Objective

Recent advances in light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) enable 3-dimensional (3-D) imaging of cardiac architecture and mechanics in toto. However, segmentation of the cardiac trabecular network to quantify cardiac injury remains a challenge.

Methods

We hereby employed "subspace approximation with augmented kernels (Saak) transform" for accurate and efficient quantification of the light-sheet image stacks following chemotherapy-treatment. We established a machine learning framework with augmented kernels based on the Karhunen-Loeve Transform (KLT) to preserve linearity and reversibility of rectification.

Results

The Saak transform-based machine learning enhances computational efficiency and obviates iterative optimization of cost function needed for neural networks, minimizing the number of training datasets for segmentation in our scenario. The integration of forward and inverse Saak transforms can also serve as a light-weight module to filter adversarial perturbations and reconstruct estimated images, salvaging robustness of existing classification methods. The accuracy and robustness of the Saak transform are evident following the tests of dice similarity coefficients and various adversary perturbation algorithms, respectively. The addition of edge detection further allows for quantifying the surface area to volume ratio (SVR) of the myocardium in response to chemotherapy-induced cardiac remodeling.

Conclusion

The combination of Saak transform, random forest, and edge detection augments segmentation efficiency by 20-fold as compared to manual processing.

Significance

This new methodology establishes a robust framework for post light-sheet imaging processing, and creating a data-driven machine learning for automated quantification of cardiac ultra-structure.