Kolloquium zur Masterarbeit: Oskar Klempt

Studentischer Vortrag (Kolloquium zur Masterarbeit/Master's thesis defense)
Vortragender/Speaker: Oskar Klempt
Ansprechpartner/Contact: Prof. Dr. Axel Voigt, Dr. Rainer Backofen

Titel/Title: Local Velocity Reconstruction of Deforming Cells using Optimal Transport

Zusammenfassung/Abstract:
In this talk, we present a novel approach for reconstructing the flow field of deforming cells. This method is based on entropic regularized optimal transport, employing the Sinkhorn algorithm, implemented using the python library POT. Compared to existing methods, our method enables a more detailed reconstruction of cell movement and deformation by utilizing a high spatial resolution of the cellular mass. This advancement is particularly valuable for understanding coordinated motions, which underlie complex biological processes. We demonstrate that our optimal transport-based method provides a mathematically rigorous and robust framework for the visualization of the flow fields in local cell dynamics. To this end, we evaluate our method through comprehensive parameter studies and drive forward a qualitative analysis of the reconstructed flow field surrounding T1 transitions - local neighbor exchange processes that play a key role in tissue reorganization and deformation. Furthermore, we compare our results with a conventional method that only considers the displacement of the cell centers in both computational and experimental data. Additionally, we analyze the vorticity patterns surrounding T1 transitions and show our method's ability to accurately reconstruct the flow field in tissues.