MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nikon Instruments Inc. today announced the winners of the 42nd annual Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition, awarding first place to Oscar Ruiz, Ph.D. for his microscopic view of the facial development of a four-day-old zebrafish embryo. Fittingly, Nikon unveiled Dr. Ruiz’s zebrafish “selfie” win first on Instagram this morning, giving followers the first look at the winning images. The full winner gallery can now also be viewed on www.nikonsmallworld.com .
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/Attachm...bc8a78bf55 .
Dr. Ruiz brings the world face-to-face with his research on facial development and cellular morphogenesis with his winning image of a four-day-old zebrafish embryo. Dr. Ruiz uses the zebrafish to study genetic mutations that lead to facial abnormalities such as cleft lip and palate in humans in the lab of Dr. George Eisenhoffer at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
In addition to Dr. Ruiz, Nikon recognized 76 other winners of the 2016 Small World competition, which is comprised of ranked top twenty winning images, 14 Honorable Mentions and 61 Images of Distinction. Scientists, photographers and hobbyists from 70 countries submitted more than 2,000 entries. Judges selected winners that exemplified artistic quality as well as exceptional scientific technique.
Veteran competitor Douglas Moore of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, received second place for his exquisite and colorful image of a polished slab of Teepee Canyon Agate. The third place image by Rebecca Nutbrown of Oxford, United Kingdom, depicts a culture of neurons derived from human skin cells.
“Whether an image provides a rare glimpse into cutting-edge medical research as we saw from our first place winner, or reveals a fun “too-close-for-comfort” look into the eyes of a spider like one of our Images of Distinction, each evokes a powerful reaction from our judges. Every year we’re looking for that image that makes people lean forward in their seats, sparks their curiosity and leads them to ask new questions,” said Eric Flem, Communications Manager, Nikon Instruments. “Nearly 100 years of microscopy has paved the way for the evolving technology and innovative techniques that continue to raise the bar of this competition. Congratulations to all of the winners and entrants for their incredible work.”
For those interested in taking their turn in the judge’s seat, the Nikon Small World Popular Vote is continuing through October 25 th . Participants can vote daily for their favorite image among all of the finalists.
The judges were intrigued by Ruiz’s innovative techniques to capture time-lapse images of the developing zebrafish face. Using the time-lapse as a guide, Ruiz is creating an atlas of the development of the zebrafish face. His group is tracking physical landmarks throughout development to create a series of metrics that can be used to accurately describe the cellular movements that occur during the normal development of the face. These metrics can then be used to identify abnormalities in the development of zebrafish harboring specific genetic mutations identified in human patients. He hopes that these findings will help provide insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that are altered in patients with facial deformities.
“Until now, these facial abnormalities had not been extensively studied in a live context where you can see what’s happening during development in real-time," said Ruiz. “Using a live-imaging approach means we can better understand and pinpoint exactly how and why these developmental abnormalities occur. The first step is knowing how it happens, then we can figure out how to fix it.”
Top Five Images:
- Dr. Oscar Ruiz , Four-day-old zebrafish embryo
- Douglas Moore , Polished slab of Teepee Canyon Agate
- Rebecca Nutbrown , Culture of neurons derived from human skin cells
- Jochen Schroeder , Butterfly proboscis
- Dr. Igor Siwanowicz , Front foot (tarsus) of a male diving beetle
This year’s remarkable roster of judges once again included a combination of distinguished names in the scientific community, science journalism, imaging and video production. The 2016 panel includes:
- Eric Clark: Research Coordinator and Applications Developer at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University.
- Dr. Joe Hanson: Biologist, science writer, and the creator and host of PBS Digital Studios’ science education show “It’s Okay To Be Smart.”
- Rachel Link: Producer for National Geographic curating content for the publication’s Short Film Showcase.
- Dr. Brian J. Mitchell : Associate Professor in Cell and Molecular Biology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
- Dr. Clare Waterman : National Institute of Health (NIH) Distinguished Investigator at the Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Morphodynamics.
Top images from the 2016 Nikon Small World Competition will be exhibited in a full-color calendar and through a national museum tour. For additional information, please visit www.nikonsmallworld.com , or follow the conversation on Facebook , Twitter ( @NikonSmallWorld ) and Instagram ( @NikonInstruments ).
Nikon Small World In Motion
The celebration of science and art under the microscope continues with another Nikon Small World unveiling still around the corner—this time in the form of video. Nikon will first reveal the winners of its sister competition, Nikon Small World in Motion, via Instagram ( @NikonInstruments ) on December 7, 2016.
THE OFFICIAL 2016 NIKON SMALL WORLD WINNERS
The following are the Top 20 and Honorable Mentions for Nikon Small World 2016. The full gallery of winning images, along with Images of Distinction can be viewed at www.nikonsmallworld.com . 1st Place Dr. Oscar Ruiz The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Texas, USA Four-day-old zebrafish embryo Confocal 10x
2nd Place Douglas L. Moore University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Museum of Natural History Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA Polished slab of Teepee Canyon agate Stereomicroscopy 90x
3rd Place Rebecca Nutbrown University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences Oxford, United Kingdom Culture of neurons (stained green) derived from human skin cells, and Schwann cells, a second type of brain cell (stained red) Confocal/Immunofluorescence/iPSCs 20x
4th Place Jochen Schroeder Chiang Mai, Thailand Butterfly proboscis Image Stacking 6.3x
5th Place Dr. Igor Siwanowicz Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Janelia Research Campus Ashburn, Virginia, USA Front foot (tarsus) of a male diving beetle Confocal 100x
6th Place Marek Mis Marek Mis Photography Suwalki, Podlaskie, Poland Air bubbles formed from melted ascorbic acid crystals Polarized Light 50x
7th Place Dr. David Maitland www.davidmaitland.com Feltwell, United Kingdom Leaves of Selaginella (lesser club moss) Differential Interference Contrast 40x
8th Place Samuel Silberman Yehud-Monosson, Israel Wildflower stamens Fiber Optic Illumination 40x
9th Place Vin Kitayama and Sanae Kitayama Vinsanchi Art Museum Azumino Azumino, Nagano, Japan Espresso coffee crystals Polarized Light
10th Place Rogelio Moreno Gill Panama, Panama Frontonia (showing ingested food, cilia, mouthand trichocysts) Differential Interference Contrast 200x
11th Place Francis Sneyers Brecht, Belgium Scales of a butterfly wing underside ( Vanessa atalanta ) Macroscopy 10x
12th Place Dr. Dylan Burnette Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Nashville, Tennessee, USA Human HeLa cell undergoing cell division (cytokinesis). DNA (yellow), myosin II (blue) and actin filaments (red) Structured Illumination 60x
13th Place Walter Piorkowski South Beloit, Illinois, USA Poison fangs of a centipede ( Lithobius erythrocephalus ) Fiber Optic Illumination/Image Stacking 16x
14th Place Dr. Keunyoung Kim University of California, San Diego, National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research (NCMIR) La Jolla, California, USA Mouse retinal ganglion cells Fluorescence/Confocal 40x
15th Place Geir Drange Asker, Norway Head section of an orange ladybird ( Halyzia sedecimguttata ) Reflected Light/Focus Stacking 10x
16th Place Stefano Barone Diatom Shop Palazzo Pignano, Italy 65 fossil Radiolarians (zooplankton) carefully arranged by hand in Victorian style Darkfield 100x
17th Place Jose Almodovar University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, Biology Department Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Slime mold (Mixomicete) Image Stacking/Reflected Light 5x
18th Place Pia Scanlon Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Biosecurity and Regulation - Pest Diagnostics South Perth, Western Australia, Australia Parts of wing-cover (elytron), abdominal segments and hind leg of a broad-shouldered leaf beetle ( Oreina cacaliae ) Stereomicroscopy, Image Stacking 40x
19th Place Dr. Gist F. Croft, Lauren Pietilla, Stephanie Tse, Dr. Szilvia Galgoczi, Maria Fenner, Dr. Ali H. Brivanlou Rockefeller University, Brivanlou Laboratory New York, New York, USA Human neural rosette primordial brain cells, differentiated from embryonic stem cells Confocal 10x
20th Place Michael Crutchley Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom Cow dung Darkfield 30x
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Dr. Leonardo Andrade Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Zebrafish fin with cylindrical bone segments and rows of pigmented epithelial cells Differential Interference Contrast 50x
Evan Darling Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, New York, USA Scales of a butterfly wing Confocal 10x
Dr. Keunyoung Kim University of California, San Diego, National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research (NCMIR) La Jolla, California, USA Retinal ganglion cells in the whole-mounted mouse retina Fluorescence/Confocal 20x
Charles Krebs Charles Krebs Photography Issaquah, Washington, USA Tail of a small shrimp Reflected Light 40x
Hei Ming Lai and Dr. Wutian Wu The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong, China Dentate gyrus of an optically-cleared transgenic mouse brain in 3D Confocal 10x
David Millard Austin, Texas, USA Seeds of an Indian Paintbrush wildflower ( Castilleja indivisa ) Fiber Optic Illumination/ Image Stacking 4x
David Millard Austin, Texas, USA Curvepod Fumewort ( Corydalis curvisiliqua ) seed Image Stacking 4.5x
Marek Mis Marek Mis Photography Suwalki, Podlaskie, Poland Caudal gill of a dragonfly larva Polarized Light, Darkfield 25x
Marek Mis Marek Mis Photography Suwalki, Podlaskie, Poland Leg of a water boatman ( Corixidae ) Polarized Light, Darkfield 25x
Jacek Myslowski Wloclawek, Poland Micrasterias thomasiana (algae) Fluorescence 400x
Samuel Silberman Yehud-Monosson, Israel Wildflower stamens Fiber Optic Illumination 40x
Dr. Igor Siwanowicz Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Janelia Research Campus Ashburn, Virginia, USA Interior of a bisected trap of a humped bladderwort ( Urticularia gibba ), a fresh water carnivorous plant Confocal 100x
Dr. Igor Siwanowicz Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Janelia Research Campus Ashburn, Virginia, USA Gears coupling hind legs of a planthopper nymph Confocal 250x
About Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition The Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition is open to anyone with an interest in photography. Participants may submit their images in traditional 35mm format, or upload digital images directly at www.nikonsmallworld.com . For additional information, contact Nikon Small World, Nikon Instruments Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747, USA or phone (631) 547-8569. Entry forms for Nikon’s 2016 Small World Competition may also be downloaded from www.nikonsmallworld.com .
About Nikon Instruments Inc. Nikon Instruments, Inc. is a world leader in the development and manufacture of optical and digital imaging technology for biomedical applications. Now in its 99th year, Nikon provides complete optical systems that offer optimal versatility, performance and productivity. Cutting-edge instruments include microscopes, precision measuring equipment, digital imaging products and software. Nikon Instruments is the microscopy and instrumentation arm of Nikon Inc., the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology. For more information, visit www.nikoninstruments.com . Product-related inquiries may be directed to Nikon Instruments at 800-52-NIKON.
Media Contact: Nicole Newby Peppercomm 212-931-6164 nnewby@peppercomm.com
