Computers
and Software
COMPUTERS:
The FACSCalibur
and Vantage
are operated by Macintosh Power PCs. The FACScans
and FACStar
still utilize HP computers, but these computers will be changed before
the year 2000. Off-line PCs, Macs and HPs are also available for off line
data processing. All computers are connected by local network.
Because of the need to keep account
records of use of this core facility, a user is issued a password on the
computer and as long as that individual is using the facility the clock
is running and keeping track of the time used. A record of time and cost
can be returned to the user for each session.
Network file access: In order
to accommodate the increasing number of users we have optimized their throughput
by providing file access over a computer network. Since data acquisition
is usually quite rapid but data analysis can be time consuming, especially
when more complex multiparameter analysis is performed, we have always
analyzed data off-line. We also do not charge users for analysis time,
so they can take as long as desired to evaluate their data. It has been
our goal to allow the investigators to perform these analyses in the convenience
of their own laboratory. They can access their files over the institute
network or by "sneakernet".
COMPUTER SOFTWARE:
The facility has available, for its
users, nearly all of the current software used to analyze data. This availability
is primarily the result of the facility Director’s interest in new approaches
and the concomitant beta testing provided by our staff. This keeps this
facility with the latest in software program development. The following
data analysis packages are currently being used by facility staff and investigators.
Becton Dickinson Immunocytometry Systems
-
HP FACScan Research Program: This was the original
software provided by BDIS to acquire and analyze five parameter data using
the FACScan. It is still used by many users to collect data.
-
HP LYSYS II: This program has more advanced features
than the FACScan Research Program and is used to collect and analyze data.
-
CELLQUEST: This data acquisition and analysis program
operates in the Macintosh environment. It represents the first significant
software offered by any company for this computer environment. This program
is basically the same as LYSYS II in its analysis capability.
-
ATTRACTORS: This multiparameter automated data analysis
program in the Macintosh environment represents the first major advance
by any company in data analysis. This entirely new approach utilizes a
pattern recognition methodology rather than gates and marker. While not
a true clustering program, once the user has defined the populations of
interest in the form of a template that can be saved, subsequent files
of the same type are automatically clustered using the statistical information
defined by the user generated template. Thus, one might term the program
a user interactive cluster analysis program. No software we have tested
can outperform the speed with which this program analyzes data once the
template has been defined. Unlike other clustering algorithms, this program
is not sensitive to cell cluster frequency and can resolve a subset containing
25 cells as easily as one containing 2500 cells.
Verity Software House
-
WHPPC and HP Reader: These two programs are at the
heart of our computer network because they provide for the rapid conversion
of data files from the HP environment into the PC environment. WHPPC is
the network version and HP Reader is the floppy disc version.
-
WinList: This multiparameter data analysis program
incorporates a fast and efficient data analysis engine with extensive graphics
capability for viewing the data. Because of the Dynamic Data Exchange capability
of Windows, spread sheet and data base programs can be run in the computer
background for instant data exchange with WinList. Because our users have
PCs this is by far our most popular program.
-
Modfit: This program is designed to analyze DNA histograms
and it has advanced capabilities for aiding the user in handling debris
and "sliced" nuclei often found in preparations from paraffin. The program
automatically links to WinList so that combining immunophenotyping with
DNA content analysis can take place simultaneously.
Phoenix Flow
-
Multicycle: This DNA analysis program is similar to Modfit
in capabilities. This PC based program is also popular among users and
some use both to compare results. This comparison can be informative when
data quality is poor because each program uses somewhat different algorithms
for DNA histogram analysis.
Management Science Associates(MSA)