applications: microtubule plus-end tracking (previously distributed as plusTipTracker) and nuclei tracking
• A third optional processing step has been added to the analysis workflow, track analysis, with two methods: motion analysis and microtubule plus-end classification

For more information, please see Jaqaman et al., Nature Methods 5, pp. 695-702 (2008). Besides basic particle tracking, the software supports the features described in Applegate et al. J. Struct. Biol. 176(2):168-84. 2011 for tracking microtubule plus end markers; and in Ng et al. J. Cell Biol. 199(3):545-63. 2012 for tracking fluorescently-labeled cell nuclei.

Easy-to-use, computationally efficient, two- and three-dimensional, feature point-tracking tool for the automated detection and analysis of particle trajectories as recorded by video imaging in cell biology. 

The tracking process requires no apriori mathematical modelling of the motion, it is self-initialising, it discriminates spurious detections, and it can handle temporary occlusion as well as particle appearance and disappearance from the image region. 

The plugin is well suited for video imaging in cell biology relying on low-intensity fluorescence microscopy. It allows the user to visualize and analyze the detected particles and found trajectories in various ways:

• Preview and save detected particles for separate analysis
• Global non progressive view on all trajectories
• Focused progressive view on individually selected trajectory
• Focused progressive view on trajectories in an area of interest

It also allows the user to find trajectories from uploaded particles position and information text files and then to plot particles parameters vs. time - along a trajectory

A set of classes and functions which can be used by plugins performing spot detection and spot tracking.