text:
A computer system and a computer-implemented method are provided for interactively displaying a three-dimensional rendering of a structure having a lumen and for indicating regions of abnormal wall structure. A three-dimensional volume of data is formed from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the three-dimensional structure. An isosurface of a selected region of interest is created by a computer from the volume of data based on a selected value or values of a physical property representing the selected region of interest. A wireframe model of the isosurface is generated by the computer wherein the wireframe model includes a plurality of vertices. The vertices are then grouped into populations of contiguous vertices having a characteristic indicating abnormal wall structure by the computer. The wireframe model is then rendered by the computer in an interactive three-dimensional display to indicate the populations of abnormal wall structure.
1. A method for interactively displaying three dimensional structures comprising the steps of:
providing a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three dimensional body;
isolating a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest;
rendering the isolated region of interest as a surface rendered image in an interactive three-dimensional display; and
displaying a volume-rendered image adjoining the surface-rendered image in an interactive three-dimensional display.
2. The method as recited in
3. A method for interactively displaying three dimensional structures comprising the steps of:
providing a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three dimensional body;
isolating a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest;
determining an arbitrarily oriented cross-sectional area of the selected region of interest; and
rendering the arbitrarily oriented cross-sectional area of the isolated region of interest in an interactive three-dimensional display.
4. An apparatus for automatic analysis in virtual endoscopy for interactively displaying a three-dimensional rendering of an anatomical structure having a lumen, the apparatus comprising:
a computer-controlled device to acquire images of selected body organs, and
a renderer to produce three-dimensional renderings of images of the anatomical structures, the renderer adapted to incorporate a surface rendering of an organ into a volume rendering of the surrounding anatomy using texture memory to achieve a combined surface/volume rendering,
wherein the three-dimensional renderings are interactive to enable the display of movement about the rendered anatomical structure.
5. An apparatus for automatic analysis in virtual endoscopy for interactively displaying a three-dimensional rendering of an anatomical structure, the apparatus comprising:
a computer-controlled device to acquire images of selected body organs, and
a renderer to produce three-dimensional renderings of anatomical structures of the images, the renderer adapted to incorporate a surface rendering of an organ into a volume rendering of the surrounding anatomy using texture memory to achieve a hybrid rendering effect,
wherein the surface rendered organ may be highlighted in the context of the volume-rendered surrounding anatomy, and wherein the three-dimensional renderings are interactive to enable the display of movement about the rendered anatomical structure.
6. An apparatus for automatic analysis in virtual endoscopy for interactively displaying a three-dimensional rendering of an anatomical structure, the apparatus comprising:
a computer-controlled device to acquire images of selected body organs, and
a renderer to produce in a display window multiplanar views of anatomical structures of the images which include at least one of orthogonal and oblique views that are presented simultaneously with a surface-rendered organ and surrounding volume-rendered anatomy.
7. The apparatus according to
8. A method for interactively displaying three dimensional structures comprising the steps of:
providing a three-dimensional volume of data representing at least one physical property associated with a three dimensional body;
isolating a selected region of interest from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical property representing the selected region of interest;
generating a wireframe model of a selected surface of the isolated region of interest, the wireframe model comprising a plurality of polygons and a plurality of vertices associated with the polygons; and
rendering the wireframe model in an interactive three-dimensional display.
9. The method according to
10. The method according to
11. The method according to
12. The method according to
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/299,061, entitled "Automatic Analysis in Virtual Endoscopy", filed on Apr. 23, 1999, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,366,800, which in turn is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/805,584, entitled "Automatic Analysis in Virtual Endoscopy", filed on Feb. 25, 1997, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,319, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/331,352, filed on Oct. 27, 1994, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,762, which are each incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a system and method for interactively displaying a three-dimensional rendering of a structure having a lumen and, more particularly, to a system and method for automatically analyzing such structures for potential abnormalities.
For many forms of cancer, early detection is essential for a favorable prognosis. A cancerous growth must be detected at an early stage before the cancer is allowed to grow and spread. This is particularly true for colorectal and lung cancers. As a result, endoscopic techniques have been developed to examine the colon and tracheobronchial airways for the growth of precancerous and cancerous masses.
Regarding colorectal cancer, the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute recommend routine screening beginning at age 55 in order to provide a means for early detection of abnormal growths. Under those guidelines over 50 million Americans should undergo annual colorectal screening. However, only about 1.5 million fiberoptic colonoscopies are performed each year. The discrepancy arises, at least in part, because conventional colonoscopies require a patient to be sedated so that a flexible endoscope can be inserted into the patient's anus. Another problem is that conventional colonoscopies fail to provide access to the entire colon in approximately 15% of cases. Colonoscopies also expose patients to the risk of bowel perforation. Accordingly, it is understandable that patients are reluctant to undergo, or repeatedly subject themselves to, such an invasive procedure.
Consequently, virtual endoscopic techniques have been, and are continuing to be developed. Virtual endoscopy that utilizes computer reformation of radiologic cross-sectional images is a minimally invasive alternative to conventional fiberoptic endoscopy. Virtual endoscopy reduces the risk of perforation, does not require any sedation, and is considerably less expensive than the fiberoptic endoscopy method. For example, virtual colonoscopy techniques generally require bowel cleansing, gas distension of the colon, a 40–60 second spiral computed tomography (CT) scan of a patient's abdomen and pelvis, and human visual analysis of multi-planar two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images created from CT data.
Although virtual colonoscopy techniques provide excellent images of the colon in three-dimensions, a correct diagnosis hinges upon a physician's ability to properly identify small (approximately 5–10 mm), and sometimes subtle, masses within hundreds of multiplanar two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. Such human inspection is time consuming, tedious, expensive, and under certain circumstances prone to error of interpretation. Accordingly, it would be highly beneficial to provide an automatic virtual endoscopic system and method for automatically analyzing and/or detecting abnormalities, such as abnormal growths, in a targeted structure or organ system, such as the walls of a colon or trachea.
In accordance with the present invention, a computer-implemented method and computer system are provided for interactively displaying a three-dimensional rendering of a structure having a lumen. In a specific application, the method may be utilized for analyzing regions having certain characteristics of wall structure such as thickness or shape to detect, for example, abnormal masses. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a three-dimensional volume of data is formed from a series of two-dimensional images representing at least one physical property associated with the three-dimensional object. An isosurface of a selected region of interest is created in the computer from the volume of data based on selected values of the physical properties representing the selected region of interest. A wireframe model of the isosurface is generated by the computer. The wireframe model is analyzed to detect, by computer, those sections of the object having the selected characteristic such as abnormal wall structure. For example, the wireframe model includes a plurality of vertices. The computer-implemented method groups the vertices of the wireframe model into populations having a characteristic indicating abnormal wall structure. The wireframe model with highlighted abnormal portions is then rendered by the computer into an interactive three-dimensional display on the computer monitor.
In specific applications, the step of grouping the vertices into populations having a characteristic indicating abnormal wall structure is effected by determining a normal vertex for each vertex position of the wireframe model. Next, a connectivity matrix is determined to provide sets of contiguous vertices for each vertex. A wall thickness value associated with each normal vector is determined for each vertex. Local convexity and curvature are also determined on a per vertex basis. Then, contiguous vertices having a characteristic indicating abnormal thicknesses or other abnormal properties are grouped together into separate populations indicative of areas of abnormality. Either as a supplement or an alternative to determining abnormal thicknesses, the computer-implemented method may function to analyze shape characteristics of selected populations of vertices. For example, each population of contiguous vertices may be determined based on a characteristic such as convexity or curvature. Each population is then analyzed to determine a convexity value for each population representing an amount and direction of convexity of the population on the wireframe model. In selected applications, each population may be analyzed according to other selected shape characteristics.
In accordance with the present invention, a method and system are provided for interactively displaying a three-dimensional rendering of a structure having a lumen wherein the rendering is effected by a an adaptive thresholding procedure. A three-dimensional volume of data is formed in a computer from a series of two-dimensional images acquired, for example, by a scanner such as CT-scanner. The acquired images represent at least one physical property associated with the three-dimensional object. A selected region of interest is segmented by the computer from the volume of data based on a selected criteria such as a threshold value of the physical property. The threshold value is adaptively adjusted in the region of interest to control the segmenting of the selected region of interest. An isosurface of a selected region of interest is created by the computer from the volume of data based on selected values, such as the adaptive adjusted thresholds of the physical property representing the selected region of interest. Next, a wireframe model of the isosurface is generated and then rendered in an interactive three-dimensional display.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention generally relates to a method and system, as schematically represented in
The computer-generated interactive three-dimensional renderings can be constructed from surface renderings of the organ system or from volume renderings of the organ system and surrounding anatomy and, often, presented simultaneously in the same three-dimensional display window. In a selected embodiment, a surface rendering of an organ can be incorporated into a volume rendering of the surrounding anatomy using texture memory in order to achieve a combined surface/volume rendering, or a hybrid rendering effect, wherein the surface rendered organ may be highlighted in the context of the volume-rendered surrounding anatomy. In yet another embodiment, multiplanar views such as orthogonal (sagittal, coronal, and axial) or oblique views, may be presented simultaneously with a surface-rendered organ and surrounding volume-rendered anatomy in either separate three-dimensional display windows or in a combined single three-dimensional or display window.
A computer-controlled system 20 in accordance with the present invention is shown schematically in
The scanner 22 can be a General Electric HiSpeed Advantage Helical CT Scanner (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, Wis.). For scanning a patient's lungs, the scanner is typically operated with an X-ray beam collimation of 3 mm, a pitch of 1:1, a 1 mm reconstruction interval, a display field-of-view of 25.6 cm, and a 512ū512 matrix. For scanning a patient's colon, the scanner is typically operated with a beam collimation of 5 mm, a pitch of 2:1, a 1 mm reconstruction interval, a display field-of-view of 40 cm, and a 512ū512 matrix. These protocols typically result in approximately 200 thoracic CT images or 500 abdominal CT images, which occupy approximately 100 MB and 250 MB of disk storage space, respectively. However, the protocols can be modified to optimally acquire image data of specific organ systems.
The image data can be stored in any of a variety of image formats. For example, the image data can be stored in the digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) standard, or as raw binary slices, or in a variety of volume formats. For example, the image data can be stored in the computer memory in an internal data format which allows the image files to be saved as a single data volume instead of individual image files. The internal data format can also permit standard compression and uncompression techniques to be incorporated, thereby reducing computer disk storage requirements.
A method for generating interactive, three-dimensional renderings of a selected structure having a lumen and indicating potentially abnormal regions of the structure in accordance with the present invention is generally set forth in
Patient preparation 32 will be dictated by the organ system to be rendered. For example, if the patient's colon is to be rendered, the patient is prepared using bowel cleansing and insufflation with gas to distend the colon. In addition, the patient can be given an oral contrast agent to become incorporated in the fecal content to readily distinguish the stool from surrounding soft tissue structures, including the colon wall. Without adequate bowel cleansing or use of an oral contrast agent, stool and normal colon wall or colon lesions can be indistinguishable in computed tomography or other radiologic modality images. For example, the contrast agent may comprise a low-density (e.g., 1.5% w/v) barium-containing mixture. The opacified stool may then be digitally subtracted from the CT image data in order to render an unimpeded colon. Alternatively, for rendering a patient's airways, the patient can be administered a bolus of non-ionic intravenous iodinated contrast agent to aid in distinguishing the blood vessels surrounding the airways.
Once the patient has been prepared, two dimensional, cross-sectional images of the selected structure are acquired at step 33 with the use of a scanner 22, such as a helical computed tomography (CT) scanner or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The two-dimensional images are arranged in computer memory 21 (i.e., random access memory (RAM)) to create a three-dimensional data volume at step 34. To create isocubic volume elements (i.e., voxels), an interpolation method, including but not limited to trilinear interpolation, can be applied.
At step 35, a region of interest is segmented from the three-dimensional data volume. The purpose of segmentation is to isolate a region of interest within the three-dimensional data volume prior to three-dimensional rendering. In general, medical image segmentation is complicated by image noise, partial volume effects, and the fact that similar intensity values are shared by different anatomical structures. However, when a thin-walled soft tissue structure encompasses an air-filled lumen, segmentation of that structure can be effectuated by selecting the air column as the region of interest. The air column can be effectively segmented because the boundary between air and soft tissue is relatively distinct and sharp. Further, the outside surface of the air column corresponds to the inside surface of the organ of interest. Similarly, when a thin-walled soft tissue structure encompasses a contrast enhanced blood-filled lumen, segmentation of that structure can be effectuated by selecting the contrast-enhanced blood column as the region of interest. Accordingly, a simple thresholding or region growing technique, along with a morphological dilation away from air or blood vessel and towards soft tissue, can be utilized for segmentation purposes.
However, in order to refine and to improve the accuracy of the segmentation process, especially as selected structures have varying characteristics (e.g., changing diameter, wall thickness, and/or X-ray attenuation values), more sophisticated segmentation procedures can be employed. One such procedure adaptively adjusts the threshold value defining the region of interest to more accurately segment specific sections of the organ during a region growing process. For example, adaptive thresholding techniques can be used to segment a patient's airways, especially as a threshold value of −425 Hounsfield units (HU) may be appropriate for the larger airways, but −800 HU may be more appropriate for smaller airways. Therefore, by varying the threshold value between these two extremes, the influence of airway structure and surrounding tissues can be accounted for, especially as partial volume effects become apparent in the smaller airways.
A computer-executed method for adaptively adjusting threshold values for the airways is shown in
The voxels or volume elements of the segmented region of interest are tagged at step 77 by setting a high-order bit in the 16-bit computer word used to store the voxel values (usually only the lower-order 12 bits of a 16 bit word hold any actual data). At step 79, the tagged voxels are used to find the boundary and voxel counts in two-dimensions for each airway segment on every image slice. The voxels within each boundary are distinctly re-tagged at step 81 by setting a different high-order bit. At step 83, the vertices on the initial three-dimensional wireframe model closest to each two-dimensional boundary point of each segment are found. An intensity profile along each vertex's normal vector is calculated to measure x-ray attenuations factors incremental along the normal directions at step 85. The intensity profiles extend bidirectionally, into the surrounding tissue until the voxel values begin to decrease, and into the airway lumen until the voxel values begin to increase.
The adaptive threshold value is calculated for each segment on every image at step 87 as an average value of several measured threshold values for each segment. Each adaptive threshold value can be calculated as a variable percentage of the difference between the average maximum and minimum attenuation factors for the corresponding intensity profile. For example, a percentage of 50% corresponds to the full-width-at-half-maximum measure of the intensity profile. The adaptive threshold values are then used to re-segment the region of interest at step 88 using a region growing process that can account for the varying threshold values.
Alternatively, the adaptive threshold values can be calculated by morphing a ring which represents the intersection of the airway and a perpendicular plane along the skeleton of the airway. The skeleton is a sequence of connected points that lie along the center of the air columns, like a central path. The initial reference ring lies in the initial perpendicular plane and is the set of iso-value points of an underestimated threshold value on that plane in the largest branch of the airway. Using this ring as a reference, the threshold value is changed to create a new ring in the same plane, with a larger circumference and larger curvature values than the reference ring. If the increase in circumference and curvature values are below a certain limit, then the old threshold value is replaced by the new threshold, and the process is repeated. When the maximums are exceeded, the new threshold value is stored on the skeleton, the perpendicular plane is shifted to the next point on the skeleton, and the previous threshold value is used as the initial threshold value for the iso-value ring on the new plane. This process is repeated for every branch along the skeleton until every point in the skeleton has an associated adaptive threshold value. A variant of the marching cubes can then be used to generate a variable-value surface using the variable threshold values.
Another method for adaptively adjusting the threshold valve used to grow an object, uses the morphological skeleton of an approximate object to choose optimal threshold values for all parts of the final object. The object is first grown using a lower threshold value. This gives the base structure, but usually does not accurately segment all of the object. Then, the medial axis is calculated from the morphological skeleton of the object. For each voxel on the medial axis, the algorithm searches out (in bi-directional rays perpendicular to the local axis) the local maxima and minima of voxel values along the search line. The full-width-at-half-the-maximum value, or a variable percentage value, is then calculated for each bi-directional ray, and all rays for a particular axis point are averaged to give a threshold value at the axis point. During segmentation, the nearest axis point to the current voxel is determined, and the threshold value associated with that point is used to classify the voxel as being inside or outside the object using a region growing procedure.
Yet another technique for adaptive thresholding involves manually specifying markers in the volume to hold threshold values that best approximate the object at that location. The markers are established for all sections of the object that need special threshold values. A global threshold value is also specified. During the region growing segmentation process, the algorithm checks to see if the current voxel is near a threshold marker. If so, the threshold value associated with the marker is used to classify the voxel as being inside or outside the object. The range for calling a position near the marker, as well as the behavior if the position is inside the specified range (the threshold can be linearly scaled or applied unchanged), can be user-specified. However, if the current voxel is not near a threshold marker, the global threshold is used to classify the voxel.
Still another technique for adaptive thresholding modifies the threshold value as a function of the distance from the starting seed of the region growing procedure. The user may specify that voxels near the seed should be within a certain range, but voxels farther away from the seed should fall within a different range. The thresholds for positions in between can be found by interpolating between the ranges. For this technique, any number of distance and threshold ranges can be specified.
Returning to
After the wireframe model has been generated at step 38, connectivity matrices are determined at step 39. The connectivity matrices are data structures which provide information regarding the connectivity between the vertices and polygons which comprise the wireframe model. The connectivity matrices are determined by traversing the polygon and vertex lists associated with the wireframe model, generating sets of immediate neighbor vertices and triangles associated with each vertex and polygon in the lists. For example, the vertex to polygon connectivity matrix contains, for each vertex in the wireframe model, a list of all polygons that contain that vertex. Likewise, a polygon to polygon matrix lists all adjacent polygons for each polygon in the model.
Using these connectivity matrices, the polygon list of the wireframe model is then re-ordered. The polygons generated using the variant of marching cubes are usually added to, and as such ordered in, the polygon list as the three dimensional volume is traversed. Accordingly, all of the polygons between the first and second images are generated first, followed by the polygons between the second and third images, and so forth. This polygon ordering is not intuitive, nor ideal for analysis or manipulation of the geometry at the local connectivity level. Consequently, to group vertices into populations and to analyze the populations, it is advantageous to re-order the polygons into the sequence by which they would be encountered while "traveling" through the lumen of the wireframe model. In addition, the re-ordering facilitates rapid three-dimensional renderings, since hidden objects or objects outside of the field-of-view can be easily identified and removed, thereby reducing the number of polygons rendered and thus increasing the rendering speed.
The re-ordered connectivity matrices are also a means to rapidly calculate an arbitrarily oriented cross-sectional area of an object or a region of interest. This is done by generating the intersection of the wireframe model with a plane of user-defined orientation. Three user-defined points of intersection with the object defines the plane. The intersection of the plane with the wireframe model is outlined by a set of points that are generally in the shape of a distorted ring. By connecting these N points, a polygon with N sides is formed. This polygon can be divided into N−2 triangles by connecting the first point in the ring with every other point on the ring. The cross-sectional area can be approximated by summing the areas of each triangle.
The vertices of the wireframe model can be analyzed and grouped into populations having abnormal wall structure as shown at steps 40–45 in
The wall thickness of the structure at each vertex is measured at step 41. The wall thickness at a given vertex can be determined by measuring the distance from the inner surface of the selected object to its outer surface or some other position between the inner and outer surfaces. For body parts such as the colon or airways, the selected structure's wall is composed of soft tissue and the lumen of the structure comprises air. Accordingly, the inner surface corresponds to an air/soft tissue interface. Further, the colon and airways are typically surrounded by fat, air, or other non-soft tissue material (i.e., contrast-enhanced blood vessels, bone, or calcification). Accordingly, the outer surface corresponds to the soft tissue/air, soft tissue/bone, soft tissue/fat, or other such interface. The X-ray attenuation factors for air (approximately −1024 HU to −425 HU), fat (about −200 HU to −20 HU), and other non-soft tissue structures such as contrast-enhanced blood vessels and bone (approximately >100HU) are distinct from the soft tissue component (about 20 HU to 100 HU) of the airways or colon wall. Accordingly, the wall thickness at a vertex on the wireframe model can be calculated from the volume data of the selected organ, which can be measured at regularly spaced intervals along each normal vector, as will now be described.
In general, for each vertex, v, and its corresponding normal vector, N, an X-ray attenuation factor, A(pi), can be determined for each point p1 along the normal, where p1=v+iN for 1≦i≦max_depth and max_depth is a user-definable maximum search depth, typically set at 15. The wall thickness value, T, is initially set to zero but is incremented by one for each consecutive point pi which has a corresponding X-ray attenuation value that falls within a range of −425 HU to +100 HU and that satisfies certain criteria.
Specifically, the wall thickness at each vertex can be measured as shown in
The voxel value, such as the x-ray attenuation factor, A(p1), for the ith point along the normal is measured at step 59. At step 60, it is determined whether i=5. If i does not equal 5, then it is determined if A(pi) is between −425 HU and +100 HU, and if A(pi) is between −425 HU and +100 HU, then the thickness T is incremented by one at step 61. The process proceeds to step 65.
At step 65, it is determined whether A(p1)<−100 HU and A(pj)≧−100 HU for some value of 1≦j≦(i−1). If this expression is satisfied, then a soft tissue/fat or soft tissue/air interface is considered to have been reached. Accordingly, the thickness T is not incremented and the process proceeds to step 71.
At step 71, it is determined whether there is a vertex whose thickness has not yet been measured. If there is a vertex whose thickness has not been measured, that vertex is selected at step 56. Otherwise, the wall thickness at all vertices would have been measured and the process ends at step 72.
Returning to step 65, if the expression at step 65 is not satisfied, then it is determined at step 66 whether A(pi)>100 HU. If A(p1) is greater than 100 HU, then a soft tissue/bone interface or an interface with some other high-density material is considered to have been reached. Accordingly, the thickness T is not incremented and the process proceeds to step 71.
If A(p1) is not greater than 100 HU at step 66, then the process proceeds to step 68 where counter i is incremented by one. At step 70, it is determined if counter i exceeds the predetermined value of max_depth. If i>max_depth, then the process proceeds to step 71. If, however, i≦max_depth, then A(pi) is measured at step 59.
Returning to step 60, if i=5, then the attenuation factors for the first five points, A(p1) through A(p5), are evaluated at step 62 to determine if all of those attenuation factors are less than −110 HU. If all of those attenuation factors are less than −110 HU, the wall thickness at that vertex is considered to be normal. This situation often arises along the colon's haustra, or where opposing segments of gas distended bowel touch. Accordingly, the thickness value, T, is set to zero at step 63 and the process proceeds to step 71. By assigning T=0 to a vertex, v, that vertex is considered to be associated with normal colon wall.
Returning to step 62, if the attenuation value at any of the first five points (A(p1) through A(p1)) exceeds −110 HU, then the wall thickness determination continues at step 61.
Since the wall thickness of body structures such as the colon may be inadvertently or artificially increased, such as during musculature contraction of the colon at certain positions along the colon structure, many of the regions of abnormal thickness may not be indicative of true lesions. Instead, the thickened regions may represent normal structural elements, such as regions where the colon is contracted or where it touches solid organs. Accordingly, it can be beneficial to further analyze and characterize each vertex associated with abnormal thickness to refine the list of potentially abnormal vertices. Additional local shape features can be used to characterize and associate vertices as being abnormal.
For example, a local convexity value at each of the surface vertices can be determined at step 42. The local convexity values can be determined for all vertices, or for only those vertices associated with abnormal wall thickness. For each vertex, its neighboring vertices within a connected neighborhood of a pre-determined size (e.g., 3), is determined using the connectivity matrices. A local convexity value for each vertex, v, is computed as:
In addition, the local curvature at each vertex in a population can be determined at step 43 in
The local curvature at each vertex in a population can be determined by summing the scalar distance between each of a user-determined number of levels, N, of adjacent vertices and the plane perpendicular to the normal of the vertex. The result is then normalized by the surface area outlined by the Nth level of adjacent vertices. Because the direction of the curvature is ignored, the technique is able to detect areas of small curvature.
At step 44, vertices representing an abnormality are selected. Those vertices meeting selected criteria can be identified as abnormal vertices. For example, vertices having abnormal thickness and/or convexity and/or curvature criteria may be identified as abnormal vertices. In a specific application, the wall thickness values, local convexity values, and local curvature values can be used, independently or in conjunction with each other, to either accept or reject vertices as being abnormal. The individual parameters can be combined using a logical AND operation.
At step 45, the vertices on the wireframe model associated with abnormal structure (i.e., having a combination of associated abnormal wall thickness and/or abnormal shape, such as abnormal local convexity and/or abnormal local curvature) are grouped into populations. The re-ordered connectivity matrices are used to determine if vertices associated with abnormal parameters are directly connected to other vertices that are also associated with abnormal parameters. Accordingly, each formed population represents a potential abnormal lesion. In addition, each population can be further analyzed and characterized by its size, dimensions, or other statistical quantities.
Generally, the size of a population is indicated by the number of vertices which comprise the population. At step 46, those populations having a size below a predetermined minimal value are excluded from being considered abnormal. If the size of a population is sufficiently small, then the population is unlikely to represent a true lesion. Instead, the population more likely represents a normal aberration in the structure or image segmentation process. Accordingly, elimination of those populations having a size below a minimum value, decreases the occurrence of false positive findings.
Each population is further analyzed according to shape at step 47 to reduce the occurrence of false positive findings. Since the structure of body organs may appear abnormal, either inadvertently or artificially, such as during muscular contraction of the colon at certain positions along the colon's structure, many of the abnormal populations may not be indicative of true lesions. Instead, these populations may represent normal structural elements, such as regions where the colon is contracted or where it touches solid organs. Accordingly, it may be advantageous to further analyze and characterize each population identified as having an abnormal structure to further refine the list of potential lesions and to increase the likelihood that a detected population represents a true abnormality.
For example, the shapes of the populations can be analyzed, characterized, and accepted or rejected as being abnormal as illustrated in detail in
A population normal vector is calculated for each population at step 121. The population normal vector can be computed as a sum of the normal vectors at each of the vertices within the population, and the individual vertex normal vectors can be weighted by their corresponding wall thickness values or other parameters.
The convexity value, (C), for each population is determined at step 122. The convexity is a measure of the direction and magnitude of the shape of the surface of the population. As shown in
Further, the higher the magnitude of the convexity value, the greater the slope of the surface of the population. When the structure is a colon, only populations having a positive convexity value above a minimum value are reasonably expected to be potential lesions, since cancerous colon masses are generally manifested by steeply sloped growths that protrude into the lumen of the colon.
The height (H) of each population is determined at step 123. The height is calculated as the difference between the distance of the vertex farthest from a plane 96, perpendicular to the population normal 97 and passing through the centroid 98, and the distance of the vertex closest to that plane according to the equation:
Other shape features may be used to include or exclude populations in the list of potential lesions. For example, if a population has a long axis dimension that is greater than a multiple (e.g., 10 times) of the short axis dimension, and the short axis dimension is, for example, less than 5 mm wide, then the population might be considered to be normal. Accordingly, the shape features discussed herein are included only by way of example, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Referring again to
At step 49, those populations which are still considered to represent potential lesions are sorted and arranged in an electronic listing. The listing could be sorted according to such properties as size, convexity, curvature, height, mean wall thickness, standard deviation of wall thickness, other statistical quantities, or a combination of such parameters (e.g., the product of the group convexity value, C, and the group height value, H). Each population in the listing could be linked to a three-dimensional camera position that best illustrates it in the three-dimensional display. Accordingly, the user could choose a population from the listing and thereby be presented with a view of the abnormal area as it appears in the three-dimensional rendering. One means of linking the population to a three-dimensional rendering camera position is by providing the user with a three-dimensional camera view of the population that is parallel to the population normal and centered on the centroid of the population, and set at a chosen distance from the centroid. In one embodiment, the user is presented with two views of the selected population, one from an external perspective and the other from an internal perspective (i.e., from within the lumen of the structure).
A three-dimensional rendering of the wireframe model is displayed at step 50. In one embodiment, the user can navigate through a three-dimensional rendering of the wireframe model which is displayed on the monitor 28. The detected abnormal populations are displayed with a contrasting color scheme to distinguish them from the remainder of the rendered structure, so that the abnormal populations can be quickly and easily identified by human visual inspection. Further, the color scheme can reflect variations in wall thickness, convexity, or curvature, or some other parameter. For example, the normal portions of the rendered structure can be displayed in shades of pink while the potentially abnormal populations are displayed in shades of blue. More specifically, vertices could be assigned colors ranging from dark blue (for vertices with minimum abnormal thickness) to bright blue (for vertices with maximum abnormal wall thickness) to provide a stark contrast to the pinkish color assigned to the normal portions of the rendered structure.
Instead of navigating through the rendered structure, a "split open" view of the three-dimensional rendered structure can be displayed, thereby allowing the user to view the interior surface of the structure, like a topological map, without visual obstruction. The splitting can be accomplished using the re-ordered connectivity matrices, described above, and a central path to divide the wireframe model into several smaller segments, and then split each segment in half to expose the interior surfaces of the segments. The use of the connectivity matrices allows for the splitting of the wireframe to be independent of the degree of overall curvature of the central path of the wireframe model. This approach overcomes the mathematical restrictions inherent in other commonly used cutting plane techniques, such as found in a single infinite cutting plane, spherical-shaped cutting plane, or cylindrically-shaped cutting plane, and allows for an arbitrary number of segments to be split with only a single pass over the wireframe's polygon listing.
The splitting is accomplished by first approximating a curved cutting surface with a sequence of finite, intersecting planes. These planes contain (i.e., pass through) the central path of the wireframe model. The central path can be calculated, as shown in
This method of three-dimensional topological thinning is significant in three aspects. First, the determination of connectivity is more efficient because it is based on finding equivalence rather than searching all possible neighboring relationships, as is used in most conventional methods.
Second, the thinning process never examines background points more than once. Special data structures called queues are used to improve the efficiency of thinning. This method saves time compared to conventional methods by storing surface points (voxels on the outer surface of the region-grown object that are candidates for removal) in queues, after going through the original volume during a single pass. As thinning proceeds, newly exposed surface points are added to the queues whenever a surface point on the queue is removed. The thinning process stops when the queues become empty.
Third, the distance transform for the three-dimensional region-grown object is then calculated. The distance transform of a point in the object is the distance from this point to the nearest volume point not in the object. The distance transform is used to find the centers of maximally inscribed balls (CMB) in the object's lumen. A CMB can be thought of as the largest sphere that can fit into the lumen of the object. The centers of the CMB's can be used as anchor points in the thinning process, which insures that the generated central path is medially located and insensitive to the orientation of the original object (e.g., colon).
Many branches of medially located curves and surfaces will be generated in the thinning process, so the user defined starting and ending points are used to remove dead-end branches. The result is a curve that starts and ends at the specified points but may contain loops that represent accessory passages through the object that go to the same place.
The path selection phase converts the skeleton points into a graph representation by linking the points together into connected paths, which are called edges in the graph. The points where multiple paths meet are vertices in the graph. After the graph is built, unwanted edges are removed based on the radii of the CMB's associated with the points on the path, which is taken from the distance transform applied during the thinning phase.
The next step of path selection is basically a graph reduction process. A Greedy search algorithm is used for this purpose which removes all edges at each vertex except the two with the largest weights. The weight of each edge is a function of the radii of the points of the edge. One effective weighting method finds the smallest CMB radius of all points on the edge. Alternatively, the user may manually select the incorrect edges. After all incorrect edges have been removed, the remaining edges form the central path along the lumen of the object, such as the central path of the colon.
Alternatively, the central path can be determined by selecting a first seed point which lies within the lumen of the segmented object. The plane passing through that point that has the minimum area of object dissection is determined and the center of such area calculated. A new seed point is then selected which lies a pre-determined distance away from the first seed point in a perpendicular direction relative to the plane of minimum area passing through the first seed point. A plane of minimum area that passes through the new seed point is determined and the center calculated. This iterative process is continued until a central path connecting the center points is determined.
Referring to
The splitting of the wireframe model is, then, accomplished, as shown in
In an alternate embodiment, the user is presented with a volume rendered display centered on the centroid of a selected abnormal population. For example, a volume-rendered view of a subvolume of user defined size centered on the centroid of the population can be displayed for visual inspection. Volume rendering is a visualization technique that creates a three-dimensional image using all of the volume data, rather than only an extracted surface representation. Traditionally, volume rendering is accomplished by projecting a series of rays from the user's viewpoint through the data volume. The color at each point (i.e., pixel) in the resulting three-dimensional image is determined by calculating a weighted sum of all voxels along each ray. This weighting factor is determined by a transfer function that is computed during a process called classification.
Altering the transfer function during volume rendering can reveal different characteristics of the rendered data and, thus, it is often desirable to interactively reclassify and re-render the data. However, the rate at which images are rendered can be slow for data volumes as large as the ones typically used in medical imaging. Accordingly, it can be beneficial to use texture mapping to dramatically increase the rate at which volume rendering is performed. In texture mapping, volume data is considered to be a series of two-dimensional textures that are interpolated, projected, and displayed rapidly on a series of polygons using specialized computer hardware.
The texture mapped volume rendering method uses high-speed texture memory and blending hardware available on a Silicon Graphics' computer workstation to approximate the results of the more computationally expensive ray-casting algorithm. The volume data is first loaded into texture memory. The textures are then semi-transparently mapped onto a series of parallel two-dimensional rectangles that correspond to slices of the volume. The texture mapped rectangles are then drawn and blended to allow the user to see through the volume. The colors and transparencies of the resulting three-dimensional object are controlled by color and opacity transfer functions. The entire volume can then be viewed by stacking the texture mapped rectangles in the proper order and looking toward the stack. Since viewing the stack along one of its edges does not optimally display the volume, a new stack is generated which is orthogonal to the original stack. This new stack is then used to display the volume along an edge. Likewise, for any additional viewing angles, additional stacks may be required. Generating the stacks is a dynamic process and each stack can be generated on an as needed basis. Texture mapping can use standard two-dimensional texture memory or faster three-dimensional texture memory.
In yet another alternate embodiment, upon selection of a population from the listing, the user can be presented with a three-dimensional, surface-rendered wireframe model of the population embedded within a volume-rendered display using texture memory techniques. Such a display is useful to show the three-dimensional relationships between the wireframe model and the volume data. Embedding a surface-rendered model inside a volume rendering can be accomplished using texture memory since both techniques use semi-transparent or opaque surfaces to generate their imagery. However, if the surface rendering is semi-transparent, care must be taken to ensure that all objects are blended in the proper order (typically, from back to front). All or part of the volume can be rendered. For example, to view a small structure using volume rendering, a subvolume of data surrounding that structure can be rendered, as opposed to displaying the entire volume of data. It should also be appreciated that the multiplanar views and volume rendering can be combined in a similar manner.
If the user wants to view the results of the various rendering techniques using separate display windows, the user can clone the display window 200 so that the two (or more) display windows share the same data. However, each display window could render using different techniques (i.e., multiplanar display, surface rendering, volume rendering). Accordingly, the user could open a single window with all three rendering techniques and then clone the window three times to view each technique separately. Changes made to the data in any one of the connected windows would be propagated to all the cloned windows. Camera orientations could be synchronized between the separate windows to lock the views together. Position tracking techniques could show the camera position of one viewer in another, so that the user could follow the path of a three-dimensional camera moving inside the structure in one display window from an external perspective using a cloned display window with another three-dimensional camera from an overhead position.
An example of a computer console display 100 useful for displaying a three-dimensional rendering of a structure is shown in
Alternatively a single window display 200, as shown in
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.
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Listing Names in Alphabetical Order :
Putting people's names in alphabetical order is done on a letter-by-letter basis, taking into consideration all the letters before the comma that separates the last from the first name. Omit titles (such as Lady, Sir, Sister), degrees (M.D., Ph.D.), etc., that precede or follow names. A suffix that is an essential part of the name — such as Jr., Sr., or a roman numeral — appears after the given name, preceded by a comma. (Ford, Henry J., III or Pepin, Theophilus, Jr.)
Beethoven, Ludwig van (The van or von in Dutch or German names, if not capitalized by family usage,appears after the first name; if capitalized, it appears before the last name and determines the alphabetical order.)
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Pharmacy: What to Expect
The South Carolina College of Pharmacy is a first-class institution of learning, patient care, and research. As a Pre-Pharmacy major, you will be exposed to challenging coursework and work with nationally recognized faculty for your first two years at the University. Students must apply separately to the Professional Pharmacy Program (Pharm.D. degree), which will take place during a student's third year. The Pharm.D. curriculum consists of three years of didactic classroom learning followed by one year of experiential rotations in clinical pharmacy sites. As a student in the Professional Pharmacy Program, you will develop the tools, insight, and experience necessary to succeed and make a difference in society. You will also gain the medical science knowledge related to pharmaceuticals, clinical knowledge to manage patient drug therapy, and the patient education skills necessary to influence and communicate in an effective manner with patients. Each year, 190 highly qualified students are admitted with 110 students studying on the USC-Columbia campus and 80 at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C. During your final year as a Pharm.D. student, you will complete experiential rotations in clinical pharmacy sites which will allow you opportunities to experience pharmacy not only throughout the state of South Carolina, but also nationwide and even internationally.
The following courses fulfill some of the course requirements for Pre-Pharmacy students:
- Biological Principles I and II
- General Chemistry I and II
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- Essentials of Organic Chemistry Laboratory I and II
- Organic Chemistry I and II
- General Physics I and II
There is an average 10 to 1 student-faculty ratio for courses in the College of Pharmacy. A detailed list of degree requirements for the pre-pharmacy major can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Enhancing your Experience
Study Abroad allows you to earn academic credits toward your USC degree while seeing the world! Overseas study can complement any academic program or major. You may also choose to intern, volunteer, or conduct research abroad. You are encouraged to visit the Study Abroad Web site for more information on opportunities to broaden and extend your knowledge and perspectives.
Student Organizations can be instrumental in helping you adjust to life on campus and network within your field. The University of South Carolina has a family of nearly 300 student organizations. As a Pre-Pharmacy major, you have nearly ten related student organizations you can join! These include Academy of Student Pharmacists, Student Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International, Kappa Epsilon, Kappa Psi, National Community Pharmacists Association Student Chapter, Student National Pharmacists Association, Rho Chi, and Phi Lambda Sigma. Getting involved in these organizations can give you leadership opportunities, experience with political advocacy, professional development, career path exposure, and community service and volunteer opportunities. Pharm.D. students can also get involved in a number of national competitions. These include the American Pharmacists Association Patient Counseling Competition, American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists Clinical Skills Competition, American College of Clinical Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacy Challenge, and the National Community Pharmacists Association Business Plan Competition. Getting involved in an organization that interests you can also help you network and meet new friends. Find a student organization on campus that interests you!
Graduate School is one of many possibilities following graduation. Many Pharm.D. students pursue a concurrent degree with a Masters in Business. Many also go on to pursue a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Science with a focus on pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences.
Distinguished Faculty can help enhance your overall academic experience while at the University. The College of Pharmacy at the University boasts nationally recognized faculty and outstanding research programs that are in the top 25 percent in National Institute of Health (NIH) funding.
Departmental Scholarships may be awarded to outstanding students. The College of Pharmacy offers more than 50 scholarships each year.
Internship and Research Opportunities
Internships can be an important asset to your overall educational experience. Internship experiences often help you confirm your career interests, give you hands on experience in a professional setting, help build your resume, reinforce what you've learned in class and can often lead to full-time employment. Likewise, pursuing professional research opportunities as an undergraduate student can also help enrich your academic experience while at the University. As an undergraduate student, you can work closely with faculty research mentors and explore a discipline that interests you. Both internship and research opportunities help you build a competitive edge in the job market.
As a USC student you will have numerous resources at your disposal to assist you with locating internship and research opportunities. The USC Career Center is the central location at USC for assisting students with internship preparation and finding an internship. In addition, be sure to visit your academic department as many programs offer supplemental internship guidance specific to your major. The Office of Undergraduate Research assists all USC undergraduates by providing research and scholarly experiences in their chosen fields.
Career Opportunities
A large number of Pharm.D. students typically practice in community or hospital pharmacy settings. They may fill various roles such as staff pharmacists, pharmacy managers, compounding pharmacists, long term care pharmacists, and clinical specialty pharmacists. Graduates may also seek employment in higher education, association management, chain community pharmacy, community health centers, home health care, medical communications, and nuclear pharmacy.
You can find more information about career options in the US Department of Labors Occupational Outlook Handbook.
The USC Career Center offers numerous resources which provide more information about career opportunities for students in this major. Once admitted, a Career Development Coach
Additional Admission Information
Any entering student who wishes to pursue a pharmacy degree and who fulfills general requirements for admission to the University will be accepted into the Pre-Pharmacy program of study. This is generally two years and all Pre-Pharmacy courses must be passed with a minimum grade of "C."
Admission to the Professional Pharmacy Program (third college year) is limited and highly competitive. Only the most qualified students as determined by the Admissions, Scholastic Standings, and Petitions Committee of the college, will be accepted. All students who wish to enter the Professional Pharmacy Program must submit a completed College of Pharmacy application form no later than January 15 of the year in which fall semester admission is desired. Each year, 190 highly –qualified students are admitted (110 on USC campus, 80 on MUSC campus).
About the College of Pharmacy
The South Carolina College of Pharmacy (SCCP) at the University of South Carolina was formed in 2004 through the integration of the Colleges of Pharmacy at the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). The SCCP is a statewide education, research, and service institution that maximizes its resources. Students at the SCCP are able to tap into the expertise of pharmacy faculty located at USC and MUSC through the use of distance technology. Students may choose a specialized track in nuclear pharmacy, community pharmacy, and pre-residency. The college has more than 120 years of experience educating pharmacists and partners with major academic medical centers with acclaimed programs throughout the state. The SCCP offers a Pre-Pharmacy major, the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Ph.D. program in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, and a Ph.D. program in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an emphasis in pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research. Students also have the option of pursuing a combined Pharm.D./MBA or Pharm.D./Ph.D degree.
Points of Pride
- The South Carolina College of Pharmacy received a $30 million donation in 2010 to launch the Kennedy Pharmacy Innovation Center.
- Our residency programs are recognized as the best in the country.
- We have nationally recognized faculty and outstanding research programs that rank in the top 25 percent in NIH funding.
Additional Resources
South Carolina College of Pharmacy Website
University Career Center
Undergraduate Bulletin


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Willow Stream Spas are celebrating their fourth annual Gratitude Season during the months of October and November… so book your appointment now—only 20 days left!
Give back to causes you love, take away special experiences that you will remember for years to come… This special promotion is particularly beneficial for groups looking to indulge in full-day spa escapes. With a group visit to one of the award-winning Willow Stream Spas, the luxury spa brand of
Fairmont Hotels & Resort Spas, you will enjoy a top of the line spa experience, as well as thank you gifts that keep giving as a token of your ongoing support, including:
Spa-it-Forward: When guests leave their treatment, they will receive an envelope including a surprise spa offering for the guest and a friend. Created with a spirit of gratitude and a way to say thank you, spa guests receive a "thank you" for themselves and also an envelope with a special offer to Spa-it-Forward to someone they feel grateful for having in their lives – a co-worker, a relative or a dear friend. Spa-it-Forward thank yous can include: a 30-minute upgrade, a Spa Lunch or $25 off any 90-minute treatment.
"Garden" Spa'rties: When a guest brings two or more friends to a Willow Stream Spa and they each book a 60-minute spa treatment, Willow Stream will treat all to a spa lunch and complimentary spa gift during their visit – let friendships bloom at Willow Stream Spas!
To register with Willow Stream's Gratitude Circle, guests can call the Willow Stream Spa of preference or email firstname.lastname@example.com indicating their contact information, local spa preference and a spa experience coordinator will follow up to complete the registration process. Gratitude Season is offered at all Willow Stream Spa locations and is a reflection of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' enduring integration with their communities, offering great places to live, work and play.
Book Now to enjoy all of our Gratitude Programs at a Spa Below. When calling from Canada and the US, you must first dial 011 before dialing the phone numbers of our spas in Mexico, Europe and Asia.
The Fairmont Acapulco Princess 52 744 469 1000
The Fairmont Banff Springs 403 762 1772
The Fairmont Empress 250 995 4650
Fairmont Mayakoba 52 984 206 3000
Fairmont Pacific Rim 604 695 5550
The Fairmont Sonoma Mission
Inn & Spa 707 938 9000
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess 480 585 4848
The Fairmont Southampton 441 238 8000
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace 41 21 962 1212
Fairmont Monte Carlo 377 93 50 6600
Fairmont Beijing 86 10 8511 7777
Fairmont Peace Hotel 86 21 6138 6818
Fairmont Singapore 65 6339 7777
Fairmont Yangcheng Lake 86 512 5701 1720
Fairmont Nile City 20 22 461 9636
Fairmont Zimbali Resort 27 0 32 538 5000
Become a fan and follow Willow Stream Spas. Join our online communities at www.facebook.com/WillowStream.FairmontSpa and http://twitter.com/WillowStream.
Photo courtesy of Willow Stream Magazine.


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Administrative Services
Administrative Services
Acting Director:
Malemo Lafo Tausaga
Deputy Director:
Eliki Afalava
Mission Statement:
The Department of Administrative Services supports the American Samoa Government and public with Territorial archives & records management, Government Mail and Printing; Executive office building and ASG Housing management with Security as well as USDA Meat Inspections. While each of its seven divisions has separate duties and functions in support of the American Samoa Government, all follow directions and guidelines from the Directors Office.
Current & Upcoming Projects and Programs:
1. ASG Printshop Building Renovation
2. ASG Archives Building Renovation
3. EOB Critical Renovation Projects:
- EOB Re-roofing Project
- EOB Bathroom Renovation
- EOB Elevators
Office Number:
1 (684) 633-4156
Fax Number:
1 (684) 633-1841
Email Address:


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|Catalog Number
|LED Brand
|Input Voltage / Amperage
|110 - 240V / 0.6 - 0.3Amp
|Net Weight
|3.5 lbs (1.6kg)
|10.5"diameter x2.25"high (26.7x5.7cm)
|50,000 hours
|Power Draw
|Coverage Area
|1 per 10square feet (0.93m sq.) when used with any G8LED panel
|Return Period
|90-Day Money Back
BOOST them BUDS Review by Kyle
Four 90W Reds added on to my two 900W lights and I saw the difference by the next morning. I love my grow setup. (Posted on 3/5/15)
The best customer service period! Review by Jon
I have been using the 90w for a cpl of months and had an issue with the light.I emailed them on a Sunday and had a reply that day with a return label,here it is Wednesday and i already have the new light.They sent me a new one before my return made it back to them,That my friend is customer service, Thanks G8.And by the way the light really ups the yield of my setup.
(Posted on 12/31/14)
this is the light f/ budding and flower Review by David
better than an HPS, and healthier on the plants, and no heat like an HPS. My buds started swelling after just a few hours. UFO has 90 1w chips. This light is bright. Has lots of PAR f/ photosynthesis. The majority of the LEDs have a peak of 660nm. This is the important spectrum f/ flowering but this UFO has some is 630nm also f/ flowering and tight internodes f/ more bud sets and no stretching. I have only seen one other bloom booster UFOs w/ both important spectrums, and it was over $200. I recommend this light if you are serious. LEDs are USA made. You can use this light to supplement your primary light, buts seems to work well on it's own too., I will get another. Its effective. Easily hang 12" above canapy works well. (Posted on 1/6/14)
need this for flowering Review by spencer
they were right! i did my first grow without adding this during flowering and the yield was ok but i got 2 of these for my g8-450 and the yield was almost twice as much - awesome! only one was recommended but i decided to add two of these puppies in my tent since i had plenty of space. (Posted on 11/13/13)
perfect system Review by roberto
i have been using the G8 system for almost 2 years now. started with the G8-600 and expanded my warehouse with more of these and G8-900 lights. the 90 red ufo made all the difference in getting top yield. i am now able to get more with this system than i did with my 1000w hps system, all the while not having to deal with the excess heat and my electrical bill hasn't gone up even though i have more than doubled my grow in my warehouse. (Posted on 9/27/13)
wow what a difference Review by jeff
i have the G8-900 set up in a 72" x 60" grow area and the performance was already phenomenal. i added 2 of the Red UFOs like recommended and WOW - what a difference. the next day i saw that plants had reacted well to the supplemental light. these flower boosters are just that - BOOSTERs! i have the sweetest trichome formation and hefty buds. Awesome system! (Posted on 9/12/13)


text:
Below is the poem entitled Paying With Cash which was written by poet
feist. Please feel free to comment on this poem. However, please remember, PoetrySoup is a place of encouragement and growth.
Read Poems by
Karen Feist
At 5 a.m. he's on the job
I kiss him goodbye with a smile and a hug
Our marriage is heaven, he loves me so much
He gives "unconditional" new meaning for us
I maxed out the charge cards and put us in debt
He reminds me I'm perfect without getting upset
You can do no wrong, he says with a smile
My love is lifelong; we'll live it in style
No matter what happens, you're my number one
I'll love you forever, my darling, my hun
He makes enough money for a comfortable life
Yet, there's never enough because I'm his wife
I gave up the drinking intending to change
But truth all be told, it was just an exchange
The shopping addiction was waiting for me
To have and to use at Walmart til 3 (a.m.)
I hid all the bags in the trunk of my car
The guilt and the shame, what I'm feeling so far
Somehow disappeared without leaving a trace
Of remorse or repentance, I'm such a disgrace
His trust is misplaced, love taken for granted
I have to become his shiksa enchanted.
Last week all the charge cards were paid off with credit
I put them away and switched over to debit.


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PHOTOS: The best pics of YOUR pets!
PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) -- Obie, the formerly obese dachshund, is recovering after surgery at an Oregon veterinary clinic that removed 2 1/2 pounds of loose skin.
Owner Nora Vanatta told KGW the surgery this week at the Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Tualatin went well.
The loose skin was dragging after the dog lost 40 pounds in eight months on a diet. Obie had weighed 77 pounds. He was down to 37 before the surgery. He now weighs about 35 pounds and Vanatta wants him to lose about 5 more.
Obie fans have been following his weight loss on the Biggest Loser, Doxie Edition Facebook page.
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seeders: 0
leechers: 0
Two Cute Young Asian Shemales Sex (Size: 447.53 MB)
Year: 2009
Genre: (Gay) Shemales
Language: English
Studio: Extreme Ladyboys
Censorship: Uncensored
Description: Three young and extremely hot asian trannys ass fucked hard by two Guys on the beach.
Rare scene with young asian ladyboys. Enjoy!
Screens in torrent. Enjoy and SEED!
Sharing Widget
All Comments
anonymous • 18 April 2012, 09:47 Show comment
gay? I dont give a fuck.... as long men look this good I fuck em..... Don't let my GF know ;) (she even thinks analsex is perverted)
s_warwick222 • 20 April 2011, 12:29
Show comment
The ones ok lookin the other is even better. Thanx.
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Hold down Control (PC) or Command (Mac) key + mouseclick to select more than one option
|Avg. Dinner Entrée
|Greater than $25
|$18.01 - $25
|$12.01 - $18
|$7.01 - $12
|Less than $7
Posted by foodiegirl on 02/23/2007
Amelia serves up THE best coffee and iced tea in LA. That's a pretty bold statement, but I always get both when I go there because I can never decide between the 2. My favorites are the cappuccino and the peach nectar-sweetened iced tea. I get my nails done across the street every week or every other week and I always have to make a run to Amelia's. The service here is also top rate --- they are super nice. The only thing I can complain about is that the area is super busy and parking can be hard to find. Try the metered lot in back of American Apparel across the street.
Posted by Panini Junkie on 11/06/2006
If you are in the mood for a mouth watering and addictive sandwich there's no better place than Amelia's in Santa Monica on Main Street. The sandwich is prepared fresh in front of your eyes and definately made special just for you. The family that owns the coffee shop will remember you when you come back. Very personal and friendly. I love this place!
Posted by Anonymous on 08/14/2006
Stopped in here for a huge salad and soup on a Sunday afternoon. Both were wonderful. Staff was also very friendly even though we got there near closing time. Very casual atmosphere right on Main St. next to the motel.
Posted by Another Amelia's satified customer on 07/25/2006
Whenever we're in the Santa Monica area, we make it a point to get to Amelia's before all that wonderful homemade soup & those delicious meatballs are gone! A truly marvelous dining experience by the wife, husband and son that make you feel like you're part of their family. Great made to order Italian sandwiches, drinks, pastries and more at very reasonable prices!
Posted by Dedicated Customer on 07/22/2006
You can't find any better. Along with beautifully presented food is - homestyle at its best. Perfectly prepared as you order. The family - father, mother and son take pride in their homemade product and enjoy doing so for all that eat at their wonderful establishment. Take it from me; you can't find any better.


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POLITICO's Heath Care Breakfast Briefing
POLITICO holds a conversation about the issues driving health care policy in Washington on March 5.
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) (second from left) responds to a question from POLITICO's Joanne Kenen (left).(Photo: Rod Lamkey Jr./POLITICO)
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Growing fruit trees in your backyard has many benefits. Firstly, they create a lovely shady place to relax or for the children to play under. This will save them getting sunburned and possibly developing skin cancer in later life. Secondly these trees look beautiful. Not only do they spend several weeks of the year covered in pretty blossoms, but after that the developing fruit looks attractive for months. Their leaves are quite attractive and the shady branches give birds somewhere to rest and cool off. Trees play a significant role in our environment. This message has been highly touted by environmental activist groups for more than a decade now, and its popularity continues to grow, as does the group of those who ascribe to its valuable message. But trees need not only be a rural treasure. There are significant benefits to incorporating a notable tree population into urban areas, too. For this reason, many homeowners, community businesses, and municipalities set aside a portion of their annual budget to create and maintain landscaping. And as this practice has grown, benefits of doing so have been studied and brought to light.
About Author:
This informative article sent by Multani Girl Hina Malik. Hina is studying from Multan University. She likes trees and gardening.


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From One Survivor to Another15 Dec 2007, by Uncategorized in
December 15, 2007
While waiting for the survivors at Sneha to finish tailoring my new outfit, I told them about my sponsored child, Kajol. They were so intrigued that I had an "Indian daughter" and wanted to know all about her. I think they understood the situation when I said she lives in Kidderpore with her mother, but has no father. I also told them about her naughty habits, like playing in the mechanic shop's oil, and the girls just laughed. Then, one girl went searching in a cabinet and came back holding a small skirt and tank top set. "For your daughter," she smiled. I tried to refuse the precious gift, but realized that would only insult her gesture. She only asked that I take a picture of Kajol to show her.
I returned today to Sneha, with this photograph ready to show the girls. I wish I could describe their joy and pride in seeing this beautiful, smiling girl wearing their hand-stitched outfit. I had explained to Kajol that some of my friends made it for her, and that she should try very hard to keep it clean. Later that night, when the other children put on their sweaters before walking home, Kajol refused to put on her sweater because she wanted to show off her new outfit.
The community of survivors is so divided here, as the shelters exist in isolation from each other. But this one small gift, from one survivor to a child in the red light district, has potential to be a unifying bridge. I'm reminded of something Sarah Symons, TEN's Director, once said: "These survivors aren't paralyzed by fear. They can't afford to be. They're hopeful for the future; won't you join them?"


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Thursday, December 5, 2013
A special concert is coming to Grace United Methodist.
Brett Younker, a songwriter and worship leader from Atlanta, is a part of Passion City Church in Atlanta. He has released three full-length albums, with "Come to the Water" being the latest one. According to Younker's website, the hope for the album is "that people would rise up into who Jesus has made them to be and walk daily in the freedom Jesus promises."
Younker's other albums include "This is Life" and "The New Has Come."
The concert will take place at the Wesley Center on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. They can be purchased at the church office by calling 803-279-7525. They can also be purchased online at itickets.com or gotgraceumc.org.
A love offering will be collected at the concert to provide school supplies to North Augusta-area schools.
Scott Rodgers is the news editor at the North Augusta Star and has been with the paper since January 2013. Follow him on Twitter @NAStarRodgers.
The North Augusta Star is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The North Augusta Star.
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Enzo Sushi
150, René-Lévesque Blvd. E. (Turnbull St.) Send to Phone
418-649-1688 | Make Restaurant Reservations
OpenLunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner nightly
- Valet parking
- Dress code: Casual
- Full bar
- Outdoor dining
- Reservations suggested
- Romantic setting
* Click here for rating key
Enzo Sushi Restaurant Review: Enzo Sushi is located in an atmospheric space that is cleverly divided into four sections, including a wide bar area and a mezzanine with intimate booths. The largely unchanging menu is varied with classics and dozens of traditional dishes as well as more complex offerings such as lemon grass lamb or shrimp quenelles. An easy option when faced with such variety is the dégustation menu that generally starts with a hot appetizer like Saku scallops---grilled sliced scallops served with sea urchin and saké sauce and salmon roe. Sashimi and rolls accentuated with a variety of sauces (basil, mushroom and garlic, and sea urchin) follow. A revamped wine list features vintages from France, Italy, Argentina and California that can stand up to the spices and salt of sushi and other Japanese dishes.
Check out the 2015 edition of GAYOT's Annual Restaurant Issue, which features the Top 40 Restaurants in the US and more.


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|Lionel Announces First Special Introduction of 2004
Press ReleaseContact: Cara Lynn Orchard
(586) 949-4100 x 1572
March 12, 2004
For Immediate Release
Lionel Announces First Special Introduction of the YearSanta Fe 4-8-4 Northern
(Chesterfield, Mich.,) – Lionel announces the 6-38055 Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northern. This first Lionel special introduction of 2004 marks the first die-cast metal O gauge model of a very famous steam survivor – Santa Fe #3751.
Scale-sized with exquisite separately applied detailing, the Santa Fe Northern is also fully featured, including the RailSounds® 5.0 sound system with two FatBoy™ speakers. This new industry standard in O gauge sound offers more variety and the best overall sound quality available, including new CrewTalk™ dialog and enhanced TowerCom™ announcements providing even more train crew characters and operator interaction.
"We're thrilled to be the first company to bring this historic model to the O gauge market," said Lionel product manager Todd Wagner.
A fitting tribute to a true American classic, the Santa Fe 4-8-4 features another O gauge first. Each model comes equipped with interchangeable metal smokestacks – straight, "smoke bonnet" and telescopic stacks to model the different types that were found on the 3751 during its operational career.
The bodies of both the scale-sized locomotive and tender are constructed of die-cast metal and include separately applied metal details including sand lines, whistle and bell cords, painted interior and exterior valve handles, and accurate separately applied builder's plates.
"Once again, Lionel raises the O gauge bar in terms of fit, finish, features and function," said Wagner. "Don't miss the Santa Fe Northern when it arrives at Lionel Value Added Dealers in late April."
For more information on the Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northern, please visit www.lionel.com or an authorized Lionel Value Added Dealer today.
Lionel L.L.C. is one of the world's leading marketers of model trains and accessories. Established in 1900, the Lionel name is the most widely recognized brand in the toy train industry and one of the most recognized brands in America. Lionel has been at the center of every major innovation in toy train manufacturing and marketing since its inception.


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Today marks the opening of New York Fashion Week and a Throwback Thursday, which means we must celebrate this stylish tradition in the most vintage way possible. Once upon a time, Kimye had no meaning and NFL running back Reggie Bush was considered the brightest star Kris Jenner had managed to sink her teeth into. And in 2009, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were simply two of the front row guests admiring the Y-3 fall collection. Separately. As in, they were not yet romantically linked but were sitting so close! Do you think Reggie felt the endless love oozing out from Yeezy's pores? Did Milla Jovovich feel awkward or really awkward?
Any casual fan of Keeping Up With the Kardashians knows that Kim and Kanye have known each other for years, and took their time before moving from friends to lovers. (A recent Instagram photo from sister Kourtney speaks to this point.) But in the midst of Kimye wedding planning, it's funny to think back to a time when Kanye wasn't rapping about his girl being a superstar all from a home movie, or an eight-month-old girl with a direction for a name didn't exist. The world, you guys. It's crazy!
With NYFW underway, celebrities and well-dressed wannabes will flock to New York City in hopes of getting their photo taken. Only the elite will get front row seating, where they'll putt on their best thinking face or bring their own refreshments. It's a ritual that happens twice a year year in the Big Apple–plus much more around the world–and should always be celebrated for its ability to create the oddest of pairings. Check out some of our favorite "fashion faces" in the gallery above.
[Photo Credit: Getty Images]


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My dad spent two years perfecting my almond cracker recipe to create a wonderful wrap that you can use for sandwiches or snacks. It is great for breakfast burritos. The dough is soft and easy to roll into a paper thin tortilla that will stay soft enough to roll if you don't over bake it. This is a wrap with a wonderful taste you can't find in any store. He likes the quinoa flour because it is a high quality protein flour which is a complete protein, but you can experiment with any leftover flour you might have on hand as long as you keep the cup of potato flour and cup of rice flour.
- 1 cup quinoa flour
- 1 cup potato flour
- 1 cup rice flour
- 2 teaspoons Spectrum Organic Shortening
- 3 teaspoons of xanthum gum powder
- 1 package gelatin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Dissolve 2 teaspoons shortening (preferably Spectrum) in 3/4 cup water by heating slightly on stove in a small pan.
Put dry ingredients in a food processor. Add shortening/water mixture. Mix in processor, stopping from time to time to press down dough into bottom of food processor. Stop to add additional water a small amount at a time. Keep mixing until dough forms into a ball. Removed dough from procesor.
Form dough into balls with 1/3-1/2 cup of dough about the size of an ice cream scoop. Press into a flat pancake dusted underneath with some flour. Roll out from center between two pieces of parchment paper with rolling pin--dusting if necessary to keep from sticking to paper. Keep rolling until it is as flat as a tortilla or wrap (about 10 inches round circle.) At this point you can bake it or if you want it to be a perfect circle, put a 9 inch plate or bowl upside down over the dough and trace the edge of the plate/bowl with a sharp paring knife to form a circle shape.
Bake at 400 degrees until wrap just starts to brown (about 6-8 minutes depending on thickness of dough.) Check frequently at the end of cooking since it can easily over bake and become a cracker.


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American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 30, 2006 U.S. 5th Fleet assets and personnel responded immediately at approximately 10:15 p.m. today after learning that a vessel capsized in a Bahraini harbor, approximately one mile east of the command's headquarters in Bahrain.
U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels, including Coast Guard Cutter Wrangell, got under way from the Bahrain port to support Bahrain's rescue efforts. A U.S. Navy helicopter is currently in the air, and another is standing by to assist the government of Bahrain, which has the lead on search-and-rescue efforts. In addition, 16 Navy divers are standing by, U.S. military officials said.
Press reports from the area identified the vessel as a passenger ferry and said dozens of bodies have been recovered. It is undetermined how the vessel capsized and how many passengers were on board at the time of the accident, U.S. Navy officials said.
"All U.S. assets involved are forward deployed to 5th Fleet to support maritime security operations and will assist the Bahraini authorities as necessary," a 5th Fleet spokesman said in a statement.
Maritime security operations set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations, officials said. Such operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
(From a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs news release.)


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The Board of Trustees of Massachusetts Maritime Academy welcomes you to the Board of Trustees website at the Academy.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy was founded in 1891 and entered the Massachusetts State College, now University, system in 1964. The nine Massachusetts Commonwealth Universities are each overseen by the individual college's Board of Trustees which in turn is overseen by the Board of Higher Education which in turn reports to the Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth.
Each college Board of Trustees consist of eleven trustees, nine appointed by the Governor, one appointed by the college's alumni body, and one appointed by the student body. The Trustees receive no compensation and the Governor appointed Trustees serve for a five year term and may serve for a second five year term if reappointed by the Governor.
First and foremost the Academy's Board of Trustees always considers what is in the best interests of the current and future Academy Cadets, their education, training, leadership, their career employment possibilities, and their long term career potential.
To fulfill the duties and responsibility obligations of the Trustees the Trustees meet a minimum of eight times a year on campus, see the "Board Schedule", with the Academy staff in attendance. For greater insight into the structure and detail of those meetings please refer to the agendas and minutes of those meetings in the sections "Board Materials" and "Board Meeting Minutes" respectively.
The duties and responsibilities of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Trustees begin with the oversight of the formulation of Academy's rolling Five Year Strategic Plan which defines the Academy's academic purpose, direction, development, goals, and accountability metrics. The Five Year Strategic Plan also addresses the campus physical facilities, financial and advancement goals, and quality of student life. The Five Year Strategic Plan can be found under "Baseline Strategic Matrix" as can the Year End Report by the Academy staff of its compliance and success in meeting the stringent demands of the Five Year Strategic Plan.
The Board of Trustees welcomes you to attend our Board meetings and speak with the Trustees and Academy staff.
The Board of Trustees
last updated 12-11-2014 by email@example.com


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Register for the inaugural HOT TROT JERK 5K Run/Walk November 2, 2014 @ Markham Park. Is your Team ready for the Team Challenge? Calling ALL Churches, Corporations, High School Alumni Associations and Community Organizations to get your teams ready to compete!!! Join Olympic and World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as we raise funds for Team Jamaica Bickle and Multiple Sclerosis.
Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival will be in New York July 2015. Details coming soon.
Come enjoy the complex flavors from one of the "Coolest Islands" in the Caribbean. In this class you will learn some of the basics of Jamaican jerk cooking with renowned chef, Chef Irie. This class will be a night of fun food, great people, and the classic Caribbean culture.
Check out where our promotional team will be to win tickets. Our Sponsors will also be staging promotional events, contests and discount ticket offers. Find out where and when.


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|Okeechobee, Florida
|Last 3 Finishes
|65 - Lake Okeechobee, 2/9/2012
|Click a column heading to re-sort.
|Tournament Finishes
|(Only recent tournaments are included. Not necessarily a career listing.)
You may report any errors or omissions by clicking here. Please be certain of your information before submitting anything. Submissions will be examined, and if approved will be included in a future update.
By BassFan Staff On a day when the leaderboard reflected tougher fishing for most of the 107 competitors, Edwin Evers just kept on rolling. Lately,
By BassFan Staff Three Florida pros occupy the top three positions on the leaderboard after day 1. A 6-pound largemouth was the big fish of the day.
By David A. Brown Special to BassFan Steve Parks is a man filled with Rage. Two quickies here: First, as a 10th-degree black belt in karate, Parks


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Columbia City High School senior Gabrielle Hazen, pictured third from left in the back row, played this summer in the Team USA High Performance Tournament. The tournament drew teams from around the world. Hazen's squad won the gold medal in the USA A1 junior red division. Hazen will be attending Northwestern University to play volleyball in the fall of 2014. Read The Post & Mail next week for a feature story on Hazen's summer.
COLUMBIA CITY – Whitley County Health Department officials were called out Wednesday to investigate two apartments that had flooded at Park Terrace Apartments.
According to apartment residents, a water line had broken and while crews were working to repair the break, the apartments flooded.
Scott Wagner, the county's environmental health specialist, was on site to assess what health hazards might be present due to the flooding.
"We did have some people concerned that it was unsafe and unsanitary," Wagner said.
COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City High School student turned a classroom assignment into a winning project that will leave a mark on the community for years.
Liam Wilson, a student in Chad Moore's graphic design class, participated in a contest put on by the city's electric department to design a new logo. The department would use the logo on its vehicles and letterhead.
Wilson won the contest, and now will see his creative work on display in the city for years to come.
Construction is seeing its final touch ups at Columbia City High School in preparation for students to return to school Aug. 13. Minor remodeling and repairs were done during the summer months at the school. Pictured is Steve Monesmith applying drywall mud to a new "quiet room" off of a high school classroom.
COLUMBIA CITY — Creating cleaner lakes is the mission behind the Department of Natural Resources endeavor to dredge the channels throughout Tri Lakes.
Mark Weaver, an environmental contractor who lives on the channel at Karen Kove, was one of many residents who helped motivate the DNR to commit to clearing out the channels for boat passage.
"I knew what it would take to get this done — the right paper work and a lot of hours," said Weaver.
"However, I thought the work was necessary. These channels are all but closed off now because of silt and vegetation."
COLUMBIA CITY — Whitley County roads, bridges and highways will benefit from a $1.36 million increase in road funding.
According to Indiana State Senator Jim Banks, the increase was in place July 1, but will occur during the next two years.
"Reliable roads and infrastructure are essential to a strong economy," Banks said. "This allows us to transport goods and services more easily."
Minear Real Estate held a sand volleyball tournament on Saturday. Pictured above are event organizers and some tournament participants. The first place team consisted of Derek Hinen, Dylan Hinen, Tyler Mosher, Blake Downing. The second place team's members were: Jake Fitzmaurice, Derek Yoder, Travis Chamamile, Josh Chamamile, Josh Martain, Aaron Martin and Ken Asfour and the third place team was made up of: TJ Minear, Nicole Minear, Jason Fore, Trevor Hull, Grant Bockelman, Kyle Rucks. Teams played a double-elimination rally score tournament that started at 11 a.m. and ended at 5 p.m.
COLUMBIA CITY — A week after her accomplice admitted guilt, a Columbia City woman acknowledged her role in an attempted drug deal in June.
Savannah Hartman, 20, pleaded guilty to dealing in a Schedule II controlled substance, which is a Class B felony.
In a soft voice, Hartman admitted she aided or caused Krystal Thornsbearry to arrange a drug deal for 35 pills of oxycodone. Thornsbearry pleaded guilty in Whitley County Circuit Court last week.
COLUMBIA CITY — For some students, it might feel like summer has just started.
Despite those potential thoughts, classes will be beginning for Whitley County schools later this month.
Whitley County Consolidated Schools (WCCS) will have its first day of classes Tuesday, Aug. 13. Whitko begins Wednesday, Aug. 14 and Smith-Green Community Schools (SGCS) will commence Friday, Aug. 16.
If students are thinking their summer break is shrinking, they might be correct. WCCS held its last day of school June 10. Smith-Green's was Wednesday, June 5 and Whitko's was May 28.
Benjamin Wheaton, 21 months, watches streams of water cascade from brightly lit pipes at Churubusco's splash pad, known as Paul's Pad, Tuesday.
He was at the splash pad with his mother, Alicia. Churubusco's park is undergoing some improvements. New bathroom facilities are being planned, which is made possible in part by private donations as well as grants. There are also some upgrades to the soccer fields that have recently been completed.


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During the symposium, the full range of DoD's maintenance operations will be represented, including depots, operating commands and units, and research and development activities, along with their commercial industry counterparts. Maintenance comprises the largest of DoD's logistics work forces, with more than 500,000 personnel and annual appropriations of about $40 billion.
A major highlight of the symposium is the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards banquet set for Wednesday, Nov. 1st, where outstanding maintenance units will be honored.
The DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition is sponsored by the deputy under secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness in conjunction with the National Defense Industrial Association. The entire event is open for press coverage.
For more information, http://register.ndia.org/interview/register.ndia?~Brochure~174 . [link no longer available]